Chapter 341: Home Sweet Home


    The little elf nodded after assimting the basic information into his brain.


    And when she looked at her, Miss Aleria''s face exhibited surprise.


    "You have such beautiful eyes."


    Now that the daylight is strong and bright, Miss Aleria noticed for the first time that this boy''s pupils were hazel in colour. This finding made her unconsciously take a step forward and bring her face close to the boy simultaneously. Her eyes emitted a keen re which made the elf ufortable.


    "Elf ears, hazel eyes. Not matching up."


    Saying this, the squad leader sunk in her thoughts. But before she could proceed further, they reached the gates of the town.


    Miss Aleria had to halt her thoughts and walk to the front to identify themselves. And when the guards up above the wall saw that it was the quick response team, they signalled the soldiers down on the ground to open up the gate.


    Thus the gate was opened to its sides and the party entered Emogus.


    As soon as the squad walked into the town, the gates were quickly closed and fortified with wood and iron beams.


    This sight made the squad leader frown.


    "What happened here?"


    Walking into the nearest tent, Miss Aleria probed. A soldier who was standing next to a table with his eyes fixed on the town''s map heard the query and raised his head to know who it was.


    "Ah, Squad 12 leader Miss Aleria..."


    The man in histe twenties turned his head to take onest nce at the map before rolling it into a scroll and shuttling back to her face.


    "Some guards recently spotted some beasts lurking around western parts of the town. The mayor was quickly notified and she ordered a lockdown."


    The squad leader of the 12 unit disyed displeasure with the news. She nodded and then replied-


    "Wepleted the bandit extermination request. Some are injured and there is an old age among them. I''m taking them to the base. Let the Lieutenant know that we have precious cargo."


    Miss Aleria withdrew from the tent and walked to the carriages parked near. She told the soldiers to take the rescued to the base and to inform the store guardian. the soldiers nodded and then rode off as she walked behind the carriages with her head full of thoughts.


    ***


    The military base premise.


    It is an area ofnd given for the amodation and operation of military units. There is not much space and so is the number of soldiers. For about 400 personnel, two-acre ofnd was enough for amodation, training and other activities.


    The military base has walls as tall as an adult human''s shoulder. There were no gates for the premise and that eliminated the need for guards.


    The carriages drove to the building which had a signboard with a green ''plus'' sign on it. The soldiers took the women and the children inside and Miss Aleria came at the nick of the time.


    After the rescued were taken inside, the soldiers were clueless about what to do with the elf boy. Fortunately, the squad leader came to disperse their confusions.


    "I''ll take the boy home. I''ll have to present him in front of the Lieutenant tomorrow. We have a situation at the walls and you can go there after a short rest."


    The soldiers nodded and dispersed into the single-storeyed building. The elf boy and Miss Aleria were left there alone.


    "Follow me, my home is nearby."


    Saying this, the squad leader walked in front of him and he silently followed her. They walked out of the military premise and entered a residential area.


    Walking past the first two houses, Miss Aleria paced towards the third one. As she pushed opened the door, she eximed-


    "Mama, I''m home."


    The sound of utensils nging together could be heard from the kitchen. A few seconds after, a figure emerged to the scene.


    The wrinkles the woman had conveyed that she is over 70 years old. The tranquil smile on her face was brightened further upon seeing her dear daughter.


    Miss Aleria''s mother was amon housewife. She lived with her daughter working in the military. They were a happy duo depending on each other.


    "How did the mission go?"


    The trembling voice befitting an old woman came from her and there were care and concern in it. Hearing the query, the daughter shrugged with a ''so-so'' expression.


    The mother epted the answer with an awkward nod. She stared at her daughter and then her eyes fell on the little elf boy.


    "Who is this little boy?"


    The woman asked while beaming at the elf boy. She walked near him and scanned the boy from head to toe.


    "Umm... mama, he''s an elf."


    Miss Aleria said as she removed the nket over his head. She exposed his ears and told her about his unusual pupils.


    The mother seemed unsettled after the revtion and walked into her room with a contemtion countenance. The boy nced at Miss Aleria and saw that the daughter was frowning at this development.


    Secondster, the mother came back with a thick book with a ck hardcover. She gestured her daughter and the boy to sit as she walked to the dining table.


    "Dear, can you tell me where you found him?"


    The mother''s query was filled with concern and curiosity. Though she tried to leash her anxiety, she ended up revealing it through her facial expressions.


    Miss Aleria took about half an hour to describe the entire event in detail. She also added the statements of the rescued and conveyed her personal assumptions.


    Then the mother ced the book on the table. She carefully opened the book''s cover to reveal old brown pages. The sight of these pages bought a sense of wonder on the armour-ddy''s face.


    The old woman turned the pages gently yet quick. After a few minutes of vigorous searching, she finally came across the page she was looking for.


    "Hmm...elves. Ah, there it is."