"So, let me begin by asking you your name." she reaches to a side drawer in the wall behind, bringing out a tea set. Although on closer inspection the china appeared to be made from wood rather than ceramic and had a strange design. Intricate runic carvings went around the edges along with a very spherical shape.
"I am Lucas Li, ma'am." I watch her quickly organize the wooden cups on a table I swear wasn't there earlier.
"Oh? A family name? Do you hail from the northern kingdoms?" she opened another cabinet in the wall and took out a silver disk and ignited it.
"I don't believe so ma'am."
"Then where do your roots lie?" I heard bubbling from the curious tea pot.
"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you."
She looked over and gave me a raised eyebrow, "Well I'll do my best." She gave me a cup of tea and I thanked her and took a sip. It was positively delightful. A gentle sweetness and a mild warmth spread around my mouth. Its earthy roots pulled at my taste buds unlike anything I've had before.
"I came from a place called Earth." I struggled to describe it, "Its, well I'm not sure, but I think we're on different planets if not dimensions."
She looked shocked; I assume this was not common.
"An outlander... I've heard tales of those." she closed the gap swiftly and put her face right up against mine, the dichromatic eyes seemed to peer into my soul, "Recount your story of arrival, I wish to hear it."
--------------------------
I went on to explain the short, yet downright bizarre circumstances that had led me here in as much detail as I could, happy I could at least talk to someone at this point. However, I did attempt to skim over the details of the abilities and item I picked out from the white room. Her slight smile suggested that she picked up on my attempt to conceal the technicalities of my powers, but if she did, she let it slide.
She did correct me though.
"Soul Signatures and abilities are different existences, I would advise you to make the distinction."
For the most part she listened intently, and I was grateful for that, although she wouldn't stop asking about the white room as well as the strange mirror.
When I mentioned the strange girl in the forest, she gave a comment.
"So, you've met Cecily. She routinely goes foraging around the old shrine. Since people rarely step into Borowood I'm sure she was quite surprised. Please continue."
I then mentioned the monster, and her face turned sour.
"An Ithliyad. You're lucky Cecily was there; they would have used your body as a hatchery otherwise. Though it is quite concerning that they've encroached upon the old shrine." she withdrew into deep thought for a little bit. During this time, I finished my tea and played around with the sheets on the bed where I lay, seemed to be out of some strange silk.
She took a look at me before she spoke, in a formal tone this time: "The sincerity within your story cannot be denied, so I shall grant you safe haven in consideration. However, we will have to discuss your circumstances in greater detail later. For now, get some rest."
The lights dimmed on her command, and I was hit by a sudden urge to sleep. As she rose to leave the room, I managed to get out one last question.
"W-will... I die here?" I was surprised by the sheer desperation in my voice. The unsteady plead for peace of mind was something I didn't expect out of myself.
"Not in this place." And she was gone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"--------"
"----- Strange ------ nothing like it----"
I was awoken by a light chattering. As I blinked my eyes, I saw a couple flies buzzing about. I moved my arm to swat them.
"Hey! That's rude." a sharp indignant voice pierced my ears. I snapped my eyes open, realizing that these were not in fact flies.
"Ah I'm really sorry! I didn't think tha-" I sat up quickly and an acute pain scorched my leg, "OWWW!" I fell back down.
My ineptitude prompted some audible snickering from the fairy like creatures. Well better than them getting mad at me I suppose. As I recovered and sat up slowly this time, I noticed that our floating company was composed of a red, green, and blue fairy.
"Hehe, are you the strange human that the Sorceress has brought in?" asked the red one.
"Not too sure about the Sorceress, but I can confirm that I am a strange human."
Some more snickering.
"What's your name strange human?"
"Lucas Li.. err... ma'am."
All of the chuckling between them reminded me of the presentation I had to do a while back, at least this time only three individuals are bearing witness to my embarrassing display.
"Lucas does not suit you, we will address you as Manolor." stated the blue one confidently.
"Sure? What does Manolor mean?" I asked.
"Manolor means Manolor."
I got a bit frustrated by their response but fortunately Interface had my back.
[Manolor: Lucky Idiot/ Insult]
Wow, glad I made such a good impression.
"Sister sister, that is rude to the guest of the Sorceress." spoke the green one timidly.
"I speak the truth, what else but a Manolor would come within the inner ring of Ethyal yet live to next morning?" the blue one retorted.
The green one had no reply. Can't blame her really though I appreciate her sticking up for me.
"Hey hey, how did you even get here? I've seen elven high guard lose their way so deep into Ethyal and yet you're somehow here despite looking like you'd die to a waxwing."
Interface, can I get some translation please.
[Ethyal: an alternate term for Borowood/ Fey Origin]
[Elven High Guard: no info]
[Waxwing: an insect characterized by their translucent wings/ harmless]
So, if I'm getting this right, they are in awe that a bumbling idiot somehow stumbled his way into one of the most dangerous places?
No response.
By the way Interface are you able to do the whole inspect level and stats thing on these fairies?
[Process not authorized/Soul Signature ranking too low]
Tch...
"Hey Manolor did you hear me?"
"Ah right, sorry, I just... appeared here one day."
"Appeared?" The red fairy didn't seem to trust my words.
"Remember the Sorceress said he was an Outlander!" the green one pointed out, "it's not that strange."
"As if we can trust that witch," the blue one remarked harshly, "how would she know anyway?"
"Saphie! You can't say that! The queen favors her!" the green fairy gasped. The blue and green fairy chased each other in a circular pattern as if reflecting their differing viewpoints.
"Well, if you're so unsure why don't we put him to the test?" the red fairy glowed brightly and seemed to enlarge right in front of my eyes, from the size of a speck of dusk to a large coin. I could see the outlines of a fiery haired creature, "Outlanders are strong so if he can withstand this you'll be convinced right?"
"But the Sorceress told us to report to her if he woke up." the green fairy being the voice of reason in my rapidly deteriorating situation, "I don't think we should..."
"You worry too much Emma, he's an outlander." the red fairy chuckled, a red crackle danced across her hands, "He'll be fine."
"Wait do I get a say in this? I'm not as stro-" the blue fairy flew around me before I could react, and my mouth slammed shut.
[Silencing effect detected]
I have a real bad feeling about this. Red energy danced across the fingertips of the red fairy and her eyes held a maddening glee. I was nothing more than a lab rat in her eyes, and she....
Had some experiments to run.
"Follow me." rich, honeyed words entered my mind, and I felt an unbearably strong urge to comply with whatever they wanted.
[Enchanting effect detected]
I rose from the silken sheets in a trance.
"Hey Emma, where was that weird room the abomination usually goes into?"
"You mean the Bestiary?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
They fluttered away, out of the room and all I could do was follow.