Ronan told her his name. Frieren's name sounded kind of familiar, but he didn't think much of it. It was just a feeling, nothing important. They'd never met before.
Frieren relaxed a little, pointing towards some buildings in the distance. "Our village is that way," she said quietly.
Ronan nodded. He knew she might not be exactly right; the forest wasn't easy to navigate. He could travel really fast, or even leave this world, but he decided to walk. He wasn't sure about the rules here, and showing off his powers might cause trouble, especially with a young elf. It was safer to be careful.
He carried Frieren on his back; it was easier that way. She was quiet the whole time.
Soon, they were out of the thickest part of the forest. A small village nestled between some hills came into view. The houses were made of wood, with mossy roofs, and smoke was coming from the chimneys. A stream ran nearby, and they could hear dogs barking. It looked peaceful.
Before they got there, Frieren pointed again. "It's just ahead. We got lucky," she said.
Ronan slowed down. "Should we rest?" Frieren asked. "Are you a warrior? I've seen elf warriors, but you're much faster. Did you use magic?"
Her question was simple, but it showed she didn't know how strong he really was.
"Wait, put me down," Frieren said quickly. "Our village isn't always friendly to humans. They won't hurt us, but it's better to avoid problems."
Ronan understood. Elves lived a long time and things change slowly for them. They still remembered bad times when elves were hunted and sold. They were naturally cautious. But things had gotten better thanks to a really talented elf, a powerful magician who made elves safer and more respected. But the danger wasn't completely gone; some humans were still greedy.
He put Frieren down. She went towards the village. Ronan waited.
After a while, Frieren came back with an older elf, dressed in dark green and brown clothes. He looked wise and important. This was probably a village leader.
The elder didn't say much. He just wanted to make sure Frieren was safe and thank Ronan. They didn't have much food, so even one missing person was a big deal. Ronan understood.
They weren't going to ask Ronan to stay. It wasn't that they didn't like him, it was just that they were careful. Strangers, especially humans, could cause trouble.
Maybe they'd give him a small gift, like some magic books, to show they were thankful. Even being generous has limits.
Ronan understood. He just nodded and waited while Frieren and the elder talked quietly.
The sun was setting, and the village was very quiet. But Ronan didn't mind. This was their world, not his. He was just passing through.