And so, they quietly rested and recovered deep within the valley for several days.
Warm sunlight spilled over the ground, the stream gurgled softly, and the campfire crackled at night.
In this tranquil valley, they found a rare moment of peace, and their bodies gradually healed.
Eika’s pale face regained its color, the swelling on her injured thigh subsided, and her fever completely vanished.
She was able to stand on her own again. Although her movements were still slow, her steps were growing steadier each day.
During these peaceful and warm days, they took care of each other, facing challenges and difficulties together.
Their bodies slowly recovered, and their spirits became stronger than before.
During these days of rest, Chong Yue recounted the events of that night to Eika.
He described in detail how, in his despair, he had accidentally found the pouch of herbs.
He remembered the shadowy figure—vague and indistinct—but undeniably human in shape.
After listening to his story, a complex emotion flickered in Eika’s violet eyes, her heart swelling with gratitude.
She felt not only thankful to the mysterious stranger but was also deeply moved by Chong Yue’s perseverance.
In that life-threatening moment, he chose to stay by her side rather than abandon her.
During the days of recovery, Chong Yue took care of her with unwavering dedication, never once showing a hint of complaint.
“Thank you, Chong Yue… Without you, I would’ve been dead by now.”
Eika silently expressed her gratitude, her heart warming with newfound trust and respect.
As her body gradually recovered, Eika slowly opened her heart.
The coldness and guardedness she once carried began to melt away.
She started relying on Chong Yue, no longer maintaining a deliberate distance.
Her gaze softened, reflecting trust and affection she had never shown before.
She was no longer silent and reserved but began to engage in conversations, sharing her views on the world and her plans for the future.
Every now and then, she would smile—a faint smile, but filled with warmth and sincerity.
Chong Yue, in turn, became less restrained.
He began sharing stories about Yunruo and his dreams for the future.
They poured their hearts out to each other, finding understanding and trust.
In this strange and dangerous world, they gradually built a deep bond.
During the last few days of rest, Chong Yue and Eika fully regained their health.
Their wounds healed, and their strength returned.
But they both knew that this peace and warmth were only temporary.
The journey ahead would be even more perilous and long.
To face the challenges awaiting them, they began preparing the survival supplies they would need for the road ahead.
Chong Yue took charge of gathering food and securing water supplies.
Every morning, he would go to the stream, using a sharpened wooden spear to catch fish.
Though the catch was often modest, it was enough to satisfy their hunger.
Gradually, he mastered the technique, learning to hold his breath and wait patiently before striking swiftly as the fish swam close.
The gentle stream became a reliable water source.
He fashioned makeshift cups from folded leaves, filling them with the refreshing spring water.
To ensure they wouldn’t run out of water during their journey, he crafted simple water bags by wrapping larger leaves tightly and securing them with vines.
In addition to fishing, Chong Yue foraged in the forest for edible fruits and berries.
He wove small baskets from vines to carry the berries.
Though they tasted sour, the fruits were rich in moisture and nutrients, replenishing their energy and stamina.
To prevent the food from spoiling, Chong Yue built a simple drying rack and smoked the excess fish into dried jerky.
The dried fish was bland but durable and easy to carry, making it an essential food source for their journey.
Since most of their clothes had been torn into bandages, they were left with only tattered garments that provided little protection against the cold.
With the path ahead growing more treacherous and the temperatures dropping as they neared the mountaintops, warm clothing became a necessity.
Eika carefully observed the surrounding environment and noticed that the forest was abundant with sturdy grass leaves.
The leaves were not only soft but also remarkably durable.
She meticulously gathered the grass leaves and laid them out under the sunlight to dry thoroughly.
Once the leaves became flexible and lightweight, Eika used vines to weave them together.
Her fingers moved swiftly and skillfully, layering and interweaving the grass leaves one by one.
After some time, she crafted simple cloaks from the layered leaves.
Though plain and rudimentary, the cloaks were tightly woven and sturdy, providing ample protection against wind and rain.
They were also light and easy to carry.
Eika handed one cloak to Chong Yue and kept the other for herself, her eyes gleaming with a hint of pride and satisfaction.
“They’re not fancy, but they’re definitely practical.”
She wrapped the cloak around herself, giving her shoulders a small shake.
The cloak draped naturally over her back, enveloping her body.
“With this, we won’t have to worry about the cold wind anymore.”
Chong Yue gratefully accepted the cloak.
“Thanks, Eika. I never imagined you knew how to weave.”
Eika’s lips curled into a faint smile, her eyes softening with warmth.
“I’m more than just a fighter, you know.”
After preparing everything, they were finally ready to set off.
Chong Yue carried his makeshift water bags and food supplies on his back, gripping a stone-tipped spear in his hand, his gaze sharp and filled with determination.
Eika draped herself in the leaf-woven cloak, holding a stone short sword, her expression calm and resolute.
They stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the towering Titan''s Peak in the distance.
That majestic and mysterious mountain seemed to be calling them, awaiting their arrival to uncover the truth of their destiny.
“No matter how difficult the road ahead, we must survive.”
“To return to our world… to see the people we care about once more.”
In this strange and foreign world, they were no longer alone, for they had each other’s companionship and trust.
They walked together, shoulder to shoulder, resolute in their journey forward, undeterred by any storms or thorns that lay ahead.
And so, they set off once again toward the Titan''s Peak.
The journey was filled with breathtaking and surreal landscapes.
They passed through deep valleys, crossed rushing rivers, and navigated forests and plains of all sizes.
Their eyes were wide with curiosity and wonder at the beauty and mystery surrounding them.
Along the way, they encountered a myriad of strange creatures and plants.
In the forest, they saw massive mushrooms in vibrant colors, reminiscent of a magical world from a fairy tale.
These mushrooms emitted a faint glow, illuminating the night like stars scattered across the ground, lighting their path forward.
Among the bushes, peculiar little creatures scurried about.
They looked like squirrels, but their tails fanned out like a peacock’s, bursting with dazzling colors that shimmered like a dream.
These curious and playful creatures often followed them, peeking out from the foliage to watch them with wide, inquisitive eyes.
Together, they explored and observed, marveling at each new discovery.
They carefully avoided dangerous beasts, gathered edible fruits, and marked landmarks along the way.
Their journey was not without hardship.
They faced fierce storms and lightning, and at times, hunger and exhaustion.
Rain poured down in torrents, and the howling winds soaked them to the bone, the cold seeping deep into their bodies.
They huddled together for warmth in caves, their shared body heat barely enough to get them through the freezing nights.
There were days when food was scarce, and they survived on dried fish and wild berries, fighting off hunger pangs.
When their strength gave out, they leaned on each other for support, offering words of encouragement and comfort, taking each step with great effort.
No matter how perilous and long the road was, they never gave up on moving forward.
After days of trekking and struggling through harsh terrains, Chong Yue and Eika finally arrived at the foot of the Titan''s Peak.
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Before them lay the last stretch of forest—dense and shadowy, with towering ancient trees.
The air was thick with dampness and a chilling coldness.
Chong Yue looked up, his eyes tracing the silhouette of the Titan''s Peak.
The mountain stood tall, piercing the clouds, its summit shrouded in mist, like a stairway leading to the heavens.
As they stepped into the final forest, a distant commotion reached their ears.
They immediately went on high alert, their eyes sharp as blades.
Their bodies lowered instinctively, ready for battle at any moment.
“There’s movement up ahead,” Chong Yue whispered, his eyes narrowing with caution.
Eika nodded, her fingers lightly brushing the hilt of her stone short sword.
Her muscles tensed, her posture resembling that of a hunting leopard, ready to strike.
Using the thick underbrush as cover, they moved silently toward the source of the noise.
Every step was taken with utmost care, ensuring not a single dry leaf crunched beneath their feet.
The gentle breeze rustled the tree leaves, providing a natural camouflage for their stealthy approach.
Pushing through the dense bushes, they were stunned by the scene that unfolded before them.
In a clearing within the woods, a group of slender, long-eared creatures stood in formation, surrounding a man and a woman.
These golden-haired elves were clad in lightweight leather armor, armed with longbows and short swords.
Their eyes were filled with vigilance and hostility.
The two people at the center of the encirclement looked completely out of place.
The young man had light blond hair, a slender build, and was dressed in a checkered shirt and shorts.
He carried a large backpack, his face etched with panic and helplessness.
The young woman had long black hair, bronze-toned skin, and wore a simple dress.
A small satchel hung from her shoulder, and she clutched her hands tightly to her chest, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.
Their clothing and demeanor instantly reminded Chong Yue and Eika of themselves.
Their unfamiliar attire stood out starkly, a style that clearly didn’t belong to this strange and fantastical world.
“They seem to be like us… from Earth.”
Eika whispered, her eyes reflecting shock and suspicion.
Chong Yue carefully observed them, his gaze lingering on their clothing and backpacks.
After a moment, he nodded, agreeing with Eika’s assessment.
“Their clothes… and the brand logos on their backpacks… they’re definitely from the modern world.”
“Should we intervene?”
Eika asked softly, her grip tightening around her stone short sword, her violet eyes gleaming with cold determination.
“Not yet,” Chong Yue gestured for patience, his expression calm and calculated.
“We don’t know how many elves there are. Acting rashly would be too risky.”
They stayed hidden in the bushes, holding their breath as they carefully listened to the conversation.
The tense atmosphere was so thick it felt suffocating.
“We’re just travelers! We mean no harm. Please believe us!”
The blond young man pleaded, his voice trembling with anxiety.
His arms shook slightly, the straps of his backpack digging into his shoulders, his face pale with fear.
“How do we know you’re not lying?”
A more distinguished elf stepped forward.
He wore a pale green cloak embroidered with intricate patterns along the edges.
In his hand, he held an exquisitely crafted elven long knife.
His golden hair was tied neatly behind his head, and his eyes gleamed with authority and scrutiny.
It was clear that he was their commander.
“He’s speaking… English?!”
Chong Yue and Eika’s eyes widened in shock, their faces etched with disbelief.
“The elves here… they speak English?”
Eika whispered, her fingers unconsciously tightening around her sword’s hilt, her mind racing with questions.
“That means… they’ve likely encountered people from Earth before.
And there might be more of them than just these two.”
Chong Yue analyzed quietly, his eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence.
The elven leader’s gaze was icy, his voice laced with accusation and distrust:
“You not only trespassed into our territory, but the girl beside you also picked sacred herbs without the permission of the gods.”
“Whether you meant harm or not, I cannot let you leave.
Especially since… you are humans.”
When he uttered the word “humans,” his tone was filled with contempt and suspicion, as if the very word carried a dreadful curse.
“This matter will be judged by the chieftain of our tribe.”
He gestured to his subordinates, and several elves immediately moved forward, binding the boy and the black-haired girl with vines and ropes.
The boy’s face turned pale, his throat tightening as fear paralyzed his body.
The black-haired girl’s hands trembled, her lips moving soundlessly, as if she were praying or whispering something to herself.
Chong Yue and Eika watched tensely, their eyes filled with worry and hesitation.
“They don’t seem like bad people, but the elves are so hostile… What should we do?”
“Wait a little longer. It’s not the right moment yet.”
Chong Yue’s brows furrowed, his eyes calculating and cautious.
Eika nodded, her violet eyes reflecting a calm determination.
She slowly relaxed her posture but remained on high alert.
The wind whispered through the forest, rustling the leaves softly.
Hidden behind the bushes, they stayed perfectly still, like leopards waiting for the right moment to pounce.
Their eyes remained locked on the scene before them, ready to strike at any moment.
Chong Yue’s eyes gleamed sharply as he scanned the surroundings, his mind racing with tactical calculations.
“A head-on fight won’t work. They outnumber us. We’ll have to be clever—create chaos and distract them.”
His gaze landed on a massive beehive hanging from a nearby tree.
A cunning smirk appeared on his face as his eyes sparkled with a mischievous light.
Lowering his voice, he whispered to Eika:
“I’ll create a distraction to cause confusion. You sneak in and rescue the prisoners.”
Eika nodded in agreement, her violet eyes flashing with resolve.
Chong Yue swiftly moved behind an ancient tree, picking up several medium-sized rocks.
With precise aim, he hurled the stones at a distant tree trunk.
“Thud—Thud—”
The stones struck the tree trunk, producing deep, echoing noises that instantly drew the elves’ attention.
“What was that?!”
“An ambush?!”
The elves immediately readied their bows, eyes alert as they scanned the direction of the noise.
The elven leader’s expression darkened as he shouted:
“You three, go investigate! Leave no stone unturned!”
Three elven archers dashed toward the sound, leaving a gap in their formation.
The number of guards watching the prisoners was cut in half, weakening their defense.
Chong Yue seized the opportunity, taking aim at the beehive and hurling another stone with all his might.
“CRASH!”
The stone struck the beehive dead-on, causing it to tremble violently before plummeting to the ground.
“Buzzzzz—”
A furious swarm of bees erupted from the shattered hive, spreading out in every direction in a frenzied attack.
“Ahh—Bees!”
“Get them off!”
The elves panicked, wildly flailing their weapons to fend off the angry bees.
Their formation crumbled into disarray as some fled from the attacking swarm while others instinctively backed away.
This retreat created a crucial opening in the defenses around the prisoners.
Amidst the chaos, Eika moved like a shadow, her form blending seamlessly with the underbrush.
Her movements were swift and silent, flowing smoothly from tree to tree as she closed in on the captives.
The black-haired girl was curled up in terror, her eyes wide with fear and despair.
The blond boy was trembling uncontrollably, his face pale with shock and confusion.
Eika crouched beside them, her stone short sword flashing as she sliced through the vines binding them.
Her actions were swift and precise.
She leaned in close to the girl, her voice low and soothing:
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to help you. Stay quiet and follow me.”
The girl’s eyes widened with hope and gratitude as she nodded faintly.
The boy was too stunned to speak but managed to nod numbly.
Eika scanned the surroundings before leading the two into the dense underbrush, disappearing without a sound.
Chong Yue remained hidden behind the ancient tree, keeping a watchful eye on Eika’s progress.
When he saw her successfully extract the prisoners, a satisfied smile formed on his lips.
To cover their escape, he hurled more stones in the opposite direction, creating a series of loud noises.
“Thud—Thud—”
The crashing sounds echoed through the forest, further confusing the elves who immediately dashed toward the wrong direction.
The elven leader’s face contorted with fury as he brandished his long knife, his voice echoing through the trees:
“Who’s there? Show yourself!”
His icy gaze cut through the shadows, but he was looking in the wrong place.
Chong Yue slipped away silently, moving through the shadows to rendezvous with Eika.
He placed a hand on Eika’s shoulder, his eyes filled with admiration and relief.
“Well done. Let’s get out of here.”
Eika nodded, her violet eyes gleaming with calm determination.
She led the rescued captives away swiftly while Chong Yue guarded the rear, ensuring their safe retreat.
Their teamwork was flawless, and their escape was seamless.
After rescuing the pair, the four of them hurriedly retreated, sprinting through the dense forest and undergrowth until they reached a safe clearing.
They finally stopped, panting heavily as they leaned against a large tree, catching their breath.
The morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, and a gentle breeze brought with it a refreshing coolness.
They exchanged glances, their faces filled with relief and gratitude.
“Thank you for saving us back there,” The young man said between heavy breaths, his face brimming with gratitude.
His hands rested on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath, clearly exhausted from the earlier escape.
The black-haired girl gave a small bow, her voice soft and shy as she expressed her thanks:
“Really... thank you so much.”
“No need to thank us,” Chong Yue replied with a warm smile, his tone friendly and laid-back.
He asked curiously, “You were transported here too, weren’t you?”
“Huh? Does that mean... you were too?”
Elias’s eyes widened in shock, his face a mixture of disbelief and amazement.
Chong Yue and Eika exchanged a knowing glance and nodded, confirming their shared fate.
Elias scratched his head with a sheepish grin, his voice tinged with embarrassment:
“S-Sorry, um... I’m Elias Lüftner. I’m sort of an inventor, though... I don’t have any famous inventions or anything.”
He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head.
“I’m Nahla Al-Riyah. You can just call me Nahla.”
The black-haired girl’s voice was soft and timid, her head lowered slightly as if shy.
“I’m Chong Yue. Just graduated, no stable job yet, haha.”
Chong Yue laughed heartily, his tone light and casual.
“Tsukimi Eika. Just call me Eika.”
Eika’s voice was cool and clear, her tone crisp and to the point.
After the introductions, the tension between them eased, and the atmosphere became noticeably more relaxed.
“So, since you were also brought here, I’m guessing theTitan''s Peak is your destination too?” Chong Yue asked as they began walking.
“Yeah, when I was being transported, I heard a voice telling me to go to Titan''s Peak.”
Elias nodded and continued, “And then on the way, I ran into Nahla, who was also headed there.”
He gave a lighthearted smile, his expression open and genuine.
“If that’s the case, why don’t we travel together?” Chong Yue suggested, then looked over at Eika.
“I don’t mind,” Eika replied simply, her tone firm and trusting.
“That’s great! Thank you so much!”
Elias’s face lit up with excitement, his gratitude evident.
“By the way, Elias, judging from your accent... are you German?”
Chong Yue asked curiously.
“Ah, is my accent that obvious?”
Elias scratched his head, his expression slightly embarrassed.
“No worries, no worries. I’m Chinese; I’m sure I’ve got an accent too.”
Chong Yue burst out laughing, his voice hearty and carefree, easing the atmosphere even further.
The two boys exchanged glances, their guard lowered as they began chatting and getting to know each other.
While the boys were engrossed in conversation, the atmosphere on the girls’ side was much quieter.
Nahla occasionally stole glances at Eika, her demeanor timid and reserved.
Her head was slightly bowed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, as though she wanted to speak but was too shy to do so.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Eika noticed her discomfort and asked gently.
“N-No... I’m fine...”
Nahla quickly shook her head, her cheeks flushing even more.
Eika’s lips curled into a soft smile, her gaze warm and understanding.
Her eyes drifted to Nahla’s pouch, where a small corner of herbal leaves peeked out, and a familiar scent wafted from it.
“About the herbs from before... thank you.”
Eika’s voice was soft, filled with genuine gratitude.
Nahla’s eyes widened in surprise before a warm smile broke across her face:
“I’m just glad... you’re okay.”
As they continued on their journey together, the four of them laughed and chatted, the bonds between them growing stronger with each step.