chapter 2

As I walked through the forest, I spotted a well-defined trail. My heart raced. "So there are humans here after all." I looked around, assessing the surroundings. Every sound of the forest seemed amplified. I took a deep breath, trying to prepare for what was coming. "Damn god... He wants me to be a monster."

My eyes caught sight of a tall tree, perfect for getting a better view of the area. I climbed up easily, and from the top, I saw what I feared: a human village, hidden among the trees. It wasn't large, but there was movement. Ordinary people, going about their lives, oblivious to the threat I represented.

I watched for a while, until something caught my attention: three small figures moving away from the village, heading into the forest. I zoomed in with my elf vision. They were children.

"Come on, Thorfin! We need to find the flower for Aunt Valente. She's sick," said Elena, the leader of the small group.

"But... the forest is dangerous! If our parents find out, they'll scold us!" protested Thorfin, hesitating.

"Are you scared, Thorfin?" teased Peter, with a mischievous grin.

"Me? Scared? Never!" Thorfin lifted his chin, trying to appear brave.

"Then let's go! You said you weren't scared!" insisted Elena, excited, hands on her hips.

Thorfin snorted and reluctantly followed the other two.

The group walked carefree along the narrow trail, laughing and playing like only children do. Elena ran ahead, spreading her arms as if she were a bird. "Look, I'm a giant eagle!" she shouted, laughing.

"That's nothing, Elena. I'm a knight on a magical horse!" replied Peter, holding a branch as if it were a lance.

Thorfin kicked small stones along the way, trying to hide his nervousness. "You two are idiots. There's nothing magical here."

"You're just scared!" teased Elena, throwing a leaf at him.

"I'm not!" he replied, trying to sound tough, but soon he laughed along with the other two.

They continued through the forest, dodging low branches and fallen leaves. Occasionally, they stopped to look for flowers but ended up getting distracted, chasing butterflies or throwing small rocks at trees. They seemed completely unaware of the danger, just children enjoying an adventure.

I watched them from above, keeping my eyes on them. Each of their steps seemed to echo like a cruel reminder: they were just children. But in my mind, the system's list pulsed. "Plebeian dead: 1 point."

My stomach churned, but something felt different. I didn't feel guilt or pity. There was an emptiness where my empathy should be, perhaps a side effect of my new elven nature. Humans... they no longer seemed like me. Just another form of life.

"They're just points," I murmured to myself, trying to justify the inevitable.

I descended from the tree carefully, my movements stealthy, almost silent. I approached from the shadows, keeping my eyes locked on the group. They stopped near a clearing full of flowers, laughing and celebrating.

"We found them! Look, these are beautiful!" Elena shouted, picking a lilac flower.

Thorfin and Peter laughed, pushing each other as if competing to see who could pick more flowers.

It was the perfect opportunity. I hid behind a nearby tree, where a stick lay on the ground. I picked it up, steadied my breath, and prepared my mind. "Do whatever is necessary to survive."

With a quick move, I charged at them. Thorfin was the first to see me. His eyes widened with pure terror, but he didn't have time to react. With a brutal strike, the piece of wood crushed his head. The sound was dry, horrible, and his body fell to the ground like a ragdoll.

Elena screamed so loudly it echoed through the forest. "THORFIN!"

Peter, in a burst of courage, grabbed a stone and rushed toward me. "You monster!" he screamed, but he was no match for me. Before he could do anything, I knocked him down with a precise blow to his chest. He fell onto his back, coughing and convulsing on the ground. I didn't hesitate; another strike silenced his resistance.

Elena staggered back, trembling and sobbing. "No! Please! Don't do this!" Tears ran down her face as she looked at her friends' bodies. Her fragile voice, filled with dread, broke the silence of the forest. "Peter! Thorfin!"

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. With one final strike, I silenced the scream that would have come from her throat.

I stood still for a few moments, breathing heavily. My eyes locked onto the lifeless bodies of the children. "Points earned: 3."

The mechanical voice of the system echoed in my mind, cold and indifferent. There was no celebration, only an objective confirmation.

Without looking back, I ran as fast as I could, moving away from the clearing and the village. My heart pounded in my chest as sweat dripped down my forehead. Guilt tried to creep in, but I pushed it aside. It was necessary.

After a while, when I thought I was far enough, I found a tall tree and climbed into its branches. From above, hidden among the leaves, I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself.

"This is what he wants..." I murmured to myself, looking at the sky above the trees. The emptiness inside me grew. The children were just the beginning. If I wanted to survive, if I wanted to build something in this world, I would have to get used to the blood on my hands. "This is the price."

I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of the forest, as my mind tried to process what I had done. The path to survival would be long, but I knew I couldn't stop now.