Chapter 5 Nasty night
They reached a small cottage at the middle of the forest. Smoke curled from the chimney, and the faint light of a lantern glowed through the window. A black cat darted across the porch as thunder rolled.
Eli pushed open the door, turned to Lyriel, and gestured for her to enter. Inside, the cottage was small but cozy. The shelves in the corner were lined with jars of herbs and old books. Lyriel’s eyes widened in surprise. So this was what a human dwelling looked like.
“You can sit by the fire,” Eli said, moving to fetch a blanket. “You’re soaked.”
She walked slowly toward the flames, transfixed. Fire existed in Eloria, but it was different— pure light, never destructive. This mortal flame was rough and unpredictable.
When she extended a hand, the warmth startled her. “It bites and kisses at once,” she whispered.
Eli chuckled behind her. “That’s fire for you.” He handed her a wool blanket, which she examined before wrapping around her shoulders.
“This is soft,” she murmured.
He sat on a chair, studying her with his calm gaze. For some reason, he reminded her of the Ocean...calm on the surface...but inside...
“You really don’t know much about this world, do you?” he asked.
“I’ve read… stories,” she said carefully. “But reading is not the same as seeing. Humans are different from what I imagined.”
“Oh?” He leaned forward. “And what did you imagine?”
“Loud creatures,” she answered honestly.
“Always building and destroying things they don’t understand. But you’re… gentle.”
Eli smiled faintly, amused. “Not sure anyone’s called me that before.”
Lyriel glanced at the rain sliding down the window. “Your world… it’s beautiful in a strange way. Even the sadness in the air feels alive.”
He studied her. “Sadness?”
“Yes.” She turned to him. “It clings to you like mist. You carry sorrow and... darkness, yet you remain unbroken. That takes courage.”
Eli felt something stir in him.
“You talk like you know who I am and what I'm capable of,” he said softly.
“Maybe I do” she whispered.
“Keep talking like that, and I might actually start believing your story,” That was suppose to be a joke, but it sounded more like a warning. Lyriel swallowed. Did he thought she was fooling him?
For a long while, the room was quiet except for the fire's crackle and the rain tapping against the roof. Lyriel's thoughts drifted to Eloria. She felt guilty about leaving so suddenly, she hadn't even told Miren about her plan. She wondered how the queen was faring. Of course, she would be very angry at her daughter's rebellious behavior. She could only hope she hadn't stirred chaos in Eloria.
Her gaze fell back on the human who sat on the chair, reading a book he had taken from the shelf. He was absorbed in it, lost in his own little world. For some reason, she felt angry at him. How could he let her sit on the floor close to the hearth without offering her something to change into? Her clothes were dripping with water, even a child could tell she was cold.
She stood suddenly. "I should go."
Eli frowned. "Go? But it's dark and the rain hasn’t stopped."
"I'll manage."
He dropped the book on the table and sat up properly. "You'll get lost. At least wait until morning."
She blinked. "Why do you care?"
"Because I'd never forgive myself if you vanished into the storm and froze to death."
His words were simple, but they wrapped around her heart like a spell—gentler than any magic she knew.
Eli studied her for a moment, then sighed. "I see why you're suddenly angry…" He chuckled. "I apologize for my insolence, but I don't have female clothing that you could change into…"
"But you can remove your outer clothing and hang it on that rope," he added.
Reluctantly, she nodded. "Very well."
He smiled. "Good. I'll get you something warm to drink."
As he turned to the hearth, Lyriel slowly removed her outer clothing, being extra careful so she wouldn't damage her already fading wings. She was left with her white inner garments, which were supposed to have some level of decency—except for the fact that they were wet and clung to her skin. She walked back to her spot and sat down close to the hearth, staring into the fire.
She glanced toward the window again. Outside, the storm deepened, lightning flashing across the hills. For an instant, she thought she saw something in the dark—a figure watching from outside, tall and dressed in a black cloak, with eyes like silver coals.
Her breath caught. She stood up slowly, walking toward the window. The creature stood still under the rain, some part of his face hidden by the cloak. She could see his glowing silver eyes as he stared at her for a moment, and then he vanished into thin air.
"Lyriel?" Eli called. "Are you all right?"
"There… there's someone there… I saw someone!" she panicked.
Eli joined her by the window, peering into the rain. "Nobody out there. Probably just your reflection."
But Lyriel knew better. Something had followed her across the Veil.
Eli shut the window latch as thunder rolled again. "Nasty night," he said quietly. "No one in their right mind would be out there."
Lyriel said nothing. Her eyes lingered outside the window, where the branches swayed in the direction of the wind.
Eli moved to the hearth, stirring the pot. "Tea," he said, pouring the steaming brew into a chipped clay cup. "It's not fancy, but it helps against the cold."
She blinked. "Thank you."
Lyriel looked down at her hands. She hadn’t realized how her body had betrayed her—the human world had made her weaker than she’d imagined. She accepted the cup. The scent was earthy and sharp.
She took a sip, wincing slightly and spat it out immediately. "It tastes very bitter"
He smirked. "Your body needs it more." He leaned back in the chair, watching her like he had earlier. The firelight flickered across her face, turning her damp hair to golden threads. The rain had softened to a steady whisper, and the wind moaned softly through the cracks.
Lyriel tried to hide her anxiety as she could feel his burning gaze on her. Do humans look at their fellow humans this way? She held the so-called cup of tea in her hands, wondering if it would be impolite not to drink from it again. Why did it have to be so bitter?
She took another sip and had to force the liquid down her throat. A tingling wave passed through her skin, and she dropped the cup away from her—there was no way she would drink it again.
"You should rest," Eli said finally. "You look exhausted."
Lyriel shook her head. "No, I..."
He raised a hand. "Don't argue. I'll take the chair. The bed's warmer."
Her eyes lifted to him, almost startled by his kindness. The words shouldn't have meant much, but they did. In her world, kindness was rare, and never without reason. Here, it was offered freely, like light from a hearth.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Very well."