Another month went by and Elron continued to take odd jobs with his new friend Sylra. The she-elf was slow to pick up at times, but she listened and gave him an odd sense of kinship that he had never felt before.

It had become almost a routine thing. He would wake up at the crack of dawn, eat breakfast at an empty bar, and then head off with Sylra.

She jumped onto a stool next to Elron, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What district do you think they’ll send us to today? I hope we don’t get assigned to a fish stand again. The fish, and the fisherman make me want to vomit,” she said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

Elron glanced at her briefly as he blew on his hot porridge. “Do you have to mention vomit while I eat?” he asked with a slight grimace.

She giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oops, I forgot you don’t like that,” she teased.

Elron set his spoon down, his expression turning serious. “I have some big news,” he said, his tone leaving no room for jest.

Sylra leaned in, her smile fading as she searched his face. "What is it?" she asked, sensing the weight behind his words.

Elron took a breath, steadying himself. "I’m leaving the capital," he said, his voice unwavering yet shadowed by a trace of regret.

“What?!” Sylra exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. “You’re leaving me? I thought we were making some pretty good money recently. Why—”

Elron sighed and looked away for a moment before replying, “I’ve realized something as of late, and I have to distance myself from this place if I want to grow as a person,” he explained, his tone firm but distant.

Sylra pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. “Gosh, you really do lay it down thick, don’t ya?” she muttered, a mix of frustration and sadness in her voice. “If you just had a drink once in a while, I’m sure—”

“I’m sure I’d have more problems than I do now,” Elron interrupted sharply, cutting off any further discussion.

“Oh, c’mon,” Sylra coaxed, her voice softening as she tried to lighten the mood. “You seem to have it all together. How about we spend one day just getting drunk? It’ll be so much fun.”

Elron shook his head slowly, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I’m leaving the capitol,” he repeated, his voice more resolute this time. “You can meet me tonight at the eastern gate, or this is—”

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“After you saved me and helped me find work—pff, I’m not ditching you,” Sylra cut in, her words firm and unwavering. “I’ll see you at the gate tonight.”

Elron nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Good. I’m glad,” he said softly, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment. “Now, I must leave.”

The elven prince stood and took a steadying breath before stepping through the salon doors. The idea of going back to the citadel felt strange. Moving through the busy streets, he sensed he might actually miss this place.

It was the small things that stood out now. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever see such a vibrant city again. The variety in food, music, the intricate architecture, and the customs that surrounded him daily had left a mark, even after only two months. Whether he had liked it all or not no longer mattered though; he was leaving.

“Halt,” a guard ordered as he and another crossed their halberds in front of him.

Elron pulled down his hood. “May I enter?”

The guards nodded, pulling back their weapons. He walked through the lush gardens encircling the grand citadel tree, skirting around staff and potential prying eyes. With growing urgency, he hurried up the spiral staircase to his room.

By the time he reached his door, he was sweating. Pausing with his hand on the handle, he muttered, “What am I doing? This is my room.”

He turned the knob, slipped inside, and closed the door quickly. The room was dim, and as he rifled through his things, he noticed everything was coated with a fine layer of dust.

“Where’s that extra gold? I swear I left it here…” he grumbled, frustration edging into his voice.

“Oh, you mean this gold?” Holly’s voice chimed suddenly, holding up a small pouch of coins.

Elron yelped, throwing his belongings everywhere in his surprise. “What the—?!”

Holly gave a low chuckle, a sly smile forming. “I told you not to use such foul language. It’s unbecoming of a prince,” she added, tracing a finger down his chest.

He blushed and held out his hand. “The gold, please.”

Holly tucked the pouch behind her back, leaning closer. “Leaving so soon? And here I thought we were running away together.”

He shook his head in disdain. “Not happening. I no longer love you, Holly.”

She put a dramatic hand over her chest. “Oh, my heart, shattered,” she mocked.

“It’s mine. Give it to me,” he said, darting toward her as she playfully dodged around the room.

“Hm, I want a treat before you leave me for good,” she murmured, her voice low and sultry. With a slow, deliberate motion, she let her dress slip from her shoulders, revealing her voluptuous figure in full.

He swallowed hard, his eyes wavering between desire and restraint. “I told you—I don’t want this.”

She pressed herself against him, whispering, “I’ll make sure you’re at the eastern gate by nightfall,” her hands trailing lower.

Elron turned his head, battling the swirl of emotions rising within. “How did you even—”

She pushed him onto the bed, a wicked smile playing on her lips. “I know everything,” she purred, silencing him.