Chapter 14

Melfroy suddenly found himself standing in the midst of forest, he immediately feels the Winter's cold embrace like a thousand icy fingers gripping his body, making him long for the warmth of a cozy fire.

As Melfroy walked through the wintry forest, he couldn't ignore the hollow and lifeless tree in the surrounding. It was a bleak reminder of the dying nature, and it filled him with a sense of foreboding. Melfroy notice a big tree in front of him, its twisted branches seemed to reach out in a cold embrace, evoking a feeling of death and loneliness in someone's heart.

Melfroy notice a small figure, a little boy, in its hollow bark, the figure is huddled himself as the frozen fingers of winter assaulted his body, his arms wrapped tightly around himself as he tried to shake off the cold.

The little boy's face was covered with a bandage that wrapped around his head, leaving only his eyes visible. His clothes were tattered, and he wore only a jacket over a hole-filled pair of pants. Melfroy could see that the boy had no shoes, only a slipper on his feet, despite the cold and rough terrain they were in.

As Melfroy looked into the boy's eyes, he saw a sense of emptiness and despair. It was as if the boy had lost something crucial in his life, something that he could never get back. The unfocused look in the boys eyes only added to the loneliness that the boy felt.

Any normal elf would help the boy as it is their instinct to protect the little one, especially if there is an elven blood coursing through the child's vein even though everything is fake, just a projection of memory, but Melfroy is different, he just stood there staring and waiting at the boy. the usual mischievous and playful faces that he displays are nowehere to be seen, instead there were no emotion of his face as he saw little Turpis who seemed about to die.

As time ticked away, little Turpis remained still and motionless, the sound of his breathing could be barely heard. Melfroy then saw a little kitten passed by in front of the boy, its pitiful condition matching that of the young boy. Its fur was patchy and thin, and its body seemed to be made entirely of bones, with no flesh to be seen. The kitten stumbled as it walked, eventually collapsing to the ground.

Melfroy watched intently as Turpis slowly crawled towards the kitten, his movements unsteady and weak. Melfroy couldn't help but think about the harsh reality of the world they lived in, where survival was a constant struggle. He thought that Turpis would eat the kitten, as it is the logical thing to do.

But as Turpis reached the kitten, his little hand reached out to touch its head gently. and slowly and carefully he embrace the cat in his arms.

Melfroy frown, as Turpis held the kitten, but he noticed that the boy's eyes had become more focused, as if he had found it's fellow companion, or maybe a purpose of his life.

As little Turpis walked back to its hollow tree, Melfroy heard him whispered "don't worry you won't be alone".

little Turpis couldn't help but smile as the cat responded with a soft meow, seeming to understand the boy's kind words. It was clear that Turpis had a kind heart, despite the harshness of his world.

Worried and determined, Turpis's face showed his concern for the cat's wellbeing. The feline appeared weak and didn't seem to be getting better. With a sense of urgency, Turpis took off his jacket, exposing his own unpleasant skin and malnourished body to the harsh element of winter chill, and carefully wrapped it around the cat to keep it warm. Despite the shivers running through his own body, Turpis remained steadfast, knowing that he had to do everything he could to keep the little creature alive.

Melfroy's gaze immediately softened as he observed Turpis' unwavering determination to keep the feline alive. He couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for the young boy's selflessness and compassion. As Turpis carefully covered the cat with his jacket, Melfroy couldn't help but notice the kindness and warmth in the boy's eyes. It was a rare sight to see in the harsh and unforgiving world they lived in.

Melfroy felt a sudden sense of disorientation as the scene before him was shrouded in a thick fog. He blinked several times, hoping to clear his vision, but the darkness persisted.

*****

As Melfroy regained consciousness in the realworld he saw that Turpis is oozing with blood, 'is it about his human blood?' he wonder in thought as normally if an elf initiates his apprenticeship it doesnt have this much reaction.

Just when Melfroy thought that all was lost, he saw the symbols and runes that he had drawn on Turpis' side began to crawl towards his student. They moved with a life of their own, like a pack of hungry tigers who had not eaten for months. The symbols and runes covered Turpis' body, wrapping around him like a cocoon.

As these symbols began to position in Turpis body, they crawled on his skin, seemingly searching for a place to settle. Melfroy knew that this was the most crucial part of the process - the moment when the symbols and runes would merge with Turpis's body.

With bated breath, he waited as the symbols found their place, sinking deep into Turpis's skin. Melfroy could see that Turpis was in pain, but he knew that this was necessary for his plan to work.

When he thought that its finally over, the symbols and runes outside the circle also began to move towards Turpis.

Melfroy frowned as he watched the symbols and runes outside the circle slowly crawl towards Turpis. He had never seen anything like this before, and it was certainly not part of his plan. The runes were meant to be a stable force for the ceremony and to solidify their relationship, not something to etched on a soul.

Melfroys eyes immediately began to turn violet as he peer through Turpis soul, 'Shit' he was shocked at what he saw and immediately get ready to cancel the ceremony if a sign of corruption occured.

But to his surprised Turpis soul is super stable, 'interesting' he thought as curiosity and mischievousness flash in his eyes.