Every era, a set of four new heroes are assigned by fate. They must defeat whatever greater evil is bound to destroy a part of the realm sooner or later. Fate decides whoever would be the best to help revive the demolished piece of hope and faith and sends them to their goals in mysterious ways. These four heroes have heaps of harmonical traits that will aid them in saving the raided world, but not without danger. For centuries now, this system has worked and it created a whirlwind of epic tales and stories to pass on to your grandchildren.239Please respect copyright.PENANAf74st16cGV
However, fate only lays their burden on these four saviours, not on the comrades that may or may not tag along with them on their journey. Destiny has no mercy for the fellows of their four feisty fighters - sadly enough. Fate doesn’t even have mercy for their own heroes. As long as they fulfil their goals, fate says, but fate speaks in vague and heartless ways.239Please respect copyright.PENANAjJ5OPnFsfQ
The woods of Lily’s York were a magical feast to the senses. The glooming lights of fairies sparkled between the thin, long trees with dark blue bark and long, pink-purple vines. Ponds here and there had glistening specks of light. A melodious yet natural soundscape looped in the background, almost as if somebody had set up an orchestra to make the most stunningly subtle sounds. For anyone who hadn’t been in the Eastern Bay thus far, this was an absolute treat and Anevay fell in love with the Eastern Bay at once. 239Please respect copyright.PENANA3qOniNFlVe
This scenery was surely calming. After Jarco had come too close to Peita in a violently physical level, the entire group was fazed and had decided to call it a night. Jarco and Daphne shared many tears together, and Ane and Peita tried to console each other. Peita felt immensely guilty, along with Lemennie who couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if she had been the one to remain there. She decided not to crack open her brain over the butterfly effect and tried to rest, but with the whimpering of Jarco and Daphne it was a tough thing to do.239Please respect copyright.PENANABpp2Pn6JFw
Bethil felt heartbroken by seeing his comrades this affected as well, especially upon seeing Lewir who tried to stay strong. Bethil and Livi never had the closest relationship, but Livi was valuable and a real treat nonetheless. She was tough and admirable and surprisingly noble, though not fit for courtly life - just like Ane. The young shapeshifter knew that the loss of two of their most vivid comrades would weigh down on the teamspirit and he suddenly felt a huge burden on his shoulders albeit because he felt a tad miserable inside.239Please respect copyright.PENANAs1BfayO6MI
Vastice quietly fed his dragons some of the salted meat he had taken along with him while he watched the others still completely waking up from a well-needed rest. He was sitting on a strangely smooth rock, next to his sleeping twin sister. It was Lemennie who woke up first, and she joined Vastice and fed Mia.239Please respect copyright.PENANAYIhKF81VF9
“Are you alright?” asked Vastice with a hushed voice.239Please respect copyright.PENANA7k4bgX67uN
“I could be better, but I am doing fairly well,” Lemennie replied. “How about you?”239Please respect copyright.PENANA6Vx1d1xSTm
“Likewise,” sighed Vastice. “It’s quite a messy situation.” His accent came out even stronger now, perhaps it was because he was so tired and couldn’t care about polishing up his speech.239Please respect copyright.PENANAJq04F0DxKW
“I should have just pulled her away,” Lemennie said.239Please respect copyright.PENANA6s8PUJGTDI
“Don’t beat yourself up over it,” Vastice replied, “it’ll only destroy you.”239Please respect copyright.PENANASXy2LNyrqv
“Thank you for being the great friend you are,” smiled the devil and she stretched her arm. It had been a long time since she had summoned her demon claw, and it felt freeing and satisfactory. 239Please respect copyright.PENANABY8FVnr0v3
“Till death do us part,” Vastice smiled.239Please respect copyright.PENANANhPQQSdt5S
“Good morning,” greeted Elliot who had woken up merely because of the noise.239Please respect copyright.PENANACMoepNFnAD
“Hi, Elliot,” responded the two friends.239Please respect copyright.PENANAJuBFUNRiUd
“How are you feeling?” asked Vastice as he offered Judian the last bit of meat.239Please respect copyright.PENANAtclw9OGIJH
“Rubbish,” sighed Elliot. He scanned the area around them. A rather open patch of the turquoise-coloured grass with the vines who were lit up by a strange, slimy substance dripping from them giving the needed light.239Please respect copyright.PENANABlVhEagKdt
“Let’s be happy we’re in the Eastern Bay at last,” Lemennie mumbled as she accidently fed herself the salted meat.239Please respect copyright.PENANACPeTiRZ50O
“It did cost us two comrades,” sighed Elliot as he joined the two others.239Please respect copyright.PENANA5bZuQzQAOY
“It sure may have, Elliot, but no quest goes without sacrifice,” spoke Vastice.239Please respect copyright.PENANAK0fbJPVw0B
“Wise words, yet no consolation,” replied Elliot with a sheepish laugh.239Please respect copyright.PENANACX8GuHa26v
Slowly, the others woke up as well, and the last one to wake up was Jarco. Everybody greeted him carefully and Jarco just buried his head in his hands whilst he was leaning against a tree.239Please respect copyright.PENANAWf4IPpmJn3
“Are you alright, Jarco?” Ane asked. She felt a bit hectic within her own mind as well.239Please respect copyright.PENANALYdC5aNd2z
“I will be fine,” he replied and he faced Ane. The two shared a deep hug and they then all chose to have proper breakfast in some inn in Lily’s York. The woods of Lily’s York apparently weren’t too big, so reaching the town wouldn’t be too much of a task.239Please respect copyright.PENANAXx5zC93zLb
It only took them a solid twenty minutes before they reached the town. Lily’s York was absolutely gorgeous, just like they all had imagined - or remembered. The picturesque houses were decorated with an abundance of flowers and vines that coloured the entire scenery with greens, pinks and blues. The purple limestone and the wooden skeletons a solid brown. The cobblestone under their feet felt like something right out a fairy tale book. The sky was a bright blue, just a tad too bright to seem natural, but it gave everything a subtle, lovely glow, and cute dogs and cats waddled around town with children with long, sharp ears. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAo1p1iCeQ38
“So this is an average town from Lily’s York?” Lewir asked.239Please respect copyright.PENANAKhpAoZ1dwE
“Yes,” nodded Peita. She looked around and she immediately wandered over to the bakery, where the scent of freshly baked bread floated through the door in clouds and filled the town with the aroma of vanilla and cinnamon. The others followed sheepishly and tried to act normal under the strange pressure of being watched by so many foreigners - despite them being the foreigners. The kids of Lily’s York had never seen horned before, nor had they seen people with the pale, smooth skin. Everyone in the Eastern Bay seemed to have a glorious, golden tan or glow resting on their skin. Might have been a result of the formidable weather, or perhaps just the different genes passed on for centuries in this particular area of the realm.239Please respect copyright.PENANAjzVuPvVEw4
“What can I get for you?” asked the baker. They had a strange, foreign accent that had no emphasis on anything and seemed to float above any dialect. The bakery wasn’t a particular one either. The baker had been decorated very nicely, even having an extra space for tearoom-purposes where couples were having tea time, sipping tea from porcelain cups with a bright red details.239Please respect copyright.PENANALnDp5uGF7w
“Two loafs of bread,” ordered Peita. She handed the baker a couple coins and got two warm loafs of bread in return. The group found a booth in the corner of the tea room and sat down on the velvet, red sofas. They felt a tad out of place, with their armoury on in sombre colours and their weaponry with relatively dull touches.239Please respect copyright.PENANAdu1PHPOQhh
A waitress soon came to take their orders, and they had all decided to take the same tea with the same jam because they simply had no clue as to what they could possibly order.239Please respect copyright.PENANAjG2Yl9IJ4C
“I’ve heard that they serve brilliant sugarwine,” said Daphne while she undid herself of the black vest.239Please respect copyright.PENANAs0V4Q9Dwew
“The Eastern Bay is certainly known for their sugarwine,” responded Peita. While they discussed eastern delicacies, Anevay scanned the area around her. The couples and families that were sat here looked genuinely happy. They had bright, almond-shaped eyes with a bright skin and luscious hair. A couple in the far right of the tea room wore matching outfits, their tops both gold with an abundance of crimson broidery and their bottoms a red shade with long, gold boots. They seemed rich, and they seemed to be fairies of some noble sort regarding their sigils buttoned on the tops.239Please respect copyright.PENANAHhOqE6BO5u
A pair of two girls, either lovers or friends, both wore long, silky dresses that flowed over their bodies and seemed pearlescent as it glistened in the sunlight that came through the big, opened windows. The blonde girl had her hair in braids whereas the brunette wore it down in long waves. The wings that pierced right through their clothes revealed their identity as fairies. Sharp, thin wings, simple but fast. They looked gorgeous nonetheless.239Please respect copyright.PENANA2G8ydzmGZc
“Enjoying the view?” asked Elliot after the teas and jams had been served.239Please respect copyright.PENANAUxvF3hdSrF
“I just wish our two other comrades were here to see this,” said Ane, “because it is gorgeous here and I am sure they would have loved to witness it.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAmdMXXK4MiC
Elliot rubbed Ane’s back as he scooted a tad closer to her and they both proceeded to take the set of plates given to them as well. A moment later, they were all enjoying the bread with some fruity jam and the taste of herbal tea.239Please respect copyright.PENANA5rsvbA2BOT
“It feels so good to have proper food again!” smiled Daphne, beaming as she ate.239Please respect copyright.PENANAnbAMlAsIDK
“Warm tea is an underappreciated treasure,” replied Bethil chiming in.239Please respect copyright.PENANAVM8vmR5E55
The two lovebirds were the only ones trying to lighten the mood. Despite the cheerful beauty that the Eastern Bay brought, the group couldn’t be reached by the charms and remained in a dull mind-set. Both Daphne and Bethil felt the weight of the gloomy atmosphere on their shoulders as they tried to lift the mood - which was a necessity at this point. Ane was disappointed in herself. She felt responsible for the group somehow, yet she didn’t manage to actually keep the group together. She knew in the depths of her heart that she shouldn’t blame herself, but the feelings of the surface really drove them to the bottom. Elliot just felt insecure, although his near-irritable confidence would always ooze out of his speech. Insecure about the future, insecure about the relationship with Anevay, insecure about himself. Jarco was struck by the loss of the woman he loved. It hit him extra hard because he hadn’t imagined he’d go through such sorrow another time, yet it was right there. He also felt like Ane had stopped relying on him - which she kind of had, yet not to the extent that Jarco though. Lewir was still damaged by the loss of Marrie and also by the dark cloud hanging above the fellowship. He was a man of friendship and fun and the gloomy sensation that seemed to flow through everyone had struck him just as much. Peita felt guilty for having to close the portal, causing the inevitable death of one of the comrades. She also felt a tad miserable for leading this group here. Though she was aware of every consequence, she still felt a lot more vulnerable now that two of the lovely ladies had met their ill fate. Lemennie felt equally guilty, feeling somewhat responsible for Livi’s loss. Despite her being described as the “bubbly personality whose mind was either stuck in blueprints and manuscripts or high up in clouds”, she still carried a huge burden with her. Vastice felt somewhat guilty for Marrie’s death, because he felt like he could have avoided her death somehow if he didn’t want to kill the mother spider. He tried to get himself out of that self-pitying state, but it was easier said than done.239Please respect copyright.PENANAIhoDlxBNCt
Bethil and Daphne both felt the huge downfall of the spirit and they both shared a worrisome glare. Bethil had always been the life of the party, with a bright and positive outlook on everything, so he felt merely responsible for sharing this optimism with his comrades. Daphne just didn’t like misery - she’s had enough of that. And she couldn’t deny that she had grown somewhat attached to the people she’d spent a crucial time of her life with so far.239Please respect copyright.PENANAhZfQ6Nbbd1
After a slightly grim meal, the group was outside in the floraly town, smelling of vanilla mixed with lavender as they walked to the city of Lily’s York. Little girls with braids and vividly coloured eyes admired the two dragons as they passed by and elven fathers with little boys on their shoulders greeted the foreign group with enthusiasm. It surely felt surreal; everyone was so kindred and loving and it felt like an entire different realm.239Please respect copyright.PENANATp0sG84aJo
“Do you think we will get answers here?” asked Anevay.239Please respect copyright.PENANAX0xIsyxjhT
“Of course we will get answers here. We will have to get them before we move on to the core of the world,” replied Peita. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAnLhO5z1J2Q
“Who can give us the answers?” Elliot asked.239Please respect copyright.PENANAr9Itp9UfcX
“Ninéya,” responded Peita with a cautious tone as if she knew the negative answers she’d get.239Please respect copyright.PENANApdZix0Nx2M
“Ninéya?” scowled Jarco and Lewir, their voices merging in sync.239Please respect copyright.PENANA9fOpJHWVn1
“What is wrong with Ninéya?” Bethil curiously asked.239Please respect copyright.PENANABxPSLGIY2E
“She is vile,” scowled Lewir.239Please respect copyright.PENANATg5HbncDzI
“Horrible,” added Jarco.239Please respect copyright.PENANAgC2efu3bJb
“First-hand experiences?” frowned Peita.239Please respect copyright.PENANADOQP7JAB3E
“Too many first-hand experiences,” muttered Lewir.239Please respect copyright.PENANAHZ0aUsDLRg
“Care to elaborate?” asked Lemennie, curiously glancing Lewir’s direction. Lewir shook his head, and no further words were spoken. 239Please respect copyright.PENANA0QE90PbZDW
Later that evening, when the fellowship had reached the city and stood outside the city walls that had a marble colour with a lavender glow, they all discussed how they would handle what was yet to come. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAtnt3Y4aDy8
“The city is founded in the middle of a lake that connects directly with the deepest oceans,” explained Peita. “And although it certainly is a treat for the senses, Ninéya loves to abandon those who disagree with her and dumps them right in the part of the lake behind the palace.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAHmJEdY2Ghy
“That is cruel,” mumbled Anevay. Meanwhile, she watched the giant trees erupted behind the city walls. So far she only had the idea of a strip of forest, a strip of ocean and the centre which was the city, and she was curious to find out how exactly Lily’s York’s city was.239Please respect copyright.PENANAY5xxrlbtqe
“When do we go inside?” asked Daphne.239Please respect copyright.PENANA9w7a5f0VJV
“Sunset is soon… not the wisest idea to interrupt Ninéya right now,” thought Vastice aloud. “I say we camp outside and as morning comes, we go in.”239Please respect copyright.PENANA3YbEAyTNl2
“Sounds like a plan,” nodded Ane. “Do we find an inn then?”239Please respect copyright.PENANALLqbUj0W8V
The others agreed and the group retreated to find an inn. The first inn they found was rather expensive, but none of the comrades felt the need to hunt for a cheaper one.239Please respect copyright.PENANA6WFUT2p9DS
“We have one room for twelve people, with six bunk beds. It is specially designed for large groups like you,” informed the innkeeper as he saw the bunch of nine. “Not sure about those dragons, though…”239Please respect copyright.PENANAJqxEDSqJvS
Vastice excused himself and then he raised his hand. The bracelet that he had worn the entire trip glowed and Mia and Judian merged into one spirit and vanished inside the bracelet. Nobody was quite sure how to react, but Peita had seen this before so she just continued the conversation with the innkeeper.239Please respect copyright.PENANAFc9pt0Lxdi
“That is solved,” she spoke. “We’ll take the room.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAfZxcJSpiug
“That was pretty nice,” beamed Ane. “Why did you not do that earlier?”239Please respect copyright.PENANAwelNEKcDUE
“They like to be free,” shrugged Vastice.239Please respect copyright.PENANAVdXSrptd0g
The group was led upstairs, to the top floor which had two giant rooms. The bunk beds looked cosy and strangely professionally made. The innkeeper told them that the room across the hall was the bathroom with a set of bathtubs and loos. They could have dinner downstairs in the café if they wished to do so, but the kitchen closed at nine. He wished the group a good rest and wandered off. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAUbOwZdxgYJ
The rectangular room had three bunk beds to the left wall of the door and another three to the right. Four large windows poured in sunlight and the wardrobes and cupboards were soon filled with the armoury, weaponry and other burdens that the group had literally carried with them so far.239Please respect copyright.PENANAcqgLITvQt6
Lewir and Jarco took a bunk bed, Lewir taking the top bed. A large chandelier blocked was in the middle of the room and had a plethora of gems and diamonds that sparkled as the light was spread through the room. Anevay and Daphne agreed to a bunk bed, Anevay choosing the top bed. In the bed next to her lay Elliot, who shared a bunk bed with Bethil. Peita and Lemennie also chose a bed, and Vastice climbed on an empty bunk bed.239Please respect copyright.PENANAUsW1LnGJvd
“Shall we have dinner?” asked Daphne, enjoying the freedom of her body now after taking off her vest, leg plates and heavy boots. She was now in her dark blue blouse that nobody had really properly seen and her thin, white trousers.239Please respect copyright.PENANAIqNq0fTz8D
“Definitely,” replied Ane. Anevay’s beige top was tucked into her shorts usually hid under the armour. Everyone looked strangely different, nearly naked. No one wore more than a simple top and bottom and perhaps some socks, so it felt refreshing to see everyone in such a light attire.239Please respect copyright.PENANAR0knPFJQNC
“I will hate having to wake up and put on that armour again,” complained Bethil, who was enjoying the feeling of the light fabric on his skin.239Please respect copyright.PENANABIZb5j67P2
“We don’t really need to wear that armour anymore,” said Vastice. “It’s not like we are legitimately in a dangerous area right now. Lily’s York’s city is gorgeous and relatively safe. You don’t have actual enemies.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAmfg1SVc8Sc
“So… we drop our armour?” frowned Ane.239Please respect copyright.PENANAC9nk5R3dKa
“We could all store them into a specific accessory like Vastice did with Mia and Judian,” suggested Elliot. “That looks pretty practical. Does it require anything major?”239Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZbCtTg0c3
“According to the idea of Killheels being able to store a dragon in a bracelet, it should be absolutely no trouble for any of you,” shrugged Vastice.239Please respect copyright.PENANAXUXNvianXb
“How humble,” commented Jarco. “I suggest we do that tomorrow. I also suggest we do pick up some proper clothes, though. It feels like we would run around in pajamas and I am not quite sure of Ninéya would be content with us appearing like this.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAKfz4PxECif
“I second that,” nodded Lemennie. “I could really use some clean clothes. I can almost literally feel the sweat drip down my armpits.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAY8Ana0ILT0
“Lovely,” murmured Daphne sarcastically and she threw her dark curls in a ponytail. “So, dinner?”239Please respect copyright.PENANAt9yLdFDIEm
The group of nine wandered downstairs and followed some signs that said “dining area”, and eventually ended up in a large hall with cream walls and round tables with a light green tablecloth draped over it. It all seemed spring-themed with sparks of bright colours and the warmth and joy of the season.239Please respect copyright.PENANAfu6IErTDfU
Daphne scanned the area, and her jaw dropped after she witnessed a pair of heads that she recognised. The half-horned ran over to Sarkhan, Mounty and Mint and pulled them into an embrace, scooping them out their chairs. They were sat around the biggest table with plenty of chairs around them. Turkeys and salad and little potatoes had already been served and some thick sugarwine had been poured into tall, thin glasses. 239Please respect copyright.PENANA5tACdJu5L4
“You guys look great!” greeted Anevay. The princess admired their outfits. Mounty wore a short, vaguely wine-coloured dress under a red corset that had a high halter neck and some golden and silver gems. She wore high, white boots, almost as white as the arm pieces around her forearms, and it gave off the entire vibe of the elven kind of the Eastern Bay. Mint looked equally flamboyant, with a dark bustier and high sandals just the same colour. She wore loose pants tucked in the sandals in a dark, mystical green, the same colour on her arm pieces and scarf that she draped around her neck, crossed over her chest and tied on her back. Sarkhan was wearing a pair of grey trousers tucked in navy blue boots, the same colour as his loose shirt that he had nonchalantly tucked into his trousers. He had placed his vest over the back of his chair, but it was also a gorgeous navy colour.239Please respect copyright.PENANATP6Rc758Y9
“You guys did some shopping, I see,” mentioned Lewir.239Please respect copyright.PENANABy00aT2RFm
“You guys could use the same treatment!” grinned Mounty as she pulled Lewir in for a hug. Mint looked at the group and smiled at the new faces and was then awestruck by the absence of others.239Please respect copyright.PENANAJcHhrgfSks
“Where are Marrie and Livi?” she carefully asked.239Please respect copyright.PENANAa8xdmjj8Gj
A silence fell over the group, and Daphne whispered something into Mint’s ear. 239Please respect copyright.PENANACaDo4Xzvzy
“I’m… sorry…” she spoke.239Please respect copyright.PENANAgb8wT6IvkL
“It is fine,” smiled Jarco. “Let us just have dinner and enjoy this night in the glorious Eastern Bay!” 239Please respect copyright.PENANA29LRSm73bg
They all sat down and soon enjoyed the tasty turkey, introducing the new people to the new people and catching up on the old news. Sarkhan trusted Willis and Aethul into ruling the Western Bay for the time being, Aethul had been training with Willis non-stop. Willis didn’t tag along as he promised to, because he had to take care of Aethul. Because of the excessive use of Killheel magic, Willis had become quite the sorcerer on his own - it appeared that Aethul trained Willis just as much as Willis trained him. The human kind was very welcome in the Western Bay and Sharran’s Valley had probably never seen such a blooming population and culture as before. Races truly mixed and history was left behind, or so it seemed. Of course, these were just the first steps of a long journey of reuniting all races.239Please respect copyright.PENANAcM9QRneo9Y
“Your aura is brighter than before, Mounty,” said Anevay. “I do not think I have ever seen such a lively purple with you before.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAxxVz3syVNt
“The Eastern Bay has its ways,” smiled Mounty. “And also the trail of lovely events to happen to me.”239Please respect copyright.PENANADQdm6Tngt1
“What happened to you?” asked Bethil, genuinely interested.239Please respect copyright.PENANASIQUK0Smhp
“Well, aside from the fact that Mint and I have found true soulmates in one another, things have just been splendid.”239Please respect copyright.PENANA8vvVSQ7yk0
“You’re in love?” grinned Daphne.239Please respect copyright.PENANAWPq9EZk9ta
“Congratulations,” beamed Bethil.239Please respect copyright.PENANALAkaD8Q1X0
“Thank you!” smiled Mint and she threw a loving smile towards Mounty. Although it had been a tad unexpected, you couldn’t really not expect it. Chaos really does bring people together and makes them see each other in different ways and makes the light shine on them from different angles, highlighting different aspects of one another that were nearly invisible before. One’s beauty became bright during times of debris and calamity and Mint had definitely witnessed the cherishable parts of Mounty come forth, just like Mounty had realised how precious Mint was.239Please respect copyright.PENANAXu4uo4wylf
“So, we are having dinner with a demon,” said Mounty after getting an elaborate explanation from Elliot on Lemennie.239Please respect copyright.PENANAzJ3CVbYdWI
“I suppose you could say that,” smiled Lemennie.239Please respect copyright.PENANAJCkMffZZtb
Mounty raised her glass. “Cheers!” she shouted, and she took a huge sip from the wine.239Please respect copyright.PENANAoIyUHphAAi
“Good job, now I’ll have to carry you home,” grinned Mint.239Please respect copyright.PENANAATJSBnWdBY
A while later, everybody had followed Mounty’s lead and had appreciated a couple glasses of alcohol as they’d poured it down their throats and felt the warmth of it ignite a tingling sensation within their bodies. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAZOiX4g9iHT
“So,” began Lewir with a thick lisp, “after such a huge clash…” He took a sip “...we could use some relaxation!”239Please respect copyright.PENANAAYv1yn6gpw
“For sure,” nodded Daphne. 239Please respect copyright.PENANADZPZhQbC7K
“I don’t want to sit around and waste my time,” mumbled Lewir, struggling with finding the right words. “I want to do something!”239Please respect copyright.PENANAM56pmyydhI
Lemennie spoke a mathematical formula for no apparent reason, and Mint and Vastice nodded to it as if they truly understood the relevance or the formula at all.239Please respect copyright.PENANAuWZs9T3rLO
“I just… want to be free…” Lewir brabbled. He then proceeded to embrace Jarco, pressing his lips against Jarco’s face, aiming for his mouth. A messy kiss later, the pair was shooed out of the dining area and Jarco and Lewir, both heavily drunk, disappeared. This inspired Mounty and Mint to excuse themselves and and afterwards Ane and Elliot also left the table. Vastice and Lemennie also left the room, but they said that they’d go discuss constellations in the bedroom and they wouldn’t lock the door and hope that the other couples were smart enough not to go lay in that room either. Daphne and Bethil left the remaining pair as they both went outside to get some fresh air and dance to non-existent music. This resulted into Peita and Sarkhan sitting around the large table, both drunk and intoxicated, barely knowing each other. Alcohol made the process of getting to know each other easy and they both quickly started a grand conversation about whatever their drunk minds could think of, until they were asked to leave the dining area and head to their rooms. The pair wished each other good nights and Peita stumbled into the room where Lemennie and Vastice were talking about stars and moons with lisps and alcoholic scents.239Please respect copyright.PENANAfG81OEcsbJ
“Good night,” smiled Peita.239Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7NFA5yrWN
“Likewise,” mumbled Vastice.239Please respect copyright.PENANA45pNX0V6US
Anevay and Elliot were lying in a field close to the inn, surrounded by flowerbeds with rich, vivid colours covered in a layer of darkness and thick, large oak trees with bird nests and owls.239Please respect copyright.PENANAz3khKxfDOA
One of the reasons that they were lying down was most likely the fact that standing up still was no option, and because this way they’d be able to see the stars painted on a dark blue canvas. Though the alcohol had worn out and had merely left traces on their laughs, they still felt fuzzy inside. It was a different kind of fuzzy, though. It was a warm, breathtaking kind of fuzzy, embracing your entire chest and folding you up into a nice gift of love and admiration. They were holding each other’s hands, their fingers intertwined. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAB0C6HXKgMo
“I wish this moment could last forever,” mumbled Elliot, rambling through the sentence because he couldn’t properly finish it anyway.239Please respect copyright.PENANAK3Y2X4zfIB
“I wish that you and I could be like this forever,” answered Ane. A tension hung over the two as Ane waited for a response.239Please respect copyright.PENANApHGxIiCaeP
“How can I be sure it is not just the sugarwine talking?” grinned Elliot, lightly squeezing Anevay’s hand.239Please respect copyright.PENANAQfxnLAowv2
“Because I will still feel about you this way when the morning comes, when I am sober again,” she replied. “My feelings for you shall not change. I will still keep you in my heart tomorrow. And if you do not believe me, ask me again later.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAa3ZovyXMgG
“Why have you not told me earlier?” 239Please respect copyright.PENANAavR8DCMO7Z
“I assumed you knew.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAsWoNjjToKG
“I did not.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAcCUjkCVyRR
“Elliot,” said Ane and she turned her head to face Elliot, who also had his face turned to her. “I have always loved you.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAS0uigl8naa
A smile creeped up on Elliot’s face, and he held her hand and gazed into her eyes. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAyOTz57DDNa
It felt complete. Anevay and Elliot together. A typical yet magical love story of the princess and her best friend. Elliot had always been right beside her, even if she hadn’t noticed that. Ane had always had his back, even if he didn’t realise. A wonderful team, a pair of impeccable comrades. Friends through every single conflict, every hardship. They’d grown up together and would go a long way together.239Please respect copyright.PENANAZhI74qb1Yt
Anevay remember the first time she called Elliot her friend. They were at the academy, she recalled. A training session it had been, long and difficult and exhausting. The use of magic had been grand and wild and the training area had been filled with shouting children, all except one. Elliot was sitting on a tree that had fallen down, staring out in front of him, watching how his fellow students danced with their magic. He noticed a young, rather small boy in a purple hood - because uniforms were not mandatory at their young age - transform into a tiger, chasing away the princess of the Northern Bay.239Please respect copyright.PENANAX6y9dTqGo0
Elliot had no idea as to what exactly he was, so using any type of magic was out of the question. Sometimes he had a little spark, a little flame, but it never fanned out into something larger and more majestic. It just remained null. Yet he wanted to persevere and be the best at magic, but he only got praise for his excellence in intellectual fields. 239Please respect copyright.PENANA3ty1kivfBo
“Why are you not fighting?” taunted one of the kids in his class. Elliot looked up and noticed the mean, denigrating grin on the boy’s face, along with three of his followers.239Please respect copyright.PENANA78QYNB4S16
“I… I cannot,” answered Elliot sheepishly.239Please respect copyright.PENANAzFmZdUp6x7
“What do you mean? You cannot use magic?” laughed the boy. “What are you? Human? You are almost like a stupid animal.”239Please respect copyright.PENANAVABYhLOmMp
“I am more than sure that your level of intelligence is lower than any animal’s.”239Please respect copyright.PENANA1C3Mt1Loly
“Do not speak to me like that, human!” The bully raised his hand, and a wisp of energy smacked Elliot across the face. A sorcerer, knew Elliot. Most likely of the element of air. The bullies laughed, and Elliot didn’t dare to fight back - he didn’t have anything to fight with. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAwi7cXXZILE
“Stop being such pricks.”239Please respect copyright.PENANADHirQZOJWt
The boys and Elliot both turned to the voice, only to see the silver-haired girl in front of them, her arms folded across her chest, a vicious scowl resting on her face.239Please respect copyright.PENANAfaapQtMBKP
“Are you defending this human?” spat the bully.239Please respect copyright.PENANAziZzYRUxV0
“I am defending my friend,” snapped the girl, and she raised her hands, only to raise a couple undead and taunt the bullies. They fled soon after apologising to Elliot, and the undead crawled back. 239Please respect copyright.PENANAS0wmgBflxG
“I am Ane,” said the silver-haired girl. 239Please respect copyright.PENANA9kuMrImcoL
“Elliot,” said the boy and he shook her hand.239Please respect copyright.PENANAEZB9oslwGH
Their professor, a man who went by the name Willes, but soon retired because of a bunch of unknown reasons, had eyed them with a little smile on his face, his eyes twinkling and his mind refreshed. He was happy he did not step in before Ane did, because who was truly sure what would have happened if Anevay had never sealed a friendship with Elliot?239Please respect copyright.PENANANsyPwk2L38
Everyone knew that friendship grew into love, but nobody spoke of it, and neither did Anevay or Elliot. It was obvious, though, and nobody had dared to think anything else of them than a couple. The silence had been a blessing, though. It gave them time and space and gave them the opportunity to think and grow together into a loving pair.239Please respect copyright.PENANAc3hMBbTck5
“I love you,” said Elliot, as he watched the stars above the Eastern Bay.239Please respect copyright.PENANA02hCVUmkzx
“I love you too,” replied Anevay.239Please respect copyright.PENANArjg70yfh7Q
The morning came soon.239Please respect copyright.PENANAH94Eqosxrx