Yuna's quick thinking had saved them for the moment. With their hair colors altered, Spark and Yuna had managed to avoid the old elf. They breathed a collective sigh of relief as they moved quickly away from the encounter.
"I didn't expect us to bump into him so soon," Spark muttered, glancing nervously over his shoulder. "It's good he didn't realize who we were."
Yuna, equally relieved, nodded. "He almost got us. That was too close."
Princess Ling, seeing the two avoiding the old elf, became curious. "Who is that old elf? Is he one of Lord Spark's acquaintances?"
Spark scoffed, looking around to ensure the elf wasn't following them.
"Acquaintance? No, he's more like an old swindler." Spark motioned for them to keep moving. "Let's get back to the inn. I'll explain everything there."
The group quickly made their way back to the safety of the inn. Once inside, they settled at a table and ordered a round of drinks and some light snacks. The warm, welcoming atmosphere of the inn provided a stark contrast to the tension they had felt moments earlier.
"Alright, Lord Spark," Princess Ling prompted, leaning forward with interest. "Tell us about this old elf."
Spark leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply as if gathering his thoughts.
"That old thing is a stain among the otherwise intelligent elves," Spark began, his tone carrying a mix of frustration and incredulity.
Spark's eyes grew distant as he recalled the night. "We shared the wine, and... well, I don't remember much after that. The next thing I know, it's morning, and the entire bundle of his precious wood was burned to ashes."
Princess Ling couldn't suppress her laughter. "You burned his million-gold wood? No wonder he's after you!"
Spark grumbled, "He wouldn't stop pestering us to buy it. We were also drunk."
"He was quite unhappy about it," Yuna added, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "But honestly, who carries around wood that expensive in a forest?"
"That's why I'm saying he is a swindler," added spark.
Princess Ling giggled, picturing the scene. "I can see why he's upset. But it's still ridiculous."
Yuna nodded. "He's been trying to track us down ever since, probably to get compensation for the burnt wood. He claims it's rare and has magical properties, but honestly, he's just trying to swindle us."
Princess Ling chuckled, though she sensed the underlying tension. "So that's why you're avoiding him. A million gold per log is quite the price tag."
As they continued their meal, the comfortable atmosphere of the inn was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.
"It's you two," the voice said, filled with a mix of recognition and surprise.
Turning to the source, they saw the old hunchbacked elf from earlier, now without his burdensome bundle of wood. He stood at the entrance of the inn, his eyes narrowing as he focused on Spark and Yuna.