Chapter 22:

Through The Storm.

Beyond the beyond: The boy,the demon and the Road ahead

The moment I opened my eyes, I realized I was somewhere unfamiliar.A cave, dimly lit by the daylight seeping through its cracks.

My vision was blurry, and I could hear someone rushing toward me.

“Are you alright?” a voice asked softly.

For a second, I thought it was Strixx.

Every time I woke up, she was always the one by my side.

I smiled faintly, relieved—

But as my vision cleared… It wasn’t her.

Standing before me was someone I’d never seen before.

A girl with golden hair and pointed ears. An elf. She looked at me with genuine concern. My heart sank.

“Where… is Strixx?” I asked, pushing myself up. “Where is she…?”

The elf girl’s expression shifted—concern turned to quiet confusion. “She? who are you talking about… I found you alone in the middle of the forest,” she said gently, stepping closer

I tried to stand, my body weak, my legs trembling. “Strixx… Strixx, where are you…?” “STRIXX!” I shouted into the forest, but there was no answer.

My body gave out and I collapsed. The elf girl rushed to my side.

“Please don’t push yourself…!” she pleaded. “You’re still hurt—you can’t move like this!” “…Whoever she is… she must be really important to you.”

She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, her voice calm but firm. “Just breathe for a moment. You need to calm down first.”

“How am I supposed stay calm?!” “I have to find her,” I muttered. “I need to find her…” I slammed my hand against the ground. “It happened again… I couldn’t do anything. They took her away right in front of me--And I couldn’t even do anything nothing…. Not a damn thing…

“Strixx… She’s always been the one helping me… Always there for me. But when she needed me most--

I failed.”

“I’m so pathetic…

Why am I always so weak…?” I forced myself to my feet. My legs were shaking, barely holding me up. Still, I stumbled toward the forest.

The elf girl quickly moved in front of me, blocking my way. “It’s no use,” she said. “Even if you go, you’ll get lost. This forest… it’s not like others.

Only elves can walk through it safely. Without that, you’ll wander forever.”

I looked at her, desperate and angry. “Then what should I do?! I just stood there when they took her! I don’t care what happens to me--

I have to go find her! She’s all I have left. I’ve already lost everything once.And I couldn’t do anything back then…

But this time-- I won’t let anyone be taken from me again.

The elf paused, then slowly nodded. “…Alright,” she said. “I’ll help you find her.

We’ll save her--no matter what.” She looked toward the trees.

“I’m an elf. The illusions of this forest don’t work on me.

And if those who took her are human… “This forest is massive… Even if they have something to protect them from the illusions,They won’t be able to navigate it like an elf can.

That means… they won’t be far.” I fell to my knees in front of her. You’re the only one I can rely on right now.”

She looked down at me with soft eyes. “You really care about her, don’t you?” She smiled gently. “Then I promise--we’ll find her. No matter what.”

As we prepared to head out, I tried to stand again. My legs trembled beneath me.

She looked at me with concern. “Can you walk?”

I clenched my fists. “I can…!” I said, trying to sound strong. She turned around and knelt. “Get on. I’ll carry you.”

I hesitated. She was about my size. But she looked back and said with a small grin, “Don’t worry. I’m stronger than I look.” I climbed onto her back.

She adjusted her grip, then said gently, “Hold on tight.” Let’s go find her.” I climbed onto her back.

She adjusted her grip, then said gently, “Hold on tight.”

I wrapped my arms around her. She took a deep breath--And dashed forward.She was fast.The world around us blurred as she ran.

{ON THE OTHER SIDE}

Strixx slowly opened her eyes. Everything was blurry, and her head throbbed. Her arms and legs were tied tightly—she couldn’t move at all.

The only thing around her was forest, but she could hear voices nearby. Three of them.

“Bob, she’s waking up,” Quad said, noticing Strixx stir.

Bob turned with a sly grin.

“Perfect. Lets have a little chat with her while she’s awake. After that, we’ll put her to sleep again.”

Strixx’s vision finally cleared. Her breath caught as she recognized the three men who had brought her and Luca into the forest.

Her voice trembled as she asked, “Where is… Luca? What… happened to Luca?”

Bob smirked cruelly. “Luca? He ran away. Sold you off to us. What a poor thing I feel so bad for you Strixx

What good would it do him staying with a demi-human like you? You two were going to be hunted eventually.

We’re being less rough with you—so be grateful, little girl.”

The other two burst out laughing.

Strixx looked up at them, eyes wide. “No…. Strixx know Luca not like that Luca… would never do something like that… Luca is not like that.”

Bob let out a laugh. “Is that so? Then where is he, huh? He ran away!”

Strixx lowered her gaze, but her voice grew stronger.

“You… you did something to Luca. Strixx remembers now… how dare you… hurt Luca…”

Where is Luca…. Bob’s eyes narrowed. “Oh? That cloak of yours… hiding those cute little cat ears, huh? Let’s take that hood off.”

“Quad, go remove it.”

Strixx’s eyes widened. “ Stay away !!Don’t you dare touch it…! You people… are bad… This hood… it was given to Strixx by someone special. Strixx won’t allow… any of you to even touch it.”

Quad stepped forward, reaching for her hood, a mocking grin on his face. Bob smirked. Louise chuckled darkly. But just as Quad raised his hand toward her

BAMMM!!!

A blur shot through the trees. A swift figure slammed into Quad from the side, sending him crashing into a nearby tree. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Bob and Louise turned, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Quad!” they shouted.

From the shadows stepped two figures--Luca and the elf girl, arriving just in time. As soon as I saw her, my heart dropped.

“Strixx…!” I ran to her and dropped to my knees. She was tied up, shaking--but she was okay.

“Strixx…” I let out a shaky breath. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry it took me this long.

I couldn’t do anything… but I’m here now.” I let out a breath of relief. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

Strixx looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears. Her voice was shaky, but sure. “Strixx knew… Luca would never do what they said…”

She sniffled, trying to smile. “Strixx waited… Strixx knew you’d come…” I held her close, trying to steady my voice. “Of course I came,”

I whispered. “i'd never abandon anyone...not anymore atleast Not you… never you. I’ll never abandon you, Strixx. No matter what.”

Bob and Louise snapped back to attention, quickly getting into a defensive stance.

Bob’s voice shook. “How… how did you--?

Wait, is that an elf?!” The elf girl stepped forward, her gaze sharp.

“That’s right. I’m an elf. And I will never forgive what you’ve done.” She glared at them. “This won’t go unpunished.”

The elf girl turned to me. “Luca. Strixx. Stay back. Leave this to me.”

I frowned, taking a step forward. “No, wait--”

She cut me off gently, without turning around. “I already told you--I’m stronger than I look,” she said with a small smile.

Then she glanced over her shoulder, her voice calm but firm. “And you’re not fully recovered.”

I nodded, gently carrying Strixx behind a tree and starting to undo her ropes. “Thank you… so much,” I said softly.

Bob whispered to Louise. Louise smirked menacingly. “We all know elves rely solely on magic, right? So…” Bob narrowed his eyes.

“What if we take away the only thing you rely on?” He slammed his wand to the ground. A large seal ignited beneath their feet, glowing with a harsh purple light before fading.

“With the magic particles suppressed,” Louise sneered, “what can an elf like you do now?” He raised his wand slowly, a faint glow pulsing from its tip. “Unlike you, I’m not so helpless.”

Bob laughed.

“An elf, a demi-human, and a human… We’re going to be rich. When was the last time any human laid eyes on an elf, huh?”

The elf girl’s gaze didn’t falter.

“Such ill intentions… What good comes from doing things like this?”

Bob grinned.

“It brings us money. That’s all we need. That’s what buys us all the luxuries in the world.”

Bob pointed toward the tree Strixx and I were hiding behind.

‘That girl right there--do you even know what a demi-human like her is worth on the slave market?’ He smirked.

‘We could be rich overnight.’” Upon hearing that, the elf girl turned to them, eyes burning.

My body froze. I was hiding just behind the tree with Strixx, but those words--

I heard them. Every single one.

My chest tightened. My fists clenched so hard I could feel my nails digging into my skin.

That… that wasn’t something you said about someone. Not her. Not Strixx.

My breath caught. My heart pounded. Rage surged up my throat.

I was about to shout--

“How could you treat someone like an object?” the elf girl snapped. “Why do you look down on others so easily?!” she clenched her fist. “I’ll never forgive you for this.”

“Enough talking you are already dead!!!,” Louise growled, raising his wand. He cast a powerful spell.

A beam of energy ripped through the earth, cracking and exploding around the elf girl. Bob grinned--only for his smile to freeze.

The elf girl had vanished. Before Louise could react, she reappeared right in front of him.

With a single, swift strike, she shattered his wand to pieces, then drove her fist into his face.

CRACK!

Louise flew backward, crashing into Bob. The two of them tumbled to the ground, motionless.

As Strixx and I watched from behind the tree, I finished untying the last of her ropes.

The elf girl stood tall in the clearing, three of them Bob, quad and Loui already on the ground--defeated before we could even react.”

Red marks lined her wrists and arms--faint, but painful to look at. The bindings had been far too tight. “I trusted them…”

I murmured, guilt weighing in my chest. “I’m sorry, Strixx.”

She slowly reached out and placed her hands on mine.

“Luca… is a good person,” she said softly. “Strixx also trusted them…” She looked at me, her eyes calm and sincere.

“Thank you for coming to save Strixx.” I looked toward the clearing, where the elf girl stood quietly after everything.

“…It’s all thanks to her,” I said quietly. “She saved me too.”

Strixx looked at me for a moment, then nodded softly.

“Strixx wants to thank her… for saving Luca.” I gave her a small smile.

“And because of her… you’re safe too.” I stood up, brushing the dirt from my hands.

“Let’s go thank her properly.”

As we both stepped forward, the elf girl turned to us with a soft smile. “Told you,” she said, smiling gently. “Leave it to me.”

We bowed to her together.

“Thank you so much for helping us out,” I said. Strixx followed right after, her voice filled with gratitude.

“Thank you for saving Luca! And Strixx!”

But the peace didn’t last.

A furious grunt broke through the silence. Bob, pinned under his unconscious partner Louis, shoved the body aside and rose shakily to his feet, rage twisting his face.

“You little brats!!”

He slammed his hand into the ground. Several stone walls erupted in front of him, launching forward one after another, tearing through the earth as they raced straight toward us like a storm.

The elf girl’s eyes widened. She quickly turned her head back toward us.

“Watch out!”

The moment she spoke, Strixx moved. She grabbed me and leapt out of the way, just as the first wall came crashing through the ground we’d been standing on. Dirt and debris exploded behind us.

The elf girl glanced back, making sure we were clear--only then did she turn to face the oncoming walls.

Without hesitation, she dashed forward--straight into the wave of stone--and smashed through each wall with raw, unshaken force.

Chunks of rock flew in every direction as she torn through the last wall and came face to face with Bob.

In the next instant, she stepped forward, her fist snapping up just inches from his face--sharp, controlled, and full of warning.

“Don’t try anything funny,” she said firmly.

Bob wobbled back, breathing heavily. His arm rose, trembling in surrender.

“I… lost…”

Beyond the beyond: The boy,the demon and the Road ahead

Author:

Sleepy Head

Through The Storm.

Beyond the beyond: The boy,the demon and the Road ahead

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