Elf’s Forest (4)

Morning sunlight seeped through the branches of the World Tree. As soon as Sylvia opened her eyes, she groped for the space beside her. But Haru’s warmth had already vanished.

“He’s up early again…”

A smile spread across her face. She felt a little sad that he woke up before her every morning, but even that was endearing.

She saw spirits running outside the window. They were definitely ‘helping’ Haru with his morning walk. Seeing the spirits follow him, it was definitely fate.

Sylvia hurried to the kitchen. Preparing his breakfast every day had become a routine.

“Let’s not burn it today…”

The hand holding the knife trembled slightly. It still felt awkward for a vegetarian elf to cook meat. But for Haru…

Chi-i-ik-

The smell of burning meat stung her nose. But it wasn’t as blackened as before. It was proof that she had improved, right?

“Sylvia?”

Her heart leaped at the familiar voice. Haru was standing in front of the kitchen.

“Oh… you’re here a bit early today.”

Spirits swirled around him. It was as if they were boasting, ‘We brought him!’

“My patrol and walk finished earlier than expected. But what’s that smell…”

“Ah, this is…”

Sylvia blushed. She didn’t want to show him the unfinished dish yet.

“That’s a great improvement.”

She puffed out her cheeks at his teasing.

“Are you making fun of me again?”

“I’m not teasing, I’m complimenting you. You’re improving really fast.”

“Really… really?”

“Yes. It’s almost edible now?”

Haru smiled. Her heart fluttered at his smile.

Sylvia tapped her feet with joy. The tip of her ear twitched.

After breakfast, the two strolled through the World Tree garden. Sylvia held onto his arm tightly, explaining things here and there.

“What should I teach you today?”

Sylvia asked, holding Haru’s hand. He was recognized as the King of the Forest, but there was still much to learn.

“Hmm… how about spirit language? I can only say ‘hello’ so far.”

“Okay. Shall we start by learning how to greet the four elemental spirits?”

They settled in a small clearing in the sunlit forest. Sylvia summoned the spirits.

“The fire spirit is ‘Hishar’, the water spirit is ‘Undane’, the earth spirit is ‘Terra’, and the wind spirit is ‘Aeros’.”

Haru repeated each word.

Hwareureuk-!

As he pronounced ‘Hishar’, a small fire spirit leaped with joy.

“Oh, did I pronounce it correctly?”

“Yes, very accurate. This one must be very happy that you called its name.”

Haru called out the names of the other spirits as well. Each spirit moved as if responding.

“Spirits are happy just to have their names called. Most people can’t even see or hear them.”

When Haru reached out to the water spirits, they competed to climb onto his palm.

“The spirits know you’re special.”

As the afternoon deepened, they sat by a small lake under the World Tree. Fallen leaves created gentle ripples on the water.

“Haru…”

“Yes?”

Sylvia hesitated, then asked carefully.

“…What will our child look like?”

“Child?”

“Yes… It’s not easy for a child to be born between a human and an elf… but it’s not impossible….”

“That’s… I’ve never thought about that.”

“Really? I think about it every day.”

Sylvia turned her gaze to the lake. The sky reflected on the water’s surface shone blue.

“I hope they have your eyes and my ears. Or my hair and your smile…”

Haru scratched his neck awkwardly, forcing a smile.

“Isn’t it a little early to be talking about this?”

“Shouldn’t we rush?”

“It’s not that…”

“I know that the union of a human and an elf isn’t easy.”

Sylvia said seriously.

“But with the blessing of the World Tree and… our efforts… it won’t be impossible.”

Haru’s expression turned complicated. Sylvia held his hand tightly.

“I’m sorry. I think I got ahead of myself.”

“No, it’s just…”

Sylvia stopped him with a smile.

“It’s okay. We have plenty of time. Oh, what you see over there is a Moonlight Tree. It emits a subtle light at night. If we had our first kiss under it….”

Her words trailed off. It was a wish she hadn’t yet fulfilled.

***

The sound of harps at the banquet echoed through the World Tree Square. Sylvia sat on the head table, looking down at the festivities.

Haru should have been seated with her, but he had already gone down to the square and was mingling with the elven engineers.

“I was thinking, what if we change the water flow here? If we apply the magical engineering aqueduct system I learned at the Magic Tower…”

Haru’s lively voice was heard. Among the young elves surrounding him, exclamations of admiration followed.

“As expected of the Hero-nim!”

“Finally, the latest magical engineering technology is coming to our forest!”

“That’s a truly innovative idea!”

Sylvia lightly tapped the armrest with her fingertips.

Since last month, the forest had been rapidly developing thanks to the changes Haru had suggested.

Thanks to Haru’s magical engineering system, the water spirits brought clearer water, the wind spirits spread the fruits further, and the fire spirits maintained warmth even in winter. Green shoots sprouted even in arid areas, and the entire elven village was illuminated at night by the softly glowing spirit lamps he designed.

She was proud of everything. But…

Lirilla of the Autumn Leaf family took a step closer. Her red hair brushed against Haru’s arm.

Lirilla was a handmaiden and a longtime friend of Sylvia’s, and now her eyes were full of curiosity towards the Hero.

“Hero-nim, you looked so wonderful dancing with the Queen the other day. Those movements under the World Tree… they even appeared in my dreams. If you would dance with me once, it would be a memory I would never forget.”

“Well, if I have the time…”

Even with Haru’s gentle refusal, the girl didn’t back down. Instead, she moved even closer.

A sharp wind blew. Sylvia quickly calmed the spirits.

Not yet… not yet.

‘I trust Haru. Haru isn’t someone who would betray me. He only loves me. He will.’

But a corner of her heart felt uneasy.

Sylvia’s fingertips dug into the armrest. The surrounding air vibrated subtly.

‘Calm down… it’s just a polite request. Everyone has only lived in the forest, so they must be curious about humans, about the Hero.’

But Haru’s smile was too bright. He was kind not only to her but to everyone.

‘I wish he would only show that relaxed smile to me.’

Bersiel of the Golden Leaf Alliance approached and handed Haru a drink. Her golden hair sparkled in the moonlight.

“I made this fruit wine myself. It’s a special recipe just for Hero-nim.”

“Wow, it smells really good!”

“Hehe, if you like it, please come to our mansion sometime. I’d like to experience the Hero-nim’s skill in persuading my father.”

The spirits around Sylvia moved anxiously. The water spirit overflowed from the cup, and the fire spirit burned the candle brighter.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

Elder Aurora approached and asked.

“Yes… I’m fine.”

Her heart was not fine at all, but she forced the corners of her mouth up into a smile.

‘Humans… they sometimes have multiple partners…’

Stories she had heard while adventuring flashed through Sylvia’s mind.

Elves only know one love in their lifetime, but humans… are different.

Her chest tightened even more.

Bersiel lightly touched Haru’s arm. Given the elven tendency to imbue meaning into every gesture, it was a very intimate gesture.

The spirits landed on her shoulders. Their light flickered faintly.

“It’s okay…”

Sylvia whispered. And she made a small decision.

“Just for a moment… I’ll watch a little longer. Watch over Haru for me. Secretly… just, in case there’s any danger…”

The spirit nodded and melted into the air. Sylvia felt guilty about her actions, but the unease in a corner of her heart was greater.

‘It’s for Haru’s safety. That’s all.’

She convinced herself that way.

*

Two days later, Sylvia was doing paperwork in the royal garden. Her heart pounded at the news the spirits brought.

‘Haru met that girl again?’

She closed the Elven Code and went out into the garden. She moved silently along the forest’s secret paths. The spirits guided the way.

Haru and several elven girls were gathered by a small lake. They were laughing and chatting, learning something.

“So, the chord changes when you move your fingers like this.”

Haru was holding an elven traditional instrument called the ‘Luna Harp’. It was a rare instrument made from sacred Moonlight Tree wood.

“Yes, that’s right! Hero-nim learns so quickly.”

Lirilla, with her red hair, held Haru’s hand and taught him the correct posture. Her fingers touched the back of Haru’s hand.

Sylvia took a deep breath. She hid behind a tree, concealing her gaze.

‘He’s just teaching her the instrument. It’s nothing.’

It was just a lesson conducted under the guise of cultural exchange.

The Autumn Leaf family was a prestigious family in charge of the music and art industries, so it was natural for them to teach Haru about elven traditional culture.

Sylvia understood it in her head, but her heart couldn’t accept that rational explanation.

Lirilla’s touch was too gentle. Her laughter was too sweet. Her hand lingered on Haru’s shoulder for too long. Lirilla, whom she had believed to be a handmaiden and a friend, felt unfamiliar.

“Excuse me, Hero-nim.”

Bersiel of the Golden Leaf family appeared with a small basket.

“I made the apple pie you mentioned yesterday. I referenced a human recipe. You know that our Golden Leaf Alliance can do things like this, right?”

“Wow, really? Thank you, Bersiel! Hmm, it’s delicious! It tastes like the ones I used to eat in human cities.”

“Really? I’m glad!”

Bersiel’s golden eyes sparkled with joy. She sat next to Haru and shared the pie.

“Everyone, try some. It’s human cuisine.”

The girls tasted the pie with curious eyes.

“It’s sweet!”

“I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”

“So this is what the Hero-nim’s hometown tastes like.”

“Haha, it’s not exactly my hometown. My hometown is a bit further away….”

Sylvia clenched her fist tightly. She also cooked for Haru every morning. She tried not to burn the meat. But Haru had never smiled so brightly. He always watched her, awkwardly complimenting her.

‘Why… why not me…’

Her emotions swirled more and more. The forest spirits moved restlessly. The leaves rustled, and the wind stirred up dust.

One girl looked up.

“What’s that noise?”

Sylvia quickly retreated. She gestured to the spirits, and they disappeared into the forest with her.

Returning to her room under the World Tree, Sylvia stood in front of the mirror. Her face was pale. Her emerald hair was disheveled, as if blown by the wind.

“What’s happening…”

She murmured, looking at her reflection. The queen in the mirror looked somehow unfamiliar.

‘Haru is just being kind…’

But the warmth of his smile seemed different. The smile he showed them was more natural, more relaxed.

“He always smiled at me too, but…”

Haru’s smile was different now than it used to be. It was a bit awkward, a bit strained.

‘Am I being too sensitive?’

***

A week later, Sylvia was looking for Haru in the World Tree Library. But he was nowhere to be found.

“Have you seen Haru?”

An elven scholar who was organizing books looked up.

“Ah, the Hero-nim went to the Dawn Branch family’s garden earlier. With the Lavender sisters.”

Sylvia frowned. The Lavender sisters were the twin princesses of the Dawn Branch family. They were Elder Aurora’s great-granddaughters, famous for their beauty and intelligence.

“The garden?”

“Yes, he said he was interested in elven history, so they were going to show him a sacred scroll.”

Sylvia’s chest tightened. She could also teach him elven history. Why those sisters…

She headed to the garden along the branches of the World Tree. Laughter could be heard in the distance.

“Really? The World Tree danced?”

It was Haru’s voice. He was looking at an old scroll with the twin sisters. Magical light spread from the scroll, which was covered in drawings.

“Yes, it’s the story of when the World Tree was first planted. They say that when the first elven queen sang, the World Tree danced and grew.”

Haru nodded in admiration. One of the sisters leaned on his shoulder and pointed to the scroll.

“Look here, this is a picture of the World Tree’s roots going deep into the ground. Our mother, the World Tree, is not just a simple tree. It is a pillar and axis that supports the world.”

“Amazing. I never thought I’d see such a myth in person. As a human, I’m probably the first to see the World Tree this close, right?”

“Of course. Moreover, if you actually go deep into the World Tree, you can feel time flowing differently. If you go to the heart of the World Tree, which is thousands of years old…”

“A few hours can feel like days.”

“Or vice versa, a few days can feel like a few minutes.”

Haru sat between the twins, completely absorbed in the history. His face showed genuine interest and enjoyment.

‘He never made that face for me.’

Sylvia retreated. She headed to the depths of the World Tree, to her own secret space. The spirits followed her anxiously.

“What if you run away again? Like before… what if you abandon me again…”

She tried to calm down, but only the image of Haru and the Lavender sisters lingered in her mind.

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Sylvia reached out and called the spirits.

“Watch over him. Always… tell me who he’s talking to, where he’s going, what he’s saying… tell me everything.”

The spirits nodded sadly. They spread out and began to watch Haru’s every move.

‘This is for Haru…’

Sylvia continued to convince herself. Her nails dug into her palm. It hurt, but it was more bearable than the pain in her heart.

‘I have to protect him. If not me, who can protect Haru?’

Madness began to creep in. Twisted thoughts tangled like cobwebs in her mind.

‘He should only look at me… he should only smile for me…’

The light of the spirits gradually turned red. The World Tree’s magic swirled in response to her anxiety.

‘Mine… it’s mine….’