The elven girl narrowed her eyes, subtly scanning him for any sign of a weapon.
When she found none, her posture shifted just slightly, but noticeably.
A sense of pride welled up inside her.
Elves, though not known for physical strength, were unmatched in their control of mana and magical prowess.
She knew that if this human tried anything, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Lifting her chin slightly, she spoke again.
"Elaria. I am the daughter of the"
She stopped mid-sentence, eyes flicking away for a moment.
She had almost revealed too much.
Elven custom forbade sharing personal lineage with strangers, especially with other races, unless that person had been deemed trustworthy.
And this human… she had never even seen one before. Only stories whispered by her parents late at night.
She coughed, lightly, buying a few seconds to collect herself.
"…I am Elaria, an elf as you can see," she said, her voice composed again still holding that same quiet sense of superiority.
"And you… what is a human doing here?"
Her tone didn't change it remained cold, like she was speaking to someone beneath her, even as curiosity flickered in her eyes.
Alarion lowered his gaze slightly, both out of humility and because of how short the elven girl was.
"I've been traveling alone for almost a month… searching for any trace of human life," he said quietly.
He didn't want to reveal too much not yet.
But he had no choice. He could feel it clearly: even though she was just a child, he was outmatched. The mana around her pulsed like a heartbeat.
Elaria raised a brow, then tilted her head back with a laugh.
"Hahaha… haaaa…"
Her voice held a strange mix of amusement and disbelief.
"You're searching for humans? That's impossible. Humanity was declared extinct fifteen years ago. I was shocked to even see one…"
She trailed off as Alarion suddenly stepped forward, his voice firm but cautious.
"What do you mean humans are extinct?"
His expression had changed calm, but tense.
There was no anger, only the weight of a truth he wasn't ready to hear.
Elaria flinched slightly at his sudden outburst, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone but she quickly regained her composure.
"You mean… you don't know?" she asked, her voice calm again, though laced with confusion.
"Humans were driven into extinction… by demons, and other races that feared or despised them."
Alarion's face changed, the weight of her words sinking in like stone.
His heart felt heavy , his thoughts spiraled.
Did I wait too long?
If only I had returned earlier… maybe… just maybe I could have saved them.
"The words clung to his chest like frost. Extinct. Not missing. Not scattered. Gone."
But before the sorrow could fully consume him, Elaria spoke again.
"I don't know all the details," she admitted softly. "But… my mother used to tell me little bits from time to time. Things I wasn't supposed to
---
Elaria's gaze drifted away, her expression hardening.
"That's all I can say," she said curtly. "I've already said too much."
Alarion's brows furrowed. He stepped a little closer, but not threateningly just enough to show how serious he was.
"Please," he said calmly, "even a little more might help me understand what happened… to my people."
Elaria didn't respond. She crossed her arms and looked toward the trees, her mouth pressed in a thin line.
Alarion exhaled quietly. He could tell she wouldn't be moved by sympathy or emotion alone.
"I'm not asking you to betray your people," he continued, "just… help me find mine if any are left."
Still, she said nothing. The silence stretched long enough for the wind to fill it, rustling the leaves above.
"Although, he wanted to know more, he knew there was nothing he could do, So he took a big breath a tried to calm his nerves.
When he felt like he was ok he asked,
"…Why are you even here? Alone. A young elf, wandering this deep into unknown lands."
That struck a chord.
Elaria's shoulders tensed slightly. She turned her eyes back toward him, this time with a more guarded expression not arrogant, but cautious.
"…That's none of your concern," she muttered.
But her reaction told Alarion one thing clearly:
She was hiding something too.
Alarion noticed the sudden change in her posture ,the stiffness in her shoulders, the flicker of unease in her eyes.
And then it clicked.
She's lost…
He didn't say it aloud, but the thought lingered as he considered his next words.
He wanted to help her genuinely , but he also knew he might be able to get something in return.
"Well," he said casually, turning his back to her, "if you won't tell me anything… or help me, I guess I should keep moving."
He took a few steps, then glanced over his shoulder.
"Goodbye, Elaria. I hope you get home safe."
Elaria narrowed her eyes, her pride pricked by his words.
"Wait," she asked, frowning slightly, "what do you mean by safe?"
Alarion paused. His voice was calm almost too calm.
"Oh, it's nothing," he said, waving a hand. "Since I started my journey, I've had this strange feeling… like I'm being watched.
By something or someone. A presence that feels... demonic. I've never actually seen anything, but the feeling hasn't gone away."
He glanced back again, his expression neutral.
"So I just hope you don't run into one. After all…"
He gave a small shrug, his tone soft but sharp.
"You're still a child."
Elaria's face turned red, caught between embarrassment and anger.
She opened her mouth to snap at him
But then it came.
A loud, guttural shriek tore through the forest.
It was inhuman. Deep. Bone-chilling.
The kind of sound that no animal could make.
Elaria's ears twitched. Her pride turned instantly to alertness.
"They're close," Alarion said, his tone shifting.
This time, even she could feel it a sliver of fear… and pity in his voice.
I have to leave, but before I go what are you even doing here
Elaria was taken aback by the question.
She didn't answer—not because she didn't want to, but because she couldn't.
The distant, bone-chilling shrieks of the demon were getting closer. If they were going to move, they had to do it now.
Alarion, sensing the urgency, spoke firmly, "I'm sorry… but I can't."
Elaria blinked, stunned.
"I don't know who you are," he continued, "and I don't want to make enemies of the elves. So it's best if you stay out of this."
He turned to leave fast steps, no hesitation.
But before he could take another, a gentle tug on his robes stopped him.
He glanced back.
Elaria stood there, eyes downcast, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Gvhchchcyf…"
"What?" Alarion leaned in slightly. "I didn't hear you."
She swallowed her pride and finally, with a shaky breath, said:
"I… I got lost while chasing a Vaelty," she finally said, her voice barely holding back her embarrassment.
"A… what?" Alarion tilted his head.
Elaria glanced away, still holding his robe, then muttered, "Vaelty... it's a forest creature. Looks like a small horse,never grows more than four feet tall. It has a horn, so most people mistake it baby unicorn."
"A unicorn?" Alarion echoed with interes
"But… at night," Elaria continued, "its horn disappears. They can mimic any language they hear some say, with the right training, they can even speak fluently. But that takes years… most people never get them to say more than a few words."
Alarion blinked. "So you're saying you've been lost for days chasing a… shy, shape-horned, talking horse?"
Only an elf would chase a magical creature into the wilderness and call it curiosity."
Elaria crossed her arms and scowled, cheeks slightly flushed. "I was curious, okay? It was beautiful… and fast. I didn't think it would lead me this far out."
Alarion, still chuckling, calmed himself and asked, "So… if I may ask, how long have you been here?"
"…Forty-eight days."
His smile faded instantly.
"Forty-eight…?" He slowly knelt down to her level, his tone shifting to one of genuine concern.
"How did you survive that long alone?"
Elaria looked at him, then replied more quickly this time.
"I found a cave. Ate what I could… berries, roots, clean water nearby. I stayed quiet. I'm not a child, you know."
He stared at her for a moment, a storm of thoughts in his eyes.
Then stood back up, sighing softly.
"Well then, Lady Elaria," he said with a gentle smile, "Would it be alright if I assisted you until you find your way back home?"
Elaria blinked.
Her lips twitched into a faint smirk as she folded her arms and looked away with mock pride.
"If that's what you want," she said, trying to sound indifferent.
But deep inside ,beneath the pride and elven arrogance,she felt something she hadn't in days.
Relief.