Volume 2 - CH 2

"In the forest? At such hour?"

Almark frowned, and Lilti became more and more depressed and tiny.

ЭLilti, you should not go to the forest at night unless you have something to do there. You can do it tomorrow."

Almark had no knowledge of the Night forest.

The Night Forest is filled with darkness and danger, treachery and evil , all those kinds of things.

"But I need to go to ....... See you later!"

As soon as Liltie said that, she passed by Almark and started to run off.

Almark was somewhat taken aback as he watched the small light of the lamp swaying away.

Lilti is known to be one of the most fearful among his classmates. Whenever Torque makes a loud noise, her back shivers, and she does not want to go home alone if it is even slightly dark on the way back to the dormitory.

He never thought that Lilti would go to the forest with a single lamp after the sun had completely fallen. Something must have happened .

Almark looked at the road leading to the dormitory and thought about the dinner that was probably waiting for him in the dining room.

Then he turned and looked at the road leading into the forest and thought of Lilti running alone with a small lamp in her hand.

(I guess I'll just have to came along with her .)

Almark sighed and started following hier

The forest behind the elementary class building is a great place for students to have fun and practice their skills.

There are creeks and open fields that are perfect for children to enjoy themselves.

If advancing deeper into the forest, one can find complex terrain such as waterfalls and rocky areas, as well as an abundance of precious wild plants that can be used as raw materials for healing and other magical skills.

The forest occupies a large part of the academy's grounds and extends as far as the middle classes and high classes buildings.

Although there are rumors that monsters may appear, especially if one goes deeper into the forest, or that there are sealed ruins, no one at the elementary student class seems to have confirmed the truth of these rumors.

Almark was also not without interest in the area, but since he had no time for his own studies and training at the moment anyway, he only entered the area on a bare necessity, such as when he went to get wild plants to use in his healing practice.

Other students who have been familiar with the forest since their first year have access to the intricate paths in the forest as if it were their own backyards, and Nelson, Morgen, and the others often go into the forest after school.

"Lilti!"

Liltie turned around with a teary face.

“It's not safe to go alone. I'm coming with you."

Liltie's face lights up at these words, but then it clouds over again and she turns back to him.

"I''m sorry, ......."

He shook his head.

. I'll come with you. But you'll have to tell me why you need to go into the forest.”

Liltie hesitated for a moment, but the sight of the forest spreading out before her in pitch darkness seemed to immediately discourage her from going alone. In a low voice, she answered.

"I lost something in the forest."

" Lost what?"

“A handkerchief my parents gave me.”

"A handkerchief?"

He couldn't help but let out an exclamation of dismay. Liltie looked embarrassed and looked down.

"I can't ...... sleep. ...."

"What?"

"I can't sleep without it!"

Almark froze at these unexpected words.

"I didn't want to tell you because of it ......!"

Liltie didn't look at Almark, but stared tearfully at the forest.

" Sorry .Tell me a little more about it, Lilti."

Almark hurriedly apologized.

After patiently listening to Lilti's confusing story, he finally came to the realization that Lilti had lost the handkerchief.

The handkerchief Lilti had lost was something her parents had given her when she first arrived at the academy to ease her loneliness of living in a dormitory.

At first Lilti cried every night because she missed her parents so much, but by sleeping with the handkerchief in her hand and thinking of them every night, she was finally stopped crying.

It became a habit, and even now that she had gotten used to living in the dormitory, she could not sleep without the handkerchief.

, "It's ...... strange, isn't it? I'm eleven years old and I can't sleep without a handkerchief."

Liltie said gloomily.

“Hmmm........."

Almark remembered his mother's pendant. If he lost it in the woods, would he want to look for it tomorrow?

No.

"Okay,"

"Thank you for telling me. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find it. We'll look for it together."

Liltie looked at Almark's face, surprised at his unexpected words.

"You don't laughing , do you?"

"Each person have a thing that important to him ."

Lilti nodded with a surprised expression on her face.

Then, she muttered, "Yeah. that's right ."