A Christmas Tale

Luke's Story 2: A Christmas Quest

The Mage grabs over to the staff that lies clutched in the Crusader's hands, pulling it free as she once again jumps from the sleigh. "Time for some real interrogation" she turns on her heel, pointing the luminous stone of her staff towards the darkness as an array of lights begins to glow under the moon's influence. The deer that pull the sleigh are released by more of the tiny creatures from before as the animals are guided swiftly towards a frosty roofed barn. The mage's satchel shakes as if something is trying to escape as she releases the creature and it rushes off to the large house in that has a loose path connecting it to the barn. "Run elf... Show me the way..." The Mage says softly, still giving off a menacing aura as the Paladin jumps out to follow. "That's an elf? But elves are tall and intelligent? This doesn't seem to be either of those two." She finishes as the Crusader wobbles out of the side of the sleigh. "There are different types of elves, for example, this seems to be some kind of companion creature whereas you're thinking of the race. It's partly the reason why the races are so controversial..." He holds his head as he tries to prevent himself from being sick due to the journey. The Paladin gasps while turning to a nearby elf "Was that comment racist? I'm so sorry little elves!" She reaches out to one of the passing workers who just looks up at her with big confused eyes before moving on. "Always the righteous..." The Mage sighs as she waves her hand in a following motion. The two knights look up to her before strolling behind her up the twisted path as a group of tiny elves run to the house's door. The Paladin walks to the door, slowly twisting the handle as she tries to force it open. The door doesn't budge but her feet do as the ice beneath her causes her to fall forward, accidentally denting the door slightly as a load of scuttling can be heard from the other side. The Crusader raises an eyebrow before pushing the door open the rest of the way "Well this wasn't what I was expecting?" He says as an army of elves stands before them, creating a rug-like appearance due to their small stature. The Crusader peers innocently back at the paladin who is still trying to stabilise herself on the ice. He nods, walking over to the defending line before saying "Godzilla!" as he lifts his foot in a stomping motion as his body seems to freeze. "We're not here to fight..." The Mage pulls him away as his body unlocks, pushing the now stable Paladin forward as she speaks. The Crusader pouts "At least I can take it off the list..." The Paladin's head turns to the elves as she crouches on one knee as if to bow in apology. Sadly, the large size difference causes her to still tower a couple centimetres above them but she closes her eyes regardless, speaking with the utmost sincerity in her voice "We haven't come here to harm you; we're just looking for the gifts that have been taken from our kingdom." Her voice is calming as the elves look between themselves as heavy footsteps echo from behind them. The door swings open as the army looks back all at once, attracting the eyes of the heroes as well. The Paladin raises their head, meeting kind eyes as all the elves disperse to the sides of the room. The Paladin stays in position as the Mage attempts to walk forward, being stopped by a group of elves that run in front of her. She raises an eyebrow and then looks over to the Paladin as the large man makes his way to the centre with her "Rise, you need not have formalities with me." His voice is soft yet slightly gruff which gives him an air of importance as the Paladin finally stands, glancing back at her friends for a moment as the old man speaks again "So you've come here to look for some missing gifts? We give them, we don't take them away." "That's why we were confused when..." The Mage begins as something flies into her mouth. "Hey! That's my tri..." A second sweet flies into the Crusader's mouth as he starts. They chew, the Mage making one final comment before they both stop talking "...huh, bittersweet..." The man looks back to the Paladin "Oh... err... We were really surprised when we found your sleigh speeding through town. It looked like it was taking things from the buildings." The jolly man's eyes change to slight anger as he's accused "Are you saying that this is my doing! I thought you said you had no quarrel with us!" He exclaims, throwing his hands in the elves' direction "They only do what they're told, nothing else..." He calms down as the Mage hops over the elven carpet before her. "As she said, we were surprised. I for one don't believe that the magic man who flies at mock speeds would need anything from a measly kingdom." The Man chuckles as he raises his hand to the elves that are trying to hold her back. "Glad to see someone appreciates it. I don't go to everyone which you should know all too well." She nods "'There isn't much point in believing in the impossible' I guess I was wrong for once." The Mage casually comments as she points her wand at him. "Naughty list it is for life then..." The jolly man scowls as the gem lights up, causing the Paladin to back away from the encounter. "Who else has control over the elves?" The Mage commands as the Man looks surprised. "Are you implying that I'm going to help you while you're threatening me?" The Mage lowers her staff, tilting her head slightly as a cocky look spreads across her face. "I don't think my threat is the reason you're so stressed. You have the same problem we have, don't bend the truth Nick." The Man sighs with annoyed eyes as he's been figured out "Fine, come inside. I guess I do have a use for you." The Crusader begins to follow but he's stopped by the tiny wall of elves once again "Can you call off your elves? They don't seem to be letting me through?" He says in confusion as they all walk inside the main room of the house. The man turns to look back "You tried to crush my workers under you're metal boot, you can stay outside." He closes the door before pulling a note of paper out of his pocket. He writes down the Mage's and Crusader's full names before sighing and returning to the girls who have taken a seat by the fire. The man places the note back into his pockets before sitting in a great armchair as the remaining heroes look back to him with surprise of how warm the room is. "Why don't you take off your armour, it must be boiling you like a roasted duck." The man offers the Paladin who promptly declines "I'm afraid I shouldn't. I know that you're merely worried for my wellbeing but I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome after we have our mission." She bows her head in submission as the man chuckles "It's fine, twas just an offering." She nods before a shiver shocks through her spine and she feels slightly more comfortable as the temperature lowers around her. "The magic power here is amazing..." The Paladin says with awe as the Mage studies each panel of the roof in search for the magic's source. The room glows with a radiant and glossy touch lining each plank of wood used to make it. Everything just seems natural from the ceiling to the floor; even the fireplace seems to be a part of the rustic wooden look. A flame roars a couple centimetres off of the ground, smoke erupting into the chimney as it's filtered out into the freezing world outside. Bright red and green lights line the walls that draw attention to a girthy tree that stands tall next to the front door, a golden star illuminating the entire room sitting peacefully on top. "I'm not quite used to asking for help from other people..." The man says timidly as the Paladin smiles "In a way, we're working for you so just treat us as if you were talking to an elf." She says as the man shakes his head "They don't take direct commands unless told otherwise, they mainly just read their owner's mind and do what they truly want them to do." The Mage's head lowers from her upward stare as she hears this "Interesting... Alright, then just tell us the problem as it runs through your head. We'll figure out what to do from your rambles." The Mage pulls out her piece of paper once again, readying herself for a disorganised list of information while the man begins to think back. "Mass numbers of presents have been disappearing as of late; not enough to completely break our chances of flying on time but enough to put us behind schedule slightly. Due to these continuous setbacks, I've had the elves working overtime but they don't seem to be making much progress." He pauses as the Mage looks up from her notes "Anyone in particular that would want to do this?" She says while the Paladin stares at her "Who would want to ruin Christmas!?" She bursts as the Mage raises an eyebrow "Really? With the number of 'naughty' people on the planet it could be anyone." She gestures to herself and the Paladin gains all the emotions of a grieving puppy. They look back, taken back by the man's fist clenching in his lap. "Jack... If it's anyone it'll be him." The Mage grins at the Paladin before turning serious faced at the man "Who is this 'Jack'?" The paladin shrugs off the Mage's arrogant stare before speaking as the man takes in a breath to respond. The house begins to shake and the lights begin to clatter against the walls. The door bursts open as the Crusader grabs the Mage from her chair. "Hey! I said you were to stay outside!" The Man shouts but the Crusader just ignores him as they reach the front of the house where a mob of elves stands, staring towards a red spec in the sky as it flies away. "Send me up, I'll stop it again!" He shouts as the Mage shakes her head "No, let it go." He looks confused for a moment before shrivelling his nose with annoyance "Why not? Is it moving too fast? Too far away? Why can't you send me up there!?" He points towards the rapidly disappearing spec in the sky as the man jogs outside with the Paladin "My sleigh!" he shouts as the Paladin confronts the Mage "Why aren't you teleporting him?" The Mage gives her usual smile before showing a corner of the paper she was writing on to be gone "I told him to run, this case is as good as figured out." She gestures to the house as she continues "Now then, now may be a good time to take good ol' Nick up on his offer Ms Southern Paladin... We may be waiting an hour or two." The Mage gives a confident look as the Paladin turns to the man "Is the offer still standing sir?" He wants to protest to get his sleigh back but once he looks into the knight's eyes he melts and invites them inside "You better know what you're doing Kifure..." The Man gives the Mage a dirty look as she gets a shiver down her spine "You of all people will know my track record." She says with her usual tone of voice and a confident expression.