Quite a bit, some of it possibly even true

Hilda learns quite a bit about the elf as they travel together. She's a druid, originally from across the sea (which, Hilda supposes, explains her thick accent) that has come here to learn more about the state of nature in this part of the world.

Maybe its her cute drawl (which I probably wont be typing out from here onwards), or just her charming nature (or the strange hum and glow coming from the druid's staff that is subtly and slowly enchanting Hilda), but something about this woman puts Hilda at ease.

"Why did you decide to come here? Don't you miss your homeland Mahlgwienn?" Hilda asks as they continue walking along the road.

The two have been chatting for hours now, most of that time about Hilda, her family (and her substantial wealth), and her role as a knight.

"Please, call me Mahlly," the elf says in her cute, twangy accent. "It's what all my friends call me." She playfully winks at Hilda

W-when did I start thinking the way she talked was cute?

"Ok, Mahlly," Hilda blushes and giggles. "But why travel so far to study nature?"

"It's a sad story." The druid sighs, as her eyes grow heavy. "The countries of man, and dwarf, and even elf, out east have been busy building and expanding for decades. They burn down forests for farmland. They pollute the rivers and lakes with the waste from their cities. They kill animals for meat and fur and fun. They strip-mine mountains for metal, much like the kind you are wearing," she says as she points a finger Hilda, making the knight blush. "They have ruined the land, leaving only destruction and misery in their place."

"That's so awful," Hilda says as she feels a twinge of guilt for all of the things she's done like that.

"That's why I came here," the elf says. "There is still time to preserve the land here, and convince the people to become one with nature once more."

"What do you mean, Mahlly?" Hilda asks. "And how can I help?"

The druid just smiles as she looks at her. "Well for starters..."