Towards the elven kingdom of Alferusia III

[POV ERIC]

Ah, I almost died once again.

The arrow shot out suddenly, almost hitting my head. I hadn't noticed its presence at all. Perhaps it was so far away that my senses and instincts were unable to detect the presence of someone attacking us.

I felt my adrenaline surge as the sound of the arrow whizzed over my head. Quick as lightning, I crouched down and clung to the ground, trying to calm myself from the sudden tension.

"Ah!... Stop!!!" Bella's shout echoed in my ears. With unexpected courage, she ran forward, blocking all the attackers with her small body.

I quickly corrected my posture, trying to stay calm even though my heart was still racing. I took a deep breath, looking at Bella who stood firmly in front of us, trying to protect us both. 

With Bella's shout, once again the atmosphere became quiet and controlled. The tension in the air slowly subsided, leaving only the sound of the swishing wind and rustling leaves whispering around us.

Soon, there was the sound of footsteps approaching. I watched closely, my muscles tense ready to react if needed. The figure approached, its silhouette emerging from behind the shady trees.

Bella and I could clearly see the figure of a graceful adult female elf, with a firm posture and fluid movements. She had an alluring beauty, with long silver-coloured hair flowing softly over her shoulders. The light iron armour she wore glistened in the sunlight that streamed through the cracks in the leaves, giving an impression of both strength and toughness. Her emerald green eyes emphasised a combination of alertness and calm, showing that she was not only a warrior, but also a guardian.

"PRINCESS!!!" the elven woman shouted suddenly, immediately approaching Bella with a look on her face that reflected both deep sadness and relief. Her tone of voice reflected how important Bella was to her.

Likewise, Bella who initially flinched, but immediately her face softened and was full of compassion. "Sis Naura!!!" she exclaimed with emotion, running towards the elf woman.

They hugged each other tightly, tears of happiness flowing down Bella's cheeks. Naura, the elven woman wearing light iron armor, looked at Bella with teary eyes. "I was so worried about you, Princess. We were all looking for you."

Bella smiled, her eyes glowing with genuine happiness. "I missed you too, Sister Naura."

I stood to the side, feeling a little awkward but happy to see Bella meet the person who mattered to her. The atmosphere turned warmer and more hopeful, leaving behind the tension that had been haunting us.

Naura then released her embrace and faced me, her eyes turning into a sharp glint of caution. It was as if an invisible wall had suddenly built up between us.

"Eh..." Bella was a little surprised, taking a step back because Naura turned her back as if protecting her from me. Her shock was clearly visible on her face, her lips parted wordlessly.

"And you! Tell me who you are and what you did to the Princess!!!" Naura's voice sounded firm and full of authority, leaving no room for argument. She immediately raised her hand, summoning several other bodyguards who appeared from behind the trees, each ready with their weapons.

The situation suddenly changed drastically, creating a thick tension in the air. Bella looked confused and anxious, while I felt pressured by this unexpected change. I wanted so badly to shout that I wasn't human, that I was just like them, an elf. However, I knew that if I acted tough, the situation would only get worse.

Hey, I'm not a human you know! I'm just like you elves!!! I wanted to say that out loud, but I restrained myself. Judging from the look in Naura's eyes and the attitude of her guards, it was clear that they were looking at me with suspicion and hostility.

I raised my hand slowly, showing that I had no bad intentions. "My name is Eric. I found Bella in a threatened state and helped her. We're just trying to reach Alferusia safely," I said, trying to keep my voice calm and reassuring.

Naura didn't react immediately, her eyes remained sharp, assessing my every move and word. I could feel the pressure from the gazes of the bodyguards who were ready to attack at any sign of danger.

Bella took a step forward, trying to approach Naura with eyes full of sincerity and hope. "Naura, please, he didn't mean any harm. Eric saved me and helped me along this journey," her voice was soft but full of determination.

Naura let out a long sigh, the look on her face showing a great burden of responsibility. "Sorry, Princess, but the situation in the palace is tense. Even I, the queen's bodyguard, had to step in to lead the reconnaissance troops," she said in a serious and firm tone, showing how precarious the situation in the palace was.

Bella did not give up. Her eyes sparkled with passion and conviction. "But she's not a threat at all!!!" she protested in an increasingly strong, almost desperate voice. Bella looked at Naura in the hope that her words would convince this loyal bodyguard.

Naura looked at Bella with affection, but also with a heavy sense of responsibility. "Princess, I understand your concern. However, in a situation like this, we can't take even the slightest risk. We have to be careful," she replied, trying to calm Bella down while still maintaining a wary attitude towards me.

I stood still, feeling the tension mounting between them. Every second that passed felt so slow, as if time itself was waiting for a decision to be made. I didn't want to make the situation more difficult for Bella, especially with the emotional burden she was clearly feeling.

"Alright, you can tie my hands," I said in a resigned tone, indicating that I was willing to cooperate in order to reduce the tension.

"NO! Eric! You're innocent!! How can I show my face again if I leave you like this?" Bella yelled with eyes sparkling with tears as she turned to me from behind Naura's body. Her voice was trembling with a mixture of fear and anger.

I could only smile at her sincerity and innocence. "It's okay, Bella. I understand the difficult situation our race is going through. Let them check me out," I said in a calm and understanding voice.

Naura looked at me more carefully, her eyes that had been full of suspicion began to soften a little. She realized the sincerity behind my words and Bella's genuine concern.

"Princess, we must ensure your safety. Eric, thank you for your understanding," Naura said finally, motioning for the guards to approach. They came carefully, ready to bind my hands with ropes made of natural fibers, strong yet painless.

As they tied my hands, Bella looked at me with deep guilt. "Eric, I'm so sorry. I didn't want this to happen," she said in a trembling voice.

I shook my head while still smiling. "No need to feel guilty, Bella. Your safety is the most important thing. I'll be fine," I replied, trying to reassure and calm her down.

With my hands bound, we continued our journey to Alferusia. Although the atmosphere was still tense, there was a growing mutual understanding between us. Naura and the guards remained vigilant, but Bella's sincerity and my efforts to cooperate made the tension ease a little.

As we walked towards the capital, there was only silence that enveloped our journey. The sound of our footsteps and the slow gallop of the horses were the only sounds heard in the dense forest. Guards surrounded me, making sure I remained under close watch. Bella, on the other hand, was separated from the group and specially transported in a horse-drawn carriage to the palace. I could see the carriage slowly moving away, taking Bella in a different direction, towards a safer and more comfortable place.

I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I felt relieved that Bella would soon be in a safe place. However, on the other hand, my heart felt heavy because I had to face a different fate. I knew I would be taken to prison for interrogation. It was ironic that they considered an eight-year-old like me a criminal.

Despite this, I had to endure feelings of frustration and anger. If I acted violently or tried to fight back, it would only bring great harm to me. Fighting an army of well-trained bodyguards was far different from fighting wild animals in the forest.