Old Elf

"Actually, where do you know this Old Elf from Jing Lung?"

Gu Do's questions filled them as they walked through the forest a bit deep. Due to insufficient lighting, Jing Lung didn't want to jump like a frog between tree trunks. Even though the moonlight tonight looks very bright, he doesn't want to risk being met by other Elf creatures and then being intercepted by Arintis because Flinch looks wild in their forests. Jing Lung knew that the Celena forest was very orderly and sacred.

It was only natural that the Arintis wanted to keep their forest from being overtaken by the Flinch.

"Do you remember the internship graduation exam two years ago? An old Elf who was kidnapped by the Folix because he was furious that he couldn't break through the Shield of Light managed to survive the Folix Hole?"

"I know. But I never really found out. How do you know he lives near Celena Forest?"

Jing Lung's eyes narrowed with pride. "Now you see, right? The difference between me and you. It's only natural that you weren't elected chairman of Flinch. Your knowledge of bad news is below average. I know the place from Flinch who likes to gossip."

Gu Do sighed. "Okay, I admit it. But what if we come there and the person is already dead?"

"At least we tried, right? I don't want to disappoint Han Zhong anyway. However, even though I disagree with his suggestion that the baby of the Dark God's messenger be preserved and allowed to live like a normal child, we never predict the future. What if the child becomes terrible and kills all the people in the village? But then again, I'm entrusting all of that to Han Zhong and his sixth sense. He's a dragon child, who can take that lightly."

"Hm, I also agree on that matter. Grandpa Trixon must have done the same. But… don't you think we're lost in this forest? Someone says the Celena Forest is famous for trees that can talk to themselves and laugh at outsiders who don't know them?"

"This is not the Celena Forest. We're at the edge of the Bluelit Forest."

"How do you know?"

Gu Do looked amazed. That's how it should be. For Jing Lung, who already knew the characteristics of the forest in the Celena Woodlands, it was easy for him. Jing Lung pointed at the moon above the sky.

"If we were in the Celena Forest, we wouldn't be able to see the moon this bright. Celena's forests were very dense and they even covered the sky with their thick branches. The Celena Forest has only one place to look up at the night sky. For the Elves, looking at the moon is a sacred thing. They believed that the Moon Goddess was very great. So no one should look at her carelessly. Ah, anyway, if you want me to explain it, it's very complicated. You have to study in your first year as Flinch chairman. Or become a dragon child so that your knowledge can be as level as Trixon's grandfather."

Their footsteps dragged among the weeds and tree roots that lay on the ground. Although the Celena Forest does sound very sacred, it is actually very beautiful. Just imagining pictures in history books, Jing Lung believes that the forest does have many secrets that cannot be entered by just anyone.

"Doesn't that sound a little scary? The forest will look dark even during the day," Gu Do said with a shudder. For the Flinch who live in the sky—the top of the mountain that greets the sun every day, it must feel like being trapped when they enter a forest area like this.

"Of course. Many of the young Flinches who come here like to get lost. But lucky you came with me. I've been to this area before. Their flavored drinks are perfect for me," Jing Lung said with a grin. Gu Do just shook his head in understanding. Even though he was only seven years old, he already liked all kinds of flavored drinks like an adult. But Gu Do couldn't blame him either. After all, Jing Lung was smarter and clever than other Flinch of his age.

After walking through the Bluelit forest, they met several tree-dwelling animals. Peach bear, some tree frogs and moonbird. They all couldn't speak. Just stared at Jing Lung's silver hair in silence and let the two traverse the Bluelit forest without seeing him as an enemy.

If it was the Abyss who entered this area, perhaps the Arintis would have fought back first.

Outside the Bluelit forest, there was a river that circled the edge of the forest. Bounding it with a field across the river. Right not far from there, a simple hut with orange light appeared from a distance. Gu Do poked Jing Lung.

"What is that hut?"

Jing Lung's eyes sharpened, he looked at the front of the hut. The moonlight that illuminates a white stone in front of the house answered everything. Jing Lung's heart instantly rejoiced. He patted Gu Do to come over to him.

The hut is semicircular. With some dry straw piled on top of it, the door of the hut did not close. From inside came the sound of someone boiling something. While outside the hut some sticks stuck in the ground and then made to hang a sign of strong winds. A bonfire stood quietly. With the sound of the wood breaking several times.

Jing Lung approached the hut warily. With all these activities, he could confirm that the Old Elf should still be staying here. Reportedly this Old Elf was indeed not welcome at Celena Woodlands. Because of his status that once entered the Folix Hole, making the Minister exile him from there. But apart from that, actually, isn't that a little cruel? Sometimes Jing Lung doesn't understand the rules of adults.

"What's in there?" Gu Do asked in a slight whisper. His face was exposed to the light of the bonfire. Jing Lung glanced inside the door. There were no windows in the hut. Jing Lung held the tip of his sheathed sword. He glanced at Gu Do.

"You stay outside. I'll check inside."

Gu Do nodded. Then Jing Lung slowly entered the hut. As he stood in the doorway, he thought he would find Old Elf enjoying his supper soup, but the narrow room was empty. There was only one wooden bed in the corner of the hut with a table and a stove still burning. Jing Lung frowned in confusion.

No one in there.

He went back outside, about to report it to Gu Do, maybe the Old Elf was out for a while. But when he returned to the front of the hut and broadened his gaze…

Gu Do was nowhere to be found.

***