A New Kind of Protection

Muttering, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying the word aloud would make it more real, Kade looked at the elves. "Elves? This... this doesn't make sense." His hand instinctively went to his side, gripping the bat he had tucked underneath his jacket. His only sense of security in this lost world

Evelyn, too, seemed struck by their beauty, but there was no mistaking the flicker of confusion and awe in her eyes. "Elves? Are you serious?" She glanced at Zane, her voice shaky. "What the hell is going on? Goblins, wolves, and now… elves?"

The elf closest to them, the one with striking silver hair and piercing green eyes took a step forward, studying them for a moment. Then, in a voice as smooth and melodic as the wind, he spoke.

"Do not be afraid" he said, his gaze fixed on Evelyn, his words soft yet commanding, "We are not your enemy. We come not to bring harm, but to restore balance."

Zane blinked, his disbelief evident. "Balance?" He almost laughed, but the tension in the air made the sound hollow. "You're telling us goblins, wolves, and… whatever you are, are all part of 'balance'?"

The elf's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, before he spoke again. "The goblins are a plague. A scourge upon the world, no the universe. We are trying to eliminate them before they spread further chaos. This wolf," he gestured to the massive creature standing stoically in the clearing, "is under our command. It will only attack when ordered. For now, it has no intention of harming anyone."

Evelyn's hand trembled, clutching Zane's arm. "But... how do we know we can trust you? You control that thing," she nodded at the wolf, "and you're just killing goblins like it's some normal thing? What is happening to the world? This isn't—" Her voice cracked, the weight of the situation pressing in on her.

"We do not wish to harm," the elf continued, his voice unruffled by her fear. "But the goblins disrupt the balance. They must be stopped. And the wolf serves us as a guardian, just as many creatures of this world once did. It is a protector, not a mindless predator."

Zane glanced at Kade, trying to process it all. "You... you're telling me Earth had protectors before? Is that why things were so quiet? Because someone or something was looking after us?" Zane's mind was starting to race now. The idea of some higher power watching over Earth made a chilling kind of sense.

Kade, who had been silent, eyes narrowed as he processed the elf's words, finally spoke. "You're saying Earth isn't protected anymore? What do you mean by that?" His voice was laced with an edge of suspicion.

The elf with the silver hair didn't flinch at the question. His expression remained calm, as though this were an expected inquiry. "Earth is no longer under the protection of the guardians who once shielded it. I believe you referred to them as gods. The balance has been broken, and now it falls to us to maintain some semblance of order. The creatures you see goblins, wolves even us are only the beginning. But this, too, is a cycle we have seen before."

A silence fell over them, Evelyn's gaze still fixed on the wolf, her eyes wide with disbelief, and Zane, unable to grasp the full scope of it all, did what he knew best: cracked a joke. "Well, that's just great. Earth's "Big boss" just quit and now and we're stuck cleaning up the mess. Nice."

The elf didn't seem to react, his expression unreadable. Kade, however, shot him a pointed look, before his eyes flickered back to the elf. "So, what now? What happens to the world?"

The elf took a step back, as if considering the question. "That depends on your survival," he replied simply. "We are here to assist you in this... new era. We will guide you, but it is up to you whether you can restore the balance that has been disrupted."

Zane raised an eyebrow, unable to ignore the growing sense of urgency in the pit of his stomach. "And what about my dad? And Kade's family? We need to get to the store. It's not far, but with... whatever's happening, I don't know if it's safe."

Kade was already thinking ahead. "We don't have time to sit around. I know my mom is there…probably trying to figure out what the hell is going on. We need to move, now."

The elf tilted his head slightly, considering the urgency in Kade's voice. "The store is not far. We will accompany you. It is dangerous to travel unprotected. We can ensure your safety."

Zane shot a look at Kade, who nodded almost imperceptibly, agreeing without words. "We'll take any help we can get," Zane muttered, even though his mind was still racing with all the new information.

Evelyn, still shaken but steadily regaining composure, looked between the elf and the two boys. She swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "Alright. Let's go. But we need to move quickly."

The elf gave a small bow, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. "Stay close to us. The path ahead may be dangerous, but we will keep you safe."

As they prepared to leave, the air around them seemed to shift, the weight of the unknown pressing down. The world had changed there was no denying it anymore. And now, with the elves by their side, they had to find a way to survive.

Zane glanced over at Kade and Evelyn. "Well, if we're about to walk into the unknown, I guess at least we've got the best damn bodyguards on the planet."

Kade snorted, though his mind was elsewhere. "Let's just get to the store. I'll deal with the 'what now' later."

The trio of elves, silent and composed, flanked them as they set off, the shadows of the streets stretching long in front of them. Whatever awaited them, it was just one more step in a world they no longer understood.