Veiled Trust

Year 14

*Whispering falls, A peaceful town. The city sits atop a landmass with a natural moat. The waterfalls surround the town, the mist reaches the outer ring of the city helping care for the crops. A Rainbow creates a halo over the city. The three are walking through a tunnel to the entrance. They can hear the roars of the water rushing past them.*

Emma: IT’S SO LOUD!

Ariella: JUST WAIT UNTIL WE GET INTO TOWN! IT GETS QUIET PAST THE FARMS!

*As they enter the town the sounds quickly quiet down. as they reach the Inside of the town all they hear is footsteps and distant voices.*

Ariella:*Low voice* I don’t understand it completely but from what I understand is the way the air pulls through the tunnels the closer you get to the center the easier it is to hear.

*Ariella points at a tower in the center of the city.*

Ariella: They say in that tower you can hear all the whispers. No one can hold secrets outside so most people stay inside.

Emma: Why inside?

Ariella: It's easier to show than explain.

*Ariella opens the door to the guild and is met with a burst of noises. At the counter They’re met by a Human female. With brown hair and brown eyes her name tag says Allison. They get their rooms and go unload before heading back down. Emma heads over to review the quest board when a Female Demon comes over to her, She has blue scales and yellow eyes. She looks like she might have just started adventuring herself.*

Demon: Hi, Names Katrina. Are you new here?

Emma: I’m Emma, To the area? Yes.

Katrina: Well if you don’t already have a party. My group would be more than happy.

*Katrina points at a table, four people wave back. A human male, two male gnomes and a female dwarf.*

Emma: You seem to already have a big party.

Katrina: Well newbies should stick together.

*Ariella comes down and runs over to Emma.*

Ariella: Who’s this?

Emma: Katrina. She was seeing if I had a party.

Katrina: *Grabs Emma.* And?

Emma:*Laughs* I hadn’t told her yet. If she didn’t have a party, I was gonna offer to join her for a couple quests.

Katrina: *Nods* If you don’t mind me asking what rank are you two?

*The two show their cards.*

Katrina: ‘E’ Rank?!

Emma: Yeah, sorry. We got permission to register early.

*Katrina introduces the girls to her party.*

Katrina: The two gnomes are. Derek and Kyle.

Derek: Nice to see more elves around.*winks*

Kyle: Ignore him. He was dropped into the falls as a baby.

Derek: Why is that the first story you tell people!

*Emma and Ariella laugh.*

Katrina: Then we have Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: If you wanna hit him ever feel free.

Katrina: And Christopher.

*Christopher acknowledges them then goes back to eating.*

Katrina: That’s just how he is.

*Valorin walks up behind Ariella and Emma.*

Valorin: Is that you Kat?

Katrina: Uncle Val?!

Everyone: Uncle Val?

Valorin: She’s my sister's kid. She told me you’d be in the area but I didn’t expect to run into you so quickly.

Katrina: She told me you would be here for my birthday. And that your were traveling with younger elves?

Valorin: It’s not like that!

Emma: *To ariella* That's why he hasn’t wanted to leave us behind yet.

*Ariella holds back a laugh.*

Valorin: You know it’s been awhile Emma. *Evil grin.* Why don’t we have a duel to see how strong you’ve become?

Emma: Eh, Worth it.

*As Ariella bursts into laughter the group heads downstairs to a large room for people to train. Emma and valorin enter one of the 3 dueling rings.*

Valorin: I’m not taking it easy on you.

Emma: I’d be surprised if you did.

*Emma enhances her body.*

Valorin: Whenever you’re ready. Give me everything you’ve got.

*Emma darts towards Valorin and gets a foot to her chest she gets sent into the wall. Valorin swings behind him, striking a blade. Emma’s copy in the wall disperses. And she jumps back.*

Valorin: I said everything.

*Valorin powers himself up, growing twice in size. Emma creates four copies of herself and begins attempting to hit Valorin. Valorin destroys two of the copies. Emma steps back with the other copy, it disperses from an unseen hit to the chest..*

Valorin: You’re slowing down.

*Valorin swings at Emma and she quickly dodges the blade, slides under Valorin. Emma jumps up and drops her foot down on his head. Valorin spins around and grabs Emma by her foot.*

Valorin: And this is for the joke.

*Valorin Slams Emma into the ground and walks away. Ariella and the others run up to her. Emma coughs blood and smiles.*

Ariella: You and tall people don’t get along. First the troll now Valorin. Learn to pick your battles.*Chuckles*

Katrina: I heard about the troll fight. *Laughs* That was you two?

*Ariella helps Emma sit up.*

Emma: Yeah, we don’t talk about that day.

Ariella: She doesn’t.

Katrina: Wait. So are you the students he had? I thought you both graduated.

Ariella: We asked him to join our party. At least the beginning part.

Emma: I never thought of Valorin having family. I always pictured, he just crawled out of the ground.

Ariella: He’s gonna hurt you again.

Emma: I’m feeling good today, leave me alone.*Laughs*

Katrina: Did something happen?

Ariella: No she does this. Normally They have a duel but, this was more like a mock battle today.

Christopher: I don’t know, it seemed more like someone receiving a punishment.

Kyle and Derek: Or a public execution.

Elizabeth: I can heal you if you need it.

Emma: If I heal it too quickly he might give me some training to do. I’ll wait another minute for him to leave.

—------------------

*Emma and Ariella are looking at the quest board when Katrina bursts through the guild door.*

Katrina: HELP!

Emma: What happened?

Katrina: We were doing a quest to investigate a noise in the sewer and they took them.

*Emma Looks at Ariella then runs out the door.*

Ariella: Katrina go get Valorin upstairs and meet us at the sewers.

*Emma and Ariella make it to the sewers and look down a section where it looks like a creature had dug through. When they reach a large room They are met with the smell of corpses, when they look across the room they see Christopher hunched over the body of Derek.*

Ariella:Chri!

*Emma stops Ariella. The creature turns around and sheds the rest of its skin.*

Emma: Doppelganger.

*Elizabeth lets out a gasp from her hiding spot. The Doppelganger turns towards the two elves then Elizabeth.*

Doppelganger in Christopher's voice: Eliza what’s wrong?

*Elizabeth starts to try to run when the Doppelganger charges. An arrow hits the ground in front of the Doppelganger causing it to slide in a wall.*

Ariella: Run!

*Elizabeth and Ariella start to run. Ariella turns to see Emma standing in the tunnel walkway.*

Ariella: Emma!

*Emma turns her head towards Ariella.*

Emma: It's gonna be okay.

*Emma’s eyes begin to glow a mix of purple and green as she stares at the soul of the creature. It knows only evil intentions, its soul is as dark as the abyss itself. The Doppelganger, now just a meter away from her face. Emma, in the blink of an eye shreds the Doppelganger. Ariella starts to run towards Emma. Emma turns to Ariella, smiles then coughs blood and collapses.*

*Emma wakes up to Lily curled in her lap and Ariellas sleeping in a nearby chair.*

Emma(TL): What happened?

*Lily jumps up and starts licking Emma’s face. The commotion wakes up Ariella.*

Lily: Momma you're okay!

*Ariella in tears runs over and hugs Emma. Valorin bursts through the door.*

Ariella: Don’t ever do that again.

Valorin: Do you remember anything?

Emma: I remember we walked into the room. I saw part of the shedding on the floor next to it. Christophers face. When it turned towards Elizabeth I instinctively looked at its soul.

*flashback*

Voice: Kill

Emma thinking: I’ve got to protect them.

Voice: Kill!

Emma thinking: I can’t rely on it to not hurt the others.

*Emma closes her eyes and sees the figure she had seen before.*

Emma: I want to protect them!

Voice: Protect?

Emma: YES! I need to protect those I care about.

Voice: Do you trust them?

*Emma sees Ariella appear before her.*

Emma: I don’t need your help to know I can trust her! YES! PROTECT THEM!

*End flashback*

Emma: Next thing I know I woke up here.

Ariella: So the more intelligent ones do have souls?

Valorin: Still. Emma, do you understand what you did?

*Elizabeth, Kyle and Katrina knock on the door before entering.*

The three: Emma!

Elizabeth: What kind of spell was that?

Kyle: I can’t thank you enough.

Katrina: What rank are you really?

Emma: Guys… about Derek and Christopher.

*Kyle hugs Emma.*

Kyle: Chris died a long time ago and my brother would just be happy you managed to save me.

Valorin: Doppelgangers find their food tastes better when they make someone trust them before. The stronger the better. They probably never met the real chris.

Katrina: All that aside Emma seriously what rank are you?

Valorin: Katrina stop.

Emma: No Valorin it’s okay. They’re safe. I have a curse, I can destroy any creature in front of me at the risk of killing myself, it’s like a lottery system, but if I didn’t do it we all would’ve died.

Elizabeth: I healed you the best I could, speaking of which since you just woke up your probably really hungry well go get you some food.

*Ariella, Emma and Valorin are left in the room.*

Valorin: That was a good Idea with the curse idea.

Emma: Yeah, I’m hoping they don’t talk about it.

*Ariella softly punches Emma.*

Ariella: Stupid. The last thing you said before it happened was it’s gonna be okay.

Emma: I did?

*Ariella explains what she saw to Emma.*

Valorin: You never mentioned she said anything before.

Ariella: My best friend was unconscious for four days so I’m sorry!

Emma: Don’t fight. Please.

Ariella: I also didn’t know how to describe it, it wasn’t Emma she felt like someone else.

Valorin: Well this is terrible timing. And I guess great timing.

Ariella and Emma: What is?

Valorin: I’m going to be leaving at the end of the month. I can stop by and give this information to the queen personally.

Emma: I had a feeling.

Ariella: I didn’t. I know we talked about it before but I thought you’d be here for at least a year.

*Valorin pats the girl’s heads*

Valorin: If anything today showed me you’ll be fine. Emma do you know what a Doppelganger is ranked?

Emma: At least D.

Valorin: See, if push comes to shove you too will be fine.*Smiles*

—----------------------------------------------------------------------

*Ariella, Emma and Katrina are standing next to a cart with Valorin. The rain mixes with the windstream making a vortex effect above the city.*

Valorin: Well girls. It was fun.

Emma: You are not getting away with that sorry excuse for a goodbye.

*Katrina hugs Valorin.*

Katrina: You have to come back and visit me.

Valorin: I don’t know, there’s potential cake in my future.

*Emma smacks Valorin’s arm.*

Emma: If we’re still here at least say hi.

Ariella: Is it too late to fire you?

Valorin: Sorry but I quit a while ago. The management here sucks.

*Valorin and Ariella laugh. The four finish their goodbyes and the girls start walking back towards the guild.At the guild they sit down to talk.*

Katrina: You know you guys should really look into a healer. I know you have Celestra, but with Emma that doesn’t feel nearly enough.

Ariella: I mean maybe wait until your uncle is past the falls before talking about us replacing him.*Laughs*

Emma: I know what you mean but we only really did a few quests with him. How do we even go about finding a healer?

Katrina: You can put in a request with the guild, whatever kind of person you’re looking for and they will keep an eye out for anyone like that and introduce them.

*Katrina goes and gets a form from the front desk.*

Katrina: You fill this out.

Ariella: I’ll fill it out Emma’s writing is terrible.

Emma: you’re not even wrong.

Ariella: Do we care about any specifics?

Emma: maybe a paladin or cleric.

Katrina: Oh, then it might be better to go to the church, they can ask the other churches.

Emma: Well then I guess I know where to head next.

*Ariella heads to the nearby church. A human priest approaches the girls.*

Priest: Good morning, I don’t believe we’ve met. Are we here for Luna?

Emma: Actually we’re here to ask about a healer?

Priest: *Laughs* You can call me David, and I can help you. Have you been to the church before?

Ariella: I go once a year on my birthday.

Emma: Why?

David: Have you never been in a church dear?

Emma: Actually, no I never have. That’s not bad is it?

Ariella: Not for elves. You at least know of the gods right?

Emma: Um yes?

David:*Chuckles* I always enjoyed elven behavior. The Elves worship Luna and her 4 moon maidens.

Ariella: They’re the mother of the four moons themselves.

David: But, for the request do you have any preferences?

Ariella: Someone who can heal and sometimes take the front lines. At the moment you have an archer and dual wielder. My spirit can do lesser healing but Emma is getting reckless lately.

David: Then if you don’t mind waiting I know someone who might be perfect. He’s on ‘G’ rank but he’s very reliable.

Emma: Great! Is he here?

David: That’s the waiting part. He’s on a mission for the church at the moment. He should be back by the fall.

Ariella: Well for now we don’t have plans to go anywhere and we can make it five months without injury.*Looks at Emma.*

David: I’ll be sure to get a hold of the guild when he returns.

Emma: Wait what’s his name?

David: He goes by Ruddy. He’s just turned 15 this year.

Emma: Did he join early?

David: Yes actually. Is that a problem?

Ariella: Not at all. We both did as well.

David: Oh what rank are you both?

Both: ‘E’

David: I think You three will get along great.

Emma: Hey since I’m here who are all the other gods.

*David points to a group of statues.*

David: The Human is Marnus, he is the god of the seas and trade. Next the Beastkin Heloira the Goddess of farming and the sun. Luna the the Elven goddess of the moons. The dwarven god Grundar the god of Earth and minerals. The gnomish goddess of Intelligence and time. And finally Drakthar the dragon god of love and fire, who brought the Demons to the world with his fiery breath.

Ariella: How have you gone this long without knowing who they were?

Emma: I was busy and my family clearly didn't go. I always just assumed you wanted some time to yourself on your birthday.

Ariella: Isabelle goes all the time. I’m surprised she never took you.

Emma: They kind of hid me growing up.

Ariella: Well we can pray if you want.

Emma: Sure what do we do?

Ariella: You put your hands together like this and you kinda just talk to them.

*Emma closes her eyes and starts to pray when she hears footsteps. She looks up and the shadow figure stands before her.*

Shadow: Are they safe?

Emma: Who are you? Wait, are you Luna?

*The figure shakes their head then points at Emma.*

Emma: Are you past me?

Shadow: Are they safe?

Emma: Yes, I can’t thank you enough.

*The shadow brightens a little and nods. Emma blinks back to reality.*

Emma Thinking: Did they smile?