"Lady Layla, should we get ready to be attacked again? What about reinforcements? Do you think we should call for some more? I don't think that commander is someone who would stay down quietly for long."

Mary asked with certainty in her eyes. She was sure the holy commander she had met was spiteful and was already planning to ruin his enemies.

"Hmm, don't bother with it for now. By the time reinforcements arrive, we will be out of this village and already heading back. And even if we run into the temple people, we can do the same thing we did with that camp.

Or maybe you are not up to it? In that case, we should call for more reinforcements."

Mary felt a crack in her temper when she heard the uncertainty in her Lady's voice.

Layla was most likely joking when she said that, but Mary took these words personally, and her annoyance slipped in her voice slightly.

"I don't think reinforcements will be necessary, Miss. I, alone, will be enough to defend against any danger."

Mary assured, and Layla gave a nod of acknowledgment.

It took them ten minutes to arrive at the entrance of the elf village, and everyone seemed to be waiting for them at the door.

Anxious eyes looked outside as more and more dark elves gathered around to see who was coming.

As soon as Layla and Mary's silhouettes came into focus, that concern turned into relief, and everyone let out a sigh of happiness.

"Leader, those people are back, and Kolvar was with them. He looks injured. Hurry! Someone prepares medical supplies for the child."

The dark elf who stood at the front quickly noticed what was going on, and she ordered her fellow elves to prepare the supplies.

Layla and Mary breached the entrance, and the dark elves took Kolvar from their arms and decided to treat them immediately.

"Esteemed guests, kindly head toward our leader's home right away. Our leader asked to see you right away."

Another dark elf came forward, and she bowed to get Layla and Mary's attention. Her hidden features made her seem mysterious, but her eyes were firm and determined.

She did not waste a second with her actions, and her calmness was commendable even in this situation.

"I see. Mary, we will head to the elf leader now. Miss, what is your name?"

Layla liked this calm and serious elf. She felt this female would be a good leader among her people and someone who could be reasoned with.

"My name is Siduri, young miss. It was nice to meet you."

The serious elf bowed once more before she waited for Mary and Layla to walk away.

Layla walked past that elf, but the dark elf was gone when she looked behind to say something.

Whatever Layla wanted to say got stuck in her throat, and chills went down her spine. There had been something about that Dark Elf that felt 'odd' to Layla, almost as if she had seen something she was not supposed to.

"Miss, are you alright? Your face looks a little paler than before."

Mary looked the same, and she acted the same. Layla felt she had been the only one to experience that surreal experience with the Dark Elf.

"It's nothing. I think I am too tired, and my mind is playing tricks on me now. We should head inside now."

Despite her instincts telling her that she had encountered something unnatural, Layla shook her head and forced her mind out of the headspace it had found itself in.

"Nothing. Let's head inside now. We should give our report to the elf leader and prepare to leave as soon as possible."

Layla spoke before she kept walking.

Whatever that incident had been, Layla was forced to forget it. She could no longer focus on things that were not of immediate importance.

...

"Come inside! The door is open."

The elf leader spoke these words even before Layla knocked on the door.

The young girl and her servant entered the somewhat dark room, where the old elf was drinking tobacco through her pipe. The room also smelled of tobacco.

It made Layla cough, and her lungs felt irritated. She was no longer used to the smell of Tobacco as she had been in her past life.

The old elf lady ignored Layla's discomfort, gave the pair a 'look,' sighed, and pushed her tube away.

"We owe you a debt we will never be able to replay. Please let us know if there is anything I can do for you. I would like to repay this favor-"

"Just a minute! I think there has been some kind of misunderstanding between us. There was not a favor but a transaction. I fully intend to have you pay for what I did with your labor and the quality of your products.

If you are thankful for what I did, I would rather have you focus your energy on those matters."

Layla made it clear what she wanted from the Dark Elves.

The old leader looked stunned for a minute, and her unseeing eyes widened a fraction before a chuckle broke through those old lips.

"I see! That is indeed something we need to repay for. I will ensure everyone works hard to repay you and earn their keep. It is nice to work with you once more, Lady Layla. Tired old souls like us should stick together and enjoy life."

The elf leader said in a joyous voice.

Layla did not know if it was because the elf leader had the power to see through much more than this world, but she felt that the elf leader meant her soul's age and not her actual age when she said those words.

She recognized Layla as a kinder soul tired after all her experiences.

"Eh, that is right. Now, when do you want to leave this place? The sooner we do, the better. I fear the temple will not sit quietly and leave us in peace."