A foreword:
As I couldn't contain my love for this game I decided to write this fanfiction about the ups and downs of my OC Godwoken Elane. As English is not my first language some sentences may feel a bit...wonky. I will try my best to provide you with a bearable reading experience as you ponder into canon and non-canon lore I came up with to fill up the oozing plot holes and more. Thank you for your attention~
Chapter 1
A withered rose
Sun has already drowned the chamber in its afternoon amber glow. A black-haired elf was sitting behind a lavishly ornamented desk. In fact, the whole chamber, as well as the elf's clothes, spoke of a luxury only a few could afford. The figure behind the desk paid no attention to the surroundings whatsoever. Quill in hand, she was filling countless reports, reading uncountable letters and answering them when necessary. Long columns of this year's crop harvests, mine production and many other things consumed all of her attention. What was the elf's responsibility in a human city tucked between southern Dragon's Spine massif and the sea? An unexpected chain of events, or rather a peculiar stroke of luck left her in charge of local lands. Being adopted by a local nobleman and his wife, rest their souls, led Elane to this very moment.
The harvest season was over and she had to take care of the resources so as not to let people starve during winter, count profits from owned facilities and decide how the money can benefit the citizens. None of this was an easy task and Elane showed up today in the office as soon as the sun peeked from the horizon. She was not alone in this, a few officials of hers worked just as hard helping the city grow and prosper. Yet, in moments like these she could not help but wonder if her foster father would approve of her work as his successor.
A tired sigh left her mouth as she heard knocking on her office door.
"Come on in.''
As those words left her mouth the door swung open. In the doorway stood Phillip, one of her household servants, a cheerful and hardworking fellow as far as Elane's opinion of him was concerned. He held a covered basket in hand.
"Good day, Lady Elane," he bowed slightly, "Miss Edinborough asked me to bring you dinner today."
"Ah, yes, please leave it over there," She pointed to the one cabinet that wasn't creaking under the weight of paperwork and register books.
The servant followed the instructions, yet he didn't turn to leave immediately. He moved right in front of the desk, taking off his hat and crumpling it in his hands.
"Lady Elane..." he started, shyly.
"Hm? Yes?" the elf answered, not lifting her gaze up, knowing all to well it made people feel uneasy or even intimidated for some reason.
"I'd like to ask whether it would be much of a problem… to give me leave for a week."
She looked up, concerned about the request."What's the matter? Are you ill?"
He chuckled, visibly relaxed. "No, oh no, it's just that I'm getting married.."
The elf froze for a second. She had no idea how to properly react to such news, social interactions that weren't purely business were a struggle.
Then a realization came: she had known this boy since his mother brought him as a child to the mansion, where she was given work. He was around when Elane's foster parents were still alive. And yet, he's no boy anymore. "Humans do grow up so fast" she thought to herself, before realizing she is yet to give him an answer.
A surprised, yet not very confident response followed.
"M-My congratulations!"
The elf suddenly stood up from the chair and shook his hand, the next second rushing back to the desk, pulling out a pouch. With all of the awkwardness of this situation she pushed it into the servant's palm. The sound of golden coins followed this motion.
Phillip was visibly taken aback by this sudden outburst as it was so unlike the calm and collected elf he knew.
The raven-haired elf noticed his expression.
"I'm still not very good at handling situations like these, now am I?" she looked down, still holding his hand.
He burst into a hearty, warm laughter.
"It's probably the reason why we all love you."
She smiled faintly at those words and took a step away from the servant, smoothing her hair in a nervous manner.
"I'll be back at six to take the basket back to the kitchen so-"
"No,no,no!" Elane replied as she firmly yet gently began pushing the protesting boy towards the door , "I'll take care of it myself! You go and enjoy the rest of your day off!"
Shutting the door behind him, she leaned heavily against the door frame. On her way to the desk she looked out of the window to the city below. People were coming and going down the street, laughing and shouting, living their lives. She sat down, her brows furrowing as she looked at the sheets of paper covering her desk.
Quill in hand she once again was filling countless reports, reading uncountable letters...until she heard a commotion on the staircase behind the door. A scream, a growl and a howl. Hasted footsteps. A man in red robe slammed the door open, a yapping Source Hound at his side. Two others soon followed in. One thought crossed Elane's mind. "Divine Order''.
She stood up from the desk, proudly looking down at the red-robed human Magisters.
"If you're here to collect the tax, allow me to inform you it was already paid. I had seen to it," her tone was deprived of emotions. Calm. Collected.
"Unfortunately miss, we've been asked to investigate the threat of you being a potential Sourcerer and.." he held up a blue rose.
A thornless, blue rose that Elane herself has seeded in her garden. She furrowed her brow in response, a spark illuminating her cold, black eyes.
"These flowers are beaming with Source, no ordinary citizen could procure such a thing. We've been informed that those were planted by your hand, were they not?".
A feeling of uncertainty embraced her. Yes, indeed she was the one to plant those flowers but were they so much out of the ordinary? A simple human gardener taught her to tend to the plants. He did mention that the roses grow only when people with good hearts take care of them and they needed blood to bloom but Source? If so, why not? Was she not out of the ordinary enough?
It all dawned on her at this very moment. The curse, the secrets her body held. Was it all because of Source? She has never noticed. Denying all of this was pointless, there was no debate with the Divine Order. She knew them enough to know how fierce they were. The only thing that she was scared about was the wellbeing of the people who were depending on her.
"So, you're saying I'm one...of them? My garden never did lure Voidwoken!" still, disbelief rang in her voice.
"And we don't want it to happen ma'am. You need to cooperate for the sake of your safety, others' safety. You have to go with us," Magister responded in an unexpectedly soft voice, no hint of malice.
Only now she noticed something strange in the other magister's hands. A collar.
She nodded solemnly. "And what of my household, my town? I was the only one tending to that garden. Noone else should be involved."
"Indeed, that is how much we found out. We don't want to drag outsiders into this. As long as you cooperate no one will get hurt."
Shoulder slumped, she breathed, "Very well, I'll go."
She did not put up resistance as they shackled her ankles and wrists. A temporary source collar was closed around her neck.
Walking through the town, surrounded closely by the magisters, she noticed fearful looks on people's faces. Few sobs and cries could be heard, but none hostile. Some familiar faces appeared here and there amidst the crowd. Despite not being very religious, Elane prayed for their safety. Her steps reached the damned caravan. There was no turning back. She glanced behind for one last time as she bid her home goodbye.