His response left her feeling rather unsatisfied. With the world in such a state, she could barely imagine someone coming from somewhere, as well as going somewhere else. Maybe the state of things weren't so bad. Mela wasn't so sure. She had no real knowledge in the real world to properly assess the man's statement. Was he coming from a town and going to another? Or was he going to a camp, having come from some profitable sort of location such as a field or thick wooded area? All she could do was speculate since he didn't appear very cooperative. When she tossed him the small meager bit of sustenance, she didn't expect thanks or anything. It would be courteous of him but she didn't expect it, not after just spending a few short minutes with the guy. He was clearly one without manners and it seemed pointless to try and foster any sort now, not when they would surely be disconnecting their paths and carrying on with whatever it was they were doing.

When he spoke in elfish, it went over her head. While Mela was aware and interested in her complicate heritage, she wasn't able to master much of the language itself. She was sure her lack of insight would upset him but it wasn't much of her concern at this point. He already didn't like her. Nor did she have anything wonderful to say regarding his showing of character. Slowly, Prince Caerleon shook her head, unable to confirm any hopes that have spurred up inside his chest. She also declined to share whether she was going to or coming from somewhere in particular. If he could be nit-picky with his own discretion then she could she. And she also didn't think she should tell him she was lost and was going someplace, since that place was meant to be kept a secret. In her heart, she knew she would be alight as long as she kept moving and didn't show her heart as much.

That seemed to be working well enough for the stranger.

Not that Mela wanted to become him.

He was cold and something about him wasn't right. She had spent too much time and energy dealing with him and it was evidently not paying off. The best choice now was to move on. If he was coming from somewhere, then it might be worth looking into. Of course he could be lying. She decided to stick to the direction which she been going in before those three ruffians intervened. In her mind, her patience had already been wasted so she saw no reason why she needed to bid the crude strange any consideration as she looked around, readying herself to leave. She used her sword to cut off some of the cloth that she could use to store food or patch up wounds with her healing spells. Aside from that, Mela was ready to keep moving. With darkness settling around them she needed to keep moving or find a place to stop and rest for a while. Rest would help the woman get her magical skills back but since she was using them so keep her warm or hydrated or even enclosed in a stone structure, she may need more time away from danger, not just rest.

It was a shame the three assailants had to die, at least one should have lived but Mela was stronger, knew better than to mourn for those who were no longer suffering on the broken earth where she still stood. She thought of her family and their own health and safety. In her heart, she didn't doubt their state. She was sure she would find a way to reunite with them and help restore the planet back to its former glory. The blond woman went back to walking, with the attack over and the danger left behind, she could focus on what was ahead of her. She had her sword stored, tied to her waist for easy access. Her heart rate had steadily fallen back to normal though that didn't mean her guard was done. A little danger could keep the princess on her toes, prove that the outside world wasn't as hopeful and brilliant as she might have anticipated. Mela thought if she could just find a village, someone might have information to help her.

The whereabouts of the safe house were unknown to her, but that didn't mean she couldn't use her intuition and family history to make a good guess as to where her brother and the others might be. As she walked up along the slim slant of the hill, she saw a cluster of bugs up ahead, their bodies lit up like a fiery candle. They were beautiful and could provide some source of light. In her mind bugs meant that food was around, that the local ecosystem had yet to crumbled. Food or plants surely would be up ahead and that gave her a bit of a hope. Her stomach was yearning for some food but she told herself she could last at least two more days before using a bit of her rations. Survival was proving to be more mental than anything else. Mela knew she'd have to be more careful about judging people and giving handouts. Nothing could be wasted. Nor could she allow herself to be deceived or taken advantage of.