When Conflict Comes to a Head

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The pair followed the road together, and Aza's stomach grumbled not long before sundown. Still, she kept walking, hand gripping his arm with surprising strength, given her slender form-- elves were more than just dextrous, they held strength in their small, thin bodies that could defy even the most muscular human in a fair fight. Aza was no exception to this.

The whole walk, she said nothing until they came within sight of the next city-- it was run-down, but tidy, and was guarded by two elven women.

"So... where have you been?" She finally asked, her voice quiet. "When you said you were leaving, I didn't think it would be for so long." Aza didn't look at him as she spoke-- she couldn't bear to. He was the first person in her life to return after leaving, and she had been too young to understand why, and her mind still refused to understand. She still couldn't see him as anything but a very tall elf, even though she did recall hearing him tell the others about being a celestial guardian-- whatever that was.

Before he could answer, she began speaking again, and stopped walking. "I still don't understand a lot of the things you said back then. I wish you had stayed..." She glanced up toward him, then continued to walk as she directed her gaze back at the road, only to stop again as she spotted a familiar face along the side of it-- one who was staring at a brightly-glowing pendant.

The elf, a man, looked youthful. His eyes--eye-- told tales of his history, however. The pendant he held was not his, either. It belonged to an elven family man-- one who had half a dozen children when last he saw Nyirr, with another on the way. "What in hells?" He murmured as he stared at the thing, oblivious to Nyirr and Aza's presence.
 
Nyirr occasionally looked down at the small elven women who had clung to his arm this whole time. She had hardly loosened her hold onto his limb, almost as if she was afraid he would just fly away. It was hard to say why she was hanging to him like this, but Nyirr wondered if it was how life had gone after his departure from the realm of the living. He would have asked, but he didn't want to startle her. He kept quiet until they would reach the next town.

Nyirr, once near the small town they were approaching, lowered his gaze to Aza as she asked her question… He raised a brow and stopped his walk. He had explained it to her many years ago, when she was just a child. Did she not remember? Nyirr decided it might just be the time to tell her more precisely.

"I returned to the Celestial plane Aza. I am a Guardian, remember? I am one of the many angels who guard the planes of truth and justice. I was sent into this world only for a task that I had completed… I wasn't supposed to come back."

The young woman then explained she didn't understand which was fine… But when she said she wished he would have stayed, his heart sunk. He felt bad, he couldn't deny it. He had left her in the wrong hands. He owed her a lot…

"I wished I could have stayed too…" They resumed their march. It was then he felt the presence of another one of his trinkets. He was surprised he had not felt it before and it was actually very close. His eyes followed the glow he spotted… Seeing someone he didn't exactly recognize with the pendant. Curious and worried, he diverged from the main road to go towards the fellow there.

"Sir… Can I ask where you got that pendant of yours?"
 
That he wished he had stayed made her mood lighten some. It meant that it was duty, not choice that had separated them. She rested her head against him, and her shoulders relaxed.

The rest of his explanation nearly went over her head, though-- until he mentioned angels. He was an angel? She looked down, and when he stopped walking forward, and went to the side of the road, she stumbled before righting herself and adjusting her own path. Her hand still remained on his arm. Even though she spotted the man and his trinket, the change in path was startling.

The young man looked up. "My father left it to me when he died." He blinked a few times. "You're Nyirr, aren't you? And that's Aza?"

"You're Nic." Aza gaped. "Right?"

"No. His younger brother. Clane."

"The one with the human name... I remember now." At mention of his name, she unconsciously shifted closer to Nyirr.

"Mhm. Half human. Mom thought if I just hid my ears, I could make it." He pointed to his missing eye. "This is what happened when I was found out."

"Oh..." She bit her lip, then looked toward Nyirr.

The young man followed her gaze.
 
The man had died? It was quite odd to hear, as the elven man he knew was healthy and in good shape when he had left. He couldn't have fallen in only twelve years, not unless he got sick or someone has decided to take his life. The young man continued on to say his name to which he nodded gently and spoke forth. "Yes, I am Nyirr. I am sorry to hear that your father passed away. He was a good man."

Then Aza went ahead to ask his name and he did actually recognize it. It was one of the younger children and he was glad to see that his old friend had brought up a family as he did. Although, as the young man continued, he frowned at the mention of what the people had done to him. The entire conflict between the two races was an oddity to him, as he did not see where this conflict came from.

"I have yet to understand why human and elves fight… It seems so trivial the reasons I have heard." He hesitated to ask the question he had in mind, but knew that he couldn't go without knowing. "May I ask how your father passed to the celestial plane? Maybe join us into the town?"
 
Slowly, he rose and nodded. He used a crutch to stand. "I hope you don't mind if I'm a little slow." Like Aza, he hadn't understood for a long time, until his father explained that Nyirr was an angel, and was sent to protect people, but had to go back home to be an angel again and protect people from demons before they could come into the world-- something like that. It was oversimplified, but had been effective enough in quieting a child who always asked about the tall elf they didn't see anymore.

Clane leaned on his crutch. "Let's go. I'll explain once I have someplace comfier to sit. My back isn't the same since I was kicked out of the school."

Aza glanced away. Had she been treated better than him because she was honest about her elven heritage? Or were humans just... that possessive of their educations?
 
"Please, make yourself at ease. We are not going to press faster than you can." He simply added as the man had stood up. It was a terrible shame that humans and elves were fighting between each other. Those who had nothing to do with the racial conflict were paying for it, just like Clane. It was a poor sight to see.

The Guardian followed by Clane's side, making sure that Aza wasn't too far either. He looked towards the two female elves guarding the door and gave a simple nod. He then turned his attention back to the young half-elf. "I am quite disappointed to see that the human-elf conflict still continues after my last visit. To say this kind of conflict causes innocent people like you to suffer…" He said with a hint of sadness. "… I hope your father wasn't taken away because of this racial conflict."
 
Clane shrugged. "It's just natural at this point, I guess." He didn't answer about his father. It hurt, thinking back on the event. "Anyway. Where are we headed after this? He pointed toward an inn near the gates. "That's as good a place as any, though we can't sit in there for free."

"I... I can cover it if it isn't too much." Aza offered. "I'm good with money, at least somewhat. I had a job." She smiled a bit, looking rather proud.

"In the city? Wow." Clane grinned. "Congratulations. How well were you paid?"

"Better than anywhere else I've worked. A copper piece every hour that I worked."

Clane whistled. "I was lucky to make two coppers a day at my last job."

"I'd offer to help you get hired, but I think when I get back, I won't have that job anymore." She shrugged.

"Oh." Clane frowned. "There's a human living here, one of our friends. Maybe he can help you get it back when we're all done." The handicapped man spoke as though he'd already decided to walk with them, regardless of their views on it.

Aza nodded thoughtfully as she walked ahead toward the counter to buy a room for them to share, and a meal for each of them. The haggling was playful, and it seemed the man behind the counter was more than happy to let them stay as long as they paid something. Aza motioned for them to go, and repeated a sign that the innkeeper threw at her, and Clane nodded.

"She wants us to go to the room she got us." Clane motioned, and began up the stairs on his crutch.
 
Nyirr shook his head at the answer of the young man, quite displeased to hear what it was. Conflicts between these two races should be non-existent. Together, they could accomplish so many great things… If only they could put their differences aside. They headed for the Inn that Clane had pointed to. When the mention of money came out, Nyirr remembered that these people worked with currency. It would be something odd for the length of his stay to even think of it…

The two companions of the Guardian exchanged a few words, seemingly lighting their spirits up. There, that is what he wanted; peace and happiness for the people of this plane. He let a smile rise on his lips as he followed behind, not saying too much.

Entering the Inn, he could remember what these were for; a place to stay, somewhere where the tired could rest. It was pleasant the last time he came by. He looked around a moment before behind motioned to follow up the stairs. He nodded to the two and followed them up the stairs.

"I can find both of you a place to stay after I have dealt with the issue I was sent here for. I have a few good human friends I could talk to in your favor." He said as he looked at the door. "I even know of a temple that might take both of you in."

He thought about something for a moment. "... I would imagine you would want to know why I am here, Clane?"
 
Clane led the way up the stairs. "I saw everyone turn into puppets, just like they were last time you were here. I'd assume whatever the threat was then, it's back, and this time it's acting differently and trying for different ends." He didn't answer about a place to stay, or temples, or human friends. That was a matter for another time, in his mind. Right now, it was likely the angel would need help making his way to confront the danger, and that was the most important issue.

The half-elf opened the door to a room at the far end of the dusty hall to reveal a room with eight beds and a few curtains hung between then. "We can pick some beds near each other and curtain them off. Aza will bring our meals up." He limped to a nearby bed and sat down heavily. Unlike the hallway, the beds were clean, even though some looked to have old stains and some holds. He leaned his crutch against the wall and sighed, as though it was the nicest place he'd sat in some time. "You wanted to know about the conflict and my father, right?"
 
Nyirr considered the young half-elf's words, as he was certainly acting differently from last time. "You are right that he is acting differently. The mage I have killed last time seems to be the one doing it again. He told me to go to his domain, and exchange, he would release those controlled. I do not know why he would do such a thing." He followed into the room, seeing the beds all gathered in that same room. Clane explained what they would have to do, to which he didn't mind at all.

The Guardian marched to the bed that was to the left of Clane's one, taking a seat in it. You could hear it creak and see it bend under his weight… Nyirr got right back to his feet and knew he was weighing the thing down with the armor and shield. He proceeded to start putting his weapons and shield down, just as the young man asked his question. He looked at him as his shield was set down and nodded.

"Yes, I would like to know what has happened since the events of twelve years ago. Your father was a good man; I do not know why he would have died. I do hope it wasn't because of the hatred the two races share."

He now took a seat, weighing a little bit less with it off and waited for him to speak.
 
Clane nodded. "While I was at the school, I learned about what they believe is the cause of the conflict." He took a deep breath, then continued. "A high-ranking human was approached by a deity who told them they were the born rulers, and that elves were trying to usurp them. A few smear campaigns and assassinations later, elves no longer had any say in the ruling bodies and even the common human knew he had a divine right to step on the face of any elf he wished. The effects worsened when some elves tried to revolt, and we gained a worse reputation. Most humans decided that means we need to be driven into the ground and given no trust." He frowned. "Our version is the same, except it wasn't a deity that approached the human leader, but a devil."

The young man shoved his hair from his face, and let his hand rest against his scalp. "Papa went to work one day. I don't know the exact details, but the workshop was barred shut and burned down. He wasn't the only casualty." He let gravity pull his arm down, and it brought his hair down with it for a moment before he pushed it back again. "When I asked about it at school, I found out that the humans wanted to hire humans, so were closing their workshops in places where elves had a high population. They'd rather pay more money than hire elves."

Clane looked toward the door. "Aza will be on the way up. Let's not tell her about what happened to my father. A little mercy for her, and I don't want..." He cut off, eyes darting as he tried to find the words. "I don't want her to try to console or comfort me. I don't want anyone to."
 
Nyirr just looked over the young man, filled with pity for the events that had occurred. The explanation for what was happening between the two races had actually surprised him. His eyes became wide at the mention of a deity approaching a mortal like that. Surely, Nyirr would have heard if such a thing happened, but he couldn't recall seeing or hearing of such a story. Kassandra would probably know if this specific event occurred or not… The just of it sounds off, but he really did not confirm that to be true. He kept his mouth shut for the following of the story.

The story of his father followed. Just hearing the first bit of what happened, the Guardian lowered his gaze, quite sad. It simply was remarkable for the angel to hear such horrible stories of mortals doing such things. His hands joined together nervously. How could it be possible? He sighed ad lifted his chin up to face Clane. He made a simple request to which he nodded.

"The young lady already has enough to deal with; she indeed doesn't need more on her conscious…" He said softly, respecting his choice for not being comforted. He walked over to the door and opened before she arrived, helping her with the servings she had. "Thank you Aza." He brought the plate meant for Clane to his bed and set his own onto his bed. The angel started removing the banded mail he wore, loosening a few of the straps until the upper part of his armor was removed and on the ground. The man now had nothing but a simple, long sleeved white shit.

"We sleep well tonight. Tomorrow is going to be a long road."
 
Aza nodded and found a bed, then began to eat hungrily. Clane followed suit. The two seemed very conscious of their manners, and very conscious about who looked at their food.

The rest of the room was empty by the time Aza decided it was time to sleep, and she set about pulling the curtains around their three beds. "Tomorrow, we should get what we need for the trip. The prices might be higher here, but..." She yawned as she laid on her bed. "I think I can afford them."

Nevermind how her purse strings already stung from spending even so little. Clane had no money, and she was certain that Nyirr didn't either. She would have to fund their trip-- especially since she was sure it would be a four, five or more days to get there, unless the rumor mill had been wrong about the collapsed bridge ahead, in which case it might be more or less.

Morning came quickly once Aza fell asleep, and she woke to the sunlight coming through a window and slapping her face. She rose, eyes closed, and began to grab her night dress at either side of her waist. This wasn't the coarse cloth of her nightgown, though-- but the nicer texture of her day clothes. She opened her eyes, and the events of the previous day shot back to her.

Nyirr was back. The threat had returned. She and Clane were escorting him to deal with it, and she was funding a trip that she couldn't possibly afford if it went on for more than a few more days.

She sat up, wondering how many meals they would manage per day, if she found other sellers who wanted paid at all rather than those who wanted a profit. Quietly, she began to silently count on her fingers. Three days, if she only bought two meals-- less if she also got lodging. More if they had only one meal.

In her mind, the image of the nice dress she'd been saving for fell into a deep, dark abyss. It was hard to stomach, but she swallowed her vanity. The safety of others was more important, she knew.

It still stung, even though she knew that her sacrifice of the dress would help others. Aza straightened and patted her dress as clean as she could, then combed her hair with her fingers and tied it into a knot and looked more attentively at the two beds beside hers to check if the men had awakened yet.
 
Sleep… It was quite a surreal experience. Like every other being that was on this plane of existence, they needed rest for their bodies to recuperate from their days work. Nyirr was confined to these laws like all mortals were while he was within this plane, just as he needed food and water like the rest of them. Although, he didn't need nearly as much as the others.

His night had been a long one, not being able to find any sleep until a few hours into the night, which his eyes closed and he was left in nothingness. That lack of image, of life, was truly frightening, just like the first time he had done those many years ago. How could they do this every night? How was it not something that scared them? The Celestial plane didn't give most mortals enough credit for who they were.

The Guardian eventually came too, his eyes opening up in sudden realization that he had come back from that restive state. He felt like he had been taken out of whatever darkness there was in his mind. Pulling himself up to sit, he brought his hands to rustle his hair. It was going to be a few very odd days to come. He swung his legs to the side and quickly stood to his feet, stretching out… Aza had already awakened, which surprised the Guardian.

"Good Morning Aza." His voice was still filled with this deep divine power, though it was more prominent that morning. Walking over to the young lady. "How are you this morning?" He asked, but it was softer, more human like.
 
Nyirr awakened beside her, and she smiled in response to his words. "Good morning. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to get to our destination." She'd never been there before, but she knew it to be just outside the capital, and the crown had entry forbidden, last she'd heard, due to the university wanting to collect all of the books there.

Aza, not present at Vinziek's decapitation, lacked the memory of the place. However, stories of it from her old caretaker had not been uncommon, and she recalled the excitement of hearing about a half-elf owning a castle filled to the brim with books-- so much there was barely room to move until they came to his study, where they were careful not to ruin any during the fight.

The blurry-faced father figure of her memory showed her a similarly blurry book. "We're going the right way, I mean..." Her words were absent-minded. "We'll get there faster going this way than any other, right?"

Clane rose as their conversation roused him. "Mornin." He kept his good eye closed as he struggled against the urge to tell them to be quiet so he could return to sweet, sweet sleep. He rubbed his eye with one hand, while the other stopped just before it could rub the other eye. No touching, he reminded himself. It was healed, but could become infected easily.

Aza remembered suddenly that Clane would not be fit to walk quickly. That might double the amount of time on the road. She couldn't afford it, unless... "I'm going to get us a map." She decided aloud.

"Maps are expensive." Clane frowned. "You must have a lot of savings."

She was silent for a brief moment before she spoke. "I'll haggle."
 
The petite elf had been working that morning, which Nyirr was both glad and worried of. She was trying to help him get there the best way she could, but she was trying a little too hard to his opinion. With all the things that had happened in her life, she should be able to relax a little. The place they were looking for was still clear in his head, though he knew very little of how to get there with his current means. If he saw a map, he could probably figure out the most direct way to get there.

The Guardian took a seat near Aza, looking at what she was doing. She was doing off her own memory, which wouldn't help her at all. Nyirr frowned and sighed, about to simply say they could find a map to actually help them... Clane's good morning had come first, rubbing his eyes… The man was still tired. There was no rush really, although the sooner the situation was handled, the sooner Nyirr could help them back.

At the mention of the map being expensive, the Angel had not thought about the cost of everything yet, though it would probably be above their own means. It was sad to see that this struggle existed here… Nyirr leaned back a little, finally speaking up.

"You do not have to do that Aza. I will take care of our supplies in a map after my prayers. There is no need to spend what you have." He said indifferently. How he was going to do that? Well, quite easy; sell the things he had on him. It was worth a little fortune probably.

"You two just take it easy this morning."
 
Aza looked up, surprise at Nyirr's offer. "Are you certain? Do you even have money?" She bit her lip worriedly, then glanced at Clane before she looked back at Nyirr. "They might not even have a map for sale here. This isn't a wealthy community, I mean." She offered, her own voice uncertain.

"No, there is a map here that the owner might be willing to sell." Clane corrected. "My sister-in-law has it. It's a little scorched at the edge, but it's still usable, and it's not ancient."

Aza frowned. Not ancient... That didn't sound like it meant 'up to date' at all. That sounded like him trying to say it was the best they could get here. "Does it have everything between here and the capital?"

"The capital?"

"The bad guy's fortress is outside the capital, remember?"

Slowly, Clane nodded, thinking. "I'd have to see it. It got her here from the other direction fine, but I don't know that it has everything between here and the capital."

The pair spoke quietly. Nyirr said he needed to pray, so they would not get in his way as they figured out the details of traveling.
 
The Guardian looked down upon the little elven lady and slowly shook his head. "I do not currently have coins on myself, but I will be able to get some after my prayers." He turned from the two and went over to the bed. He went down to his knees and brought his hands together in the air. Whispered words of an unknown language was being spoken out of Nyirr, his head lowered and eyes closed. His awareness was reduced to nothing, concentrating on his prayer to the Archangel Kassandra for his daily blessings.

Once this was done, he took in a single deep, speaking words in the common language. "Thank you, Holy Ones." The man opened his eyes, a light smile on his lips. He pulled himself back to his feet as he grabbed his gear, but didn't seem to don it. Instead, he bundled it up and looked at the two comrades. "I will be back." Those were the only words he said as he walked off from the room and out the building.

The tall 'elven' man was walking around, trying to see potential buyers for the equipment he had with him. The start of the day was hard in that matter, as no one would want a suite of steel splint mail… Though, eventually someone offered something that normally would seem crazy to accept. Yet, Nyirr didn't need a fortune for his things. He only needed enough for the travels to come. They traded, Nyirr thanking the buyer for their generous act… The people seemed confused and perplex at such an act.

Nyirr came back to the Inn, having now sold everything but the sword that hung on his belt. He wore a nice white, long sleeved shirt and his golden tabard. He bared the typical long, brown leather pants and dark boots. Oddly enough, for someone with a elf like face, his body was broad and thick. He approached the two and put the small bag of coins down on a small table. "It isn't much, but it will help us."
 
A trio of men followed Nyirr into the inn and approached the counter, one yawned and the other two were very alert. They spoke quietly with the inn's owner, who looked slightly nervous.

When Nyirr arrived upstairs and showed the bag of coins, the two elves both turned to look at him and the bag.

Aza stared at Nyirr with wide eyes, and her mouth slowly dropped open. "You didn't have to sell your armor! What if you need it when we get to that place?" She covered her mouth, full aware she spoke out of turn. Angels weren't supposed to be questioned, right?

Clane grinned. "Settle, Aza. From what I heard, the armor won't be too helpful anyway. Besides, it means you don't have to do anything strange, doesn't it?"

The elven woman gasped, then turned her face away, skin red behind the veil of her hair. "Stop teasing me, Clane."

The half-blind elf grinned. "While you were gone, my family found out I was here and stopped by. They were suitably horrified about my state, and gave us a present." He held up a map. "It isn't the best map, but it has us and our destination, and it's new enough to show the roads I know about."
 
The petite elf had the right to be worried about his lack of convenient protection, though she didn't seem to think she should have spoken about it. The sapphire hues of the Guardian set upon Aza. His expression showed no sign of being offended or surprised of the answer he got, but instead held a warm smile. Clane had been faster to answer just about what was on the Guardian's mind. He nodded to him and explained himself to the elf.

"Whatever this man we are going to meet has, my armor will only serve me little in any conflict with him. The well-being of the both of you is of importance too."

His voice was oddly soft and light compared to the booming strength he typically had. Clane they told the event of his family, to which he was grateful to hear. He bowed his head. "I am pleased to hear it. We'll gather whatever supplies we need this morning then move out. I will give you time to prepare our leave. I shall be downstairs." The angel made his way out of the room, leaving the coins for them to manage. The pointy eared celestial being came down the stairs and took a seat at an empty table, his hands joined together in silent prayer.
 
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