My entire field of vision was filled with golden light as the thorns shot out.
–Thud! –Thud! –Thud!
After the sound resembling falling trees came from behind me, my vision began to return to normal. I saw the woman panting, her hand still raised toward me, then her expression turned to panic.
None of her attacks hit me. However, it wasn't because I managed to dodge them, but because all her attacks missed.
Reflexively, I immediately hid behind the tree beside me.
"D-DON'T MOVE! C-come out of there!" She shouted at me.
She's a crazy woman!
"E-eh, W-wait a moment! DON'T come out." She warned, but this time it seemed she was moving out of the water because I heard the sound of splashing.
"D-DON'T COME OUT YET!" She warned me again; I suppose the reason she told me not to come out was because she was putting on her clothes.
Then I realized that several trees that were previously behind me had collapsed because they were sliced perfectly in half.
That was why I heard the sound of collapsing trees earlier.
Her magic was very strong; had it hit me, I would have surely suffered the same fate as those trees.
My mind raced, trying to figure out what to do in my current position.
"Alright human, now show yourself!" said the woman.
Should I come out? But that would be a stupid move; she could just shoot me with her magic again.
"I-I'm warning you once more, SHOW yourself! If not, I will slice you along with the tree you're hiding behind."
"I-I'M COMING OUT!" I finally spoke, my heart already beating fast. "But before that, I want to say that you've misunderstood! I can explain! So, please don't shoot me with your magic again when I come out!"
"T-then come out quickly!"
Very slowly, I stepped out of my hiding place. I now saw the woman, who had already gotten out of the water and was wearing her plain white dress.
By her sides were the thorns of light that had shot at me earlier.
"L-lower your sword and drop w-whatever that is attached to your body!" she said with a trembling voice.
After seeing her clearly like this, I just realized that the woman's body was actually trembling, her face was pale, and her golden eyes were unnaturally wide.
'Is she afraid?' That suddenly popped into my head.
She indeed had weapons at her side, but it was undeniable that she was also terrified.
However, I had to remain vigilant; one hit from her attack and I would be dead.
Finally, I obeyed her, dropping my sword and the 'thing attached to my body,' which she probably meant was my bag.
Then I raised both my hands.
"Answer me, why did you come here, human," she said, her chest heaving rapidly.
Why did she call me human? Isn't she a human too?
"I came here by accident, I didn't–"
"LIAR! You must have been sent by them to find me!" The light thorns at her side grew brighter, just like when she was about to attack.
"I'M NOT LYING!" I snapped spontaneously out of fear. "Listen to me, I truly found you here by accident. I don't understand what you mean. You can search me if you want. But please lower that magic of yours, I promise I won't attack you."
"I won't. I don't want to take the risk."
"Hey! Listen to me first!"
The thorns glowed even brighter, until they matched the intensity of when she shot at me.
I immediately prepared to use my magic.
"I-I'm sorry, I have to kill you," she looked at me. Then–
Suddenly, the light thorns at her side began to lose their glow and then shrank away completely.
The woman's face became even paler.
'Did she run out of mana?' I immediately used my Mana Sensing, and it was true.
'This is my chance!' I crouched down, picked up my sword, and was about to run toward her.
But my steps halted when I saw the woman's face, looking at me in fear.
'Wait... what do I intend to do with this sword? Attack a scared, helpless girl?' I looked at the sword in my hand, then back at the woman who was crawling backward.
Sigh… I threw my sword far to my side. 'I guess I don't need a sword.'
Then, with slow and careful steps, I approached her.
"Stop right there or I'll kill you!" she warned me with her hand pointed at me, but there was no Mana intensity there. "I said stop!"
I didn't stop my steps. "I won't hurt you."
She kept crawling backward until her body entered the water again. She looked back in surprise.
And at that moment, I was already standing in front of her.
She looked up at me with eyes wide open. Then unexpectedly, tears began to flow down her cheeks, and she sobbed uncontrollably. "P-please don't hurt me, I was just stopping by here. I-I… I-I will leave after this, I promise..."
'Huh, she's crying and begging after threatening me earlier? I don't understand what's wrong with her, but it seems she just went through an experience that made her very wary.' I mumbled inwardly, then reached out my hand and spoke softly:
"Where is your home?"
She then looked at me like a small child. "M-my home?"
"Yeah, I'll take you there if I can."
Hearing my answer, she went back to sobbing. "I-I don't have a home anymore. They… t-they destroyed everything I had."
'They?' I scratched my hair in confusion. 'It seems useless to ask where she comes from at this moment. She is distressed, it's better to wait for her to calm down first.'
"Alright then. But at least come out of the water, your clothes will get wet." I reached out my hand again.
She looked at the water beneath her, then my hand, then my face, now she looked like a child trying to make sure if I was a good or bad person.
"I won't hurt you. I promise." I tried to reassure her.
Very slowly, she raised her hand.
When her hand touched my skin, she pulled it back in surprise. But I didn't lower my hand.
Until finally, her cold hand grasped mine. I grasped back firmly while holding back the stinging pain because my palm hadn't healed yet.
…
After that moment, I guided her to take shelter under a tree, then put my cloak on her because she was shivering from the cold.
Then I took out some instant noodles, brewed them, and gave them to her.
She looked at the food with curiosity and wariness, but because of the fragrant smell, she ate it awkwardly.
While she was eating like someone who hadn't eaten for days, I was setting up a tent not far from there.
Actually, there was a lot I wanted to ask that girl, but I had to hold back for a moment so she could calm down first.
While setting up the tent, I also occasionally glanced at her. Her silver hair, her beautiful doll-like face, and her wide, innocent golden eyes made me curious: Who is this woman? How did she end up outside the wall? And who did she say destroyed everything she owned?
My gut feeling told me she wasn't human because her physique was too perfect and striking. Also, why did she call me 'Human' if she is also human?
Is she an elf? No, her ears are normal. Then what is she? As far as I know, the race with the appearance closest to humans is elves.
After the tent was perfectly set up, I approached the woman; she had just finished her food.
"So, you're full, right? Now tell me everything."