THE LAST HOBBIT'S

6 - An and Sofia

...'I met that Elf and she cried. It's the first time I've seen no vanity on his face.'...

...*****...

Arslan's heart was pounding as the sound of the screams grew louder. An himself kept running and sometimes got rid of the branches that blocked his path.

When the sound of the scream was getting closer, Arslan's forehead shriveled. The voice he heard was the loud voice of a woman and for some reason he seemed to recognize the owner of this voice.

"There's no way he's...."

The only person Arslan could think of right now was an Elf named Sofia Bellwings. Only that girl he had met and even the figure that had been saying goodbye to him the past few days.

So if there was someone who could be in danger in this forest, then it was probably the Elf. Arslan asks An to move faster and is completely convinced by his thoughts when he sees Sofia hanging upside down on a tree branch.

Not only that, Arslan also saw four wolf tails waiting below and tried to jump to bite Sofia's head. The elf was screaming and so scared.

Arslan immediately jumped down from An's shoulder and then moved to attack the wolf. He again used magic that could emit light to surprise the wolves.

"Asians...!" Sofia exclaims. An grabbed the rope and took down the beautiful elf. Arslan helps Sofia who is slowly getting taken down. The girl received her hand.

"Asians..!" Sofia immediately hugged Arslan and made the young man freeze. The pointed-eared girl cried and with a loud voice.

"Sophia-"

"Short smell sucks. I thought I was dead" Sofia kept crying and tightened her arms. Arslan who realized immediately patted this girl.

"Hey, release. You can kill me..!"

!!

Sofia flinched and then started to take off her embrace. He still sobbed and several times wiped the water that soaked his white cheeks. Arslan had only first seen an elf cry and to be honest this was far from his shadow.

"How could you be in such a situation and even be attacked by those wolves?" Arslan asked as he cut the roots wrapped around the feet of the 17-year-old girl before him.

Sofia was still sobbing as she started talking. He said, "I-I want to set a trap and while hunting... It was me who was trapped. My bow was thrown and somehow the wolf came and started attacking me. I'm really scared.. Hixes. I don't like it here. I'm going home.."

Arslan blinked, his forehead shriveling as he asked. "Don't you say that elves only eat fruits and vegetables? Then why did you set a trap?"

Sofia puffed her cheeks. He looked at Arslan and then said, "I set that trap for the evil witch who's been chasing me all along. The reason I hunt is also to lure them towards this trap, but instead of trapping the opponents - I'm the one who's hit. This is so annoying..!"

Arslan blinked as Sofia came back crying. The girl before him actually made the dignity of the elf race disappear in an instant. He exhaled and then extended his hand. Arslan patted the figure slowly on the shoulder in front of him.

"Are you hurt?" Arslan opened his voice and made Sofia look at him.

"No.... My legs are a little scuffed, but this is not a problem. I can cure him,"

"Well, be careful next time..." Arslan stood up and then invited An to leave. His actions that left Sofia just left the elf dumbfounded.

"You-you..." Sofia was at a loss for words. He called out, "Hey..! How could you leave me like this?! Hey..! Arslan..!"

"What else is it?" Arslan turned around, but did not walk near Sofia. His facial expression and tone of voice were completely calm and honest in the eyes of the elf it looked irritating.

"Ouch.." Sofia stood up and then walked over. He also spontaneously snapped the head of the young man who was so short.

With a reddened face, Sofia also cursed. "Basic midget sucks. How can you be so evil and leave me alone?! Don't you have a heart? You make me want to cry."

".................." Arslan rubbed his head and then took a breath. He said calmly, "Then what should I do? Your feet are hurting, right? Do you want to be carried?"

"Did, who would." Sofia gave an amused goosebump as she said, "You dirty slovenly man sucks. I-i!"

Arslan is shocked and spontaneously grabs Sofia's hand because the girl almost fell. He said, "Your wounds must be treated first..."

Sofia grimaced and slowly began to sit while being assisted by Arslan. He said, "It's all because of your fault. You just left and have no intention of helping. You're a nasty short that sucks,"

"He did it again" Arslan sighed and shook his head slowly. He reached out and held Sofia's ankle to make the beautiful elf blink.

"Los amissa..."

!!

Arslan's magic spell shocked Sofia. The elf no longer felt any pain in his injuries. He was flabbergasted, his mouth open, but he did not know what to say. Really, this was the first time he had heard such a magic spell and the effect was even better than the healing magic he had learned all along.

"You.... You can do magic?!" Sofia finally opened her voice. In shock, he even grabbed Arslan's shoulder and looked at the young man's face.

Arslan blinked, his expression unchanged but his eyes were clearly shocked even though he quickly changed as usual.

Arslan's voice was flat as she muttered, "Oh.."

"You really can do magic?!" Sofia asked back.

"........... A tad. Just some light magic,"

"Light?" Sofia was shocked, "You did a great healing magic. It's even better than my healing magic and you're saying it's just light magic?"

Sofia shook her head slowly before finally grabbing Arslan's two hands. He made the young man before him shocked by the actions he had taken.

"What the fuck is this-"

"Teacher. Please teach me..!"

Arslan is about to ask and is shocked when Sofia suddenly calls him 'Teacher'. He even saw how this subject wore a hopeful facial expression.

"I've never begged anyone before. Now I'm low in front of you. Please teach me magic. I beg. Want dad? Well... Please." please."

Arslan blinked with Sofia's behavior. He exhaled, "Let go and get out of here,"

!

"Short sucks - I mean 'Teacher'..!" Sofia rushes after Arslan who suddenly walks away leaving her. He remembered his bow and took the weapon back before catching up with Arslan.

"You should teach me magic. I really need it..!" Sofia started talking when she caught up with Arslan.

The beautiful elf explained, "My journey to find the Dragon Conquering Sword will be very difficult and dangerous. I need magic that can help me on this journey and you have it. Or you know what, you come with me. How's it?"

Arslan was silent before he finally started to open his voice. Her tone was flat as she said, "You are an elf and also a princess of a kingdom. Didn't anyone teach you magic?"

Sofia was stunned before finally lowering her gaze. His voice was soft as he said, "I... Actually very bad at using magic. I'm good at everything, but to learn magic... You could say this is my weakness. So that's why if you're kind, then help me."

Arslan sighed, he just kept going without saying anything. An followed behind him and even Sofia seemed to be unperturbed by his presence. The beautiful elf continued to follow Arslan and persuaded her to be taught magic spells.

Arslan was silent for a long time before he finally started to open his voice. His tone was low as he spoke, "You.... Saying has a weakness in learning magic, but why do you know you have this weakness... Are you still looking for that sword? A sword that most likely never existed,"

"How can it not exist?!" Sofia was irritated because the subject before her seemed to not believe in the existence of the Dragon Conquering Sword.

Crossing her hands, Sofia said. "The sword really exists. History cannot lie. I'm looking for him because many races are after that sword. If it falls into the hands of the wicked, then... Not only is my kingdom in danger, but it may be the world."

In a soft tone, Sofia again said. "I told you once that the Kingdom of Elmora was a great kingdom and blessed with the heavens. But even so... The power of my kingdom is not as great as the kingdom of the human race."

Sofia took a breath and said, "As her only daughter... I have a responsibility to protect my kingdom. Elmora.... Often get attacks from other races and more attacked by the human race. My father was urged to tell the location of the Dragon Conquering Sword and even nearly lost his life,"

Sofia exhaled and shook her head slowly, "If only there were no strange maps scattered... Maybe Elmora has become a battlefield. Thanks to the map that appeared out of nowhere and spread in every region.... Circumstances became boisterous and many races went on adventures to get to the location of the sword. They all wanted the power that was within the Dragon Conquering Sword. I couldn't let this go and decided to go and come look for her,"

"There's nothing else" Sofia continued. "I only do it for my kingdom even though I have a weakness in the use of magic. I just want to be at least useless to protect my kingdom,"

Sofia took a breath and smiled, "Yeah... Even if later on this trip I die... But at least I tried. I will never regret dying to protect my beloved kingdom. It'll be an honorable death for me,"

"................"

Arslan somehow since when stunned and staring at Sofia. The girl's words reminded her of Gearl Howl's words and it bothered her again. He lowered his gaze for a moment and was about to open his voice when An suddenly lifted his body.

Sofia also gasped as her body was lifted. He noticed the figure holding him by sitting on a shoulder and then asked Arslan.

"Who is this friend of yours?"

Arslan stared for a moment at Sofia and replied, "An. You can call him An,"

"I've never seen him with you before..." Sofia muttered softly before looking at this huge figure and said, "I am Sofia Bellwings, princess of Elmora Kingdom. From your body size... Are you from the Giant race, An?"

"...... Sophia..."

"Right, that's my name. So then?" Sofia smiled kindly before looking astonished because this subject just kept repeating calling her name.

Arslan took a breath and said, "For the size of the Giant race. He's too young to understand too much of what you say. It's hard to explain, but An's still a kid."

Arslan can't tell Sofia An's true identity. Honestly speaking, the Giant race of the Veridis type did not have perfect speech skills. They could only utter simple words and their understanding towards something inferior to the other Giant races.

'Stupid, but has great strength and kind heart'. This phrase is suitable for describing the Giant race of the Veridis type. And besides, Arslan's strong reason for not saying the An race type is a past relationship where the Elves often hunt the Veridis because they are threatened with their power.

It might have been a long time and there doesn't seem to be any more such grudges in the present, but Arslan has no choice. He did not want to take careless action by telling An's true identity.

"............." Arslan took a breath and became astonished when she heard Sofia's laughing voice. He also turned his head and sure enough the elf seemed to feel happy somehow because of what.

"Let's say it again, say it louder."

"Say what?" Arslan blinked. It seemed like he was too focused on daydreaming until he had subconsciously forgotten something.

"Beautiful... Sofia... It's pretty..."

!!

Arslan widened his eyes. He nodded and shook his head slowly because he understood what had happened. Sofia teaches An a few words that are more praise to the girl herself.

"Arslane.... It smells.."

Sofia laughed at An's words and then looked at Arslan, "He's very good at praising you. Let's say what I taught you again,"

"short... Arslan's... Short stinks..."

"See..!" Sofia laughed again. He was very happy when he managed to teach a few words of teasing to An.

On the other hand, either the giant of the veridis type knew what he was saying or not... But he smiled as he saw Sofia laughing. He even repeated a few more words because he felt it was the thing that made this subject happy.

Arslan took a breath and scratched her non-itchy cheek. He said, "I can feel that this journey will be very troublesome."

The light looked up, the beautiful sunlight up there as if giving a sign that the journey would be very long. Especially with Sofia with him.

Arslan took a breath and just opened his voice when he suddenly felt an uncomfortable feeling. It's as if he, Sofia, and An are being watched by something. Arslan's expression turned very serious and his hand touched the dagger tucked into his waist.

******