"They're so thin," Hina whispered, her voice trembling as she gazed at the fragile elves scattered around the village. Their sunken cheeks and hollow eyes made her heart clench.
"That's what we're fighting for," Serina said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Hina's shoulder. Her tone carried a mix of conviction and sorrow, as if she'd carried the burden of their life on her own shoulders as well.
I stood a few feet behind them, hands shoved casually into my pockets. My gaze swept over the desolate area, noting the small houses, the faint shimr of protective wards & spells flickering on the edges of the area, and the disdain expressions of the elves.
"You consulted the doctor. What did they say?" I asked Serina, keeping my tone nonchalant, though my eyes lingered on the thin fra of an elf child clutching a small, worn-out blanket.
Serina turned to face , her expression grim. "We took a sample outside the island. They couldn't find anything concrete, but..." She hesitated, her voice dropping lower. "They did confirm their life energy is being drained. Constantly. Slowly."
Hina's brows furrowed in concern. "Life energy? How is that even possible? Is it... a curse? A disease?"
Serina shook her head. "We're not sure yet. Whatever it is, it's beyond what most healers or researchers have encountered."
"Elves are known for long life cycle and now the plague is reducing it." I said.
"Yeah...right..." Serina agreed, keeping her stare at my eyes.
The elves around us began to notice our presence more keenly. Their stares felt heavy, laced with suspicion and fear. It wasn't surprising—they had every reason to distrust outsiders like us.
Hina, however, wasn't one to stay idle. She knelt down, her gentle deanor was vivid comparatively to the tension in the air. She extended a hand toward a group of elf children huddled behind one of the huts.
"It's okay," she said softly, her voice like a soothing lody. "I won't hurt you."
The children hesitated, their wide eyes darting between Hina and each other. One of them, a boy with tangled silver hair, slowly inched forward. He reached out with trembling fingers and placed his hand in Hina's.
A small smile spread across Hina's face as she pulled out so bread and dried fruit from her pouch, offering it to them. "Here. Eat."
The boy's eyes lit up with cautious hope as he took the food. Soon, the others gathered around her, their earlier fear lting away as they ate and smiled for the first ti in who knows how long.
"Thank you, sister," one of the children said, their tiny voice filled with genuine gratitude.
Hina's smile faltered for a brief second. Her hand froze mid-air as she reached to pat one of the children's heads. Sothing flickered in her eyes—sothing haunted.
I knew what it was. The mory of the church incident. The way those children had thanked her, only to et a cruel fate monts later. I could see the guilt and hesitation forming in her trembling hands.
"Poor girl..." I thought, watching from a distance. I let out a quiet sigh. Hina carried too much on her shoulders for soone so young and kind-hearted.
But before I could say anything, a booming voice shattered the fragile peace.
"We have intruders!!!"
The shout ca from a man with a deep, resonating voice. Instantly, the air around us grew heavy with hostility. Elves erged from every corner—peeking out from behind houses, perched atop the trees, and forming a circle around us. Their hands glowed with magic, and a few wielded crude swords and spears.
I glanced around, my hands still tucked casually in my pockets, scanning their positions. They moved swiftly, their intent clear.
One of them, a tall elf with sharp features and a commanding presence of a young blood, leaped from the crowd. His aura flared with raw energy as he hurled himself toward .
"Just leave us alone already!!" he yelled, his voice filled with fury and desperation.
I didn't flinch. As he closed in, I removed one hand from my pocket and caught his fist mid-air.
*BOOM*
Dust kicked up around us as the force of his attack collided with the stillness of my defense. The elf gritted his teeth, his expression twisting in frustration as he realized his strength was nothing against mine.
I stared at him, unimpressed. Then, with a slight flick of my wrist, I let him go. He stumbled back but quickly regained his footing, gathering a ball of energy in his palm.
"Stop!" Serina stepped between us, her voice authoritative. She turned to the elf, her expression calm but firm. "Calm down, Lala. They're here to help us."
The elf, Lala, hesitated, his energy ball flickering uncertainly in his hand. "Help us?" he spat, his voice dripping with skepticism. "How can we trust them? How do we know they're not here to finish what the others started?"
Serina's gaze didn't waver. "Because I said so," she replied simply. There was a weight to her words, a confidence that seed to montarily disarm him.
Hina stepped forward, her hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We're not here to hurt anyone. We just want to understand what's happening to your people and help if we can."
The children who had eaten her food earlier stepped out from behind her, clutching the scraps of bread and fruit she had given them. They looked up at Lala with wide, pleading eyes.
"Big brother, they're nice," one of them said softly.
Lala's shoulders sagged slightly, his hardened expression softening just a fraction.
Before anyone could say more, the crowd parted, and a new figure erged.
He was a towering elf with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. His cream-colored robes flowed as he walked, and a sword rested on his back. Behind him were two others, equally imposing, their sharp gazes fixed on us.
The tall elf stopped a few feet away, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. "And how exactly are they going to help us?" he asked, his voice deep and steady.
The weight of his question hung in the air, silencing the murmurs of the gathered elves. I t his gaze, unbothered by his scrutiny, and removed my other hand from my pocket.
"We'll start by figuring out what's draining your people's life energy," I said plainly. "And then we'll end it."
His eyes narrowed slightly, studying for any hint of lie. The village was silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds.
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