"Nayalisia, daughter of Nayarali, you stand before the Tribunal in the heart of Aleria, accused of the vilest, heinous crime an Elf can commit: murder of our own. What say you?"
"I-I don't... I don't remember..."
"Preposterous."
"Nayalisia, in honor of Nayarali and her countless achievements for the betterment of Aleria and all Elven kind, we have graciously decided to forgo your execution."
"Where is Mo-"
"Silence! Nayalisia, you are incorrect if you believe no punishment awaits. On my authority, granted by our blessed Aleria and the holy Tribunal, I hereby strip of your name and banish you from our home - you will never show your face here again. Be grateful for your mother's position, for it is the only thing saving you."]
"Stop! You dare hold this meeting without me?!"
.......
Naya was jolted awake when a soft hand pressed against her forehead. Her own hand moved quickly and caught it in a powerful grip. Her expression was fierce.
"Ouch!" Sophia yelped, yet her face still had a gentle expression, "Those are some killer reflexes."
Naya let go of Sophia's wrist and sat up; she had another dream of the night she was banished. She had it nearly every night in the first couple of months, but it hadn't returned in a long time.
She shook her head. Every time she had that dream, the day would be a terrible one.
Naya could hear the pleasant chirpings of the morning birds and feel the gentle rays of the morning sun, in the distance, she could make out faint sounds of hammers; the citizens continuing their work on expanding the village.
"It looked like you were having an unpleasant dream," Sophia said with concern, interrupting her thoughts.
"Why do you care?"
--This girls been watching you sleep for the past hour.--
[What?!]
Sophia watched Naya's face morph. "I have a feeling I was just ratted out." Sophia chuckled. "I can't help it; you're sleeping face is much more beautiful than your constant blank one."
Naya was tongue-tied. [What is this human playing at?]
She stood up and looked around them; Sophia had evidently spent the night on the grass along with her. In the distance, she could see the colorful robes of Sophia's entourage lined up and facing their direction. The village had a little activity as citizens were getting ready for the day.
--I like Sophia; she'll be good for you.--
[What is that supposed to mean? ]
--Heh. You'll see.--
[You're acting] [just as annoying as she is. ]Naya slightly shook her head. [It doesn't matter, I won't see her again after this mission.]
--Be realistic; you know that's not true.--
Naya clicked her tongue. If what she learned last night was accurate, and it probably was, then she'd likely need some aid fighting witches whether she wanted it or not—at least aid in finding them.
--Oh! Speaking of witches. --Lia spoke as if remembering something. --Ask Sophia how common they are.--
[Is this about yesterday?]
--Just do it.-- Lia commanded. Naya could tell by her tone that Lia would not let her off easy if she didn't ask. The last thing she wanted was constant blabbering in her head.
Naya saw that Sophia had still been watching her converse with Lia. She had magic sense, so she knew whenever Lia was saying something. Naya wondered what it looked like to her when Lia spoke.
Naya struggled to keep eye contact with Sophia. Every time she'd look at her, she'd have that annoying smile and gentle eyes, as though looking at something to be protected. [Even though I'm stronger than her!]
--Doubtful, but go on.--
Naya ignored her.
"What's wrong?" Sophia moved and stood beside Naya.
"Lia wants you to tell me how common witches are."
Sophia took a moment. "Very rare. In fact, I've only hunted one this year and three the last - even those four were after scouring all of Lural for them for Sanctum." Sophia tiredly sighed and shook her head sadly. "My peers had the same luck, actually worse. Most don't even find one. They've gotten better at remaining hidden."
"Lural is this land's name?"
Sophia looked at Naya, perplexed. "You know awfully little for an Elf in foreign lands."
--Gods. I know, right?--
[Silence! ]Naya's ears twitched. She never cared about the lands outside Aleria; she didn't even know the country she was in was called Rella until yesterday.
"Aw~ You know you say a lot with just your ears; it's adorable." Sophia smiled at her.
--She gets me!--
"You're both so annoying!" Naya's ears twitched again, and she walked forward ahead of Sophia, rudely pushing her away.
Lia's soft laughter filled her head. --Well, you see what I mean, though, right? If Sanctum, an influential organization, can't even get five a year, how do you think a lone Elf will fare?--
Naya looked at the clouds. She didn't want to admit it, but deep down, she knew Lia had been right from the beginning. After all, she only found 2 in a year, and both were dumb luck.
--You will need allies, and I don't think Sophia will let you go after what you accidentally blurted out last night. Look at how obsessive she is, and she just met you!--
[Fine... But I won't join her organization if that's what you're trying to get me to do!]
--No, I just want you to have an information network. Leaking that you can kill devils was probably good, as long as Sophia keeps it to herself. Now, she'll definitely be looking for you every time a witch crops up.--
Sophia walked up to Naya again, but this time, she stopped in front of her and wasn't smiling teasingly as before; her face was grave.
"Naya, I know you don't care for the other races and that you're likely only killing witches for an Elven mission..." She puts her hands on Naya's shoulder. "...But we need you, not just in Lural, but the world."
"What are you saying?" Naya did not like where this was going, and Sophia had a firm grip on her shoulders, telling her how serious she was.
Sophia let Naya go, and her easygoing smile returned as if her grave expression was a lie. "I just want you to know what your power means for us [lower] races." She winked.
With that, Sophia turned and walked away, leaving Naya to ponder her words.
--I think she wants you to join Sanctum, but your reactions told her it was pointless.--
[I will accept her call to kill witches, but to be part of a human organization? Absolutely not. They need me more than I need them.]
--I'd say it's equal, but I'm glad you're still you.--
[What's that supposed to mean?]
--Arrogant as hell. --Lia laughed and stopped speaking.
Naya didn't bother rebutting, and she watched Sophia's figure reach her posse of robed humans.
She appeared much more severe than with Naya as she commanded them to various places. Naya would rather none of them go; there's no way they're near the level of Sophia and would just get in the way. Despite what Lia said, Naya still struggled to understand just how helpful a human would be at all, even if Sophia was near the peak of what they had.
--As long as you like her, that's all that matters.--
[That doesn't make any sense.]
Lia didn't respond, and after Sophia had her people all commanded to do something, she walked into the village chief's home, but not before turning back in Naya's direction and waving.
When she saw the distant door close, Naya walked forward. She decided she would meet them at the forest; she had no interest in whatever human prep they needed to do.
--I'd tell you not to, but you won't listen.--
[I want to see how powerful a so-called 3rd circle witch is myself. ]
--I won't stop you.--
Naya made her way out of the town with no resistance. A couple of the robed humans looked like they wanted to stop her but didn't. Sophia likely ordered them not to interact with her. [Good.]
When she reached the gate, the two guards stationed there were different. They watched her approach with nervousness and fear radiating from their faces. [This is the expression humans usually have.]
"Open the gate," Naya commanded.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
They both entered the wall and moments later, the gate slowly started to open.
Naya walked forward before coming to a sudden halt and snapping her head back. She felt an odd stare and caught the village chief sending her a vicious glare before slamming his door shut in a hurry.
Naya was tempted to go back immediately to teach him his place.
--Don't bother; he likely had plans with Sanctum, but your presence accelerated their schedule and ruined whatever he had cooked up.--
Still, the stare from a human infuriated Naya; it reminded her of those worn by her brethren when she was dragged to the heart of Aleria.
--If you haphazardly kill a human, you may end up starting a war.--
[I don't have that kind of influence.]
--Doesn't matter; you're likely the only Elf outside Aleria right now. In a way, you do represent your race. How do you want the world to view you?--
Naya thought and considered what place the Elves should have in the world.
She remembered something her mother had told her in passing when she was still very young,[ "Nayalisia, it used to be the duty of Elves to monitor and guide the lower races..."]
Naya had forgotten about that until now. She recalled her mother spoke with a tinge of longing at that time, but she couldn't fathom why. Still, she had an answer for Lia.
[Reverence. Without Elven guidance, the world has fallen. The witches are a good example.]
--You truly are your mother's child.--
From Lia's tone, Naya couldn't tell if that was said as a good or bad thing. Lia didn't clarify.
Naya dropped it; she walked out of the gate and made her way down the grassy planes to the forest. She wanted to get there before the humans, so she walked faster than usual.
She recalled the odd party that met her in the clearing yesterday. [I wonder if the witch got them?]
--They might have left toward a different place after they saw the other witch you killed; they had no way of knowing there were 2.--
That did bring another problem for Naya. [Is it not odd that two were in the same place? ]After learning she could kill Devils, she wanted to know more about witches, something she thought impossible just a day prior.
--Witches don't work together, so the one you killed likely had no idea she was in the territory of a superior witch.--
[I hope so. ]If witches did work together, Naya wasn't sure how big of a threat it would entail. [It would make it easier to hunt them all.]
--Or become a threat more significant than anything this world has ever known. Luckily, Devils aren't compatible since they all want the world for themselves.--
The conversation stopped there as Naya continued toward the sea of trees in the distance. She heard the village gate ominously slam shut behind her.
Hours passed while Naya walked forward. Sophia and her group hadn't met with her, and she was glad she decided to continue without them. She did not have the patience to wait that long to depart.
Lia had been silent the entire trip, an odd thing, but the coming battle wouldn't be anything like what Naya had known.
She had no nervousness as she approached the forest. While the power to warp reality sounded ominous, Naya doubted that it could be to the extent that the witch would be untouchable.
--Warping reality is a stretch unless the Devil could already interfere with the natural world. I have some ideas, but we'll have to wait and see.--
"It will be confined to the tower. My... friend's mother had something similar: a room where she controlled reality."
--Well, damn, I forgot you're not just an immature exile. You're right; that's exactly what I was thinking. --
"I was taught magic; do not underestimate me." Naya stopped when she saw the incomplete path into the forest. "But that makes it all the more powerful; she completely controls the laws within her building."
--Do you have a plan?--
"You can read my mind," Naya smirked and walked into the forest, her steps with purpose. "You know what I want to do."
--I like it!--