The dim glow of the strange moss lining the cave was being replaced by the bright yellow light of the sun. I breathed in the sweet scent of fresh air mixed with pine, and allowed relief to wash over me.
But a sudden distortion caused the breath to catch in my throat. It felt like the world was suddenly tilted off it’s axis. A cold, sharp sensation pressed insistently against my throat, forcing me to grasp the seriousness of the situation I was in.
Subtle movements near my cheek drew my attention — the graceful dance of long, ethereal white hair. The owner of the blade remained hidden behind me, but their intent was clear as day.
A voice, captivating in its melody but with an underlying hint of threat—possibly even disdain—whispered, “One wrong move, and it’ll be your last.”
Her words were clear and calculated. “She was clearly in control of the situation. I attempted to speak—“Who ar-”—but she quickly cut me off, tightening her grip to remind me of the sharp blade at my throat.
“I will ask the questions. You need only speak true and I might let you live.”
Her words burned away any semblance of negotiation I thought existed.
“Where are your comrades hiding? How many more bandits are there?” her melodic voice pressed, tinged with urgency.
“Bandits? No one told me anything about bandits. I’m just here to-”
She interrupted me again, leaving me no room to explain myself. Her tone was icier this time. “Don’t lie to me. Where are you keeping the slaves?”
It was obvious she wasn’t in the mood for any games or dancing around the answers she wanted. But I genuinely had no idea about any bandits or slaves. Hell, I barely knew anything about this world. I’m just trying to survive here, lady! I thought to myself.
I knew we would get nowhere pleasant if we kept on like this, so I calmly tried to explain my being here- speaking as quickly as I could.
“I swear, I’m here to recover a stolen gem from goblins. The guild sent me.”
A brief pause filled the air. Her breath remained controlled, but I could sense she was debating internally.
“Where is this gem?” She finally whispered, though her voice was laced with irritation.
“My left pocket.” I stated slowly and deliberately, moving to reach for it while ensuring she could track every motion.
There was a tense pause before I held up the crimson gem, allowing the sunlight to catch its facets. “Here.”
She stared at the gem, her features reflecting in its polished surface. Her grip on her weapon wavered just slightly, but she quickly recomposed herself. There was something familiar about her, even if I couldn’t quite place it. Cloaked in shadows, only her ethereal hair gave away any hint of her identity.
Silence continued as a contemplative expression faintly reflected in the gem. I could feel the weight of her gaze as she dissected every word I spoke.
“That still doesn’t prove anything,” she began. “You expect me to believe you came here by yourself to clear out a goblin cave to retrieve a single gem? That makes you either very foolish or you’re trying to cover something up. You’ve given me nothing that proves you aren’t affiliated with those enslaving my kin.”
Desperation edged into my voice. “Didn’t you see the goblins I took down outside? That has to count for something!
She gave a divisive snort in response. “Convenient cover-up, is it not? Or do you think me a fool? Everyone knows the bodies of unnatural beings disappear once slain.”
What? They do? This was news to me, and not the kind I needed at this moment. My mind raced to recall if I had missed any hints or signs of that in my time here. But there was no time to ponder; the cold blade pressed deeper into my skin, making me wince.
“Your tales are growing thin.” She added coldly.
Trying to keep my growing panic at bay, I responded, “Look, I don’t know what’s going on here. My only goal is to get this gem back to its rightful owner and collect my reward. No one told me anything about bandits or slaves.”
“Or perhaps your camp is nearby and you only cleared out the goblins so they wouldn’t give you trouble. Or maybe you’re scouting nearby locations to move your camp to.”
This is getting us nowhere. I don’t think anything I say is going to change her mind.
Almost as if on cue, Cirrus chose this moment to come trotting into the cave. My captor momentarily lost her threatening demeanor.
“A… spirit creature,” she breathed in awe.
“Spirit creature? Do you mean Cirrus?” My confusion heightened. I didn’t know what significance he held in this world but, judging by the unmistakable reverence in the woman’s voice, it must be significant.
Cirrus spread his wings and fluttered up to my shoulder. He certainly didn’t seem to feel threatened by the woman holding a knife to my throat. Must be nice.
“You’ve named it? Why would a spirit creature bond with a human?” The woman whispered to herself. Her blade relaxed slightly from my throat as she contemplated with herself. Her warm breath on my ear and melodic voice would be soothing if the situation were different.
Seizing any opportunity to deescalate, I responded to her muttering. “I ran into him in the forest yesterday. After that he just started following me. I figured if we were going to stick together I would need something to call him. I can’t say I know what a spirit creature is though.”
“Are you truly just an ignorant adventurer?” Her tone was almost sharper than the blade at my throat.
Well that’s uncalled for. I’m doing the best I can here, you know! I thought to myself. I figured saying it out loud would not help the situation.
“Spirit creatures were know to bond with the pure-hearted. They even lived alongside my people but… those are tales from an age long gone. Coming across one is rare enough but seeing one alongside a human…”
There was a deep sense of remorse to her words and it seemed, at the very least, my companion had earned me some credibility. But her suspicion of me lingered as she continued.
“But that doesn’t absolve you. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has abused spirit creatures for their own gains.” Her icy tone returned, like she was trying to remind herself not to be swayed so easily.
I sighed internally. At this point, I didn’t know what I could say to convince her of my intentions. Then I remembered I have papers from the guild proving I was an adventurer and the paper that had the quest written out on it. The only problem is, I set the bag down in the forest. Worth a shot, I guess.
“I have proof, but it’s in my bag outside.”
“What proof?” She asked suspiciously.
“I have paperwork from the guild that proves I’m an adventurer and that I took this quest. I set the bag down behind a tree.” I explained.
She thought for a moment. “If you’re trying to pull something-”
“I swear I’m not. I just want to put this situation behind us.”
After a long moment of consideration, I felt her blade retract from my throat as she released me, putting some distance between us.
“If you make any sudden movements I won’t hesitate to cut you down.” she said sharply.
Keeping my hands where she could see them, I slowly walked out the cave. Once we got close to the tree I was hiding behind earlier, I pointed to it.
“It’s behind that tree.”
“Very well,” she thought for a moment, probably determining her safest option. “Stay there, where I can see you.”
She then cautiously walked backwards towards the tree, always keeping her sharp eyes on me. After a quick glance, she grabbed the bag and started rummaging inside it, probably ensuring there were no concealed weapons or surprises.
A few moments later, she pulled out the official-looking papers bearing the guild’s emblem. She then began to look over the documents, her gaze darting back and forth between the pages and me.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
She paused for a moment, looking deep into my eyes as if trying to gauge the veracity of my words, “This could be forged.”
“Why would I lie about such specific details? Especially in a situation like this?” I countered, trying to hide the frustration in my voice.
She huffed, looking slightly defeated but still cautious. “These lands have seen many cunning bandits and deceivers. Even with this ‘proof’, I still need to be careful.”
She then placed the papers back in the bag, stood up, and took a few steps towards me — but with less aggression this time. Her posture, although still guarded, hinted at a possible change in her initial perception of me.
“It seems you may be telling the truth, but I still don’t trust you,” she said, her voice soft but stern. “The safest thing to do at this point is tie you up until I’ve dealt with the bandits.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. Obviously, the idea of being tied up and defenseless in an unknown area would be bad enough. But I didn’t like the idea of her taking on an unknown number of bandits by herself either. She could obviously handle herself, but I still didn’t like the idea.
Now that I was able to get a good look at her features, something about her was extremely familiar. Long white hair, red eyes and… pointed ears. She was an elf. Wait.
“Hold up, I’ve seen you before. When I first got to this world.”
She looked taken a back, and slightly confused, but she took a moment to take in my features too. “Came to this world? What are you talking about?”
“Oh, uh, I mean when I got to Aldoria. You were in the ally, right? The one where the brute guy was stuck to a wall.”
“Wait… so you’re the one that came out of nowhere and punched him!”
Hold up… I don’t remember punching him. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to hit him hard enough to fuse him with a wall. I guess that didnt matter right now though.
“Well, that certainly makes me a little less wary of you… but still.” She said as she grabbed some rope tied to her belt.
My only option right now was to offer to help her. It really would work beneficially for both of us. And if there was a chance I could make another ally in this world, it wouldn’t hurt.
“I could assist you.”
She paused, eyeing me with great suspicion. “Why would you do that? And why would you think I’d accept such a ludicrous offer.” She seemed almost irritated at the idea.
“Well, if I’m being honest, I don’t really like the thought of being tied up for who knows how long. And you don’t know how many bandits there are right? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but you seem to be working alone. You’d be safer if you had some backup here.”
“Do you take me for a simpleton? There’s no way I could trust you.” She replied.
Taking a deep breath, I said, “Look,” and waited for her eyes to meet mine before continuing. “Where I’m from, slavery is a dark stain on our history, an evil we’ve battled with and struggled to atone for.” I let that sink in, noticing her eyebrows furrowing just slightly, before pressing on. “I can’t stand idly by while that same evil casts a shadow here. It’s not about a quest or gaining your trust; it’s about doing what’s right.”
She regarded me with an icy stare, her lips pressed into a thin line. “So, what? You’d have me believe you doing this simply out of a sense of good-will?”
“That, and… if something happened to you or any other innocent while I had the power to help, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself,” I replied, feeling the weight of each word.
As I spoke, From my shoulder, Cirrus locked eyes with her. It was almost as if he was communicating his own resolve, radiating a sense of determination that echoed my own words. His eyes held an aura of ancient wisdom that surprised me. He seemed to be urging her to trust in the decision to work together.
For a long moment, she studied me, then shifted her gaze to Cirrus. It was almost like they were having a silent conversation.
“I’ve seen the ways of spirit creatures. They have a sense for the truth, and for the intentions of those around them,” she mused aloud. “If he stands with you in this, it may not be without reason.”
She looked pensive for a while before finally saying, “Very well. We’ll collaborate. But remember, if you betray my trust, it’ll be the last thing you do.”
Gulping, I nodded. “Understood.”
She reluctantly sheathed her dagger and straightened her posture. “You may call me Nyxara.”
“Nyxara?” I confirmed the pronunciation, “I’m Ethan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I introduced myself with a smile.
“A pleasure? You realize I had a knife to your throat only minutes ago?” She replied dubiously.
Hoping it might lighten the mood, I played off the situation. “Nah, that’s water under the bridge.”
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“So, what’s the plan?” I asked. “I don’t mean any offense but based on the questions you were asking me, you don’t have any details on these bandits, do you?”
Nyxara stiffened at my words, then replied in a regretful tone. “Yes, unfortunately that is the case. I have fairly reliable intel that proves they seem to be operating in this area.”
“Hm.” I rubbed my chin as I searched my memory for any clues I may have come across.
“A map would be helpful, but my funds are a little strained. And I don’t feel right stealing one, even for a good cause.”
“Oh!” I snapped my fingers. “I actually have a map. It was a gift from one of the guilds.”
I unfolded the map across a nearby boulder and Nyxara and I looked over the surrounding area. She seemed somewhat surprised when I pulled it out, but didn’t make any comment on it.
As we pored over the map, Nyxara pointed out the general area her information suggested the bandits were located. She then indicated a section of the forest she had already searched, which of course included our current location in the cave.
“There’s a small valley here, surrounded by thick forest cover,” I pointed to a nearby area on the map. “If I were trying to hide a camp, that’s where I’d set up.”
Nyxara nodded, her voice tinged with urgency. “It’s isolated but close enough to the roads to have easy access. That’s our best bet.”
I studied the area surrounding the valley for a moment. “Going in blind without knowing how many there are wouldn’t be smart though. We should scout the area first, get a good look at their numbers and defenses if they have any.”
Nyxara looked somewhat impatient though. Since it was her kin being enslaved, I’m sure her first instinct is to free them as soon as possible. I looked at her with the most assuring expression I could muster.
“I know you still don’t trust me, and I understand you want to act quickly. I’d be anxious if I was in your shoes, too. But we have to be strategic, we’ll have a better chance if we know what we are walking into.”
Nyxara took a deep breath, “Alright.” She said, “We will approach quietly and observe. But once we know what we are up against, we strike.”
I glanced up at the sun. “It’s nearing noon,” I remarked, trying to keep the conversation neutral
Nyxara followed my gaze briefly before returning her attention to the map. “Time is of the essence. How long to reach this valley?”
I traced a route on the map with my finger. “Two to three hours, if we move quickly.”
She seemed to consider the distance and the remaining daylight. “That might leave us some time to scout before night. But remember, if I sense any deception on your part or if you try to lead me into a trap…”
The unsaid threat hung heavily in the air, but I quickly responded, “I understand. I have no intentions other than helping.”
She huffed, still skeptical, but nodded. “Very well. Let’s move.”
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Traversing through the dense undergrowth, we avoided the main roads and paths, opting to move through the wilder parts of the forest. With the limited information we had, we didn’t know if the bandits had patrols or were otherwise watching the road for anyone approaching near the camp. It may have been a little overly cautious of us, but we figured it was better to play it safe.
Every so often, I could feel Nyxara’s piercing gaze on me. Her distrust was palpable, a stark reminder that the alliance between us was delicate. The threat of her blade’s edge, ready to meet my throat at the slightest hint of deception, hung over me. It was uncomfortable, but I understood her perspective.
The forest’s silence was occasionally pierced by the distant calls of wildlife. The thick foliage above blocked most of the sunlight, leaving us in a dim, green-tinted world. The environment, in sharp contrast to our tension, offered a peace I wished we could both share.
I watched Cirrus as he playfully darted about, illuminated hidden pockets of the forest with his ethereal glow. Watching him, a thought occurred to me. An attempt to build some semblance of trust, or at least understanding, between Nyxara and me.
“Nyxara,” I began, my voice soft, trying to sound as non-confrontational as possible. “You mentioned that Cirrus is a spirit creature. Until today, I had no idea such beings even existed. Could you tell me more about them?”
She shot me a wary glance but then sighed, perhaps seeing the genuine curiosity in my eyes. “Spirit creatures are rare, sacred beings. The world knows them, but few ever encounter one directly. They are believed to be the purest existence in this realm — a direct manifestation of the world’s magic and perhaps even the will of the gods themselves. They exude an aura of purity.”
As we continued to walk, she seemed lost in memories, her voice growing softer, almost nostalgic. “Elves, like my kin, once held close ties with these spirits. It’s said that in days long past, spirit creatures lived alongside elves, guiding us, enlightening us. But as our society changed, grew more corrupt, the creatures distanced themselves.”
“So they really are special then, huh?” I mused. “Is that why you were so surprised to see Cirrus with me?”
She nodded. “To see someone, especially a human, with a spirit creature is...unheard of. And Cirrus is unique even among his kind. His presence with you either marks you as someone extraordinary... or poses more questions than answers.”
I glanced at Cirrus, who had perched on a branch, watching us. “When I’m near him, I feel... different. It’s like a gentle warmth, a reassurance. I guess that’s the aura of purity you spoke of?”
“Yes. It’s their essence — an overwhelming sense of purity and kindness. It resonates with the very soul, letting you know you’re in the presence of a spirit creature.”
The two of us continued in silence for a moment, the only sound the rustling of leaves and distant calls of animals. Nyxara’s words had given me a lot to think about — and I hoped, in sharing that knowledge, had forged at least a sliver of understanding between us.
She just nodded, continuing to lead the way, her every move precise and graceful. Even amidst our precarious situation, I couldn’t help but admire her agility. Elves really were beings of the forest.
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The forest gradually began to thin, revealing more and more of the afternoon sky. The sun had shifted position, casting long shadows over the landscape. The sounds of the forest began to be replaced by the distant murmur of voices and the occasional clang of metal.
“Get down,” Nyxara whispered, pulling me behind a dense thicket.
I crouched beside her, heart racing, trying to peer through the leaves. In the distance, nestled in the heart of the valley we’d pinpointed earlier, a large campsite came into view. Tents sprawled across the clearing, with figures milling about, their activities clear even from this distance.
Nyxara’s fingers dug into the earth beside her, her eyes narrowing. “That’s them,” she said with a venomous tone.
I exhaled slowly, trying to contain my nerves. “Looks like a substantial operation. We need a plan.”
The two of us continued to observe the camp from our vantage point, taking mental notes. As the light continued to wane, the camp grew livelier. They were starting to light several fires and setting up cookware. It was evident that we were severely outnumbered.
Nyxara’s voice broke the silence, her tone as cold as ice. “Once night falls, they won’t see us coming.”
Drawing my attention back to the camp, a particular tent caught my eye. It was larger than the rest, with guards stationed at its entrance — likely the leader’s quarters.
“And there,” I whispered, pointing subtly, “might be where they’re keeping the slaves or where their leader resides. It’s well-guarded.”
Nyxara nodded, her gaze never wavering from the campsite. “We’ll free my kin and put an end to this.”
The weight of the situation bore down on us, the knowledge that a daunting task lay ahead. But for now, all we could do was wait for the veil of darkness to provide us the advantage we desperately needed.