บท 6: Towards the elven kingdom of Alferusia II
After preparing everything, such as the food supplies I gathered earlier, which were only tubers but enough to fill our stomachs, we were finally ready to continue our journey. I also made a small bag out of the rabbit skin I had gotten earlier to carry the essentials.
We started walking eastward, towards the capital of the Kingdom of Alferusia. Our journey began in high spirits, despite the uncertainty ahead of us. Bella seemed enthusiastic about finding her way home, while I was relieved to no longer have to be alone in the middle of this forest.
A few hours passed since we started our journey. As it turned out, the trip wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The fresh morning air and beautiful forest scenery made our journey more enjoyable. We kept walking, while sharing stories and experiences with each other.
As we continued our journey, Bella and I grew closer to each other. We shared stories about our previous lives, our hobbies, and our likes. Bella told me about the luxurious palace life and the education she received as an Alferusian princess. I, on the other hand, told her about life in the small village where I grew up and how I learned to survive in the wild.
"Bella, what is your favorite hobby in the palace?" I asked while looking at her enthusiastically.
Bella smiled brightly. "I love playing music, especially plucking the strings on my favorite instrument, the harp. I also enjoy reading books."
"Wow, that's interesting!" I said, impressed. "I love music too, although I've never played an instrument. And history books have always intrigued me too."
We continued to chat as we walked, exchanging stories and knowledge. I took this opportunity to glean more information about this world from Bella, who seemed to be very knowledgeable about the Alferusia Kingdom and everything related to it.
"Bella, can you tell me more about the Kingdom of Alferusia? I want to know more about it," I asked with interest.
There was excitement in her voice as Bella began to tell me about the long history of the Kingdom of Alferusia, the natural wonders that existed there, and the unique traditions lived by its inhabitants. I listened carefully, trying to absorb every word she said, increasingly interested in exploring this world more deeply.
After listening to Bella tell me so enthusiastically about the Kingdom of Alferusia, my mind drifted to different corners. Although I was initially hopeful and impressed by the beauty and richness of the kingdom, over time, my views began to change.
'What Bella told me was so amazing,' I muttered to myself, as I walked along with Bella. However, the deeper I thought about it, the more it became clear to me that not everything in the kingdom was so beautiful.
"Racism," the word echoed in my mind as I thought about how the long-lived elven race had retained their conservative traditions. Although not very obvious, the presence of districts reserved for half-bloods showed that there was racial segregation even within the luxurious palace itself.
When I look at Bella who is still excited, it seems like she doesn't yet understand how complex the world is. To her, things that I thought were unusual might just seem normal.
"Does Bella know about this?" I asked myself, feeling a little anxious about whether I should discuss it with her. But in the end, I decided to hold back, not wanting to burden her with a problem that might upset her.
With a tired sigh, I decided to calm myself down and stay focused on our goal, without burdening Bella too much with complicated thoughts.
…
[Pov Change]
Eric and Bella stepped calmly along the river, as if the river itself was whispering hints of the world's secrets. Eric, tough as a rock, moved on without hesitation, each step full of courage. Meanwhile, Bella, with eyes still full of innocence, followed Eric with fascination for his courage and wisdom.
As they approached Eric's hometown, the atmosphere changed drastically. Eric sensed danger lurking around every corner, and deftly, he issued a warning to Bella. His hand movements were so sharp, and the look in his eyes so stern, frightening to anyone who saw him.
In the tense silence, Eric and Bella hid in the bushes, their breath rustling softly among the leaves that trembled with the wind. Eric, with his sharp eyes, watched the movements of the human group approaching their hiding place.
"Listen, there seems to be that group of humans you told me about yesterday. They haven't given up looking for you," Eric whispered with a serious face, his voice muffled so as not to be heard by those around him.
Bella nodded quietly in silence, her eyes remaining focused on the movements of the human group. She followed Eric's instructions, refraining from making movements or sounds that could be alarming.
The two of them, lying on the ground, kept themselves out of sight of the people who were looking for them. Only the faint sound of their breathing could be heard, but to others, it might just be considered a passing breeze.
Not long after, the humans gave up and started to leave. Eric was relieved, not wanting anything bad to happen to them. He decided to wait for about half an hour before starting the journey again, making sure that they were completely safe from pursuit.
After that, the two of them started their journey again. Their steps were more cautious and alert than before. However, although they tried to avoid danger, it was undeniable that in this wild forest, there were some challenging beasts.
Eric, with his small and weak body as an Elf child, had to fight with his courage and knowledge against these animals. Despite defeating some of them, it was inevitable that the beasts' attacks left small wounds on his body. Even so, they used the animals as a source of food, filling their hungry stomachs in the midst of their challenging journey.
…
After several hours of grueling travel, Eric and Bella finally decided to take a short break. At this time, Bella began to notice some of Eric's prominent characteristics. Despite being a child, Eric was too mature for his size, and possessed knowledge that was unusual for an Elven child of his age. He had skills that most people didn't have, such as setting traps, recognizing the actions of wild stars, and even making a campfire without using spirit magic.
Everything seemed new to Bella, and Eric seemed to be the one who was too brave to face danger. Bella couldn't imagine how Eric could be so calm and unafraid when three wolves surrounded them. However, deftly, Eric manages to cope with the situation, driving away two of the wolves and paralyzing the other.
As a result, the wolf that Eric managed to immobilize became their evening meal. Although Bella was not used to the smell of blood or the act of butchering animals, she did not want to be a burden to Eric. Therefore, she helped him by cleaning the meat and searching for wild herbs to treat Eric's wounds.
After three days of grueling travel, the city of their destination finally came into view in the distance. Their steps grew lighter, accompanied by a sense of excitement that they were finally almost at their destination.
"Hahaha~ Look, Eric!" exclaimed Bella joyfully, dancing on the green grass that swayed under their steps, while pointing towards the front where there were huge trees. "That's where the kingdom of Alferusia is!" she said enthusiastically.
Eric could only smile at Bella's spirit. Although they had gone through various obstacles and dangers to get to this point, but seeing Bella's spirit made him feel relieved. However, as life always proves, nothing goes completely smoothly.
Suddenly, an arrow flew right over Eric's head, making him pause and go numb for a moment. His instincts made him quickly crouch down, dodging the unexpected attack.
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