Chapter 37

After all that, Eve finally agreed to let us take her to her homeland.

To the Great Forest, where the majority of the elves in this region of the world live.

So, the next day, we departed. Taking with us all the necessary equipment to survive, from emergency rations, what we need to set up a camp, to various miscellaneous objects we may need on this journey.

We'll be mainly hunting to provide nourishment for ourselves, relying on nature's bounty to live, since there won't be many settlements on the way, the woods were mainly ruled by powerful beasts.

We didn't have much information about the landscape of the forest, due to how dangerous it is. Even during my time in the Slane Theocracy, we didn't possess a lot of knowledge about its topography.

I only knew that most of the settlements were made up in the enormous trees that made up the forest, their size making them a natural deterrent to a lot of creatures that inhabited those lands.

Some lived in meadows.

One major exception I knew of was the elven capital, situated right next to the Crescent Lake, in a plane of grass not protected by the great trees that dominated the vast majority of Evasha.

Instead, from what I heard, they used their elvish druidic magic to grow trees not too dissimilar from those of the Great Forest next to the massive body of water.

It was basically a super sized version of the treetop villages found sporadically throughout the woodlands, only the capital wasn't hidden out of sight.

Regardless, we would have to traverse the woods to find a village willing to take on a child, and obviously if they knew that she was traveling with humans, her chances were shot.

Though the more likely scenario was them hunting us down, due to the enormous amount of racial tension between the elves and humans.

It was one of the main points of contention while formulating this plan, we could put on a makeshift disguise, hoping that they wouldn't see through it, but given their senses this was not the best of ideas.

So, I had to reveal the existence of one of my most useful items, the Empyrian's Starlight Dew, to convince them that this plan was feasible.

When I revealed this piece of information to them, they were all in various degrees of shock, as well as confusion. Since, from the moment I met them, to every single second we were together, they had never once seen me without this amulet.

This would naturally inspire suspicion, if a person that they, perhaps considered a friend, had always worn an item that could so accurately hide someone's identity.

They had questioned me about it in the beginning, but I had just deflected by saying that it was a personal memento, and one thing none of them were, was invasive.

While both Verica and Dalawraith were quite open about their background, Bastien on the other hand was extremely tight lipped concerning his past.

And we all respected that.

But I also understood this was on another level, to have the idea that I could be someone completely different so cruelly thrust upon them, it was something that I neve would have thought would bother me when I first met them.

But, times changed, and so did I.

None of them wanted to be the one to ask, one part due to how we had always operated, and another due to not wanting their suspicions to be confirmed.

It was evident that posing the question would make it a reality within everyone's minds, that if I answered yes, everything would change.

And, if there was anything humans feared more than anything else, it was change.

In a way, it was a betrayal, it had the potential to decimate the trust I gained throughout the years, and cause irreparable damage to our relationship.

Even the typically headstrong Verica was speechless.

I could see it even now, all their faces.

As it dawned on them, the slowly creeping realization.

One face was blank, another was torn, and Verica's was one of betrayal.

I never could have imagined how it would have made me feel. 

How I had grown to, in a way, cherish them.

How empty it would feel, how hollow.

It was illogical, the way my emotions were tearing at me, the decision I made was for my survival, and I did, I made it so far.

I remember word for word, what I said that day, how the silence stretched on, and the pit in my stomach continued to grow.

I had to speak first.

"I'll explain. Once the girl returns to where she belongs. 

Please."

It was the only time in my life that I had ever pleaded with anyone, my pride normally wouldn't allow it.

But as I looked at their clear faces, saying that they were willing to wait as long as it takes, I realized something that had already happened long ago.

That what was once an empty heart.

Had a few more people settled inside.