Chapter 64 – Every Day… From Now On

Chapter 64

Every Day… From Now On

Date : Day 3 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren and Elise walked through the Whispering Forest with easy steps. They enjoyed every moment. The whistling sounds of winds. The glowing light of the flowers. The grass under their boots. The forest embraced them like an old friend—welcoming and warm.

They walked slowly. Enjoying the beautiful scenery. They walked alongside a small stream. The water murmured softly over smooth stones. To their destination. Somewhere deep in the forest. Where Elise's favorite place was waiting.

Hyoren looked up at the sky. It was already dark. Sol was already gone, and Luna would follow soon. In their place, Azure, Crimson, and Ebony started their ascent. Basking the world in their mixed light. The three moons hung in the sky like celestial jewels. Azure cast a cool blue glow. Crimson painted the clouds in shades of red. Ebony was the darkest—a void in the night sky that seemed to swallow the stars around it.

But night in Whispering Forest was not dark and oppressive. It felt ethereal instead. The flowers scattered around and a few patches of moss on the smooth bark of Humming Pinewood glowed softly. Blue. Purple. Silver. The colors blended together in a dreamlike scenery.

Their glows were not enough to replace the light of the suns. But their dim light was enough to give the forest a welcoming atmosphere. The path ahead was illuminated—soft and gentle—like walking through a dream.

He turned his face to his side, watching his partner walk beside him.

The soft glow illuminated the sharp angle of her jaw and framed her face. Her emerald eyes were now clear—free of any fog of dread he always saw since they arrived at Stonewell Village yesterday. Her mouth curved slightly upward. Her mood kept getting better. The tension had left her shoulders. Her steps were lighter. More graceful.

Her pointed ears twitched slowly. Enjoying the whistling sounds the winds made. Her silver hair, shone under three moonlights and the ethereal glow of flowers, swayed with every step she took. The strands caught the light. Sparkling like woven starlight.

He opened his mouth.

"Elise, night already descends. Should we camp soon?"

Elise turned to face him, then looked up to the sky. Her expression was thoughtful.

"Hmm. That's right... but not yet."

She smiled softly, before facing forward again. Her steps were slow but steady.

Hyoren tilted his head. Confusion flickered in his mind.

"Huh. Why, Elise? Walking through the forest at night is dangerous, right?"

Hearing that, Elise chuckled. The sound was light. Like the whispering of the trees around them.

"Fufufu. Well... yes. In a normal forest. But here, in ten years in Akela, I never saw any monster inside this forest."

Elise smiled. Then pointed one of her fingers towards the direction they walked. Her hand was elegant against the backdrop of glowing flowers.

"And our destination should not too far. See those clusters of Humming Pinewood which are taller than the rest? That is the deepest part of this forest. Our destination."

Hyoren followed her hand. And saw it. A cluster of tall Humming Pinewood. Taller than the rest. They rose above like guardians. It was not to the extent of towering Ironwood in the Forest of No Return, but tall enough compared to the rest of the forest. Based on the distance, they would reach it soon—one to two hours at most.

He nodded. Understanding dawned on him.

"I see. You know this area well, Elise. I understand."

Elise smiled. The expression was warm.

"But you are right. Maybe we should quicken our pace a bit to reach it before Luna is completely gone."

She ended her leisurely walk, and started a quicker stride. Hyoren followed closely beside her. The two walked side by side, following the stream, toward the deepest part of Whispering Forest. The sound of water accompanied them. A constant companion.

Hyoren followed Elise's lead closely. Scanned the surroundings. The trees started getting sparser, but taller. The trunks rose higher into the night sky. Their smooth bark gleamed silver in the moonlight.

He also felt the atmosphere was filled with Aethell. Concentration of magic in the air. It pressed against his skin. A subtle tingling sensation. The glowing moss and flowers gave brighter light. More intense. More vibrant.

And when he scanned the ground, he started to notice patches of Whisper-grass and Moon-flower, and they started to grow here and there. Mixed with grass and other seemingly beautiful glowing flowers.

Those two flora were the herbs which were the target of their second quest.

"Elise, this forest is teeming with those magical herbs..."

Elise on his side turned to him, walking sideways. Her movement was fluid and effortless.

"That's right. This forest is a treasure trove which many adventurers of Akela don't know about."

She scanned the surroundings which were familiar to her. Her eyes moved across the landscape with recognition.

"Most people are afraid to go here. Folklore around here says this forest is eerie because of the constant whistling and the air which is full of magic."

Elise smiled, before turning back to walk forward again. The smile was knowing. A secret shared between them.

"This forest is also secluded. It's inside another normal forest. For humans, they fear the unknown forest. For us, elves, we understand the forest."

Hyoren nodded in understanding. The cultural difference was clear. Humans feared what they did not understand. Elves embraced it.

"I see. At first I thought gathering over hundreds of herbs was going to be a hard endeavor. But seeing these herbs growing without care around us... I think we can gather more than enough within a day."

Elise chuckled. The sound echoed softly in the quiet forest.

"That's right. This quest went unnoticed because other adventurers will try to forage in other forests. And they won't venture deep. At most they can only gather under fifty herbs per day. Even if they work hard. So it will be a week in the wilderness. Foraging herbs."

She then touched her storage bag on her belt. The leather pouch was small but held more than its size suggested.

"And not many adventurers have storage bags like us. Or more like, a low-rank adventurer who usually takes this herb gathering request will never have one. So the herbs won't be fresh when they return to the city. Reducing the payment they are going to get from the quest issuer."

Her eyebrows furrowed a bit. Frustration flickered across her features.

"But that damn Oria actually asks for two hundred. A number which is so staggering. So everyone already felt the weight of the quest and decided to ignore it."

She avoided a fallen Pinewood log which blocked their path. Jumped over it with graceful motions. Her body moved like water—fluid and natural—before she opened her mouth again.

"If that bitch is sensible, she should divide it into multiple quests for multiple adventurers to take. Maybe thirty to fifty per quest. Then many would gladly take it."

Hyoren also jumped the logs. His boots landed on the soft grassy ground with a thud. Less graceful. But steady.

"But Elise, thanks to that, we got an easy quest which paid well."

Elise smiled before continuing walking. The frustration melted away. Replaced by amusement.

"That's right. Maybe I should thank that shitty girl for that. Fufu."

She chuckled. The sound was light. Carefree

Hyoren smiled wryly. Elise's hate towards the quest issuer—Oria—was so palpable with every word coming from her. It was almost endearing. The way her ears twitched when she mentioned the name. The way her voice carried an edge.

They continued walking, and when Luna was completely gone, the three moons nestled in the sky completely. A triad of celestial light. They arrived.

The sparse trees opened to a wide clearing. The transition was sudden. Like stepping through a doorway into another world. In the middle of the clearing, there was a spring pond, which fed the stream they followed. The water glowed slightly. Soft blue light pulsed from within. Hyoren could feel Aethell permeating the air even without activating his skill. The magic was thick. Palpable. It pressed against his skin like a warm blanket.

At the far side of the pond, there was a rock formation which water seeped through. A natural spring. Feeding the pond. The rocks were smooth and looked ancient. Covered in glowing moss that traced patterns across the surface.

Fields of glowing colorful flowers. Magical herbs—their quest target. A wall of tall Humming Pinewood enclosing the pond with water reflecting the three moons in the sky. The crystal clear springs—which gushed and pulsed out water.

All of these created an ethereal sight. A paradise hidden in the heart of the forest.

Hyoren's breath caught in his throat. He stood still. The beauty overwhelmed him. Words came out from his mouth naturally after a while.

"This place is... beautiful..."

Elise smiled, then stepped forward. Turned around with her back towards the pond. And she opened her arms wide. The beautiful landscape of the clearing framed her body. The glowing flowers. The shimmering water. The towering trees. All of it surrounded her like a painting.

"Welcome to my favorite place to relax when Akela city feels too oppressive, Hyoren."

She smiled widely. Her silver hair swayed gently, rustled by winds. Her emerald eyes were shining. Bright. Alive. Happy.

The glowing flowers and moonlights shone over her. Highlighting her silhouette. Her figure did not contrast with the surroundings, but merge with them instead. It was like a masterpiece painting, painted by the world itself. She belonged here. Among the glowing flowers. The whispering trees. The crystal water. She was part of this place. And this place was part of her.

This new view burned through Hyoren's eyes. Captivated him. Unconsciously, his mind wanted to capture this permanently. To hold this moment forever. The beauty of the clearing. The beauty of her. They blended together. Inseparable and complete.

And after a while, words came again from his mouth.

"Beautiful... truly... beautiful."

They were ambiguous words. Spoken with reverence. Words that could describe the place. Or the person standing before him. Or both. The meaning hung in the air. Unspoken but understood.

***

Elise then smiled, and turned her body again. She walked towards an area which was flatter and clearer than the rest. Near the springs. The grass was short there. The ground was level. Perfect for setting up camp.

Noticing Hyoren stood still, she peeked back over her shoulder. Tilting her head. Her silver hair cascaded over one side. The moonlight caught the strands.

"What's wrong, Hyoren? Let's go. We still need to prepare our camp."

Her voice finally snapped Hyoren from his trance. The moment had held him captive. The image of her against the glowing backdrop. But her words pulled him back to reality.

He hurriedly started to move. His hand scratched the back of his head. Embarrassed. The heat rose to his cheeks.

"Sorry, Elise. My mind was captivated."

He didn't elaborate what actually captivated his mind. The forest. The pond. Her. All of it blended together in a way he couldn't separate.

Elise chuckled. The sound was light.

"Fufu. See! I knew you would love this place too!"

Hyoren smiled wryly. He was not trying to correct her. Let her believe what she wanted. The truth was more complicated.

"Okay, Elise. Let's prepare our camp."

Both of them then reached the place. The ground was harder than the rest—providing them a good surface to make camp. The grass was more sparse. The area was clear and level. A natural campsite in the heart of the forest.

Elise then touched her storage bag. The void appeared—a swirling darkness that seemed to swallow the light. And with practiced motions, she pulled multiple items from the inside. Tents. Waterproof tarp. Sleeping bags. Portable magic stove. She put everything on the ground in neat piles. Each item was placed with care.

Her hand then hovered over the void. Her eyebrows furrowed a bit. Hesitated for a moment. Before nodding. Decided.

She then pulled the last item. Four square Ward Stones. The smooth stones gleamed in the moonlight. Faint traces of magic lingered on their surface.

Holding the four magic tools, she faced Hyoren. Her expression was serious and thoughtful.

"Usually I never use Ward Stones in this forest. Based on my experience... no monster ventures inside."

She then looked up at the sky, but she was not seeing the moons. But memories. Of the Wraith. Of the anomaly in the Forest of No Return before. The shadows that lurked in unexpected places. The dangers that could appear without warning.

"But. Better to be safe than sorry. I will keep using this whenever we camp. No matter how safe the surroundings are."

Hyoren nodded in understanding. He stepped forward and took the Ward Stones from her hands. The stones were cool against his palms.

"I agree. We will never know. Let me put the barrier, Elise, and I will gather branches and leaves for the campfire."

He then started walking, but he stopped on his track after a few steps. A thought occurred to him.

"Oh... and let me handle the tent too. So you can focus on cooking."

Elise nodded. The suggestion was practical.

"Okay, Hyoren. I will cook for us then."

Both of them then started to work. The clearing buzzed with quiet activity. The sound of movement. Preparation. The beginning of a camp.

Elise laid waterproof tarp on the ground for her to cook on. The fabric spread smoothly over the grass. And set the portable stove and cookware around it. She found flat stones and put the stove on top of them. A stable base. Safe from the grass below.

She then opened her storage bag again. Hovering over the void for a while, thinking about what was good for their dinner. The options were many. The decision was important. After a while, she decided. She took the ingredients she needed. Vegetables. Meat. Spices. Poured water from the Water Orb into the pot. The clear liquid splashed into the metal container. And started cooking.

Hyoren, on the other hand, set the four square stones. He placed them at the four corners of their intended campsite. The positions were precise. Not long after, the familiar barrier flickered around their camp. A dome of invisible protection. Peace of mind in the wilderness.

He then gathered dry branches and leaves around the clearing. The forest floor was littered with them. Fuel for the fire. He then stacked them near the tarp Elise had already laid. Stacked branch by branch. Creating a pyramid. The structure was stable. Ready for flame. He then lit it on fire using the starter magic tools.

The flame burned. Warming them. Pushed back the chilly air of Autumn. The fire crackled and popped. A comforting sound in the quiet night.

He nodded. Satisfied. The camp was taking shape.

He turned his face to Elise. She was busy chopping the ingredients. Preparing their dinner. Pot full of water was boiling above the magic stove. Steam rose into the night air. The aroma already began to fill the clearing.

"What are you cooking tonight, Elise?"

She turned her face toward him. Looked upward, her hand still holding a knife. The blade glinted in the firelight.

"The weather is a bit chilly, so I decided to make spicy noodle soup with ramtauro meat to replenish our energy. Wait for it, okay?"

Hyoren smiled. The warmth of anticipation spread through his chest.

"Oooh. Love that choice. I can't wait."

Elise also smiled widely, then turned her attention back to cooking. Her movements were quick. The knife flashed as she chopped vegetables.

Hyoren then focused on his other task. He took the tent Elise had put on the ground. He unrolled the tent. The fabric unfolded across the grass. The shape was unlike modern tents he always used when camping with his father. The design was different. More sophisticated in some ways. Simpler in others.

He studied it. The stakes. The poles. The seemingly thin but sturdy and waterproof fabric. After a while, he nodded, understanding the principle. It was not that different compared to modern tents. Easy to improvised. The basics were the same.

He then erected it. Fixed the poles to the tent and tightened them with rope which was sewn to the tent. The fabric stretched taut. Secured. And put the stakes down. Creating a simple but sturdy two-person tent. The structure stood firm against the night air.

He tested the stakes, pole, and stability. And nodded. Satisfied. The tent would hold.

He checked the inside. It was quite spacious for two of them. They even had some space to put their belongings. The feel was like normal tents. Until he saw Runic Arrays etched on the fabric. It was subtle. But visible. Glowing faintly in the darkness. He tried to pour Aethell into them. And felt a similar sensation for temperature manipulation as his cloak. Warmth spread inside the tent, erasing the trace of chilly autumn air.

The tent and cloak were made by the same dwarf brothers. So the mechanism was indeed the same. Talk about convenience.

He smiled. The convenience of magic tools still made him awed. A world where enchantment met practicality.

He then exited the tent, and walked over to Elise. He sat beside her on the tarp. And manipulated the campfire. Added another branch. Adjusted the flames. Savory aroma already permeated their camp. His stomach grumbled in response.

"I'm done, Elise. Ward Stones and tent are erected. Fire is also lit."

Elise, who was stirring the pot, smiled. The firelight danced in her green eyes.

"Thanks, Hyoren. Perfect timing. Our dinner is ready. Let's eat."

Hyoren threw another branch into the fire and excitedly turned around. The flames rose higher. Warmer.

"Ooh. Can't wait. Hot soup on a chilly night. Mmm... I can already taste the deliciousness."

Elise chuckled. The sound was soft. Self-deprecating.

"Fufu. Again, don't be overly excited. I'm not really a good cook."

She then divided the noodle soup into two portions. Carefully scooping the reddish broth with a ladle. The steam rose in curls. The noodles were glistening. There were big chunks of ramtauro meat and vegetables. A meal which was savory, warm, spicy, and filling. The colors were vibrant. Red broth. White noodles. Green vegetables. Brown meat.

She then gave one bowl to Hyoren. He took it. The bowl was warm in his hands. Comforting.

He brought the bowl closer to him. Savoring the smell. The spices tickled his nose. The warmth spread to his fingers.

"Mmmm. It truly smells good, Elise."

Elise also brought her own bowl. Spoon ready. But she hesitated.

"I'm afraid it won't match your expectation. But let's eat, Hyoren."

Hyoren nodded. Eager.

"Let's eat!"

He then scooped the broth using his spoon, and brought it to his mouth. The taste exploded in his mouth. The combination of spice, ramtauro broth, and umami from soy sauce made a perfect blend. The taste seeped into his body. Warmed him from within. He then tasted the meat. The meat was properly diced, a bite-sized. It was tender and the spice also permeated deeply. The noodles, carefully cooked, had a firm and perfect texture. Chewy but not soft. Substantial but not heavy.

The meal was blended together. A harmony of flavors. A comfort in the cold night.

While Hyoren was savoring the meal, Elise was fidgeting. She still hadn't moved her hands from the bowl. Not eating yet. Waited for Hyoren's reaction with palpitation. Her ears twitched. Her eyes watched him carefully.

"So... how is it, Hyoren? Edible at least? If it tastes weird you can throw it away... we still have jerky as emergency food."

Hyoren finally raised his head from the bowl. And shook his head quickly. His expression was earnest. Sincere.

"No! This was delicious, Elise! Truly!"

Elise was still not convinced. Her lips pursed a bit. Doubt flickered in her eyes.

"Lies. Please don't lie to me just to make me feel good..."

Hyoren shook his head again. More emphatic this time.

"No, Elise. I truly find this delicious. Like I said yesterday. I love your cooking. Maybe restaurant food or Martha's food is more delicious in a sense. But how to say it. I can feel this food cooked with feeling. It not only fills my belly, but it also warms my heart. I can eat this kind of food every day without getting bored."

His black eyes locked on Elise's emerald eyes. The firelight reflected in both their gazes. A connection. A truth.

"I already said that yesterday. But I will say it again. I want to eat your food every day, Elise."

Elise's eyes widened. Her pointed ears stopped twitching. Red started to creep over her neck, to her face. The flush spread slowly. A sunset across her pale skin.

Yesterday, she was frozen. Couldn't process what Hyoren said. But today, the second time she heard similar words, she slowly could process it. The meaning sank in. The weight of his words settled in her heart.

"Do you truly mean it, Hyoren? Not lies? Not just trying to make me happy with white lies?"

She fidgeted. Unsure. She had never been complimented this earnestly about her cooking before. She was still trying to process this. The unfamiliar feeling. The unexpected warmth.

Hyoren nodded. He straightened his posture. Trying to appear more earnest. More sincere.

"Truly. Please cook for me every day from now on. Whenever you can."

Elise averted her eyes. Her face and pointed ears were fully red now. Like a boiled fish. The color was deep. Unmistakable.

She mumbled. Her voice was soft. Barely audible.

"Every day he said. From now on he said..."

Hyoren didn't really catch her mumble. Her voice was muffled by the whistling of Humming Pinewood and sounds of spring water nearby. The forest sang around them. Unaware of the moment unfolding.

He tilted his head. But before he could ask, Elise nodded, affirming her feelings. She then faced him. Her face was still flushed red. But her emerald eyes were now clear with determination. A resolve. A promise.

"Okay... I would gladly do that then, Hyoren. Whenever we travel, or when I'm not busy, I will cook for you."

She leaned forward a bit. The firelight illuminated her features.

"Every day... From now on…"

She then smiled widely. Her declaration and her determined face captivated Hyoren. This time, it was him who got flushed. Captivated by her again. The tables turned. The hunter became the hunted.

He rubbed his nose. Feeling embarrassed. The heat rose to his cheeks. But he also nodded. Accepting. Returning.

"Thank you, Elise. I would love that."

Both of them smiled. Their feelings were mutual. Unspoken but understood. A promise made under the light of three moons. In a clearing of glowing flowers. By a spring of crystal water. The forest whispered around them. Witnessing their bond.