“Ara! Come Play with us!” I heard the children chant, I looked at them and they watched me with odd, wide smiles on their faces. Their voices sounded far away as the shadows extended from them into the shapes of monsters. But then the children’s faces looked terrified without cause or reason that I could tell and they started to scream as they stared into my very soul.

A voice came up behind me, “You’re nothing but a monster. You’re not wanted here.” I turned toward the voice and saw my father looking down at me, but I couldn’t see his face. Shadows shrouded his features aside from one of his eyes that glowed a crimson red. Fear coursed through me and I looked down at my light blue hands now stained red and dripping with blood. I looked back up at the children whose corpses now lay mangled in the dirt, their faces permanently marked with the look of true horror.

Not long after, the adults of the small village came to surround me, the tents seeming to fly away from me as all I could see were the angry bloodthirsty adults towering over me. A bolt of magic flew through the crowd and struck me in the eye causing me to fall back into my father. He gripped my shoulder painfully as I held my left eye. I heard a voice pierce through the crowd “RUN ARA! RUN!” I looked up shocked to see my brother trying to run to me. I looked around and the adults transformed into terrible monsters, horns protruding from the sides of their heads and twisting toward the deep purple sky, their hands turned to sharp talons, eyes glowing red, they hunched over and their tongues fell from their fanged mouths, forked at the end. My Father towered above the rest and sprouted wings and a tail with an arrow tip.

I screamed and ran into the woods. I could hear them chasing me as I ran further and further into the ever growing darkness of the forest. The trees crowded in but something in them was comforting as they muffled the sounds of the terrifying footsteps. I began to slow and eventually stopped running to take a look around. But before I could relax I heard a twig snap and I jolted forward only to trip and fall over a root onto my face in the brush. The frilly, layered dress I had been wearing was now ripped and dirty, my socks falling down and my left shoe partly off. My pixie cut was a mess and I started to cry. A fox hopped out of the forest and came up to me and I stopped crying, something about her aura soothed me.

My name is Nexxis, She said, I looked at her shocked as her voice resonated through my mind

Can you hear my thoughts? I asked through my mind to test. She nods before coming up to me and licking my face. I hugged her tight. I heard another twig snap……

I jolted awake and almost fell out of my tree as I heard the twig snap nearby. I must have dozed off while on the hunt for dinner. I looked down and Nexxis was in a pouncing position and I looked in the direction she faced. A deer had stopped nearby to take a drink from the stream. This will be an easy hunt. I stood up on the branch and aimed my bow, firing the arrow. It flew forward and struck the animal in the chest where the animal fell and laid slowly dying. I jumped down from the tree and walked up to it, kneeling beside it. I said a prayer in elvish, giving it peace. Once that was done and I finished its death I began carving and skinning and preparing it. I put all of the deer aside from two portions of meat into my bag to sell in the nearest town. I looked around and found a spot in the trees to start a fire and cook, I gave a raw portion to Nexxis. Maybe there will be a worthwhile job in the next town, I’m kind of bored. I thought to Nexxis.

Maybe, it might even be a part of your fate. She thought back while gnawing on her food.

That’s way too mushy. A new voice said. In my subconscious a figure walked forward, a handsome man with wings.

What would you possibly know, demon? Nexxis growls.

I live in her, as a part of her. Zagasihr said, annoyed.

Okay guys, knock it off. I’m just bored and need anything interesting to do. Enough arguing, enough about fate, whatever happens, happens. I said ending the conversation. The sun began dipping below the tree line and cast a beautiful pink and gold across the sky fading into a deep blue. I sighed as I watched the sky and the stars begin to appear. I put out the fire and climb to the top of the nearest tree. I watched the sky with a small smile on my face. I’d like to think that there is something more to my life than this. So far my life has felt like me trying to find myself by going on a lot of random adventures while trying to get rid of a demon i have pretty much given up on. I closed my eyes and I began to meditate. As an Elf I only need four hours of meditation, I could sleep but I can get more done this way. Maybe Nexxis is right, maybe something fateful will happen tomorrow.

After my four hours I stretched and looked around at the still dark forest. The trees didn’t crowd in on me, there was a decent amount of space for brush and bushes, the dirt path was only a few feet away and I climbed down from my perch after surveying the beautiful night sky again. The forest here was much different than the one from my childhood. More open but still comforting. The moon was high and only a crescent, surrounded by twinkling stars. Once on the path I put my hands behind my head and watched the sky as I walked, Nexxis by my side.

A couple of bandits jumped out and I rolled my eyes. What they must have seen was a short 5 foot moon elf, long black hair covering her left eye and reaching down to her waist, a green eye looking back at them annoyed, revealing clothes, and a pink bow in her hair. What they didn’t know was that this moon elf was a trained assassin and currently a bounty hunter. “Give us your money pretty girl.” One said, both had grins on their faces and held daggers. They were scrawny and not much taller than I was, both human and looked young, I must be their first target or close to that. I sighed and took my bow out and shot both in the blink of an eye. They weren’t dead but they fell hard to their knees and looked at me shocked, arrows stuck in their shoulders.

“I should kill you for trying to rob me. But I’m trying a little harder not to kill anymore.” I said, staring at them with my hands on my hips.

“Who are you?” One asked, looking at me hard and examining me.

“Lia Nailo. And you would do good to stay out of my way.” I said. “I’ll send a guard back to you when I get to the next town.” I shrugged and walked around them.

“You can’t leave us here! We’ll bleed out!” The other yelled.

“No you won’t. I made sure that the arrow stopped rapid blood loss. Just don’t remove the arrows.” I gave a half grin and continued on my way.

Soon a town came into view on the horizon as the sun peeked over. The sky was colored with yellows and light blues as the sun made itself known to the world. I took in a deep breath of the fresh morning air. It was a small town, the houses weren’t too close together yet the town was waking up. There were a few businesses and even a job board which I planned to check out soon enough. Once I entered the town I found the first guard walking along the road toward me, but he wasn’t coming at me. I veered toward him, “Hey, there were two guys just down the road that tried to rob me. I left them but they might be bleeding out.” I shrugged.

“You hurt them?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“They tried to take my money. It was self-defense. I didn’t kill them.” I said, rolling my eyes. I don’t see the issue here. He glared at me. “You might want to hurry.” I said pointing down the road. After he left I took a look around. There were vendors and shops and an open type bakery. Perfect. For being so early in the morning there were quite a bit of people roaming the streets, mostly humans with a few other races sprinkled about while chit chatting among themselves. A few children ran around playing together and laughing, some were headed to work, others doing chores or chatting with friends. It was so quaint, but there has to be more to my life than this. I went to a few different shops to sell the deer skin and some of the meat and antlers. After I went to the bakery and got myself a pastry. Pastries always brought a sparkle to my eye. I snacked on the pastry as I walked over to the job board to see if there was anything worthwhile.

A woman approached me wearing a hooded cloak, clearly trying to hide her identity. “Are you Lia Nailo?” She asked, while looking around to make sure no one was watching us. I nodded, looking at her curiously. Not many people knew my name and reputation unless they were criminals or seaking me for a job. I could see her face covered in shadows under the hood, she had a light complexion and some strands of bleach blonde hair fell in front of her piercing blue eyes. “I have a job for you.” She was only slightly taller than I was.

“What is it and how much are you paying?” I asked.

“I need you to find my son. He had been kidnapped about fifteen years ago and I haven’t been able to find him. His name is Akrakir Damine. Here is a shirt of his that he had when I still had him. It should still have his scent on it. He’s a Tiefling with reddish skin” She said, handing me a small, deep blue shirt. I took it and pulled out a bottle, stuffing the shirt into it to preserve the smell.

“Do you have anything with your scent on it so I can find you again?” I asked. She nods and takes out a handkerchief from her pocket and hands it to me. I put that in a different bottle. “How much?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Two-hundred and fifty gold pieces now and Two-hundred and fifty gold when you deliver.” The women said holding a pouch of coins that could be heard jingling together.

I shrugged, “Should be easy enough.” I said and we exchanged the gold and a hand shake and we went our separate ways. I opened my bag and put the new coins in with my collection of others. Collecting coins is like my hobby to pass the days. I really don’t spend a lot of it.

I have been traveling for a while now and I began losing myself in my thoughts. I wonder what this Akrakir was like. I have traveled with a couple Tiefling before, both pretty different in personality. I wonder what he is like. He’s not a child anymore if it’s been thirteen years. Has he tried finding his way back? Does he even know who his real parents are? She never told me how old he was when he was taken. I guess I’ll find out. The scent was taking me north, through Atharia. I’ll be passing close to my uncle’s in Hugel, but I don’t have time to stop and chit chat. The trees were pretty sparse aside in select areas where there were thick forests. I wasn’t paying too much attention to my surroundings as I thought about my mission instead. I wonder if he has a better life now than living with his parents. I wonder why he was kidnapped and by who. The name sounded familiar though. Maybe from Ryldranth? I’m sure I’ll know when I see him.

What if it is him? Nexxis asked as she trotted beside me.

Well, I’ll probably keep my promise to Ryldranth. I shrugged.

Why? If it is him, why would you keep a promise to that Demon Lord who changed his name to Ralmir because he “Found his humanity” Zagasihr said sounding disgusted.

I rolled my eyes. You’re a Demon Lord and I don’t treat you like garbage.

That’s different! He’s my rival! And I live in your head woman!

That means nothing! I shot back as Nexxis snorted out a laugh. I don’t even know for sure if it is him. I sighed.

We were coming up on the border of Atharia and Skailorwind. I watched the mountains come into view, he wasn’t even in the province? This should be fun. I traveled through the mountains, I did fairly well at keeping away from danger. I did see a few suspicious people but I chose to ignore them, either they would make themselves known to me or they weren’t going to be my problem. I soon traveled through the only passage in the mountains between Atharia and Skailorwind. It was like a tribute to the gods, there were statues everywhere. I tried to get through as fast as possible. Religious places made me uncomfortable. But was it me who was uncomfortable or was it Zagaisihr? It was difficult to tell sometimes. A couple of men walked past me wearing armor, they looked me up and down with halfcocked smiles. I rolled my eyes, turned with my hand on my hip, and flipped them off with a smile of my own. I turned before seeing their expressions and walked away, purposefully swaying my hips as I went.

I soon found myself lost in thought as I began thinking of ways to intercept him once I found him. Most of that depended on what I saw when I found him. I could do the friendly approach, or the intimidating approach or I could try kidnapping him myself. As the sun began to sink again I found a place to camp out, I’ll have plenty of time to think it over in four hours.