The fairy, now completely recovered, flapped her wings and circled around Elliot.

"I'm Kate, what's your name?"

"I'm Elliot, and next to me is Karna."

Karna bowed politely.

"The girl with the golden twin tails is Whis, and the big man is Belhard."

"Is there something that only you can see? Actually, don't call me an old man, I'm still in my thirties!"

"Elliot, Karna, Whiff, Belhard."

"Whis."

"It seems like there's something that only you and Karna can see, but what kind of creature is it?"

Whis looked at Elliot with half-closed eyes.

"Well, it's a cute fairy with hair this length."

"Hmm, she's a girl."

"Yeah."

"Well, she's cute!"

Kate put her hands on both cheeks and flew around Elliot.

Whis and Belhard didn't seem to hear Kate's voice either. "By the way, why did you guys come to this forest?"

Kate asked Elliot after stopping her circle.

Elliot glanced at Whis and spoke in a low voice.

"Actually--"

"Right... that's what happened..."

Kate put her hand to her chin and thought for a while.

"By the way, why did you end up collapsed in a place like that?"

"I left the forest and went to the human town. But halfway through, I nearly ran out of mana, so I hurriedly turned back, but then I ran out of strength."

Even though her life was in danger, she stuck out her tongue, as if she was ashamed of herself.

"By the way, what's going on in this forest?"

"You see, there's a spring of mana in this forest. The elder says that we were born from there, but to protect the spring, he's casting an illusion on the whole forest."

"I see, so that's what it was."

"You guys came here to find the mana spring too?"

"No, I don't care about the mana spring. I know about this forest, so I want to go home. I don't want to tell anyone about this place."

"Okay, then I'll talk to the elder and get him to break the illusion. Wait a minute."

"Oh, and about that, too."

"Yeah, I know!"

As she said that, Kate disappeared into the depths of the forest.

"What were you talking about?"

"He said he'd let me out of the forest. He told me to wait here for a while."

"I see, so you can get out. That's a relief."

Kate passed through the illusion wall and entered the pit where the mana spring was. She herself emits light, gently illuminating the wall. After descending about five meters, a tunnel is dug, and mana wells up from the depths. In front of the tunnel, a woman with long hair, about the size of a three-year-old, sits. The woman is also a fairy, and is dressed in the same clothes as Kate. Other fairies stand on either side of her, as if to protect her.

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"Elder, I'm back!"

"Kate, have you been to the human world again?"

"Yes, but I ran out of strength on the way, and was saved by humans."

"See, I said that there might be humans who can see us."

"I'm sorry. But they were good people."

"You will be suspended for a while."

"But before that, I have a request to make."

After Elliot and the others waited in the forest for a while, the noise in the forest grew stronger and the situation changed. Then two humans appeared from the depths of the forest.

"Who are you!?"

The first to react was Whis. "Hey, Whis, it's been a while. You've grown up."

"Really. I knew right away because you had your twintails like I always did."

The two were dressed in ranger clothing that was easy to move in. The middle-aged man and the woman leaning against him looked like a married couple.

"So you know about the twintails, Mom?"

"Yeah. I used to do it for you every morning."

"Mom, Dad!" Whis ran over and hugged them. "So you two are alive. I'm so glad..."

"Oh, I'm sorry for worrying you. You've grown up."

"W-Where have you been up until now?"

Whis asked in a tearful voice.

"I was protecting this forest. From the hands of humans."

"Why didn't you give me a letter or something? It was so hard for you and Grandma."

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't leave this forest."

"You're going to come back, aren't you?"

The two shook their heads at his question. "We have to protect this forest. That's the ranger's job. Is Grandma doing well?"

"Yes. Elliot's parents come by every now and then to look after her."

"Elliot?"

"That child," Whis said, pointing at Elliot.

The couple bowed to Elliot.

"Thank you for taking care of Whis up until now. Please continue to take care of her."

"I'm the one who'll take care of Elliot."

Whis retorted, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

Whis's father stroked her head.

"If you ever want to see her again, come here. I'll always be waiting for you."

"Yes... yes. Take care of Mom and Dad."

Finally, Whis hugged them tightly so he wouldn't forget their warmth. They held each other for a while, but the couple gradually disappeared.

"See you, Whis."

"If we don't keep an eye on him, he'll get taken by another girl. See you."

Whis held him close until the end, but the two of them vanished into thin air, leaving her hands empty.

"Mom and Dad, take care..."

During their touching reunion, the forest cleared and the scar Whis had left behind was discovered.

"Whis, were you able to say goodbye properly?"

Whis wiped away her tears, but turned to Elliot and the others and smiled.

"Yeah, it's okay. I actually thought he was already dead. I'm glad I came here. Thank you, Elliot."

Elliot gave a small smile at those words.

"Now, let's continue our journey."

The four of them followed the scar and returned to the original fork in the road. At that moment, Kate landed on their shoulders.

"Kate!"

"Hehe, I was told I was on suspension but I came back."

"You're going to run out of mana and collapse again."

"No. I've decided to travel with you guys. Karna's here too, so it'll be fine. I want to see more of the outside world."

Elliot sighed.

"Thanks for the illusion just now. It seems Whis has been freed from his demons."

"Psychic communication is the elder's specialty, so leave it to me."

Elliot smiled, even though he didn't do it.

"I'll look forward to working with you, Elliot."

Kate sat on Elliot's shoulder and kissed him on the cheek.

Karna saw this and muttered to Whis.

"Whis, a rival has appeared."

"Eh?"

Unable to understand the meaning of those words, a question mark appeared in Whis's head.