We were in the middle of the winter. That morning, the snow was falling slowly in small scattered flakes under a grey lead sky. The sun was barely visible through the uniform voile of clouds, forming a pale and blurred disc of white light. The ground was cover by a generous layer of fresh snow. Snow that was marked here and there by few little animals footprints like passerines and weasels. Asgorim loved those discreet clues of nocturnal life. He stood in front of the entrance of the Monastery, with all his travel belongings, ready to leave, watching this dream landscape while breathing the cold morning air. This last formed a little cloud of steam in front of his mouth on each breath out; and a bigger one in front of his elk’s muzzle, that stood quietly a few far.

Now that the tall doors were closed again, all was in peace… Outside and inside him. He felt his heart beating slowly, thinking a last time to his brothers, friends, and Masters that he would leave behind in a few minutes. At last, he had a look to the sky, fixed his pack on to Raghnall’s back… Hoisted himself on the saddle in a nimble jump… took a deep breath, and…  They left. He left behind him So many years. It was better to not think about - All his life had been in this place, excepted his fist year - If not, he would be unable to make one only step to the Outward. He succeeded, thanks to his daily endless hours of meditation. The snow greeted his departure. It was the end of his monastic life, but also a new start : The start of a new life. He was more exited than sad about. Life was now a close friend for him, a teacher, his real and last Master. And he was going to hug It with all his being.  

They went down the mountain to the city, following the path that snaked through the bumpy landscape…       

Elowen raced through the woodlands of Endapano, her nimble frame flying through the trees and wildlife. She was chasing a special species of rabbit native to the island, and she wanted desperately to catch the adorable thing. Getting lost was not an issue for her, since she could fin her way out of any forest by simply communicating with the plants, but she was worried about staying out too late after dark. Certainly, the elvish city was much safer than a lot of the other cities she had been to, but staying out after dark was dangerous enough on its own. 

As she flew through the wooded area, something suddenly disturbed the trees near her, causing her to stumble to a halt. Her head whipped around to where the sound of crunching leaves echoed through the mostly still forest. It sounded familiar… An elk! Her golden eyes lit up in excitement as she carefully peeked behind a tree so that she wouldn't scare the animal off. But, as soon as her eyes landed on the sight, the Dryad simply stood there, gaping. A man was riding it towards the city. What a peculiar sight, given that most elk tended to keep away from people. A grin spread on her face, and she happily bounced up to the rider. "Hello!" Wen greeted with a wave, her attention very much captivated by the elk. "I'm sorry for intruding, but…" She reached a hand out towards the creature, afraid she might frighten it. "He's so beautiful."

The half-elf was riding quietly down the mountain, thinking about nothing, the mind in peace, as empty as possible ;  the heart open, turned to feel the world around him by the inside, like his Way wanted it, when the Dryad appears from nowhere, like by magic. He was already a few old, but ha had never seen some Dryads. He heard spoke about them into the books of the monastery. But he had only a vague idea of their appearance coming from the approximate drawings of the illustrations. The monk was immediately captivated by Elowen. He stopped dead his mount from a little sharp pull on the reins, and stare the new arrival, staying marvelled and curious of her. Rahgnall, him, welcomed the young lady of Nature without hesitation, feeling that she was a sister. So, he pressed strongly his large muzzle on her arm, with insistence, to get a caress. Then, Asgorim answered, moved by the spectacle. He held straight on his saddle and said, with a few surprised but warm voice:

Don’t be sorry. You’re welcome. Greetings Daughter of the Nature.

He had a large sincere grin, bowing one’s chest before straight up, landed his eyes into hers, and continued,

His name is Ragnall, and if he consider you already like a sister, so me too.

He scratched tenderly the neck of the elk, really marvelled by this new display of the Life that he discovered staring Elowen.

My name is Asgorim, a ignorant that wandering to discover the World. Are you really a dryad ? What…What a marvellous thing !  

He took a breath, had a look to the snowed countryside around them, and come back to the dryad. Including Raghnall in his words, he added,

We came from the Monastery in the mountain, and we are going down to the city. We are close to it, now. But you ? What are you doing here ? If  I may ask you. Are you living in this wood ? May we do something for you ?

He watched again the leafless forest behind the young woman. The winter landscape was magnificent. He loved the display of the nature into the winter, simple and quiet, and free of ornaments.       
     

          

Enthusiastically petting the elk's head, Elowen beamed up at the elfin man, smiling warmly at him. Her hair stuck out in all directions, pine needles and other plant life tangled in its green locks. She gently nuzzled against the soft creature, giggling as its breath warmed her cheek. "Thank you, Asgorim," she spoke softly, clinging to her thin cloak. Ragnall seemed rather kind, just like his owner. The Dryad nodded, her green skin a dead giveaway to her race, even to those who had never seen one of her kind in person. "Yes, I am a Dryad, or a nymph if you prefer. My name is Elowen Hex," Wen greeted, clearly ver excited to have met a friendly stranger.

"I don't live here, actually," she explained, waving a hand animatedly. "My home is in Adeluna, though I do travel quite often." At the thought of her house, she rubbed a thumb over the engagement ring on her hand, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I simply enjoy the thrill of new places and the joy of meeting new people."

Wen raised an eyebrow quizzically, eyes searching the mountain behind him. She had heard of the monastery, but had never truly been up to see it for herself. Perhaps she would get around to that fairly soon. "Well, I don't necessarily need anything. But I could escort you into town, if you'd like?" Although unsure of how much he knew of the town, she was sure that anyone would appreciate the company.

The half elf watched and listened the dryad, very interested in her. Not because she was a women, nor because she was young, and neither because she was pretty, but because of he felt the life in her, and this last one echoed with his own life inside him. .And this Consciousness of Life always moved him and felt him with wonder. He felt thankfulness for Gods who had made her, and made him for see her. He had a bright smile, and answered:

Glad to meet you lady Elowen Hex. It would seems that destiny enjoy to make us meet. Be sure that I share its joyce.       

He nodded his head in a greetings sign, and as she added that she enjoy meeting new people, he retorted,

Me too. What better than meeting others ? Nobody’s made to live alone.

Then, as she purposed to escort them, he told her,

I would like warmly.

There, he took his baggage in is back and put it in front of him, clearing the place on the elk for an additional passenger. Then he concluded, kindly, staring her, eyes in eyes,

Would you, lady, bother to mount ?

Tapping on the elk rump with a hand, to invite her, a little smile at the corner of lips. Before she answered, he added,

Don’t feel you obliged to agree. I’ll see no offence if you prefer to walk.  

And he stayed looking her in eyes while stretching out his hand towards her, waiting she decides what she’ll does.         

She could not stop her smile from widening at the offer. Despite her love of nature's creatures, Wen had never ridden on so much as a horse, much less an elk. "I would like that very much!" she responded brightly, walking around the side of Ragnall. Because of her nimble form, she did not have much trouble lifting herself onto its rump. Her hands grasped the hair on his back as she took in the scenery around her. Even though she had been in the forest for some time, the view from the elk somehow made it all look new. The trees seemed taller, and the snow sparkled in the bright morning light. Briefly, her eyes passed over the man, and her small bit of self-preservation finally began to poke at the back of her mind. She knew nothing about Asgorim, and yet she trusted him with hardly any hesitation. One would have thought she might have learned her lesson about asking questions, but something told her that he could be trusted.

"So, what do you know about the town?" Elowen asked, curious of just how much Asgorim had been taught about the outside world after living for so long in a monastery. The Dryad remembered her own situation after she had first left her home forest. She had been naive and did not anticipate the dangers that would come with leaving her comfort zone. Perhaps it was this part of her that made her want to help the elf. Or maybe it was just her general concern for others– something that had never changed about her. Brushing a long strand of green hair behind her pointed ear, Wen glanced curiously at him. "I'll admit, I do not know much about it, but I have been here for a few days."

Observ and talk to this unknown creature was a fresh and joyful experience for the monk, as fresh as the morning light on the snow. Each part of him seemed learn what was a dryad, in a direct and unique experience. He was quite like a sponge, absorbing the reality of the young woman in himself, through his senses and through is body until the back of his soul. His Way taught him to ignore past and future, staying in the present - only place of the reality - to taste it completely. And it was that he did exactly. The Dryad lifted herself easy on the rump and the elf didn’t have to reassure is mount. Visibly, the secret tie being between dryads and the Nature was not a legend. The threesome took the road again, and Asgorim stay a moment silent, enjoying what he lived, occupied by a gratitude feeling. Then Elowen asked him, and her crystalline voice made vibrate the cold morning air again.  The rider had a large smile and answered honestly,

I know quite well the town for having gone in often, shopping for the monastery, and… Meet my lover girls.

He leted go a silence, keeping his amused smile and added,

Anyway it is the only one I know. But do i know it really ? A wise have said, “We never watch two times the same river”.   

The trip flowed well and quietly, while they were sweetly rocked by the elk's walk. The weather slow changed, scattering the clouds and the sky became soon totally empty, of a deep blue, contrasting with the white of the snow.

Peering over his shoulder at the town in the distance, Elowen chuckled quietly to herself at his attitude. Even if Asgorim had not told her about living in a monastery for most of his life, she likely would have guessed as much simply from his actions and mannerisms. He spoke of everything with a certain reverence and wisdom indicative of an elvish monk. "Luckily for you, the residents in this town have fallen into a certain rhythm with their daily lives, so not much changes," Wen explained, feeling the energy of the forest surrounding them.

The Dryad lifted her face towards the sun peeking through the trees, feeling it strengthen her mana. The light worked as a source of food for her, since she could not eat some material food. Randal's cooking was about the only physical food she could eat… Once again, her mind drifted back home, and Wen let out a homesick sigh. "When I first left the Virens forest, I had no plan and no idea of what the outside world was like," she stated quietly, rubbing a pale green hand across the elk's fur. "So you already have an advantage." A small laugh sounded from her throat, causing a few hidden birds to fly from the trees. Her golden eyes followed them, gleaming with intrigue; she could not remember the name of the species.

"Do you have any particular plans from here on?" she asked curiously. Elowen wondered if he would stay in Endapano or travel to other places in Canelux. She hoped he would choose the latter, since she absolutely adored talking about her journeys and adventures, and she wanted to encourage him to go out and experience the world before settling in one place.

The monk was happy that his passenger spoke freely to him, like if they already know us. He greeted the Sky for that, and listened the dryad with all his attention. He had a smile after her first notice, and answered:

- In appearance things and the town seems to not changing a lot, but, inner, nothing never stay same. In fact, each instant show us a new version of that we believe know.  That I believe to know about this town, is what it was the last time I have saw it. If I stay on this position, I won't meet the people like they are, but I’ll see them like I think they are. The Way taught me that I know nothing about nothing, because all change constantly. The only thing I can do for not being constantly wrong is to welcome what is happen in the instant with a silent mind and a large opened heart. This is the only way of real knowledge. The rest is only ideas we put over the reality…

When she confessed that she had nor any idea neither any plan about the outside in leaving her natal forest, Asgorim had another big smile and said,

- How lucky you was ! All my life, I have learned and hard worked to return to this state of pure being and total ignorance.

And as she spoke about an advantage he would had knowing the outside world, he told,

- I believed it a long time, but I know now that is better to stay an eternal ignorant.
 
Then she laughed deliciously, and he tasted her laugh as a present. He had no often heard any female's laugh into the monastery. Probably never. And, finally, when she asked him about his particular plan, he answered,

- No I haven't. I am virgin like a baby. This day is the first one of my all new life, and I will go where Life will purpose to me to go, and I will do with. It is why you're very welcome to stay with me if you like.

Then, since he enjoyed her company, he concluded mischievously,
brightly eyes and smiling,

- An ignorant baby should never stay alone, shouldn’t he ?     
 

Elowen smiled kindly at the man, tugging at the hem of her cloak as they descended into the city. A few native elves looked quizzically at the elk, but some of them seemed to recognize the man, politely waving at him as they passed. Now that they were within the dirt roads of Endapano, Wen decided to hop off of the creature and walk. The feeling of her bare feet against the ground was natural and brought her back to her days in the forest. Thoughtfully, she glanced up at Asgorim, contemplating his statement. "I suppose I could travel with you for a while," she mused, tapping her chin. "Though I have every confidence that you will be alright on your own once we part ways."

They entered into the market district, where a few people were peddling their wares. "Fresh fruit and herbs, here!" one man called, drawing the Dryad's attention. She had been searching for new seeds to plant in her greenhouse. It was the only thing that kept her tied to the house in Adeluna. Randal, too, but… She once again rubbed the ring on her finger, reminding herself of the obligation she now had to return. With a sigh, she ventured towards the salesman, motioning for Asgorim and Ragnall to follow, if they so wished. "Do you have any nightshade?" she asked, but he shook his head. He spent a few minutes trying to sell her various common ingredients, but she wasn't in need of any of them, so she simply left. "Most rare seeds I have to find in the wild," she explained, shrugging her shoulders. "Have you done a lot of foraging?"