The dense canopy of trees cast a shadow, a sharp contrast to the brightness Bones had experienced before entering the Evergreen Woodlands. The air felt different too; he could sense the wind brushing against his newly donned robes as he ventured deeper into the forest. Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind hit him, making his robe flutter. An authoritative voice echoed from among the trees.

"Traveler, state your reason for entering the Evergreen Woodlands! Or are you perhaps lost?"

Bones scanned his surroundings, trying to locate the source of the voice. He sensed a presence above him and looked up to see two figures perched high on a tree branch. One was a smaller figure with a slender build, glaring down at him, while the other was taller and more composed. Both wore leather armor in shades of green and brown, with striking green eyes, pointed ears, and long blonde hair cascading to their waists.

"You've got guts coming onto the sacred grounds of the Forest Elves!" the female figure called out with evident disdain.

So these are the elves, Bones thought, considering whether to use Identify. He decided against it; it was considered rude and invasive to use Identify on someone without permission. Though he was tempted, especially given the suppressed power of a gold ranker emanating from the male elf.

"I really don't," Bones shouted back, then added quietly, "Not anymore…"

"I suppose not," the male elf replied. "Your kind isn’t exactly welcome here, so we’ll escort you out. Where are you headed, traveler?"

He noticed the elf's perceptiveness and the intense gaze of the female.

"I'm heading northeast, towards Quntis, and would appreciate your guidance," Bones responded. "And by the way, little one, if you keep staring at me so intently, your face might stay that way."

The male elf chuckled, glancing at his companion, while the female pouted. The elves did not descend from the tree but followed cautiously from above, keeping a close watch on Bones. Whenever he veered off the dirt path, the male elf would guide him back, cautioning that the woods were treacherous for outsiders and that they could not guarantee his safety.

The two elves escorting Bones seemed to be quite experienced in guiding outsiders. Though Bones was frustrated by the restrictions they imposed, he knew that voicing his displeasure wouldn’t change the fact that this was the most direct route to his destination.

When they reached the first settlement around midday, Bones was made to wait outside what could only be described as an elven village. He wasn’t sure what term to use for a community living high in trees, connected by intricate bridges.

They sure are taking their time. This could end up badly for me. The two elves clearly recognized what I am, and while they didn’t show much hostility, there’s no telling how others might react.

As he waited, Bones observed the simple yet elegant abode at the base of a massive tree. Inside, he could see wooden chairs, tables, and shelves, all crafted with remarkable skill.

The craftsmanship here is unlike anything I’ve seen. They don't just work with wood; they shape the roots and branches to grow in the forms they need. The bridges above are woven from the branches of interconnected trees. I wonder what the rest of their homes look like inside.

Just as Bones took a step forward to get a better view, an elf landed gracefully a few meters in front of him, blocking his path. Bones glanced up, trying to determine where the elf had descended from, then back at the newcomer. This elf was different from those who had escorted him but shared a similar appearance. The elf greeted him with a nod and informed him that he would be the one to escort Bones the rest of the way. Bones shrugged and signaled for the elf to lead on.

A couple of hours later, as the sun began to set, the elf insisted on setting up camp.

"I thought elves had no problem traveling at night?" Bones asked, disheartened by the prospect of camping out.

"We don’t and we could," the elf replied, "but I don’t want to."

Bones was taken aback by the elf's blunt response but chose not to argue. He settled in for the night, begrudgingly accepting the unexpected delay.

Early the next morning, Bones and his elven escort resumed their journey deeper into the Evergreen Woodlands. As they traveled, Bones observed a variety of wildlife: wolves hunting small rodents, birds of prey swooping down on their meals, and larger rodents preying on even smaller ones. However, what truly captured his attention were the tiny elf-like creatures dancing in the distance.

The creatures, which Bones identified as pixies, beckoned him to come closer. Intrigued, he turned to his escort for permission, but the elf simply smirked and said nothing. Bones shrugged and started following the pixies. They darted away playfully, leading him on a merry chase. They giggled and circled him, as if he were a fascinating curiosity.

Eventually, the pixies led Bones to a small clearing with a creek and a field of vibrant, colorful flowers. The scene was serene and enchanting, but—

"Careful now," the elf warned, keeping his distance as he followed.

Bones turned to look at the elf, and at that moment, he felt a sharp prickling sensation. He looked down and saw a pixie with a row of sharp teeth biting into the sleeve of his robe, clinging to his bones. Bones shook his arm, trying to dislodge the tiny creature, but the pixie held on tenaciously.

"Hey, Elf!" Bones called out. The elf raised an eyebrow as Bones pointed to the pixie. The elf then gestured behind Bones. Turning around, Bones saw a swarm of pixies, hundreds strong, rushing out from the field of flowers and heading straight for him.

Uh, what am I supposed to do now?

Frozen by uncertainty and with an elf at his back, Bones was unsure how to handle the situation. The pixies swarmed him, nibbling at his robe and bones.

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[Mana Blast]

Despite their small size and low level, the sheer number of pixies managed to chip away at Bones' bones. Determined not to let them overwhelm him, he cast a controlled, suppressed Mana Blast. The pixies scattered, retreating and chattering in high-pitched voices that Bones could only assume were angry.

Bones turned back to the elf. "The pixies seem very elf-like. Any relation?"

"Yes, they are our distant cousins, and you’ve just killed dozens of them," the elf replied with a straight face.

"Really?" Bones asked, astonished.

"Of course not. You're an odd one!" the elf said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "The pixies are mischievous sprites, and the only resemblance we share is our appearance. Now that your curiosity is sated, we should get back on the path."

"I'm the odd one? This elf might be a bit too in tune with nature," Bones muttered under his breath.

"Maybe you should lead the way from now on?" Bones suggested.

The elf sighed in annoyance. "Fine! Follow and try to keep up!"

As the elf made his way back to the dirt path, he glanced back to find Bones had vanished. His shoulders slumped, and he pinched the bridge of his nose before starting to search for Bones. The forest was indeed magical. The towering sequoias reached at least a hundred meters high and fifteen meters wide. Bones, a skilled climber accustomed to using trees for hiding and ambushing, found himself unable to scale these giants—their bark was too tough.

"Marvelous. No wonder the elves use them as homes. Their height provides natural defense against...well, anyone. How did they hollow out the trees? Were they like this before? I didn’t see any hollowed trees outside their village."

"You! You’ve got balls ditching me like that!" the angry elf spat as he finally caught up with Bones.

Bones turned his head slightly and mumbled, "Not anymore—I wish everyone would stop saying that."

"What? Never mind that. We should really—"

growl

"—get back on track. See what you’ve done now?!"

Bones turned around to find the elf had disappeared. Snorting, Bones considered it payback for ditching the elf first. However, a low, menacing growl interrupted his thoughts. He followed the sound and saw a giant bear with pitch-black fur, long claws, and drooling fangs. Quick use of Identify revealed it was a Dire Ursus. The sight made Bones turn and flee without a second thought.

The Dire Ursus pursued Bones for a few hundred meters before abandoning the chase. Despite his efforts to hinder the beast with Boneyard, Bones didn’t stop running until he reached the dirt path and saw the Elf, slightly out of breath.

"I thought you were going to deal with it! Aren't you supposed to be in tune with nature and all that?" Bones called out as he approached. Ruvyn scoffed and retorted, "I am in tune with nature. That? That was a force of nature!"

"Still, that bear was second tier, just like you, from what I can tell."

"So? Why would I risk my life fighting it when I can simply leave, which I did? Besides, you underestimate the strength of a Dire Ursus. For an undead, you seem quite naive. You haven't been dead for long, have you?"

"I suppose not. How often do the undead cross your path…Elf?"

Ruvyn met Bones' gaze, exhaled, and offered a proper introduction. "Stop calling me Elf. My name is Ruvyn. It’s been a while since I’ve seen an enlightened undead. You should consider yourself fortunate that the Elders didn’t view you as a threat. A few days ago, refugees began entering the woodlands, and just before you arrived, a group of soldiers attempted to force their way in. They didn't make it out alive."

"Of course. I'm grateful to the Elders, whoever they may be, for their patience and tolerance toward an undead like me. You can call me Bo—"

"Let's go, undead! We’ve wasted enough time already." Ruvyn cut him off and started walking.

Bones watched him go, masking his irritation. He chose not to comment, letting his frustration simmer beneath the surface. He had expected the elves to exhibit more restraint. The vibes he was getting from Ruvyn were less than endearing—pretentious and condescending.

At least they didn’t attack me because I’m undead…

"What's your stance on summons?" Bones asked suddenly. Ruvyn didn’t answer right away. He took a moment to consider the question before responding.

"Even if you can summon minions, don't. You don't want to draw more suspicion. One undead is enough. We'll make a brief stop at the next village, and then we'll part ways at Maaldell, the village after that."

"Alright, fair enough. When can we expect to reach Maaldell?"

"At this pace, we’ll get to the next village by tomorrow afternoon. From there, it’s a three-day walk to Maaldell. If you do more walking and less talking, maybe we can make it in two and a half days. Is that all, or do you have more questions?"

Bones stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Not sure… If I think of anything else, I’ll let you know."

"That’s just great," Ruvyn muttered sarcastically.

As they traveled, the two occasionally bickered and set up camp for the night. Ruvyn started a small fire and began preparing a pot of soup with some suspicious-looking mushrooms.

"You're eating that? They don’t look very edible…" Bones remarked, eyeing the pot warily.

"What’s it to you? They might not look appealing to others, but I’m an elf. We’ve been eating Polyozellus mushrooms for ages. They're considered a delicacy here, though I doubt you’d understand."

"I’m just saying, they look exactly as they sound, and they sound like they could be poisonous or hallucinogenic."

"They are hallucinogenic."

"Then why are you eating them?"

"One with nature, live by nature," Ruvyn chanted, as if it were some sacred mantra.

One with nature, my ass. They’re all high on mushrooms… Bones thought, rolling his eyes.

The rest of the journey wasn’t as eventful as the first few days. Bones decided to play nice for a change, and two days later, they arrived in Maaldell. The village looked similar to the first one he had seen, nestled high up among the trees, and he couldn't help but bombard Ruvyn with more questions.

"Do elves not have cities? And do all villages have residences high up in the trees?"

"Of course we have cities. Maybe one day you'll get to see one. This is where we part ways." Ruvyn stated bluntly, ignoring the second question.

"Well, don’t shed a tear for me," Bones retorted.

"Tear? Of joy? You have around four hours of walking until you’re out of the Woodlands, maybe a bit more at your pace. You should be in Quntis by evening. I advise you not to stray from the path. It’s easy to get lost, and once you leave Maaldell, you’ll lose the Elders' protection."

"And who are the Elders?"

whistle

Bones watched as Ruvyn completely ignored his question. A white stag with green patterns came running up and stopped next to him.

"Wait, wait, wait! Is that a mount?" Bones asked, a mix of surprise and frustration in his voice.

"Not a mount! A companion!" Ruvyn snapped back.

"No, that’s definitely a mount! Why couldn’t we have ridden here?"

"The Evergreen Stag is a sacred animal and a companion to the Forest Elves, not a pet an outsider like you can ride on a whim! Given the situation between the Wezar and Aphiton Kingdom, we provide passage to refugees through the Woodlands, but I’d advise you not to take the same path if you plan to return."

"Namárië." With that farewell, Ruvyn said all he had to and left.

As Bones took a moment to calm his nerves after the journey with Ruvyn, the war between the two kingdoms abruptly came to an end.