"Huh? The Ranger?" a tall and dark-skinned City Guard said, "She was sleeping on the stables, she was helping us feed and care for the horses."
Daemon, Lydia, and Azael were at the City Guard's stables, at the West Entrance, near the Dragon's Fate headquarters. Zaphira, the newly recruited Mage, was to join them in a bit. Daemon had asked the guards about the Elven Ranger that they were told about.
Daemon raised an eyebrow, "She's sleeping with the horses?" He asked, "Typical Ranger stuff. Why would she ask around for a job here? She's an Iron-Ranked adventurer, she could just ask the clerks to give her a good-paying one, clearing out the sewers of giant rats and all that."
The guard shrugged, "Beats me." He said as he walked away, "She should be there right now, there's a white mare that she's grown attached to, she might be grooming her."
Daemon looked at his companions, "What do you think her problem is?" He asked
"Rangers are always attached to horses, no?" Lydia said, "They're loners, kinda....so I guess they feel more comfortable with horses or other animals."
"Not the Rangers back at the lobby, the cocky bastards." Daemon said, "Anyways, let's go and see her."
As they proceeded to walk, Azael spoke up, "Maybe it has something to do with the white horse?" He said, "She probably doesn't want to let it out of her sight, maybe that's why she's here? Asking for a job to care for the Horses..?"
"Smart thinking." Daemon said, "That could be."
A few minutes later, they made it to the stables and saw that they were empty. Daemon peered inside and saw that they were cleaner than what he's used to seeing at the City Guard stables.
"no sign of her?" Lydia said as she walked around, "Maybe she left."
As she said that, they heard hooves lightly tapping on the ground.
"Can I help you?" a woman's voice said
They all turned to see an Elven Woman standing as she held the reigns of a beautiful white horse behind her. The Horse was shining white with beautiful silky white hair that matched her body, it's dark eyes looked at the party with curiosity.
As for the Elf, she was average height, slim, with short but beautiful blonde hair. Her eyes were amber and cold, something that Daemon noticed right away. She was wearing the usual Ranger outfit, a leather armor with a large cloak and hood over it.
Daemon saw a glimpse of a gold-handled dagger before the cloak covered the entirety of her body.
They were caught off guard by the unnatural beauty of the horse.....and the woman. The two of them together was quite a sight, even Lydia was blushing a bit.
She was looking at them with a serious face, "I asked you lot a question." She said with an annoyed tone
Lydia cleared her throat, "Are you the Iron-ranked Ranger?" She asked, "We formed a party and we would like to-"
"Not interested." the Elf said as she walked the horse back to the stable, "Get lost."
Daemon smirked slightly but didn't say a word. He was not surprised by the Elf's attitude, in fact, he was expecting it. He merely watched as the Elf closed the door to the horse's stable, watching carefully.
Azael stepped up, "We require a Ranger." He said, "We were told you were suited for this job. My name is Azael, this is Lydia, and you already know who our leader is."
"Daemon, the Black Dragon." the Elf said as she began to grab lumps of hay and toss them into the stable, "Who doesn't know him?"
Daemon shrugged without saying a word; he wanted to see how the two handle this situation. He already knew how Elves act and operate; they were full of audacity and arrogance, but some were more humble than others. High-Elves in particular were the embodiment of superiority, but Daemon knew that not all of them were stuck-up assholes.
Lydia walked up to her, "Uhm, why are you here? You're a member of the Dragon's Fate, you should be out adventuring!" She said with a shaky voice
The Elf looked at her, "How old are you?" she asked Lydia
"17....?" Lydia responded
The elf looked up at Azael, "You?"
"19." Azael responded
Daemon narrowed his eyes without saying a word, taken aback at how young Azael was. He was beginning to feel old at that moment.
"17 and 19." the elf said, "Pitiful babies, you know nothing of the true world. Why would I, an elder to you, care of what the words you say?"
"I don't understand." Azael said
"I don't care for the Dragon's Fate." the Elf said, "I may be a Ranger, but I'm not an adventurer. I was only required to register there because of where I'm from."
"And where's that?" Lydia asked
The Elf picked up a brush and began to work on the horse's mane, giving Lydia a serious scowl.
"Don't worry about it." She said seriously
Azael gestured at the horse, "Quite the animal, huh?" He said, "Is this the reason you are in Ashborne? There is something about this Horse that is.....alluring...."
The Elf stopped brushing and glared at Azael, "Shut up." She growled, "Do not say a word about her."
"What's so special about the horse?" Lydia asked, "I know Rangers are as in-tuned with animals as Drui-"
"Silence." the elf snapped, "Begone, I am not joining your party. Leave me be."
Lydia frowned, "B-But...this is a good opportunity to..." She whispered
"What? Work with Daemon?" The elf said, "Please, what self-respecting Elf would work with that piece of work? The only ones foolish enough to stand by him are you Humans. We Elves don't care for the legend of a squirt. Our Elven Heroes have lived twice the years of his bloodline."
Suddenly, Daemon burst out laughing, confusing both Azael and Lydia who looked back at him with widened eyes.
"Hahaha!!!" Daemon buckled over as he slapped his knees, "Oh shit! This is so stupid!!"
"What's wrong?" Azael asked, "What's so funny?"
Daemon straightened up, "I thought you would notice right away...." he said as he wiped a tear off his eye, "I mean.....I wanted to see how you guys can handle an Elf's attitude....but man.....you guys need work...."
The Elf narrowed her eyes, "Attitude?" She said, "Listen here-"
"Shut up, blondie." Daemon said as he walked over to the stable and leaned on the door, "You're quite the beauty, huh, little lady?"
He was talking to the horse.
The Elf glared at him, "Don't speak to her." She growled
Lydia leaned towards Azael, "What does he mean...?" She said, "Is this some sort of test?"
"Maybe, but I think Daemon noticed something we didn't....let's keep quiet and see.." Azael said
Daemon pointed at the Horse, "You were right, Azael. She's here cause of this horse, but you just didn't know why." He said, "This here is an Elf?"
Azael widened his eyes, "What?"
Lydia gasped, "Oh..." She said, "Wait how?"
Daemon shook his head, "A Druid's spell, obviously." He said, "Polymorph."
The Elf stopped brushing the horse's hair as it neighed, she gave Daemon a serious look.
"Polymorph?" Azael said, "The spell that turns creatures into a new form? Did someone turn an elf into a Horse? Why?"
Daemon shrugged, "Beats me." He said, "But judging by the Horse's demeanor, I assume it's been a while. You can tell that newly polymorphed sentient beings can retain their original personality before slowly deteriorating into their new form's state."
"Is the Horse....erm...elf....someone dear to you?" Lydia asked the Ranger
The ranger looked at them, "It is none of your business." She said seriously
Daemon sighed, "Look, I am in need of a Ranger in my party." He said, "Help me and I'll help you."
"How can you help me?" She said, "Nobody was able to turn her back."
"Well, I got connections." Daemon said, "Join my party, you can leave her at my friend's barn. He'll take good care of her, even better than you."
"What?" the elf growled
"He's a Horse breeder, he knows his shit. I'll tell him to keep his boys off her, though." Daemon said, "I also know a Mage that can revert her. This feels like a powerful Polymorph curse. I know of a few Druid groups that are capable of something so strong if not any mage can undo it. "
"Tell me who!" The elf demanded, "Now!!"
Daemon smirked, "No." He said simply, "I'll only help you after the job. If you don't want to help me, fine, we'll leave right now. There's plenty of Rangers in the lobby I can ask. I just didn't want to because they're pricks....buuuut, they're better than you."
"Nobody's better than me." She snapped, "I'm a far better shot than any of those Humans in the guild."
Daemon smiled, "Prove it." He taunted, "Or you too scared to go to the Hightowers?"
"Hightowers?" She said, "What kind of fool is taking that job???"
Daemon pointed at himself, "This guy~" He said, "So...what do ya say?"
She frowned and looked at the horse who was merely looking at Azael with curious eyes. Azael awkwardly smiled at it.
"Will she be safe with your friend?" the Elf asked
"Oh yea." Daemon said, "Nobody is safer on that farm than the Horses. Seriously, he's cutthroat. Anyone fucks with his Horses and they're dead. I mean it."
The Elf sighed, ".....Only if you promise to give me the Mage's name..." She said, "I'll do it."
Lydia's eyes lit up, "You will? That's great!" She said happily, "Daemon, don't go back on your word!"
Daemon chuckled and walked away, waving them off, "Yea yea..."
Azael bowed slightly, "Thank you, with this, we can finally embark on the journey." He said, "By the way, what is your name?"
The elf looked at them as she placed her hand on her hips, "Invidia...." She said,
"My name is Invidia."