I wake up from my unconscious state in a small room. The room is not very big, the lighting is dim, and the air feels a little warm.
Warm… warm… HOT!!
I suddenly realize the heat comes from a fireplace very close to my body.
I jump in shock, then sit up and move away from the fire.
Earlier I was lying on the floor, only on a carpet, right next to the burning fireplace.
I'm still alive? I thought I was already dead, eaten by the centaur.
Wait… the centaur?!
Where is that creature now?
I remember, before I passed out, I had just defeated a bear together with that centaur.
Before I can fully recall everything, I hear the sound of hooves hitting a wooden floor, getting closer. Then the door opens.
Creak…
The centaur stands there.
His tall body fills the doorway, blocking the light from the corridor behind him.
I stand up quickly. My eyes scan the room, looking for my bag, my bow, my arrows.
"You're awake, elf?"
The centaur reaches for a switch near the door and turns on the light.
Now I can see the whole room. A sofa, a table, a cabinet… and his damn face.
I don't answer him.
"Thank you for helping me kill that bear."
He walks closer and stops in front of me. I notice there is no tension in his face, no sign that he wants to kill me.
"It looks like you ran out of energy after burning the bear. You passed out, and your body temperature dropped. So I brought you here. Do you want tea? Or something warm?"
I still don't answer.
The only sounds are the fire burning wood in the fireplace and the low rumble of wind outside.
My eyes scan his body. His upper body looks like an elf, but his ears are not pointed like mine. His lower body is a horse, Two arms, four legs.
He notices me staring.
Suddenly he turns around and shows his back side to me, shows his butt, what the fuck
"I'm sexy, right?" he said
I step back in shock. "Are you crazy?! You animal!"
He turns back to face me again.
"You've been silent. As far as I remember you're not mute."
I rub my face in frustration. "Where am I?"
"My house." He said calmly
I nod slowly. I look at a small gap in the curtain covering the window, trying to see outside. I still can't see clearly.
"And which district is this?"
He looks confused.
"District? My house is not in a district. This is near the peak of Duanne."
Near the peak of Duanne. His words echo in my head.
"The peak of Duanne? That's impossible!"
I run to the window and pull the curtain open. My excited face turns flat.
Outside, I only see trees and snow. Nothing unusual.
I turn back to him, he shrugs.
"I mean not exactly at the peak, but close to it. This house is closer to the peak of Duanne than the elves' settlements below the mountain."
"Are you angry because I brought you here instead of taking you back home?"
He adjusts his clothes, rolled up his sleeves.
"Sorry. I can't do that. I'm afraid the Avariel would kill me. You know how crazy they are about guarding this forbidden area. If they see me and you, both of us could be killed."
He adds more wood to the fireplace.
I look around his room.
"Wait… how did you bring me here?"
Did he carry me on.. his back? My body shivers at the thought.
Just as he opens his mouth to answer, "Well.. I-"
I quickly raise my hand to stop him. "No need to explain. I don't want to know."
He closes his mouth and rolls his eyes, slightly annoyed.
For a few minutes, silence fills the room.
"What's your name, and how did you get past the safe zone of the elves? Aren't you too religious to break Duabonnir's rule?" the centaur says with a small laugh.
I look at the snow outside. A small storm is happening. "My name is Vill Sylas. I just.. well you know.. joking around tried to go to the peak of Duanne."
He bursts into laughter.
"That's a lie. You call this joke? You only brought a bow, two apples, and a rope. How many gold coins did you use to silence the border guards?" He points at my bag, which is scattered in the corner of the room.
"You were planning to kill yourself, right? Just like the other elves who died." He raises his eyebrow.
I close the curtain, Looking at the snow only makes me bored. "Maybe yes, maybe no. Okay fine! I want to die with style. I want to die at the peak of Duanne."
He nods slightly.
"You're still young. How old are you? 90? 100? Or…"
"120 years old." I said calmly
He puts more dry wood into the fire.
"I don't know of your life problems, but in my opinion, suicide is not the best solution. It is a fast way to escape your problems, but fast things are not always the best. In 120 years, have you really seen everything?"
I stay silent. I don't know how to answer.
"Look at me. A centaur living in a place no one expects. In elf stories, I'm just a myth, right? You probably thought the same until you saw me fighting that bear. But I'm real. I exist."
He chuckles.
"Isn't that interesting and fun, Vill? Finding something new that you never expected. Believe me, there are many surprises like this. You just need to find them."
"Is your reason for wanting to die because of loss? If you lose something, then find something new. Not to replace what you lost, but to realize that there are still things just as valuable, Your life isn't ending when you lose something"
I look at his face, then slowly lower my head. His words begin to enter my depression corner in my mind
"Do you still want to die, Vill? What if I show you something new? There is only one condition that is you must stay alive."
I keep looking at the wooden floor "What kind of new thing?"
He grins.
"Humans. That mythical creature actually exists. Just like me, just like you. Humans are real."
Hearing the word "human" shocks me.
Humans… are a myth, right?
He steps closer and stops right in front of me. Then he extends his hand towards me.
"You believe humans are a myth because they do not live near you. They have their own place. Come with me, You will see more than the planet Ox could ever give you. My name is Bebah, and I know many things than the elves of this world"
My eyes widen. "Bebah?"
He grins wider. "Yup, Ba Derick Bah, As known as Bebah And also I am closely acquainted with Duabonnir, the god of the elves on the planet OX."
He knows Duabonnir? But Duabonnir died thousands of years ago..