This place has more dips than I realized, Alejandro thought.
They carefully proceeded through the thick brush as the sun's warmth radiated upon them. A breezy chill swept every-so often. They approached the towering rock formations. It was the perfect defensive position for subhumans to keep watch. There weren't guards watching the rolling plains upon their arrival. However, the air remained silent, confirming their suspicions from earlier. They followed the trail into the stone fortress. There was an uneasiness in the air, an unaccustomed silence the half-elf wanted to break.
"So, where are you from?" She asked.
"Doesn't matter where I'm from," he questioned. "We come from nothing."
The half-elf pouted to his off-putting response.
"Ah, a classic edgelord!"
"Whatever you want to call me. Let's just get this over with."
"I get the impression your conversation with my brother was more engaging."
He looked over his shoulder to see her arms crossed. Her eyebrow raised in amusement.
"So, I'm right?" She said.
"I suppose," He responded.
Alejandro felt her bombardment of psychological attacks. A woman with quips and far more knowledgeable than he presented itself as a mixture of excitement and dread. No matter what he said, she wouldn't budge. He knew Enne could outdo him in the game of wits.
"Are you like this with everyone?"
"Only with those that catch my eye," she winked.
"Look, I'm not planning on staying here."
The resilient woman wouldn't take no for an answer. She had to convince him to stay. The half-elf didn't want to mention what he was planning to do that night. It was too low of a bar to stoop. His stern eyes turned away from her as he continued walking.
"Then why come at all?" she probed.
"En, I'm just a random nobody, like some many other people that pass through the city. There is no grand plot or destiny."
You're not a nobody, she thought.
"Who said anything about destiny?" She continued.
"I could hear it in your voice. You're looking for something that's not there."
"Now, you wait a minute!"
Alejandro sighed, turning to her as they reached the top. He looked down to find her dissatisfaction, finding a sense of offense. He forgot he was in the presence of a half-elf when he saw her pointed ears. She was far more powerful than he, but he didn't feel threatened by her.
"No need to get all up in arms," He said. "This is just the way I am."
"Right," she responded. "But when someone shows even the slightest concern, there's no need to push them away!"
"I disagree."
Her ears perked.
"There's more than enough reasons to keep someone at bay. I've lived for centuries and I've seen the worst in people. But, I've also seen the best in some. There's no need for me to hold anyone back. People come and go. It doesn't matter how close they are. I ask you, why create bonds if they're temporary?"
Her gray eyes watered, unbeknownst to him as he turned away.
"I-I'm sorry that how you see the world."
"Sorry? There's no need to apologize."
"If the world was a kinder place, would it change your worldview?"
He pondered the longshot possibility, one that existed in dreams.
"Perhaps, there's a chance. But, we live in reality. There are factors in place, even if-"
"I think I understand you better now, but you're wrong! Dead wrong!"
"Am I?"
Or maybe, we're just two sides of the same coin."
Enne stood next to him, looking over the wavy incline of tallgrass. Her otherworldly eyes exuded a foreign sentiment. She wasn't gaining much ground in dialogue with him. It was an exceedingly frustrating endeavor for someone that often had the situation in her favor. Little did she realize the wanderer felt guilty for giving her such a hard time. She emoted effectively to get her point across with an undeniable conviction that allured him.
It was a conviction he found familiar.
"Hey-" he spoke.
"Please, spend some time in Gardenia," she interrupted.
Alejandro's eyes wandered elsewhere with mixed thoughts on her plea.
"I know the first impression with Derek wasn't so great, but you can't say it wasn't a warm welcome!"
Wow, that was- a nice pivot, he thought with a stiff nod.
He wondered if he could turn her down, but found it harder to. Rarely had anyone associated with him in the past. It was a leap of faith he would take. For once, things could be different.
"You'll find much to admire if you're into civility and structure. I don't know what your experiences were like in the other settlements, but we aren't like them. While you conduct your research on the city, you can stay at my home."
"As I said before, I'm-"
"I have Elven texts," She sang.
He paused with his mouth gaping. Elven books were far and between, rarely seen by human eyes. Her smile widened, seeing that he was hooked with her proposal.
"That's quite an enticing offer."
"Whad'ya say?"
Got em, she thought with her hand extended.
"Give me time to think about it."
"W-What? I-I suppose I can honor that if you mean it."
The wanderer walked ahead. He wondered what they would find in the silent stone fort. Something felt off, but he knew his half-elf companion was more than capable of handling whatever they'd encounter.
"Let's get this over with," He said.
"Right, let's go partner," she responded as she patted his shoulder.
"We aren't that chummy yet."
"You're so damn difficult and for no reason!"
"It wouldn't be the first time I've heard that."
They arrived at the mouth of the rock formation, looking around the deserted grounds. The fall gusts whispered along the top of the formations. A putrid stench overwhelmed the wanderer as they heard low buzzing sounds. Alejandro walked ahead of her, seeing flies populating the air. The half-elf gasped when they found bodies of several mutilated subhuman.
The thick cloud of flies dispersed, revealing dismembered body parts. Bodies were mangled with blood splattering against the rocks. The blood spilled was fresh and recently curdled, indicating the recent slaughter. He kneeled down, noting the many large puncture wounds on many of the broken necks. Enne remained vigilant, certain the perpetrator was near.
A low, audible growl came from a deep enclave nearby.
She recognized the distorted vocals of a feline, seeing glowing orange eyes in the shade. A large feline paw emerged, bigger than an average male torso. They froze as the creature blocked out the sun as it emerged. The mountain lion appeared with a menacing overbite. Its mouth dripped with blood while patches of its mangey fur had dried blood. It stood at 9-feet, towering above them with its pulsating veins covering its body. It was clear it was infected with necro-bytes.
"K-kitty is huge," she stuttered.
"Shit," the wanderer said. "It's fully-mutated. Why is out here?"
"We took on a fucking bear," the half-elf smirked. "We got this!"
Alejandro glanced at the excited half-elf, who summoned her bow.
"Enne?"
"I trust you! Now, come on!"
The massive feline swung its enormous paws at them, separating them. The audacious half-elf catapulted away, turning to find Alejandro scrambling. The mountain lion caught up with him as it tried to lunge at him, missing at every opportunity. The wanderer was much slower than the fast-paced elf. He shot a single burst of fire, angering the big cat. He took cover behind a large boulder, protecting himself from its massive paws. Its heavy strike tore a chunk out of the tough exterior.
He caught his breath before creating space between him and the mountain lion.
Shit, that was close, he thought.
"Enne!" he shouted.
Enne watched from the safety of a peak, noting his novice dodge movements. Wanderers weren't known for their fighting prowess, but they were crafty. She could hear him call her name repeatedly, hoping for divine intervention. She observed the trajectory of the parrying combatants, waiting for the right moment.
The half-elf launched into the air after a single slam of the butt of her bow.
Alejandro glimpsed her soaring before diving toward the massive feline. Her hair flowed freely against the air as her adrenaline raised. She took aim as she descended, gathering mana for the arrow's strength. An arrow struck the top of its head before it could reach the wanderer. The arrow lodged the surface of its skull, missing the softer parts of it. She slammed into it with her knees, halting it from moving further. It shook her off before she could conduct a jolt of fire through the arrow.
Not part of the plan, she thought.
It thrashed about blindly, slamming against the surrounding interior. Alejandro helped Enne up as they kept their distance.
"That wasn't supposed to happen!" she said.
"No shit," he sighed. "Now what?"
"We finish what we start!"
"You mean what you started?"
"It's- all a part of the plan."
The wanderer's reluctant smile became laughter, after seeing her pitch an idea like a saleswoman. Her mishap embarrassed the brazen woman, but it was still in their favor. Alejandro knew she was doing everything to impress him with her power. Enne's pointy ears lowered in shame as she looked away, but Alejandro couldn't allow her to be so glum. He analyzed the situation, hoping to end it sooner.
"You've got a lot of spirit in you," he praised.
"More than you, old man," she replied.
"We're probably about the same age!"
The playful half-elf redirected her attention to the rampant big cat. The wanderer looked at her, seeing her absorb the situation.
"So?" he asked.
"You're holding back on me, aren't you?" she responded.
"What? You're thinking about that?"
"Yes. We were able to take down the necro-bear by infusing magic into my bow."
"Seriously?"
"I'm expecting you to do more this time around."
"I'm still just a human. I don't know what you're asking of m-"
The half-elf tripped against Alejandro as a gigantic paw slammed toward them. A flash of memories entered her mind: sorrow, pain, and joy wrapped into a few seconds. Enne saw unfamiliar places, along with people she never knew. The last thing she saw was a woman with red hair. When she came to, his hands were on her waist. Her steely eyes analyzed him, noting his gentle touch. Alejandro couldn't look at her as her face was inches away from his. Her lips reached his ear teasingly as he became flustered.
"I don't bite now," she whispered.
Enne laughed as she stood up. She looked at the towering wild cat that came closer. Its massive paw swung at her, but she stopped it with her forearm. The wanderer collected himself, observing her throwing it off balance. She looked over her shoulder with a smug face.
"A small little mishap has you all hot under the collar? Cute."
Not something I wanna hear from a woman, he thought.
She helped him up with her next move in mind.
"Let's finish this, shall we?"
"You seem like you have this in the bag."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"It'd be a shame not to see what we could accomplish."
The alluring woman's statement escaped him. He hoped whatever she had in mind would end the fight. She held his hand as she looked back at the recovering mountain lion. He tried to pull away, but her powerful grip held him in place.
"What are you up to?" he asked.
Her smile widened against the face of battle.
"Enne?"
"Trust me," she replied calmly.
The big cat swung, meeting another swift block from her. The arrow was within grabbing distance as she reached over with the wanderer's hand in the other. He understood what he had to do, timing their conjoined mana. They ignited a ferocious fire that engulfed its head in flames. They watched as the creature succumbed to its fiery death. Alejandro's hand shook from the small amount of magic he used.
"We didn't have to go overkill like we did with the bear," she said. "As long as we can set it aflame, especially in its head-"
"This was an experiment?" he asked.
"Kind of. I used too much mana last time."
"To make an impression on me."
Enne's face froze.
"O-of course not! Why would I be so reckless?"
"All those witty one-liners, the cool acrobatics, the shameless courage-"
"A-Alright, that's enough! True, when you showed up, I realized I had to up my game, but I assure you that's me at my natural."
Somehow, I don't believe that, He thought.
Alejandro looked away with a smile while she wondered whether her answer sufficed. He had no plan on staying, but after everything he had seen from her, she struck a curious chord on him. Why she wanted to keep him around was a mystery to him. The half-elf walked over to the charred remains of the shriveling feline as it crumbled into pieces. She pitied the mountain lion that fell victim to the necro-bytes.
Enne turned to him with her hand clasped over her chest. Her gray eyes stood out against the mundane environment. The wanderer's heart dropped, when he glanced over. He walked over, stopping a few feet away from her. She stood in anticipation of his response to her earlier request.
"Hey," He spoke.
"What is it?" She responded.
Mixed messages much? The wanderer thought.
"You think I'm some cheap date? I'm hungry."
"Oh, right? Does combat experience not count? I'm sure you're, uh- ravenous for combat!"
"You're kidding me, right?"
Enne chuckled at his deadpan expression.
"I'll make it up to you. Promise."
A part of him was still reluctant.