《Cosmic Will: Destiny Awakening》
Chapter 1: The World Turns Upside Down
Blue flames surge across the sky, with purple tinges flickering within the fire. It¡¯s so beautiful, everyone at the beach party stares at it as if they¡¯re caught in a dream. The fire burns high and bright, its flames illuminating the night, clearing away the darkness at the beach.
Then I realized. Flames are rising from the resort. Everything there is burning, sending blazing fire into the sky.
¡°What the¡¡± My dress, my purse, everything I owned was in my room at the resort. Now, all I had just my phone.
As my mind is confused by what is in front of me, I can hear constant sound of waves hitting the shore, music playing from the party, and¡ a faint scream coming from the distance, from resort direction.
Bang! Loud sound echoes, Instinctively I turned to look¡
At the edge of the woods, a figure entirely in black, outfitted like an armed soldier on operation. He just stand there holding some kind of rifle in his hand.
Nearby him is a man in a T-shirt and short leggings lying motionless on the sand. Blood sprayed around him, and his shirt was soaked with deep red.
More black figures slowly walk out from the woods, each holding a gun. They didn¡¯t talk or give us any warning, just simply aim their guns at everyone.
"RUN!!!" someone scream desperately, his screaming sound cutting through cold wind at the beach party like a sharp knife, snapping everyone out of shock from horrifying situation.
Everything erupts into chaos. People scream and run as the relentless sound of gunfire swallows their cries.
Deafening sound of gunfires follow by peoples in front of me collapsing, like puppets with their strings cut. One by one, they dropped.
My hands began to shake uncontrollably as I try to move my stupid wheelchair, pushing harder than I ever have in my life. The wheels dig deeper into the sand.
¡°HELP!!! PLEASE HELP!¡± I yell, my little voice lost by chaos and gunfire.
Fear took my mind as I realize am trapped by my own wheelchair, I quickly look around for anything that could help, but everyone running for their life, am I going to get kill here?
Tears running down my face as I try calling out ¡°Help, anybody please help!¡± But no one stop to listen a disabled woman like me, I don¡¯t want to die!
Suddenly my wheelchair is pulled from behind. I turn and see a woman in waiter uniform. Drenched in sweat, Her face is pale, eyes wide with panic, she¡¯s gripping back of my wheelchair tightly and began dragging my wheelchair backward on sandy beach.
We move slowly but that was not fast enough, the waiter seem to realize that we cannot get away with me being in wheelchair on a sandy beach, she yell ¡°Hold on to me!¡± Without waiting for my response, she moves in front of me and squat down with her back facing me.
¡°Hurry! Hold onto me, we have to run! Now!¡± she shout with a trembling voice and a shaking body.
Instinctively I quickly grab the waiter shoulders, without missing a beat she uses her hands to grab my thighs firmly, holding me into piggyback ride before running away.
We arrive on another beach of the island, I cannot see the resort anymore but that blue flame is still visible in the night sky following with dark smoke, the sound of faint screams with gunshots still echo behind us.
She put me down behind big rocks on the beach, hiding me away from the views.
¡°You have to hide¡± As she told me, I can feel the desperation and determination in her voice.
¡°W¡ Wait! Please don¡¯t leave me alone.¡± My hands are still trembling with fear, it is suffocating me.
¡°There should be a fishing boat somewhere along the beach! I¡¯ll try to find it and come back for you with help¡ Just stay hidden for a while¡± She look into my eyes with tense emotions.
After a long look, she turns around and starts walking.
¡°T¡ª Thank you, please survive¡± I do understand her, In situation like this, me being disabled wouldn¡¯t help anything but only to slow her down. I feel this emotion my whole life when other people leave me behind.
¡°My name is Emma¡± Without stop or look back, she told me her name.
¡°My name is Zara¡± After I told her my name she just kept walking.
¡°I come back for you, hide there, wait for help¡± She start running again after speaking to me, I can see her shoulder still trembling, hope she find some help.
After Emma''s footsteps fade away, My breathing slowly steadies as I press my back against the cold rock, trying to make myself as small as possible.
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Phone! I pull it from my phone with shaking hands, the screen blindingly bright in the dark. It flashes across my face for a moment before I see¡ª no signal. I quickly try to lower the brightness, but it doesn''t make the situation any better.
Then something inside hit me.
"Mom..." The word escapes as barely a whisper but its weight crushes me inside. Mom is still in that resort. She had a migraine after dinner and went back to our room to relax a bit, she told me she will come join beach party later¡
I stare at my useless legs stretched before me in the sand. Twenty-one years old and still needing mother for everything. Trapped here and unable to do anything. Bitterness rises up in my throat.
She''s the only one who stayed after the accident. Who never made me feel like a useless person... Tears stream down my face as I picture her trapped in that burning building. Is she okay? Is she even alive?
I peer around the edge of the rock. The beach stretches empty and dark in both directions. Emma said she''d find a boat, but what if she doesn''t come back? What if something happened to her?
"I can''t just sit here." I mutter, pulling myself forward. My arms hurt as I drag my body along the sand¡
But where do I go? Crawling to the resort and helping stop the fire? That is ridiculous!!!
I bite my lip hard, trying to stop the wave of frustration crashing inside my mind. What could I even do?
Pushing myself back behind the cold rocks, curling on myself as exhaustion settles in. Cold winds from the sea hit me constantly and the sound of waves crashing against the shore feels like a rhythmic, screams quieted down a lot¡ only the occasional gunfire echoing through the night.
I just need to stay hidden, everything''s gonna be ok, mom''s gonna be ok, she will come here with that stupid wheelchair and pick me up, It''s gonna be alright¡
Been awhile since Emma left, maybe she not coming back any more, maybe she is dead already. I kept checking my phone for any signal. All I wanted was to hear my mom''s voice, just for a second, just to know she was okay. But the signal remained dead.
It¡¯s around 2am now, it awfully quiet, too quiet. The night had been filled with screams and gunfire before. But now... nothing, like everything previously is just a bad dream.
Am not sure what to do next, Am I gonna wait here until morning? Or maybe I should crawl back to the party and¡ Just imagine the scene make my body tremble again, I can¡¯t go back that way.
The silence stretches on, pressing down on me like a heavy weight. Cold air bites at my skin, but I barely feel it. My body exhausted from fear and adrenaline.
A sudden noise makes me freeze. A faint ringing sound, soft but distinct. Like a tiny bell swaying in the wind.
I hold my breath, straining my ears. It¡¯s close. But what is it?
Then another sound. ¡°Meow¡ª?¡±
Out of the darkness, a sleek black shape moves toward me. It walks gracefully across the sand, tail swaying lazily.
"It''s just a cat." I pat the sand beside me, trying to signal it to come closer.
But then my eyes lock onto something unusual. A delicate piece of jewelry shining in the moonlight hanging from its tail with a small golden bell attached to it.
I stare at black cat with weird jewelry and a bell hanging from its tail, but the strangest part is that its eyes remain shut but somehow I can feel it looking directly at me.
Something is wrong with this cat¡ It moves toward me but ignores the spot I patted. Instead, it sits at the end of my legs, staring with its closed eyes curiously.
¡°You couldn¡¯t walk, yet survive the massacre.¡± The black cat speaks in a soft pleasing male voice, gentle yet feels like someone with absolute authority.
Maybe I''m hallucinating or just too tired. Am I imagining a talking cat now?
The cat shake it head slightly ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone coming to help you though.¡±
"Then what? Are you going to help me, talking cat?" Funny enough, I start talking to it.
The air around this cat feels surprisingly calm.
"Hahaha!" It laughs revealing sharp fangs, while covering its mouth with a paw. "You¡¯re funny. It¡¯s been a long time since a human talked to me like that."
¡°Oh god, Suddenly a cat talking to me, Maybe i''m gone insane.¡± The cat walks around me as if it''s investigating something amusing, But I didn¡¯t care anymore.
I press my back against the cold rock, my breathing shallow. Everything feels like it¡¯s spinning out of control. This isn¡¯t real. None of this can be real.
My hands shake uncontrollably as tears blur my vision. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± The words escape before I can stop them. I bite my lip, but it doesn¡¯t help. Desperate seeps in, tightening around my chest.
¡°Where¡¯s my mom? Is she... is she still alive? And how am I going to survive? Anyone please, please help me¡± I¡¯m talking shakily through my tears, as the cold night presses on me.
¡°You¡¯re probably dead soon,¡± The black cat continues. ¡°Maybe they found you and killed you off. Maybe no one find you and the night will claim you.¡± It voice carrying a strange unsettling calm to it.
¡°I feel so tired, so cold¡± Exhaustion and helplessness sinking inside, eating me alive.
The black cat stop walking around me and sit in front of me again ¡°Your life is fading away, I can feel your destiny ending here.¡± The cat keeps talking, but I¡¯m no longer focusing on the words. I just listen to its soft, gentle voice. Oddly calming.
¡°Hmm¡ Since I am here I¡¯ll give you a helping paw, It will change your fate¡± Then I feel something¡ My eyes snap open. The cat is pressing a paw against my leg. A strange sensation, lost and forgotten.
After the car accident I couldn¡¯t feel my legs anymore. But now I can feel it. The cat''s paw is warm, firm yet gentle. A tingling sensation spreads from the point of contact like ripples in still water.
¡°Consider yourself lucky, funny human¡± I stare in shock at the situation, Golden light begins to shine from that paw press on my leg ¡°Let see what destiny will take you. Interesting isn¡¯t it?¡± The light keeps on growing brighter.
My mind snap back as I try to yell ¡°What are you doing, What happe¡ª¡±
¡°Don¡¯t worry weak human, oh almost forgot, I should bestow you with some gift, that will be ok, Maybe.¡±
Golden light engulfed me, blinded my eyes. Too much light¡
The beach settles back into its serene stillness. Waves lap tirelessly against the shore, while the cold wind whispers through the sand. Night sky with countless stars casting a timeless unchanging feeling over everythings.
Zara isn¡¯t behind the rock anymore; only her phone lies on the sandy beach.
Chapter 2: Capture? by Elves
Emma lies against the cave wall, seemingly unconscious from blood loss. Blood seeps from her stomach, draining her life away slowly. A dark stain marks the wall behind her, evidence of her desperate struggle to reach this place.
A soft jingle echoes through the cave as a sleek black shape emerges from the darkness, its fur glistening softly, inviting to the touch. Moments later, a burst of golden light illuminates the cave walls.
Sunlight bathes a pristine white beach, where gentle waves lap at the shore, stretching far beyond sight and painting a beautiful landscape.
Two elf hunters walk along the beach, wearing coats and leather armor, each carrying a bow on their back. One holds a fishing spear, while the other carries a fishing rod made of dark wood. They scan their surroundings, searching for a good spot.
Shorter elf begins speaking. "This spot looks promising. I sense we¡¯ll catch something big today, don¡¯t you think?"
"You sense something big? Last time, the ''monster of the deep'' you sensed turned out to be a rather large clam," Taller one teases with a smirk.
¡°Don¡¯t blame me! The sea provides what she will. But anyway, did you hear that story?¡± Shorter elf asks.
¡°You¡¯re talking about that red dragon flying over the forest? I didn¡¯t see it myself, but my friend te¡ª¡± He suddenly stopped, his gaze shifting. ¡°Wait, someone¡¯s there.¡±
The elves fall silent and cautiously move to investigate.
"Hmm¡ why is it so hot?" Zara wonders as the sun shines brightly, warming her back. She lies face-down on the beach, her dress muddy and wet, her hair resembling a bird¡¯s nest, disrupting the natural beauty surrounding her.
A wave crashes against her legs and thighs. ¡°Huh?¡± Startled, she wakes on the sand, the sea hitting her back relentlessly. Zara begins to crawl, struggling to escape the shore. Her legs feel frail, moving awkwardly, as if she hasn¡¯t used them in ages.
After a fierce struggle, she reaches the shade of a tree line along the beach and leans back against it to rest.
I try using my hands to brush off the sand that clings to my dress. For some reason, I can move my legs now¡ What a relief! I cautiously touch them, they feel weak but responsive. And I can actually move them!
Sitting there, I can¡¯t help but smile at my legs. ¡°YES! YES!!!¡± I shout, excitement and happiness storm inside.
¡°Who are you?¡± a voice interrupts my celebration.
¡°My name is Zara, but that doesn¡¯t matter! Look! I can move my legs now!¡± I wiggle my left toe, showing off my newfound ability.
¡°Uh¡ nice. I guess?¡± The voice replies back awkwardly.
¡°Oh! You can¡¯t use your legs before?¡± another voice chimes in.
¡°Yeah! I couldn¡¯t walk due to a severe spinal injury. It¡¯s been a pain for so long. But yesterday, a black cat touched me, and now I can start to move them! Can you believe that?¡± I reply, my excitement rushing through. If I build up my leg muscles enough, maybe I could walk again¡ even run!
"That''s nice, but you''re on our territory," A tall figure stepped into view. He appears almost ordinary at first, wearing worn-looking coats and leather armor. But as I focus, I notice the details, a slight chubbiness softens his features, and a pair of long, sharply pointed ears peek out from beneath his short blond hair, revealing his nature. Beside him stands another elf, shorter and fitter, like a cheetah.
My heart races as I realize I''ve been talking with two elves. Wait¡ Elves!?
¡°Vael, we need to report this to the Chief. A human this far into our territory¡¡± Smaller elf says seriously, glancing at me. ¡°Could you carry her back?¡± After Vael nods, the smaller elf leaps into the trees, jumping from branch to branch into the depths of the forest.
I try to stand, but my legs aren¡¯t strong enough. I slumple back against tree trunk with my butt and a frustrated cry. ¡°Aww!¡±
Vael looks at me curiously yet calmly. ¡°Are you capturing me?¡± I ask, a hint of humor and awkwardness in my voice.
He thinks for a moment before replying, ¡°You could say that, but if we leave you here, you might be killed by some beast in your current condition.¡± He points his fishing spear at my legs. The spear looks sharp and strong. It appears to be made from dark, sturdy wood with a sliver metal tip attached to it.
¡°Where are you taking me?¡± I ask, realizing my limited options.
¡°I¡¯ll bring you back to our chief. Maybe you can ask him to send you home. I¡¯m not sure either,¡± he says, pondering the situation. ¡°But first, we have to get there. Are you ready?¡± He takes a step closer to me.
"Wait a minute¡ªerr... Whoa!" Before I can protest, he scoops me up, hoisting me awkwardly by his side as if I were a luggage to be deliver.
I am face down, craning my neck to see forward. He is already halfway up a tree, leaping from branch to branch with surprising agility. The forest floor becomes a thrilling blur, like riding in a fast car, but this time I am facing downward through the trees. After my neck starts to feel uncomfortable from craning to look forward, and the forest looks all the same anyway, so I give up and just look at the blurring ground below.
I been a luggage for a while. Looks like we have arrived at some wooden house higher up in the tree, when the elf stops leaping.
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Vael sets me down on a wooden platform high above the ground. I see five elves standing in front of a small wooden house, waiting for us. Two of them look very old, dressed in fine robes, while the others appear younger, wearing leather armor similar to Vael¡¯s.
The old elf in the middle begins speaking. ¡°Vael, report everything back at the guild.¡± His expression is serious. Vael nods quickly, then jumps off, leaving me sitting on the wooden floor with the five remaining elves.
They do not speak at first, instead, they observe me silently. I try to stand, but it is challenging, so I crawl to a nearby fence and use it for support, hugging it tightly as I manage to stand.
The old elf finally breaks the silence. ¡°Who are you, and why are you here?¡± His voice is calm but carries a tone of seriousness.
¡°My name is Zara Grace, but I¡¯m not sure why I¡¯m here either. I woke up on the beach, Vael and another elf found me there,¡± I explain, still trying to make sense of my bizarre situation.
¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, young human, it¡¯s impossible for anyone to get lost and be there by any chance.¡± he replies, his brow furrowing in thought. ¡°But we are not barbarians. If you cooperate and tell us the truth, we will not resort to violence.¡±
I use the fence for support, but my legs begin to shake as I struggle to maintain my balance. The old elf¡¯s expression softens. ¡°You guys can bring her in,¡± he glances at me. ¡°We can continue inside.¡±
Inside the building, there is an empty table with two chairs. They place me in one, and the old elf that has been speaking takes another seat. Another old elf stands beside him, remaining silent. One of the younger elves approaches the table and places a cloth and a crystal ball in the center.
The old elf across from me begins speaking while looking directly at the crystal. ¡°This is chief Aelion Sunleaf. We found a young female human deep in our territory. she bears unmistakable markers of privilege, her clean skin and hands suggest a life untouched by the hardships of the common.¡±
He continues ¡°Tell us what happened and how you managed to end up on our beach." He looks back at me.
¡°What is that crystal? Do we live and other people are watching right now?¡± Instinctively, I brush my hairs and face with my hands, trying to adjust my manner.
The old elf raises an eyebrow. ¡°No, the crystal is merely a recording device.¡± He pauses. ¡°Do you understand that you are being held captive and investigating right now?¡± His gaze is focused and curious.
¡°Yeah, I noticed. But you didn¡¯t tie me up or put a rope on me,¡± I reply, trying to smile and appear friendly.
Chief Aelion pauses for a moment before responding. ¡°Well¡you seem harmless and pose no threat.¡± He continues without pause. ¡°Could you now explain why you are here?¡±
I recount the events from the previous night. As I speak, I can feel the interest from all the elves in the room, they listen intently. It is a strange sensation. Never have I experienced this level of attention on me before.
"After the black cat touched me with its paw, a golden light appeared. I passed out. Later, I woke up on the beach, where you guys found me." When I finish, I feel a mix of emotions about the events, mostly my inability to do anything¡
¡°Err¡to be honest, I¡¯m kind of lost and not sure what to do,¡± I admit, attempting to smile despite how stiff my face feels.
Chief Aelion stands up and exits the room, followed by another elder beside him. They look deep in thought, leaving me unable to discern their expressions.
Three younger elves remain inside, their eyes gleaming with curiosity as they watch me. My story does sound fascinating, doesn¡¯t it?
¡°Can I have some water?¡± I ask, a little bit thirsty. One of them comes closer, handing me a leather pouch. I drink some water before placing it back on the table.
The chief came back with the same elder, seem like they were discussing something about me outside.
Aellion addressed me ¡°I feel nor ill or malicious intent from you. But to be safe, I will examine your Mana.¡± As he speaks, I notice the tension in the room easing a bit.
He steps closer, looking at me expectantly. Unsure of what is to come, I simply sit still, waiting.
¡°Give me your hands,¡± he requests, a hint of annoyance creeping into his tone. ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± I reply, extending my hands toward him. He grasps them firmly, closing his eyes. ¡°Try to relax and clear your mind.¡±
An unfamiliar feeling... like foreign waves of energy invading me.
Aellion speaks, gaining my attention. ¡°Faint trace of mana¡you have an innate talent for magic,¡± he continues. ¡°Normal human strength¡weaker than expected¡¡± Suddenly, his eyes shoot open, his brow furrowing as he looking at me intently. ¡°An energy glowing from your right thigh¡ a mark? It¡¯s giving off energy by itself. The energy felt ancient¡¡± He pauses abruptly, releasing my hands.
¡°Child, show me your right thigh,¡± he says, his tone now far more serious than before. A wooden staff with a sharp crystal rests in his hand. The other old elf beside him frowns, and I can see that the younger elves appear pale.
At first, I didn''t recognize it. Then, suddenly, the atmosphere grows heavy, pressing down upon. My hands tremble uncontrollably as sweat runs down my skin, soaking into my dirty dress. A deep, paralyzing fear takes hold of me, more intense than anything I have ever experienced. It isn¡¯t just fear¡ it is the horrifying certainty that I am about to die. My chest tightens, and my breathing turns shallow and rapid.
"I don¡¯t know anything! I¡¯ve never even seen elves before, and I don¡¯t have any bad intentions! Please don¡¯t hurt me!¡± The words cry out from my lips as panic overwhelms me. I grip the table tightly.
At first, I didn¡¯t notice it. Then, suddenly, the air grew heavy, like an unbearable weight pressing down from the old elf. My hands trembled uncontrollably, and sweat ran down my skin, soaking into my dirty dress. A deep, paralyzing fear. More intense than anything I had ever felt. It wasn¡¯t just fear, it was the terrifying certainty that I was about to die. My chest tightened, and my breathing turned shallow and quick.
"I don¡¯t know anything! I¡¯ve never even seen elves before, and I don¡¯t have any bad intentions! Please don¡¯t hurt me!¡± The words cry out from my lips as panic overwhelms me. I grip the table tightly.
Then, as suddenly as it arrived, the heavy air vanishes, leaving no trace. But I am still shaking, drenched in sweat. The old elf approaches me, his staff now gone, replaced by a knife. Its blade gleams with a faint, soft blue light, the glowing blade looks so beautiful with its faint blue radiance light.
¡°W-wait!¡± But before I can react, something incredible happens. Aellion arm blurs, moving too quickly for my eyes to follow, and in an instant, the knife is gone, peacefully tucked away.
¡°Hm?¡ a cat paw?¡± The old elf studies my thigh with interest. I glance down and, to my surprise, see a perfectly cut square hole in my dress, ruined.
¡°Hey, that¡¯s my dress!¡± I exclaim, a little angry. But as I look closer, I notice something odd. A small cat paw tattoo on my thigh. It looks cute, but am I too old for this? That black cat¡
Lost in thought and forgot to pay attention. The old elf touches the tattoo with his index finger, his expression serious as he eyes closed, putting all his attention into Mana flow. ¡°A curse? No¡The mana it giving off something far greater. A gift?¡Bestowed from higher up. From where? No¡Wait!!!¡±
Aelion suddenly on his knees, he hit wooden floor hard. He looks pales and sweat also dripping down from his face. Though he has withdrawn his finger from the mark, his hand continues to tremble.
He stands up and picks the crystal ball before speaking with cracking voice "Zara Grace, we will let you know what we will do with you later." He then walks to the door, not giving me any opening to ask. He looking even paler as he walks away. The younger elves exchange worried looks before following him out, leaving me without any explanation of what has just occurred.
I sigh, exhausted and confused about everythings. And a deep sense of helplessness as I keep getting pushed around, unable to control anything.
Chapter 3: Call from the Council
The first few days included me hugging the wooden walls for support, forcing myself to walk around. My legs ached, but the best thing about it was that my leg muscles started to grow. Every day, they got stronger.
The wooden house was small but functional. There was a bathroom, if it could be called that, a large wooden barrel filled with water sat in the corner, with a small wooden bowl floating inside.
On my way back, I noticed a small wooden shelf nearby. On it was a blue crystal, about two inches in size, glowing faintly. A few candles were placed beside it.
The bedroom was simple, a wooden bed with a clean sheet, an empty cabinet, and just enough space to move around. A bit cramped, but it felt comfortable.
Every morning, a female elf would bring me some food. Fruits, fish, meat, or vegetables. She usually don''t cook the fruits and vegetables, I have to eat them as they are. But the fish and meat are cooked, grilled, fried, or in soup.
Mostly, she just gives me a basket filled with various fruits and calls it a day. The food is delicious, although some fruits aren''t to my taste, still, I''m not picky. If the female elf feels generous, she might bring me some meat as well.
I have talked a lot with the female elf. Apparently, her name is Ellun, and she owns a small restaurant in town. I tried to thank her for the food, but she told me it was the chief''s order and that he had paid for it. She insisted I shouldn¡¯t worry about it.
I noticed that every time Ellun came by, she would go into the bathroom to check if the barrel had enough water. If it wasn''t full, she would refill it using the blue crystal from the shelf. I tried to ask her how to use it, and she simply responded, ¡°Just guide your Mana to the stone.¡± When I asked her to teach me, she said she was just a restaurant owner and didn''t feel confident teaching anyone about magic.
As she visited me every day, I persistently asked her about Mana and magic crystals until she finally gave up. She explained that when she was young, her father had taught her about magic.
She didn''t know anything fancy, just utility magic for everyday life. Things like Small Flame to start a fire or Generate Water to fill the barrel. The crystal is just a medium to make it easier to use magic, like the small blue crystal in my room¡ Well, this is where I live now, shouldn''t that make it my house? Anyway, that blue crystal has an affinity for water, which means it''s easier to use it to cast Generate Water.
She said, ¡°Try to feel your Mana inside. When you can feel it, hold the crystal and guide your Mana to it. Then, imagine water being created while saying ''Generate Water''" She told me that¡¯s what she does, and it works... I thanked her anyway.
Lately, my routine has consisted of walking around, eating whatever Ellun brings me, trying to train my Mana, and talking with some elves when possible. Apparently, this house used to be, and still is, a post for patrol units and elf hunters to meet or conduct their activities.
I met some of them on the wooden platform in front of my house. It¡¯s like a small front lawn, not spacious and higher up in the tree, but the view is nice and beautiful. The elves didn''t bother to lock me in the house, but there¡¯s always an elf outside to check on me. It seems like the chief just added a shift to the patrol unit to take care of me.
They brought another water barrel and a small table with chairs outside¡ Because I''m using the house. Sometimes, they also bring fish and animals to clean here. Some even collect fruits and place them in a bowl on the table outside for anyone passing by to have a bite.
It''s been around a month since I''ve lived here, my legs are stronger now, more functional than ever!
Currently, I am sitting cross-legged, trying to imitate a monk. I discovered that if I meditate and maintain focus while training to control Mana, the process becomes easier. Now, Ellun doesn¡¯t have to refill my water barrel no more! I handle that myself, I even refill the barrel outside if someone forgets to do so.
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The more I practice, the better I become. At first, I could only produce 1 or 2 glasses of water, but with daily practice, I can now easily refill a barrel.
¡®Knock, knock, knock.¡¯ Someone is knocking at my door, breaking my concentration and focus.
¡°Moment, please.¡± I open the door to find a male elf, one of the patrol unit members who keeps watch on me. Usually, this guy doesn''t talk much, maybe he needs something? ¡°Yeah?¡± I ask.
¡°You have been summoned by the council, and I am the one tasked with bringing you to the Great Tree,¡± he replies in a monotone voice, continuing, ¡°Please follow me.¡± I answer, ¡°W-wait! At least let me clean myself up first.¡± He pauses for a second to think. ¡°That is alright; I will wait for you outside.¡±
The council summoned me? What is the council, anyway? Normally I¡¯m not allowed to leave this house''s premises. Once, when I tried to use the ladders on the platform outside leading down to the ground floor, an elf appeared out of nowhere and told me to stop or they would have to use force and might tie me up if necessary. Well, I do not wish to be tied up or beaten down by these guys, so I obliged.
After taking a bath, I came out to see him sitting at the table outside, waiting for me. ¡°How are we going to get there?¡± I asked, thinking about how I arrived here, being carried like luggage. Are we going to do that again?
¡°We walk there?¡± The elf replies, looking at my legs. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s cool with me,¡± I reply back with a bit of confidence. The man leads me down the ladder to the ground floor and into the woods. I follow closely, trying to keep up with him.
We walk for a while until I start to see some elves passing by. The forest gets thicker, and I can see some houses built along the trees. Many elves look at me with curiosity, while some regard me with shock or suspicion. I just smile back, trying to be friendly.
My legs start to ache, but I want to push through. I''m sweating a lot from this long walk. The elf leading me notices but says nothing. Occasionally, he hands me his water pouch from his belt. More and more elves pass by us, and before I know it, we are already in the middle of the town.
The dirt path we walk on still remains dirt, but it has transformed into a city. Many wooden structures can be seen, shops and restaurants line up on the side of the walkway, a tavern with a beer sign and a potion shop with an herb sign. A smell of soup hits my nose, there are many kinds of food stalls too! It feels like a market.
At first, I try smiling back to all the elves looking at me, but the increase in their numbers hit me hard¡ If I were to be curse to look back at anyone staring at me right now, I would die instantly from that curse. Anyway, it seems like we arrive at a big building built around one huge tree on the ground floor.
Its trunk is enormous, bigger than the trees around it. Along the trunk are many buildings and platforms connected to the surrounding trees, making this place feel like the heart of the city. I can''t see the top of the tree because there are too many elf houses and platforms built between the branches. Some platforms even connect multiple trees into a single floor. I wonder how many floors there are until the treetop.
I''m sweating rivers right now, my legs shaking as if I just finished a marathon. The elf leading me hands me his water pouch again, but this time, with his other hand, he gives me a thumbs-up. ¡°Thanks,¡± I tell him before I drink the water to quench my thirst. He has already opened the door and walks inside, so I just let myself in, instinctively following him.
The room inside is heated with arguments. ¡°We have to reduce the taxes on our outer city for the dwarves!¡± ¡°No! We can''t let the dwarf economy grow stronger.¡± ¡°But humans are waging their war soon! We need more metals for our weaponry!¡± ¡°If we lower the taxes, the dwarves will sell us more materials, but the humans won¡¯t remain still for sure!¡± I follow the elf to the back of someone''s seat. He is also arguing at the round table. Isn¡¯t that Chief Aelion? He is sitting in one of the chairs, deep in thought. He hasn¡¯t come back to check on me since we met, it looks like he¡¯s busy with all the management stuff.
The room contains ten seats facing a round table, resembling a meeting room with empty space at the entrance. ¡°Have any scouts spotted that red dragon yet? Shouldn''t we send out more to locate it?¡±
Wow¡ a red dragon! What would it look like? A huge dinosaur with wings? ¡°It already flew away, we should send more scouts to our borders. The humans are closing in¡ Wait a minute.¡±
I¡¯m looking at the table with interest, filled with ideas about a dragon! I have high hopes for this! Before I know it, the whole table is looking this way. I turn my face to check the elf who brought me here, maybe he has something to add? He is also looking back in my direction? I glance at the elf sitting in front of us, he also twists his head back, looking at me too?
¡°Um¡ Maybe that red dragon is just boring, flying around to check things out?¡± I reply, trying to contribute to the question. ¡®Where is that red dragon?¡¯ ¡°Possible¡ It might come out to check the world¡¯s situation,¡± one of the elders speaks. He continues, ¡°Could you move to entrance area, Zara?¡±
I nod and walk to the entrance area, everyone looking at me. Suddenly, something clicked inside my head!
Jeez, I¡¯m the topic now. I realized the situation and prepared myself for the worst!
Chapter 4: Zara the Lost
I glance around ten seats, two are empty. Aelion sits beside another old elf, the one who agreed with me about the red dragon. They''re dressed in fine linen with patterns and silver lining. Some wear layered tunics, others long robes with ornate belts. The craftsmanship looks expensive.
¡°We found her north of our forest, where our borders meet the sea,¡± Aelion states firmly before continuing. ¡°She appears to be a normal human, but I doubt she is from our world.¡±
As he finishes, silence falls over the room. Everyone just stares at me intensely, like we¡¯re in a staring contest.
One of the elves stands up and walks toward me. He says, ¡°Extend your hand, young woman.¡±
He extends his own hand as well, and before I realize it, we¡¯re now shaking hands. No¡ I can feel his Mana seeping into my body. It¡¯s like the first time Aelion investigated me, but this time, it feels softer, not as overwhelming as before.
The elf releases my hand and returns to his seat, his expression unchanged and unreadable. It¡¯s as if those heated arguments never happened before, and I wasn¡¯t meant to witness it.
Another elf stands up and walks toward me. She¡¯s beautiful, her slim body firm and strong. Her blue eyes and long, light golden hair add to her beauty, her figure is highlighted by the curves of her chest. Looking at her mountains, I feel defeated even though we not fighting.
I extend my right hand into a shaking position. She pauses for a moment looking at my face, her innocent look tells me she doesn''t understand why¡ She never will!
"Are you alright?" she asks with a concerned voice. "Please, continue." I brush it off, pressing to continue. I take her hand and squeeze it lightly. Hm... soft.
"As she begins to pour her Mana into me, it feels... polished, more refined, and smoother. After she finishes checking my Mana, she walks back to her seat.
I glance around to see if anyone else wants to check my Mana. Surprisingly, they do the same, looking among themselves. After a moment of everyone silently scanning the room to see if anyone else wants to shake my hand, the female elf speaks up.
¡°Tell us who you are. Be truthful, this affects our decision regarding your situation.¡± Her expression is natural and unreadable.
¡°When I was six years old, a car hit me on the road in front of my house. Ever since, I couldn¡¯t walk again¡¡¡± I told them a summary of my life. This feels more like an interview than a council meeting now. It took a while to finish my story, the story was boring, honestly. What did I even do during that time? Study, play games, or watch something online?
I wrap up everything. ¡°My mom brought me to a resort party on a private island. Someone must have attacked the place. I escaped and a black cat helped me. Later, I woke up in this world on your beach.¡±
After I finish my story, the female elf speaks. ¡°You may go now. We will discuss your situation among ourselves.¡± She speaks with authority in her voice this time.
Shocked by the response, I notice the patrol guy walking toward me. I raise my voice, speaking louder than usual. ¡°Wait! At least let me know what you guys will do with me!¡±
Everyone seems a bit shocked, like I¡¯m going off their script.
The female elf collects herself and begins speaking. "Taking your life serves us no benefit, young woman." She continues, "The most likely outcomes are either sending you to the human empire or letting you live here."
I was taken aback by how reasonable that sounds. She continues, "But another key factor is that you are an outsider from another world..." She pauses, appearing to deeply consider the possibilities.
I hesitate before asking, "Is that bad?"
The female elf laughs a bit before replying, "Bad? Zara the Lost, our world is on the brink of a great war between four to five races, if my calculations are correct." She continues, no longer speaking to me, but calculating in her mind.
"A female human has been thrown across realms and heavens from another world to here," she says, exhaling. "Oh... But I wonder what the human empire will do if we actually send you there."
Wait... something feels off. They¡¯re probably at war with humans. I¡¯m a human talking to elves, and these elves look important too... Oh, wait...
"Let me stay, Pretty please?" I plead, unsure of what would happen if the elves sent me to the human empire. What if they tell them they found me, a stranger from another world, say goodbye, and leave me there. God, who knows what will happen next?
The female elf exhales again before standing up. "We shall grant you citizenship to live here in our forest. As a resident, you must follow our rules." Her voice shifts, now carrying authority and power.
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She orders, "Take her out now." The patrol guy grabs my arm and starts pushing me out. I yell, "Thank you!" Is she smiling? I''m not sure. The patrol guy is really serious about his job, I guess.
After Zara leaves the room, the female elf speaks to the empty doorway. "That mark... Keep track of her, and report to us if anything unusual happens."
A shadowy figure, resembling an elf, materializes. His presence is barely noticeable, as if he has merged with his surroundings. "Yes, Your Majesty," he replies before stepping back into the shadows.
I¡¯m standing outside with the patrol guy. He¡¯s just taken me out, and now we¡¯re standing in front of a large important building, right in the middle of the elf town.
"So now I can live here?" I ask, also uncertain of the question.
"The queen said so," he replies, showing no concern for my situation.
My head hurts just trying to make sense of everything right now. "We should go back to the patrol post," I tell him, feeling shy from all the staring.
Around us, many elves walk and go about their business along the walkway. Whenever someone notices the presence of a lone singular human, they all made pre agreement to stop and stare at me, as if the longest stare would win a million bucks or something.
Attention is becoming increasingly embarrassing. Walking around barefoot in a dirty white dress, I¡¯ve tried to hands wash it before but unsuccessful. The best feature of the dress is the square cutout around the thigh. Inside that perfectly cut hole is a cute cat paw tattoo¡
We walk for a while until I spot what looks like a clothing shop. I ask, "Could I go inside?" Pointing at the shop, the patrol guy turns back and nods.
The doorbell rings as I enter, but I don¡¯t see anyone inside. A female voice calls out from the back room, "One moment, please." I look around at the various clothes, some formal, some similar to what the elves in the town are wearing. Just simple shirts or extra-long shirts with pants. The lines and cuts are clean and well-made, each piece with its own style. Handmade, unlike \factory-made clothing back home.
¡°Hello guys, do you need¡¡± The shop owner steps to the counter and freezes, lose her word for a moment when she sees me. After a pause, she asks, "How may I help?" I explain that I want to exchange my dress for a shirt, pants, and sandals or shoes, I also mention that I don¡¯t have any money.
After inspecting my dress for a while, she tells me it¡¯s made from high-quality fabric. She agrees to exchange it for two loose linen shirts, two pairs of leather pants, a belt, and a pair of wooden sandals. I take one set to change in the fitting room, then come out, handing her the dress. She ties the other shirt and pants with some vines to pack them for me.
Now dressed in local clothing, I hope it will reduce the attention and help me blend in better. At least, that¡¯s what I think. We reach the patrol post, and the patrol guy just leaves. I guess I¡¯m no longer his responsibility?
I lie down on my bed, thinking about my situation and what to do next. The most important thing is that I need to make some money if I¡¯m going to do anything. Earlier today, while walking through the town, I saw an elf buy a grilled fish on a stick with a few brown coins. No one bothered to explain anything to me. Maybe I can try talking to Ellun tomorrow when she brings me something to eat¡
Morning comes as usual, but something feels strange. There¡¯s usually always an elf checking on me, even at night. Last night, I woke up to use the bathroom and checked outside, but I saw no one. Even when I tried to use the ladder to the ground floor, no one came out to stop me. It was too dark, so I didn¡¯t go down and just went back to sleep.
I sit at the table outside, meditating and waiting for anyone. Ellun didn¡¯t come to bring me food in the early morning either. It¡¯s been a while now, and my stomach is starting to protest.
Surprisingly, Aelion comes to visit me. He¡¯s accompanied by two young elves, each carrying a bulky bundle wrapped in brown leaves.
The young elves place the bundles in front of the house and begin to leave, while Aelion sits at the table outside, putting some fruit into a wooden bowl. I join him, curious about what he¡¯s putting in the bowl.
The purple fruit looks like grapes. It¡¯s sweet and delicious, so I aim for it and pop one into my mouth. Aelion watches but doesn¡¯t interrupt. After I finish some of the fruit and drink some water, he begins to speak.
¡°First of all, you are free to stay or leave as you choose. We will not take that away from you,¡± Aelion says. I nod as he continues. ¡°Second, those bundles are basic supplies for living, along with some dry food. We¡¯re giving them to you for free this time, but if you require more, you¡¯ll need to buy it yourself.¡±
¡°Third, everyone will be held responsible for their actions¡¡± Aelion continues, but I hear a construction noise, like someone hammering a nail into a wooden plank. I turn toward the sound to see the two elves who came with Aelion, hanging from ropes and working on something up in a tree nearby. They appear to be building something.
¡°Zara, are you listening?¡± Aelion asks, bringing my attention back to him. He sighs before continuing, ¡°Just don¡¯t do anything stupid, alright? Young human.¡±
He continues, ¡°You can use this patrol post as your home, and when you¡¯re free, go to the adventurer guild in town. I¡¯ll get you an identification card there.¡±
Once he finishes speaking, I ask, ¡°How can I make a living here?¡±
¡°That¡¯s a tough question, Zara,¡± Aelion replies. ¡°Our forest is blessed with fertility, and the area around town is relatively safe, thanks to the patrol units and hunters. It¡¯s not hard to find food. If you want to live here, try learning to gather food in the forest or fish in the sea.¡± He pauses briefly before continuing, ¡°But for a human to make money? You could try becoming a trader or an adventurer.¡±
I pause for a moment, then ask, ¡°How about learning magic? Would that help me make money?¡±
Aelion smiles slightly before answering, ¡°You could learn magic and become a mage adventurer. As an adventurer, you can complete tasks for money if you¡¯re strong enough.¡±
¡°Thanks, Aelion. I¡¯ll meet you at the adventurer guild later,¡± I say, and he simply nods before leaving.
Well, these guys are actually really reasonable people. Talking with them is a lot easier than talking to people back in my world¡
After Aelion leaves, I check the bundle they brought me. Inside, there are dry fruits, two bed sheets, a cooking pot, a water skin, a set of bamboo utensils, including a spoon, fork, and ladle, a hunting knife with a scabbard for safety, and a pouch of salt along with a few dried herbs for seasoning.
I hook the knife and scabbard to my belt before putting everything inside my house. As I prepare to leave, I can¡¯t help but feel excited about the adventurer guild!