Short Chapter (2.5k or so) x2
Lisia Special!
Next will be a full run-down of Andrew's battle.
Thanks for reading!
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Within the village inn sat a lone person. Few others were still up. Opting for using the morning for their own devices, but she didn’t seem to care. With every passing moment, she would sip on the skin of wine. Of course, using the gold and silver from the long since dead bandits to fund her evening.
As the skins of wine become kegs; kegs into barrels. She seemed no worse for the wear, but the barkeep still choose not to engage her other than dropping off more of the sweet red wine.
Seeing listless woman still drinking silently with a brooding look, the barkeep sighed loudly.
Intentionally smacking the counter a little too loudly to grab her attention, she instinctively looked up. With a knowing look from the middle aged elf behind the counter, she became confused. However, just as she tilted her head, a small iron key was thrown to her and a muffled sigh broke the silence. “Last room on the right. Sleep it off; free for the night. We’ve all been there so do as you will, but some things need a night’s rest to decided if it’s worth dwelling on. I’ll send a hand to fetch a barrel just in case.”
Nodding her head, she noticed the brightening sky coming out from the window and turned to move her sluggish, hunched body towards the room.
‘Dad wasn’t always like that… But him … why does whose blood flow through my veins matter? It didn’t before mom passed… Now… Why was I put through that… only to be shunned? Do I really not measure up as… anybody?’ Pondered Lisia as she staggered to the room. Even the elegance on the place seemed to fail the further away the rooms got from the bar; however, she didn’t mind. Only trudging along with thoughts rolling around in her mind.
‘Can he… Would he come back for me? And what will I do in the meantime.. I’ve got to be something more than a slave sold at the whims of another… No I am more. I am more than that. Right..? ‘
“... destiny is not written. One only has to take a step forward to grab what they want, move past something they don’t, or choose to accept it all. Life is for the living; not those who dwell on its faults,” came a muffled voice from behind her back. Whether the barkeep, the arriving kitchen personal, or a stranger - she didn’t know. However, she took the words to heart and quickened her pace.
Entering the dusty old room, not terribly different from a broom closet with a small cot, she locked the door behind her and slept.
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As the afternoon sun came directly overhead, Lisia was slowly stirring from her room. As a pounding headache came from her head, she sleepily tried to heal it with her magic. While a fair portion of the pain was alleviated, the remainder still stood stubbornly resisting her. Whether it was the alcohol still in her system or her inability to concentrate, she could only sigh as she gave up on taking the easy way out.
As she exited her room, she was greeted with the day’s brightness flooding into her vision. With her already sore head, the light only made it worse causing an involuntary cry to come out of her lips.
Looking over his shoulder the barkeep simply smirked, “that’s what you get. Anyways, you gave me your coin purse to clear up the tab as it came around. While I won’t say it was the brightest idea, it happened nonetheless.”
Still blinking owlishly trying to clear her blinded vision a small coin purse came her way. Hearing it jingle as it came flying in the air, she tried to catch it. As she leant over too much, her headache kicked in and her body fell rigidly. While earning a few curious and judgemental looks from the few people that came for a late lunch, she finally grab the coin purse from the dusty floor.
Not surprisingly, it was noticeably lighter. After a somewhat critical look towards the barkeep, he simply shrugged and Lisia began to remember some of last night.
Given what she thought she drank, she could only sigh loudly and run her fingers through her hair, clearing the dust and grime from it almost contemptuously. With the headache only growing worse by the second, she muttered, “can I have something to eat, preferably something light?”
“Course,” spoke the barkeep as he brought up an already prepared, steaming tray for the elf from under the counter, “I thought you would be hungry and no, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen this, I know the process very well, unfortunately.”
With a few tightening creases showing on the man’s face, she didn’t say anymore. Eating at an extremely slow rate, she finally finished off the plate of the last of the new lukewarm vegetables and rice. Pushing the tray away, she noticed something dark at her side.
Giving an inquisitive look towards the elven barkeep, she asked, “What’s this… Liquid? Juice?”
“Let’s just say it was a necessity for me in dealing with the aftereffects of the day after in the past. Some human caravans will bring this around from time to time and I’ll try to stock up on as much as I can. Try it.”
As she sipped the hot liquid, she immediately frowned, “This is bitter. Why would anyone want to drink it?” But, as per the man’s instructions, she drank it to the last drop all the same.
“I could make it sweeter, but sometimes that’s all you need as a ‘pick-me-up’ in the morning, Java something or another? Anyways, you’ll get used to it if you can afford such a thing. Even down south such things are luxuries, but that’s not important. Feeling better?”
“Yeah, somewhat? Anyways thanks for it all, I’ll be sure to pay you back in the future.” Smiled Lisia weakly as she fished out a few more gold from her dwindling purse for the man.
“Stop. I didn’t do it for the money, you look… well, let’s just say you look like a friend of mine. She was a beauty, but always level headed so I hope that one day you can become like that. That’s all the tip I need.” Spoke the man with a forced smile on his face turning his gaze to the side, clearly reminiscing about his past.
Pushing the now empty cup to the man, she rose from her seat.
“Thank you,” came a small voice as she began walking away.
Looking at the counter the man shook his head, “Just like her. Refusing to have even the slightest debt.”
On the counter lay half of Lisia’s remaining gold, silver, and copper. Enough to cover her expenses twice over - not taking into account that it was already paid in advance.
Although the indirect sunlight was bad at first, due to her time adjusting in the inn it wasn’t too terribly painful for her to shuffle around. The first stop for her was a small stand that sold fruits extraordinarily cheaply as they themselves could be harvested for free with a small walk. This was, of course, to wash the bitter taste from her mouth from the strange beverage as soon as possible.
After she had savoured the juicy peach-like fruit, the ‘Java’s’ taste still kept to her tongue, but was noticeably weaker than before. Deciding it was enough for the time being, she continued her stroll around the town.
With a few casual greetings to the few people who actually recognised her, she made her way to the Chief’s manor.
With perpetually opened pearlescent gates carved from the finest of marble, this building stood long before the elves’ migration over to this forest. Winding rose thorns and petals were carved into the marble from days of old and the gate itself was one of the many inspirations for the designs of the other buildings built around such a manor. As Lisia walked towards the building she, once again, felt awed at the immense thought and detail put into the design of such a building.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Silently walking past the large gate, capable of more than enough room for two carriages to pass by one another, she made it to the outer courtyard. In a similar fashion as the gates, the corinthian-style pillars were in full bloom, matching the beds of flowers, shrubbery, and exotic trees that decorated the path.
Ceaseless moving past the scene, she focused on only one thing; to return her freedom. With the bow and quiver of arrows on her back, she trekked her way past the alluring flora and directly opened the marble covered door. As the doors creaked open, she slipped in and eventually they came gliding to a stop.
Trying to be as quiet as possible to avoid startling a rather disruptive individual, she kept her pace with near soundless steps. Nearing the large double stairway, leading to a small indoor balcony she saw where reason for being her.
Just as she was about to open her mouth to greet the middle-aged elf standing before her, a deafening slam was heard from the entry way.
“MY LOVE! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming over! I would have prepared a feast for you!” Rambled Kai as he started passionately at Lisia, not even registering the spiderweb of cracks appearing on the antique marble wall, he forcibly opened with all his might.
Indifferently looking past the woman in front of his now turned face, he stared angrily at the young boy who nearly destroyed a priceless relic - The iconic foundation for which this village was founded. “Some gall you have there, boy,” started the angry man before his forehead no longer creased, and his eyes softened somewhat, “I swear next time, I will punish you, you hear?” sighed the tired man.
“Yes! I will never do it again ~ “ spoke the boy energetically, still locking his fervent gaze on Lisia with pink cheeks. Whether it was from embarrassing himself in front of his fiance or simple lust, Lisia wasn’t sure, but she chose not to let it bother her.
Staring at the man ahead of her she simply asked, “Will you let me free?”
“Free? When did I ever imprison you?” Replied the Elven Chief as he tilted his head questioningly to Lisia.
“You know my father’s deal as much, if not more, than I do. Don’t play dumb, it’s my life on the line for a drunk’s chance to pay his way through wine,” sighed Lisia as she glared at the middle aged man in front.
All the while Kai simply stood in shock, opening and closing his mouth randomly, but never uttering a word. With a cursory glance, Lisia saw the strange behaviour of the boy and continued to look over to the Chief. “Now release this supposed marriage, that’s all I ask. I am officially abandoning my family name so his word no longer can destroy my life any further,” resolved Lisia.
“What?!” “NO! ELV-” “SHUT UP BOY! She is an elf, a former priestess at that! No one will subject themselves to such a thing, the gods simply forbade it! It is the only reserved for the sinners, the destroyers, the lovers of - “
“NO! MY LOVE! DON’T LEAVE ME!” Cut in Kai once again, this time running with tears falling out of his eyes towards Lisia.
As the young elf neared Lisia jumped up, clearing the elf by a good two feet, causing him to run into his equally approaching father. With a small cry and the flailing of limbs, the tangled up elves slowed to a stop on the middle of the staircase. Lisia exhaled loudly as she continued, “Sinner? No, nor will I become a destroyer, yet you act as if this is the end of the world. My life as a villager may be over, but in return I will have a new home. One that can’t be taken, bought or sold from under my feet.”
With a final look towards the pair, she spoke out softly, “I will never be your slave,” and walked away.
Finally realising the intentions of the elf, the Chief quickly called out, “guards, guards! Apprehend her!” If only to save his son from the first heartbreak that he now felt, he felt the need to do anything in his power.
As two shadows blurred into the room, Lisia sighed as he stepped back slightly and scanned the two in front of her.
Two burly elves - a peculiarity among elves - stepped in with spears level towards Lisia, blocking the only exit. As her body tensed up, she let out a small sigh and pulled the bow from her back. With one arrow notched and another resting in hand, she aimed at the two, calming asking, “Can you please move?”
Almost in unison, the two moved to look at the Chief who merely nodding his head with a forced smile.
Taking the expression as a signal, the guards charged at Lisia. A mere moment later the guards had already closed in about five meters away from Lisia. However, this is where the Chief shouted frantically, “Move! I meant for you to move!”
Tuned out completely from the noises around her, Lisia reluctantly let loose her arrow and then quickly shot the other.
As the spears fell out of their grips, they sailed past Lisia on both sides and soon did the groaning bodies fall.
Spending one last glance to the group, Lisia scoffed loudly and walked out, only moving around slightly to step over the two downed guards.
The first to break the silence was the Chief, “K-Kai did you know about this?” Who still stared at the spot just past his head where the spear impacted the wooden staircase- impaling itself only two inches from his skull.
“...” As Kai was numbly nodding his head to his father’s question, he found himself in a precarious position. Much like how he almost turned Andrew into a woman with the swing of a knife, he too shared the same fate. Within the damp cloth of his pants stood the second spear, tall and erect. Pinning his pants to the floor was the steel point no less than an inch away from his little member.
No longer paying attention to the now long departed figure, the Chief tensely looked at his two disabled guards shouting, “look what happened! I thought I told you to let her go!”
With a pained, yet indignant crease appearing on his face, the guard spoke out wretchedly, “We always used the symbol for attack! You can’t blame us for what happened, it was her who shot the damned bow,” with a quick nod from the other and a, “yeah, that’s right! He’s right!” From the other guard, chiming in.
“You’re the damned oafs! It was always to stop! Smile; stop. Frown; attack. Get it!? You just never had to let anyone go that’s all!” Cried out the furious Chief, however, his anger quickly faded and he said again, “Whatever, what’s done is done. You, however, definitely lost your wife though.”
Receiving a half critical and half soft expression, Kai was deeply saddened, but he himself felt that he could never stack up to her as he was right now. As his depression came forward, it quickly turned into acceptance; from there- determination.
Resolutely looking at his father, he shouted “Fathe- No Chief! I will train until I can win her back, there is no use for a weakling like me right now, so I will live with the guards, the hunters, the humans, the goblins, whatever it takes! I just need to get stronger for my love!”