Chương 56: The Elf Who Invites Trouble

The boundary of the elf village did not look like a forest path. Low stones were embedded between the trees, and each stone was carved with leaf and eye marks. Beyond them, something like the roofs of treehouses could be glimpsed, and in the opposite direction came the smell of a swamp where black water pooled. Kichan did not want to become an agenda item. So he walked in the direction opposite the elf village. Riphiel followed on the sabertooth tiger.

"That way is the swamp." Kichan stopped walking.

"Tell me from the start."

"I did."

"When."

"Now." Kichan gripped his wake-up rod tightly. Riphiel smiled, open and guileless. She had no idea what she had just said.

"Violence is the failure of conversation."

"Shut up."

"That is difficult." The sabertooth tiger let out a low growl. A short breath leaked between its fangs. Kichan looked at the sabertooth tiger. The sabertooth tiger did not look at Kichan. It was looking at Dust. Dust had somehow already gotten hold of a small metal ornament that had fallen near the tiger's paw. Kichan said immediately.

"Drop it." Dust tapped a leg. No. Kichan pressed his forehead. Seeing dirt on his palm made him scowl even harder. Riphiel marveled.

"Impressive. Your thief has stolen a forest marker."

"Marker?"

"Yes. The elders embed them along the paths. They are objects outsiders must not touch." Kichan looked at Dust. Dust bit down on the metal ornament harder.

"Drop it." This time the water droplet moved. It popped out from the end of the sleeve and stood like a shield in front of Dust. Dust tapped a leg as if unhappy, but eventually dropped the metal ornament. As the ornament touched the wet soil, a small light spread, and another bell rang from deeper in the forest. Riphiel nodded.

"Now it is the second agenda item."

"What." If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"A human who fell from the sky attempted to steal a forest marker."

"That one stole it." Riphiel looked at Dust. Dust looked at Riphiel.

"But since it was on your shoulder, is it not your party?" Kichan could not answer immediately. It was true. It was so true that it was more annoying. Riphiel dismounted from the sabertooth tiger and picked up the metal ornament. She brushed off the dirt with her fingers. A leaf shape and an eye shape overlapped at the center of the ornament. As Kichan looked at it, he felt a slight catch in his throat. `Village boundary. ` `Guest. ` `Interrogation. `"Ah." Riphiel's eyes lit up.

"You can read it?" Kichan immediately looked away.

"I can't read it."

"Your face just said you read it."

"I said no."

"Lying is bad manners in the forest."

"Don't you talk to me about manners." Just then, people appeared from deeper in the forest. Three, five, soon more. The elves carried bows, and their clothes were between the colors of leaves and soil. Their movements were quiet, but their eyes were not. Everyone looked at Kichan's back and above his head first. Some frowned, some could not hide their frightened faces. The place where wings had been. The place where the round ring had been. Kichan hated those glances. Riphiel waved her hand very cheerfully.

"Be at ease! It is not an intruder but a very interesting calamity!" Several bowstrings were drawn at the same time. Kichan slowly looked at Riphiel.

"You." Riphiel tilted her head.

"Yes?"

"You're going to suffer a lot because of your mouth someday."

"I merely spoke the truth."

"That's the problem." One elf stepped forward. He looked old, and silver ornaments hung from the tips of his ears. He held a long staff, and his expression was as hard as dry bark. He looked at Riphiel first.

"Leaf." His voice was low. Riphiel bowed her head very politely.

"Elder. Your complexion looks as healthy as tree bark again today." The faces of the surrounding elves hardened simultaneously. Kichan's mouth fell open, and the elder's eyebrows moved. Riphiel added brightly.

"A compliment. It means a face that has become one with the forest." Kichan said quietly.

"Are you actually insane." The elder no longer looked at Riphiel. Instead, he looked at Kichan.

"Who are you." Kichan started to answer, then stopped. Lately, that was the question he hated most. Foreigner, honored guest, specimen, phenomenon — all words others had stuck on him. Kichan said shortly.

"Kichan." The elder waited. His face said to say more. Kichan said nothing more. Riphiel whispered beside him.

"Normally one states origin, lineage, and purpose of visit."

"You be quiet." The elder looked at the water droplet at the end of Kichan's sleeve. He looked at Dust. He looked at the wake-up rod. Finally, he looked at the empty space behind Kichan's back.

"One who fell from the sky has touched the village boundary marker." Kichan pointed at Dust.

"That one did." Dust tapped a leg. The elder looked at Dust, then back at Kichan.

"Is it your party?" Kichan closed his eyes.

"…Yes."

"Then it is your affair." Kichan looked at the sky. He had escaped the city. No queen, no Magic Tower, no soldiers. But there were rules again. This time, the rules of the forest. Riphiel spoke with a very pleased face.

"Congratulations. It is now the third agenda item." Kichan raised his wake-up rod. Riphiel immediately hid behind the sabertooth tiger.

"Violence is the failure of conversation!" Kichan gritted his teeth.

"Just let me hit you once." The elder raised his staff. The water droplet spread like a shield. Dust crawled toward the metal marker again. Kichan saw that and shouted.

"Why are you going again!" The third bell rang from deeper in the forest.