Valerius Recounts His Tale
The Waver hummed softly as Valerius finished recounting his story. The cabin was silent, save for the occasional creak of Gustein’s equipment in the background. Valerius leaned back, his gaze unfocused as he remembered the shadowy figure’s piercing green eyes.
Eryndor broke the silence, his tone sharp. “Wait—you met the shadowy man?”
Valerius nodded. “Yeah… Quihote Develos. He told me his name before he left.”
Eryndor’s jaw tightened. “You’re saying he confronted you and let you live?”
“He didn’t just let me live,” Valerius replied, his voice uneasy. “He… laughed. He called me an anomaly. Then he told me to find him when I get stronger.”
Ziraiah, still lying on her stretcher, stirred slightly, her face pale but alert. “Stronger? What does that mean? And why you?”
Valerius shook his head. “I don’t know. But he looked… startled at first. It’s like he saw something in me that made him jump back.”
Kaelan, though barely conscious, muttered weakly, “Quihote Develos… I’ve heard that name before. If he spared you, it wasn’t out of kindness.”
The siblings fell into a tense silence, each mulling over the implications of Valerius’s encounter. It was Eryndor who finally broke the stillness.
“This woman—Elsa. I should thank her personally for saving you.”
Valerius smiled faintly. “You’ll like her. She’s strong. Scary, but strong.”
---
My Name
The narrative shifted back to that moment after shadowy figurewhispered “impressive.” Elsa felt beads of sweat drip down her temple as she tried to mask her trembling. Beside her, Valerius was frozen, every instinct screaming at him to stay silent.
“Boy,” the shadowy figure said, his voice low but commanding. “What is your name?”
Valerius gulped, his throat dry. “L-Lerius,” he stammered, his voice cracking.
The figure shifted his gaze to Elsa. “And you?”
“Elsa,” she replied, her tone steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.
The figure nodded slowly. Then, still squatting behind Valerius, his intense gaze fixed on the boy’s back. His eyes narrowed as if perceiving something invisible to others. In an instant, he leapt backward, landing a few meters away with the grace of a predator. His posture was defensive, yet his face betrayed amusement.
“What’s wrong?” Elsa asked, her voice breaking the tension.
The fugures laughter filled the clearing, a chilling sound that echoed through the forest. “You really are an anomaly, boy,” he said, his tone shifting from amusement to intrigue. “Once you grow stronger, come find me.”
He turned to leave, then paused mid-step. “My name is Quihote Develos,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. His eyes gleamed as they locked onto Valerius. “Do remember it.”
With a sudden burst of power, Quihote leapt into the air, vanishing in the blink of an eye. The force of his departure left a small crater in the ground, a stark reminder of his overwhelming strength.
Elsa and Valerius remained rooted to the spot, their breaths shallow as they tried to process what had just happened.
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“He didn’t kill us,” Elsa finally said, her voice tinged with disbelief. “Why?”
“Let’s just be thankful he didn’t,” Valerius muttered, his gaze fixed on the empty sky.
---
Curiosity in the Aftermath
A commotion broke out as townsfolk began gathering near the explosion site. Some whispered among themselves, others pointed at the massive hole left behind. The town guards arrived moments later, urging people to stay back.
“Keep your distance!” one guard barked. “Don’t go near the edge!”
Valerius tugged at Elsa’s sleeve. “We should go.”
Elsa nodded. “Yeah. No need to stick around for more questions.”
As they turned to leave, Elsa glanced down at the boy beside her and smirked. “Kid, you’re one lucky brat. So, little man, what happens now?”
“I need to find Eryndor and Ziraiah,” Valerius said earnestly. “Thank you so much for everything, Elsa.”
He began to run, but Elsa caught up to him with a teasing laugh. “And you just so happen to know where they are, right?”
Valerius stopped in his tracks, his face flushing red. Elsa walked up to him, slinging an arm casually around his shoulders. Her tall frame towered over him, and Valerius felt his cheeks burn as his head rested awkwardly against her hip.
“Come on,” she said with a grin. “I’ll help you find them.”
---
Bonding on the Journey
As they walked, Elsa’s arm still draped over him, Valerius’s mind raced. He tried to ignore how close she was, but it was impossible. He glanced up at her, taking in her confident stride and radiant smile.
“Damn,” he thought to himself. “She’s… hot. Snap out of it, Valerius. She’s a fox woman twice your size—it’ll never work.”
But then another thought crept into his mind. “Wait… Kaelan’s an Elvhein. I’m also an Elvhein. Which means I’ll be as big as him one day.” A grin spread across his face. “Yup. It can definitely work out.”
Elsa tapped his head lightly, pulling him out of his thoughts. “What are you thinking, little man?”
“Nothing!” Valerius blurted, his face red.
Elsa chuckled. “Sure. So, tell me—what’s your world like? Earth, right?”
Valerius brightened. “It’s very different. We have tall buildings everywhere, some so high they touch the clouds.”
Elsa raised an eyebrow. “Buildings that tall? Sounds inconvenient.”
“It’s not,” Valerius explained. “They’re really well designed. And the view from the top? Incredible.”
As they continued, Elsa shared her perspective. “Yilheim doesn’t have anything like that. Here, nature and magic shape our cities. Most buildings are carved from mountains or grown from trees using Vitalis Weaving.”
Valerius’s eyes widened. “That sounds… amazing. On Earth, we don’t have magic.”
“No magic?” Elsa said, feigning shock. “How do you survive?”
Valerius laughed. “Technology. It’s kind of like magic, but without the… well, magic.”
Elsa tilted her head. “Interesting. So how did you end up on Earth? You’re an Elvhein.”
“I don’t know,” Valerius admitted. “I was born there. Ziraiah too.”
“What about your brother?” Elsa asked.
“Eryndor… I’m not sure,” Valerius said, scratching his head. “Ziraiah was definitely born on Earth, but as for Eryndor and me, I don’t know.”
Elsa pondered this. “I wonder how your parents got there.”
“Me too,” Valerius said. “I’ve always felt we were different.”
Elsa nodded. “Young Elvheins aren’t so different from humans. I think you’d blend in well.”
Valerius smiled wistfully. “We did blend in… but not too well. My mom was biggrr than everyone. Everywhere we went, people stared at us. She held the title of most beautiful, tallest, and smartest woman. People from all over wanted to meet her.”
Elsa smirked. “Humans aren’t particularly gifted when it comes to beauty. An Elvhein like your mom would definitely stand out. What about your father?”
“I don’t know my father,” Valerius said, his voice quiet. “Never met him. I only know his name.”
Elsa’s expression softened. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Valerius replied. “It’s got nothing to do with you.”
Elsa’s eyes narrowed playfully. “If you never met your father, what about your brother?”
“He doesn’t remember him either,” Valerius said.
Elsa picked him up suddenly, holding him under her arm. “Poor Lerius. Grew up without his daddy. Don’t worry—if I ever meet him, I’ll give him a good beating.”
Valerius laughed. “Thanks, Elsa.”
They shared a smile as they approached Mystvir’s gates.
---
Parting Ways
At the gates, Elsa stopped, setting Valerius down gently. “This is where we part ways.”
Valerius’s face fell. “But I still need you.”
Elsa reached into her pocket and pulled out a small transparent object with a single strand of hair inside. “Don’t worry. See where this hair is pointing? That’s your sister’s location. Follow it, and you’ll find her.”
Valerius stared at her, overwhelmed. “Why are you helping me? You risked your life for me.”
Elsa smiled, ruffling his hair. “Because I felt like it. Now go.”
Valerius hesitated, then started walking. After a few steps, he turned around, waving. “Elsa, I won’t forget you!”
Elsa chuckled, watching him go. “You’d better not, little man.”
---
Back in the Waver, Valerius finished his story. Eryndor folded his arms, his expression thoughtful. “This woman—Elsa. I should thank her personally.”
---
To Be Continued...