Leech
I only had that dream for a very brief moment.
One minute.
Or maybe just ten seconds?
It was that short, but the dream was so horrific I couldn't forget it.
The landscape that appeared in the dream.
The screams echoing in my ears.
It was so vivid it was hard to believe it was just a dream. I never wanted to see it again.
Was it really just a dream?
Could something that realistic really have been a dream?
I'd pulled an all-nighter with my eyes wide open, racking my brain for an answer that never came. I clenched my fist tight.
…It must've been a nightmare.
It had to be a nightmare.
I repeated that to myself endlessly and let out a deep sigh.
Elspier tilted his head at my expression.
"Was the bed uncomfortable or something?"
"Nah, no. The bed was fine."
It really was comfortable.
If not for that damn nightmare.
If I kept thinking about the dream, I'd get nothing done.
Forcing the dream from my mind, I filleted the fish Elspier had given me and fed it to Cheori.
"By the way, where's Elpinire usually at?"
"Usually at home or scouting the forest. Or…"
"Elspier! Open the door!"
"…or she shows up like this."
Speak of the devil.
How'd she know we were talking about her? She appeared like a ghost.
I stared at the door rattling violently from her pounding.
"She usually drops by in the mornings like this. Always comes to scrounge for food."
"Ah…"
I eyed the door, now shaking like it was about to rip off its hinges.
That thing's made of iron, but it's bending like it's gonna snap.
Finally, after more pounding, the handle shattered, and the door flew open.
"I said open up, El… sp… ier…"
Our eyes met.
I waved lightly at Elpinire, who froze mid-chew on the fish in her mouth.
"Morning."
"Hey, Elspier. Why's a human in your house?"
"I told him to stay."
"I clearly saw you fighting that human yesterday as the last thing."
"It was sparring. Sparring. He's pretty strong, actually."
Elpinire ground her teeth at Elspier's words and turned to leave.
I smirked at her retreating back.
"Not gonna eat?"
"…I can skip meals just fine."
With that, Elpinire vanished into the distance.
I swallowed the fish in my mouth and glanced at Elspier, who looked troubled.
"Elspier."
"Y-yeah?"
"You know her usual routes, right?"
"Y-yeah? I've been looking after her in the chief's place for about ten years."
I stared at Elspier's face.
He looks maybe 25 at most.
If he's been caring for her for ten years, how old is he really?
Guess that's elves for you.
Anyway.
"Then you'll have to cooperate."
"Cooperate? With what?"
"You ever heard of a leech?"
I grinned as Elspier tilted his head at the sudden mention.
Think you can just run from me instead of talking?
Try it.
I'll stick to you like glue till you have no choice but to talk.
Elpinire leaped across rooftops, grinding her teeth.
Too late.
The chief, the elders.
Even Elspier.
All swayed by that human again.
She stopped and peered down from the roof.
"That human scarfed down the meat I gave him yesterday!"
"He treasured the silk I handed over, man!"
"Hahaha!"
Merchants tilting cups in broad daylight.
Elves preferred meat.
But they weren't strict carnivores.
Other elves picked fallen fruits, brewed fruit wine like this, cut dead trees for furniture.
But not her.
The mere thought of eating plants triggered a strong aversion.
She could sense plants' will when focusing.
She even hated stepping on them, preferring to move by treetops.
…Idiots.
That's why.
All elves looked like fools to her.
High elves birthed elves, from high elf mothers.
Theoretically, elves were plants.
Devouring kin while flirting with hated humans? Utter stupidity.
She bit her lip and leaped onward.
At her house.
Before patrolling the forest, she'd grab a quick meal…
"You're back?"
"…?!"
The house filled with a delicious aroma.
Elpinire's eyes trembled as she stared at the black-haired man in an apron setting food on the table.
He hummed while holding pots in both hands.
"Wh-what the hell are you doing?"
"What else? Making food."
The human smirked vilely and lifted a pot lid.
A horrifically tantalizing smell exploded outward.
Her stomach screamed for it based on scent alone.
Biting her lip bloody, Elpinire spun and fled the house.
Damn it.
Even home wasn't safe.
She wanted to beat her past self for bringing that human to the village.
What had she been thinking?
She should've let him die.
It's fine.
Just expose his evil schemes and kick him out.
But first, she needed to eat.
She'd skipped dinner cleaning his room.
Guards run on full stomachs. Gotta fill up.
Elpinire headed to her usual eatery.
And.
"Whoa. More meat going in."
Ran into the human gnawing ribs disgustingly.
How?
He was at the house moments ago.
No matter.
If he's following in the village, head to the forest.
No matter how skilled, the forest was guard territory. He couldn't follow.
So she fled into the woods.
"Wanna eat this? Oh, fruit. Guess not."
Here too.
"Air's fresh here. Gotta come back sometime."
There too.
"Man, water's so clear I can see all the fish."
The human appeared as if waiting.
"Wh-what are you…! Why do you keep following me?!"
She finally escaped, legs giving out as she collapsed.
Not a short time.
Seven hours.
Seven hours of nonstop flight, and he casually chats while tailing like a ghost.
She's exhausted, on the verge of collapse, but he looks fine.
This wasn't mere wariness.
It was fear.
What kind of lunatic does this?
Sun had long set.
No food, no water.
If she returned, would he be waiting?
Clutching her head, Elpinire trembled alone in the dark forest.
I sat on a tree branch with Elspier, watching her.
"Going well."
"Th-that's… going well?"
Elspier panted beside me.
He'd carried me all day, chasing Elpinire through the forest.
Still gasping, he looked doubtful.
I glanced at him.
"You ever actually talked to Elpinire properly?"
"What kinda question is that?"
"Just answer."
"I'm the one who cared for her after all the guards died. Of course I have."
Elspier stared like I'd asked something obvious.
I rested my chin on my hand, gazing down.
Elpinire huddled alone, trembling.
No one to ask for help. Just her.
"Hm."
I grinned and patted Elspier's shoulder.
"I'm beat. Let's head back to Elcid."
"…Leave Elpinire?"
"She the type to get hurt alone in the night forest?"
"No."
"Then what do you care."
Elspier shrugged and stood on the branch.
I followed openly, making noise.
But Elpinire didn't notice, head bowed.
Next day.
I woke in Elspier's house and stretched long.
No dream today.
Slept pretty well instead.
But the process was weird.
"What the."
I wasn't sleepy at bedtime.
But thinking just five hours, I conked out instantly.
Woke exactly five hours later.
Brain damaged?
Or synchronization nearing 2%?
"Tch."
Dunno.
Scratching my head, I opened the door to the living room.
Elspier was already up, sipping hot broth.
"Sleep well, Mir?"
"Decent."
Slept deep; body felt light.
I grabbed a cup of broth from the table.
"Mm. This bland meat stock."
Add salt and green onions, it'd be gamjatang.
Drinking it like morning tea was wild.
"Chasing Elpinire again today?"
"Nah. Not today."
"Oh… okay?"
"Yeah. Let her feel some freedom today."
Not today.
Today, that is.
"But 'accidental' run-ins are unavoidable."
Today was rest day for me and her.
Whether she could actually rest was another story.
I sipped the broth.
Rich and savory.
Elpinire, who'd pulled an all-nighter, entered the kitchen with bloodshot eyes.
Exhausted.
Seemed like she'd collapse into sleep any second…
"Gasp!"
Slap!
She slapped her own cheek hard.
Red mark bloomed on pale skin.
Forcing herself alert, she bit her lip.
Can't sleep.
She couldn't sleep.
Falling asleep here meant the human would appear suddenly.
And worse.
In that brief doze, he'd slaughter her other family again.
She wasn't choosing not to sleep.
She couldn't.
Won't sleep till I drive out the human.
Repeating it hundreds of times like brainwashing, she warily entered the living room.
Nothing.
No human presence yet.
So—
"Elpinire! It's me!"
Knock knock knock.
Voice from beyond the door.
Recalling the face with yesterday's human, she ground her teeth and flung it open.
And.
"Die, human!"
She reflexively punched the human waving smugly at the door.