The Village of Nai'theriel

They ate in comfortable silence, save for the occasional clink of his spoon against the bowl. For the first time since they met—Luciel’s mood seemed to have lightened. Looking even more cheerful than the previous day.

When he finally set the spoon down, with the bowl emptied to the last drop, Alice dusted off her hands. “Alright,” she said, her eyes glinting playfully, “We’re going around the village today!”

“Eh? Why?” he asked, blinking rhythmically.

“Since you’ll be here for a while, you should at least know your way around.” she replied, opening the door to let in the crisp forest air. “You don’t want to end up in my old man’s herb garden. Trust me.” she added.

“Oh… Okay?”

“But before we head out… you do need to take a bath.” she muttered, quickly covering her nose.

Luciel noticing her gesture, quickly smelled himself. “Yeah… I smell terrible. Sorry about that.”

“I-It’s fine… I’ll get something for you to wear, I suppose…”

After that, Alice went outside to find a suitable outfit for Luciel, while he went towards the bathroom to quickly take a bath.

Alice slipped into the village streets, scanning each stall for clothes that might fit him. The fabric of her dress whispered with every step, catching in the soft push of the forest wind.

A store clerk’s gaze snagged on the silver-framed emerald brooch pinned to Alice’s chest—an unmistakable mark of her noble house. The humble store clerk, characterized as a young woman, with a similar flaxen-hair as Alice—but shorter.

“Oh miss, welcome! Are you finding a dress that suits you?” she inquired.

“Not for me—but for a man.” she answered bluntly.

“Oh my, is it for your boyfriend, perhaps?” she chuckled.

Alice’s lips quirked, but her voice stayed unfazed, “Just for someone who needs it.”

She moved past the comment, fingers gliding over bolts of cloth as though weighing their worth by touch alone. Every move was deliberate, and elegant somewhat, practiced noble habits slipping through.

After a few minutes of careful selection, her hands lingered on a set of plain but well-made clothes, and placed them on the counter after she picked.

“Thank you for buying, miss!” The store clerk bowed slightly.

Alice then waved back, her clothes flowing with the gust of wind as she opened the door. She walked around the stalls that were littered along the streets of Nai’theriel, and decided to buy some ingredients for their lunch.

But once she returned back home, and opened the door, an unexpected sight welcomed her. Luciel—who just came back from a bath, was half-naked—revealing his previous scars, and his well-defined body.

Just like a gust of wind, Alice immediately shut the door, “Y-You should've a-at least given me a warning!” she stammered, her cheeks blossomed into a red hue.

“Sorry!” He quickly replied, “I didn't know that you would be home early…”

She then opened the door slightly, handing him his freshly bought clothes. “Just get dressed!” before closing the door shut.

“This is mine…?”

“How many times do I have to tell you to dress up?” She muttered, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Without missing a beat, Luciel quickly grabbed his new clothes, and ran towards an empty room. A short while later, Luciel stepped out, now properly dressed in the fresh outfit Alice had chosen.

“Does it look good?” he asked, adjusting his sleeve slightly.

Alice glanced at him, her cheeks still tinged a hint of pink, “I guess so… you don’t look like an adventurer who was lost for years…”

He grinned, “Guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She rolled her eyes and stepped outside, motioning for him to follow. The midday sun spilled golden light over Nai’theriel, the air alive with chatter and the faint scent of freshly baked bread drifting from a nearby stall.

“Alright,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “Since you look presentable enough—let’s head towards the Market Square. Try not to get lost.”

“Get lost in this place…?” he scuffed, “There’s no way, I’ll get lost in such a small place.”

“You’d be very surprised…” she smirked. “It may be small, but the streets are like mazes that could lead you to dead ends.”

As they walked, Luciel’s gaze darted from one colorful stall to another—merchants calling out their wares, children darting between legs, and the distant sound of a blacksmith’s hammer ringing from deeper in the village.

“This village is very lively—reminds me of my old village…”

Alice then glanced at him, looking at his slightly solemn face, “What was your village like?”

His gaze softened as he took in the chatter and laughter around them. “It’s a very peaceful village… A lively marketplace like this one, a bustling crowd full of children, and the smell of bread wafting across the streets.”

“Sounds like an amazing place…” she thought, placing her hands behind her back. “Would love to visit it in the future.”

“It was.” He gave a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just… hope it’s still the same.”

For a moment, the bustle of the market seemed to fade for him, replaced by distant memories. Then Alice nudged his arm lightly. “Well maybe you’ll tell me more about your village sometime soon… For now, let’s make new memories!”

Luciel then chuckled, as he chimed in along with her. They turned down a narrow street lined with vendors selling everything from fresh fruit to hand-carved trinkets, the warm hum of the village pulling him back into the present.

They then visited the Town Square, right after they visited the Market Square where the villagers welcomed Luciel—without the gazes that once pressured him. Luciel played around with the elven children, entertaining them with tricks he learned back in his own village.

Alice then smiled, surprised at how Luciel managed to mingle with the villagers easily—Helping them at simple tasks, and entertaining the masses with his skill and wit.

By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the village in warm amber hues, the two of them were making their way along the quiet forest path back home. The lively chatter of the square had faded, replaced by the gentle rustle of leaves overhead.

Alice glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, still carrying that faint smile. “You really reminded me of someone today… the way you laughed, how you helped everyone without thinking twice.”

“Someone you know…?”

“Yeah… back when I was on Earth…” Her eyes widened slightly, realizing what she’d just implied.

“Ah—uh, forget I said anything! I meant… never mind.” She waved her hands as if trying to swat the words out of the air, but the flush on her cheeks betrayed her.

Chapter 17: Intertwined Souls (Aug 22, 2025 GMT+8)