Chapter 44 - Elzhar

As the night deepened, I found the Elvian's words to be true. The entire forest area was flooded due to sudden springs that emerged from every corner. The water flowed swiftly, quickly submerging the forest to a depth of two meters.

Fortunately, we had already made our way up into the Hanarusa trees, which were high enough to keep us above the rising water. The Elvians called these giant bonsai trees by that name. I did not know where the term came from, but at least now I had a proper name for them. As for the forest, they named it the Sacred Hanarusa Forest. It seemed that the Elvians held this forest in reverence for reasons I could not fully comprehend.

"After this, we head to that tree!" the young Elvian said, stumbling slightly as he pointed to a nearby Hanarusa tree. "We need to change direction and head to a quieter place."

"Okay," I replied briefly. Then, I translated it into Lurivia, so that my companions, who did not speak Elvian, could understand.

Dimas carefully carried the young Elvian on his back. He had just regained consciousness after his operation, and it was impossible for him to walk on his own.

Our goal now was the young Elvian's home, located in a Hanarusa tree near the edge of the city. He had offered us a place to stay for the night.

At first, I was surprised by his offer, as it was rare for an Elvian to extend such hospitality to humans. But when he said he wanted to repay the favor for saving his life, I could understand his good intentions.

It seemed I would need to adjust my views on the Elvians a bit. Though most of them were hostile to humans, they were still beings with gratitude and a sense of indebtedness. They were not heartless creatures like wild animals.

The four of us passed through the quiet branches of the Hanarusa trees. There were only a few small buildings here, which seemed to be tightly sealed homes.

With Dimas still carrying him, the young Elvian guided us through the intersecting branches. Both he and I had sharp senses, so we could easily detect anyone approaching. I activated my Super Sense to sharpen my senses even further.

Before long, we arrived at a larger wooden building, standing out from the others. It was about 7 by 8 meters in size. After ensuring no one was nearby, we entered.

This building had two rooms and one large living area. There were no bathrooms, toilets, or kitchens. It was much like a boarding house, with a shared bathroom outside, much like the ones commonly found in Jakarta. The living room was not equipped with sofas for guests to sit on, only a large woven carpet that covered the floor. Items were neatly stored in small drawers along the edges of the room, giving the space a very open feel.

"This is my first time inside an Elvian home. Are the houses always this simple?" I asked as I removed my shoes and placed them by the front door.

"I don't know what human houses are like. But this is typical of most Elvian homes. If you want a house with a kitchen and bathroom, you'd have to go to a wealthier person's home," replied the young Elvian. He had just been laid down on a cot in one of the rooms. The grimace on his face showed he was still in pain.

"So how do you all eat and bathe?"

"In this city, there are a few large buildings called Vilos. They provide public baths and communal kitchens that are open 24 hours. People like me, from the lower classes, usually go there to eat and bathe."

"Why don't you build your own kitchen and bathroom?"

"Well, building a kitchen or bathroom in a city built in trees isn't something you can do casually. You need permission and strict supervision from several Bureau offices," he answered slowly, wincing in pain.

"Anggi, stop talking to him!" Shella scolded as she changed the bandage on the young Elvian's wound.

I felt guilty for making him speak so much. So, I decided not to ask him any more questions.

So, that's how it is? Unlike in Glafelden, building a kitchen and bathroom in Arnest City requires oversight from multiple authorities. Naturally, this makes the cost skyrocket. For those less well-off, it would be better to go to Vilos rather than building one's own.

This might be the same in Ruvia. I recall seeing a few large buildings inside the tree trunks, but I didn't know what they were.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense. This explains why the Elvian nobles' houses in Ruvia were located on the ground. Building kitchens and bathrooms on the ground is easier than in the trees.

"So, what are you guys talking about? It sounds so interesting," Dimas asked, joining in after helping me put our bags in the corner of the living room.

"It's not that important. Just some things about this city," I replied as I leaned my back against the wooden wall.

"Isn't that interesting?" Dimas replied with bright eyes.

"I want to know too," Shella added eagerly from the room.

It seemed I had forgotten that both of my companions were very curious about Elvian life. So, I ended up repeating what I had just said in Lurivia. Dimas immediately peeked out the window nearby, trying to spot the buildings I had mentioned from the city's direction.

"Don't stick your head out like that and draw attention, you fool! Do you want other Elvians to find us?" I snapped, irritated.

"I was just looking for a second!" he protested loudly.

I bit my tongue, trying to hold back the curse words that were bubbling up. If I said anything further, it would turn into an argument, and I'd break the promise I had made earlier.

"Hey, you pointy-eared human!" A faint voice came from the room, and the young Elvian seemed to want to speak to me.

I got up and walked toward the door. Inside, I found Shella, who had just finished changing the bandage and applying herbal ointment to the young Elvian's wound.

"What is it?" I answered quietly. "Shouldn't you be resting first?"

"No need. There's something I want to ask. Earlier, you said you were looking for something in this city. May I know what it is?"

I paused for a moment, trying to choose the right words. This had to be done to keep unnecessary information from slipping from my mouth.

After a brief thought, I came up with a good excuse. "I came here to find a rare plant that can cure any disease. I was told it only grows around this forest."

"What plant is that?" the Elvian asked, full of curiosity.

"The Orange Ring Reloka Flower," I replied with a bitter smile, though I had no idea if such a plant even existed.

"Who is sick?"

I fell silent for a moment, swallowing to wet my dry throat. "Our foster father. Originally, the three of us were orphaned children, abandoned on the streets. Our father took us in and made us his adopted children."

"He was a good man. So when he fell ill, we did everything we could to get him medicine. The best doctor in our city said our father has a rare disease. That's why the medicine can only be made from rare ingredients. That's why we... risked everything to come here," I explained softly, lowering my head.

In my mind, I tried to picture 'Father' as a real person, imagining he was gravely ill with a rare disease. I put myself in the shoes of a child desperately seeking a cure for their parent.

I did this so I could feel the sorrow of a child watching their parent suffer. Tears began to well up in my eyes, adding authenticity to the story I was weaving.

Dimas and Shella, hearing my sobs, seemed confused, but I gave them a signal to stay out of it and not ruin the performance I was putting on.

"Hey, are you okay?" the young Elvian asked, his voice full of concern.

I wiped the tears from my cheek. Once my eyes were dry, I looked up at him. "I'm fine. Sorry if I got too emotional."

"No, I should probably apologize for attacking you all without asking first."

"Not just you, I was wrong too." I stepped closer to him and sat beside the cot. My hand reached out to gently touch the wound I had inflicted on his chest. "I'm sorry for almost killing you."

The young Elvian sighed deeply and smiled faintly. For the first time, I saw him smile. "But you saved my life, didn't you? I don't think you need to apologize anymore."

After that, I didn't say anything more. My eyes were fixed on the wound, still stained with blood seeping through the bandage. I sat in silence for a moment. That's when I noticed the Elvian staring at me intently.

I cast a questioning glance, tilting my head slightly.

"Uh... what exactly are you? You look human, but you have long ears and speak Elvian fluently."

"I'm human. My father said I was born special. Because I have ears and a tongue like an Elvian," I lied, trying to cover up my true nature.

Elvian was a language not easily mastered by humans. It had words and pronunciations that the human tongue could not reproduce. Perhaps humans could learn Elvian word by word, but they could never speak it fluently.

That's why anyone would be surprised by me, someone who spoke Elvian so fluently. Well, this was also thanks to my abilities as a Haier-Elvian. Without that, I'd probably sound as awkward as any other human.

"Hey, human! I haven't heard your name yet," the young Elvian called out, startling me from my thoughts.

"Ah, right! I'm Anggi!" I replied, extending my hand, which he shook in return. "The girl who saved your life is Shella, and the only man among us is Dimas."

"Please thank Shella and Dimas for me then."

"Sure, I'll pass it on." I understood, he meant to thank Shella in Lurivia. "Oh, by the way, you haven't told me your name!"

"You're right, sorry! My name is Elzhar-Kri, but just call me Elzhar."

For a moment, I was stunned. For some reason, his name seemed familiar.

The Elvian people had a specific naming convention. Their names usually consisted of two parts: the first being their given name, and the second their family name. When Elzhar revealed his full name, I felt a strange sense of recognition.

But... where had I heard that family name before?

Wait... Prince Keylan's family name was Zell. And his servant, Airi, had the family name Yur. As for other Elvians, I didn't know their full names. But the name 'Kri' was certainly familiar. Where had I encountered an Elvian with the surname 'Kri' before?

Ah, yes! How could I forget a friend of mine? Not like I knew many Elvians in this world. I slapped my forehead hard several times.

"Anggi, what's wrong?" Elzhar asked, bewildered.

"Sorry, I suddenly remembered an Elvian friend of mine with the same surname as you. When she lived in the human city, she went by an alias. But if I remember correctly, her real name was Elywien-Kri."

As soon as I said that name, Elzhar froze. His mouth opened wide, and his eyes bulged in disbelief. Now, I was the one left confused by his reaction.

"Are you... acquainted with my older sister?" he asked, stammering.