Chapter 79 - Elven hospitality (3) (1/2)
”So this is the one?”
”Yes elder.”
”Certainly it is a strange one.”
After moving outside for the first time in well over a hundred years, the elders completely golden eyes lit up as she sensed mana in all mana in the environment, but when looking at the outsider she saw no mana that was the lifeblood of all living things she knew of. Looking at the outsider without the use of mana she saw a large demonkin man with a single eye and arm, sitting in the square middle of the open plaza of her village meditating in some strange manner while he attracted the attention of the young people of her home. Walking up to him she felt the outsider becoming more aware of her as he seemingly examined every detail of her being.
”Outsider.”
Addressing the outsider with a single word, he didn't even open his eye as he answered back.
”Strange mana filled creature.”
”Dax! You can't speak that way to an elder!”
”Ka ka ka! It's fine it's fine. Leave us.”
”Bu-”
”Did they start training border guards to be deaf after I left the capital?”
Posing a rhetorical question as she effortlessly seized control of every speck of mana in the small plaza, the elder looked at Eva with cold eyes.
”N-no they don't, excuse me.”
Leaving with those words, Eva hurriedly retreated out of the elders sphere of influence so she could breathe once more.
”Now that the fly is gone we can talk.”
Sitting down half a meter from Dax the elder put on a smile as she looked at the outsider with courriorsity.
”I didn't tell you to sit, I'm not done meditating.”
”What kind of creature does not carry mana in its body and still knows the proper way to center oneself like a first class mana user?”
”I have no idea but will you leave me alone if I try and tell you?”
Getting slightly annoyed that someone continuously tried to start a conversation with him as he tried to meditate in peace Dax opened his eye and looked at the so called elder with a hint of irritation on his face. The elder was a bit shorter than the average elven woman, and Dax estimated her standing height to be about 1,5 meters, with deeply red hair that was at least twice that length put up in a lazy manner. Her large eyes were completely golden in colour, with no way of differentiating between her iris' and the rest of her eyes. A small and fine nose was situated between her golden eyes and above a mouth that formed a mysterious smile with thin lips. Her skin was no indication of her age, as her almost unhealthy pale skin was completely without any damage or other signs of aging, and she could be mistaken for a 30 year old woman easily. In response to Dax's sarcastic remark her longer than average thin ears twitched slightly before she put on a bewitching smile and started laughing.
”Ka ka ka! It is you, outsider. I am merely impressed by your technique, nothing else.. But on to the main questions: Who are you and why are you here?”
Feeling the temperature drop about 10 degrees when the elder asked that question, Dax felt several spells had been prepared to reap his life if he answered in an unsatisfactory manner.
”My name is Dax, I am a qiton. And I'm here to prevent more antimatter containment cells from blowing up.”
Under the attentive gaze of the elder Dax told the honest truth, as he didn't have any reason to lie at that point in time.
”... You don't seem to be lying.”
”That's because I'm not.”
”... Interesting. I will allow you to stay here.. But tell me one more thing.”
”What?”
”Do you 'qitons' care for drinking?”
With a large smile like a child that just found a new friend the elder asked a question Dax hadn't expected, that he also answered truthfully with a smile on his face.
”Like you wouldn't believe.”
”Then follow me~”
With a childish smile the elder skipped along as she hummed happily, making Dax display a troubled face.
”She knows I'm a prisoner, right?”
Following after the elder Dax made it about a meter before he was blocked by one of the elven soldiers that had originally captured him.
”What the hell do you think you're doing?”
”Following the elder for a drink?”
”Like hell you are, sit the f.u.c.k down outsider.”
Seeing Dax being stopped the elder lost her warm smile as she addressed the soldier.
”It's fine.”
”But elder-”
”Are you daft? I said it is fine.”
”O-okay.”
Feeling the air tighten around his neck like a garrote the elven soldier swallowed hard as the colour drained from his face. Making their way to the elders house without no more interruptions Dax was lead into a room covered with blankets and pillows where the elder laid down in one of the beds after she had fetched two crystal glasses and a bottle of some sort of golden high proof alcohol.
”Now. What do you look for in alcohol outsider?”
”Strong, deep and layered flavor.”
”And smoke or any other flavor?”
”If I wanted to taste smoke I would smoke, otherwise I am okay with whatever.”
”I see.. Then not this one.”