Two Roads, One Fate

When Myra managed to reopen her eyes, everything was calm around her. The wind was blowing lightly and some birds were chirping. With a headache, Her mind was slightly foggy from recent events and she had great difficulty sorting through her head. A whisper echoed around her, it was the voice of the forest she was in. She seemed reassured that the Elven was safe.

As she stood up with her hands on the earthy ground, she felt certain ankylosis on her legs. The pain dissipated the mist in her head and the first thing she did was to check her condition.

"It looks like I'm fine," she exclaimed with relief after further inspections.

The only noticeable injuries were a few scratches and the momentary loss of her legs, but she knew they weren't broken because she could move them without too much trouble.

She then summarized the last events before she lost consciousness.

"If I remember correctly, the Human and the dragon were in the air..."

She gazed up at the sky, but of course, both of them had disappeared.

"And Nyfeirg and I were..."

When she directed her gaze to the ground, she spotted Nyfeirg lying against a tree. The hum had disappeared and a slight smoke was coming out of her body.

"Could it be...?" she wondered inwardly.

As she had never met such an entity before, she did not know whether she should consider it 'alive' or not. She didn't have much affection for it, but she thought it was unfortunate that it was out of use now. Now that Myra was alone, she had to think about what to do next.

"Maybe I'd better go then," she thought a little disoriented.

She tried to get up, but her strength had left her. She cursed her condition inwardly as she let herself fall gently to the ground. She had little choice but to rest momentarily until she could regain enough energy to walk again. Her only current fear was whether the dragon was still alive or not. She had to make sure that it was no longer a threat to her village or all this would have been for nothing.

She had no empathy for John, and even if John were dead, it would not make her feel hot or cold. Nevertheless, she had to admit that seeing a Human fighting a dragon was something quite admirable.

It was not something she had ever seen or heard before in her memory.

As she was deep in thought, a noise caught her attention. The machine, Nyfeirg, lying on the ground, moved faintly. Myra opened her eyes and saw that the thing seemed to be still alive. A few seconds later, she heard whispers in the wind. At first, she thought she was dreaming, but the murmurs came back again.

"hn.....hn..."

"Where can this come from?" the perplexed Elven wondered.

And then her gaze fell on Nyfeirg. Something told her that the murmurs must have come from over there. Myra, having not yet recovered enough, moved closer to her by crawling until she was only a few steps away.

As she got closer to her, the murmurs became more and more audible until she could perceive the same name being repeated in jerks: John.

As the Elven examined Nyfeirg, she could only see the extent of the damage. Some parts of her body were twisted, while other parts seemed to have been torn off or broken. It was truly a sad sight to see.

"Truly regrettable..." she murmured.

There was nothing she could do for her at that point.

"Jo... hn..."

"Nai... fagu?"

No answer.

The Elven came closer and repeated.

Still no answer.

Myra was beginning to lose hope, but she came closer again. At that moment, her hands accidentally touched the machine's carcass and she suddenly felt her energy leaking out of her as if it was being sucked into the machine. Panicked, she immediately backed away while checking her hands.

"What is this spell?" she cried out in fear.

She didn't understand what had just happened. It was such a strange feeling that she wondered if it wasn't black magic. But to her surprise, she found that her hands were fine. She glanced in the direction of Nyfeirg when she noticed that the Nyfeirg seemed to be about to awaken.

"Naifagu? Can you hear me?"

"John... where is... John...?" Nyfeirg asked in a weak voice.

"John isn't here... I think he left with the dragon..." Myra answered apprehensively.

The mount gesticulated slightly while trying to straighten up.

"Don't move. You're hurt, rest a little," she said worriedly.

She wasn't sure what to do so she thought of caressing it as she would have done with a horse, but she remembered the strange feeling she had felt before and changed her mind.

"I must... find him..."

But Nyfeirg persisted despite the warnings of the Elven. Myra felt a great doubt invading her. If she could make an ally out of this mount, could she not then use it as a transport? Wouldn't it be in her interest to help her instead? These questions swirled around her like a swarm of birds.

On the other hand, the forest also suggested that she help this poor thing. Myra understood that Nyfeirg was not dangerous, but she could not trust her. After all, how could she have imagined for a moment that underneath this demonic appearance was a being endowed with reason and feelings? If the forest had not warned her beforehand and if she had not been able to see the compassion she was showing to this Human, she would most certainly have fled, thinking that she had met a demon.

Demons were awful creatures, who incited the utmost caution because of their evil but also brutal nature. They were just as feared as dragons were for their destructive nature. But Nyfeirg was not one of them.

The forest had attested this more than once: Nyfeirg was not a danger and the forest did not lie. For the Elves, the spirit of the forest was comparable to a god: their god. This was all the more true since the forest provided them with everything they needed to live. Water, food, shelter, everything was there. But the forest was also a capricious being and fierce with its enemies. So, when the Elves wanted to settle somewhere, they had to make an express request to the forest. If it was accepted, they had the right to build a village there, but in return, they had to protect it from outside threats. If it refused, they had to turn back if they did not want to perish one after the other.

After weighing the pros and cons, Myra sighed resignedly.

"What... Can I do to help you?" she asked hesitantly.

"Your energy... Give it to me..."

"My... Energy?"

Myra was troubled by her words. What did she mean?

"What should I do? Tell me what to do."

"Place ... Your hand ... On me ..."

"My hand..." she murmured. "Ah! You mean..."

She remembered the unpleasant sensation that had frightened her earlier.

"Do I have to do it again?" she wondered fearfully.

In all honesty, Myra preferred to avoid having to go through the same unpleasant experience a second time, but she changed her mind and accepted the sacrifice. It was an evil for a good in the end. It was the only way she would be able to create a bond with this entity.

She nodded her head and then timidly placed her hands on the mount's carcass. Once again, she felt her energy leaving her. However, this time was different. The feeling was much more intense and difficult to bear, but the Elven held on. But as she struggled to stay conscious, she was abruptly taken by surprise by witnessing something incredible.

Nyfeirg gradually began to sparkle as if it was burning from the inside. The glow spread over the entire frame of the machine and shone brighter and brighter. Nevertheless, contrary to what she feared, the light appeared soothing, warm. And then, as if by magic, the damaged parts re-formed as if time had begun to recede.

"Continue like this... I live again! I can feel it," Nyfeirg exclaimed in a joyful voice.

Myra felt that her strength was leaving her and that she was going to faint, but she persevered despite everything. The stakes were now too high to turn back.

A few seconds later, the light diminished in intensity until it completely disappeared, revealing a completely new Nyfeirg before Myra's astonished eyes. When it was over, Myra immediately took her hands away as her head had suddenly become heavy. She almost collapsed but managed to make up for it at the last moment. The machine, whose headlights were getting brighter and brighter, straightened up by itself as if an invisible hand had lifted it up and finally stabilized itself horizontally.

"Is everything all right?" she asked worriedly.

"Yes... I just need... to rest a little," Myra replied apathetically.

The Elven was gasping with difficulty and sweating profusely. She leaned against a tree and took the opportunity to rest her drained body while looking at the blue sky. When she had recovered, Nyfeirg who had approached her said:

"Thank you for saving me... I couldn't have done it without you."

"It's nothing," Myra replied with a faint smile. "I didn't think it would be so hard."

"I didn't think so either, honestly. It's the first time it's ever happened to me."

"I hope I don't have to go through this anymore..."

And the two women laughed heartily. Then Myra took a deep breath to come to her senses before lowering her gaze to Nyfeirg.

"What are you going to do now," she asked.

"I have to go looking for John. What are you going to do?" she asked.

"I... Must make sure the dragon is no longer a threat to my village. Do you think your partner... John is...?"

"No. I can still feel his presence, however faintly," Nyfeirg answered confidently, to Myra's astonishment. She added, "I know, it must be hard to believe and unfortunately, I can't explain it, but I'm sure of it: he's alive."

"What about mine?" Myra asked apprehensively.

Nyfeirg didn't answer right away. Her headlights scanned the Elven from top to bottom as if she was looking for something. After a few moments, she finally answered.

"I feel something, indeed... but it's imperceptible."

"How come?" asked the astonished Elven.

"I think it must be our relationship that differs from the one with John," Nyfeirg confessed.

Myra touched her lips while displaying a scowling expression. Then, after a few moments, she said:

"It makes sense..."

"On that note... Good luck next time, Myra."

As Nyfeirg was about to leave, the Elven immediately panicked and retaliated.

"Wait!"

"What's wrong?" she asked in an interrogative tone.

"I... Can I help you find your Human partner!"

Nyfeirg stopped.

"I... can help you find him if you help me in return. Besides, you won't be able to get over those mountains if you don't know where to look..."

Suddenly, the atmosphere between the two people cools down immediately. Nyfeirg turned around slowly. A gloomy, dark glow emanated from her eyes, as if ready to devour her prey at any moment. Myra shuddered with fear but managed to keep a neutral attitude. She knew that by saying this, she risked creating an incident, but she couldn't miss such a good opportunity to bring such a steed back to her village. She was sure that this thing would be useful to her people. In fact, she was so excited about getting this mount that she didn't realize that she was making a big mistake.

"Are you trying to blackmail me, Myra?" Nyfeirg asked in an icy voice.

"No, no, not at all! But with me, the search will be much quicker... What do you think? Help me find this dragon, and I'll help you find this Human..."

Silence reigned between the two women for a long time. Myra feared that her plan would fall apart if her interlocutor decided to dispense with her services. On the other hand, she was certain that she could easily find the Human again. The forest in which she now found herself had given her a direction in which the Elven knew she would find him. However, she preferred to keep this information to herself in order to put pressure on Nyfeirg.

Nyfeirg, for her part, knew that the Elven was hiding something. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she was sure that things would not turn out as she had hoped. However, her connection to John made her want to do something about it. Also, having someone who knew the area proved to be an essential asset in finding one's way in this world.

In conclusion, she was at an impasse. If she wanted to see John again, she would have to accept this unfair deal. After some thought, she made a decision.

"Very well," Nyfeirg conceded. "I accept your proposal..."

A smile appeared on Myra's face.

"But if you try to fool me, I won't hesitate to get rid of you. Is that clear?"

"Very clear," Myra sneered reluctantly.

"Well, where do we go from here?"

"First we have to cross these mountains," Myra said, looking at the sharp peaks behind them.

Nyfeirg did the same and had to face the fact that she could never climb such mountains. She would have to find a way through, but what if she was wrong? If she went in the wrong direction, what would happen to John? This simple thought made her shiver inside.

"I suppose you know a way..."

"Trust me!"

"In that case, let's not delay any longer!"

Nyfeirg started her engine, and the characteristic humming sound echoed through the forest, frightening the animals and monsters around. Myra, who in the meantime had retrieved her scattered package from the ground and the few weapons she still had available - her bow having been destroyed in the process - was about to follow Nyfeirg when the latter honked at her.

The clueless Elven was startled by the shrill sound and turned around.

"What are you doing?" asked the slightly impatient mount. "Are you planning to slow us down by walking so slowly?"

"I'm..." Myra didn't know what to say.

"Come on, get on," Nyfeirg suggested to her while stopping at her height.

"I ... Can I?" asked the cheerful Elven.

"I don't have much choice," Nyfeirg answered sarcastically. "We'll go much faster with me."

"All right!"

The Elven rode the mount as she would with a horse, which made Nyfeirg slightly puffy.

"What's so funny?" Myra asked slightly offended.

"Nothing, I just realized that we were in another world..."

For some strange reason, she felt insulted but could find nothing to complain about. She decided to let the sarcasm pass, this mount was well worth it in the end.

"Well, now you'll do as I say..."

"But I thought you could move on your own," replied immediately Myra.

"Did you really think I was going to do all the work for you? Don't forget your position, Elven ..."

"When you talk like that, I feel like I'm talking to a Human," Myra whispered disdainfully.

"First of all," Nyfeirg replied, ignoring the Elven. "You're going to press the left shift with your left hand without releasing it, then at the same time, with your left foot, you're going to press the gearshift next to the engine."

Myra carried out her task immediately after listening carefully to Nyfeirg's instructions. A loud 'clack' was heard.

"Now with your right hand you will turn the right handle very slightly towards you, and in doing so, you will release your left foot and the left-shift... Slowly. When you feel the engine start, don't worry, just keep going. I'll do the balancing for you."

Once again, Myra carried out Nyfeirg's instructions to the letter. The motorcycle began to roar slightly as the vehicle slowly picked up speed.

Myra was excited to see the bike move forward by itself. It was a whole new experience for her, and although she found the exercise tedious, she was delighted.

"How is this possible? It moves by itself..."

Myra sneered silently while watching the admiring Elven.

"Now you're going to have to change gears to go faster. Press and hold the left-shift with your left hand again and pull the gearshift on your left foot. This shift is called the 'selector' and it controls the 'clutch'. Its function is to shift the different speeds from the engine to the rear wheel. Once you hear the 'click' a second time, you can release the left-shift with your left hand."

The motorcycle started in a straight line while Myra performed the maneuvers. The directions were not easy to understand for someone who had never ridden a motorcycle before. Myra had to go over it several times before she finally got there.

Afterward, Nyfeirg explained to her how to brake and steer. After half an hour, the Elven had mastered the basic operation of the machine, to the great displeasure of the latter. Nyfeirg had not at all anticipated the fact that Myra turned out to be better than John. Her pride took a hit, but she said nothing.

"Do you understand now?" Nyfeirg asked dejectedly.

"That's great," Myra rejoiced. "I didn't know it was going to be so simple!"

The motorcycle threw a frustrated laugh before she turned her attention to her.

"Well, now that you can handle it, let's go."

"I finally think it would be better if you drove instead of me."

"Dream on..."

Myra directed Nyfeirg towards the mountains and followed the ravine towards the imposing mountain. The sun was at its zenith at this point and the sky was blue, but Nyfeirg's heart was dark and anxious. Would she succeed in finding John? Would Myra keep her promise?

For some reason, she had difficulty reading the mind of the Elven, but she still managed to feel a remnant of emotions ranging from malice to anxiety.

With these thoughts, the duo continued on their way until, a few hours later, they finally crossed another wooden bridge. It was the same type of bridge as the previous one, probably built at a later time given its better condition. Myra took a look at it before looking straight ahead.

A few hours later, she stopped in front of a natural cavity in the mountain. At first, Nyfeirg did not understand why the Elven stopped there. There were only trees without much interest. However, when Myra revealed the passage that was hidden there, the motorcycle realized how presumptuous she had been to imagine succeeding without any outside help.

In the passage, there was a rock formation that seemed to sink deep into the mountain. The path was so narrow that two people couldn't stand side by side in it. However, it was enough for them.

"This is what I was talking about," Myra explained seriously. "This passage leads to the other side. We - the Elves - never venture there."

"Because there are Humans on the other side, I suppose?"

"That's right," Myra nodded slowly. "This place marks the beginning of the Human world. From here on, we'll have to be careful."

Nyfeirg nodded silently and then the duo slowly moved into the passage. During their crossing, the Elven branched off several times on their way, making them take countless detours, which only increased the confusion for the motorcycle.

"We have to hurry across this crevasse before it gets dark," Myra said worriedly, "I don't like this place," she whispered.

The sky gradually turned red and orange as the sun ended its course behind the mountains. After a few hours, the duo finally escaped the rocky labyrinth. In front of them, another valley appeared, as wide as the previous one, but surrounded by mountains and forests. In the distance, we could see a few hills and lakes scattered everywhere.

Myra sighed with relief once she found herself in the 'open-air'.

However, her attitude immediately became serious again and she frowned. Nyfeirg sensed an incipient uneasiness in the Elven.

"What's wrong," she asked curiously.

"I feel... the presence of Humans."

"Close to us?"

The tension in Myra then eased.

"No, but I just feel that the forest is occupied by Humans."

"You... feel?"

"Ah, don't worry," Myra replied immediately, slightly embarrassed.

Nyfeirg didn't understand why the Elven reacted this way but didn't try to find out more. Myra then led her to the beginning of the forest and stopped only a few meters away from her.

"Can you turn off the engine, please? I'd like to check something," asked the Elven as she got off the mount.

The motorcycle stopped and turn its engine off immediately. The Elven sighed slightly and walked into the forest. While pretending to be looking for something, she took the opportunity to communicate with the forest that was welcoming her. The sound of the wind, the rustle of leaves, the cries of animals, and the songs of birds resounded like a melody that invaded her long ears.

"This forest is old... but it is sick. It seems that the Humans have started to use it for their constructions... Those damn Humans don't respect anything..."

Despite the state in which the forest was, it welcomed Myra warmly who was coming for the first time to its home. She also took the opportunity to introduce Nyfeirg, to which the forest reacted sympathetically, and then asked for information about John.

The forest immediately answered in the affirmative and indicated that a Human matching his description was indeed inside of her, but against all expectations, this Human named John had been taken away by soldiers from a nation that Myra knew only too well.

Her heart tightened and a fierce hatred arose within her.

"I knew it..." Myra whispered. "It may be more complicated than I thought..."

After calming down, she thanked the forest and then found Nyfeirg at the entrance to the forest.

"What were you doing," she asked curiously.

"I was... Checking that there was no danger around," Myra replied confusedly.

"Okay... In that case, let's go."

Myra and Nyfeirg then followed the mountains for several hours until nightfall. At this point, they came close to the inert body of the dragon that lay above their heads. Myra could not hide her stupor by staring at the animal.

"How... is it possible?" she asked herself.

She could not believe it. From memory, killing a dragon was impossible, so how could a mere Human have achieved such a feat?

Nyfeirg, who didn't care about the dragon's fate, looked around but didn't see John. She began to examine the surroundings without hesitating for a moment before entering the forest.

Myra was caught unawares and joined her to help her. She had to find a way to bring her back to her village, but it would not be easy. This talking machine was obstinate and it would be difficult to change her mind.

"John! Where are you? John!" cried this last desperate partner.

"Nyfeirg, I don't think he's here anymore."

Nyfeirg stopped at once and immediately turned around while she lit up the Elven with her sinister light.

"What do you mean? How do you know he's no longer here?"

The tone of her voice was threatening and Myra knew she was playing a dangerous game.

"But if I was going to do it, I might as well go all the way..."

She swallowed and articulated clearly.

"The forest told me earlier."

"The forest... told you? What do you mean by that?"

"We Elves are gifted with the power to communicate with the forest. Did you think the forest was just a pile of trees and plants?" Myra asked mysteriously.

"I... Don't know, I never thought about it," Nyfeirg confessed confusedly.

"The forest lives. It hears, it breathes, it also sees. Because of this, I can know everything through it... everything."

Nyfeirg was surprised, but strangely enough, she seemed calmer than she had imagined. It was as if she knew what Myra was going to tell her.

"I knew she was hiding something," she thought. "In the end, she dominated me from the beginning... Should I kill her? No, that would be counterproductive. And I can forget the idea of her revealing everything to me... Damn it," she sighed deeply.

Myra was on her guard as well, she didn't know how this machine would react. If a fight were to take place, she wasn't sure if she would make it out alive.

"What are your conditions?" Nyfeirg finally asked in a downcast tone.

"Excuse me?" the Elven asked, blinking.

"I know you want something from me. In exchange, help me find John."

Myra's mind was upside down. She expected her opponent to unleash herself against her, or decide to kill her, but in the end, her reaction was sweeter than she had feared. After a moment of reflection, she replied:

"Come with me to my village... Work for me and I promise I will help you get your partner back."

"Very well," Nyfeirg nodded at once.

"Really?" Myra rejoiced. "You accept my offer?"

"Yes, it's a deal."

The Elf woman blinked several times, not knowing what to say. She didn't expect the negotiations to succeed so easily. She smiled happily and jumped up and down like a child.

In her heart of hearts, Nyfeirg vowed to kill the Elven at the first opportunity. No matter if she had to chase her to the end of the world, she would never give up. But for the time being, she decided to accept her offer. Even though she was reluctant to do so, she had no other choice. And the bond between her and John was always there. She hoped they would meet again soon.

"Don't worry about John. He's safe and sound."

"Is he really?"

Nyfeirg was suspicious. She expected the Elven to lie to her to coax her.

"I'm not lying," she replied abruptly. "Look, Humans are greedy and lying creatures, but we Elves are not like them. Besides, if you knew what you were getting into, you'd think twice!"

Nyfeirg was silent for a moment before asking one last question.

"Can you assure me that John is safe where he is?"

Myra looked scowling, visibly resentful. She shot Nyfeirg with her eyes before finally sighing deeply. Then, when she was calmed down, she replied in a serious tone.

"The place where John is heading is safe... at least... as long as the person in question is Human."

Her hint was clear. Nyfeirg meditated on her words and then move towards Myra slowly before stopping at her level. Myra stared at her with curiosity before Nyfeirg spoke to her again.

"When do we leave then? Perhaps you want to rest, I suppose?"

"Yes, I can't see myself crossing this crevasse at night," she answered carefully.

Nyfeirg snorted but complied. Afterward, the Elven took shelter in a tree and soon fell asleep, leaving the motorcycle alone in the gloomy night. Of course, the former had tried to establish a dialogue between them, only to finally come up against the latter's silence. After trying, in vain, she had decided to rest. She knew that Nyfeirg was depending on her to find John and she could sleep soundly.

Nyfeirg, for her part, was thinking of a way to get rid of the Elven once John was found.

The hours passed and the day quickly reappeared.

"Good morning," Myra said, yawning.

"…"

"I see you still don't want to talk to me, that's too bad," said the Elven, stretching languorously.

"I don't need your concern. The sooner we reach your village, the sooner we leave it, and the sooner I find John," Nyfeirg replied dryly.

Myra sighed slightly. She suspected that things would not get better so easily in such a short time. There was still time before they reached her village. Although thinking about it, if Nyfeirg could drive that fast the whole way, she was certain that she would get home faster than she had gotten here.

Shortly afterward, the Elven got up and, after a few warm-ups, escaped for a few moments to find something to eat. Since she could talk in the forest, she had no difficulty finding food.

Once Myra came back with a full belly, the two women headed towards the crevasse they had crossed the day before and arrived on the other side a few hours later. The weather was slightly cloudy and the two suns shyly illuminated the land. Later, Myra led Nyfeirg to the next bridge, and she crossed it, but with some precautions in case she did.

Now they were back in the valley. To her right, Nyfeirg could see the slopes disappearing into the horizon, while to her left, the bottom of the valley was visible, although it was far from their position. Animals were galloping through the vast expanse of grass and a few monsters lurking in the vicinity, but they did not dare approach when they heard the infernal roar of her engine.

In the meantime, Myra was getting used to driving Nyfeirg, so much so that the latter was forced to realize that her partner on the road was a remarkable driver.

"Ready?" Myra asked in a mischievous tone.

"Rather twice than once. Let's hurry up..."

The crossing of the valley was finally completed in less than an hour. With no more threats chasing them, they were able to move safely and Myra took the opportunity to lead Nyfeirg at full speed. They had then reached the forest they had left the day before, but this time Myra did not stop there and entered it instead. The two adventurers did not speak during this journey, although the Elven was eager to break the ice, Nyfeirg's stubbornness was unalterable.

The journey took them deep into the forest, so far away that Nyfeirg no longer knew which path she had taken to come. The Elven, on the other hand, felt completely at ease, despite the vibrations of the mount, in this green and lush environment.

Although she was comfortable with the lightning speed at which she was traveling, Myra had difficulty realizing how lucky she was. Who in the world could boast of having such a mount? Probably no one. She didn't need food or water, just energy to move forward and she could talk.

The two women continued to travel through the canopy until the sky turned orange and pink and one star after another appeared in the sky. The place where they had stopped was located on top of a hill giving an incredible view of a gorge crossed by a large torrent that disappeared into the surrounding mountains.

Before night fell completely, Myra picked up a few fallen twigs and branches from the ground and gathered them into a small pile before lighting them with two flints. It took a few minutes before the twigs caught fire and the heat of the fire warmed her limbs. Nyfeirg couldn't help but find her method too tedious when she remembered how easily John had lit his.

Soon after, Myra sat comfortably in front of the fire while chewing some bulbs found nearby. Nyfeirg, having a certain pity for the Elven, could not help but ask her why she was eating these things, and the latter replied that nature offered her plenty of what she needed. Despite their bland taste, these bulbs were very nutritious and would do without hunting for a while.

And then the discussion ended just as abruptly. None of them spoke a word afterward, each one being immersed in their thoughts.

"Can I ask you a question?"

It was Myra who first broke the thick wall of ice between the two women. Nyfeirg didn't answer right away and let the Elven continue.

"First, I want to thank you on behalf of my people for helping me get rid of this dragon."

Myra stood up at that moment and bowed with her left hand clasped over her heart.

"You have no idea how important what you did was to us."

"Don't forget that we had John with us," Nyfeirg said dryly.

"Ah... Yes, indeed," confessed the slightly confused Elven. "There was that Human... Of course, there was."

"Try not to forget him. Without him, you wouldn't be here anymore..."

Myra tensed slightly and smiled awkwardly at the sharp words Nyfeirg threw at her. She had a little trouble with her cheeky temperament, but she preferred this type of behavior rather than having a hypocrite.

"Um, yes... Excuse me."

The silence settled again between them.

"By the way, what did you want to ask?" Nyfeirg suddenly asked.

"I... I wanted to know," Myra knelt and her gaze hardened slightly. "Nyfeirg, do you really come from our world?"

The crackling of the fire, accompanied by the hooting of the night birds was the only thing that could break the unease that had suddenly set in. Nyfeirg didn't know what to say.

"What do you mean by that?"

Although she seemed imperturbable, her mind was in turmoil. Was it a good idea to reveal the truth? But the next second she remembered that it might help her change the mind of the woman who was facing her at that moment.

Myra took a deep breath and then said what she was thinking.

"I've been thinking about this for a while now, and the more time passes, the more convinced I am of this: you're not from our world, but rather from another," she admitted in a serious tone.

Her eyes stared intensely at Nyfeirg and the sinister glow from the headlights seemed to soften faintly as if to support the Elven's words. Myra continued after this short moment.

"I've never heard such strange words as 'clutch', 'gear', 'handlebar'. Moreover, this Human you call John: he doesn't even speak the common language! Knowing that everyone knows it, it's all the more suspicious in my opinion. Besides, his appearance is so strange. If the forest had not warned me that he was not hostile, I would have killed him on the spot the moment I met him."

"In fact, you tried to do it…" retorted Nyfeirg.

Myra blushed slightly and cleared her throat to hide her embarrassment.

"I... See," Nyfeirg replied after a moment. "You're right, I'm not from this world, and neither is John. In all honesty, I have absolutely no idea where we are. It doesn't make any sense to me, but this experience has given me something unique.

"What do you mean by 'experience'? What did you experience before you came here?"

"Shortly before coming to this world, we... met death for the first time."

Myra's ears wiggled slightly.

"Were you also chased by a dragon? Was your world also invaded by monsters?" Myra asked innocently.

Nyfeirg couldn't help but laugh out loud. It was a laugh tinged with derision, a laugh that seemed to say that the Elven had just said the worst nonsense. But Myra did not understand the reason for her reaction, so Nyfeirg hastened to explain further.

"In the world, I come from, there are no dragons or monsters, let alone Elves," she replied sarcastically. "In our world, humans are the only dominant species, having tamed the forests, the seas, and even the air...".

Myra instinctively trembled, taken by discomfort that deeply troubled her. Could she have imagined such a thing? No Elves, no dragons, and only Humans... Was it a nightmare? No. Could it have been a lie? No, it couldn't be. After all, what would Nyfeirg gain by lying to her?

"It's..."

"Crazy?" suggested Nyfeirg. "I thought the same thing when I came here."

After this exchange, Myra took refuge in silence for the rest of the evening, lost in her thoughts. When she went to sleep, she barely greeted Nyfeirg and fell asleep by the fire, rolled into a ball like an animal.

The next day, the two women set off again without either of them speaking to the other. It was a strange sight to see them moving through the forest without a sound, without a word. Myra had been shocked by her partner's revelations and had been unable to sleep all night.

When they arrived at a particular clearing, Myra stopped and walked down from Nyfeirg. She asked her to be patient and then walked away for a few moments before retracing her steps.

"That again?" Nyfeirg asked, and she was no longer surprised at this point.

"The forest has given us its blessing. We can cross it. However, from here on it is better that you turn off your engine because the noise could cause panic among my people".

"Are you safe to bring me here? I thought the Elves did not like Humans..."

"It's true, but you're not Human..." Myra answered mysteriously.

Nyfeirg said nothing, but the Elven was right. However, she wasn't sure that things were going as planned. She turned off her engine and the two of them advanced into the Elfin Forest.

It was a strange forest. Although on the surface it seemed quite normal, Nyfeirg noticed that there was something special about the air, as if time had stood still in this place. Of course, one could hear the animals, which seemed to be far more numerous here than elsewhere, and the rustling of the trees.

Yet Nyfeirg soon spotted movement a little further away. It was not very visible, but she could see an Elf watching them enter the forest. This one was a man in his early thirties, rather muscular, with very pleasant characteristics to observe.

His silver hair hung down on his cheeks and his yellow eyes had the same appearance as those of an eagle that had spotted his prey. He carried a spear on his back, which swung as he moved. He was dressed in light armor that covered his shoulders, torso, and legs. However, the presence of this man did not disturb Myra in the slightest. On the contrary, she was expecting this meeting and greeted her kin in the distance.

He whistled with his fingers, and a multitude of whistles followed. The forest was suddenly invaded by a melody of different sounds pleasant to the ears.

"These are..." Nyfeirg suggested.

"These are my people," Myra replied, whistling as well. "We have nothing to fear from now on."

Then the whistling fell silent and several people appeared in turn. There were men and women, and they all had the same characteristic as Myra, although they were all different from each other.

"Myra, is that you?" exclaimed a man who approached the duet with a stunned look on his face.

"Yes, it's me Ailen, I'm back," Myra replied with a broad smile.

"But what is that thing that's with you?" Ailen asked suspiciously.

"It... It's a Dwarf artifact," Myra hastened to answer, hiding her discomfort. "Don't worry, it's harmless."

"Hey," Nyfeirg whispered. "That wasn't the plan..."

"Leave it to me and everything will be alright," Myra answered in a whisper before looking at her kin. "By the way, Ailen, do you know where Elasha is?"

The man who was scrutinizing Nyfeirg carefully looked up at Myra and tilted his head with a pensive look.

"Um... I think she must be at home... Since you left, she hardly goes out anymore, you know..."

"Ah... I see, thank you," Myra replied with a sheepish look.

"Myra!" exclaimed another Elf who had just joined the group.

He was a rather tall man, more muscular than his fellow man. His hair was blond and his eyes were a lighter blue than Myra's, almost transparent. He was lightly dressed but still wore some protection on his body. A large spear was in his back and his blade shone as if it were a flash of light.

His gaze was hard, but clearly showed affection for it but when he saw Nyfeirg, he frowned and stopped.

"Kilyn, I'm back..."

"I'm glad to see you safe and sound, but can you tell me what this thing is doing here?"

His tone of voice was clearly hostile. If Myra hadn't been there, it's a good bet that he would have drawn his weapon right away, but because it was there, he must have restrained himself. That said, he made no secret of his disapproval of his kin who had brought a machine.

"Kilyn, Myra has just returned and you are already trying to corner her with all bad things! Aren't you ashamed?" Ailen's eyes fell blackly on him.

"Ah, Ailen, it doesn't matter," Myra replied, shaking her hands.

Kilyn blushed with shame and shook his head frantically.

"No, I didn't mean to... Excuse me, Myra! It's just... I'm just doing my job, don't blame me!"

"No, it's me who's sorry. I found this mount on the way here, and I thought we could use it."

Nyfeirg was puzzled by this explanation, but apparently, everyone seemed to drink Myra's words like water. After all, this was not her world after all.

Kilyn stared at Nyfeirg for a while before finally nodding.

"What kind of relationship does Kilyn have with Myra? He seems to be particularly close to her... A lover? It doesn't seem so..." Nyfeirg reasoned silently.

Clearly, Kilyn had a crush on her kin, but she didn't seem to be receptive to him. Or it could also be that she was feigning ignorance, but that seemed unlikely given Myra's character.

A little later, other Elves joined the group and had a similar reaction to Ailen. They did not understand how such a mount could move without anyone's help. However, Myra managed to deceive them by inventing some explanations. Prodigiously, they seemed to believe her as if they were listening to a wise man talking about the meaning of life.

Then Nyfeirg and Myra, escorted by the Elves, set out for the village again. They walked for quite a while, going up one hill and then another, before reaching the top of one of them which gave an elevated view of the village below.

Huge trees rose to the sky and one, in particular, stood out from the group. Its branches extended over the village it sheltered and shaded part of the forest. The top of the tree was a hundred meters high and its trunk was so thick that it would have taken several dozen people to walk around it.

The group stopped in its turn and Myra could not help but let out a sigh of relief. She did not expect to see her village again anytime soon, she who had resolved to die to save her people. Her heart was beating with fervor as she contemplated her hometown.

Nyfeirg felt the same contemplation in front of this setting straight out of a film.

"So this is what an Elfin village looks like," she wondered.

Soon after, the group continued on its way and more and more Elves came to meet them. All of them had a mysterious, even supernatural appearance, and all displayed an expression that ranged from consternation, curiosity, joy, and apprehension. Nyfeirg remained silent throughout, as some Elves approached her to examine her. All were curious about this strange mount, able to move alone without making noise and live without drinking water. And since everyone could communicate with the forest, they all knew that she was no threat to them. However, even though the voice of the forest carried a lot of weight in their consideration of things, the many years of poaching and human slavery had made them fearful of strangers.

The village of the Elves, named Aiyirne after the name of the tree around which it was built, was located at the foot of the tallest tree. The inhabitants lived in tribes and their culture was very different from their human counterparts.

Here, each Elf maintained a symbiotic relationship with the forest, enjoying the benefits of nature while protecting it from external aggressions. Some houses were dug into the trunks while others were installed on their surface and each house was linked together by bridges or ropes, giving the village the image of a large playground.

The village in question covered a large area and not all the houses were attached to each other. On the contrary, the Elves seemed to prefer their privacy despite their community life. When Myra entered the village, a certain excitement was created as the savior returned from her journey. However, the first thing she did was to immediately take Nyfeirg to a small house away from the village, away from sight and tumult.

The house was simple, not to say plain, but the place meant a lot to Myra. After all, it was her beloved home where she had spent most of her life. It was located at the foot of a tree and had an annex where the Elven stored her belongings, but also where she skinned the animals she hunted.

Inside, everything was dark, and the smell of blood mixed with dried wood saturated the air. Nevertheless, Myra walked in without being bothered by the stench and invited Nyfeirg to hide inside.

"So you decide to park me in this oozing place of death? What am I to conclude from this?" the motorcycle asked coldly.

"It won't be long, I give you my word. I just have to convince the Patriarch to -...".

But no sooner had she finished her sentence than a voice filled with joy was heard behind her back.

"Myra!" cried the voice, unable to contain her joy.

The Elven widened her eyes and immediately tightened her grip.

"Geez, I didn't expect her to be here yet..." Myra whispered troubled. "I'll see you later!"

"Hey! Wait up!"

But the door closed abruptly, plunging Nyfeirg into total darkness.

"You little..."

***

When Myra turned around, the first thing she saw were two big green eyes, and then a face lit up by the happiness that was approaching at full speed. She then felt a great shock and two thin hands came to embrace her affectionately. These hands, she knew them very well, they were those of her lover: Elasha. With her heart beating wildly, Myra in turn embraced the woman who had come to welcome her and sniffed her sweet perfume.

"I'm home, Elasha," Myra replied with relief.

"I'm... so happy... that nothing happened to you..." Elasha replied, sobbing slightly.

"Don't worry, I was able to return to you with someone's help."

"Who was it? Introduce me to this person and I'll thank him."

"This... is not really a person," Myra confessed slightly embarrassed. "But I'll introduce her to you later."

Elasha looked confused, but Myra quickly pulled her away from the annex. Elasha put aside her doubts for now and focused on her lover.

Elasha was a very beautiful woman. Even among the Elves, she was considered extremely beautiful. Her long peppery hair, her immaculate green eyes, her bewitching shapes, made her one of the most beautiful women in the village. Many men had tried to court her, but they had all come up against a wall. Indeed, Elasha wasn't interested in men and the only person she was interested in was Myra with whom she had shared much of her youth.

Myra came from a normal family, who had lived in the village and were hunters. However, while the hunters had gone on the trail of a beast in the company of other hunters, they had accidentally encountered Human slavers and perished trying to protect their peers, leaving little Myra as an orphan. When Myra learned of her parents' death, she was taken in by Elasha's family, who were great friends of her parents at the time, and they raised her as their own daughter. That is how the two girls met.

Over time, both of them became very close. They shared everything from bathing, bed, food, good and bad times, joy and sadness. They were always stuck together as two sisters would be. At first, Myra didn't see this relationship as different from any other because after all, it was normal for her new sister to be looking after her when she had been through a tragedy. But time passed and the relationship gradually changed.

The first to change was Elasha, who became increasingly possessive and jealous towards Myra, especially when Kilyn, her other childhood friend, was approaching her.

Myra was aware of Kilyn as a boy and had also developed a certain affection for him. Their relationship was going well and it was even said that the two children would end their lives together if this continued. However, this was without counting on Elasha's possessiveness, who could not bear to have her sister being taken away from her by a stupid man.

So she decided to attract Myra to her by using their relationship, which was deeper than the one Kilyn and Myra had.

Myra had no sexual preference for either boys or women. However, she felt closer to her new sister than to Kilyn who was far too shy and not daring enough to steal the little Elven's heart. And since Elasha was much franker than him, Myra's heart inevitably turned to her.

The Elfin society did not impose any kind of relationship on its members. Each individual was free to choose his or her relationship and the person with whom he or she wished to live. It was also common for women to bond with each other, as they were more numerous but also more often close, both physically and mentally. This did not prevent men from benefiting from this relationship as well.

One day, Myra decided to leave her adoptive family and move into her parents' house, which in the meantime had been maintained by them for the sake of their friendship. Elasha wanted to follow Myra, but Myra did not see herself living with her lover. She preferred to keep her independence, but this did not prevent Elasha from coming to sleep at Myra's house whenever she wished.

On her way home, Elasha hugged Myra languorously when all of a sudden she froze.

"What is it?" Myra asked with surprise.

"You smell like a Human..." Elasha replied while squinting in disgust. "Where have you been hanging out? Who did you meet?" she asked threateningly.

"Elasha, calm down, will you?" Tempered Myra slowly.

She knew that this smell would be a thorn in her feet sooner or later, especially since her companion had an even deeper hatred of Humans than she did herself.

"I'm listening to your explanations!" Issued Elasha with gloomy eyes. "Why do you carry the smell of a dirty Human on you?"

Myra would never have imagined being in this situation. She, who had always ostentatiously displayed her repugnance towards Humans, found herself having to justify why she had associated herself with one of them. As her companion glared intensely at her, Myra backed away and her back came up against the wall. She was now cornered in her own house, with no way out of the situation.

"Ah!" she suddenly exclaimed. "I absolutely must make my report to the Patriarch!"

Without waiting for the rest of her, Myra opened the door and fled at full speed.

"Myra! Myra! Don't think you can get away with this!"

Once outside, Myra went to the large tree of the village. It was the place where the patriarch lived, but also the place where rites of passage, festivals, and funerals were held. Each society had its favorite place, and it was the one chosen by its village.

The Elfin society was made up of the leading members and the others. The leading members were usually the oldest, having the most experience in life. The Elves deeply respected the elders because they had the most life experience and they were very often a valuable source of advice. The eldest of all was appointed Patriarch (or Matriarch) and had the role of overseeing the entire community.

While the Patriarch's role was basically one of advisor, the reality was quite different and the advisor became the judge as well as the chief of the village he administered.

Climbing up the large tree, Myra met other similar people who greeted her as she continued her move upwards further. Then, after a few minutes, she finally reached the first level.

This first level extended around the circumference of the tree and allowed some Elves to settle there, but Myra continued to climb a second level that took her to the highest strata of the tree. When she reached the top of the last layer, she met two Elves guarding the entrance to a small house.

As she approached, the Guards both froze at the same time.

Myra knew them well, their names were Maeral and Aerindel respectively. They were twin brothers and were particularly tall. Being brothers, they had the same brown hair and dark green eyes. They were a little obtuse but they were not bad boys. Myra appreciated them for their demeanor.

"Myra!" they cried out in unison. "You're back?"

"Yes! Is Patriarch Azarcarran here? I'd like to have an interview with him."

"Yes," replied Maeral immediately, with a big smile.

"I'll tell him you're back," Aerindel replied quickly.

He entered the property and knocked on the door.

"Patriarch Azarcarran, Myra has returned! She would like to discuss with you."

A quiet, hoarse voice echoed from the house shortly afterward.

"Let her in."

Aerindel immediately executed himself and opened the door, letting the Elven enter the former Elf's property.

The interior of the house was very traditional, with minimal furniture and few decorations. There was a small table in the center of the room around which a few chairs were placed. On the right side was a large library with countless books and parchments. And at the back of the room, a large desk on which were strictly arranged utensils for making tea and other concoctions.

In front of it, a man was busy making a potion. His concentration was so intense that Myra could see him from her position. She knelt in front of the man and lowered her head. Then, with her hand on her heart, she announced herself.

"Patriarch Azacarran, here I am back after having subdued the dragon that threatened our village."

"Oh, Myra. So you are back," exclaimed the man without turning around. "I'm happy to see you alive."

"It was my duty after all. I thank you for these kind words," Myra replied solemnly.

Although the man did not face her, Myra did not feel the least bit offended. After all, she was just a mere Elven in the hierarchy. Who was she to question the Patriarch's attitude? Although the leader was now a man, it had not always been so. The previous one had been a woman who died unfortunately of an illness, something that was extremely rare.

The Elven remained motionless until the Patriarch deigned to turn around and observe her.

The man facing her was in the throes of time; he had long hair and a long gray beard that accentuated the wrinkles on his face a little more. However, the pink eyes of its holder were incredibly bright. He wore a long green toga that hid his legs and feet.

When his eyes met Myra's, he smiled pleasantly and waved his guest to sit at the table. It was only then that Myra dared to move and sat down shyly. The man then disappeared into the next room and returned with a tray on which were two cups filled with a strange mixture resembling tea.

The Azacarran Patriarch in turn sat down at the table and served one of the cups to Myra, whom she accepted with great gratitude. However, Myra did not touch it during the conversation.

"So, Myra. Tell me," said the Patriarch calmly. "How did it happen?"

Myra swallowed slightly and then recounted her journey while omitting her meeting with Nyfeirg's partner. During the interview, the Patriarch did not blink once and just stared at Myra attentively.

She could feel the old Elf's gaze on her and her body tensed slightly. She knew that among those presents in the village, the Patriarch was certainly the person with the greatest repugnance towards Humans. It wasn't that surprising when Myra thought about it. He had seen so much drama happen after a meeting between his race and the Humans that his heart had been deeply wounded.

"And that's how I came back."

The Patriarch did not answer and frowned slightly. Myra did not fail to notice his icy look and began to sweat slightly.

"So you're telling me that you defeated this dragon with a... Dwarf creation that you found near our region?" the Patriarch asked, staring at Myra.

"Yes... I will introduce her to you tomorrow..."

"What do you mean by 'introduce her'?"

"I mean… I'll show you... the said mount," she smiled awkwardly.

The Patriarch paused slightly and seemed to be lost in thought until he smiled at her again and dismissed her.

Myra greeted the Patriarch and left the house without further delay. Once she was gone, the Patriarch gently got up from his chair and watched Myra walk away, then called the twin brothers before quietly ordering them on their next mission. The twin brothers, after hearing the Patriarch's orders, opened their eyes in surprise but obeyed.

After finishing her interview with the Patriarch, Myra was on the road leading to her home when she was stopped by Kilyn who seemed to be waiting for her at the corner of one of the main streets of the village. When she approached him, The latter greeted her again with a somewhat shy look. It was a side of him that did not change, despite the passing years. Myra was touched that he hadn't changed, but at the same time, she regretted that he didn't have more courage when it came to taking the lead. It wasn't as if she had feelings for him, but she appreciated the person Kilyn represented and hoped he would finally find love.

"Oh... Oh, Myra," he exclaimed, his cheeks slightly flushed. "How did your interview with him - the patriarch go?"

"It went well. Thank you, Kilyn," replied the Elven calmly.

"Eh... You're welcome, eh eh eh..."

Unable to contain his embarrassment, he scratched his head frantically.

"I'm... I'm glad you're okay."

Around them, Myra could hear the laughter of the few passers-by who were watching this scene. Although she felt the same way, she did her best to remain calm. She didn't want to hurt Kilyn's pride as he fought her shyness as best he could.

"I, too, am glad I came back alive. It's a good thing Naifagu was there..."

At that moment, Kilyn's attitude changed immediately and, while squinting, asked :

"Naifagu?"

Myra widened her eyes slightly as she realized how clumsy she was. She had to be careful not to arouse suspicions. Despite everything, she managed to keep her composure and answered naturally:

"This is the name of this machine, have no fear."

"Um... I didn't know these things could have names."

"That's because it's an ancient Dwarf artifact..." she replied inconsistently.

Kilyn didn't seem convinced and the more the conversation went on, the deeper the wrinkles on his forehead got. Myra realized that she'd better slip away before it became dangerous. So she decided to use her Trump Card.

"By the way, Kilyn... Thank you for worrying about me," she replied, giving him a gentle glance.

"Ah... It's, it's normal, come on."

The murderous aura that emanated from him suddenly disappeared, as if it had never existed before, and Kilyn became the shy, tall man he had been before.

"Well... I have to go now, Elasha is waiting for me. See you later, Kilyn," she said as she left him without further ado.

"Yes... See you later, Myra..."

Myra sighed slightly having been able to prevent the worst from happening. However, she noticed that the events were not going as well as she would have liked. She had underestimated the antipathy her people had towards anything foreign to them. Of course, Myra was well aware of the origin of all this and shared much of their resentment. She too loathed the Humans, but if they could just accept Nyfeirg, it would be a great step forward.

Shortly afterward, she arrived home. Elasha waited for her with firm feet, sitting on the bed that sat enthroned in the only room in the house. The interior was no more furnished than that of the Patriarch. The only difference with the Patriarch's was that another person sometimes lived in it and there were necessarily more objects.

When Myra closed the front door, her lover stared at her with cold eyes, legs, and arms crossed. Myra shivered slightly when she saw her in this position. She knew she was going to get a reprimand for escaping like that, but if she could avoid being cornered like that, she would not hesitate for a moment.

"I'm home..." she exclaimed with a forced smile on her face.

"…"

No answer came from Elasha. Myra laughed despondently and then approached her carefully.

"Listen, Elasha..."

"Hmpf!" snorted her lover, looking away.

Myra sighed deeply and then came to sit down next to her. She knew that at this point, Elasha would be impossible to reason with. The only thing that worked was...

"Come on, don't be sulky," she murmured in a lewd voice as she approached her.

"Hmpf! it won't work with me," Elasha replied immediately.

But Myra could already see the cheeks of her lover slightly pink. The only thing that worked every time ... was sex.

Elasha was reputed to be uncompromising with others. Known as being very skilled with her ten fingers, she excelled in the art of spear. As a result, she quickly became one of the leading figures among the village patrollers. Her iron temperament made her very competent in her trade and was even feared, but she had a critical flaw: she was addicted to sex. It was something she couldn't repress and even Myra found it hard to satisfy her, but Elasha's love for her prevented her from committing the irreparable. So whenever Myra wanted to make amends, all she had to do was get her excited to make her completely docile.

Myra put her hand on Elasha's legs, and Elasha shuddered slightly.

"Elasha, look at me..." she whispered in the corner of her ear.

Then Myra kissed her lobe and Elasha made a small moan of excitement. Myra smiled in a machiavellian way, she knew it wouldn't take much to make her bend.

"I... won't fall... for this... aaaah!"

"Are you sure?" Myra asked in a suave voice.

She put her lips on Elasha's neck and began to kiss her, while her hand gently raised her thighs and moved towards the forbidden fruit.

"Aaah... no... not that... aaaah... you're... horrible..." Elasha moaned.

"You don't want to?" Myra asked lewdly. "Why are you spreading your legs then?"

"It's not... what you think... aaaaah... Hum... No! I must not give in..."

Myra progressed a little further and finally, her fingers reached Elasha's sex. Elasha had spread her legs shyly and was now completely at the mercy of her beloved. Although she was saying one thing, her body had already turned around and was already waiting for the next step. Myra knew it was pure manipulation from her, but she had no choice. She had to bring her lover back to her side if she wanted to be able to use Nyfeirg more in the future.

Then Myra pushed Elasha slightly against the sheets and the two women found themselves facing each other. Elasha was already in heat and could hardly contain herself, but her pride prevented her from giving in to her impulses.

Seeing that things weren't going the way they wanted, Myra decided to take things to the next level and straddled her now panting lover with excitement. Her body was shaking all over, but she still wouldn't give in.

"You still don't want to?" Myra asked languorously.

"No... I... aaaah... aaaah..."

Myra put one of her hands on her partner's chest and began to caress her. Elasha bent over slightly, but still didn't give in. Then Myra began to kiss her neck and descended gradually, under the groans of Elasha which intensified. She continued to descend and kissed her belly which contracted under the weight of her kisses and Myra arrived between her thighs. She caressed her two legs apart and kissed them in turn and then gradually moved upwards until she reached her fleur-de-lys.

"Aaaah... No... Aaah... Hum..."

"Do you want to...?"

Myra's eyes glowed mischievously. Elasha stared at her with a mixture of indignation and excitement. After a moment of hesitation, she said in a weak voice: "Yes...".

The two women then made love passionately to each other for the rest of the day. From outside one could hear the excited groans of the two Elves, and Nyfeirg, who was not far away, could not help but sigh in despair as he saw the two beasts indulging in limitless fornication.

Later in the night, the bodies of the two women lay quietly on the bed whose sheets had been thrown out in the meantime. The two Elves were tired after their moment of tenderness and took advantage of their reunion to enjoy each other.

"Really," began Elasha exhausted. "You still have the gift of making me addicted to you."

Her hands caressed Myra's face with tenderness and her eyes looked at her with love.

"Addicted to me, or addicted to sex?" Myra asked sarcastically.

"Oh, you meanie..." Elasha replied slightly annoyed. "You know what I mean..."

Myra smiled and kissed her lover when a noise outside was heard and they both straightened up abruptly.

"What was that?" Elasha asked worriedly.

Myra didn't answer right away. She had a bad feeling and her heart started beating fast. It wasn't until she heard the hum of Nyfeirg followed by screams that Myra understood the seriousness of the situation. She quickly put her clothes back on and ran outside without waiting for Elasha.

When she arrived outside, she spotted a man facing Nyfeirg with his spear pointed in her direction. The engine was roaring and the sinister light the machine emitted seemed even more gloomy than usual. Myra squinted her eyes at the darkness and looked away the next moment.

"Why... is he here?" she asked herself in despair.

The man in question was none other than Maeral, one of the twin brothers. In other words, he was there in the name of the Patriarch, but she could not understand why.

"Maeral!" she exclaimed.

"Myra!" replied Maeral frightened. "What is this frightening thing?"

Myra immediately ran to the two opponents.

"Myra, what does that mean?" asked the mount in an icy tone.

Maeral shuddered with fear as she heard the metallic voice coming out from inside the machine.

"By the gods, this thing speaks..." Maeral cried out in a dazed voice.

"I'm not a thing, my name is Nyfeirg," replied the angry mount. "Remember that, Elf!"

"Myra!" cried Elasha, who had gotten dressed in the meantime. "What is... What is that thing?"

Seeing her lover appear, Myra's face faded. Things were getting out of control. How was she going to get out of it?

"Look... I can explain everything. This thing, Nyfeirg, is a Dwarf artifact. It helped me slay the dragon."

"Myra, forget the lies. I am not a Dwarf artifact. I'm from the world of the humans, not yours," Nyfeirg replied immediately. "John is waiting for me, I must find him."

"Human?" Elasha repeated. "That's why..."

"Elasha, I... I can explain everything," exclaimed Myra with sorrow, before turning around in the direction of Nyfeirg. "Why did you say that? Now things have become impossible to solve..."

"I won't wait indefinitely for you to decide to help me... We had a deal and if you're not going to keep it, then we have nothing left to..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a commotion woke up the village, and very quickly a group of people approached them. In front of them stood the Patriarch, behind him were Aerindil and Kilyn, followed by a large number of villagers. The Patriarch looked grim and his eyebrows were deeply furrowed.

When they arrived nearby, the Patriarch cried out.

"Myra, what is that thing you brought to the village? I summon you to explain!"

Myra froze instantly. The worst thing that could happen had happened. Now, her plan had just fallen apart. She no longer had a backup plan either. The Elven cursed her fate inside.

"Patriarch, Naifagu... The person who helped me to..."

"What are you talking about?" interrupted the enraged Patriarch. "Didn't your little raghead think it could be a demon?"

"Hey, old man," Nyfeirg replied in an icy tone.

Everyone kept quiet, even the Patriarch.

"I don't like the way you call me, and I don't like the way you talk to that girl... So beware if you don't want me to run you over..."

"What... What?!" the angry Patriarch said. "How dare you talk to me like that, you monster! Maybe you thought you were fooling that poor fool, but you won't get me. I know this evil aura, it's the same as that of those damn Humans... Myra, I felt when I saw you arrive that you stank of Humans... So it was a Human who helped you? And this thing, is it with him too?"

Myra widened her eyes, completely confused.

"What should I answer?" she wondered in panic. "It's just... I..."

"Answer me, Myra!"

"Myra, answer the Patriarch!" also summoned Elasha to her in disgust.

For her part, Nyfeirg watched the scene unfold with a certain air of disbelief. All these people here had a deep grudge towards the Humans, she didn't think it was until that point.

"Myra..." she thought as she looked at the cornered Elven.

The Patriarch, who was in a rush, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. A few seconds later, he reopened them, and solemnly announced :

"Myra, by bringing this thing here, you have compromised the safety of the entire village! Because you helped our people by sacrificing yourself for them, I won't imprison you, but I can no longer let you live among us. Therefore, I can't help but condemn you to exile. You will be stripped of your possessions and no one will speak of you here anymore. From now on, you are no longer part of the forest of Thaldae...".

Myra's heart stopped beating. She didn't believe what she had just heard.

"This... is not possible, Patriarch," she said in a trembling voice. "You must be mistaken, mustn't you? You can't banish me like this... Not after what I've done for you..."

The Patriarch simply looked away. In Elfin society, the only ones to decide were the Elders and their words were the law. It was very rare for the Elves to banish their people, but when this happened, they were ostracized by their peers and banned from staying in the territory for which they were exiled.

The Patriarch took another breath and stared at Myra, his gaze was filled with sadness, but also with anger.

"My sentence is irrevocable!" Then he looked at Nyfeirg with a fierce look. "As for you, monster, for the sake of our saved village, I won't chase you this time. You can take this woman away, she no longer belongs here. But don't you dare set foot on this land again or you will be put to death without warning!"

Myra's body was shaking all over. Her wavering eyes were looking for comfort somewhere. She saw Kilyn first. She hoped he would support her, but he looked away immediately. Then she turned her head and looked at Elasha. If no one would support her, she was sure that at least her lover would be an exception to the rule, but to her great despair, the lover had nothing but disgust and incomprehension for her.

Her world was collapsing before her eyes.

"Sob... Sob..."

Tears flowed down her cheeks, her heart was overwhelmed with infinite sadness.

The Elven had nowhere else to go, no home, no family, nothing.

"Myra," Nyfeirg pronounced softly. "I will now leave. What are you going to do about it?"

"Sob... I... I don't... I don't know... What should I do?" she asked, completely lost.

"If you want, you can come with me... Although we must also find John."

Myra did not answer right away. She didn't know what to do or what to say. If this was all a nightmare, she wanted to wake up right away. But unfortunately, the reality was more painful than anything else. She understood that she had to leave her village and her friends.

After a few moments, she nodded weakly.

"Take me away... Please... I don't want to be alone..."

"Okay... Go get your things, we'll leave immediately," Nyfeirg replied in a dark voice.

Myra nodded her head and walked mechanically towards her house in front of her kins... No, she was no longer one of them... They were only strangers to her.

She entered her house and immediately prepared her luggage, which amounted to nothing. When she had finished, she went to the exit and turned around one last time. She remembered faint memories as she looked back at the place where she had lived all those years. The images of her parents that she had lost when she was very young, the happy moments spent with them in the woods and the village. She realized that she was already beginning to forget their faces and it broke her heart all the more. Then she thought back to the sweet moments spent with Elasha, her first love. But now it was no longer her home either.

She sobbed and walked out before she couldn't leave. In complete silence, she went to the outbuilding where she stored her weapons and took a bow in particular. It was a particularly sturdy and sumptuous bow, carved in the strongest wood and engraved with a multitude of designs. It was her late mother's weapon. She never took it but kept it in memory of her.

Then she looked one last time at this place which also held many memories and went out. Under the light of torches and fireflies, the Elves had gathered around Nyfeirg and stared at it intensely. Many emotions were swirling in this place. Hate, fear, fear, curiosity, disdain. Nothing was more hostile to her than this place.

When Myra reappeared, Nyfeirg restarted her engine again with it had turned off, creating an uproar in the crowd. However, the Elven didn't care about them and just rode the motorcycle.

"Ready?"

Myra took one last look at those she considered her kins before stopping to look at Elasha. The one she had loved, whom she had considered her sister and with whom she had shared much of her life, was now just a nameless stranger.

"Sob... I considered you my sister... Sob... I hoped that you would be the one who would help me, but I was wrong... Sob... From now on, you are nothing to me. Live your life, I'll live mine..." Myra said in a dejected tone. "Sob... We can go... Naifagu..."

Nyfeirg turned back and left immediately.

As the two women disappeared into the distance, Elasha had a moment of lucidity and cried out.

"Myra! Myraaaa!"

But she could no longer hear her anymore.