[Alice POV]
Elinalise was acting weird.
She has been quiet, spaced out, and clutching her stomach since we got to the settlement.
No, wait... Actually, she was like this even back when we were wandering the Great Forest.
While worrying about Elinalise, I gazed out the window, debating whether I should go outside and look for her or stay at home and wait for her to return.
Hmm... I supposed doing the latter wouldn't hurt anyone.
Besides, Elinalise was old enough to be out on her own. And the settlement was supposed to be a safe haven. Not only that, Cyrene had mentioned to me that elves showed a good sense of direction, meaning we wouldn't get lost easily.
Yeah, let's go with that.
With my mind made up, I grabbed a chair from the dinner table and placed it right next to the window before sitting down and waiting patiently. Every now and then, I glanced outside and squinted at the dark side of the residential area, hoping to catch sight of Elinalise returning.
Unfortunately, nothing happened.
Seconds became minutes, which eventually stretched into hours.
The once bustling sounds of the settlement had long faded away, replaced by the occasional rustling of leaves, the chirping of crickets, and the distant murmurs of flowing water from the nearby river next to our treehouse.
At some point, I rested my chin against the windowsill and groaned tiredly.
How long has it been already...?
The crystal lamps hanging along the residental pathways had dimmed substantially, covering the forest with a bluish twilight glow. Even the nighttime bugs started to chirp loud enough to bother my elf ears.
Yet there was still no sign of Elinalise, and the unease in my mind worsened.
Okay, this is starting to get concerning.
I glanced outside again and peered farther into the darkness than before.
Nothing. No footsteps. No voices. No blonde elf stumbling back towards the treehouse.
Seriously, did she wander off somewhere else?
What if she recklessly walked into another sector and offended one of the residents?
Or worse... What if she somehow left the settlement entirely?
My heart skipped a beat at the thought.
"Nope, that's enough waiting."
Without thinking twice, I left the treehouse and hurried down the spiraling staircase wrapped around the massive trunk before heading toward the main district.
The deeper I ventured into the residential sector, the more deserted it became.
During the daytime, the area was lively and bustling.
But at night? It was downright creepy.
The massive trees blocked out the majority of the moonlight, leaving the pathway illuminated only by dim crystal lamps erected on the side of the roads. The pale glow barely reached the surrounding plants, causing the deeper parts of the forest to look like an endless dark abyss.
Yeah... This feels like the kind of place where people mysteriously disappear.
Trying not to freak myself out any further, I cupped my hands around my mouth and carefully called her name out into the night.
"Elinalise?"
...
No response.
I continued walking through the deserted pathway, my footsteps crunching softly against the dirt and fallen leaves.
"Elinalise?" I called again, quieter this time. "Where are you?"
I tried my best not to shout loudly since the nearby residents were probably sleeping already. The last thing I needed was to be the outsider who disturbed the residential sector at night.
After searching through several pathways and clearings, my anxiety steadily worsened.
This doesn't make sense. Even with a good sense of direction, Elinalise should've been home by now or somewhere nearby. Unless...
No, don't even think about it.
I rubbed my temple and exhaled shakily.
Calm down, Alice. Panicking won't help you find her.
But before I could spiral any further—
tap... tap... tap...
I heard footsteps, causing my elf ears to twitch.
Immediately, I spun around towards the source of the noise.
There, emerging from the darkness between the crystal lamps, was a familiar figure.
"Elinalise?!"
I rushed towards her without hesitation.
The closer she got, the more disheveled she appeared.
Her hair was entangled with leaves and twigs, and her dress was covered with dirt. She also walked strangely, almost as if her legs were sore.
My eyes widened in dread upon seeing her condition.
"What happened to you?" I asked worriedly. "Are you hurt? Did someone do this to you?"
"I... don't really remember?" she muttered weakly. "I just woke up behind a bush somehow..."
After hearing her explanation, I blinked several times.
Behind a bush...?
For a brief moment, something about the situation felt unsettling.
Still, looking at Elinalise's fatigued expression, I couldn't bring myself to pressure her further.
Perhaps she just tripped somewhere and passed out.
Even though it sounded weird.
Suppressing my doubts for now, I carefully grabbed Elinalise's arm and supported her weight.
"Come on," I sighed tiredly. "Let's just get you back home first."
With that said, we returned to the treehouse.
-------------------------------------------------
When Elinalise and I made it back home, I helped her get cleaned up a little, taking the leaves and twigs out of her hair and giving her a new set of clothing out of her satchel. Groggily, she put on a medieval dress that Perugius had prepared back in the Chaos Breaker.
Afterward, I ushered Elinalise to her bedroom and made sure she was settled properly on her bed before pulling the fur blanket over her body.
"Sleep well, Elinalise," I whispered gently.
The blonde elf slowly turned her head towards me, her exhausted eyes barely open.
"Good night to you too..."
Moments later, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.
Seeing that, I quietly stepped out of her room and returned to mine. Honestly, after this day's nonsense, I was exhausted too.
Without bothering to change my clothes, I collapsed onto my bed and starred vacantly at the wooden ceiling above me.
Seriously... What happened to her?
The image of Elinalise stumbling out of the darkness replayed endlessly inside my mind.
The dirt on her dress, the tangled leaves in her hair, the weird soreness in her walk, and most importantly, the notion of her waking behind a bush.
No matter how I rationalize it, the explanation still sounded suspicious.
Eventually, my tiredness won against my curiosity, and I slowly closed my eyes.
Then darkness swallowed me whole.
...
.....
Somewhere within the darkness, I found myself standing alone beneath a pale silver sky.
A cold wind drifted through the endless, desaturated forest around me, causing the towering trees to sway unnaturally. Where the heck am I? Is this even the Lethariel Grove anymore?
In search of an answer, I decided to walk around and search the surroundings.
For a while, I found nothing but dense foliage with dull-colored leaves.
Not even a soul could be seen.
But a few minutes later, I saw someone familiar in the distance.
A blonde elf stood silently beneath the faded daylight, facing away from me.
"Elinalise?"
However, she wasn't alone.
Beside her stood a tall, ethereal figure whose appearance remained completely obscured, as though darkness itself was wrapped around their body.
A strange unease crept down my spine upon seeing it.
"Elinalise?" I called out again while walking towards her.
But then the ethereal figure reached for her hand, prompting me to stop.
The two slowly connected their fingers together before Elinalise leaned closer and kissed the figure without hesitation.
My eyes widened in horror at that sight.
"W-What are you doing to her?!"
Immediately, I broke into a sprint toward them.
"Who do you think you're kissing with?!"
However, the more I ran, the farther they became.
The distance between us stretched indefinitely, causing the trees to multiply in number.
"Elinalise!"
I kept running, shouting, and reaching out for her.
But no matter what I did, I couldn't catch up.
"Please come back!!"
Suddenly, my eyes snapped open.
"HAH—!"
I jolted upright on my bed while breathing heavily.
Morning sunlight poured through the bedroom window, illuminating the entire room in a warm golden glow. For a few seconds, I simply sat on my bed while trying to calm my heartbeat.
I then pressed a hand on my forehead and winced slightly.
What the hell was that dream?
Bits and pieces of it lingered in my mind, but the details were already hazy and distant.
Still, the unsettling feeling remained.
Slowly, I climbed out of my bed and stretched my sore body before quietly leaving my room.
While walking through the living room, the soft sunlight filtered through the windows, and the distant sound of flowing water from the nearby river echoed pleasantly in the background.
Eventually, I made it to Elinalise's bedroom and peeked inside.
The blonde elf was sound asleep, completely wrapped in the fur blanket like a cocoon.
Seeing her safe, I took a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, she's still there.
But then—
"Alice!"
A familiar female voice suddenly echoed from outside the treehouse.
Hearing that, I walked away from Elinalise's room and headed toward the living room window to glance outside. Down below, I saw Cyrene near the base of the staircase waving excitedly while holding something on her other hand.
"Hey there, Alice! Good morning!" she exclaimed cheerfully.
"Good morning to you too," I responded in kind. "What are you doing there?
"Why don't you come down here and find out!" she teased playfully.
Following her request, I headed outside through the entrance.
----------------------------------
After descending the staircase, I approached Cyrene, who was blissfully taking in the natural scenery while waiting for me. However, as soon as she noticed my presence, the pink-haired elf waved her hand enthusiastically.
"You finally came," she muttered, her voice tinged with joy.
"Here I am," replied awkwardly. "So what brought you here so early in the morning?"
Cyrene flashed me a cheerful smile before lifting a small sack directly in front of my face.
"Did you already forget what I promised you yesterday?" she asked playfully. "I brought some flower seeds so we could start a garden today."
Ah, right... I completely forgot about that.
Honestly, after what happened last night, my brain felt like someone dumped it into a blender and pressed the highest setting, barely remembering the promise I kept.
"Hey, Alice," Cyrene called out worriedly. "Are you alright? You look a bit pale."
I blinked once and snapped out of my thoughts.
"Y-yeah," I replied while rubbing the back of my neck. "I was just thinking about something."
"Okay..." she muttered doubtfully before suddenly grabbing my wrist. "Anyway, that's enough standing around—let's go gardening!"
Without hesitation, Cyrene dragged me towards the clearing beneath the treehouse.
"This looks like a nice spot," she declared proudly.
"Cyrene, I appreciate the enthusiasm," I admitted, "but we don't have any tools to start with."
Upon pointing that out, she proudly reached for her purple jacket and pulled out two wooden trowels she somehow prepared beforehand.
"No need to thank me," Cyrene boasted smugly. "I planned ahead for situations like this."
...Why does it feel like she has been waiting her whole life for this exact moment?
Regardless, she handed me one of the trowels, and we began preparing the soil together.
Surprisingly, the clearing beneath the tree was rather fertile, most likely thanks to the nearby river nourishing the surrounding lands. Cyrene knelt down near the softer patches of dirt and started digging small holes with remarkable efficiency.
Meanwhile, I awkwardly copied what she was doing beside her.
"Not too deep," Cyrene advised gently while inserting a flower seed into the soil. "Otherwise, the seed struggles to grow properly."
"Yes, yes," I reluctantly agreed. "I'll trust the gardening expert here."
The pink-haired elf puffed her chest proudly at the remark.
As we continued planting seeds, my mind drifted back to Elinalise. No matter how hard I tried to dismiss it, something about her behavior bothered me.
Eventually, I let out a tired sigh.
"Hey, Cyrene..." I called out.
"Hmm?" she hummed while patting dirt over another seed. "What's up?"
"Can I talk about something with you?" I muttered quietly.
Cyrene glanced towards me curiously. "Of course, what is it?"
I hesitated briefly before speaking.
"Elinalise has been acting strange lately."
Hearing that, Cyrene stopped briefly and turned to me.
"What happened?" she asked, her tone becoming noticeably serious.
I paused, pressing the trowel into the soil, before finally deciding to speak.
"Yesterday, shortly after you left the treehouse, I noticed that Elinalise was walking strangely while clutching her stomach. When I asked her where she was heading, she informed me she wanted to get some fresh air and went outside alone."
Following that narrative, Cyrene stared in disbelief.
"Did she come back safely afterward?"
I frowned at her question, looking down.
"At first, she didn't return until it was night," I admitted. "Eventually, I went outside and looked for her in the residential sector."
Cyrene's eyes widened in surprise.
"You searched for her at night by yourself?"
I scratched my hair in frustration.
"Can you blame me?" I objected. "I was worried that she might have wandered off or entered a different sector somehow."
The pink-haired elf quietly listened before planting another seed.
"So... did you find her?" she pressed gently.
I nodded, digging another hole. "Yeah, but she looked awful."
Cyrene froze at that response.
"What do you mean by awful? Was she alright?"
I winced slightly and sighed heavily.
"She... was alright... I think... but her hair was disheveled and filled with leaves and twigs, her dress was dirty, and her legs were sore."
Hearing that, Cyrene visibly stiffened.
"How could that happen to her?" she demanded. "Did someone attack Elinalise?"
"I honestly don't know," I admitted frustratedly. "She claimed she woke up behind a bush and couldn't remember much afterward."
Cyrene raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Behind a bush?" she repeated.
"Exactly," I sighed. "See why I'm concerned?"
The pink-haired elf slowly lowered her gaze and gently covered the last seed with dirt before falling silent for a moment. Eventually, she cleaned the soil off her hands and spoke softly.
"Mysteries are a lot like mazes, Alice."
As she uttered those words, I blinked awkwardly.
"Huh?"
Cyrene smiled faintly as the morning breeze rustled her pink hair.
"You don't instantly find the answer after entering one," she explained poetically. "Sometimes you take wrong turns, retrace your steps, and wander through disarray for a long time before inevitably reaching the end."
...That sounds unexpectedly profound...
"I guess that's one way to think about it," I admitted quietly.
--------------------------------------------------
Following that discussion, I gazed at the clearing filled with newly planted seeds and thought about watering them next. However, there is one minor issue.
"Should I get a bucket to fetch water for these seeds?" I asked curiously.
"No need," Cyrene declined, flashing a smug smile. "I have a better idea."
She then extended her hand forward and began speaking in Beast God language.
"I beseech thee, wandering waters, heed mine call and softly descend, that I may behold this land with gentle droplets, water mist."
After chanting an incantation, a light drizzle appeared above the planted seeds and began to nourish the soil, promising a vibrant bloom in the days ahead.
"Woah!" I exclaimed in wonder. "Since when did you learn how to use magic?"
Cyrene puffed out her chest and smiled confidently.
"I've been to several magic seminars at the lecture hall," she proudly explained. "Water magic is quite practical in everyday life."
Dolly noted. I seriously need to start attending those lectures if I want to control my mana.
However, just as I was mentally preparing my academic career—
Grrrrrrroowl—
A monstrous growl escaped my stomach, freezing me in place. My face turned a little red as I darted toward Cyrene.
"...."
The pink-haired elf just stared at my abdomen for exactly five seconds before—
"Pfft—HAHAHAHA! That rumble is so loud! HAHAHA!"
She burst out laughing, causing my face to flush even further.
"I-It wasn't that loud!" I argued, covering my face in humiliation. "Stop laughing!"
"It absolutely was," she giggled while wiping tears from her eyes. "I bet the river heard it."
Hearing her joking about my growling stomach made me cringe so hard.
Please, someone kill me and bury me under the flower garden.
Still chuckling, Cyrene eventually composed herself and smiled warmly.
"How about we go to an eatery in the main district," she suggested. "I heard they make some delicious food, so let's grab some for breakfast."
Given how hungry I am, elven food sounds like something I need right now.
"Yeah," I agreed, then hesitated. "But I should wake Elinalise first so she can come with us."
"Of course," she acknowledged. "I'll come with you."
With that out of the way, the two of us headed back toward the treehouse. Once we reached the entrance, we saw Elinalise sleepily come out of her room.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!" I greeted warmly.
The blonde elf slowly turned to us and lazily lifted her hand. "Morning, Alice… and Cyrene?"
"Hello there, Sport!" Cyrene replied with a radiant smile. "Alice mentioned to me that you had a rough night. Are you doing okay now?"
Elinalise sheepishly nodded and scratched her cheek nervously, seemingly unable to address what happened last night. So, to alleviate the awkwardness, I changed the subject.
"Cyrene and I are heading out to eat breakfast," I declared. "Do you want to come with us?"
Hearing that, Elinalise immediately nodded and whispered, "Sure."
"Okay," I finally approved, turning around. "Let's go.
At that command, the blonde elf rushed to our side, and we climbed down the staircase once again before leaving the treehouse and heading towards the main district.
----------------------------------------------------
[Third POV]
Meanwhile, amidst the residential sector, Aerion, the green-haired elf, was wandering among the crowd of elves, looking downcast and slightly guilty about something.
"Urgh... I messed up..." he muttered to himself.
The man glanced at his hand, seemingly cringing at what he had done.
"I can't forgive myself for what I did..." he whispered again, his voice filled with shame.
Just as he continued to wallow in misery, Aerion suddenly ran into someone, causing them to stumble slightly.
"Ah, excuse me," he admitted awkwardly. "I didn't see you—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Aerion's eyes widened and froze instantly. In front of him was a lovely blonde elf who was supported by another blonde elf. It was Alice and Elinalise.
"Elinalise, are you alright?" Alice inquired before darting towards the green-haired elf. "Watch where you're going, buddy."
Aerion snapped out of his stupor and leaned forward.
"I—I'm so sorry," he sincerely apologized, then quickly turned around and ran away.
In the end, Alice and Cyrene exchanged glances, confused about what just happened.