Dawn came much quicker than I had expected. Early in the morning, my mother burst through the door singing a somewhat obnoxious song she would sing when she was trying to get me out of bed in a rush.
“It’s tiiiime to get up, it’s tiiime, it’s tiiime,” - she bellowed, purposely off key to increase my irritation. Attempting to drown out the noise, I covered my head with one of my pillows.
“Come on mom, the sun just rose, didn't it, just like five more minutes,” - I pleaded to no avail.
“Move it Raffin, I told you that you had a big day today. You practically slept the day away yesterday you should be fi..,”- my mom stopped dead in her tracks noticing the now empty cage on my nightstand. Eyes wide and face pale, my mom clutched my shoulder with her right hand, shaking, and with terror in her voice she softly asked,
“Raffin, where did the rabbit go,” - as calmly as she could. Summoning my courage, I recited the lie about burying the rabbit that I had come up with the night before. Her gaze now off the cage and focused on my face she stared for several agonizing moments, eyes occasionally shifting around the room scanning for something, either processing the information she had just received or trying to ascertain a lie. Once the moment had passed and her mind had settled, her face softened and she let out a deep sigh, seating herself at the edge of my bed to calm herself down.
“Oh thank the gods, I thought it escaped for a moment there. No wonder you're so tired, you had to bury the poor creature last night.” - She said, with a smile on her face once more. Now free of her worry, she slapped my leg and stood up saying,
“Welp that still doesn't get you out of work today, hurry up and get dressed sweetie, there are some people I’m excited for you to meet today. Come downstairs when you're ready, and if it's not soon, I'll bring the entire maid staff up here to carry you out of bed.”
Fearful of my mom’s playful threats, I jumped out of bed as soon as she left, dressing myself in my tiny wizards robes and boots and after taking care of some other “business”, I rushed downstairs to the open foyer of our manor. Standing all in a row where our maid staff and at the center in front of the rest were two new figures, first was a beautiful Elvin woman. Skin bronze like a well polished statue, she stood at equal height with my mother except for her long pointed ears that added about another foot at least. Her long, shining, silver hair was done up in a ponytail, and her eyes were a shade of sky blue, although you never really saw them because she would squint them when she was smiling which seemed to be her default face. The second was a young girl around my age and height, also wearing a maid uniform. Skin bronze like the woman next to her, her hair was a deep brown along with her eyes. Ears not long like the other women’s either, but still pointed on the ends. While the first stood prim and proper head slightly bowed, the second stood with one arm resting on her hip with a big smile on her face.
“Raffin, this is Celye, an old and dear friend of mine, and her beautiful daughter Finde.” - My mother said, beaming with joy.
“We’ve been away for a long-time young master, but I am pleased to finally meet you” - Celye said, bowing her head. For some reason, the formal greeting gave me an uncomfortable pit in my stomach. Confused, I beckoned my mom to lean down so I could whisper in her ear.
“Amos told me Celye was an adventurer, why is she a maid?”- I inquired whispering back, my mom replied.
“Oh she's not just a maid sweetie, none of them are. They have another much more important job but I can’t tell you what, okay?” - she said, winking at me with a finger on her lips as if shushing me.
“Hey! What are you whispering about, you better not be talking bad about us! Do I have to teach you some manners squirt? - Finde yelled in an accusatory tone, left arm and finger pointed out at me.
“Squirt? We’re the same height, what do you mean squirt?” - I yelled back.
“Yeah but I have a ton more experience as a maid than you, so that makes you a squirt compared to me,” - she retorted, chest puffed out with an ear to ear smile on her face.
“That makes no sense, how can-,” - My face now red with embarrassment from the girls taunting, my mother cut me off.
“No sweetie, Raffin was just curious as to why with your moms adventuring skills she was working as a maid, that's all. Now go easy on the squirt, it's his first day alright?- She said snickering to herself as I glared up at her for the last part. Pushing me along my mother left me in the care of Celye retreating back up the stairs to take care of her own work.
“It’s a pleasure to have you working with us today young master,” - Celye said, bowing her head to me once more.
“Um could you maybe not call me that, it makes me uncomfortable for some reason,” - I replied rubbing my arm shyly not wanting to be disrespectful.
“How about squirt! It's a great name for him,”- Finde interjected, trying to get a rise out of me once more, a past time she would come to enjoy for years to come. Catching a glare from me to her daughter, Celye let out a soft chuckle while holding her delicate hand to her mouth.
“What would you like to be called then, I promise we BOTH will respect your wishes,” - Celye followed up, side eyeing Finde all the while.
“I don’t know, just Raffin would be fine I guess,”- I replied, still averting my eyes.
“Raffin it is then,” - She responded in a soft sing-song voice and an enchanting smile causing me to blush. Finde just rolled her eyes,
“Now I think that's enough of that. It’s time to get to work ladies…and Raffin. We’ll start here in the foyer and work our way up. Today just follow Finde Raffin and she’ll show you what to do,” - Upon hearing my instructions I let out a deep sigh asking,
“Do I really have to go with her Ms.Celye? She going to pick on me the whole time,” - Without a direct reply, Celyes smile disappeared and a glare that sent a cold shiver down my spine replaced it. Unable to move, Finde grabbed me by the sleeve and started dragging me off.
“You don’t want to press my mom when she gets like this, it’s terrifying, come on I’ll show you what to do” - she said with a familiar, yet hard to place, goofy smile on her face.
For hours I swept, wiped, moped, and cleaned the manor from top to bottom, enduring Finde’s barbs and jokes all the while. I don’t know if it was the constant taunting or just a general lack of skill, but for some reason the chores were very challenging for me, I would repeatedly do things like falling over buckets, or spreading more dust than I swept, most of the jobs I was given on my first day had to be redone. Sure that my incompetence would earn me their ire I apologized profusely whenever a maid other than Finde picked up my slack. Finally, around 6 in the evening, the day was called and Celye dismissed the staff including myself. Not yet ready to return to my room, I decided to trek to the edge of the burnt woods, seating myself on a stump that I would often use to think long before my accident. Reflecting on my day, and my aching arms from scrubbing all day, I let out a deep sigh as the tension in my body released.
“Hey so this is where you ran off to squirt,” - I heard from a distance, anxiety ramping back up once I saw Finde barreling up to me from a distance.
“I thought your mom told you to call me Raffin?” - I grumbled back once she had reached my stump, not removing my gaze from the “would be forest”.
“Yeah but that's during work, right now doesn't count,” - she joked back. Noticing my far off stare she sat for a moment at the edge with me before speaking once more.
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“Yeah, it’s sad, my mom said that there used to be a big, beautiful, forest here, but there was an accident and it all burned down. It’s a shame, I was excited to play in it too. Did you get to see the fire?” - She said in an oddly upbeat tone. Feeling like I was going to throw up from the guilt I nodded my head.
“Yeah, I did, it was my fault,” - I murmured, the pain still eating away at me.
“Really? You? Were you trying to make a campfire or something?” - She replied, still shockingly upbeat.
“No…I was practicing magic and I screwed up. Screwing up seems to be what I do best. - Mumbling the last bit under my breath with a sad chuckle.
“YOU CAN USE MAGIC!”- Findel exclaimed, jumping to her feet.
“Yeah, I have only been doing it for like a week now though, all I can do are some basic spells. My mom calls them cantrips,” - I replied, a small bit of excitement welling inside me at someone taking an interest.
“Show me! Come on you have to, please,” - Finde pleaded whilst jumping up and down.
Remembering my dads most basic spell, I lifted my arm and turned over my palm, releasing a small stream of water from my hand. Enamored, Findes eyes grew wide as her face drew closer to my palm. Smiling to myself, and growing a little cocky I told her to back up as I aimed my hand at the sky. Making sure to keep the flames intensity low I let out a stream of fire into the air.
“That's amazing Raffin! What else can you do?” - Finde exclaimed ever the more excited. Face turning flush remembering the reaction my parents had at my “special talent” I extinguished my spell and picked myself up off the stump to retreat back to the manor.
“Nope, that’s it. I think it’s time for me to leave now.” - I said panicking, trying to run away.
“Oh okay,” she murmured disappointed, “but I think it’s really cool Raffin. I wish I could at least do that water spell.” - she said, looking down while drawing circles in the dirt with her foot.
For whatever reason, upon hearing the last bit I stopped in my tracks. I remember thinking to myself “If I can do it, it can't be that hard.”
“I can…try to teach you some things…if you wan’t,” - I said practically in a whisper. Perking back up, Finde rushed over knocking the wind out of me by clotheslining then draping her arm around the backside of my neck.
“Yes yes yes please! Right now, teach me something!” - She exclaimed, my head locked in her arm. Almost regretting my decision instantly, I wrestled her off of me and sat her down on my stump. Trying to emulate my dads explanation I explained souls and mana, along with Aspects and how to infuse mana with meaning, butchering it all the while.
“Souls? Mana? I don't get it, I just want to learn how to throw fire and summon lightning ya know the good stuff.” - complained Finde. Racking my brain I spent a few moments trying to simplify the explanation.
“Oh okay think about it this way, you know how when you run and jump and stuff you’re using energy. It’s kinda the same stuff, so imagine the energy you would normally use traveling up your arm and out of your hand, then try to, like, describe it, for example water is clear, liquid, and wet those are its Aspects. You can say the words out loud if it helps. ”
“Oh um okay I can try that,” - Finde exclaimed holding her hand out, she must have been exerting herself quite a lot because as she struggled her face started to turn a peculiar shade of crimson. After a moment of me attempting to coach her through it, small white lights popped out of her palm, and then faded away, her first experience summoning mana.
“Look I got something! I did it!” - She declared, astonished at what she had accomplished. Curious, I discreetly used my Deadeye magic to get a look at her mana. Shining gold her flames were somewhat dim after popping letting out such a small amount.
“I’m a little tired after that though, like I just got done sweeping the entire foyer by myself,” - Finde said, slumping herself back down on the stump.
“It’s so unfair though, you’re only human and you can do so much more than me, I can't even make water. I'm half elf so shouldn't I be really good at magic too? Or atleast better than you. - She proclaimed, snickering to herself.
“What does being part elf have to do with it?” - I asked, ignoring the last jab as to sait my curiosity.
“My mom always said elves are all naturally ‘attuned’ to magic, I don’t know, I guess that means it's easier for them to cast. - she said, staring off into the sky solemnly. “Maybe because I’m half human that means it won't be as easy for me. My moms a wood elf so she can do amazing things like make plants grow, wrap people in vines, she can even talk to animals and stuff. And that doesn't even compare to some of the cool stuff she does when she prays to the moon. I hope I can do it all too, one of these days.” - turning her gaze to me, she stared with pleading eyes.
“Will you keep teaching me magic Raffin, I promise I’ll try really hard.” - Frog in my throat from her earnest plea I mulled it over for a moment.
“Sure, but if I'm being honest I don’t know how much I can teach you. My dad doesn't really give me many lessons since my screw-up, and the only way I can practice what I read is if I can land a hit on my combat teacher, and he seems impossible to keep up with. - Ears perking up, she excitedly jumped up from the stump once more.
“Oh I can't cast magic very well yet, but my dad taught me a lot about fighting. How about in exchange for magic lessons, I help you practice fighting!
“Yeah okay, when did you want to get started?”
“Right now!” - Finde asserted, throwing a stick she found on the ground at my face, starting a full assault at me after I picked it up. For a couple of hours we traded blows, her skill outstripping mine tenfold, but the fight was nowhere near as impossible as fighting the living mountain Amos, although I did end up with many more bruises than she did. Noticing the sunset Finde called off any further rounds.
“Looks like the sun’s going down, I have to get home to have dinner with my parents, and I’m sure you do too.” - She exclaimed between breaths as she tried to recover her stamina. Upon hearing this a wave of sadness rushed over me.
“Oh yeah, my dinner is probably sitting in my room waiting for me. I should probably go eat.” - I expressed bleakly, causing a confused expression to appear on Findes face.
“Don’t you eat dinner with your parents?”
“Not normally. My dad eats in his study and my mom is usually doing some work for the academy that keeps her busy. They check up on me at least once a day but before I started my punishment I spent most of my time in my room reading. I think I’ve seen them more this week than I have in a long time. It’s okay though…I know they’re busy.” - I expressed, eyeing the ground trying to avoid letting Finde see my face as tears started to form in my eyes. A sad gleam in hers, Finde hatched another idea.
“Well how about eating with us then! I’m sure my parents wouldn't mind, my mom always makes too much anyway.”
“I don’t know, are you sure it’s…” - cut off by Finde grabbing me by the sleeve she started to drag me away.
“Oh shut up, it’ll be fine, come on my moms cooking is the best.” - Her wide smile somehow being contagious this time, I relented and let myself be carried off.
It was somewhat of a trek to Findes house, circling the mansion and passing through the gate, we arrived in a district with rows and rows of large family sized houses the very first being Finde and her families.
“Not as fancy as your mansion but it's home, Ma, Pa, I’m home and I brought Raffin. I hope that's okay.” - Finde shouted, busting through the door. Once inside I noticed the entire house was somewhat woodsy, as if someone had taken a forest and made it home decor. Along with that animal pelts lined the furniture, and everywhere you looked was a different set of horns from large beasts. Around the corner I heard a thunderous laugh echo from the dining room.
“Ahahaha, ya brought the squirt, tonights going to be a lively one I just know it.” - Appearing from the corner Amos approached us, this time not in his armor but a fine white shirt and green trousers. Along his back was an animal skin cape that wrapped over his shoulders. Dumbfounded I whispered to Finde.
“Amos is your dad?”
“Well yeah, you knew my mom was Celye the adventurer, who else would my dad be you dork” - She stated in a humorous whisper. Embarrassed by my lack of foresight, my face went beat red and I shrunk down.
“Ahahaha, be nice to the squirt Finde. His dad was a bit oblivious too, it seems to happen a lot with the brainy folk.” - Amos added, overhearing our little conversation.
“Now now, settle down everyone, it's time to eat. Come on sit down” - Celye exclaimed from the dining room setting up what would normally constitute a feast. Mesmerized by the food I quickly took a seat, Finde took the one next to me and across the table our mirror was Amos and Celye, Celye now in a more casual yet elegant blue dress instead of her maid uniform. As I began to grab for some of the food, Finde grabbed my arm to stop me, motioning her head at her parents who had folded their hands in prayer.
“Oh mother of the moon Heke, goddess of magic and knowledge alike, I thank you for blessing my family this meal, let your light shine on us every night and your wisdom guide us through every day” - Celye expressed, offering up a prayer.
“Aye and Gungir, master of strength and war. Look over me, my family, and our charge, and if the day comes where I can no longer uphold my duty, protect them in my place oh great father of battle,” - Added Amos, offering up his own.
Upon finishing the prayers, the table turned from a place of serenity into a place of celebration. Taking me by surprise at the liveliness of it all. As the night went on Amos and Celye regaled us with their stories of adventure with my parents. I learned of Norden, a great country to the far north where Amos was from, a cold and bitter land where they worship the god of war and battle Gungir, learning how to fight in hopes to challenge him one day. Celye on the other hand was from the Elven nation of Zayspaylia, the country of elves to the northeast. There they worship many gods, but the goddess of the elder moon Heke was her particular deity who she honored and drew power from as a cleric, although after bringing this up she asked that I keep it a secret outside the walls of the academy, her worship being outlawed in many countries now for reasons she herself could not explain. Although curious, I set that aside out of respect for the people feeding me, a custom my mom made sure to impart on me ever since I was a child. As the night wound down, and the moons grew high I knew it was approaching the time for me to leave.
“Aye squirt, I think it be time to get ya home, I'd let ya sleep here in a heartbeat, but nothing rests ya like sleeping in your own bed..” - Amos expressed, hand on stomach digesting his meal.
“I'll walk ya back up so ya can get home safe and sound after I take tuk this little one in” - He added carrying Finde up the stairs who was now passed out from the excitement of the day. As he went up the stairs, Celye spoke to me in a soft and soothing tone.
“I hope you had enough sweetie, it was a pleasure to have you over, Finde seemed really happy to have you here too.”
“Yeah, I had a lot of fun Ms.Celye. I loved all the stories and your food was delicious.” - As I vocalized my thoughts somewhat stiffly, Amo’s voice echoed down the stairs.
“Will ya stop it with the Mister and Miss stuff, your Ma and Pa are family to use and that means you are to squirt. If you’re gonna call me anything besides Amos just call me uncle alright!” - He proclaimed, signature grin on his face.
“Same goes for me little one, Celye or Aunt is fine with me dear.” - added Celye.
Tears welling in my eyes for whatever reason, I wiped them away quickly so that no one could see. Chuckling to himself Amos swung me up on his shoulder like he had the other day.
“Aye you're a bit of a crybaby aren't ya squirt, no matter, I’ve come to learn that’s not such a bad thing. Now let's getcha home.” - As Amos carried me off, I felt myself begin to drift off, more comfortable and at ease than I had been in a long time, smiling all the while. Waking the next morning in my bed, I think that may have been the best night of sleep I had ever had up to the point and even up to this day.