I screamed and sobbed miserably into Taro's chest, his febrile body heat offering modest protection from the bitterly cold wind that beat against my back furiously. Blood pounded in my ears as my heart and stomach continued to drop, the panic of freefall causing my head to spin. Instantaneously I heard an unfurling noise from both sides and I felt a lurch midair as our direction changed from downwards to forwards, and the only thing keeping me in the air was our arms gripping each other. Bewildered at this sudden shift, I opened my eyes to see wings. Fucking wings, gray and gleaming with dark blue speckles. They were spread out and gliding on the strong winds, sprouting from Taro's narrow back. Bawling through blind hysteria I intertwined my legs frantically with his to stop them from dangling backward. I had to be going absolutely insane.
"Calm down, I've got you," Taro growled over the wind, his voice mostly lost. "If you struggle, you'll fall."
I took in deep breaths, exhaling shakily, then surveyed the surroundings. We were closer to the ground now, and I perceived how much distance we managed to cover in such a little amount of time. He was staying low, behind the tall ridge of trees that bordered much of the city.
But overall this experience did not qualify as fantastical; it was an awkward mess and the wind kept pounding into my ears, the muscles in my limbs beginning to ache from the struggle. Taro kept pushing me down on his body as my hair blew persistently into his face, causing him to sputter and lose balance momentarily. If I were not preoccupied with the possibility of falling to my death, I would be flushed in humiliation and the fact that I've never been so close to the opposite gender in my life.
Taro dove lower and lower at an uneven inclination towards a clearing amidst the trees until my foot caught on the branch of a flowering sapling. We tumbled to the ground, myself coming loose from Taro's grasp and rolling a little way down the hill. Taro curled his wings around him forming a ball as the momentum propelled him down the slope. He dug his feet into the dirt, bringing him to a stop, and staggered upright. His wings folded upon each other and crawled back into him, as though they somehow constricted and hid under his skin.
I sat on the ground littered with blades of grass and minuscule plants, my head spinning aggressively and my legs so unsteady I did not trust myself to stand up.
"Explain." I attempted to sound assertive, but instead, my voice came out weak and choked. "Why the hell… what are… what the hell happened?!"
"I know what you are questioning, so I will answer the best I can." Taro sauntered closer to me then reached out his hand for me to take. Bitterly, I declined it and forcedly myself up on my own, legs still trembling and threatening to give way.
"All Elven nobility has wings," He initiated. "It is primarily what distinguishes social status among us, thus an Elven commoner or merchant can never rise up in ranks."
I had so many inquiries that flooded my mind, I was unsure of how to organize all my racing thoughts. "But I have never heard of such a thing…"
"Humans aren't privy to a majority of what happens in Senkyo. We keep an astounding amount of information from you to prevent rebellion. Those who are fortunate enough to work with Elves, like yourself, will be executed immediately should they share any knowledge on the King, threats of war, and international relations."
"How are bloody wings related to any of that?!" I exclaimed, indignant and perplexed.
"It's… more of a customary thing. It is as rude to expose your wings as it is being nude in public."
"And somehow that makes it illegal?!"
"Oh, no, you misunderstand. Unapproved and unlicensed flight is illegal, thus if I am caught…" Taro dragged his finger slowly across his neck.
"So," I panted in agitation, "Your people don't just have… pointy ears and stuff?"
He rolled his eyes, exasperated at my ignorance. "We are much, much more different than humans genetically."
I nodded, attempting to wrap my head around his explanations. "But if only nobility has wings... why do you?"
"How rude of you to assume I am not a noble."
"But you work as a servant--"
"I'm just playing with you. Humans do that, right? Humor?"
"Oh..."
"Anyways, I am nobility by blood but my mother was executed for treason and my father has been exiled and is most likely dead." He mentioned so casually, as though the deaths of his parents did not affect him. "I carry a shameful name."
He started to walk through the trees, and I scrambled to catch up with him, eager to understand more about his past.
"So you want to redeem yourself in Ja-- I mean the King's eyes."
He gave me a curt nod as we pushed through the last of the trees and onto a dirt pathway leading into the village I have always called home. The difference was instantly noticeable; a rank stench hung in the air, and the people slightly in the distance were filthy and crude. Taro's lips curled in disgust and he pushed me in front of him.
"Find your…house quickly so I can leave this wretched place." He hissed in my ear as we entered the outskirts; taverns, inns, and dilapidated stores lined the sides of the main dirt road while blacksmiths and farmers advertised goods in their makeshift marketplace. People were talking loudly, children were giggling, their mothers calling out to them as they ran up and down the street. This is all we have, and we make what we can of it.
But they were starting to notice Taro Kingseley, and dread started to creep into the faces of both adults and children. He was a stark contrast to the humans with greasy hair and drab, worn garments; He looked like a king in his white silk shirt, deep gray vest, and pants of the same color that clung closely to his thighs. For the day, I had gotten used to the distinct facial features that he shared with every Elf, but now, among people who actually appeared normal, with slightly flawed, asymmetrical faces and emotive empathy in their expressions and eyes, he couldn't be more jarring. His legs were too long, his waist too small, his eyes too large and his face too sharp-edged, narrow, and animalistic. Not to mention his elongated, pointed ears and whetted white canines that glinted callously behind perfect lips. A chill traveled down my spine. What was I doing, trusting a creature like that?
Taro's eyes darted frantically around, his twitching ears pulled back against his head in warning and anticipation. His mouth was open just a touch, enough to show his predatorial teeth.
"Syndra, what's happening?" A small boy inched up to me, hushed. His name was Tommy, the butcher's son; his mother had been killed by Elven guardsmen soon after his first birthday. He was trembling, trying to hide his bitter terror.
"Nothing's happening, he won't hurt you. He helped me." I gulped, realizing it was my fault for bringing an Elf into a village full of desperate humans. How could I not think of such a thing? "He's a good guy, right?" I looked up at Taro, mustering the strongest glare I could imagine.
The Elf got the message and brought his ears forward again, softening his expression and closing his mouth. "I suppose." He spoke cautiously.
"I am unarmed," Taro started loudly, holding his hands up. "Here of my own volition, without ties to the Senkyan military or to the King. I have no reason to harm you."
"How can we believe you? We will never trust your kind." A young blacksmith apprentice whose face I was familiar with stepped forward, eyes ablaze.
"Suit yourself, I don't fucking care." Taro dropped his arms to his sides and stepped closer to the girl. She stood her ground, sweat beading on her brow.
"Please, he really won't hurt you." I intervened. "He's just a low-rank servant anyways."
"You didn't have to include that--" He whined, his Elven accent shining through more prevalently.
"Shut up." I snapped at him, and he quieted.
"Alright." The girl finally said, staring at the floor. "I believe you, Syndra."
The faces around us started to ease up, the anxiety slowly fading but the doubt still hovering.
"I just want to go home." I sighed, my head beginning to throb.
I felt like this was only the beginning of what was yet to come in my life...