Chapter 26 - Silver-Leaf Sanctuary
Talia led Vincent and Maelle up the river and into a narrow, moss-draped path. Then, the dense forest overhead gave way to a breathless expanse.
"Welcome to the Silver-Leaf Sanctuary."
Vincent stopped dead in his tracks as he took in the hidden paradise before them.
Integrated so seamlessly into nature that it would be invisible from the high sky, the sanctuary was built around a cluster of gargantuan trees whose roots formed natural archways.
Grand wooden treehouses were carved directly into the living bark, connected by an intricate web of swaying rope bridges and elevated wooden walkways suspended high in the air.
A crystal-clear river wound its way through the village floor, reflecting the soft glow of luminescent flora lining the banks. Leaves of emerald and cherry pink drifted lazily through the cool air, carried by a gentle breeze.
"That’s enough standing around Vincent. Come." Maelle walked past him.
"What? You’re not even a little bit in awe?" Vincent jogged to catch up.
As the trio crossed a broad wooden bridge leading into the heart of the village, the ambient chatter of the elven locals resounded around them.
Fishermen holding woven nets, mothers cradling children, and woodcarvers holding their tools all turned to stare at Maelle and Vincent.
Their expressions were not of wonder, but of deep-seated fear, distrust, and suspicion.
"Humans... why is Talia bringing humans into the sanctuary?"
"Look at their clothes... are they scouts for the bandits?"
Vincent rubbed the back of his neck, leaning toward Maelle as they walked along a wide elevated walkway. "Man, talk about a warm welcome, huh?"
Maelle kept her chin held high and her regal posture unwavering, though her eyes darted subtly to the glaring villagers.
"Given what Talia revealed about the stolen children, their prejudice is entirely understandable. To them, we are the same species as the monsters who tore their families apart."
Suddenly, three young elven teenagers dropped down from an overhead branch, landing in a crouching line in front of them. With shaking hands, they pulled back the strings of small wooden bows, aiming the arrows straight at Vincent and Maelle’s chests.
"H-Halt, human scum! Y-You won’t take anyone else!"
Talia immediately stepped in, putting herself between the youths and the guests.
"Lower your weapons this instant! You dare point arrows at our honored guests?! Apologise to them right now!"
The lead youth lowered his bow slightly, but his glare remained fiercely defiant with tears of frustration welling in his brown eyes. "Guests?! They are wicked humans! They all deserve to die!"
Without waiting for another reprimand, the three teenagers scrambled up the rough tree bark and disappeared into the high foliage.
Talia turned back to Vincent and Maelle, bowing her head low. "I offer my deepest, most sincere apologies for my people’s hostility. Their anger clouds their judgment."
"Don’t sweat it, Talia," Vincent said easily, smiling reassuringly. "Honestly, if someone kidnapped kids from my neighborhood back home, I’d probably be pretty trigger-happy too."
Maelle gave a slight nod. "No apology is necessary. Focus on leading us to your Elder."
"Thank you." Talia let out a breath of gratitude. "Right this way."
She led them toward the center of the sanctuary, where a colossal tree – easily ten times the size of the surrounding ones – rooted itself into the ground. Constructed into the very heart of this ancient mother tree was the largest, most ornate structure in the entire village.
Reaching the carved wooden doors at the top of a winding staircase, Talia knocked three times. "Elder! This is Talia! I have returned from patrol, and I bring important guests."
"Enter," a smooth, youthful voice called out from within.
Talia pushed the doors open, bowing to Vincent and Maelle. "Please, step inside. I must excuse myself to gather the sanctuary’s finest warriors and prepare our forces for the rescue mission."
"Thanks. See you later." Vincent said as she turned and hurried down the walkway.
Stepping together over the threshold into the expansive sunlit hall, Vincent and Maelle braced themselves to meet the village Elder.
In his mind, Vincent expected a frail, white-bearded old elf leaning heavily on a wooden staff; who has a young assistant helping him in his day-to-day life.
Instead, standing alone over a large tactical table covered in maps was a breathtakingly stunning elven woman. She had ashen blonde hair and wore a low-cut white dress with draped off-the-shoulder sleeves, fitted over a corset trimmed with ornate gold detailing. Most strikingly, a white silk blindfold was tied securely over her eyes.
"Wait... don’t tell me... you’re the Elder?" Vincent muttered softly. "I was totally expecting a crippled old elf..."
PINCH!
"Mind your tongue."
"Ow! Hey!" he clutched his left bicep as Maelle delivered an excruciating pinch to his arm.
The blindfolded woman let out a musical chuckle that echoed through the wooden hall. With an impeccably graceful movement, she stood up straight and turned toward them.
"Curious... a boy whose voice carries no malice, yet whose presence distorts the very air in this room."
Reaching up with slender fingers, the Elder untied the white silk blindfold.
Her eyes were blank as if she were blind, but the moment she cast her gaze toward Vincent, they swirled with multicolours before settling with a magical luminescence of gold and green.
’Whoa... heterochromia.’
Through her eyes, her vision pierced through their physical forms, perceiving the glowing red thread of the familiar contract tightly binding Maelle and Vincent’s souls together.
Looking at Maelle standing rigidly beside him, wrapped in her stoic princess mask, a mischievous smirk curved the Elder’s lips. She picked up her blindfold and tied it back over her eyes.
"My, my... I can’t believe the cold Princess of Ebonspire brought a handsome secret lover into my sanctuary?"
"L-Lover?! Whoa, hold on a second! Maelle and I aren’t–!"
"We are not lovers." Unlike Vincent, Maelle didn’t take the bait and overreact.
"As you know, I am Princess Maelle Ebony, and this is my familiar, Vincent. We are here to discuss a joint operation regarding the bandits who kidnapped your people."
"Hahaha. There is no need for such stiffness, Princess. Greetings to you both. My name is Bran. And I already know why you are here. The gentle winds of the forest brought me the whispers of your battle at the riverbank."
She gestured toward a low wooden table in the corner of the room, where three porcelain cups of steaming herbal tea were already set out, a soft herbal aroma wafting through the air.
"Sit, please. I was expecting you."
Vincent and Maelle took their seats on the woven floor cushions across from her.
As they settled in, Bran leaned forward over the table, revealing a generous view of her ample cleavage, though her blindfolded face remained focused entirely on Vincent.
’Nice.’
PINCH!
"Ow– Maelle!"
"Hmph."
Smiling obliviously, Bran extended a hand, hovering her palm inches from Vincent’s chest as she utilized her mystical sight to inspect him.
"Uhm... Elder Bran? What are you doing?"
"Fascinating... Your aura... your soul structure... It is completely alien to Pristina. Yet... it feels strangely reminiscent of the ancient Goddess who founded this sanctuary alongside the legendary Hero well over half a million hundred years ago."
’Yeah... that’s because the Goddess you’re talking about is literally my Mama Maribelle, and the Hero is apparently my Dada. Better keep that under wraps for now.’
Clearing her throat to bring the room back to business, Maelle laid her hands flat on her knees.
"Elder Bran, let us establish our agreement clearly. My familiar and I will assist your scouts in obliterating the bandit stronghold and rescuing your stolen children. In exchange, the Silver-Leaf Sanctuary will provide us with safe passage through the deep forest and guide us directly toward the imperial capital."
Elder Bran didn’t hesitate for a single second. She inclined her head gracefully. "Agreed. I’ve witnessed your strength through the winds. The sanctuary will gladly honor those terms. A debt owed for the lives of our children is a debt we will repay tenfold."
She then put out a detailed parchment map of the dark mountain range on the table, pointing her finger at a jagged, lightning-scarred cliff face marked in red ink.
"Our scouts have confirmed that the main bandit stronghold is built inside a fortified cavern system right here. It is heavily guarded, trapped, and reinforced with stolen military ballistas."
After getting a closer look at the map and remembering her surroundings when Vincent took her up in their air, Maelle turned her head slightly toward him. "Vincent. Is this not the same hideout you broke me out of last night?"
"Well... it was pretty dark when I flew you out and I’m not entirely familiar with this place, but yeah... I’m like ninety percent sure that’s the place. Look, that cave mouth leads straight into a cliffside."
"Good," Bran rolled the map back up. "Then time is of the essence. Our assault team led by Talia will move out at twilight. We will traverse the high trees and arrive at the hideout under the cover of midnight for a surprise attack. Princess Maelle, for your safety you will remain here in the sanctuary. Your familiar, Vincent, will accompany our war party to handle the heavy lifting."
Maelle glanced at Vincent, then back at the Elder, giving an affirmative nod. "Understood."
.....
As twilight settled over the forest, the real beauty of the Silver-Leaf Sanctuary shined through. The surrounding nature glowed with soft sparkles of light, casting soft hues of cyan and violet across the trees and river.
Before the assault party was set to assemble, Vincent stood alone on the elder’s wooden balcony overlooking the village below.
The cool night wind rustled his brown hair as he leaned against the carved railing, taking a deep breath of the crisp air while thinking about a certain red-haired Goddess.
... step... step
Hearing soft footsteps behind him, he turned his head to find Maelle walking out onto the balcony.
Away from the judging eyes of the elven crowds and the formal tension of the Elder’s hall, her rigid posture seemed to soften. She walked up beside him, resting her hands on the wooden railing as she looked out over the glowing forest.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Surprisingly, Maelle broke the silence first.
"Vincent."
"Hmmm?"
"I... I have not properly expressed my thoughts to you," she began, her violet eyes looking out at the horizon.
"When I was in that cell... beaten, chained, and waiting for death... I believed my life was over. Even when I summoned you, I did not truly believe that I’d make it out. I mean, at the time, I thought you were human. But I was desperate to survive so I had to try..."
She paused as her fingers tightened slightly against the railing. "... However, I did survive. Thank you. For saving me. And... for standing in front of those archers at the river."
Vincent was taken aback by her sudden, genuine vulnerability.
A gentle grin spread across his face. "Well, I can’t have you dying on me. We’re in this together, me and you. Anything you need, you let me know. I’d rather you be happy than sad."
Maelle faint blush spread across her cheeks, though, it was unnoticeable due to the warm lighting of the forest. She then turned her head to look him dead in the eye.
"I know how absurdly powerful you are now. I know you could easily handle those bandits alone. But... please be careful tonight. I am trusting that just how you rescued me, you will bring those children back safely."
Vincent raised his thumb, giving her a shining grin. "Leave it to me, Princess. I’ll be back before you know it."