A week later, and the awaited day had come.

Sitting on the stumps by the grove residence, Arjun and Siya were shucking mushroom stems as they talked idly. It was a normal day by most means for them. The sun had barely started to rise, but they had long since gotten to work.

Whether it was a good work ethic or a tradition of elves, this was part of the routine for the twins.

Siya had just thrown a mushroom head in the bucket between them before prompting her brother next to her.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she asked a question at the same time.

“It’s already halfway through the morning, where is that lazy grifter?”

“I-it’s only been an hour, I’m sure he’s getting ready now! Humans g-get up later than we do anyway...”

Siya turned to him with a crooked eyebrow.

“Huh? Since when did you start defending that good-for-nothing? I swear–! Today he better go through at least half the count we do! If not , I don’t know what we’re keeping him around for! Pah, looks like he’s already got an influence on you.”

Arjun reeled back in his seat.

“T-there’s no influence! It’s just that…I think he’s here for a reason if L-Licht keeps him around!”

Siya frowned.

“Maybe…you might be right. But that still doesn't—hey!”

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted as Siya heard a noise.

The twins snapped their heads to the side as the silhouette of a figure began to approach from the distance.

Because it was still early morning, the sun had yet to rise over all of the forest, and it took a moment for the elves to make out the features of the incomer with their eyes.

But instead of seeing the expected arrival of Hemlock, much to both of their surprise, the tall gait of a wooden giant came out from the direction of the central tree.

“Hello you two!”

A deep voice boomed over them carrying a sense of mirth. At once, both of their expressions changed drastically.

““Licht!””

They both cried out in surprise, jumping up from their stumps.

What was the occasion?

How come they hadn’t seen him in over a week?

A few thoughts ran through the kids' heads as they swarmed around the wood goliath’s form.

Like ravenous piranha, they swam around his legs awaiting his next words like they were rolled up balls of minced meat.

“Haha, alright, settle down…”

Seeing the sight of the two kids who barely went to his knees almost brought back memories of his own children. For the first time in a while, Licht’s mind drifted to his past life…

“Alright! I brought you two some things…hm? Where’s the priest?”

Licht sat down on one of the logs, his legs bowing at an awkward angle as the wood groaned underneath him.

The bench had clearly not been made to support beings of his size.

“Eh…h-he should be getting up right now, it’s not yet the time for morning meal…”

Licht considered Arjun’s words while nodding.

“Ah, I see. Yes, it might be strange for you two to hear, but humans need their sleep! Though he’s only been here a little while, I bet you can already tell our guest’s body works a little differently than your own, right?”

“Yeah, he’s old as shit too.”

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“Ha!”

Licht nearly choked in laughter at the remark from Siya.

Yes, that was right. To them, Hemlock must seem much older because of his appearance, but to Licht’s estimations the man was probably only in his early thirties, nearly ten years younger than how old the kids in front of him had turned today…

He supposed the twins had just never been informed how short of lives humans had.

“Well, we shouldn’t say such things about other people when they’re not here, Siya…”

The girl’s frowning face turned away as she nodded, perhaps slightly embarrassed by being called out.

“...but that reminds me. What I came here for so early in the morning, your birthdays are today!”

Siya and Arjun’s eyes widened as they both refocused on Licht.

“What?”

“Is that really today?”

“Yes, it is!”

Licht nodded.

“More than two years ago, I was told by Racheal that elves have the custom of celebrating their birthdays every twenty years, and today marks forty for both of you!”

That hit on a bit of a sore topic for the three, but the atmosphere was broken up quickly enough by a third party.

“What?!”

The trio turned to see the shocked expression of Hemlock, who had just come out of the residence.

His eyes were full of surprise as he seemed to take in that information.

“Ah, good morning. Hemlock, please come join us. I know how much you’ve had a hand in what I’m about to show to them.”

The twins looked between Licht and the priest, while watching the latter sit down on the remaining bench hesitantly. Once it was clear the priest wasn’t going to say anything else, everyone’s attention turned back to what Licht had just taken out from behind himself.

“Siya and Arjun, I was told that forty marks the age of independence for elves. It’s when your people are first allowed to head into the world without the backing of your tribe or family.”

Licht sighed.

“...As I know how important maintaining cultural practices can be for any group of people, I didn’t want to separate you from this path if you chose to do it. So, with that in mind, as well as knowing how dangerous the forest has gotten in the past two years, I wanted to give you something that would prepare you for your future, any future that may be.”

Siya and Arjun’s eyes couldn’t get any wider as they beheld the shield and spear that Licht had handed to them. As if the very objects had been raised alongside them all their lives, their hands practically melded with the shape of the objects as they grabbed onto them.

Licht smiled with satisfaction upon seeing that.

“Yet, this world is not a peaceful one, and at times, hardly even pleasant. So despite how I hope for you to find comfort in your future journey, I must interject with my own condition, improper though that may be.”

The kid’s enraptured gazes were broken for a moment from their gifts as they looked up.

“If you choose to leave the grove, I will not have harm come to you as a result of feuds directed at myself, nor will your deaths be as a result of anyone’s actions but your own. Therefore, I must insist you travel with Hemlock here, as well as a token I have created for your journeys to assist you.”

Licht said that partially because he knew he still had enemies out there somewhere.

Whoever had sent the parasite, Felfit, and whoever had unleashed the wave of serpenti in the forest that Licht was convinced was unnatural, he didn’t want their animosity directed toward or endangering the kids.

Especially since he was sure it was due to his identity as an ego, even if he had evolved past that.

“Wait, travel with him?”

Siya scrunched her face as she directed a look at Hemlock, who was just as shocked as anyone else. Licht had neglected to tell him about this part of the plan, clearly.

“Who else has more experience with the outside world than he? I have no doubt he will be a great guide to wherever you may wish to travel. As despite his appearance, in the process of refining your equipment, he proved to be a valuable ally to have.”

Licht gave Hemlock his vote of confidence. Especially after seeing his performance in the face of terrible odds, and how the priest had held strong. He had confidence that the priest would provide more benefits to a journey than detractions, but just in case, he was sending them with the other project he had finished in the last week.

“But in case you have doubts, you still have the token.”

Licht held up a small slate of dark wood, the same texture and hue as his own body. It was rectangular and smooth, save for a circular symbol etched into one side of the token.

He handed it to Arjun.

“This token will allow you to communicate with me over great distances, once a week. Despite my efforts, that is as frequent as it allows for.”

The three regarded the token curiously.

Especially Hemlock, who’s worldly knowledge only contributed more to his confusion.

“If there are any emergencies along your journey, or you encounter any unforeseen troubles that you cannot handle alone, contact me with this token, and I will assist you, regardless of where you are. I recognize how significant independence is in this journey for elves, but despite that, I do not wish for it to be a death march.”

Licht said with all seriousness.

“Contact me if there are any issues, or…if you just feel the need to say hello.”

He promised them. With the token, he would always be available to help.

This was what he had accomplished over the past week, thanks to his evolution.