July 1833, The Elven Forest of Ameretia
"That child is more than just a half elven," Elior remarked, his emotionless face basking under the moon's gleam. "I've never heard of a half elf with golden hair nor green eyes. Unless one of the parents is a pure blood elf."
"What are you implying Elior?" I replied to him with the same seriousness, and he turned at me solemnly, giving me a miserable smile.
"Half elves can only choose one between living with elves and mortals," he replied with a plaintive tone, his enthusiasm seemed to have been drained by the matter. His eyes no longer showed the same light as I first met him. It appeared that the half elven's misery hadn't met its end yet. "If they lived with people like you, they will indeed live longer than any other mortal, but they will carry on the grief of their loved one's passing, and if they chose to live among elves, they will be missed dearly. That's why most elves chose to live a secluded life, such mournful memories will just wound our souls. An engraved wound on the soul cannot be healed, even by the gods, Prince Damian."
He gazed back at the distance again. I didn't give him a reply, and thought that it would be good to end that matter on that note. We embraced the soothing silence and listened to the faint laughter of the elves from the caravan. I took that chance of indulging myself with rest, since living as a mercenary, rest was a luxury we couldn't afford. Letting your guard down for a while meant you've accepted your end. My eyelids brawled with drowsiness, but I was conquered and lulled to sleep.
"Damian," I heard a faint voice of a child calling out, but I saw no one, I only saw the vast darkness surrounding me. "Damian," the voice called out to me again, but this time, the tone was louder. "Prince Damian, please wake up!"
Elior was screaming at me, sweat trickling down his face, his hands firmly grasping on my shoulders. "They ambushed us, the bandits from earlier," his voice cracked. "They held us hostage." Elior's eyes trailed outside, when I followed his glance, it just dawned on me that we were inside a circle of fire. "I think they're after the elves."
"Where is he? Where is Damian Stein?" I heard someone scream bloody murder for my name. "Get him out! I want his head!"
"How far are we from the Elven Forest, Elior?" I asked while my hands swiftly filled the gun's magazines with bullets. I loaded the magazines, and clicked them. "You do ride do you? I mean you're a prince."
"Yes, but what does that have to do with," Elior stared at me with a puzzled look. "I can't let you fight them alone! Even with Rondil's help, there's like twice a dozen of bandits out there!"
"Get one of the horses from the carriage," I swung the door open and shoved him outside. "Have I told you I defeated 27 men with a pair of guns and knives? I haven't told you, did I? Now I did. I think this would be a great exercise while testing out that new knife the gods gave me."
"Scythe!" he screamed back at me as if I insulted generations of his ancestors. "Seeing how proud you are, I'll come back for help as soon as possible."
Elior unhatched one of the carriage's horses and mounted on top of it, he gave me one last worried look before he jumped out the scorching fire through the woods.
'Wait, how do I summon the scythe?' I thought. 'I had to mention the gods right?'
"My deities, Ranos and Ida, lend me your power," I whispered while I closed my eyes, with both my arms extended, waiting for the scythe to appear on my arms, magically.
Nothing happened.
I sighed, 'that was stupid Damian, do you expect it to appear magically on your hands?'
As I was feigning stupidity on my actions, a lightning raced on the dark skies, down to the depths of earth. And when it did, my arms felt heavier like a boulder had been thrown down at them, it caught me off guard, making me kiss the ground. But there it was, the scythe bestowed to me by the gods, gleaming with blue fire. It didn't burn me, nor did it feel searing like any fire.
"No! Don't kill the child!" I heard a man scream, when I turned my head I saw Rondil being held by two men. "Kill me instead! Spare the children!"
"Not until you bring him out!" The bandit slapped Rondil, he was built bigger than the other bandits, and seemed to be the one in command, seeing how the others were cheering for his feat. "You're in luck, it seems like rain is coming down, you won't be seeing your dear lord burn into a crisp."
"Well you're not as lucky as him, are you?" I called out at them, holding the scythe with one hand. The scythe became lighter like a feather as soon as I tightened my grip on it. All those gleeful blue fire bolted towards the tip of the blade, and collectively sat there, swaying every now and then when a breeze came in. "Want to test this with me? It's quite a big knife isn't it. What was it called again, a 'sit', 'seeth', or was it a 'sith'? Anyways, it's a big bloody knife with a handle, mighty great I tell you, I mean look at it."
"Well look who's here," the leader of the bandits gripped on Rondil's head, turning it to my direction. "It's your master's little friend."
"I have a name," I charged at him, leaping, and extended the scythe, right towards his neck. As my feet landed on the ground, the blade went through his neck, making his head roll on the grass. Blood once again graced the earth. "It's Damian Stein."
"Look at this knife, where did you get it kid?" a pair of bandits grasping unto Lirion's hair caught my attention, but what stiffened me was the sight of a familiar gold hilted dagger. The green gem engraved on it gleamed as if I saw her holding it yesterday.
'It was a family heirloom, Ian,' her voice gently dwindled upon my ears, entrancing me to lunge forward through the battlefield. My body moved itself as if it was enchanted and commanded every precise slash I left on the bandits. I was addicted to her voice, and so it triumphed over me, marching me forward to that elven child. 'I should pass it down to one of our children and may it protect him from another's harm.'
"Tia," I whispered. The scythe finally felt heavy to bear, and so I let go of it. It landed on the pool of blood that I made, and it lay resting atop the bodies it bled. "Tia, where are you?"
"Has he gone mad?" I heard one of the bandits whisper to the bandit holding on to Lirion.
"Let the child go!" I screamed. "Let him go while I'm still at mercy's door. Because I swear when I am not, your heads will roll like the heads of your friends."
"Damian, do not kill them!" I heard Elior scream from afar, hooves of horses clanking and approaching, and when I turned my head, a pang of lightning raced through the flesh of my chest. The bandit leapt unto me, and when I was about to throw a jab on his head, a glint of light raced beside me. Mercy wasn't at his door. Elior's arrow pierced through his chest and his life fleeted swiftly as blood streamed out like a gentle waterfall.
The other bandit holding on to Lirion ran in fear, but his leg was struck by one of Elior's swift arrows. He limped on the ground, and crawled. He screamed for his dear life. He begged for mercy, for us to spare his life. His actions were revolting, knowing how many lives he had taken, yet here he is, begging like the people he killed.
"Sir, you are injured," Lirion croaked as he marched forward, Aristia's dagger in his hand. He fondly placed it inside the brown leather sheath hanging onto a rope wrapped around his waist. "Can you lie down, I can heal you, my mother taught me how to heal wounds."
My knees weakened and so I answered to my body's beckoning to sit on the ground. Lirion kneeled beside me, his trembling small hands touched my wounded chest. His miniature hands faintly gleamed bright green, still trembling as every second passed. His eyes crossed mine as time was fleeting, but never had he spoken.
"That dagger," I remarked, his eyes now met mine. "Who did it belong to?"
"It's my mama's," he replied, glancing away and looking down at his hands. "Why did you ask sir?"
"Has your mother ever told you about your father?" I smiled. My heart raced as I waited for his answer. But still my thoughts are clouded with confusion, could it belong to my Aristia? And if it did, is he our child? "You did mention you are going to Trinitia to look for your father."
"My mama told us he is a mercenary, I was scared of the idea of meeting him, but I had no choice but to look for him and ask for help."
"And his name?"
"Ian Stein," Lirion replied while retreating his arms. As I lifted my head, I could see Lirion doubling. My vision was hazy. My head hit the ground with a soft thud, and I could hear Lirion screaming for help.
"I think you found him, Lirion" I softly whispered.
July 1833, Near the Gates of the Elven Empire, Ameretia
"Your highness, Prince Damian, are you awake?" Rondil said as I slowly opened my eyes. I was inside the royal carriage, covered by a blanket. I think Rondil kept watch on me, seeing how there's a wet towel with a white porcelain bowl beside him. "The child managed to remove the poison on your body last night from one of the bandit's knives, but he wasn't able to fully heal the wound. Please don't strain yourself sir, a royal healer is on the way."
"How long was I asleep?" I asked while I sat down, flipping the blanket beside me. "Where is Elior? And where are we right now?"
"You've been asleep for quite a while, it's already noon, your highness. His Highness, Prince Elior, is currently being questioned by the Ameretian elves since they were suspicious of the faint presence of Lord Ranos last night. We are currently camped outside near the gates of the elven kingdom sir."
Silence fell in the carriage with only the sound of Rondil twisting the wet towel could be heard. I couldn't help but notice that his eyes kept on wandering back and forth between me and the bowl in front of him.
"I've heard the conversation you had with the child last night your highness," Rondil broke the silence. "Are you the child's father?"
"The dagger he claimed to belong to his mother, is the same dagger my lover used to carry with her," I replied. "She disappeared five years ago. I've sent letters to her old address, but I received not one reply from her.
"That very dagger sir, belongs to the An-"
An abrupt knock from outside the carriage disturbed us, Rondil extended his arm and cautiously opened the door. We were greeted by a neatly dressed Lirion. He was donned in verdant clothes that matched his eyes. He was a far cry out from the child he was last night.
"Can I see father?" He remarked. Rondil suddenly froze but snapped out to reality and unexpectedly went out of the carriage. He assisted Lirion to get inside the carriage and stood outside, a few meters away from the carriage.
"I didn't tell them you are my father," Lirion began. "But they dressed me in these clothes after they saw mama's dagger. Father, will they help you get Carion and mama?"
"Call me papa," I smiled. "Can you tell me who dressed you in those clothes, Lirion?"
"Prince Elior said the other elves were from the kingdom," Lirion said as he fidgeted his fingers, avoiding glances from me momentarily. "They said that my grandfather will be arriving soon. Can't I stay with you papa?"
I smiled and extended my arms, lifting him from his seat and seated him on top of my lap.
"You've seen me injured last night, right Lirion?" I said while dusting off his shoulders and going through the buttons of his sleeves. "I think you will be more guarded with your grandfather than you would be with me. Seeing how I almost died after letting my guard down."
"But I can heal you," Lirion argued, looking down while pouting his lips. "You will need me, papa."
"And the more you will be targeted if they know about it," I replied. "But don't worry, I will make sure to find Carion and your mama."
"Prince Damian?" Elior called out from outside. "Can we talk?"
Lirion suddenly bounced off from my lap and reached out to open the door. Elior gave us a surprised look after seeing Lirion is with me.
"Am I interrupting something?" He asked. "Oh never mind, this is urgent."
Elior welcomed himself inside the carriage and closed its door with a thud, sitting in front of me and Lirion. Seeing me seat Lirion on my lap didn't surprise him.
"Rondil confided in me last night, he said he is your child," Elior let out a sigh. "He was worried about you meeting the Duke of Andoria."
"Why should I be worried about meeting the Duke of Andoria?"
"Because he is that child's grandfather, and you are his father, the dagger the child was holding on to is one of the duchy's family heirlooms. Now I know how you felt after seeing the children of the deities."
"Don't get me started with that, until yesterday I'm still convinced that everything is a dream," I rattled. "Who wouldn't after receiving some divine blessing yesterday and becoming a father overnight. Don't misunderstand it love, I'm quite happy hearing you are my child. You see that Elior, I'm his father. This beautiful child is my son. Look at that shining hair."
"That shining hair of his, left quite the impression with the others," Elior interjected, emphasizing the word 'others'. He gave me a smile, then glanced over at Lirion. "They're wondering how he is half elven when he has platinum blonde hair. Though he doesn't have green eyes, his healing capabilities surpasses a normal half elven."
"I mean he's my child," I smugly smiled back at Elior. "Shouldn't you be immune to surprises at this point?"
"I won't be surprised if you were actually blessed the moment you were born by an elven god," Elior firmly retaliated, with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "That could only be the acceptable reason why your child carries a prime trait of being an elven."
"Carion have red hair and green eyes," Lirion replied in a faint tone, putting us both into silence. "Carion is really good with a sword, but he couldn't heal wounds like I do. Mama trained Carion in fighting with a sword, and I was trained in healing."
"There's two of them?!," Elior gasped loudly, his eyes darting daggers at me. "This entirely rewrites the genetic history of elves."
"Your highness, the Duke of Andoria is here!" Rondil knocked from outside the door, then opened it wide. "Your Highness, Prince Damian, the Ameretian elves prepared your clothes in the tent."
"Lirion," I placed Lirion down. "Can you stay with Prince Elior while I go change my clothes? We'll meet your grandfather after I finish changing clothes, is that okay with you?"
Lirion nodded in agreement while I patted his head. He reached out for Elior's arm and held onto it. Elior picked him up and they waved at me as I left. As I marched towards the tent, I could see the scrambling Ameretian elves the moment they saw me approaching their tent.
"Good afternoon your highness," an elven man wearing a black suit greeted me with a bow. The other elves who wore suits and knight uniforms followed suit. "I am Tinov my lord, I will be assisting you today in your bath. His imperial highness, Prince Halion Valfara sent me, he would like to extend his apologies for his late arrival together with the Duke of Andoria."
"I will not be needing any assistance Tinov and thank you for your offer," I replied, giving him the smile I wear in front of my clients. "But it would be splendid if you prepare me a blueberry cheesecake and some coffee while I'm taking my bath."
"Much obliged,your highness," Tinov also replied with a smile.He then bowed and retreated towards the chef, who seemed to have overheard my fancy for pastries. I walked towards the curtained door, which slapped my face with the aroma of flowers. The bathroom amazed me, how did they ever made this in such a short time? And in a tent on top of that. The bathroom's floor was made of white rocks with red layered bricks as its pathway. In the center of the bathroom sat a white porcelain bathtub filled with warm water and floating rose petals. Beside the bathtub is a small coffee table with scented candles in its center. And beside the coffee table was a wooden chair with my folded clothes and a white towel sitting on it. I've never experienced such luxury in my life. I simply didn't have the time to spend my rest on such lavish things.
I casted off my clothes and hung them on top of the chair's head. My skin tingled as I slowly submerged myself in the warm water. The wound that hadn't completely healed on my chest sent off a searing sensation, as I stayed longer, its pain faded away. I've never had a bath in a bath tub, nor did it strayed my thoughts that I would get to experience it, because such luxuries aren't befitting for a mercenary. I always bathed in a hurry with the fear of wasting any time, and now I'm experiencing one luxury a mercenary cannot afford. Relaxation. I've always lived without lowering my guard. Oh, such bliss it would be to lead a life without care. But having such bliss in your life would bring death escorting you to your grave.
I was drying my hair when I heard the sound of horses galloping. I donned the verdant short sleeved top with gold engravings and slipped on the dark green pants. 'What's with elves and their obsession with green?' I looked like that red-haired mermaid from the childhood fairy tales wearing these. I hurriedly put on the leather sandals that were placed just beside the chair. It was yet another first for me, I've never felt such comfort while wearing such footwear.
"Should I try wearing sandals when I do my runs? I mean it's comfortable," I whispered to myself.
"Your highness, are you done changing?" Rondil called out behind the curtains, his silhouette showed he was carrying my scythe. "I think you were so tired last night that you forgot to summon back the scythe. Oh and your guns and knives are also here, your highness."
"Where is the man that saved my grandchild?" An old man's beaming voice intruded the tent, with a slightly tall figure of a man approaching Rondil. "I was told he was a prince of a human kingdom."
When I pulled in the curtains I was greeted by a blonde middle aged man with glinting dark green eyes, he pulled me out and shook my hand cheerfully.
And just when we were headed to the table, I saw Lirion sprinting towards me. Rondil and Elior were behind him, panting, a scorn of anxiety on their faces.
"I don't want to go with grandpa! I want to come with you papa!"
"Papa?" the Duke of Andoria gave me a confused look.
"My lord, would you like to talk this out over some tea? I think the blueberry cheesecake Tinov prepared is ready," I smiled at the shocked Duke of Andoria. "Your Highness, Prince Elior, would you mind sharing the table with us? I guess the Duke of Andoria needs to hear what you have to say."
"Prince Elior is the father?" the Duke of Andoria gaped at Elior.
"No, my lord, I am," I smiled. "I myself am confused, finding myself blessed by gods not long ago, and now a father overnight. Though I am happy knowing I have a child, I still couldn't place a firm grasp on the situation."