Post by Harry on May 25, 2023 23:03:00 GMT
Rae glides from one stalagmite to another in the caves of their underground home. Illuminated by crystals in shades of pinks, purples, reds and blues, in one hand they clutch a spellbook, in the other, a simple shortsword. They practice their routines, stepping to the pace of the magical rhythm born from their brain and felt throughout their body.
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
Performing what would seem to outsiders to be a needlessly death defying performance, below them a dark and surely deadly expanse unseen, but to Rae felt just as natural as breathing.
Jump, glide, land. Jump, glide, land. Jump, glide land.
As they reach their final hurdle, Rae flicks their spellbook open to one particular page, reads aloud the incantation, and slams the book shut as they land, shooting off three darts of arcane energy soaring through the air as they do. The darts crash harmlessly into the cave ceiling and Rae lands with perfectly delicate precision. They take deep breaths, then look up for approval of the man watching. The elven man has cropped, black hair that perfectly frames his chiseled facial features. His large arms cross over his broad chest, all wrapped up in a long purple coat. and he beams a bright grin towards Rae.
“You’re looking great out there Rae, excellent form.” He speaks with an authority and confidence that turns Rae’s cheeks a deeper shade of pink than they already are. They clear their throat and smile back.
“Thanks Elran.”
—-----------------------------------------------------------
“Imagine, the amount of stalagmites that you see cover The Pits here, picture trees in their place. That is what my home is like.” Elran explains as he flicks through one of his many tomes, Rae sits cross legged in front of him, eagerly hanging on every word.
“It must be so beautiful in person!” Rae exclaims excitedly. They pause in silence for a long moment, before continuing. “Do you think you might take me some time?”
Elran raises an eyebrow. “You want to see my home?”
“Of course! You’ve spent so much time near mine!”
Elran chuckles. “You have a point there. Though I try not to look back too much. There’s so much to see and learn out in the world. I always move forward.”
Rae nods along with wide eyed admiration. “Oh, well yes. Obviously. Of course. I mean I’d follow you anywhere so it doesn’t really matter either way.”
Elran looks taken aback for a moment, before laughing off the comment. “Though you wouldn’t want to follow me around, you have so many of your own journeys to have,”
Rae’s expression drops momentarily, but they keep an optimistic smile.
“But you’ve taught me so much, and I still have so much more to learn. The whole world of things I don’t understand. I don't know who I’d be if you hadn’t shown up and-” As Rae reaches a soft pink hand to brush against Elran’s own, the elven man hastily withdraws, and Rae’s expression moves to confusion.
“Rae, you are a brilliant student, and I am happy to teach you, but you have to go on your own path eventually.” Rae’s face attempts to break through the confusion they feel and keep smiling as they press on.
“But it’s more than that Elran, I-”
“Don’t.” Elran cuts Rae off before they can go any further. “Do not finish that thought and do not entertain it. You don’t understand what you’re saying.”
A hot shame washes across Rae’s body and their smile is lost. They immediately dip their head and cannot look at Elran for the overwhelming embarrassment filling their mind. Elran sighs, closes his book, and stands to leave.
“You will understand. Give it time.”
—-----------------------------------------------------------
He can’t stay here any longer, Rae. He’s filling your head with all sorts of ideas. You belong here. He belongs out there.
—-----------------------------------------------------------
Rae opens the door to their bedroom, finding upon their bed, folded neatly and with a small envelope atop it, Elran’s large purple coat. This time hot with frustration, Rae opens the note, sits on their bed and reads.
‘There is so much for you still to learn. Keep going.’
With tears in their eyes, Rae sniffs and wipes their face, then reaches for the coat. They put their arms through the sleeves and it almost drowns them. The musk carried by the coat sends a fresh wave of tears falling down Rae’s face, but they do not stop. They take the note and put it in the inside pocket of the coat, and gather all of their belongings. Their backpack, the spellbook Elran had helped them write, some basic essentials, and a crystalline reminder of home. They sling the bag over their shoulder, take a shaky breath, and nod to themselves. So much more to learn.
One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.
Performing what would seem to outsiders to be a needlessly death defying performance, below them a dark and surely deadly expanse unseen, but to Rae felt just as natural as breathing.
Jump, glide, land. Jump, glide, land. Jump, glide land.
As they reach their final hurdle, Rae flicks their spellbook open to one particular page, reads aloud the incantation, and slams the book shut as they land, shooting off three darts of arcane energy soaring through the air as they do. The darts crash harmlessly into the cave ceiling and Rae lands with perfectly delicate precision. They take deep breaths, then look up for approval of the man watching. The elven man has cropped, black hair that perfectly frames his chiseled facial features. His large arms cross over his broad chest, all wrapped up in a long purple coat. and he beams a bright grin towards Rae.
“You’re looking great out there Rae, excellent form.” He speaks with an authority and confidence that turns Rae’s cheeks a deeper shade of pink than they already are. They clear their throat and smile back.
“Thanks Elran.”
—-----------------------------------------------------------
“Imagine, the amount of stalagmites that you see cover The Pits here, picture trees in their place. That is what my home is like.” Elran explains as he flicks through one of his many tomes, Rae sits cross legged in front of him, eagerly hanging on every word.
“It must be so beautiful in person!” Rae exclaims excitedly. They pause in silence for a long moment, before continuing. “Do you think you might take me some time?”
Elran raises an eyebrow. “You want to see my home?”
“Of course! You’ve spent so much time near mine!”
Elran chuckles. “You have a point there. Though I try not to look back too much. There’s so much to see and learn out in the world. I always move forward.”
Rae nods along with wide eyed admiration. “Oh, well yes. Obviously. Of course. I mean I’d follow you anywhere so it doesn’t really matter either way.”
Elran looks taken aback for a moment, before laughing off the comment. “Though you wouldn’t want to follow me around, you have so many of your own journeys to have,”
Rae’s expression drops momentarily, but they keep an optimistic smile.
“But you’ve taught me so much, and I still have so much more to learn. The whole world of things I don’t understand. I don't know who I’d be if you hadn’t shown up and-” As Rae reaches a soft pink hand to brush against Elran’s own, the elven man hastily withdraws, and Rae’s expression moves to confusion.
“Rae, you are a brilliant student, and I am happy to teach you, but you have to go on your own path eventually.” Rae’s face attempts to break through the confusion they feel and keep smiling as they press on.
“But it’s more than that Elran, I-”
“Don’t.” Elran cuts Rae off before they can go any further. “Do not finish that thought and do not entertain it. You don’t understand what you’re saying.”
A hot shame washes across Rae’s body and their smile is lost. They immediately dip their head and cannot look at Elran for the overwhelming embarrassment filling their mind. Elran sighs, closes his book, and stands to leave.
“You will understand. Give it time.”
—-----------------------------------------------------------
He can’t stay here any longer, Rae. He’s filling your head with all sorts of ideas. You belong here. He belongs out there.
—-----------------------------------------------------------
Rae opens the door to their bedroom, finding upon their bed, folded neatly and with a small envelope atop it, Elran’s large purple coat. This time hot with frustration, Rae opens the note, sits on their bed and reads.
‘There is so much for you still to learn. Keep going.’
With tears in their eyes, Rae sniffs and wipes their face, then reaches for the coat. They put their arms through the sleeves and it almost drowns them. The musk carried by the coat sends a fresh wave of tears falling down Rae’s face, but they do not stop. They take the note and put it in the inside pocket of the coat, and gather all of their belongings. Their backpack, the spellbook Elran had helped them write, some basic essentials, and a crystalline reminder of home. They sling the bag over their shoulder, take a shaky breath, and nod to themselves. So much more to learn.