Erlkœnig

I try to free myself from his grip, but whoever this cad is, he only tightens his hold. Raising my eyes in utter annoyance to discern his face, I’m surprised to recognise Tyffeon’s features.

“Huh? Tyffeon?” I utter in disbelief. “What is it? Kidnapping me like this in the middle of the night? How lewd…”

    When we’re far enough from the crowd, Tyffeon suddenly stops near a tree and releases my wrist, turning to face me.

    He holds my gaze with a dead serious expression. Ohh. I did not expect him to get so vexed. Maybe I should be a little cautious, or he’ll feel the urge to kill me even before he’s supposed to.

    Reaching out my hand to his face, I push my index finger against the spot in-between his eyes.

“If you keep on frowning like this, you’ll end up all wrinkled. Wouldn’t it be a shame?”

    The unexpected gesture makes him widen his eyes for a short moment, but then Tyffeon grabs my hand and takes it away from his face. Keeping it in his grasp.

“Amako, you have to leave Rathard. Now.”

“Ehh-”

“Leave while they’re still busy with the festival.”

“What’s gotten into you, Tyffeon?”

    That doesn’t look like him to act like this…

    Facing my disbelief, he sighs before releasing my hand.

“Earlier, the King asked you a question, didn’t he? He wanted to know if you’ll choose our kingdom.”

    Although he isn’t done explaining, I can already feel a knot in my stomach.

“I just said I have to see the other kingdoms first. I have to fulfil my duties, that’s all.”

“The King did not believe you.”

    The words sink into my mind, letting it become numb.

    So it was really a losing battle, huhh… Well, at least, it’s not like I really tried anything. Just to gain some time to think.

    But, seemingly, wishing for some time was already too greedy.

“You can’t stay there, or else you’ll get killed. Since he can’t be sure you’ll return, he won’t let you leave alive.”

    The words don’t reach me as I already lower my head, letting a thin smile creep over my features. Well well, see how solid my scenario is.

“Amako.”

    No one can’t help it from happening, even its author. ‘Guess I can at least be proud about it?

“Tssk.”

    Before I can even notice it, I feel Tyffeon’s hands pressed against my shoulders.

    As I raise my head to meet his gaze, I take sight of his annoyed expression. Why, though. Come to think of it, why did he even warn me?

“Now is not the time for daydreaming. Everyone is gathered on the central place, the entry of the village is not guarded.” His fingers tighten their grasp. “I know this is sudden, but you’ll have all the time to think about it later.” He pauses for a moment, unlike his thoughts. Which, considering his eyes focused on me, is a bit embarrassing. Then, he adds in a lower voice. “Rather than to the world, it’s to you that you should give a chance.”

    I widen my eyes.

“Wait. You… you weren’t asleep?” I stammer, realisation ramming me like a train at full speed. How embarrassing. How compromising.

    He averts his gaze. Oh I’m so cooked. Dignity, dearest, where have you gone…

“I… may have overheard a bit of your nonsense. Now, follow me. We have no time to lose.” He refocuses the conversation, already turning away as to lead the way.

“Wait! I can’t leave like this, I have to retrieve something I left in my room.”

“If you really have to, then hurry.” Tyffeon reluctantly replies. “The King’s residence is deserted.”

    Nodding, I hastily walk away, heading towards the centre of Rathard.

***

    Running into my room, I kneel near my bed, searching for the scenario I left there. There’s no way I take the risk someone finds this. Even though there’s a fair chance no one is actually able to read it, nor would take it seriously. That would be too dangerous to allow a character of this story to find out about the fate of their world.

    As I retrieve it, a thought crosses my mind.

“Why did Tyffeon suggest me to leave?.. That’s not what he’s supposed to do. That simply makes no sense.”

    A doubt.

    Though… By now the King has probably extinguished the last flame. If I have to flee, I can’t afford to lose any more time.

    Running out of the room, I cross the empty corridors. Tyffeon is right, that’s the best moment to escape. Everyone is still focused on the festivities.

    Though, as soon as I reach the threshold of the King’s residence, I freeze.

    King Erlkœnig’s silhouette awaits me steps away from the door.

“Well, honourable Saintess, would you happen to be going somewhere?”

    I make a step back.

    That smile… The way it widens slightly at my move. He already knows what I’m attempting to do, doesn’t he?

    Ahh… Of course. I should have known better. Tyffeon merely wanted to separate me from the crowd so he could accomplish the mission the King entrusted him with.

   A step. Another one.

   He’s coming closer to me.

“I am a clown…”

    So this is how things are gonna end? Right here, right now?

“But…”

    One more step closer.

    Where is Tyffeon? It’s not like the King will take the risk to kill me himself.

“…I don’t want to die.”

    Unless…

    At the moment he reaches my position, though, the King doesn’t pause. He bypasses me.

“You seem exhausted. Don’t stay out there too late.”

    Widening my eyes, I hear his steps moving away gradually.

    He’s… just living?

    Not wishing to push my luck, I resume my walk. I need to return to the place where I left Tyffeon.

    As I move away, I feel a piercing gaze at my back.

    I only have time to take one more step before something catches my ankle, dragging me aloft. The world swirls around me, and before I can tell, I am hanging head upside down.

    Earthy particles fall back to the ground from which the root holding me has just emerged. The only thing I can be grateful for is that it has twisted around the fabric of my dress at the same time, allowing me to keep a semblance of dignity.

“Do you know the meaning of my name?”

    Forced to face the King, the only thing I can do is notice the distant melancholy in his pale eyes, so dissonant with the way he sneers. A gaze matching the one of that legend…

    Naturally, I know the answer.

“Erlkœnig,.. The Alders’ King, The Elven King.”

    Although the second one is due to a questionable translation, it has ended up filling it with this meaning.

    The King’s smile broadens.

“It was a Saintess who offered me this name. I wonder if she was from the same world as yours.” He turns to face me fully before continuing. “Not that it matters. There’s something else that truly bothers me. These trees, mind you, don’t have secrets from me. Thus did they hurry to whisper me a quite surprising rumour.”

    I’ve been careless. Logically, the Saintess wasn’t supposed to be killed before she was about to quit Tír-nan-cnocc for the next kingdom. Tyffeon’s behaviour has taken me aback in such a way that I didn’t pay attention to our surroundings.

    Lignum magic may bring affinity to wood in various ways. Associated with his name, the King can fully control any alder and has the ability to perceive the same things as they do. This includes the tree near which Tyffeon took me a moment before.

“Can you imagine my astonishment when I learnt that Tyffeon wanted to help you flee? He has always been so obedient since I took him under my wing.”

    At his words, I can feel my teeth gnash.

“Don’t talk like you’ve protected him. All you’ve done was lure him into the palm of your hand to make him the perfect puppet.”

“Ohh? It seems that you know a bit too much about it, don’t you? Though this isn’t a problem…” He extends his hand towards me and another root arises from the ground. “…because I am not going to let you breathe one more day. Had you chosen to stay, my magnificent kingdom could have retrieved its fallen glory!”

    And with this last accusation, the twisted root throws itself at me, aiming for my chest.

“Ahh… That’s over. I can’t free myself.”

    Does silence always precede a tragedy?

“Amako!!” A voice shouts my name. A voice I can’t recognise.

    As I expected the root to pierce my heart, a silhouette suddenly jumps to reach my height. Slaying the root which held me prisoner as his hood falls back.

    The King scowls.

    Letting out a muffled scream as I hit the grassy ground, I lean against my elbows.

“Have no fear, I will save you.”

    Raising my eyes to the silhouette, I can’t hide my bewilderment.

    Short charcoal hair, dark grey eyes, he’s all dressed in silver and brown. He holds a sword bordered with gildings, its blade emitting a bluish light.

    What does the Hero do in Rathard?

“You shouldn’t be here.” I whisper.

    As the root having missed me corrects its trajectory, aiming at the Hero, he manages to dodge and slay it. But his moves are clumsy.

“Amako, I-”

    Clumsy.

“Focus on him, not me!!! It’s not o-”

    But neither of us can finish our sentence as multiple roots surge from the ground near his feet, piercing his body from side to side, taking it off the ground as blood spurts out from his chest, from his back.