Villain: I transmigrated with Mind Control Powers

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: Elara

The girl stumbled, barely managing to dodge a swipe from one of the wolves. Her hands were shaking as she gripped the dagger at her side, clearly no match for the three beasts that were quickly closing the distance.

One of the wolves lunged at her, claws outstretched.

Without hesitation, Aric acted. With a simple flick of his wrist, a wave of dark energy shot forth from his hand, striking the wolf mid-air and sending it crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening crack. The beast let out a pained howl before falling silent.

The girl's eyes widened in shock, her gaze darting around in confusion,

"Interesting," Aric murmured to himself, a faint smile crossing his lips. "An elven royal bloodline... and a Daughter of Destiny. Seems like I've stumbled upon something valuable after all."

Elara winced as she clutched her arm, still bruised from the earlier encounter with the wolves. Aric, noticing her discomfort, pulled out a small vial of healing medicine from his storage ring. With a flick of his wrist, he handed it to her.

"Drink this," he said, his voice smooth yet commanding. "It will help."

Elara hesitated, her eyes flickering with distrust, but the pain in her arm won out. She took the vial and drank its contents, immediately feeling a soothing warmth spread through her body. The pain dulled, and the bruises started to fade away.

"T-Thank you," she muttered, still cautious of him.

Without waiting for her response, Aric motioned for her to lead the way. They traveled in silence, Elara occasionally glancing back at him, still unsure of his motives. But Aric's focus was elsewhere—he was already thinking about how to manipulate this situation to his advantage.

As they ventured closer to Elara's village, Aric took note of the surroundings. The village was well hidden, nestled deep within the Eldoria forest, with large trees forming a natural barrier around it. Each home seemed to be carved from the living wood of the trees, intertwined with vines and flowering plants that gave the settlement a harmonious blend with nature.

For a moment, Aric admired the craftsmanship, but his thoughts quickly returned to more pressing matters—his entry into the village and, ultimately, his control over it.

When they approached the village's entrance, Aric immediately sensed the hostility. Elves emerged from the shadows of the trees and huts, their gazes cold and untrusting. It was clear that outsiders were not welcome here, and the fact that Elara, one of their own, was with him did little to ease their wariness.

From the edge of the village, a group of elven guards quickly approached. The leader, a tall elf with sharp, angular features and a hardened gaze, stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His eyes fixed on Aric as if trying to gauge whether he was a threat.

"Who is this outsider, Elara?" the guard asked, his voice harsh and unwelcoming.

Elara, sensing the tension, quickly moved to stand between Aric and the guard. "He saved my life, Leiros," she explained earnestly. "I was attacked by wolves in the forest, and he came to my aid."

Leiros, the elven guard, did not seem impressed. His eyes flicked between Aric and Elara, his suspicion evident. "And why should we trust him?" he asked. "Outsiders bring trouble, Elara. You know this."

Aric maintained his calm exterior, though internally, he was analyzing the situation. Typical elves, always wary of anyone not of their own kind. He offered a slight bow of his head, his tone respectful but firm. "I have no intention of causing harm. I merely acted to save her from danger. Now, I only seek shelter for the night.

By dawn, I will be on my way."

Leiros's hand tightened on the hilt of his blade as he scrutinized Aric further. He clearly didn't trust him, and Aric could see the elf's mind turning, wondering if there was some hidden agenda behind the outsider's calm demeanor.

Another guard, a younger elf with a curious but wary expression, leaned in toward Leiros. "If he helped Elara, perhaps we should show some hospitality," he whispered, though his eyes never left Aric. "The elders would want to know if an outsider is in our midst."

Leiros considered the suggestion, but his gaze remained hard. He looked at Elara. "You vouch for this man?"

"I do," Elara said firmly, standing her ground. "He saved me, and I owe him my life."

A long silence followed as Leiros deliberated. Finally, he stepped aside, though the tension in his stance remained. "Fine. You may enter," he said grudgingly. "But know this, outsider: if you cause trouble, we'll deal with you swiftly."

Aric gave a faint smile, nodding his thanks. "I understand. I'm merely a traveler, nothing more. I just want to rest for the night."

Leiros gestured for another guard to accompany them. "Take him to a guest house at the village's edge. He will leave at first light."