Three days. This wasn't right. No, it went against everything she was taught.

Three days had passed and Aerendil was still in Mani's care. His injuries were still prominent yet they're slowly fading as time passed. Even as the days slowly passed, the forest's quiet atmosphere was constantly being interrupted by never-ending bickering. One moment, Aerendil asked about her intentions, the next he's questioning why she wore a mask. The barrage of questions had worn her out completely which was precisely why she was on a riverbank, taking in the comfortable quiet atmosphere that seemed to never come when she was around Aerendil.

"Fortunately, there is no sign of anything yet," she spoke, seemingly to herself. If not for the soft red glow of her earring, she would look insane.

She continued after a pause, "I understand. If Xavier says he has a lead, then I permit him to do as he pleases. Just tell him not to incur any bounties again. Too much of our funds are directed to bailing him out of jail."

"Understood, Mani. I will keep you updated. Stay safe."

***

"Are you really not going to take these shackles off of me?" Aerendil continued his questions as soon as Mani returned. It elicited a groan out of her as she slumped onto the ground near the unlit campfire. The sun was peeking through the trees and landed on the black color of her mask. She took in a deep breath of the forest air before she spoke.

"Are you really going to keep asking?" Mani answered with her own question.

He nodded, unaffected by the attitude. "Yes, of course. These aren't particularly comfortable."

"That's good," she muttered under her breath, and it earned a scoff from Aerendil.

"Either way, how long are you going to stay in this forest? Are you some sort of nomad?"

"Please. I ask that you stop asking questions, my sanity is draining."

"I will obviously stop once you answer at least one of them, human." Aerendil sighed and then fell quiet. This time, Mani broke the silence.

"I'm estimating that I will be here for a month. Could be less, could be more. By the way, you are free to leave whenever you wish. Unless you are waiting for an invitation to do so?" Mani glanced his way, noticing him already staring at her shamelessly once again. It's only been three days and yet Mani is already used to his mannerless behavior.

"This is Minervah, human. I cannot go wherever I please lest I want to be captured again. Please don't mistake my presence as me enjoying your company." Aerendil stared down at his shackles, the ones Mani refused to take off for him. The soft gold glow coupled with the symbols emanating from them are an indication of their anti-magical properties. The shackles are often bought by the nobles who own elven slaves to keep them from using their magic.

Mani shrugged his comment off. "I would never make such a bold assumption."

It made sense that he would stick around to save his own skin but she's not planning on becoming his mother.

"Regardless, you will be pulling your own weight. Fetch some water, would you? We're running out." Mani pointed at the empty flasks of water which caused him to raise his eyebrow.

"Did you not just come from the river?"

"And your point is?"

With a huff and a few choice words chastising her, he reluctantly did as he's told. His chains clinking as he snatched the flasks and walked toward the river where she came from. After a glare and a scowl, he disappeared behind the dense forest.

As the sun retired to let the moon rise, the two sat across each other in silence. The only sound came from the crackling fire and food being chewed. When the silence got too uncomfortable, Mani couldn't take it any longer.

"So... What's your story? Were you always a slave?" Mani asked to start a conversation. She's completely unaware of how odd she worded the question, or perhaps intentionally overlooking his feelings.

"That's none of your business," he shut her down then continued to eat in silence before speaking again with animosity. "If you think I have come to trust you then you are completely mistaken."

"I am only trying to fill the silence and—"

He cut her off before she could finish. "Don't, it’s shameful enough to be talking with a human, let alone share a meal with one. This is more shameful then being enslaved by one."

Her face contorted into annoyance even if he cannot see it. She glared through her mask and past the campfire at him.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"Fucking brat," she muttered before continuing her tirade, "so obnoxious and arrogant. Get off your high horse, will you?"

"Excuse me? Are all humans this foulmouthed or are you perhaps a special exception? I would not be surprised either way."

"Let me lay it out for you, brat. I saved you. Wasted my medical supplies on you. Gave you water. Fed you. Sheltered you, and yet you show no ounce of gratitude solely because of my race. My apologies because gods forbid I hurt your feelings." Mani listed the things on her fingers aggressively before glaring up at him.

His expression was unreadable, opting to remain silent as he stared back at her, slowly chewing on his food. Mani assumed he was brushing off her tirade before he finally spoke in a tone that made what he said sound like a fact. "I can show no gratitude for the enemy."

Mani raised an annoyed eyebrow. "Enemy?"

Aerendil's face shifted for a spilt second before it went back to unreadable. "Precisely. You are human. Is it not obvious?"

Mani rolled her eyes then glanced away. "I suppose you are right. I would rather not waste my breath along with my resources. That would be overkill."

She stood up without another word and headed for her tent. When she saved him, she couldn't bother to give him a place to sleep, save for a single bedroll by the campfire. He had a few complaints but eventually accepted it.

"Typical that you would run off after things do not go your way." Aerendil's passing comment annoyed her, but she didn't waste her breath to comment on it.

She didn't notice when his eyes flickered to her back as she walked away. Then, the unthinkable left his lips ever so quietly that she would have missed it if the birds were singing.

"Fine. Thank you. Are you happy?" His voice dripped with sarcasm but there was a small semblance of gratitude. His pride and dignity as an elf definitely took a low blow after thanking a human. It made him sick, if any of his comrades were to witness this, he would be accused of fraternizing with the enemy.

Her head snapped back to meet his eyes, but he stared down at the fire instead. Mani narrowed her eyes as she opened the flap of her tent.

"I would say it was no problem, but frankly, that would be lying," she said, preparing to go into another tirade about how much of a pain it was ever since she met him but stopped herself. A sigh left her lips, and she entered the tent after two words.

"You're welcome," she muttered before closing the flap of the tent.

He made no effort to return to his bedroll. Instead, he stared into the fire in silence.

The silence was deafening which was why his ears perked at the subtle sound of rustling within the tent. He glanced at the tent but there was nothing he could see. His attention returned to his thoughts as his gaze fell back on the fire.

There was a few more rustling before a thump was heard, followed by a grunt and then a whine. "Ah shit... ow..." Mani's muffled voice came from within the tent.

He furrowed his eyebrows and gazed at the tent, confusion settled in and replaced his thought process. When only silence ensued, he reluctantly stood to his feet and tried to catch a glimpse into the tent, curious about the thump.

"Human? Are you... Did something happen?" he inquired, though there was no concern in his voice. He took a few steps toward the tent. Mani heard his footsteps approaching and her voice cut through the air in a panic.

"Stop! Do not uh... come any closer," she said, clearing her throat and then aggressive rustling was heard.

"Is there a problem?"

"I uh... am not dressed," she admitted quickly to deter his plans of getting closer, assuming he's a decent person.

He stopped in his tracks and if Mani could see his expression, she would see his eyes widen in uncomfortable surprise. That was not what he was expecting at all.

"I did not er–I was–I simply intended to find out what caused the noise." He cleared his throat, embarrassed and uncomfortable about the idea of standing outside a naked woman's tent.

"I–Yes, I was not implying that your intentions were to do otherwise. The noise... I must admit I fumbled while changing and hit the ground quite hard," Mani said as she struggled to put her clothes on in the tiny tent. She cursed herself out for deciding this was the best time to change into more comfortable clothes for the night.

"That's... quite the stupid reason. Are you hurt or?" he asked after a moment of silence, his eyes unintentionally straying to a gap on the tent.

"My apologies, I did not mean to worry—uh... Perhaps startle is more appropriate. I did not intend to startle you," she mumbled so quickly that it was almost incoherent.

He stayed silent.

The gap was wide enough to offer a glimpse of her, or more specifically, her bare back. She's turned away from his direction as she tried to find the right hole in her shirt, muttering a string of curses as she struggled. Her mask was off but he still had no view of her face. None of this concerned him however, instead his eyes fell on the mark painted on her back. A red spider lily from the looks of it. He only caught a glimpse before a shirt covered the view. He snapped back to reality and looked away, returning to his seat next to the fire.

"I am unshaken," he replied coolly.

A million thoughts were running through his mind.

The shackles on his wrists and ankles clinked as he settled onto his bedroll after a moment, but he cannot sleep. His eyes always returned to the tent absentmindedly as he was deep in thought. The thoughts soon lulled him into sleep, yet the questions in his mind persisted.

A red spider lily... He's seen that before, but where? Why is it so familiar? Why does this woman hide her face? Why did she save him? What is she doing in the middle of a forest?

Why?

***

The next morning arrived as uneventful as ever. Mani awoke to the sound of birds chirping and trees swaying in the wind. When she groggily left her tent, she noticed Aerendil was sitting up and staring off into the distance. She raised an eyebrow before spoke.

"See something?"

Aerendil's head snapped toward her direction. She expected a snide remark but instead is greeted with wide eyes and a confused stare. "Your... eyes," he muttered, slowly.

Mani narrowed her eyes at him before realization dawned on her. Her maskless face was staring right at him. A hand came up to cup her own cheek. What a stupid mistake. Aerendil only continued to stare with an expression of shock.

"Oh. Uh. Anyway, good morning?" Mani said awkwardly, trying to brush it off as not a big deal, before disappearing into her tent and reemerging with her usual mask.

"... 'Morning," Aerendil mumbled before looking away. He didn't comment further about the mess-up, brushing it off as nothing important for the time being. He went silent for the remainder of the morning.

Lost in his own thoughts once again.