Ibalina POV

I didn't know where I went wrong, what did I do wrong? Was it a mistake to attack humans and elves at the same time?

I kept questioning myself, as I kept running through the dense forest, which felt more like an unknown area to me.

I knew by looking at the trees and the lack of sound that I was lost in this thickly grown-vegetation. It was a strange feeling. Yesterday I smiled at how my girls ruthlessly killed other people, but now I don't even have a way to satisfy my thirst or hunger.

"What the hell is that monster? Where did it come from?" I kept muttering to myself, in denial at what happened. I didn't want to believe I lost against a single person.

"No wait! Am I a fool? Why didn't I take them seriously? I thought as long as I have cursed magic, I'm invincible but look at me now," I was swallowing myself in regret, I wanted to find my way to the dark elf queendom as soon as I can but, I was afraid of going back.

What can I even say to my leader?

"Ohh! I'm sorry, my queen, I lost almost everyone in my army including two of my comrades and all the cursed transformations, please forgive me, It won't happen again," I imagined what would happen to me, the moment I utter those words, in front of Eldora.

I would get kicked and banished by the kingdom for my inability to control an army.

Worst, I would get a death sentence because of the damage and loss I caused to the dark elf society.

"I'd rather die here than suffer that humiliation," Walking in the direction that wind carried me, I was lucky enough to hear the beautiful sound of a river flowing, giving my ear and mouth a new pleasant sensation.

I wanted quickly go and bask my full body in that river and refresh myself. I couldn't even imagine what it would taste like to drink those blue liquids which would give my energy back to carry on with my life.

"Water! Water!" Like a madwoman, I kept running until I saw the most beautiful thing I have seen in months. I couldn't even imagine how a mundane thing like water, which was the last thing I was worried about when I was in the kingdom, can make me this happy right now.

I had injuries all over my body and the branches sometimes stuck into my skin making it even more painful. But I kept running ignoring this pain and approached a place that looked like heaven. I didn't even wait to remove my clothes, as I quickly jumped into the river hoping, it would be the greatest thing and It really was.

"This is life!" Constantly shouting with happiness, I kept throwing water at my body, washing all the blood and mud from my dirty body. It sting a little when water splash against my injuries but, it wasn't something I couldn't endure.

That pain reminded me of my own foolishness and carelessness.

After satisfying my thirst, I slowly got out of the river and sat on a rock near the river hoping to dry my clothes. Even though my underwear and everything was wet and uncomfortable, I didn't regret jumping onto that river because it was the moment, I understood something rather important.

Even the most mundane thing can be really valuable If I desperately search for it.

Putting all those thoughts aside, I started to think about what I am going to do in the future.

"Should I just live all alone in a cave? But Eldora will be able to find my location," I thought about the best way, I can go back to my hometown.

"Yes, I should act like I went insane, then I might be able to fool others,"

I desperately thought about different things and about the monster, who attacked me.

"Ughhh! It still stings, Damn it, Ubela and Nafina both died,"

All these bad thoughts kept coming to my mind, it was still alive in my mind, how Nafina got impaled by a hand and how her blood sprayed around looking like a human firework.

"Are you okay? You look injured," While I was drowning in my own mind and guilt, I heard a rather beautiful voice behind me which startled me causing my body to jump from the rock.historical

"Don't move too much, you're hurt," Hoping to take a clear look at this new threat or friend, I quickly lifted my head, and in front of my eyes was a gorgeous and volpotus young girl, looking at me with a worried look. She had her hair tied in a bun and a basket on her head showing, she was collecting food in the forest.

But what caught my interest was her clothes, in fact, she had no clothes on her body and that was the most surprising thing for me.

Normally, we would cover our private place and chest so, It will provide us with some protection. Vagina was one of the weakest places in our body, so in a harsh environment like a forest where small insects are abundant, It was really dangerous to stay naked.

"Who are you? What are you doing in the forest all alone?" I had no weapons to protect myself, but I managed to grab a stone with my hands hoping it would be useful. I tried to use curse magic but for some reason, even though I had the curse bud in my body, it didn't manage to produce any curses showing how helpless I am.

"I mean no harm, please don't kill me," Her voice had mesmerizing vocals to it, but I didn't have time to appreciate it. I got close to her and observed and tried to guess her race.

She looked like a human, but there was something disturbing about her that I couldn't grasp. I kept my guard up in case she tried to attack me but, she suddenly kneeled in front of me and started to take care of my injuries.

"Why are you helping me? I tried to kill you," I still couldn't grasp the concept of this baseless kindness, which my mother had. Because of that she died a useless death. This kind of people with kindness in their heart, even to show toward the enemy are the type of people I hate the most.

"You look troubled, and injured, I can't let you die in vain," She answered my question looking at me with her beautiful eyes.

I didn't know how to respond to her. Several thoughts ran through my head looking at her back. I thought about killing her and escaping but, I quickly removed it from my mind, it will be foolish not to accept some free food and a place to sleep, when I'm this tired.

After tending to my injuries, she looked at me innocently and asked several questions.

"Who are you, big sister? It's not normal to see people visiting this area," She looked curious so I decided to go along with this act and search for some food to satisfy my hunger.

"I'm a monster hunter, while I was hunting some big monster, things went wrong and I got chased into this area, and now I have no idea how to go back," I lied through my teeth knowing, she will believe anything I say considering her mindless look.

'What a dumb bitch! she doesn't even know I'm a dark elf'

I felt dumb for suspecting her. Her actions were obviously like a little child unlike her body, which was fully grown showing her brain wasn't the best one.

"But, If you follow the river, you might be able to go back," She said something rather useful so, after taking a break I decided to go back to my queendom and act like I lost my mind because of war. I wanted to wait until the flame of the war distinguish so Eldora would calm down a little, so she won't give me the death penalty.

I was asked to wait near the river bed and the girl went back to bring me some food, even though there wasn't any meat food item, I rather enjoyed all the fruit and leaves, she brought.

"Won't you eat, these are tasty," I questioned as she kept looking at them with her mouth drooling.

"No, I will eat later, I have another great meal waiting for me so, so filling my tummy with fruits feels like such a waste," Her words didn't make sense to me at all but, for me, it was obvious no one would give their best food to the guest. I didn't even feel angry at her for hiding something like that but, I was certainly interested in this meal that can even top these fresh fruits.

"When you're finished eating, let's go and eat my meal, Ok?" Her eyes looked a little weird but, I just ignored it and filled my mouth so much that, I even blocked my oesophagus for a minute enjoying everything about this food.