On Purpose, a Prologue

Closed/Solo
Trembling and shaking in the rain she looked up towards the heavens and questioned, “When will I be ok?”

“Never,” replied the universe. The universe then posed Lilthis with its own question, “What are you?”

Without hesitation she answered, “Apathetic. And happy-go-lucky depressed.”

With a sigh the young dark elf woman rose to her feet. Her black pants were spotted with brown blotches of dampened dirt and the copper gears on her gauntlet were caked with a thick layer of mud. She haphazardly picked off a few specks of mud from her gauntlet before adjusting her chest piece which had fallen to expose the top of her breasts. The red feathers that adorned her shoulders were slumped over and dripping wet. Lilly stood still, her throat ached from crying but she moved her head back up to face the sky and shouted at the universe, “What the fuck are you?”

The universe did not reply.


Patience could only last so long. The constant lies, dodging of questions, and worst of all his refusal to take her from this tiny settlement was wearing on her sanity. It was a nice enough place but her soul yearned for adventure. To uncover the hidden secrets of magecrafts that would bring her closer to her goal. Months ago, her brave protector was more than willing to explore any cavern or desolate place that she believed contained knowledge of the arcane. Now he would leave for most of the day, never to answer where he had been. Lilly knew he was gambling. Her family had provided them a stipend that would’ve lasted a few years in hiding and he was quickly burning through it.

Earlier that day she had been discussing her concerns with Orbyn, the merchant who ran a storefront a few hundred paces from Faellint and Lilthis’ dwelling. Orbyn had let slip that a group calling themselves the, ‘Society of Vestige Wizardry’, had come into the village. The merchant explained that the group, often referred to as just ‘The Vestige’, had stayed to stock on supplies and was departing early the next morning. Lilthis indicated to Orbyn, “I just may join them… things with Faeoth have gotten out of hand.” Faeoth had been his cover name in hiding and Orbyn knew all about Faeoth’s gambling habits.

The shrewd broker asked the young dark elf an honest question, “Have you confronted him? Asked him to stop?” Lilly broke eye contact with the shopkeeper, spun an exposed gear on her brass gauntlet, and then lied with a simple, “Yes. He does not care.” Accosting her old friend about his addiction would be hard. Lilthis did not like hard. Most things in her life had come easy. Lilly liked easy.

When she returned to the hovel they called home she saw the powerful dark elf warrior sat in the corner. His forehead was displaying his usual curved scar, his hair a bushy brown, and his red eyes a bit glazed over. She noticed a bottle of bourbon on the end table beside him to accompany the glass in his hand.

Faellint looked over at the younger elf, staring at her with longing he questioned, “been at the storefront again? Dangerous for you to wander so freely.”

Her reply was quick, “You expect me to stay here? All day? While you go out and do gods know what?”

Lilly’s bodyguard sipped his bourbon before he replied. Swirling the translucent brown liquid around and inhaling it through both nose and mouth. The answer he gave expressed his obvious disappointment, “you don’t understand the world Lil. You speak too politely, you’re too prim, your accent exposes your upbringing to any Alerian you encounter.” The athletic blackened elf downed the rest of his drink before proceeding, “y’see Lil, this world is never going to give you anything. You can’t use that fancy name of yours no more. The world you’re in now only gives you what you take.”

Faellint looked over the dainty young maiden again, up and down, she knew long ago that he had developed feelings for her. Looks like this are what cemented her belief. “Lil, you ain’t a taker. That’s why I’m out every day. Trying to earn us enough money, way more than that pension from your folks. Enough to leave this place and move somewhere permanent. Maybe to Salvar. Or we might head to Corone. Live out our days together, in peace,” he explained. “You prefer the mountains or the beach Lil?”

His justification was lost on her. His love was unrequited, or so she thought. It was true that there was a tender place for Faellint in the onyx elf’s heart. But love? Perhaps if his birth was not so lowly, hers so lofty, then maybe it could happen. Maybe.

Silence was interrupted as Faellint reached into his sack to pull out an orange and another drinking glass. He knew that bourbon was Lilthis drink of choice. He also knew that her favorite treat was oranges. It was more than mere coincidence that the drink and food could create a perfect match when combined. The elven male brandished a small knife and cut a chunk of orange peel off, placing it into the glass before pouring the liquid a third of the way up. Believing he had pleased the young woman before him he presented the gift and placed the rest of the orange on the oak table to be consumed later.

Lilly took the glass from his calloused hands into her left and with her right hand grasped the orange peel and swirled it around in the small glassware. Citrus notes overwhelmed the glass as the peel was encircled in a sweet bourbon before she released allowing the byproduct of the fruit to submerge wholly into the concoction. Approaching her lips the sweet tangy fragrance pressed into her nostrils. As she sipped the beverage her senses came alive and she felt the burst of energy that liquid courage could initially supply. Though a depressant, alcohol would behave as a stimulant when first entering the blood stream, wearing down and then causing a decrease of energy as it was fully metastasized.

Faellint was delusional. She would not go live a quiet life with him. Not be some farm girl to bear him children. She would instead run off tomorrow and join The Vestige. Pursue her dream until it was realized. But she decided to let him live out this fantasy for one night. Hoping that he would take care of himself after she moved on without him. For despite his faults, Lilthis did care for him. More than she cared to admit.

“I quite like the sea,” she finally replied, faking a smile for his benefit. She knew the betrayal of her departure would crush him.