lorem ipsum

Mercenary in the Elvengarde

'This darned forest...' 

'We are almost on the location site, master.'

'Please be careful, master.' 

Kyuun gracefully and soundlessly jumped over a log and beckoned us at her side, her back against a thick, elderly oak. Kanda crouched and channeled her senses, perking up her feline ears from under her steeled headgear.

'We have to come around the outpost, master. The patrol is out. But the other side is inhabited by flying manastrees...' 

'We have no other choice.' Kanda gave me a worried gaze, her dark amethyst eyes trembling so very slightly in worry.

'Kanda, it is unsightly for us to cry in front of our master, are you perhaps not convinced of master's power...?' Kanda fervently shook her head in denial to her vanilla blonde companion.

'I've never said such a thing, Kyuun! I am just genuinely worried for I have a bad feeling something is bound to happen. I can't help but to feel unsettled; the aether currents are flowing weirdly in this very forest and the mist hanging over the tree crowns gives an evil aura...' 

'Enough talk.' 

'Y-yes master!' They both shut up their mouths and prepared to move. 

The eastern area around the Twinleaf Watchtower was eerily quiet, aside the gentle rustle of wind through the waist-tall grass.  

'The manastrees should be around, please be on your guards.' Kanda low-mouthed a warning. My hands tensed on the bow and arrow and I raked my eyes upon the surroundings but I couldn't see a thing aside just grass and trees and vines twisted in grotesque shapes around the nearby archway over a tiny river.

Suddenly a multitude of squeals and squeaks. Manastrees were flying havoc, eerily pale instead of mana blue and their bones so very visible through the aetherial body as if they were scattered from their dinner right then. Their tails swished over us and few of them fervently attempted to feed on our energy on their way. Whatever scared them would be very bad news for us. I shoot down as many manastrees still lingered around trying to drain us of mana but I felt my knees weaken rampantly and my hands grew colder by second. Last thing I saw was Kyuun attempting to cast a fireball to scatter them and fainting before me as my ears heard metal clinking and footsteps of about 6 people behind us. 

***

I woke up to insistent ash grey eyes looking down on me in concern framed by dark midnight blue locks of hair. 

Elf. I suddenly tried to stand up startled but she grabbed me by the shoulder with a warm hand. A small rush of adrenaline ran through me as I felt her hand on my skin...my armor had been unclasped and taken off. I felt anxious for it was not in my sight along with my bow, quiver and other weapons. If she noticed, she didn't seem to mind much my reaction. 

'I am Roenglynde. I am the head healer of this outpost. Our patrol found you and your companions collapsed before a swarm of manastrees. I apologize for the trouble for the manastrees are usually peaceful but we have been dealing with alot of trouble since the head of the wolf pack in our forest became enraged and the aether's been agitated, holding the manastrees on their edge, unable to feed properly.' She tugged a lock of hair behind her pointed ear and her crystal earring clinked lightly. She didn't quite look as I would've expected; we were always told elves are silver haired and blue eyed, all that looked elven at her was the pale yet healthy looking skin and the fact she wore her hair swept back and held by a silver woven headpiece. Something fluffy brushed against my hand but before I could react, she took the furry creature in her lap, excusing herself.

'Sorry for that, it's my apprentice's summon. She's still training it.' She stroked the creature's weird fire-like fur and petted back it's fox-like ears. It seemed like glowing a warm aura. I tried to sit up normally this time yet my head felt bubbly and hurting. I groaned slightly trying to remember how she was called so I could've asked her a few things without being straight up rude. Afterall, I was in the elven outpost, I couldn't afford to be careless.

'You know, even miqote have easier names to remember...' It slipped my tongue.

'Miqote?' She asked seemingly dumbfound as if she never head about that before.

'...nevermind.' What did I meant to say anyway? I couldn't remember what that was either...

'You can call me Roen.'