Elfa stared after Light with a bewildered expression. "I knew she was a bit strange, but I really didn't know she could do that. All this time, she just showed herself as a weird human. There was no sign she could transform like that." Elfa looked genuinely stunned, their eyes fixed on Light's dwindling form as she soared through the sky with impossible speed.
Trey, still seated in the Wyvern's saddle, just shrugged. "I don't know. That night, her wings were feathered. But I guess she really does have strange abilities. And she's probably hiding a lot more. I'm too tired to think about it," Trey sighed.
"Ah, you're right…" Elfa nodded slowly, their gaze still distant. "But why wouldn't she tell me? I don't understand."
Trey glanced at Elfa, a faint smile on his lips. "Maybe to her, it's not a big deal. That's why she didn't mention it. Or… are you suspicious of her?" he asked pointedly.
"I don't know? We aren't actually that close. When we first met, she immediately asked to be friends and invited me to live here. I don't get it. She's just… strange," Elfa replied, their tone calm but laced with genuine confusion.
"Strange isn't a problem, I think. After all, you're dealing with another strange person right now," Trey said.
"Who?" Elfa asked.
"Me. Who else?" Trey answered, pointing at himself.
"Pfft. Ahaha, so you're self-aware," Elfa chuckled lightly, covering their mouth.
"Don't worry. You've known her longer than I have. Don't you already know her? You wouldn't betray her trust—or your own—would you?" Trey asked with a small, knowing smile.
Elfa only shook their head, not at all certain what was going on in Light's mind. "I hope everything's okay. We can't just let her go ahead like that, right?"
"Wait, we're going to the capital, right? Why don't we get moving? If she gets there first, she might leave us behind," Trey suggested, standing up straighter and gripping the Wyvern's reins.
Elfa jolted. "Oh! Right, I forgot! We should move now. Don't let her get too far!" They quickly took the reins and gave the signal.
The Wyvern, with its sleek body and long tail, lifted its wings with incredible power, began a running start across the hard ground, and then launched itself into the sky. Elfa and Trey leaned together as the strong wind whipped around them.
The Wyvern gained altitude with several powerful wingbeats. Trey gripped the saddle tightly, looking back to see the ground shrinking away, their house now looking like a toy. The cold wind hit his face, his white hair flying wildly, while Elfa sat calmly behind him, guiding the creature with skilled hands.
"Hold on tight, Trey. This is just the beginning," Elfa said, their voice full of spirit as they directed the Wyvern to climb higher.
"We're really flying!" Trey's voice was full of wonder.
"This is just the beginning, Trey," Elfa replied with a small smile, expertly guiding their mount. "Hold on tight. We're going even higher."
The Wyvern ascended in a great leap, shooting upward. Trey felt the pressure in his stomach, but his fear slowly turned into exhilaration. The cold wind stung his face, making his white hair whip around wildly. Before them, the horizon stretched wide, a brilliant blue embracing them.
Elfa grinned, enjoying Trey's reaction. "You'll see much more, Trey. This world is full of surprises," they said.
"I think my stomach is acting up," Trey exclaimed, his face half-terrified, half-thrilled.
"You'll get used to it," Elfa replied with a calm smile, their left hand on the reins, their right arm wrapped securely around Trey to keep him steady.
The Wyvern beat its wings more powerfully, and their speed increased. The air grew colder, the wind tousling Trey's white hair into chaos. They flew over green fields and rivers that shone like silver ribbons from above. But Elfa wasn't satisfied. They nudged the Wyvern with a tap of their heel. The creature nodded in a quick motion and angled into a steep climb.
"What are you doing?!" Trey yelled, looking back with a shocked face.
"To the clouds," Elfa answered calmly.
The Wyvern continued its ascent, wings beating hard against gravity. The air around them grew thinner and colder. Trey felt pressure in his ears but had no chance to complain, choosing instead to endure. As they neared the cloud layer, the world below blurred, as if they were leaving reality and entering another dimension.
"Hold on tight!" Elfa warned suddenly.
Trey immediately hugged the saddle horn tighter. In seconds, they pierced the cloud layer. Soft mist touched his face, cold and refreshing. Bright sunlight suddenly greeted them, illuminating the world above the clouds.
"Look!" Elfa said, pointing around them.
Trey opened his eyes wider. All around them, white clouds stretched like a boundless sea, rolling like frozen waves. Above, a clear blue sky curved perfectly. Sunlight reflected off the cloud surfaces, creating a magical, golden shimmer.
Elfa smiled slightly, watching Trey's reaction. "How is it? Beautiful, right?" they asked.
Trey didn't answer.
"Huh? Why aren't you answering? Why are you looking down?" Elfa asked.
"Euek!" Trey vomited over the side.
"No wonder we didn't eat breakfast! You should've known this would happen!" Trey groaned between heaves.
Elfa patted Trey's back. "After all the trouble I went through to bring you up here, you easily ruin the moment. What a mood-killer," Elfa said with a sharp glare.
They flew at a moderate speed until Trey finished being sick.
"Why don't we talk for a while, until your nausea passes?" Elfa suggested.
"Good idea. Actually, there's something I wanted to ask," Trey said, breathing heavily.
"Go ahead," Elfa replied.
"Even though it's a bit late… how did I even get here? Can you explain?" Trey asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"That night, I saw Light carrying an adult human covered in snow, wearing a hoodie, with a severe stomach injury. His clothes were soaked in blood. I thought the person was dead. But looking at Light's face—frightened yet with that suspicious smile—I thought there might be a chance he'd live, so I let it be. But the mystery is, I heard a strange noise from that person's room, and when I checked again, he was gone," Elfa explained.
"Then you jumped out the window?" Trey guessed.
"Right. Wait… how do you know that?" Elfa asked, turning to look at him.
"You're the one?!" Trey exclaimed.
"After that, Light brought in a really cute kid, but she claimed the man and the kid were the same person. I didn't really believe it, but the proof was right in front of me," Elfa said.
"Because that man and that kid are me?" Trey stated.
"I want to ask… why were you like that? Covered in blood and everything," Elfa asked softly.
"I was stabbed in the stomach with an iron bar. It went clean through. I should have died from blood loss, logically. So why didn't I die?" Trey asked, clutching his stomach.
He looked down and slowly loosened his grip on the saddle. His body began to sway.
"If I fell from here… would I die?" Trey asked with an empty gaze.
---
Elfa's eyes widened. Their heartbeat quickened so fast they could hear it pounding in their ears. They looked at Trey, but for a moment, they didn't see him. They saw a 17-year-old girl. The girl had long, tangled hair, dark circles under her eyes, and tears of blood streaming down her cheeks. She wore a school uniform, the skirt soaked with her own bloody tears. She suddenly spoke with a smile, even as the blood-tears flowed.
"Goodbye, teacher. Thank you for your support these past five years," the girl said.
In Elfa's now-wet eyes, the reflection of the girl began to tilt, starting to fall. At that moment, a scar appeared on the girl's neck, and her skin grew pale. Elfa's tears dripped onto their own thigh. They blinked, and the image of the girl became Trey again.
Trey's body slowly yielded to gravity, beginning to tilt. His eyes were closed.
'Life is the best torture. You can't die. Besides, you don't really want to, do you? You always just test the waters, but you never go through with it because of our promise.' The thought echoed suddenly in Trey's head.
Reflexively, Trey's hand shot out and gripped the saddle horn again.
"Turns out… I'm not ready to die after all," Trey whispered with a small, wry smile.
Without realizing it, Elfa wrapped their arms tightly around Trey from behind, resting their head on his and stroking his hair with their right hand. Elfa's head bowed, and suddenly tears fell, dripping onto the reins Trey held. Elfa's body trembled, their teeth gritted. They turned Trey around to face them, gripping his shoulders with enough force to bruise, and raised their right hand.
"Hey, don't worry, I was just joking. It's not like I was really going to…"
Slap!
Elfa's hand swung, landing a sharp, stinging blow across Trey's cheek. Elfa gritted their teeth, their brow furrowed, but their tears were now falling onto Trey's face.
"Oi! Why would you do that, huh? Don't you value your life?!" Elfa shouted, shaking Trey violently by the shoulders.
"I'm sorry," Trey mumbled, turning his face away.
Elfa forcibly turned Trey's head back. "Look at me when I'm talking to you! Don't lie! You really were going to, weren't you?!" Elfa's tears flowed without stopping.
"You're… crying?" Trey asked, his eyes wide, mouth agape.
"I'm crying?" Elfa said, wiping a hand across their eyelids, only to find it wet.
"Arghh! What's wrong with me? So useless!" Elfa covered their face with their arm, hiding their tear-streaked face, bowing their head.
Trey, feeling a pang of guilt, peeked under Elfa's arm and saw their expression, struggling to hold back sobs.
"If you have problems… I don't mind listening," Trey said softly, patting Elfa's back.
"I'm the one who should be saying that!" Elfa's muffled voice came from behind their arm, their head still down.
"But we just met. Not even 24 hours ago. Isn't that illogical?" Trey pointed out.
"Since when does logic matter more than your life?!" Elfa retorted sharply.
"You're right. But on one condition—you have to tell me your problems too. That way, it's fair. Deal?" Trey offered with a gentle smile.
"But…" Elfa started.
"If you don't tell, then I won't either," Trey threatened lightly.
"You're so annoying! Fine, I'll tell… after you tell," Elfa said, their head rising slightly.
"I… used to have a girl in my life. She had a chronic illness. The doctors said she didn't have long. I gave everything—all my effort and care—to look after her. A miracle happened. She survived for two more years. I was so grateful, but…" Trey trailed off.
"But?" Elfa prompted, showing their face, now curious, and seeing Trey's bowed head.
"…She was almost raped, and she fell into a filthy, narrow drainage ditch from a high place," Trey's voice dropped to a near whisper.
Elfa slowly moved closer, trying to offer comfort.
"Don't sympathize with me. I did something terrible," Trey said, pulling away slightly.
Elfa froze.
"I tortured them. To death. In a… particularly cruel way," Trey said, his expression a hollow smile, his gaze empty.
Elfa's hands trembled. Their mouth hung open.
"My hands are dirty. Don't worry, I'm trying not to do it again. I really regret it now," Trey said, looking down at his own hands.
"Please… I'm begging you, don't do it again. I can't bear to see that again. I'm tired… I don't know if I can handle going through something like that once more," Elfa's voice was fragile, full of anguish.
"Don't worry, Light is a good outlet for you," Trey said quietly.
"I know! But I really, truly can't face something like that again. I'm… at my limit," Elfa's voice broke even more.
Trey hung his head, his expression a mix of anger and profound sadness.
"I'm sorry," Trey said.
"I don't need your apology," Elfa stated firmly.
"Thank you," Trey replied.
"I don't need your thanks, either!" Elfa's voice was even firmer.
"I just need a promise from you to stop. That's all I need," Elfa said, their voice finally softening.
Trey, still in that position, let go of the hug. He turned to fully face Elfa and held out his pinky finger.
"For your information, I'm not the type to make promises. So this might be my first real one. I promise I won't do it again," Trey vowed.
Elfa lifted their head, wiping their tears on the sleeve of their blazer.
"Promise?" they asked.
"I, Trey, promise not to attempt suicide again," Trey declared.
They linked pinkies.
"One more thing. Even though we just met… I'm the right person if you have problems. I'm a good teacher," Elfa said, attempting a small, wobbly smile.
"Me too. Probably," Trey replied.
"My turn. There's a reason I suddenly cried," Elfa began, their voice thick. "Last week… a student I'd looked after for five years died by suicide. She hanged herself from a tree right outside my classroom window. I saw her body… swaying in the wind… with a smile on her face. She left a note for me. I read it. Sorry, my emotions are still a mess."
Elfa curled in on themselves, as if trying to disappear.
"The note said: 'Goodbye, teacher. Thank you for your support these past five years.' But I knew she had family problems. If only I had tried harder… (their tears flowed again) I might have been in class teaching her that day!" Elfa broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably into Trey's lap for several minutes, soaking his pants. Trey gently stroked their head.
After a few minutes, Elfa's sobs subsided to hiccups.
"Um… are you calm now?" Trey asked, his hand still on Elfa's head.
Elfa sat up from Trey's lap. Their face, eyes, and nose were red, making them look like a child who had just cried themselves out. They wiped their face slowly and gently with their palms.
"Don't tell Light, okay? I don't want her to see my weak side," Elfa said softly.
"So? My list of promises keeps growing? You're good at piling burdens on me, aren't you?" Trey said with a genuine, if weary, smile.
They shared a small, understanding smile and returned to their original positions. But Trey noticed something Elfa didn't. Looking down a few hundred meters below, he saw Light. She was staring up at them, her eyes wide but her pupils sharp, with that unnervingly wide smile stretching toward her ears. Trey blinked, and she was gone, leaving only a faint disturbance in the clouds.
---
The Wyvern glided slowly over the cloud surface, its wings almost touching the mist. With every flap, it created small vortices in the clouds, like shifting paintings. Trey, who had initially felt awkward, began to enjoy the feeling of freedom.
"Hold on tight, we're going to try something fun," Elfa said suddenly, a mischievous glint in their eyes.
"What now?" Trey asked, slightly panicked.
Elfa signaled the Wyvern. The creature deftly folded its wings slightly and dove downward at high speed. Trey let out a small scream, but it turned into laughter as he saw the clouds rushing past beneath them. The Wyvern then spread its wings wide, slowing its descent before gliding smoothly over the cloud surface once more.
"Now, watch this," Elfa said.
The Wyvern lowered one wing until it nearly touched the cloud, and with an elegant movement, it skimmed along the surface, creating a shimmering trail of mist in the sunlight. Trey watched with his mouth slightly agape, awestruck by the beauty.
"Elfa… this is incredible," he said, turning his head slightly to look back at them. "I didn't know the world could be this beautiful."
"That's why you have to learn to enjoy every moment, Trey," Elfa replied with a soft smile. "This world might be dangerous, but it's also full of wonders."
They continued to glide over the sea of clouds, carving a beautiful path in the sky before finally beginning their descent for the next leg of their journey.
---
Elfa confidently pulled the Wyvern's reins, directing the winged creature into a gentle dive toward the surface of a vast lake below. The wind grew stronger against their faces as Trey, seated in front, felt his stomach lurch.
"Hold on tight, Trey! We're going to try something fun!" Elfa called out, full of excitement.
Trey, initially skeptical, finally glanced back. "What do you mean, 'fun'? Don't tell me you're going to do something crazy again!"
Elfa only laughed softly, patting Trey's shoulder. "Trust me this time."
The Wyvern glided closer to the lake's surface, its wings spread wide like sails catching the wind. With incredible skill, Elfa commanded the Wyvern to lower one wing until it almost touched the water.
The tip of the Wyvern's wing skimmed the lake's surface, creating a sparkling spray that glittered under the sun. Droplets flew into the air like a light rain, dampening Trey's surprised face. He shut his eyes for a moment, but when he opened them, he saw the world from an angle he'd never imagined.
As they glided even lower, Elfa leaned their body slightly to balance the Wyvern's movement. With a smooth yet powerful motion, the Wyvern's wing began to truly plane across the water. Trey felt the sensation of wind mixed with spray, making him shiver slightly, but his heart was full of awe.
Elfa laughed softly, their voice filled with happiness. "Fun, right? This is what you call enjoying life, Trey!"
Trey, who had been worried, finally allowed himself a small smile. He began to feel the freedom he had long yearned for.
Elfa laughed, watching Trey who looked like a child discovering something new. "Just enjoy it, Trey. This isn't something you get to see every day."
"How great are my skills?" Elfa stopped talking.
Trey scooped up some lake water with his hand and rinsed his mouth.
"You know what? You really are a mood-killer," Elfa said coldly.
"What can I do? I threw up earlier. If my breath smells, you'd complain," Trey retorted.
"Fair point," Elfa conceded.
After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, Elfa pulled on the reins again, commanding the Wyvern back into the air. With one powerful wingbeat, the creature soared high, leaving a trail of spray that slowly faded below them.
As they flew higher, an astonishing sight unfolded beneath them. A massive crater appeared like a green valley filled with forests, with a small island standing in the middle of a vast lake. The lake water shimmered, reflecting sunlight and creating an almost mystical view. The island looked like its own little world, surrounded by deep blue water and towering trees.
"Wow, what's that?" Trey pointed downwards. "There's an island in the middle of that crater! What is that place?"
"That's Midlandia Isle," Elfa answered. "A place that accepts diversity from many races here. In the middle of the island is the capital, home to various peoples and cultures. The capital is known as a cultural hub. You'll see all sorts of races and cultures there."
Trey fell silent, staring at the sight with amazement but also a furrowed brow. "But this isn't logical? Why is the caldera's shape so geometrically perfect, and the island's position so symmetrical? It's as if someone designed it," Trey mused.
"There's a legend about a Demon who lived on this island. During the war between humans and the Demon race, some humans fled to this island. That Demon knew the island would become a refuge. So, he used his power to transform the island into a habitable place. However, once the humans learned of the Demon's existence, they attacked and drove him out, forcing him into hiding. After humanity's victory in the war against the Demon race, a war broke out within the island and outside the island, due to suspicion that the Demon was still there. The humans from outside the island were defeated by that same Demon before the war even began. And so began the acceptance of different perspectives in society, including the Demon race."
"You know what? This explanation of yours is a bit dense and too much? Hard to digest," Trey teased with a flat expression.
"Maybe I'll tell you more another time," Elfa said, giving him a sidelong glance.