Time passed strangely within the wooden prison.
There was no sun.
No shadows.
No clear measure of day or night.
Only silence.
And the occasional exchange of guarded words through a wall.
Constantine remained still, seated against the wooden enclosure.
His breathing steady.
His thoughts active.
Every moment here was observation.
Every second—data.
The elves had not questioned him.
Had not harmed him.
Had not even acknowledged him beyond imprisonment.
Which meant—
They were watching.
Waiting.
Testing.
"…so, Cael," Ren's voice came lazily from the other side of the wall, "you still alive?"
"Yes."
"…good. I was starting to get bored talking to myself."
Constantine did not respond.
Ren continued anyway.
"You ever wonder what they're planning to do with us?"
"Yes."
"…and?"
"They will act when they reach a conclusion."
Ren was quiet for a moment.
Then chuckled.
"…you really talk like that all the time?"
"Yes."
"…that's unsettling."
Before Constantine could respond—
A sound interrupted them.
Footsteps.
Light.
Quick.
Different from before.
Not the same composed, measured presence as the elf who had brought him here.
This one was—
Lively.
The door to Constantine's cell opened abruptly.
Light spilled in.
Soft. Green. Filtered through leaves.
For the first time since entering—
He stepped outside.
An elf stood before him.
A girl.
Or at least, she appeared as one.
Her features were sharp yet delicate.
Her silver hair fell loosely down her back.
Her eyes—
Bright.
Curious.
Amused.
She tilted her head slightly as she looked at him.
"So you're the one."
Constantine remained still.
She stepped closer.
Far too close for someone meeting a prisoner.
"…they weren't exaggerating," she murmured.
Then, with sudden enthusiasm, she clapped her hands lightly.
"I heard an exceptional beauty wandered into the forest."
Her lips curved into a grin.
"And here you are."
From the adjacent cell—
A whistle echoed.
Low.
Teasing.
"Well, well…" Ren called out, "looks like someone caught the attention of royalty."
Constantine ignored him.
The elf girl grabbed Constantine's wrist suddenly.
Her grip was light—
But firm.
"Come on," she said cheerfully.
"I'm bored."
"And you look interesting."
Without waiting for agreement—
She pulled him along.
The prison was not what Constantine had expected.
Or rather—
It was not separate.
It blended into the forest itself.
Structures were carved into trees.
Bridges woven from living branches.
Platforms suspended between trunks that stretched endlessly upward.
Everything was natural—
And yet impossibly precise.
She dragged him through Sylvaranth like a child showing off a secret.
Pointing at things.
Speaking freely.
Without restraint.
"Those are singing leaves," she said at one point, gesturing upward. "They react to mana fluctuations."
"And over there—don't touch that tree. It eats things."
A pause.
"…mostly animals."
She glanced at him.
"…probably."
Then continued walking as if nothing was unusual.
Constantine followed silently.
Observing everything.
The layout.
The structures.
The hidden pathways.
The presence of other elves—
Watching from a distance.
Always watching.
Hours passed.
Or what felt like hours.
The light slowly dimmed.
The green glow of the forest softened into something darker.
Night.
Eventually—
She brought him back.
The same wooden enclosure.
The same door.
She stopped just before pushing him inside.
Then, suddenly—
She turned to him.
"What's your name?"
Constantine answered without hesitation.
"Cael."
She studied him for a moment.
As if weighing the truth of it.
Then—
She smiled.
"Names are funny things, aren't they?"
A pause.
Then she added,
"You can call me…"
A slight tilt of her head.
"…Vaelthir."
Silence.
For the first time—
Something shifted within Constantine.
Not visibly.
Not outwardly.
But internally—
A calculation faltered.
The name aligned instantly with every record.
Every fragment.
Every warning.
The Mad Elf.
Vaelthir.
Not a reclusive ancient figure hidden in shadows—
But this.
This unpredictable, smiling girl standing before him.
Constantine showed nothing.
No reaction.
No surprise.
Only stillness.
"…what?" she asked, watching him closely.
"Were you expecting someone older?"
Constantine replied calmly,
"No."
She grinned.
"Good answer."
She pushed him lightly back into the cell.
The door closed behind him.
Locked.
Constantine stood in silence.
Processing.
Reconstructing everything he had learned.
Everything he had assumed.
Adjusting.
Outside—
Vaelthir did not leave.
He could feel her presence.
Lingering.
Watching.
Studying him.
Seconds passed.
Then—
Suddenly—
The door slammed open again.
Before Constantine could react—
A hand grabbed his collar.
Pulled him forward sharply.
Vaelthir stood close.
Too close.
Her eyes gleamed with something wild.
Something curious.
Something dangerous.
"I like you."
The words were simple.
Unfiltered.
And before he could respond—
She leaned in.
And kissed him.
It was brief.
But not hesitant.
Not uncertain.
A sudden, impulsive claim.
Then she pulled back just as quickly.
Her expression unchanged.
Almost amused.
Without another word—
She stepped back.
Closed the door.
Locked it again.
Her footsteps faded.
Silence returned.
Constantine remained where he stood.
Still.
Unmoving.
Then—
Very faintly—
Color rose to his face.
A reaction.
Small.
Unfamiliar.
Uncontrolled.
From the other side of the wall—
Ren's voice broke the silence.
"…so."
A pause.
"…you gonna tell me what just happened…"
"…or should I assume you're living a better life than me right now?"
Constantine said nothing.