"Alex, where are we going?"

"I'M going to the forest."

"Oh, what're you going to do there?"

"I'm going to try and find a log for training. Don't follow me."

I could've gotten one back home but for some reason all the wood is reserved for firewood and it would be "a waste" to have one in the backyard just "rotting away".

In Eric's words he said "I paid for it so it's mine. If you want a piece of wood, you have to find or buy it yourself".

I don't really mind, it just would've been convenient.

"Aw, why can't i come?"

"Because i doubt there's anything interesting to see there, and besides, are your parents fine with you going so far?"

"I thought we were going to hang around here so i didn't tell them."

"Then go back, so they don't have to worry. I told you i'm not going to babysit you."

"I'm not a baby! And i can take care of myself!"

I roll my eyes at her.

"Sigh, whatever. So, did you tell your parents about your holy magic?"

"Of course! They said they're very proud of me! Apparently, I'm the first in both sides of my family to be able to use magic."

"Hmm, good for you then."

I wonder how many years she can trace her family tree back, since elves live so long.

 

We stop just before the road enter the forest.

I follow the road with my eyes into the distance, it seems to go in a straight line quite far.

I look to the sides.

Although it's noon, the trees block out most of the sunlight, everything else but the road is quite dark.

Stella's companions were murdered here, so i feel a bit uneasy.

Lucan, or whatever his name was, might still be lurking around here somewhere if he survived.

The forest might extend far beyond what i can see, so there might be wolves or bears, waiting for the next fool who steers from the road.

Well, as long as people stick to the road they should be fine.

Alfreda grabs my sleeve.

"It looks big and scary. What're you going to do?"

I look to my left.

"Hmm, let's walk along the edge."

 

Jumping over ditches and climbing over large rocks, i try to find what i'm looking for.

As we walk along the edge of the forest, all i can find are small branches, logs that are too big or rotten.

I should've put more thought into this.

If i had brought an axe or a saw, i just could cut down a suitable tree.

I look over the large grassfield to my left.

"Huh, i can see my house from here."

"Really? Oh, we're pretty far away."

I see the river next to it, follow it with my eyes and i see it going inside the forest in the distance.

"Let's search until we reach the river and then turn back."

"Okay."

Alfreda looks into the forest.

She hears a few sticks snapping and the rustling of leaves.

"...I don't like this at all."

She notices i've gone ahead of her.

"Ah, wait! Don't leave me behind!"

"Then try to keep up!"

We continue walking towards the river.

"Sigh, nothing here, nothing there."

"What about this one?"

Alfreda points to a piece of wood.

"It's too thin, it needs to be thicker."

"How about that one?"

"Too short."

"This?"

"Too thick."

"That?"

"Long."

"Oh, look here."

She gestures me to come to her.

"Hmm, this might be it."

The log she found seems to be pretty much perfect.

I have to clear some debris off it and tear off some of the moss.

Once i've rolled this back home,i can use some tools to shave off the bark and make it nice and smooth.

"Hnng! It's not budging."

I tried to get it moving but it's stuck firmly on the ground.

I look around me to try and find something to use as a lever.

"Alfreda, bring me that branch from over there."

"Okay!"

She walks over to where i'm pointing.

"Um, this one?"

"No, the other one, on the ground."

"Hmm, this?"

"Yeah, bring it here."

She picks up the sturdy branch, must have snapped recently.

I take it from her and wedge it under the log.

"Hnng!"

The log is stuck firmly in the ground as i try to get it free.

I hang from the stick to try and use my body weight but i'm too light.

"Do you need my help, Alex?"

"Yeah, let's try to use both of our body weights to get it free."

Following my instructions, we try to get the log unstuck together.

She is lighter than me but at least it's more weight.

"Try to swing from it."

"Hnng, is it moving?!"

"Yeah, keep doing that. I can feel the log moving."

With a few pushes the log rolls free.

"Whew, now to get this home."

I manage to roll the log onto its side when it reveals a disappointing surprise.

"Ugh, damn it! It's all rotten from underneath!"

Alfreda walks over to me.

"Aw, really? After all the effort we put into it."

The river is close so there's no point in searching further, so it's time to give up and go home.

Hmm, unless...

I look around me and then deep into the forest.

I might be able to find another log if i go a little further into the forest.

It's still bright so i have plenty of time before it gets dark.

"Alex, where are you going?"

"I'm going to find another log."

"But you're going into the forest!"

"I know, that's why you should go back home."

"I can't leave you alone! What if you get lost?"

"I won't, so go home."

I begin to get further away from her, going deeper into the forest.

She looks around herself, nervously contemplating whether to leave me and go back home or to follow me into the forest.

"Mmm, wait for me!"

She decides to run after me.

 

Together we venture further into the forest.

The open fields are left behind us and the dense foliage block out the sun.

Thick bushes and fallen trees make walking difficult.

We can hear the occasional rustling of leaves as animals run away from our presence.

"Alex, how much further are we going?"

"You decided to follow me so stop whining. Sigh, let's walk a bit further."

It's hard to go in a straight line as we have to go around trees and large rocks.

The terrain isn't flat either so we are forced to climb over mounds and pits.

I'm starting to lose track of time and maybe we've been going in circles.

"Have we been here already?"

Alfreda asks nervously.

"What?"

"I think i've seen these trees already."

"That can't be right."

I walk over to her and scan our surroundings.

"Alex, can we please go home? I'm starting to get scared..."

"No, let's go this way."

We continue walking to another direction.

I'm leading us, Alfreda following closely behind me.

Her eyes dart nervously in different directions while I look straight ahead.

"Damn it, there aren't any suitable logs."

Now might be a high time to give up, but i'm reluctant to do so.

It would be easier, more convenient to admit defeat and just buy a log with the money i have managed to save up.

I have this feeling that i can find a suitable log if i go a little bit further but Alfreda is with me and she is becoming more scared by the minute.

And i even told her that i'm not going to babysit her.

"Alex, can we..."

"Let's walk a bit further, then we'll turn back."

I interrupt her and continue walking.

She follows me in silence.

 

It doesn't take long before Alfreda stops us again.

"Alex..."

She grabs the back of my shirt.

"Ugh, what now? I said we'll turn back soon."

"It's not that. I..."

With her other hand she is holding the hem of her dress and rubbing her legs together.

"I have to go to the toi... let..."

"What, you have to pee? Then say so and go."

Hearing me say it boldly out loud makes her embarrassed but she nods.

"But where do i go?"

"It's a forest, you can go anywhere."

"Can you come with me? I'm scared."

"What, no!?"

I can see she is starting to panic and is reaching her limit.

"Sigh, just go behind that bush and i'll wait here."

"Promise?"

"Yeah, now go."

Nervously, she makes her way behind the bush while i remain nearby, leaning against a tree.

Once finding a suitable spot, she squats down and does her business.

"Alex, are you there?"

I look into the distance, preoccupied.

"Alex?"

"Yeah, yeah i'm here."

"Nn, then say so!"

"Sigh, are you done yet?"

"No... i'm too nervous."

I swear this girl...

I cross my arms and try to wait patiently.

Alfreda seems to be done with her business.

She is about to get up when she notices a weird shape hiding in the bush next to her.

A pair of eyes look at her and her face goes pale.

"Kyaa!"

Suddenly i hear a scream and footsteps approaching me fast and i turn around to see Alfreda sprinting towards me.

Before i can say anything, Alfreda crashes into me and we fall on the ground, her on top of me.

"Waah! Alex, let's go home, i'm scared! I want to go home, waah!"

She cries and hugs me tightly, pressing her face against my chest.

I look behind her to see what frightened her and see a rabbit come out of the bush and run away from us.

"It's just a rabbit Alfreda, stop crying."

She doesn't seem to hear me and continues crying.

I stay still and wait until she calms down.

I feel irritated and uncomfortable, but i put my hand on her head and stroke her hair to calm her down.

After her crying stops, we stand back up.

We pat our clothes of any dirt and i look at Alfreda.

She looks down at the ground, not saying anything.

This is clear sign to stop looking for the log and head back home.

"I saw an open area over there nearby. Let's rest there and then head back."

"Sob, okay..."

She answers silently through her sobs.

 

We enter the open area.

Alfreda sits on a nearby fallen tree trunk, looking down and her hands on her lap.

I walk towards the center and find a used campfire.

I look around me and see a collapsed tent and a bed roll covered by leaves.

Nearby is also a wagon.

I get closer to it and i recognize it.

It's the wagon Stella and her companions were on and this was the camp she talked about.

There is a strange bump on the ground also covered by leaves and stench of decay.

I approach it and realize it's a corpse, or what remains of it.

All that's left is a chest plate, a rotting torso and a skeletal arm with bits of flesh attached to it.

I can see faint stains of blood on the tree trunk Alfreda is sitting on, but i decide not to mention it to her.

Looks like the animals of the forest had a feast.

This might be Pyke or Vilke.

I kick some leaves on it so that Alfreda doesn't see it.

Both Pyke and Vilke were murdered by Lucan, but i don't see a second corpse.

Wolves or other creatures might have dragged it somewhere.

The wagon is empty so i assume Lucan must've looted it.

I clear branches off the fallen tent and lift it up to see if there's anything inside.

There are some items left that were behind.

Lucan must've been in a hurry, considering the injuries Stella gave him when she escaped from him.

"Hmm, what's this?"

I find a backpack in relatively good condition.

I open it and rummage through the junk.

My hand touches something at the bottom and i pull it out.

It's a wooden container.

I open it and find it full of dried fruit and meat, definitely a treat and a nice find.

I walk up to Alfreda and hold the container in front of her.

"Hungry?"

Her mood improves as she sees and smells the food.

"Oh, where did you find this?"

"In a backpack over there, you want some?"

"Yes, please."

She takes the container and i sit next to her.

"You can have the meat if that's okay."

"Fine by me."

She sets the box between us and we begin eating.

"Mm! These fruits taste yummy."

She declares approvingly and her ears twitch up and down.

Eye raise my eyebrow, i didn't know elves could do that.

The meat tastes quite good despite the camp being abandoned for 3 or 4 weeks.

 

Once we're done eating i look up at the sky.

"Damn, it's getting dark."

Alfreda notices it too and starts to get worried.

"What should we do?"

I look around and inspect the tent.

"I think we should sleep here for the night. This was Stella's and her companions camp so the road must be nearby. We can head there in the morning."

The tent isn't too damaged and the sticks used to keep it up aren't broken either.

I've never put up a tent or gone camping before, so it takes me a few tries to get it up.

I throw away the sleeping bag which was inside it because it had blood on it.

After that i return to the other sleeping bag and pick it up.

From within it something drops on the ground.

It's a brown satchel.

I bring the sleeping bag inside the tent and set it up and return to the satchel.

I kneel down to open it and find a dark blue book inside it, not much else.

I pick it up and look it over.

It's thick and the cover seems to be made out of leather, also it feels surprisingly light.

The cover has a unique design to it, with runes, symbols and engravings.

I decide to open it and i'm greeted by a familiar name.

"Property of Stella Sephord, huh? Interesting."

She must've left it behind when she escaped.

Did she lie about her previous one becoming full?

Well, not that it matters anymore.

It looks like it's protected by a magic spell because it doesn't have a scratch on it despite being exposed to elements.

It appears to just apply to it's condition as it doesn't prevent me from flipping through the pages.

Her hand writing is pretty neat and some parts are written in cursive.

I could keep it and return it to her the next time we meet.

Wait, do i want to see her again?

I could just sell it for a good amount of money.

But it could be important to her.

My eyes wonder back to the first page and i read further down.

A graduation gift to me by my dear teacher, who taught me the beautiful world of magic.

I realize it could have sentimental value to her so i decide to take it with us when we leave.

She might give me a reward for returning it.

I stash the book back in the satchel and take it with me to the tent.

"Let's go to sleep so we can return in the morning."

"Yeah."

I follow Alfreda inside the tent and put the satchel aside.

"What's that?"

"Nothing."

We lay down on the sleeping bag.

"yawn, good night, Alex."

"Night."

 

Something rustles in the distance.

"Mmh..."

The rustling continues and a stick snaps.

"Mmmh...!"

I wake up and open my eyes.

I can hear something moving nearby.

I look around the tent and then through the gap outside.

In the distance there is light moving through the trees.

Did someone find us?

The light splits into two.

Did our parents send a group to find us?

No, they aren't coming towards the camp but are going around it.

I try to sit up but something is holding me down.

I look down and see Alfreda hugging my arm in her sleep.

I nudge her to wake up.

"Wake up."

I whisper to her,

I nudge her a few more times before she wakes up.

"Mmh... what?"

"Shh, we have to leave."

She rubs her eye.

"Huh, why?"

She asks and i quickly put my hand over her mouth.

"Shh!"

I see the lights stop moving.

I stare at them, keeping my eyes open wide and my heart beating fast.

What feels like an eternity the lights continue moving and i take my hand off her mouth.

"Alex, what's happening?"

She whispers nervously.

"I saw lights in the distance. I doubt it's a search party."

We get up and i give Alfreda Stella's satchel for her to carry.

Once we're outside i look around us for any signs of activity.

I don't notice anything else other than the two lights which are going further away from us.

"Damn it, it's still dark."

My plan was to see in the morning if the wagon left any tracks behind we could use to follow back to the road.

Without light we can't see anything.

Looking at the lights fills me with curiosity and wariness.

"Let's follow them."

"Are you sure? What if they're dangerous."

"We have no other choice. If we follow them carefully they might lead us to the road."

The lights are dimming and i don't want to argue, so i offer her my hand.

"You can hold my hand so you don't get lost."

She blushes and is surprised by the gesture.

"Y-You've never offered me your hand before."

Not wanting to waste anymore time i grab her hand and lead us into the forest.

 

The soft ground muffles our footstep as we follow the pair of lights.

I follow them intently, making sure not to stay too close or far, just the perfect distance to see where they're going.

Alfreda is having some trouble keeping up despite me holding her hand.

She accidentally snapped on a twig a few times but i think they didn't notice or thought it was an animal.

She is still sleepy and she's getting scared and nervous again.

Along the way the lights stop a few times.

I observe them and identify three figures who appear to be men.

We continue following them for sometime before they stop again.

"Sorry guys i have to stop for a piss."

"Again? I swear your bladder is out of control.

The third man laughs.

"Yeah, yeah fuck you."

Shit, i can hear them talking, we're too close.

Alfreda hugs my arm as we're hiding behind a tree.

Once the bladder guy is done, we continue following them.

They suddenly adjust their direction and we encounter an obstacle.

A huge boulder is in front of us so we have to circle around it.

The men have created some distance and we hurry carefully to catch up to them.

We manage to close the distance but the men stop again.

Me and Alfreda stop and hide behind a fallen tree trunk.

The two men seem to be talking to each other.

I'm starting to feel increasingly wary and uneasy.

They should just hurry the fuck up and lead us to the road.

Wait, two men?

Where's the third one?!

A sudden chill runs along my spine and i quickly turn around.

Before i can see anything something hits my head and my lights go out.