“Our guild master is a massive softy, so you don’t need to be all that nervous.” Kalthona said, patting Maisie’s back softly. To be honest, Maisie was more than nervous. Although she was masking as best as she could, cold sweat was breaking out all over her body, and she felt like she was going to be sick. What if he didn't like her? What if he felt that Kalthona was simply taking a stray that there wasn't any space for? So many people answered questions that it made Maisie feel like she was going crazy.
The two girls climbed up the stairs and walked down the second floor of the tavern. Kalthona led her down the candle-lit corridor, then stopped in front of a black door. The tanned girl grabbed the knob and swung the door open.
“Rise and shine!” She yelled upon entering, a playful grin sprawling across her face as her lilac eyes landed on the guild master. Maisie, on the other hand, looked around the office. There wasn’t much in the space, besides a desk, two bookshelves, and lanterns placed on the walls, providing the place with warm lighting.
“Fuck off, Kalthona!” A male voice rang through the office. Maisie’s eyes landed on a man hunched over his desk. A white blanket was over him, and when he lifted his face, her eyes widened. His eyes were sharp, like those of an eagle, and they were sage green. His gaze held an intense sense of pressure, unnerving Maise a little. His fair-skinned face sported scars running across his face, from cheek to cheek, and an x scar on his jaw. The man wore a loose, white linen shirt, and his long, black hair fell over his shoulders.
“No swearing in front of the guest," Kalthona said before pushing Maisie forward, who let out an unnatural noise. "I present Maisie Knightwood,” Kalthona added, presenting an awkwardly standing Maisie. The man’s eyes widened, and he immediately stood up, presenting a goliath of a man. Maisie noticed his black leather trousers and black, two-inch-heeled boots. If there was one thing this man had, it was style. No matter how simplistic it was, The blanket dropped from his shoulders as he made his way towards her.
“A Fairwood elf, aye. Now what would you be doing in this part of the continent?” He murmured with his finger and thumb placed under her chin, as he moved her face around. Maisie didn’t mind.
“She claims she’s from another world. Some place called Zaegon.” Kalthona spoke up, flicking through the stack of paper on the desk. The man’s eyes widened again, and he took a step back.
“Ah, that could be possible. You might be a summons."
Kalthona’s ears perked up. “Wait….she might actually be from another world?!” Maisie looked back at the girl with wide eyes, offended.
"I thought you believed me!?" The elf asked. Kalthona turned her head away.
"I tried too, but crazy is crazy. I've never heard of such a phenomenon." The flame mage replied, pouting. She then turned her head around, which proved to be a big mistake.
A book was thrown at her face, causing the pain from the stool to intensify. She screamed out in pain, holding her bleeding nose.
“Fuck was that for!?” She screamed, crouching down as the pain intensified.
“If you have read up on your history, you’d know that some of our world’s heroes were from other worlds." He reprimanded. The man then looked over to Maisie. "However, it’s rather unfortunate you’re a Fairwood elf.” Maisie needed to know why, so she tried to ask the man, but was crudely interrupted by his introduction.
“I’m Isaiah Moongrove. The master of this guild.” He extended his slender hands towards her, and Maisie shook it. She then asked her question.
“Why is it unfortunate?”
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“What?”
“Why is it unfortunate that I’m a Fairwood Elf? I've been getting harsh stares from the locals, so I was already coming to conclusion this race I was summoned in isn't liked.” Isaiah placed his hands out to his side, and a book flew from the shelf and into his hand. He then handed it to the white haired girl, who grabbed it, surprised.
“You’ll find all the information there. I personally have no qualms with the Fairwood elves. However, the rest of the world isn't like me or my guild. The Fairwoods have been the subject of discrimination for nearly a century, and it only gets worse as the years go by. Whether they do right or wrong, there's never a winning situation for them. Not even the elves of the other tribes like the Fairwoods. They’ve been accused of most of whatever went wrong in Eldoria,” he said, looking over to his window situated behind his desk. “You’ll find the information in that book.”
Maisie nodded. She knew this all too well. A group of people being used as scapegoats was all too familiar. She opened the purple and gold hardcover book and flipped through the pages, staring at the text and illustrations. Kalthona got up from her kneeling position and walked up to the raven-haired man.
“Heal me.” She asked, grabbing his palm and placing it on her face. A light green light emitted from his palm, and he began healing her nose. Maisie looked up, and her heart softened at sight. They looked like father and daughter, and this made Maisie miss her own family a little. After Isaiah finished with Kalthona, he walked around his desk and pulled out a large purple orb.
“Well I’m assuming you wanna join the guild?” He stated, a soft smile tugging at his lip. Maisie nodded. “Then we’re going to have to find out what sort of magic you have.” He gestured for the elf to step forward. “Place your hand on the orb. Typically, Fairwood elves would have either water, wind or light magic.” Maisie placed the book on the desk and her hand on the orb, then it began to glow green.
Kalthona watched on, excited. The orb became light blue, then turned wet. “Water magic.” Isaiah murmured. The orb went back to normal. Kalthona clapped, excited.
“Our very first water mage. I think that calls for celebration.” She said. Isaiah laughed at this, knowing the lilac eyed girl's true intention.
“You just want to drink, don’t you?"
“Don't you?” Kalthona replied, with a smug look plastered on her face.
Isaiah then placed his hand out, and a light blue book landed in his hands. “This is a water spell book. We’re going to begin training you in monster hunting, and this book will be handy in improving your magic.” He threw it at Maisie, and she caught it.
“Welcome to Saber Souls.”
*******
“And this is your room.” Kalthona stopped in front of a brown door with a golden knob. “But before you enter, place your hand on the door.” The lilac-eyed girl urged.
“Why?” The elf asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Just do it.” Kalthona urged, gesturing for her to move her palm. Maisie did as she was told. “Now imagine what kind of room you want.” Maisie was confused by this. Nonetheless, she began to imagine a room with flower pots by the door, light brown walls, a massive bookshelf by the wall, a desk by the bookshelf, a cushioned window sill she could sit on, a bed with a soft mattress, and warm lighting. The door began to glow, surprising Maisie.
“Hurry up and open it.” Kalthona rushed her, excited to see even more of the elf’s reaction. Maisie grabbed the knob and twisted it. What she had exactly imagined stared right back at her.
“How?” She questioned me breathlessly.
“Kasey possesses imagination magic, so when the sleeping quarters were being built, she added the spells on the doors as a quick way to interior design. You can always change it up when you’re bored of the look.” The axe-wielder rambled. “Well, I’ll leave you to it.” Just as Kalthona was about to leave, Maisie stopped her.
“I truly want to thank you." Kalthona didn’t turn around, but a soft smile was placed on her face.
“You're welcome.” She then left, leaving Maisie to get used to her new room and her new life. The elf took off her flats and slowly got on the bed, sighing at how comfortable it was. She then turned around and laid on her stomach. The blue eyed girl finally opened the book and began flicking through it, reading up on the history of her new race.
However, after getting past the halfway mark, Maisie had gotten the gist. From wars to natural disasters to disease, the Fairwood elves were blamed. However, what the book failed to mention was why they were blamed. There were other elves in different parts of the region, as this book illustrates, but why were the Fairwoods singled out? The young woman’s head began to hurt, so she placed the book on the sill and decided to get some good sleep.