"Treehouses—treehouses again!"*
The difference was, the trees here weren't as towering as those in Kalina's village, and the treehouses were built closer to the ground. Each wooden hut was adorned with clusters of Starnight Flowers, their dreamy glow casting an ethereal shimmer over the little homes, as if each were its own tiny world. The elf village was a perfect mosaic of these vibrant, miniature realms—like stepping straight into a fairy tale. Lush greenery, vivid blossoms, playful little elves, and busy winged adults darting about, all working toward their own happy lives.
Following an elf guide, Sophie arrived at the base of one particularly large tree with a treehouse nestled in its branches. *"The Elf Envoy is waiting for you upstairs. Please go on up."*
Climbing the spiraling wooden staircase carved into the trunk, Sophie made her way up slowly. *Maybe these stairs are for the little elves who haven't grown wings yet?*
At the top, she was greeted by a stunning female elf who looked no older than twenty in human years. She had pale green hair, delicate features, a sweet smile, a slender figure, and—most mesmerizing of all—translucent wings that shimmered with a rainbow glow.
*"Hello! I'm Sophie. So nice to meet you!"* She patted little Charles' cheek. *"Wake up, sweetie. Say hello to the nice lady!"*
Bleary-eyed, Charles blinked at his mother, then at the beautiful elf. *"Auntie,"* he mumbled obediently before asking, *"Mama, what's an 'auntie'?"*
*"An auntie isn't a—ugh, never mind!"* Flushing, Sophie shot Charles a warning look before offering the elf an apologetic grin.
*"Don't worry about it!"* The elf laughed warmly. *"You can call me Jessica. May I hold him?"*
*"Of course!"* Sophie handed Charles over immediately—her arms had been aching for a break.
*"What a precious child. May the Spirit God bless you."* Jessica pressed a gentle kiss to Charles' forehead. A brilliant light flashed, and for a split second, a diamond-shaped mark glowed on his skin before vanishing. Sophie wondered if she'd imagined it.
*"It's been so long since a new elf was born here. Charles… he's truly blessed by the gods. After 500 years of waiting, he met you—you gave him a life unlike any other elf. May he grow up healthy and safe."* Jessica's voice was tender, and Sophie couldn't help sighing inwardly. *If only I were a man! I'd marry someone this gentle in a heartbeat.*
*"Jessica, is there any way to make Charles grow up faster? His baby stage is going to be a problem for me. I can't stay here forever, you know?"* Sophie asked hopefully.
*"I'm sorry, we've never encountered this situation before. I don't know how to speed up his growth."* Seeing Sophie's disappointment, Jessica added, *"But our ancient texts might have records about accelerating an elf's maturation. It'll take time, though—I can't give you an answer right away."*
*"That's fine! I can wait a few days. Thanks!"* Even if she hadn't gotten the answer she wanted, Sophie remained optimistic. *The world's full of wonders—maybe another race hatched an elf before?*
*Might as well enjoy the village while I'm here.* Excited, Sophie set off to explore.
The elf village was nothing like the human settlements she knew. Butterflies fluttered, bees buzzed, birds sang, and children's laughter wove together into a symphony of life. The ground was carpeted with vibrant flowers, and tiny squirrel-like creatures darted between them.
Nearby, a group of toddling elf children played tag. One little girl in a blue dress giggled as she wobbled away from her pursuer—until a fallen branch tripped her. *Thud!*
Sophie rushed over and helped her up, brushing off the girl's spotless dress. *"You okay? Did it hurt?"*
*"Thank you, Auntie! But Daddy says I have to get up by myself when I fall!"* The little elf squirmed shyly.
*"Good girl! Just be careful next time, or I won't help you!"* Sophie was impressed by the father's parenting.
*"Mama, up!"* Charles, left ignored, stretched out his arms and successfully reclaimed his mother's attention.
*"Mary!"* A deep, velvety voice called from behind Sophie. *A voice like that has to belong to someone handsome.* She turned—and immediately looked down, cheeks burning. *Damn, he's gorgeous.* Even compared to celebrities, no one came close. *Typical elf beauty.* Though she'd seen other elves, none had made her heart race like this.
Steadying herself, she watched as the man scooped up the little girl. *"Daddy! This auntie is really nice!"*
Glancing at the woman his daughter pointed to, Sam's breath hitched. *She's stunning.* The faint blush on her cheeks only made her more enchanting.
*"Hello. I'm Sam, Mary's father."* He placed a hand over his chest in a graceful bow, exuding effortless charm.
*"Hi! I'm Sophie. This little guy on my head is Xiao Bai. And this is my son, Charles. He just hatched—I mean, emerged—from an elf fruit today!"* Flustered, Sophie bobbed her head, unsure if she was returning the greeting properly.
Through their conversation, Sophie learned Sam was single—rare for an elf raising a child. Fresh from a hunt, he invited her to his treehouse to try his cooking.
As she savored the meal, a thought struck her: *So elves eat meat too!*
For the next few days, while waiting for Jessica's research, Sophie and Charles stayed in a small treehouse near Sam's—his old home before Mary was born.
While Sam hunted, Sophie gathered fruits and herbs with other elves. Mary and Charles played with the village children, crawling around under Xiao Bai's *"supervision"*—not that the lazy creature was much help.
When Sam cooked, Sophie pitched in. Occasionally, she'd whip up a dish of her own, earning his delighted praise.
Watching Mary and Charles tussle like siblings, the two adults exchanged a smile—one that held something unspoken. (And made Xiao Bai roll his eyes in exasperation.)
But happy days never last. Late at night, Sophie gazed at Charles, fast asleep, and felt a mix of contentment, confusion, and sorrow.
*"I'm human. He's an elf. Elves live for centuries. In a few decades, I'll grow old while he stays just like this. And one day, I'll leave him alone to grieve. There's no future for us. I should go before it's too late."*
With a sigh, she closed her eyes, willing sleep to take her. *Maybe in dreams, the ache will fade.*
**But will it?**