The ~Pirate~ and the ~Warrior~

Mirra Town

"Hello? Anybody here?"

The door creaked as it opened. A stranger walked in, his boots making a loud noise when they hit the floorboards.

"Ah, a guest! Come in! Are you a traveller?"

"Yep! From Denya Harbour."

The traveller walks into the dim lights of the Tavern. The bartender invites him to sit at the bar.

"Denya is a long way from here. What brought you travelling?"

"My wife is a historian. She sent me out to help with her work, maybe find something interesting"

"Right..." the bartender nodded "Well, strange your travels brought you here. Anyway, can I get you anything?"

"You have buttercup whiskey? It's been a long while since I've had any..."

"Yes, we do! Hold on, I'll get some"

The bartender grabbed a glass and spun around to prepare the drink.

"Thanks, friend. Say, what's your name?"

"I have many names, currently I'm known as Miri"

"Miri huh... Interesting, never heard a name like that"

"Yes, well, it is unique"

Miri slides the glass of Buttercup Whiskey towards the traveller. He started chugging it, nearly finishing it in one go.

"looks like the drinking habits of the Denyans hasn't changed"

"Ha! Well, we do have the biggest alcohol trade in the world"

"I'm well aware. You lot keep me in business."

The traveller finished his drink and asked if he could have a refill. Miri complied then went to polishing glasses.

"so... Miri... Where you from?"

"ah, me? My home town isn't on the map anymore"

"it isn't? The maps haven't changed since the war which was-"

"1500 years ago, I know. It's not my 'real' hometown but I consider it that. I was born in Britnia"

"Britnia? That fancy posh area? Weird, never took you for it"

"nobody does"

The traveller put his empty glass on the counter and opened his wallet.

"How much do I owe?"

"2 pieces"

"only 2? Well, that's awful cheap"

"Travellers discount, and it's cheaper in the day"

"fair 'nough. Well, see you around!"

Traveller dropped his 2 silver pieces on the counter and left the Tavern with a slam of the door. Miri let out a sigh and put away the money.

As the day went on, the Tavern stayed quiet. The only other visitors were the village children. They visit because it's the only place in the town that interests them.

Once the sun had set, more people started appearing. Men and women after work, tourists staying at the Inn and the occasional child sneaking away from home.

Miri's favourite time of day was Midnight. Midnight when the moon shone bright and when all the adolescents from the town came to the Tavern to listen to Miri's stories.

Once the moon was high in the sky, Miri lit a few candles and hung the closed sign on the door.

They waited to hear a knock on the door and the quiet laughs and giggles from the children. As usual, they knocked and Miri opened the door for them.

"Hi, Miri! You got a fun story today?"

"of course child"

They all come in and sit around a fire in the corner. Miri takes off their tattered cloak and sits with them.

"Before we start... Do we have any questions?"

"ooh! I have one!"

"Yes?"

"Miri, why do you always wear a hood?"

"For my safety. Do you know anybody else who looks like me?"

The children shook their heads. Miri did have quite a unique appearance. Dark skin, bright yellow eyes, deep purple hair and long pointed ears.

"Why do you look like that?"

One of them asked the person next to them whacked them in the chest saying 'you can't ask that!'.

Miri chuckled.

"it's alright... How about this will be tonight's story? So, around 1500 years ago, there were 4 nations, do you know them?"

The children shook their heads, Miri sighed.

"Honestly, do they just not teach you history these days? The 4 nations where The Nation of People, The Elven Nation, The Nation of Faeries and the Pixie Kingdom"

"Miri, I thought Pixie's and Faeries were the same things?"

"They are, technically. There were once combined and called The Nation of Dust."

"Dust? Like the stuff Mother makes me clean?!"

"no child. The dust they had was unique to them only. It let them use their powers"

The children were all staring, Miri sighed. They knew the school system around here wasn't good but they didn't think it was this bad.

"The Nation of Dust split in half when the war began. One side wanted to help the Humans in the Nation of People, the other side wanted to help us the Elves"

"who won the war?"

"Humans you idiot! How many elves do you know?"

"Hey! No need for that. Although, you are right. The Elven Nation was nearly wiped from the world and Humans took over. The few of us left are all descendants of two important people"

"Who?"
"Who are they?!"
"Are they, like, super cool Elf royalty?"

"no, not quite... How about this, over the next while I'll tell you an important story. The story of the Human Pirate, Silvera, and the Elven Warrior, Mirior, and how they ended the race war..."

"Can you start it tonight??"

"I don't know, you have to go home soon."

"please Miri pleeease??"

"Fine, but it won't belong. Okay?"

The children got excited. They loved Miri's stories and Miri loved telling them.

The children closed their eyes. Miri taught them that closing their eyes could help them imagine the world and the characters within it.

"Now, listen in... A long, long time ago..."

...