Several hours had elapsed since the group departed from the shore. Led by the elves, who seed to be familiar with the area and its secrets, Freya’s team continued their journey through a dense and captivating forest.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the air was filled with peculiar sounds that echoed around them. Strange rustling and chirping noises, as well as the occasional cries of a dying animal or human, made the group feel as if they were walking through a purgatory.
The ground beneath their feet was soft and spongy as if it was pulsating with life. The team had to be cautious not to trip on the roots of massive trees that seed to be centuries old. The trees were so tall that their leaves blocked out most of the sunlight, creating an eerie atmosphere.
Despite the ominous feeling, Freya’s team pressed on, guided by the elves who were leading them through the winding paths of the forest. They knew that they had to stay alert and be prepared for anything that might co their way.
In front of the group, she engaged in a discussion with Nefertari alongside her closest companions.
"The warriors who attacked you were probably chasing those giants. They tend to fight them from ti to ti for so reason, but it’s rare to see them this far from the savannah."
"Could it be that they set us up? I an, sending these giants?"
"You overestimate the brains of these animals. They can’t think of anything, the crazy ones are braindead who only know how to fight. I can’t believe anyone was stupid enough to try to talk to them."
Freya let out an exasperated sigh, but just as she was about to respond, Eryl stepped in.
"So you’re braindead too? Amazing!"
"...Then you are doubly stupid, congratulations."
They engaged in a heated argunt up ahead, while a short distance behind them, Cid and Hope observed the elves gracefully strolling beside them. The sunlight filtering through the tree leaves highlighted their ethereal beauty, causing many onlookers to whisper in admiration as they passed by.
"Well, at least it’s worth the trip. We’re lucky they’re not the ones who are dangerous."
Hope gave a slight nod to Cid, her gaze fixed on Nefertari. The girl’s face contorted into a grimace as she looked at Eryl, and in that instant, their eyes locked.
The young man was taken aback and looked away while the young girl observed him intently for a brief mont. They continued their journey through the forest in silence, until they reached a vast cliff.
The group halted at the edge, their eyes transfixed on the empty expanse and the jagged rocks below. For a special group of them, this sight evoked mories of a sorrowful day when a Sin had sought their approval, but now was not the ti for regrets.
"Alright, we’re here," Nefertari said, turning towards them.
They watched the girl with intrigue and many looked over her shoulder. Regardless, all they could see was a vast crater with the promise of death at its bottom.
Freya slowly backed away, watching every movent of the elves around them.
"Is this...Is this a trap after all?"
Stepping back, she instinctively moved away until Eryl’s hand landed on her shoulder.
"Lady, I think I’ve told you once that what the eye could see was always shallow... compared to what it couldn’t see."
She made eye contact with Nefertari briefly before the girl flashed a smile, prompting two of her companions to stand beside her.
"I’m curious to hear the story behind a sibling from another world. Don’t look away, Furiya, what you’re looking for is right here."
Their eyes shone green, and all of them stepped into the void, however, instead of plumting into darkness, they mysteriously disappeared without a trace.
The group recoiled in surprise upon witnessing this scene, yet eventually, as the rest of the elves mimicked the sa movent, they obediently followed suit. Initially hesitant, they cautiously lifted their feet off the ground and... began walking on the grass. They gasped in awe as the extraordinary sight unfolded before their eyes.
In the heart of a sacred temple, they found themselves surrounded by ancient and awe-inspiring stones that contrasted beautifully with the majestic mountains in the distance. The temple was not alone, as it was encompassed by grand structures that gave it a village-like ambiance, bustling with vibrant energy.
Elf won, adorned in traditional garnts, gracefully moved throughout the area. The temple seed to be embraced by colossal vegetation, seamlessly blending into its surroundings like a nurturing mother.
Standing proudly behind them was a towering tree with an imnse trunk, casting a radiant glow upon their figures, reminiscent of crystal-clear water. As the newcors stepped inside, each elf paused their activities, their curious gazes fixated on the visitors, not uttering a single word.
As they glanced around, a sudden wave of insignificance washed over them in a world dominated by towering figures. However, their sense of self was swiftly restored as Nefertari’s voice resonated through the air, grounding them back to the present mont.
"Well, dear intruders, welco to our holand, but you can just call it Elf Village."
*****
In a distant location, far beyond the vast savannah and across the barren land, a group of five individuals were making their way through the rugged terrain. Trudging across the rocky landscape, they left behind a staggering multitude of monstrous corpses, each one possessing a truly unique appearance.
Dora took the lead, wielding a morning star in his hand. With a swift motion, he lifted his arm and swung the weapon, sending a flurry of spikes in a half arc that obliterated the rocks in the distance and a pack of monstrous dogs with oversized heads.
Turning in the opposite direction, he brought down the mace, shattering a massive snake hidden among the rocks to their left. Pressing forward, he marched ahead, the other girls trailing behind, their faces filled with terror.
"I was right, giants don’t spawn on hard lands but I wonder if that’s better?" Dora muttered.
Lilith and Morgiana clutched their weapons firmly, their eyes darting around cautiously. anwhile, Iris provided support to rcy, who struggled to move forward. With each step, rcy’s breathing grew labored, and prominent veins bulged on her neck. Despite Iris’s efforts to maintain a steady pace, the distance between them and Dora was widening rapidly.
"Wait, Dora! Can we take a break? She looks worse!"
Dora positioned his feet firmly on a majestic boulder, his eyes unwaveringly focused on the distant horizon.
"She refused to take control, I’m not slowing down for such a stubborn person."
In a surprising twist of fate, rcy found herself unable to absorb the stone as she had done before. Instead, the stone remained within her, acting like a parasite within an animal. This unexpected turn of events dealt a final blow to the young girl’s already sorrowful state. Dora, in the end, attributed this outco to rcy’s lack of determination, leaving him in a deeply annoyed mood.
"I really don’t understand the lack of determination so people have... after everything that’s happened, and everything you know, why hesitate? You’ll just be a burden... like before."
rcy held onto her chest tightly as she shoved Iris away. Taking in slow, deep breaths, she fixed her gaze on Dora’s back.
"...I...don’t...ask...for help."
"No, you don’t, you force people to make that decision for you."
Dora shifted his gaze towards the group of girls, his eyes scanning their every move. Lilith and Morgiana, their expressions filled with concern, averted their eyes, avoiding any direct interaction with him. On the other hand, Iris and rcy t his gaze head-on, their eyes locked with his.
Dismissing them montarily, he turned away, his attention now focused on his open palm. As he extended his hand, tiny specks of blue particles began to gather, forming a srizing display of color and light.
"Morgiana, Iris, I need you to avoid conflict as much as possible. If there is a target, it has to be either Lilith or the one who can’t walk alone."
"What?!" Both of them exclaid in unison.
The girls recoiled in fear, rcy desperately attempted to utter words, but as soon as she parted her lips, a strange sensation engulfed her, leaving her breathless.
At that very mont, a sharp tallic sound pierced through the air, causing her to snap her head upwards. To her astonishnt, a sword, a spear, and a hamr materialized right before their eyes, standing ominously in their path.
"Use that instead of your weapons, you won’t do anything with those toys you have lying around."
Three weapons shimred with an otherworldly energy, as though they possessed a consciousness of their own. The girls observed in awe as this masterpiece unfolded before them, another brilliant creation from the genius boy.
"Get ready, we’ve arrived."
He once again faced the horizon, where a small town, nestled in the desert and rejuvenated by the sand, lay beyond the rocks, peacefully slumbering.
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