e are in Central Europe, at the foot of the Carpathians. In the wood of the Four Roads, near the small town of Bloch, lives an elf.

 An elf is an unmanifest spirit – that is to say deprived of a body – which flits between earth and Heaven. These little flames can sometimes be seen flying over the marshes, as a storm or a serious event approaches.

  Living alone, our elf often hangs around humans. He likes to see them working together, building beautiful buildings, helping each other with haymaking, raising their children...

 One evening, through an open window, he hears muffled moans. Approaching, he sees that they come from a young girl.

 “  How beautiful she is,” he thinks. But... why is she crying?

 From the soul in turmoil of the young girl escape strange turbulence. These are his thoughts.

 “ There's Isa downstairs, passing by! How I envy her. Anatole loves him, they go out, they have fun. And I am here, all alone...

 The elf understands that she loves this boy, but she doesn't dare tell him.

 “ Well why?? She is so pretty !

 When suddenly she starts to pace the room, he understands. Like a wounded bird, she drags a weak leg.

 The elf returns to his woods, disturbed.

 " Well in humans, it's better not to be different from the others!"

 The next day and the following days, he observes it. She earns her living by working a few days a week for Master Maillard, the town notary. The young girl copies the deeds and manages her appointments. She also maintains her plants and the garden adjoining the study.