Chapter 29: 24: Two Spirits

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Who knew that you’re creatively active when you’re not suffering from sleep deprivation.

I'm thinking about starting another off series to just take my mind away from things.

A girl was pacing around restlessly her velvet hair flailing wildly each time she turned, distress on her face reflected her mental state. Days ago she went to spirit lake to investigate a disruption. Though alarmed, her home was mostly unscathed. In fact some small game that fled from the vicinity of the lake wandered close enough for her village to catch. She even got some for herself with a reserve bow. But that came with the price of her earning the ire of the spirit, who then tirelessly chased her with what could be anything but benevolence. Of course she didn’t tell the elders, she didn’t know what they would do to her but it couldn’t have been something that she would like. It seemed that the spirit left her alone unfortunately she couldn’t escape from the repercussions forever.

Knowing that they relied on one of her rivers for water, in order to draw her out they were polluted. It was benign for the most part, if you were to bear with the gummy and ashen taste it had. But the message was clear and directed at her, she must do something or the pollution will render the water non-potable, forcing the whole village to either wither away without a drop of water or go on a perilous journey in search of a new place to take shelter. According to the stories of the elders they were descendants of exiles that fled from their now fallen kingdom.

They were already wandering refugees before, turning into it again was absolutely unacceptable. And as the individual who brought about this situation she was at crossroads. Tell the truth and think of a way to get out of this predicament together, however their consensus would probably end up to her being the one used to soothe the raging spirit. Or leave everything behind and run away alone… Unimaginable.

Only real choice for her was solving the issue at hand, without anyone knowing. If she failed… Perhaps it’ll end with just her death. Still she lacked the courage, no one sane person could fearlessly walk to what may be the executioner’s block. And the last option was… ‘Fight? Can I even win? No I can’t… If I fail everyone will be held accountable… Ahhh what do I do…’ her pacing back and forth as if to create a path in the turf below seemed to have no end in sight…

Despite the confident questioning internally she was downright terrified. The voice seemed to reverberate from inside her head… Almost as though some intruder was in her mind.

Whatever that was calling her knew her and based on the content of what was said, it has been waiting for her. There was only one who fits into these criteria. The seemingly inoffensive invitation could only be interpreted as a death sentence. She was out of time, she had to make her choice now, turn back condemning all or face forwards and hope for the best. If there was one consolation to her, the voice she heard was mellow different from that of the Spirit she knew who employed a snappy sharp tone. Perhaps… Maybe just maybe it won't end in a disaster. Carrying onto that sliver of hope she stepped onwards with shuddering steps…

  As she drew near to the lake and could make out some glimpses of it through the vegetation, the whiff of humid air was becoming more and more noticeable. There the spirit adorned in white stood at the shore of the lake with her back towards her, long beryl hair slightly waving sideways in the breeze. She turned to face her, causing the Elven girl’s heart rate to jump. A streak of cold sweating running down the side of her face, waiting in abatement.

Silent, short nod was her answer.

It was her bow, she would recognize her own handicraft anywhere.

Faenas was both intrigued and frightened wondering who could befriend a greater spirit, were they the one who chased her? Was it just a big misunderstanding? She didn’t want to hold onto false hope only to be crushed by it, yet she still wished for it.

The spirit’s sights were slightly off, seemingly looking at something behind her. Following her gaze she turned around and she was stunned speechless for a moment from what was there. Standing behind her was a beautiful elven woman with porcelain white skin, silken dress of unknown design.  Of her features what surprised her the most fluttering platinum hair cascading down to the hips.

‘I know your name but bringing that up now would be a bit weird huh… Starting my first greeting with ‘Hey! I know your name because I was hiding and stalking you while listening in on your conversation. ‘Why?’ you may ask? Because I needed to take a closer look at you so I can turn into the same species as you.’ doesn’t seem like a bright idea. Now what was that about the silver something? Probably nothing.’

‘Let’s not start this never ending loop…’

Unamused spirit questioned as she sat on a large exposed rock swinging her legs to and fro, drawing intricate patterns on the lake’s surface without facing the two.

Receiving Alicia’s telepathic message the spirit was left sulking. Naturally one who called Faenas to come was also her.

Since spending some time with her over the duration making the net trap Alicia learned much about the spirit. Mostly of her loneliness and melancholy; how she’s unusually possessive over any company. There was something more but she couldn’t gleam into it. A part of which is her aversion to the elves, something borne of a mix of emotions.

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Faenas seemed to be uncertain about something but after some deliberation:

‘Hm… judging by how happy to help she is there’s something more to the relationship between the spirit and the elves. Maybe things weren’t always this antagonistic.’

‘Seems her home is some ways off… it’s gonna be a long walk south east.’ 

…

..

.

Earnestly the girl told Alicia not only about the village and their residents but also the many aspects of their lives and daily routines. The idle chatter was pleasant enough with some intriguing facts like how she’s over 300 years old but something else was bothering her, thus she asked the young girl.

Both of them stopped. Elf was having difficulty answering which is what she was worried about.

“Do you know that spirits can change their shape freely? I could be a monster masquerading as someone you trust.”

Receiving a soundless affirmation she continued.

“Then I must ask you why you’re this trustful of me but you are frightened by her.”

A moment of silence passed. Inhaling lungful of air and slowly letting it out.

For the first time Alicia was amazed and baffled.

Her expression turned somber.

When she asked so < Mimicry > was disabled and Alicia had already assumed her original form. Fangs plainly bared and her stature towering over the Elven girl. In spite of it all she only seemed to be only mildly surprised.

Alicia let out a resigned sigh while changing back into elven form.

Quickly wiping away some of her drool;

Before she could answer, their lively conversation came to halt when high pitched whistling echoed from throughout the woods with different others whistling each with similar but unique in their own right followed up as if to answer the first one. Moment Faenas heard these she became alert. And responded with her own whistle unique in a way that it was warbling which started slow but eventually picking up the pace and shifting to higher and higher pitch.

‘Wow… how very specific…⸮ Well I’m still impressed that they can infer that much with just whistling as a medium for communication.’

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