Draven, still smiling nervously, started walking away.
Behind him, Hannah stood still for a moment, watching him leave. Her face remained completely devoid of emotion, as if nothing unusual had happened.
After a moment, she began walking as well.
As she did, the bow in her hands began to glow. The weapon slowly transformed, shrinking down until it became the bracelet she had been wearing earlier.
Hannah slipped the bracelet back onto her wrist and continued walking beside Draven.
For a while, neither of them said anything.
The forest was quiet around them, with only the sound of their footsteps breaking the silence.
Draven glanced at Hannah from the corner of his eye.
He remembered the barrier she had used earlier to block his kick.
"Yeah, I remember you used some kind of magic shield to block my kick earlier," Draven said. "What kind of magic was that?"
"It's a Mana barrier," Hannah replied.
Draven turned his head toward her.
He waited.
Hannah continued walking without saying anything else.
Draven stared at her for a few seconds.
*That's it?*
He had expected her to explain what a Mana barrier was, but Hannah seemed perfectly content to leave it at that.
"What's that?" Draven asked. "Is it some kind of magic only Forest Elves can use, just like Dark Elves' shadow magic?"
"No," Hannah said calmly. "Anyone can use it, as long as they can use Mana."
Draven nodded slowly.
*I thought there were only shadow, blood, and elemental magic.*
He glanced at Hannah's bracelet.
*I guess there are more types of magic than I know about.*
He looked ahead again.
*Maybe I should learn more about this world's magic.*
But the thought quickly disappeared.
*Eh. I'll figure it out eventually.*
The two continued walking through the forest.
Neither of them spoke again for a while.
Eventually, the trees began to thin, and the familiar surroundings of the castle came into view.
---
### Scene Shift
Draven and Hannah eventually arrived back at the castle.
Their mothers were already waiting for them.
Draven's eyes immediately landed on Alex.
She was standing beside his mother, Elliana, but her entire body was covered in bruises.
Draven stopped for a moment.
His left hand slipped into his pocket while his right hand continued holding the bow.
He stared at Alex from head to toe.
*What the hell happened to her?*
Alex noticed Draven looking at her but didn't say anything.
Draven looked away and glanced toward his mother.
Elliana smiled when she saw the two of them returning.
"It looks like you two are getting along well."
Draven didn't respond.
He wasn't exactly sure what his mother meant by that.
He glanced at Hannah.
She stood beside him with the same emotionless expression she had worn the entire time.
*Getting along?*
Draven looked back at Alex's bruised body.
*I'm not sure that's the right way to describe what's happen but ok.*
Elliana seemed completely unaware of his thoughts.
She smiled and continued.
"It's time for Hannah to go home, so you better start saying your goodbyes."
Draven looked toward Hannah.
Hannah looked back at him.
For a brief moment, neither of them said anything.
Draven scratched the back of his head.
*Well, I guess that's that.*
He glanced at the bow still in his hand.
Then he looked at Hannah's bracelet.
*At least I learned something about Mana today.*