Elves, Magic, and Midnight Fears

"They are called the Nachtmaw. A nocturnal beast that haunts forests and abandoned places. Most were driven to extinction by powerful warriors long ago, but a few still persist, and horror stories surface from time to time."

"But do not think these are your average night creatures hiding in the dark. They are frighteningly intelligent, no different from humans or elves. They watch and plan, stalking from afar before they strike. They revel in the kill, especially in taking heads, playing with them like toys."

She paused, eyes cold, and continued, "It will do things to deceive you, simple tricks, like making a house seem occupied by lighting a candelabrum. Its upper pair of hands are like ours, able to hold and manipulate; the lower two are a grotesque mockery of limbs, bristling with blades and hooked growths made for tearing. These creatures are immune to artificial light; only sunlight weakens them. Sunlight, that is their true bane."

"Sunlight!?" Karen panicked. "The sun is only just setting now… We'll have to wait a long time!"

I hugged her, trying to steady her shaking shoulders. "Then what can we do?"

"You mean, what can you do?" the elf said, looking down. "I have no business saving you beyond this warning."

"But—" I started, then found I had no words.

The elf girl drew a breath as if to leave, then stopped. "Anything else you need to know?"

"..."

It felt hopeless. After all, what could we possibly do to endure the night until morning? We might wait for Grandma and Father, but there was no guarantee they would return in time. And if we did try to spend the night outside, the cold would tear through us before long.

"No questions…? If that is the case—"

"Wait!" I exclaimed as the memory surfaced. "There was one more thing which I found rather strange. In my premonitions, when Karen and I entered the dark kitchen, we were suddenly separated." Karen tugged my sleeve harder. "It was all pitch-black, inside, while beyond the door, I could still see the light from candles glowing. But when I tried to leave, something pushed me back, like a barrier or a wall. Do you know anything about this? Is it the creature itself?"

"Huh…?" The elf stared at me in disbelief. "A barrier? A wall? The Nachtmaw are dangerous creatures, yes, and they do thrive in darkness; they can even attack in artificial light, but they do not, to my knowledge, create invisible prison-like walls that trap you. They are creatures that only use deception and ambush. Are you sure you remember that right?"

Her words hit me like a cold stone. I had hoped to secure her help to tackle the creature, but instead, another mystery opened up. An invisible wall in the dark that wouldn’t let people leave wasn’t part of any tale she knew.

Then... what was it?

"..."

“So, Miss Elf, who could it be?” Alice pleaded for answers.

The elf girl fell silent, weighing all possibilities. We watched her, desperate for any scrap of wisdom that might help us face the Nachtmaw.

“I think…” She paused, glancing at me with a grave look. “There might have been another party involved in your ‘premonitions,’ foolish human.”

“Another party!?” I blurted.

It sounded impossible. Grandma had told us she lived alone. Who else could be in the house? We hadn’t explored every corner of the house, but there were no obvious signs of another person.

“Did someone break into Grandma’s house?” Karen asked, alarmed.

“If Miss Elf believes there might be another party, then that’s the most likely explanation,” Alice added.

“By the way,” the elf said, cocking her head, “who is this ‘Grandma’ you speak of?”

“Oh, she’s our grandmother. She lives across the lake in the large wooden log house alone—”

"Olivia?" The elf girl asked.

“Yes. Olivia Vandrelis. Wait, Miss Elf, how do you know her?”

The elf smiled, a little crookedly, then sat back on her heels. “So that’s it. Well...I suppose I am entitled to help you, then.”

“Then does that mean?” Hope fluttered in my chest.

“Yes. I’ll help you,” she said, thrusting a fist forward in a small, resolute gesture.

“But why are you helping us?” Alice asked, suspicious. “How do you know our grandmother?”

“Oh, that,” the elf said, looking up. “Your grandmother once saved me. I remember her as a young maiden, not unlike you two now. And ten years ago, I saw her again. Despite her aged appearance, I had no difficulties recognising her. Since then, I’ve only watched her from afar, never gathering the courage to approach.”

“Wait, how old are you?” I asked, forgetting myself. My sisters immediately scolded me.

“Elias! You should never ask a girl her age!” Alice hissed.

“Yes, Elias, that’s rude!” Karen added, pinching my arm.

“I’m sorry,” I muttered, looking down.

The elf laughed, breaking the tension. “That’s all right. But if you must know…” She struck a dramatic pose. “I’m one hundred years old.”

"..."

“Wait...what?!” I gasped. “But you look as young as me.”

“Of course, foolish human. Elves age more slowly.”

Oh, right, a common trope in novels, how could I have forgotten? But this also made me realise, the more I slipped into Elias Vandrelis’s life, the more my old memories faded away. Part of me liked not dwelling on the past, but the other part of me felt a small, quiet loss.

A well-designed system by the Creator, you could say.

"..."

“So…can I call you Grandma too?” I teased.

“What did you say, you little brat?!” The elf feigned outrage and lunged at me, but Alice and Karen caught her, holding her back with difficulty.

“I was joking! Joking...” I protested.

“Silly human,” she sighed, then her face hardened. “Back to the matter at hand. You said she lives alone, yes?”

"Yes," I replied.

“Then it’s definitely an outsider, someone with a special skill most likely,” the elf said.

“You mean someone who can make a box that traps people? Like magic?” I asked.

“Perhaps,” she nodded. “It may be someone versed in dark arts.”

“Wait… magic exists?” I suddenly remembered fumbling through childish incantations on my first day, spells that never worked. Until now, I had only known about special skills, which seemed like watered-down magic. But… there are also special skills that relate directly to real magic?

“Yes, they do exist, Elias. Have you forgotten already?" Alice asked, worried.

“I meant to say dark magic, yes, that's it!” I said quickly, trying to sound knowledgeable.

"..."

“But yes, dark magic does exist. Some humans and elves travel to demon lands to learn those arts, only to bring harm back,” the elf continued. “But now I have heard about this situation, this is worth telling my village chief.”

“And, could such people control Nachtmaw and make such things as in my premonitions happen?” I pressed.

“Very likely,” she said firmly.