Part 1
The sun shone brightly over the Mythara Forest, but the cool winds brushing through the treetops offered a pleasant relief to Yuna's group.
After several days of travel, they had finally arrived at the wind elf village.
"We're here!" Yuna announced cheerfully, turning to Thalindra. "Welcome to the village of the Aeris."
"What peculiar structures… do they really live here?" Thalindra exclaimed, eyeing the swaying bridges with skepticism.
She didn't look particularly convinced.
"Oh, come on. These bridges have withstood every kind of storm. You're perfectly safe here," Yuna assured her with a confident smile.
As they made their way across the village walkways, the elves greeted them with warm smiles, raising their hands in welcome.
They greeted Yuna as if she were a local celebrity.
The elders, however, cast cautious glances at Simo, who was hiding behind her parasol, moving with clear discomfort.
A group of children ran toward them, laughing and pointing at Kizuna, who buzzed around with electric excitement.
"The human and his fairy are back!" shouted one, pointing at Haruto and his radiant companion.
"Look! A dwarf! She looks super strong and scary!" added another, eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Heh. At least they know greatness when they see it," Thalindra replied seriously, though her twitching ears betrayed her attempt to remain stoic.
As the kids ran circles around them, Simo shrank further behind Haruto, her small frame trembling at every laugh that got too close.
"Easy, Simo. They don't bite," Haruto murmured, offering a gentle smile to reassure her.
"Too noisy…" she whispered, clutching the parasol tighter and taking a step back.
Noticing her distress, Kizuna landed on her shoulder with a glowing smile.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you! If anyone misbehaves, I'll tickle them with magic—Kizu-style!" she declared heroically. In a flash of light, she transformed into a tiny member of the British Royal Guard.
Simo said nothing, but the light weight on her shoulder and Kizuna's silly appearance drew a faint smile from her.
A flicker of relief crossed her eyes, though she tried to hide it.
Noticing the commotion, Yuna turned around calmly.
"It's normal to attract attention—especially you, Thali. Not every day a dwarven adventurer shows up in Aeris," she said casually as she continued walking.
Thalindra let out a short snort, crossing her arms with fake arrogance.
"Well, I can't blame them. It's only natural to admire someone like me," she said—though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her act of confidence.
The group continued across the bridges as the children followed with curious eyes.
The branches whispered with the wind, as if welcoming Yuna and her companions.
For some, it was a return home. For Thalindra, a completely new world.
In the distance, Yuna spotted a familiar figure.
Without hesitation, she dropped all formality and ran toward him—like a little girl reunited with her father.
"Tell me, Haruto," Thalindra murmured, watching the scene.
"Is Yuna some kind of star here? Everyone seems to adore her."
"She is, in a way. They all care about her deeply," Haruto replied with a calm smile.
Thalindra furrowed her brow and raised an eyebrow, eyeing the man who welcomed Yuna with open arms.
"And that old geezer?"
Haruto chuckled.
"That 'geezer' is her father… and the tribe leader."
Thalindra froze instantly, eyes wide. A hint of red crept into her cheeks as she tried to compose herself.
"Oh… good thing you told me. Would've been awkward if I messed that up… And don't even think about telling him!" she warned, pointing at Haruto nervously.
Before Haruto could answer, Simo spoke up from behind her parasol, her usual calm tone floating through the air:
"Don't worry. Haruto thinks the same as you."
Thalindra spun around, her face painted with a mix of disbelief and confusion.
"What?!" she shouted, while Haruto gave a helpless shrug, unable to hide his smile.
They watched the scene unfold in silence. Clearly, Thalindra was the only one surprised—everyone else seemed to think this was as normal as the wind in Aeris.
"Daddy! I'm home!" Yuna cried out, leaping into her father's arms.
"My little girl! I'm so glad to have you back!" Zephyrus beamed, hugging her tightly.
The scene looked like it came straight out of a slice-of-life manga: father and daughter glowing in their own little bubble, completely oblivious to the world around them.
Thalindra, watching this excessive display of affection, felt slightly dizzy. It was all too much for her system to handle.
"Is it always like this?" she asked, bewildered, turning to Haruto.
"You'll get used to it, I promise," he replied, shrugging with his usual serene smile.
Simo, not showing a single inch more than necessary, nodded slowly from behind her parasol.
Silent, but in agreement.
As they stood there, Thalindra couldn't help but remember what greetings were like with her own father.
The memory came back vividly...
Borin Terrafist storming into the forge like a walking explosion. His crimson eyes blazing with fire spirit, full of challenge and energy.
"Ho! Old man! Remember you have a daughter for once?" Thalindra would say, slamming her hand on the table, daring him to an arm-wrestling match.
"Heh, brat. Still wasting time with those gauntlets?" Borin would snort, gripping her hand and accepting the unspoken challenge.
"Look who's talking. Still forging mediocre swords for King Raiden?"
"You've got a long way to go. You should train more often," he'd grunt, leaning forward for an advantage.
"Hah? All that booze must be rotting your brain, old man. This forge ain't your drinking club."
With a crafty twist of the wrist, Thalindra would turn the tide and slam his arm down.
Borin, far from angry, would burst into loud laughter before pulling her into a rough hug.
"Let's hit the tavern! And if we find an adventurer with a punchable face, we break his nose. Gotta catch up."
"Fine, but I'm not dragging your unconscious body home again," she'd answer with a sharp grin.
"Hahaha! Terrafists never fall, brat! Never!"
The memory faded, and Thalindra blinked back into the present.
Her gaze fell on Yuna, still clinging to her father as if it had been decades since they last saw each other.
She could swear the wind was singing, butterflies floated all around, and even the air sparkled—as if nature had decided to throw them a welcome parade.
One particularly bold butterfly landed on Thalindra's shoulder.
With a death glare, the dwarf flicked it off with the force of a war axe swing, as if swatting something a thousand times bigger.
The butterfly seemed to sweat in terror and zipped away in a panic, as though fleeing a death sentence.
"This place is way too sappy for me," she muttered, crossing her arms. Though deep down, a tiny smile crept across her face. She liked being feared… even by insects.
Yuna's father stepped forward with solemn grace.
His aura shifted instantly—no longer the doting dad, but the chieftain of the tribe.
With firm and respectful poise, he gave a slight bow to Thalindra.
"It is an honor to welcome you to our humble village, great artisan Thalindra Terrafist," he said, his deep voice formal and ceremonial.
Thalindra cleared her throat, visibly uncomfortable with the formality.
"Thank you, Lord Kazeharu. The honor is mine. It's… a lovely village," she replied, darting her eyes around as she tried to maintain her composure.
Kazeharu nodded, but when his gaze landed on Haruto, his expression changed in an instant.
He frowned and clicked his tongue with obvious disdain.
"What a shame to see you again, brat," Zephyrus muttered, his tone making it abundantly clear how much he disliked Haruto's presence.
Haruto, already used to it, smiled calmly.
"Always a pleasure to see you in such good health, Lord Kazeharu," he replied, bowing his head slightly with a politeness that only seemed to irritate him more.
Zephyrus scoffed, but his eyes drifted toward Simmone, who observed the exchange with her usual grace. His gaze softened, intrigued by the young girl's presence.
"Good morning," he said at last, nodding slightly. "You, at least, pique my curiosity. Who are you, little one?"
Simmone, flawless as always, lifted the hem of her dress just enough to keep it from touching the ground and performed a perfectly refined British-style curtsy.
"Good morning, esteemed Lord Kazeharu. It is an honor to be in your beautiful village. My name is Simmone Amoretta."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed, and cast a side glance at Haruto, as if comparing them.
"Well then. At least you have a bit of class," he commented to Simmone, then turned back to Haruto with disapproval. "You could learn a thing or two from her, brat."
Haruto let out a small laugh. Thalindra, meanwhile, watched them with a mix of amusement and confusion.
"Well, I suppose my house is still big enough to host all of you," Zephyrus said, his tone shifting into something more serious.
"But before that, there's something I must do. Zelph!" he called out, firm and commanding.
As if part of the wind itself, a figure emerged between drifting leaves—a moss-green-haired elf whose movements were precise and silent, like a cutting breeze.
"Yes, Master Kazeharu?" the sentinel replied calmly, bowing his head.
"I'm sure you've already heard, but inform Lady Cherri that my daughter and her companions have arrived. I also want you to summon Terram."
Zelph nodded without a word and disappeared with the same speed as his arrival, leaving only a whisper in his wake.
"Whoa… they're fast," Thalindra murmured, staring after him.
"Zelph is my right hand. I expect nothing less from him," Zephyrus replied with a trace of pride.
Haruto opened his mouth to ask something, but Yuna beat him to it.
"Wait—does that mean Hayate isn't your right hand anymore?"
Zephyrus sighed, his tone relaxing.
"A lot happened after you left. One of them… is that Hayate resigned. He went off to Estelaris. And you know me"
"I don't force anyone to stay. Zelph was second-in-command, so he took his place."
Yuna fell silent, thoughtful. Hayate had dreamed of that position his whole life. Why would he resign?
"Don't overthink it. He was just another sentinel," her father added indifferently.
Then, changing the topic completely, Zephyrus looked over the group with mild curiosity.
"And where's Melodía? Wasn't she traveling with you?"
The air turned heavier. Everyone lowered their gaze, and silence answered for them.
"She returned to Astralith at her father's request," Yuna answered softly. "Her brother Armonio came to retrieve her personally."
Zephyrus sighed, his expression tinged with annoyance and resignation.
"That old man Aurelius never changes… Let me guess—Melodia broke one of his ridiculous rules again."
Yuna clenched her fists, holding back her frustration.
"We had some trouble in Stonehollow. Haruto got arrested for not having a permit for Mythara," she added, redirecting the conversation slightly.
"I see… so Melodia must have turned to Solis for help," Zephyrus muttered, frowning. "Tch, that's Aurelius's fault. Always ignoring Cherri's orders…"
After thinking for a moment, he looked back to the group and pointed toward his home.
"Yuna, can you lead your friends to the house? Let them get settled while I handle a few matters."
"Sure thing, Daddy. Leave it to me!" she answered with a bright smile.
Zephyrus gave a short nod and walked off with steady steps.
As they watched him go, Thalindra cast a final glance at the tribal chief, his silhouette fading into the trees.
"That Aurelius is insufferable…" Zephyrus muttered to himself. "If this keeps up, Cherri will have no choice but to intervene. And this time, I won't be covering for him."
His footsteps echoed with purpose as he headed toward the training grounds.
It was clear that his patience was wearing thin.