Meeting The Elves

Tall, sturdy-looking trees towered high as if they reached the heavens. The leaves at the top almost blocked out the sky from being visible. Where the sky was visible, light shone through majestically in a warm, comforting luminescence.

Treehouses on the trees, with bridges connecting each tree’s platform. Openings at the base of the trees, accompanied by windows. Everything looked natural, as if the forest had made this place itself.

The group had arrived in the elven territory; it was a sight to behold.

Henry had left the group to talk with the elves’ elder, leaving the rest of the adventurers, including Kaito and Rachael, to lounge in an open plaza.

“And there was this HUGE Kroqua, but I used my strength alone to rip its jaw open to kill it!” Gurkin bragged to Kaito and Rachael.

“Really! That sounds awesome!” responded Kaito, enamoured by Gurkin’s tale. “I’m more of a hit-and-run fighter, so I can’t do anything like that!”

Gurkin’s eyes sparkled as he successfully impressed the female Kaito.

“Would you like some of this?” Menn sheepishly asked, holding out food he grabbed from his inventory.

Kaito and Rachael did not recognize what Menn brought out and were thus turned off by it. Rachael gestured no, but before Kaito could follow suit, Gurkin urged him.

“They’re sweet berries we got in the southern desert,” Gurkin explained, taking one to eat. “Try it!”

Gurkin held one out to Kaito, and he reluctantly grabbed it. Kaito plopped it into his mouth and was surprised.

“It’s so sweet!” Katio stated, holding his cheek with a smile.

Gurkin sat there frozen and blushed at the sight.

“WHAT DO YOU HUMANS THINK YOU’RE DOING!?”

A loud, yet squeaky voice shouted at the group of adventurers. A bunch turned to see who yelled.

It was a little elven girl. Her brown hair was tied up in two buns, and she wore a bright-colored, flower-shaped dress. She looked like a little fairy, but her attitude screamed otherwise.

“You guys aren’t allowed here! Go back from where you came from!” she demanded.

Kaito stared at the little girl stoically and responded, “Somebody come pick up their lost child.”

“What was that!?” the elven child pouted as she stomped towards Kaito. “I’ll kick you out my—“

“Lessia! Stop this!” another, teenage-looking, elven girl interrupted and snatched up the little one. “You don’t need to be so aggressive!”

The teenage elf had mint-colored hair. She also had a bun, but a long hair strand stemmed down from it like a ponytail. She wore a flower-like dress like the little ones, but her outfit had long, oversized sleeves like a kimono.

“I’m sorry about my little sister!” the teenage elf apologized, the little one still in her arms, pouting. “Many of us elves have a hard time trusting humans because of past affairs.”

Kaito’s group looked around at the other elves, which confirmed her statement. They looked upon the human adventurers with disgust as if they were demons themselves.

“If you ask me, I think our conflict with the humans is long overdue,” the teenage elf expressed her opinion. “I mean, aren’t you guys here to help with the demon’s invasion?”

Kaito stood up and announced, “We are! So some gratitude would be much appreciated!”

“That’s what I thought!” the teenage elf responded. “See Lessia! They’re just here to help, so apologize!”

Kaito looked down at the elven child with a cocky smile, making her hesitant to respond.

“I-I’m sorry,” the elven child apologized, frustratingly.

The teenage elf put her sister down and did an introduction. “I’m Estelle, and this is my little sister Lanessia, but everyone calls her Lessia.”

In response, Kaito introduced himself, Rachael, and Gurkin’s group to Estelle and her sister.

“How about I show you all around!” Estelle suggested.

“We would love that!” Kaito happily responded. Kaito wanted to see what the elven territory had in store.

Estelle showed Kaito and Rachael around the elven territory while Lessia left elsewhere. Gurkin's group also accompanied Kaito’s group. They tried many of the elven delicacies, like food and clothing. Rachael got a good laugh from seeing Kaito in a dress.

As they walked around, Kaito told Estelle of his adventures. He just finished telling her of his ventures to the Nekana Tree.

“And we got this from the tree’s core!” Kaito showed Estelle the Nekana Tree’s boss drop.

“Whao, it’s so pretty!” Estelle admired the arbor-covered crystal. “If it’s a boss drop, our blacksmith could turn it into a special weapon.”

“Wait, really!” Kaito shouted. “You’d be willing to do that for me!?”

“Leave it to me!” Estelle smiled and gave a piece sign.

The group entered a blacksmith’s shop where a male elf hammered down on an anvil. He looked tired, but at the same time professional.

“Hey, Mr. Shale! I have a job for you!” Estelle shouted out to the blacksmith, grabbing his attention. “Can you make a special weapon for my friend here?”

Kaito took out the crystalline boss drop and showed it to the blacksmith, Shale.

Shale quietly took the crystal and admired it. After he analyzed it, he looked at Kaito very judgmentally, not looking happy. He then looked back at Estelle.

“I normally don’t do jobs for outsiders, but I’ll make an exception for you, Lady Estelle,” Shale announced.

“Does that mean?” Kaito began asking Estelle.

“Yep!” Estelle answered before Kaito even finished.

In excitement, Kaito thanked Estelle and hugged her happily. Estelle giggled at Kaito’s actions, happy that she helped a friend.

“It’ll be ready by tomorrow,” Shale stated.

Kaito was getting his special weapon.

The group walked outside of Shale’s shop and noticed the darkened sky.

“Hmm, it’s getting pretty late, maybe we should go shower at the hot springs,” Estelle suggested.

Kaito, well aware of his complexion, responded, “YES PLEASE!!!”

“NO!” Rachael rebutted, holding Kaito back. “Or at least… some other time. We can afford to relax too much lest the demons attack when we’re unprepared.”

“I guess you have a point,” Estelle concluded.

Just as that situation had dissolved, Henry approached the group.

“There you all are,” Henry said as he jogged to the group. “We’ll all be resting at a nearby inn for tonight. Tomorrow, we will all plan our offense with the Elder.”

“I guess that’s all for your tour then,” Estelle concluded. “I’ll see you all tomorrow!”

“Yeah, see you tomorrow, Estelle!” Kaito responded without thinking. “Wait, we’ll see her tomorrow?”