Birds chirped very softly.
The Leaves moved quietly.As the sun shone.
Markil slept under the tree, sprawled awkwardly, One arm thrown over his face like he was trying to block reality itself.
Not far away.
"...Who is this guy?" Elf girl thought.
She wrapped her arms around her middle.
"I have never witnessed such a sorcery. That wasn't spell casting. There were no chants.
No Mana buildup... It was just..." Elf girl thought.
Her fingers curled inward.
Her green eyes seemed to darken as she focused.
"What kind of human could do that?"
She glanced back at the forest path.
"I should leave." Elf girl thought.
She took one step.
Then another.
"He's unconscious.This is my chance." Elf girl thought.
She hesitated.
"But..." Elf girl thought.
She remembered the bandit leader's head disappearing.
Her breath hitched.
"If he hadn't been there..." Elf girl thought
She swallowed.
"I'd be dead." Elf girl thought.
She turned her head again.
And at exact moment
Markil shifted in his sleep.
He rolled slightly to the side,His face now fully visible.
The elf froze.
"Ah.."
Sunlight hit his face just right white hair catching the light, relaxed expression, calm breathing.
"He's..." Elf girl thought.
Her ears twitched.
"He's really handsome..." Elf girl thought.
Her face flushed red pink.
"What am I thinking,I am not that kind of girl,Who falls for everyone?!" Elf girl talked to herself.
She suddenly punched her own cheek.
SMACK!!
"Ow.."
She grabbed her face.
"No bad thoughts! Bad elf!" Elf girl said to herself.
She sook her head violently.
"He's stranger! A dangerous stranger!" Elf girl thought.
She glanced at him again.
"A handsome dangerous stranger." Elf thought.
She punched herself again.
"Stop it!" Elf girl shouted at herself.
She sighed, Slumping slightly.
"He helped me!"
"He saved me!" Elf girl thought.
"And that power... I have never witnessed anything of that sort in all my years."Elf thought.
She bit her lip.
"Maybe maybe... He could help us..." She thought.
Her eyessoftened.
"The kingdom needs strength like that." She thought.
She nodded to herself.
"Yes. I should repay him." She said to herself.
"I should take him to my kingdom." She thought.
She took a step towardhim.
And suddenly.
Markil shot upright.
"Haah!!"
Both screamedat once.
"Aaah!?"
Both stared on eachother for couple of seconds.
Wide eyed.
SILENCE
"You're awake," Markil Blurted out.
"Yeah...," the elf said,her voice shaky."I-I am."
Awkward silence got started.
Birds chirped louder then previouly.
Markil scratched his head.
"You didn't run?" Markil said.
The elf blinked.
"I didn't."
"Most people run."
"I consider it."
"Oh!"
More Silence.
Markil suddenly realised something.
"Wait..."
He frowned.
"How am I talking to you?" Markil said in shock.
The elf tilted her head.
"...With your mouth?"
"No,I mean..." Markil waved his hands.
"Different world. Different races. Different everything." Markil thought.
She stared.
"You're weird." Elf girl said.
"Yeah.I get that a lot." Markil said.
He rubbed his face.
Another pause.
She suddenlyclappedher two hands with a smileand then she bowed deeply.
"Thank you! Mister for saving my life."
Markil panicked.
"Wait... You don't have to bow!" Markil said embarrassed.
Too late.
She straightened, cheeks slightly pink.
"I thought...since you saved me... I should repay you." Elf girl said.
Markil's brain short-circuted.
"Repay?"
"Repay how?" Markil asked.
"Wait no stop thinking weird thoughts." Markil thought.
"Uh... You... don't have to..."
She looked away shyly with red blushing cheeks.
"I want to."
Markil froze.
"Oh no." Markil thought.
"Why does that sound dangerous?" Markil thought.
He swallowed.
"Repay me how?" Markil said.
She hasitated.
"By helping you..." Elf girl said.
Markil blinked.
"That's it?!"
She looked back at Markil.
"What did you think?" Elf girl said.
"Nothing!" Markil said.
"Your lying you know that?" Elf said.
"...a little." Markil said with a smile.
She giggled softly.
Markil stared.
She laughed.
"Why did that make my heart skip?" Markil thought.
He sook his head hard.
"Focus, Markil!" Markil thought.
"So what is your name?" Elf girl asked.
"Umm... It's Markil." Markil said confidently.
Her eyes lit up.
"That's a nice name... But I'm sure I have never heard this type of name." Elf girl said with confusion.
"Thanks, I know it's a weird name,But my mom gave me this name." Markil said looking on the right side with embarrassment.
She took a deep breath.
"My name is Melian Aeliana."
She is smiled brightly.
"Nice to meet you Markil."
"Nice to meet you too Melian" Markil said with a smile.
Suddenly silence.
Melian's smile faded slightly.
"Oh No." Melian thought with embarrassment.
"I got too excited."
She bowed again.
"I'm sorry! I got too happy!" Melian said.
Markil blinked.
"Huh?"
"I mean! You must be thinking I'm strange! Talking too much! Laughing too much!"
She waved her arms nervously.
"I'm not usually like this!"
Markil stared at her flustered expression.
Then.
He laughed.
Not loud. Just soft.
"It's okay..."
She looked up.
"It is?"
"Yeah I do that too" he said honestly.
"Really?"
"Yeah, Especially when I am nervous."
She smiled again.
"That makes me feel better."
She hesitated.
"...Markil?"
"Yeah?"
"...Would you come with me?"
Markil stiffened.
"Where?"
"My kingdom."
His heart skipped.
"Your kingdom?"
She nodded.
"Yes, Now do you want to come with me?"
Markil thought for a second.
"Okay then I'll come."
The girl gets happy and got in excitement.
Markil looked down at the ground.
"Information, safety, answers, and maybe belongings."
He looked back up.
Her eyes widened.
"Really?!"
"Yeah really."
She beamed.
"That's awesome!"
He flinched.
"Why are you so happy?"
"Because you said yes."
"People usually hesitate more."
"I am bad at hiding emotions."
"I noticed that."
They both laughed.
The forest felt warmer.
Markil leaned back against the tree.
"I guess,This is my first step in this world." Markil thought.
Markil looked down at his body again.
"I was able to suppress my aura,Very hardly. If I release it again,She will be unconscious again." Markil thought.
Melian was walking with a smile.
"Hey, How much time it will take if we are walking like this?" Markil said.
"Maybe three days." Melian said with a smile.
"Is she kidding me." Markil thought.
"I can't walk that much distance by my own."
(Chapter 7 Fin)