You Have to Trust Me. (2)
Erenes is a great elf who will become the Grand Chieftain in the future.
As a companion of the Hero, she led the war against the Demon Realm to victory. A thousand years later, she once again fought against the Salvation Church and was a great help to the Human Alliance.
She was truly an elf whose heroic actions transcended her race. There was no way someone like her would be living just anywhere.
Ghislain had suspected she might be in this place—the most important among the many elven forests.
Sure enough, just as Ghislain had guessed, the young Erenes was staying here.
Ghislain stared at Erenes with a mix of excitement and tension. Then, he suddenly felt something strange.
'What is this?'
Erenes was looking around as if searching for something. She tilted her head while looking in odd directions and examined the trees one by one.
'No way...'
Ghislain knew Erenes would become incredibly powerful in the future. But right now, she wasn't there yet.
There was no way she could detect someone like him, someone who had already reached the realm of controlling will.
And yet...
Erenes's eyes finally fixed on one spot. She narrowed her brow and stared intently at a single point.
Ghislain was taken aback by that sight.
'How?'
Right now, Ghislain and Erenes were looking directly into each other's eyes. It wasn't a coincidence that she had looked in his direction.
No matter how exceptional Ghislain's stealth was, it only worked when the enemy had no idea where he might be. As long as they could pinpoint his position, skilled individuals could find him.
And sure enough, Erenes gave a cold smile and slowly raised both hands.
Fwoosh!
In an instant, massive flames arced through the air and shot toward Ghislain.
"Hmm?"
Ghislain leaned back. But before he knew it, fire spirits had already approached and transformed into towering pillars of flame beside him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Pillars of fire surged into the sky. Surprisingly, the flames didn't spread to the surroundings.
Ghislain ducked low to avoid the rising fire. His mind was racing faster than ever.
'She's alerting the nearby elves.'
Several fire pillars had risen. Soon, elven warriors would swarm the area.
He could escape if he chose to retreat now. But Ghislain couldn't shake off the sense of regret.
If he missed this chance, he didn't know when he'd meet Erenes again. She was one of the most important companions of the Hero.
And if he could communicate with her now...
'I'm going for it.'
Having made up his mind, Ghislain summoned his mana. His body became surrounded by a soft blue light.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, instead of retreating, Ghislain shot forward toward Erenes.
As she saw him charging, Erenes scoffed and flicked her hand lightly.
"Hmph."
Whoooosh!
Wind spirits erupted at her feet. Soon, they turned into sharp whirlwinds flying toward Ghislain.
Ghislain narrowly slipped through them. Though the wind blades tore his mask and clothes in places, he didn't care and kept closing the distance.
At that moment, Ghislain saw it—the curiosity shining in Erenes's eyes.
'Just as I thought.'
Kraaaack!
Still, her attacks didn't stop. From cracks spreading across the ground, stone pillars shot up.
Ghislain leapt onto a tree to avoid them, then dashed between the trees.
In just a brief moment, countless attacks had flown his way. Even Ghislain had to admire Erenes's assault.
She clearly had the talent to become the future Grand Chieftain of the elves.
Still, Ghislain was at a higher level for now. As he broke through every attack and approached, Erenes bit her lip.
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, blazing fire spirits appeared in the air. They surrounded Ghislain and charged at him, as if to self-destruct.
"Hmph!"
A blue energy burst from Ghislain's body and spread out like a shield, blocking the fire spirits.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
Explosions rang out, but Erenes didn't stop her assault. She clearly didn't expect an opponent like him to go down that easily.
Erenes narrowed her eyes. Stronger elemental power swirled around her.
Just as she was about to launch another attack—
Ghislain, having escaped the blast, shouted.
"Erenes! Stop!"
"Huh?"
Erenes paused with a surprised expression. Seeing this, Ghislain lifted one corner of his mouth.
'As I thought, she still lacks experience.'
The future Erenes would've continued attacking without blinking. She would have overpowered him first, then asked questions later.
But the current Erenes hadn't developed that cold resolve yet. Hearing a stranger call her name had genuinely startled her.
Whoosh!
Ghislain suddenly brought his face close to Erenes's. She was so startled she froze.
A look the future Erenes would never have shown. Smiling inwardly, Ghislain spoke.
"Erenes, I need your help."
"W-What? Who… who are you?"
"I'll explain later. I'm not your enemy. I'm your friend—from the future. I came to help you and the elves."
"My… friend? You came to help me?"
"That's right. The elves don't know anything and are chasing me. But I really came here to help you."
Ghislain stopped speaking and turned his head. He could feel the spirits and elves closing in.
Fwoosh!
Ghislain once again melted into the shadows, retreating behind Erenes. As he withdrew, he repeated his plea.
"Send the others somewhere else. Then let's talk again."
"W-Wait!"
"Erenes, you have to trust me."
Erenes reached out her hand, but Ghislain had already moved away and hidden. Of course, Erenes, who knew his general direction, could roughly guess where he was hiding.
However, she couldn't give chase. Other elves and spirits were quickly approaching.
'How does he know my name?'
She had never once been outside the forest. No matter how many times she begged the Grand Chieftain, she was never given permission.
And yet, a human she had never seen before called her by name. He claimed to be a friend from the future, here to help her.
Erenes couldn't help but fall into confusion.
While she stood frozen, unable to decide what to do, the other elves arrived, swiftly surrounding the area.
"Erenes."
The elf at the front called her name. Erenes turned her head in surprise.
"Elder?"
He appeared young and beautiful, but he was in fact an elf elder who had lived for hundreds of years.
Erenes's face turned pale. The fact that an elder had come meant the situation was far more serious than she thought.
The elder briefly examined Erenes and let out a sigh of relief. She was unharmed.
Even from the traces alone, it was clear that a battle had taken place. The elder was first and foremost relieved that Erenes was safe.
He looked at her quietly and asked,
"A trespasser came here, didn't they? Where did they go?"
He was deeply concerned. The intruder's skill was formidable.
They had to catch him quickly. No one knew when another elf might be harmed. And somehow, the trespasser had been slipping through the forest's defenses with ease.
They had only just detected his presence and given chase, only for him to disappear again.
Erenes swallowed hard. She had to answer the elder's question.
She knew exactly where the intruder was hiding. She couldn't sense his presence, but with just a general direction, she could easily find him.
She should tell them. The intruder was dangerous. The fact that even the elder had come was proof enough.
After hesitating for a moment, Erenes slowly raised her hand and pointed in a direction.
There was something Ghislain didn't know—he had only encountered elves from the slightly unhinged future.
He didn't understand the mindset and principles of elves from this era.
Elves do not lie to their kin. Elves do not hide things from their kin. Elves do not betray their kin for personal gain. Elves regard the fate of their race as their own. Elves reflect the will of the community in every decision they make.
And so…
"He ran that way."
Erenes pointed in the exact opposite direction of where Ghislain was hiding.
A flushed face, a trembling voice, eyes full of uncertainty.
If she were human, anyone would have immediately realized she was lying.
But not a single elf present doubted her words. Not even one.
Because they were elves—bound together as one community in the embrace of the World Tree.
"I'm glad your skills were enough to keep you safe. Still, we can't be too sure. You'd better stay with the others for now."
"Yes, understood."
"Let's go. He couldn't have gone far."
As the elder moved, the other elves followed behind. The summoned spirits did the same.
Once everyone was gone, Erenes clutched her chest.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Her heart was pounding wildly. The first lie of her life brought with it a piercing pain and a strange, guilty thrill.
"Haa…"
Her flushed face wouldn't cool down. Her breathing remained heavy and uneven.
The lie had shocked her to her core.
And at that moment, Erenes felt as if something inside her had cracked.
"This… is a lie… This… is what humans feel…"
Elves love harmony and peace. They wish to breathe in tune with all life under the breath of nature.
That is their fate, a silent vow to uphold for as long as life permits.
Because of this, elves fear and guard against the intense emotions of humans.
The more they are swept up in emotional turmoil, the further they drift from their essence—that fundamental connection with nature.
Elves dispatched to cities are quarantined when they return to the forest. Until they can once again harmonize with nature, they are kept from close contact with other elves for a very long time.
This wasn't for their sake, but to protect the other elves.
Such was the strict and unyielding discipline of the elves. But Erenes, out of personal curiosity, had broken that discipline.
And the cause of it all—Ghislain—appeared before her once more.
"Ahaha, thanks. I caused you some trouble, didn't I?"
Ghislain smiled nonchalantly. Erenes glared at him.
"You… human…"
Honestly, even she didn't know why she had lied. Her heart had just moved on its own in that moment.
'Well, it's already done. No turning back.'
Erenes consoled herself with that thought, convincing herself that she had just been swept along by the situation.
What's done is done. Now was the time to ask this intruder what she wanted to know.
"Who are you? How do you know my name? Why did you trespass into the forest?"
Ghislain cleared his throat. From this moment on, he planned to act so dramatically that even Claude would be shocked.
After taking a moment to compose himself, he spoke with a serious expression.
"My name is Astion. I am a prophet, sent by the goddess's oracle to save the elves."
"......"
Erenes narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.
From the man standing in front of her, she could smell the scent of a human swindler—just like the stories.
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