We've entered the Elves' Village, and it's quite different from a human settlement. Treehouses are scattered all around, some nestled among the branches, while others are built closer to the ground. The trees' thick leaves filter the sunlight, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. the path below us are also covered with grass and light-colored dirts. What's interesting is that these houses are constructed from a special wood that has a twisted, aesthetic quality, giving them an old-world charm.

As we walk through the gate, there's a small treehouse on our left, followed by several others on the right, lining a narrow path. Most of these treehouses have ladders, and some even feature stairs winding around the trunks. The elders tend to reside in the lower parts of the trees, while the younger generation lives higher up.

Towards the northeastern part of the village, a small river flows gently, accompanied by a grassy area. The river's murmur creates a serene ambiance, and I notice some elves reclining by its side, savoring the soothing sounds and rustling leaves.

At the northwestern path, there is this most elaborate treehouse in the village. It appears to be the dwelling of the village elder, Josh, who awaits our arrival with a welcoming smile.

Galvana, the elf with the rapier sheathed and the bow behind her, has organized a group of archer elves, dressed in snug, light green attire with bows slung over their shoulders, and wearing nothing on their feet except some bracelets made of leaf on one of these. Their task is to guide and keeping an eye to the survivors to a peaceful spot beneath the tranquil trees, on the eastern side, near the elves' residences. Some elves are already offering food and blankets made from knitted wood and leaves, which surprisingly provide the comfort of warm fur blankets.

Once the survivors are settled, Alpha taps my shoulder twice, signaling me to follow Josh, who stands nearby. I glance in his direction, nodding in agreement, and then something strikes me as peculiar.

All the elves in this village are female, except for Josh himself. There isn't a single male elf in sight.

After a few minutes of walking, I notice Josh up ahead, waving his hand with a cheerful expression that brings back some nostalgic memories. "Took a while, didn't it? How about we head straight to my place?" he suggests.

I glance at the impressive wooden house behind him, my head tilted in disbelief. "Your home?" I ask, somewhat surprised.

Josh lets out a chuckle. "You'll see in a bit. But for now, let's go grab some tea, shall we?"

"Uh... sure," I reply, a bit dazed. I receive another tap on my shoulder from Alpha, prompting me to follow. I turn to look at Alpha, and he meets my gaze with a slight smile on his face.

I return the faint smile, trying to wrap my head around the fact that both Alpha and Josh are right here in front of me.

…

"I'm home!" Josh announces loudly as he steps inside.

"Huh?" I'm momentarily disoriented as my surroundings come into focus.

We're in a wooden house located in the northwestern part of the village. It has a charming entrance with double doors, flanked by barrels on either side. To my right, a small pond glimmers, with a bamboo bridge spanning it. Vibrant yellow and red flowers add a touch of color nearby. On the left, I notice some broken wooden pots scattered about.

Close by, big rocks line a river where Josh and I had walked earlier. They lead to a substantial wooden structure that lacks a door. The structure has a flat, elevated wooden platform supported by sturdy pillars, and vines cascade from the roof's edge. Any doubts I had about Josh's living arrangements disappear as he looks at me expectantly.

"So, what do you think?" he inquires.

I take it all in and respond, "It's quite impressive. Is this your place?"

Josh beams proudly. "Why, of course! I've been living here for a year!"

Then, a gentle voice resonates from within the house, saying, "Welcome home, bao! Did something happen?"

image [https://gdurl.com/9Vf0]

A fine woman with purplish hair and captivating blue eyes welcomes us warmly. She's dressed in a purple-green apron outfit and sports a vine bracelet, all while wearing a friendly smile.

Josh explains, "No, just an old friend passing by. And he's brought a human survivor with him." He walks toward the lady and gives her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Human survivors?" she inquires, looking puzzled.

Josh nods and points in my direction. "This yellow broom guy is Raiken, my old pal for the past three years," he introduces, indicating me.

I offer a hesitant wave and say, "Uh, hi?"

Josh continues, "And Rai, she's my wife, Kimberly. Her elvish name is Keldarine Liriel, but you can just call her Kim."

My jaw drops in disbelief, and I can't help but shout at Josh, "Wait, your WHAT!?"

"It's true, Rai. Josh is married," Alpha chimes in, patting my shoulder after entering the house.

Still utterly dumbfounded, I find myself gaping in sheer astonishment.

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Seriously, him? That thug? The thought races through my mind.

"Finished with your business?" Josh waves lightly at Alpha.

"Yeah. Your spirited lady is overseeing the survivors and providing them with temporary shelter," Alpha responds.

"Ah, I see," Josh acknowledges, nodding.

Kim seems to be trying to recall something, her expression hinting at past memories.

"Hey, he came with me that day, remember?" Josh reminds her, affectionately pinching her cheek.

"Oh, I remember! S-sorry... I should make some tea for you guys," Kim responds, her voice playful as she endures the cheek-pinching.

She hurries off to the kitchen, leaving Alpha and Josh to leisurely settle into nearby wooden chairs.

Before me stretches a spacious room with five wooden chairs and a small, oval-shaped table. To the right, a cozy library filled with shelves of books catches my attention. The library boasts a large table made of polished spruce-colored wood, accompanied by three round chairs. On the table, there's a leather map spread out, covering the entire region of Ergardia, Orie's Continent to the East.

A closer look reveals something intriguing—human books in an elven village? Undoubtedly, this collection must belong to Josh.

To the left, there's a bedroom hidden behind a closed door. A dark green blanket is neatly arranged on a large, single bed with four pillars, and an exquisite decoration hangs from the ceiling, connected by the pillars. Out of respect, I avert my gaze and move away from the bedroom, finding another seat for myself.

"So... we've become this close, yet haven't seen each other in years," I comment.

Josh chuckles, patting my head with a carefree expression. "That's right, my friend. Circumstances kept me here, ensuring the village's safety before venturing beyond its borders. These people, my comrades, need constant training to defend themselves against monsters and bandits."

"I understand," I say, glancing at Alpha, who nods in agreement before closing his eyes.

There seems to be an unspoken understanding between them. As someone who seldom ventured beyond the village, I couldn't believe the many experiences they shared while I was out hunting with Amy's father.

"Alpha, what's your history here, by the way? You seem quite familiar with the village," I inquire, curiosity piqued.

Alpha fixes a meaningful gaze on Josh before he rises from his seat. He drags his chair next to Josh and takes a seat with his eyes closed.

"It was simply a mission, our final mission together," Alpha begins.

"Indeed," Josh adds, nodding. "After that mission, I resigned from my post at the capital and chose to stay here."

"Yes, the rescue mission," Alpha continues. "I remember it vividly. The elves' Elder desperately sought our aid, as the village had fallen prey to mountain bandits. They needed a new refuge and decided on this village."

"The villagers were defenseless, with no combat experience except for the Elder. As a result, the village fell easily, ravaged by those vile bandits. Some elves lost their lives, while others endured unspeakable horrors—kidnappings, assaults... and worse," Josh continues, recounting the grim past.

Alpha interjects, opening his eyes and changing his tone, "Then, a fierce battle unfolded between the Elder and the bandit leader. Armed with a massive axe, the leader had the upper hand. The Elder suffered severe wounds, and the bandit leader, with his grotesque visage, declared his intent to turn this village into a hideout, massacring and enslaving the elves. It was only a matter of time before he made his move, but we arrived just in time to protect the girl."

"Almost," Josh adds with a casual shrug.

"In short," Alpha continues, "it became a grueling duel between me and the bandit leader. I assisted from a distance, tending to the wounded Elder. Unexpectedly, the bandit leader hurled his enormous axe toward me as I prepared to strike. In a daring act, the Elder leaped in front of me, trying to deflect the blow with her bow, but losing the lower half of her body in the process."

I notice Josh's furious glare just in an instant. But he soon reverts to a more casual demeanor and continues his tale.

"In that moment, Alpha severed the bandit leader's hands as he reached for his weapon. I was stunned, but the Elder whispered to me, handing me her bow. 'Please protect the village and my daughter,' she pleaded, then passed away. I took up her bow, aimed for the bandit leader's eye, and Alpha swiftly dispatched him."

"I see, so that's what happened," I reply, trying to grasp the weight of the past.

Josh nods in confirmation, and we fall into a thoughtful silence, each of us processing the history and sacrifices that brought us to this moment.

"I had initially thought about relocating all the villagers to the capital," Josh explains, "but Alpha was against it, given their elven heritage and the strict regulations there. So, I chose to stay and fulfill the Elder's final wish—to protect this village. I bid farewell to Alpha, married Kim, who is the Elder's daughter, and started training the villagers in archery, preparing them to defend themselves."

Alpha nods firmly in agreement.

"And that's what we are, a happy little family!" Josh exclaims with a laugh, just as I notice Kim approaching from behind, ready to serve us some greenish tea with one single leaf floating on each of them, served in a wooden plate.

...

"It's delicious!" I exclaim as I take a sip of the tea.

The tea has a unique flavor—slightly bitter, yet subtly sweet—that fills my mouth. Josh, savoring his own cup, explains, "Ebonwood Tea. It requires special craftsmanship to achieve this flavor. These recipes have been passed down among the elves and are quite popular."

"It also has a calming effect," Alpha chimes in, finishing his tea.

I finish my tea as well, feeling relaxed and refreshed. I stretch my body as I stand, feeling more at ease in this cozy environment. Kim collects the cups and returns to the kitchen.

"I'm curious," Josh begin, "could you shed some light on what happened out there, leading to your arrival along with the other 'survivors'? It was the Ezlea Village, wasn't it?"

Alpha nods and looks at me with a serious expression. "Our friend here was one of the survivors."

My gaze falls to the table as the memories flood back.

Without even realizing it, tears welled up in my eyes as I revisited those memories.

"An unknown force ambushed us. They looked foreign to this land... maybe even from another world. I was assigned to that village after hearing about the red moon at its center. I got permission from the Capital and set out."

Josh clenches his teeth, his expression filled with frustration. He heads towards a large room to the right, and I catch a glimpse of a main window and a massive wooden table.

"Come," he beckons.

Alpha nods and follows Josh's lead. I wipe away my tears and join them inside, eager to learn more about the unfolding events as Josh might knows something about it.

End of Chapter 6