Finally, morning arrived meaning it was time for us to move on. At the entrance of happiness village, harpy and human stood alike to see us off.
"Miss Y/N!" A women yells
'Right, they don't know' I turn to see her holding a large glass jar of honey
"Here, I'm sorry we can't offer you more" she solemly says
"Please, this is more than enough thank you" I say smiling and bowing. I turn to Alice, who has a surprised look on her face
"I know how much you wanted this, so here" I say giving her the jar
She smiles widely and takes the jar, instantly opening the jar, dipping her finger in and tasting it.
"It's sweet!" She says as her tail wags slightly
I chuckle and look towards the crowd
"We'll be heading off now" I say
"Remember! You all are always welcome back here!" The chief's wife yelled
I nod and we begin walking before I heard someone shout
"Wait!"
I look up to see the harpy queen flying towards me before landing. I saw that she was holding a black case with a familiar shape
'No way...'
"You almost forgot this" the queen said handing me the case
"Wait, there's no way I can accept this!" I say panicking
She chuckled and leaned over whispering
"I saw how you glanced at that guitar last night" she cooied before leaning back
"I asked my most skilled harpies to build this, not only is it high quality but I even casted some enchantments on it so it would be a burden during your travels" she proudly stated as I blush at the fact that she saw that
"So please, I insist" she says
I sigh and smile, taking the case and placing it on my back
'It's extremely light'
"Thank you I greatly appreciate it" I say smiling
She smiles and walks back to the crowd as me, Luka and Alice wave and continue our journey
"Let's see... Let's go to Enrika!" Luka decides
"Enrika?" I ask
"Yup, apparently their products are extremely well made, their also the one's who made my shirt" Luka excitingly said
"I see, interesting"
"By the way L/N, what's with the guitar on your back?" Alice asked
"I mean for the queen to put so much effort into making it, surely she had good reason for it" Alice pressed
"To be honest, I don't know, heck when she said that she made it for me I was just as shocked as you were" I answer
"I see...well I hope you can play it, it would be a waste of such an instrument if you couldn't" Alice said
"Don't worry about it" I replied as we continued walking to Enrika
(Time Skip)
As we approached the village,I felt a cold chill run through the air
"Hmm...? That's an unusual monster..." Alice commented causing me to hide up in a tree while Alice disappeared
When the monster revealed herself, I almost mistaked her for a human until I saw her pointed ears. She had brown skin and a sword on her waist
'A dark elf, a creature from folklore'
"Go back hence you came. This is a place man must not approach." The dark elf warned as she unshealthed her sword
"Why aren't humans allowed?" Luka questioned
"Because they are human. If you do not retreat, I shall be forced to act." The elf replied
"Even still, I need to get through!" Luka declared, pointing his sword at his opponent
The battle started and was soon finished
"What is this? My body..." The dark elf questioned in disbelief as her body dissolved into particles, leaving a miniature version of herself
"Sealing me...I'll remember this!" She yelled before running away
"A dark elf in such a place...why on earth..." Alice pondered after reappearing but I didn't move from my spot
"Who knows? I didn't know elves were this close to ilias village...wait, where's L/N?" Luka asked noticing my absence
Soon Alice vanished and the second monster appeared
"I won't let you go any farther than this..." The new monster said
This one looked more inhuman than the first, her skin a sickly shade of purple. She wore a black dress that was see through in...certain parts.
As she spoke, she lifted her skirt to reveal a bunch of purple tentacles exploding out
'God, who created this monstrosities...' I think as I look away
The battle ends and me and Alice come out
"Another dark elf...they don't usually hang out in groups like that" Alice commented
"I thought there weren't that many dark elves in the first place?" Luka added
"That's right. Originally elves were a pure and innocent race. However, very rarely one would become corrupted. They call this phenomenon Degeneration. They would turn into a deprived existence. Alienated from other elves, they would act like normal monsters. In any case, we shouldn't be loitering around here." Alice lectured
'Wow last thing I expected from being transported to a different world was to get a biology lesson on the inhabitants yet here we are'
"Anyway, Enrika should be nearby correct" I ask
Luka nods and we start moving again
(Time Skip)
We walked for a while, before I felt an odd disturbance in the air, it wasn't like a human's but not like a monster's.
As we moved through a gap in the trees, we came across a small,peaceful-looking village.
"There it is! Enrika!" Luka yelled walking forward
Alice shifted into her human formation and I trail behind them
As I got closer, I felt multiples of these odd disturbances until I felt one of them start to approach us, it was much stronger and almost threatening yet at the same time it felt diluted in a way.
'I don't like this'
"This is Enrika...?" Luka thought about, as we entered the confines of the settlement
"...so it's like that...those dark elves from before make sense now..." Alice mumbles
"What do you mean? Hmm...?" Luka questioned before the same strong presence approached us.
She had long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders and back. She wore a green outfit of the same quality like Luka's shirt. Finally, she had sharp and calculative blue eyes as if nothing could escape her gaze.
"You...don't appear to be merchants..." The blonde woman commented as she analyzed our group.
She looked at me and we lock eyes before both of our eyes narrow for a moment.
"Th...that's right...I heard from a shopkeeper about this village." Luka explained
"...please go away. Other than merchants who trade things we need, we don't allow anyone else in the village." The woman requested
"No way..." Luka trailed off
"You may take offense at our prohibition...but this is how we have lived for a very long time. If you are a sensible traveler, please leave us alone." She pleaded
"...I understand, sorry for troubling you." Luka apologized in a disappointed tone before turning to leave
"That ring! Could you be...Luka!?" She suddenly exclaimed, having noticed the accessory on Luka's finger
"Eh...? That's right..." Luka confirmed in surprise
The blonde woman's expression softened
"You really are Luka, aren't you...you've grown so big..." she softly spoke
"Um...do you know me?" Luka inquired in confusion
"Yes. My name is Micaela I knew your mother and father well...but now, please turn back. When the time comes...we'll be able to talk." Micaela pleaded in a resolute voice
"..I understand. Alright...I'll come again." luka agreed, knowing there was no use arguing
"Yes...I wish you luck in your battles, Luka." Micaela said gently before turning to me.
"You...would you mind staying behind for a moment?" She asked, intriguing me
"Of course" I agree hoping to ask a few questions
I follow her inside a house but the moment the door closed, she put a sword to my throat making my eyes widen for but a moment
"What do you know!? Are you one of ilias's spies!?" She demanded
"What" I say in confusion before she pressed the sword harder
"Don't play dumb! Why can't I feel any dark or holy energy from you!? Every creature that lives has one or the other inside of them!" She yells in anger causing me to scowl
"I could ask you the same. The air around you doesn't move as a human's or monster's" I declare to which her eyes widen
"So why don't we put the sword down and talk like civilized people." I say as she narrows her eyes but draws back her sword and puts it down.
"Thank you. Now I promise to answer all your questions to the best of my ability if you answer mine in return deal?" I propose.
She closes her eyes in thought before looking at me
"Fine, Are you ilias's spy?" Shw asks as she glares at me
"No, I don't even follow ilias" I answer truthfully to which she raises an eyebrow
"I see... Why can't I feel any sort of energy from you?" She continues
"I don't know" I replay and she narrow her eyes
"Now, what exactly are you?" I ask
She closes her eyes and sighs
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that" she says
"I see...then what is this village?" I ask, respecting her wishes
"This place is a sanctuary for us" she answers before looking straight at me
"What are your intentions with Luka?" She demands
"I plan on training and protecting him" I say
She stares at me for a moment before sighing
"I believe you"she says as she walks to the door
"Come, I believe your friends are waiting" she says as we walk out
"By the way, I never got your name" she says as we walk
"Y/N L/N" I answer
"Then Y/N, please protect Luka he tends to be quite reckless" she pleads as we approach the edge of the village
"Of course"
"...Thank you"
We arrive at the forest and I see Luka and Alice.
"I suppose your finished?" Alice asks, I nod and walk beside them
"I wish you all luck on your travels" Micaela says as we walk away waving back
"So what did you talk about?" Alice as we walk back
"She just had a few questions about us and our goals for traveling." I answer, not looking at her
She stared at me for a second before looking away
"...what a strange village." Luka pondered aloud, as we moved through the forest
"What does it mean...this village..." Alice muttered
"What's wrong Alice? Once we entered the village, it looked like you realized something" Luka pointed out
"I understand something, but there's still a few things I don't get. I was sure that Enrika was an isolated elf village..." Alice commented, glancing at me for a moment
"Oi oi... are you saying everyone in that village was an Elf?" Luka asked in disbelief.
"That's what I thought...but that Micaela women...whatever, I didn't get to have a feast at the village like I thought I would. What a pointless trip." Alice concluded in a disappointed tone
Luka just sighed in response as se moved on
(Time skip)
We left the forest soon after that and we were moving to our next destination. This world has been a complete Rollercoaster, I could only hope for no more surprises even if I knew it was just in vain