Callum and Sarai sored high above the clouds, enjoying the afternoon air. Sarai did loops and rolls as her father watched on. He was delighted to have one of his children connected to the sky as he was. But he loved them all the same. Sarai's wings were white as her hair, catching the sun's rays as she sored. "Sarai I see the tree" Callum pointed out as he dove down towards the ground, Sarai following behind. Callum landed gently on the large tree root and dispelled his wings. Sarai not so much as she stumbled a bit and landed on her butt with a thud. "oooow.." She groaned, then stood up and dispelled her wings. Callum chuckled "Nice landing, are you alright?" He asked looking her over for any possible scrapes or possible bruises. "A'm okay, ah guess a'm needin tae work on mah landin' still huh" She smiled as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Just a weeee bit" He gestured with a smirk. Callum then assumed the position that Rayla had taught him all those years ago. The magic key dance. As he danced and twirled in a circular motion, Sarai just bounced around happily waving her arms. Elven runes then began to glow and appear in a circular pattern. The illusion began to dissipate. Soon all of the houses, workshops, and elves began to "magically" appear. Although for children and teens under the age of 15 the there was no illusion. Sarai could already see everything going on in the silvergrove. She was just waiting on her father and loved to watch him stumble fail at his attempt to be as elegant as Rayla when performing the spell. "Da ye still need practice" Sarai laughed. "hey now I'm not as nimble as your mother" He replied.
"AYE WANNA SEE GRAND-DA ETHARI!" Sarai screamed as she ran down the large root. Some of the elves stopped what they were doing to see what the screaming was all about. "Afternoon!.." Callum waved to a few as he walked past, with a big sorry smile on his face. A few nodded in return and went about their business. He sighed, a sigh of relief as it didn't cause a ruckus with one of the elder elves who about had a fit the last time she went screaming around the silvergrove. They still, even after 15 years are still adjusting to Callum showing up, along with his children who are halflings. That was a sight to behold when they first brought Soren, many children were in awe and wonder. Adults felt a bit disgusted by him, some gave dirty looks. But it seems that the silvergrove has become a little more welcoming. "moonbug granddad will be last on our list we need to pick up our items first" He said as he caught up to her. "alright, well whats first?" She asked.
They started to walk towards the market. "how about the glow-shroom for Luna? What color do you think she'd like?" He asked holding her hand as they strolled to the stall that sold them. "how about.. THAT one!" She said beaming in delight. It was a purple mushroom with pink and white dots. "She haes guid taste aye?" the merchant said winking at Sarai. "yes sir! it's for mah baby sister! so she won't be afraid of th' storms or monsters" Sarai replied. She then pulled on her father's vest "Da may ah pay for it?" She asked holding her hand out. "of course" He replied handing her the money. "Here ya go sir," She said handing the gentlemen the money. "'n' 'ere ye gang, lass" He replied smiling softly while handing her a brown cloth bag. "Thank you!" She grabbed the bag happy and content with "her purchase". She and Callum waved to the stall owner and walked around to a few others. "birthday cake, moonberry wine, outfits for Luna, maybe even a new toy for her?" Callum mumbled to himself, as he did a few children ran up to Luna. "Awright wantae come jyne us?" One of the children asked. Sarai looked up at her father. He smiled "sure I'll come to get you before we head to Ethari's" He nodded.
Sarai ran with the others down to a small stream. "ma names Sarai" She said cheerfully. "A'm Aodhan, th' yin ower thare Conn 'n' Orla" Aodhan pointed out. "We ar' trying tae catch a fish bit Conn isnae pure tough enough," Orla said pointing at the stream. Conn looked at her angrily "Oi! A'm tae!" He shouted. Sarai giggled. "well maybe ah can help?" She offered. Conn and Orla nodded. Conn looked at Sarai. "Sae whit are ye?" He asked looking her up and down. "Och ye tis odd ye dinnae hae ony horns 'n' ye hae pinkos" Orla noted wiggling her four fingers. Sarai blushed nervously. "I'm half-human" She stated. "Ah can do magic too!" She added. The trio gave Sarai a look. "Ah can, watch!" She said as she closed her eyes and thought for a moment on which spell to cast, then snapping her eyes open she cast a rune in the air and shouted the trigger word. "Aspiro" She shouted causing a vortex of swirling wind from her mouth. The trio was in amazement. "Oi! That is neat, howfur ye dae that?" Conn asked. "Well.. I'm connected to the sky primal like mah da" She replied. "Bit ye keek lik' a Moonshadow" Orla said in amusement.
Aodhan gave a bit of a jealous look. "Ye'r a freak is whit yer" He said puffing up and walking up to her. Sarai was taken back by this. The other two kids looked at Aodhan then to Sarai in a bit of confusion. Aodhan narrowed his eyes at her and shoved her. Sarai stumbled back landing on her back. "Mah parents said she is a freak, alang wi' her brother. Her maw is Moonshadow 'n' da is a clatty human "He spat. Sarai got up and dusted herself off. "Ah dinnae even ken how come ye asked her tae come alang Conn". He said looking at Conn angrily. Conn shrugged. "Ah thought we cuid uise mair hulp wi' th' fish" He replied a little annoyed with Aodhan now. "Don't talk about mah family like that!" Sarai shouted as she tackled Aodhan to the ground and began to punch him. Aodhan grabbed her by the arm and flipped her off of him. "Hackit dug!" He spat.
Sarai flipped and recovered her balance. She then grabbed a rock and threw it dead center at Aodhan, hitting him in the forehead. He let out a yell as he stumbled back. Sarai charged him again and pushed him into a tree. Blood now trickling down from his forehead where a nice sized gash was, Aodhan grabbed her arm with one hand and began to sucker punch her in the face. Sarai staggered back. She inhaled sharply glared at him. Conn and Orla by this time had run off to get help. "Whatcha git mawkit dug" He asked with a grin waving her to make her next move. She then cast a new rune in the air, Aodhan looked in awe at the new rune. "FULM-!"
"SARAI!" a voice shouted. She snapped her head and saw her father with an angry look on his face. "Whit in th' hell is gaun oan? Aodhan how come urr ye bluidin" Aodhan's father asked angrily as he grabbed him by the arm. Sarai's eyes began to well. "Th' hackit dug attacked me!" He replied. "Watch yer tongue laddie!" His father snapped. Sarai looked down at her feet, her fists starting to shake. Callum looked down at her than the boy. "Sarai, what happened?" He asked in a stern tone. "He said we are freaks... Soren, Luna, and I. Said.. said you are a dirty human. called.. me a dog..." She sniffled holding back the tears. Callum closed his eyes and sighed. He then looked to Aodhan's father. "This wull nae gang, unanswered human. Th' elders wull hear o' this" He said as he dragged Aodhan away.
Callum sat down on the ground. He motioned for her to sit with him. "da... a'm sorry" Cried as she sat next to him and sobbed. He closed his eyes trying his best to hold back his own tears. "I'm sorry Sarai, I'm sorry that some still aren't able to accept the wonderful person you are," He replied as he then looked down at her and wiped away the dirt from her face. "are you alright?" He asked looking for any serious injury other than noting a few minor cuts to her elbow and arm and a bruise forming on her cheek. Sarai sniffled attempting to stop her tears. Callum then pulled a rag from his bag and began to clean her up. "In my eyes as well as your mothers, It doesn't matter if you are half-elf or human. It doesn't matter what you look like or where you come from. It all comes from within, your heart, what you give back to the world." He said putting a bandage on her arm. "For so long the world was shrouded in hatred. For years now we have a bit of peace and the only way to keep that alive is to spread kindness. What you did, fighting back the way you did was wrong, you were going to use magic on him" He lectured as he shook his head. Sarai looked at the ground while kicking at the dirt. "A'm sorry da...ah really am, it just hurt inside so much, what he said..." She replied "He was wrong for lashing out the way he did. For not understanding, but this is where you could have come in, and shown him that it is ok to be different, everyone in the world is unique in their own way." He said a bit more cheerful thinking of how he fell in love with Rayla. "Yer 'n' mum sure didn't have any trouble with kindness and lov'" She said smiling up at him. "Oh no that is a whole other story. It sure didn't start out that way. One day we will have to tell you three that story". He grinned. I'm sorry moonbug" He said giving her a hug. "love ya da" she said hugging him back.
"We are getting a bit behind schedule. We need to see Ethair and head home before the sun starts to set. Otherwise, I will never hear the end of it from your mother." He said standing up and holding out his hand for his daughter. She smiled and took it. They walked hand in hand past the lotus pond, with a singular lotus floating above the water. Sarai ran up the stairs and pounded on the door. "GAND-DA open up!" she shouted. Ethari opened the door and was tackled by Sarai. "Sarai, wee moonbeam how urr ye, oi! whit happened tae ye! ?" Ethari asked. "Good... but ah got into a fight" She replied with a nervous smile. "Weel ah sure hawp ye won that rammy!" He winked to her. Sarai giggled lightly. "Ethari it's good to see you" Callum chuckled. "aye, tis guid tae see ye as weel" He replied shaking Callum's hand. "Ah suppose ye cam by tae pick up a certain gift?" Ethari said with another wink. Being around Callum has rubbed off on him a bit. Callum nodded. "Weel c'moan in " he said and gestured them inside. Ethari walked over to the workbench and picked up a medium-sized box with a decent weight to it. Sarai looked around at all the weaponry hanging on the walls. "Grand-da when do I get mah weapon," She asked in awe. "Oan yer tenth birthday, juist lik' Soren". He replied. Sarai groaned. "Thank you Ethari, oh! and Rayla wants ya at the house around noonish?" Callum said placing the box in his bag. "Soonds guid, wouldn't miss it fur th' world" He replied. Sarai and Callum then said their goodbyes and hurried back home, before they get in trouble by Rayla.
**We ar' trying tae catch a fish bit Conn isnae pure tough enough: We are trying to catch a fish, but Conn isn't strong enough.
Sae whit are ye: So, what are you?
Och ye tis odd ye dinnae hae ony horns 'n' ye hae pinkos: Oh ya, you don't have any horns and you have pinkos.
Oi! That is neat, howfur ye dae that: That is neat, how are ya doing that.
Bit ye keek lik' a Moonshadow: But you look like a Moonshadow.
Ye'r a freak is whit yer: you're a freak is what you are.
Mah parents said she is a freak, alang wi' her brother. Her maw is Moonshadow 'n' da is a clatty human: My parents said she is a freak, along with her brother. Her mom is Moonshadow and her dad is a dirty human.
Ah dinnae even ken how come ye asked her tae come alang Conn: I don't even know why you asked her to come along conn.
Ah thought we cuid uise mair hulp wi' th' fish: I thought we could use the help with the fish.
Hackit dug!: Ugly Dog!
Whatcha git mawkit dug: Whatcha got, filthy dog
Whit in th' hell is gaun oan? Aodhan how come urr ye bluidin: What in the hell is going on? Aodhan why are ya bleeding?
Th' hackit dug attacked me: that filthy dog attacked me.
Watch yer tongue laddie!: Watch your tongue boy!
This wull nae gang, unanswered human. Th' elders wull hear o' this: This will not go, unanswered human. The elders will hear of this