Darkness everywhere
I hear someone talking. Sound of a child
"When will he wake up?" someone asked.
'It's not Liora.' I realized.
"Should we inform the elves?" another voice asked.
I rubbed my eyes.
"Look—he's waking up!" a new voice cried.
I slowly opened my eyes as light showed me the world around us.
In front of me was a remarkably small creature, only the size of my finger. It looked almost human, but with wings—delicate, like a dragonfly's. It wore a single-piece brown garment and had no shoes. The creature hovered very close to my face.
'Too close.' I thought.
"Do all of you humans sleep for so long?" the little being asked.
'I thought it was a human so I ignored these small creatures. Are they Faries?' I thought, trying to make sense of my surroundings.
"How can I help you?" I asked.
"You can speak." The fairy stepped back and joined a small cluster of others, giving me a cautious distance. "I am Windveil, a high-level wind spirit." she announced.
'Oh, they're spirit. Are spirits and Faries different?' I thought, curious.
"Do you want to make a contract with me?" Windveil asked.
"HEY—WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU NOT SCARED OF WHAT SYLPH WILL DO WHEN SHE HEARS THIS?" another spirit shouted.
"She already has a contractor. Why would she care?" Windveil snapped.
"Are you seriously asking that? She can break a contract any time she wants. She's a Queen spirit." the other voice retorted.
Windveil pouted like a child. "Ugh… I don't care. I FOUND HIM FIRST. I'll make the contract."
"Are you sure you can handle Slyph?" the other spirit pressed. Windveil said nothing, only pouted harder.
"And it was Selis who found him first." the spirit continued.
'Are they talking about the small one silently standing behind her?' I glanced around and tried to sense the air.
'I can sense multiple spirits, but they're standing a little farther away from us.' I concluded.
"Selis, go. You should ask first." the spirit urged the one behind her.
"But what about S—Slyph?" the small voice stammered, a tremor of fear in it.
"It's fine. I'll ask El to speak to her." the other replied.
A tiny figure—blue hair, white clothes, sky-blue wings—hovered forward slowly. She seemed nervous, hands fluttering at her sides. "Um… Uh… I'm Sel…is… I—I'm a high-level water spirit. Do you wan—t to make contract with… m-me?" she asked, voice almost swallowed by the space between us.
"I'm sorry. I don't want to make a contract." I answered gently.
"I—Is that so. It's o-okay." Selis blinked, and then tears gathered and fell.
'I feel bad now. Is she actually really sensitive, or is it because she's a water spirit—or maybe both?' I pondered.
"It's my turn." Windveil stepped forward, swelling with exaggerated confidence. "Do you want to make a contract with me?" she asked.
"I don't want to make any contract." I replied again.
I looked down. Liora slept curled on my chest, her breath soft and even.
"But why? I understand rejecting water, but you have such a high affinity with wind." Windveil pressed.
I glanced left and found Evangeline's head resting against my shoulder.
My heart skipped a beat.
'I-It's too close.' I thought, my composure slipping for a moment.
"H—he also has h-high affinity w-with water." Selis blurted.
"What?" Windveil frowned.
"Why do you think Selis and I followed you here?" the spirit who had spoken earlier said and moved a little closer.
She stepped forward and examined me more deliberately. "What are you, human, to draw all these spirits? Wind, water, even earth—fire must be drawn to you as well." she spoke. The implication hung in the air, sharper than the morning mist.
"I'm not interested in making a contract. We stopped to rest. We're heading toward the border of the Demon Empire." I replied.
"It's fine if you don't want to say. Follow this way—the Demon Empire border lies that direction." She pointed smoothly with a wingtip.
I felt movement on my chest. Liora shifted, snuffling awake.
"We will leave now. The low-level spirits are simply attracted to you; they can't control their emotions much. Don't be angry with them—they're newborns, like your child." the spirit said. Her voice was firm but not unkind.
I smiled and nodded.
Liora lifted her head, her bed hair tousled as she looked up, closed her eyes, then smiled and hugged me tighter.
I hugged Liora back
Evangeline Yawned.
"You're up" Evangeline said softly.
"Let us begin our journey today." I announced, pushing myself to my feet.
We washed our faces and set off in the direction the spirit had indicated. Sunlight filtered through a cathedral of emerald leaves; towering trunks draped in moss rose like pillars, ferns and wildflowers stitched the forest floor into a living carpet, and birds wove bright threads of song through the warm, fragrant air.
As we walked, small balls of light drifted closer—dozens of them, winking like living sparks. Liora spoke. "Papa… look."
One tiny light floated down and settled into Liora's cupped hands; it felt warm and trembled like a sleeping insect. Liora's eyes widened as she joined her palms. "Papa… look." She whispered, raising her hands to show me the fragile spirit sleeping there.
Evangeline leaned in from my right and peered at the tiny being. "It's a newborn spirit. It looks like a wind spirit." she said, gentle wonder in her tone.
"A spiwit..." Liora mumbled, imitating the way the spirit's name sounded as she peered closely.
More spirits followed, flitting in curving patterns around us. Liora laughed as they danced—laughs like clear chimes that made the woods feel less vast, less empty.
After a certain distance the spirits halted. We stopped too and watched them from where they were kept at bay by some invisible barrier. Another spirit from the group drifted forward, gently waking the tiny one in Liora's hand. The little spirit stirred, lifted from her palms, and flew back to its family. The cluster reformed and then slid away on the breeze.
Liora watched them go, her round face falling into a small, sudden sadness. "Don't be sad, Liora. They're going back to their family." I told her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead.
"Can Liora see them again?" she asked, eyes bright and hopeful.
"Yes. We will come back and meet them from time to time." I promised.
Liora smiled and waved goodbye to the tiny spirits. "Okay," she replied, and her small hand fluttered until they were out of sight.
We turned and continued down the path, the sound of our footsteps soft on the packed dirt. The forest around us seemed to breathe—leaves whispering, the far-off cry of a hunting bird, and the murmured chorus of spirits receding into the green.
We started walking again.
Going through tall trees.
The fresh air filled our lungs.
Light brightened and increased the beauty of the surroundings even more.
'If I remember it correctly some undead can apply poison too. Like ghouls.' I thought.
[ That is correct, Master. ]
I brought out a fruit from my inventory and gave it to Liora.
'Then buy me Poison immunity from shop.' I told Sebas.
I took another fruit and gave it to Evangeline.
I took one more for myself and began eating.
[ There are insufficient points to purchase poison immunity, Master. ]
'What? Shouldn't I have enough points from Rex and his clan hunting daily?' I questioned.
[ You cannot acquire points from them, Master. ]
'What?? Explain!' I was flabbergasted.
[ To obtain points from them, they must be members of your group, Master. ]
[ For example: previously you gained points because they were considered part of your adventuring party. ]
[ Similarly, if you commanded an army as an Emperor, troops counted as part of your group for points. ]
'That's …. Ughh I guess it would be too broken if I would be getting points left and right. I need to take the risk of protecting them against humans, if they are with me. I get the reward with the risk. It's fair.' I thought, annoyed but understanding the system's logic.
While I was thinking, I felt Liora clench her fist and grab my shirt.
As I looked down I saw her trying to take a peek toward my right.
'Is she looking at Evangeline ?' I thought, curious.
"What happened, Liora?" I asked.
"Nothing." Liora replied.
'Was she not looking at Evangeline ?' I questioned myself.
"Do you want to walk?" I asked. Liora nodded. I put her down and she grabbed my right hand. Standing to her right was Evangeline.
'I guess she just wanted to walk.' I thought, and we started walking again.
After walking for a while, Evangeline said, "The griffin nests start from here."
"I'll clear our presence." I replied.
"Even if we use stealth they'll find us. They have keen senses." Evangeline warned.
"I'm not talking about stealth. I'll clear our presence using wind magic. Just stay close to me." I said.
Evangeline made a confused face.
"I'll explain as we walk through." I added.
"Won't they find us if we talk?" she asked.
"Don't worry. It'll be fine." I replied.
I controlled the molecules around us to bend light and render us effectively invisible. Then I used the wind to scatter our scent and hush the sounds of our steps. The air around us hummed faintly as molecules shifted; leaves stopped whispering underfoot, and even the insects seemed to dull their calling.
As we walked I explained, in broad strokes, the science of molecules, how light bends, and how sound travels. Not a lecture—just enough so she could follow the idea. Evangeline listened intently and asked questions where she was confused.
"All of this is unknown. The concepts are really clear and make sense." she said.
'It's been a long time I talked so much.' I thought, and another memory nudged at my chest.
'The feelings of last night still lingers in my heart. I know they'll fade away soon and I will find those moments awkward.' I thought, warmth rising in my chest as I glanced toward Evangeline, still murmuring about what we'd just discussed.
A sudden screech split the sky.
The sound tore through the canopy like a blade. We all looked up.
Two great shapes fought high above—mirror images of each other: hooked beaks, wings broad as sails, bodies muscled and leonine. Griffins. They struck and recoiled in brutal rhythm, talons raking, beaks snapping like knives. Feathers shredded and spun away, glittering in the sunlight like dark snow.
They dove and rose, a furious ballet of violence. Talons met flesh with sickening crunches. One bird clawed into the other's flank and came away with a spray of crimson that spattered the leaves, the smell sharp and sound even at this distance. The wounded griffin screamed—an animal wail full of panic and fury. Feathers drifted down, drifting motes that glinted with blood.
"We should leave now." Evangeline said, voice tight.
"Yes." I scooped Liora into my arms and we moved away, steps quick but measured.
After walking for a while we put distance between ourselves and the pair. The forest thinned; the wind shifted. I looked back once. In the far distance they still fought—a flash of wing, a thud, a glancing strike—and then, with a savage finality, one griffin launched itself at the other with terrible speed and drove it earthward. The two disappeared into the trees together with a last, high-angled screech.
'They took the fight to the ground it seems.' I thought, then looked forward as Liora peered to my right again.
'She is looking at Evangeline again.' I thought, curious and slightly puzzled.
to be continued…