Her words rang out in the silence. After a cat-like blink that would have made a human blush from embarassment, Sunny continued towards the cooking stove. As she set up for the herbal tea, his gaze followed her.

"Unfortunately, I don't know much about," living people, she had been about to say. "Elves," She finished instead. "So, I wasn't able to do much besides clean out your wounds. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

The elf studied her a moment longer before his demeanor suddenly changed, an amused smile softening his face. "Plenty. But I thank you for what you've done so far. May I know the name of my savior?"

"Sunny."

"Sunny," he repeated, tasting the name. "Could you tell me how you found me? Everything is a bit of a blur."

Sunny shrugged. "Not much to tell. I found you passed out on the doorstep." She pointed to the open entrance. "I patched you up. How did you end up there anyway?"

The elf's smile froze and Sunny pretended to dig for a cup while he searched for words.

"I was sent here on a mission to assist one of our sister clans. There has been an uptick of zombies in the area and this clan is not combat-focused. So, I was sent to assist." He frowned. "Unfortunately, my magic didn't work on them. If anything, they became more aggressive. They swarmed me and I barely escaped. I must have collapsed on your doorstep."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

A sister clan? There was a group of elves that Sunny saw at the Market every week. They may have belonged to the clan he mentioned, Sunny mused as she scooped hot water into a cup. She dropped some of the sassafras and lizard's tail into the cup to steep.

As for an uprise in zombies, Sunny noticed it but it didn't concern her much. The zombies would avoid her regardless. The last part of his story registered and she stopped to give him a puzzled look.

"Why would you use magic on zombies?"

He gave her a confused look back. "I'm a cleric. I was chosen because I can cast the Vanquish Undead spell."

Sunny grimaced. "That works on magical undead like ghouls, ghosts, and liches. Zombies are created from a virus so, like all non-magical illnesses, magic can make it worse. Specifically, magic agitates zombies and makes them swarm. A fire spell might have served you better."

The elf furrowed his brow. "How do you know that? I've never heard of anything like that happening before."

Sunny pushed the cup into his hand before walking away to get the mortar and pestle for the poultice. "We've had several clerics come through the area. We've seen what happens when magic and science mix."

Sunny had been the instigator of one of those tragedies. There was a cleric who lingered in town long enough to become suspicious of her. He cast the same spell the elf named, but it didn't work for him any better. The difference was that it ended in his death. And Sunny's regret and renewed resolution to stay away from the living.

With this in mind, Sunny directed her attention towards healing the elf so that he could leave.

The elf looked wane in the dying sunlight. His skin was washed out even beneath his sickly pallor. He was clearly far from home. Sunny ground the herbs down and approached him, bowl in hand.

"How can I help you?" Sunny repeated intently.