Returning back to small camp, Sahri kept a small distance from Eliahope quietly ensuring safety. Eliahope smiled softly at her friends, showing Yasha the small potion in her pocket.

“Well?” Sterline softly prodded, looking towards Sahri.

“The elven man passed after I gave him his rights. He’s the first known case of Elvish plague in Hearan.” Eliahope muttered, beginning to write down the experience in her journal.

Name: Xirshi Xathari; Adult Male. Race: Elf+? Potential half elf. Occupation: Wizard Mercenary.

“He could cast arcane magic, which there aren’t any known cases of elves who can do such.” Eliahope flipped through her journal to previous entries from the embassy. “Truly I’ll have to follow up with his family to get more information. I’m sad I didn’t meet him on better terms.”

“Eliahope… Aren’t you worried you’ll catch it…?” Sahri said, sitting down and looking toward her friend worried.

“No, not really,” the elf flipped through her book, responding automatically without looking through her notes, “ For starters, half elves have no real concept of how long we have to live. There’s so little of us, and the ones recorded have died between 10 and 500 years, from anything and everything.”

“Secondly, the term ‘plague’ is a little dramatic for the actual infliction. It doesn’t appear to be transmitted in normal ways, if at all. Otherwise my aunt would have died YEARS ago. But when something targets and kills immortal beings, they can get somewhat dramatic about it… when it was first discovered, neighborhoods were quarantined - even if they had no active cases since we didn’t know much about the disease. Ten years they quarantined, before they found out more, and realized it wasn’t necessarily a contagion. The disease only takes roughly a week from first noticeable symptoms to take a patient’s life.”

The camp went quiet, Eliahope only noticing once looking up from her journal. The faces of her compatriots downturned.

“I see… So you’d essentially be a hero to your race if you figured out your plague?” Sterline smiled politely.

“Hero is a stretch for proud people. I just want to be accepted in the embassy. Maybe the Isles if I’m lucky.”

And with that, the party was silent until bed, where shifts began. Eliahope’s sleep was dreamless. She had seen multiple bodies in the embassy. Multiple good elves had passed away from this disease. But there was something…different about this one. More kinship. Another potential half elf, something she had never met. While sleep was dreamless, it couldn’t come soon enough as thoughts that were frustrating and upsetting kept coming to mind. A fantasy where maybe half elves could live together, away from humans and elves whom both shun them. People who understand each other. A fruitless thought… But could she recognize a half elf if she came across one? What if other elves were blending in, like her? But sleep did eventually come, and with that, being woken up several hours later for watch with Yasha.

“Do you want to take the potion, or myself?” Eliahope offered, pulling out the vial.

“You, if you can.” Yasha smiled at the fire, “I want to speak in Aska.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

With a simple shrug, Eliahope took the potion, waiting a moment before Yasha turned to her, attempting to hide her excitement behind her sotic nature.

“You can fully understand me now? Do you understand my words?”

“Yes, I hear you loud and clear.”

Yasha gasped as her eyes went wide, “You speak perfect Aska! Though ‘loud and clear’ is hearan phrase, sounds odd in Aska.” she laughed, before realizing her volume may had gotten too loud. “Lies are very very evil and dangerous, Eliahope. You shouldn’t say them.”

“Well, why do you say that? Remember: elves believe lying is only bad amongst your closest family and court rulings. I do not know your reasoning. If fact, I believed you humans believed similar since your courts make you swear to the truth. Why would you have to do so if lying was not expected amongst strangers?”

“I do not know of the courts. I rarely understand the multitude of laws amongst these lands. But lies killed my home, my circle. I was never blessed enough to be a true druid, but my mother was. She, and everyone I knew, died because of lies. Lies are bad spirits, they haunt and fester and root in every bone. They must be cleansed by sacred people. I believe it is why people in Hearan go to places of worship so often. To atone, and to heal.”

“What do you mean they died because of lies?” Eliahope leaned into the fire, it was incredible to hear Yasha speak with such clarity.

“Our leader. She lied, over and over. And it only came out hours after our demise. She knew that a circle, more militant, was scouting our circle. We were too close for their liking, and she knew for months. The leader of that circle left warning for us to move, but our leader would not speak of such. She did not tell us for fear we would flee. And with her lie, we were unprepared for the attack. We died that day.” Yasha leaned in close, her eyes like daggers, “Ever since, I have been given a gift. As the last member of our circle, my ancestors blessed me - with keen senses. They blessed me with the ability to see lies. To see the evil on people’s bones. Elf bones have lots of evil in them, though they often are good people. Now I know why.”

Eliahope’s eyes widened as a brief thought caught her mind, “You can see it, truly on people’s bodies…?” The brief thought crossed her mind. If lying could truly affect people, and elves did so more than others, maybe it was a cause for the plague? But, the thought quickly erased. Elves had held these beliefs for eras. Folk characters often use deceit and lies, it would make no sense for the plague to spread now over something like lies, no - this is something new. Still, if lying can be seen and stain one’s soul, maybe it shouldn’t be common practice.

“I’m sorry to hear about your circle. I will take your words into account.” Eliahope shuffled in her seat, “Well, we still have roughly an hour until this potion becomes ineffective. Is there anything you wish to speak about?”

“It is just nice to speak in Aska again. I sometimes miss home, though I know I could never return. I was a guard, and I failed. But still, you miss the little things. Like landmarks, speaking fully, and the region’s food. I can vividly remember the last time I spoke without having to think of every word. Sterline had purchased one of those potions you took, and she agreed to take it so we could speak when I first met her. Though she found the potion made her nauseous.” Yasha smiled, remembering the encounter fondly, “You would never believe it but I was considered extremely talkative in my circle!”

Eliahope laughed at this - Yasha appeared so friendly when she could comfortably speak, It softened her. She wasn’t rough and rugged, she was cautious and caring.

“You know Yasha, you can always get an amulet that translates you instantly.” Elaihope smiled, “If you’d like I can chip in a little.”

“No. My circle believes becoming dependent on magic is a sickness. It can be a nice treat, and sometimes makes things easier, but to rely on magic is like being addicted to alcohol.” She sighed and looked into the fire, “Though the sentiment is greatly appreciated.”

Eliahope pondered on this, the rest of the night was filled with pleasant conversation. When the potion finally wore off, Yasha went back to her reserved self, though still relaxed.

As the sun began to rise, the others began to stir and rise, and Yasha gave the elf a small nod and leaned back as the other joined them.

The rest of the morning was reasonably quiet. They quickly packed up, made sure they had their belongings, and went on about the road - towards Luesall.