Chapter 2: A New Home and a New Name

“Do you have a name?”

The little one before her was completely engrossed in eating, her dangling legs swinging happily back and forth as she ravenously stuffed bread slathered with Wind Chime Jam into her mouth.

Elara’s question made her pause.

Then, with puffed cheeks, she vigorously shook her head. She seemed to have choked, so she scooped a spoonful of stew to clear her throat.

‘Does she not have one, or has she forgotten it?’

Elara muttered silently to herself, then quietly pushed her own portion of pan-fried Wind Dove eggs towards the girl’s hand with her right hand.

She then absently spooned the stew into her mouth, bite by bite.

Now, she was starting to regret it. 1500 gold coins was no small sum, not to mention the effort she’d put into saving it. Most likely, she’d also have to continue taking care of this elf.

‘Ugh, what was I thinking when I bought her… I must have been out of my mind.’

Sometimes, people are so contradictory they can’t even empathize with their past selves.

‘Cannot use magic… short lifespan… incurable illness… looks frail… and might even be mute—since she hasn’t spoken a single word since I met her.’

Elara listed her perceived flaws one by one, as if reciting a treasured inventory.

‘Regarding the concealment of her being mute, perhaps I should report that merchant for violating the 《Windsong City Product Management Act》?’

But.

As Elara’s gaze lingered on the elf’s clear blue eyes, her mood suddenly brightened considerably.

‘Cuteness truly is a sin, isn’t it…’

“Ma… Master?”

“Hmm? What?” Elara didn’t immediately realize the voice was calling her.

The elf girl spoke timidly. Had they not been sitting so close, her words would have been utterly lost in the noisy cafeteria.

“You can talk, after all,” Elara blurted out.

The girl tilted her head, not understanding the implication.

“Ahem, are you full?”

“Mm… it was delicious.”

Elara quickly finished her own food. The bill came to 96 copper coins.

She then returned to her rented room with the girl.

Activating the glow lamp with magic, the girl curiously surveyed what would now be her ‘home’.

It was a single room with one bed, a small balcony, and a bathroom. For an ordinary person, it would undoubtedly be considered luxurious, but for Elara, a B-rank adventurer, the rent was a minor expense.

“Master… is this home?”

The girl’s as-yet-unfound sense of security made her want to inquire about every single thing.

“Yes.” Elara and the girl sat side-by-side on the edge of the bed. “By the way, have you forgotten your name, or do you not have one?”

Elara asked again for confirmation.

The girl lowered her gaze, silent for a long moment before she spoke: “I only remember things after waking up in the cage. I’ve forgotten… many things.”

“Home is… where? Father, Mother, no impression. Name, I don’t remember. Faces, blurry. Voices… I can’t recall them either.”

The girl spoke a lot in one breath. As she recounted her memories, a baseless fear surfaced in her clear blue eyes.

Elara saw it clearly.

‘It seems her past experiences were too painful. Her body instinctively triggered a defense mechanism, discarding those distressing memories.’ The origin of slaves was never normal; they were either criminals or captives. Elves, however, could only come from the murky trade of invasion.

“Don’t think about the past for now,” Elara said. “I’ll give you a name.”

The girl nodded obediently.

A minute passed.

Two minutes.

Elara’s contemplation had morphed into a deep frown.

She was terrible at naming things.

The night breeze, carrying the scent of windflowers, drifted into the room from the balcony. The wind chimes hanging from the eaves of the houses along the street jingled softly.

This gave Elara an idea.

The Goddess of Wind—Hilmellia. This city, and indeed this entire country, worshipped her.

She then cast her gaze out the window again—towards the colossal statue standing tall in the moonlight at the center of Hero’s Square.

The Third Hero who slew the Demon King—Aivyn, a living legend.

“Your name is,” Elara turned back, “Hilvyn.”

“Hilvyn,” Hilvyn murmured.

“Do you like it?” Elara was quite pleased with her naming artistry.

Hilvyn’s eyes shimmered with tears, and she nodded emphatically. “Thank you, Master!”

“Don’t call me Master anymore.” Elara finally brought it up. Although she had lived in this world for ten years, the term ‘Master’ still made her feel awkward.

“Just call me Elara.”

“But the merchant taught me…”

“Just call me Elara,” Elara reiterated, not waiting for Hilvyn to explain.

“Okay, Master.”

‘Oh, come on…’

Elara rubbed her forehead. ‘Never mind, I’ll take it slow.’

****

Later that night, Elara drew hot water for Hilvyn, letting her bathe first. When the elf girl emerged, her silver hair was damp and draped over her shoulders, and she looked much more invigorated than before.

When it was Elara’s turn to wash, she heard a faint rustling from the balcony. Peeking out, she found Hilvyn staring intently at the wind chimes hanging from the eaves.

“What’s wrong?”

“That tinkling thing, it makes a sound,” Hilvyn pointed at the wind chimes. “It’s very pleasant.”

“Those are wind chimes. Every household in the city hangs them.”

“You should get into bed now. Sleep on the side closer to the balcony.”

Hilvyn nodded.

By the time Elara finished her bath and came out, Hilvyn was already asleep.

Her breathing was even, but her brow was still slightly furrowed.

Elara couldn’t help but marvel once more at the elf’s beauty. After being cleaned, her skin was even more flawlessly fair, breathtakingly exquisite.

After admiring her, Elara instinctively tucked the blanket around her.

****

The next day.

The first cries of street vendors in the morning woke Elara. She had no habit of sleeping in.

She glanced at the sleeping Hilvyn beside her, first feeling the weight of responsibility to care for her, then being captivated once more by her serene sleeping face.

Her brow was now unfurrowed; she was sleeping very soundly. The conditions in the cage must have been unimaginably dreadful.

Elara quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her.

She headed to the Adventurers’ Guild; a fresh batch of quests would be available in the morning, and she needed to snatch a suitable one.

Along the way, she also asked the receptionist, Serene, about ‘magic blockage,’ but the answer remained ‘an incurable disease.’

After her errands were done, she bought two Wind Dove egg pancakes for Hilvyn on the way back.

Pushing open the door, she saw Hilvyn curled up on the bed, hugging her knees, a small white bundle.

“Master—!”

QAQ

Hearing the sound, Hilvyn sprang into Elara’s embrace, her shoulders trembling as she sobbed incessantly.

Elara was startled but didn’t move.

She gently stroked Hilvyn’s head, back and forth.

Once, twice…

“I… I thought Master didn’t want me anymore…”

A mosquito-like sound emerged from below, laced with a choked sob.

Elara smiled silently. Some children, when left alone at home, would fear their parents had abandoned them.

Even though Hilvyn was twenty years old, this was likely due to her amnesia.

“I won’t abandon you.” After all, she had paid for her. Even if only for aesthetic pleasure, she wouldn’t discard her after just one night.

‘I never thought my kind intention to let her sleep longer would have the opposite effect.’

“Alright, I just bought some egg pancakes. Eat them while they’re hot.”

“Mm…” a soft sound came from within her embrace.

But her grip hadn’t loosened. Hilvyn tilted her head in Elara’s arms, meeting her gaze, then her eyes were drawn to Elara’s neck.

The pendant there gleamed with a silvery light.

Elara noticed her gaze, set the egg pancakes aside, and took off the pendant from her neck.

She placed it on Hilvyn.

“Master, this is…”

“A gift for you.”

The moment it was put on, something unexpected happened: the pendant burst forth with a blinding white light, impossible to look at!

It completely dazzled Elara’s 24k eyes!

“What the hell!”