Meeting with Ni'Lim

Walking through the open door, I found myself in a small room where a dark elf sat at a table, dressed in simple clothes that emphasized her figure.

Her black hair was tied in a ponytail and the end fell from her shoulders, from her gaze I could see that she was assessing me, rising from her seat and pointing with her hand to the chair standing next to her, inviting me to sit down.

- My name is Veliona and I am the major of the city guard of this city. - The dark elf turned to me in a melodious quiet voice. - They described you differently to me, Stufon Trey.

Realizing that Major Veliona was referring to my changed appearance, I just grinned at her words, looking from her to the room, I saw a dark mace that reminded me of the weapon of one knight of the Kray Empire who disappeared a couple of years ago.

- My wounds were received in the forest, so no one saw them except my servant and the girls I brought. - I answered thoughtfully while examining the weapon. - Is the mace yours or does it have another owner?

Following my gaze, the dark elf smiled slightly and rose from her chair and walked around the table and approached the mace.

Taking the weapon in her hands and making several movements with her hand to show that she was good with this weapon, she put it down again and looked at me with interest.

- Have I answered your strange question? - The dark elf asked in a melodious quiet voice. - The baron of these lands gave it to me when I refused to have intimacy with him.

Trying not to pay attention to the words that the major emphasized when she spoke, I thought about how the disappearance of a knight of the Kray Empire and a local baron could be connected when the empire was far from these lands. With her hands folded together, emphasizing her breasts, Velion continued to examine me.

- Thank you for your answer, the weapon reminded me of the warrior who saved my village when I was little. - I said in a quiet voice in which I hoped Veliona would hear the pain of the memories. - I managed to save some girls, but there are also those who are more dead than alive.

While telling the story about the savior of my village, I tried to find the reason why the knight of the Kray Empire ended up in these lands and why the emperor and empress did not try to find information.

- You managed to lead the rescued girls back through the forest and you're not trying to flirt with me. - The dark elf turned to me, laughing quietly and returning back to the table, her gaze changed to a calmer one. - Either you are stupid or my beauty is nothing compared to those with whom you are in a relationship.

Smiling at her words, it was clear how she was trying to find the reason why I did not react to her behavior.

- I'm a simple stufon and as you noticed my face is no longer particularly pretty. - Answering the dark elf, I ran my hand over the burned part of my face.

Velion's eyes narrowed and it was clear she wanted to say something, but she changed her mind and leaned back.

- Among the survivors is a human girl named Auel? - The major asked, hope was audible in her voice. - On the way back, did you meet a light elf in guard armor?

Observing the behavior of the dark elf, I was surprised that she did not ask the reason for my delay, but immediately began asking about Aueli and Ru'Eli

- Of those girls who can speak with that name, there seems to be no one, you can check with my servant, she communicated with them more. - Answering Velion's question, I saw how, at the mention of the servant, interest reappeared in her gaze. - On the way back we met only monsters and animals; we didn't see any guards until the city itself. Did you send someone to help us?

I tried to give my voice and appearance a thoughtfulness that I was trying to remember a girl with that name and about a possible guard that we would meet on the way back to the city.

- Let's hope that she is alive, no, he left his post without permission and we think he could go into the forest in search of you and the bandit camp. - Major Veliona answered with a sigh. - Professor Ni'Lim will arrive with her and Captain Alur will be with her, he is the girl's father.

I looked at the dark elf in surprise, I knew from Ru'El that she was in the city, but I shouldn't have known about it.

Seeing that the dark elf's gaze had not changed and mentally thanking the light elf, we waited for Professor Ni'Lim to arrive, accompanied by father Aueli.

- You Stufon Tray will still need to visit the mercenary guild to complete the task. - The dark elf said thoughtfully, listening to the steps in the corridor. - Most likely your professor and captain Alur are approaching the door. I ask you not to talk about the fate of his daughter until we know for sure whether she is alive or not.

Nodding understandingly to her request not to talk about Aueli's fate, I heard the door open and Professor Ni'Lim walked through it.

She was dressed in ordinary gray pants and a short T-shirt that exposed her stomach; a short sword was visible on her belt.

Her wandering gaze around the room shifted from me to the dark elf who silently watched as a satisfied smile appeared on the professor's face.

- Stufon Trey, you have changed noticeably, it's hard to recognize the half-elf who came to my lesson in you. - She spoke in a cheerful voice and leaned towards me looking into my eyes.

When I wanted to get up, she put her hand on my shoulder, not allowing me to get up, it was difficult for me to understand what the dark elf meant; I had doubts that she meant my appearance.

- Yes, now you have experience in fighting in the forest not only with robbers but also with the inhabitants of the forest. - Continuing to examine me, Ni'Lim said in a quiet voice. - Now you have not only strength, but also confidence in your abilities, you can see it in your eyes.

Pulling away from me, Professor Ni'Lim turned her gaze to the lost Major Veliona, who was looking from me to the professor.

- Now my vacation has come to an end, it's time to return to the stufon Trey Academy. - Ni'Lim turned to me with a smile on her face.

Watching her smile, I felt that upon my return to the academy, my training with her would resume with even greater force.

At that moment, I was glad that she did not know that I now had my own style of wielding a sword.

- Wait, Professor Ni'Lim, your stufon still needs to complete tasks in the mercenary guild. - The voice of Major Veliona was heard, who was still trying to understand what had just happened. - And if the council of magicians has no other questions, your stufon will be able to return back to the academy.

Turning her gaze to the speaking Velion, who, under the cheerful gaze of Ni'Lim, felt suffocated and fell silent.

- Well, if there is a need to go to the mercenary guild, we will go there now with stufon Trey. - Ni'Lim turned to the major, who began to regret that she decided to talk to the professor. - By the way, where is your servant stufon Trey?

Sighing and glancing at the major, I told what happened to the girls and that Keirin, as I thought, wanted to contact her parents, listening to me, the dark elf nodded thoughtfully.

- I doubt that she will be able to persuade the queen and king to send those in the know here. - Professor Ni'Lim said thoughtfully. - If they agree, you will owe them and not Keirin, who is your servant, do you understand?

It was clear to me what the dark elf was leading to; rulers would never do anything without benefit for themselves. Now I had doubts that they would be able to demand something from me.

- I understand if Keirin is sure that these knowledgeable light elves can help the girls owe the king and queen of the light elves the lesser of two evils. - I said with a grin, shrugging my shoulders. - As long as I am a simple stufon, they will cherish my debt to them.

The professor looked at me knowingly and then turned her gaze to Major Veliona, who looked at the professor and me in disbelief.

- Let's go get Keirin and go to the mercenary guild. - Ni'Lim spoke in a strange voice. - Farewell Major Velion.

Leaving the room where the silent dark elf was sitting, I saw a man who reminded me of Auel. He was dressed in guard armor; his gaze wandered along the corridor in search of someone; hope was visible in that gaze.

Seeing us, he turned his gaze to me and examined me carefully; it was clear that he was trying to restrain himself so as not to ask questions about his daughter. but he held back in every possible way.

- Stufon Trey is Captain Alur who will accompany us. - Introducing us to each other, the dark elf walked further, leaving us alone. - He is concerned about the fate of his daughter, who may have been in the camp where you were.

Extending my hand towards Father Aueli, I noticed that he was surprised by my action. Has anything changed while I was in the forest? Seeing how my face began to change, Alur extended his hand, squeezing mine.

- Sorry, Stufon Trey, I still can't get used to the fact that you and Professor Ni'Lim are different from other magicians I've met. - When addressing me, I saw how nervous he was. - Tell me honestly, was my daughter in the camp? As Professor Ni'Lim said, my daughter's name is Auel.