Too Weak

Shuttling through the trees as fast as she could, Layla tried to reach the Human Kingdom the day after tomorrow. She still had to kill the golden boy of the Human Kingdom, that young and accomplished Grand Magister.

Clang!

With an annoyed face, the black-haired girl stopped her steps and sat on the tree branch and looked into the distance. A giant Silver Rhinoceros was being pushed to a corner by two knights wearing a blue-patterned emblem - Magic Academy. It was really a sight to behold. She may reach her goal faster if she could affiliate with the group.

The pushed beast could have been killed just then but surprisingly the knights missed the obvious chance. The beast took a hit as it flung them away. With a face mimicking a frightened expression, the knights ran away. It was totally unbelievable. Although Layla had heard much ridiculous stories about the knights of the Human Kingdom from her brothers, she never expected them to be this worthless.

"What to do now?" A very pleasant voice sounded right below her. It was a black-haired boy with a magician robe. No wonder the knights had the Magic Academy emblem.

Probably hearing the voice too, the maddened beast rushed towards the boy. Her hiding place would be discovered this way. With no choice out, she could only do a little disguise and defend the boy.

The boy raised his hand as if ready to do something big but just then a silver shadow flashed. Boom! The beast flew away and hit a tree before falling down with a thud!

A silver-haired girl with long ears - an elf wearing dark green clothes was standing in front of him. Before he could say a word of a thanks, who knows what happened but he fell and his arm bled due to a spiky twig.

Layla Hall for the first time in her life must admit that she had never seen such a beautiful boy with those mid-length black hair and shiny blue eyes. Yet, the boy was too weak. He got scratched just from a trip. Just how delicate was his skin.

With a just a bend she could easily gaze into those ocean blue eyes although she had never seen it but this must be how it would have looked - the ocean. With a light pull, the boy was up straight. Now standing, he was even higher than her although looking a little delicate or was that just the impression she got from him...

"What's your name?" Layla bent to heal him. Poisons not only cause death. When used right, they are the greatest medicines.

"Anderson. Anderson Mayphis." There was a pause in her healing, then she backed away as she admired her masterpiece. Perfect without a blemish.

Layla couldn't help but eye the boy before her. Mayphis - the adoptive clan of the Grand Magister. Although she was pretty sure that right now she may have come to like the boy, she knew he was the best bridge to get to the golden boy fast. "Layla Hall." She replied. Not many knew her real identity. It was fine.

Anderson looked at the elf before him. He had seen many of them but had never seen one like her. Innocence was their nature yet they lacked logic. The one before him was analyzing him as if seen something new. But not with curiosity. It was as if she was trying to see his value. He knew it was absurd yet couldn't help but look into it. 'Too weak.'

The boy wore a petrified face. Did she scare him? Not only was he weak but scaredy too. See? His face was getting paler. "Are you fine?" As if snapped out of trance, the boy quickly nodded with an awkward smile.

With nothing to say, there was a silence around them.

She liked the boy but would he die of fear if he knew her identity... Layla looked at the boy as she started salvaging the beast she killed. Look at him. He had turned away his face from this gruesome scene and was shivering. Was it too much??

Anderson never knew that he could have had such a profound impression of him on someone. Weak was never the word attributed to him. Even then... He couldn't help but feel a slight shivering for the first time just for the thought of being weak. He couldn't help but look at the girl, who was expressionless, salvaging the beast with her bare hands. Well, she was strong.

By the time she was done, the sun was about to set. It wasn't safe considering the boy's combat power. "Ahem! Anderson, would it be alright if I tag along with you?"

He looked at the one with worried eyes before him. Although it was something new for him, it wasn't polite to refuse a goodwill. He nodded.

Layla's eyes turned sparkly as she quickly started making a grass basket with those around them. After stuffing the salvage in and hoisting it on her back, she showed a smile to him. It was dazzling...

Anderson felt his heart. It was strange. He wasn't the one with a heart condition, but the old fool in the neighborhood.

"So what are you here for?"

"Trying to find Chronos Eye."

"Isn't that the eye of colossal beast of Tipa Mountian?"

"Hmm."

"Mayphis sent you?"

"Hmm."

"Let me help you?"

"Fine."

A few minutes passed. Finding a good spot and getting the boy's approval, she set up a makeshift tent and a campfire. As she set her foot in the tent, she heard a cough. It was deliberate. The boy behind her had a worried face. "Only one tent?"

Anderson knew that the girl deemed him weak but he was a man too. Did it ever occur to her how dangerous it is for a lone girl?

"Yes, only one." Oh, the poor boy. Has it ever occurred to him that with his ability he may got eaten up by the beasts in his sleep? She was worried that was it alright for her to sleep with him. After all, she liked him too. What if she harassed him in her sleep?

Both with their worried and pitiful faces stepped into the makeshift tent.