The human capital of Vail is the single largest city on the continent of Deigradus, having been the ruling seat of Humanity’s existence since the last great war against the Elves over 500 years ago. It helped that Vail is, in a sense of the term, an impenetrable fortress. The city itself is constructed in the natural valley created by the nearby Dragon’s Perch mountain range, and the dense forests at their base. The only way for any force to assault the capital would have to be a frontal assault. As it would turn out, it was this very reason that humanity survived not one, but two wars.
As Alexi looked up from the brochure in her hand, she couldn’t suppress her grin as she took the bustling city in. Cobblestone streets twisted and turned in an almost labyrinthian way making it easy to get lost if you weren’t careful, though snow-capped peaks of the mountain were always visible no matter where in the city you were. A way to gather your bearings should such an event occur. In the ten years she had been with Joshua, she had travelled all over the continent and despite this, none of the jobs that Joshua dictated they take ever brought them even close to Vail.
“Vail is home to the most skilled hunters humanity has to offer. No novice could ever teach at Lostvail.” He had told her once. Vail had been a dream for her, a goal. To prove herself skilled enough to participate in the entrance exam and gain entrance into the academy. But now Vail was a dream no longer. She was here. She was finally taking the exam.
The exam isn’t until tomorrow and Joshua is busy at the academy. It’s time to explore!
The streets were bustling with more people than Alexi had ever been around. Having grown up in a small town in the shadow of Vail, her family had never had a reason to visit the capital. The thought caused Alexi’s smile to fade. She flipped her hood up, crushing the brochure as she shoved her hands into her pockets, before sidestepping people on the street. Her gaze wandered purposefully as she searched for a particular structure, studying the black iron lamp posts that lined the streets at intervals. Most of the buildings were made with the same weathered brick, steel beams reinforcing the architecture. Far in the distance, a thick mist hanging just below the snowy peak was the famous Dragon’s Perch. It was both menacing and awe inspiring all at once. Pulling her eyes away from one of the greatest sights the capital could offer, Alexi noticed a mug-shaped sign not too far from where she was, reading Lilith’s Lounge.
Hanging from the side of one of the thick walled building on the street corner, it swung lightly in the breeze, as if beckoning her welcome. Chestnut-coloured bay windows gave Alexi a peek inside; With the soft blue carpet and multiple brick fireplaces paired with plush armchairs, it gave a distinct rustic feeling. Her heart skipped a beat as she noticed rows of books farther back, and once more when the scent of freshly brewed coffee set the hook.
Alexi was inside within seconds, her feet taking her right to the front counter. “I’ll have an extra large dark roast. Heavy on the cream and sugar. “
“How heavy?” The young man behind the counter asked, raising his eyebrow.
“Heavy.” Alexi responded as she pulled out some change, handing it to the man. “No such thing as too much.”
Silently, the barista took the money and a few moments later handed Alexi a steaming paper cup. Taking a sip of the incredibly sweet coffee Alexi turned back towards the aisles of books, browsing their contents. She moved with purpose, her fingers gliding over the spines of the books as her eyes took in their titles. She recognized many of them, the ones she didn’t often making her stop so she could take a closer look. Alexi remembered being able to read three books within a week when she was a child. Now she was lucky to get through one a month. When she was halfway through the third aisle, Alexi finally found what she had been hoping to find. With a soft, triumphant sound, Alexi pulled the book free from the shelf.
Prince Victor and the Wicked Plot of Wyn the Witch. The cover had a young, tired but determined looking knight clashing with a witch dressed in all black on it. Looking at it caused a wave of nostalgia to wash over Alexi. Prince Victor had been her favorite book series as a child, with the third book, the very same one in her hand, being her all time favorite. When her Father bought her the first book as a present for her 7th birthday, he told her that the author was rumored to be only a few years older than her. It sparked an eternal love for reading inside her, the knowledge that a kid like her could create such a beautiful world filled with amazing characters like the Prince himself. Her heart would race whenever her Dad would come home with a copy of Prince Victor’s latest adventure-
Stop.
Alexi’s smile once more turned into a frown as she found herself lost in her memories. Clutching the book close to her chest, she turned back towards the front counter.
“What the hell is an Elf doing here?” A voice cut through the air, causing more than a few people to glance in the direction it came from. Alexi’s curiosity about the outburst got the better of her, and she turned her gaze towards it. Sitting in one of the leather loveseats positioned by a roaring fireplace sat a boy with features that seemed almost carved out of glass. His high cheekbones, and long lashes, combined with the low-hanging ponytail made Alexi mistake him for a girl at first. Standing above him were two teenagers, sneering down at him with disdain and revilement. It was impossible to argue their declaration, with the boy’s violet hair and pointed ears.
Alexi had never seen an Elf in the flesh before, only read about them in the history textbooks Joshua made her read as a child. Human-Elf relations had been incredibly tenuous since the last war, even 500 years later. Elves lived a long time, long enough to remember enough for multiple life times. For Humans, grudges were almost hereditary. The two almost never ventured into each other’s territories. The Elf boy seemed to be ignoring the pair, his eyes closed as he sipped at his drink.
“He asked you a question, freak.” The guy to the Elf’s left snarled, his fists clenched as if ready to strike. For a brief moment, Alexi wondered if she should intervene, before quickly dashing the idea away. It was none of her business.
“Hey.” The guy on the right drawled, reaching down to the deep V-neck of the boy’s shirt, where a golden locket roughly the size of a robin’s egg hung from a delicate, matching chain. “What’s this?”
He moved almost too fast for Alexi to catch, the Elf’s hand darting out to grip the teen’s wrist, inches away from the locket. He had opened his eyes, his violet irises burning with a cool passion into the pair. “First of all gentlemen, let me assure you I am not an Elf, at least not fully.” His voice was light, sounding very young with an almost musical lilt to it. Alexi noticed as he spoke, he had begun to apply pressure to the teen’s wrist, causing the aggressor to wince and try to pull away to no avail. “Secondly, don’t ever touch my pendant. Got it?”
Finally pulling his hand free, the teen looked at his friend, both backing away. “So a half-breed. Even worse. Let’s get out of here.” Alexi watched as the pair practically ran out of the cafe, leaving the Elf boy alone. His violet gaze turned up towards her as if he sensed her watching, much to her dismay. She expected him to ignore her, or give her a warning glare. Instead, he smiled warmly and waved.
Alexi felt as if she was rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do. She had done almost nothing but train and fight for the last ten years of her life; Navigating social situations was not something she was accustomed to. Her instincts were screaming to just turn the other way and buy her book without a second look, but another part of her was pushing her forward. A part of her she desperately tried to keep buried deep inside herself. Almost before she knew what she was doing, Alexi found herself sitting across from the boy, her posture guarded as she sipped her coffee in silence. She felt like a creep.
“Hello.” The boy said, sounding delighted for company that didn’t berate him on sight. “I’m Nathan. Nice to meet you.”
“Alexi,” She muttered, glancing up at him from beneath her hood. His eyes were regarding her with casual curiosity, and combined with the boyish grin on his face, he gave off the air of a Cheshire cat.
“It’s nice to meet you Alexi. Are you a local?”
Alexi shook her head, feeling painfully out of her depth. She tried to dig for something, anything to answer with. She had gotten herself stuck in this situation. She needed to navigate it without making an utter fool of herself. “I’m from Jilvern.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Nathan seemed to perk up at her response, leaning in closer. “That’s just outside Vail, isn’t it? You must visit all the time then.”
“No,” Alexi replied more sharply than she meant to, her fingers digging into the skin of her thigh. “I haven’t lived in Jilvern for a long time.” She tried to keep the memories that threatened to rear their ugly heads at bay, taking a long sip of her coffee, her hand just noticeably shaking.
Nathan’s smile faded, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
Great. You’ve made things even more awkward. Nice going.
This was exactly the reason Alexi tried to keep to herself as much as she possibly could. She had given up on any chance she could live a normal life the day she had woken up in the hospital with Joshua sitting beside her bed. She had dedicated herself to one thing, and one thing alone.
Just walk away. It’s not like you’ll ever see this guy again.
Alexi may have done just that, had she not caught Nathan’s vibrantly violet eyes dull with disappointment, even if it was for just a second. Instead, she drew her hood back, and looked him directly in the eyes, swallowing hard.
“Are you really half elf?” Alexi regretted the words the moment she uttered them. She had blurted out the first thing she could think of at that exact moment, and deep down she truly was curious about the boy sitting across from her.
Nathan seemed just as caught off guard by Alexi’s question as she was, silent for a long moment before breaking out into a fit of laughter. It took all of her self-restraint to not pull her hood back up.
“Wow, you really just came out and asked that. I mean, fair. I did mention something about that, huh?” Nathan seemed totally unperturbed by Alexi’s question, simply shaking his head with that boyish grin. Putting his cup down on the coffee table between them, Nathan rested his chin on the palm of his hand, studying Alexi’s face. “It's really weird huh? An Elf showing just as much emotion as a Human. Everyone knows they’re incapable of feeling anything.”
It was Alexi’s turn to apologies. “Listen, I’m really sorry, that was so stupid and insensitive of me to ask. You were just being harassed and then you have some idiot go and ask you that. I think I’m going to leave now.” Alexi went to stand up, but Nathan gently placed his hand on her shoulder, guiding her back onto the couch.
“Please, there’s no need for that. Clearly, we’re both new at this.” Nathan leaned back in his chair, giving them both a moment, before he spoke again. “Yes, I am a Half-Elf. It’s incredibly rare, but we do exist. I’m the only one I know though, truth be told.”
Nathan’s words of reassurance soothed Alexi, making her anxiety and doubt melt away, even if it was just a little. In its place came a slew of questions, all threatening to burst out of her mouth without her control. She tried, not wanting to make a fool out of herself yet again. “How is it possible for there to be Half-Elves? Even if Humans and Elves could co-exist, they’re emotionless. Surely they wouldn’t…you know?”
It took Nathan a second to catch on to what Alexi was alluding to, before he broke into a fit of mirthful laughter, shaking his head as he collected himself. “Let’s just say every rule has its exception, and leave it at that, alright? I’m not about to spill my whole life story to someone I’ve just met. As fun as they may be.”
Alexi nodded, biting her lip. “No, of course. Sorry for prying. Again.”
Flashing her a grin, Nathan leaned back in his seat and studied her. “Here, why don’t we change to a less loaded topic? What brings you to Vail?”
Alexi perked up at a question she was actually eager to answer, straightening her back as she smirked. “I’m taking the entrance exam for Lostvail Academy tomorrow. I’m going to be a Daemon hunter.”
Nathan’s eyes widened at her answer, leaning against the table between them and closing the distance. “No way! I didn’t think I’d meet anyone else taking the exam before tomorrow.”
“Wait, you’re taking it too?” Alexi asked, her face growing hot from the sudden closeness between them. “Does that mean I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Maybe.” Nathan said with a shrug, pulling back away from Alexi. “There’s going to be a lot of people looking to take the exam. Even if we don’t see each other tomorrow, I’m sure we’ll see each other at the academy. That is, if you pass.” Nathan winked.
“If I pass?” Alexi asked, raising an eyebrow. “Listen. I’m socially awkward, but I’d bet any amount of money I’ve killed more daemons than you’ve even seen. That’s something I’m more than confident in. If I were you, I’d be more worried if you’ll make it in.”
Chuckling, Nathan shook his head before checking the watch on his wrist. “Wow, I lost track of time! I need to start prepping for tomorrow.” Rising from his seat, Nathan put his hand out to Alexi. “It was great meeting you Alexi. Good luck on the exam tomorrow.”
Alexi stood up as well, gripping Nathan’s hand and shaking it. “You too Nathan. See you at the academy?”
“For sure.”
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It was nearly midnight by the time Joshua had finished at Lostvail. His old room from his previous tenure as an instructor had been made up for him and there was nothing he wanted more than to sink into it and sleep. The last few days had been long, between the actual trip to Vale, and everything he had to deal with once they had arrived in the city. He could feel the exhaustion creeping up in the back of his mind as he came up to the door to Alexi’s motel room. “I’m getting too old for this.” He grumbled, knocking on the door. No answer. Joshua frowned and glanced at the curtain-veiled window. The light was on. He knocked again, only to be met once again with nothing.
Frown growing deeper, Joshua tried the doorknob, finding it was unlocked. Silently chastising her carelessness, Joshua opened the door and stepped inside, being met with a familiar ringing sound as he did. Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the floor was Alexi, her head lowered as she ran a whetstone over the blade of her sword, no sign that she was aware of his presence. Joshua knew that there would be no reaching her when she was like this. One of Alexi's strong suits was her ability to focus on whatever task she had at hand. She was surely lost in whatever thoughts were swimming in her head, and if Joshua had to guess, he was sure they were for tomorrow's exam.
Stepping over to the nearby desk, Joshua picked up Alexi's revolver resting on it. He examined it, checking the chambers and barrel, both showing signs of already having been cleaned. It brought a smile to his face.
She'll be fine.
The thought brought both comfort and worry to the veteran hunter. The profession was a well-respected one that was always in demand and paid a generous amount per job. As much as he hated to admit it, daemons would probably be something humanity would always deal with, and so those who put their lives on the line for the sake of their fellow man were often considered pillars of the community. The drawback was, of course, the incredibly high mortality rate that came with such territory, as well as the one-sided rivalry that had formed over the years with the King’s Guard. Though that was more an annoyance than anything serious.
"Joshua? When did you get here?"
Alexi had evidently looked up from her sharpening, her emerald saturated eyes now locked onto him. Gently, Joshua returned her gun to the desk before walking towards her, motioning for her to pass him her weapon. "Not long. Only a few minutes." He responded as he ran his thumb over the blade, drawing blood. "I see you've been busy."
Alexi shrugged, groaning as she rose from her sitting position. "I have no idea what this exam is going to entail. You always say it's better to be prepared than dead."
"I do say that, don't I?" Joshua chuckled, handing her the sword back. "But rest is also important, especially when you have an early start to look forward to."
"Oh come on Joshua. It’s not that late," Sighed Alexi as she rolled her eyes.
"Alexi, it's after Midnight."
Alexi's eyes widened as she looked over at the clock hanging off the wall. "Shit! I swear I just got back from the bookstore an hour ago!"
"Somehow I'm not surprised that's where you would spend your day." Joshua grinned, patting Alexi’s head and earning himself a scowl from her.
"I got distracted ok? I-" She hesitated, causing Joshua’s expression to turn from playful to concerned. He was immediately worried that something had happened while she was out. "I uh…made a friend. I think?" Alexi scratched her cheek, her gaze darting down to the ground and away from his.
That had been the last thing Joshua expected Alexi to say. While he had always encouraged Alexi to try and make friends, he knew it was easier said than done for her. They travelled from town to town so often that they were never in one spot long enough for her to form any real, meaningful bonds. The guilt often kept him up at night.
"You're not saying anything. Why aren't you saying anything?"
"It’s nothing! I'm happy to hear it, Alexi. Truly. Tell me all about them."
Alexi smiled sheepishly, her gaze suddenly caught by her own feet. "Well, and you aren't going to believe this, but he's a Half-Elf, and he's taking the exam tomorrow too.”
Joshua whistled. "A Half-Elf? Now that is a rarity. I've never even seen one myself."
“Considering you're practically ancient, it must be." Alexi's smile curled into a mischievous smirk.
"And you're a brat.” He retorted, shaking his head. Despite that, he couldn’t be happier for Alexi. If it had been up to him, she would be living life like a normal 18-year-old girl.
But Alexi isn't a normal 18-year-old girl. You saw that first hand.
"Anyway," Joshua said, pushing the thought down. "You really need to get some rest. If you're late, that's that."
"Joshua, I got this. You really don't need to worry about me."
Joshua turned towards the door, glancing back at her as he gripped the doorknob. "That’s my job, kiddo."