Time for part two. Onward we go.
Any characters involved from El Hazard and Nadesico are owned by their respective parties.
Chapter Two - Lucid Dreams (Mat Zo)
As the day progressed into the afternoon, the lanes and markets of Huriande were bustling with activity. The village itself was only home to a few hundred elvish citizens, but it certainly wouldn't be considered quiet even by the locals.
The central market was full of customers looking to barter. Farmers for the fresh produce, craftsmen for the ownership of fine furniture, even the blacksmiths had a tent for displaying their still-warm blades. Willing buyers were not hard to find; The village acted as a central point for one-stop-shopping in the county.
To any earthling walking through the busy streets it would look like something out of the 14th century, But the most isolating problem was the language. Humans were rare in these parts, and as true to any interior region of a unilingual society few could understand their tongue. The sight of another species was rare enough to draw side glances and whispers from the locals.
Walking through the central market, a young woman timidly took in her surroundings, taking a moment to count some platinum coins as she browsed the local foodstuffs. The elves who past her in the street seemed to pay her no mind, despite her much shorter stature. Her clothes were covered by a long linen overcoat which also covered her head helping to hide her short human ears.
Her coins tallied, she made her way to a line of shoppers waiting for bread and what she could only identify as a large pink apple; It was certainly shaped like one but was closer in size to that of a grapefruit. The bread was her only goal as she felt her stomach rumble in protest.
Since her arrival in the area she had managed to barter some of her possessions for the local currency, and despite the language barrier had been able to obtain a coat to protect her from the elements. A weapon was high on her list, but with her lack of money and with little left to trade she had come to the realization theft might be the only option. She was unwilling to trade some of her belongings, her futuristic Kevlar reinforced boots were a significant improvement to any footwear the locals could provide as well as her leather racing gloves.
The gloves also served another purpose; it hid the markings on her hands from the view of the natives. They served no purpose anymore for her, but she wanted to keep any explanations to a minimum. What a stranger didn't know couldn't hurt her, she thought.
Bread now in her wanting hands she moved to leave, and ended up colliding with a older elf woman who had passed next to her. The elder lady dropped her basket of fruit but managed to stay upright. Fearing the worst, the human quickly began helping to fill her basket with the spilt pink apples. The elder lady gave a remark of disdain, but to her it was unintelligible. Her response in return would be equal to the elf.
"Gomenasai." the young woman relied hesitantly, her voice betraying her fear that this would escalate further. Thankfully, nothing further developed from it as the elder lady grunted and continued on her way.
Taking a bite out of her bread she pulled the hood of her coat back and ran a free hand through her short and straight black hair. Her oriental facial features were unknown to the locals, which drew a few glances from other shoppers. She snorted as she eyed the elf walk away.
(Some people, what a bitch.) she commented in her local tongue. She took another bite of her bread before turning on her heel and headed her way to the boarding house she had taken up refuge in. It was a short walk through the village and resided near the edge of town, the proximity with the central county road providing a convenient place for weary travelers to hang their hat while in the village.
Heading inside she gave a short nod to the front clerk, who for his part ignored her as he continued his reading of the local news ledger. She continued upstairs and using the key provided made her way into the small room which had become her home. Many of her possessions adorned the provided table and small thick wooden dresser. She placed the key on top and tossed aside her coat.
She adjusted her topshirt, a simple cotton tank top with a blue and red insignia adorning the front of it. Over it she dressed in a slightly soiled black blouse, removing her boots and placing them in the corner by the glassless window. Letting out a long sigh she stretched and sat down on her cheap wooden bed. For a while she simply stared out the window, the sunlight flashing in her dark blue eyes.
She turned to look over her dresser. On it lay many of her belongings, both she had purchased in town and had on her person. A small black purse, a matching baseball cap with a sports insignia on the front, a pair of keys with a remote starter attached, her wallet, a mobile phone, and a small worn photo which had been positioned in a metal frame she had purchased at the market many days ago. It provided her some comfort.
Several of her comrades in arms were in the photo, all of who held a special place in her heart. It had been several years since she had last spoken to many, but she had managed to keep in touch with a few over the passing days. Walking over the dresser she picked up the frame and ran the fingers of her free hand over the photo.
"Hikaru-chan, Ruri-chan. Gomen ne." she whispered to herself as she placed the photo back on the wooden surface. Stepping back she laid back on her bed and eyed the ceiling, letting out an exasperated sigh as she pondered her next move.
To retrieve a weapon she would need the cover of night. She had determined through scouting that the locals did not keep a watchful eye over the local blacksmith shop past midnight. It was her best chance. She had done covert missions before while in the military, and she knew how to stay out of sight. A simple theft would be easy enough for someone with her skills, she thought.
Knowing she would need to conserve her strength, she turned on her side to take a nap. With any luck she would wake before sunset, full of energy. Slowly, she let herself slip into rest, her mind lost in thoughtful plotting.
I...I
With the day fading into night the elf household had started to quiet down. Aran and his youngest daughter had returned from their outing, a basket of linen bandages and fresh fruit now placed in the pantry. With the last rays of sunlight departed, Milly had retired to her room for a well deserved rest. The remainder of the household now sat around the fireplace chatting to each other.
Shayla had taken the opportunity to relay her intentions to her father and sister, who had differing responses. Aran was in agreement as it became quite clear the human would need the assistance in the village, as well as a protector due to his recovering health. Fione on the other hand still had her suspicions.
"Is this all you decided to travel with when you left your home?" she said to the young man who stood opposite the table from her.
Nolan did a double take; A quick tally of what had managed to arrive in this world in one piece revealed he had quite a few supplies. In a stroke of good luck, he had completely forgotten about the several packs of chocolate and can of Red Bull in the main pouch during the previous few days of work. Not exactly a nutritious meal, but it was something. He had some simple tools; a couple of small screwdrivers and some tweezers. A bottle of headache pills and a packet of throat lozenges provided something medicinal in nature as well.
The few useful items he had were offset by others that would serve little purpose here; a slim portable hard drive and USB flash drive, with miscellaneous computer cables loose in his backpack. He was still pleased when he found a spare pair of earbuds among the cluttered mess; not his best pair by a long shot but he had no right to be picky. One item he did not expect to see was his Nintendo 3DS XL, having assumed it was still resting on his night stand at home. Figuring it was most likely left behind in his bag after an extended layover at a friend's house, he flipped it open to see no visible damage other than some light scratches. It was at this moment he registered the fact he had one high-tech possession that would prove useful.
Picking it up, Nolan examined it; it looked to be intact. The outward appearance was that of a large nylon wallet. He pulled it open, the sound of Velcro separating as it folded outward. On the inner sides were three small solar panels; he had a working solar charger. It would allow him to keep his phone in working order. Placing it back on the table with a smile, he turned to Fione.
"I wouldn't exactly call this traveling necessities." he commented. "Then again traveling was the last thing on my mind when I left home." He glanced across the table as Fione sighed, her long ears drooping.
"You're a hard one to understand. If you weren't traveling to begin with, how did you end up here?" she asked in a slight commanding tone.
"Your guess is as good as mine. Either way I was forced here against my will." replied Nolan. "Once I get my bearings, I'm going to try and figure this all out. Someone must know something around here."
Fione looked across to the opposite side of the table and stared down at the young man. Nolan's scarred face looked back up at her as she looked him over in askance. To him it was clear she didn't quite accept his explanation, but he had no reason to blame her for her instincts. In the same situation he would probably agree. Nolan decided to speak up, which gave Fione a slight startle.
"I know you don't exactly trust me; Frankly, I can't blame you. All I can say is I don't mean you or your family any harm. I'm about as harmless as they come. You'd easily kick my ass." He smiled as she blink-blinked at the last part.
Nolan continued. "Chances are once I leave here you won't see me again. But to be honest, I would like to count your family as friends, especially after what you've done for me." He reached a hand across the table as a gesture, to which Fione gave a guarded look.
"How about it?" he asked while smiling. Fione stared at the free hand for a few moments, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Setting aside her concerns, she slowly took Nolan's hand in hers and nodded.
"I still don't quite believe you or your circumstances." she replied assertively. "But that doesn't mean we can't be amicable." Nolan laughed as he nodded in agreement. She smiled.
Sitting by the fireplace Aran kept watch over the two, his own thoughts reflecting on the night the young human had appeared on their doorstep. It was true humans were an infrequent sight in their lands, but despite the circumstances of his arrival and the condition he was left in it was almost unheard of for a simple traveler to meet such a devious fate. The band of elvish kin who had abandoned him had their motives, no doubt. But what of it? Was there something the young man was keeping from him that would provide a cause, or was he truly oblivious?
His possessions were not without suspicions of their own as well. For all that the elf and human realms of the continent had exchanged on a cultural level, there were still secrets each side kept from the other. Elvish spells and medicine were regarded at a high level by the bordering human kingdoms as their own medicine was far inferior for treating the sick, and often in short supply.
But for a human to have crafted the relics he had seen manipulated by the man with his own eyes would be borderline fantastical. His own kind were adept at infusing charms and weapons with magic, often providing the service to other species that had both the will and the financial backing to follow through. A human cleric or priest was far more limited.
And yet, perhaps these were signs that there was a new shift in development across the borders. If humans were indeed capable of manipulating the spirits or gods to produce a tapestry like the one Nolan had shown to his awestruck daughters, it could spell a new age for his own kind. Perhaps he was not alone?
Aran's train of thought was broken by the arrival of Shayla to the room, her newly donned knee length dress dancing at the hem as she walked. Her hair was covered by a short maroon veil which matched her dress, a satchel draping her shoulder. She nodded to her father as both Nolan and Fione turned their attention. She smiled.
"I trust all your preparations are complete?" she asked.
Nolan nodded. "I think I'm all set."
Nolan had taken the time to repack his belongings into his backpack, his recently acquired jacket draping his torso. When he had first put it on in the presence of Fione she had taken the occasion to tease him on it; she took great delight in his appearance in what had been a young women's garment.
At first he thought it was derogatory, but quickly learned she was highly positive of his choice to wear it. In fact, the idea a human male would wear such a 'pretty' and 'refined' article of clothing had helped in improving her opinion of the young man. He assumed traditional gender roles were part and parcel for his own kind around here. He sighed.
Collecting his pack and gently draping the straps around his bandaged shoulders Nolan kneeled to tie the laces on his Nike runners before he walked over to Aran and Shayla, giving a smile to Fione as he went by. She regarded him as he passed before speaking up.
"Sir." she said in a commanding tone which started Nolan as he turned his head back at her. Taking delight in this, she smirked.
"Take care of yourself, young man." Fione said, her voice softening as she continued "And please don't attempt anything too foolish, you're in no condition for any heroics."
Nolan grinned. "Heroism doesn't even fit into my vocabulary, miss." He pondered for a moment on that thought as he continued. "If need be, running like a coward is always an option."
Fione gave a blank look for a moment before perking her long ears up and chuckling lightly. One thing was for sure, Nolan thought; real life flesh and blood elves were too cute for their own good.
Turning to face Aran he extended his hand to the elder, which he took in both of his hands and shook. "Thanks for everything you and your family has done for me. It's been a pleasure." Aran nodded as she looked down at the shorter human.
"Please take care of yourself, young one. You still require recovery and rest, and I trust you will keep your health in mind." Aran stated, his normally stern face relaxing a little. Nolan nodded, turning to face Shayla in earnest.
"Alright. Let's do this!" he exclaimed with a smile which caused the lady elf to giggle, taking a short moment to wipe her eyes as a smile spread across her lips. Aran simply raised an eyebrow as Nolan continued. "I'm in your care."
Shayla gently took his left hand and motioned to the hallway. "We will take our leave. Father, Fione." she said, facing both her kin as she and Nolan quietly left the room by way of the main hall. Fione watched bemused as they disappeared from sight, any concern she had for the young man's immediate health tempered by his demeanor. He may appear outwardly to be in poor physical condition, but his mindset was clearly positive despite his situation.
"He's quite the enigma, isn't he father." she said, Aran glancing her direction before letting out a soft grunt in agreement.
"Indeed. I don't believe this is the last we will see of him as well." he commented. He closed his eyes as he continued. "Our paths will cross again." Fione looked over at her father, a questioning look on her face. She was inclined to inquire what he had meant but was interrupted by his own train of thought.
"I will be in my study. Please inform your sisters to not disturb me." he stated, taking his leave before she could respond. Confused by his demeanor, Fione placed her hands on her hips and frowned.
"Hmrph!" she chirped as she shook her head. Feeling a bit put out, she decided to prepare herself some hot tea to relax. It had been a long day.
I...I
Dirty shelves and unsorted spices.
In the back room of a small eating establishment, a young woman was thinking of nothing but the above as she stood in front of the disorganized mess. Her staff had just received a large shipment of perishables late in the day, and as the hour was growing late most had left to tend to their own affairs. But for the proprietor standing alone in the storeroom, she had decided to take it upon herself to complete the job. Cleaning the shelves ended up being a necessity due to the dust that had been allowed to collect.
She looked over the new arrivals, a collection of imports from the nearby kingdom of Gannan; She had long since learned of the different local flavor from surrounding lands, and reaching out to provide her customers with the widest selection for their impending meals was a key advantage in her sales.
It had been a rocky start in the beginning. Her small restaurant slowly built up its reputation as time progressed, customers drawn in by her attention to detail and customer-first mindset. Nearby staff and royalty from the palace had quickly become regulars.
The fact she herself was considered a heroine of the kingdom by decree had by her own admission aided her as well. But those times were long passed; She would be the first to diminish her own role in the events that had come to be known as recent lore far and wide. Quickly, she would direct the praise to her close friends.
Her teacher has become a sort of mythic figure to the locals, with his legendary strength chief among the legend. He had beaten armies of enemy minions single handed, not including saving her own hide in the final conflict. Now happily married and with a young child to raise, he had since taken the time to settle down and enjoy life in his new homeland.
Her childhood friend had been among those cherished for their deeds in the great wars. Since the conflict, he had early taken to a reclusive lifestyle secluding himself at the infamous Eye of God. For nearly three years he barely spoke with anyone, enthralled in his quest to reach the one who was most important to him. It had not been without obstacles; he would admit that without the support and eventual intervention of his close friends on both sides he would have surely lost all hope. But slowly and with persistence, he had discovered the secrets of the technology that loomed in the sky over the kingdom.
The reunion itself with the so-called Demon God had given her friend all he searched for in life. It wasn't just that they loved each other; they were connected on a level of transcendence that others could only attempt to comprehend. He commonly associated it with a deep form of empathic thought, all made possible by the gift he had received by his arrival in his new homeland.
They had quickly married and taken to residing in the royal palace itself, a residence offered to her as well if she was willing to accept it. But now with a successful business and her goals in life finally within reach, she had taken to self determination more than ever.
Letting out a small sigh she gently rolled up the sleeves of her silk dress and started the task at hand. A pair of diamond earrings swayed beneath her shoulder length brown hair as she knelt down and began to sort through the boxes. The night sky shone with stars through the small storeroom window by the back exit, the faint sounds of passersby filled the room as she worked.
Engrossed in her current task, she was oblivious to the sound of the bell at the front entrance ringing as a wanderer entered the front lobby of the restaurant. The door itself was locked as far as she was concerned; her staff had always locked up on time, and they had long since closed.
Surrounded by silence and darkness the stranger glanced around the front seating area. Wearing a linen cloak which covered the head and face and draped with a odd silken coat the intruder quickly noticed the faint light of a candle from behind the counter. Slowly as to not alert the tenant, the wanderer made their way behind the counter and pulled back the curtains which hid the kitchen area from view.
It was the sound of the curtains rustling that broke the concentration of the woman as she placed a shaker on the top shelf. She turned towards the hallway to the sight of the stranger, now fully composed and standing in the open doorway.
She dropped the remaining bottle of sauce as a sudden rush of fear took over, the bottle shattering on the floor by her feet. Quickly moving to a nearby sink and grabbing a small blade normally used for peeling vegetables the young woman broke her silence.
"Stand back!" she yelled as she brandished the makeshift weapon. "Don't come any closer!" Her face was that of a caged animal, one that had been in a similar situation before.
It was the stranger's turn to break the ice. Raising both hands to shoulder level, the intruder pulled back the cloak to reveal that they were female as well. Shaking her long blond hair free of her cloak the woman gave a short bow, her long ears catching the eye of the owner. For her part she had managed to calm down a bit, keeping her weapon steady as the stranger knelt down before her.
"Hello Nanami" she said in an elegant tone which caught the scared girl off-guard.
"Who are you?" Asked Nanami in a cautious tone, lowering her weapon slightly at the calm nature of the intruder. She kept it ready in her hand in the event of attack. "Why did you break in here?"
The stranger raised her head to meet Nanami's gaze. "I must apologize for the intrusion. I mean you no harm. Most assuredly I would never wish you any harm, let alone cause you harm."
Nanami pressed further. "What do you want with me? And what's with those ears of yours? I've traveled across El Hazard many times and I have never encountered anyone with ears like those." She slowly approached the kneeling woman, kitchen blade ready in her hand.
"I'm not a liberty to divulge every detail, but needless to say I am not from your lands." The young lady replied as she gently raised herself to stand in front of Nanami. "I am here to retrieve you."
Nanami gave a confused look. "What the heck are you talking about? I'm not going anywhere without a reason." As to warn her guest she raised her hand in front of her. This caused the stranger to smile sadly.
"This has been ordained by my masters, I cannot disobey." she stated bluntly. Nanami narrowed her eyes as she backed away towards the rear exit.
The stranger continued with a curtsy. "My name is Leeah. In time I hope we can meet again on better terms."
Nanami, now fearing for her own life, slowly backed up against the rear door and put a hand behind her back as she faced the intruder. She fiddled with the knob only to realize that it was indeed locked. Her keyring was in her office down the hall. She swore under her breath.
Leeah now stood in the middle of the room and ignored Nanami's protests or attempts to flee; all futile as far as she was concerned. She closed her eyes and from the belt across her wait retrieved a small flute. She raised the instrument to her mouth and began to play.
Nanami registered the sound of the music filling the room, now fully engaged in attempting to open the rear door by force. With no progress, she turned to the inevitable of having to fight her way to freedom. Brandishing her kitchen blade she darted towards the stranger. Leeah for her part made no indication she had even acknowledged the advance.
As Nanami reached within a few feet, a flash of light launched itself away from her intruder. It felt like a physical force was pushing her back, and soon she found herself launched across and against the spice shelf, causing bottles and shakers to fall around her. Terrified she raised her hands to realize her weapon was gone. She turned to Leeah to see the blade floating in midair right before the face of the stranger. Leeah smirked.
"I do apologize, but I cannot allow any disobedience." As she spoke, the blade began to melt into a fiery cloud of smoke and disappeared.
Nanami was now clearly terrified. "Please.. Let me go..!" Her pleads fell on long deaf ears as the intruder closed her eyes again and continued her musical performance. As the music progressed Nanami started to feel lightheaded, her thoughts clouded by fear and the spectacle of light surrounding the two.
Leeah's clothes now fluttered wildly with the turbulent air filling the storeroom. Her hair danced around her face as she opened her eyes to Nanami. Nanami's hair stood on end at the sight of the woman's eyes now burning with a bright red fire. The light enveloped the room as the two women stared back at each other, one with determination, the other with fear.
And without so much as a sound, Nanami felt her consciousness slip away from her. The last thing she remembered was a feeling of weightlessness and the smell of spilt Roshtarian wine from the floor of her shop. And then, the world disappeared.
I...I
As nightfall crossed the realm and the last bits of sunlight faded to an orange hue on the sky the makeshift couple made their way from the mansion grounds. The pathway through the countryside still bustled with activity despite the late hour, and fellow elf neighbors greeted the two travelers as they passed. Shayla would take the time to curtsy to her elders and strike up short conversations as a means to keep face, while Nolan stayed in the background to simply take in the surroundings.
He had never been across the pond before, but associating the area with an old fashioned European village circa the middle ages had given him perspective. There was the odd windmill scattered along the farmlands, wooden fences separating the fields from the road. Old stone houses and barns dotted the horizon as the windows glowed from the candles likely illuminating the insides. Some of the larger estates contained manicured gardens with scattered statues as decoration. It was quite a contrast to see the wealthy living adjacent to the less fortunate families.
Shayla had taken some time to answer questions he had as they walked together, happy to provide some insight on the area. Nolan learned that the elves here were firm believers in social equality, to the point where the rich were required to provide for the poor to continue their economic prosperity. They weren't so much a kingdom per se, given that the various clans and families had full rights to support or remove delegates from representing their region. A sort of pseudo-democracy with a ruling family presiding over the whole thing.
As they walked Nolan noticed the lack of livestock on the farmlands; Shayla was quick to point out that their kind considered consuming anything from an animal to be sacrilege. She did quip a brief remark about how humans didn't share this sentiment, but blamed it on the culture gap. Elves took deep pride in the protection of the living and their connection to the natural world.
Every so often their conversations would be broken up by a new well wisher. The odd passerby would give Nolan the quick appraisal, acknowledging his human blood and the pendant around his neck before turning their attention back to the pretty woman who accompanied him. Most would ask what the circumstances of his presence were, to which Shayla replied was due to an unfortunate accident requiring the assistance of her family. She left the more complex details vague. For his part Nolan let the healing scars across his face do the talking.
He also started feeling slightly self-conscious; it has been almost two hours into the journey, and not one traveler they passed was shorter than him. Granted they had all been elf in nature, but he was still surprised at the large difference in height. Shayla herself was a good foot taller than he was.
For her part his guide had taken to asking simple questions about himself, to which he answered as honestly as he could. She learned about his family, particularly his siblings and parents back home. He stated his love of music which gave her great delight as she was quite fond of orchestras and plays herself, though she felt slighted by his comment that she might not find his own styles to be to her taste. She was quick to counter that anything that could inspire the soul would be welcomed by her, and that human musicians and instruments had long been welcomed to play at the palaces of the ruling class. Nolan simply smiled and nodded in agreement as he changed the subject.
Shayla would admit that she was fully enjoying the walk with the strange human boy; His curious nature was mirrored by her own interest in his kind. She had been to the nearby border kingdoms several times primarily as a guard for the local politicians, a way she helped build her family reputation and image in lieu of her father, and she was not impressed by the natives she met. Most were brutish, quick to anger, and lacked any apparent appreciation for refinement. The nation in question was more well known for fighting prowess than for politics however which had helped to soften her view of the broader image of humankind.
But now with Nolan proving to be a welcome exception she felt her curiosity for human culture renewed. She giggled to herself as they walked in a moment of silence, to which Nolan glanced at before the sight of bright lights in the distance caught his attention.
Now standing on a ridge looking down into a small valley below Nolan could make out a sizable settlement nestled beside a small lake. Even at this hour he could hear faint shouts and commotions off in the distance. He turned to Shayla.
"Huriande?" he asked, receiving a nod in return.
"The village is always bustling with activity at night." Shayla said as she took his hand. "We can find room and board for you once we reach the limits. You should be completely safe here."
Nolan looked up at the female elf and smiled. "I hope I'm not too boring a travel partner, I tend to ramble when given the chance."
Shayla shook her head. "It's not at all like that. I have learned much from our talk, I only hope that I have given you some insight into our way of life."
He nodded in agreement. "Definitely, you've done more than I'd even think to ask." Adjusting his backpack on his shoulders he let Shayla take the lead as they made their way down the hillside towards to village. He had quite a bit on his plate, but he felt confident he could at least get some sort of head start. This was his starting point, and he wanted to cover all bases before he thought of leaving.
I...I
As the two travelers made their way down into the valley towards the crowds another wanderer was making preparations of her own.
She had awaken later than she had hoped but with a full rest under her belt she felt alert and ready to put her planned robbery in motion. Standing in the middle of her room the young woman draped herself in a linen cloak, adjusting the hood to cover her head from view. She grabbed the boots sitting by the foot of her bed and quickly stepped into them as she tapped a button on opposite sides of each boot to let the straps auto adjust to her ankles.
A pair of designer sunglasses, one of the remaining items she had not traded for necessities quickly donned her face to provide a bit of anonymity during the excursion. Without any solid tools of her own she had found some steel wire and a nail file left unattended by a windowsill in town; if any lock picking were to be necessary she rested her hope that this would be sufficient.
With a long look over her empty residence she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, letting herself relax for one last moment.
(Just like old times. Nothing you can't handle.) she said to herself calmly, opening her eyes once more. Snuffing the candle on her dresser she moved to the door, taking one last look at the photo frame by the candle.
She knew the risks she was taking, and frankly she didn't care; something had to change with her situation. If she was going to find any way to get back to those she cared for she would need to seek out her own kind. She had seen firsthand the apparent supernatural narrative of the society she was in, and for better or for worse had realized the possibilities it could lead to. Perhaps a human who practiced this strange profession could act as a catalyst for her to get back to Japan?
There was still the lingering language problem that had stymied her integration into this world to overcome. Even if she made it to human kingdom the odds anybody spoke her native tongue were slim to none. Eventually she would need to learn how to speak the local flavor, an inevitability wrought with its own problems as well.
And she knew how the world worked back home; Nothing in life is free. There were few if any handouts for her to rely on, and she would need some way to get the assistance she needed. If communication and bartering with people wasn't an option force certainly couldn't hurt. She was well built for her height and gender and could hold her own in hand to hand combat but it could only go so far. She needed a weapon; a blade in particular. Her drill instructors in boot camp had always lauded her for her combat knife skill, which even carried over to her handling of the lance and butterfly knives her mechanized combat armor had come equipped with as standard issue.
Her retirement and lack of combat readiness would have to take a back seat; For the moment she was back in the field. The thought of this caused her to grin back at the photo frame with a little wink.
(Watch over me, Amano.) she softly whispered as she left and headed down to street level. It would either be a walk in the park or an unexpected failure, but she felt like she was moving forward for the first time since arriving. Quietly she disappeared into the crowds around her and swiftly made her way towards her goal.
I...I
Reaching the outskirts of the village had taken Nolan and Shayla another twenty or so minutes of walking along the dirt road, which as they approached the outer gates had made way to bricks made of carved stone. The village itself did not possess a protective wall surrounding the land border and as such the gate was merely a kiosk where the local militia could keep tabs on those who passed through. At first Nolan thought it there would be more questioning about his presence, or at the very least the origin of his fresh wounds, but that was put to rest quickly once Shayla removed the glove on her right hand to display a ring marked with her family crest.
The guardsmen bowed hastily and waved the two travelers through. Shayla gave a sweet smile to the guards and did a small curtsy before continuing on, Nolan following with a bemused look on his face. It was clear his companion was regarded with reverence around these parts. He gave a small wave to the guards who eyed him curiously as he passed. He walked alongside Shayla, who had re-donned her traveling glove before folding her hands neatly in front to continue walking.
Glancing around at the busy lanes bustling with people Nolan tried to take the whole scene in as best he could. Makeshift streetlights with large candles provided an almost romantic feel to the area, light dancing across the buildings and passersby as the candles flickered. A few traveling musicians had taken up shop in front of a nearby well, currently being used by the locals to provide water for the restaurants that lined the right side of the lane. Numerous elf patrons were sitting on the wooden patio engaged in lively chatter, their food and drink being prepared and brought out by what Nolan would consider rather young female waiters. It may had been a late hour but the town was lively and busy. It reminded him almost immediately of the manga Elf wo Karu Monotachi, a series he had taken great pleasure out of reading over the years. All the scene needed was the elf hunters themselves; they would have a field day in this place. The thought made Nolan chuckle as they walked, causing Shayla to give a sidelong glance.
"Quite lively isn't it?" she commented as she ran a hand through her hair. "The village is said to never sleep, there is always a party or gathering occurring even into the night."
"I like lively places." Nolan replied as he returned her sidelong look with one of his own. "Never a dull moment from the looks of it. Not that I'll have many of those for a while." He fingered the pendant around his neck absentmindedly as Shayla turned her attention back to the crowds. She giggled airily before continuing.
"My father would bring me along on his travels as a child. I had the luxury of seeing the historic cities of the ancient kingdoms, taking part in the finest royal parties, experiencing the largest festivals our kingdom has to offer. But I have always found solace in my time spent in my home village." She smiled contently, bring herself to a stop in front of one of the larger patios along the path. Nolan followed her lead as she looked up at the upper levels of the stone building. A wooden sign with cloth detailing adorned the wall below the windows on the second level to which Nolan could only guess the context. Retrieving a small sack of gold coins from the satchel around her arm, Shayla turned on her heel to face the young human.
"Let us have have dinner together!" she smiled, clasping her hands in front of her happily. "You must be famished after our journey, and we must be mindful of your recovery. It has been some time since I have had good company." Nolan glanced over her shoulder at the storefront before turning his attention back to Shayla. She had an expecting look on her face, her ears perked upwards as she awaited his response. He couldn't help but grin at her perky demeanor, the candlelight flickering across her face.
"Sounds good to me, miss." he replied with a short bow, removing the backpack from his shoulders to hold it in one hand. His back was healing quite well but still felt sore after walking for the evening. Shayla grinned back as she took his free hand in hers.
"I must introduce you to the owner, he is quite the cook. Oh! And the salads are quite divine..." She continued as she began naming off entrees she thought he would palate. Appearances could be deceiving, but from her demeanor Nolan could surmise Shayla was quite excited by the prospect of having the semblance of a friend to enjoy a meal with. It seemed she was slightly more sheltered than he had thought given her public profile.
Entering the restaurant Nolan took a look around as Shayla made her way to the bar at the front before looking back expectantly. The decor was quite something, with linen tablecloths and fine cutlery on every square table. Napkins placed neatly by a dinner plate with overturned teacups placed on saucers. Elaborate paintings decorated the walls, and floral arrangements dotted the empty spaces.
"Five star, no doubt" Nolan whispered to himself as he made his way to the front. Despite the bustling fervor outside, the restaurant itself was quite devoid of customers. Most tables that were occupied were near the front so as to take in the view of the crowds and night sky. A few couples had taken notice of the rare human customer as he passed but quickly turned back to their meals and chatter.
Behind the counter a elderly male elf made his way over, giving a short bow to Shayla who returned the gesture with a small curtsy. Dressed in a tailored silk suit he turned his view to the young human. His height was not quite as high as most of the other elves Nolan had seen and stood shorter than Shayla, but with his burly physique he could easily hold his own in a fight. He lifted a hand to his face and stroked his styled mustache as he did a quick appraisal. He grunted.
"Long time since we've had humans as guests. Can he understand us?" he asked motioning to Nolan, to which Shayla nodded.
"It's been quite a while, hasn't it Jael?" she said. "I made attempts to come here during my free time away from the guard, but.." She stopped for a moment before continuing with a smile. "My father sends his well wishes to your family."
The elder elf shook his head and gave a warm smile "I'm just happy to see you pried away from your political obligations for one night." He turned his gaze to Nolan, who tried his best to meet his gaze head on.
"So." Jael started. "Who won?"
Nolan blinked. "Won what?"
"The fight." the elf continued. "You look as though you bit off more than you can chew, and suffered the consequences. Nothing permanent, I hope?" he frowned slightly as Shayla took the moment to jump in.
"He was ambushed on the road by our estate." she continued. "Without the intervention of my family his fate may have been worse."
This only deepened Jael's frown. "The insurgents, was it?"
Shayla nodded while closing her eyes in disgust. "When I came upon the situation they fled, leaving him to rot. He is still recovering..." her voice trailed off as she looked at the scars adorning the young human's face. Nolan cleared his throat.
"I was pretty messed up when I came to." he replied. "I don't want to even think about where I'd be without her family." He glanced over to Shayla who nodded through a light blush.
Jael grunted angrily. "I thought the presence of extra militia garrisons would have deterred that repulsive lot. The way they target other races puts a black eye on our kingdom."
Nolan blinked. "They don't attack elves?" Jael nodded as Nolan continued. "You said they were part of of an insurgent group, are they bent on some kind of ethnic cleansing?" he asked.
The two elves looked at each other before staring back at him with curious glances. Nolan returned this with one of confusion. "Did I say something wrong?"
"What is 'ethnic cleansing'?" Shayla asked first. The elder elf looked on.
"Ah.." Nolan started as he thought of a way to explain it. The term he used apparently was lost in mental translation when he spoke elvish. "It's a human way of referring to purging another class of people. The way the 'bandits' attack my kind and ignore their own."
Shayla tilted her head slightly. "I ..don't think I have heard it said in that way."
Jael nodded in agreement while narrowing his eyes. "You use that phrasing as if your lot are highly familiar with it."
Nolan shook his head defensively. "That wasn't my intention, I find it despicable myself. We punish people severely for it where I come from." He sighed as he continued. "I'm just trying to gather as much information as I can about my attackers. They may hold some answer as to how I ended up here."
Satisfied with Nolan's answer Jael shook his head. "I apologize if I came off brash. But it is as I said; the bandits have been ambushing your race and others as they travel through our lands. Our rulers have tried to crack down on these elements of our society, but they have been stepping up their attacks as the weeks pass."
"I see." Nolan replied as he absentmindedly looked at the counter top of the bar. The surface was clean and made of a marble that reflected the surroundings, including his own reflection to which he locked his eyes at and on the long scar that crossed his face and eye. He couldn't help but be self-conscious of his current state of health. For all he had been through in the short time spent in this world he had yet to feel any disdain or ill will towards the people he had encountered. But now, he felt feelings of anger build up inside of him with the thoughts of being a victim of what appeared to be simple bigotry.
Nolan took a moment to ponder about his attackers, or the little he had seen or heard of them since he arrived. As much as he tried to remember he couldn't picture the sight of them in his head, nor any voices. Beyond waking up in the mansion he remembered nothing before that point. If he had been hit hard enough during the ordeal his memory may have lapsed, he assumed. Perhaps he wasn't alone at the time? It was very possible that companions had been traveling with him and may had fled the scene at best, or captured at worst.
If Shayla's account was true this would be moot, nobody else had been present besides his attackers when she came to his rescue. It was possible he had arrived there while fleeing, or he was simply dumped along the road for them to slay and be done with. But why? Whether it simply a matter of local strife or was he directly targeted he couldn't answer yet. But he knew he would do what he could to get to the bottom of it.
It was the sound of Shayla's voice that broke his concentration, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder. "Are you alright?" Nolan jerked slightly from the touch but calmed himself quickly as he glanced up at the lady elf.
"Yeah, I'm okay." he replied with an exasperated sigh. "I'm not sure what to feel right now. I feel angry, confused, and lost and It's starting to feel a bit..."
"Overwhelming..?" Shayla said, to which Nolan nodded his head. She smiled sadly as she continued. "You have been through much turmoil, and your wounds are still healing. You mustn't overexert yourself and allow now only your body to heal, but also your spirit."
Jael gave a short nod as he interjected. "A battle leaves not only physical scars, but mental ones as well. Defeat can lead to rage and feelings of retribution, but you must keep a clear head. The gods will guide your soul to clarity, young one."
Nolan shook his head. "I don't know what to believe anymore as it is." He touched the pendent around his neck. "I've seen enough in only a few days to completely wreck my perception of what's possible, and I'm not one for faith, but with the circumstances..."
Before Nolan could look back up to continue Shayla took the initiative and guided his hand and held in both of hers. She glared into his eyes, which made him a little uneasy.
"Sir." she said as she looked him over. "I must insist that you not burden yourself with dark thoughts. You may feel unsure, but please know that you are not alone." Her stern look faded to one of compassion as she continued. "Not only myself, but my family will aid you to uncovering the truth. You have my word as a servant of the royal guards."
Nolan for the moment simply took in the situation as he stared up at the young woman, both her beauty and pride beaming through as she stared back. That was all it took for him to realize that as much as he didn't know or understand, as much as he was scared shitless of what lay ahead of him, he was not destined to face this alone. For all his insecurities and social awkwardness he had managed to make a friend, somebody who clearly wanted to provide whatever assistance and guidance as she could provide.
Letting his features soften, Nolan smiled and joined both his hands with hers. "I trust you, and thank you for all you've done. You probably won't ever know what that means to me."
Shayla simply beamed back as the two released their hands. Jael simple cleared his throat as the two turned to face him.
"Rather touching." he grunted wryly as he handed both of them a menu. "For that, you may enjoy our window side tea room for your meal. You should be familiar with its decor, m'lady."
Shayla took both menus and tucked them under her shoulder as she ran a hand through her long blond hair. "Thank you, you've been most kind to us." She turned to Nolan and smiled. "Shall we?"
Nolan simply nodded in agreement as he let her lead them off to a wooden door at the far side of the bar. Jael shook his head and scratched his chin as they walked away.
"Humph, youth truly is wasted on the young." he said to himself, picking up a cloth to polish the counter top.
I...I
Dark and foreboding, yet tranquil.
While the majority of the townsfolk were preoccupied with the various entertainment opportunities the village provided, on the far end of the village the streets were empty save for the odd passersby heading home for a night of rest and recovery. A quiet residential area lined with homes of stone and wood construction. Most were a single story affair save for the more wealthy mansions which were few and far between.
The lamps dotting the roads were without candlelight, which was quite the contrast from the central market. For the sole human wandering the street it provided an ideal form of camouflage for her to complete her job. Her cloak aided in blending into the night as she picked up the pace towards hr goal.
The armory itself was fairly non-descript, with tiny windows dotting the smooth stone outer walls. It was only about the size of two of the neighboring houses combined together and was a single floor affair. For all the possible valuables contained inside it was not guarded on the outside, but the flickering light shining through the windows indicted there was at least one guarding the interior.
Taking short glances around her the oriental woman moved swiftly from an alleyway across the street and took up a position behind some storage crates beneath one of the armory windows. Without drawing back her cloak she slowly moved into position to peek inside, being as careful as she could to not alert any of the occupants.
Lifting her sunglasses she made a quick appraisal of the room and any dangers; it was unoccupied. A nightstand by the window contained various parchments, possibly inventory documents for the local officials. What drew her attention was on the bookshelf across the room, a still steaming cup of tea left by the night guard. The door to the room was open, and she directed a hand to her ear as she listened.
The unmistakable sound of the elvish language she had quickly grown to hate caught her attention. She left her position by the crates and moved along the wall to a window five meters down. With no crated to provide cover she did a quick peer over the windowsill. She found her only obstacle rummaging through a rack along the wall left of the window. The guard appeared immersed in his task as he looked over a handful of knives and axes that hung from the rack. Without raising suspicion she pulled back and made for a door near the supposed rear of the armory. The entryway had a canopy overhead and was fairly secluded from the street.
She took a few moments to collect her thoughts. She had no intention of harming anyone during the robbery, but the guard would be an issue. He wasn't particularly well built from what she could see of him, but his height was significant in comparison to her own and he did have a building full of weapons to draw assistance from. She sighed; This could get complicated real fast. What she needed was a distraction to divert his attention from the stockyard section.
The door had a small lock built into it allowing it to be used from both sides, and a quick push confirmed it was indeed locked. Taking the steel wire from a compartment on her boots she inserted one end into the keyhole. It had been several years since she had needed to pick a lock, let alone such an ancient one, but after a handful of minutes she heard the satisfying click as the inner workings slid aside.
With as much grace and soft touch as she could muster she gently pushed the wooden door open, thankful that it did not creek or crack as it moved. Moving inside she shut the door behind her quietly and hid behind a large iron chest along the wall. The room itself was unlit and beyond the chest and a pair of boots was devoid of contents. There was no door diving it from the next room, and she could hear the rustling of the guard roughly twenty meters away. With swift movements she took a position by the wall and made her way into the next room. She froze in place.
In front of her was the guard, who for his part was still oblivious of her presence. He had his back to her as he stretched his arms, his torso covered by an iron cuirass with an insignia decorating the rear. Leather trousers and boots covered his lower half, and his short blond hair was fairly dusty. There was no mistaking his long elfish ears, and she could only hope he could not hear her breathing.
To her relief he seemed preoccupied with his errands and proceeded to walk away in the direction of his leftover tea. She felt her muscles relax as she regained composure, glancing around the racks on both walls ahead of her.
There was certainly no shortage of arms for her to confiscate. Moving to one rack she glanced over the small knives hanging by their handles. These weren't just deadly and utilitarian she thought, the craftsmanship was impeccable. Any museum or antiquity collector would be blessed to have authentic weaponry of this quality in their collection. She could certainly appreciate the beauty of these from an aesthetic standpoint.
She couldn't linger though. It could be mere moments before the guard would wander back into the storage area, and she was not about to murder an innocent to keep her theft a secret. She quickly decided on two knives and removed them from the rack, gently gliding them under her cloak and into a small canvas bag she retried from her pocket.
She could hear footsteps from the hallway as she glided back to the rear room. Slowly backing towards the exit she could hear the guard talking but to her great fortune did not make his way back into the weapons storage. Pushing the door open she made a slow and precise exit so as to let the door click back into place as she left. Once she was satisfied there was no chance of capture, she darted across the street and back to the alleyway. No passersby appeared to notice her exit from the town armory as she took a few moments to catch her breath and calm her nerves.
(That... was too close.) she whispered to herself between bated breaths. Wiping some stress induced sweat from her forehead she let the euphoria wash over her, giggling a little to herself as she clutched her loot filled bag in one hand. As morbid as it seemed to even her she felt quite giddy and aroused at her accomplishment.
'Not so bad for a retiree!' she thought happily as her other hand drew her cloak over her head. Making her way down to the opposite end of the alley she took to the opposite street and made her back to the guesthouse she had grown to call home. She had much to think about, not least of which was where to proceed next in this makeshift life she had cobbled together. Right now she was satisfied to let this feeling of accomplishment linger for the time being.
After all, this was just the beginning.
I...I
Meanwhile, across the lake from the village of Huriande another commotion was beginning to take shape.
Despite the town's name the lake itself was nameless and was nothing more than a dead body of water, fish supplies had dried up many decades ago. It provided the town with a source of fresh water as well as a means of cooling off during the humid summer months on the continent. A single dirt road ran along the northern coast and was dotted by numerous summer retreats and estates for the village elite to unwind.
No travelers lined the road at the late hour, save for one elvish farmhand who had taken the opportunity afforded her with the weather to enjoy a nighttime stroll in the cool calm air. The thick forest hid the sky above from her view but she could still enjoy a spectacle of lights from the village dancing across the surface of the lake.
She left the road behind her and made for a wooden dock that extended roughly twenty meters out into the water. The wind sweeping across the lake whipped at the hem of her nightgown as she stood and took a deep breath. Letting out a satisfied sigh she stood and admired the sparkling ripples of light shining on the surface. She stood there for several minutes simply enjoying the view.
Unfortunately her tranquil silence was interrupted by a low rumbling coming from the trees to her right side. As she went to whip her head in that direction a bright flash erupted from within the trees, blinding her as she threw her arms in front of her face. It took all of her concentration to not fall off the doc and into the lake. The light itself grew dimmer and began to take on a pulsating blue hue as the elf narrowed her eyes to get a clearer view. What she saw left her speechless.
The light, now nothing more than a glow, had started to take the shape of what she could only assume was a person. The light finally faded to reveal a woman standing completely still and looking directly up into the sky. Her head lowered slightly to reveal eyes that were burning orange, which startled the already frightened elf. Her brown hair was shoulder length which brushed the shoulders of the pale pink dress she was wearing, earrings fluttering in the wind that whipped around her.
Soon the light show ended and silence permeated the landscape. The elf girl stared in shock at the woman standing in the trees, still visibly shaking.
She yelped as the woman opened her eyes, only to collapse into the bushes in a heap. As much as fear was yelling at her mind to leave and forget the event even took place the elf felt her natural instincts take over; she jumped off the dock and came to the aide of the hapless woman.
Kneeling beside her the elf quickly brushed aside her shock at recognizing the woman was not elven. She placed her fingers on the woman's wrist and sighed with relief as she felt a pulse. She was still breathing.
Before the girl could begin any treatment the human slowly opened her eyes, squinting gently as the limited light the night afforded her filled her view. Raising her arm to her face she wiped herself of any dust and debris. She looked up at the young girl kneeling beside her as she cleared her throat.
"Sore.. Sore wa... Alielle? Naze anata wa.." Nanami said breathlessly, almost in a daze before resting her head back onto the ground and closing her eyes in exhaustion. The elf for her part stared back unsure at how to respond.
After a few moments the human turned her head over and glanced at her surroundings; This was most certainly not her restaurant. It was still night time but now she was outside sitting in the dirt, a thought which quickly drew her attention to her rather expensive attire. She cursed under her breath when she saw that there were a few smears on the back of her dress and on her favorite heels. Turning her view back to her companion she was about to speak in a commanding tone as to her whereabouts and what part they may have played in this mess, before she caught sight of the long ears adorning the young girl's head. The speech died in her throat and she simply stared back as a fresh wave of fear filled her mind.
The elf titled her head to the side in a curious fashion and blinked back in response, her long ears drooping. She extended a hand out in an attempt to break the ice with the stranger, to which the woman stared at as if it held a dead fish. Before the elf could insist on a handshake the woman collapsed onto her back, apparently fainting in shock.
She hesitated for a moment, but her concern for the well being of the human laying before her overruled her nerves. Leaving the woman behind she darted back to the road and on to the boarding house to awaken the lord of the mansion. Her benefactor was a skilled healer, and while the woman may not be seriously injured he could provide a place for her to rest and re-cooperate.
Before long the young elf's voice was faintly heard from the dock, and the peaceful tranquility of the night returned. For her part, Nanami lay unconscious in the grass completely oblivious to what awaited her. As the commotion continued across the lake in the village proper, a round of fireworks were being readied to celebrate the peak of the coming harvest.
Things were looking up.
It's proceeding along fairly smoothly, I've been writing when I have time off between work and my never ending gaming sessions. I hope you enjoy what I've written as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's all for fun, after all.
More to come.