A Visitor at the Elf Village

“This is quite the predicament,” the white serpent girl, thought to herself.

Earlier that morning, her only plan had been to cut across the forest with her tamed toad, hoping to reach the open plains by noon. There, she expected to find a village or town to replenish her dwindling supplies.

However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she heard the clash of swords and a sudden explosion echoing through the trees. Curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to investigate.

And now, here she was—seated at a wooden table inside a cramped cabin, her every move being scrutinized by a dozen suspicious onlookers.

Though she had done them a great service by dismantling the boar that had charged at one of their own, the elves in the room seemed far from grateful. Their eyes lingered on her with an unmistakable wariness, an air of hostility swirling around them.

At last, the main door creaked open. An elderly elf entered, surveying her carefully before taking a seat opposite her.

“I am Thalryn, chief of this humble village. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?” he asked, his voice calm but guarded.

“Suzhen,” she replied, perhaps a little too quickly. A fleeting thought crossed her mind—had she spoken out of turn? She wasn’t looking for trouble. All she wanted was for this conversation to end quickly, maybe in time for a meal or a nap in the nearest tree.

Once her business here was done, she planned to leave this village behind as soon as possible.

"First of all, I must express my gratitude for your intervention in the forest," the chief began. "Without your timely action, we may have suffered significant losses."

Suzhen remained silent, offering no acknowledgment. Seeing that she had no intention of responding, Thalryn continued.

“If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know. We wish to reward you for your assistance.”

“A horse,” Suzhen said flatly.

“Pardon?” The chief blinked, clearly caught off guard.

“A horse,” she repeated, more firmly this time. After a moment of awkward silence, she elaborated. “I’ve been traveling through the mountains and forests, but the scenery quickly bored me. I’m also constantly running out of food and have to stop to forage or hunt.”

She paused, then continued, “Even if I manage to hunt, the meat spoils within days, and I don’t have the ingredients to preserve it. As a result, I can’t travel as quickly as I’d like.”

“That’s why, when I came across a giant toad, I tamed it and used it as a mount to move faster through the forest. But…” Suzhen hesitated, realizing the next part of her sentence might sound unladylike, “Let’s just say the constant hopping has become… uncomfortable. So, having a horse would be a great favor to me.”

“I see…” Thalryn replied, “You said you crossed the forest. May I ask where you came from and where you’re headed?”

“I came from the east, beyond the Kunlun Mountain range. I’m making my way to Issania,” Suzhen answered confidently.

In her mind, there was nothing strange about her response. The Kunlun Mountains were a well-known geographical landmark, dividing the continent into East and West. Issania, the capital of this country, was a common destination. Surely the elves wouldn’t find anything amiss with that.

Yet her words were met with murmurs and glances exchanged among the elves. Thalryn’s eyes narrowed.

“Those mountains are impassable. Are you saying you crossed them to reach the Northern Realms, and now plan to head south?”

“Impassable? Surely they’re not…” Suzhen began, but the chief cut her off.

“Ah, forgive me,” Thalryn said, his tone slightly patronizing. “Perhaps for someone like you, it’s possible to cross those ranges—though it must have been perilous. I apologize for questioning you so much. You’re here for a reward, and yet we’ve been treating you like a criminal. Let’s end this interrogation.”

Suzhen’s expression softened, though she remained cautious.

“We can indeed provide you with a horse,” Thalryn continued. “However, there’s a merchant ship arriving in three days' time. If you’d prefer, we can arrange for them to take you to a southern town with direct routes to Issania. It would be quicker—and far more comfortable—than continuing through the wilderness on your own.”

Suzhen’s eyes brightened. “I’d very much like to take you up on that offer.”

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room, not only from the Chief but also from the elves gathered around. Did they really think I'd ask for something that would bankrupt them? Suzhen mused. On second thought, she could have asked for a lot more.

Still, renegotiating didn’t interest her. She couldn’t think of anything else she really needed. Money wasn’t a problem—her silver stock was more than enough to buy supplies when necessary.

"Lady Suzhen," the Chief began again, his tone now more relaxed. "Since you'll be staying for the next few days, may I kindly invite you to stay at my home? My wife and I would be honored to accommodate you."

Suzhen considered the offer. It was probably customary for the Chief to host important visitors, but she understood the real implication behind the invitation. The Chief didn’t want her wandering the village unsupervised. She’d taken note of the demographics during her short stay—this was a village of elves, and communities like this often didn’t take kindly to outsiders staying for too long.

"I’d be happy to accept your offer," Suzhen said with a polite smile. "Though I’d like to visit the local market first to purchase supplies for my journey."

"Oh, that won’t be necessary," Thalryn quickly interjected, his tone shifting into something firmer. "We can procure whatever you need. Please, rest—you must be tired from today’s events."

His words, while polite, carried a forcefulness that wasn’t lost on Suzhen. It wasn’t an offer, it was a demand disguised as one. Beneath the formality, she sensed a hint of pleading. The Chief was clearly in a tight spot—trying not to offend her, while also keeping the villagers comfortable with the presence of a foreign being.

He’s doing his best, Suzhen thought, feeling a rare flicker of sympathy. He could have just handed her the horse and sent her on her way immediately, but instead, he was going to some trouble to make her stay comfortable, even if his motives weren’t entirely altruistic.

"As you wish," she said softly, deciding to let the matter drop.

Just as Suzhen was about to stand, something suddenly sprang to mind.

"Earlier, as I was arriving in the village, I couldn’t help but notice an exotic looking mansion on the hill," she began, her tone light but curious. "It seems this village is mostly inhabited by elves, but that mansion stood out."

The elder’s expression stiffened slightly. "Ah, you noticed that. Yes, well... this village is indeed entirely elven. However, the occupants of that mansion were here long before we settled. They allowed our ancestors to live here on the condition that we never trespass on their property."

"Is that so?" Suzhen mused, her curiosity piqued. "So, there were easterners living here before the elves?"

Thalryn coughed slightly, the discomfort apparent in his demeanor. "Indeed. Though they were the only residents at the time. A hundred years ago, the Northern Realms were largely uninhabited, owing to their inaccessibility. It was only after the glaciers receded that our ancestors could settle here."

"We’ve long respected the rights of those who came before us. Our agreement with the mansion's owners has stood for centuries."

"Centuries?" Suzhen echoed, "Are they a large clan, or...?"

The elder hesitated, then spoke carefully. "The master of that mansion is a dragon—a Loong, to be precise."

For the first time, Suzhen’s composure faltered. Her expression shifted, betraying a flicker of surprise at the mention of a Loong.

"I see," she murmured, her mind racing with thoughts. A dragon—especially a Loong—was not something she had expected to encounter in this quiet, remote region. The revelation filled her with a sense of unease, but also deepened her curiosity.

“Actually, she might be able to help,” a sudden voice echoed across the room.

“Gim! What are you trying to—” an elf began to reprimand, but Gim quickly cut him off. “But that girl needs help! None of us can get in! Salix has been trying for days already!”

Suzhen turned around, recognizing the man who had earlier dashed in front of her toad and nearly fainted from shock. But what intrigued her more was the conversation. “What do you mean, ‘can’t get in’? And why does this girl need help?”

The Chief sighed deeply. “I suppose it doesn’t hurt to tell you. About that mansion you mentioned earlier—the occupants left a week ago.”

“Ah,” Suzhen responded, her face remaining expressionless, though a hint of disappointment colored her tone. She had been eager to meet the Loong, but it seemed the opportunity had eluded her.

“However,” the Chief continued, “they left behind a girl, all alone in the mansion. She cried the entire night when her mother and maid departed on the airship.”

“They left a girl behind?” Suzhen’s brow furrowed slightly. “Are you sure they’re not returning?”

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a high-pitched voice filled the room. “Of course they’re not returning! They’ve been gone for a week! That poor girl’s been left alone ever since!”

Suzhen turned to see an elven girl with golden twin braids standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with urgency. Without hesitation, the girl marched over and leaned in close, her face nearly touching Suzhen’s.

“Lady Serpent! You can help, can’t you? Nobody’s been able to get up to the mansion! There’s some kind of charm preventing anyone from going near the hill!”

“We all know that,” someone from the crowd chimed in. “The charm’s been there for centuries. I tried sneaking in once as a child but got repelled.”

A charm, Suzhen thought. To her knowledge, no charm could physically prevent someone from entering—unless…

“Maybe you should calm down, Salix,” someone else muttered. “Her mother and maid probably just went to Issania. If they took the airship, it’ll be two weeks before they can return.”

“To Issania? Are you suggesting they left the poor girl alone to go on a shopping trip?” Salix snapped, fumes practically pouring from her head.

“Umm… I’m just suggesting possibilities… She’ll be fine…”

“She’s not fine!” Salix insisted. “Please, Lady Serpent, come with me!”

Though she said please, it wasn’t a request. Before Suzhen could respond, Salix grabbed her arm and began tugging her out of the cabin, to the visible frustration of the elves inside.

Outside, a crowd had gathered—elves, both adults and children, peeking curiously from windows. It seemed the entire village knew of Suzhen’s presence. But rather than fear, the villagers appeared more curious than anything else. Suzhen suspected the Chief had been overreacting. Or perhaps they hadn’t witnessed her taking down the boar.

“You see that garden in front of the mansion?” Salix pointed urgently toward the distant hill. “That girl’s been out there since this morning with her orange— I don’t know what that creature is, but it’s her pet, and they’ve been digging in the garden all day.”

Suzhen squinted, trying to focus on the mansion. It was too far for her to see clearly.

“That’s a sign of desperation!” Salix continued, nearly in tears. “She’s run out of food and is digging for scraps in the garden. Oh, that poor girl…”

“Pardon me,” Suzhen said, trying to stay composed, “but while I do see movement on the hill, how exactly can you tell she’s digging?”

Salix looked astonished. “You can’t see from here? Oh, I guess it’s my elven eyes. I can see much farther than humans... or even spirits. But I swear I’m telling the truth.”

Suzhen nodded slowly, understanding now. She’d heard of the elves’ legendary eyesight, but it hadn’t fully registered until Salix explained it.

“You’ll help her, won’t you? Please.” Salix’s voice trembled, her eyes glistening with tears. She gripped Suzhen’s hands tightly, her desperation palpable. “If she goes another day without food, she may not survive.”

Suzhen looked into Salix’s pleading eyes, then back toward the distant hill. Though she couldn’t see what Salix saw, the urgency in her voice was unmistakable. With a sigh, Suzhen resigned herself. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to take a look at this charm.”