Alyse Egris was born to an unknown male suitor and Evelyn Egris, the prior matriarch of the Egris family, almost five millennia ago. She was Evelyn's first high elf daughter. At the time, the Egris family was still old-fashioned enough that it was assumed she'd be the next matriarch. So needless to say, she was the pride of her mother.
Evelyn doted on her endlessly during Alyse's childhood. Her mother personally taught her to read and write, regaled her with the histories of the elves and their own family, and even oversaw her magic education. Alyse didn't resent her lack of a father figure, but it did make her value her mother's attention that much more.
At the age of six, Alyse had her first magic assessment at her mother's insistence. It's well established among elven scholars that magic assessments in children are unreliable with respect to spell class, and they will commonly produce false no-class results. So, assessments are normally carried out later.
However, Alyse was not only identified as alteration class, but she already presented with all sub-class affinities except item enchanting. Moreover, she had the highest magic power level in the Egris family history, rivaling those in the royal family.
Alteration class magic users are extremely rare in the elven population, and they are prized for their exceptional combat prowess. But the Egris house has long been an exception – its matriarchs have all been alteration class for generations, as have most of their children. Consequently, the Egris house has a proud history of contributing to the royal guard and military.
Evelyn rejoiced at Alyse's abilities and potential, and Alyse delighted in the extra attention her mother subsequently devoted to her magic and combat training. Over the next few years, her training progressed at a dizzying pace. She not only achieved mastery over her magic and sword skills, but she also developed high proficiency in archery.
Her skills only continued to grow, and by the age of twelve, Alyse could defeat every guard in the Egris's service and every member of the family except her own mother. She was hailed as a prodigy, and the pride of the Egris household.
Alyse's combat prowess grew more widely known, and she became the subject of lavish praise everywhere she accompanied her mother. Alyse found others' attention in this regard somewhat off-putting, but she treasured seeing her mother beam with pride when it happened, so she was largely happy for the spotlight.
It was around this time that Evelyn began more actively including Alyse in noble affairs, so she could gain firsthand experience with her mother's responsibilities as matriarch. Admiring her mother immensely, and wanting to live up to Evelyn's expectations, Alyse approached those matters studiously.
Though subjects such as diplomacy, economics, and law did not come naturally to Alyse, her hard work and motivation yielded results that even the others in the family took notice of. At age thirteen, talk of her prodigious abilities was already mixed with optimistic discussion of her future as matriarch.
As Alyse became more involved in her mother's affairs as matriarch, several other key family members – most of whom served as Prima for Egris territory cities – became prone to discussing Alyse's future in front of her. On a couple of occasions, this included discussion of her finding a suitable husband.
The first time it was brought up, Alyse – age 13 – was quick to declare that she didn't want a husband. She saw no issue with such a statement. After all, her mother was unmarried, and she didn't even know her own father.
Assuming that she merely wished to follow in her mother's footsteps, the Egris family and Evelyn were unperturbed. They simply responded that it was something she could decide when she was older. It's not unheard of for high elves to wait several millennia before taking a husband, or even only have discrete lovers, so they didn't consider it a pressing issue.
The next time, Alyse was 16. A Prima made a remark that, given her maturing physique, she should start dressing in a way that flattered her more feminine figure – she had a rather tomboyish style. The Prima intended it as good-faith advice, saying Alyse would be thankful for it later when boys began showing her more attention. However, Alyse insisted that she had no interest in boys' affections.
Evelyn and the others of the Egris family took more notice of Alyse's rebuttal on this occasion, but they merely chuckled and made comments like 'you'll change your mind when you're older', or 'you're only saying that because you've never experienced it'. None of them thought her disinterest in boys was anything more than a phase of her youth.
However, Alyse knew better, and she had for years. She'd sometimes hear the other elven girls her age around the city discussing specific boys, but she never shared their interest. Instead, she was more excited to discuss First Princess Elira Ophelle.
Ever since seeing Princess Elira during a trip to Avalon with her mother, Alyse had found the Princess incomparably enchanting – the platinum hair, dazzling smile, confident stride, regal poise, and exceptional combat reputation. Her feelings weren't those of a girl consumed with envy or reverence; it was like the elven girls when they gossiped about local boys – Alyse's first crush.
Several years passed for Alyse with the others' dismissals of her feelings remaining infrequent, subtle, and unmalicious, but she never forgot any of them. All the while, her frustration was building. Before she knew it, she'd begun to feel like she couldn't be herself around other people.
When she could no longer stomach the discrepancy between the person she was and the person she thought that others perceived her as, Alyse, then a young woman of twenty, finally decided to have a long talk with her mother about herself.
After years of thinking over and over about the little dismissals that had led her to feel so misunderstood, she had also begun to form her own conclusions about how her mother would react to such a confession. Thus, Alyse lamented about the looming disappointment of the person whose approval she cherished above all else.
Though she'd never been dishonest with her mother, Alyse couldn't help but feel like she was living a lie that kept them apart on some level. So, despite her apprehension, she was resolved to be forthcoming with Evelyn about her feelings over the past few years. For the first time, she was going to be explicit – she wanted to pursue other women romantically.
When she finally spoke those words aloud to Evelyn, she grimaced in anticipation, but her mother only looked back at her in surprise. After several moments, her mother's face transitioned into a warm smile, and Evelyn pulled her into a tight embrace. Her mother just gently whispered, 'then do so', without a trace of judgement or disappointment.
Hearing those words, Alyse felt immense relief wash over her. It was as though the emotion itself, which had eluded her the past several years, had simply been accumulating behind a dam that broke at that very moment. She leaned into her mother's warm embrace, and her heart soared like it never had before – she felt the deepest acceptance in her adult life.
Looking back, Alyse identifies the unexpectedly soothing nature of their talk as the reason why she didn't contemplate the situation further. Perhaps she assumed that her and her mother were on the same page because she couldn't have tolerated any other outcome – she needed a happy ending to their discussion.
However, life is rarely so fair. Unbeknownst to Alyse, Evelyn had somewhat misjudged her daughter's nature.
As it happens, Alyse still viewed sexuality as somewhat binary, and on several occasions over the years she'd voiced her disinterest in boys when they were brought up. So, when she told her mother that she wanted to pursue women, she assumed it was clear that she wanted to only pursue women.
By contrast, Evelyn had taken her daughter's statement at face value. The elves have long had very open views on intimacy – such relationships aren't something that's frowned upon. So, when Alyse expressed a romantic interest in women, Evelyn felt that she had no reason to be anything except supportive.
Though she'd never mentioned it to her daughter, Evelyn went through her own process of self-discovery in her youth. She'd felt a strong inclination towards women as she matured, and eventually explored it firsthand. Through those experiences, she'd concluded that, while intimacy with other women wasn't without its appeal, she preferred men in that regard.
It's perhaps the bias of any parent to think that they can relate to their child's dilemmas and offer advice according to their own experiences. In this case, that led Evelyn to project her own history onto her daughter and assume that Alyse was merely experiencing a similar curiosity. She thought that, if Alyse was encouraged to explore it herself, she'd likely reach the same conclusion as Evelyn had.
Alas, this was not a case of 'like mother, like daughter'. By Alyse's age, Evelyn had long been interested in men, and it was just mixed with a strong curiosity about women. Conversely, Alyse had never felt the faintest interest in men. They were not the same, and Alyse had no desire to explore intimacy with men.
Regardless, both Alyse and Evelyn left their discussion – unaware of the misunderstanding – feeling deeply content, optimistic about the future, and closer than ever as mother and daughter.
Feeling the matter was settled, Alyse did not rehash the subject with her mother, and Evelyn, reflecting on her own centuries-long journey of sexuality, considered further discussion to be wholly premature. Furthermore, Alyse would not need an heir for millennia – high elves don't feel the passage of time like humans. Thus, a decade passed without notable developments.
It was at this time that a merchant's daughter, Roselia, was visiting Wellick with her father to apprentice in the family business. Alyse met her by chance at their local shop, where Roselia was tending the store counter.
To Alyse's surprise, Roselia recognized her from a sword competition she'd won in Avalon several years ago. Roselia gushed about the beauty of Alyse's swordsmanship during the matches, and she confessed that she'd been somewhat of a fan ever since.
Being uncharacteristically flattered, Alyse inquired about Roselia's life, and she learned that Roselia desired to open her own bakery one day. As the two chatted more, they were quickly enamored with one another's company. When the time came to part ways, they made plans for Roselia to learn basic swordsmanship from Alyse, and Alyse to taste test Roselia's baking recipes.
Over the next several weeks, the two made many such plans. As they did, the frequency of the plans increased, as did their mutual enjoyment of the time they spent together. Before they knew it, the two were close friends.
For Alyse, however, it did not stop there. The more time they spent together, the more she took notice of Roselia's beauty, and the more charming she found Roselia's little quirks. The way her cheeks flushed anytime she laughed too hard, how she'd bite her lip when she was deep in thought, or the exasperated sigh she'd make if Alyse was silent for too long after tasting her new baking recipes. Alyse was falling for her first love.
As she came to this realization, Alyse couldn't help but ponder Roselia's lingering gazes or gentle embraces more intently. She wondered, was Roselia thinking of her, as she thought of Roselia? With time, Alyse began to suspect that her feelings were reciprocated. Though she longed to know for sure, fear of rejection kept her heart at bay.
Late one evening, following an afternoon of light swordplay, the two were enjoying some sweet bread near the Egris River's edge as the sun set. In one moment, Alyse had looked over to see the fading sunlight filtering through Roselia's light brown hair, as she wore a dazzling smile, and Alyse felt a sudden urge to express her feelings. Propelled by the unexpected wave of emotion, she'd kissed Roselia without thought or warning.
As soon as their lips met, and her heart's desires were laid bare, a warm feeling washed over Alyse. Though it only lasted a moment, that kiss felt to Alyse like it contained years of bliss. Sadly, it was ended as abruptly as it began by a startled Roselia.
As the space between them was reestablished, and their gazes finally met again, Alyse's heart sank at the sight of an uncomfortable Roselia – it was then clear that Alyse's affections were unrequited. Though Alyse apologized profusely, and Roselia insisted that she was not upset, that moment of misunderstanding damaged their relationship in a manner that proved too significant to move past.
They continued making plans together, pretending that evening had never happened, but an uncomfortable separation lingered over them. The frequency of Roselia's requests to spend time together declined, until they all but stopped seeing one another. Eventually, Roselia moved away from Wellick, and Alyse felt her first heartbreak. The two never saw one another again.
Over the next several centuries, numerous women captured her heart, and there were even some whose hearts she captured in return. During this time, Alyse continued working alongside her mother to prepare for her role as the next family matriarch, and they only grew closer as a result. To this day, Alyse recognizes those years as the happiest ones of her life. Alas, they weren't destined to last.
When Alyse had lived around a millennium, her mother inquired about her string of female lovers. Evelyn was surprised that Alyse's romantic interest in women had persisted, if not grown, through the centuries since their first talk. It was clear that her daughter hadn't taken after her.
Finding it hard to relate, Evelyn asked Alyse how her experiences with women compared to those with men, hoping to better understand where they'd diverged. Naturally, a confused Alyse simply reiterated that she had zero romantic interest in men and had only been with women.
Realizing her daughter's situation for the first time, and feeling the beginnings of apprehension over it, Evelyn struggled with how to respond. She didn't care that Alyse loved women, and under other circumstances she would not have cared if Alyse was only interested in women.
Unfortunately, Alyse was to be the next matriarch, and one of her responsibilities would be to produce an heir – Evelyn knew the family wouldn't accept a refusal of that task. Thus, if Alyse truly had no interest in men, Evelyn could only see two outcomes. Either the family would push men on Evelyn's beloved daughter until a proper heir was born, or the prodigious child Evelyn had such pride in and hope for would be removed as matriarch.
Perhaps because she hoped that Alyse may change her mind in the coming millennia, or because she wasn't ready to face the implications otherwise, Evelyn decided to forego raising any concerns about Alyse's situation at that time. Instead, she simply encouraged Alyse to 'give men a try'.
While Evelyn felt that she handled the situation well, without expressing alarm prematurely, her true feelings were not lost on Alyse. Alyse could see the concern and surprise in her mother's eyes, and she could sense the denial implicit in her mother's encouragement to 'try' men.
For the first time, Alyse felt that her mother had rejected her. The one person she truly admired, whose approval she desired more than anyone else's, wanted her to change who she was. As the realization set in, her heartbreak manifested as a physical pain in her chest. The mother and daughter concluded their discussion with those thoughts left unsaid, and that remained the case for many centuries after.
As the years dragged on, Alyse noticed all the small remarks her mother made about her and men, which seemed to increase in frequency as time passed. In turn, Evelyn noticed her daughter's increasing unhappiness when she did so, and her chest felt heavy with sadness at the sight and the realization of what it meant for Alyse's future.
Eventually, Alyse's romantic focus on women was noticed by the other family members as well, and it became the subject of a larger discussion during a routine meeting of the Prima. As expected, they were not accepting of her situation.
At first, the Primas' questions were just skeptical. What did she mean she has 'no interest in men'? Had she ever had a male partner? How could she be sure what she liked if she hadn't?
Truthfully, that line of reasoning grated on Alyse's nerves, though she did her best to hide it and answer their questions politely. However, when her persistent answers did not dissuade their apparent denial or pressing questions, Alyse's frustration continued to build until her composure slipped.
Alyse asked one of the male Prima questioning her if he'd ever taken other men into his bed to 'test' if he was truly disinterested. The Prima's surprised faces told her everything she needed to know, and a stunned silence had fallen over the meeting.
Alyse had felt satisfaction at getting her point across initially, but that was quickly replaced by guilt when she saw the pained expression of her mother. Before she had a chance to try and remedy the discomfort, however, one of the female Prima tried to redirect the conversation constructively.
Unlike the others, she acknowledged that Alyse 'preferred' women, but she interrogated Alyse about what this meant for the future. How would she produce an heir? If she didn't, how did she expect to be accepted as matriarch if she was knowingly condemning the line of succession?
Alyse was sobered by the questions – they'd been on her mind frequently for the past millennium. She felt sure, based on her mother's various comments over the past few centuries about her romantic preferences, that her mother would be disappointed. Still, Alyse knew that she couldn't afford to be dishonest – those problems wouldn't disappear if she lied. So, she plainly told the Prima that she wouldn't produce an heir, and she'd accept the family's decision if that meant she couldn't be the next matriarch.
Naturally, the Prima were not fans of Alyse's declaration. After all, she was Evelyn's only child left alive – the others born before her were regular elves whose lives had already run their natural course. In fact, a few of the current Prima were their descendants. So, the Prima posed the question…if Alyse did not plan to become matriarch, who did she think would?
Alyse had no answer. How could she? She simply shrugged at the Prima and said that she had no idea. She reiterated that she'd happily take on the role of matriarch if the family willed it, but she could no more produce an heir on request than the Prima could take an elf of the same sex into their beds for decades on end just because they were asked.
Following her crass remark, the room fell painfully silent. In this time, Alyse noticed that her mother had been uncharacteristically quiet, and she looked over to see her mother staring at her with an expression full of sadness. Catching Alyse's gaze, Evelyn spoke words that still occupy Alyse's thoughts to this day.
"Alyse…dear…you'd truly remove yourself from the succession to avoid producing an heir?"
Alyse grimaced upon hearing that. It wasn't an exact synopsis of her feelings, but she knew what her mother meant. Was she so opposed to being with a man that, if she was forced to, she'd abandon all their prior investment to prepare Alyse for becoming matriarch?
Afraid that her voice might have broken if she said so out loud, Alyse merely nodded apologetically in response to her mother's question. Evelyn's face contorted in anguish and disappointment at the admission, and Alyse instinctively averted her gaze as her heart sank.
As she'd steeled herself for her mother's imploring follow-up, and looked back to her, she was surprised to see Evelyn smiling sadly. Instead of pressing Alyse with more questions, Evelyn merely nodded with resignation and turned her attention to the Prima. Alyse was left speechless by her mother's unexpected acceptance.
Unbeknownst to Alyse, Evelyn had given such an eventuality much thought in the centuries since their last major mother-daughter discussion on the subject. Though it was a painful decision to make, she'd already resolved herself to a certain course of action. So, her next words contained no hint of admonishment.
"Very well. Then I'll have another child that can take Alyse's place as heir if that becomes necessary."
At that time, Evelyn was over two-thirds of the way through her expected lifespan. While high elves retain youth and excellent health until the last few years of their lives, their fertility still drops in their final millennia. It's uncommon for high elves to bear children at all after they're eight millennia old. Even when they're younger, it takes them decades to centuries to become pregnant.
To compound these issues, Evelyn had been particularly unfortunate in producing an heir. Normally, a high elf would have a comparable mix of elf and high elf offspring, but Evelyn's first three children before Alyse were all regular elves. It seemed impossible to others that she could give birth to another female high elf.
Finally, while the Egris's customs at the time technically allowed for heirs that weren't the eldest of high elf daughters, it had never been put into practice. So, even if Evelyn could produce a replacement heir, such a change in succession had radical undertones by the Egris's standards.
For all these reasons, Evelyn's proposal solicited shock and resistance from the Prima. As they did their best to respectfully express these concerns to Evelyn, Alyse could only stare at her mother as conflicting feelings welled inside her in sequence.
First, she felt sadness and shame. She wondered how disappointing and useless she must seem for her mother to replace her as successor so readily. However, this was only Alyse's instinctive reaction to Evelyn's words.
After a moment of rational reflection, she realized that her mother was still trying to be supportive, like she had the first time Alyse expressed an interest in women. This was just the only way Evelyn knew how to do that while fulfilling her obligations as matriarch of the Egris family.
Relief washed over Alyse in tandem with this realization, and she felt intense gratitude and admiration towards her mother. However, that emotional reprieve was short-lived. As Alyse watched the Prima interrogate her mother about the 'Alyse issue', thought about Evelyn experiencing late-life pregnancies, and realized these hardships were all to protect her, she felt another emotion dwarf those before – guilt.
Alyse wondered…could she really stomach burdening her mother this way? Evelyn had been abnormally devoted to her daughter, and Alyse wanted to reciprocate that love. However, she also knew that she couldn't take male partners with the frequency required for her to produce an heir.
Alyse was at a loss for what to do, and her self-loathing rose to crippling levels. She couldn't help but think – if she'd just been born different, her whole life could have been as blissful as those early centuries. She'd have never burdened her mother so much. This was the first time that she ever truly hated herself; the first time she wished that she could change who she was.
While Alyse was sorting out her inner turmoil, temporarily oblivious to the conversation, Evelyn managed to resolve the discussion. Though the Prima were left apprehensive and disgruntled, Evelyn had taken a stern enough approach to quiet their dissent short-term.
As the meeting of the Egris house ended, and the two were left alone, an unexpected comment from Evelyn shook Alyse from her reverie.
"I've seen how hard you've worked all these years to live up to the dream I had for you, Alyse. So, I know you wouldn't make such a declaration lightly. I've realized, thinking back…I was so caught up in the pride that I had in you as my successor that I never asked what you wanted for your future. I didn't even recognize your disinterest in men until a few centuries ago. I'm sorry that I haven't been a very attentive mother." (Evelyn)
She knew her mother's words should have brought her relief, but all Alyse felt was more anguish and guilt. She couldn't bear that her mother thought of herself as the problem – the very idea wrenched her heart. In Alyse's eyes, her mother had been the picture of a devoted parent.
Alyse, fumbling with her words, had tried to express this to her mother at the time, but she feels in retrospect that her words must not have rung true enough to her mother's ears. Evelyn had just maintained her sad smile and thanked Alyse for her kind reassurances.
In the years following that meeting, Alyse's and her mother's lives didn't seem much different on the surface. Evelyn still adored her daughter and spent time training with her, and Alyse still admired her mother and shadowed her during her duties as matriarch.
However, these events transitioned to being primarily driven by Alyse – her mother didn't solicit her participation anymore. Similarly, the frequency with which Evelyn would request Alyse's input on matters of their territory and family slowly dwindled. It was clear to Alyse that her mother was trying to give her the space to direct her own future, but these subtle changes in their historically shared activities still saddened her.
In parallel, Alyse began to wonder about her future more. What was her purpose if she was no longer the matriarch in waiting? What goal should she work towards?
She had gained incredible physical prowess, to the point of dominating her mother in sparring matches for centuries now, and Alyse took great pride in that. Though she knew she'd never be given the opportunity, she felt confident that she could even overwhelm the new Queen, Elira Ophelle, whose combat abilities were rumored to be unmatched. So, joining the military or royal guard was always an option.
However, that didn't really interest Alyse. The Elven Kingdom was a very peaceful nation, and there would be few opportunities for her to hone or implement her skills seriously in such a position. Also, her primary loyalty was to her mother, and only by extension those her mother felt obligated to protect. She didn't want to spend her days as an ornament of the royal family.
Despite lacking a natural aptitude for the relevant subjects, she'd been studious in preparing for the more civil responsibilities of matriarch. So, she was also qualified to occupy a position as Prima. While Alyse wasn't filled with anticipation over such a role, she wasn't opposed to accepting it either.
However, doing so would drastically reduce the amount of time she spent with her mother, the only person she was close to, so she dismissed it for the foreseeable future. Then, she wondered, what was she to do with herself?
Alyse had no specific answer to the question, she just knew that she wanted to show her mother as much support as she'd been given. She was unsure what form that would take, but it seemed reasonable to her that the skills she'd been honing until then would be useful to that end. With that in mind, she merely resolved to continue throwing herself, body and soul, into her training and studies.
Thus, several more centuries passed with this simple goal driving Alyse. During this time, her interactions with the Prima and other family members soured gradually. They became more inclined to make derogatory remarks about her abandoning her obligations to the family, but they were careful to never do so in front of Evelyn. Being content with her mother's support, Alyse ignored their rude comments without incident.
When she was over seven millennia old, Evelyn became pregnant with another child. Some had wondered if she was even able to become pregnant at her age, and Evelyn had no especially public romances over the prior years, so the family was relieved at the development.
Still, a nervous anticipation gripped everyone as well – it was plausible that would be the last child Evelyn had, and they needed it to be a female high elf. Yet, the odds didn't seem in favor of that outcome.
Alyse, for her part, was especially tense. She already knew what would happen if the child born was not a suitable heir – Evelyn would insist that she could have yet another child. Having already noticed how the pressures of producing another heir were straining her mother, Alyse dreaded the possibility.
As the end of Evelyn's pregnancy neared, the speculation among the family only intensified. What would they do if another heir was not born? Would Alyse 'come to her senses' and 'do her duty'? Alyse heard such comments, which grated on her nerves for the usual reasons, but she also saw how much pressure the expectation put on her mother. That made her feel guilty and resent the Prima's comments even more.
Eventually, the day came, and Evelyn gave birth…to a high elf and baby boy – Reynard Egris. The members of the Egris house only had polite congratulations for Evelyn over the healthy birth, but the disappointment within the family was palpable.
After a brief respite, out of respect for Evelyn's recovery, the family inquired once again about the future of the Egris house. As Alyse expected, her mother just smiled wearily and reiterated that she'd have another child that could take over as heir.
Though the Prima were dismayed, they knew that what Evelyn proposed was still technically possible, and they had no better recourse without Evelyn's and Alyse's support. In the years that followed, things continued with their normal routine. However, the family's anxiety and private animosity towards Alyse was greater than before, and only grew with the passage of time.
As for Reynard, he was somewhat overlooked. Of course, Evelyn was kind to him, they spent time together, and she made sure his needs and wants were met. However, it is also fair to say that Reynard didn't receive the same devotion that Alyse had in her childhood. While others in the family never expressed that he was a disappointment, the contextual letdown of his birth led them to treat him as a largely inconsequential child.
Thankfully, this never seemed to sour the mood of young Reynard. He was a boy in perpetually high spirits, and he adored his older sister Alyse above everyone. In truth, Alyse found her little brother's affinity for her inexplicable, but she felt somewhat responsible for any neglect he suffered. Thus, she welcomed his affection and tried to dote on him in return, as her mother did when she was a child.
When he was old enough to hold a sword, Reynard began joining Alyse and Evelyn for their sparring sessions. Their training routine became a combination of teaching Reynard sword basics, then letting him watch the mother-daughter pair spar while he practiced.
Reynard had heard before that his mother and sister were both powerful warriors, but he'd never seen them spar before or heard them compared. Naturally, he assumed that his mother, having taught Alyse the sword and possessing more battle experience, would be the stronger one.
To his shock, however, Evelyn was clearly and hopelessly outmatched by her daughter when they sparred. He also saw Alyse easily dispatch over a dozen of the family guards as part of a larger-scale training session. If he could be said to adore his big sister beforehand, his behavior after he witnessed her combat prowess would best be described as outright reverence. To Reynard, Alyse became an ideal to strive towards.
Though Alyse noted her brother's peculiar obsession with her training him with a sword afterwards, she just wrote it off as boyish excitement over swordplay itself. In fact, she was happy with the arrangement – she found an unexpected joy in teaching her brother everything she'd learned and seeing him grow. With time, she began to look forward to her training sessions with Reynard as much as those with her mother.
A few years later, as her and Reynard were approaching the kitchen for a snack after their training, they'd overhead a couple of the service staff gossiping.
"…so sad for Lady Evelyn, to have her daughter go from the pride of the family to an outright failure as future matriarch-"
Alyse had become accustomed to such comments, and she merely gritted her teeth as normal. She was prepared to ignore the gossiping workers to avoid embarrassing her mother with incivility in the household. However, young Reynard became outraged on her behalf, and he was quick to make their presence known and interject his thoughts.
"Shut up! How dare you say that about big sis! You have no idea what you're talking about...she's the most amazing person in the world!"
At the time, Alyse was dumbstruck by the uncharacteristically hostile outburst from her little brother, and at the same time, she was surprised to find that his actions nearly brought her to tears.
The comment from the servants hadn't particularly wounded her, and she knew Reynard's inflated opinion of her was the consequence of his childish frame of reference. Plus, she doubted that he truly understood why she was being called a failure. Despite all that, she was deeply moved by how staunchly he defended her. Even her mother never did so with such brazen admonishment.
Following that event, what started as a maternal obligation borne of Alyse's guilt became genuine fondness for Reynard. For the first time, there was someone other than her mother whose expectations she genuinely wanted to live up to. Alyse's happiest days were soon those that revolved around her little brother – that was when she felt the safest and most accepted. In the years that followed, Evelyn noticed the change in the siblings' dynamic, and she derived a quiet relief from knowing that both had the other for support.
Reynard continued training with his mother and sister as he matured, but he eventually became aware of a critical difference between them that no amount of training could fix – magic affinity. Evelyn and Alyse could use physical enhancement, but due to his age and station, Reynard hadn't even been tested for magic affinity yet.
After making that realization, Reynard became adamant about getting tested. Evelyn and Alyse were surprised by his sudden insistence, but since Alyse had been tested at an even younger age, they relented. They expressed words of caution that an affinity might not present at his age, but they scheduled a private magic assessment for him.
As it happened, Reynard – age ten – did exhibit a magic affinity. Surprisingly, however, he had a dark class affinity, not the alteration class that was common for the Egris family. Such a magic class deviation was not inherently shameful within the Egris family, but Reynard was deeply upset by the news that he'd be unable to mimic his sister's combat style.
Alyse, to her credit, was quick to reassure Reynard that a dark class affinity could be useful for combat in its own way. He didn't seem convinced at first, but once she mentioned rare invisibility and lightning spells, his spirits were immediately lifted.
Thereafter, Reynard spent a significant portion of his days buried in the family library with Alyse, searching for dark class spells to try out. Invisibility, lightning, alchemy, item box, sound manipulation, temperature manipulation...they exhausted all the dark class spells recorded in the Egris family library. Alyse even arranged periodic visits to the grand library at the Elven Magic Academy.
Unfortunately, Reynard didn't exhibit an affinity for any of the dark class spells they found.
Though he tried to pretend otherwise, Alyse could tell that the repeated disappointment, and the years spent effectively magic-less, were taking a toll on Reynard's spirit. Hoping to remedy the situation, Alyse successfully petitioned the Royal Palace for access to their comprehensive library of dark spells. If a rare dark class spell they hadn't yet seen was known to elves, they could find it there.
Reynard – then age 13 – was ecstatic about the opportunity to visit the palace with his sister, and the possibility of finally learning magic. Alas, after several more months combing through the royal family's unique collections, they returned home empty-handed. He had a dark class affinity, and by extension an ability to use some spells, but those spells seemed unknown to elves. Reynard was effectively magic-less.
Following their fruitless trip, Alyse watched her little brother fall into an uncharacteristic well of sadness. Over the next year, the smiles and warm company she'd come to expect from Reynard faded, and his enthusiasm in their sword training slowly drained away. Alyse could hardly bear the sight of it.
It did not help matters that the news of Reynard's definitive lack of practical magic spread through the family around that time. One day, Alyse once again overheard gossip from some of the family servants while wandering the house alone in thought. This time, she wasn't the only subject of derision.
"…a negligent heir, now a child that's useless with magic. Tragic for the Egris family name…"
Alyse's vision had nearly blackened with rage at the comment. She could handle them looking down on her. She may not be able to help the fact that she had no desire for men, but she figured that she at least made a choice to abandon her succession to the matriarchy.
Reynard, on the other hand, was truly innocent in her eyes. He had absolutely no control over his situation. In fact, she'd thought, it was fair to say that the elves had failed him, and not the other way around. After all, he had a dark class affinity and plenty of magic power, the elves merely lacked the tools to let him utilize it. That's how Alyse saw it.
She knew that if Reynard heard these kinds of comments going forward, as she'd been hearing them for centuries, her sweet little brother may very well break. No matter what, she was determined to make sure that never happened.
With these thoughts on her mind, Alyse had approached the servants responsible for the rude comment in a haze of fury. They'd seen her approach and quickly become fearful, no doubt noticing her anger and assuming that she'd overheard them talking about her. However, Alyse had merely glared at them coldly and spoke in a similarly icy tone.
"Gossip about me all you want, but if Reynard ever overhears a comment like that about him from any of you...I'll kill the person responsible. This is your only warning, let the others know."
The servants in question had gone pale, and immediately squeaked their assent to Alyse before running off. Violence between elves was virtually unheard of, but one look at Alyse's face and they knew she meant what she said. They also knew that, regardless of what others said about her failure as an heir, there wasn't anyone in the entire city that could stop her from killing them if she really put her mind to it.
While the present day Mizuki would have found it hard to believe based on Alyse's behavior around him, she'd remained exceedingly pleasant with everyone up to this point. Sure, there were a couple of crass comments to the Prima when they'd pushed her to far, but she'd always strived to be polite for her mother's sake. This was the first time she'd let her cool exterior be corroded so thoroughly.
While Alyse could be rightfully called apathetic about most other elves, and slow to form attachments, she was fiercely loyal to those that she did love. Her mother, and now her little brother – she'd do anything within her power for them. She didn't care about the consequences for herself.
That's why, following Reynard's descent into despair and her encounter with the gossiping servants, Alyse made up her mind to do what she could to remedy his situation. If Reynard couldn't use spells of his own, she'd make up the difference with enchanted gear.
Unfortunately, while elven craftsmen are quite skilled otherwise, alteration classes are rare, and enchanting affinities rarer still, within the elf population. In fact, there was only one elf alive at the time that could craft enchanted items, and they were in direct service to the royal family. Unless it was for a critical project for public good, like drinking water systems or bathhouses, not even nobles could solicit enchanted items. Similarly, the kingdom had no international trade.
Consequently, the enchanted items that did exist within elven country were either existing heirlooms, royal treasures, or personally obtained from outside the kingdom at great risk and expense. Alyse couldn't just buy them on a whim. Of course, such items could be bought throughout the human countries for the right price, but even Alyse was hesitant to venture into such dangerous territory alone. This was before Elmesia existed.
That only left the dwarves, who had the highest prevalence of enchantment affinities of any race. They were rumored to live in small mountain settlements throughout Gelrod's Pass, but their exact locations weren't generally known. Still, that challenge didn't deter Alyse.
After a few months of preparation to secretly acquire her mother's blessing, the necessary money and materials, and a volunteer with the non-alteration class spell affinities that she needed for enchantment, she set out for Gelrod's Pass. After several more months of searching, she finally located her first dwarven village.
She found that the dwarves – whom she'd never met before – were surprisingly welcoming. However, they were also unexpectedly resistant to her request for custom enchanted gear. This was because many of them had the prideful belief that enchantments were a 'crutch' of sorts in creating quality weapons, but also because of an even more widespread obsession that items only be forged by the craftsman's own inspiration.
Fortunately, one of the less archaic blacksmiths in the fourth village she found, a dwarf named Hal'vez, was open to discussing Alyse's request. When she described the kind of gear and weapons she wanted, and their general capabilities, Hal'vez merely nodded along politely. After her explanation, when Alyse asked him if he'd accept the job, the old dwarf just shrugged.
"Tis' hard for me to say. That doesn't depend on y'er kind of items or their capabilities. My inspiration lies in the meaning behind the weapon. I cannot forge these items, pour m'eh very soul into them, without a clarity of purpose for them in mind. I ask yah...what destiny will these creations of mine have? That is what I need to know to answer y'er question." (Hal'vez)
Alyse had been taken aback by the odd question. She assumed the purposes of armor and weapons were clear. She wondered, would he only craft gear that he assumed would be used for some noble pursuit or grand adventure? Alyse doubted that saying it was to cheer up a little elven boy would qualify. Should she lie or embellish what they'd be used for, she'd wondered?
She had always been inclined to very direct interactions with people. She wasn't a schemer or a skilled manipulator, nor did she enjoy dishonesty. However, she wasn't above lying for her brother's sake.
Still, while she had no skill at manipulating people, per se, she was quite good at judging them, and her instincts told her that honesty was the way forward with Hal'vez. So, Alyse explained the reasons for her journey, and her brother's situation, in its plain truth. Hal'vez didn't give anything away as she did so, he just listened stoically.
"So, you see, I just want my little brother to believe that, in some way, his goals are within reach. I don't want him to feel...to feel like he's worthless. Like he's missing something the rest of us have that holds him back. I can't tell you what he'll use your items for specifically, but I doubt that it's some grand destiny. Still, while it may not seem like much to you…it's everything to him. I'm begging you…please…will you help me?" (Alyse)
Alyse had steeled herself for rejection as she finished her plea, hardly able to look Hal'vez in the eyes as she held back tears. Her requests to the other dwarfs had fallen on seemingly deaf ears, much to her frustration. Somehow, this plea to Hal'vez seemed like her last chance, and it was all she could manage to keep her voice from breaking while she'd spoken.
More than anything, she wanted to dispel for her brother the feelings of being a misfit, a failure, that had tainted her own life the past millennia. If Hal'vez turned her down...she couldn't bear to face her brother until she found another solution.
When she raised her head to meet Hal'vez's gaze, however, she only saw a warm smile from him. He nodded proudly as he responded.
"Aye, I'd be honored. He doesn't need to slay dragons or rescue princesses with m'eh creations. If y'er saying he'll pour his very soul into using them, to rely on them while he gives his life purpose, then they could have no greater destiny in m'eh eyes. I'll forge y'er brother the finest weapons and armor I can manage." (Hal'vez)
Hearing his response, she'd first been speechless, then despite herself, she'd sobbed dryly with immense relief as she stuttered out her thanks. Hal'vez had just waited patiently, reassuringly patting her on the shoulder. Eventually, she pulled herself together, and they discussed item specifics.
Alyse stayed in the village while Hal'vez crafted the items she requested. It was grueling work for him, with several failed iterations. Alyse commonly had to venture outside the village to collect special materials. After several months, though, the requested items were finally finished.
With heartfelt thanks and a sincere goodbye to Hal'vez, Alyse finally made her way home to her brother after almost a year. Unbeknownst to Alyse, life had become harder for him in her absence.
Reynard was then 15, nearly a young man. So, though Alyse's threats to staff had kept him from ever hearing negative comments about his situation from those around him, their general sentiments and pitying stares were not lost on him either. During their time apart, without Alyse there to act as a voice of encouragement, Reynard had grown progressively more despondent over his situation. Of course, his mother was generally supportive, but due to her pressures as matriarch, she wasn't as involved in his life as Alyse had been.
When Alyse finally returned, he expressed both relief over seeing his big sister again, and anger over her mysterious departure. Since she didn't want to worry him or get his hopes up if she failed, she hadn't told Reynard where she was going or why, just that she'd return from an important trip within a year. Consequently, Alyse was both elated and guilt-stricken upon reuniting with a jaded Reynard.
She apologized sincerely and finally explained the reason for her absence. She revealed the items she'd obtained for him – armor with physical enhancement and minor healing enchantments, which could be adjusted to fit his body as it finished maturing, and a short sword with enchantments for ice, fire, and physical enhancement. Within the Elven Kingdom, they would easily be considered royal treasures.
Once he processed what was happening, Reynard had taken the gifts in trembling hands, and met Alyse's gaze with disbelief in his eyes and tears streaming down his face. It wasn't just the generosity of the gifts themselves that overwhelmed Reynard, it was the underlying message that his sister believed so vehemently that he was worthy of them. The past year of his life had seemed devoid of such sentiments from others.
He didn't want to admit it to Alyse, who he admired more than anyone, but he was on the verge of giving up on the sword when she'd returned. He'd just felt like, no matter how hard he trained or refined his technique, he'd never be consequential as a warrior without practical magic.
However, seeing his older sister again, and feeling the encouragement of her gifts, Reynard felt a new resolve take hold in his mind. If Alyse believed in him enough to spend a year of her life outside the safety of the kingdom, supporting him like this, then he must be worth something. Without ever speaking it out loud, he made a vow then that he'd give everything he had to proving her correct.
Over the next several years, as the siblings returned to their normal routines together, Alyse noticed an unprecedented vigor and deliberateness in Reynard's daily actions. This was especially true in his combat training.
More than ever before, her little brother brimmed with the joy for life she'd always admired in him. Feeling that it was in some way attributable to the enchanted gear she'd procured for him, she felt a deep satisfaction that no amount of disdain from the rest of the family could erode. Both siblings were once again truly happy in their lives, which Evelyn quietly observed with a warm, motherly pride.
In the following decades, as Reynard became a full-fledged adult, his skill with a sword grew to heights that surprised even Alyse. Reynard still couldn't win an unrestricted sparring match against his sister, but that did not discourage him, since he saw Alyse as the pinnacle of combat prowess. However, Alyse had come to the realization that, in a 'pure' sword fight without spells of any kind, Reynard would easily beat her.
Though Reynard himself didn't take much solace in this fact, Alyse had the utmost respect for it. First, because her brother was the only person who, even in terms of pure sword technique, surpassed her. Second, because while he was certainly more naturally talented with a sword than most elves, it wasn't to the degree that Alyse was blessed. He'd overcome that talent gap through a rare level of discipline, effort, and attention to detail.
Before Reynard was through the first half-century of his life, Alyse found that she was learning from him in their sparring matches. Her combat abilities were improving noticeably for the first time in centuries. By contrast, however, Reynard came to the realization after a couple more centuries that his own skills were no longer improving, and he still couldn't truly challenge his sister.
Once upon a time, that would have made him despair about his worth. But, ever since the day his sister returned from her journey to the dwarven villages, he'd dispelled such intrusive thoughts. If he'd perfected his existing techniques and stopped narrowing the gap between them, he figured he just needed to find new skills and techniques to perfect until he closed that gap.
Alyse was the pinnacle of the sword styles around Wellick, so Reynard knew that if he wanted to improve any further with the sword, he'd have to journey from home. He had no concerns about the rest of his family, who he knew would consider his departure no great loss, but he worried about leaving his sister.
When Alyse heard of her brother's plans and reasoning, she was first shocked, then apprehensive. Her apprehension was not borne of a concern about her brother's safety or well-being. Rather, in a way she hadn't realized until then, she depended on Reynard. Since he was born, maybe even more so than her own mother, he was the source of her feelings of happiness and belonging. She knew her days ahead would be darker without him.
Alas, she knew she couldn't ask him to stay. More than she cherished her brother's company, she wanted him to find the sense of accomplishment and self-worth that she felt he deserved. If pursuing the sword abroad was what he needed for that, he'd only have her support.
While Alyse would have happily joined him on his journey, she also felt lingering responsibilities to her mother. Evelyn had just passed her eighth millennium of life and had yet to produce another suitable heir, and Alyse couldn't leave her mother alone to deal with a burden that she felt she'd placed on her mother's shoulders. Reynard knew his sister's feelings on the matter as well, and so he never solicited Alyse to accompany him.
Thus, it was with heavy hearts that the siblings parted ways. At first, Reynard would visit Alyse every few years, but those times apart widened considerably as his travels grew more exotic.
Following Reynard's initial departure, Alyse's life was relatively enjoyable at first, but grew less so as time went on. In part, she felt loneliness without her brother's company. She still had her mother, but Evelyn had less time for her daughter as her age advanced without a proper heir and pressures from the family increased. This also weighed on Alyse in the form of guilt, and it made her hesitant to ask much of her mother.
Additionally, Alyse – now almost three millennia old – had become increasingly bothered by her lack of a long-term romantic partner. While this was expected to some degree, since high elves normally take regular elves with shorter lifespans as partners, Alyse had an especially difficult limitation.
While it wasn't uncommon for her to meet female elves that reciprocated her romantic interests, she'd never found any that could be in a lifelong monogamous relationship with her. The desire by them and/or their families for them to have children was just too prevalent. Consequently, her relationships were always transitory in nature, never lasting more than a decade.
It was for all these reasons that, as the centuries passed without Reynard, Alyse's mood soured gradually. It didn't help that the other prominent members of the family and the Prima became increasingly antagonistic towards her as her mother approached 9,000 years old without conceiving another child.
As they became increasingly frantic about the family succession, they were more insistent with Evelyn and Alyse that an alternative strategy be decided upon in case Evelyn failed to produce another heir. To their dismay, however, such discussions never seemed to go anywhere when they were brought up.
When it was suggested that an heir could be produced by Reynard while Alyse acted as interim matriarch, the traditional Egris family bemoaned about the importance of a continuous bloodline and the likelihood of Reynard's children being 'weak like him'.
When it was suggested that a closely related bloodline could take over, with or without Alyse as interim matriarch, they were quick to decline on the basis that the family's customs dictate that the matriarch must be a high elf. Since there were no high elves among the closely related bloodlines, they posited, such a shift in family lineage could not be accommodated.
Truthfully, Alyse felt that all the Prima really wanted was to browbeat her and her mother into a specific alternative solution. She imagined that to be a promise from Alyse that, if another heir wasn't born, she'd become matriarch and force men on herself for however long it took for her to produce an heir. However, they didn't outright suggest that at first, but rather waited for the suggestion to come from Evelyn or Alyse.
When neither Alyse nor her mother did so after several decades worth of such discussions, the Prima became emboldened or desperate enough to plainly propose exactly what Alyse had suspected. They asserted that, after so many years without a viable alternative, Alyse had to acknowledge that it was the only acceptable decision.
Alyse, enraged by their callous remarks but striving to remain civil for her mother, reiterated that such a thing was the very definition of unacceptable, or at least no more acceptable than the alternatives the Prima had rejected. Thus, these discussions devolved into reruns of the original meeting in which Evelyn proposed that she'd give birth to another heir.
This trend continued for quite some time. Every few years, when such discussions took place again, the same arguments surrounding Alyse producing an heir were repeated with increasing fervor. To her credit, Alyse remained quite civil despite the rising hostility and stubbornness from her extended family. However, that's not to say that her patience was endless.
At first, Evelyn would vehemently support her daughter in these debates, and the Prima's rudeness was kept in check. Unfortunately, Evelyn's forcefulness against the Prima waned with the passing decades, until she was practically a silent observer throughout such meetings. Then, the Prima felt justified in expressing open condemnation towards Alyse.
Alyse knew that her mother didn't agree with the Prima, it was just that after over two millennia in this predicament, stretching into the last millennium of her life, Evelyn had little fight left in her. Still, her mother's silence pained Alyse all the same, as did the obvious toll the meetings took on her mother.
Little by little, Alyse's veil of civility was thinned by the Prima's ever-worsening harassment. 'How can you be so selfish?', they'd ask. 'You should be ashamed over abandoning your duty', they'd say. 'You need to follow your mother's example and sacrifice for the sake of the family!', they'd insist.
One day, after a particularly frustrating meeting, four of the Prima had cornered Alyse to speak to her privately about the matter. Ultimately, it was just an opportunity to berate Alyse with their unrestrained hostility without bothering Evelyn. Despite that, Alyse nearly persevered without incident, until one Prima's comment made her snap.
"You're such a colossal disappointment, an unprecedented burden on your sweet mother. Can you not see what you're doing to her? The stress of your selfishness will inevitably send her to an early grave. Can you live with her death on your shoulders?"
Alyse nearly murdered the man then and there. The only reason she didn't was the crippling guilt she felt as the comment exploited her deepest insecurities. Nevertheless, her gaze and voice turned cold as ice, and any motivation she had left to be respectful towards them evaporated forever.
"All this talk about self-sacrifice and the greater good of the family…it's easy when it's just words. But, you're not the ones sacrificing, you hypocritical assholes. Until you are, quit suggesting that I let men fuck me against my will, or else I'm going to give you the same treatment with my sword." (Alyse)
The effect on the Prima was jarring. All of them were stunned speechless by her sudden hostility. As her words sank in, a couple of them seemed to realize how they'd erred, and fear and uncertainty crept into their expressions. However, the other two just looked angry, and made their resentment known.
"So, you're finally showing your true colors. Threatening violence, and your crass attitude, it just shows that you don't care about other elves, your family, or your people at all." (Prima 1)
"You're as impudent as you are entitled. We'd all sacrifice for the good of the family if we could, but you're the only one in a position to remedy this issue and you know it. You're just using our relative distance from the situation as an excuse to justify your selfishness." (Prima 2)
Alyse merely snorted at the two Prima that responded, both of whom where men, but there wasn't a trace of amusement in her expression.
"You're all so full of shit, but fine, I'll make you a deal. I'll take over as matriarch, and I'll take as many men into my bed as I need to until I produce an heir…on one condition. Every single time I have to hold back the bile in my throat as I force myself to do so, I want you two to fuck one another. Prove to me that you're as committed to the family as you claim. That I'm not bearing this burden alone for the sake of a bunch of bigoted hypocrites. Do that, and you'll get what you've been asking for." (Alyse)
The Prima's faces had twisted in disgust and horror, and they stuttered in shock at her suggestion. It was several moments before one of them could form a comprehensible response.
"Y-you…can't be serious? That's completely unreasonable!"
Alyse kept her menacing gaze directed at them, unwavering.
"I'm completely serious. Take turns fucking each other, before each of my nights with a man, and I give you my word I'll hold up my end of the deal. Now, I agree that such a request is completely unreasonable, of course. Yet, you're making the exact same one. You're asking me to submit to similar intimacy with a man, even though the thought turns my stomach. Can either of you give me a valid reason why my request is more unreasonable than yours?" (Alyse)
Though their eyes were full of resentment and dissent, neither of the Prima spoke up. Alyse just watched them with disdain for several moments as they avoided her gaze.
"Tch…figured as much. In that case, we're done here, and don't even think about suggesting this to me again until you're literally willing to put your asses on the line." (Alyse)
With that, Alyse had turned on her heels and departed without a second thought, leaving the Prima in a stupor. In the decades that followed, the first few meetings continued as before, but with those four Prima who'd confronted her remaining unusually quiet. However, Alyse no longer maintained her façade of respect towards the Prima.
As soon as someone suggested gritting her teeth through the necessities of producing an heir, she'd make them the same deal, offer them some choice expletives when they refused, then leave. After a couple of discussions like that, the Prima stopped making such suggestions, and the meetings' frequency slowly declined.
It was in this time that Alyse's dynamic with her extended family transitioned into the state it remains today. Ultimately, the Prima's children and successors were passively trained to share their hostility towards and disdain for Alyse, as those Prima had learned to a lesser extent from their own parents. Of course, it did not help that she no longer invested any effort in earning their favor – she was tired of it.
As for her relationship with her mother, Evelyn was dismayed by the further breakdown in civility within the family. However, she did not condemn her daughter, nor did she love her any less. She just apologized to Alyse for not doing more to support her. Yet, that somehow broke Alyse's heart more than if her mother had yelled at her and labeled her a failure and burden.
As the dynamic within the Egris family became increasingly tense, unexpected news pushed their prior disagreements to the back of everyone's mind – at almost 9,300 years old, Evelyn was pregnant. From that time until her delivery, there was an unspoken truce among the family that all hostile attitudes were to be set aside for the sake of Evelyn, the pregnancy, and the family's future.
Though nobody dared voice the fact, they all knew that this was going to be Evelyn's last pregnancy. They'd never expected it to happen in the first place. If the child born was a high elf daughter, all their problems would be solved almost miraculously. But, if it was not, the conflict within the family threatened to enter its final and most hostile stages.
At last, the day of reckoning came, and Evelyn gave birth. Of course, the child was a female high elf – Cara Egris, the current matriarch of the Egris house, and the last hope for the family's future. The immense and understandable relief of the family was marred by only one thing – Cara's features.
Her amber eyes and red hair, detectable even at birth, are virtually unheard of in the elven community. Many interpreted them as a bad omen. They worried that she'd be sickly, destined to die along with the Egris house. However, their worries proved unfounded as Cara developed into a healthy young girl.
While those first few years of Cara's life were characterized by a sort of hesitant relief among the family members, the mood became one of outright excitement as it became clear that she was an otherwise normal child. Evelyn, for her part, smiled almost constantly by this point.
Though she'd never wanted to burden Alyse with it, Evelyn placed the blame for all the animosity within the family firmly on her own shoulders. She couldn't help but imagine how things would be different if she'd just taken her daughter's nature more seriously when Alyse first expressed a disinterest in men. Moreover, she felt her own sense of guilt over Reynard, and how Alyse had largely taken responsibility for his well-being.
With Cara's birth and affirmed health, however, Evelyn finally felt like she'd rectified what she viewed as her mistakes. She thought that Alyse would finally be free of the burdens that her shortcomings as a mother had placed on her daughter, and that brought her no small amount of relief.
The mother's and daughter's difference of opinion on who was to blame for the situation was finally laid bare when Evelyn called Alyse to her room one day for a private meeting. The discussion started with Evelyn inquiring about her daughter's happiness in the years since Cara had been born, and Alyse had taken the opportunity to express her immense gratitude to her mother, as well as her guilt over how much of a burden she'd been.
When Evelyn expressed shock and reciprocal guilt over Alyse's characterization of herself, it became clear to both mother and daughter that each had been carrying guilt over the other's struggles for centuries to millennia. Naturally, this realization first sparked alarm and greater remorse on both sides, but further discussion brought a kind of dark amusement over the irony of their situations.
The conversation eventually turned to reminiscing over the millennia they'd spent together, their favorite memories, and sentiments they wished they'd expressed to one another at times past. This carried on for hours, late into the night, and it ended with the two being closer than ever. They'd resolved to make the most of the centuries they had left together, and to be more forthcoming with one another.
Regarding the young hope of the family, a then 3 years old Cara Egris, Alyse felt an intense debt to her little sister after her and her mother's heart-to-heart. She thought Cara had reinvigorated her bond with her mother and saved her from the seemingly endless harassment of the other family members. Consequently, she decided that she'd do whatever she could to aid and protect her little sister.
Alyse's concerns about her sister's well-being were triggered early, as she watched how much attention the Prima paid her. They seemed incredibly invested in ensuring that Cara would develop into a perfect successor. This attention from the Prima primarily took the form of praising Cara and talking about her responsibilities and potential. Alyse did not see an intrinsic issue with this, so long as they didn't overburden Cara with expectations.
However, Alyse was bothered by the fact that the Prima seemed inclined to undermine her own relationship with Cara, as an attempt to avoid her 'negative influence' on her sister. Naturally, this only increased tensions between Alyse and her extended family.
After Cara's birth, Alyse and the Prima had settled into a terse, but unaggressive dynamic. Neither openly harassed the other, but any façades of respect or attempts at politeness were gone after centuries of open hostility. If the Prima tried to ask Alyse for even the smallest personal favor or concession, she'd dismiss them.
In turn, the Prima only continued to disparage her as they had before, just less openly and without the degree of hostility they'd had before Evelyn's pregnancy with Cara. Especially when she wasn't around, they referred to her as they had before – 'selfish', 'unreasonable', 'rude', 'crass', 'irrationally hostile'. The only difference was that these negative characterizations weren't explicitly in reference to her unwillingness to take male lovers.
As for Cara, raised in the middle of these tensions, she had a strange disposition for a child. She was neither high-spirited like Reynard, nor sullen – she was unnaturally calm. Similarly, she never formed a strong preference for anyone in the family, not her mother, nor Alyse, nor an extended family member.
In addition, even from a young age she had a degree of cleverness and observance that some might find unnerving in a child. Fortunately, the Prima only took this as further proof of her suitability as heir, and they praised her even more for it.
And so, the Prima and her other extended family constantly praised Cara and expressed their expectations for her as future matriarch over the first couple decades of her life. When an early magic assessment revealed her alteration class and ample power level, this only intensified. And, as she developed into an exotically beautiful young woman, their discussion of her romantic prospects became entangled in their praise.
On the other hand, Alyse concerned herself with Cara's sword training, and with acting as her bodyguard everywhere she went. Furthermore, she routinely asked Cara if there was anything she needed, if she was happy, and if she had concerns about anything the Prima and other extended family were expecting of her. To Alyse's surprise, the only thing that ever seemed to bother her little sister through the years was people's obsession with Cara's appearance.
Meanwhile, Cara was also given a front row seat to the dynamic between Alyse and the Prima and other extended family. From her perspective, at least in her presence, the Prima obviously disliked Alyse but maintained some semblance of politeness towards her. In contrast, Alyse was rude, standoffish, and would hurl obscenities or crass remarks at them at the slightest provocation.
When Cara finally inquired of Alyse what the source of the friction between them was, Alyse claimed it was because they condemned that she only loved women. When Cara posed the same question to the Prima and other extended family, they claimed that as long as they'd known her, she'd been selfish, crass, and unreasonable towards them in family meetings. Of course, they didn't elaborate.
Still, looking back at her short life of observing their interactions, Cara found the Prima's criticism much more consistent with her observations than Alyse's assertion. She could imagine and understand the Prima being frustrated if Alyse vehemently refused to produce an heir. But, she genuinely saw no reason to believe that it would be the sole reason for the Prima's lingering resentment towards her. By contrast, Alyse's attitude certainly warranted their resentment.
Years later, when the tension between Alyse and the Prima derailed a meeting to Cara's significant frustration, she voiced this assessment to Alyse in private after the fact. Cara merely hoped to convince Alyse to at least feign politeness in the future so that important meetings weren't perturbed.
Alyse, however, was flabbergasted by what she viewed as Cara's criticism and an implicit denial of the harassment she'd suffered at the hands of the Prima over her sexual preferences. Though Alyse knew that her and her sister weren't close, she at least considered them supportive of one another. So, the exchange hurt Alyse more deeply than Cara could have expected. Still, remembering her internal promise to repay her perceived debt to Cara, Alyse had merely gritted her teeth and offered to be more polite in the future.
Alyse discussed the matter with her mother later, explaining how hurt she was that the normally perceptive Cara seemed somehow blind to the Prima's prejudice against her. Evelyn had merely smiled sympathetically and nodded.
Her mother pointed out that Cara was still young, and her intelligence made her resistant to taking anyone's assertions at face value. So naturally, Alyse's little sister fixated on the barely contained hostility that she'd personally observed Alyse directing at the Prima, instead of the more telling discussions that took place before she was born. Though it didn't erase the sting of her little sister's earlier admonishment, her mother's perspective helped convince Alyse to make a better effort at politeness for Cara's sake.
However, while Alyse had once upon a time been adept at maintaining a cordial façade with those she resented, she found it harder after discarding such pretenses so long ago. Still, she genuinely tried to stifle her hostility towards the Prima and others outside the family when accompanying Cara to meetings.
Over the next several centuries, the Egris family settled into a relatively peaceful routine. Cara slowly took on more responsibility in Evelyn's stead, until she was the head of the family in all but name. Alyse stayed by Cara's side as her protector and advisor, doing her best to not let the chip on her shoulder cause problems for her little sister.
Reynard would occasionally visit, much to Alyse's delight. He'd regale them with stories of his travels, and engage Alyse in a few sparring matches, before eventually departing on another adventure. Though he still had yet to beat Alyse, she was always amazed with his growth during these visits. She learned from their sparring as well, sometimes reflecting for months after his departure on the new sword techniques he'd demonstrated in their matches.
Evelyn gradually gained more free time to spend with her children and on her hobbies as Cara took over more of her responsibilities as matriarch, and Alyse delighted in making up for lost time with her mother. In these years, Evelyn became for Alyse what she'd lost when Reynard first departed on his adventures – her sole, cherished source of support and true happiness in the Egris household. They were more inseparable than they'd ever been.
Though this time of virtual bliss for the family was well-deserved after millennia of strife and hardship, all things are sadly destined to end. For Alyse, the beginning of this end was marked by an unexpected visit from her mother. Evelyn had dropped by her room without warning while Alyse was reading a book on swordsmanship that Reynard had gifted her from his travels.
This was not anomalous by itself, as Evelyn had sought out her company on a whim more frequently as her matriarchal obligations decreased. However, Alyse noticed a sort of forced smile on her mother's face, and her concern only grew when Evelyn crossed the room without a word, sat on Alyse's bed next to her, and pulled her in for a hug.
After her initial shock subsided, Alyse managed to voice her apprehension.
"Mother…what is it? I'm happy to see you, but you're acting strangely. Is everything okay?" (Alyse)
After another moment, her mother pulled away from the hug and Alyse saw a sadness in Evelyn's eyes that set her teeth on edge.
"I'm so sorry dear…I just…wanted you to be the first to know." (Evelyn)
Confusion overtook Alyse's expression as her apprehension rose, and she stared at her mother questioningly. Evelyn merely nodded apologetically, then pulled her hair away from her face, as though waiting for Alyse to notice something. Eventually, something had caught Alyse's eye, and it felt like an iron grip was placed around her heart.
Alyse covered her mouth in horror as she lifted an unsteady hand to touch the almost imperceptibly thin strip of white buried within her mother's otherwise dirty-blonde hair. As she'd met her mother's gaze once again, tears forming in her eyes, a despairing whisper had escaped her.
"The Shift…" (Alyse)
A tumultuous event marking the end of a high elf's life. When they are born, high elves reach maturity in roughly two decades before their aging slows drastically – over 500 years of life for every year of human-like aging thereafter. Even for a high elf of over nine millennia like Evelyn, they retain their vitality, strength, and youth, resembling a very healthy human in their mid-30s.
However, after around ten millennia of life, give or take a few centuries, high elves will begin rapidly aging – this is known as the Shift. It's first noticeable by whitening of the hair, then by physical deterioration. In the span of just a few years post-Shift, a high elf will transition from appearing mid-30s and full of vigor, to resembling a frail human in their 80s. Then, they pass away.
Alyse had realized that her beloved mother, not quite age 9,700, only had a few short years left to live. As the reality of that sank in, Alyse was unable to hold back the tears welling up in her eyes, and she began to sob uncontrollably.
They'd only had a few short centuries of this blissful time together, and now her mother was going to be taken from her. 'It's so unfair', she'd thought. In truth, Evelyn was on the young end of the spectrum for experiencing the Shift, so it wasn't unreasonable for Alyse to feel like they'd been robbed of precious remaining centuries together. Still, that was their fate, nonetheless.
Evelyn, fighting back tears of her own, merely pulled her daughter back into her embrace and let their tears fall in silence as they held one another. After several moments, Evelyn gently stroked her daughter's hair as she tried to reassure her.
"I know this is hard, dear, but it's better to think of this as a reminder to cherish the time we still have left, not as a harbinger of doom. On that note, and if you don't mind, I'd like to wait a short while before telling the others. I don't want to waste my remaining vigor on meetings with a room full of frantic Prima. I want to spend that time enjoying my health with my beloved daughter." (Evelyn)
As Alyse tried in vain to dry her tears following her mother's comment, she inevitably just nodded her acknowledgement. In return, Evelyn thanked her quietly with a smile on her face. Alyse asked for one exception – to be able to go ahead and send word for Reynard to return home – and Evelyn relented.
In the weeks that followed, Evelyn and Alyse spent almost all their spare time sparring, enjoying picnics by the river, and visiting their favorite destinations like Avalon. After that, Evelyn informed Cara of her condition, and made sure to spend quality time with her as well.
Once Evelyn's strength started to leave her, and her condition couldn't be hidden much longer, she finally notified the Prima and her extended family of the situation. As she'd expected, while they were primarily sympathetic, she was also inundated with all kinds of concerns and requests related to Cara taking over as matriarch. Seeing this, Alyse had been thankful for the time her mother had arranged to spend with her.
As the months marched on, and Evelyn's condition worsened, Alyse only cherished their dwindling time together more. While they could no longer spar effectively or do other excessively strenuous tasks, the mother and daughter greatly enjoyed other activities. This included things like baking together, or savoring a cup of tea on the porch as they reminisced and watched the sunset.
Eventually, Reynard made it back to the family house, and Evelyn was once again united with all her living children. With the family whole once again, Cara was officially instated as family matriarch, and preparations were made for Evelyn's Closing. A Closing is a sort of last birthday and preemptive funeral, customary for high elves that have experienced the Shift.
Evelyn's Closing ended up being a grand event, with all her children, extended family, other Prima, and even most nobles attending. Everyone, even Alyse and the Prima, put aside their differences for the sake of a peaceful farewell party for Evelyn. The group ate and drank, laughed, and celebrated Evelyn's full life well into the morning.
Several months after the Closing, when any extended family, Prima, and other nobles had departed, Evelyn called for a meeting with all her children. Her health had steadily declined to the point of being bedridden, and she felt she would probably breathe her last breath sometime in the coming weeks. She wanted a chance to say goodbye to her children with dignity and a sound mind.
Evelyn shared her regrets, her cherished memories, her hopes for the future she wouldn't see, and she did her best to prepare her children for life without her. The affair was an emotional one, even for the normally stoic Cara, and there were tears shed on both sides. After Evelyn had said all she needed to her children as a whole, and they'd done so in return, she asked to speak to Alyse alone.
Surprised, but recognizing that the two had always had a special relationship, Reynard and Cara left Alyse to speak with her mother in private. Once they were alone, Alyse merely gazed at her mother in loving silence as she collected her thoughts. It was several minutes before Evelyn, now weathered and aged, spoke softly.
"Alyse…sweetheart…I have a favor to ask of you. One for after I'm gone." (Evelyn)
Though the words 'after I'm gone' tore fresh wounds in Alyse's heart, she didn't hesitate as she grabbed her mother's hand softly, nodded, and met Evelyn's warm gaze with a smile.
"Anything…I'd do anything for you, Mother." (Alyse)
Her mother smiled gratefully, and the sight threatened to bring a fresh round of tears forth from Alyse.
"You've always been such a good daughter to me...I hope I've told you that enough. I know you felt like you were a burden on me for a time, but I want you to know that I never...I never felt that way. Please, believe me when I tell you that you shouldn't have any regrets over our time together." (Evelyn)
Despite her best efforts, Alyse could feel her cheeks beginning to wet.
"I…thank you, Mother. I believe you, so you can rest easy now. I promise that I'll never look back on a single moment I spent as your daughter with regret. You were…you are…the best mother I could have asked for. Please, ask me whatever favor you want." (Alyse)
Alyse couldn't stop the tears from streaming off her face, but she maintained her genuine smile and held her mother's gaze. Evelyn sighed and squeezed her daughter's hand affectionately.
"Tch…Alyse. I watched how hard you worked yourself all those years, and I didn't realize soon enough what was driving you. You've always tried to do your best for me, and you still are, even now. But, that's exactly what I'm worried about, sweetheart. I can't help but feel like, when I'm gone, you'll give up on being happy. I'm glad you love me so much, truly, but I don't want to be the only thing you live for." (Evelyn)
Alyse felt a pang of despair at the truth of her mother's words...she'd worried about the loneliness looming on the horizon, waiting for her to meet it. Still, she felt it would be unfair to burden her mother with that knowledge here at the end of her life. It wasn't her mother's fault she found herself in this position.
"I won't deny that I'm past appreciating the others in our family, but I'll still have Reynard and Cara to keep me company. Besides, I want to settle down with a nice girl someday, so I haven't given up on being happy. You don't have to worry, I'll be okay." (Alyse)
A disapproving frown stretched across her mother's face.
"Don't start telling lies for my sake, Alyse. Cara may be your sister, and I can tell you care for each other, but you've never been that close. As for Reynard, while you two treasure one another's company, we both know that he won't stay here very long after my death. That boy has a terrible wanderlust. You've also had a fling involving most of the local families at one point or another. So, I don't see you finding a wife soon either." (Evelyn)
Alyse stared at her mother in shock following the blunt assessment.
"I…don't know what point you're trying to make, Mother. You've given me more than enough love and support, and I don't want you to worry about me. So, what is it that you're wanting me to do for you? You still haven't told me." (Alyse)
Evelyn sighed deeply and nodded.
"When I'm dead, and Reynard's gone, there will be nothing more for you here in Wellick. Stay for a while if you need to convince yourself that Cara doesn't need you. But after that, promise me that you'll go on your own adventure. That you'll find your own happiness. I don't want you lingering around here, unhappy, out of some loyalty to me. Everyone else is finding their own purpose in life, and I want that for you, too." (Evelyn)
Alyse had been stunned speechless by her mother's request. Leave Wellick…she couldn't imagine what she'd do with herself. What would her purpose even be, she wondered? When her silence dragged on too long, Evelyn took it as a sign of rejection, and Alyse felt her mother's grip tighten on her hand.
"Alyse, I'm serious. I don't want my ghost keeping you here...you've done enough. So, promise me…promise me that you'll move on. I can't rest peacefully until you do." (Evelyn)
After a moment steeped in internal conflict, Alyse nodded to her mother reluctantly.
"I...promise. When it's just Cara and me, and once I'm sure that she doesn't need me, I'll go. I can't promise that I'll know what I want to do when that time comes, but I promise that I'll at least leave Wellick in search of my own happiness. You have my word." (Alyse)
All the tension seemed to drain from her mother in an instant, and a smile spread across her face. Evelyn relaxed into her pillow and closed her eyes with a deep sigh.
"Thank you, dear, that puts my mind at ease." (Evelyn)
And so, Evelyn's final request was heard and granted by her eldest and most beloved daughter, and the two parted ways for the night with tranquil hearts.
Several days later, Evelyn passed away peacefully in bed one morning, surrounded by her children. She left the world with no regrets, and a smile on her face. Later that same day, a private funeral was held with all her children in attendance, and they laid her body to rest for good.
The Egris children spent the rest of the evening sitting on the porch of their family house, sharing anecdotes about their mother. Of the three, Alyse shared the most stories throughout the evening. When the day came to a close, and Alyse found herself back in her room after dark, she collapsed into her bed and cried herself to sleep.
Now it was only a matter of time before she was alone, she had thought.
Perhaps somewhat sensing the fragile state his older sister was in, Reynard remained in Wellick for several years after Evelyn's death. Alyse was deeply appreciative of his company, and it helped ease the pain and loneliness she felt inside. However, as more time passed, she noticed her brother's restlessness growing, and she knew it was only a matter of time before she'd need to let him resume his travels.
True to his nature, Reynard eventually departed on another adventure, and Alyse was left alone with Cara and their staff in the Egris family house. Thus, the final buffer between Alyse and the loneliness she'd been dreading had disappeared.
In the centuries that followed, Alyse continued to serve as Cara's faithful bodyguard and advisor in official meetings and trips outside Wellick. For a time, and despite her rising discontentment and loneliness, she remained the cordial escort that Cara had asked her to be.
Unfortunately, as melancholy gripped her more tightly, she became prone to slips in composure around those who she thought were disparaging Cara or herself. This was especially true with some of the older Prima of their territory. Consequently, Cara eventually dismissed Alyse from any of her duties that involved interacting with others of importance, and Cara took family guards in her place.
At first, Alyse wasn't sure what to do after the dismissal, so she threw herself back into combat training. Unfortunately, that was far from a sufficient distraction, especially without her mother or brother to act as a suitable sparring partner.
Several years passed this way. As Cara continued her duties as matriarch without issue, Alyse couldn't help but feel that she was unnecessary around the Egris house, and she was reminded of her promise to her mother. As she reflected on that, she decided that it might finally be time to leave her home in Wellick.
Be that as it may, Alyse had no clue what she would leave Wellick for. Joining the royal guard was still equally unappealing to her, and becoming a Prima was no longer a viable option. She knew she couldn't tolerate all the meetings with the other Prima, even if Cara wanted her to take such a position. Naturally, Alyse defaulted to joining her little brother on his travels.
Unfortunately, it had been over a century since Reynard's last visit, and she had no idea where he was or how to get in touch with him. She doubted she could track him down physically, especially if he'd left the country, and she was just as likely to miss him making a visit while out searching. So, she decided that she'd simply bide her time and prepare, training and reading about other places on Azura, then join him the next time he returned from an adventure.
However, almost two more centuries passed without a visit from Reynard, any indication when he might return, or any clues as to where he was. Meanwhile, Alyse had grown deeply unhappy with her situation, but she still had no ideas about what to do with herself otherwise.
At this time, news began to spread that they might soon face an invasion by the demons. Though she felt the news was too premature to warrant acting on, Alyse decided that she'd be joining the military if they really did get thrown into such a war. As far as she could see, it would be the best use of her talents.
Not long after, she heard further news of a royal announcement planned in Avalon, with Cara being summoned for a corresponding nobles' meeting. Alyse was intrigued enough to consider attending, especially since it might shed light on the demon situation, but she was no longer in Cara's personal guard. She also worried that she may miss Reynard if he showed up while she was away. So, she remained behind and waited for news.
However, when Alyse later heard what transpired at the announcement, it defied her expectations. Not only had the demon crisis already been resolved, but the true perpetrator, Elder Dragon Veyron, had been crushed by Elder Dragon Nedonera. She'd ended the crisis on behalf of the elves.
Alyse also learned that Nedonera kept a kind of escort party with her that included an elf, a wolf-kin, and even a human. As surprising as the other facts were to her, Alyse was especially shocked by that information. By all accounts, the idea that an Elder Dragon would take a variety of weaker races into their traveling party was effectively absurd. Alyse couldn't wrap her head around it.
Another unexpected development was the change in succession. So she'd heard, Ilina Ophelle was instated as the new First Princess, and her older sister Alara had exited the royal family altogether to take a position as a noble. Allegedly, Alara did so amicably, and already had plans to develop one of the unsettled western territories.
Truthfully, Alyse found Alara distasteful. Alara reminded her of Tessa Uril, the only noble house leader that irritated her. While she didn't know much about young Ilina personally, she'd heard only positive things about her through the residents of Wellick and Avalon. So, she imagined that the succession change was probably for the best.
In the days following that initial news, Alyse took to intentionally roaming Wellick for gossip from the commoners about the events, and her intrigue deepened as a result. It seemed that Queen Elira had granted Nedonera's party permanent travel access to the country, even the human. More curiously, the wolf-kin and elf were recent additions to the party, former slaves that were rescued by Nedonera.
From what she'd heard about their abilities, the wolf-kin girl was said to have defeated a demon general and an elven royal guard in single-combat, using a sword no less. Alyse was especially intrigued by her, and she couldn't help but desire a sparring match with her. Then, there was the elf. Apparently, she was a mage, and a former scholarship student of the Magic Academy.
Finally, there was the human. He was allegedly just Nedonera's advisor, without practical combat skills. However, he also seemed to be the most trusted of all her subordinates. Out of all of them, his presence in the party was the most perplexing.
However, that information paled in comparison to what Alyse had learned recently in a letter from Cara – she'd befriended the Elder Dragon's party, and they were coming to visit Wellick. Reportedly, they were also planning to install an enchanted item that could transport a hundred people across the country in hours, called a train.
All in all, Alyse's head was practically spinning with curiosity over their visit.