“Korath is a desolate, accursed place. Though its location near the foothills of the Starhollow Mountains means a natural environmental barrier against Adornari incursions and an uphill battle for stubborn Imperial troops. What people often fail to consider is the harsh frigid colds the people are facing due to that same environment. Which often means that the various barbarian tribes in the region must sustain themselves however they can. It leads to a brutish raider lifestyle that sees them more often than not venturing out against both Traxia and Lucuria to pillage border towns, causing countless casualties along the way. Whilst garrisons have been posted around the area on both sides; the treacherous terrain and dense forest surrounding Korath has ensured that no one is ever safe from the barbarian threat. Their cruelty is so great that this is the one thing that both Trax and Lucria can agree on; that they must be contained in Korath at all costs, amongst the menagerie of darkness that already dwells there.”

- Rufus Benartur, Traxian 19th Border Guards Legion Praefectus Marzian, “Interview: The Korathi Barbarians"

Elaria grunted as she landed with a soft thud. Her boots nearly sank straight into the mud below. Pulling herself free, she deftly leapt out of the way as the strange elf practically slammed into the ground right next to her.

“Urgh.” Came the pained groan.

Elaria grimaced as she reached over and yanked the elf back up. The strange elf’s expression twisting between pain and confusion.

“Come on now. We’re almost there.” Elaria managed to speak through her disgust.

“Uhhh… huhh?! Mistress! I apologise for dirtying you! And many gracious thanks!” The elf hastily bowed.

Elaria pinched the bridge of her nose and rubbed her temples. “Right, whatever. We’ll follow the trail down and hopefully get you cleaned up, or getting into the town is going to be… difficult.”

“Of course mistress!” The elf acknowledged heartily.

Elaria rolled her eyes and just turned away, the hurried footfalls behind indicating her message was received. It had been five days of dogged trudging through what was some of the most hostile wilderness Elaria had experienced so far, though to be fair it was her only one so far. Wild animals constantly lurked within the shadows of snow covered trees, their ravenous gazes only held back by the sporadic flaring of her void magic. Animals weren’t the only problem however, and the flora of the area proved just as problematic. The land wasn’t barren by any means, bushes, shrubs, and many forms of vegetation existed alongside the wildlife. The problem was that most of it looked less than agreeable for humanoids to consume.

Thankfully, despite the terrain, the two had managed to put more than a few hours between the barbarian encampment and themselves. Cutting through the treacherous terrain of the land as they avoided the main pathways and stuck to the underbrush, the sensation of being watched still tingling the back of her neck. Elaria shook uneasily before she brushed herself off, cleaning what filth she could off her body before they continued their journey.

Together, they plodded through another few hours of harsh terrain until the moon hung almost directly above them. Though Elaria felt little in the way of fatigue besides her sore muscles, the elf looked absolutely demolished. Elaria sighed in astonishment at the sheer stubbornness of her companion, trying to push past the point of exhaustion just to continue following her. She briefly considered simply blazing on ahead, leaving the elf to its own devices and hopefully, never to be seen again. But a strange sense of something trilled in her heart, obligation or care, she did not know. Whatever it was, she eventually scouted around until she found a small little rocky nook for them to shelter in for the night.

Upon guiding the weary elf to their new shelter, Elaria cleared it out with a quick void ritual that drew forth all the mana from the area. With a dull whoomp, a family of squirrels that lived in a nearby tree and other critters that called the cave home died as their life force dissipated in an instant. Their last moments spent gasping in agony made it easy enough to collect their corpses as Elaria tried to start a small fire to cook their small bounty. The elf watched with interest as her eyes followed Elaria’s every movement. From when she collected the food to when she started the fire and even when she moved to sit down. Almost like she was trying to soak in whatever power she could just through observation alone. Not once could she feel the elf’s gaze waver. How unsettling.

The two sat quietly by the fire, Elaria feeling an odd sense of accomplishment at securing this small shelter. The elf, on the other hand, seemed mostly relieved just to be able to take a break and rest. Elaria took a closer look at her companion and found that the elf seemed almost a little too entranced with the flame. Seeing as how she had opted to at least travel with this strange creature for the time being, Elaria allowed herself to rummage through the questions in her mind, drawing forth what little curiosity she had about Sophie’s world.

“Hey, you.” Elaria called out.

“Mmm… huh?! Yes, mistress!” The elf bounced back to life.

I regret this already.

“Can I ask you a few questions?”

“Questions? Of course! Anything for my mistress!”

Elaria tried to hold back her annoyance and just blinked for a second before nodding “Right. First off, why do you still keep calling me mistress?”

“Huh? Because you had bested me. According to the traditions of my people and as I’m a gladi-”

“No.” Elaria interrupted, “I meant why now? I already said you’re free.”

The elf blinked back its surprise and gave her a strange look, “Because I’m free. That means I’m free to pledge myself to you. Free to choose to serve you.” It declared smugly.

“I… that’s just…” Elaria spluttered, her mind in confusion at the strange elf’s thought process.

To her surprise, the elf’s expression suddenly dropped and Elaria felt a pang of familiarity as the knife-like ears lowered downwards. Like Sophie when she was feeling down.

“Please.”

“I… huh?”

“Please let me follow you for a while.” The elf muttered.

“Huh?” Now she was really confused.

“Not only have I shamed myself by disappearing from a fight. But I’ve been beaten by… a human, you. An outcast, an exile and now I’m here. Purposeless. But the skills I have, the knowledge I retain can help you! I can even fight for you! Though you don’t seem like you need much help there. And besides, I did help… a little.”

Elaria pinched the bridge of her nose, her face wrinkling with annoyance as she regretted asking. “Sure, whatever.”

“Really?!” The elf’s expression changed in an instant, “Thank you, mistress!”

If it can help me get out of this mess and closer to Sophie, so be it.

“Just try not to call me mistress.”

“Of course, mistress.” The elf smirked.

“Ugh. So who are you anyway?”

“Mistress?”

“Like what do I call you, besides it.”

“Oh…”

Elaria frowned but just shrugged before grabbing a cooked squirrel,“You don’t have to answer. Here.”

The elf enthusiastically accepted the offering before tearing into it with an animalistic frenzy. Elaria observed her behaviour with great interest, seeing a little bit of Sophie in her. Naive, burdened with suffering, and lost. Though probably a fair bit crueler, hmm.

The elf paused mid bite, looking up curiously at Elaria. “Mistress?”

“Hmm? Don’t mind me.”

The elf seemed to ponder something before she took one last nibble of the squirrel’s leg. She wiped her mouth clean and straightened her back.

“Raylani’shiana Nelass or Raylani Nelass. If you find the latter easier.”

“Huh?”

“My name, mistress. I am Raylani’shiana of the Nelass family.”

Elaria’s lip curled in amusement before she chuckled. “What a strange name.”

“I suppose it is, mistress.” Raylani nodded stoically.

“I mean no offense, I simply haven’t the experience with names of… well anyone besides my sister really.”

“Mistress… forgive me for being presumptuous, but who are you? I mean, you seem like the average pes-human that I’ve encountered. But… I can’t deny that there is a certain strangeness to you, if you forgive me for saying so.”

“How so?” Elaria prodded.

“Err… well you seem unusually confident, for a human in the situation we are in. Then of course… your magicks, it is unlike almost anything I’ve ever seen or heard about before. Barring a few tales of dark magicks of the elder ones. And your skill in combat! I was admittedly quite disorientated by those pests, but for you to so effortlessly defeat them and me.” Raylani’s shoulders sagged a little, “Then you simply… freed me.”

Elaria almost grinned but restrained herself. “That may be so, but you did help me when those barbarians attacked me. In my eyes, you have earned your freedom at the very least.” She sighed and watched as the elf sheepishly grabbed another roasted squirrel. “But you are right in that sense, I am from far, far away from here.”

Raylani looked at her almost admiringly and Elaria couldn’t help but offer up an almost sisterly smile. “What about you?”

“What about me?” Raylani asked.

“What are you then? Clearly you seem much like an elf. Though the… shades are a little more drastic.”

“I… I am a twilight kindred, as other elves might call us on account of our... freakish skin. Or in the words of the barbarians and pests, a dark elf or blue devil. We… Well, my people were banished by the elder ones in ages long past for some crime or another or so I’ve been told. For millennia we have mostly hidden away, content to live within our sanctuaries deep within the ground and the mountains. Legends have it-” Raylani tried to continue but was cut off by a sudden growl from her stomach. “Ahh! My apologies mistress, I did not-”

“Shhh, that’s enough.” Elaria shushed her, “Perhaps I’ll learn more about your people another time. For now, the food’s all yours.”

“All? Mistress?! All? Will you not eat?” Raylani exclaimed.

Elaria simply shook her head, “The stars will nourish me enough. Finish your meal and rest. You seemed more than exhausted just trying to get here.”

“The… stars? But-”

“Worry not. I shall be fine. You, on the other hand, are my guide out of here. So I need you to be in tip top shape.” Without waiting for a rebuttal, Elaria merely shot a forced smile at the elf before standing up and exiting their little nook, ignoring the protests of the elf.

Walking out into the frigid night, Elaria couldn’t help but shiver instinctively at the cool air that lingered just beyond the warmth of the flame. How odd, I don’t feel entirely against the current arrangements. Though it is unfortunate that it… she does not appear much like a local. Not much use beyond the wilderness I reckon.

“Tch.” Elaria scoffed into the night.

It matters little, my goal remains the same. Find Sophie and help her activate the towers. Simple enough. May the Master’s wroth be wrought upon any who hinder my path. She looked up at the moonlit sky and the stars beyond, watching as the twinkled ever so gently against the blackness beyond and grinned. But first, just a little more patience.

The next few days were spent punching through the taiga forests and avoiding any of the creatures that called this place home. They did however, have a close encounter with one of the ‘Broken Stalkers’, a strange amalgamation of flayed flesh and appendages that looked at them with eyes full of malice. Bones protruded from inhuman angles as a thick carapace covered head swivelled to follow them with every step. Heavy disturbing footsteps would follow them just beyond engagement range, almost taking the exact same steps they did as it studied them. Whenever Elaria approached the creeper would flee at terrifyingly fast speeds, cutting through snow, brush and whatever obstacle was in its way with its grotesque pitchfork-like arms. Worried about pursuing a foe into the wilderness, Elaria would return to her journey, only for the creeper to do as its namesake, and creep on behind them.

Only when she finally flared the Master’s powers did the creature pause, before letting out a guttural incomprehensible howl. It glared at the duo one last time before it turned its bulbous frozen eyes away and disappeared into the underbrush. Though she was certain that she could take it on, she did feel a heavy sense of relief when it fled, the feeling lasting well into the night as she felt neither hide nor skin lump of the creature. It was then, however, that Raylani had thanked her before revealing the truth.

Not only were her people hated by the elves, but the wildlings of the region despised them as well. For more often than not, the ‘blue devils’ would grow bored with what’s provided deep below the earth, venturing out to wreck havoc amongst the surface before rounding up camps full of wildlings. They forced many to be turned into labourers, pleasure slaves, or simply exotic creatures to keep around. A few however, would be given to researchers to utilise in their quest to ‘cleanse’ Raylani’s people of their ‘sin’, returning them to their supposedly pristine elven forms and back to the surface once more. Throughout this process, the unlucky few would be subject to arcane, occult, and medical procedures considered barbaric even by her people’s standards. The failed trials that have lasted for centuries have meant many of these ‘test subjects’ are then released back into the wilds to terrorize the wildlings as one last insult to the surface dwellers. Over time, even her people got used to the presence of the test subjects, giving them the moniker of ‘Broken Stalkers’ for how they skulk about in the shadows just enough to unnerve someone before they attack.

Raylani theorised that since the creature had sighted her, it had automatically set itself on her trail simply because she was a dark elf, one of those that had hurt it. Meaning that even though Elaria had driven it away, that would only be a temporary measure until it returned once more. For it still held a modicum of intelligence alongside its baser instinct of hunger, now likely just stalking the two of them at a more discreet distance. While Raylani seemed somewhat indifferent to the prospect of confronting the creature. Elaria simply preferred to avoid a fight and conserve her powers where possible. Thus the two agreed to speed up their pace, forcing themselves to push through the next section of the trek and reach the settlement of Kastriel.

That was how they had reached the main road just as the sun was setting, basking the land with an eerie glow. From where the trees parted to the road beyond, the light casted haunting shadows that performed a malformed dance the closer they got. At the end of this horrid stage was a fortress wall barely as tall as the treeline around it. A few other pathways seemed to also snake their way towards the main road, potentially leading to the few villages and farms that supported this dour looking fortress town.

Before the pair could even begin their approach, the guards on the walls had already begun pointing and gesturing at each other, clearly talking about the two of them. Guess sneaking is no longer an option. We’re going to need a good cover story for why the two of us are here. When she turned to the dark elf, the knowing twinkle in her eye Elaria found staring back at her was more than enough to make her sigh out loud.

“Halt! Stop! Deshalt!” A loud voice boomed from the walls.

The pair compiled at once and raised their hands, signaling that they bore no weapons or ill intent. Ahead of them, a squad of soldiers held their shields together like a wall, parting way for a group of rugged looking troopers who now headed towards the pair. The troopers held spears in one hand and large circular shields that protected most of their body. They wore thickened leather armor with a metallic chest plate and visored helmets that only looked more menacing the closer they got. At a certain point, the troopers stopped and formed a small semi circular around the pair, all with their spears pointed directly at them.

“Identify yourselves! Identif sie sisum!” One of the troopers shouted.

“Elaria. This one is Raylani.” Elaria responded in clear common.

That alone seemed to diffuse some tension as the spears lowered slightly.

“You don’t sound like you’re from here.” The lead trooper growled, “Certainly speak better than the locals.”

“I’m a traveler from beyond the mountains.”

“Unlikely, no one has used this road the past two weeks, and certainly don’t remember either of you. So who are you, really? And why are you here? Also tell your friend to take off her hood.”

At this, some of the troopers started slowly circling around to fully surround them, Elaria counting about a dozen total all around them.

“I’m a mage. Here to… to… well, just watch.” Elaria tried to haughtily proclaim, giving Raylani a subtle nod, “Behold.”

The moment her hood flipped backwards, the tension returned in an instant as the troopers dropped into combat formation.

“A cursed elf…”

“A devil!”

Two troopers unconsciously let out, earning themselves a deathly glare from the leader.

“What is the meaning of this?” He demanded, “You would bring an elf into Traxian territory? A devil touched at that?”

“I’m sure you’ve dealt with their kind before or at least heard it from the locals. But this, this one is harmless. In fact, you could say it is the greatest success I’ve had yet.” Elaria declared, trying her best to make herself out to be an eccentric mage or insane, “Kneel, worm.”

At her command, Raylani knelt, the elf’s head dipped down with reverential obedience. A shocked gasp passed through the troopers and Elaria could see that even the lead trooper was a little surprised.

“Come. Be make my burden yours.” Elaria ordered.

Obeying, Raylani scuttled over and assumed a position on her hands and knees, allowing Elaria to sit atop her like a chair. Though a little uncomfortable with her new seat, Elaria put out her best smirk at the trooper’s surprise and waved her arms around in an exaggerated fashion.

“Questions?”

“H-how?” A trooper unwittingly spoke up. Yet this time, the lead didn’t even bother to glare at him, likely wondering the same thing.

“Simple. She is now my servant. Obeying my every command. My prize for my struggles.”

“What are you? Are you a mind mage or something? How are you doing this?”

“A mage must have her secrets, soldier.” Elaria grinned, “I can’t simply tell you everything, can I?”

“But how? I mean-”

“Enough.” The leader interrupted, “One last question, do you intend to bring harm to the city of Kastriel or harbor ill intent towards Traxia?”

“Not really.”

“Hmmm…we’re keeping an eye on you. Come with me, I’m bringing you to the captain. He’ll have the final say on this.” The leader scowled, “Alright lads, defensive posture. Let’s go.”

“Sir yes sir.” Came the unanimous reply.

Amused, Elaria just nodded and got up, clapping her hands twice in an annoyed fashion. Raylani hurriedly pushed herself off the ground and bowed in apology, but before she could speak, Elaria just gestured for them to follow.

“Open the gates!” The lead troopers shouted, and slowly but surely the large fortress doors creaked open. Besides them, Elaria could hear audible gasps from the soldiers in the shield wall as they passed, the display clearly having more of an effect than expected. “Send word to Captain Linus, tell him we have a... beast tamer come to visit.”

“Yes sir!” Came the reply from atop the wall.

Just like that, they were in. Elaria felt her pleasant veneer began to crack. She had finally realised what entering the city really meant. Though they had escaped the stalker beyond the walls, she would now have to figure out how people here really lived. Sophie had spoken about some details, sure, but Elaria still felt a profound sense of displeasure at the idea that she would now be the one out of place. What a bother.