The Sylv were often recognized by one thing their hair. Silver as moonlight, pale as the fog that blanketed their homeland. Legends whispered that when the first meteor fell upon the deserted plains, it birthed the mist, and the people who remained there inherited its hue. Thus, the silver-haired Sylv were born.
It had taken almost an hour before the little Sylv girl finally stopped trembling. I couldn't really blame her. Being nearly dragged away by strangers would terrify anyone let alone a child.
I sat beside her, resting my hand on her small head, patting lightly like how Seraphyra used to calm me down. Her breathing steadied, though hiccups still escaped between her words.
Her long white hair, streaked with faint glimmers that caught the mistlight, framed her delicate face. Despite the dirt on her cheeks and the tear stains under her eyes, there was a strange, almost ethereal beauty about her. Even lost in this cursed fog, she looked like a spirit out of place.
Her eyes an otherworldly shade of soft teal watched me carefully, still watery and unsure. The tip of her nose was red from crying, her lips trembling as she bit down to stop herself from sobbing again. It was hard to believe someone so small had been wandering through a place that devoured grown men whole.
When she finally looked up, I offered a faint smile. "Those men who tried to trick and take you away they won't be coming back. You're safe now."
She blinked, unsure how to respond. "A-are you sure?"
I nodded. "Positive. But… do you think you can find your way home from here?"
Her expression stiffened instantly. Fear replaced relief as her little hands grabbed at my shirt, clinging tightly as if letting go meant being swallowed by the mist itself. Even without words, I understood.
"Alright, alright," I sighed. "You don't know, do you?"
She shook her head hard, silver strands flying like scattered light. "I was playing near the glade… then I touched a glowing tree and suddenly I was here. I don't know the way back. I just… need to find the right teleportation tree again."
Teleportation trees, huh? Seraphyra had mentioned something similar ancient living conduits that connected the Sylv's hidden realms. But there were dozens of them scattered across this region. Finding the correct one could take days, maybe longer.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "Great. A maze of mist and mystery trees. What could possibly go wrong?"
She tilted her head at my muttering, not understanding, and I forced a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out."
The Kingdom of Sylvean was far north from Velanor's borders. If I could guide her home, maybe I'd find a way to one of the main teleportation gates. Anything was better than being trapped in this fog.
"Wait here," I said, glancing toward the direction where the fight had taken place earlier. "I'll grab what we need. Don't step out of this circle of roots, got it?"
She nodded obediently.
I returned moments later, carrying a small satchel and some salvaged supplies. The corpses of the men who had tried to capture her were already half-hidden by the creeping mist an image I'd rather her not see. A small tent, a leather water pouch, and some dried rations would do for now.
"Let's move," I told her, keeping my voice light.
"Mm!" She nodded, her steps tiny but determined as she followed behind me through the pale haze.
We walked for a while in silence, the air thick with the faint hum of unseen spirits. The girl occasionally glanced at me, as if afraid I'd vanish too. When her legs began to wobble, she tugged at my sleeve.
"I can't walk anymore," she murmured weakly.
"Fair enough," I said, glancing around for shelter. A cluster of massive tree roots arched overhead, their hollows forming a natural alcove. "We'll set up camp here."
It didn't take long to pitch the tent beneath the roots. I tied the fabric down using vines, letting the moss cushion the ground. The mist dimmed into a soft gray, and somewhere far off, a low howl echoed probably a mist beast scouting. I ignored it.
Handing her a strip of dried meat, I said, "Here. Eat something before you faint."
"Th-thank you," she said, bowing slightly before nibbling at the food with both hands.
"You don't have to bow every time," I said with a half-laugh. "We're about the same age, remember? Just talk normally."
Her cheeks flushed pink. "O-okay… I'll try."
"Good." I leaned back against one of the roots, finally allowing my mana flow to stabilize. The faint energy circulating in the mist responded, almost alive.
Lysera Vaelith that was her name, she'd told me earlier sat beside the small lantern I'd lit, her silver hair glowing faintly under its warmth. She was quiet now, tracing little shapes in the dirt with a stick.
"I guess your parents must be strict, huh?" I muttered absently, watching her proper posture and careful movements.
She blinked, confused. "Strict?"
"Yeah. You act like if you sneeze wrong, someone's going to scold you."
She let out a tiny giggle, covering her mouth. "Maybe… Mama says proper manners make us look like stars, even when we're scared."
"Stars, huh?" I whispered. My eyes drifted toward the mist ceiling, where no stars shone through. "Not a bad way to see it."
Silence lingered for a while, broken only by the soft crackle of the lantern flame. The girl's eyes began to droop, and soon she curled up inside the tent, clutching the small pendant around her neck.
I adjusted the opening flap so she wouldn't get cold and sat outside, leaning against the root, listening to the faint whispers of the mist.
"…Sleep well, Lysera," I murmured under my breath. "We'll find your way home soon."
The fog swirled faintly in answer like the world itself was listening.
And for the first time since falling into this world, I just talked to someone with the same age.