Chapter 8 - Under attack!

***

"Miya, I know this is sudden but we are getting out of here first! We will talk about the other stuff later."

Kazuki, who noticed Miya's bewildered expression, quickly extended his hand forward.

However, she was still in a daze as she stared blankly at Kazuki.

Realising that words weren't registering in her at the moment, Kazuki forcefully lifted up Miya.

Miya, who was settled into Kazuki's arms finally issued out a strange cry as her face blushed a deep crimson.

"Eh!? W, Wait a minute, Kazuki!? T, This is...Princess Carry..."

Kazuki carried Miya just like this and ran.

Dondon*! A huge rubble flew over and crushed the location Miya was just at earlier. More and more Elf creatures were emerging.

Kazuki, while still carrying Miya, jumped onto a tree in order to avoid the approaching attacks. Using the branches as footholds, he kept jumping from one tree to another. Miya, having finally settled down, matched her breathing with Kazuki.

Kazuki decided to play a small joke in order not to make things awkward.

"...This is bad, my hands are becoming numb..."

"Hey, are you saying that I am heavy!?"

"Heavier than I expected." Kazuki grinned while Miya hit Kazuki's chest with light punches. *Poka* *Poka* She also read what Kazuki was thinking and decided to play along. After spending quite a while together, they could read each other's minds easily.

The dried leaves littering the branches let out a satisfying crunching noise as they travelled across. Soon enough, they heard the sound of rushing water, indicating that a water source was nearby.

True enough, the two of them reached a river, which was a little too large to be classified as a stream.

Kazuki honed his senses to pick up any trace of enemies but there didn't seem to be any nearby. Sure that there wouldn't be any unpleasant surprises, Kazuki finally let Miya down.

The sudden events finally crashed down upon Miya at once as her expression turned grim.

Kazuki who noticed that, decided to speak first.

"Miya, you should wash up. Your clothes are all dirty."

"Mm...okay..."

Miya removed her shoes as she dipped herself into the river while Kazuki was sitting near the riverbank, against a large boulder.

Kazuki watched as Miya removed the dirt and grime off her body and clothes. Her skin emitted glossy smoothness because of the wetness, causing her feminine body to stand out in three dimensions. A lovely sight could be seen out of her soaked body along with her beauty. Her alluring navels and thighs and wet chest, pulled Kazuki's gaze...Really, her outfit was poison to the eyes even under normal circumstances. Now, it was even more so.

Miya caught Kazuki staring at her and he smiled back in return, causing her to blush again.

As Miya stepped out of the water, Kazuki stood up, removed his jacket and wrapped it around Miya. She clutched the jacket tightly to her body, soaking in its warmth as the two of them sat down against the boulder.

For a moment, there was a gap of soundless space as they both sat there, centimeters apart. The quiet was an unspoken dare, as though the first one to speak would lose.

"Those were Elves right? Those creatures earlier." Kazuki was the first one to break the silence.

Miya silently nodded her head.

"Yeah, they are...no, they were once Moon Elves. I could sense it from their energy signatures."

"What happened to them?"

Miya thought for a while.

"I think they were corrupted by the Abyss...by the Blood Demons. I told you about them before right? It seems their bodies and minds were eroded by the Blood Demons. To think that so many Elves fell under our watch...we were careless. No one expected the Abyss to strike so deeply into the heart of the forest."

Her eyes met his. The fading orange light of the sunset was reflected in his clear pupils.

Kazuki finally spoke the question Miya had wanted to ask all this time.

"Don't you want to know what I did just now? I am sure there are a lot of questions in your head right now regarding me."

Miya's expression was replaced by a brooding frown.

Kazuki waiting patiently, giving Miya as much time as she need.

Finally, she revealed a soft smile.

"You know, when I first saw you Kazuki, I knew you were different. That your origins were not so simple. But, even though I had my suspicions at first, you never once gave me the impression that you were out to harm us. When I first saw you, something, somewhere in my heart told me to believe in my feelings. And my feelings for you are true. Even if I find out something different, that won't change. It won't affect my feelings for the man I fell in love with..." Miya spoke her words with clarity.

Miya looked up as she continued.

"You are not from this world...Am I right, Kazuki?"

She tilted her head slightly as Kazuki revealed a wry smile and he scratched his cheeks awkwardly, looking for the right words to say.

"I kinda guessed it but...you really knew, huh?"

Kazuki had always wondered why Miya treated him the way she did when they first met. Even though the other Elves had been hostile towards him, Miya instead had a look which was a mixture of shock and understanding, as though she had expected him all this time.

Laughing a little, Miya nodded her head as she explained.

"Long ago, when I was young, I received a message from the Moon God. He told me that one day, a man from another world would descend upon the Land Of Dawn. That man would possess a strange power and he would be the one to save this world from the clutches of the Abyss..."

Miya whispered the next few words in her heart as various emotions swelled inside.

And not only save this world...but my own heart as well...

Kazuki sighed as he looked up at the sky. Now that Miya already knew, he decided to be truthful to the girl who fell in love with him.

"Yeah, I did come from another world..." However, before Kazuki could explain further, Miya placed a finger on his lips.

"Its ok, you don't need to explain it to me. I have faith in the man I fell in love with. There is no need to explain everything to me yet. When the time is right, naturally, everything will be revealed as well. There is no need to rush." Miya slowly removed her finger from Kazuki's lips as she recalled Estes words.

[Miya, as the Elven King, it is my duty to protect my people, including you. One day, I'm sure you will understand the meaning of those words. You will surely grow up to be a fine woman. And, when that day comes, you will also meet the boy who will not only protect you, but love you with all his heart as well.]

As Estes words resonated within her, Miya once again looked at Kazuki as she reaffirmed her feelings for him. Kazuki, who understood Miya's intention, held her hand in his as they stared into each other's eyes, their faces drawing closer with each passing second.

However, their touching moment was short-lived.

BOOM!

Miya turned her head in the direction of the explosion. Kazuki followed suit as he concentrated, focusing his acute senses.

[This is...]

Kazuki's face turned serious. He could sense various presences...each belonging to a different race.

This wasn't just a mere probe or raiding party.

This was a full-scale war.

Miya raised her voice as she saw the fire in the distance.

"The forest..." Her hand was soon gripped firmly by Kazuki as she looked at him. Their eyes reached a mutual understanding without any words.

***

Nodding at the same time, Kazuki grasped Miya's hand as the two headed off into battle.