The The Melian Revelation
Episode 2

Vrey closed his eyes, resigned as the flames grabbed his body. The heat of the fire covered his face, making his breathing tight.

The girl realized that her life was full of danger and risk. As thieves and poachers who repeatedly do reckless deeds—if you do not want to be called crazy—Vrey is always friends with danger. Just wait for time until luck no longer stands with him, then everything will be over.

But not once did Vrey think his life would end like this. In front of people who mean a lot to him.

The heat that stung Vrey's skin slowly dissipated. Everything was blurred and dark. His mind floated backwards on the events four months ago, when none of this had happened yet.

***

The moon that looked like a shining ring peered out from behind the dark clouds that enveloped the Telssier Forest.

Vrey stood guard in a small courtyard between teak trees. The fatigue of a bat flying a few meters beside her made the girl squeak. It's only natural that Vrey is on alert. He and his friends are infiltrating the Telssier Forest, the sacred place of the Elvar people, the original inhabitants of The Melian continent.

Although the Elvar people look beautiful, Vrey knows well not to underestimate them. Elvar has hearing and vision as sharp as a fox and is able to move as fast as the wind. But even more powerful, Elvar is an immortal being, they are ageless and will not die of old age.

Humans, who are a nation of immigrants on this continent, do not have all those privileges. Vrey himself is a Vier-Elv, half Elvar half Human. He inherited the hearing and sharp vision of the Elvar people. That's why he got the duty of vigil,

while his friends work.

The girl glanced at the edge of the courtyard where her two friends, Blaire and Rufius, were setting a mesh trap. On their side, the boy Evan was holding an oil lantern. Blaire, Rufius, and Evan were Humans, therefore they needed lanterns to see in the darkness.

They are all very young. Vrey himself was only eighteen years old, but he was already famous as a thief and a reliable hunter. Even so, people who don't know Vrey won't suspect it at all.

Besides Vrey, Vier-Elvs generally stay out of trouble. They will not break the law of Elvar, let alone do the forbidden thing, especially to settle into the middle of the night blind in the sacred forest of the Elvar nation as Vrey does today.

Yes ... Vrey smiled wryly. Perhaps he was the only Vier-Elv to choose life as a thief and a poacher. But, Vrey doesn't regret it—

“Bocah!” Blaire's showdown disperse Vrey's daydream.

“Let the lanterns down! You intend to announce our existence to the Elvar, what?!” the red-haired woman.

The boy—Evan— hastily lowered his oil lantern to the point of barely snatching Rufius's headband.

“You're tired of living, son?” hardik Rufius's.

“M-Sorry,” Evan's voice sounds like a mouse squeak. “I didn't expect the Telssier Forest to be so dark. I'm scared.”

Blaire stared at Evan sharply. “It's not you yourself who whines along? Now shut up and hold that lantern all right!”

Not daring to refute, the pale-haired boy curled up and clasped his lantern tightly.

Vrey smile. He knew Blaire wasn't really mad. Last afternoon, Evan did brag about being allowed to participate in the hunt this time. As the youngest member of their plot, the boy was already impatient to show his ability to not be underestimated constantly.

Unfortunately, his grandiose desire was inversely proportional to his ability, Vrey thought.

The girl recalled how excited she was when she was first allowed to hunt. And his desire to help almost made it all fall apart. But that was a long time ago, when Vrey couldn't even swing his dagger properly. Now, she was already very different from the pale daughter who had always wanted to prove herself.

Vrey's ears suddenly caught the rustling sound of leaves in the distance. “Shhh!” He signaled to keep his friends quiet.

Evan. “What? Ki-we got caught?” ask her with a trembling voice.

Vrey did not answer. He sharpened his ears to hear better. Very's view is glued to a point between the crevices of teak trees.

Heart's beating. Something's headed this way.What? Elvar Warrior, Daemon? Or the....

Vrey's breath was restrained as the creature he was observing flashed among a pale beam of moonlight. He could finally see it clearly. The girl grinned as she turned to look at her friends. “Our hunt is coming! Mature male shadhavar, the horns have grown completely.”

Rufius and Blaire reply to Vrey's grin. They hurriedly completed the mesh trap and hid themselves among the densely-grown bamboo grove of water on the side of the yard.

“Hey, Boy!” whispered Blaire. “Turn off the lantern.”

Evan was in a hurry to blow his lantern to extinguish, but his efforts only made the fire burn even bigger.

Rufius rolled his eyes in agitation. “Remember me not to take this boy again next time!” hisses. He took the lantern from Evan's hand. Rufius rotated the axis that was at the base of the lantern to extinguish it.

As soon as the little flame goes out, everything goes dark, but for Vrey this darkness is not a problem. He could still see as well as before. Starting the face of the snarled Evan noiselessly, until Shadhavar who walked closer to the trap of the net.

Vrey's breath was restrained as Shadhavar began to step into the courtyard. At first glance the animal resembles a graceful deer, its height may be almost the same as Evan. The only difference is the single horn that is hollow at the end of his head. The night wind that blows through the hole in the horn of Shadhavar as if playing soft music.

If everything goes well, the animal will be provoked by the smell of sugar cane mixed with sleeping pills that Rufius has installed as bait. After eating it he will fall into a mesh trap and finish it. But if things don't go according to plan….

It was time for him to intervene. Vrey gulped. Just imagining it makes the fingers of his feet and hands cold. He has done this many times, but not necessarily to make it easier. Vrey understands the risks of this job. If he made a mistake, the Elvar would catch them in a matter of minutes.

A chill ran from Vrey's hand to his chest. I don't want that to happen! Suddenly Vrey felt a warm fingers squeezing his hands.

Blaire ... Vrey smile.

Like an older brother, Blaire knew very well how to calm her feelings. Vrey held Blaire's fingers back. He took a deep breath and focused on the quarry before his eyes.

Seduced by the sweet scent of sugarcane, Shadhavar continued to walk closer to the trap. The animal sniffed the pile of sugarcane and was about to eat it when a loud noise broke the silence of the forest.

Evan's sneezing sound shocked everyone, including Shadhavar. The animal jumped up and landed right on top of the trap it had prepared for him. A stretch of net hidden behind rotten leaves was drawn upwards. The net wrapped and lifted the Shadhavar about a meter above the ground. The animal screamed and thrashed, its voice deafening. It was only a matter of time until the Elvar warriors guarding this forest heard it and knew their location.

“Sial!” maki Vrey's.

The girl came out of hiding. Vrey ran towards the net that was twisting Shadhavar. The whole net swayed, even the tree used to hang the trap shook violently as the animal thrashed and wagged its head in all directions.

Vrey took a swing and jumped over the net. He landed right on top of Shadhavar's body and pulled out his dagger which had been covered in drugs. But Very's movement came to a halt as something sharp scratched his right arm. He did not anticipate the movement of Shadhavar's head and his hands were scratched by horns.

Blood poured out of his wound. However, Vrey does not let the pain hamper his work. He uses his left hand to hold Shadhavar's head to stop wriggling, and Vrey slams his dagger at the target.

After a while the Shadhavar Movement weakened. The dope worked fast as Vrey had hoped. He pulled out his dagger, jumped, descended, and took out the spare lantern stored inside the bag.

“Ecendius,” whispers slowly in Elvar.

Suddenly, the inside of the lantern began to feel warm. Orange light emanated from inside the lantern, spreading to form a small fire. The dim flame of the lanterns led Blaire and Rufius to get out of the bushes and approach Vrey.

That is, not only did Vrey's sight and hearing surpass his peers. He was also a Magus, a person who had a rare talent for manipulating natural elements such as fire, water, and earth with certain spells.

“Good, Vrey!” puji Blaire's.

Evan followed behind Blaire. From the look on the boy's face, Vrey immediately knew, Evan realized he had no role in the success of the hunt this time, even almost to derail it.

Rufius patted Vrey on the shoulder before pulling out the short sword hanging from his belt. Without wasting any time the young man swung his sword eyes at the

the base of the horn of Shadhavar. But just as he swung his sword, Rufius stopped. His eyes were pounded on the blood marks on the tip of Shadhavar's horn.

“You injured?” Rufius glanced at Vrey.

“Nothing,” replied Vrey casually. “Only scratched its horn, later also healed itself,” Vrey lied.

His hands began to throb. He squeezed the wound to prevent the blood from flowing. But now that they are still in the Elvar region, Shadhavar's voice might attract unwanted attention. Vrey did not want his friends to worry about his injuries and put their work on hold.

“Mana can be,” says Blaire while grabbing Vrey's arm. He glared when he realized the deep wound on Vrey's hand.

“You are!” hissing.

“Not as bad as it looks, kok,” Vrey grimaces resigned.

“I can keep him at our base later. You help

Rufius only.”

“Let Evan help Rufius,” Blaire. “Hei boy, don't be so dumb. Get me a bandage in my bag, then help Rufius so we can get out of here quickly!”

Evan, with a frowning face, handed a roll of cloth to Blaire. For a moment Vrey could see a mixture of shame and guilt in the boy's eyes. But before he could see any more clearly, Evan had already turned around to help Rufius.

Blaire deftly cleansed Vrey's wound with water from the leather bag he was carrying. He then bandaged it tightly to stop the bleeding. “For a while, I think enough,” Blaire said. “When you go home ask Aelwen to treat you.”

At the same time, Rufius finished cutting off Shadhavar's horn. He stuffed the horn into a large bag that Evan was carrying. “Right hold, boy. If this horn gets lost in the forest, I'll beat you up myself!” threaten her. The petite figure of Evan was seen shrinking in front of the large tall Rufius.

Right at that moment the flapping sound from the sky shocked Vrey. “We're caught!” vrey's eyes were fixed on the eagle swirling above them. “Come go from here!”

“You-you sure?” asked Evan stammered. “M-Maybe it's just a bat.” The boy raised his head, trying to see.

Of course Evan couldn't possibly see anything between the darkness. Stupid, anyway, piker Vrey gomass.

“I'm sure!” answer Vrey. “On his ankle there is a leather bracelet. The eagle belongs to the Elvar.”

Rufius took over. “We split!” his orders. “Me and the boy will take a detour to Mildryd. Blaire, you, and Vrey take the main road.”

Blaire handed the oil lantern she held onto Rufius “Take this, you need it more.”

Rufius snatched the lantern from Blaire's hand and they scattered. Vrey and Blaire take different directions with Rufius and Evan. They headed straight for the main road that cut through the forest and led to their town, Mildryd.

I don't like this, Vrey thought. This is too risky.The main roads are usually heavily guarded.

But Vrey had no choice. He and Blaire walked away from the courtyard, rushing towards the main road. It was at that moment that Vrey suddenly felt a bad feeling. He stopped his steps while placing his index finger on Blaire's lips, gesturing for his friend to not move or make a sound.

Vrey squinted his eyes while sneaking soundlessly between the bushes. From the crevice of the kaliandra that squeezed itself, Vrey could see an open place. Three Elvar men were talking there.

Vrey's heart seemed almost gone. He felt very lucky and relieved to realize the existence of the Elvar first and not vice versa.

Vrey watches them closely. The three slender figures shimmered pale as their golden skin was struck by the moonlight. But he was too far away to see their faces or hear what they were talking about.

That's when Vrey saw the eagle that had caught them perched in the hands of one of the Elvar. He realizes that Elvar is an Ierre, or Elvar who has a special ability to communicate with animals. The Ierre released his eagle back into the air. Then he and his two friends walked in the direction the bird was pointing towards Shadhavar's place.

Vrey waited for a while until his ears could no longer catch Elvar's footsteps. He knew as long as he could hear them, they could also hear him.

The seconds seemed to pass so slowly. Vrey huddled among the bushes without daring to move, let alone make a sound. Even breathing does it as slow as possible. Very nauseous stomach. In addition to tense not a bitch, as many bad memories of his past suddenly haunt. He remembered hiding from the Elvars like this. It's just that time things didn't end too well for him. Vrey just hoped this time everything would be fine.

The gripping atmosphere lasted for some time, before Vrey finally believed the two of them were already beyond the hearing range of the Elvar.

“Aman,” whispered. “Let's go again.”

“Fiuh,” Blaire sighs in relief. “I thought I was going to die from holding my breath,” said the girl exaggerated.

Vrey laughed and they continued on.

Before long Vrey finds a large road that leads to Mildryd, the town where they live. During the day, the streets are crowded by traders with their large trains. But at night, the road was closed to everyone.

After walking down the road for almost two hours, they finally reached the banks of the Arquus River. The wide and swift river was the natural border between the Elvar region and the Humans.

A very solid stone bridge was built on the Arquus River. In the middle of the bridge there is a tall building which is a guard post. There is a large gate at the base of the building. It was the gate that separated Mildryd City from the Telssier Forest. As usual, the gate was always closed.

Man cannot pass through the gates and set foot in the Forest of Telssier freely. The territory of the Elvar nation can only be entered by those who have received permission. The gate was meant to protect the forests and territory of the Elvar people.

Vrey smiled mockingly. The gates and the strictest guard were nothing to him and his accomplices.

The two girls sneaked behind an acacia tree before crossing the bridge and heading towards the gate. Suddenly one of the soldiers standing guard inside the post noticed Vrey's presence. The soldier came out of the small door beside the post and approached them.

“For so long, anyway!” hardik the soldier was riled up. “Eight more hours you guys get into the forest! My turn is almost over. Where's Rufius and the boy?” He's Clyde, a member of Vrey's gang.

“Sabar,” Reply Blaire kalem. “They take a detour and will arrive more slowly. We have to go home first, Vrey's hand hurt.”

Clyde stared at the cynical Vrey from behind his helmet “Basic! Always make a fuss.”

“Cash!” reply Vrey ketus. “Absolutely you can do better than me?”

“Sana is fast in,” said Clyde without caring about Vrey.

“I'll find a reason to extend my guard turn until Rufius and Evan return,”.

Vrey and Blaire took turns through the small door. They crossed the inside of the guard post that was not up to four meters long before exiting again from the other door on the other side. Vrey who came out later heard Clyde whispering behind his helmet. “Other times be careful, stupid!”

Vrey had not had time to reply to the insults, the door was closed right in front of his nose.

“Shoppers!” maki Vrey with a stifled voice so as not to wake the guard soldiers sleeping inside the post. Even though Clyde has mixed sleeping pills in their drinks, there is still a risk that one of them will wake up and hear the curse.

Blaire laughed silently, but she stopped as Vrey looked at her sewot. Taking a long breath. Vrey turned around and proceeded across the bridge and towards downtown Mildryd.