The Mist Vol 3 Chapter 7

Vol 3 Chapter 7

At Kapros's shout, Kran, who had been prancing about, looked in the same direction and instantly tensed, drawing his sword.

Shing!

Thud!

Simultaneously, the person who had fallen landed steadily on the ground right in front of them.

"Are you visitors seeking El Prama?"

The one who asked this question as they slightly bent their knees to reduce the impact of the landing before standing up again was an elf with short hair, towering height, and a cool demeanor.

'This elf is completely different in atmosphere from Siravi Ren.'

It was a moment when Kapros's assumption that all elves were like Siravi Ren, whose face gave no hint of gender or personality, was being revised.

"Yes."

When Kapros answered, the elf nodded as if they had expected as much, and while adjusting the enormous bow on their back, formally bowed in greeting.

"I am Kil Razil, the Guardian Arrow. We received word and have been waiting. Everyone is waiting for you in the village. Shall we go?"

Kapros was very curious about how Kil Razil had recognized them, since Siravi Ren hadn't come along and they couldn't have known they were the humans being waited for, but the atmosphere Kil Razil exuded didn't allow for such questions. Kran sheepishly put away the sword he had drawn. They had to quicken their pace considerably to keep up with Kil Razil, who turned and walked away with measured steps.

The elven village they finally arrived at was located in the deepest part of the forest. When Kapros and Kran expressed surprise at the beautiful village that appeared as if from a fairy tale, Kil Razil explained gently for the first time.

"This is El Prama. It's only the second time humans have come this far since this village was established. To think it would happen again so soon... We didn't expect it. Until now, any human was only allowed as far as the entrance of the forest."

The second human visit in quick succession...? Did that mean someone had come just before them?

Kapros carefully asked Kil Razil, who was heading towards the village entrance.

"Has someone else already visited this village before us?"

"That's correct. You are the second humans to enter the depths of El Prama. The first was..."

"Have you brought the guests?"

'Damn it!'

Just as the desired information was about to come out, another elf appeared with terribly bad timing.

"Yes."

Kil Razil stopped what they were about to say and bowed their head.

"It's as Lady Ilumine said. She mentioned that two humans would come around today."

The newly appeared elf nodded after looking Kapros and Kran up and down with curious eyes.

"Lady Ilumine's message is to bring them directly to the cave."

"Understood."

'The elf named Ilumine already knew about our arrival?'

Unlike Kil Razil, who agreed without any particular reaction, Kapros was inwardly very surprised and simultaneously felt intense curiosity.

According to Siravi Ren, the elf named Ilumine was connected to the heroes from 500 years ago. Meeting her would soon confirm whether those words were true or not. Additionally, things about his third quest as well...

Kil Razil began to walk, changing direction and leading them. Thanks to this, Kapros was able to examine the elven village in more detail.

The houses in the elven village were built both in trees and on the ground, giving an overall very bright and free feeling. The village was quite large in scale, and if one looked carefully, elves could be seen popping their heads out here and there like in a hidden picture puzzle, focusing their attention on Kapros and Kran.

Feeling like foreigners who had unintentionally set foot in a strange land under those curious and wary gazes, they continued to follow Kil Razil. They passed through the residential area and walked until the ground beneath their feet changed from sand to stone, finally stopping at a place right above a cliff.

"That is where you need to go."

The place Kil Razil pointed to was a cave below the cliff, hidden between trees and not immediately visible. Upon closer inspection, it didn't seem to be naturally formed.

"Only you two have been granted permission to approach, so I can go no further. You just need to enter the cave, so there's no need to worry about getting lost. I'll see you later then."

"Uh..."

Kran tried to say something, but as soon as Kil Razil finished speaking, they leaped up into the trees with incredible jumping power. Then, they quickly jumped between trees and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"..."

Kapros had thought their pace while leading them was quite fast, but if that was the elves' normal way of moving, it meant they had been moving at an extremely slow speed for Kil Razil. Was that some form of consideration?

"That's really fast..."

Kran, looking a bit overwhelmed, watched the direction Kil Razil had disappeared in, then turned to Kapros, clicking his tongue regretfully.

"They said it's over there, right? Let's go."

The cave entrance was narrow, but the inside was surprisingly large and the path well-organized. They moved forward without hesitation, but soon encountered a fork in the road.

"Can you tell which way to go, Kap?"

"I don't know."

"They said we wouldn't have to worry about getting lost, but I've never seen such lying elves."

Kran said incredulously, tapping the wall with his hand.

"Don't tell me that since we came this far comfortably, now we have to find our way through a maze? Is that the quest?"

Kapros frowned at Kran's terrible words, casually uttered.

"...Surely not."

[ ...I don't like that idea either. ]

"Eek?"

Suddenly, a young voice echoed from inside the cave.

Kran, who had been leaning against the wall, nearly slid down in surprise at the mysterious timbre that could be clearly heard despite not knowing where it came from, but barely managed to keep his balance.

"...Are you Ilumine?"

Cautiously addressing the air on the off chance, Kapros received a reply after a moment.

[ That's right. It's me. The path is to the left. Come in. ]

Thinking that the tone was quite far from gentle unlike the voice, Kapros turned left without hesitation. As they went deeper, the path gradually narrowed. With Kapros leading and Kran following, they advanced for a few more minutes when suddenly the space widened abruptly, revealing an enormously large cavern.