Half truths

Elyrielle returned home after the quest a little tired. She put on some comfortable clothes and lie32d down. She stared at the window for several minutes.

"A reunion? What do young adults do when they make a campfire? Am I too old for this?"

Thought after thought didn't let Elyrielle sleep. She gave up and just got up. "Maybe bring food will be appropriate" she thought and went to buy some ingredients to make pie.

- Good afternoon, Sir. may I buy some ingredients for pie, please?

- Hello again, long ears! Yeah, sure. Grab whatever ya need.

Elyrielle still didn't quite get used to they way in which young people talked. But she will eventually do... She hoped, at least.

Elyrielle grabbed 3 eggs, flour, milk , sugar, and two lemons.

- That would be 30 gold coins. Lady.

Elyrielle went back to her room and started cooking. She realized that she didn't have an oven, so she asked if she could use the one from the hotel. Luckily, they accepted.

As she sat down to wait for the pie to be ready, she found herself looking through the window again. She watched as the sun got down slowly, and a big group of fairies flied away. Then, she distinguished that a big bird, probably a predator, was coming to her. It was a bald eagle.

She knew what it meant, so she opened the window and waited. The bird, with glowing yellow eyes, opened its peak, and another familiar voice came out of it:

<< Mother, you have left us. I don't quite understand why. If you came to me, we might be able to look for a solution if you wished. But you didn't even consider that option. Father and I are deeply concerned about your situation, but you left willingly, so there is nothing that we can do about it. We told the others that you went on a trip. Which is a half-truth, I may say. If you need anything, let me know with a message like this please, father is too proud to say it, but I know he wants to know about your shenanigans as well.

I hope this message finds you well.

Your son, Elthar.>>

Elyrielle smiled. It wasn’t much, but his son was kind (as much as he was able compared to normal days) she decided that she would answer it tonight after the discussion with the young adventurers. After all, that would define if she would leave this town alone or not.

She petted the eagle and let it go for now. She didn't feel ready for answering yet.

She went outside to check up on Spotty. He was happy to see her again. She petted him and gave him a little bit of sugar. He was thrilled and smiled back at her.

- Nice horse Ms Elder. -Said a maid thar worked at the hotel. -Name's Rosalyn, and yours?

- My name is Elyrielle. This is Spotty. Indeed, he is really precious.

- He seems real fancy. Where did ya buy him?

Elyrielle doubted but ultimately answered:

- I don't know Ms, I'm sorry. It was a gift from my father in law.

- Ya married then? Whete is ya man?

-He... is out of town.

-Town? I've never seen you here before.

-No, I'm not. I came to look something for him while he is out.

-Hmmm. Interesting. He surely is as fancy as you are then. See ya!

Elyrielle felt nervous. She wasn't used to small talk anymore. Even worse about herself. After all, she was going to talk about herself tonight. So this "practice" wasn't that bad.

The time finally arrived. Her cake was ready, still steaming put of the oven. She cleaned and arranged the kitchen utensils. The maids were really thankful that she offered to help that much. She thought that they would enjoy her work. She didn't know how little they earned in comparison to the work that they did.

Cake on hand and dressed appropriately, Elyrielle went to find the party. It was easy to spot them, a group of two laud young men talking and laughing and a young lady sort of envarased about the noise that they made.

The magician was the first one that spotted Elyrielle. His eyes widened. Gentle wind passed by and made the long braid of silver hair of Elyrielle softly fly along the wind. Her eyes bright as the sun looked so warm and kind. All of that combined with dark clothes made her eyes and hair even more beautiful.

Speechless and a little red. Let the others know that the elder was there.

-Heyyyy! Elder lady! You came! -Said the knight.

- Nice to see you again Ms Elyrielle! - Said the beast girl.

- Great to see you again Lady Elyrielle. -Said the magician, now nervous.

- Good afternoon my dear party! It's nice to see you all again. Should we start with the fire?

-I can make the fire! -Said the magician.

The knight and the beast girl looked at each other and shared a funny smile.

- What? - Said the magician and went to bring the wood to start the bonfire.

Now all sat down next to de pile of wood, the magician proceded to cast the fire.

<< Flamma candelae! >>

And a little flame, the size of the fire of a candle spawned on the magician's index finger. He approached it to the pile of wood, and it soon became a proper bonfire.

Proud of himself, he blew the flame of his finger, put both of his hands on his hips and smiled. He sat by Elyrielle's side, a little bit too close even.

Elyrielle noticed it, but it didn't bother her now. It was just a little young human's crush, she thought. Humans experience those all the time. Even though she never experienced something similar, she heard many stories about it from old adventurers.

- Nice spell trick, young magician. Really creative! Your Latin must be really impressive to come up with such a spell. - Said Elyrielle, genuinely interested in this young man's spell.

- You Know LATIN?? - Asked the magician.

- Of course! I had plenty of time to study after all. Centuries are boring to live if you don't do something with your time, dear. - Said Elyrielle jokingly.

- Of course she does Leo, duh. - Said the knight way too loud.

The three of them laughed and Leonard awkwardly laughed, all red now.

- So, I'm beginning with the full on presentations then. - Said the knight. - I'm Edward, King Edward. King is my last name, not a title, to be clear. I'm 20, and I've been doing quests since I was 18. I've started training to become a knight at 14 and finished at 18. Once I finished I went right into the quest thing. I pass my torch to the next one. Tell your tale! - Said and petted the beast girl's shoulder.

- Well, I'm Louise, Wells Louise. I'm a beast, semi human, however you want to call me. The beast I ow my features and special talents to is a bear. Specifically a Grizzly Bear. I'm as strong as one. I'm 25 and I've been making quests since I was 18 as well. You next! - Said and touched the magician's shoulder.

- Hello everyone. I'm Leonard, Woods Leonard. I'm 22. Furthermore, I've been learning since I was a kid. I went to the magicians' school and currently still study with my master, Mr Royal. An eighty-something old man that is the best magician at that school... And he chose me as his personal student! Now your turn, Ms Elyrielle.

- Good night everyone. My name is Elyrielle. I'm an elder. I'm one thousand one hundred and twenty three years old. I've made missions, the ones that you call quests nowadays when I was a young flower, as you are now. I had the same role that I had before, as the support of the party. There is, certainly... something that I didn't tell you before you accepted me into your group...

The mood changed. Elyrielle's ears pointed downwards. The beast girl visibly tensed and the others looked rather confused.

Suddenly. Elyrielle felt that all eyes were on her. She felt guilty. Why didn't she tell them from the beginning about her situation? Why was she so selfish? Her eyes filled with tears and her fists closed with strength.

"Which is a half-truth, I may say"

- I... I do have a problem with my magic. That is why I'm heading to Ry'kloth to find answers. If you want to find a different partner for your party because of this... you are free to do it.

Silence.

- I can handle that. I can learn magic with you as well. I'm sure that I can help you with magic if you need it. - Said the magician, that hide his eyes from Elyrielle's eyes.

- Your magic is still useful. You know more than all of us Ol'- I mean, Elyrielle. Man, your name is complicated. I will call you Ms El. - Said the knight.

- I think there is so much that WE can learn from you Ms Elyrielle. Your experience is something that not many parties can say they have the honor to have. And also, your magic is STRONG Lady. I've never seen something like it. That is cool! - Said the beast girl.

Elyrielle smiled, relieved and cleaned the tears of her eyes.

- I really appreciate your kindness young ones. I can't express into words how happy I feel... I did bring pie though.

-Yeah grandma Pie! - Said the knight.

-Hey don't call her grandma! Idiot! - Said the magician and have the knight a little punch at the back of his head.

-Hey!

- You two are worse than little beasts. And that is saying much. - Said the beast girl.

The four of them laughed this time. Relaxed and ready to enjoy their meal while the moon started to claim his time to shine at the sky.

- Doctor's orders! - Said the knight with a big bottle of root beer.

- Yes! Gimme gimme! - Said the magician.

- You never fail to embarrass me. - Said the beast girl. Still, she grabbed the bottle and gave a big zip.

Elyrielle smiled and just ate her pie. She enjoyed spending time with such different individuals. Not drinking it though. She never enjoyed it. Not even centuries of trying it made it better for her.

She did the same that his son. A half-truth. Was it because of fear of rejection? Fear of going alone trhough her journey? She didn't know. But for now, it was enough she thought.

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