Chapter 09 "Haier-Elvian"

I gasped. Five seconds ago, there was an exotic tropical woman in front of me. But now, she'd turned into a beautiful fairy figure. Her body looked graceful. A sweet smile adorned the face. A beautiful woman like her was hard to find. It almost made me wonderstruck.

My consciousness returned, I tried to grasp it all. How could be a human who turned into an Elvian? But wait! I thought I had missed something. Oh yeah! Didn't she say she was the former scouts? That means she was a patrol force of West Elvian Kingdom. Did she come here to arrest me who had repeatedly been hunting in their territory?

Suddenly I became wary once. I was tightly gripping the sofa handle. My eyes didn't turn away for a moment from that Elvian woman, afraid if she would make any sudden movements. I thought of running from this place immediately. The fatigue was no longer felt. But what if she was after me again?

In this head, appearing concerns and questions with uncertain answers. Sweat appeared on my forehead. At the time I was counting down to take to run away, she chuckled.

"I told you, young girl. You don't need to be afraid. I'm not gonna do anything bad to you. Just inviting you to have some talk." She took a cup of tea. But I still didn't believe, even positioning myself in an idle state. "I'd already introduced myself. Now is your turn."

"Uh, me?"

She nodded. Letting me introduce myself, then looked at me carefully. Somehow I felt that woman's gaze was as warm as the sun. So relaxing.

"My name is Anggi Nandatria. I'm a mythical creature hunter."

A second later, I immediately covered my mouth with both hands. How careless and ignorant I was, claiming a hunter in front of an Elvian? This woman was able to break the ice and drop my guard.

Suddenly she looked at me sharply. "Hoo ... so you often hunt mythical creatures in our region, huh?"

I shuddered. Unable to speak, only able to silence like a pile of gravel on the roadside. The Elvian woman's stare was so scary, I could not drop my gaze to the floor. Wishing the stiffness in my legs disappeared and could stay away from this place.

"It's okay, kid! It's not my business anymore." Hearing her words that sounded friendly, I tried to lift my head. "You're pretty lucky. If we met when I worked as an Elvian scout, I would seize every hunter like you. Then put those garbages in prison for life." She burst out laughing.

Actually, it was pretty funny. If the situation wasn't as tense as now, I might laugh with her.

"You're a former Elvian soldier?" I asked cautiously.

She nodded. "But it was several years ago. I have a human husband and a son in this town. So like it or not, I have to stay with them."

Oh, I see! It answered the question 'What the hell Elvian soldiers doing here?' which kept ringing in my head. It seemed that her words were right. Since I'd been paying attention to this house. There were four chairs at the dining table, a pile of cutlery in the kitchen, and a quite large bedroom. All of it wasn't needed when living alone, was it?

Finding an Elvian who lived in a human town was quite surprising, especially interracial marriage. Because I heard the wedding between Human and Elvian was banned.

"Wait a minute, didn't your family against this?" I tried to ask her closer.

"Of course. Many families and colleagues disliked it and denied my marriage. But the human's words are right. Love is beautiful but also blind. In the end, I had to elope with my current husband." Her eyes became glassy, and she stared down. "Could you change to another topic? I'm a little sensitive to it."

"Sure! Sorry, it's my fault! I am too rude to ask personal things like that."

The atmosphere was quiet for a moment. I pretended to sip my cup of tea. The Elvian woman began to moping. Sadness expression looked evident on her face. Maybe there was an unpleasant event for her in the past. It looked like I set foot in a place that wasn't supposed to. Somehow I began to feel guilty.

"T-The tea was perfect!" I tried to break the ice.

"Of course. This isn't just regular green tea. Picked from the most delicate tea leaves in the northern mountains. I like it very much. Giving a sense of calm and comfortable." She took the cup and sipped it until empty. Paused for a moment, then glanced at me. "How about you? Did you also have a little secret in this town? Or maybe you also fell in love with a man and came to this town?"

She chuckled. I could not understand the funny part of it.

I shook my head. "I've been an orphan since five. Both my parents died of shipwrecks. Then I was raised by an aunt. But six years later, she kicked me out because I was considered a troublesome kid. I was stranded on city streets until finally, someone picked me. Grussel, an old man who accepted me in his hunter group until now."

Inwardly I smiled wryly. It was impossible for me, clearly told her that I came from another world. The people in here, just like in my world, considered the parallel world just an illogical thing. Of course, they wouldn't believe and laugh at me if I told that.

This made me sick a bit. Because like I was forced to make the bastard old man look like a good guy. Whereas the original wasn't so. He was rough and often hit his underlings without a second thought. Although I had to admit, there were times when he became gentle and considerate. But it was rare. I only once saw. What I remember most of him was the nature of severity.

Somehow, she was getting closer to me. I sit on the side and holding my hands. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm really sorry! I don't know you have bad memories like that. Surely so hard to live in the human town!"

Seeing a sad face like this, I couldn't tell the truth that I was lying. I couldn't betray her sympathy for me.

Moreover, there was important information I would find. That was the meaning of my existence as Haier-Elvian. I'd been asking and looking for information in the library, but nil. That was why I thought, maybe this Elvian woman knew something.

"Take it easy! It's a long story. Now I've had a happy life with my friends," I said while scratching my head. "Maybe it's the life that awaits me for a half-human and half-Elvian like me."

Suddenly, she was stunned. Her eyes and jaw were wide open. Her posture remained motionless for a few moments. Then she clasped my shoulders tightly. Until my body was shaken by her.

"What did you say? A half-human and a half-Elvian? By any means, are you Haier-Elvian?" She looked at me in disbelief.

"Well, at least that's what Grussel told me. I just found out a few months ago." I was scratching my cheek that wasn't itchy. Tried to give a fake smile for deceiving her. "No wonder I always confused why I have a pair of long ears. Apparently, I wasn't a human being."

A burst of small laughter came out of my mouth. The woman looked faint. "May I check your body for a moment?"

I was a little confused. But decided to nod agreed.

The woman asked to put both hands on my palm. I obeyed without thought twice. Honestly, I was curious about the 'check' she said just now. Because I wanted to know her opinion about me.

She closed her eyes. The woman's mouth was mumbling. Then, a green light spouted from his palm. Giving thin warmth that crept into my hand. After a few seconds, her eyes opened, along with the disappearance of the green light. Horrifying gaze directed at me intently. Made a bad feeling in my heart swelled.

"Hello," I called back that tried to lure her consciousness when she was dumbfounded. "How?"

"I can't believe it! You are really Haier-Elvian. The Esze structure you belong to is very different from Elvian's. It looks more complicated, more extensive, and stronger a dozen times," she said while holding my head and ears. "How many people know the fact that you are a Haier-Elvian, Anggi?"

"All members of the hunter group and a few close friends."

"But if you've come this far and nothing bad happened. This means that your comrades could be trusted." She mumbled, then turned to me. "Listen to this, Anggi! Never tell this to anyone easily."

"Why?"

She didn't let a single word out. Just stared at me sharply, then moved from the sofa. She was walking to a small bookcase in the corner of the room. After a long time, her hands stopped at the collection of dusty books, she drew one. Blowing the dust in a gust, and patted it before she brought it here.

Then she sat on the sofa in front of me. Her hands had been busy since opening the pages one by one.

"You really didn't have any idea about yourself, no?"

I nodded. Some time passed that Elvian's hand stopped at one page. Her eyes swept the pages from top to bottom. After making sure the page contained the information she wanted, the woman handed it to me. I didn't know what she meant. But when I glanced at her, she stared and nodded her head as if telling me to read it.

Although feeling a little hesitant, I finally tried to read the book. This book was written with Elvian's letter, but I could still read it. According to this book, Haier-Elvian was a rare race. Results of intermarriage between Elvian and human, this race's birth rate was very meager. There was only one of a hundred thousand. Typically when Elvian and Human couples got married, there were only two possibilities for their children, born as a Human or Elvian. A human brother might have an Elvian younger sister from the interracial wedding. Even the twin birth had different races.

Elvian history book recorded 32 births of Haier-Elvian or habitually called Mixed Race. The last birth of it was born about a thousand years ago. Such a long time if compared to Elvian's lifespan of about five hundred years. There was a thing that caught my attention. It was said that not all of Haier-Elvian could live to adulthood. Even the male only could reach five at maximum. The cause was the unstable Esze structure in the male body.

I paused, swallowed my saliva. Then continued to read the next section. Haier-Elvian was born as being a mix between the two races. They inherited the intelligence of human beings and Elvian's Esze controlling. Their senses and instincts were sharp as Elvian, but not the life span. Its life span was almost identical to humans, as well as physical characteristics and body growth.

Just a little note stating about Haier-Elvian. The next page was an explanation of the types of animal spirits. I would have read it with great enthusiasm. But not this time, because there was a thing which needed more attention.

If that so, I knew why I became a woman when dragged into this world. Because of the male kind of mixed-race wouldn't last long. Maybe I might die if transformed as male. But what I didn't understand is, why should I be born as Haier-Elvian? Not as human or Elvian? Or it would be better if I was still 'Anggi the Midget.' And the most I wanted to know was, what the earth did transport us into this world?

Although eventually, I found a bright spot in my existence, I still couldn't get the answers I wanted. It seemed that this race still held a great mystery. I closed the book and put it on the table, then cast a glance at the woman who had been watching me.

"Are there any other books?" I asked.

She shook her head. "The notes and books about Haier-Elvian not as many as you think, girl! Ah, but maybe you could find a more complete at the City Library of Viar, the capital of West Elvian. But it wasn't easy, kid! They wouldn't allow other races to roam in their city."

"Oh, I see. But I still want to know other books."

"There's one thing I want you to know, Anggi!" Shouted the woman.

"What is that?"

"If the Haier-Elvian whereabouts leaked to the public, your fate would be worse." She made a serious face. Gazed at me with both sharp eyes. "Maybe this time you still suck. But your natural talent in controlling Esze can't be underestimated. One day you could be the strongest, even surpass Elder Elvians. Therefore many people would aim at your strength. Many countries want you to stand on their side. There may also be people who intend to kill you and think of you as a threat. Therefore, Kid! Don't let your secret is known by many people."

I swallowed my saliva. Then gave a small nod. Trying to lift a hand with hesitation.

"What was it Esze?"

The woman patted her forehead. Without further ado, she pulled something out of her boots. It was a three-foot wooden stick, then pointed it at me. I tilted my head. What would she do with an obsolete wooden stick?

Moments later, her mouth muttering softly. "Vitr Ans!"

Suddenly the sofa I sat on wriggled. Swaying back and forth abnormally. As if it did not let me on it. But I was wrong. The couch was trying to fly. Yes, with a little help from a tiny cyclone underneath it. The sofa and I were raised a few inches above the floor. The wind wasn't too strong but could make light objects such as paper, plastic, and the carpet flying.

I glared in disbelief. It was magic. This was truly magical! I thought things like that only existed in some kind of fantasy film. But now I saw it!

After a while floating in the air, the woman lowered her wand. Simultaneously, a couch that I sat on landed with a thud.

"Well, now you must know what Esze is."

I nodded hard.

"Did you want me to teach you about Esze?"

I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I want to learn. No. Please ... teach me, Almira!"

It was the story of my first encounter with Almira. I guessed I was fortunate to meet great people like her. In the future, she was the only person who would be my friend, ally, and always be on my side didn't care whether I was on the wrong side or not. Protecting and loving me like family. A woman who was able to make a significant change in the world.

Someone who  ... didn't afraid to face thousands of soldiers in the future Great War uproar.