By the time Greyson got the fire started, it was officially dark and the only other light source was the stars in the sky. It was chillier than earlier. The mountain’s cold air nipped at Greyson's nose and ears, turning them red. He quickly tossed the last set of sticks he could find into the fire.

“Finally!” Greyson sighed in relief as he shoved his cold hands into his pockets and plopped himself on the ground, scooching closer to the fire to warm up.

“Don’t get too comfortable, we’ll have to leave pretty soon.” Elizabeth reminded him. “The sooner we can get to Youthaniss the better.”

Greyson sighed disappointedly. Greyson spent most of his “break” working to make a fire. He wasn’t even relaxed.

“You can barely call this a break!” He whined.

“I would, you’re sitting next to a fire, you're not walking or anything. What more do you want?” Elizabeth sat on the ground and used the rock she rested on as a brace.

“To actually rest! I had to work to make the fire!”

“Well once we save the realms you can have all the breaks you want.” Elizabeth dismissed him.

Greyson sighed deeply before sprawling himself out on the ground, like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

“Are all you earthlings this whiney or is it just you?” Elizabeth asked. “You all are ridiculous but I think you take the cake.” She said in an unimpressed tone.

“What’s your problem?” Greyson sat up from the ground. “Aren’t you from Earth?”

“Why do you hate us so much? You haven’t had anything good to say since I met you.” Greyson had grown tired of Elizabeth’s remarks, it was all heard since the two crossed paths.

“I don’t hate humans. I detest them.” Elizabeth corrected. “You’d think that after nearly four centuries you would evolve for the better, but no! You haven’t changed one bit!”

“You’re all so selfish, and dishonest! And you have no sense of loyalty! Your kind will stab each other in the back at any opportunity. It sickens me!”

“We’re not all the same, you know!” Greyson shot back.

“Really? Says the one who not only lied, but stole from me within seconds of first meeting? The only people that’s shown me that you’re not all the same are Jeanette and Maddison, and even then you can’t be too sure they’re not like you.” Elizabeth retorted.

“Okay, fair point. But you can’t pick one bad apple out of the bunch to make a conclusion.” Greyson crossed his arms.

“I know that, I gave your kind a benefit of the doubt everytime and they still failed me.” Elizabeth was beginning to feel irritated at the conversation. A flurry of emotions began to fill though her just thinking about it…that day.

“I overlooked the bad so much, there’s no more good to look for.” Elizabeth said quietly as she looked into the flames. Just looking at it made the memories rush back into her.

Silence fell over the two. It was loud, the only thing heard was the sounds of the night and the crackling of the sticks in the fire.

Elizabeth sighed deeply before she looked at Greyson. Hurt and sadness covered her hazel eyes. “I don’t know why I’m telling you of all people but, I ....was one of the accused during the witch trials in Salem.” She hesitated before she gathered her hair together.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Because of these…” Elizabeth pulled her hair up to reveal two pointy elf-like ears.

Greyson’s eyes widened in shock. “Woah…”

“I was seventeen when my dad accused me, because of them.”

Greyson stared at Elizabeth, speechless. He couldn’t find the right words to describe them.

“I know. Hideous right?” She chuckled sadly, before resting her hair down to hide them away again.

“No, no.” He quickly answered. Greyson paused as he finally found the words to describe them. “they’re…cool.”

“Cool? That’s the first time I’ve heard that.” Elizabeth looked at him with a surprise and confused expression.

“I got them from my mom, I assume. She died when I was a baby so it was just me, dear old dad, and then his new family.” She began.

“He was the only one, I thought, who saw the beauty in them. He’d always tell me, “There’s nothing wrong with them, it’s just that the world isn’t ready for a difference as unique as yours.” I guess they became a problem when the trials got more serious and became a threat to his family’s safety.”

“Long story short, I begged him to tell them it was a lie, and he promised me he would get me out, but in the end I was to be burned at the stake, and at the brink of death, I was summoned to be a member of the order.” She said nonchalantly, It was as if she was trying to make herself believe it wasn’t a big deal.

“Three hundred and ninety nine years later, and here we are, me stuck with the kind I vowed to never interact with again, the irony is funny really.”

Elizabeth I’m so….” Greyson began.

“Your apologies can’t fix anything.” Elizabeth huffed. “It already happened and it’s long in the past, the only thing that can be done now is to forget about it and move on.” She slouched down into the rock she used to support her back, and looked up into the night sky.

Silence fell over the two of them again as Greyson processed what she had said.

“But have you really forgotten about it?” He asked as he reopened their conversation.

“I mean, if you did, you wouldn’t have these big feelings towards Earth and its people.”

Elizabeth glanced at Greyson and back at the sky as she let what he said soak in. Had she really forgotten? Or was it something she told herself to believe that she did move past the hurt from long ago? She didn’t know.

“We have a little more to go before I can open up the portal, and it’s too dark for us to keep going so we’ll camp out here and at first light keep going.” Elizabeth changed the topic as she rose up from her spot.

“I’m gonna go and patrol the area, Axel is still out there somewhere which still makes him a threat.” She dusted herself off as she began to leave the campsite.

Elizabeth moved through the underbrush in the still, cool night. As she moved away from camp, and deeper down the trail she thought about what Greyson said. “Have you really forgotten about it? Of course I have.” She tsked.

“What does he know? And big feelings?” She said outraged.

“If anything, they're valid feelings.” Her voice echoed through the trees, a sharp contrast to the stillness around her. She stumbled upon a small clearing, serene and untouched, she didn’t notice it from earlier. Elizabeth took a seat on a nearby log and sighed.

“I have forgotten, in fact I’ve elevated and moved past it, that Earth fool doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” She grumbled. She was convinced that day didn’t haunt her, she hasn’t thought about it in almost four centuries, but now, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Fragments of the day have haunted her lately, even in her moments of peace. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill in the air.

“What has your life come to Elizabeth?” she muttered to herself, staring at the ground. The solitude of the clearing pressed in on her, making her question everything she had convinced herself of. As hard as she tried not to, Greyson’s question got to her. It struck a nerve she didn’t even know she had.

“One moment your training to reach your full potential, the next the fate of the realms are left in the hands of you and some mortal.” She chuckled as she pushed her hair out of her face.

“I can never get a break can I?” Elizabeth sat in silence with her thoughts as the cool air filled her nose. The wind gently whispered through the trees and the moon illuminated the night sky. The stillness of the area gave her a feeling of tranquility. At that moment she was sure she didn't know much anymore, but she did know that in the midst of all the chaos, a moment of silence was something she needed.

After taking time for herself, Elizabeth rose from the log as she prepared to return to camp when she heard rustling in the distance.

“Liar?” She called out. She didn’t get a response.

“There’s no need to creep around. I know you’re here.” She grumbled. Still there was no response.

Elizabeth sighed as she went to the bush the rustling came from. “I was trained for this, you can’t sneak past me that easily.” As she separated the bush, Greyson was nowhere to be seen.

Then the rustling started again at the other end of the clearing. Elizabeth reached for her sword,

“Who’s out there?!” She yelled out. Her voice echoed through the stillness. Elizabeth tightened her grip on the hilt, she scanned the shadows, looking for the source of the sound. The rustling grew louder, causing her to draw her sword.

“Show yourself!” she demanded.

The bushes parted, her eyes widened as she saw what emerged from behind them.

“You…”