Blood

Chapter Forty-four: The Elven kingdom

The thick forest seemed to hum with tension as Ethan and Gregory stood in the center of a loose circle formed by a group of elf soldiers. Their pointed ears twitched in the faint breeze, their silver armor gleaming faintly under the filtered sunlight breaking through the canopy above. Each held a spear or sword, their expressions a mix of caution and barely restrained aggression.

Gregory whispered under his breath, "Umm... Ethan, what do we do?"

Ethan's voice was equally low but carried a sharp edge of sarcasm. "The first elf I talked to tried to kill me, so forgive me for being skeptical about having a heart-to-heart with them."

As the elves continued to close in, the soldiers suddenly parted, their movements as precise and fluid as a school of fish. Through the gap stepped a striking figure, her presence commanding immediate attention. She removed her helmet with a graceful sweep, revealing her silver hair cascading like moonlight over her shoulders. Her piercing blue eyes seemed to study Ethan and Gregory with a mix of curiosity and authority. Her face was both youthful and refined, exuding a beauty that bordered on ethereal.

"We haven't had visitors in a while," she said, her voice calm but layered with suspicion. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

Ethan held up his hands in an attempt to appear non-threatening. "We don't want any trouble. We just need help."

Gregory added, "Could we speak to the one in charge?"

The girl raised a delicate eyebrow. "You're already speaking to her."

Gregory blinked and shrugged. "Well, this is awkward."

Ethan pushed past Gregory's awkwardness. "Please. Our world is in shambles. We need your help to fix it."

The girl tilted her head slightly, her silver hair shimmering. "We don't have to help you do anything. You came into our land uninvited. You have to be punished."

With a sharp nod from her, the soldiers began advancing again, their weapons gleaming dangerously. One soldier grabbed Ethan's arm. Without thinking, Ethan flipped the elf over with a single fluid motion, sending him crashing onto the forest floor.

"Uh... sorry! Reflexes!" Ethan said sheepishly, though his stance remained ready.

The other soldiers hesitated, then charged in, but Ethan dispatched them with ease. Each movement was efficient, his minimal dodges followed by deceptively light punches that sent the elves sprawling.

"Damn... my reflexes are at it again," Ethan muttered as another elf went flying.

The silver-haired leader's annoyance flared. She lunged at Ethan, throwing a swift punch. Ethan caught it in his palm, his grip firm but not harsh. Her blue eyes widened, and she gasped, her expression suddenly distant as if seeing something invisible to everyone else. She stumbled back, panting.

"Umm... what just happened?" Ethan asked, looking between her and Gregory.

"What did you see?" one of the guards whispered urgently to her.

The girl took a steadying breath and then fixed her gaze on Ethan. "He's the one."

She turned to the guards, her voice sharp and commanding. "Drop your weapons."

Though no words were exchanged, the guards immediately obeyed, lowering their weapons to the ground before dropping to one knee. The girl joined them in bowing, her silver hair brushing the forest floor.

"Uh... this is new," Gregory said, glancing at Ethan. "There's something you're not telling me, right?"

"There are a lot of things I'm not telling you," Ethan replied uncomfortably. He turned to the group, feeling uncomfortable about the whole situation. "Umm... you may rise."

They stood, and the girl spoke again, her tone softer. "I'm Eliza, the current leader of the White Elves. I'm sorry if we startled you. We've all been on edge because of the monsters that came in through our boundaries the last time. Please don't be annoyed. I would love to welcome you to our Elven Kingdom. Please, come in."

The soldiers stomped their feet in unison before forming two lines, creating a clear path. Eliza led Ethan and Gregory through the path and into the palace not far from the boundary of the forest.

Eliza guided them into an enormous dining hall, its vaulted ceiling decorated with intricate carvings of mythical creatures. The walls were adorned with shimmering tapestries that seemed to shift and ripple as if alive. A long table stretched through the center of the room, its surface carved from a single piece of translucent crystal. Delicate chandeliers made of glowing gemstones floated overhead, casting a soft, otherworldly light.

Guards pulled back the heavy chairs, and Gregory sank into his with a satisfied sigh. "Well, I could get used to this."

Ethan gave him a look but sat down as well. Once plates of fragrant food were placed before them, Eliza leaned forward, her blue eyes locked on Ethan. "So, what brings you to our kingdom?"

Ethan set down his fork. "I wish I visited on more favorable occasions, but it is what it is. I need your help. My world needs your help." Ethan started. "A mistake was made in the past and it affected the entire timeline of my world. My world closed in on itself and now there's nothing left but acres of destruction. I've heard your magic can create things that can manipulate time. I need your help with that so that I can go back in time and stop what caused the mistake from ever happening."

Eliza's expression grew serious. "Time is very delicate and shouldn't be toiled with. Messing with it can cause far worse problems that you think you have now."

"I don't think there can be anything worse than what I saw."

"You'd be surprised at how much worse things can get."

"Please," Ethan said "There's nothing left. My whole world is gone. Gregory and I are the only ones still alive. I survived only because I wasn't on my world when it happened."

Eliza studied him for a long moment before replying. "You're powerful enough to travel through time on your own. You can do this yourself, you don't need our magic."

"You are?" Gregory asked, eyes wide.

Ethan ignored him and pressed on. "Maybe in the future I will be, but right now, I don't have that power or experience. Please, you have to help me."

Eliza hesitated, her expression conflicted. "I'm sorry, I really am. But tampering with time is something even I, am not allowed to do."

"There has to be something I can do to change your mind," Ethan pleaded.

A guard approached Eliza, whispering something in her ear. Her expression shifted, and she turned to Ethan with sudden resolve.

"Okay, I'll help you," she said, her words shocking both Ethan and Gregory.

"But on one condition."