Creation Of All Things-Chapter 177: Eli

The world slowed.

Leaves hung in the air mid-fall. The wind died to a hush, like the forest itself held its breath. The boy sat up from where he'd fallen—scraped knees stinging, breath hitching in his throat. He blinked rapidly, trying to wipe away the tears.

That's when he saw her.

A soft shimmer, like moonlight through morning mist.

She was just… there.

Standing between two tall trees, golden strands of hair drifting in the air like they had a will of their own. Her dress flowed like water, pale blue, glowing faintly at the edges. Her eyes—warm, like sunlight after rain. Gentle. So, so gentle.

Then she stepped forward, barefoot on the forest floor, not making a sound. She knelt in front of him, one hand cupping his cheek. Her fingers were warm.

He blinked up at her. "…Wh-Who…?"

She smiled, soft as feathers. "Hey there."

The boy flinched. "Wh—Where did you come from?" fгeewebnovёl.com

She tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Just now."

"You… You weren't here."

"Wasn't supposed to be. But then I felt you fall."

Her voice was strange. Not accent-heavy, but clear, almost echoing even though she wasn't loud. She felt like a dream.

He looked past her, toward the rise. "My brother—he's—he's still—"

She gently placed a finger on his lips. "Shhh. I know."

Tears welled up in his eyes again. "They're gonna hurt him…"

Her smile faded, but her eyes never lost that warmth. "What's your name?"

"Eli," the boy whispered. "My name is Eli."

"Well then, Eli…" She leaned closer, her nose almost touching his. "My name is Aurora."

He blinked. "Aurora?"

She nodded.

"Are you an angel?"

That made her laugh, soft and musical. "No. Not quite."

"Then… what are you?"

She tapped his forehead lightly. "Someone who heard you scream on the inside."

Eli stared at her, heart pounding. "Can you… Can you save him?"

Aurora's smile returned, but this time… there was something else behind it. Like steel hiding behind silk.

"That's the reason I'm here."

Eli's lips parted, eyes wide. "…Really?"

She stood slowly, her hair floating behind her like a banner. "Close your eyes for a second, Eli."

"Why?"

"Because this part might be a little loud."

She turned.

The forest behind them seemed to ripple, as though it sensed her. As though even the trees knew someone different was here now.

Eli closed his eyes, hands over his ears.

Aurora raised her hand.

And the sky cracked.

WHUUMM!

A pulse of light shot up from her body—pure white and gold, so bright even the hunters on the slope had to shield their eyes. The clouds twisted into a spiral, forming a giant glowing ring in the sky.

Time rushed forward again.

Eli opened one eye.

Up the slope—dozens of feet away—his brother stood, still holding the line. Still glowing faintly.

But now, the hunters weren't aiming at him.

They were staring at Aurora.

She stood between them and Eli, arms down, wind swirling around her like she belonged to the sky.

The lead hunter took a step forward. "Who the hell are—?!"

Aurora snapped her fingers.

CRACK!

The ground under the hunter's feet reversed. Literally folded inward like paper being pulled in, and he disappeared with a yelp—like he'd fallen through the floor of the world.

The rest of the hunters froze.

"What the—?!"

"She's a—what is she?!"

Aurora walked forward slowly, every step blooming with light that dissolved the leaves before they touched her. "You came into these woods with guns."

Her voice echoed now—three, four layers of her speaking at once.

"You chased children."

Her eyes glowed white. Not blinding. But deep. Like you'd fall forever if you stared too long.

"You dared to fire."

She raised her hand.

And the guns flew—ripped from their owners, hovering mid-air in front of her like they'd been summoned by gravity itself. One by one, they melted into golden dust.

One hunter screamed and turned to run.

Aurora didn't move.

She just looked at him.

And the trees in front of him moved. Like they shifted themselves to block him, vines wrapping around his legs, dragging him down gently but firmly.

She finally turned her head.

The older boy—still pulsing with that strange celestial light—was staring at her.

Breathing hard. Eyes wide.

He didn't say anything.

Neither did she.

But something passed between them.

And slowly, his body dimmed—returning to his human form, shaking with exhaustion.

Aurora walked up to him.

"…He okay?" he asked hoarsely, his voice breaking.

Aurora smiled. "He's waiting for you."

He looked like he was about to cry. "Thank you…"

"You protected him," she said gently. "I just handled the cleanup."

Then, just as softly, she reached out and touched his forehead.

"Sleep."

He slumped forward—and before he could hit the ground, she caught him. Held him like a mother would her own child. Then slowly carried him down the slope.

Eli ran toward them. "Brother!"

Aurora set the older boy down on a bed of soft glowing grass she summoned with a wave of her hand.

"He'll be okay," she said.

Eli hugged his brother's sleeping form tightly, tears running down his cheeks.

Aurora smiled again, her golden hair catching the sunlight that filtered through the trees. She turned away, just a little.

But Eli looked up. "Will I see you again?"

Aurora paused. "…Maybe."

He looked down, disappointed.

Then she knelt again, poking his nose. "But next time, you better not be running for your life, okay?"

Eli blinked at her, eyes still shining with tears, but a small smile playing on his lips now. He clutched his brother's hand tighter, feeling the warmth slowly return to the older boy's skin—his chest rising, breathing calm. It gave him strength.

Aurora rose again, her pale blue dress shimmering like a ripple over a still lake. Her golden eyes, soft but searching, settled on Eli.

"…Do you want to come with me?" she asked.

Eli stared, heart thudding. "C-Come with you?"

She nodded gently. "Not forever. Not if you don't want to. But you and your brother… you're not safe here. Not anymore."

Eli looked around the forest—the torn branches, the glowing embers where bullets had shattered, the silence still hanging in the air like the forest was holding its breath.

"…Where would we go?" he asked, almost a whisper.

Aurora's eyes brightened, just a little. "Somewhere far from here. A place where no one can find you unless you want to be found."

Eli turned and looked at his brother. "Will he be okay?"

"He'll wake soon," she said. "Tired. But whole. I promise."

Eli looked down, fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. Then back up at her. "…Do you have a house?"

She smiled, crouching a little to meet his eyes again. "A big one. Made of light and clouds and trees. It floats sometimes. We even have a library where the books whisper your name."

His eyes lit up. "Really?!"

"Mmhm," she nodded. "And a garden where the fruit glows, and a lake that reflects the stars even during the day."

Eli looked down at his brother. "…Can we bring him?"

Aurora tilted her head. "I wouldn't ask you to come without him."

The boy hesitated, his little fists clenched at his sides. "What about our stuff? Our clothes?"

Aurora chuckled, standing tall again. "We'll get new ones. You'll look good in white."

He paused. Then—"Okay."

She smiled. "Okay?"

"Okay." He looked determined now, eyes set. "But only if he's really coming too."

"Of course," Aurora said.