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“ Haah,” a soft cough snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked, realizing the elf was waking up. Suppressing a yawn, I hadn't noticed how tired I was.

I grabbed my water bottle and moved closer to him. Let's hope you're friendly, I thought. The last thing I needed was more trouble.

Gently, I helped him into a sitting position, slipping an arm behind his back. His body felt light, almost fragile. “Easy there,” I murmured, supporting his weight. He coughed again, a dry rasp that echoed faintly in the cavern.

Poor guy must be parched.

An idea struck me. Focusing quietly, I channeled Exira at level 0 strength, letting a calming energy permeate the air around us. Maybe this will make things a bit less tense.

I uncapped the water bottle and brought it to his lips. “Here, drink,” I said softly. He hesitated for a moment before accepting, his hands slowly rising to support the bottle. As he drank, his sips turned from cautious to eager, draining the water hungrily. I kept a steady grip to ensure he didn't choke.

As he drank, I studied him more closely. His skin was unnaturally pale, almost luminescent in the soft glow of the moss that lit the cave. High cheekbones, sharp jawline, and those unmistakably pointed ears–definitely an elf.

Cuts and bruises marked his skin, but nothing appeared immediately life-threatening.

He finished drinking, and I gently pulled the bottle away, capping it before setting it aside. “Better?” I asked, not really expecting a response. He leaned back slightly, and I adjusted the cloak around him, making sure he was warm.

Then, slowly, his eyes fluttered open.

I froze.

Bright emerald eyes met mine–vivid, piercing, and filled with confusion. They were stunning, almost otherworldly. For a moment, I was caught off guard, my words lost. Well, damn.

“Uh...” I stammered, trying to find my voice. He continued to gaze at me, those green orbs reflecting the faint light of the cave. There was confusion there, but no fear or hostility.

I realized I was still holding onto his shoulder and quickly pulled my hand back. “Sorry,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. Smooth move, Alexis.

He glanced around slowly, taking in the cave's surroundings–the glowing moss, the rocky walls–before his eyes settled back on me. His brow furrowed slightly as if trying to piece together what was happening.

“It's okay,” I said softly, raising my hands slightly to show I meant no harm. “You're safe.”

He didn't respond, but his posture relaxed just a fraction. I wondered if he could understand me at all.

Probably not, I thought. Figures we'd speak different languages.

An awkward silence stretched between us. I cleared my throat, trying to think of what to do next. “Do you need anything else?” I asked, gesturing toward my pack. “Food, maybe?”

He looked at the pack, then back at me, eyes still filled with that perplexed expression. Slowly, he shook his head.

“Alright then,” I murmured. “Just let me know.”

As if that's going to happen.

I settled back a bit, giving him some space. The Exira's calming effect still lingered in the air, making the atmosphere feel oddly peaceful despite the circumstances.

He shifted slightly, winced, and brought a hand to his throat. I noticed how gaunt his fingers looked, the skin almost translucent. He must have been down here a while.

“Thirsty?” I asked, holding up the water bottle again. He seemed to understand, giving a slight nod. I handed it to him, and he drank more slowly this time.

As he handed the bottle back, our eyes met again. Those emerald eyes—sharp yet vulnerable. They seemed to search mine as if seeking answers.

“I'm Alexis,” I said, pointing to myself. “Al-ex-is.”

He watched me carefully, then parted his lips as if to speak. A soft, melodic sound came out–a word in a language I didn't recognize. It flowed smoothly, even though his voice was barely above a whisper.

“Sorry, I don't understand,” I said, shaking my head. He frowned slightly, a hint of frustration crossing his features.

Well, this is just fantastic. I sighed internally. Stuck in a cave with an elf I can't communicate with. What could possibly go wrong?

He seemed to pick up on my exasperation, his expression softening. He gestured weakly toward himself and said something else—a single word that might have been his name.

I tilted my head. “Is that your name?” I asked, pointing at him.

He nodded slowly.

“Alright,” I said with a small smile. “Easier said than done.”

He attempted a faint smile in return, though it looked more like a grimace. Still, it was something.

I glanced at the cuts on his arms and the bruises along his jaw. “You're hurt,” I said, pointing gently to his wounds. “May I?” I mimed wrapping a bandage around his arm.

He looked down at his injuries as if noticing them for the first time. After a moment, he gave a slight nod.

“Okay,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. I rummaged through my pack and pulled out a small piece of cloth. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.

I moved closer, carefully wrapping the cloth around a particularly nasty cut on his forearm. He winced slightly but didn't pull away.

“Sorry,” I murmured. “This might sting a bit.”

He watched my hands as I worked, those emerald eyes observing every movement. I could feel his gaze but tried to focus on bandaging the wound properly.

Once done, I sat back on my heels. “There. That should help for now.”

He lifted his arm slightly, inspecting the makeshift bandage, then looked back at me and gave a small nod of gratitude.

“Don't mention it,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. At least we're making some progress.

I settled down beside him, leaning against the cave wall. The silence returned but felt less awkward this time. The soft glow of the moss bathed the cavern in a gentle light, casting long shadows.

My stomach growled softly, reminding me it had been a while since I'd eaten. I reached into my pack and pulled out a piece of jerky. Glancing at the elf, I held out another piece to him. “Hungry?”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

He looked at the offered food, hesitated, and then accepted it cautiously. He sniffed it briefly before taking a small bite.

“Good?” I asked, taking a bite of my own.

He chewed slowly, then gave a slight nod. It was hard to tell if he actually liked it or was just being polite.

I chuckled softly. “Yeah, it's not exactly gourmet, but it keeps you going.”

We ate in relative silence, the quiet punctuated only by the distant drip of water somewhere deeper in the cave.

As we finished, I couldn't help but feel a bit more at ease. Having another living being nearby–even one I couldn't fully communicate with–was a welcome change from the isolation.

I glanced over at him. He was leaning back, eyes half-closed, the exhaustion evident on his face.

“Get some rest,” I said softly. “We'll figure things out when you're feeling better.”

He looked at me one last time, those emerald eyes reflecting the faint light, then closed them slowly. His breathing evened out as he drifted back to sleep.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall. What have I gotten myself into? But despite the uncertainty, I felt a small flicker of hope.

“Maybe we're not so screwed after all,” I muttered to myself.

“Guess we'll find out,” I whispered, the soft echo of my voice fading into the depths of the cave.

****

I remember sitting at Aunt Nora's cluttered kitchen table, the scent of fresh herbs and old parchment filling the air. Sunlight streamed through the open window, casting warm patches on the worn wooden surface. I was young then–feet barely touching the ground, swinging idly as I scribbled nonsense on a scrap of paper.

"Lexi," Aunt Nora called her voice lilting with that familiar teasing tone. She leaned against the doorway, arms crossed with a sly smile playing on her lips. "Suppose you find yourself needing to talk to someone who doesn't speak the same language. What would you do?"

I looked up, eyebrows knitting together. "That's easy!" I declared, puffing out my chest a bit. "I'd use Exira! It can do anything! Like Mom"

She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Oh, is that so? And how would Exira help you communicate with someone who doesn't understand your words?"

I tapped the end of my quill against my chin, thinking hard. "Well... I'd just, you know, send my thoughts to them using Exira. Like mind-talking!"

Aunt Nora's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Mind-talking, hmm? Quite the talent for someone your age."

I grinned widely. "I'm gonna be the best at Exira someday!"

She walked over, ruffling my already messy hair. "I'm sure you will be. But not everyone can receive thoughts through Exira, especially if they don't know how to use it themselves."

I frowned, the confidence wavering a bit. "Then... maybe I could use Exira to make pictures in the air? Like illusions! They could see what I'm thinking!"

She sat down beside me, her long skirt rustling softly. "A creative idea," she admitted. "But what if you're too tired to use Exira? Or what if the place you're in dampens your abilities?"

I blinked. "Places can do that?"

She nodded. "You won't always be able to rely on it."

I huffed, crossing my arms. "Then what am I supposed to do?"

Aunt Nora smiled gently. "Sometimes, you have to get a bit more... traditional."

"Traditional?" I echoed, tilting my head.

She reached over and picked up a stick of charcoal from the table. "If you have time and access to paper or something to write with, you can start decoding their language. Take notes, listen carefully, and look for patterns."

I wrinkled my nose. "That sounds like a lot of work."

She laughed softly. "It can be, but it's rewarding. You'll learn so much more about them in the process."

I doodled aimlessly on the paper. "What if I don't have time? Or paper?"

"Then," she said, tapping the charcoal against the table, "you can go caveman and communicate using drawings."

I snorted. "Caveman?"

"Yes," she grinned. "Draw pictures in the dirt, use gestures, act things out if you have to. It's amazing how much you can say without words."

I considered this, imagining myself waving my arms around like a madman to get a point across. "Won't they think I'm weird?"

"Perhaps," she admitted, eyes twinkling. "But better to be thought odd than to be misunderstood entirely."

I sighed dramatically. "I guess that makes sense."

She leaned in closer. "Communication is about more than just words, Alexis. It's about connection. Sometimes, the effort you put into understanding someone speaks louder than any language."

I looked up at her, absorbing her words. "Have you ever had to do that?"

She nodded, a distant look in her eyes. "Many times. I once spent months among the Silaran tribes that took refuge here after the incursion ⍜⋏⟒ ⌇⏁⟒. We didn't share a language, but we found other ways to communicate. By the end, we'd taught each other so much."

"Wow," I whispered. "That sounds... kinda cool."

"It was," she smiled softly. "And you, my dear, might find yourself in similar situations one day."

I grinned mischievously. "Think I'll meet aliens?"

She laughed outright at that. "Perhaps! And when you do, you'll know just what to do."

I tapped the charcoal against the paper thoughtfully. "So, pay attention, look for patterns, and if all else fails, draw pictures?"

"Exactly," she affirmed. "And remember, patience is key. Don't get frustrated if you don't understand right away."

I shrugged. "I guess I can try."

She ruffled my hair again. "That's my Dumb Lexi."

Shaking my head and bothering to retort, I glanced at the array of notes and doodles scattered across the table. "Maybe I should practice," I mused.

"That's a wonderful idea," she encouraged. "Want me to teach you some basics in decoding languages?"

"Yes, please!" I exclaimed, enthusiasm returning full force.

She stood up, retrieving a worn book from a nearby shelf. "Let's start with common symbols and gestures. They're often the foundation of any language."

I leaned forward eagerly as she opened the book, pages filled with strange characters and diagrams. "These are used all over the world," she explained. "See this one? It represents water."

I traced the symbol with my finger. "Looks like waves."

"Exactly," she nodded. "And this one means 'home' or 'shelter.'"

I studied the simple drawing of a house. "That makes sense."

"Once you recognize these, you can begin to piece together meanings, even if you don't understand the spoken words."

I grinned. "It's like a puzzle!"

She smiled warmly. "Yes, and you're quite good at puzzles."

We spent the next hour going over various symbols and gestures, the room filled with my excited chatter and her patient guidance. Every new discovery felt like unlocking a secret code.

"You're a quick learner," she praised.

I beamed proudly. "Maybe I'll become a language master!"

"Maybe you will," she agreed. "The world could use more bridges between people."

I tilted my head. "Bridges?"

"Figuratively speaking," she clarified. "People who connect others, who help them understand one another."

"Oh," I nodded. "That sounds important."

"It is," she said softly. "Never underestimate the power of understanding."

I yawned suddenly, the day's excitement catching up to me. She noticed and chuckled. "Perhaps we should call it a day."

I rubbed my eyes. "But I'm not tired," I protested weakly.

"Of course not," she teased. "But even future language masters need their rest."

I relented, gathering up the papers. "Can we do more tomorrow?"

"Absolutely," she promised. "We'll make a scholar of you yet."

As I stood up, a thought struck me. "Aunt Nora?"

"Yes, Alexis?"

"Thanks for teaching me," I said earnestly. "I think... I think it's really cool."

She smiled that warm, gentle smile that made everything feel right. "You're very welcome. And thank you for being such an eager student."

I shuffled my feet, suddenly shy. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, dear one," she replied, placing a soft kiss on my forehead.

I headed towards the door, pausing to look back at her. She was tidying up the table, humming a soft tune. The firelight cast a golden halo around her, and for a moment, I felt a surge of affection and gratitude.

"Sleep well," she called without turning around.

"Maybe Exira isn't the answer to everything," I mused quietly. "But it's still pretty awesome."

I climbed into bed, the sheets cool against my skin. Staring up at the ceiling, I felt a mix of excitement and contentment. Tomorrow held new lessons, new challenges, and I was ready to take them on.

"Watch out, world," I whispered into the darkness. "Alexis Artoria Drakesier is coming."

“Muwhhaawa!”

A soft breeze rustled the curtains, and I drifted off to sleep, dreams filled with symbols, adventures, and the endless possibilities that awaited.

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