A Drop of Moonlight

Chapter 8: Difference

Time passes by fast when you finally get to enjoy doing something. Being quite a fast learner, the whole 3 months of staying in the forest was not wasted at all. Safe to stay she gained enough skills for practical use, yet not on a level of a master Fedikano was. She really did not expect his versatility.

Now it is time to leave. As they had agreed on, Denise will be escorted by Fedikano out of the forest safely. With special methods, the older elf was able to hide their presence from the selected still aggressive state as the season is coming to an end.

"We're here." Said Fedikano. "Just straight ahead is the village of Curt. From here onwards, the villagers can assist you home."

"Great!" Denise cheered. "I'll probably need to get a few supplies to last me along the way. Do you know if they have some shops that sell necessities?"

"For basic stuff they should have it." Says Rufus who for some reason tagged along. After all the times they had been around each other, Denise just knew that he is not too fond of humans in general. Though he treats her well enough, his tone when he talks about humankind in general is not too friendly.

"Manners Rufus." Said Fedikano with a slight smile. Though he was no better than Rufus in their distaste, he was just better in hiding them. Else how could he show such hatred back that night.

As if thinking how hypocrite Fedikano was in his rebuke, Rufus glared at him quite pointedly. It was as if there was an inside joke shared between them, the other only smiled and had the brown haired elf to back down. Whatever they shared, Denise has the feeling she better not ask for her own sanity. She might have no idea, but for some reason she felt she was involved in that silent conversation.

Thinking it would be better just to see things herself, she sped up and made a distance between the elves. Other wanting to see what she can get, she thinks it will be better that she makes a space between them. After all, elves are of other species. She doesn't know how the village will react to their presence. For her safety and possibly the villagers own safety, keeping a space in between is the best approach.

However she hadn't expected Rufus to actually follow her to the village. His whole body was covered by his robe and cape. Only his olive green eyes are visible for those who dares to look close enough.

"Why are you following me?" Denise asked as she can see villagers busy with their daily lives. "You don't like humans to be around with many of them at once."

"I want to see the world outside." Rufus said evenly. "It's been so long since I've seen the world. Fedikano has urged me that accompanying you will be a better experience than traveling with him again."

"How long have you not stepped out in the forest?" Denise cannot help asking. "You speak like it has been centuries since you have walked around."

"....it has been some years." There was a strange pause before Rufus managed to say those words."If you were living with Fedikano long enough, you will feel like centuries passed unknowingly..."

"I don't think it is possible for anyone to feel bored with Fedikano's presence." Denise defended Fedikano. "He is a wonderful person who is cultured enough to stand side by side with the world's elegant noble parties."

There was a snort heard when Denise uttered her words. It is apparent that Rufus doesn't agree with her statement. At weird times, the guy is a gentleman who knows where his wins and losses will be.

“Anyway!” Denise changed the topic as she really don’t want to talk about Fedikano and unknowingly bad-mouthed the guy. “I plan to go home for a while before traveling all the way to the capital. If you are not comfortable with that, I think you should turn back and be with Fedikano.”

“I think going back is not a choice for me now.” Rufus said with helplessness in his tone. “Knowing Fedikano and his experience when he first met you, he would have already sealed our dwelling and not allowed anyone to get near for at least a few years. Even if I wanted to get back, I can’t get near that place for at least 5 years.”

“Isn’t that too extreme?” Denise asked.

“Not really.” Rufus replied quite indifferently. “5 years is short compared to some. Last I heard from Fedikano, some elves went centuries before they allowed anyone into their homes.”

Elves are really a different species hearing all that. One characteristic of an elf is that they are long-lived. They can live for centuries without problems unlike humans who start to get so many problems the moment they hit their 30s. Hearing the isolation that Rufus was telling her, Denise knew that the 5 years that he said was really short compared to the centuries they have left in their lifespan.