Ceryll practically ran from the Inn, not once looking back in fear that the guard may have been following her. Fear, it'd become a feeling with which she'd grown familiar. Every morning she'd awaken, corrupt with the feeling and at night she'd fall asleep no differently.
"Since when did I become so cowardly?" She brushed the hair from her face as if it'd make the answer come any faster while she leaned on a nearby wall to catch her breath.
"Are you lost?" The deep voice made her raise a brow. Wasn't he the lost one? Not many willingly came to the countryside of Bastia. She then noticed white cobblestone beneath her feet. When did she reach the square? "Miss?" A sigh escaped her but she stood straight to look at what she was dealing with.
"No, I'm not-" Tall. He was so tall even by elven standards and his jet black hair which just brushed the top of his shoulders was tied back into a messy half ponytail. He gave her a curious look but she was too busy drowning in the dark pool of his deep brown eyes to notice. "Y...you must be nobility." She muttered.
"I am. Why do you not bow?"
"Because I don't care. You're still just an elf." She blinked a few times to break away from her trance then continued on her way. He followed.
"You look familiar, are you?" 'I was'
"No, but I'm smart enough to join the ranks if I so pleased." 'Please go away.' She took a turn down the alley towards the brothel, with him close behind.
"If so, why haven't you?" Ceryll's patience was running thin, she didn't come out here to be harrassed.
"Where are your guards?"
"Where I'm going, they can't come."
"Well, where I'm going, you can't come. Go away." His deep laughter echoed from behind her, only irritating her further. "Listen, I can kill you, right now. Back off." A few moments of silence passed before Ceryll's hair was yanked and she was pinned against the wall. She instinctively manifested the same weapon she'd used to threaten the innkeeper, and pressed it against the head of the nobleman.
"Manifestation? Are you certain you're not nobility?" He said, letting her go to back away with his hands up.
"Listen, I don't know who you are, or what you want but stay the hell away from me." Her voice was calm but her eyes burned with rage.
"I apologize. I suppose I got ahead of myself."
"I don't care, just get to where you're going and don't bother me again. Understood?"
"Of course." With that, he vanished. A glittery puff of smoke being the only proof of his being there. Ceryll huffed but continued forward until she came upon the dead-end the woman had told her of. She pulled the lowest stone to the right causing the wall to fade, revealing a seemingly endless dark hall. Upon her entry, it replaced itself.
The black brick hall lacked windows, meaning the only light came from a few eerie blue flames that lined the walls. The silence didn't help the mood either. All the woman could hear was the occasional crackle of the flames and the clicking of her tall black heels against the pavement. Ceryll found her anxiety growing in the silence as it reminded her of last night when she'd tried to wade through the darkness to find the innkeeper. The innkeeper. His affection was fresh in her mind despite how she tried to ignore it. She'd certainly experienced something special but she couldn't tell if it was his actions or the things he'd told her.
"Ceryll, darling, you came." Interrupting her thoughts was the madame who stood at the end of the hall with a few skimpily clad girls. She wore a long purple chiffon robe with feathers on the end of the loose sleeves and around the collar. Ceryll slightly bowed.
"Madame, how could I not?" the woman laughed and shooed the other women away to interlock her arm with Ceryll's.
"I don't know but now that you're here we need to get you ready."
"Is this not enough?" the jolly mistress dragged her along shaking her head to Ceryll's attire.
"From the moment I saw you I knew what dress would match your soft regal demeanor." They continued walking down another hall until they reached a room with Ceryll's name on it. The mistress pulled out a key and opened the door to reveal a small room with a dresser, full-body mirror, and a mannequin that wore a short light blue corset dress. the boning of the corset was exposed creating black silk lines under the blue lace-lined bust of the garment. despite its revealing properties, there was a certain majesty in the dress that drew Ceryll in.
"Thank you, Mistress." She breathed.
"Mhm. meet me at the front desk when your dressed" answered the woman then she left Ceryll to herself.