It seemed that our antics were not appreciated by the older elven woman, whose name I still didn’t know. Either way, it was plain to see that she took over the lead with a natural ease after I cut off her chains.

I didn’t protest. I wasn’t exactly the leader type, so I was actually quite happy that the responsibility was taken off my shoulders.

Of course, I suspected that the main reason for it was that the woman thought of me as a high elven child. Probably because of my shorter stature. I heard that high elves were very tall, so her conclusion was quite reasonable.

Also, nobody would expect me to be a white elf.

The elven woman waved me closer while inspecting my ice axe.

“Sweet child, can you make a weapon like that for me as well?” — She asked, only for me to show her a wry smile.

“I can, but it won’t do any good for you, ma’am. Only I can touch my ice magic without being injured. Sorry…” — I added, seeing her troubled expression.

“It’s alright girl, in that case, do you think you can cut open the cover of the tent right about here?” — She asked, after listening carefully to our surroundings. She was probably searching for stray guards walking near the tent.

I nodded to her, walked over to the suggested spot, and easily cut through the thick layers of textile materials.

As the materials parted, she pushed me behind herself right next to Camilla. Whispering a few warnings to us offhandedly.

“Alright, we will try to sneak out of the camp while most of the guards are occupied with chasing some dwarves. You will follow me as quietly as possible along with your human friend. Help her since she is injured. Make sure neither of you lag behind.” — She said while locking eyes with me with a meaningful stare.

I gulped and nodded. Then I realised something. Dwarfs! They must be the same dwarfs we were traveling with. Emrum’s image came to my mind, and a sense of worry filled my soul.

Were they trying to save us?

“Those dwarfs, I think I knew them, we were traveling together until recently…” — I spoke, and the woman blinked in confusion.

“Why would you travel with a bunch of dirty dwarfs…” — I winced at her tone. — “Regardless, based on what I overheard, they are hardly in a situation to worry about you. They have been ambushed and suffered serious casualties before managing to escape with their tail between their stubby legs. The dark ones are chasing them even as we speak. But enough of this, follow me unless you prefer to stay here and be abused by this filth.” — With that said, she moved through the rip in the tent’s covers and we followed her without a word.

When I stepped out of the tent, I felt relieved, as it was no longer that dark. A distant fireplace and the occasional torches allowed some level of light. Seeing this, I let my light magic fizzle out to not draw unnecessary attention to our presence.

I was about to look around more carefully. As I heard distant noises, laughter, and talking. Coming from somewhere on the other side of the tent, which we just left behind.

Camilla pulled my arm, waking me from my momentary daydream and reminding me that this was hardly the right time for sightseeing.

We followed the elf woman. All three of us crouched down, staying low and hopefully staying out of sight as well.

We half circled around the back of another tent following the older woman. The tent was much similar to our own. I thought about the possibility, if there were other women in similar situations. Tied down to a pole beaten and helpless but seeing the way the elf walked passed it, completely disregarding the tent. I decided to do the same. Trying to not think about the possibility made me feel like an utter coward, and maybe I was.

We sneaked around the back of some more tents, then halted, finding a thin path snaking up the side of a rocky protrusion. My eyes followed the path upwards, then my heart skipped a beat when my eyes met with a pair of just as surprised red ones, staring right back at me.

Time seemed to freeze. As our eyes widened, I saw as the man was about to shout an alert, then I acted on instinct. There was no time to think.

My arm holding the axe whipped upwards, pointing towards the man. My axe shattered on its own, creating hundreds of shards of thin icicles, which burst forth towards the shocked enemy, the shards being propelled by an involuntary pulse of my telekinesis.

The deadly needles left behind silent whistles as they cut through the air. Most of them successfully hitting their target, while some embedded into the rocks lying around.

The man’s voice was cut off as the deadly hail of icicle shards hit the upper part of his body. I could hear the distant collapse of his body, the gentle roll of small pebbles. Then there was silence.

My body was shaking from the sudden burst of adrenaline. Heart throbbing in my throat and ears drowning out any other noise.

All three of us were holding our breaths. We still didn’t know for certain if there was another guard, just about to sound the alarm and simultaneously sealing our fate.

After a minute or so passed and the silence remained, we sighed in relief. The minute felt like an eternity in our heightened sense of awareness.

I felt Camilla’s grasp locked around my left wrist in an iron grip. Poor girl’s anxiety couldn’t have been more obvious.

I also noticed a pair of blue eyes looking back at me with an acknowledging expression. Then the owner of said eyes looked forward again, following the previously mentioned path up to the elevated rock surface overlooking the camp.

I gulped and followed her, climbing up to the top of the rock wall. Pulling Camilla along the way, letting her to lean on my shoulder.

It took us some time to climb the steep slope, but we managed, helping each other whenever it was necessary.

We panted slightly, reaching the top. I was half carrying, half pulling Camilla. I decided that this could hardly go on any longer. — “I will heal your ankle now. You can’t keep up like this.”

The girl opened her mouth to protest, but I cut off her words. — “I know that I need to spare mana, but you can barely walk like this…” — I reprimanded her, and she nodded eventually.

“Alright, let me help you sit down, then I will do it.”

After I helped Camilla to sit, I kneeled down in front of her. Helping her to take off her boot. Luckily, the metal shackle was on her other leg, otherwise it would have been quite a challenge considering that it was locked over it.

As I removed the boot, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The ankle was bruised and slightly swollen, but it was not that bad. Nothing that my magic couldn’t handle.

I took a deep breath and started the incantation. — “By the power of light, entrusted upon me through my holy patron. I Selora command thy wound, heal!”

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Gentle golden rays of light pulsed through my arm, focusing inside my right hand that gently touched the ankle. To my surprise, the warm energy didn’t only focus around my hand. Part of it seeped through my body, concentrating on my face and head, healing my own injuries as well as Camilla’s.

I heaved a sigh of relief. The burning-pulsing pain was overcome by soothing coldness. I let the feeling wash over me, while still channelling my magic, which was being drained with an alarming rate.

As it dropped below half of my current mana pool, I regretfully cut off the stream of healing energies, ending the spell in a strained sigh.

My face was no longer pulsing, and my mind felt a lot clearer. It was much easier to focus my thoughts without getting distracted.

I blinked and looked at Camilla’s injury. The swelling has disappeared and only faint yellow discoloration was visible on the skin. It was on its way of complete recovery.

I also realized that I could open both of my eyes without trouble. I lifted my hands and gently touched the side of my face. It still hurt, but the horrible swelling I felt previously was mostly gone and touching it didn’t hurt anymore. Only when I pushed down on it did I feel a dull pain.

It was at that time, when I felt the shaky hands of Camilla cupping my face in both of her hands. The skin of her palms felt surprisingly rough, no doubt a sign of a harsh adventuring life. I was a bit startled by her unexpected action, looking up into her green eyes with a questioning glance.

Then I softened my gaze as I saw the sheer wonder in her eyes, as she continued to stare at my face, gently patting the injured side of my cheek.

“This… I have never seen… healing magic like this… you are the real deal, Selora…” — The girl mumbled under her breath, while seemingly bewitched by the sight of my partially healed injury. Now that I think about it, she definitely saw the entire healing process, gross…

I showed her a gentle smile and pulled my head away. It was no time for sentimentality. We needed to get away from here, and fast. Especially now that my magic was half spent.

“Your ankle is mostly healed. You should be able to walk and even run if necessary. Now stand up, we have to bail out of this cursed place.” — With that said, I stood up and pulled her to her feet as well.

When I turned around, I caught the bewildered stare of the other elven woman. She seemed conflicted, confused and suspicious at the same time, and she didn’t even attempt to hide it. Based on the open stare down, I was subjected to.

“I don’t know who you are… but you are no mere child, that you have made clear. My assumptions have been wrong about that.” — She narrowed her glare even further, before sighing and turning away.

“Be that as it may, I owe you just the same. I could hardly escape this place on my own. I have taken the dead man’s weapons and some of his gear. Seeing that you have healed your friend’s leg, there is nothing stopping us from running away.” — With that said, she started to move towards a dark tunnel leading out of the cave.

We followed her without a word.

We sneaked around for a while, then after I summoned a bit of light, we decided to break into a run. We run and run as long as our legs could take us blindly into the suffocating darkness of the endless cave system.

The lifeless corridors passed by us, one after the other, yet we kept going.

I was already familiar with the terror of the deep roads… but I was still more comfortable with the unknown than staying with the dark elves. A notion that seemed to be shared among all three of us.

Only when my legs screamed for rest, my lungs thirsted for air and my heart was threatening to jump out of my chest did we eventually slowed down…

We walked, taking deep, desperate breaths, walking into a narrow side tunnel and sitting down next to each other, leaning against the rough cave wall. Only when our breathing stabilized somewhat did the elven woman break the silence. — “So… your names… girls?” — She breathed out, still grasping for air.

Before I could answer, Camilla stepped in and said. — “How about… you? Why don’t you introduce yourself first? Since we were the ones… who saved you… and all?”

The woman snorted. — “Saved?” — She shook her head lightly.

“Oh, please… We are not saved… they must have already noticed our escape… I wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of the bastards were already on our tail.” — The woman said, with a darkening expression.

“Shouldn’t… shouldn’t we run, then?” — I formed the words with more effort than I was willing to admit.

The woman raised a single eyebrow and pointed a simple question at me, one that shut me up immediately. — “Can you?”

I looked at my feet silently, while placing my chin on the top of my pulled up knees, hugging and resting them against my chest.

Seeing my pitiful state, she mumbled something under her breath and turned back towards Camilla.

“Still, it’s not like immediate death is a good reason to throw aside my manners.” — She narrowed her icy blue eyes at Camilla, who quickly retreated from the conversation, just as I did seconds ago.

The woman, seeing our antics, sighed, and spoke with a less annoyed tone. — “My name is Ariawyn Virdithas, you can call me Ariawyn. I am a wood elf spear and bow wielder and a member of the Tree Guard. I was shamefully captured alive in the defence of a border settlement, which was raided by dark elves. A small part of that army brought me here. They were taking me back as a trophy. I won’t sugarcoat it, since you girls seem capable enough to handle reality. You have indeed saved me from a fate much worse than death.” — She said with a tired voice before turning to me. — “Now, why don’t you introduce yourself as well? There is no need for hostility among us. Not in a situation like this…”

I sighed and nodded. She was right, something that Camilla also have realized by now, seeing how her vehement demeanor changed to a mild and apologetic one.

I have only known her for a short time, but I could already read some of her antics. Not that it was hard. Even a blind man could read some of her rapid mood changes. She was a lively person, full of strong emotion. One moment bright as a star, while the next shy as a clam, just to become annoying again in the next moment.

The freshness and simpleness of her spirit was something I considered precious. Especially in contrast of my own murky one. Then again, she was truly young, while I was only young in body, and not in my soul.

Thinking like this, eternity seemed quite a long time indeed. As the weight of measly seventy-two years pressed down on my shoulders. What would eternity feel like? I wondered. The idea itself was incomprehensible.

I snapped out of my thoughts, being poked by Camilla. Reminding myself that I was supposed to answer a question.

“Ugh… well, I am Selora… magic caster…” — I started, double thinking every word I spoke. I never had so many secrets in my previous life, especially the kind that could shake me upside down if told to the wrong person.

I was playing with the light in my hand as I tried to give a proper explanation without giving too much away.

It was then, when the women sitting next to me decided to grab my hand, turning it upside down while peering at the runic ring around my finger… uh-oh…

I panicked and pulled back my hand, but it was already too late. As a pair of piercing blue eyes burrowed into my own.

“A bloodline ring… of the Dimhollow clan? Those things can’t be stolen… only, given, willingly. What is the meaning of this? Are you in leagues with the dwarves?”

I sighed and nodded tentatively.

Based on her previous comments, I expected her to react poorly to this. No surprise there, since the dwarves and the wood elves were on the verge of a full-blown military conflict. That was why I tried to hide it, but as expected, I failed. I wasn’t exactly the best lier, I rarely needed to lie in my previous life, and when I did it was regarding meaningless or petty stuff. Nothing that truly mattered, and I was finding out fast that lying under pressure was very different.

Camilla was quite annoyed by seeing Ariawyn’s slightly disgusted expression. I could feel her body tense on the other side of me as I was sitting between the two.

“Hey, what with that face of yours, miss there shouldn’t be any conflict between us, heh?” — Camilla stated sarcastically. Her snarky attitude surprised me. I expected her to be meek in front of another elf. She was supposed to be someone who idolized elves not too long ago. I guess a life and death situation cured her from that excitable attitude, or maybe she was just annoyed by this particular elf.

To my surprise, Ariawyn seemed actually embarrassed by Camilla’s remark. Which created a slightly awkward atmosphere as she scratched the back of her neck.

“You are right, forgive me for letting my emotions getting the better of me. It’s just that the current situation between our nations is quite tense.”

“Oh? You don’t say!” — Camilla continued. — “If your king would just see reason about the dark elves attacking that damn caravan, we might not be in this situation at all!”

Ariawyn was about to retort, but instead of that, she bit down on her lips and swallowed back her words. She shook her head in shame and said, eventually.

“… You might be right about that… I cannot deny the dark elves’ presence in the wood realm. Not after what I have been through… The dwarves… it is possible that they have been true to their words all this time and we were simply blinded by our arrogance. Still, it remains to be seen what the truth might be. Even if the dark elves’ presence can’t be questioned any longer, it doesn’t mean that the caravan was indeed attacked by them.”

“Oh come now, you are just making excuses at this point.” — Camilla snorted. I placed my hand over her pulled up knees in a calming gesture. There was no need to push the older elf more than it was necessary.

She huffed getting my message and cockily turned her head away from us, towards the entrance to the side tunnel of our momentary hiding place.