"How did you get so many scars? I'm grateful for your shirt but are you ok with anyone seeing your scars?"
"I was tortured. No I do not care who sees."
"Why would anyone torture you?"
"I was enslaved or have you just forgotten?"
"No I haven't forgotten, I'm just dumb."
"So you are dumb."
"Shut up."
Lilith laughs.
"Oh, Calem where did you get that sword?"
...
"It's so unique, the magick I feel from it is utterly unnatural. I can't believe one magical object can have so much magick, how does it even have magick without a magick crystal?"
...
"You're no fun big feet."
"Big feet?"
"Yeah, you have big feet and it's funny."
Lilith laughs at her own joke.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Who's Selene?"
"Who?"
"You said her name when you healed your arm."
"Oh you mean the Goddess."
"Goddess?..."
"Yeah the Goddess Selene. She's the creator of everything, and the one true faith of every nation in the realms."
Lilith thought of something and quickly spoke up again.
"Well every nation except the Cathedral of the celestial oasis, but they're weird if I'm being honest."
"Weird how?"
"Religious zealots who believe in some fucked up god."
"Stop cursing you're 17."
"I'm 16 big feet."
"That's even worse."
"Ok, no cursing. Promise."
"Good."
"Do you know about any kingdom? Where are you from?"
"EverMoon Kingdom."
"WAIT REALLY!!! I can't believe you're actually from the EverMoon Kingdom, that was like a hundred years ago. How old are you Calem?"
"It wasn't a hundred, have your kingdom not taught you years?"
"It seemed like a thousand years ago. It's really sad what happened, all those sad souls."
"What do you know of the fall?"
"The fall? You mean the deaths of a thousand lights?"
"The death of a thousands lights...."
"I just know of the general story. The evil queen cheated on the King and when she was found out she betrayed everyone and killed the entire kingdom, worst of all she killed her son herself."
"What?...."
"Yes, I understand your pain. But at least you survived."
"How many people believe this story..."
"Believe? That's how it happened, everyone knows that. That's how it's taught in every nation"
"What the fuck is going on?"
"What's wrong?"
"That's not what happened, all of it is false."
"Then why would they teach us that?"
"I'm not certain... How many nations are there currently?"
"Currently there's four now that EverMoon is gone. There's Elysium the kingdom of the elves in the forest where we're headed now, there's the Avalon Alliance, it's not a traditional kingdom it's an alliance of many different races who appoint their leader which I hear is currently a mermaid. There's the Cathedral of the celestial oasis the religious freaks who believe in a false god and their entire kingdom center around an oasis. And finally there's the DragonWing Sanctuary, the floating islands of the dwarves."
...
"Calem what are you going to do after you drop me off."
"I'm not certain. But I'm never going to let myself be prisoner again. From this point onward I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees."
"Oh."
"What is it?"
"Nothing, just I didn't think you would be cool."
"Are you dumb?"
"Haven't we already settled that, you asking must mean you're more dumb than even me."
"Is this a competition?"
Lilith laughs.
"It could be! You better stay on your toes because from now on I'm gonna catch everything dumb you do to prove I'm smarter!"
"I can actually agree to this, clearly you're dumb enough to challenge me."
Lilith laughs even harder. Suddenly the joy left her face and sorrow could be felt pouring out of her.
"You alright?"
"Yeah, it's just that.... I miss my family, my mom, my sister they used to make me laugh this much. Calem can I ask you a question?"
"Speak."
"Is it ok for me to have fun without them, to be happy? Especially so close to their deaths? It feels wrong, like I'm disrespecting them somehow."
"The dead is dead, you cannot change it or begin to understand how they felt. Regardless, if they loved you they would want you to be happy as soon as possible, it's easy to give in to grief and sorrow, but remember that grief is nothing more than a reminder that you truly loved someone, it's validation that they existed and they were loved"
"Grief is validation of my love...."
...
"Thank you Calem."
"Why don't you tell me about your family, it's good to help yourself remember them."
"Yeah, I'd love to."
As Lilith and Calem continue to walk to the small village, Lilith told Calem every story she could think of, of her mom and sister. Every story brought out mixed emotions of sadness and happiness. With each story she told she smiled more and more. Calem quietly listened and every time he'd give her a gentle look letting her continue her stories. As they walked the sun set and they realized they would have to spend the night outside before they reached the village.
They quickly setup a campfire and sat by it closely to keep warm.
Lilith then sucks her teeth.
"What bothers you?"
"Oh um, my hair, it's really messy and I worked really hard to make it look nice today."
"Oh that's not a problem, do you have a comb?"
"I can make one..."
Lilith said confused.
Lilith then held her arm out and prayed to the Goddess Selene. Suddenly her hand glowed and a piece of the earth started to morph and broke free from the ground, it then took on the shape of a comb.
"Are you sure you want to use dirt for your hair?"
"Oh, I can just make it into metal to get rid of all the dirt."
The comb started to shine and suddenly became a silver color, immediately after it began to reflect the fire onto itself. Lilith then handed it over to Calem.
"Well first we would need to wet your hair."
Lilith then summons water and it pours down from right above her head fully drenching her hair, and spilling onto Calem.
"Dummy."
Lilith laughs.
"No that's not fair that doesn't count."
"Ok, ok I won't count it."
Calem then start to comb through Lilith's hair slowly.
The time slowly passes.
"Turn your head, I have to get the other side."
"Ok. Um how do you know how to do this?"
"I had to take care many females as a slave."
"Sorry to hear that."
"Nothing to apologize for."
"Ok."
"Tilt your head upwards."
"Ok."
"Stop moving around you're making this difficult."
"No."
"No?"
"No. I don't wanna."
"What are you a child?"
"I'm not a child you're being mean calling me that."
"Well, if you're gonna act like one..."
"I can prove it, I'll sit still."
"Good."
"I wish I had blonde hair."
"Why?"
"Because most elves has blonde hair."
"Why is yours red then?"
"Because it's ugly and because my dumb dad who wasn't even in my life had red hair."
"The king wasn't around?"
"Oh, um the ruling party is the queen in Elysium."
"Oh, well if I'm honest I believe that red is a really pretty color and is very enduring for your hair color, I haven't seen any hair other than black and brown so I really took a liking to your hair."
Lilith couldn't stop her smile from forming on her face, she then hid her face with her hands.
"Really... you really mean that."
"I wouldn't speak if it wasn't true."
"Ok."
Lilith said quietly.
"I'm finished. Tell me if you like it, it's ok to be honest."
Lilith used magick to summon water and use the reflection to look at her hair.
"It's perfect, thank you Calem. I'm happy."
"We should sleep before it gets too late. Don't ever worry I will stay awake to look after you so sleep soundly."
Lilith then rested her head onto Calems chest.
"Actually I was think-"
Lilith ignored his words and held onto him, and as if her body was waiting for this she fell quickly asleep.
"You must've been exhausted."
Calem stayed awake watching the fire, holding onto Lilith making sure she doesn't fall.