CHAPTER 3: The Forest Encounter

That morning, Ardyn walked along the forest path with Kael, Rian, and Nolan. The sun was still low in the sky, casting a soft light on the trees around them. However, Ardyn's mood wasn't as bright as the morning. His face looked gloomy, and his eyes had lost their usual sparkle.

"Ardyn, what's wrong? You've been so quiet today," asked Kael, his cousin, with a concerned tone.

"Yeah, you're usually the most excited one when we go to the forest," added Rian, trying to probe further.

Ardyn just shook his head, trying to dispel the shadows of a nightmare that had haunted him last night. That dream, the voice that sounded like his brother's, still echoed in his mind. The words—"your fate is filled with sorrow, loneliness, and suffering"—felt too real to ignore.

"I'm just... a bit tired," Ardyn finally replied, attempting to sound casual.

Nolan, usually the quiet one, glanced at Ardyn with concern. "If something's bothering you, you know we're here to listen."

Ardyn gave a faint smile in response, but the unease in his heart didn't dissipate. They continued their journey, an unusual silence enveloping them. Until suddenly, the sound of rumbling came from within the forest, breaking the morning calm.

Ardyn sharpened his senses, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the sound. Not far from them, an elf child was running in panic, chased by a group of hobgoblins. Ardyn quickly realized the imminent danger.

Hobgoblins, large creatures with dark green skin, were known to live in packs. They were usually led by one stronger and smarter hobgoblin, with the rest as loyal followers. Their presence often signaled danger, especially for anyone venturing into their territory unprepared.

The elf child, seemingly around Ardyn's age, kept running, fear evident in his eyes. He was panting heavily, sweat dripping down his temples, and his face was pale with terror. Ardyn observed from a distance, sensing the mana rippling through the air, indicating that the enemy was drawing closer. Without wasting time, he prepared himself. His instincts, honed through rigorous training with Kael, told him this was more than just a minor threat.

Across from them, ten hobgoblins emerged from the dense foliage. They were big and muscular, with sharp fangs jutting out of their drooling mouths. But what made Ardyn more cautious was their leader—a hobgoblin twice as large as the others, with dark green skin and eyes radiating a fiery aura. This hobgoblin wielded fire magic, something rarely seen among their kind.

"No time to waste," muttered Ardyn, his eyes fixed on the enemy. He could hear the pulse of blood in his ears, his heart pounding faster, but his mind remained calm.

Ardyn raised his hand to the air, sensing the water element around him. He focused his concentration, and soon, moisture from the ground and the atmosphere began gathering in his hand. The water droplets formed a swirling liquid orb. But he didn't stop there. He shifted his stance, stepping back slightly to stabilize himself as his left hand summoned lightning from the clear sky.

"Water and lightning combination," he thought. "This should be strong enough."

Within seconds, he directed the combined attack straight at the hobgoblin followers. The high-speed water enveloped their bodies, while the accompanying lightning struck them with lethal force. One by one, the hobgoblins convulsed violently, the electricity coursing through their bodies damaging their internal organs before they collapsed to the ground—lifeless.

However, the hobgoblin leader stood firm among the fallen members of its pack, a sinister grin on its face. "Is that all you've got?" its voice was raspy but filled with confidence. Flames erupted from its hands, the red fire easily spreading, setting the dry leaves beneath it ablaze.

Ardyn gritted his teeth. "This is going to be tougher than I thought."

The giant hobgoblin moved quickly, far faster than its bulky appearance suggested. Ardyn barely had time to dodge as the hobgoblin swung its flame-covered fist toward his face. He jumped back, feeling the searing heat as the punch narrowly missed him.

"Fire, huh?" Ardyn murmured, trying to assess the situation.

The hobgoblin prepared a second attack. Its left hand, also cloaked in flames, struck the ground. A large fireball formed and was hurled directly at Ardyn. This time, Ardyn didn't retreat. He swiftly raised his hand, creating a water wall in front of him. The fireball collided with the water, evaporating into a thick cloud of steam.

Ardyn saw this as an opportunity. He leaped out from behind the steam, aiming lightning from his hand with perfect precision. The lightning bolt streaked through the air, but before it could hit the hobgoblin, the creature smashed the ground with its fist, creating an explosion of fire that tore through the earth, deflecting Ardyn's attack.

"Clever beast," Ardyn grumbled. But he didn't stop. The hobgoblin was strong and well-trained in using fire, but Ardyn wasn't deterred.

With a deep breath, Ardyn changed his strategy. He drew water from the surrounding ground, forming a water column that coiled around his body, then infused it with lightning. His body shimmered, encased in a vortex of water and electricity crackling in the air.

"All right, time to finish this," he thought. Moving faster than before, he dashed toward the hobgoblin. The creature was caught off guard, unprepared for Ardyn's sudden speed. Ardyn unleashed his attack. The vortex of water charged with electricity engulfed the hobgoblin's massive frame, piercing through its defenses.

The hobgoblin howled in agony as the electrified water infiltrated its body. Its entire form shuddered violently, burned from the inside, and before it could retaliate any further, it finally collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

Ardyn stood, catching his breath. He was exhausted, but he had won. He looked at the fallen hobgoblin before him, realizing just how powerful the enemy had been.

After ensuring the area was safe, Ardyn turned toward the elf child who was still hiding behind the trees. "You're safe now," he said gently, though his heart was still pounding.

The elf child stepped out slowly, his face still filled with fear, but there was a glimmer of awe in his eyes as he looked at Ardyn, who had just defeated the terrifying creature.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice trembling but full of gratitude.

Ardyn simply nodded, his gaze fixed on the battlefield that had just ended.

As the last hobgoblin fell, Kael, Rian, and Nolan finally arrived. They found Ardyn standing amidst the battleground, breathing heavily, while the elf child sat weakly on the ground, injured.

"What happened here?" asked Kael worriedly, looking around.

"I had to help," Ardyn replied, still panting, pointing toward the elf child.

Elysia, the elf child, began crying from the pain of her injuries during the escape. Ardyn, drained from using too much mana, dropped to his knees beside her. The four of them then carried Elysia to the village, where she immediately received treatment from the local healer.

That night, after a brief introduction, Elysia was allowed to stay at Ardyn's house. Although she was initially hesitant, Elysia had no other choice. The gentle face of Eladra, Ardyn's aunt, and Ardyn's own warmth made her feel slightly more at ease. The night sky began to darken, with stars shining brightly above the quiet village.

Inside the house, the warmth from the fireplace spread throughout the room. The simple oak dining table was now filled with food prepared by Eladra—warm vegetable soup, fresh bread, and a bit of meat roasted with herbs.

"Please, Elysia. Take whatever you like," Eladra said with a warm smile, offering her a plate. "You should eat well after such a long journey."

Elysia looked at the food in front of her somewhat awkwardly, but her stomach couldn't deny the hunger she had felt for so long. "Thank you, Aunt Eladra," she replied, taking some bread and a few vegetables.

Eladra chuckled softly. "Just call me Aunt Eladra, no need for formalities."

Ardyn, sitting across from Elysia, watched her with great interest. Since their meeting in the forest, Ardyn had sensed that there was something different about this girl. Although they weren't far apart in age, Elysia seemed to possess an unusual magical power, not to mention how she avoided answering too many questions about herself.

After a moment of silence, Eladra, curious, started a conversation.

"Elysia," she said softly, her eyes watching her gently, "why were you in the forest alone? It's a dangerous place, especially for a young girl like you."

Elysia paused for a moment. Eladra's voice was soft and full of concern, but the question hit at the heart of the lie she had prepared. She couldn't tell them the truth. She lowered her gaze, playing with a piece of bread in her hands before finally answering in a quiet tone.

"I... I was actually training, under the guidance of my teacher," Elysia replied carefully. "But I got lost, and accidentally ran into that hobgoblin."

Ardyn studied Elysia's movements. That answer sounded strange to him. He knew the forest was far too dangerous for something as simple as training, especially for a girl alone. But he chose not to press any further, at least for now.

"Training?" Ardyn asked, trying to show interest without cornering her. "Are you learning magic too?"

Elysia nodded quickly, "Yes, I'm learning Plant magic... and a bit of Water magic."

"Plant magic? No wonder you seemed so calm in the forest." Ardyn smiled faintly, trying to lighten the mood. "But that forest really isn't a place for anyone who gets lost. Lucky for you, you met me before that hobgoblin could catch you."

"That's right," Eladra added, her tone filled with concern. "The forest around this village is full of dangers. The hobgoblin that attacked you earlier wasn't the only threat. I always warn Ardyn to be careful every time he goes out to train."

Elysia nodded slowly, though there was an unspoken unease in her heart. She knew her lie was only temporary. Ardyn and his aunt seemed like good people, but she wasn't ready to open up about the real reason she had been in that forest. Running away from the palace wasn't something she could share just like that.

They continued eating in silence for a while, the only sounds being the clink of utensils on plates and the crackling of the fire in the hearth. After finishing their meal, Eladra stood up and began clearing the table.

"You can rest in the guest room tonight, Elysia," Eladra said, smiling. "I'll prepare an extra bed for you. Ardyn, please help Elysia find her room."

Ardyn nodded and stood up from the table. "Come on, follow me," he said, gesturing for Elysia to follow him. They walked down a small wooden hallway toward Ardyn's room at the end of the house. The room was simple but warm, with a large wooden bed in the center and a small window overlooking the forest outside.

"You can sleep here. I'll get some extra blankets if you need them," Ardyn said, pointing to the bed. "Don't worry, this room stays warm at night."

Elysia nodded, still feeling a bit awkward. "Thank you, Ardyn. Sorry for the trouble."

"Ah, it's no trouble. You're safe now," Ardyn replied, his voice softer than before.

After ensuring that Elysia was comfortable, Ardyn left the room and headed to his own, which was next door. He lay down on his bed, but his mind kept wandering. The encounter with Elysia made him think about many things—who was this girl really? And why was she alone in the forest?

Not long after, exhaustion took over his body. Ardyn closed his eyes, but the nightmares he had experienced the previous night still haunted him. Yet, fatigue eventually led him into a deep sleep.

In the room next door, Elysia also lay down on the bed, trying to calm her restless mind. She lay still, staring at the wooden ceiling above her, thinking about all that she had been through. That night felt so long, but at least, for the moment, she was safe.