the human and the elf [9]

The night had settled completely, casting the forest in a blanket of darkness, save for the occasional glimmer of moonlight breaking through the trees. The air was cool, and the only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Lif and Liora walked side by side through the quiet forest path.

"I'm really sorry about how i acted earlier, Liora," Lif said again, his voice full of regret. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I just—"

Liora sighed softly and stopped walking, turning to face him. She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Lif, it's the third time you're apologizing. It's okay," she said with a reassuring smile. "I told you, I understand. It's fine."

Lif nodded,

"Are you tired?" Lif asked, looking at her with concern. "It's been a long day."

Liora nodded, rubbing her eyes slightly. "Yeah, I am. Do you mind if we stop for a bit? Maybe lay down for a while?"

Lif gave a small smile. "Let's at least get out of the road."

They walked a little deeper into the forest, past the trees with thick trunks, until they found a large oak tree with a bed of soft grass beneath it. Lif settled down first, leaning against the trunk, while Liora followed him. They both lay down, staring up at the sky above them, the stars glittering through the leaves.

For a while, they didn't say much, just enjoyed the quiet peace of the night.

Liora let out a soft breath and shifted onto her elbows, propping herself up as she gazed upward.

"I never really got a chance to look at the stars like this before," she said softly, voice filled with quiet wonder. "They're... kind of beautiful."

Lif looked up as well, then over at her. "Yeah," he murmured. "They really are."

There was a short pause. The night hummed gently around them.

"Hey, Lif," Liora said suddenly, her voice a little hesitant.

He turned to her, one brow raised. "Yeah?"

"Can I ask something?"

"Sure. Go on."

She hesitated for a second, then glanced his way with a faint smile. "Tell me something about you. I mean... anything. I want to know more."

Lif froze, just a little.

Her voice wasn't pressing, not demanding — just curious. But the question brought up a weight in his chest.

He could still see it, see them.

But instead of going there, he breathed out and said quietly, "Well, there's nothing to say but... I guess I'm just a decent fighter. That's... something."

Liora tilted her head. "That's still impressive."

He gave a half-smile, then gently turned the question around. "What about you? What makes you you?"

Liora hesitated for a moment before speaking. "My mom... I used to look up to her, and still do but back when I was ten, she was assassinated," she said quietly. "She was a good woman. Strong. Kind. And someone decided to take her away."

Lif's expression shifted to one of genuine sorrow. "I'm so sorry, Liora. That's... terrible."

She shrugged lightly. "It's okay. It hurts sometimes, but I've learned to live with it."

They both looked up at the stars, silence settling over them again.

Lif eventually pointed to the sky. "See that one?" he said, gesturing to a constellation above. "That's Frynja. People call her the Wintermaiden. I've heard stories about her... and others."

Liora followed his gaze. "Tell me."

"There's Ignara, a peacekeeper," Lif began, his voice soft. "Despite the destructive nature of her power—fire—she's said to be the one who ends wars. Then there's Thalora. She fought in some ancient war, when the constellations battled each other for the skies. Those who won are the ones we see now. Thalora was one of the strongest. She became a pacifist after the war."

"And Frynja?"

"I don't know a lot about her," Lif admitted. "But I feel... connected to her. It's weird."

Liora tilted her head. "Maybe because it's your constellation."

Lif chuckled. "Well, it can't be."

"Why not?"

He giggled softly, the sound light and honest. "Because I'm a Hollowborn."

Liora blinked. "Wait—what? Hollowborn? What's that?"

"Hollowborn," Lif repeated. "It just means I wasn't chosen by any constellation. I don't have that connection most people have. It's not common. But it doesn't mean much to me, it just means I wasn't picked."

Liora looked at him for a moment, then back up at the sky. "Well... chosen or not, you're still kind of cool."

Lif smiled, and for the first time in a long while, it felt genuine.

A few moments later, Liora turned her head to say something else—but found him already asleep. She sighed gently, laying back down beside him.

"Good night, Lif," she whispered with a small smile.

And soon, she drifted off too, beneath the watchful gaze of the stars.