Julius moved through the palace corridors with measured calm, hands folded behind his back, acknowledging servants and knights with small nods as they bowed in respect. Sunlight spilled through tall windows, stretching across banners that carried the empire's crest, and the murmur of distant activity echoed faintly through the halls. He appeared composed, yet something tugged faintly at the edge of his mind, a detail misplaced, a presence unaccounted for.
He slowed near a column carved with ancient runes, his brow tightening slightly as memory surfaced. "Wait… where is Indura?" he murmured to himself, the name tasting unfamiliar after days of unexpected events. The question lingered in the corridor, unanswered, as Julius resumed walking, unaware that the answer lay far beyond his empire's borders.
Far from Vartas, beyond mapped roads and guarded watch posts, the Great Forest stretched endlessly, vast enough to rival a continent. Its canopy rolled like a green ocean beneath the open sky, ancient trees rising like pillars of a forgotten world. High in the sky, above that sea of leaves, hovered a lone figure, suspended against the wind, golden eyes narrowing at the horizon.
"Seriously… where am I. I can't seem to know which part of this forest I'm in," Indura muttered, arms crossed as he scanned for smoke, stone, anything resembling civilization. The wind tugged at his hair, carrying only the scent of bark and distant water. He hovered a moment longer before the air beneath him wavered unexpectedly.
"No no no no… why is this happening, why me…" he blurted as gravity reclaimed him without warning. His descent sharpened from dignified glide to humiliating plummet. "Come on, wings, at least come out… at least you… COME OUT," he shouted toward the unresponsive sky, forcing transformation that never came.
He crashed through branches and struck the forest floor in an explosion of leaves and startled birds, the canopy erupting with frantic wings as silence shattered. Dust clung to him as he rose slowly, brushing dirt from his shoulders with exaggerated dignity.
"Sigh… this is… a big problem," he murmured, rolling his neck as if the fall had been intentional. "My transformation really seems to fail. I can't even sense any mana in my body at all. This can't be happening. Not even my fire breath works. I only have strength to move quickly and leap off nicely, but no flight."
He examined his hands, flexing his fingers, then exhaled sharply. "There's no way I'm useless without mana… it can't be. But… I did release a lot of it when I took down that guardian. Hehe… that's right, I took it down. I am the great… the strong… the beautiful… nice dragon… I-N-D-U-R-A…" he sang under his breath, voice carrying misplaced triumph through the trees.
"Right… who were those two humans that were locked up anyway. And who brought me here… I need food and answers," he added, staring upward as if the sky owed him a response. Before silence could reclaim the forest, two cloaked figures rushed past him at startling speed, one carrying a heavy sack over a shoulder.
Indura merely watched them pass, head tilting slightly. "Hmmm… I wonder where they came from." He paused, then blinked. "Hey now… I wonder where they came from… I need answers," he said, turning slowly toward the direction they vanished, a wide smile spreading across his face.
In a blur, he vanished from where he stood and reappeared in the air above the fleeing men. "Hello, kind friends, where did you come from?" he asked cheerfully, hovering just overhead.
"Wh-what… who are you?" one of the men shouted, stumbling back.
"Oh no, we've been caught, quick… let's scatter," the other hissed as they split in opposite directions.
"Hhhmmm… this is not good now," Indura sighed as he landed, watching them sprint away. "Well… how about I get some answers."
He dashed forward with such speed that the forest blurred, seizing one man by the collar before the thought of escape finished forming, then vanishing again to intercept the other. Within heartbeats, both men were placed gently yet firmly on the ground before him.
"What the… why's this guy so fast?" one man gasped, panic cracking his voice.
"Let's start over, kind friends. Where are you coming from?" Indura asked pleasantly, hands resting behind his back.
"We-we… we will not tell you. I'll kill you before I say anything," one man spat, lunging forward with a dagger aimed at Indura's chest.
The blade stopped mid-motion, caught between two fingers as effortlessly as plucking a leaf. "Now now, kind friends… I'm really… really… really lost. If you could point me in the direction of civilization, I'll let you go humbly," Indura said as he lowered the man to the ground with casual ease. "Please, kind friends. Help another friend out, yeah."
"Let me go… let me go," a girl's voice cried from within the sack, the sound thin but unmistakable.
"Oh… this is rather interesting. You people… I see…" Indura's smile shifted subtly, his gaze narrowing just enough to make the men sweat. "I understand what you're doing… hehe… You must be returning a lost child. I'm sorry for getting ahead. I remember seeing huma— people… carrying children on their backs, always running off somewhere. It must be some kind of enjoyment activity, right?"
"Y-yes… yes it's… you're right," one man stammered, forcing laughter through clenched teeth.
"Right, then please stand. But do point me in the direction of people. I'm really starving here, a feast would do me good," Indura replied brightly.
What's with this man? Is he stupid? Can't he see that we're kidnapping… is he really dense? One man thought, sweat dripping down his temple. The other silently agreed, their expressions briefly aligning in disbelief.
"Well, you see, if you go this direction, you should find a small village, just up close," one man said, pointing vaguely through the trees.
"A village… that would be perfect. Now then, enjoy your playtime, kind friends," Indura waved as he began walking away.
"Is this man stupid, or is he acting stupid?" one whispered once they were alone.
"It doesn't matter, right now we need to move, before anyone notices," the other replied, and they vanished deeper into the forest.
"Just wait a minute," Indura called casually as he appeared, hovering into the air again, over the men, matching their sprint mid-flight once more. They skidded to a halt, weapons drawn, breath uneven.
"Alright, who are you… you must have been sent to capture us right… to take back this elf right?" one man shouted, dagger trembling in his grip.
"Elf… no no, I couldn't care about an elf. It's just that… it seems you pointed me in the direction I was already in," Indura said mildly. "Did you… lie to me."
"S-stay back, or we'll kill you," the other warned.
"Kill me… oh, you wouldn't be able to accomplish such a feat," Indura replied as he stepped forward, placing a hand gently on each of their shoulders. "My friends—"
"Help me… help me… I want my mother… let me go, please," the child cried louder from the sack, her voice trembling.
Silence fell heavy between them.
"Friends—" Indura began again, only for a dagger to swing hard against his head, the blade clanging uselessly as if striking stone.
"What… what are you," the man whispered, horror draining the color from his face.
"Now now, my friends… it seems we have a misunderstanding… You see—"
A cloud of dark vapor burst against Indura's face. "Quick, let's split here, he won't survive this poison," one shouted as they turned to flee.
A hand caught him by the collar before he could move an inch. "Sigh… I was talking… let me finish," Indura said softly, his expression dimming. With a simple flick of his finger, the other man was sent backward, crashing through trees, the forest swallowing him in a violent crash that did not echo twice.
"Now then… maybe this time you will give me what I want," Indura smiled again, though the air around him felt colder.
The sack wriggled, and a small figure pushed her way free. A little girl with pointed ears stumbled out, tears streaking her cheeks.
"Hmm… what's this… what's with your ears, young one?" Indura asked curiously.
The child only cried harder.
"Hey, hey… wait… uuuhh… sigh," he muttered, glancing back at the trembling man he still held. "Just point me in the right direction this time… now."
Before an answer came, the thunder of hooves broke through the trees.
"Over there… someone's over there with the child," a voice shouted.
A group of armored elf riders surrounded the clearing swiftly, bows drawn, blades ready. One warrior dismounted and rushed to the girl, wrapping her in warm cloth.
"You're safe now… let us take you back home," the elf said gently.
The remaining elf warriors stepped forward, studying Indura in silence before their leader spoke. "Thank you, young master. Thanks to you, we have recovered our child. You have done us a great deed today; we thank you."
"Huh," Indura blinked. "Wait… what's this?"
"Please, come with us. Let us thank you deeply once we return to our kingdom," the leader continued with solemn respect. "We should thank the young man, for you have saved a child of our kingdom. Please, what is your name?"
"Hold on… I was simply on my way to—"
"I understand," the leader interrupted gently. "You must come from royalty in your land, which explains your graceful appearance. I have never seen a human like you before."
"…you… must be confu—" Indura stopped, glancing at the horses, the formation, the sense of direction they carried so effortlessly. Opportunity gleamed brighter than confusion.
"Yes… You are right… I have travelled all the way… here in this… place. Yes. I came across these men trying to take this child, and I did what any nobleman would do," he declared smoothly.
The warriors' expressions softened with admiration.
"We thank you once again, young man."
"Wow… I've never seen someone with such… eyes as yours. They are golden, as if they belong to the heavens," one warrior added.
"We-well… I was… I…" Indura stuttered, momentarily caught off guard.
"Please, tell us your name," the leader insisted.
"Yes… You may call me… Indura," he said at last, lifting his chin with confidence.
"Indura, please come with us. It will take quite the journey back to our kingdom, so feel at ease," the leader said as the formation shifted to escort him.
"But there were two kidnappers. Where is the other one?" the leader asked calmly.
"The other one… well, they ran back home… I'm sure of it," Indura replied, smile unwavering.
"Then let us be on our way."
And so they moved together through the vast forest, hooves steady against earth, the rescued child safe among her people, and at the center of it all walked Indura, lost no longer, carried toward an unknown kingdom with the ease of someone who had just accidentally saved himself from starvation.
Sunset bled gold across the canopy as the riders slowed their pace, hooves drumming softly against ancient roots. The elf warriors spoke easily with Indura now, their earlier caution dissolved into warm laughter. "Young master Indura, you truly are a prince from a distant land?" one of them asked, brushing silver hair from sharp emerald eyes. "I have never seen someone like you." Indura chuckled, shoulders relaxed, "Well, sometimes you get tired of...royal work ." Another warrior grinned, his skin carrying a faint glow like moonlight on water, "And what were you doing all this way in this forest? That is no small misfortune." Indura waved it off with a smile, "A minor inconvenience. I was merely sightseeing."
They stopped before what looked like nothing but trees woven too tightly together, branches crossing like clasped fingers. The leader stepped forward, pressing his palm against empty air, and the forest shimmered. Light rippled outward in soft rings, like a stone cast into a pond of glass, and a vast city unfolded beyond the veil. Indura's smile widened slowly. "So that's why," he murmured, golden eyes reflecting the distortion of mana, "No matter how high I leaped, I couldn't see anything." The leader glanced back with a knowing nod, "Our barrier keeps us unseen. Even the sky itself forgets we are here." Indura tilted his head, amused, "The sky forgets? That's quite the trick."
They passed through the barrier, and warmth wrapped around them like spring itself had hands. The Elf Kingdom rose in layered terraces grown from living wood, not carved but guided, towers spiraling like ancient trees that decided to become palaces. Homes curved naturally with bark polished smooth as marble, their windows glowing amber. Vines heavy with luminous flowers hung between bridges of braided roots, and streams of crystal water flowed through the streets in gentle channels, humming with mana. The air tasted fresh, sweet with sap and blooming petals, thick with life. Mana drifted visibly in soft currents, pale green and silver threads weaving through the atmosphere like breathing light.
Indura stepped forward slowly, eyes scanning everything without shame. "It smells… alive," he said, almost impressed. An elf beside him smiled, her long ears adorned with delicate rings shaped like leaves, her hair a cascade of pale lavender. "Because it is. We do not build against the forest. We grow with it." Children paused mid-play to stare at him, their bright eyes wide, elders with long braids of silver and gold whispering softly among themselves.
A horn echoed across the terraces, clear and resonant. One of the warriors lifted his voice, "The child has returned!" The words spread like wildfire. Doors opened. Feet rushed across wooden bridges. Gasps and cries tangled in the air as elves gathered, their robes flowing in shades of moss, sky, and autumn bark. Some covered their mouths in disbelief, and others clasped hands in prayer. "She's safe?" someone shouted. "Is it true?" another cried.
The warrior holding the child stepped forward, lowering her gently as her small hands reached outward. "Mother!" she cried, voice breaking. A woman pushed through the crowd, her hair a cascade of deep forest green, eyes shimmering like dew. She fell to her knees, wrapping the girl in trembling arms. "My little star… my little star," she whispered, tears spilling freely. A tall man followed, his expression cracking as he embraced them both. The crowd exhaled as one, some weeping openly, others bowing their heads in relief.
Indura stood a short distance away, hands loosely behind his back, a grin stretching wide across his face. "Hehe… good ending," he murmured, watching the reunion with clear amusement and something softer hidden beneath it. An elderly elf with bark-toned skin and hair like woven sunlight turned toward him. "Who saved her?" he asked, voice steady but urgent.
The leader stepped forward, placing a hand over his chest. "This young master did. Indura of a noble land. He intercepted the kidnappers and recovered the child through his unmatched skill." A ripple moved through the crowd. "A human?" someone whispered. "Look at his eyes," another breathed. "Gold… like the first dawn." A younger elf leaned toward her friend, whispering not quietly enough, "He's beautiful." Indura blinked once, then laughed lightly, scratching the back of his head. "Ah… well… I simply did what anyone would do."
The child's father approached, bowing deeply despite his status. "You have our eternal gratitude, Young Master Indura. Our people do not forget such deeds." Indura raised a hand quickly, smiling widely to mask the awkwardness tugging at his cheeks. "No need for eternal anything. I was just passing through. Truly." The mother stepped forward next, her voice trembling but firm. "Even so, you brought our daughter back to us. That is beyond repayment."
A younger warrior suddenly lifted his blade high, laughing with exhilaration. "Then let us celebrate! A feast for the return of our child and the arrival of our honored guest!" Cheers erupted instantly. "A feast!" voices echoed from every level of the terraces. Musicians began tuning instruments carved from polished wood and crystal strings. Lantern-fruits were plucked from branches, glowing brighter as they were carried through the streets.
Indura straightened, smoothing his clothes as dozens of eyes fixed on him with admiration and curiosity. "A feast, you say?" he replied smoothly, grin returning in full force. "Well, I did mention being rather hungry." Laughter burst around him, warm and genuine. An elf with braided copper hair stepped close, studying him openly. "You truly are unlike any human we've seen." Indura placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "I do try."
As they led him deeper into the kingdom, petals drifted down from high branches, catching in his dark hair. The mana in the air curled faintly around him, reacting to something it did not understand. He kept his smile steady, laughing at their jokes, nodding at their praise, basking in the glow of celebration as if he had always belonged there. And beneath the rising lantern light and the scent of fresh blossoms, Indura stepped fully into elven territory, golden eyes gleaming as the night prepared to welcome its newest honored guest.