Descendant of Sloth Chapter 28: Diary in the Dark

"Think before you speak next ti, will you?" Hina hissed, grabbing by the collar and pulling .

"Yes, yes, I get it. Now let go," I grumbled, swatting her hand away.

"Let them be," ca Serina's calm voice from behind us.

We both turned to her. She stood with her arms crossed, her usual composed deanor masking a hint of sadness.

"They don't want to be helped by anyone from the outside world," she said softly, her gaze drifting to the elder elf, who was now deep in conversation with so of his people.

Arthur adjusted his glasses with a quick motion, "Letting us inside their village at all is already a huge step for them. They've been isolated for years and their wounds run deeper than we might realize. So let them be, alright?"

I let out a long, drawn-out sigh, brushing a hand through my hair. "Yeah, fine. I will be careful from now. Let's just focus on the task."

We strolled around the island, taking in its hidden gems one step at a ti. The scenery had a glowing brilliance to it, a soft shimr that made everything feel almost otherworldly. Despite the beauty, there was a lingering heaviness in the air. The people we passed by looked frail and weak to their bones.

Children ran about, their laughter echoing in the distance. Their carefree energy was contagious, and Hina couldn't help but smile as she watched them play.

Further ahead, we stumbled upon a small waterfall, its water flowing gracefully into a stream that twisted and turned through the island. The sound of rushing water filled the air, soothing and serene. It was a fleeting mont of peace in a place that carried so much unseen pain.

Hina, ever the curious one, walked slightly ahead, her eyes darting around at the various details—the intricate carvings on the doorfras, the faintly glowing blue crystals that hung from so houses, casting a soft light across the village.

"Feels like we've walked into a whole different world," she muttered, pausing to inspect a carved symbol on a tree trunk.

Serina nodded. "In a way, you have. Their magic, their culture, everything about this place is unique. It's why they guard it so fiercely."

I stayed quiet, hands in my pockets, following along silently. There was sothing about the stillness of the place, like it was holding its breath, waiting for sothing to happen.

That evening, we sat down to dinner with one of the elf families. The room was warm and cozy, lit by soft amber flas on sides along the walls. The family consisted of a mother, two young girls, and a young man—the very sa Lala who had nearly killed us earlier. His icy glare was still very much intact as he sat across from at the table, his jaw clenched so tight I was surprised his teeth didn't crack.

Serina sat beside , and Hina was already digging into her food with enthusiasm, particularly the fish. She humd in delight after every bite. "This is amazing," she said between mouthfuls. "You guys have so serious cooking skills."

The mother smiled politely and said thank you to her. The two young girls giggled softly at Hina's enthusiasm, their wide eyes sparkling with curiosity.

As for , I was eating in silence, focused on my plate without much thought. Lala sa, however, his vibe is more stricter than casual. His eyes flicked to occasionally, sharp and filled with distrust.

"So, uh, where did Arthur go?" Hina asked suddenly, breaking the silence. She glanced around as if expecting him to appear out of nowhere.

Serina hesitated for a mont before answering, "He's probably catching up with the others, checking in with Lisa and Wong."

"Ah, I see," Hina replied, shrugging as she reached for another piece of fish. She really was enjoying herself.

I glanced at Lala. It didn't take a genius to figure out he wasn't thrilled about our presence here. Still, I decided to let it slide. No point in poking the bear.

I Sighhhh* internally to myself.

Later that night, the girls were given a separate room to sleep in while I was stuck sharing a different space with Lala. The air in the room was thick with unspoken tension. He had already turned his back to , pretending to sleep, though I could tell he was wide awake.

From the girls' room, I could hear muffled voices. They weren't exactly trying to be quiet.

"Do you like him?" Serina's voice was teasing, and I didn't need to guess who she was talking to.

"What? No!" Hina's flustered response ca imdiately, followed by a nervous laugh. "He's lazy and weird, always acting like the world's biggest know-it-all."

"Uh-huh," Serina said, her tone dripping with amusent. "But he's always looking out for you, isn't he? You feel safe around him, don't you?"

There was a brief pause, and I imagined Hina's face was probably bright red. "I an... yeah, but that doesn't an I like him!" she said quickly. "You're reading too much into it."

"Oh, soone's in love~," Serina teased, her laughter soft but unmistakable.

"Shut up!" Hina shot back, though her tone was more embarrassed than angry.

Then, to my surprise, Serina added, "Well, I think he's handso. Tall, quiet, kind of brooding... definitely my type."

I sighed heavily, shaking my head.

"Hmph, so childish," Lala muttered suddenly, breaking his silence. He didn't even bother to look at as he spoke, simply turning over to face the wall.

"What did I even do?" I thought to myself, staring up at the wooden ceiling. Sleep wasn't going to co easy tonight. Sothing about this place, this village, made feel curious.

Soon the silence and everyone slept but unable to stay in bed any longer, I slipped out of the room and into the cool night air. The village was eerily silent, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. I wandered aimlessly, my footsteps light on the cobblestone paths and enjoying the fireflies that were dancing around the plants and trees.

Eventually, my feet led to the edge of the forest. The trees lood tall and imposing, their branches intertwined like a living canopy. I didn't hesitate, stepping into the darkness.

After what felt like an eternity of walking, I erged into an abandoned neighborhood. The houses were crumbling, their wooden beams shredded and rotting. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and a faint mist on the ground. There wasn't a single soul in sight.

I strolled through the desolate streets, my hands in my pockets, my eyes scanning the surroundings. It was oddly peaceful, in a way. But then, as I turned a corner and —I stopped dead in my tracks.

There, in the window of one of the houses, stood a shadowy figure on the first floor of the house. A elf boy with long pointy ears, his face covered by the darkness, staring down at . His head was tilted slightly, as if calling .

We locked eyes for what felt like an eternity, and then, without a sound, he stepped back, disappearing into the house.

I didn't feel fear, just... an odd sense of curiosity. Slowly, I made my way toward the house, the floorboards creaking under my weight as I stepped inside.

The air inside was stale, the kind of heavy stillness that pressed against your skin. I climbed the stairs carefully, my footsteps slow and deliberate. Reaching the upper floor, I pushed open the door where I'd seen him disappear.

Nothing. The room was empty.

I frowned, closing my eyes and focusing my aura around the area with a faint flow, trying to sense any presence around . But there was nothing. Not a single trace of life.

"Weird..." I muttered to myself, turning back toward the door.

That's when I noticed it. On the ground, next to an overturned chair, lay a small, worn diary. Its leather cover was faded, the edges frayed from its recent use.

I crouched down, picking it up carefully in my hand. I rotated it in my hands to see if there's anything else to it.