âAlright gentlemen, letâs end the âteasing the humanâ session, itâll be noon if we donât leave now.â
The elf jumped onto the horseâs back, planning to reach out to help the dwarf up. But, different than yesterday, the dwarf didnât touch his hand, rather he backed up a few steps, his face red.
The elf looked at him a little confusedly, âJulian?â
âPlâŠPlease let me walk.â
âWhatâs wrong?â
âItâs just half a day anyways, what I mean isâŠâ the dwarf turned to look at the knight, lowering his head again to continue mumbling, âthat⊠I canât⊠I shouldnâtâŠâ
âAh⊠youâre not used to riding with someone?â the elf nodded, âSorry, I didnât think about that.â
He hopped off the horse, and returned the reins to the dwarf smiling, âDonât worry, this was yours originally. Anyways, I walk faster.â
âEllen.â
The elf turned his head, the knight had already positioned his horse next to him, he patted the front half of the saddle, âGet on.â
âYouâre sureâŠ?â The elf eyed his full armor, âIt wonât cause some sort of tragedy where the elf crushes the horse right?â
âThereâs not a lot of rations left, and most of the things are on the other horses.â The knight grinned, reaching a hand out towards him, âAnyways, itâs not like I havenât carried you before, youâre not that heavy. Get on.â
âThatâs not my fault,â the elf complained quietly, gripping his hand, and vaulting onto the horse, âthree hundred years living on the energy of the moon, Iâve lost more than half my strength.â
âThen be a bit more cautious,â the knight reached past his waist, holding onto the reins, âIf you want to sleep you can sleep a bit more.â
The siren winked at the dwarf, with an expression that said âsee, what did I say.â
The dwarfâs face was red again, he silently muttered, âthis way, I shouldnât be kicked by the horse.â(1)
âJulian? What is it?â
âNothing at all, Mr.Frank,â the dwarf nodded heartily, âI was just talking to myself.â
Their destination was the village indicated on the map, by the name of Gnome. Although itâs small, it had existed since before the Legendary Era.
Almost all the groups traveling from the Capital to the Mage Academy, would pass by here to replenish their supplies. Since there would be no more villages in the road after, only mountain ranges and forests.
The elf still remembered how grand the villages was in those years, if it is as the knight said, that the Mage Academy had lost its former glory, he feared this village would not be as it was in the past.
âEllen,â the knightâs voice said next to his ears, âthe quiver and bow are blocking my vision.â âAh, sorry,â the elf removed the weapon from his back a little embarrassed, âI canât believe I forgot about that.â
âI never knew maps were so fascinating,â the knight grinned, âdonât tell me thereâs a hidden treasure from three hundred years ago?â
âIâve been to Gnome village in the past,â the elf said, âI wonder what it looks like now.â
âAhhâŠâ the knightâs grin subdued.
âDonât misunderstand,â the elf heard the worry in his voice, and immediately turned back to look at him, âIâm not feeling bad, just a little⊠nervous. Like meeting a friend that I havenât seen in many years. I canât help but think, how much has changed, will I be able to recognize them⊠and such.â
âSomething familiar is bound to remain.â
âEven if itâs changed it wouldnât be a bad thing,â the elf grinned, âitâs just that elderlies prefer the nostalgia.â
âElderlyâŠâ
âNo, should I say elderly elves?â
âAs a race that lives for a thousand or so years,â the knight grinned, âfour hundred is certainly old. â Proportionally, you might be able to catch the end of puberty.â
âNo,â the elf said mock seriously, âthe puberty of the elven tribe starts at around two hundred until four hundred. After four hundred is considered to be an adult.â(2)
âThat means, you completely slept through that. â How does it feel to wake up as an adult, elven child?â
âNot bad,â the elf turned around smiling, reaching out to pat the knight on his helmet, âhuman child.â
âHeh⊠you dare to do that to me when youâre on my horse,â the knight pulled hard on the elfâs cape, covering his whole head and face, and pulled the elf into his arms to tickle him, âyou think you have a chance to win? Hmmm?â
âHey stop fooling around, what happens if thereâs an ambush â Nnnn âŠâ
âAdmit defeat, if you do Iâll let you go.â
âIn your dreams âŠUnn⊠Haa⊠let go, Iâll suffocate!â
Watching the knight and elf who were messing around on the horse, the siren sighed like an old man.
âAh, to be young.â
âGodâŠâ the dwarf reached out a hand, desperately trying to cover his face, âI canât watch anymore, my heart canât take it.â
âYouâll get used to it.â The siren said comfortingly.
They arrived at Gnome Village a little after noon. Looking around, the surroundings were mostly made up of farms. It should almost be spring planting time, but for some reason there was no one around.
âBy the way, Gnome, means earth spirits right.â The dwarf said hesitantly, âthe elemental faeries that are good at farming?â
âYes,â the elf grinned, âoriginally many Gnomes and humans live together here, thatâs why this was called Gnome Village.â
âToo bad you canât see them anymore,â the dwarf sighed, âI really want to go back to the Legendary Age.â
Before he even finished speaking, they could see in a distance, a group of farmers with hoes walking by.
âAh, someoneâs coming!â the siren called happily, âOiâHello ââ
Hearing the greeting, the farmers turned around, and a few even waved back happily, they stopped, waiting for the group to get closer.
âSeems like this really is a very peaceful village.â The knight grinned.
âYesâŠâ the siren nodded, âcan we not eat dried rations for lunch?â
But when the group came closer, close enough to be able to see each other clearly, the farmers smiles suddenly disappeared. One of them, jerkily raised a hand, pointing at the dwarf, and shouted.
âOh God â Gnome! A giant Gnome!â
Then they all raised their hoes, rushing over in anger.
âGnome king! Get out of this village!â
âHaa?â The dwarf started, âGn, Gnome King? Me?â
The elf frowned, reaching out a hand to grab the bow hanging from the horse, but he was stopped by the knight.
âWait, he can handle this.â âJulian,â the knight took off his helmet, throwing it to the dwarf along with the shield, âbattle training starts now.â
âUn, Understood!â The dwarf put on the helmet, hopping off the horse, then rushed to the middle of the road holding the shield.
âCome, humans! Let me see how strong you are!â(3)
ââŠIs thatâŠtaunting?â The elfâs eyes widened looking at the knight, âDid you teach him that?â
âNot me,â the knight shook his head honestly, âIf I did teach him that, would it be so gentle?â
âHmm⊠true,â the elf turned his head, watching a bit worriedly as the dwarf rushed in among the farmers, âWill Julian⊠be alright?â
âDonât worry,â the knight grinned, âIf he really canât hold it, Iâll show you a real taunt.â
âJulian, go!â The siren watched with concentration, shaking his fist in the air.\n