As soon as we entered the forest, my elven companions seem to gain more confidence, as if they were walking through their hometown. It was a unique thing to witness, as I didn't really notice it when we were in the other forest. That, or it was because we were so close to their home.
Zale had told the elves that we were planning to increase the speed a little. They all looked at me with a quizzical look that seemed to ask whether I would be able to keep up. Though, I just smiled dryly to myself.
However, after telling me to follow her as she knew the way. She and her kin set off with an amazing burst of speed. 'Now I see why they were looking down on me.' I thought as I saw them getting smaller in the distance.
'However, they'll have to try harder than that.' I grinded as I focused some spirit into my legs and feet and leaned forward. Then, with a sudden burst of speed I started to drastically close the gap between us.
Zale turned to look behind her, probably to make sure if her human companion could keep up. But judging by the shit-eating grin on her face, she probably meant to gloat. However, that grin was completely wiped away when she saw that I was rapidly approaching.
"This is pretty fun." I said as I caught up with my surprised companions.
"Using magic is cheating." Zale complained.
"Magic? I had only stopped to stretch." I replied. We were already running at around thirty miles-per-hour. But if I added magic into the mix, I could probably add ten to twenty to the total.
"But now you mention it…." I said with a smirk.
Placing my foot down onto the ground and compressed the air beneath it and waited until my weight shifted once more. With a sudden explosion of air, I was shot forward at a phenomenal speed.
I would have been worried about blowing my leg off, if I hadn't been reinforcing my body with spirit. But either way, it was such a fun experience to be running this fast in a forest. Though, any branches that I would collide with would probably deal some serious damage, but it wasn't like this was my first time moving this fast.
Before I knew it, I had completely lost my companions due to me having too much fun. However, it was the perfect time to sit and have a little rest. It was nice and pleasant this far into the forest, as I found a tree that had a bird's nest, so I sat eating some dried fruit while listening to some bird song.
"Took you long enough." I called out to the familiar figures that had just appeared in the distance. I then placed the last piece of fruit into my mouth.
"…." Zale didn't reply as her and the other elves came to a stop, foreheads damp with sweat.
"Here." I tossed a waterskin towards Zale, who caught it and took a giant swig before passing it on.
"Did you really need to go that fast?" She asked, feeling a little miffed that she lost to me in speed.
"No, but it was fun." I rebutted. And she just sighed at me.
"I think we have travelled a day's worth of travel and entered the elven forest, because of someone." Zale said as she gave me a scolding look.
"We entered about an hour ago." I replied. The only reason I could tell was because the abundant of spirits had increased, aside from my colourful entourage that had been following me closely and had enjoyed the fast speed as well.
"Then, I think it'll be for the best if we don't stray too far from each other." She replied and looked a little apologetic.
"I was thinking the same thing." I nodded. The reason for this wasn't because any dangerous monsters. It was because of the elven wardens. They protect the elven forest from dangerous monsters and from invaders. And all outsiders, no matter the reason, are considered invaders.
"Cainy, Cain. More pointy ears are coming!" the playful little red orb said in a happy voice. Though, if the elves could hear what they were called, they might have gotten angry and taken offence.
"Well, it seems like some of you kin are on their way already." I said, raising my finger as I spoke and conjured a little invisible flame on the tip as a reward to my little friend, who eagerly danced above it.
"Halt! You are trespassing!" a voice called out no sooner than my warning left my lips did the voice call out.
"Hold your arrow, Sena!" Zale called out to the disembodied voice. This was the second time she had used the name Sena, and it wasn't because everyone was called that. It was an elven word that meant something similar to sister or brother. It was basically the highest form of respect you can show someone who you didn't serve as your lord.
"…." The forest was quiet for a moment, before the rustling of trees and the slight thud filled the silence.
A young elven man landed not too far from us, dressed in green, leather armour and a bow in hand. 'Dark blonde hair. He's barely an adult.' I grew concerned about the state of the forest if they let a child protect it.
"Zale? You have returned with sisters as well!" The boy looked happy and relieved to see some of his kin returned. However, his face soured when turned towards me.
"But why is this human here?" He asked, not even hiding his hostility.
"He helped rescue our family and pledged to assist in eliminating those behind it." Zale explained, shooting me with an apologetic look.
The young elf looked surprised for a moment, before going back to his hostile attitude.
"I see. Well, now that they are home, you can go, human." I sighed at his blatant racist remark. Even Zale was angry and was about to say something, but I spoke first.
"Look here, little boy, I don't particularly care what you think about me. However, what you just said spits in the face of Zale and of house Mauilin. Or do you think that she or the house she serves are honourless?" I asked in a cold voice as I looked into his eyes.
"N-No, that is not what I meant." He stammered in response. Looking like a scolded schoolboy.
"Then, think before you speak. A warden shouldn't be ruled by their emotions." I chided. Obviously, it was easy to put him in his place due to his young age. However, what I said was correct and couldn't be argued with.
I could see that being scolded by a human made him feel immense humiliation. However, he couldn't argue with my words as they were true.
"Zale, I think you haven't been completely honest with the state of your home. Otherwise, I don't think a child who is barely sixty, would be given an important role as a warden." I said, looking at her with folded arms.
She looked surprised at me for a moment, as it was virtual impossible for a human to accurately guess the age of an elf. But then she felt the weight of my piercing eyes. In actuality, I only really knew that sixty was considered the age of maturity for an elf. After that, I would never hazard a guess at an elf's age.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you." She looked away, not wanting to meet my eyes.
With a sigh, I broke the awkwardness. "Well, fine. Whatever it is, it must be something that you can't trust an outsider with, much less a different race."
"I-I'm sorry." Zale bite her lip as she spoke. I could see that she really was sorry. I understood, but I will admit that I did feel a little betrayed being left out of something this big.
It was a tense and heavy atmosphere as we travelled through the forest. Little red, the orb spirit that had been following me, and their friends had tried to cheer me up as we went, by dancing around, and making fun shapes. I felt better because of them and gave them each a little bit of mana as thanks.
As we walked, I kept my eyes open for anything else that stood out as strange. I couldn't feel that there was something strange happening in this forest and due to the elves isolationism, I didn't have any information from my past life to help me either.
All I could do was keep my eyes and ears open and then, maybe I'll be able to learn something that I hadn't known before. And the very idea of that was enough to bring a smirk of excitement to my lips.