The Beloved Elf Just Wants to Lie Flat

Yijia was reborn as an elf. When he learned the name of the elf born on the same day as him, he realized he had transmigrated into a book.

He had become a cannon-fodder elf in a Western fantasy novel.

In the original story, the Mother Tree of Life was slowly dying. He and the protagonist, Dicia, were born on the same day, the only two natural elves born in the Forest of Elves in five hundred years.

The protagonist, Dicia, was born with a perfect affinity for wood-elemental magic. According to the oracle, he was the holy son destined to lead the elves back to their former glory and revive the Mother Tree. As soon as his talent was discovered, the king decided to keep him at his side and personally educate him.

Jealous of Dicia's talent, Yijia was manipulated by an evil mage into trying to steal it through dark magic. In the end, he repented and gave his life to stop the spell, his soul returning to the Mother Tree.

As a former corporate drone, Yijia knew that with great power came great responsibility.

As one of the only two natural elves born in the Forest of Elves in five hundred years, he was pretty special, too.

Although the king didn't pay him much attention, the elves in the royal city were eager to pamper him. He could ask for any number of artistic treasures, and because his talent was only average, no one expected anything of him or pressured him to study!

He could do whatever he wanted and study whatever he liked. No one would interfere. They'd only praise him: "The little sapling our baby planted has grown flower buds! Our baby's so clever!"

For a corporate drone, this was a dream life in paradise!!!

Who would want to oppose the protagonist? He couldn't be bothered with that sort of thing.

*

When Dicia was still an elf fruit, a short memory appeared in his mind. It told him that the elf fruit beside him would one day hurt him out of jealousy.

Dicia didn't tell anyone. He simply made a quiet decision: he would keep a close eye on Yijia, and if he ever saw signs that Yijia was going astray, he'd step in at once and set him straight.

To keep his little friend from turning evil, Dicia decided to stick close to Yijia, making sure he noticed every change in his friend's feelings right away.

Instead, he discovered that his little friend spent his days planting flowers, teasing birds, experimenting with food, and eating with great enthusiasm. He stayed up late to watch the stars and slept until he woke naturally, living a wonderfully carefree life.

Meanwhile, Dicia, whom the Elf King had high hopes for, had a crushing workload. He had to start studying at dawn and continue until dark.

Most importantly, he even had to steal time from meals just to visit his little friend.

Dicia: Which one of us is supposed to turn evil here?!

*

[An indulgent, lighthearted 1v1 romance. Please forgive the many liberties taken with the setting.]

*

Please add my next farming novel, Transmigrate to Prehistoric Times to Become a Shaman [Worldbuilding], to your want-to-read list.

Blurb:

Yu Xia was reborn in the body of a young shaman from a prehistoric tribe. His timing couldn't have been worse: the tribe faced both a brutal winter and a food shortage. The people shivered in a freezing cave, on the brink of extinction.

Outside the cave, the world was buried in snow. Yu Xia struggled to find new food to supplement their dwindling supplies. Just as he thought he'd have to start farming from scratch, his golden finger finally came online!

[Planting System bound. Personal Center activating.]

[System activated. Starter gift package issued. Host, please click to claim.]

*

The Summer Shaman was the wisest shaman on the Totem Continent, and a favorite of the Spring God.

He plucked the sun from the winter sky and brought warmth to his people.

When his hand brushed the grass, it gained the power to heal.

Wherever he went, golden waves of wheat rose and rice filled the granaries.

The Summer Shaman brought abundance and healing to the Totem Continent. On the lands under his protection, hunger vanished from the lives of his people.

Everyone longed to become one of the Summer Shaman's people. Every warrior took pride in becoming one of his guardians. But only one warrior was chosen by Summer to be his guardian. His name was Yi.

*

Yi would always remember that day, when the young shaman spoke to him and then held out his hand:

"Yi means an arrow with a cord. Once an arrow leaves the bow, it never comes back."

"Did you choose that name because you long for a cord to tether you, an arrow loosed from its bow?"

Yi didn't answer him then.

It wasn't until a late night long afterward, when Yi gently nipped the shaman's skin with his canine teeth and lingered at his neck, gazing at the shaman's dazed, unfocused face, that he finally admitted in a whisper, "You are my reins."

I will be an arrow that returns, the most loyal hunting hound.

I will keep my eyes on your hand, and on the reins you hold.

Never let go. Never put them down.

*

[This story features totemic divine powers and other original worldbuilding.]

Theme: Protect nature.