The Tainted

[original story] The job was supposed to be just like any other. He was simply supposed to escort the kid, a simple farm boy even, to the capital and drop him off. Murk didn't expect to be thrown into the middle of a foreign realm's race for survival against an inky-black disease described as a "taint" -- especially when its inhabitants were elves. They and their magic had nearly destroyed his world, yet Tauren wanted to save them. Somehow, Murk just can't find it within himself to abandon him.