At a Distance: The Story of Anariel

Page One

                My name is Anariel. I am an elf cleric from the highest altitude of Elwood Forest. My story begins in flames. When I was seven years old lightning struck my home and it burned. I was lucky enough to escape through a window with a broken frame. All the others were too heavy for me to lift. My parents and younger brother were not as lucky as I was. All three of them died that night.

            I began living with my grandmother after that. Regardless of the tragedy she tried to created the most cheerful and light-hearted environment for me. She trained me as a cleric and taught me every academic skill she knew. I can read, write, and do basic math. I know my history, speak well, and am well informed about culture and the life around me. For a long time everything was good. Of course, nothing lasts forever.

            When I was sixteen my grandmother died and I had nowhere else to go. I didn’t know of any other relatives and had no friends to run to. I’d spent so much time in solitude with my grandmother that even though I knew about the outside world I didn’t know how to live in it.

            I had no choice but to move on to a larger village and look for work and board. On my first night in town I happened to be passing by a pet store just as a small human girl tripped and skinned her knee. Her mother tried to console her and dabbed the wound with a handkerchief. After a moment of consideration I crouched down in front of the pair.

            “I might be able to help,” I offered a small smile to the reluctant mother. “I’m a cleric,” I explained and reached a tentative hand out to the young girl. She removed her hand from the wound. It wasn’t bad at all. It was just a few small scrapes, but in a moment they would be gone along with the pain.

            I took a deep breath, channeling the peaceful atmosphere I had learned my art in and the determination I had to remove pain from others. I brushed the girl’s leg with my fingertips and she gasped. It was often easier to work when the pain was removed first. I cupped my hand over the wound before flattening my palm against her knee and swiping it downward, revealing perfectly in-tack skin. The only evidence of injury was the smear of a few drops of blood.

            “Thank you very much,” The girl’s mother said gratefully as she and her daughter stood.

            “Say thank you, Talia,” She nudged her daughter, who looked up at me shyly.

            “Thank you,” I couldn’t help smiling. She reminded of me when I was her age. So serious. So full of wonder. So gentle.

            “You’re welcome,” I nodded to the mother as they walked away. I had intended on continuing on my hunt for lodging, but was directly stopped.

            “A cleric, eh?” The voice came from a graying old man standing in the doorway of the pet shop. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in a job,” For a moment I could only blink at him. What are the chances?

            “I am, actually,” I stepped closer to him and away from the traffic on the sidewalk.

            “I don’t suppose you can use that healing magic on animals?”