Episode 005: I Got Swallowed by a Tree

“Um…” I spoke for the first time in the presence of the elves. Even if I ended up spouting gibberish to them, this was a rather sticky situation that was worth the risk of being mistaken as Other. As long as that Other was not also Assassin/Kidnapper. “I think you got the wrong person.”

There was a slight flinch from the Captain while Eti narrowed his eyes before dismissing me. “Captain, we will convene for a meeting so this human’s trial can be passed before the eyes of our sisters and brothers. That Shamaness Verk is missing, when she was planning to head to the Learning City for an urgent gathering dealing with the portent of a threat looming before us that she informed us about during the half-moon, leaves us without a leader. Danger is coming and our people need someone to lead us through safely.”

Translation: ‘Me. I’m opportunistic and am going to volunteer to be the President of Elves when the former head of government is MIA. Hell, maybe I’m the one that disappeared her! Muahahaha!’

My face stayed deadpan as I was summarily ignored. The only reason I was calm, ironically enough, was seeing Eti even though his personality made him hard pressed to be liked by me. At least in my head, only “civilized” societies bred people like him. And by that, I meant the modern politician that used words rather than violence and never got their hands dirty but were dirtier than a mob hitman (at least the mob hitman admitted to their work).

I mean, I was still at risk of being a scapegoat but at least I wasn’t as concerned over being executed without a warning. For now.

Still, this was far from ideal. Ignoring the fact I’m still not sure where I was in the larger picture, I seemed to have landed myself in a rather precarious position of being tied up and put on trial. I could tell the truth, of course, since it was clear that I could communicate with them (Captain Grine had that look that suggested I spoke in the Elven tongue instead of whatever they used to address me; oops).

Only, I’m not sure what was the truth.

I took a second to internally grumble at myself while people continued to talk around me. Seriously, these kinds of situations didn’t happen to me! If it were Victoria, these elves probably would have been taken over by that bratty tomboy already. I’m the lowkey middle-child. I’m the Peter and Jane Brady of my family!

Only when I was forced to a standing position by Vode did I stop feeling sorry for myself. One of the others untied the rope keeping me from walking while I squinted and tried to ignore my still present migraine. Already knowing I was heading to a cell or prison and reluctant but also resigned, I shuffled along and wondered if I can make an escape. And just how likely I’d be so turned around in the forest I’d end up running right into another group of elves.

The chances were sadly pretty high.

As we approached a gigantic banyan tree (or at least a look-alike), I was getting the slightest bit confused and along with a sense of burgeoning foreboding.

“… Hey, wait a—”

I stumbled and turned around when I was pushed into an alcove area, only to see the roots shifting and covering the previous opening. I hesitantly moved forward and toed the wood. Nope, not an illusion.

“Great. I am now stuck in a root ball,” I groaned.

Abruptly, my noises of self-pity got stuck in my throat when I felt a sudden weight in my pocket.

[Establishing Telepathic Link…]

I blinked, recognizing the monotone voice.

[Permanent Link Opened. Please refer to the changelog. Please set Remote to Auto-Retrieve.]