Pillars of Age

Midnight Errand, Fateful Path

RIVAR

The city of Parsha lay shrouded in darkness, its torches casting long, wavering shadows that barely pierced the gloom. Zorhav and Hetir, the twin moons, were mere slivers in the sky, and Zutir would not be full for several more nights.

Rivar approached the Forest Elf representative building just before midnight, his weariness evident in his heavy steps. The evening had demanded he traverse the harsh desert villages of RasParsha, attending to various duties.

"Ah, Rivar, you've returned at last," greeted Tarvih, his concern evident in the furrow of his brow.

"Is there another task, sir?" Rivar's voice was flat, not betraying the exhaustion weighing down his body.

Tarvih hesitated, then sighed. "There is one more. An important Forest Elf has arrived and needs to retrieve a stored jar from the city's underground warehouse. She plans to leave Parsha soon and cannot wait."

"Do you mean the Lower District on the East Side of the City?"

"Yes, I need you to catch up with her immediately and deliver the jar."

"Understood, sir. I'll leave at once."

"Be cautious, Rivar. Nights like these are dangerous for a Forest Elf like her."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Just hurry and catch up with her!"

Rivar ran through the city, descending the well-lit plaza steps into the darker, winding corridors.

Near the closed City Market, Rivar found the Forest Elf. She was a short, mortal elf with silver hair, clutching a jar tightly.

"I am Master Tarvih's porter. Let me carry that for you..."

Suddenly, sinister-looking mortals surrounded them, their intentions clear in their cruel smirks.

"It's just his porter. No problem, we can sell him as a slave too," sneered a human, the apparent leader of the group.

"Pirates," Rivar muttered.

"Miss Elf, don't resist. We don't want you hurt..." the human's tone was deceptively gentle, "...because we don't want your selling price to drop!"

Their cruel laughter echoed in the night. Suddenly, the elf woman spoke sharply to Rivar, "Hold this jar properly. Keep it upright, no swaying. Understood?"

Startled by her commanding tone, Rivar took the jar with stiff manner.

The pirates seemed confused until the leader spoke again, "It seems this elf is not right in the head. Don't resist or..."

"Silence!" the elf snapped, drawing a silver-bladed sword.

Annoyed, the leader gestured at his men. A silver flash darted from the elf's hand, and a burly man behind her fell, bleeding, having tried to grab her.

"Attack her!" the leader shouted.

Two Orcs, wielding clubs, lunged at the elf, only to be thrown back by silver streaks that struck their weapons, sending them crashing into their companions.

More silver flashes cut through the night, felling the pirates. One flash disarmed the leader, hurling him into the market wall beside Rivar.

The elf moved swiftly, stabbing the fallen Orcs and their trapped companions. She then leaped towards the leader, her brown cloak billowing, greenish armour glinting, and landed on him, pinning him down.

Her emerald eyes stared coldly into the terrified leader's, and without emotion, she slit his throat.

The elf stood; her silver blade gleaming as she flicked the blood away in a graceful arc before sheathing it. She approached Rivar.