The same tree where the wrywling had been resting was now being prepared for a ritual.
Therin turned to the small creature.
"Will you help me?" he asked.
The wrywling gave a slight nod, showing it understood.
Therin knelt down and pulled out a necklace with a black obsidian pendant.
"Would you like this?"
The wrywling stepped closer, sniffed the necklace, and gently pushed its green head—crowned with small, spiked horns—through the loop.
Therin blinked, surprised.
"Do we make a bond?" he asked softly.
The little wrywling sat its hindquarters and tail down on the ground, looking at him expectantly. It was smarter than it looked—and a little cute, too.
Therin took a breath, then bit his finger until a few drops of blood appeared. He reached his hand out toward the wrywling's forehead.
The creature leaned in, and as Therin's bloody finger touched its brow, a smudge of red bloomed into a glowing green mark.
Then the wrywling came closer and opened its mouth—waiting.
"Oh. Of course," Therin chuckled. "A snack."
From his sleeve, he pulled out a piece of dry jerky and handed it over. The wrywling accepted it happily.
Therin smiled, watching him chew.
"Now... what should I name you?" he wondered aloud.
He thought for a moment, then said with quiet certainty:
"Kelthorn."
As Therin fed his new wrywling, Kelthorn, he turned toward Lira.
"Since you helped me with this," he said thoughtfully, "we should find you a protector too."
The moment those words left his lips, a white deer burst through the trees. Its body was adorned with green leaves, and its antlers were massive—twisted with thick vines like living wood. With incredible speed, it leapt forward and landed directly in front of them.
The deer locked eyes with Lira.
For a moment, everything stilled. Therin and Lira were frozen in place, stunned. Even Kelthorn sat motionless, as if in awe.
Then, without a sound, the deer jumped again and disappeared into the bushes, vanishing as suddenly as it had come.
Therin finally broke the silence.
"That... was amazing. And unexpected. I've only read about creatures like that, but I never truly believed they still existed."
He turned to Lira, eyes still wide with wonder.
"They say it's a guardian of these woods. According to legend, it can shift its size and its antlers are as strong as steel. Its hooves can strike the earth so hard, they cause small quakes."
Therin looked around with wonder in his eyes.
"This forest is full of amazing creatures," he said. "Let's go find one that will protect you too."
Lira hesitated for a moment. She didn't mention that Renkai was already her protector - some truths were better kept close to the heart for now. Instead, she simply nodded and followed as Therin began walking deeper into the forest.
As Therin and Lira continued walking through the thick underbrush, the trees suddenly opened into a wide clearing. A patch of wild grass stretched before them, soft and swaying in the breeze like waves on a green sea.
But the peace didn't last long.
From the edge of the clearing, a deep hissing growl erupted, and an angry, oversized lizard slithered out from behind the rocks. Its scaled body shimmered with a dark oily sheen, and its golden eyes locked onto them with wild fury. It lunged forward, fast and low to the ground.
Wrywling growled and leapt in front of Therin, his small green body puffing up with defiance. Tiny fireballs shot from his mouth as he tried to hold back the beast. Therin quickly pulled out a handful of small glass bottles from his belt, readying his alchemical arsenal. The battle sparked to life - fire flared, bottles burst, and the lizard hissed as it retaliated, spraying sharp jets of poison-laced water from its fanged mouth.
Lira stood behind them, eyes wide, uncertain whether to run or help. Her heart pounded, feet frozen until she caught a flicker in the air.
One of the poison shots veered toward her, fast and silent.
She didn't even have time to scream.
Before the spray could touch her, she was swept aside, soft arms pulling her gently, swiftly, into safety. The world tilted and spun, and when she looked up, she found herself cradled in the arms of someone she had never seen before.
He was unlike anything she had imagined.
An elven being, ethereal and regal. His white robes shimmered like woven moonlight, and delicate green vines coiled gently around his arms and chest, alive but calm. His long, snow-white hair flowed past his shoulders, adorned with a crown of silver branches and tiny leaves that rustled faintly in the wind. His skin was smooth, pale like porcelain, and his eyes—oh, his eyes—were a deep, shifting blend of blue and green, like river water under sunlight, filled with curiosity and calm wisdom.
Lira felt as though she had been wrapped in a cloud. There was no fear in his touch, only warmth and protection.
As he gently let her go, she continued to stare in awe. The poison hissed behind them where it had struck the grass, sizzling into the earth.
The elven being looked into her eyes, and when he spoke, his voice was soft and melodic, like a song sung by the forest itself.
"Are you all right?"
As Therin hurled a large bottle toward the lizard, it shattered on impact, releasing a flash of fire and thick smoke. The creature let out a screeching hiss, now sporting smoldering wounds along its scaled side. It turned sharply and slithered back into the bushes, disappearing into the shadows.
Therin brushed his hands together, wiping them against his already stained clothes. "There we go," he muttered with satisfaction.
When he turned around, his breath caught slightly. Lira was standing close—almost too close—to an elven being he had never seen before. They stood together in stillness, barely inches apart, their eyes on him.
Therin cleared his throat, a bit awkwardly. "Greetings."
The elven being gave him a subtle nod, then turned back to Lira. His voice was gentle, like wind through leaves. "If you are unharmed, I shall take my leave."
But as he began to turn away, Lira reached out, stopping him with her voice. "Wait… I'm grateful for your help." She bowed slightly, her gesture graceful and sincere.
The elv paused, his expression shifting to something surprised—almost soft. "Not many humans show such respect and grace," he said quietly. "You are only the second in my life to do so."
There was a pause, the air still.
"If you wish," he continued, "you may follow me. I can offer you shelter. Night will fall soon, and these woods can grow… unkind. You'll be safer under my protection."
Lira turned to Therin. Their eyes met briefly, and he gave a small nod. "Of course we accept. Your offer is generous—and we are grateful."
The elven being finally smiled, something serene and knowing in his expression. His voice was like a stream running over smooth stone as he said:
"You may call me…"
"You may call me Thalanir Aelthern," he said, the name flowing like wind through ancient leaves. "Warden of the wild paths, and watcher of those who walk them."
As Lira tried to remember the name—it was like a tongue twister—she didn't notice the small lights appearing in the forest as night slowly began to fall. When she finally looked up, countless tiny green lights were fluttering here and there. She couldn't help but let out a sound of surprise.
Thalanir turned to her and smiled. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
She looked around and replied, "Yes, this is something I haven't seen before, even though I've lived in the forest for some time."
He gazed at her deeply. "You have, yes. The power you carry is ancient and strong. Even the soft essence you possess is similar to the elven kind. Your touch with nature is unlike any other being's."
Lira looked at him, a little surprised.
They continued along the path until they reached a small cluster of treehouses. Vines and ropes hung down as natural guides to the houses above. Soft lights near the entrances glowed gently, just enough to illuminate the area.
Some elves turned around and looked at them suspiciously. Thalanir raised his hand, and many relaxed as they recognized his sign. Some set their baskets down and approached Lira, daring to touch her lightly and offering flowers into her hands.
Lira was surprised, and when they began speaking in a language she did not understand, she simply smiled and let them talk.
Therin observed everything quietly, a little upset that no one paid attention to him. Thalanir noticed and turned to him. "I suppose it's time I show you the rooms where you will stay. You both look tired."
He gestured with his hand. "That house below should be suitable for you two." He pointed toward the small wooden house nestled at the roots of the trees, away from the higher treehouses. "We elves climb more proficiently," he added.
Therin glanced at Lira, and Thalanir seemed to notice. He said softly, "Do not worry. We shall protect her with our lives, as she is almost one of us."