Trickster was patrolling through the silent night when a faint commotion reached his ears. The rhythmic clash of steel and hurried footsteps — there was no mistaking it. A fight. From the sound of it, four of them, locked in battle somewhere up head.
One of them was a lizardman the elf had been chasing earlier that morning. Another one was lizardwoman, her long hair weighed down by three metallic spheres that glinted under moonlight. The third one was a ninja, his attire blending seamlessly with darkness — like the night had itself taken a form. Outnumbered and outmatched by them, the elf struggles to hold her ground.
The metallic spheres slammed her into the ground with bone - jarring force. The elf barely managed to fend off their relentless, unyielding assault, one strike follows up with other merciless speed. "Give me back my bracelet!" she shouted, voice sharp and demanding. "Do you actually want to die?" the words hung in the air, but her opponents' patience snapped. Their fury overtook caution, and with eyes blazing they lunged at her, intent unmistakable — to kill.
Their blades slashed toward her—then a small sphere dropped, bursting into thick smoke.As the gas settled, the elf was gone.
They were discussing something, unaware that Trickster, hidden in the shadows, held the elf firmly while observing them.
"Why did you stop me? Now they're gone because of you!" "If I hadn't shown up when I did, you'd be dead." "Not my problem — you didn't want to help me in the first place." "I couldn't let you die. And relax — my special falcon's watching them. We'll have time to prepare a counterattack."
They both stay at Trickster's wooden house, which looks old and has nothing special about it.
She looks around but finds nothing other than crafts, potions, and an assortment of weapons — swords, daggers, and knives.
"Are you serious? You really live like this?"
"It's better this way. When you live alone in the middle of the forest, you get used to it. You go sleep inside — I'll sleep here," he said, pointing at the floor.
He slept on the floor, holding his sword close. Jeez, this guy really fell asleep fast. Is this even a place where someone can live? She yawned. Ooh, I'm sleepy… let's just sleep.
From far away came a faint crackle — distant, yet clear in the elf's sharp ears.She could hear laughter ringing and voices brimming with joy — the kind of sound that could only belong to a festival.
She leaned over and shook him lightly. "Hey… is today some kind of festival?"
Trickster stirred, blinking sleep from his eyes. "Yeah," he muttered, voice rough. "People hike up the mountain, eat, play games, watch fireworks—then come back down."
She yanked him upright, determination sparking in her eyes. "Wake up! I'm going to that festival too, and you'd better listen — I am your employer." A low, reluctant sound escaped him. "Who… mine? Tsk… fine, whatever," he muttered, shifting slightly but offering nothing more.
He waited outside, arms folded, his gaze drifting lazily over trees. When she finally stepped out, dressed in a soft green outfit that shimmered faintly under the night, he gave her a brief glance — once, twice — then looked away, uninterested.
The path stretched straight to the looming mountain, cluttered with stalls and laughter. Lanterns head low, flickering gold across the road. The air was thick with smoke, and the scent of roasting meat. Trickster move through it without a word, ignoring the chaso — though he flicked one or twice towards elf, who seemed fascinating by every shining light.
A boy collide with them mid - step, nearly tripping. His face was pale, his eyes darting behind him. "S - sorry!" he stammered before vanishing into crowd.
The thud of pawns against the ground. Three young wolves burst into the view, weaving through the path, scattering people as they ran straight towards them.
Trickster dash ahead, his sword flashed onces — clean, efficient — and a wolfs head gone. Behind him elf raised her arms, ice gathering in blue light. Shards exploded outward, piercing the other two.
The elf scanned the crowd, "he is gone... Trickster, right?"
"Yeah," he replied, eyes scanning the road. "Looks like everything is back to normal, we shouldn't trace him — could be another attack coming."
She signed, lowering her hand. "yeah you are right. And honestly, I doubt we could find him anyway."
Trickster voice dropped, "No one ever escapes me, Ever."
She smirked, "ooh, ok ok — tough guy."
Before he could say any other word, she grabbed his arm, and pulled him towards the nearest food stall. Then another. And another. Withing minutes, she is devouring everything, from meat to sweet, dumplings, humming happily with each bite.
Trickster stood besides her, coins steadily disappearing from his pouch. He exhaled from his nose, "Damn.... do elves eat this much?"
Without giving him moment of rest, she dragged him to straight to the gaming stalls next.
One after another, she took aim — and won. Every. Single. Time.
Targets shattered, rings landed perfectly, prizes piled up in her hands. The stall keeper looks read to cry. Trickster tries to mutter her something, but well you can guess how does it ends.
"Damn." bending down to collect her growing pile of prizes. One by one he tossed them into a vortex.
"what's that ?" she asked, blinking.
"Special storage item.", he replied flatly, "I am using it for you. Which means I am taking extra charges, damn elf."
She tilted her head, lips curling into a teasing grin. "Heek! Fine, fine — I will give you extra charges. You want extra, hmm? you want extra, hmm?"
Trickster turned towards her, "You've been drinking, haven't you?"
Somehow, they made it to the top of the mountain. From the highest ridge, the whole festival streched below them — lights flickering like fallen stars.
They found quiet a spot away from the crowd, and sat down, letting the world breathe around them.
The night was cold, yet the air carried a clean, sweet scent. Warmth drifted from people nearby — laughter, chatter, the hum of life filling the silence. Everyone waited eyes turning towards the sky, eager for the fireworks to begin.
The elf besides him doing strange little gestures — pointing at nothing particular. Soon her cheeks flushed red, and her voice softens.
"you know", she said quietly, "I want to live here. In this world. Not with the elves. But they won't let me. it's always—" she hiccuped, "always about responsibilities, about doing everything right."
She let out long breath, gaze drifting towards the lights. "I just want to enjoy things.... live like human do. don't you have any dreams like that?"
Trickster tilted his head slightly, "nah."
She frowned, "yours parents don't worry about your nature?" "I have been orphan from the start. I live to survive. Nothing more."
"What about you, Mr Trickster? my name is Eleza green." "I don't have name, trickster the only one I've ever used."