"I was a lowly maid working for a wealthy family in a small plantation not too far from here, during the night more and more workers began disappearing mysteriously. So they fled leaving us all to fend for ourselves. Very few that made it here... Some fearful carried on making their way to the capital....." Aimaki explained.
"Could you tell us what attacked you?.." Daisy asked curiously.
"I'm not quite sure..... They only ever struck at night.... they looked oddly elven... very tall very slim with elven ear and silver white hair" She answered.
"Hmmm..... and did they murder your group?.." She asked.
"Not all... most the time they slaughtered families and individuals without mercy... but sometimes they captured a few taking them away in the darkness." She answered.
"Sounds like Dark Elves..." Daisy whispered to me.
"That's bad right?.." I whispered back.
"Yeah.... it might be smart to let a prefect or a teacher know." She replied.
"So do you know anything of what's been happening around here?.." Daisy questioned.
"Ummmm not much... but rumours have spread that there has been very dangerous creatures have begun appearing during the night..... Unnatural creatures." She replied taking a bit more food out for her children and patting them on the head gently causing them to purr in happiness.
"Is it safe for you here?.." I asked curiously.
"I guess it's been okay...I've been lucky to find work in a local tavern... so I've been reluctant to move to be honest.... and I'll need to save up money so I can afford safe passage for me and my daughters." She answered.
"Where's the father?...If you don't mind me asking." I asked curiously.
"Ohhh...." She answered looking down, "Sadly we've lost him many years ago...... to make more gold for our family and wanting to provide more for our children... he went on a voyage transporting spices... the ship never reached its destination." She spoke quietly almost tearful.
Seeing the hardship and pain she must have gone through brought me on the verge of tears.... "Is there anything I can do to help?.." I asked sincerely.
"It's okay..... Just trying to keep an honest life." She smiled slightly.
"It's not easy for non-human folks here." Daisy added addressing me.
"Yes even though... non-human races are kinda accepted here... we are still considered second rate races." Aimaki agreed.
"Ohh wow.... that's really horrible." I instinctively replied.
"Yeah.... although it's improving it's still kinda bad." Daisy explained.
"Would you prefer to live anywhere else?..... Like where you're from?.." I asked curiously.
"Sadly I don't even know where my race originated from..... But I imagine home would be pretty great, but Arcadia is okay... it's a lot better than other regions I've heard." She smiled slightly.
"If you're ever in need of any help.... the church of Serra is always open to helping everyone and anyone." Daisy smiled.
"Ohhh that's be great!!.... Do they watch over children?.... I feel my boss although loves spending time with them... I would love to give her a break every once in a while." She asked curiously.
"Ohh yeah..... I'm sure they would offer such services." Daisy smiled.
"Well... thank you for talking to us..... I think we should make a move on unless there's anything else you need help with?.." She asked her with a giant smile.
"No.... thank you for all your help!" She bowed stoically.
"If there's anything that happens or you need help with come look for us or any other student." I smiled.
"I will." She replied.
"Ohhhh and take this.... I'm not sure if they liked it.. But I did give them some candy when we first met." Daisy smiled handing her a small bag of candy.
"Ohh thank you!" She smiled, Natsuko and Keiko heads turned instantly the moment they heard the bag rattle their ears turning to face the bag.
"We're going now.. bye...." I waved at them.
"Sorry that they're so quiet." Aimaki chuckled as they both stood up and silently waved goodbye to us with smiles on their faces.
"Byeee.... take care." Daisy smiled exiting behind me.
"I really wish I could do more for them." I said to daisy as we left to meet the other.
"Yeah same... sadly... we can't help everyone..." She sighed.
"I guess you're right.... everyone here are probably in a similar situation to her." I replied.
"We've been quite lucky.... their lives feel so hard especially for Natsuko and Keiko." Daisy sighed kicking a small weed.
"I was wondering.... how much it would cost to get her safe passage to somewhere safer....." I asked Daisy.
"To be honest.... I don't even know who to trust..." She frowned.
"So what's it like being a non-human in Arcadia?.." I asked curiously.
"You know.... people giving you looks..... Being called names.... and just being treated differently..." She answered.
"I see..." I nodded in understanding. "I wonder if there's any way we can get her and her children some new clothes.... they were all wearing battered rags..." I asked extremely concerned.
"Hmm I don't think we can do anything right now.... we are in class..... But if we was to maybe take a trip on the weekend we defiantly could." Daisy answered.
"True true...." I replied thinking of the idea.
"Hey guys!" Jay greeted us as we approached.
"Hey! Did you manage to help anyone?.." I asked.
"Yeah... there was an old man that needed some help with bandages and a family needed some extra rations..... You?.." He answered.
"Yeah... we have to stop some punks stealing some stuff from a Fox family." Daisy answered.
"Wow! Fox people!!" Jay questioned in shock.
"Yah.... they were pretty cute." I answered.
"That's so awesome! I've never seen one before..." Jay answered.
"By the way we also got some information on what's been happening lately." Daisy told Jay.
"Ohhh I did as well.... I was told a lot of people and solider injuries are from natural weapons..... Like claws or bites." Jay replied.
"We found out that Dark Elves are also involved in some killings and kidnappings." Daisy answered back.
"Hey Guys!!!" Grace and Helen greeted us.
"Hey..." We all replied.
"So did you guys manage to help anyone?.." Jay asked.
"Yeah... but it wasn't easy.... a lot of people dislike Elves..." Helen sighed.
"How comes?.." I asked shocked at the news.
"You know..... Elves.... higher class..... Arrogant..... That sort of stuff." Grace explained.
"Ohhh I see....." I replied.
"We also found out..... The recent attacks have been made by natural weapons like claws and bites.... and Dark elves have been involved in some raids." Jay notified Helen and Grace.
"That's not good....." Grace replied hearing the news looking extremely worried.
"What do you think is happening?.." Jay asked noticing her reaction.
"Well..... Dark elves are very cruel and ruthless..... Did they take any prisoners?" She asked.
"The Fox lady we talked to said some were taken... most were murdered." Daisy replied.
"Hmmmm so Dark Elves only takes prisoners for two reasons..... Slavery.... and torture for information." Helen answered, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked Grace.
"Yes.... we need to go check out the wounds and see if we recognise the bite and claw marks.." Grace asked.
"Yup....." Helen answered.
"Wait what's going on?.." I asked not understanding what's going on.
"Well.... It's a tactic Dark Elves use.... they send their creatures to cause chaos and unrest, with the stress and commotion slip in through the shadows undetected." Grace answered.
"Yeah... if our suspicions are right..... The city might be in bigger trouble..." Helen agreed.
"Shouldn't we tell a teacher?.. Or prefect?.." I asked.
"I think it would be better...." Jay agreed with me.
"Problem is..... If we get a teacher or prefect involved.... It might just cause them to take action.... they'd never suspect anything from normal students especially young new students." Grace answered.
"You got a point there..." Jay agreed.
"So we're gonna do this?.." Daisy asked with a smile.
"We all got our weapons?.." Grace asked.
"Yup." We all replied.
"Okay just remember they probably assumed the image of a human..... So watch what you say and do..... Don't trust anyone other than us..... And watch each other's backs." Grace warned.