Chapter 6

Élet

This part of the talk now closed, Élet proceeded to the next item. “And now, what do we do?”

“Ah, a good question for sure. I suppose yeh will settle down in the little one’s house. Well, only if it suits yeh, Dzive.” He said, talking to the concerned party.

For me, at least, it would be ok. I like her so far… The little one hesitated a moment before nodding affirmatively.

“Good. Dzive, yeh will help the new one to fit in our community? She doesn’t really know a lot about our world it seems, so yeh’ll need to explain everything she doesn’t know or understand. I’m counting on yeh, got that?”

“Really?” Exclaimed the young girl. She turned toward her contracted summon and clenched her fist. ”Ok, I’ll do my best, I swear!”

She has so much energy, she doesn’t look impacted that much by her parent’s death. Élet’s thought before thinking a bit more and changing her mind. No, that’s not it. She is impacted, and a lot, but having a goal makes her able to move without collapsing. It’s her own way to work on her grief. But how long will it keep her in one piece… It’s like a headlong rush, only sustainable in the short term. Still, this combativity… I like her.

“Perfect. Then I’ll count on you.”

“Come, we’ll start by visiting your new home. You’ll see, it’s a nice place!” And Dzive took her hand, leading her toward the door. Before they went out, the old man told them with a strong voice:

“And think about visiting your neighbours, they’re worried about yeh!”

“Understood grandpa.” Answered the young woman before being scolded by the little one.

“It’s Greypa, not grandpa!”

“Ok ok, I get it…” She answered with an annoyed tone. Their voice started fading as the door closed, ending this conversation.

Greypa

What changes will this young woman bring with her around her, I wonder. He was looking at the closed door with a thoughtful face. I hope the other part of the legends is mere fairytale… He rose up and went in the deepest and darkest depths of his house.

The place was strange, not a cellar at all… In fact, it didn’t seem at its place here, as if it was a part of something else, something that wasn’t a home nor a building. There, he opened a chest, taking out an old grimoire. It looked like a rag but, if you were paying attention, you could have seen old golden letters shining with tiny magic sparks. ...but you never know, best be prepared for the worst… a magical wand entirely white floated out of the wall in front of him before the old man grasped it strongly. ...Ah, she’ll see if I’m a wizard or not, hahaha! A powerful light passed through his eyes.

Élet

Still dragged by Dzive, the two girls were crossing the village.

“..and that’s Bertrand’s smithy, he is the one forging and fixing nearly all the villagers’ tools. He’s always very busy and he doesn’t talk much, but he’s kind and always let me watch him when he’s working.” Actually, you could hear him hammering iron right now. This village seems prosperous, people are smiling and open-minded… It’s just like Grandma’s house used to be… Her smile was a mix of happiness and regret.

Since they had left Greypa’s house, My God, this name really is hilarious, Greypa, I’m sure it’s one of his grandkids that came with this name, Dzive had made the young woman follow her through the tour of the village. First, they had needed to take the little trail connecting Greypa’s house, some distance away from the other buildings, and the village below. It was surrounded by an imposing wooden wall where one could see marks scattered here and there. Intrigued, Élet had asked the young girl.

“It’s the neighbouring beasts.” She answered.

“Beasts attack the village?”

“It happens, yes, but it’s quite uncommon. During winter, if they’re starving, wolves can try to break in and steal livestock, but the guards deal with them quickly. Oh, of course, Greypa need to heal them afterwards, and last year Jack nearly lost an arm, but it can be worst.”

“Worst? Keep going, it’s interesting and you’re good at explaining things.” Said Élet to encourage the girl. So they know what a level is… Good, I’ll not be a freak then.

“ Well, sometimes it’s a bear, and then it’s a lot more dangerous since bears have generally a good level, and their racial abilities are quite frightening too. Comparing to wolves that may be numerous but are only around level five to fifteen, a level forty bear is a force to reckon, in particular when you know that the guards are around level twenty.”

“Yeah, a difference of twenty level doesn’t mean the bear is just two times stronger, after all.” Because of the modifiers, yes, but not only.

“Oh, so you know what a level is? That’s good, one less thing I’ll need to teach you then.”

“Yes, levels, classes and the like exist in my world too.” If only in games.

“Thank you teach’.” Answered the young woman with a smile. They kept going quietly up to the point were Élet stopped in front of a mark.

“An animal didn’t do that…” She said, pointing a trace way older than the others.

“...more like a sword, I think.”

“Yes. I heard a story about it, it would be because of an undead attack.”

“Zombies?”

“More likely skeletons.” Answered Dzive with a serious face.

“Why would you be attacked by skeletons?” Ah, how about peacefulness now?

“Because of the Dead Plains. I heard that, from time to time, tainted miasma are released by the Dead Plain and make the dead walk again. The undead is then drawn to all that is alive and, out of hatred, they want to kill them and make even more undead. That’s what I heard, but it didn’t happen since a long time ago, not when my parents were kids, at least. Are you coming or not?” She said, starting to walk again while grabbing Élet’s arm.

“Ok ok stop drawing me like that you will dislocate my shoulder!” Damn she’s strong…

***

They finally arrived at the village gate. Two towers were overseeing it, with two archers on each observation platforms. On the ground level left and right of the door stood guards, spear in hands and chainmail over them. They tensed a second when the two girls but relaxed nearly directly when they identified them. The right guard came forward after recognizing the young girl.

"Hi Dzive, happy to see that you’re healthy. We were all very worried when Marchal brought you back unconscious to Greypa.” He raised eyes full of gratefulness toward the young woman.

”Thank you for saving her.” She answered with a simple nod of the head. He then brought his gaze back on Dzive but didn’t speak directly, as if searching his words.

”...Look, for you parents… I’m sincerely sorry... we should have been there, fighting with them…” Sadness veiled the eyes of the little one as her gaze was losing itself in the distance. A tiny teardrop rolled on her cheek. She finally brought her gaze back on him.

“I don’t blame you, Milo. Stop spinning this idea in your head, the only thing you would have done by being there is dying, juste like Mom and Dad. I’m happy that Catherine still has her dad.” She clenched her hand around Élet’s.

“The only one who could have saved me was Élet, and she did it.” The guard gritted his teeth under the dry words of the young girl, before accepting their truth and relaxing a bit.

“Yes, you’re surely right. Well, I’ll not keep you busy aby longer. So you know, if you need anything, you can both count on The Guard.”

“Thanks Milo.” Dzive’s sadness was soon enough replaced by cheerfulness.

”Well, it’s not that I have something else to do, but I still need to give a tour to our newcomer, so we’ll be on our way now.” She finished her last sentence with a smile as she was dragging Élet behind her once again.

“Take care!”

“You too!”

The gate wasn’t directly giving way to buildings. In fact, contrary what the young woman had imagined, the village was quite spacious, with a lot of pasture, trees, fields and empty space covered in lush grass. The would need to walk a bit more before reaching the first houses.

“This Milo seems like a good guy.”

“Yes. He’s the captain of the guard… you know, he takes his work very seriously, you can that he feels guilty about what happened to my parents… but I don’t want him to be sad because of this.” She stopped walking and looked Élet in the eyes. “The motto of my parents was: Death is stall but life is hope. That’s why they called me Dzive, in fact, because it means life in the old tong, to make me remember that whatever trials I need to undergo, as long as I’m alive, I can keep going.” She chuckled softly.

“They weren’t the style wanting for me to wallow in my grief. One night, they said to me that the day they would die, the hoped that I would do a great feast where all my loved ones would be, to eat and drink and laugh together because we were still alive.” She took a resolute look. “And I will do it, but not now. Because for now you’re here and you need me and, for me to become stronger, I need you. When I’m able to protect us, me, the village, even you, then I will do this feast.” Slight worries stained her resolve.” But for that, you need to stay with me, so please, don’t give up on me, yes?” Wooohoooo, this girl is intense. She really is an npc?

“After a tirade like that, how do you want me to give up on you? And remember, we’re linked you and me…” She showed her the bracelet.” …so as long as you’re here for me, I will be here for you.” She finished saying with a reassuring smile. At those words, the little one jumped on the young woman, strongly hugging her. “Thanks! Then I’ll always be here for you!” “Good…” It’s an npc it’s an npc… that’s bullshit, she is not an npc, it’s impossible. She’s way too human… I thin Uncle and I will need quite the talk…

And like that, hand in hand, the young girl and the young woman started walking again.