the berry boy

The passage twists and turns, leading them deeper into the unknown. The sound of pursuit grows fainter behind them

Elysia stumbles, her wings catching on the rough stone

"Thalos, I can't... I'm losing my strength! "

Her divine energy begins to fade as they approach the mortal realm's threshold

Thalos catches her before she falls, his own energy weakening as they near the threshold

"Just a little further, my love. The mortal realm will help us recover. "

The air around them begins to shift, becoming heavier and more tangible as they cross into the mortal world

They emerge into a forest clearing, the sky above them a dull gray. Their wings are now heavy and cumbersome

Elysia collapses to her knees, breathing heavily

"This... this is what it feels like to be mortal? Everything hurts... "

Thalos kneels beside her, struggling to adjust to their new reality

"We're vulnerable now. But we're alive. And we have each other. "

He reaches for her hand, their fingers intertwining despite their weakened state

Elysia looks up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty

"What do we do now? We're powerless in this world... and Seraphon will never stop hunting us. "

Thalos pulls her close, his voice determined despite their situation

"We fight. We fight for our love, for our freedom. We'll find a way to regain our strength and expose Seraphon's lies. "

The distant sound of human voices echoes through the trees, reminding them of the dangers of being discovered

Elysia looks down at her hands, noticing the subtle changes in her appearance

"I feel... mortal. Our wings are gone, and our essence is diminished. "

Thalos stands up slowly, testing his new mortal limits

"We'll have to learn everything anew. But we won't let this break us. "

A rustling in the bushes nearby startles them both

Elysia instinctively moves closer to Thalos, her mortal heart racing

"Someone's coming... "

Thalos positions himself protectively in front of her, scanning the area for danger

"Stay behind me. We don't know who or what we'll face in this world. "

A young human boy emerges from the bushes, carrying a basket of berries

The boy stops abruptly, staring at them with wide eyes

"Who... who are you? You look different from anyone I've seen before. "

He takes a hesitant step forward, curiosity evident on his face

Thalos exchanges a quick glance with Elysia, unsure how to respond

"We're... travelers. Lost in these woods. "

The boy's eyes dart between them, noticing their disheveled appearance and unusual clothing

The boy tilts his head, studying them more closely

"You don't look like you belong here. Are you from the city? "

He takes another step closer, showing no signs of fear

Elysia steps forward slightly, trying to appear less threatening

"No, we're not from a city. We... we've come a long way. "

The boy's eyes light up with excitement

"From far away? That's amazing! I've never met anyone who traveled so much. "

He holds out his basket of berries

"Would you like some? You both look hungry. "

Thalos hesitates, but Elysia's stomach growls audibly

The boy laughs

"See? Even your stomach agrees! These are wild blueberries - they're delicious. "

He offers the basket more insistently

Elysia reaches for a berry, her fingers trembling slightly

"Thank you... we appreciate your kindness. "

She pops the berry into her mouth, her eyes widening at the unfamiliar taste

Thalos watches her with concern, still wary of this unexpected encounter

The boy beams at their reactions

"You really are different! Most people just take the berries and run. "

He plops down on the ground, completely at ease

"I'm Ben, by the way. What are your names? "

Elysia looks to Thalos, unsure how much to reveal

"I'm... Elysia. And this is Thalos. "

Ben nods enthusiastically

"Those are pretty names! You're both so beautiful too. Like angels or something"

Thalos tenses at the word "angels," while Elysia forces a small smile

"We're just... ordinary travelers. "

Ben shrugs, clearly not buying their modesty

"Ordinary travelers who look like they just fell out of the sky? "

He laughs again, completely unaware of the truth in his words

Thalos tries to steer the conversation away from their origins

"Ben, do you know if there's a nearby town where we could stay? "

The boy scratches his head thoughtfully

"There's a small village not too far from here. It's called Riverwood. They're friendly to travelers, though they might ask some questions about where you're from. "

Elysia looks worried at the mention of questions

"Questions we might not be able to answer truthfully... "

Ben notices her concern

"Don't worry! I can help you. I know the people there - I can vouch for you. "

He stands up, brushing off his clothes

"Follow me. I'll show you the way. "

Thalos exchanges another glance with Elysia, weighing their options

"Are you sure that's wise? We don't want to cause trouble for you. "

Ben waves his hand dismissively

"Nonsense! I trust my instincts, and they tell me you're good people. Besides, it's getting dark soon - you shouldn't be out here alone."

The forest shadows are indeed growing longer as dusk approaches

Elysia nods reluctantly

"Lead the way then, Ben. Thank you for your help. "

The boy grins and starts walking, his basket swinging

"You're welcome! Just stay close - there are wild animals in these woods at night. "

As they follow Ben through the forest, the last rays of sunlight fade away

The sounds of nocturnal creatures begin to emerge from the darkness

Ben suddenly stops and points ahead

"Look! The village lights are visible now. We're almost there. "

The faint glow of lanterns can be seen through the trees, accompanied by the sound of distant laughter and music

Ben quickens his pace, excited to show them his home

"The tavern will still be open. You can get some proper food there - and maybe a place to sleep. "

As they approach the village entrance, several villagers notice their arrival

Whispers and curious glances follow them, but Ben walks confidently ahead

"Don't mind them. They're just surprised to see newcomers. "

He leads them to a wooden building with smoke curling from its chimney

Ben pushes open the tavern door, revealing a warm, bustling interior filled with people

The smell of roasted meat and ale fills the air as patrons turn to look at the newcomers

A stout woman behind the bar waves at Ben

"Martha! I brought some guests! "