THE next morning, it was time to head to the Fore Elf woods. Everyone gathered at our house early in the day. The sun was barely illuminating the world outside. A frigid breeze blew past us.
Everyone had stiff looks on their faces. I could tell how nervous they were. Captain Ludtink let out a big yawn.
“That’s quite a yawn, Captain.”
“Yeah, I barely slept last night.”
Not even Captain Ludtink was able to get a good night’s rest.
“I was wanderin’ around the house when Marina came and yelled at me. Then she dragged me to bed and tied me to it with a rope. How mean is that?”
“She’s probably just worried about you going on a mission while sleep-deprived.”
“But I’m still sleep deprived.”
“Then please rest well tonight in the Fore Elf village.”
“I can’t even sleep without my usual pillow,” he grumbled.
“Then how were you sleeping when we camped outside during expeditions?”
“I wasn’t.”
Liar! Who else could have been snoring at our campsites like that?
Our Captain Bandit couldn’t possibly be so delicate.
“Well, we’ve got a full day before takin’ on that dragon, so it’ll probably be fine.”
“Exactly.”
We would be heading out to find the Dark Dragon tomorrow, but until then, the plan was to spend the day in the Fore Elf village.
Judging by how pale everyone looked, I could tell they were too nervous to sleep.
“This guy was the only one who slept like a damn baby.” Captain Ludtink was pointing at Lance.
Lance was dressed in city clothes today. He wore a light green shirt with a stand-up collar, leather pants, and a brand-new bow and quiver on his back.
“Where did you get all of those things, Lance?” I asked.
“Captain Bandit’s in-laws bought them for me, even though I said I didn’t want them.”
It sounded like they really adored Lance. He was a cocky person, but he was also the most beloved child in our village. I just didn’t expect his charm to work in the royal capital too.
Unlike Captain Ludtink, Vice Captain Velrey was sharp and alert. I knew better than to underestimate her. She was just like her usual self.
On the other hand…
“Oh my gosh, I’m so nervous.”
Zara was unusually melancholic. But a little melancholy was to be expected in the face of a Dark Dragon extermination.
“Are you all right, Zara?” I asked.
“I know I keep telling you I’m fine, but I just can’t calm down whenever I think about meeting your family.”
“You’re more worried about my family than the Dark Dragon?”
“Yeah, because Sir Aiskoletta will kill it for us. But I’m the only one who can make your family like me, Melly.”
“I’ve written about you in my letters already, so there’s no need for concern. Mom and Dad even said they’d like to thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” I told him.
“R-Really? I never knew you wrote to them about me.”
“I certainly did.”
“Why, thank you.”
That seemed to be a huge weight off Zara’s shoulders.
Ulgus and Album were shuddering together in a corner of the garden.
“Is it just me, or is it really cold in the woods this early?”
“It’s sooo cold…”
I thought they were shaking from nerves, but it turned out that they were huddling together, taking warmth from each other. It was actually kind of sweet.
The Lichtenbergers were staring at Amelia and Rih from afar. It was the very start of the day, but they were already so happy. I didn’t have to worry about them—so long as mythical beasts were around, they would always have boundless energy.
Garr and Sly were staring up at the sky together. The sun was rising, turning the sky into a pleasant shade of blue. Garr had a sad look on his face for some reason. Perhaps he was sad about going on an expedition less than a month after his wedding.
Sly beckoned me over when she noticed me watching them.
Once I approached, Garr pointed at the sky.
“What about the sky…? Ah!”
One cloud in particular looked exactly like bread. Just then, I heard someone’s stomach growl. Garr looked at me shyly.
“Oh, did you not have breakfast today?”
He nodded.
There was still enough time before our departure to whip up something simple.
When I went around and asked the others, it turned out no one else had eaten either—perhaps because the meetup time was so early. It seemed that their complexions were pale because they were running on empty stomachs.
“Then allow me to prepare a light breakfast,” I announced to the group. “Please wait here.”
I was putting on my apron in the kitchen when Charlotte poked her head in.
“What are you doing, Mell?”
“I thought I’d make a light breakfast, since everyone’s hungry.”
“Can I help too?”
“You don’t mind?”
“Nope!”
Charlotte and I began to cook. We toasted some bread lightly and topped it with a layer of cream cheese and drizzled honey. For Captain Ludtink, who hated sweets, we added ham and sliced cheese, then grilled his toast a bit longer. Finally, we brewed piping hot black tea and added plenty of milk and sugar to each mug.
It took less than ten minutes to complete. Charlotte and I handed out our toast made with simple ingredients from the kitchen.
“Here you go, Zara.”
“Thanks a bunch. The hunger hit me when I finally relaxed a little.” Zara looked so happy as he chowed down on the cream cheese honey toast. “It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
I handed out toast to the other members too. Ulgus and Album seemed to have warmed up thanks to their cups of tea.
Everyone’s faces regained some color after eating breakfast and drinking hot tea. Now there was nothing to worry about.
It was finally time to depart. Sir Aiskoletta and Doc had been discussing the dragon extermination inside, but now they joined us in the garden. Fortunately, there was no concern about their hunger, as they’d already eaten breakfast.
“It’s time to head out. Are you all prepared?”
Without hesitation, everyone nodded to Doc’s question.
Charlotte waved both hands to say goodbye. “Everyone! Make sure to come home safe, okaaaay? I will be waiting for you!”
With Charlotte looking after the house for us, we needed to make sure not to return to her in a bad state.
“Goodbye, Charlotte.”
“Have a safe trip!”
The magic circle of the teleportation spell formed over the ground. It was finally time to return to the Fore Elf woods.
“Kreh kreh!”
“Kreh!”
Amelia and Rih stood on either side of me, chirping, “You get to see your family soon, huh?”
I left the Fore Elf woods after Lance called off our wedding. I thought I would never set foot in that forest again…but there I was with the most unlikely homecoming of all.
I didn’t know how to put those feelings into words.
I wasn’t exactly excited or eager. It was a mysterious emotion swirling around inside of me.
As I faced those thoughts, the scenery before me suddenly changed.
My honey-brick home was replaced by the depths of a forest. It was still early enough that a faint mist wafted between the trees. I shuddered, as this place was much colder than the woods surrounding the royal capital.
There was no mistaking the bounty of green stretching on endlessly around us. I was back at my place of birth.
“So this is the Fore Elf woods where you grew up, Risurisu?” Captain Ludtink asked.
“Yes! This is…my forest!”
It hadn’t even been two years since I left the forest, but I was still overwhelmed with nostalgia.
“This place is amazing, Medic Risurisu! The air is so fresh!”
Ulgus was right. The air felt pure and clear.
Captain Ludtink, however, choked on that clean air. Is he going to be okay?
“It really hasn’t changed,” I mused.
“Mell, you’ve only been gone two years. Of course the forest didn’t change.”
“I guess that’s true.”
No one seemed to be nauseous from the teleportation spell despite how far we traveled. Even Lord Lichtenberger, who got sick last time, looked completely normal. Doc’s magic was probably just that superior.
“All right, keep safe, everyone. We’re headin’ in.”
We began to walk forward in the forest.
“Hey, Risurisu. Is the Fore Elf village really up ahead? I feel like we’re gonna wander into a bear’s den.”
“How rude. Of course it’s ahead!”
But despite my protests, the more we walked, the more uneasy I felt. I had a good sense of direction, but I hadn’t traveled this route in so long. I let Lance take the lead, not wanting to actually guide the others into a bear’s den by mistake.
We walked through the trails, sunlight filtering in through the trees above us. Then we slipped in between their densely growing trunks and passed by the lake where flowers grew under the water’s surface.
That was when the Fore Elf village came into view.
“Holy crap, there really is a village! Look, there’s houses in the middle of the woods!”
Captain Ludtink whirled his head around with a look of shock. What, you didn’t believe me?
“We’re called Fore Elves because we live deep within the forest,” I stated dryly.
Forests were normally cut down to make way for villages or towns. But Fore Elves only cut the trees necessary to build our houses and didn’t develop any other land. That was why even our next-door neighbors were sometimes five or ten minutes apart from us.
“Look at the wooden houses. So this is how Fore Elves live, is it?” Liselotte was shocked to see the Fore Elf village too.
I’d been surprised when I saw a human village for the first time as well. Not only were the houses built so close together, but there was no forest around them at all.
“I always thought it was normal for there to be houses in the woods.”
“But no one would stumble on to ’em when they’re this deep in the forest.”
“Exactly. We rarely ever had adventurers and travelers show up.”
I remembered hearing that, in ancient times, a magic barrier was cast over the entire Fore Elf woods. The barrier prevented entry to anyone who didn’t have business with us Fore Elves.
Only a few traders were allowed to pass through it.
“We oughta go and speak to the mayor first. That’ll be your family, right, Lance?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then lead the way.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Reluctantly, Lance led us to his house.
Lance’s grandfather was our current mayor. I’d been a bit scared of him ever since I was a kid, since he seemed extremely stern. It was probably five years since I last met with him directly. Despite being engaged to Lance, the mayor was still a distant figure to me.