"For now, let's get you up to the village," Amariel said gently to the kid.
"Oum," the child nodded.
They started moving back toward Glimmerfen.
Ahrie was riding on Daiki's back in a piggyback ride, arms crossed like royalty.
"Oii! Why the hell am I carrying you?!" Daiki shouted.
"Shataap, peasant. You owe me…" Ahrie replied in an over-the-top noble impression, nose raised high.
"Urgggh…" Daiki groaned, sighing hard.
The child giggled.
Amariel smiled.
They arrived at Glimmerfen.
Amariel pulled a cloth over the child's head.
Straight to the elder's home.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
"Oiii, Geezer! You home?" Ahrie yelled.
The door creaked open. The elder's butler peeked out.
"And who might you be—"
Amariel lowered the kid's hood just enough, revealing the kid's head.
The butler's eyes widened. He snapped the cover back down, panicking, scanning left and right.
"Quickly—inside!"
They rushed in.
"You almost made my heart explode," the butler whispered harshly. "Why is a Floriae here?"
Amariel slid off her hood.
The butler froze…
"Y-you… wait here. I'll fetch the elder."
He hurried off.
Ahrie and the rest sat down like nothing happened.
The elder stormed in, his breath uneven.
"My, my… the child… is—" His voice cut short when he noticed the two humans.
Amariel spoke first. "They're with me."
The elder exhaled, shoulders dropping.
"…So. What happened?"
Amariel told him everything.
The elder pressed a hand to his forehead, groaning.
"They're getting close, huh…"
His eyes shifted to the child. "Where's Elder Allium?"
"At the village…" the child muttered.
"Then rest for now. Take the rooms."
Amariel nodded, leading the child away.
The elder's gaze lingered on Daiki and Ahrie.
He rubbed his temples, then said quietly,
"Since you're already involved… I might as well tell you this…"
The elder leaned back, voice heavy with memory.
"A few decades ago… When your kind first stumbled into Sylvaren, we were the ones who taught you how to live here. In return, those few humans fought for us. Traveled across Sylvaren. Defended our civilization.
They became heroes. Slayers of the monster that destroyed kingdoms. Held as legends—standing at the very top of the chain.
As a reward… your species was deemed worthy to stay. To live here, permanently. That's how this world works. Every species that loses its way here has a chance to prove itself. If they do… the path home reopens."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"But just as your kind can enter Sylvaren… so can others enter yours.
Our king warned us of them. Horrors beyond comprehension. He once said—" the elder's voice dropped, "—that a single one of those monster chickens could wipe out a neighborhood."
Silence.
Ahrie slowly turned to Daiki.
Both broke into suppressed laughter.
"Bro… we got cooked by Tree Imps back then," Ahrie whispered.
Daiki smirked. "Imagine if it was chickens instead."
"Ehem… as I was saying," the elder cleared his throat, trying to regain his tone. "When your species began entering Sylvaren… things changed.
Some of your noblemen, driven by greed, started extorting the other races living here."
"Nobleman?" Daiki tilted his head.
"Rich-ass pips, bud," Ahrie muttered.
"Ahh… those fuckers," Daiki nodded.
"They began capturing ours—and others—for their own entertainment. Eventually, your kind's representative and our king struck a pact. That's when the guilds were formed. They were meant to restrain the greedy and the scum… to limit them.
But… they're still active."
The elder rubbed his temples, thinking. "Hm. How do I explain this clearly… ah, yes.
Sylvarian is equivalent to how you guys call yourself humans.
Floriae is a race of Sylvarian.
He gestured to Amariel.
"Floriae once lived across many kingdoms. But now, they're hunted… because they resemble a creature your kind kept describing. A mythical race you call…"
"…Elves?" Ahrie guessed.
"Ahh, yeah," Daiki nodded. "Good point."
"Due to that, we Floriae began hiding in scattered places…" the elder's voice lowered.
"One of my friends was this child's elder. If those men are drawing closer to their village… I fear for their safety.
I wish I could do more, but… I am only the elder of a small town. We are ants standing before elephants. All I can do is write a report to the guild."
The old man bowed deeply. "I beg you. Please, help them."
Daiki flexed his arm and slapped his bicep. "You can count on me, elder."
Ahrie immediately rushed to the elder's side, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Yes, yes… and while we're counting, let's negotiate the payment."
Daiki groaned, yanked Ahrie away by the collar, and dragged him toward the guest room.
"We'll rest now, elder. Thank you."
"Oiii, oiii, oiii! I haven't finalized my payment—!"
"I'll pay you," Daiki muttered.
"Hell no! You broke-ass bastard!" Ahrie barked, kicking his legs to escape.
Daiki sighed. "Put a friend's discount there too, yeah?"
"Fuck no! How do I unfriend this motherfuc—"
The elder smiled faintly and motioned to his butler.
"Send a letter to his majesty. Tell him… Floriae royalty is here, and in trouble."
"Yes, sir," the butler bowed before hurrying off.
That night, everyone finally got some rest.
Morning came. The elder himself woke them and ushered them to a long table where a lavish meal waited.
Ahrie dug in immediately, stuffing himself like a starved wolf. Amariel and the child ate quietly, savoring every bite.
Daiki, meanwhile, sat beside the kid with a plate in front of him but barely touched it. Instead, he pointed at the food with a serious face.
"One of this meat… plus one more… is…?"
"Two!" the kid said brightly.
Daiki smiled. "Good! Now… two of that meat… minus—"
Before he could finish, Ahrie swooped in and gobbled up both pieces. "—zero."
The kid burst into laughter, clapping their tiny hands.
Daiki froze, glaring at Ahrie. "Are you serious right now?"
Ahrie chewed slowly, giving him the smuggest look imaginable.
The kid's laughter rang out again, and even Amariel covered her mouth, hiding a smile.
Somehow, despite the bickering, seeing the child happy made all of them relax—if only for a moment.
After the meal, the elder cleared his throat.
"I've prepared a carriage for your trip."
Daiki's face lit up. "Hear that? Wanna check out the carriage?"
The kid nodded quickly, already curious.
Together, they headed outside. Ahrie trailed lazily behind them, while Amariel started to follow—only for the elder to gently stop her with a raised hand.
"I informed his majesty of your situation."
Amariel froze. A shadow crossed her eyes, sadness pushing through her usual calm.
"…I see. Thank you."
She bowed slightly and left for the carriage. The elder watched her go, shoulders heavy.
"Please… be safe," he murmured, bowing deeply as the door closed behind her.
"Woaaah…" Daiki's voice cracked with excitement. "Look at this beast, bro! This horse is jacked up!"
He circled the animal like an overeager judge at a bodybuilding show.
"Large neck muscles…" he muttered, patting the side.
"Shoulders broad as hell…" He slid to the flank.
"Even the thighs—holy shit, thighs are packed with muscles."
Then, with way too much curiosity, Daiki crouched down, peeking beneath.
He giggled. "Pfff! Small di—"
BAM!
The horse's kick connected like a battering ram. Daiki went airborne, screaming.
"AAAA—!"
Ahrie tracked his flight with a bored expression, then glanced back at the horse. His lips curved into a smirk as he stepped closer, hand brushing the tip of his rapier.
"Hey, hey, horsyyy… pretty strong, aren't ya?"
The horse jerked its head side to side, suddenly nervous, eyes rolling like it could sense danger.
They packed their gear, loaded the carriage, and set off.
Destination: South Fucking Forest.