Chapter 1
Mara lived in the middle of a forest near the border of the Forbidden Land, the land of Elarion. Many magical creatures, such as magical beasts, lived there.
The Kingdom of Willowmere was protected by the strongest magical barrier, keeping all threats from entering its borders.
Mara took care of the girl as if she were her own. She gave her food, warm clothes, and a small bed beside the fireplace.
Even though Mara was still frightened by the mysterious elf, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon a child who had nowhere else to go.
One day, Mara asked if she had a name. Since she knew that elves lived longer than humans, she thought the little elf might already have a name. She looked like she was around fourteen years old, but she could have been fifty years old or even older.
“I’m Aelwen,” the little elf spoke.
Mara smiled at her, relieved that she had finally spoken.
“Oh, so your name is Aelwen. What a beautiful name. It really suits you,” Mara said with a gentle smile and a soft voice.
Aelwen simply nodded at her.
The next morning, the sound of birds singing woke Mara. She immediately prepared a meal for Aelwen before leaving the house.
While tending to her garden as usual, Mara couldn’t help but think about elves and what she knew about them.
“Elves were thought to have gone extinct a long time ago, so how did I find one near the border? People must not find out that there is still an elf left.”
She made a promise to herself that she would protect Aelwen and love her as if she were her own daughter.
Meanwhile, shortly after Mara left, Aelwen stared at the food on the table. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly began to eat.
After she finished eating, Aelwen wandered around the house, bored and unsure of what to do.
“Should I go to Mara?” she wondered before heading toward the farm.
When she arrived, she saw Mara working in the fields. Watching her made Aelwen remember her old life in her own village.
“Mara, can I help you?”
Without waiting for a response, Aelwen grabbed the watering can and began watering the plants.
Mara tried to stop her. “Aelwen, you don’t have to do this. Just watch me.”
But Aelwen didn’t stop. “I insist, Mara. This is where our food comes from, so why can’t I help?”
Mara sighed. “Just don’t overwork yourself, okay?”
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I have plenty of stamina,” Aelwen replied with a gentle smile.
Mara nodded. “By the way, I’m going to the capital tomorrow.”
“Can I come?” Aelwen asked excitedly.
But Mara shook her head.
“But I want to see the capital. Please, Mara,” Aelwen pleaded.
Mara sighed. She couldn’t bring herself to refuse Aelwen’s request.
“Fine. You can come.”
Aelwen’s face immediately lit up with excitement.
The next morning, they packed everything they needed for the journey and headed toward the capital.
Meanwhile, during their journey, Aelwen started breathing heavily.
“Ah, Mara, can we take a break for a while?”
Mara looked at her in slight shock. “But we only started walking a little while ago. You can still turn around and go home. It’s not too late,” she said, trying to hold back her laughter.
Aelwen waved her hand, refusing the suggestion while catching her breath. “No, no! There’s no turning back. It’s just that—ahm—you know, I’m not used to this.”
Mara burst out laughing. “Oh, Aelwen.” She continued teasing her. “If you’re not used to walking, then how do you travel?”
“We—I mean, I use magic,” Aelwen said, avoiding eye contact with Mara. “I can make us travel there quickly.”
“Hmm. Well, how come you didn’t mention that you can wield magic?” Mara asked, looking at Aelwen thoughtfully. “After all, you’re an elf, so of course you can use magic. How could I forget?”
Aelwen nodded. “Yeah, so what now? What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
Aelwen snapped her fingers. Within seconds, a warm golden light surrounded them, and the scenery around them suddenly changed.
In an instant, they found themselves standing in a dark back alley in the capital.
“Why did you choose this place?” Mara asked as she started walking toward the market. “Aelwen, hide your identity. No one should know that you are an elf.”
Aelwen nodded while fixing her cloak and pulling her hood over her head to hide her ears.
The moment Aelwen stepped out of the dark alley, the lively and warm atmosphere of the capital welcomed her. The sounds of people talking and laughing somehow made her feel relieved and happy.
“Mara, is the capital always this lively?” Aelwen asked, amusement showing in her expression.
Mara cleared her throat before speaking. “Well, yes. Ever since they discovered magic, the capital has become much livelier and filled with all sorts of fascinating things. But not everyone can use magic.”
Aelwen’s expression became sad. “But why? And do you know how they discovered magic?”
“Well, let me tell you the story of the past,” Mara said.
“There was once a group of elves who traveled around the world. They helped people in need and possessed various magical abilities. Some could heal others, while others could manipulate water, fire, or earth.”
“At that time, there was a war between two great nations. When the elves arrived, they helped put an end to the conflict and brought peace between the two sides. They taught the people the importance of kindness and understanding.
“Humans like us did not know how to use magic back then, so they relied on their own strength and knowledge to survive.
“The elves were treated as heroes by both nations. The people even built statues in their honor so that their kindness would never be forgotten.
“Over time, a strong bond formed between humans and elves.
“Because of this bond, the elves decided to share their power with humans and teach them how to use magic. They passed down their knowledge and the history of magic so that humans could understand the power they had been given.
“Afterward, the elves continued their journey and left the two nations behind. The humans began learning how to use their newfound power, eventually discovering ways to use magic for survival and their everyday lives.”
