The strange half-elf stopped and looked at the girl with interest; she did not feel a threat in his gaze. He didn't look like a robber, and she didn't see any weapons on him.
Was the half-elf unarmed? Having lived in the city and often went hunting, she doubted that anyone without a weapon would survive in a forest in which both monsters and animals were present.
And the most dangerous inhabitants of this forest were robbers; they would not let such prey pass by as this half-elf.
When he began to walk towards her, Lualia tensed and put forward a spear aimed at the half-elf's chest, seeing the girl's behavior, the half-elf stopped.
- Stop, who are you? - The girl asked carefully in a quiet voice without taking her eyes off the stranger.
She listened to the forest, fearing that he was not alone, but the forest made only the usual noise.
The stranger nodded understandingly, perhaps he did not know about the thoughts that were wandering in the girl's head, but he understood that the girl was afraid of him.
- I will not harm you, I am a wanderer who travels the world. - The half-elf's voice was heard, Lualia heard young notes in his voice.
The girl began to peer even more closely at the half-elf's clothes and behavior; she had the feeling that he was relaxed.
She heard from other hunters that they came across wanderers who, under pain of punishment, crossed the forest and they were all elderly and were not alone.
- Are you alone or do you have other companions? If someone is waiting in the bushes, let them show themselves right away. - Lualia said listening to the forest, but as before, she only heard the forest.
Her interlocutor only shook his head, showing that he was alone, the girl did not really believe him and did not let go of the spear.
She wanted to find out where this half-elf was going and then go in different directions with him.
- What are you looking for in the forest? You should know that entering the forest is prohibited by all representatives of races. If they find out that you were here, you will be punished for violation. - The girl asked in a suspicious voice.
She saw from the half-elf that he was still young and perhaps his parents indulged the desires of their child.
But it was reckless on their part to let him go alone into the forest, or the girl did not know if he had run away from his parents.
- Yes, I know about the ban on entering places where representatives of races that have left once lived. But these prohibitions will not stop me, I am looking for the capital of the Avel race, do you know where it is? - Answering the girl's question, the half-elf looked carefully into her eyes.
Listening to the half-elf and his reason, the girl began to tense up, as a hunter she knew how to control her emotions against the monsters and animals of this forest.
But when residents of the city where she lived communicated with her, all her ability to control emotions disappeared.
And feeling the change in the half-elf's gaze, she unconsciously took a step back, was she scared?
No one forced her to take a step back with just a glance, but now she felt her hands begin to sweat heavily while she held the spear.
And the mention of the Avel capital began to worry her even more, who was this young half-elf with severe burns on his face?
- Why do you need to go to their capital? There was nothing left of them except what only they knew how to use. - The girl asked and only then realized that she had said more than she had planned.
She hoped that the half-elf would not pay attention to her words, to her regret, from the change in his face, the girl saw that he had paid attention to her words and behavior.
- For many, you will probably be right, but I am looking for something specific, tell me in which direction the capital of the Avels is located and I will leave you. - The half-elf answered in a calm voice; the girl noticed a slight smile on his face.
Lualia did not understand what the half-elf could be looking for in the city, which she and the residents had studied almost all of except for the part that was closed.
Squinting her eyes, the girl tried to calm her breathing, which began to falter after talking with this strange half-elf.
- Even if I know where the Avel capital is, robbers may live in it, what can you offer them so that they don't kill you as soon as they see you? - The girl asked, she was worried about the strange appearance and behavior of this stranger.
She was worried about the half-elf's answer, she did not want to bring a possibly dangerous person into the city, she had a feeling that after her question the half-elf's gaze changed as fear began to creep up on her.
Like any hunter, she knew how to recognize obvious fear or what emotions were saying. If a hunter did not know how to correctly recognize fear, he died for various reasons.
Thanks to fear, the hunters knew when to retreat and when they had a chance to attack the enemy.
- I will offer them to save their lives and those who are dear to them. If they refuse, no one will cry for the killed robbers who did not know when it was better to agree to the offer. - The stranger said in a quiet voice, but in his tone the girl heard the confidence in what he was saying.
The girl began to feel threatened by the half-elf, Lualia had the feeling that a monster in the guise of a half-elf was standing next to her. The fear that saved her life several times began to make itself felt more and more.
- Even if there are children there and those who cannot resist you, will you kill them? - Lualia asked with fear in her voice and looked around to find a chance to escape from the half-elf.
Her fear said that she would not be able to resist him and she needed to run to the city to warn the residents of the possible danger.
They had developed strategies for possible threats emanating from robbers who tried in every possible way to attack the residents of the city.
- If someone raises a weapon and attacks, he is already ready for death, no matter who is a child or an old man. But if they don't raise weapons and don't interfere with me, then why should I kill them? - The half-elf answered in a thoughtful voice, slightly shrugging his shoulders.
The girl, who was trying not to attract attention to find an opportunity to escape, just bit her lip. She saw that the half-elf was observing her behavior and saw that she wanted to run away.
Did he know that she lives in the capital of the Avels? If so, she didn't understand why he didn't immediately go to the gate to the city.
Realizing that she would not be able to escape from him, she tried to relax. The more she learns about it, the better she can understand what to do.
- So if they agree to let you into the city, you won't harm anyone of their residents if they don't try to attack you? - Lualia asked, she wanted to hear confirmation from the half-elf.
The half-elf nodded to her question, confirming her words, which allowed the girl to relax slightly. Thinking about what to do with the half-elf, she did not want to take him straight to the city.
Lualia needed to be convinced of his words and try to understand him in order to solve possible problems when they were in the city.
Lowering the spear with the tip down, the girl began to slowly approach the half-elf who was looking at her with interest.
- I will take you to the Avel capital, but first you will need to help me. My name is Lualia, what about you? - The girl said, extending her hand to the half-elf.
Judging by his behavior, she did not understand whether she had done the right thing by approaching him.
But among those with whom she lived it was customary to take the first steps to show that they were not planning an attack.
- My name is Riqua, what do you need my help with? - The half-elf introduced himself, shaking her outstretched hand.
She wanted to pull her hand back when she approached him, she began to feel eyes on her, the girl tried not to show it. But she failed miserably at the grin of the half-elf who was squeezing her hand.
- Help needed in hunting. - Lualia answered, removing her hand from the half-elf and trying to move a little away from him.
As soon as she moved away from him she stopped feeling eyes on her, did these eyes appear to her?
Seeing the half-elf's frown and not understanding what she meant by hunting, the girl began to slowly explain her task. After listening to her explanation, the half-elf nodded, agreeing to help her.