Days passed, Simple routine coming and going with only brief moment of interest when someone would propose an interesting topic and then after discussions returning to mundanity. Eliahope, if nothing else, had time to inspect her most recent encounter with the plague.

Thoughts of the encounter troubled her. She came to Hearan to discover the difference between the elves of Myunlun and here - believing the plague had yet to reach here. How bittersweet she could document one of, if not the first case of plague here. Eliahope curled up in the wagon as she attempted to write a letter to the elf’s next of kin. “Hey,” she piped up, looking at her party, “What’s the inn in Luesall called?”

“Oh, the Suckling Pig. Lady Samfa owns it, she got her initial funding for the town by running the inn, which eventually was turned into a very generous guild which takes in those with potential to be great.” Sahri chimed in, seemingly somewhat in a daze, “She raises prized hogs, which are absolutely delicious.”

“Perfect, thank you.” Eliahope wrote out her letter and penned at the very bottom:

As I’m sure you are aware, the elvish plague has taken many good elves in the past decades. If you would be willing to provide any information regarding your son’s history, it may well assist in finding a cure for this disease. Please send all communication for the time being to the Suckling Pig in Luesall of Hearan.. Sincerely, Tula Eliahope Enniasi, Nurse Assist.

Her conversation with Yasha rang deep in her, and while it was unlikely that lying was the cause of the disease, if it was something that could be seen on the remnants of those long gone she was a little more hesitant about the behavior.

The elf held the letter in her hands, and hoped beyond hope that the elf’s mother would respond and give a clear lead as to what could have happened for her son to contact the disease.

“Head’s up crew! Luesall on the horizon!” Alix called back to us in the wagon.

We all peered out and saw the shadows of buildings ahead of us, a new silent giddy-ness filling the air in the cart.

After a few silent minutes, Sahri exploded with excited: “So what is everyone going to do when we hit Luesall??” She beamed, her eyes like excited daggers at those in the wagon, “Well, I’m going to see my ma and da, and split my adventure earnings with em, as they need - OH - and then I’m gonna go shoppin for new winter gear! A-and I guess we could talk to Lady Samfa and see if she needs any additional work done for us!”

Theodar raised an eyebrow for a moment, before slowly turning back to his book he had seemingly read five times over in the past few days since they left the crossing.

Sterline squinted at Theodar before clearing her throat, “That sounds lovely Sahri. I’m sure some in-town requests have probably popped up since most of the guild members are out for the winter.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, “I would like to stay in Luesall for a moment, if we can afford it. It’s been a minute since we’ve been able to sleep in an inn.”

The party began to chatter amongst each other of the different things they might accomplish in the coming months until spring arrived. Talks of shopping, small jobs, inn stays, good food, and celebrations were passed back and forth like telling dreams - letting Eliahope realize just how special normal life was to a gang of young adults with no normalcy to speak of.

“I wonder if there’s a large elf population in Luesall… maybe I can continue my research now that we have a documented case of elvish plague in Hearan, it may allow for some wiggle room in studying whatever elves are present.”

“There isn’t a large population of elves anywhere in Hearan except maybe the capital. Though, there are a few scattered here and there for sure.” Sahri chimed, before returning to her talks of winter food choices.

Still, Eliahope thought, maybe there is just enough of an elvish population that an elvish nurse assistant may be preferred. Or, since there were some elves and many humans - maybe there might even be some other half elves in the town - jackalopes hiding amongst the meadow.

As Luesall became more defined, growing closer with each sound of a hoof beat, the sounds of the town became more distinct. People shouting out from street market stalls, people chattering amongst themselves while passing by with their daily lives - it was cold enough to bring out winter coats, though not cold enough to wear them all day as the brisk movement of daily life seemed to keep the people warm. Other wagons weaved through the towns as they reached their destinations. The party meandered along as eventually Sahri jumped out of the moving wagon, shouting that she would met the gang at the inn, as she needed to see her parents.

Truly, city life was refreshing to the days of solitude from the ride here (you can only stand to hear the same stories so many times, as Theodar was quick to mention). As the town center wasn’t ginormous or crowded, the crew made it’s way to Lady Samfa’s guild rather easily. The wagon pulled around the back as they gathered their personal effects, to Eliahope’s surprise. “Wouldn’t it be more effective if we wait until we are at the inn?”

“Oh, the wagon isn’t ours. It’s one of Lady Samfa’s.”

As the party collected their things, one singular question fought for presence within Eliahope’s mind - Just who was this woman?

Walking into the foyer of the small mansion labelled as Lady Samfa’s estate, an elven man greeted them almost immediately and seemingly from nowhere. “Good morning, may I know your business, with presumably Lady Samfa?”

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“Delivery of goods from the Sterline Silver party.” Sterline said eloquently, giving a curtsy and motioning us to do the same.

The elven man immediately escorted us to the parlor, to sit and wait as he notified the lady.

A butler elf? Eliahope pondered, elves on Hearan reduced to butlers - is there some arrogance of the elves in Myunlun that gives them the disease? She had never heard or even considered elves being servants as they were too proud.

“Warden’s a little… odd, for elvish standards, hmm?” Sterline nudged Eliahope, “He would swear on the deities he is very specifically a business partner, not any form of servant - though he sure acts like it.”

Before Eliahope cold respond, she heard light footsteps as her party stood to greet the lady - Elaihope stumbling slightly before the lady was presented.

Walking by the elven man’s side, now named Warden, was an older halfman woman wearing an emerald green dress. Her height only reaching the waist of the elven man as they walked over to the loveseat, sitting side-by-side.

Stranger and stranger, thought Eliahope.

“Thank you all for your patience, you may sit.” The woman smiled brightly at us, “Young elven girl - is my memory going, or do I not recognize you as part of this party?”

Eliahope’s eyes widened as she lowered her head, “N-no ma’am. I was hired to help in Albos, I am… somewhat a contractor to Sterline’s Party.” she gripped her hands tighter together, “I-It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Ah, pleasure to meet you as well. Theodar,” Her head shifted, and so did her smile, “Have you thought as to why I would have asked you to join this party before I were to consider your apprenticeship?”

“I have some inklings, but I hope to make a more… full report to you of my findings as we reach closer to the five year mark.” Theodar bowed in respect, Eliahope noting this was the most respectable she had heard him speak in the some odd weeks since they met.

“Beautiful. Well, as long as the carriage and cargo are undamaged, you will be paid forthright, with a bonus as you have come back a few days earlier than originally planned. Warden, will you get the payment plus 10% please? The contract is in my study.”

Without hesitation or argument, the elven man got up and silently made his way out of the parlor.

“Now, any… strife on your most recently trip? Where is hat darling girl Sahri?”

“While there was trouble, there was nothing so monstrous that Sahri would have left us. We simply passed by the road to Sahri’s family store on our way in, and I assume the homesickness got too much in that moment. We will be seeing her later at your inn.” Sterline answered, puring herself some tea and chatting.

In this moment, Elaihope realized something about her travelling compatriot. Sterline must be some form of nobility, or grew up closely around them. She was not aware or sure of Drawvish customs - but the sophistication seemed to pass by regular etiquette, as she believed it to be while on their journeys.

The two sat and discussed over tea, as Eliahope studied them, the rest of the party seemingly unimpressed or bewildered by the two sharing conversation.

After a few minutes, but what felt to Eliahope as ages as she attempted to wrap her head around why Dwarven nobility would ever dream of leaving the mountains, Warden returned with a purse clinking as he handed it over to Sterline and sitting back down next to Lady Samfa, without disrupting the conversation.

Eliahope’s mind raced as she juggled both the potential nobility of her road compatriot, and the possibility of the relation between an elf and halfman, that she didn’t notice as the party got up and started saying their goodbyes for now, with the instruction to view the postings board at the inn for in town work, if the party felt so inclined.

“So, Eliahope,” Sterline trailed on, “What are your plans now that we’ve reached Luesall?”

“Well, first I’ll buy you all a nice meal at the inn. And then, I’ll probably check with the temples in town and see if any have a need for an assistant nurse, specializing in the care of elves.”

“Well, if you can’t find a church needing your assistance, maybe you could assist us with some in town deliveries and ‘help wanted’ postings, after all, since we know who you are, we’re akin to the closest friends you have, right?” She chuckled softly, raising an eyebrow awaiting for Eliahope’s response.

“Well, if no one needs a nurse assistant, I… don’t see why not.”

The group made their way, meandering past the multiple stalls which sold a number of goods. “We’ll split loot once we reach the inn.” Sterline chided at Alix as he asked for his share to see if he could purchase some Colk Crab.

Getting to the Inn, they found one of the larger tables and settled in. Eliahope marvelled at the atmosphere which was lively but not hectic or rushed. Shortly after they started to count their coins, Sahri sauntered in with her new winter coat - courtesy of her family.

“So… for five weeks worth of work… plus our bonus and danger pay… We each get 10 gold pieces,” She excited whispered, while passing our money to each of us under cupped hands, “Spend wisely, we probably won’t get a payout nearly as large as this until spring. Alix, colk crab is a gold piece per pound. It’s a luxury item. I cannot tell you - a grown man - how to spend your money, but please -”

And before she could even finish her sentence, Alix was gone - yelling back to them, “Don’t worry!! I won’t buy a full pound!”

Sterline sighed and looked up at the rest of us, “While Alix may not heed my warning, please make your ears available. It is tempting to receive payment for a full month’s worth of work and to savor it. You may think, ‘Oh, Sterline will find us work no matter what! I won’t go hungry!’ and to that, I can only say we can find work for as long as people are posting it. Luesall is very slow for work in the winter months as people have less money to pay with. If you save now, you can live in comfort with this for the remainder of winter.”

Eliahope chuckled as she compared in her mind Sterline being a strict mother lecturing her flippant children who had smaller attention spans than fish. She looked upon the group: Theodar seemed foaming at the mouth for new books to read, Alix was already absent, Sahri was whispering of all the trinkets she could buy for her younger sister, and Yasha had already bought two pitchers of ale for only herself.

“Is 10 gold… a lot here?” Eliahope stammered, pushing her money into her pocket, “I’m grateful for anything, but in the embassy 10 gold could maybe get you an apartment for a month…”

The rest of the group went slackjaw at the statement. Silence followed for a few minutes before sterline spoke up, “10 Hearan gold pieces could get you a decent apartment for a year, Eliahope. Is Myunlun’s currency truly degrading so quickly?”

“W-well… you all are blessed by the patron deity Beolt.” Elaihope diverted her eyes, wishing she had saved more before her trip. “No wonder so many people offered trips to Hearan.. I paid three gold for my trip her alone.”

The table turned away from Eliahope, seemingly sulking from her apparently ripping off.

The rest of the night was full of merriment. As Eliahope promised, she bought everyone their dinners and a few drinks as they sat and celebrated their accomplishments. The whole night they laughed and drank until they couldn’t stand - at which point they went to bed in the provided hostel beds.

Eliahope recollected before her eyes closed for the night, that she thought she might be the happiest she ever had been. True friends, and true accomplishment. With said feeling, she fell into a long, dreamless yet comfortable, slumber