"What the heck was that all about?" Lux leaned against a huge, ancient tree, pondering. "Maybe that's just what the outside world is like. But what should I do now?" Lux, who had never been to school, quickly accepted everything. After all, she didn't understand this world at all. But soon, a deep sense of helplessness washed over her. Yes, she was lost again. This green, peaceful forest filled with the scent of nature and soil was even more terrifying to her than those bizarre vegetable people. She couldn't afford to be lost for another three months, could she?

  "Ugh, I even lost the rabbit I hunted. I'm so unlucky." Lux was very discouraged. She didn't want to walk anymore. She wanted to turn into a bird and fly out of this strange forest.

  But soon, Lux seemed to hear a sound again. After being chased by the plant people, Lux had run for quite a while. Even if she was lost, she couldn't have just gone in a circle, right...?

  Of course, Lux was still a bit afraid that she actually had gone in a circle. "It's singing. Someone is singing?" Lux listened carefully and realized it was a woman's voice, a beautiful, ethereal woman's voice, singing in a language she didn't understand. This voice was more beautiful than any street singer she had ever heard. It was like a fawn dancing on fresh snow, joyful, lively, and somewhat sacred.

  This time, Lux also approached slowly. She moved through the weeds, through the leaves and trees that swayed gently as if frozen in time. The song passed through everything, like the exquisite bell of this still world. And Lux got closer and closer, but the singing got softer and softer, like a fish diving deeper, plunging into unseen waters. Before the song completely faded away, Lux saw the person singing.

  That was a beautiful girl wearing a light green dress. She was standing on a rock by the river, singing. She had fair skin, turquoise eyes, and brown hair. She wore white shoes made of an unknown material, and they weren't dirty at all despite being on the muddy ground. But the most important thing was that her ears were pointed, like... no, she was the legendary elf. Even Lux, who hadn't gone to school and had barely left her city, knew that.

  Lux was thinking about whether it was better to observe first or say hello, but then she remembered the plant people's reaction earlier and decided to hide on the ground for a while.

  The girl finished singing, cleared her throat, and then prepared to leave the large rock and walk back to the ground.

  But suddenly, she seemed to step on a small stone and slipped, about to fall.

  "Watch out!" Lux equipped the Falcon Anklet and immediately rushed over, planning to catch her before she fell onto the rock.

  But the expected accident didn't happen. The elf girl did a backflip in mid-air. Her toes were like a shining pen, drawing in the air. Even though it was daytime, Lux seemed to see a full moon.

  The elf girl landed steadily, turned her head, and looked at Lux with a puzzled expression. "You are?"

  "Hello, I'm a meat-based human, no, I mean, I'm human, or you can call me Lux. I came over because I saw you were about to fall. I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Lux said, flusteredly replying while gesturing awkwardly with her hands.

  The elf lady seemed to be amused by Lux's ridiculous outfit. She pointed a slender finger at Lux's laughable clothes. "Why are you dressed like that, and so dirty?"

  "Okay, even though I have thick skin, I'm almost too embarrassed to speak right now," Lux admitted, but she quickly recovered and explained, "You might not believe it, but I think I've been cursed by some strange magic in this forest, which is why I've been trapped here for three months..."

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "Never mind that for now," the elf lady said, beckoning Lux. "Come to my house to rest for a bit. I have clothes and food there, though it's mostly wild vegetables and fruit."

  Then the elf lady looked at Lux's chest, and then at her own. "Hmm, the clothes might not fit perfectly, but I can alter them." Yes, the elf lady's chest was quite full, you could even say rather large, and there was a reason why Lux had been mistaken for a boy for so many years.

  "Alright, thank you for your kindness, though I'm fine wearing this," Lux said. "No!" the elf lady suddenly said very seriously and loudly, startling Lux.

  "Wearing unsightly clothes and having an unclean body is very rude here," the elf lady said sternly. "And rudeness is a very serious offense in Radiant Glade. It's lucky you met me first."

  The elf lady seemed to remember something and said to Lux, "Oh dear, I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Sylvie. Lux, it's nice to meet you."

  "It's nice to meet you too, Ms. Sylvie," Lux reached out her hand, but she quickly realized that her hand was very dirty, covered in the 'natural fragrance' of dirt that had accumulated over time and couldn't be washed off with water. Lux felt a bit awkward.

  But the elf lady still took Lux's hand and smiled. "I also have a bathroom in my house, though there's no hot water, but there's plenty of fresh water stored. Let's go there so you can take a shower and clean up first."

  "Then thank you," Lux replied with a smile. After that, 'wild woman Lux' followed Sylvie along the dirt path and across a grassy lawn dotted with flowers, arriving at a wooden hut nestled against a large tree.

  This was a very rustic little hut, about two stories tall. It felt less like it was built from wood and more like it had grown out of the ground. The roots of the nearby large tree seemed to embrace 'this wooden hut' like arms. The hut's windows didn't have glass, but were covered by what looked like leafy curtains. And the hut's door was also very 'natural,' like a moving tree stump. This hut was adorned with morning glories and ivy, standing beautifully and uniquely on this small hill.

  "Welcome to Gaia. That's the name of my hut," Sylvie said with a smile, opening the door for Lux and inviting her in.

  Once inside, Lux saw the hut's simple furnishings. Inside were a plain wooden table and chairs, some tableware, and a ceramic water jug. There were no decorations.

  "Would you like some tea? Though it's only dandelion iced tea," Sylvie picked up a simple wooden cup, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to Lux.

  "Thank you," Lux said, taking a sip. Though it was iced tea, it was very fragrant, with a faint floral scent and a sweet taste.

  "I also added some flower honey," Sylvie said to Lux, as if revealing a gift. "It's delicious," Lux commented.

  "The bathroom is in this room," Sylvie led Lux to a small room containing a large wooden tub that could barely fit one person. Next to it was a wooden water tank, filled halfway with water.

  "I also have some soap here, which I bought from human merchants, and Radiant Glade's special flower honey liquid, which is great for washing your hair," the elf girl explained to Lux.

  "Sylvie, you're too kind. I'm very, very grateful," Lux said, feeling a bit overwhelmed by Sylvie's hospitality. She was even blushing a little.

  "It's nothing," Sylvie waved her hands, indicating it was no big deal. Then she smiled and said, "Because it's been a very, very long time since anyone has come to my house. I'm very happy." And Lux heard a hint of loneliness in her voice, so Lux nodded and said, "If there's anything I can help you with, just let me know."

  "Okay, then," Sylvie replied, and then Lux prepared to take a shower. Sylvie left a blue towel and a set of light green short skirt and top, along with very clean underwear, and then closed the door.

  Lux took a very thorough shower, completely washing away the 'natural fragrance' from her body with water. Then she dried herself off and put on the clothes Sylvie had left for her. They didn't fit well. The top was too big in the chest area, but the clothes were tightly wrapped, so nothing would be exposed, just the overall look was strange.

  "Sylvie, I'm done showering," Lux said, coming out of the bathroom. Then she saw Sylvie holding light green fabric, seemingly sewing clothing.

  "Yeah, they really don't fit," Sylvie said regretfully, but she held up the fabric in her hands and said, "I think pants would suit you better. I'm preparing to make some clothes now. Lux, come here quickly, and let me measure your figure."

  "That's really not necessary," Lux felt that Sylvie was being a bit too enthusiastic, but refusing Sylvie felt even more difficult than that battle against the Beast and the Blessed earlier. Sylvie quickly pulled Lux over and started measuring her figure.