Gardenia’s Heart

As the sun began to disappear beyond the dense forest horizon, two figures sat atop one of the highest tree branches, watching the orange sky fade into purple with tired expressions.

"Eight hours and seventeen minutes until we can go home," the man's voice was gruff, his words slightly muffled as he chewed on a piece of dried meat.

"Kelios, please stop announcing the exact time without even checking a watch. It's creepy."

Beside him, a young woman frowned and scooted away, her jaw nearly dropping as she held a handful of nuts and berries.

"If you trained your internal clock by eating and sleeping at the proper times, you wouldn’t have trouble keeping track of time like I do, Zaylin."

Kelios scratched the back of his neck without looking at her, his spiky green hair becoming messier with the motion of his fingers.

"I still don’t understand how you can swallow that field ration without complaining," Zaylin muttered, squinting at him before taking another bite of the berries she had gathered.

As if under a spell, the moment the sweet juice of the tiny fruits spilled onto her tongue, her expression softened. Slowly, her short pink hair, which rested on her shoulders, swayed gently from side to side, along with her modest chest.

Watching her completely detach from the world around her, savoring the sweetness of her food, Kelios let out a sigh and took another bite of his dried meat.

"As the general says, food only tastes good if you’ve truly earned it. When we get back, home-cooked meals will taste better than ever. You get what I mean?" He finished his meal in one final bite, swallowing with some difficulty before rubbing his hands together and standing up.

"I'm pretty sure anything we eat there will be better than dried meat," Zaylin remarked sarcastically, swinging her legs back and forth on the branch.

Popping the last berry into her mouth, she took a deep breath, adjusted her posture, and then stood up, stepping carefully across the branch to where Kelios was waiting.

"Alright, what’s our last patrol area?" Kelios asked, leaning forward slightly.

At his question, Zaylin reached into her small equipment pouch and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She scanned its contents for a moment before replying.

"Area 11. After that, we just need to check a bit of Area 12, then we’re done."

"Near the forest’s edge, huh?" Kelios narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on the distant terrain. "If we move fast, we can stick to the schedule and get back before sunrise. I'm not doing overtime. Call the guide—I’m ready."

However, at those words, Zaylin’s expression soured.

Stepping closer, she jabbed a finger right between his eyes.

"She has a name, you know? Stop treating my friend like some convenient map," Zaylin huffed, her pink eyes flashing with irritation.

With no choice but to throw his hands up in exaggerated surrender, Kelios took a few steps back and shook his head.

"Sorry, then. Could you please ask your friend to take us to Area 11?" Kelios all but spelled out the words, rolling his eyes as he watched the girl finally back off.

Although she wanted to teach her partner a lesson, Zaylin didn’t waste any more time on her teasing. Pressing her palms together and interlocking her fingers, she knelt on the branch and closed her eyes.

"Oh, guardian of the forest, please heed the call of your servant and extend your protection to us."

Slowly, mana began to swirl around her. The cold night wind rustled the leaves in a soothing rhythm, brushing against her skin like a refreshing blanket, as if the very forest was granting her its blessing.

With gentle pulses of pink light, a small glow no larger than a fist appeared around her hands. It lacked a physical form, yet it brushed against Zaylin’s skin multiple times, sending tiny shivers through her body.

"Good evening, Maple. How are you?"

Playing with the small light, Zaylin couldn't help but smile as her friend twirled joyfully, as if the mere hour since she was last summoned had been an eternity.

"Do you have to do this every single time you call her?" Kelios sighed, watching them with clear exasperation.

"If you were kinder to the fairies, they'd help you too. Wasn't it you who got lost in the forest for weeks because you couldn’t befriend a single fairy and failed your training?"

"Just like not everyone likes spicy food, not every fairy gets along with elves. That’s why we work in pairs and not alone. Now, please, lead the way." Kelios's voice grew sharper at the end as he jerked his chin forward, almost scoffing as he looked away.

Rolling her eyes, Zaylin turned back to the small pink sphere, a gentle smile spreading across her lips as she cradled it carefully.

"Maple, can you guide us to Area 11?" She spoke softly, receiving an immediate response as the fairy's glow brightened.

Brimming with energy, the fairy darted forward through the branches, and the pair quickly followed, leaping gracefully after her.

As night settled and moonlight filtered through the leaves, the elves' attire became more visible.

Their uniforms consisted of silver breastplates covering their torsos, providing protection without compromising mobility. Metal pauldrons secured dark green capes to their shoulders, offering warmth against the cold air. Knee-high black boots and reinforced greaves provided additional defense, while long sleeves extended from their elbows to their hands, preventing direct friction against branches. A series of leather belts fastened their pouches and supplies at their waists, allowing them to travel with minimal noise.

Zaylin wore short leather shorts layered with fabric panels on the sides, resembling a tabard. A sheathed dagger, wrapped in cloth, was secured to her waist, her left hand resting lightly on the hilt, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.

Kelios, in contrast, wore knee-length leather pants, a sheathed sword strapped along his leg.

Leaping from branch to branch with practiced agility, the two elves traversed the forest effortlessly, following the glowing pink sphere flitting ahead of them.

"The moonlight will touch the black, leafless trunk..." Zaylin murmured absentmindedly, her pink eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Did you say something?" Kelios asked, turning his head back. Even though the girl had spoken softly, with nothing but the night breeze as background noise, her words hadn't escaped the elf’s keen ears.

"It’s just your imagination," Zaylin replied, averting her gaze to the side.

Seeing her reaction, Kelios scoffed lightly, running his fingers through his sharp green locks before making another leap.

"Seriously now, is everything alright with you, Zaylin? For some reason, I feel like you're taking this mission way more seriously than our usual patrols. Is something worrying you?" He tilted his head a few times, glancing at her between jumps.

Silence stretched between them for a moment. Zaylin opened her mouth slightly as if about to say something but ultimately shook her head.

"What do you mean? I'm the same as always—completely normal." Her voice was steady, but she knew she hadn't convinced him when he shot her another look.

"Normal?" He muttered, pushing off a vine to reach the next tree, casting a sideways glance at her. "You always bring a few chocolate bars to sneak in after dinner, yet you somehow ate all of them on the first day. You even cut half your rest period to explore trails outside our planned route. Something's bothering you, isn’t it? Is it… your time of the month or something? You can tell me—I promise I won’t laugh."

The first part of his sentence had Zaylin momentarily surprised by his perceptiveness. The last part? He really should have stopped talking while he was ahead.

"I'm not thinking about anything, and I am not on my period, you disgusting idiot." She narrowed her eyes and huffed, her tone making it clear that he'd crossed the line.

Grabbing onto a vine to swing toward the next branch marking the entrance to another biome, Zaylin threw a light punch at her companion’s shoulder before darting ahead to follow the pink sphere, taking the lead.

"Since when did you become a well of kindness who actually listens to other people's problems?" she scoffed, eyes now fixed entirely on the fairy.

"Even I mature, you know? I realized I couldn't stay the same forever—I need to be more responsible." Kelios shrugged. "Look, I'm taking my relationship with my girlfriend more seriously, and I’m already planning to start building our future home."

Hearing him declare that with such confidence, Zaylin narrowed her eyes again.

"Before you start trying to give advice, you're the one who needs help," she shot back, not even sure where to begin. "The fact that you're dating our battalion’s medic is crazy enough, but to top it off, she’s the general’s daughter! As your only friend, I have to warn you—if you actually want to live a long life, this is not the best decision."

Her tone carried the exasperation of someone speaking to a person full of unrealistic ideas. She had tried multiple times to knock some logic and common sense into Kelios’s head but had never succeeded. Sometimes, she honestly wondered if there was anything inside his skull at all.

"Shut it! Our love is real!" Kelios huffed, pointing a finger at the pink-haired elf the same way she had done earlier. "Besides, I already convinced the general to accept our relationship! Ever since then, we haven’t had to hide it anymore."

"Accept it? He asked you to prove your determination by running a thousand laps around the city, fully expecting it to kill you."

Pressing down on the branch so hard it trembled, Zaylin ran a hand over her face, fingers smoothing across her forehead in an attempt to stay focused.

"You might be right. I can’t keep putting this off—I’ll propose to her as soon as we get back." Oblivious to the frustrated and irritated look on the girl's face, Kelios crossed his arms and rested his chin on one hand, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Seeing the foolish expression on her companion’s face, Zaylin shook her head once again.

"Don't talk like a warrior marching to his death, Kelios. That’s bad luck," she reminded him, deciding to follow the fairy instead of wasting more time arguing with an idiot.

A few more minutes of walking marked their journey through the forest, Maple’s chosen route leading them perfectly to the area they were meant to investigate.

Upon arriving at the place they had labeled 'Area 11,' Zaylin pulled out a monocle and began scanning the surroundings for any irregularities.

"And what about you, Zaylin? Do you plan on pursuing someone?" Kelios asked as he did the same, growing tired of silently observing the vegetation.

Though she wanted to tell him to shut up so they could finish their scheduled observation faster, the elf knew that if she didn’t answer now, he would just keep asking.

"I have a debt to repay before I can even start thinking about relationships. And before you ask for the eighth time this week—no, I’m not in love with anyone right now."

Lowering the monocle and putting it away, Zaylin moved toward Maple, who floated cheerfully beside her. Even though she couldn’t physically touch the fairy, her fingers could still sense the comforting warmth she emitted.

Watching the two interact as if they had been lifelong friends, Kelios placed a hand on his waist and let out a small sigh.

"We've been partners for over forty years. When are you finally going to tell me what this debt of yours is?" Seeing the pink-haired girl a little more at ease as she played with the fairy, Kelios decided this was a good time to bring up the topic.

"I'll tell you when I feel like it. Now, let's go—there’s only Area 12 left to check, and then we can head back." Dodging the question, Zaylin lifted a hand slightly, signaling for Maple to take the lead again.

Watching her follow the fairy and evade his question once more, Kelios let out another sigh.

Their journey—as a duo, or rather, a trio—continued for several more hours. Their patrol involved inspecting different biomes along a predetermined route before moving to the next location. The schedule was flexible, and depending on the circumstances they encountered, it could be adjusted at the elves' discretion.

However, when Zaylin started expanding the number of routes they needed to check, even though this was supposed to be their final patrol area, Kelios grew increasingly frustrated.

"You don’t need to push yourself this hard. We’ve completed our scheduled route with plenty of time to spare, so we can head back. We’ve been on this ridiculous patrol for seven days and haven’t found anything—we don’t need to stay any longer."

Leaning forward slightly to emphasize just how exhausted he was, Kelios spoke in a low tone, glancing sideways at the girl leading the way.

"Call this mission 'ridiculous' one more time, and I’ll rip your balls off before you even get the chance to propose," Zaylin snapped, her rose-colored eyes gleaming with a coldness that made the elf’s stomach churn. "Her Highness wouldn’t have put the city on high alert without reason. Even if we’re patrolling for twice the usual duration, it’s for the city’s safety."

"I know, you don’t have to remind me. The Sage has never been wrong." Shaking his head, showing that he regretted his words, Kelios returned to scanning the surroundings with his monocle.

The realization that agreeing with Zaylin was the fastest way to end this patrol became increasingly clear to him.

Even with his shaken mood, he continued working seriously, his eyes scanning various parts of the forest with expertise, despite the dark night making everything nearly indiscernible. As he observed, something impossible to ignore caught his attention.

“Zaylin, follow me. Stay alert.” His serious tone and the quick, precise instruction made it clear he wasn’t joking.

Realizing this immediately, Zaylin drew her dagger and followed the elf as he leaped to the ground. It took her only seconds to understand why he had reacted so urgently.

The sharp scent of smoke filled her nose. Scorched webs littered the ground, covering part of the forest floor in black ashes. Several tree branches had been torn down, leaving gaping holes scattered across the terrain.

“This was an Emerald Spider’s nest,” Kelios stated as he knelt, tracing a section of the shimmering web that had not been completely burned. “This battle happened recently. The embers in the grass show this was set on fire just a few hours ago.”

Grabbing the patrol schedule, Zaylin quickly ran her finger across the parchment, her pink eyes scanning its contents from start to finish with practiced speed.

“We’re near an infection zone, but no elven teams were assigned to check this area—just us,” she murmured, folding the paper and shifting her gaze back to their surroundings.

“You’re kidding. We don’t even need to investigate this,” Kelios scoffed. “Even if three teams were here together, no one would be reckless enough to take on an Emerald Spider. We’d need to be with the general or at least have the medical unit for support.” His tone was grave, all traces of his usual playfulness gone.

Zaylin’s heartbeat quickened, pounding so hard against her ribs that she felt paralyzed.

“There are intruders in the forest.” Rising to his feet, Kelios gripped his weapon, urgency in every word. “We need to find their camp. I don’t smell any blood. Taking down an Emerald Spider without casualties means there must be at least fifteen of them—far more than we can handle alone.”

The intensity in Kelios’s voice jolted Zaylin back to action. She lightly patted her own cheeks, shaking off her hesitation before turning to their fairy companion, who had been anxiously trying to get her attention.

“Maple, please—can you check if any fairies are around? See if they noticed anything?” Zaylin asked in a soft, reassuring tone, calming the worried little fairy.

Climbing one of the trees to distance themselves from the battleground, the two elves waited for Maple’s return. After a few minutes, the pink-hued orb came back—accompanied by several others, glowing in various colors.

Both elves widened their eyes at the sight of so many fairies.

“Why are there so many here? They should’ve fled the moment they sensed the intruders’ malice,” Kelios questioned, his unease shifting into confusion.

The fairies fluttered closer, shaking in the air excitedly.

“Humans? So you saw them?” Zaylin asked, nodding as if she could hear their exact words. “Are they still nearby? Can you show us where they are?”

As soon as she made the request, all the fairies darted through the forest without a second of hesitation, weaving between the trees to guide them. Their immediate willingness made Kelios narrow his eyes.

“Did I hear that right? They only saw two people, didn’t they?” he muttered, his confusion deepening. “But why are they so eager to lead us there instead of just telling us? Aren’t they afraid for their own lives?”

“I don’t know, and that doesn’t matter right now,” Zaylin replied curtly, her tone cold. “We can decide what to do later. For now, let’s move before they leave us behind.”

Leaping between the trees, the duo advanced across the different biomes. Soon, they entered a forest zone filled with black trees and thick trunks.

As she moved, Zaylin placed a hand over her heart. It was pounding so loudly against her chest that she could hear it. Her feet carried her forward as fast as possible.

Within another minute, they knew they had reached the location. In the middle of a clearing—formed around a tree so ancient it no longer had leaves—stood an enormous dark trunk, its hollow section sealed with a thick layer of dark, icy crystal.

“This is where they are? No way. It’s too small for a large group to camp inside.” Keeping his voice low, Kelios crouched and pressed his ear against the tree, trying to listen for any sounds from within.

The fairies had already left after leading them here, so this had to be the right place. However, if he couldn’t confirm whether there were truly multiple humans inside or what kind of weapons they had, any information they brought back could jeopardize any strategy the elves tried to devise against them.

There were no guards outside, nor were there any traps around the trunk. They had the advantage of the night and the element of surprise. This was their best chance to gather information, and they couldn’t afford to waste it.

The black crystal was too thick and durable to break a small hole through. If he started chipping away at it, the people inside would hear immediately.

Realizing that his best option was to carve a hole through the wood instead, Kelios began channeling mana into his weapon.

“Wait, Kelios.” Approaching him, Zaylin firmly grabbed his arm to get his attention, her voice barely above a whisper. “We can’t risk everything like this. Let’s wait nearby until morning and watch when they come out. Maybe they aren’t bad people.”

“What do you mean, ‘maybe they aren’t bad people’? They’re intruders, Zaylin! They’re the ones who will bring about the disaster the Sage warned us about! Humans don’t have good intentions!” Kelios narrowed his eyes, genuine anger leaking into his voice. “We need to act now if we want to call for reinforcements in time. If you won’t help me, don’t get in my way.”

The elf pushed the girl's hand away abruptly, mana gathering around his arm to start working. However, just as he was about to start making a hole in the tree…

Every muscle in their bodies tensed involuntarily. A strange sensation crept down their spines as if something—no, someone—was watching them.

The air around them grew heavier, and colder, as if the very atmosphere was shrinking in on itself.

Their hearts pounded faster, hammering against their chests, screaming at them to run—but their panicked bodies refused to move. Cold sweat dripped down their foreheads. It felt like an invisible hand had wrapped around their throats, squeezing, robbing them of any rational thought.

Fear—raw and uncontrollable.

As the feeling intensified, the silence of the forest became deafening. Every second stretched into an eternity.

They heard no footsteps. No breathing.

But they knew—with a certainty that came from the depths of their very souls—that they were no longer alone.

“Etch my words deep into your souls. You live today only because you did not lay a hand on my wife.”

The voice rose from the abyss just before their bodies turned so cold that darkness clouded their vision.

Without a single finger being laid upon them, black crystals filled their sight, consuming everything—until the last remnants of movement in their bodies faded into nothingness.