We're pretty close now, guys. We've made good progress because we haven't had any problems along the way. We should be grateful to your father, Aisha. I never thought I'd meet such a majestic being now that my age weighs heavily on me, said the old man. The smile that had been on his face since those days in Aisha's village showed how much he was enjoying the trip.
Tylos, on the other hand, seemed a little distant. He walked behind everyone else and occasionally turned his gaze toward the village they had left behind, something only Alexa noticed, as she was always keeping an eye on him because of the incident that had occurred that day when he rescued them.
The group was still not completely used to being together, especially the boy, who was the only one traveling alone before the group was formed, but his kindness was always welcome when he hunted animals or gathered firewood. He usually talked with the old man, mostly about the door inside the cabin that they had been unable to open earlier.
"I think it's time to set up camp," said Lariat. Everyone nodded and prepared for the night. "Then it would be good if you gathered firewood for the campfire," added Tylos, and he soon disappeared into the forest, which was beginning to darken.
"Don't be long," shouted Elise, to which he responded by raising his hand as he walked away among the trees. Elise turned to look at Alexa and frowned slightly, realizing that Alexa had a worried look on her face as she watched Tylos.
"Don't you think you're being too prejudiced against him?" said the fairy, startling the elf, who was lost in her thoughts as she watched the boy walk away.
"It's just that I can't get that moment in the village out of my mind, when he held me in his arms because he didn't die," replied Alexa.
Is that inconsiderate of you? Is that really what you're worried about after he saved our lives in that nightmare? Elise said, "As sinister as it may seem, he protected me the whole way to rescue you and risked his life for me. He even did it for you when I told him he would die if he touched you, but he didn't hesitate for a second to hold your hand and carry you in his arms to keep you safe.
That's not it! That's not what worries me. I'm scared, Elise. I don't want to hurt him. No man has ever touched me before. It's the first time it's ever happened, and I'm afraid it was a coincidence. I'm cursed, you know that. I just want to make sure nothing happened to him.
Then we'll have to ask him, said Elise with a slight smile on her face as she comforted the elf by stroking and combing her silky crimson hair.
Inside the cabin, Lariat and Gwidion were preparing food. They were already accustomed to the comfort of this magical home, although sometimes they preferred to camp under the moonlight.
"Why do you think that stubborn Tylos keeps looking for firewood?" said Lariat. "I think I told him it was okay to cook with magic. As long as he gets something to add to the table, that's more than enough. We have plenty of food here!
Maybe he wants to be alone! Although I don't understand why. He's been like this since we left my village," commented Aisha.
From the little he's told us, I think he must be used to traveling alone. Now that we have a calmer journey, he must have other things on his mind. I've noticed him being distant for a few days, although maybe it has something to do with our comrades who are outside the cabin," added Gwydion.
The moon began to rise slowly over the forest, the sky gradually darkening, revealing the faint stars. The branches of the trees moved gently, releasing leaves that were lifted by a soft and pleasant breeze.
It's taking quite a long time! Alexa said she had been waiting outside the cabin for Tylos for a while, pacing back and forth, thinking about what she would say or how she would confront him, since she hadn't exchanged a word with him before.
Elise looked impatiently toward the forest, perhaps with a little concern, and began to fly around the area, but without success, she returned to Alexa.
Well, did you see him?
I couldn't find him! said Elise, who already looked worried... I'll go out and look for him!
You don't think something has happened to him, do you? I mean... he's very strong, don't you think? Besides, remember what Aisha's father told us: no one will attack us until we reach the city.
But Alexa... I don't want to doubt his great power, but he doesn't usually take so long. I know he's a mysterious and shadowy figure, but he always comes back before nightfall. Let's go look for him now.
Hurry, Elise, you can barely see anything in the forest at this hour!
What is this feeling... suddenly I feel anxious because I want to see that boy. Ever since that day, I could feel it when he touched my hand and then when he held me in his arms, his warmth. Could it be that he's not like the other men who have always pursued me? I would really like to know what is in the heart of a man like that, who has the heart of someone different that I have not seen in the hundreds of years I have traveled.
Tylos! Tylos! The girls shouted without any response. They wandered through the forest for a long time without sensing his presence or finding any trace of him.
Elise, can't you sense him? It should be easy for you to find him. You've spent quite a bit of time with him. Don't you know his presence by now?
It's hard to explain, I can even say that I could easily track down our wizard friends and the wolf girl, but with him it's different, once he disappears from my sight, it's as if he becomes invisible, like a shadow lost in the darkness. Even that day, he found me, maybe it was chance or fate, but I fell right into his arms, I didn't know he was there, it just happened.
I can understand it, even his footsteps. There's no trace of him in the forest. It's as if, as soon as he disappeared from our sight, he vanished completely. How can someone hide their presence like that, even to the point of being imperceptible to their companions?
I don't even want to talk to him anymore. I'd like to hit him for wasting our time looking for him.
Their exhausting search continued, and the humidity in the air increased. There was surely a large source of water nearby. Cautiously, they headed for the place where they heard water rushing. Then, a little skeptical, they could see him in the middle of a waterfall.
It's him, but what is he doing there naked?
Silly Elise, he hasn't seen us here. We'll look like perverts if he sees us.
Don't tell me you're blushing. Of course, it's the first time a man has ever really touched you, and to think it would be someone so handsome. I understand, my little Alexa.
Don't bother me. It's not that. He's just a mystery to me, that's all.
Tylos was sitting next to both swords, the dark hilt and its crossguard, the water hitting him directly on his head, bathing his whole body, his eyes closed and his body unmoving, remaining in that place without even moving, the wind gently stirring around him along with small lights that came and went, settling on him.
How is it that he... is so focused on himself that he doesn't disturb the nature around him, so he leaves no trace as he walks? I've never seen anything like it before.
What have you never seen before?
Kiaaaaaaa! the girls screamed when they heard Tylos behind them, and Alexa gave him a tremendous slap that sent him back into the water.
"Don't come up behind us like that, especially naked!" Alexa shouted, blushing, while Elise looked on in amazement, as she had never seen her friend hit a man with her bare hand without it ending in disaster.
"That was a good right hook," replied Tylos, rubbing his visibly swollen cheek as he laughed.
The girls stared at him for a moment, somewhat surprised. They hadn't seen him smile at any point during the trip; only his distant and mysterious aura was visible.
"That's the smile of a kind boy," Alexa thought silently.
Since you've come to find me, I guess I'll stop for today!
We didn't come to get you... we just thought something had happened to you, I mean...
The blush on the elf's cheeks rose to her ears as she was unable to finish the sentence she was directing at the boy.
Elise, noticing immediately, flew in front of the girl, adding, "We were worried about you, Tylos!
"I'm fine!" said the boy as he dove back into the rushing river. Suddenly, he disappeared and everything was calm. The dim moonlight reflected on the water, but Tylos was nowhere to be seen.
Do you think this will be okay for dinner?
Tylos carried a deer he had hunted in the forest on his side, heavy enough to feed a tavern full of people.
"Doesn't it make you sad to kill such a noble animal?" said the fairy with a sad look on her face.
It's part of the cycle of life. Maybe one day someone will end my life, just as I have done with this animal. We don't know when or how, maybe it could be tomorrow or in a hundred years, no one can be sure. In the end, that right does not belong to us, although believe me, it did not suffer when I took its life.
It's time to go!