Chapter 158: Forest!

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Damn it, he needed [Gamer's Mind] which always diluted his weak negative emotions. He wasn't used to feeling this instinctive fear.

He nodded at her and continued to walk, with her closely following him.

Another group of spiders ambushed them after ten minutes of the silent journey. Again she took care of the giant monsters before he could start brawling with them. 

She doused them in rain and pulled lightning out of the sky, electrocuting them mercilessly until life left their beady eyes.

He was impressed. Very impressed. While he had seen her do similar things in the training room, witnessing her using dangerous spells on living beings was altogether different. 

And there was this air of eerie calmness around her when she killed them that spooked him. She was totally silent as she murdered them. The way her eyes analysed her doings as if she was rating how well she performed, was really scary.

Not for the first time after entering the forest, Harry realised how he didn't know everything about his mum. There was a side of her she hadn't ever shown them. And now he was getting astonished after he was actually seeing it.

They finally reached a clearing. An enormous clearing.

Calling it a clearing was really not appropriate since there was a whole village fit into the space. There was a low wooden fence separating them from the village, most probably there to keep away the animals. 

Although he didn't know how well it did against the gigantic spiders.

They could see small huts sprawled all over the farther side.

Currently, a man was standing on the low platform and appeared to give a sad speech. Gathered in front of him were hundreds of people, listening somberly with long faces.

Harry and Lily were standing just a little away from the side of the platform.

As soon as the duo stood at the edge of the fence, the people on the other side snapped their heads and stared at them in shock.

Harry and Lily stared back. And they noticed that the people here were a bit different. They had pointy ears and they all shared the same blonde hair and blue eyes. And they all were garbed in pure white overalls.

"They are elves. Real elves." gasped Lily, surprised to see the likes of them. She had long ago stopped believing that elves she had heard from children's stories might exist. 

Even after coming to the Wizarding World, the house elves looked more like a different breed of goblins than real elves. But here she was, seeing true elves. She felt blessed.

At the first sound from them, the entire elven group raised their hands and summoned green fire.

Lily too pointed her wand at them, reverting to her fighting mindset, her admiration for these beautiful beings dissipating in an instant.

"STOP!" the elf standing on the stage yelled. His people immediately followed his command and dropped their hands, snuffing the flames.

"Come in. Then state your names and purpose, strangers." The apparent leader waved at them. A small part of the fence disappeared, making a way for them.

Harry stared at the leader before nodding at his mum. He hoped she would let him do all the talk.

He entered first and then Lily. The two walked the small distance separating them and the stage. The leader walked down the platform and stood before them.

"My name is Harry. And this is my master, Lily. She is a wandering witch who helps the people in need." Harry bowed curtly.

Thankfully, his mother kept her face blank, not even twitching at the lie.

"And why have you wandered here? Humans are not permitted in this sacred forest."

"It was not of our own choice. An enemy wizard trapped us in his magical portal and sent us hurtling here. We are trying to find our way out of the forest. We would be grateful if you point the right way." Harry replied.

The elf stared at them for a second before answering. "The nearest way is through the ruin of Calhadr. That is the only way if you do not want to spend at least a fortnight in the woods. All the other ways are far longer."

"Thank you. Where might the ruins of Calhadr be?"

"Straight through there." He said, pointing to the path that curved around the northern side of the village.

"We will be on our way then." Harry smiled politely.

"I do not recommend that path, child. There resides an ancient fell Wizard in the ruins. He does not take well to strangers. You will perish as soon as you set foot in it."

"Worry not. My master is a legendary witch. I am assured of our victory if something unfortunate happens." Harry announced confidently, sending his mother a genuinely impressed look.

Her eyes shone with pride at the acknowledgement. It felt great to be finally taken seriously.

"If that is what you wish, I will not stop you. Please, be on your way."

If Harry still had all of his power, he might have offered his help to these elven folks. It was clear that they were in some dire situation. 

Unfortunately, he wasn't strong enough at the moment to give them his help. If he did, he would just endanger his mother. Now was not the right time or opportunity to be altruistic.

Sharing another nod with the head elf, he walked away, his mother right on his heels. The crowd mumbled among themselves and shot them sympathetic looks as if they thought the duo was heading for the gallows.

That did bother Harry, but there was no other way. They had to go through the ruins of Calhadr. The game's hologram was also leading them toward that path.

They soon were finding their way between the trees, back in the woods. And the humidity was again making them feel as if they were in a furnace.

"You think I did the right thing? Should I have helped them?" Harry pondered out loud, looking beside himself at his mother.

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