This story was originally written in Indonesian. I used AI to help translate it into English, so I apologize in advance for any translation errors or awkward phrasing that may appear.
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It had been five days since Pandora found a female Elf while hunting.
Currently, the Elf was still unconscious in one of the castle's rooms. According to Vivian, the Elf had overexerted her mana, which was likely the reason she had yet to wake up.
---
At the training grounds...
Pandora trained as hard as ever, pushing her body to the limit.
"One... hundred... two... hundred... three hundred... Ugh... this is too much," Pandora panted, sweat dripping from her forehead as she pushed herself through a grueling set of five hundred push-ups.
After finishing her push-ups, she ran laps around the city, carrying a massive stone on her back.
"Hah... Hah... This is way too much for a seven-year-old," she muttered between gasps for air, her small body straining against the weight.
---
Time flew by, and before she realized it, the sun had begun to set. Pandora finally headed back to the castle after her self-imposed training. Vivian had stayed behind to take care of Wulan and keep an eye on the Elf.
As Pandora soared through the sky, her dark wings spread wide. She had recently learned to fly from Vivian, finally mastering the art of controlling her demonic wings. Not all demons had wings, but Pandora's unique lineage granted her this ability without the need for magic.
WHAM!
"PUEH!!!" Pandora sputtered, nearly losing control as something smacked straight into her face. She spit out a few feathers, blinking in confusion. "What the... a bat?"
Upon closer inspection, she realized it was one of Vivian's messenger bats, a small scroll tied to its leg.
"Huh? The Elf has woken up?" Pandora's eyes lit up with excitement as she sped up, her heart racing with anticipation. "This is my first time meeting a real Elf! Why am I so nervous?"
---
Upon reaching the castle, Pandora landed gracefully on a balcony and slipped into the hallway. She quickly made her way to the room where the Elf was being kept.
Vivian was already waiting outside the door, her arms crossed, a cautious expression on her face.
"Master, what's going on?" Pandora asked, tilting her head in confusion.
Vivian sighed. "The Elf, she's actually a princess from the Elmund Kingdom. She panicked the moment she saw me. I guess she already knows who I am."
Pandora raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. "Huh? But why didn't you recognize her when we first found her?"
Vivian crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I had heard rumors about a young, genius mage from the Elven Kingdom, the youngest princess. But I never saw her in person. She never joined the battlefield due to her age."
"Oh... I see," Pandora replied, scratching her head. "But... why are you just standing here, Master?"
Vivian glanced at the door, her eyes sharp. "I'm keeping an eye on her. She might be a spy. I've sealed the windows and doors with a barrier, just in case."
Pandora reached for the doorknob, slowly pushing the door open.
CRASH!
A flower vase flew past Pandora's face, narrowly missing her head.
"Uwaah!!!" Pandora yelped, instinctively ducking as more objects came flying her way.
The Elf stood in the corner of the room, her green eyes wide with fear, her hands trembling as she clutched another makeshift weapon — a candlestick this time.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, calm down!" Pandora pleaded, frantically waving her hands in a desperate attempt to pacify the panicked Elf.
"Stay away from me, you filthy demon!!!" the Elf shrieked, hurling whatever she could find.
"Hey! Stop throwing other people's stuff!" Pandora shouted back, catching a pillow before it hit her in the face.
Finally, when the Elf ran out of things to throw, she collapsed to her knees, her shoulders shaking. Tears began streaming down her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands.
"Uwaaaahhh...!!!"
Pandora froze, panicking at the sight of the sobbing Elf. She had no idea how to handle a crying girl.
"H-Hey, don't cry!" Pandora stammered, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly.
Thinking quickly, Pandora grabbed the candlestick and held it out to the Elf like she was offering a small child a toy.
"H-Here, if it makes you feel better, you can throw this too," she said, her voice shaky.
The Elf's sobs only grew louder, echoing through the stone walls of the castle.
"W-Wait, no! That's not what I meant!" Pandora flinched, realizing she had only made things worse.
---
Several minutes later...
The Elf had finally calmed down, though her red, puffy eyes and tear-streaked cheeks suggested she had a long way to go before fully recovering.
Vivian had left to check on Wulan in Pandora's room, leaving Pandora alone with the distraught Elf.
"So... how did you manage to get past the barrier?" Pandora asked, trying to sound as gentle as possible.
The Elf remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor, refusing to answer.
Pandora sighed, crossing her arms. She recalled the state in which they had found the Elf — her clothes tattered, her body battered, and her mana completely drained.
"From the looks of it, you've been living in that makeshift hut for a while. Were you hiding there for months?"
Pandora's mind raced, piecing together what little she knew about the Elf.
"Wait... could you be one of my brother's surviving soldiers?" Pandora whispered, her eyes widening. Could it be that someone else had survived the massacre that claimed her brother's life?