"If you are able to hear me, then please… wake up." Orchid could hear a voice in the darkness. The elf slowly opened her eyes, then she quickly sat up from where she laid. Orchid noticed that she was in a small room and was covered in a comfortable blanket. The sun was now starting to rise from the horizon, leaving a golden light to enter the single window in the room.
Looking around the room, Orchid noticed that no one was there. "What happened?" She thought to herself.
"You fainted." Someone answered. Orchid quickly looked around to still find that there was no one near her.
"Who's there?" Orchid called out.
"Ah yes. I suppose I never properly introduced myself. I am Young and it is my most sincere honor to be one with you, Orchid." The voice revealed himself.
"Wait, Young?" Orchid asked.
"Yes. How do you like your new item? I am sorry to say that it cannot be removed, but I hope you enjoy it all the same." The voice asked.
"You mean this necklace? What's this thing all about anyway?" The girl questioned.
"Think of it as a symbol of our bond."
"Bond?" Orchid asked, but just then the door opened. Orchid sprung to her feet and raised her fists ready to fight as an armored man walked through. Without thinking she bounded for him, knocking him to the ground and taking his sword from its sheath. Just as she was about to plunge the blade through the now gaping space between his chest plate and helm, her arms froze where they were.
"I am impressed with your speed, however, I cannot allow you to do this." Young spoke to the girl.
"Why not?" Orchid questioned aloud.
"Because this man is the one who brought you in after you collapsed from over exerting your body from that long sprint you had done." Young explained and Orchid glared at the man whose hands were up and at his side as if surrendering.
"What?" She snapped at the man.
He took a deep breath. "I'm glad to see you're doing well." The warrior did his best to stay composed while his own blade hovered above his neck.
"Please rest assured that he is not your enemy." The voice said in a calming tone.
"And why should I believe you?" Orchid asked Young in an irritated tone.
"Um… I beg your pardon?" The warrior asked confused.
"Shut up! I'm not talking to you." The elf barked.
"You ask a question that is difficult to answer. Though I suppose if he wanted to kill you, he would have done it while you were unconscious. If the goal was to sell you off as a slave, then he would have bound you tight so as to make it impossible to resist." Young answered with a gentle statement.
Orchid stared into the man's eyes. Then she sighed, stood up, and dropped the sword to the ground.
"Ahem." The man cleared his throat. "Is… there anything I can get you? I have some food you can eat if you're hungry. The rations have made their rounds not too long ago so I have some I can spare to you." The warrior said as he stood himself back up and sheathed his sword. "Oh, my name's Harold, by the way." The man added and offered a handshake to Orchid.
With a glare and a small hesitation, Orchid accepted the man's handshake. "Orchid." She answered.
"Orchid. Well, I must say, it's not too often I get visitors here, aside from the people that use the river as transportation, but since it leads into the Dark Country there's not all that many coming through anyway." Harold said as he removed his helm to reveal his short brown and unkempt hair, and shaggy face. "Say, pardon my asking, but what's a Light like yourself doing in the Dark Country?" The man asked rather bluntly, although curiously.
Orchid lowered her head. "It's not like I wanted to be there." She said bitterly.
Harold was reaching into one of the few cupboards looking for food when she answered. "I'm sorry to hear that." He said as he sat down with a plate of bread and preserved meat. "At least you're out of there now, right?" He added, trying to lighten the mood.
"I… I suppose so." Orchid sighed as she sat herself down.
Harold split his food in two, then offered half of it to Orchid. "I saw you running up the way here. You must be starving after that." He added with a smile.
Orchid's growling stomach hid nothing. The elf's face turned red in embarrassment. Harold gave a light chuckle and handed the plate of food to Orchid.
"Thanks." She said and started eating.