It’s been a year since Becca’s first foray into town and Taylor had started letting her go on her own after half a year. She proved her power and ability by sparring against him and making him actually move. It sounds pathetic but the fact he had to move meant she could get past his defenses at least enough he had to move his foot just enough to count as a dodge.

She strode down the street filled with stalls looking to see if anything caught her eye, and something did. Well not something but more like someone. At a stall at the end of the road was a human boy with short hair and piercing green eyes. His clothes were plain but he wore a great smile and shone through the crowd.

She decided to go see what he had to sell. As she walked past other stalls she got calls from other vendors “hey Becca!” “How’s it going missy?” Etcetera. She nodded and waved in response until she reached the boys stall, he looked to be about the same age as her.

Looking at the stall itself he was selling rudimentary jewelry. It was definitely amateurish but still had its own charm.

“Ah the famous elf girl!” He grinned at her, “I’m Jacob, what could I do you for?”

She resisted the urge to say something stupid like ‘for you? Nothing’ and instead pointed at a bracelet made with a wobbly copper wire and a few pretty rocks.

“I’d like to have this one please” and before he could give a price she dropped two gold nuggets on the table and grabbed the bracelet and walked away as the boy tried to call out to her.

“Miss, this is too much! Miss!” he called out.

She pretended to not hear him and just clutched her new bracelet as she walked quickly out of town to go back home. She was happy to find another reason to like humans.

• • •

Taylor watched Becca walk out toward the town and against her wishes he reached out further to the town and watched from the tree to make sure she was safe.

“You know you shouldn’t do that” Gaia chided the elf.

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Taylor sighed as he watched Becca walk up to the boys stand again. “I know, I just worry about her.”

A little way always Atreus and Melody were sparring. Well it’s what they called it, Taylor thought it looked more like a fight to the death. They were trading blows that blew wind around as if it was intermediate wind magic.

“Stupid girl!” Atreus yelled, “a human! A damn human of all things!” He slammed his fist into Melody’s hand as she caught his punch.

“Humans are bad,” she agreed and she whipped around and hit him with her tail, “but not all humans are bad.” She gave a quick glance at Taylor before following up and bringing her tail down to slam where Atreus had been.

Tylor was conscious of the boy Becca had a crush on, she had been visiting him for half a year now and somehow hadn’t made any progress besides the boy flirting with her. Damn elves and their perception of time. The boy doesn’t have all century.

He decided to interfere a little. Holding his hand open in front of him he imagined the space between him and them being folded in half and put a considerable amount of mana into it and opened a portal to the boys stall. Nodding at his handiwork he stepped through.

Becca jumped in surprise, she didn’t notice Taylor until he spoke up, “hey there young one, how would you like to visit where we live?”

“Stop!” Becca elbowed Taylor, “you’re embarrassing me.”

Jacob looked between the two elves in front of him, both known to have incredible power and wealth. He was a bit apprehensive to accept to say the least.

“Are you sure I can come with you?” He asked, “I would have to ask my dad if he’s okay with it but I’d be glad to visit sometime.” He looked beyond them at the portal the older elf had come out of.

“What? No,” Becca started, she was a bit panicked because they didn’t even have a house.

Taylor ignored her protests, “so how about later after you’ve shut down your stall for the day?” He offered, “I’ll know if you got permission and when you’re ready so I’ll come get you once you’ve done that.”

With that Taylor stepped back into the portal and disappeared. “I’m so sorry for him” Becca tried.

“It’s ok Becca,” he interrupted, “I’m glad I’ll get to spend some time with you that isn’t at my job”

Becca blushed, “oh, well that’s okay then.” She mumbled and turned to go home.

Back at the tree Taylor looked around and started planning for Jacob’s upcoming visit. He would need some sort of cover for an eating place and maybe some sort of covering to present as a sleeping place? No a house was definitely needed.

He started to manipulate the nature around him to create both as Gaia appeared next to him, “you do realize you could’ve alienated her from you by doing that.” he commented.

“Yeah” Taylor agreed, “but she might’ve waited that boys whole life before anything happened, and I couldn’t let that happen.” He was remembering back in high school when he had women all over him but was too thick headed to realize it.

The covered eating area was done and he had decided to make the house underground. While he was digging Gaia was nice enough o move his roots around to create a nice open area to craft a house in.

After an hour or so a pretty nice place was built up underground. Man, magic sure was just creative mode huh? Well once mastered to a certain degree anyway.

Becca emerged from the forest in almost a daze and saw the new structure. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“Getting ready,” Taylor responded.

“For what” she asked already knowing more or less his answer.

Taylor grinned, “your date”