The all-knowing Player

Park's question (2)

A/N: I didn't think this chapter would turn out to be that long, but it is. The next ones won't reach this length. I hope you'll enjoy it, I loved writing this one!

It's the sound of growls that pulls me out of my nightmares later in the day. I open my eyes to see my followers snarl at something between the trees. Orion has drawn out his sword and placed his free arm around me protectively.

Before I can ask them about their change of behavior, a figure I didn't notice jumps down a pine branch, landing gracefully in the snow. My eyes widen. Clear blue skin, long white hair with thin braids, intelligent eyes and pointy ears. It's a young ice elf. But she doesn't seem dangerous. She carries her bow around a shoulder, not yet willing to use it. She stares back at me, as surprised as me, almost... mesmerized?

"What are you?" she asks. "A dark fairy?"

I freeze. Did she just call me a fairy? Me? And why a dark fairy? I stare down at myself and understand. Since Orion kept me warm, I tossed my coat aside, revealing my formal black clothes. It surely isn't an usual color to see for an elf that lives in a snowy forest.

She steps closer, but stops as the growls of my magic beasts increase. I place a hand on a bear's head, whose snarls immediately quiet down. Upon seeing that I am awake, Orion lets me go. He knows very well that I don't need his protection.

"Why didn't you assume that I'm a human?" I question back.

"I've seen humans. They're violent and ugly. You're not like that. You're-" She looks to the side and blushes, "really pretty. Besides, I don't feel the urge to harm you," she adds in a hurry.

"Um- Thank you," I stutter.

To think that such a beautiful elf would think that I'm pretty is extremely flattering. Well, maybe seeing me sleeping there, surrounded by magic beasts, gave her a strong impression.

"So tell me. What's someone like you doing here? Wait no, first: What's your race?"

"I'm-" I can't tell her that I'm a human, can I? She'll try to kill me if I do. "I'm a player."

She tilts her head, confused. "A player? What's that?"

"That's — uh — a species between a human and a superior being. But there are only two of us." I stand up. The kitten-sized dragon flies up to sit on my shoulders.

"There's another one? Where?" She looks around, trying to spot another figure between the pines.

"He's at our camping site."

"Oh, it's a male." Her ears slump down as she pouts, disappointed. "But then, what are you doing here all alone?"

"Do I really look like I'm alone?"

"No, you're right." She crouches, examining my followers from afar, and frowns. "But some of your little dragons are hurt. Do you not know how to take care of them?"

"They've been following me for two days by now but I don't have any healing abilities. There isn't much I can do for them."

"Oh! I can do it if you want! I have healing abilities!" Her hand and ears shoot up. She tries to approach a light one who wears a long scar on its flank, but it growls again, in a defensive stance. "Well, it'd only work if they let me approach, though."

I join the dragon, who turns around, shrinks and climbs on my arms for protection. I shortly smile at it. Somehow, I feel like I've acquired an army of scaly, cuddly cats instead of fierce magic beasts.

"That'd be really nice of you, but you should think twice about it." I could let her heal all of my dragons. And, in two days, she would discover the identity of the one whom she treated so kindly. But, whether she is a hyakki or not, I don't want to trick such a nice being. "You don't know who I am or what I'm here for."