"Rai, pull yourself together!" I stay silent, my eyes locked on the ground, gripping the stone tightly in my hand. My thoughts have vanished, leaving me in a state of emptiness.
...
"Why would Alpha do such a thing..."
Josh groans loudly, lending me his support as he bears my weight.
Not only he tried to drag me further inside the forest, his right hand steadily armed with an arrow from his back, in order to protect both of us from a couple of loggers.
"OUT OF MY WAY!!!" Furiously, Josh screams his lungs out while taking both of them in a single stab each.
We move cautiously through the tranquil, shadowy, and mysterious forest for a while until we finally arrive at the entrance to the Elven Village.
"I need some assistance here!!" Josh calls out.
Two elven archer guards hurry to our side.
Josh directs me toward them, and they each grab one of my shoulders. Josh, exhausted from carrying me all the way, lets out a gasp.
"He has a minor injury, but his pallid face... what happened?"
"He's lost his senses... Take him to my home at once!"
The elven guards nod and gently lead me inside, helping me walk as Josh massages his shoulder, fatigued after carrying me for the entire journey.
...
"Bao...? What's going on?" Kimberly rushes to Josh and envelops him in her embrace.
"I'll explain later. He is currently unstable right now!"
"By the Luthien..." Kimberly shoots a worried glance in my direction before hurrying to the kitchen. "Let me prepare some Ebonwood Tea to help him calm down!"
"Please, do!"
The elves settle me into a chair beside a spacious table by a window.
"I'm entrusting him to your care. Rai, please get back into your sense already," Josh says, his concern evident.
"Elder!!"
A familiar figure pushes open the ornate wooden front door and rushes toward us. Galvana, having heard that Josh and I returned to the village with distressing news, can't contain her worry. Her flushed face reflects her anxiety as she catches her breath. Her hurried steps echo, and she loses her usual stealthy grace in that moment.
"Why in the world are you here, Gal!? Aren’t you supposed to command them on the defense!?" Josh exclaim, surprise coursing through him.
"Sorry, I... I heard that you and the person in yellow arrived here urgently," Galvana replies, her gaze fixed on me, her eyes widening in shock.
"What happened to him!?" She then turns her furious gaze towards Josh.
"Long story short, her girlfriend died twice right in front of him. And the person who killed her was none other than Alpha himself!"
"Oh, you poor thing..." Galvana's voice softens as she steps towards me, enfolding me in a tight, worried embrace.
My hand clenches around the purple and blue crystal, tears streaming down my face as I cry out in despair.
"Bao, the tea is ready!" Kimberly announces, bringing the plate with care.
"Let me take care of him!" Galvana accepts the tea from Kimberly, moving closer to me, gently blowing on it to cool it down.
"Here, drink this. It will help you feel better."
I take a sip of the tea, my mind a blank canvas. Gradually, a sense of calm washes over me. Tears continue to fall, and I find myself lost in thoughts of the tragic events that unfolded at the village ruins.
Galvana, the elf in purple, notices my pain, her own eyes welling up with sadness. She reaches out, her fingers brushing my cheek to wipe away the tears.
...
"Elder," Galvana sets the cup down on the table. "Could you please give us some space?"
"Not here," Josh responds. "But I know a place where he can find some peace."
Josh directs his gaze toward the library on his left. "Alasta!!"
In an instant, a radiant ball of light appears from the far corner of the room, gracefully hovering towards us. It gently lands on the wooden table, revealing Alasta, a petite female humanoid creature with two pairs of fluttering wings—the book fairy herself.
"Alasta, please take Rai and Galvana somewhere they can find solace!"
Noticing Galvana embracing me with a worried expression, Alasta hums once and twirls her index finger.
"Hmm, it looks like the situation is truly, deeply distressing, eh…? Alrighty then. I shall transport both of you to a serene and tranquil place!"
With a snap of her fingers, we are engulfed in a radiant light, and suddenly, we find ourselves in a field of vibrant flowers. A massive tree with lush green leaves stands behind me, surrounded by cherry blossom trees with pink leaves not too far away. As I look at my hands, my thoughts seem oddly empty, and my gaze narrows.
The fragrant scent of the flowers and the gentle breeze bring a sense of calm. The feeling of transported into the other illusion made by Alasta is somewhat different than the first time I've been. It feels like more... solace, my sense is still what they are, and I can feel a vibrant tears still streaming down both my eyes. I lift my head slightly, observing Galvana, who is also taking in her surroundings before noticing me beside her, before leaning closer to me.
"Are you feeling any better?" Galvana's voice is filled with compassion.
I squint my eyes, avoiding her gaze, attempting to regain feeling in my right hand.
!!!
Wait.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Where is the purple stone that I held!?
...
"About that..." Galvana takes both my hands in hers. "You still have it. Our physical bodies remain back at the house. What you see now is our consciousness."
A sense of relief washes over me.
"It's okay... you don't have to explain." She understands what I feel and releases my right hand, embracing me once more, this time with a gentle touch.
"You know..." she murmurs, her face buried in my shoulder. "You remind me of a courageous yet really clumsy human warrior from decades ago. He wasn't particularly strong in combat, but he always looked out for me back then. Unfortunately, he met his end in one of the raids when we were both targeted by bandits... He didn't get to grow old, as humans have much shorter lifespans than us elves..."
She continues, "The first time I saw you, I couldn't help but think you were him, judging by the expression on your face back then."
"I understand that you're not him. I just couldn't help but think about it..."
...
Tears glisten in her eyes.
"I'm sorry... I was supposed to comfort you, not dredge up painful memories..."
I shake my head slowly, indicating that it's okay.
She then grips my shoulder firmly.
"Now, tell me your story. It will help ease your burden."
"I..."
...
I start to pour out my heart, sharing every intricate detail about myself. I recount how I became a loser in the village, the painful separation from Alpha and Josh, the moments I shared with Amy, and the agony of losing her not once, but twice.
Galvana listens with rapt attention, her expression briefly showing shock at certain points. After I've bared my soul, she embraces me once more as I sink to my knees, tears flowing freely down my cheeks.
"It must have been incredibly difficult for you," she says softly.
I continue to cry, my head nodding in agreement. In her arms, I find solace, and she holds me close, gently enveloping me. She bears the weight of all the burdens I've carried, the secrets I've kept, and helps me release the pent-up rage that has festered inside me for so long.
"It's alright, it's alright... You're doing great..."
...
We remain locked in our embrace for a while, the intensity of the moment turns from sadness into something else that feels incredibly heating.
Galvana can't bear to see me cry in vain. Slowly, she leans her face closer, and her soft lips meet mine, mingling with my tears. Our lips touching gently, while I continue to sob.
My eyes close slowly, my mind empty of thought.
She reaches out with her right hand, attempting to take hold of my left. As her hand makes contact with mine, I feel a tingling, springy sensation. She squeezes my hand gently and then releases it, allowing me to explore the texture.
!!!
Wait, this isn't right...! This is...
Realization suddenly dawns upon me. I quickly retract my hands and break away from her, shock and speechlessness overwhelming me.
Galvana's eyes widen, and she brings both hands to cover her mouth and chests, gasping.
"No... what have I done...!?" Her face flushes red.
"I couldn't... resist it. I..." Galvana starts to panic. I squint my eyes slightly and grip her shoulder, gently pressing my forehead against hers. It seems to calm her down, although her cheeks remain tinted with embarrassment.
...
Her eyes flutter closed, and I lightly pinch her elven ears while brushing her cheek with my palm. She nods slightly, and we embrace tightly once more, our cheeks touching as we exchange gentle kisses.
"Please..." she murmurs in a trembling voice. "You mustn't speak of this to anyone... I miss him... just as you do..."
I give her a slight nod in agreement. With our secrets shared, there's a sense of relief that washes over us. Slowly, we release each other from our embrace.
"Thank you, Galvana… I…" I say with a faint smile. "I think I'm feeling a little better now..."
"L-Likewise!" Galvana crosses her arms after pulling me all the sudden, glancing away with a flushed face, her tsundere side showing again. "I hope you don't hold it against me next time."
"What do you mean?" I tilt my head slightly, curious.
"F-Forget it!" she says, turning away and crossing her arms. "Anyway... let's head back now! Your friend must be terribly worried by now!"
She finally reverts back to her usual shy demeanor.
...
"You mischievous little boy~"
A voice resonates in our heads.
"You're suffering, yet here you are, enjoying some intimate moments with the elf! It's not the first time I've witnessed such scenes, though... Ah~ Are humans always like this?"
"ALASTA!!" Galvana exclaims indignantly. "YOU SAW THAT, DIDN'T YOU!!!"
"Well," Alasta replies playfully, her voice echoing. "This is my realm. I saw everything and didn't miss a thing~"
"Y-You better NOT tell a soul outside of here, or I'll make sure you regret it!! Do you hear me!?" Galvana shouts, her face flushed as she clenches her fist.
"Alright, alrighty~ I'll keep my mouth shut. No need to spill the beans~," Alasta responds with her mischievous tone.
"Let's... leave this place for now," Galvana sighs, regaining her composure.
I nod slightly, and she takes hold of my right hand. We both look upward.
"A-Alasta, take us back. We—I mean, he is fine now!!"
A brilliant light emanates from beneath our feet, and once again, I tightly grip Galvana's hand as we are drawn into the light. When I open my eyes, I hear the chirping of birds. Josh stands before me, his gaze fixed on me, while Galvana awakens with a gasp.
...
"Rai, are you feeling better now?" Josh asks, concern in his voice.
"I think so… Thanks to Galvana..." I nod briefly in response.
“Thanks Liriel…” Kimberly covers her mouth in relief before taking my cup of tea and walk behind the kitchen.
"Thank the divines, you're back!" Josh's voice brims with relief as he looks at Galvana. "It appears you've done a good job comforting him. I'm grateful!" he exclaims.
I glance at Galvana, who tries hard to hide her blushing face. Her embrarrasing side is showing again.
"I-It was necessary! I'm just relieved that you're alright now, hmph!" she mutters, folding her arms and looking away.
"Thank you, Galvana, I..." I begin to express my gratitude, but she interrupts me gently.
"No need to say more," she whispers, placing a finger gently against my lips. "I'm afraid you might say things we'll regret."
With that, she rises and heads towards the door, taking a few noticeably funny steps as she walks away. Noticing of her behavior, Josh can't help but giving me a playful gaze before patting my shoulder.
"Now that you're back with us, I believe we should rest here for the night. We'll depart and report to the capital tomorrow," Josh suggests.
"Wait, what about… Alpha?" I ask, concern etching into my voice.
Josh's right eye twitches.
"Knowing him…” he says, looking away and clenching his fists. “he'll make his way to the capital on his own, hopefully sooner rather than later."
He heads towards the door.
"I am going to see our situations here. Try not to dwell on things too much!" Josh raises his hand in farewell as he departs.
I shake my head, glancing at my right hand. The purple round crystal is still there. I'm relieved I didn't lose it.
#
End of Chapter 21.