Dark Elf

-----Mai's POV

Erytheia: "So... What's this deal with dark elves?"

Seems as though more often than not, Erytheia prefers to talk with me and watching what I'm watching. My current theory is that she actually just misses me despite yelling at me when she first found me. I don't mind talking with her, especially knowing that she can't hear my thoughts. As for what we're watching, we've just been following Kaede and Selene around as I answer any questions that Erytheia thinks of, since at the moment, she's the new overseer of this world.

Mai: "I'm not sure exactly, but if I had to guess, they're talking about the dark elf's ability to heal themselves in the forest."

Erytheia: "Huh? So they just hug a tree and they heal?"

Mai: "You can look at it that way, yes."

Erytheia: "Is that the same for other elves?"

Mai: "No. That ability is unique to the dark elves. High elves do get power from the trees, but the power they get is more offensive in nature rather than healing. Hence the reason why they call themselves "high" elves, believing that they're superior than other elves."

Erytheia: "I see~ But I think having the ability to heal inside a forest would be more practical than simply having more power."

Mai: "Mhmm. I agree."

It was actually this difference that made the dark elves flee as far away from the other elves as they could. Dark elves were quite oppressed, and still are too this day, but at least they're great in numbers. Due to the high elves' arrogance, they ended up fighting amongst themselves, essentially nearly wiping out their whole race by themselves. Dark elves did fight amongst each other as well, but they were a lot more civil, and instead just broke up into clans. It's thanks to this that high elves are incredibly rare, but I remember there still being some groups out there.

Erytheia: "But then wouldn't the dark elves be the only ones to harness the power of the trees?"

Mai: "As far as I know, yes. But I can't say I know much of their intricacies. Maybe they know of a way to transfer it to another person, I don't know."

Erytheia: "Ooo~ Makes me want to just jump forward into the future!"

Mai: "Hehe. But then you'd miss out on the journey."

Erytheia: "Mmm. Not like I can do that anyways."

Despite who we are, we're still bound by time. We never age, but we still can't overthrow it. I honestly tried to find a way to manipulate time before I was bound to Kaede, but nothing I did lead to anything.

Erytheia: "But you think your vampire will be okay? She seems awfully calm considering who her opponent it."

Mai: "Mmm. It's tough to say. I warned her about her opponent, so it's up to her."

Erytheia: "You seem quite calm yourself. Aren't you afraid?"

Mai: "...A little."

Honestly, I relate to Yui a lot here. I don't want Kaede or Selene to be charging into Inasdale. When I scouted the city, I only saw that one being that would pose quite a threat to her. It'd be nice if she avoided that fight, but then again, Fabian is the one trapped right under that demon's nose. Well, I'll do what I can to assist her, so if I sense things going bad I can always force teleport us back here.

Erytheia: "I... I don't want you to die..."

Mai: "Hehe. I guess we'll just have to put our hopes in Kaede."

-----Fabian's POV

Rina: "How do you feel?"

Fabian: "F-feels, good."

After lunch, Rina went and looked over my legs once again. All the charred pieces of skin have all peeled away from my legs, but my feet still have a bit more healing to go as Rina smothers my feet in water-like magic as it slowly seeps into my feet. It stings a little, but it's incredibly relieving after a few moments. The area around my ankles still look quite mutilated having barely any flesh, but at least I can still manage to walk.

Fabian: "Thank you."

She smiles before sitting back down on the side of the bed next to me. Although we're now in a relationship, we've more or less just did what we did before as she pulls out her notes to study. It's refreshing since being forcefully kissed over and over, and even coming close to death at times is quite suffocating. But with Rina, it feels a lot more peaceful.

Rina: "So- friend-ship, is what I say my, con-nection is to the other elves?"

Fabian: "Mhmm, friendship."

Rina: "So then, for us it would be a, partner-ship?"

Fabian: "Pfft."

Rina: "Eh?"

Fabian: "Nothing. Sounds too business-like."

Rina: "Business?"

Fabian: "Formal. Proper? Like how you address Ilfa."

Rina: "Ah~ I see."

She began to write more notes as I can't help but smile at the situation. It's really cute seeing her slowly learn the language as I can totally see her train of thought.

Rina: "So then, lover-ship?"

Fabian: "Haha. No, we just call it a relationship."

Rina: "Huh? But couldn't that be used to explain friends as well?"

Fabian: "I... I guess you have a point. But I think context matters."

Rina: "Hmm. I'll try my best."

Again, she wrote more notes as I begin to think if this is what an actual relationship is like. This is technically our first day together, but I still feel like I'm a tutor more than anything. It's not that I mind this, but I half expected Rina to be a lot more proactive with it, much like how Ilfa is. Can't help but wonder if I'm missing something.

Fabian: "What do elves do when they're in a relationship?"

Rina: "Eh?! Uhm-"

Finally I get to see her embarrassed once more. With her face and ears slowly turning pink, I can only assume what is on her mind.

Fabian: "Like kissing?"

Rina: "Well, yes but... How do you say this?"

She began to use her hands to show me what she's trying to say. I could feel my face immediately tense up when she made a hole with a finger and her thumb in one hand, and with her other hand sticking a finger into said hole. I figured elves would also do that kind of stuff, but to see Rina gesture like that makes it quite embarrassing to watch. Either way, I do need to do my job and give her an answer.

Fabian: "Sex?"

Rina: "Sex... Got it."

She immediately went to write that down as that made me feel even more embarrassed, knowing that she'll probably look over these notes when she leaves. But this does make me wonder... Aren't elves like super old? I imagine if Rina gets embarrassed with this kind of talk, it makes me wonder if she's actually quite young in the eyes of an elf.

Fabian: "Can I ask you something?"

Rina: "Hmm? Sure."

Fabian: "H-how old are you?"

Rina: "Ah. Uhm"

Fuck! Was that a question I wasn't supposed to ask?! But before I could say anything further, she then lifted her hand back up before spreading out all her fingers open before closing and repeating it once more, but the third time she only opened out 9 fingers.

Fabian: "So... 29?"

Rina: "ㄒ山乇几ㄒㄚ-几丨几乇, twenty-nine."

Wow, so she's actually quite young for an elf, right? But that would explain her barely knowing my language and with her being bullied by her peers. I'd think that if she was older, she'd be more respected and maybe even already learnt my language. I guess it makes me happy that there's not some crazy age gap between us. But that does make me wonder how old Ilfa is. The way she talked about her past with Tarifa, it makes me think she's been around for hundreds of years.

Fabian: "I'll be 19 soon. Actually I might already be."

I went ahead and gestured in the same way Rina did just before, spreading out all my fingers before doing so again but with only 9 fingers. I'm still unsure exactly how much time has passed since I've come here, so I could very well be 19 already.

Rina: "Isn't that, old for humans?"

Fabian: "Not really."

Rina: "But humans don't live long, right?"

Fabian: "I guess compared to elves, we don't, haha. How long do elves live for?"

Wait... That might be a crazy thing to ask as well. I can already see it now, Rina holding out her hands, flashing a bunch of 10's with her fingers all day until she gets to a crazy number.

Rina: "Uhm... A lot longer than humans."

I guess she also didn't want to count out all the years too, haha. Although I can already tell what's on her mind with the now wry look on her face. There might not be too much of an age gap between us, but our life spans sure are different. I'm also thinking the same thing. I guess now would be the right time to try something?

I slowly bring my arm around Rina, gently holding on her shoulder on the other side in hopes to comfort her. She just looks up into my eyes as I hold my ground, not looking away in the slightest.

Fabian: "It'll be okay. Let's just have as much fun as we can."

Rina: "Mm-mmm."

God, we're so close right now! But now's not the time to- or maybe it is? Rina's still looking at me as if she's waiting for something. Is this the right move? I decide to test the waters a little, slowly bringing my face closer to see how Rina would react. Her eyes widen for a moment before slowly beginning to close. Her ears also flickered a little which made this situation even more cute. AH screw it! I might be an asshole by playing with her feelings right now, but I can't deny that I want to try kissing her. Maybe-

It was then that I was cut off from my thoughts as I quickly realize that our lips had finally met, however I'm unsure which one of us closed the remaining distance. I can't help but immediately compare Rina to Ilfa as Rina kept her mouth closed with her lips feeling quite tense. Whereas Ilfa showed no signs of holding back, forcing me into whatever she wanted. It made me think if I should try and be like Ilfa in this situation, but maybe for now, this will be enough.

After a few more moments, we break away from the kiss as Rina opens her eyes once more, her face now relaxed as she finally parts her lips to breathe. I don't know why, but seeing her open her lips almost made me want to go in properly, but I restrain myself. It's bad enough I'm doing this to Rina in the first place... However... She looks quite happy right now, it's too tempting.