Our village was situated in Forsaken Realm of Clover Kingdom. We did not live with humans. The closest human village was at least a few kilometers.

I once met the human's children out of curiosity. Yet, what I received was the scared glances from them. Or was it discrimination?

A stone flew my way, which I hadn't even noticed until it landed; it hurt.

Thrown by a human boy, other children had begun to pick up anything else they could throw at me in an attempt to chase me away.

My hands were rising to use magic to defend myself. But right before anything more could happen—

"N-No, it's not that..." While I was stuttering, a boy bent down, grabbing a stone. Before I realized, he has already thrown it to me. The aching pain came along.

The others also started to find something to throw at me. It was then I unconsciously lifted my hand, using my magic.

"Everyone stop!"

That clear voice echoed all around us, shining with enough authority that everyone stopped what they were doing. Already, this voice instilled us with the fear of being caught committing a terrible blunder.

Someone stepped into the light: a girl. With hair the shade of a thousand golds, unique mosaics of light formed with each movement she made. She wore a pair ofearmuffs with casual clothes. Yet, to my view, it somehow shined like an armor.

She came to my standing, grabbed my hand firmly as if she were taking my side to protect me.

The kids hesitated for a moment. On the contrary, she stood there with her back straight. She was just like a knight from the stories. And I was amazed.

"What are you waiting for!? Run!! I can't beat them!!"

"Huh? W-Wait, what!!?"

I ran like my limbs did not really belong to me. Each step was a negotiation rather than an order.

She didn't let go of my hand on the whole way. We ran far, enough that they gave up and let us be. When we stopped, both of us fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

"Hah... hah..." She gasped for air, without forget to question me, "Wh-Why did you come to the human village? I hope it wasn't just curiosity, hah..."

"..."

Silence meant "yes"

The girl "..." Silly!

"Even a kid would recognize your race."

"Ah... right." There were many other things I wanted to ask, but they could come later. By then, I just wanted to know her name. "What can I call you?"

"...Sel."

"I am... Patri." I said hesitantly, "... Thank you for helping me."

She did not respond, just staring at me for a while. The moment felt awkward though.

"I have to go. My mom is waiting for me." She turned back, to the way we came, "You should go home too."

I did not know what to say. I just stood there, watching her figure fade away from the horizon.

I never met her again. I have passed by that village several times more (hiding my ears, of course) but I could not find her anywhere.

Humans were such selfish creatures. Yet, she was different. I could not bring myself to be fond of humans since that incident, but she was an exception.

I want to meet her.

Our next encounter came unexpectedly.

It was around March when our annual ceremony took place for individuals coming of age to receive their grimoires.

It was the custom of our village that everyone, even adults and children, gathered to witness the very moment.

I came along with my mother. The tower was filled with shelves upon shelves of grimoires.

Our clan leader was also the master of this grimoire tower. He walked over to the center, all eyes on him.

"Your journeys all start from today." He began the speech, "I want you to stand tall and love the fresh air that comes from following this ever-onward road. This journey is not about a destination, nor arrival point, or finish line... for there is no such thing. This journey is about the traveling, the traveling companions, and the reason for the noble struggle."

He paused, and then finished, "I wish you all faith, hope, and love."

The grimoires from the shelves started glowing and flying to their new owners. Sounds of excitement filled the whole tower.

We were all silenced – when a brighter glow than anyone else's came to Licht.

A four-leaf... clover?

"It's a four-leaf grimoire!"

"Licht of Sword Magic was chosen by a four-leaf grimoire!"

I was bewildered. "Mom, what's a four-leaf grimoire?"

"It's a grimoire with a good fortune inside it." She patted my head, smiling, "Only the chosen can obtain one."

The ceremony ended with joy and laughter as everyone looked forward to the future.

I watched Licht slowly making his way to the exit before stopping halfway to have a few words with a little girl.

My eyes widened as I recognized that familiar but strange figure.

It was her.

oOo

~ Third Person's POV ~

"Sel!"

"Yes?"

The boy jolted awake from his dream. His whole body trembled uncontrollably. He was possessed with a strong instinct to find the owner of that voice.

She stood there, as if stepping out from his dream.

If a beam of light could weave itself into strands, that was her hair. He always felt it glowed from within rather than relying on the sunshine, either in the past or future.

She looked at him in surprise. Those eyes glowed like a sapphire soaked in the spring sky only a moment ago. From those eyes came a sense of home.

Tears came as if his pain had at last condensed into a deluge of rain.

"You're here..." he whispered, not even realizing that he was crying. "Thank God, I found you."

"O-Okay?" She stuttered, "Do you need something, sir?"

"'Sir'? Are you calling me?" His eyes widened as if he didn't believe his ears. He was like a scared cat. Even his voice was filled with quivers, "Don't tease me, Sel... It's not funny"

"Ah, etou, are you perhaps confusing me with anyone else?" Sel said reluctantly, "My name is Sel, but I've never met you before."

Her words were like knives to him. They nearly drove him into despair. The whole world seemed to have gone mad.

Not even a single word could leave his throat.

His train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a door opening.

"Oh, you're up!" Father Orsi stepped into the room, getting frantic. He pushed Sel's head down, apologizing in her stead, "Our Sel has caused you a lot of trouble. I sincerely beg for your forgiveness!"

Contrary to Father's worried expression, his face became stiff. He gritted his teeth, not even trying to hide his hatred.

'Human!'

Throbbing began to spread throughout. From his head, it coursed through his veins, not leaving an inch of his body untouched.

They noticed it.

"Please be careful! Your wound hasn't been fully healed yet." Father warned him affably.

Sel carefully watched his every movement. 'Something is odd about him.' She thought but didn't dare to say.

As Father Orsi approached his bed, he unconsciously moved back, avoiding him.

That act was more than just mere anger. It was a mixture of hatred, despair, and sadness.

A strange feeling began to sprout from her heart: Sympathy

"Father, can you leave him to me?", Sel asked Father. He didn't seem to trust her at first; yet he decided to allow her such

The room was filled with silence. Just a while ago, he felt lack of breath; it was a feeling of lethargy embracing him, drowning him in its tiring hold.

The presence of this girl became his only salvation.

"Sel, I..."

"You had a nightmare, didn't you?" Sel put forth her hand, asking, "I'm Sel. What can I call you?"

"...Patri."

"So, Patri, what did you dream?"

He hesitated to answer. Still, feeling that he could be honest with her, he said briefly, "Something about the past."

"Was it bad?"

"No."

So what's wrong? She wanted to ask

They fell into silence again, before Patri continued with his wonders. "I know someone who is just like you. Her ears are pointier though."

"Is she an old friend of yours?"

"...Yes."

"Huh. How did you become friends?"

Sel started to become curious, more than what was needed.

"It was..."

Memories started to appear like a slow-motion film in his mind's eye.

In his eyes was warmth. Sel could see it well up from deep inside, lighting his eyes and spreading to every part of his body.

He smiled.

He told her—about the time they shared together, her older brother Licht, and how she was often reprimanded by him.

He had a cousin called Latri. They would always play together. Sometimes, she and Latri might fight over tiny things, where he would always become their peacemaker.

There's a man called Rhya, who had a laid-back personality and was rather lazy. He would often tease Patri for how he was even shorter than a girl of his age.

The happy, the sad, he told Sel many things to remember.

It was a story she didn't know of, from someone she found unfamiliar. Yet, at the same time, Sel felt nostalgic.

Was it because his story reminded her of the life she used to have? She couldn't tell.

And listening to him, time was forgotten. His velvety voice spoke lyrically with words as familiar as the voice of a trusted companion. In a moment she was asleep, body relaxed, breathing steadily.

The serene scene felt surreal to him. Even though the girl had fallen into a sound sleep, Patri didn't stop.

"Licht then met a human, who later would become your sister-in-law, Sel." Patri unconsciously called her name. Yet, he took no notice of it. "That was when everything started going wrong."