In the quiet town of Willow's Bend, nestled between the dense Whisperwood Forest and the winding Moonlit River, the townsfolk were preparing for the Festival of Harmony. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasting meats filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming flowers from the local gardens. Children giggled as they played in the town square, their laughter echoing off the cobblestone streets. The town blacksmith, burly and sweaty, hammered away at his anvil, crafting the final touches on a set of gleaming horseshoes. Life was simple, and the days passed with a comforting predictability. Lilith and Aurelia, the local herbalists and healers, had been busy for weeks preparing for the festival. They were a peculiar sight, elf cyclops hybrid and an elf living together in a town mostly populated by humans. Their love was a silent testament to the peace that had settled upon the lands. Aurelia's strong, gentle hands moved deftly as she chopped and crushed herbs, while Lilith nimble elven fingers weaved them into bouquets and poultices. Their shop Mage Blooded was adorned with colorful flags and lights, drawing in customers with the promise of potent remedies and rare elixirs.
But the calm was shattered when Lilith's estranged half-sister, Cherry, arrived unannounced. With hair as fiery as her temper, Cherry strutted into Willow's Bend with a retinue of questionable companions. Her reputation as a troublemaker and thief had traveled far and wide, and the townsfolk cast wary glances in her direction. Despite Lilith's reservations, she couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. It had been years since she had seen her sister, and she hoped that the Festival of Harmony might bring them closer together.
As Lilith stepped outside to greet her sister, she saw Tristan and his husband, Ferrum, approaching. Tristan, a towering strong elf with a heart as big as his laugh, was Lilith's best friend since childhood. Ferrum, an elf with a penchant for crafting exquisite jewelry, held Tristan's hand tightly, his eyes scanning the scene before them with concern. They had come to visit Lilith and Aurelia, eager to introduce their 'maybe' adopted son to the town they considered their second home. But the sight of Cherry's entourage brought their stroll to an abrupt halt. Cherry spotted Lilith and her heart leaped with excitement. She had come with a secret mission, one that would grant her the power she had always craved: immortality. The explosion at the mage laboratory had sent whispers of a rare artifact through the underground networks she frequented, and she knew that Lilith, with her mage heritage, would have the key to its location. Forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, she sailed over, arms open wide. "Lilith!" she exclaimed, her voice like a siren's song. "How utterly delightful to see you again!" Cherry's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, just a little visit," she said breezily. "But I do have a favor to ask. You know how I've always envied your elven locks." She reached out and ran her fingers through Lilith's hair, feeling the softness and the power within it. "Could I possibly have a lock of your hair?" she asked, her smile never faltering.
Lilith stiffened, unsure of what game her sister was playing. "Cherry, what do you really want?" she demanded, her voice firm. She noticed Tristan and Ferrum hovering awkwardly, sensing the tension.
Cherry pouted, feigning innocence. "What? Can't a sister want a keepsake from her favorite sibling?" But Lilith wasn't fooled. She knew that Cherry's intentions were rarely pure.
"If it's just a lock of hair, what harm can it do?" Aurelia interjected, trying to defuse the tension. She had always been the peacemaker between Lilith and Cherry. Her voice was soft, yet firm. She stepped closer to Lilith, offering her hand in silent support.
Lilith hesitated, then nodded. "Fine," she said, plucking a single strand of her dandelion hair and handing it to Cherry. "But only one, and only because it's the Festival of Harmony."
Cherry's smile grew wider, and she took the hair with a dramatic flourish. "Thank you, dear sister," she said, tucking it into a pouch at her waist. She leaned in closer, her breath hot against Lilith's ear. "Meet me at the ruins of the old mage tower tonight," she whispered. "Midnight. Don't be late."
YOU ARE READING
WORLD OF EYES
Fantasy"World of Eyes" is a dark fantasy tale set in the town of Willow's Bend, where Lilith, an elf, and her partner Aurelia, an elf-cyclop hybrid, navigate a world of magic, betrayal, and loss. The story follows their struggle against Lilith's estranged...
