Chapitre 4: Anselona
Today was the day. I was finally be sent to my apprenticeship on the outskirts of the city. The letter had come in the mail early in the morning, sending my whole family into a fever of excitement. I was to become the apprentice to the royal medic who lived deep in the forest surrounding the city. They were rumored to be magic, but not many had ever seen them, so no one really knew.
Wrapped in my dark cloak, I darted through the streets of the town I'd grown up in until I reached the edge. The begining of the forest was a harsh line of looming trees against the far fields, and it called to me. Anxiety bubbled up in my chest, threating to spill out of my eyes, but I fought it back, marching through the shrubbery onto a small path into the forest.
Typically it was forbidden to walk the trail in the forest, but today was a special day. It wound through the trees, leading me farther and farther away from the kingdom, up the gentle mountain. The double suns moved overhead, shifting from morning into afternoon, and I was still walking the trail. In the letter, it had informed me that the journey by foot could take several days, and that unless I was going on horseback I should pack a tent. But my family did not have such money.
As the second sun dipped down into the horizon and the first moon showed her face, I kicked a bunch of dried leaves into a pile beside the trail, curling on them and listening to the night sounds of the forest around me. The night passed quickly, and as I rose from my pile of leaves, stretching, the newly dawned sunlight beamed on me, telling me to keep walking.
The trees suddenly ceased at the edge of a clearing, making way for a field of wildflowers, all dancing in the wind. Some were as tall as my shoulders, while others barely peeked from the ground. the path cut through the side of the field, but I still struggled to push the flowers out of the way. They were beautiful flowers, all different shapes and colors, and I couldn't help but to pause and admire a few. That's when I noticed the humming. It was a gentle song, weaving it's way through the flowers towards me.
I stepped off the path, trying my best to push through the flowers without squishing any. Following the humming. Thats when I spotted them. They were kneeling on the ground with a basket of herbs, berries, nuts, and flowers, while carefully gathering the petals of a bright orange flower and humming a gentle tune.
Their white hair was tied up haphazardly in a bun, with a single braid falling across thier shoulders onto the ground. Their ears were elongated and came to a point, decorated with glittering stones. An elf. I'd never seen an elf before. They were rare this side of the kingdom, and most that were found here were elderly and frail. It was rare to come across an elf, but even rarer to come across one so young.
Their humming stopped, and they turned to look at me standing amongst the flowers. Their eyes were a light purple, gleaming in the sunlight.
"Oh! I'm sorry." I tried my best to come up with an escuse for my presence. "I'm on my way to the royal medic and wanted to know if you knew how much farther it would be to get there." They gazed over me slightly.
"And what might your name be?" I opened my mouth to answer before quickly shutting it again. Thousands of memories flodding into my brain, warnings about the elves and giving them your name. They seemed to sense this, and smiled a bit in amusement. "It wouldn't happen to be Aiyana would it?" I didn't know how to respond. They already knew my name.
They rose slowly, pulling the basket up over their arm. Their muddied shirt hanging loose over their shoulders. They smiled at me, beckoning me to follow as they turned.
"My name is Rune. I am the royal medic." I felt my shoulders relax a bit, and I stepped forward to follow them through the flowers. They walked gently, making little noise as they brushed through the flowers. I started having doubts about following an elf, when the flowers made way to a little clearing with a cottage in the center.
It was a humble cottage, made of bricks and wood. Vines climbed the walls, and moss hung from the roof, making it seem part of the flowers.
"This is my home, and it is where you'll be living as well from now on." Rune opened the door for me to go inside, and I hesitated a moment, still pondering trusting an elf. "Do I frighten you." It wasn't a question.
"I've never met an elf before." I didn't meet their gaze, finding the wildflowers brushing against my skin much more interesting. They burst out in a laugh, sounding like raindrops on crystals that vibrated through my skin.
"There's no need to worry." Their voice still hinting at a laugh. "I'm only a half-elf. Not nearly as terrifying as the stories you've most likely heard. That and, I work for the kingdom. If I were to hurt you I would surely be banished, or executed, and who would wish that apon themselves." Their smile was refressing in an odd way, but they had a point. It wouldn't be in their interest to harm me. I stepped closer, crossing into the house.
It was crammed with drying herbs, stones of all kinds, jars on the shelves, charms hanging from the ceiling, books cluttering the floor and tables, and various candles flickering away. The scent of something sweet filled the room, and as Rune closed the door behind us, they motioned to a windowseat clear of clutter.
"Your legs are probably tired, sit down, make yourself at home. There's no need to be shy here." They moved into another room quickly, and the sound of them shuffling around brought slight comfort as I sat in the window seat. Flowers swayed in the wind right outside the window, a rainbow of lovely petals. Rune entered the room again, with a cup of warm liquid, handing it over to me with a smile before scribbling notes down in one of their books.
"What is this?" I smelled the liquid. It smelled sweet, but it was a bright shade of green, so I wasn't eager to drink it.
"Just a mixture to help ease any soreness or pain you might have from your journey here. I know the trail can be rough for some people." They continued scribbling in their book as i cautiously took a sip. It tasted of honey, along with something I couldn't quite place. The warm liquid sent tingles down my throat. Rune watched me quietly, as if they were trying to study my reaction.
The flowers swayed outside, a colorful ocean. I watched them sway in the wind. Every so often they would part, and I could see the kingdom down the mountain.
"Miss home already?" They were observing me. As if they were trying to decide what I was thinking. "Come." They rose suddenly, taking my hand and lifting me to my feet. They wove through the clutter to the corner of the room where a spiral staircase peeked out. I'd hardly noticed it on first enterance.
We wound up the stairs and into what appeared to be a bedroom. It was much more organized than downstaires, yet still cluttered. A small bed was shoved against one wall, surrounded in sitting pillows and heaped in blankets. Clothing threatened to spill from the door of a closet, and several shoes littered the opening. Two doors led out onto a balcony, where Rune was leading me.
"I guess im helping you clean later." They stopped momentarily to give me a bewildered look. "Every room is so messy," I explained. "It can't be easy working in here."
"It's not a mess." They seemed to almost pout when they said that, but remained their composure. "It's organized chaos." Holding back my laugh wasn't an option. They watched for a moment, eyes twinkling at me, before tugging me along with them again towards the balcony. The moment we stepped onto it, I understood why.
The flowers danced benieth us, but beyond them, I could see the tops of the forest, and the castle at the edge of the horizon. It was incredible. Rune leaned against the railing with their head in their hands, watching me gape at the view. A smile teasing the corners of their lips.
"Beautiful isn't it?" They sat, patting the ground across from them for me to sit. "The kingdom wanted me up on this mountain to hide me away from curious eyes. Since elves are rare in this side of the country, even a half-elf like me wouldn't be trusted." I sat across from them, listening to their smooth voice. "I don't really mind living up here though. It's peaceful, and I can admire the beauty of the forest. It will be nice to have some company however." They beamed at me, and held out their hands, palms up. "But first I need to show you some things. Put your hands on mine."
I slid my hands into theirs, letting their cool touch soak into my skin. The wind danced around us as I shut my eyes. The dancing flowers, the faint scent of something sweet baking, the gentle presence of a half-elf all faded away. Everything just went dark.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone