--Luci--

  “Hah…”

  Once I finally managed to calm myself down after being hit with all those emotions, I took a moment to go over the situation with myself again. First, we run into what I can only assume to be the legendary Shadow Dragon, which I always believed was just a part of a children's bedtime story.

  Then, there was a massive explosion, which I can only assume was caused by the dragon. When I looked back towards the source, I saw from a distance what appeared to be the Shadow Dragon fighting something even bigger than it. The second creature was purple, and because it forced Mira's assaint to disappear, I came to the conclusion that its identity is that of another mythical dragon: The Haze Dragon.

  Now, I came back to find Mira. She's lying in a pool of what looks to be her own blood, but she's alive. For how long though? I still have no idea why the Shadow Dragon showed up in the first pce, and the Haze Dragon might not be very friendly either.

  There's no telling if - or when - those two will be back, so it's probably best if I took Mira and got out of here as soon as possible. But then, how would I do that? I might be able to handle carrying her for a short distance, but I'm not even strong enough to get her out of this crater, let alone to the vilge. I can't use Earth magic either, so making a wagon like Mira did earlier is also out of the question…

  Maybe my Forest magic could do something like that? Hmm… I've never done anything much more complicated than attacking with roots or wooden spikes before though. Even then, while it'd be easier than carrying her, I don't know if I could move a wagon with her in it either. Well, it couldn't hurt to try.

  Deciding on the pn of “If it doesn't work, find something else,” I pulled myself off of Mira and stood up to test my pn, only to feel a crunch beneath my heel.

  “...Huh?”

  I picked up my boot, and there was a small pile of now-broken pieces of gss. Did Mira have some on her for something? Well, whatever it is, it probably doesn't matter now. I turned around to try to use my magic.

  I closed my eyes and began to concentrate on the space in front of me. A wagon. I need a small, simple wagon that could fit Mira but still be small enough for me to either push or pull. Imagining the shape I want, I began to push my mana into my magic. Moments ter, I feel my mana return to me, signifying that something went wrong in the casting process.

  I opened my eyes, and sure enough, there was no wagon. However, there wasn't… nothing.

  “Okkuu, Tiinii.”

  “Ah!” Before me stood a man who appeared to be in his te forties, maybe fifties. He had numerous wrinkles on his forehead, and the way he carried himself showed confidence and wisdom that comes with age. His violet eyes - the same color as his long, flowing hair - looked at me as if analyzing my very soul, and the calm smile on his face seemed as if he believed he was in perfect control of the situation. On top of that, he was tall. Very tall. The top of my head likely wouldn't even reach up to his broad shoulders. Clearly, there were a good few red fgs here about the difference in our strength, even excluding the amount of mana I could feel coming from him. However, with a defenseless Mira behind me, I… Well, I didn't notice the fgs.

  “Lord of Wind, grant me your strength… to… Huh?!”

  “...”

  Suddenly while I was trying to cast Ssh, my mana was cut off and returned to me, simir to when my Forest magic failed earlier…

  “Ahem. Greetings, Elf. Stay your hand. I do not wish for… violence.” The man spoke clearly and slowly, as if he wasn't used to speaking the Common Tongue. “I am Anyu. I ask of you, what is your name?”

  “L-Lucindell, first princess of Pristel. What are you doing here, Anyu? This pce isn't safe.”

  Surely he wouldn't think to attack me now that I've thrown my status around a little and risk becoming the enemy of three different nations.

  “I should say the same to you, Lucindell. Tiin- Ahem, Elves are quite rare to see around here, let alone a child of royalty. I am also well aware of the possible… danger here, but do not worry. Nothing here could harm me as of this moment. Say, why are you here, anyway? You are in much greater peril than myself. After all, you couldn't even cast a… spell? You couldn't even cast a spell against me.”

  “T-that’s…” This is exactly why I chose not to fight over the throne with Brother. I've never been good with words in these types of situations.

  “Say, Lucindell. That youngling behind you. Is she well?”

  “Why does it matter to you?”

  “Ah.” The man, Anyu, let out a sigh as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. “My condolences, then.”

  “W-wait! I never said she was dead or anything!”

  “Oh? I see. So she is…” He was mumbling to himself, and I could barely make out what he was saying until he went completely silent. After a moment, he spoke again. “Well, she should… awaken soon. Maybe a day or two at most.”

  A day or two… Wait…

  “How do you know that?!”

  There's no way someone who just got here should know anything about this. Hmm… With the amount of mana he has… Maybe he was the one who cast that giant explosion? Either him or the Shadow Dragon.

  “How do I know that? I was the one who… healed her, of course. Using one of these.” He reached under his robe - which was made of a basic brown leather - and pulled out a small, gss object. It looked like it could've been a potion vial, but the liquid was a blood-red, unlike any potion I've ever seen. “I can not tell you what this is. Just know, it only works on… certain peoples. You are not one of them.”

  “What kind of potion is that? I've heard of alchemists in some of the human kingdoms trying to figure out the so-called ‘health potions’, but I thought they weren't successful… Is that one that worked?”

  For about as long as history has been recorded, there have been alchemists talking about certain ‘restoration', potions. The health potions are one of those. The others are ‘stamina potions’, to reduce fatigue and restore strength to one's muscles, and ‘mana potions’, which allow somebody to restore lost mana. However, potions take the effects from various herbs and other materials to strengthen them, and not a single thing has ever been recorded with any of those properties, so those restorative potions remain in the imaginations of the alchemists.

  “Hah! It has truly been a while since I have heard of one of those! No. It is not one of those potions. It is something I… invented. No… discovered may be a better word.”

  “I see… Anyway, you still haven't told me why you're here.”

  “Right. There was a… pesky bird on the doorstep of my peoples’ homes. I chased it off, and that was when I found that one.” He pointed toward Mira behind me. “After I used one of these,…” he lifted the potion-looking liquid before putting it away under his robe. “... I left to make sure it would not return. I came back to see if my bl- Ahem, solution had worked and to watch over the girl until she was able to move on her own.”

  “Ahaha!” I couldn't help but ugh at his wording. ‘Pesky bird’?! Who even says that!

  “Hmm… Was something I said… unusual?”

  “Yes! More than just something, in fact. Are you not familiar with the Common Toungue?”

  “Ah. It would seem you have noticed.” Of course I' noticed. It would be impossible not to notice. “I am familiar with your, but it has been many years since I have had reason to speak it. My people speak our own nguage, you see.”

  “That makes since, I guess… Well, anyway, I should thank you. For saving Mira, that is.”

  “It was my pleasure. I do not wish to see a girl like her die.”

  “As I said earlier though, it is dangerous here At least for me. I really need to find a way to get Mira back. Unless you're going to help, I need you to get going so I could figure things out.”

  “I will help.”

  “Wait, you will? Hah… What do I need to pay you.” Nothing is free, after all. I do have plenty of money though.

  “There is no need to pay me. Though, some company in the future will be welcome. Here, as payment, return to this area in the future. Both of you. I will show you to my home when that time comes.”

  He wants us to come to his home… Yeah, while I'm grateful… That sounds really suspicious…

  “You sure you don't want money? I have plenty…”

  “My people have no need for money. If my request is too much, you do not need to accept that. I simply wish to assist this girl.”

  “Hah… whatever. I'll be keeping an eye on you though, so no funny business!”

  “That is understandable.”

  Well, I guess that solves the mystery of how I'm getting Mira back to the vilge.

  Alpy376