Both Aether and Kelsh turned in for the chilly winter night in one of the inn's rooms. Kelsh was excited to finally learned the Lady Willow's name of the Rusty Stein tavern, "So how long was I out for again, Aether?"
"Not too long; you just fainted." Aether looked over at him from lying on the rough straw bed. "Just thankful you're still with us."
"Yeah, it was a nightmare. I saw all these people I didn't know. Aether, this felt so surreal to me as if I been here before or knew of this place. It felt like home, and I felt remorse for the leader of the army. I felt as if I begged him to stop whatever his quest was. The creature within the cave, I felt, was my friend." Kelsh looked over to Aether is in discomfort as he wiggled to get comfortable on the straw bed.
"Listen, Kelsh. You're- well, very unique. Not many people are like you, or those around you respect those with your talents." Aether looked down at his feet, "Listen, lad, things aren't always going to be grand for you. I also wish you were so trusting to those around you, and you never know their intent. Do you understand me?"
Kelsh looked down with a look of disappointment with himself, "Aether, you know well I am not that way. I want people to see how beautiful this kingdom, these vast lands, can be and are! What is so wrong with that?" Looking back up to meet Aether with his exchange, Aether had his index finger over his lips.
"Shh, you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
They both froze to focus on the sounds that echoed throughout the entire tavern. "Stay here," Aether motioned Kelsh to stay while he left the inn room to discover the noise that was haunting his curiosity. Aether softly watches the placing of his footing to not bring attention to himself throughout the dark shadowed hallways. He comes up to a diming light around the corner into the main entrance of the inn.
"Psst-! Over here!" Aether notices Alyce motioning him towards her. "Quietly!" She whispers.
Aether slowly crept over to Alyce's side, "Do you know what is going on? And why are all the lights out here?"
"I don't know either. I just kept hearing this faint humming and then little popping sounds." She shrugged.
"Hm, so I am not insane." His nodded. "Any idea where everyone is?"
"No, that is the weird part. I was in a room with everyone, then the lights flickered out, and as I rose to light this candle again, everyone was gone." She gulped. "I am so terrified. I don't get it.. like how? Unless someone with magic is around?"
"Magic? What do you mean by magic..?" Aether began to shake in a cold sweat. He was aware of Kelsh, could have anyone else knew about his gifts?
"Yes, you see in folk-lore, there is a legend of creatures from the Spire that drain the life essence they hunt for well- I dare not want to say his name. His name is just-" The horror echoed from her voice, and she just began to blink over and over.
"Alyce, are you okay?" Aether grabbed her shoulders calmly, shaking her back and forth, began to look behind him in the direction she was facing in. The creature stood over the tavern bar, the hooded elevating creature that shroud color of coal covered it entirely. This being had no face but a flaming ruby glow piercing with heat through the clothed shroud. Both Aether and Alyce ducked behind the bar. The creature gasped and quickly ran down into the dark hallways.
"KELSH!" Aether runs behind the creature trying to get to Kelsh before they do. With the only thoughts going throughout his head, what if they find out? Alyce is much confusion followed by Aether out of fear and spite. Aether was trying to bust into the door, slamming his right side into the door constantly, "I can't get through! Urgh!" In a rage, he slammed his entire body into the door, "I promised his mother, I would protect him!" Alyce gently caressed his shoulder, and Aether looks towards her.
"It'll be okay, I promise. Wait, do you hear that?" She placed her ear to the door.
"No?" He followed her motion, "Yes, it sounds like-An-"
A burst of light busted the door down, glowing and growing within the room, with a beam cutting through the creature. Her hair was pure snow, eyes ashen, and ears exposed. Aether couldn't believe his eyes, Ana another elf? How can this be? Then was it her magic they were after or Kelsh? He couldn't help but wonder. He glanced to his right to see Alyce in pure shock that the woman who raised her was of elvish blood. The creature burst into ashes. The icy wind from the windows carried the remains into the blistering night.
"You- all this time are an ELF?" Aether yelled.
"Silence!" Ana was quickly tucking her ears into her head wrap. "Asides, you shouldn't have left Kelsh alone. You knew this would have happened!"
"What do you mean, witch? This happened? No, in bloody hell, I did not!" Aether slammed his fist into the wall.
"You don't keep of with folk-lore?" She cut her eyes at him.
"I don't know, you're an elf, just how long you KNEW ABOUT THIS AND NO ONE ELSE?!" Steaming Aether approached Ana even closer.
"I would watch your tongue. Your king killed my people remember." She held her hand out as light began to build up from her palm.
"My king? He loved an elvish woman. How, why would he?" Aether became even closer towards Ana's palm extending.
"Maybe I should tell the boy just exactly who is he?" She nodded, looking down to Kelsh, "Would you like to know why you're so different, my child?"
"No, Kelsh, you don't have to answer to her!" Aether interrupted, "She is lying."
"Oh, am I? King Darian wasn't always a saint knight and a prosperous king either." She looked them over both, "Listen, my child, sometimes people are influenced by choices they dare not challenge due to their lessons on life. Much like Aether here. But, in time, you grow out that hallow shell you believe is reality."
"I was always wondering why I had to cover these," Kelsh pulled his hood down, exposing his ears. "Why does everyone hate me?" He cried.
"Child, it is because people don't understand us. But, your father did grow too, and your mother was elvish blood. And your father wanted her to be his wife, but it wasn't that simple. Your father was with the queen, Queen Siyla. Your mother was half-human and half-elf. After the war with the elves, it was said that all elves were executed in that battle your father was in. But, you have a half brother who was born around the same time as you-"
"That enough!" Aether cut into the conversation once more, "He doesn't need to know. He wouldn't understand. People will have him killed. His brother and Siyla will kill him if they know he exists!"
"Maybe he can stop them, you don't know-" Ana cleared her throat.
"He isn't your silly key to unite your people and fix the kingdom of Kal'author," Aether grunted.
"It's our people. My people, I will save them." Kelsh stood up with hope in his eyes.