Sofia woke up feeling groggy and disoriented. Looking around, she realized that she was in a kind of tent. Hearing a commotion outside, she held the blanket tightly to herself and peered curiously through the front flap. Elves and creatures unlike any she had ever seen, all radiantly colored and beautiful, were scurrying about the camp with a sort of electric energy filled with excitement and nervousness. 

This isn’t a dream, she thought to herself. I’m really in another world!

As Sofia sat back on her bed, she suddenly spotted her clothes folded at the far end of the tent. 

Wait… Sofia looked under her blanket and quickly pulled it down again, cheeks burning. She jumped when she heard a soft scratch on the tent flap.

“Friend, are you awake?” a young female voice said gently from the other side. 

“Erm, uh… Yes, hi. I…I am awake,” Sofia stuttered.

“May I enter?” asked the young woman.

“Erm, well, I’m not quite dressed…”

“Forgive me, I have come to return the last item of your clothing. The Healer said that it was best to remove your clothing. She and I needed to tend to your wounds last night, and your clothes were soaked. I washed your garments and had them out to dry. I can place them just inside the entrance, if you prefer.”

“Y-yes please.” 

Sofia watched as a toned, slender arm with an ornate metallic arm cuff slipped into the tent to place her sweater inside. 

“I will wait for you to be dressed,” her attendant announced.

Still sheepish at the idea of having been stripped, yet grateful her attendants had been female, Sofia quickly dressed herself. Her crossbody bag had been by the clothes and, after checking to ensure all its contents were still accounted for, she donned it and stepped outside the tent.

Waiting for her was a young elf who was about Sofia’s height, wearing a loose, short sleeved top and close fitting pants and knee-high boots. At her waist was a belt with multiple pouches and simple tools. What most caught Sofia’s attention, however, was her long, vibrant green hair. Sensing Sofia’s presence, the elf turned and met her gaze with dazzling violet almond-shaped eyes. 

“I am glad to see you awake,” the elf dropped her gaze slightly. “Are you hungry, Friend?”

Sofia’s stomach replied by releasing an embarrassingly loud growl. The young elf’s eyes sparkled in amusement.

“Follow me.”

Sofia’s guide led her to the center of camp where there was a group of elves cooking. The energy Sofia noticed earlier zeroed in on her, with those nearby glancing and whispering as she passed. It made Sofia feel uneasy. Noticing her nervousness, the green-haired elf sat her by the cooking fire and requested soup on her behalf. 

Sofia, uncertain, gingerly picked at the soup. After braving a taste, however, she nearly inhaled it.

“I take it that you…enjoyed the soup, Friend?” asked the elf.  

Catching herself, Sofia, chuckled nervously. “Ha, yes, thank you. My name is Sofia, by the way.” She held out a hand to the young elf. 

The elf’s eyes sparkled again, this time in excitement. Gripping Sofia’s hand with both of hers, she said, “I am called Itah, apprentice to the Master Healer.”

From across the camp, a voice called. “Itah!”

Turning, the pair saw the elf who had rescued Sofia yesterday making his way towards them. 

What a beautiful man… Sofia’s face flushed and she shook her head. Stop, Sofia. Now is not the time!

“Friend Itah,” the male elf addressed Sofia’s young companion, “thank you for taking wonderful care of our guest.” Sofia noticed a slight redness rising on the young elf’s cheeks. 

Ah, so it’s not just me.

The blonde elf turned suddenly to Sofia, startling her. With a slight bow and a mischievous smile, he said, “Friend, our chief requests an audience. It seems your presence has caused quite a stir.”

Sofia soon found herself ushered into a large tent. Light entered from window-like gaps at the highest points of the tent, allowing Sofia to see without difficulty. The tent’s fabric was ornately patterned and shimmered in the light. With the number of plants Sofia saw, it almost felt as if she were in a greenhouse. 

At the rear of the tent was a beautifully carved wooden table, itself seeming to grow from the ground beneath it. Behind the table sat a stern, mature female elf. 

She must be the chief, thought Sofia. Should I… bow or curtsy or something?

The chief’s eyes narrowed as Sofia, still debating what to do, was led to the table by her blonde elven escort.

“Chief Kiysat,” her escort bowed his head slightly and placed his fist over his heart, “I have brought our unexpected visitor.”

“Unexpected indeed,” Chief Kiysat replied in a low, serious tone. “Thank you, Captain Erae.” 

Erae bowed again, and backed away slightly to allow Sofia to have the chief’s full attention. 

“Talmhan,” the chief began, “what are you called?”

“M-my name is Sofia, ma’am. Y-your chiefness,” Sofia stammered. “Sofia Pérez.”

“And how is it that you came to be in Lyfay, Sofia Pérez?”

“I-I passed through some sort of gate, I think,” replied Sofia. “I found this strange looking, badly injured dog that said he needed…” Sofia’s eyes flew open. “Harton! How is he? Where is he?”

Chief Kiysat raised a hand. “The Dlam is in the care of our Master Healer. He was weak, certainly, but with her expertise he is expected to make a full recovery.”

What a relief, Sofia sighed. 

“His condition would not have been so serious, however, if you had not led a scathe of Ymplerim into Lyfay.”

“Pardon?”

“There have been no reports of Ymplerim sightings by the emerald lake for years,” Chief Kiysat rose from her chair to tower over Sofia. “Until yesterday. Their sudden appearance, and yours, cannot be a coincidence.”

Sofia shuddered as she recalled yesterday’s events with the dark, gaseous figure and its pale yellow eyes and long, snake-like tongue. Ymplerim? Is that what those things are called?

“Wait,” Sofia started. “You think I brought those things here?”

Chief Kiysat came around the desk to approach Sofia. Her short, silver hair gleamed in the light as she stood nearly a head taller than Sofia.

“There is no other explanation!” the chief growled. Circling Sofia, she began to pepper her with questions. “What did you bring to lead the Ymplerim here from Talamh? How many came across? What was your target?”

“Target?” Sofia asked. “I don’t have a target. I was just on a business trip, hoping to earn a raise…”

“Why are you here?” the chief continued, ignoring her. “How did you find the gate? Do you know how many lives you put at risk?”

“I… I didn’t mean… I-I was just trying to help… I don’t mean any harm!” Sofia was breaking down even as she attempted to defend herself. 

Erae suddenly stepped forward. “Honorable Chief, I do not believe Sofia has mal intent against Lyfay and is not working with the Ymplerim. From what my troop and I saw, she herself was at risk of losing her life force while attempting to protect the Dlam.”

“But she did let them in,” a new voice shouted.

The group turned to see two elves standing at the entrance of the tent, one holding up a string of mangled, melted, half-eaten metal cans.

“This is what drew the Ymplerim through the gate,” said the elf, a tall male with ruddy skin and long, blue hair. His green eyes flashed angrily to Sofia. “Do you know the damage your talmhan garbage has caused? It will take years for the forest to recover from this attack!”

“Wha…” started Sofia, surprised to see the cans. The blue-haired elf glared at her. Turning to Erae, she whispered, “I didn’t bring those! I pulled those off Harton before we even got into the water!” 

A female elf, similar in build and appearance to the chief but with long, dark purple hair, stepped forward to address the leader. 

“Chief Kiysat, the area has been secured. The Ymplerim that came through have been eliminated, but there is always the risk of another gate opening. Roquewei is correct, the forest will take years to recover. In its weakened state, that area will not be able to resist if the Ymplerim were to break through again.”

Chief Kiysat listened attentively to the report. “Thank you, Captain Lyna. It is best that we station some of our people by the emerald lake to guard the surrounding forest and foster its healing.”

She turned to Roquewei, her voice suddenly icy, “Any ideas on how a gate opened there?”

The blue-haired elf stiffened, his brows furrowed. Averting his eyes, he replied, “No, Chief.”

“Perhaps Harton’s desperation opened the gate so he could return,” Erae suggested, stepping closer to Sofia. Color creeped onto her cheeks.

Chief Kiysat looked at the blonde elf momentarily in surprise, but quickly recomposed herself. Leaning back against her desk, she asked, “How did the Dlam get into Talamh in the first place, Captain?”

Lyna narrowed her eyes as she noticed the interaction between Erae and Sofia. “Yes, Captain. Wasn’t he supposed to be with your scouting party?”

The tips of Erae’s ears turned red in embarrassment. “Yes, Harton was with us tracking an Ymplerim sighting. A group of them caught us by surprise. Only after fending them off did I realize the Dlam had disappeared. I am sorry, Chief, I know how serious it would have been if we had lost…”

“Where did this take place?” Chief Kiysat cut in.

Erae straightened before replying. “Near the emerald lake.”

Sighing, the chief pinched the bridge of her nose as her brow knitted with concern. 

“But that does not negate the fact that this also gave the Ymplerim a foothold!” Roquewei held up the string of cans again. “Ymplerim thrive on the imbalance that is rampant across Talamh. Who knows what else this woman has brought with her to scatter about Lyfay, treating our world like her refuse bin.”

Sofia flushed in frustration. She stepped toward the blue-haired elf to look into his eyes. “Excuse me? I was trying to help Harton,” she said firmly. “I don’t even know how that came across with us!”

“Carelessness and apathy are always fuel for destruction!” Roquewei roared back. 

“What does that even mean?” Sofia countered. “Look, if it wasn’t for me, Harton would have died!” 

“If it wasn’t for you, the forest would not have died!”

“Enough!” shouted Chief Kiysat, rising from her seat. Roquewei and Sofia stepped apart, but continued to glare at each other. 

Walking around her desk, the chief continued. “Bickering solves nothing. We must take action. This attack is the seventh such incident in as many months of Ymplerim coming through the gates from Talamh. There is only one way to protect Lyfay.”

“Chief, are you suggesting…?” asked Lyna.

“We must permanently seal the gates to Talamh,” Chief Kiysat said seriously.

A heavy silence filled the room. Sofia, uncertain of what was happening, squirmed uncomfortably and unconsciously moved closer to Erae. 

“But that would mean…” Erae started as he placed a hand on Sofia’s shoulder. 

“We would no longer be able to travel between Lyfay and Talamh,” Roquewei said quietly. “B-but what about our…?”

“The connection is too dangerous to maintain,” Chief Kiysat interrupted. “If the people of Talamh wish to surrender to the Ymplerim, so be it. But we cannot continue to risk the well-being of Lyfay and its inhabitants. At the rate of these attacks, the Ymplerim will soon destroy everything beyond repair.”

“W-wait…” Sofia hesitated, a pit in her stomach. “Does that mean… I can’t go back?”

Lyna briefly looked at her and the others in the room before saying, “Chief, according to legend, we need leaves from the Living Tree in order to strengthen the fabric and seal the gates.” Stepping closer, she continued. “But the Tree was specially hidden by the Creator, making it nearly impossible to find. Where would we even begin to look? Only one person has ever seen it, and no account exists of their journey. ”

“You’re mistaken, Captain.” The elegant and stoic chief turned to a clay jug on a stand behind her desk. The jug was capped with a blue precious stone and etched with gorgeous geometric patterns. “An account does exist.” 

Slowly, the chief opened the jar and pulled out what appeared to be a scroll. Sofia noticed the blue-haired elf’s eyes grow wide. Turning back to face her guests, Chief Kiysat began to deliver orders.

“Lyna, assemble your people to scout for gates throughout Lyfay. Station warriors by those which have shown Ymplerim activity. Report any new activity to me immediately. 

“Erae, expedite the training of your new recruits. We’ll need them to fend off future Ymplerim attacks on our and other villages. We will also need the healers to be prepared for working on any potential wounds to our warriors or the land.”

Turning to the blue-haired elf, Chief Kiysat presented the scroll. “Roquewei, you will find the Living Tree.”

Roquewei was taken aback. “Me? Truly? Thank you m–.” He stopped, then bowing deeply, said “Thank you, Chief Kiysat, for this honor and your trust.”

He reached for the scroll, but the chief retracted it. 

“Trust?” the Chief’s voice once again turned icy, “This is a matter of duty. Redemption. And before I can grant you this honor, you must first return our guest home.” 

Both Roquewei and Sofia looked sharply at Chief Kiysat. “What?”

“Look, your Chiefness, I want to go home as badly as you want me gone, but I can’t go back the way I came,” said Sofia, dreading the idea of being in the ocean again. “Besides, that gate is closed now!”

The elves all looked at her curiously. Chief Kiysat approached Sofia, causing her to edge closer to Erae. 

“Indeed, that gate has closed, thank the Creator. But they appear at random across our land to locations all around your world. So,” she turned to Roquewei, “find another gate and return her to Talamh.”

“Shouldn’t Lyna find her a gate?” Roquewei resisted. “She and her warriors will already be looking for them.”

“That would make more sense, actually…” Sofia attempted to chime in. Although neither struck her as the friendly type, she somehow felt she’d have better luck with Lyna rather than the blue-haired elf. 

Or perhaps, she thought to herself, the blondie behind me?

“I have asked you,” Chief Kiysat replied coldly to Roquewei. Moving back behind the desk, she returned the scroll in the jar, and carefully replaced the lid. “You will receive this only after she is returned to Talamh.” Through narrow eyes she glared at the blue-haired elf. “The fate of Lyfay is in your hands. Do not fail us.”

Roquewei, his face a mixture of emotions, gritted his teeth and bowed again before leaving the tent without another word. 

Finally turning to Sofia, the chief forced a smile. “Captain Lyna will take you to our clothier. She’ll outfit you with some more… appropriate garments to use during your short stay.”

Picking up the string of melted cans Roquewei had left behind, Chief Kiysat continued. “Oh, and do let us know if you have any more of this… unnatural waste.” Her green eyes burned into Sofia. “We must ensure it is disposed of properly.”