In the depths of the Great Forest, Oliver was forcing his way through towering trees and twisted trunks while gripping a small spirit tightly in his hand so it wouldn’t escape.
Fear was clear on his face. Every few steps he took, he looked behind him. Yet despite all of that, he absolutely refused to let the spirit go.
The tiny spirit writhed between his fingers, trying every possible way to break free. She kicked and struck his hand with surprising strength while twisting her semi transparent body around his fingers.
At last, after giving up on escaping, she scread,
"Let go of , you filthy hybrid!"
Oliver stopped walking and looked at the spirit trapped in his hand. Then he lifted her up to his face and shook her irritably, trying to confirm what he just heard.
The spirit scread again,
"Stop shaking !"
"You can talk?"
She shot him a look full of pure disgust.
"Of course I can talk. It’s just that pathetic beings like humans can’t understand us."
"Then how am I understanding you now?"
"You are even lower than humans."
Oliver shook her harder this ti.
"Why are you talking with this attitude?"
"You should be grateful that a noble spirit like even speaks to a filthy hybrid like you!"
His eyes narrowed.
"Who exactly are you calling a hybrid, you tiny bug? And what does that even an?"
The spirit tried to pry his fingers open with her tiny hands, but it was useless.
"Let go and I’ll tell you."
"Tell first, then I’ll let you go."
She let out a deep sigh.
"Hybrids are beings that are half mythical creatures."
"Mythical creatures? Like the Spirit of Autumn?"
"Yes, but don’t get excited. There is no way a filthy hybrid like you could be the child of the great Spirit of Autumn. Now let go."
Oliver replied simply,
"No."
The spirit gasped.
"You tricked !"
"Yes, I’m a filthy hybrid after all. Didn’t you say that yourself?"
She started hitting his hand angrily with her small fists.
"Even filthy beings have so principles!"
"Unfortunately, I don’t."
"That’s what happens when you grow up with humans!"
"Weren’t you playing with humans peacefully just a mont ago?"
"That... was an order from the great Spirit of Autumn herself. I wasn’t enjoying it!"
Oliver smirked.
"Yeah, that was obvious."
"Let go, you disgusting creature! Do you know what my siblings will do when they learn you kidnapped ?"
"I don’t know, run away like they always do when they see ?"
She had no answer for that. She knew he was right.
Oliver lifted her again.
"You reminded . Why do all of you run away from ?"
She ignored him completely, so he started shaking her again.
When she felt dizzy she scread,
"Stop shaking and I’ll tell you!"
When Oliver heard that, he imdiately stopped.
"Go ahead."
"Years ago, a hybrid like you appeared in the forest. He began hunting spirits."
"You didn’t stop him?"
"No. He was too strong. He almost wiped out every spirit in the forest. If the great Spirit of Autumn hadn’t intervened herself, none of us would still be here. She defeated him, but she ca out with serious injuries."
"Oh. That explains why you run from . But I have no intention of hurting any of you."
Oliver said as he moved the spirit away from his face.
"Now will you let go?"
Oliver released her. She flapped her tiny wings and flew away imdiately.
"Tell the rest that I won’t hurt them. They can play with too, like the others."
She shouted while flying away,
"I won’t! I’ll tell them to stay away from you, you little villain!"
She vanished among the branches.
Oliver muttered as he looked at his now empty hand,
"I probably shouldn’t have let her go."
He continued through the dense forest. But only a few minutes passed before the small spirit ca rushing back toward him, flying at insane speed and landing on his shoulder.
He turned toward her.
"What made you co back?"
"The thought of a child like you walking alone in the forest weighed heavily on my noble heart. What if a monster ate you? And as a noble spirit who protects the villagers, I cannot allow sothing like that to happen to you."
"Just say you’re scared to go by yourself. No need for the heroic speech."
She lifted her head arrogantly.
"? A noble spirit like would never fear sothing like that."
"Of course, right. A great spirit like you would never run and hide under a little boy’s coat."
The spirit narrowed her eyes while hiding under his coat.
"Are you making fun of ?"
"? No, I’m thanking you for your great rcy, noble spirit."
Her tiny chest puffed up with pride, and she fluttered her wings.
"Yes, that’s better. What’s your na, hybrid?"
"Oliver. And you, what’s your na, oh great noble spirit?"
"Spirits don’t have nas."
Oliver rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then raised a finger.
"What about... Til?"
Her small eyes sparkled.
"Til? I like it. You have so useful skills for a hybrid."
"Alright, Til, do you know the way to the village?"
She pointed with one wing.
"Go that way."
Oliver began walking in the direction she indicated.
...
About an hour passed following Til’s directions, yet Oliver wasn’t getting anywhere near the village. Instead, he found himself sinking deeper into the forest.
"Are you sure this is the right way?"
"I assu so."
Oliver stopped.
"What do you an you assu so?"
She shook her head.
"I’m not sure... I’ve never gone this deep before."
"Why didn’t you say that from the start?!"
"You’re the one who never asked."
Oliver exhaled sharply, then climbed onto a rock. He raised his hand to block the sunlight leaking through the branches, and spotted smoke rising from a distant fire.
He jumped down and headed toward it.
Once close, he hid behind a tree and watched. Around the fire was a group of small creatures. They looked sowhat human, but only as tall as a ten year old. Their skin was gray, their hair long and tangled, and their teeth razor sharp, gleaming in the firelight.
Bones were scattered everywhere around them.
Til whispered,
"They’re the Grays."
Oliver asked,
"Are they spirits?"
"Don’t compare us noble beings to such filthy creatures! They’re like animals, but slightly smarter. We need to run now."
Oliver turned slowly and took a step back, but stepped on a branch. The loud crack echoed violently.
Every Gray creature turned toward him instantly. Then they charged.
Til scread,
"Run!"
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