In the depths of the Great Forest, Oliver was forcing his way through towering trees and twisted trunks while gripping a small spirit tightly in his hand so it wouldn't escape.
Fear was clear on his face. Every few steps he took, he looked behind him. Yet despite all of that, he absolutely refused to let the spirit go.
The tiny spirit writhed between his fingers, trying every possible way to break free. She kicked and struck his hand with surprising strength while twisting her semi transparent body around his fingers.
At last, after giving up on escaping, she screamed,
"Let go of me, you filthy hybrid!"
Oliver stopped walking and looked at the spirit trapped in his hand. Then he lifted her up to his face and shook her irritably, trying to confirm what he just heard.
The spirit screamed again,
"Stop shaking me!"
"You can talk?"
She shot him a look full of pure disgust.
"Of course I can talk. It's just that pathetic beings like humans can't understand us."
"Then how am I understanding you now?"
"You are even lower than humans."
Oliver shook her harder this time.
"Why are you talking with this attitude?"
"You should be grateful that a noble spirit like me even speaks to a filthy hybrid like you!"
His eyes narrowed.
"Who exactly are you calling a hybrid, you tiny bug? And what does that even mean?"
The spirit tried to pry his fingers open with her tiny hands, but it was useless.
"Let me go and I'll tell you."
"Tell me first, then I'll let you go."
She let out a deep sigh.
"Hybrids are beings that are half mythical creatures."
"Mythical creatures? Like the Spirit of Autumn?"
"Yes, but don't get excited. There is no way a filthy hybrid like you could be the child of the great Spirit of Autumn. Now let me go."
Oliver replied simply,
"No."
The spirit gasped.
"You tricked me!"
"Yes, I'm a filthy hybrid after all. Didn't you say that yourself?"
She started hitting his hand angrily with her small fists.
"Even filthy beings have some principles!"
"Unfortunately, I don't."
"That's what happens when you grow up with humans!"
"Weren't you playing with humans peacefully just a moment ago?"
"That… was an order from the great Spirit of Autumn herself. I wasn't enjoying it!"
Oliver smirked.
"Yeah, that was obvious."
"Let me go, you disgusting creature! Do you know what my siblings will do when they learn you kidnapped me?"
"I don't know, run away like they always do when they see me?"
She had no answer for that. She knew he was right.
Oliver lifted her again.
"You reminded me. Why do all of you run away from me?"
She ignored him completely, so he started shaking her again.
When she felt dizzy she screamed,
"Stop shaking me and I'll tell you!"
When Oliver heard that, he immediately stopped.
"Go ahead."
"Years ago, a hybrid like you appeared in the forest. He began hunting spirits."
"You didn't stop him?"
"No. He was too strong. He almost wiped out every spirit in the forest. If the great Spirit of Autumn hadn't intervened herself, none of us would still be here. She defeated him, but she came out with serious injuries."
"Oh. That explains why you run from me. But I have no intention of hurting any of you."
Oliver said as he moved the spirit away from his face.
"Now will you let me go?"
Oliver released her. She flapped her tiny wings and flew away immediately.
"Tell the rest that I won't hurt them. They can play with me too, like the others."
She shouted while flying away,
"I won't! I'll tell them to stay away from you, you little villain!"
She vanished among the branches.
Oliver muttered as he looked at his now empty hand,
"I probably shouldn't have let her go."
He continued through the dense forest. But only a few minutes passed before the small spirit came rushing back toward him, flying at insane speed and landing on his shoulder.
He turned toward her.
"What made you come back?"
"The thought of a child like you walking alone in the forest weighed heavily on my noble heart. What if a monster ate you? And as a noble spirit who protects the villagers, I cannot allow something like that to happen to you."
"Just say you're scared to go by yourself. No need for the heroic speech."
She lifted her head arrogantly.
"Me? A noble spirit like me would never fear something like that."
"Of course, right. A great spirit like you would never run and hide under a little boy's coat."
The spirit narrowed her eyes while hiding under his coat.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Me? No, I'm thanking you for your great mercy, noble spirit."
Her tiny chest puffed up with pride, and she fluttered her wings.
"Yes, that's better. What's your name, hybrid?"
"Oliver. And you, what's your name, oh great noble spirit?"
"Spirits don't have names."
Oliver rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then raised a finger.
"What about… Til?"
Her small eyes sparkled.
"Til? I like it. You have some useful skills for a hybrid."
"Alright, Til, do you know the way to the village?"
She pointed with one wing.
"Go that way."
Oliver began walking in the direction she indicated.
…
About an hour passed following Til's directions, yet Oliver wasn't getting anywhere near the village. Instead, he found himself sinking deeper into the forest.
"Are you sure this is the right way?"
"I assume so."
Oliver stopped.
"What do you mean you assume so?"
She shook her head.
"I'm not sure… I've never gone this deep before."
"Why didn't you say that from the start?!"
"You're the one who never asked."
Oliver exhaled sharply, then climbed onto a rock. He raised his hand to block the sunlight leaking through the branches, and spotted smoke rising from a distant fire.
He jumped down and headed toward it.
Once close, he hid behind a tree and watched. Around the fire was a group of small creatures. They looked somewhat human, but only as tall as a ten year old. Their skin was gray, their hair long and tangled, and their teeth razor sharp, gleaming in the firelight.
Bones were scattered everywhere around them.
Til whispered,
"They're the Grays."
Oliver asked,
"Are they spirits?"
"Don't compare us noble beings to such filthy creatures! They're like animals, but slightly smarter. We need to run now."
Oliver turned slowly and took a step back, but stepped on a branch. The loud crack echoed violently.
Every Gray creature turned toward him instantly. Then they charged.
Til screamed,
"Run!"