Later the next day, both Holly and Chron were in Elron’s room, helping him get ready for a big day.

Chron stood on the other side of a changing screen, saying, “Here, try this belt. It’s the biggest one you have, so it better fit.”

“He’s probably struggling to put it on. Let me get back there and help him,” Holly said as she dropped a pile of clean clothes.

“Oh no, you don’t,” Chron retorted, sticking his arm out to block her.

“Get that meaty appendage out of my face, or I’m going to make it vanish,” Holly snapped back.

“You know why you’re not going back there,” Chron replied, standing firm.

“It fits! I’m ready as I’m ever going to be,” Elron announced as he emerged from behind the screen.

“Oh my, you look so handsome in that tunic,” Holly complimented, her eyes shining with approval.

Chron gave her a side-eye and said, “Good enough. Now, let’s move it, or we’ll be late.”

Soon enough, the group made their way to the trunk of the mighty tree. There lay a staircase that took them below to the tree's main level.

“Why does this place look so ugly and musty?” Elron asked, wrinkling his nose.

“Do not speak ill of the elven road,” Chron said sternly as he led the way forward.

Holly grabbed Elron’s hand, reassuring him, “Don’t mind him. This is the teleportation area to all the villages. It’s kept in its natural state so that it may be preserved.”

“Huh, I guess that makes sense,” Elron said as he flicked a dirty root that hung from the walls.

“This is it! Get up here with me, woman,” Chron called out, motioning for Holly to join him.

Holly scampered up next to Chron with a huff, “I’m ready.”

Together, they put their hands together and chanted, “Oh, blessed road, we the Sylphs of old stand before you. Heed our call for a journey beyond, and receive us with merciful intent. Show us your light and allow us safe travel beyond which we cannot provide ourselves. Open!”

“Woah,” Elron exclaimed as he stumbled behind the two.

“Let’s go, my prince. Chron has already stepped through the portal,” Holly urged as she ushered him along.

The portal in front of them was ominous, to say the least. It whipped, warped, and whirled with all sorts of colors. As it moved, it sounded like a piece of thin metal being wafted back and forth.

“Uh, I don’t know about this,” Elron said, dragging his heels.

Sure enough, though, all three went through to the other side, and they appeared inside a courtyard containing tall hedges and a gazebo. Under that gazebo sat a couple in black. They sipped from their teacups until the portal behind them petered out.

“Welcome to the eastern territory, my honored guests,” the elf said as he approached.

Elron ran in front of his mentors, exclaiming, “Hey! Your eyes look just like Chron’s and Holly’s. Are you all related?”

He chuckled, “No, we’re Sylphs. That’s why we have golden eyes.”

“Excuse the lad's ignorance. Someone has failed to teach him the basics of our origins. I am Chron, his mentor, and to my left is Holly, his other mentor,” and he shot Holly a glare.

“I see. Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope the trip was simple enough,” the Sylph replied courteously.

“Yes, the gate treated us well,” Chron responded with a nod.

“Shall I show you the guest lodgings now?” the Sylph gestured.

“Yes, Lord…” Chron started but was interrupted.

“Ah!” Elron cried out as the woman in black suddenly appeared behind him.

While crouched, she pinched his cheek and said, “You have your mother’s nose. Is this your first time out and about?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Yes, it is,” Holly stated as she stomped her foot and pulled Elron back.

The woman burst out laughing, “Well, that said it all, didn’t it?”

“Lord Moon, I am ready to move on when you are,” Chron said, wearing his standard frown.

“Yes, yes. Prince Elron, would you please, follow me? I would like to see you to your tree for the next week,” Lord Moon said as he turned to the exit.

Elron’s mouth dropped, “A week?! Neither of you mentioned this,” he said, looking at Chron and Holly.

Everyone except Elron laughed and began to move down a trail toward a set of elven trees. Lord Moonshadow walked in front with Chron, while the women walked together behind the prince. The men chatted, and the women remained quiet, leaving Elron to pout in the middle.

“...Was it a black wyvern or a blue one?” Lord Moon asked as they walked.

“It was a blue one. That’s how I ended up with this scar on the side of my face,” Chron replied.

“Hm, what did you do with the spoils?”

“Oh, I had the head taxidermied,” Chron answered nonchalantly.

“I have a few on my wall as well, but no blue ones, yet…” Lord Moon mused.

“Nah, I didn’t mount it on my wall. I just use it as a barrel to hold old training swords,” Chron said, shrugging.

“Ha, well, that’s more practical than mounting it on a wall, I suppose,” Lord Moonshadow said as he stopped in front of an elven tree.

“You can’t be serious, my Lord?” Holly scoffed, as she looked down upon their new quarters.

Mrs. Moonshadow turned to her, narrowed her eyes, and said, “Excuse me?”

“It’s just so small,” Holly replied, trying to mask her disappointment.

“It has everything, I assure you. It’s a two-story tree with all the comforts a prince could need in the evenings,” stated Lord Moon.

“It’s more than enough, Lord Moon,” Elron interjected, trying to ease the tension.

“Good. Go ahead and make yourselves at home in the other two trees. Elron, come with me. I have someone you should meet at my manor,” Lord Moon said as he walked onto a dirt trail.

Elron looked at his mentors and received nods before following Lord Moon.

He gulped and asked, “Who am I meeting, my Lord?”

“My daughter Marcella. She’s really looking forward to meeting you. So don’t disappoint now,” Lord Moon smirked.

The prince's mind raced. He didn’t know what to expect from someone outside his home, especially a woman. The only women he really knew were Holly and his sister. And with both weighing on his mind now, a dull ache began to throb in his head.

“Are you excited to meet her? I’m sure this must be a bit overwhelming for you, but I can assure you there’s nothing to worry about,” Lord Moon said.

“Meet who? Oh... right, Marcella,” Elron muttered, barely catching himself.

Lord Moon continued to walk ahead, yet glanced back at him in a brief study.

“We’re here,” he said upon entering a treeline.

Before them stood a rather impressive tree, roughly half the size of the one in the capital. Surrounding it were more hedges and servants tending to them with plant magic. But the real interest was who raced out the front door toward them.

She raced forward in a blur, leaving a small dust cloud in her wake, only to skid to a sudden halt. "Hello, you must be the Prince," she called out, dropping into a swift, graceful bow.

Elron blushed, “Nice… Nice to meet you.”

“Good to see you both acquainted,” Lord Moon remarked.

Elron then said, “Thank you, Lord Moon,” as he looked around for an elf who was no longer present.

“He does that. My dad thinks he’s so mysterious-looking when he just up and disappears,” Marcella said with a playful smile.

"Uh, you don’t say," Elron replied, raising an eyebrow.

“So, what should we do?” Marcella asked as she leaned into his personal space, her voice curious.

Elron stepped back a bit, feeling his heart race. “I’m not sure,” he said, leaning away from her.

His blood began to rush. He found himself enamored by her, yet she looked so much different than what he was accustomed to. She was quite tan, with short hair that was as black as night.

She giggled, her laughter light and teasing. “So, what do you do on a normal day in the citadel?” she asked.

“Um, nothing exciting. We can do whatever you want to do,” Elron offered, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“No, I want to know what the capital people do. C’mon, show me what fun stuff you guys do there,” Marcella insisted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Elron threw his hands up in a gesture of helplessness. “I honestly don’t know what most people do for fun there. I usually just collect bugs,” he admitted.

Marcella blinked a couple of times before laughing again. “Ha, well that’s different. That’s stuff I do out here,” she said, amused.

Elron’s eyes lit up. “You like to catch bugs too?!” he asked, surprised.

“Sure do! I also hunt, fish, and of course climb trees every day,” she claimed, striking a prideful pose.

“That sounds amazing! Can we do all that today?” Elron asked, his enthusiasm growing.

“We surely can try. This is probably the best time to go hunt a velorin since they’re still in season, but this is your first hunt so maybe we should just try rabbits. I’ll have to go grab another bow and quiver. We’ll have to figure out what pull strength to set it at, hmmm. And if we leave now, then…” Marcella started to ramble, ever deep in thought.

Suddenly, silence fell over Elron as his gaze was drawn to the blue amulet that hung from her neck.

“Elron? Hey, Elron? You there? Woohooo?” said Marcella as she waved her hand in front of his face.

“Apologies, I was lost in thought there for a moment,” Elron said, snapping out of his daze.

“That’s alright. Let me go grab some stuff. Wait here,” Marcella said with a smile before dashing off.