After the poor woman exited the void portal – with a distinct lack of grace that landed her in a pile of blood and gore leftover from the wolves – that defied everything I knew, as quickly as it appeared, the portal shrunk back out of existence. Mercifully, far less violently this time. I only sensed a vague pull towards it by the wind and air, similar to how it moves to fill a small empty space, not 5 entire palaces worth...

I carefully pick myself up off the ground, wincing as I finally take note of my many, many, many lacerations and injuries, including but not limited to: hundreds of splinters of various sizes, cuts along every inch of my body, some broken bones, fingers bent the wrong way, my still dislocated arm, incredible damage to my tail with extensive fur loss, missing nails, difficulty breathing and several pieces of glass lodged in my skin. So really, I’m perfectly healthy and ready to fight...or so some battle junkies would proclaim, then fall flat on their ass a few seconds later.

I reached for one of my healing potions usually strapped to my belt and receive another painful gash from some broken glass for my troubles, cursing as fresh blood drips down my palm, making it all the more painful to grip my rapier.

Having examined my sorry state, I turn to sense my surroundings.

This proves much harder than usual, however; my sight is hampered by blood and my ears have suffered several cuts and splinters, making them throb with pain. It is impossible for me to analyse anything at all in this state.

I sigh deeply and sheathe my rapier, allowing me to cast magic with my one good…ish arm.

My physical senses failing me, I turn to my magical ones.

I cast Detect Magic in the direction of the woman, assuming she is a woman and not some sort of demon. The only thing I could divinewere the lingering effects of the void portal. The woman does not appear to be an Outsider of any kind…

I sighed again. My distinct lack of luck this day is astounding. Obviously, I need to render assistance to this newcomer, but I am no healer and my potions are all destroyed! I cannot carry her like this! I will have a hard-enough time getting myself back to town, let alone dragging along some blacked-out woman who spawned from a hell portal!

Regardless of my dire circumstances and lack of any ways to improve them, I still think I should at least check on the woman. To complete my research, yes.

Never throwing caution to the wind lest it result in my death, I re-draw my rapier and slowly advance towards the pool of blood and gore currently hosting the poor woman, my legs complaining every step of the way, my approach less than graceful.

As I near, I call out to her, but no response seems to arise from the lifeless body. I am not surprised, the sheer strength of that void would knock out most people, me included if I were any closer. Perhaps I should be thankful I got hurled away…

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Thinking this, I step on another piece of glass and curse.

Perhaps not.

I reach the girl, the area still empty of activity, if not empty of smell.

Sheathing my rapier, I move her around with my usable arm and have her lean against me as I hesitatingly kneel down in the wolf remains.

I cast a quick Prestidigitation, my favourite Cantrip, to wash away some of the blood on her to finally get a look at her, which leads me to another brain fumbling moment, with a glaring question.

What is she?

I had assumed it to be an Elf, or a half elf, but her features are not lean enough, and her ears have not even a hint of Elven heritage. They bear more resemblance to a half-orc, but the skin is far too soft and pale for that to be possible. Perhaps a half-orc and half-elf had a child? Is that even possible?

Her features are fair and pretty, her clothing one of affluence, which is thankfully familiar. But she is notan Elf. It pains me to say it but I do not know what race she is. I have never seen her like before.

Which begs the obv-

A ripple runs through the air faster than I can think and brings me immediately out of my train of thought.

I feel a presence enter my head, the feeling identical to communicating by telepathy, but that usually requires consent on both sides. Only sheer power can ignore that requirement and every time I’ve seen it, the receiving person has always been in obvious pain. This...did not hurt, at least not enough to hurt me any more than I was. So, I decided to think.

H-hello?

A gruff, drowsy voice entered my thoughts.

Hmmm...whats taking me out of my slumber..? Wait...what? But, no this isn’t, this shouldn’t be...! How...

It was...ignoring me? Then why-

Wait, who are you?

M-me?

Yes, you. Who and what are you?

The voice was commanding, if tired. I would rather like it to leave, but I don’t know how to forcefully attempt that...

You would fail, but I would commend you if you tried.

I chose to ignore the quip and the fact he was now reading all my thoughts, not just the ones intended forcommunication.

I am Ellia Serai. I am a Sylph born from Catfolk, my tribe was the-

I was then rudely interrupted with meandering thoughts and I frowned in displeasure. I did NOT have time to waste on this!

Catfolk...sylphs...? I wonder when they came about... Interesting though! Since you seem so impatient, I’ll leave you be.

Well thank-

Do not let that woman die.

Immediately, a terrifyingly strong energy clamped down upon my mind, causing me to scream in pain as I felt warm blood trickle out my ears, until it disappeared entirely a moment later.

I was hunched over the woman, breathing heavily, my chest heaving and my other wounds complaining to be heard. My sight was unfocused and distant, and my mind struggled to process the pain I felt and what it was.

I had never felt such pain. Not when I was whipped, not when I’m stepped on by a Dwarf enjoying my cries of pain and anguish, not even when my sister was murdered for funby an Elven court. It took me years to process that pain. It was a different type, but even now it still hurts...and what I just felt eclipsed even that.

Another scream brought my thoughts to yet another screeching halt as it took me a second to realise that I wasn’t the one screaming.

The woman had woken up.