The pair of elves gathered their belongings. All they had were two crude bows and a quiver, a set of knives, some pots and ragged clothes. The rest was just trash and not worth taking.

“You elf, Ell was it? You can come with me now. I will show where we live. And Aiu take this.” he gave 2 copper coins to her. “Rent a place in the market to peddle some of the goods. Like we agreed last time.”

“Can I go with Aiu?” Ana wanted to get to know her better. Also, to learn as much about this girl’s master as possible. The way he treated this girl, what to expect from him; stuff like that.

“I have no problems with that.” She looked at her guardian. He approved this with a nod.

The men escorted women out of slums and then went towards the forest. The pair of women began to chat while their covered the rest of the distance.

“Is your Master a craftsman? A traveling merchant perhaps?” Ana asked this because the girl was sent to peddle goods.

“No, not really.”

“Where is he from? I have never seen someone like him before. He must be from some distant land.”

“I don’t know, when I had asked he said he came from wilderness.”

‘That is quite ambiguous.’

“So what are you selling?”

“Oh it is soap.”

Aiu wanted to sell it, this was her idea. It turned out that she could not compete with the man who already sold soap. His soap was plain but cheap. However, she made her slightly different, it was infused with herbs. Not only it cleaned good, it smelled nice too. She hopped to sway wealthier women with this. The price of course would be bigger than that of a plain soap.

“Soap? San I see?”

Aiu took a small bar of soap speckled with green dots. Ana rubbed it in her hands and smelled it.

“It smells nice!”

“Exactly.”

“Can I try it?” she was eager to wash the scent of that human who assaulted her.

“Sure, do you know a good place?”

“Yes there is a stream nearby. A place there women do laundry, it is safe.”

It was a place she used to go when she was younger. She used to help the maids to wash clothes. Eventually she got replaced by an energetic beastman girl. It was so much easier for beast races to find jobs.

The two went to the stream to wash their bodies.

Aiu observed Ana, interested in how she looked under her tattered peasant’s tunic.

Ana was taller than Aiu, her height was at about 157 centimetres (5’ 1”). She had short blonde hair and big blue eyes. Her face was thin and very pretty, she had thin lips and small delicate nose. Like all elves she had narrow ears, their upper side was elongated and ended in a pointy tip. Her skin was very pale, almost white but it had no blemishes and looked very smooth. However she had some scars there and there, but she still was very beautiful. Like Aiu she was very skinny, but she still possessed feminine body. She had small but perfectly round breasts and firm round but. Her body had some lean muscle which helped to accentuate her delicate figure. She was not just skinny, she was fit. Ana would look even better if she was not malnourished.

Aiu was slightly jealous of her body.

“This is quite amazing. It smells so good.”

“Do you think it will sell well?”

“No doubt about it.”

Women finished bathing and headed towards the market. There Aiu paid 2 copper for the peddling place. She put a small rug down; to put the soaps and salves on. She sat cross-legged next to it, elf joined her side.

“Perfect soap for perfect lady. It cleanses your skin and smells good. It is amazing come and see for yourself.” Aiu would shout out stuff like this now and then.

“I use it every day and look how smooth and nice my skin is.” The elf chipped in.

Eventually this have gotten people’s attention. Aiu even gave some free samples if the person was too hesitant to buy. This was a sales trick Guardian told her about. People would come back if they have liked the product.

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Most of the soap was sold or given away as a sample, only two bars out of twelve were left. She made 12coppers that day.

“Ahh, we are done for today. Lets go home.”

They were walking home and chit chatting. Ana have already gathered good amount of information about Aiu, not so much about her guardian.

“So how long have you been with your guardian?”

“Just over a week.”

“Does he treat you kindly?”

“Yes he is very kind.”

“Did he ever punish you in some way or another?”

“Never! I have yet to be even shouted at.” She reflected that he would raise his tone, but never shout at her. Not like the people who were ‘looking after’ her in the orphanage.

‘This sounds good.’ Ana liked what Aiu was telling.

“What does he like and dislike?”

“He likes to work hard and make money.”

‘It means he is shrewd with money. This is a good thing as he should be quite wealthy then.’

“And dislike?”

“I am not sure. He is neutral about so many things.”

“What does he like to eat?”

“He likes meat and nuts.”

“Mhm mhm. Is there some way to win him over?”

“Why would you ask that?” Aiu’s attitude changed all of the sudden.

“He seems like a good master. I want to please him so he keeps us employed.”

“You say ‘please’… he is not like that!” Aiu thought that elf was referring to some type of intimate services, she was a beauty after all.

“Sorry. Sorry. You misunderstood. I want to be on his good side. That was what I meant.”

“Juts work hard and don’t bother him. That should be enough.” Aiu was afraid Ana would go after her Guardian.

“Okay. Okay.”

The mood turned sour for a moment and they did not talk much for the rest of the way.

Back at home Aiu ran to meet her guardian and the elves where left outside alone, for now.

Ell have been gathering fire wood. He was surprised to find that such a great Master lived in such a decrepit place. He imagined something better for such a rich man. He did not want to be judgemental, Guardian was a strange traveller and maybe he followed different way of life and customs than humans did. Or maybe the traveller did not plan to stay for long, he hoped it was not the case.

Saying that, he was happy regardless. It was good to leave the slums and be in employment. He could even save up eventually. He hoped that they could scavenge for food in woods. If not, they could help to hunt. Both of them were able to use a bow. His sister was actually better than him.

“Hey sis. What do you think?” Ell was referring to their new place.

“Better than living in slums. You did well brother. What I have found from the girl pleased me. Guardian seems like a good master.”

“I know right! He saved you and took us in. He does not look like a condescending type who looks down on others.”

“So what is our role here?”

“Gathering firewood, fetching water, stirring pots, making runs to the city, cooking and the like. Speaking about cooking we are meant to cook human food for this girl. It needs to be done soon.” He stressed the word human.

“Human food. Isn’t it just normal food?”

“His words not mine.”

They finished gathering fire wood, and got some water from the sprig nearby. Both Aiu and her guardian were inside, busy with their chores.

“What are you cooking?” Aiu asked.

“You have plenty of boar meat. I am using your spices and vegetables to make a nice stew.” Ell replied.

Ana was helping to cut everything.

Once this was done Aiu drew a bowl of it and tasted. It was good way better than her plain cooking.

“So tasty.”

“I am glad you like it. Master is not eating?”

“Oh no, he only eats every few days.” Aiu enlightened the elves.

“He must eat a lot in one go.” Ana said observantly.

“I have made too much. I thought the master would be eating. Sorry about that.”

“No worries. You can join in.”

“Really, I thought we won’t be provided with meals.” Ell reiterated what he has been told before getting this job.

“I spoke with him and there was a change of plans. He is very kind you know.”

“You will get your meal if you helped to gather the food. However, it is not guaranteed.” Guardian added.

“Thank you!” both of elves exclaimed filling in their bowls with steaming stew.

“Also, you are not permitted to claim any beast you have killed in this forest. Not, when you are under my service.”

The forest was not his and such claims had no legal ground, but elves did not protest. Ell knew he was a hunter and did not want someone else infringing on his territory.

“Understood.”

“I bet you are ecstatic to eat an actual meat, and a boar not some lowly critters.” Aiu knew that boar meat they were eating now, was considered a luxury.

“Aiu, they are elves.”

“So what?” she asked.

“Does Master know about our culture?” Ell asked surprised.

It was unusual to be versed in intricate customs and details of other species. Also, there were a lot of intelligent species around and people usually did not bother to learn something of little use.

“Elves prefer vegetables and fruits over the meat. Meat is disliked in their kind.”

“Ohh so you don’t really enjoy the stew?” Aiu inquired.

“Don’t get us wrong. Food is food, and we can eat everything you can. It is just when there is a choice we prefer to avoid meat.” Ell took another sip of the stew, he was starving.

“We will eat what it is served here.” Ana added. They can’t turn down free food.

“That is good. In that case try this.” Aiu handed a container of thick brown paste to the two.

The pair put their fingers in and scooped some of it.

“This is very good” “I have never tasted something like this, it tastes nutty but different.”

“Hehe, this is my new secret recipe.” Aiu boasted in glee.

“What is this, Aiu? You have never told me abut this.” Guardian was intrigued and took a good scoop of it.

“This tastes amazing. Why were you keeping this away from me?” he added after tasting peanut butter.

“Sorry I forgot to mention this to you. I will make as much as you like next time.”

This would be difficult, as he consumed huge amounts of food in one go.

“I am looking forward to it.”

They finished eating and were getting ready for sleep.

Elves were surprised that all of them will be living in the same space. The hut was small to begin with, and was getting cramped. The crates, barrels, sacks, tools and the like made it even worse.

Aiu was sleeping on her mat by the fire. She got kicked out from sleeping in his master’s bed, probably because they had elves now and this was not appropriate. Her injury has healed nicely and it was not cold anymore; she had no fake excuses anymore.

The pair of elves slept on the floor not too far from her. They were huddled together to keep warm.

‘The elves look cute doing that. I wish I was sleeping like that with Guardian.’ She was slightly envious of the two.