Alone

The shouting fades away, the bag on my back bouncing up and down in time with my steps. I soon stop running, instead resorting to walking to catch my breath. I couldn't believe I actually did it, actually ran away.

As I pass over the top of the mountain out of the forest and Kingswood, the elvish world, I stop, staring in awe, at the human city in the distance. At the skyscrapers and their dreadful pollution making machines.

I figure that my kind won't bother chasing me out here, they'll be too worried to be seen by the humans. I take off my bag and dig through it, pulling out the elvish bread I had packed away in there, taking a bite.

I then measure the height of the sun, estimating that there's around four more hours until dawn.

After repacking my bag properly, having not been able to before, I sling my bow over my shoulder, along with my quiver holding my arrows and my two daggers. Once everything is in place, I continue my trek towards the human city, ready to start a new life, where I am not born into a job and where I am free.

I am sucked into memories as I walk across the grassy hills, toward Odina, the human city.

I reminisce on my happiest moments, of uncle Haldir, who was like a father to me, teaching me to fight, when I got my first bow, the first time I was allowed in the forest alone, the freedom I felt, the freedom I wanted to continually feel.

I remember all those times, and more, and I promise myself that I will not forget about everything I left behind.

⥂

I soon arrive at Odina and my breath is temporarily taken away.

There's more pollution making machines than I could have ever imagined but, somehow, it is still beautiful. Past all the smog and contaminated rivers there is beauty, in the tall buildings, the people walking down the street, rushing to get somewhere.

There is beauty. However it's the kind of beauty that is only visible the first time you see it and then disappears when you get to know the town, when you see the rats scuttling around in the darkness and the drunks stumbling home, catcalling every woman they see.

The kind of beauty that is dark and twisted, but at the same time, impossible to take your eyes off.

The kind of beauty you never want to see.

Nevertheless, I force myself to take a step forward. I've come this far already; I'm not going to turn back now.

My feet lead me inside the town and the buildings loom over me everywhere I turn. I reach a busy building called Oak Tavern and make sure my pointy ears are hidden by my hair before pushing open the door and walking in.

I approach the woman at the desk, her greasy black hair is tied up in a bun, keeping it out of her face.

"Hello. I'm Agatha. Welcome to Oak Tavern. What can I do for you?" She says flatly, like a broken record, barely glancing up from the desk.

"Uh hello Agatha, I was wondering if you had any spare rooms." I question her, slightly put off by her disinterested look.

"How many people." She asks just as bored as before.

"Just one."

She moves her finger down a piece of paper on the desk, looking to see if there is a free room, giving me a chance to take in my surroundings.

The desk is on the far side of the room, straight opposite the door. A set of stairs are situated to the right of the desk, probably leading to the motel rooms. On the right wall is a door, I'm guessing leads into the kitchen judging by what I can see from the window next to it. The left wall is occupied by a bar, complete with barstools. The rest of the room is filled with chairs and table which are mostly all occupied at the moment, by people having rounds after rounds of drinks, my mouth turns down in distaste as I watch them all throwing their lives away drinking that vile liquid.