Through the 12 Realms

Chapter 23: Anomaly

"You're a half-elf!? That's so cool!" Antoinette says in excitement.

Asteris chuckles a bit more from the excitement in Antoinette's voice.

"Haha, thanks, it's nothing too special though." She says.

"But that's so cool how you're an elf, what's it like?" Antoinette asked.

"Hmm, well...It's not too different from you. The biggest difference is probably the difference in eyesight." Asteris replied.

"What do you mean?" Antoinette questioned further.

"Well, not only can I see further and clearer than humans and some species, but I can also see elemental spirits. Which I think is the biggest difference." Asteris replied.

"That's so cool! But...what are elemental spirits?" Antoinette asked.

"I...don't really know myself, ever since I could remember, I've had this little fairy look-alike follow me everywhere I go. I asked my father about it and he says that they're elemental spirits, he said that there are all different kinds of spirits. Like water spirits, fire spirits, wind spirits and so on." Asteris explained.

"So...what type of spirit is the one that follows you?" Antoinette asked.

"I asked my father about it and he said it is most likely to be a light spirit." Asteris replied.

"That's so cool!" Antoinette was still full of excitement.

"Now who's this young lady?" Ornn could be heard from the doorway to the room. 

"Ah Ornn, what brings you here?" Dagothur asked.

"I'm hungry, wanted to see if there was any food." Ornn replied.

"Who's she?" He asked.

"This is Asteris, titled the Princess of the Bow." Dagothur replied.

"Surely she's not that good." Ornn replied lazily.

"She's very capable." Dagothur said confidently.

"Hmm..." Ornn stared at her for a few seconds.

Asteris suddenly felt like she was being seen through, that all her thoughts could be seen, that every lie and truth she had ever told had been revealed for a moment. Sending shivers down her spine from the eerie feeling.

"Not bad..." Ornn turned towards Asteris.

"You've got potential kid, maybe a few more years and you'd be quite the prominent person." Ornn said.

"T-Thank...you?" Asteris replied, confused by the feeling that had just disappeared. 

"This bow is no good though, you need one suited to you." Ornn replied as he held up Asteris' bow that had just disappeared from her back.

Shocked, Asteris quickly stood up and faced Ornn.

"H-how?!" Asteris asked. 

"Trade secret." Ornn said as he held a finger to his mouth.

"Here, catch." Ornn said as he lobbed the bow towards Asteris, who only barely caught it after she freed herself from the feeling of shock. 

"How'd you do that Ornn?" Dagothur asked.

"As I said, trade secret." Ornn said.

Dagothur only contemplated for a few moments before shrugging his shoulders and giving up on getting a proper answer from Ornn.

"Now what about you?" Ornn said as he turned towards Antoinette, staring her down just as he did Asteris.

The same feeling that Asteris felt had come upon Antoinette, who felt as though her entire life up to this point had just been revealed to someone she didn't even know too well. Just like Asteris, the feeling had vanished once Ornn had spoken up.