[Alice POV]
A lot had happened the moment we entered the settlement.
Shariradevi's intimidating interrogation, Caelreth's privilaged discrimination, and Manovidya's mind-reading assault. None of them were situations I handled gracefully. If anything, I merely stumbled my way through each situation and somehow survived without getting kicked out.
Honestly, this entire day felt like I was dodging arrows while blindfolded.
"Haah... What a mess..."
Meanwhile, Ruhkkadevata let out a weary sigh and approached our group.
"Sorry for the trouble my two sisters have given you three."
Hearing her apologize, Cyrene quickly waved both her hands and forced an awkward smile.
"It's fine, Your Grace. They didn't cause us too much trouble. However..."
The pink-haired elf then turned towards me, guilt visibly written across her face.
"I'm sorry for suspecting you, Alice. I didn't know Lord Manovidya could read minds after all."
Listening to her confession, I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
"It's alright, Cyrene," I reassured gently. "It's not your fault you didn't know her secret ability."
Besides, I doubt anyone could've imagined that small gremlin was secretly browsing people's thoughts like an open library.
Ruhkkadevata, who had been silently listening nearby, suddenly tilted her head.
"Speaking of which," she whispered thoughtfully. "How did you actually figure out my sister's ability so easily, Alice?"
Crap...
For a split second, my thoughts nearly stopped.
I couldn't exactly tell her that I intentionally flooded Manovidya's entire head with multilingual nonsense, internet references, and basically weaponized stupidity until she short-circuited.
That would make me sound clinically insane.
"Well..." I hesitated briefly before responding. "I observed that she kept reacting to thoughts I never said aloud, especially when I started panicking earlier."
The white-haired elder blinked once before smiling faintly.
"How observant of you, Alice."
Wait... That actually worked?
"Still," Ruhkkadevata continued serenely, "you should be careful around Manovidya from now on. My older sister has a tendency to exploit negative thoughts whenever she was annoyed."
I immediately took her warning seriously.
So basically, if I ever spiral in front of her, I'm good as dead.
Note to self: never think embarrassing thoughts around the creepy psychic elf.
Also, did I hear something odd just now?
"Older sister? Don't you mean younger sister?" I asked, verifying if I misheard what she said.
The white-haired elder shook her head, chuckling a little.
"Despite her short stature," she clarified, "Manovidya was the eldest among us sisters."
Wow... What a twist.
This is one of those tropes where the siblings' heights are disproportionate to their ages.
But hold on, if that's the case...
"Does that mean Lord Shariradevi is the youngest sibling?" I pondered further.
"That's right," Ruhkkadevata answered, nodding in confirmation. "She's our little sister."
Oh my god, it is true.
I don't know if I could recover from this information.
Just imagining an ominous muscular mommy calling a tiny gremlin "big sis" is cursed enough.
"Anyway," the white-haired elder resumed while turning around gracefully, "follow me. I'll take you and Elinalise to your new residence, Alice."
With that command, Ruhkkadevata began walking towards the path leading to the residential sector. Cyrene, Elinalise, and I exchanged glances before we quickly followed her lead.
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After passing through the rest of the academic sector, we ultimately reached the quieter side of the residential sector once more. While walking along the dirt road, Ruhkkadevata glanced over her shoulder.
"So, how was your overall experience during the settlement tour?" she asked curiously.
"It was fantastic," I answered honestly. "We learned a lot about the settlement and its sectors all thanks to our trusty guide over here."
The moment I said that, Cyrene's face visibly brightened.
"R-Really?" she replied gladly while pointing to herself. "You actually enjoyed my explanations that much?"
"Of course," I confirmed, nodding without doubt. "Without you, we'd probably still be roaming around the residential sector looking completely lost."
Or worse, unintentionally stepping into the two elders' territories and triggering a near-death social interaction without a translator or mediator.
Cyrene let out a small laugh, clearly relieved by the compliment.
"Don't be silly, Alice," she whispered gently. "We elves don't typically get lost since we have a good sense of directions, but I'm glad the tour was useful then."
Looking ahead, Ruhkkadevata smiled before shifting her focus to my side.
"And what about you, Elinalise?" she asked gently. "Did you also enjoy the tour experience?"
....
However, no response came.
The white-haired elder blinked in confusion.
"Elinalise?"
I turned to the blonde elf beside me and immediately noticed something strange.
She had been quietly following us with a blank expression on her face this entire time, almost as though she were simply staring at the distance, completely oblivious.
Concerned by this, I lightly tapped her arm.
"Hey."
"Ah?!"
Elinalise flinched in surprise before she paused, staring at me with wide eyes.
"What is it?" she asked nervously.
Glancing back at Ruhkkadevata, she also stopped walking and tilted her head.
"I was asking if you also enjoy the tour experience."
"O-Oh..." Elinalise stammered awkwardly before lowering her gaze. "Y-Yes, I did."
Cyrene approached us and focused her gaze on Elinalise.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly. "You seem rather withdrawn since a while ago."
Hearing that, I suddenly remembered Manovidya's earlier cryptic message.
"Your friend has something going on within her mind."
Wait... Could it be?
I turned towards Elinalise again.
"Was something in your mind bothering you?" I asked cautiously. "Does this have anything to do with the earlier situations?"
Elinalise hesitated briefly before sighing.
"It's nothing serious," she muttered quietly. "I just felt... useless during the incidents involving the people of this place."
Her grip around her dress tightened slightly, tears pouring from her eyes.
"I couldn't understand the language at all," she admitted bitterly. "I couldn't defend Alice from those who use confusing words to harm her."
After she was done speaking, I delicately wiped her tears with my finger.
"Hey, don't say that," I whispered carefully. "Once Lord Manovidya provides us those learning materials, I'll show you how to speak the beast god language properly."
Elinalise sniffed at my response. "You'd really do that for me?"
"Of course," I answered without a second thought. "We'll learn this language together."
Besides, I refuse to let another big shot bully us while she stands there helplessly.
While we're having a moment, Ruhkkadevata stepped in and intervened.
"Speaking of language," she pondered thoughtfully, "how exactly were you able to regain the ability to speak our tongue, Alice? From what I recall, you claimed those memories were lost."
I paused briefly after hearing that question.
"It occurred during Lord Shariradevi's interrogation," I explained truthfully. "Cyrene was being driven to a corner, so I desperately forced my mind to remember the language somehow."
I lowered my gaze slightly while recalling the moment.
"Little by little, the words slowly... resurfaced until I could make a cohesive sentence to prove myself to her."
After speaking, I raised my gaze to see Ruhkkadevata listening before she smiled gently.
"How tenacious of you, Alice."
Hearing her praise made me rub the back of my neck.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
With that appreciation, we continued our way through the residential sector, crossing several more pathways that curved between enormous trees and flowing streams.
Finally, Ruhkkadevata slowed down until she stopped near a quieter part of the sector, where there were fewer treehouses positioned nearby.
The white-haired elder turned toward Elinalise and me.
"Welcome to your new home," she announced gently while gesturing to the side.
Following her hand, I slowly shifted my gaze ahead.
And there, beside a peaceful flowing river, was a lone yet mighty treehouse, standing proudly over a vast clearing.
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Upon seeing the treehouse, I couldn't help but stare in complete awe.
This place looked less like a house and more like a secret hideout of an overpowered hermit.
"I'm sorry for providing you two such an isolated residence," Ruhkkadevata apologized. "Most of the available treehouses in the main district of the sector were already taken."
The white-haired elder paused briefly before continuing.
"Not only that, but setting up another treehouse in that district would take several more days to complete," she explained. "As such, I had no choice but to prepare this one instead."
After hearing her reasoning, I waved my hand dismissively.
"It's fine, Your Grace," I reassured warmly. "The house you had provided us was already ideal, especially since the clearing is large enough to grow a garden in."
The moment I said that, Cyrene's eyes sparkled brightly.
"Oh, do you like gardening, Alice?" she asked excitedly. "I have plenty of flower seeds I could share with you."
"Really? That's nice," I replied appreciatively. "I'm looking forward to planting them together."
Cyrene clasped both hands happily. "Then I'll definitely bring the prettiest one tomorrow!"
Ruhkkadevata chuckled softly at our interaction before gesturing towards the enormous tree.
"Come along, everyone," she urged gently. "You should see the inside as well."
Following her guidance, the four of us headed toward the treehouse and started climbing the staircase spiraling around the enormous trunk. As we ascended higher, I observed something strange about the structure.
"Wait a second," I muttered curiously. "Why isn't the entrance found at the base of the tree?"
Cyrene glanced back at me while continuing upward.
"Because once every year, the Great Forest encounters a rainy season that goes on for three months," she explained. "If an entrance were built at the base, floodwaters would completely block access to the house."
After hearing that explanation, I nodded in silence.
Okay, that actually makes perfect sense.
Nevertheless, whoever designed these dwellings certainly had more brain cells than most of the fantasy architects I've seen in anime before.
Eventually, we arrived at the upper platform and entered through the opening carved into the tree itself. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened slightly.
The inner wood had been hollowed out, revealing a spacious living room lit by glowing crystal lamps embedded within the walls. A simple dining table stood nearby, surrounded by several chairs, with windows neatly carved into the room to keep everything well-ventilated.
Deeper inside, two smaller hollow sections branched off separately, both draped with fabrics to conceal what's on the other side.
Still, something about the structure doesn't feel right.
"Hold on," I muttered, glancing at the wall. "How is this tree still living after having so much of its inner wood carved out?"
Ruhkkadevata approached the inner wall between the two smaller cavities and gently placed a hand against it.
"The tree's central core is still untouched," she calmly explained. "As long as it remains intact, mana can continue flowing naturally between the roots and branches."
I blinked at the faintly glowing interior of the tree and blinked in amazement.
Fantasy biology really was built differently.
Looking around the living room again, I couldn't help but admire the atmosphere.
The furnishings were undeniably inferior compared to modern standards, yet the whole room somehow felt warm and comfortable at the same time.
"Honestly... this place feels perfect."
Ruhkkadevata smiled after hearing my reaction.
"I'm glad you like it," she replied softly. "Now then, why not check out your rooms as well?"
Elinalise and I exchanged glances, then parted ways to go to one of the smaller hollow areas.
Curious, I peeked inside the room I had chosen and immediately froze.
Other than a closet and a shelf, there was a beautiful bed made from polished wood standing at the far end. Resting above it was a thick leather mattress covered by a massive fur blanket and a feather-stuffed pillow that looked undoubtedly soft.
"No way..."
Slowly, I walked over to the bed and sat near its edge. Then—
Creak....
My whole buttock sank ever so slightly into the mattress, sensing its softness.
"This is the second greatest bed I've ever touched in my entire life."
"Pfft..."
Just outside of my room, I observed Cyrene burst out laughing while Ruhkkadevata elegantly covered her mouth, amused by my dramatic reaction. Seeing that, I pouted humiliatedly.
"I'm relieved that the bed meets your standard," the elder commented playfully.
"Actually, it exceeds them," I corrected immediately without hesitation. "I love it so much."
But in seriousness, I would've fought a dragon for this bed after today's nonsense.
Content with my response, Ruhkkadevata nodded approvingly before turning around.
"Then you should use it to rest for today," she advised gently.
Just as I was about to agree, something suddenly crossed my mind.
"What about Elinalise?" I interrupted. "Didn't you want to hear her opinion?"
Cyrene awkwardly glanced at the other room before returning her gaze to me.
"Actually..." she muttered sheepishly. "She fell asleep the moment she tested the bed."
Hearing that, I blinked a few times before climbing off my bed and taking a peek at her room.
Sure enough, Elinalise was totally out cold on her bed and didn't even bother to cover herself with the blanket.
Well, I can't blame her. She must be extremely tired from everything that has happened since we arrived at the settlement.
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Following the tour of our new home, Ruhkkadevata quietly headed towards the entrance and paused, glancing over her shoulder.
"I'll be taking my leave, you two," she bid farewell, waving her hand.
Seeing that, I waved back. "Thank you for everything, Your Grace."
With her job completed, the white-haired elder continued walking out the door.
Just then, Cyrene stepped closer to the entrance, her demeanor shifting as she clasped both hands behind her back, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.
"You know," she murmured softly, "today's been one hell of a journey."
Her eyes sparkled with a mix of joy and exhaustion as she began reflecting on the event.
"After all the places we'd been to, all the people we'd met, and all the challenges we'd faced," she continued, her voice gaining strength, "it felt as though it were a romantic story like none that has come before."
The pink-haired elf then glanced at me, tilting her head.
"You think so too, right?"
Hearing that, I widened my eyes briefly before smiling faintly.
"Yeah," I admitted honestly. "It kinda felt like we binge-watched an entire season in one day."
At my response, Cyrene raised an eyebrow in confusion. "We what?"
"Ah... N-Never mind," I stammered frantically. "Forget what I said."
The pink-haired elf chuckled lightly despite not understanding the reference. Afterwards, her expression brightened again as though she remembered something important.
"Anyway," she said excitedly. "I'll surely bring those flower seeds tomorrow, so don't forget."
"I'll hold you to that," I replied jokingly.
Cyrene nodded enthusiastically before stepping out of the doorway completely.
"See you tomorrow then, Alice."
With those final words, she descended the staircase and disappeared from sight, leaving the treehouse silent at last.
Afterwards, the atmosphere around the house completely changed.
No loud noises. No terrifying presence. No political tension.
Just silence. Complete utter silence.
"Finally."
Exhaustion immediately crashed into me.
So I slowly returned to my room, put my satchel down, and slumped backward onto the bed.
Fwump—
The supple mattress swallowed my body whole like a heavenly marshmallow designed by the gods themselves.
Staring at the wooden ceiling above, I let out a huge sigh.
Today really was insane.
At first, Elinalise and I were simply wandering the Great Forest.
But now, we're living inside a magical treehouse.
I slowly raised one arm towards the ceiling.
"Dear Universe," I muttered tiredly. "I hope tomorrow will get better."
Just as I closed my eyes and fell asleep, my elf ears suddenly picked up a noise.
tap... tap... tap...
Wait... footsteps?
Lifting myself off the bed, I quietly walked out of my room to peek into the living area.
And there, standing near the entrance of the treehouse, was Elinalise.
She was walking strangely, like a newly infected zombie, her hand clutching her stomach.
Confused by her behavior, I rubbed my eyes.
"Elinalise?" I called out. "Where are you going?"
She visibly flinched at my voice before awkwardly looking back.
"O-Oh?" she stammered softly. "I was just... going out for some fresh air."
I looked out the window and noticed the sky was turning red.
"At this hour?" I questioned worriedly. "But it's getting dark."
Elinalise lowered her gaze before forcing a reassuring smile.
"I'll be fine," she promised quietly.
Feeling skeptical, I reminded her. "Just come back soon."
After that, the blonde elf walked out of the doorway and headed down the staircase, leaving me slightly skeptical.
I hope she's okay.
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[Third POV]
Unbeknownst to Alice, Elinalise was far from okay.
As the blonde elf left the treehouse, she wandered deeper into the residential sector.
Her movements became increasingly unstable, forcing her to hobble along the dimly lit street as night slowly approached.
During this hour, the majority of the residents returned to their treehouses, leaving only a few elves remaining still walking about. Those who happened to cross paths with Elinalise slowed their steps and noticed something rather unsettling.
Her breathing came out unsteadily, her expression was unreadable, and her unfocused vision darted from one passing figure to another before quickly turning away.
Upon seeing her behavior, the residents quietly distanced themselves from her and gossiped among themselves.
"That elf is acting quite strange."
"Let's get out of here before she does something."
Elsewhere, in the same sector, the green-haired elf named Aerion sat alone at the side of the pathway with a sack resting beside him. He sighed deeply while tossing another sweet berry into his mouth.
"What a complete waste..." Aerion grumbled to himself.
After bartering those odd wine bottles earlier, he expected at least a decent reward. Instead, all he received was a small bit of food and a single amber shard barely worth bragging about.
"That stupid Grand Sage and his stupid rules..."
The green-haired elf leaned against a wooden railing behind him and stared at the night sky.
"Seriously, could this day get any more disappointing?"
He distractedly grabbed another berry from the bag before muttering beneath his breath.
"At this point, I might as well pray for a miracle or something."
Crunch...
The moment he finished speaking, a faint noise echoed nearby.
Tap... tap... tap...
Aerion paused mid-chew as his elf ears twitched.
Slowly, he turned toward the dim pathway ahead and noticed a silhouette emerging from the distance, shrouded by darkness. His brows furrowed immediately as he swallowed the sweet berry he was chewing.
"Who goes there?" he called out cautiously.
No response came at first, but then—
"Urggh...."
A strained groan resounded from the shadows.
Hearing that, the green-haired elf instantly stiffened.
"Nope!"
Without hesitation, Aerion hurriedly stood up, fully prepared to flee.
But before he could run, the nearby crystal streetlamp flickered brighter, revealing the figure coming closer. A blonde elf woman sickly stumbled forward, one hand clutching her stomach while her breathing remained ragged and uneven.
"Wait, isn't that one of the strangers from earlier?"
Mistaking Elinalise for Alice, Aerion's fear quickly faded and was replaced by worry instead.
Immediately, he rushed over toward her side and checked on her.
"Hey, are you alright, miss?" he asked carefully. "Do you need to see a healer?"
The blonde elf didn't answer and continued clutching her stomach.
Aerion noticed that and quickly rummaged through his small bag of sweet berries.
"Are you hungry?" he asked before handing her a few bites. "Here, take some."
However, Elinalise failed to respond, unable to comprehend the beast god language. Instead, she slowly raised her head to meet Aerion's gaze.
The moment he saw her face, the green-haired elf was utterly surprised.
Her eyes were vacant, her whole face was deeply flushed, and a thin trail of drool shimmered faintly near the side of her lips as uneven clouds of mist escaped her mouth.
When Aerion saw her like a vicious animal, his expression changed to one of alarm.
"Lady?"
Before he could get a response—
Thud!
Without warning, Elinalise threw herself at him, her arms wrapping around his body.
"WOAH—!"
The impact sent both elves falling sideways straight behind a large bush near the pathway.
THWIP-SHHH—
Branches rustled violently upon collision.
Aerion immediately tried to push the blonde elf away in a panic.
"H-Hey! What are you—Mmpf?!"
Before he could finish, his protest was abruptly halted, turning it into chaotic muffles.
Afterward came a series of noises that could only be described as vague and questionable.
In the end, the residential sector was completely deserted for the evening. No one remained nearby to witness what exactly unfolded that particular night.