Elf’s Village.

"W-Why did Mother Charlotte say that?" Mariel asked.

"I don't know. I have a feeling that I won't live much longer." Charlotte said with a sad face.

Mariel chose to hold Charlotte's hand tighter. Charlotte's trembling fear was instantly transferred to her hand. The fear that she might not be able to be with her daughter much longer, the fear of being hunted down and killed by the evil minister and his army who continued to harass her family, these things made Mariel feel even more angry at this evil minister.

 "Mother, rest assured. If I'm here, they won't have a single chance to hurt you and Beatrix. I swear with my life." Mariel said with determination.

"But the ministers won't give up easily. They won't be happy that me and Beatrix are still alive. Someday, they'll find us. I don't want you to suffer for us." Charlotte said in despair.

"Their plan failed last time. If there is a second or third time, it will not succeed." Mariel said with confidence.

"I heard that this evil minister's security force is quite powerful. I'm afraid that we won't be able to fight them." Charlotte said.

Mariel didn't say anything more. In order to reassure Charlotte, she had to reveal what she had, so that Mother Charlotte would feel more comfortable and be safe.

"Excuse me, Mother Charlotte." Mariel said, pressing the brooch on her collar. Then, dark magic slowly surrounded her, covering her entire body. Charlotte looked on with fear, she does not know what Mariel was doing but everything was immediately answered.

In front of Charlotte was Mariel in the form of a dark illusionary form, with a body that was pitch black, long and scary claws, eyes like a serpent that contained a murderous aura, and an enormous strength around her that made Charlotte feel the prowess of this woman.

 Mariel, in her illusionary form, kneels in front of Charlotte with respect and expresses utmost sincerity towards her.

"This is my ultimate skill, Dark Mariel, which I used to kill the killer assassin's last time. Now I'm even more powerful and I also have the Dragon Slayer Sword, so I'm not afraid of anyone. Please feels more safety, Mother Charlotte, no matter how many that evil minister and his armies come, I will always be by your side to protect Mother Charlotte and Beatrix with all my life." Mariel said and slowly returned to her normal form immediately.

Charlotte felt relieved after hearing what Mariel said. Her right hand slowly reached out and caressed Mariel's left cheek. The tears that flowed out showed the joy she received from Mariel about her safety.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. However, if anything really happens to me, please take care of Beatrix." Charlotte said, still standing firm in her assumption.

"I will take care of both Mother Charlotte and Beatrix forever." Mariel answered firmly.

Then they looked at each other and trusted. Mother Charlotte hugged Mariel tightly as if she were her other daughter. Mariel could feel the warmth from Mother Charlotte to her, making their bond even more.

"It's no wonder that I got to meet someone like you. It's no wonder Beatrix often mentions about you every time." Charlotte said with a smile, causing Mariel to blush slightly.

"Really? Beatrix doesn't usually express her feelings directly to me." Mariel asked.

"Beatrix is ​​quite an isolate person. She doesn't talk to others or express her feelings very much, but she always tells me that she is very ​​lucky to have two best friends, Mariel and Mania. Also, Beatrix's goal is that after getting justice for her father, she wants to go on an adventure in this wide world with her two friends until the end of her life." Charlotte said.

After hearing this, Mariel's feelings for Beatrix became even stronger. Although she might not have shown as much love and care to others in public, at least what Mother Charlotte told her was proof that Beatrix always loved and cared for her.

Then, Michelle, Beatrix, and Mania brought out various foods from the kitchen. The five of them ate dinner together and talked about many things. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, bringing smiles to everyone's faces.

Mariel and Mania spent two days at Beatrix's home. They helped clean the rooms, went out to buy food to cook, and talked about the contents of the second-year textbooks. Michelle and Charlotte were very fond of Beatrix's two friends, as if they were all family, and they did not feel lonely anymore.

Until the day for travelling to Mania's elf village, Charlotte hugged her daughter, Mariel and Mania to say goodbye, while Michelle hugged all three of them with concern.

"Have a safe trip and come to visit us if you have the chance." Charlotte said.

"Be careful, Beatrix, Mariel and Mania." Michelle said with concern as well.

"Thank you, Mom and Michelle. Take care of yourself too." Beatrix said before leading the other two friends out of the room in this small alley.

Beatrix felt depressed and inferior because her family had to live in a hiding place like this.

"Someday, I will live with my mother and Michelle in the better place than this." Beatrix said with determination.

"That day will definitely come. We will help you with all I can." Mariel said, hugging her friend in support.

"Beatrix, you can definitely do it." Mania also came to encourage her.

"Thank you so much." Beatrix said with tears streaming down her face.

Then, Mania used teleport skills to warp them to a certain location.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance of a village in a valley to the east of the capital city.

This Elf village felt like a rural area without much technology. The houses were made of wood and were close together. The Elf people had bright smiles on their faces and talked in groups together. Various pets were left to run around in the village, making it look chaotic. Looking towards the back of the village, there was a large field with countless vegetables and fruits growing. People were happily harvesting the products.

In the northern part of the village, there is a large windmill that uses waterpower to generate electricity to send to each house. There are also shops that produce various minerals and many healing staffs.

"I really like the atmosphere of your village, Mania." Mariel said with sincerity.

"It's really nice." Beatrix said.

"Thank you. Now, I'll introduce you to the people in the village." Mania said, holding hands with her two friends and leading them into the village.

Mania, Mariel and Beatrix walked into the village to introduce them to the people. Everyone was smiling and welcoming her friends. Mania's parents and the village chief also came to introduce them.

"Thank you so much to both of you for helping Mania so well." Said by Mania's mother: Seda.

"Mom and Dad always welcome you guys." Mania's father said: Kavald.

"Welcome, welcome. I am an older chief of this village: Karim, the ruler of this elf village. Both of you, please make yourselves comfortable as home." the old man greeted them with great joy.

Mania took her two friends to her wooden house, which was not very big. The house had a living room inside. Mariel and Beatrix put down their bags and followed Mania to see the atmosphere of the village, which was filled with warmth, shade, and smiles from the people of the Elf tribe.

"Mania, come help us gather some vegetables." Mania's elf friends invited as they gathered the vegetables that had grown all over the large plots.

"Sure, do you want to help us?" Mania turned to ask her two friends.

"Sure!" Mariel and Beatrix both agreed happily.

The three of them enjoyed helping each other gather crops and chatted with the other elves with cheerful expressions. 

(This rural atmosphere reminds me of my previous world. If I complete my mission to exterminate the demons, I really want to live like this with the rest of my life.) (Mariel thought to herself.)

After they finished gathering the vegetables, they went to the innermost part of the village where there was a large female statue.

"This is the altar of the Elf Princess: Christine. She was our first female healer in the history and has continued to protect this village with her own power." Mania said as she bowed to the statue, with Mariel and Beatrix also bowed with their respects.

"This statue looks so majestic. Her figure, Christine, looks tall, with long hair and a white dress, and a large magic wand." Beatrix praised.

"That's right. That's why I'm determined to become a healing elf as good as her. In my village, everyone has descendants and lineages of healing elves. Everyone goes to different schools. As for me, I was the first person in this village to enter the number one of wizard school: Therios, and I made everyone very proud." Mania said.

"We are so proud of you too, Mania." Mariel said.

"With us, you'll definitely be the best elf healer." Beatrix said as well, causing Mania to smile slightly shyly at being praised so much.

"Thank you so much." Mania said.

Suddenly, a loud noise resounded throughout the elf village. People panicked and prepared for the danger that was gradually approaching.

"What happened?" Beatrix asked curiously.

"Oh no, the orcs are attacking us!" Mania said in fear.

"Finally, I met the Orc tribe. Let me see how strong they are." Mariel said with sparkling eyes.