Elsewhere, morning had arrived in its proper for others as well. While the enclosed walls made it very difficult to identify, the halls coming to life made it obvious that sleeping hours had ended.
Lwyn had an initial moment where she wished that morning would go stuff itself, before turning around in her bed. Then she found herself realizing that the bed she was in was in no way even familiar to her. As she opened her eyes to look around at an even more unfamiliar room, the events from last night returned to her. She had been knocked unconscious, hearing unfamiliar voices who she could only have assumed were bandits before she lost consciousness. Khaexyn, Destroyer, captive, escape.. even the way they spoke made her think bandit. Clearly then she had missed something, because waking up in comforts like this didn't make sense at all.
She took a moment to review the comforts provided for her. The bed she was sleeping in was the softest she had ever seen in her life, better than even the premium suites in the Citadel Inn. The soft white down made her feel so comfortable that it seemed to compel her to return to dreamland. The room she was in looked equally impressive, equally white, equally refined, and... equally plain. The room was mostly devoid of most things, giving her a feeling of how she would have been expected to setup such a room if it was found in the Citadel Inn, back when she worked there. There was no real established effects anywhere, it was a fairly large and empty room, but what was around looked inviting. A table across the room, with a giant standing mirror. Closets all along the back wall. Many dressers set beside empty bookcases. All of those being also painted white. Everything was pure white, even the flooring and carpets. Was she dead then?
Lwyn got up out of bed, her curiosity prevailing over whatever compulsions her bed offered her. Leaving the bed, she discovered she was also wearing a long nightgown, also pure white. She pinched herself, just to make sure it hurt. It did, so she probably wasn't dreaming, and might not actually be dead... unless you can pinch yourself when your dead. Lwyn decided that there was still nothing conclusive, as still nothing made sense.
Lwyn went to the mirror, as her own reflection offered the only non-white in the room. Other than the nightgown she wore, she looked ordinary enough. Her hair was a mess, probably after everything she had gone through, that bed included. She touched her ears, visible under her hair without anything else covering it for once. This made her irritated, having to witness her own ugly ears.
Lwyn checked the drawers of the table, searching for anything to cover her ears with. At the sudden sound and commotion, two strangers entered. Both of them were also female, but one was a human and the other was an elf. It didn't even take half an imagination to call them both maids, they looked the part in ways that also reminded her of the Citadel Inn.
"Mi'lady, good morning. We didn't know you were awake, please forgive us." The elven maid was speaking Izhaethyx. "Is there something you are searching for, we would be glad to ensure it is provided for." The human maid noticed she was looking for something, and offered to help. "Well, actually, yeah, probably. Lets see, where to start. Here, I know. Where in the divine am I?!" Lwyn's last statement took down the playful act and resorted to yelling. Covering her ears was still a concern, but the entire situation was itself alarming. Ear covers could possibly wait.
The two girls looked absolutely terrified of her getting angry. "I'm really sorry mi'lady. Terribly sorry. We were only assigned to tend to you just this morning, neither of us have done this thing before." The elf was stuttering with apologies while the human composed herself. "You're in the Central Spires of the Fortress, the Seventh Spire. Lord Khaexyn has assigned us to make sure your needs are seen to and that you are cared for." Hearing such from the human maid, Lwyn found a lot of her questions actually answered. She was actually still alive, and she even knew exactly where she was. It did still leave her with plenty of new questions, however.
"Okay, so... why am I here?" "We don't know the Fortress Lord's reasoning. We just know our own responsibility." Lwyn realized that some of her questions just couldn't be answered by these maids. However, while she was considering the details of her circumstances, the elven maid had started helping her get her nightgown off. "Ah! Hey! What are you doing?" "Sorry mi'lady, we're helping you get ready for the day." Lwyn blinked at the elf's reply. She was being pampered so much, it was as if she couldn't be believed to take care of herself. Technically, as a half-elf, there was at least some degree of truth to it. She suspected that another factor was that she was a captive, even in such a shiny silver cage. There were too many other things to worry about, and she wasn't in much of a position to fight about it, so she let them do their thing.
The human maid had gone through the closets in search of a new outfit. "I know that not everything here might perfectly match your tastes, but we had no idea what tastes you might of had. Most of this was just how this room has been. What kind of outfit would you care for?" The human maid presented her with options, but all of the choices exceeded her personal tastes. Formal dresses in every case and cause, full body and of complex design, it was unlike anything she had ever worn before, in this world or the other. She eventually found one that had soft simple golden patterns on a plum colored silk body. It was also a lot more composed than the other choices, while also not looking as heavy. Basically, she could also move easily in it, at least easier than her alternatives.
When she was dressed, the elf maid returned. It seemed she had stepped out for a while at one point, she hadn't even noticed. "Mi'lord wishes to speak with you now. We're going to quickly get your hair done so that you will be properly composed to speak with him." The elf wasn't even waiting to finish explaining before starting on her hair. In hardly any time at all, she found her hair up in a bun and herself almost impossible to recognize, looking into the mirror in the room. She was also far more the color of this room than she was before, especially since the maids wore only black and white outfits.
With herself prepared, the human maid opened the door, inviting in someone who had been waiting outside. The man looked to be twice her own age, his scholarly attire making him look more of a researcher than a .. lord. "Yhseliahysse Duxaeyhlit, welcome to my Fortress. I trust your attendants have proven supportive to your needs so far." Khaexyn looked towards the two maids to this comment, clearly as if he was threatening them. Both maids had gone stiff. They weren't the only ones.. that name, why did it sound so familiar? Lwyn felt drawn and entranced by her own memories, lending her a moment of distraction.
Realizing she was being waited upon, Lwyn took a moment to answer. "Oh, uh, yes, of course. They have.. uh.. been working hard to make sure I was comfortable." Lwyn tugged at her own attire, not exactly convinced she was comfortable. However, she wasn't going to blame the girls for this one, and was very familiar with their responsibilities. She had no interest in getting them in trouble for this.
Khaexyn noticed her inadvertent indication of her attire, and then scanned the room behind her. He then turned to the human maid. "Have this room painted appropriately before day's end. You aren't expected to do this alone, get some of the other staff to help. If needed, some Aethyrnz can be provided. Just get it done." He then turned to the elven maid. "In the meanwhile, Lady Yhse is probably hungry. Ensure she is provided with breakfast, inform me if the food isn't already prepared for her." Both maids ran off, intent on getting their work completed.
"Now, I suspect that after everything that has happened, you've probably found yourself left confused and wondering. Am I right?" "Of course! Seriously, what is going on here? You would know that I've been with.." "The rebellion? Of course I'm aware of what company you've kept. I've also noticed which company you've left behind. The world is due for change, so certainly if you are already eager to face change, I can be very accommodating." Khaexyn took a seat in one of the chairs nearby, offering her another for herself.
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"Change? Weren't you going to just go around blowing everything up, crushing people, conquering the everything, and I hear even going to end the world?" Lwyn was getting expressive, but she still sat down as she was directed. "Hmm, might that be how everyone sees fit to view it. Given how much those others have taken glee in conflict and hatred, that might be a natural way for them to see change. I might have need of force to make my plans work, but I have no interest in ruling it. Nor do I have an interest in taking without giving anything in return." Khaexyn sat back in his chair, keeping an obvious calm in his narrative.
"This world, have you not seen how much it itself wishes for conflict and hatred? Nations tear each other apart, and even the blood of humans and elves are left with no room for mutual belonging. The rules of this world is to divide everyone, to gift only the best with the biased blessing and to leave everyone else sputtering dust. Given your own blood, I know you personally understand exactly how much this world hates putting people together." Khaexyn took a moment to indicate her own ears in this instance, which she hid promptly afterwards in her hands.
"All this has been going on, but as this is our world, changing it hasn't been an option. However, my own research has provided a solution. I have found the... essence of another world, one which is without wars any longer. If we tear down the foundations of this world, we can simply replace it then with the foundations of a proper world, a world where everyone has equal potential. This would be a world without the gift, but instead would be one with a gift that everyone could share equally. For people who fear change, I could see why they would call this.. destruction. As someone who seems to fear more the facts as they currently stand, I feel you understand the value change can bring." Khaexyn laid back in his chair at this point, giving her room to consider.
She did indeed take the opportunity to consider the meaning behind this. Her life itself had been nothing but struggles and hardships, left in the dust of a society that had plenty reasons to hate her. She was, after all, only a half elf. But if the very definition of the world could be remade, if such a thing was even possible, then maybe her own blood could be... purified. She could find herself reborn in a world that she could truthfully belong to, a world devoid of such strife and struggle.
She thought over the state of the world as a whole. Until the Fortress came into the scene, everyone basically hated each other. The only reason everyone was even working together was because of fear of change and a hatred of the Fortress, and they would very obviously return back to that after the Fortress was gone. A world of conflict and fear and hatred, or a world remade without. It sounded almost too good to be true, but... maybe it wasn't. Khaexyn did have access to exactly what he claimed, she knew that personally. A key beyond the world itself. If he would then use this ability to redefine life itself, it could dramatically improve.. everything!
The world as it was had all but discarded her, and her own life had no meaning to her anymore, as far as she was concerned. She was convinced that change was for the best. She recalled the Marauders, tossing her aside out of pure fear of change. It was obvious why Khaexyn had plenty of difficulty with this plan, the whole world was rejecting change. She wasn't going to, though. There was just one worry still on her mind.
"But, why me? There isn't much I can do to help with anything, I'm.." "Yes, I understand. Being a half-elf in a world like this is hard, but I have no real expectations of you. That isn't the point. Instead, you are someone who closely understands the truth of this vision, and is a perfect example of why this vision needs to be passed. So then, all I need is for you to be you. With no actions or responsibilities on your part, with every single need you have taken care of by people with the capacity to fulfill them, you will be nothing more than an icon for others, to compel them to keep going. But an icon is something foreign to them all. Even my own potential is far outreaching, it lends no form to help people understand." She realized that it was exactly her being so useless which was what he was asking for. If that was all, certainly that wouldn't be hard to provide, it would be second nature in fact.
She then asked of him one thing which was still bothering her. "Why... why did you call me Yhse, and ... why does that seem so familiar?" "Ah, I suspect you had gotten used to a name that was not your birth name over the years, and was forced to accept another name that didn't properly identify you. Know that, unlike those hate filled lands you came from, your true born self has not been forgotten." "That doesn't make any sense, why would remembering me matter?" "Because you are a half-elf, and the struggles of the deprived, such as a half-elf, is iconic to our struggle at all. Those across the mountain might have felt compelled to hide your name and your identity as something else, but your true birth name shouldn't be simply discarded so readily. You yourself understand in your heart, that is why you can faintly recall it, right?" She even found this easy to accept, he was right, this.. familiarity.. she did feel it.
Lwyn.. no, Yhse.. Yhse got up from her seat and dusted off any wrinkles in her dress. "Alright then. I'm still not exactly clear what is expected of me, but it sounds like I just need to follow some simple instructions and everything will just happen. Sounds like a plan." "I'm glad to hear it. Your breakfast is expected, you can have it here if you wish or we can find you other accommodations. Oh, and if you find the staff is failing in any expectations, please let me know. I will ensure it is taken care of." Yhse and Khaexyn both stood at this point, their discussion concluded. Yhse decided to take things one step at a time, she would just wait in her room. She still had many other things to learn about as well, this way would be the easiest. Khaexyn himself departed to deal with whatever it was he would be dealing with.
Quickly after, both maids returned. The elf arrived first with her food, which she started to partake on her table. The human maid arrived a bit later, with a group of others. When she noticed that Yhse was eating breakfast, she stopped in concern and worry. Yhse then recalled that her room was being due for redecoration, the same room she was currently in. She really was stupid forgetting details like that. Moving would however now be a problem for her other maid, so she had no choice but to continue. When she finished, the elf maid took her dishes away, and she turned to the human maid.
"I still really don't know what I would want in this room, but the two things that stand out is how it's white and seems too empty. At least put something on the bookshelves. For colors, please don't just paint everyone one or two colors. Like maybe bookshelves should be brown, but stylish with accent colors. No tacky, please. Everything should compliment everything else without looking so identical. I have no idea how to do that, but .." Yhse shrugged, she wasn't being expected to figure things out, so it was okay. It was probably also good she was fairly understanding, she doubted she would be complaining even if there were smaller problems. It was just... all this white made it feel dead here.
The maid nodded in understanding, or at least a feint of understanding. She went outside to wait for either of her maids to be available again, just tending to herself while waiting. She noticed that some of the people who went in looked.. fake. Like the clockwork automatons. She was in fact seing the same model as the other girls had found overnight. Oh, so they were probably the Aethyrnz that were mentioned earlier, that would make sense. The phrase practically meant 'wordless'.. maybe even 'nameless', a very suspicious choice of phrasing. Considering how broken her own name's meaning had become, she could only have empathy for them.
The elf maid was the first to return, who then offered to guide her to a library, possibly because of her mention of books before. Most likely, she was to be asked which types books she would want on her bookshelves. She honestly didn't really care much at this point, but reading might end up being something to pass the time with, so it might be best to find something she could sink into whenever it was required. She still wasn't used to being pampered and protected like this, treated like some fair maiden, but at least it was for a noble cause.
Yhse followed along behind her maid as they headed to the library, which kept her busy up until lunch. She would eat lunch in the library itself. Her room's decoration would be finished soon after lunch, the bookshelves filled with books already, and the paint already dry. Everything was kinda rustic in color, but that suited her much better. It wasn't all brown, but the faint trims of golds, reds, and purples scattered in the room to give it an added touch. This was something she could live with, much better than before.
Yhse wasn't inclined to do anymore reading, but spent the rest of the day in general relaxation, not having any specific responsibilities. This was going to be her lifestyle going forward, it was time to get used to the change.