After taking in the forest’s silence for a while, Kettlelinna began to talk. Which kinda surprised Jeylin, since he didn’t think that she would ever be the one to start a conversation. He didn’t say that though. That would be rude.

“Y’know… um… Elven culture is a bit different from Human culture,” She tried to smile despite her anxiety. “So you’re probably a bit curious right…?” She added.

Jeylin stared at her face for a few moments, which is unlike him, since he doesn’t usually look anyone in the eyes. “You don’t have to smile if you don’t feel like it.” He said simply, before taking up her unspoken offer.

“What is it like being an elf? Or, to start with, what kind of houses do you elves live in?” He asked her slowly, not because he was being careful with her but because he was casual. This was just how he normally talked.

At least that’s what Kettlelinna thinks. Jeylin was pretty mysterious.

“Hm…” She hummed, was she picking up his habits? Social interaction was rare for someone like her after all. “We don’t usually use wood to build things, despite being in a forest. Stones and other materials like metal and hardened soil are used to make houses. Though, soil houses are rarer in recent times, with the imports from the dwarves.”

Jeylin listened curiously, processing the information. ‘I thought that buildings made from soil and metals would be more fitting for dwarves, but guess I was wrong.’ He thought. “You said ‘usually’ right? That means it’s still being used in some way.”

The elf girl elaborated further, “Yes, royalty and important figures are given mansions and other structures with wood incorporated into them. Since nature and life are very important for us, trees and plants are also protected. Still, when a tree is broken or felled accidentally– usually with magic– then it is held by royalty for either themselves or to sell to people.”

She made a troubled face, as if recalling a terrible part in history. “There are people who fell a tree on purpose, disguising it as an accident so that they could buy the wood. This led to many laws surrounding that.”

‘That’s really interesting.’ Jeylin thought. But he couldn’t help but notice a certain detail that stood out. There was a shift in tone when she said that nature and life was important to them, but he couldn’t tell what that exactly implied. Instead, he went to sate his curiosity more.

“Couldn’t they– elves I mean– technically buy off wood from other races though? Would it really matter if felling trees were illegal?” He asked, he wasn’t sure if it was actually illegal but he assumed it was.

She frowned and replied. “Owning wood itself isn’t illegal… but news still travels fast in the windy leaves.”

Ah, so very socially unacceptable. He’ll make sure to remember that if he ever catches an elf doing that, it would make for good black mail. Or if he wanted to get executed, that works too.

“Interesting…” He muttered and stopped the conversation right there to gather his thoughts. Kettlelinna didn’t seem to mind, happy with the social interaction that she craved. Jeylin pushed back that fact for later.

‘Elves huh?’ After getting attacked by wolves the moment he got to this world, it gave him a taste of what was to come. He wondered about what he would find more, what he would discover that was once thought to be fantasy, real with full experience.

It was completely subconscious, really. Kettlelinna had been watching Jeylin play around with a stick. His movements… inexperienced as they were– reminded the girl of a swordsman, swinging what had become an extension of their limbs with ease.

She had unknowingly begun to lean forward. Then the snow crunched under her foot.

Within an instant, Jeylin’s head snapped to the sound and the elf had to resist tensing under his sharp gaze. She knows he wouldn’t hurt her but… those soul-piercing eyes didn’t make it easy staying calm.

“Oh, right. I had you get a massive leaf.” He noted, as if he didn’t ask her to do so only 10 minutes ago. The intent that made her tense had melted away in an instant. Jeylin laughed at her, finding the sight of a child dragging a large leaf to be amusing. He dropped the stick he was holding and helped her carry the leaf closer to the pile of sticks.

Kettlelinna was about to ask Jeylin if he ever had training when he spoke first. “By the way, do you have fire magic or something?” He asked.

Her face showed obvious confusion. “Only dwarves have them.” She replied simply. The boy hummed as he examined the rocks around them, before picking up one that was large and a mix of black and white. Without pause, he reeled back his arm and threw it into a nearby tree.

“Jeylin!” Kettlelinna exclaimed. The boy blinked at her in surprise, feeling that same will and intent resurface for a moment.

The elf girl seemed offended that he threw a rock into the tree. Or was it because he harmed the tree? He wasn’t too sure. But either way, he found her reaction to be quite amusing. He threw another at a tree after pretending he didn’t hear her.

This time, the elf only glared at him. To which Jeylin responded with, “Sorry, I was distracted.” He lied, “I didn’t hear you.”

It was very obvious to the both of them that he was lying, with his tone being flat and unregretful. Kettlelinna was not happy. “...You’re really mean…”

“Hm… noted. Anyway!” Just like that, he changed the subject so skillfully that Kettlelinna almost couldn’t believe it. “D’you think that these leaves will work as a fire starter?” He continued.

“Fire starter…?” She echoed. Truth be told, she never really learned much about camping outside. Being more of a combat strategist. As if reading her mind, he explained to her how to start a fire. He told her that while fire-starters won’t last very long as fuel, they’re much better used as– To her surprise– fire-starters.

This area had trees much higher than the other parts of the forest, meaning neither could reach them.

Since Jeylin didn’t know how to climb a tree, he jokingly challenged Kettlelinna to jump and grab a branch or two. Her face settled into a conflicted expression, “But it’s not good for the trees to do this…”

Jeylin in turn told her– note; lied– about taking her sins for himself and enduring them since he was who asked or something. The response was so half-hearted since Jeylin didn’t expect her to actually do it. In turn, Kettlelinna proved to him that she didn't know what a joke was.

With a jump you wouldn’t expect from a 5-year old, the elf easily reached halfway up the pine tree. She pulled out a branch while standing on another. Jeylin could see tears form in her eyes while doing so. If he wasn’t stunned from pure shock, he would’ve laughed.

Dropping to the ground, a subtle gust of wind seemingly softened her landing.

“...Will this work?” She asked.

“Yeah… sure.”

It was after around 30 minutes that Jeylin finally started a fire. He had to exercise a bit more of his memory, much to his annoyance.

The flames lit the snow orange, giving warmth to the two children. Kettelinna sat across Jeylin, both of them sitting on the snow. The boy liked this feeling. He liked the warmth of the flames and liked the frigid but calming air.

It reminded him why he even started a fire in the first place. The girl had told him that elves have a weakness to the cold, before asking if she could stay close to him for the night. With Jeylin being new to this world, he didn’t know if she was lying or not. That said, he thought it was bullshit, since elves seem to have a better physical body than humans.

In an act of spite, he decided to start a fire. Since it would technically give what she needs, warmth.

It only takes one look at her to tell that she wasn’t lying. The girl shivered in the cold in spite of the fire’s warmth. She balled up into herself, rubbing her arms in an attempt to stay warm. But there was more.

Jeylin couldn’t help but think that she wanted someone close to keep close. Both figuratively and literally.

The entire time he was with her, she had a cloud of gloom looming above her head. Jeylin didn’t need to be a psychic to tell she was sad about something, maybe even upset. What it was, he didn’t know. But that aura is really annoying, so he might as well do something about it.

“Hey… what are you doing?” Kettlelinna asked as she watched him walk towards her. He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. The elf girl blushed and was about to protest when he took it a step further and sat her on his lap.

“Your aura of depression is annoying.” He bluntly told her. When he thought her face couldn’t get any redder, it did. She was embarrassed, being caught like that.

“...Okay, but did you… have to hug me from the back…?” The girl resigned to her fate. Feeling defeat.

“Well, from this position,” He gave an easy smile, “I can choke you if you try anything funny.” He said casually. The elf girl shivered. And it wasn’t from the cold. “Okay…” She has been saying that a lot lately, hasn’t she?

As they both began to get comfortable with their position, they agreed to have one of them wake up early to lower the risk of getting attacked.

Kettlelinna’s eyelids feel heavy. Being close to sleep, she couldn’t help but remember the scene from earlier.

– 50 Minutes ago –

Jeylin smirked, eying the stick in his hands. ‘What better way to bond with your odd, fantasy elven friend than starting a fire in the forest?’ He lifted more sticks from the ground, a task made difficult by his small body. ‘Not starting a forest fire, mind you.’ He clarified, more so to himself than anyone. But no one needed to know about that.

Yet another pile of sticks were dropped to the ground. With a glance, Jeylin decided it was enough wood to keep a fire going. Right beside the pile of sticks… was also another pile of sticks. It was lesser in number, its main purpose to keep the fire alive after its birth.

One stick however took the boy’s attention. It was longer than the other sticks and was relatively straighter too. He smirked, holding the stick with both hands.

He never used a sword before. Despite that, he swung the stick anyway. The dark-haired boy would breathe deeply, then move swiftly. Not out of experience or any kind of talent but instead, from a sense of calm. Casual even as those figures in his mind’s eye were brutally cut apart.

Blood flowed like water across his vision as more imaginary men were cut down. There was the feeling of a child-like joy in his movements, subtle as they are.

It reminded Jeylin of children playing with sticks and stones, imagining themselves to be heroes. Except, it’s only blood and gore instead. Senseless fighting that no one else but the child imagining them could understand. The wild grin remained present on his face.

Kettlelinna wasn’t here, having gone to fetch something he couldn’t recall. But it was probably important.

Unbeknownst to him however, the said elf was peeking from the side of a tree. She watched him curiously, looking smaller in contrast to the comically-large leaf she was holding. She wondered why he got her to get the thing. ‘Dragging this takes a lot of effort.’

The elf watched him do more strikes with stances she wasn’t familiar with. Despite that, she assumed that it was a mix of instinct and imitation but she’ll have to ask to be sure. It was at this moment that Jeylin slipped from the mistakes in his stance. ‘Well, it’s actually the same mistake repeated.’ Kettlelinna noted.

The elf was no expert or anything at sword fighting– her parents making an effort to keep her out of such things– but she at the very least, knows more than the average elven civilian. She was feeling the urge to give him a pointer or two. ‘Would that be rude? No… I would only be trying to help, he’ll understa–’

Just as the elf was about to go help him, he suddenly stood up with a second wave of resolve. Though his face was more tame than before, she could tell by his movements that there was excitement in them. The elf paused to see what had changed, if any.

He slashed the air repeatedly like he had moments prior, only much faster. The elf blinked and checked his stance again, a very noticeable change was made prominent. In the span of a few seconds, he’s corrected the previous mistakes he’s made. The grin on his face widened as his efforts bore fruit, increasing in speed and fluidity.

Now, Kettlelinna wouldn’t say that Jeylin suddenly became a sword expert, he still made mistakes in different areas, but she could tell that he has potential. Lots of it.

If what he did just now was honed into a skill, ready for battle, then it could possibly turn the tides even in the most hopeless of battles. ‘The ability to correct holes and openings in a snap, that’s really something…’ She thought.

This went on for a few more minutes. With Jeylin ‘playing’ around and Kettelinna watching him. At several points, the boy would stop and stare at nothing. He would make small motions as if testing ideas. The elf couldn’t begin to think what was going through that head of his.

‘Maybe, he could even get strong enough to…’ Her mind trailed off, ‘No, I can’t just involve him because he’s an outsider. Would he even care?’ She wondered. Like any child, she was naive but even she could tell that Jeylin wasn’t really ‘normal.’

Having been lost in thought, she began to lean forward. Snow crunching under her and ultimately getting her caught.