"Nightfall"
"So, I heard you caused a bit of trouble out there," Meara said, washing dishes as the trio sat at a nearby table in the back of the Tavern, Lena leaning against the door as she slightly glared at Oreon. "What happened to being discreet and not drawing attention?"
Oreon shifted uncomfortably in his seat, scratching the back of his neck. "Well…It wasn't like I went looking for a fight…" Oreon answered, while trying to divert away from Lena's gaze, but caught himself looking at Meara's back and could feel her stern stare even though she wasn't facing him. "Things just sort of…got out of hand."
"You mean your temper got the best of you." Without turning, Meara replied as she dried and placed a plate on the counter, then reached for another. "I heard it was Grog." She added. "Coming back after the stunt he pulled last night." Meara continued.
Oreon nodded his head slowly, as if he was prepping himself to get scolded by Meara.
Meara let out a deep sigh, placing a plate on top of the previous one. "You know, the whole town is talking," Meara added. "Saying how those two." She gestured towards Celestia and Sylvanie. "Also, stood up to him. Even Gretta had a few praising words about what happened out there." She said simply, causing Oreon to gulp as if he knew what was coming.
"Damn right we did," Sylvanie added, leaning back in her seat. "That overgrown pile of waste had it coming." Sylvanie added, crossing one leg over the other.
"...You're not helping." Celestia looked over at her sister, who just rolled her eyes in response. "But yes, we did have a part in this as well." Celestia turned her head towards Meara, who placed another plate on top of the previous one.
"Gretta also told me what led to it." She added as Oreon slowly nodded again.
"…He was about to say something about mom…" Oreon spoke quietly, looking at the floor as Meara was about to add another plate to the stack that she created, but stopped for a second, only to gently place the plate on top of another and continue washing the last few dishes she had.
The room fell into a heavy silence. Even Lena's expression softened slightly. Meara's hands moved more slowly in the wash basin. "…I see." She responded with a bit of understanding. "That explains it then." She put another plate away. "That man always had a problem with that mouth of his…Always causing people trouble in this town." Meara put the final plate away and gently grabbed a cloth that was lying beside her to dry her hands. "It's a good thing he didn't say anything about Alice or else…We'd probably be having a different conversation." She turned to face them.
"His sister?" Lena asked, looking up at her grandmother, who just nodded her head as her eyes rested upon Oreon.
Meara nodded slowly, gazing at Oreon for another moment before releasing a deep sigh. "Did you get your clothes from Silas?" She questioned them while turning her back.
"Yeah," Oreon answered, gesturing to the bundle sitting beside him on the table. "He gave us everything—from regular clothes to something to sleep in."
"Good." Meara wiped her hands one more time before draping the cloth over her shoulder. "Then you three should head upstairs and get cleaned up. It's been a long day, and I imagine you're all exhausted."
The three blinked and looked at each other for a moment before Celestia rose gracefully from her seat. "I'm sorry if we caused you any trou—"
"None of that now, go on head upstairs." Meara suggested, almost as if she was shooing them away.
Celestia paused mid-sentence, then nodded gracefully, "…Of course. Thank you again for having us."
Sylvanie stood up as well, stretching her arms above her head with a satisfied groan. "Finally. I thought we'd never get out of here." She grabbed her bundle of clothes and slung it over her shoulder. "Come on, sister. Let's go before the old lady changes her mind and makes us clean the tables or something."
"Sylvanie," Celestia sighed softly as she followed behind her sister.
Oreon grabbed his own bundle of clothes and stood, but before he could follow, Meara's voice stopped him.
"Oreon."
He froze, glancing back at her. "…Yeah?"
Meara turned slightly, just enough so he could see the edge of her profile. Her expression was softer—gentler. "What you did today…" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Just be careful next time."
Oreon's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he gave a small nod. "I will." He hesitated for a moment, then added quietly. "Thanks, Meara."
With a one-handed wave, she dismissed him, a subtle smile gracing her lips. "Go on now, get some rest."
Oreon turned and headed toward the stairs, catching up with Celestia and Sylvanie as they reached the second floor. Lena watched him go, her arms still crossed, but her expression had softened considerably from earlier.
"Grandma…" Lena started quietly once Oreon was out of earshot. "You're being awfully lenient with him…I thought you were going to yell your head off at him when you heard about it."
Meara glanced at her granddaughter, her expression softening just slightly. "He's been through enough, Lena." She said quietly. "And despite everything, he didn't start that fight today—he ended it." She paused, folding her arms. "Also...Grog had it coming. That man's been a thorn in this town's side for years. Besides, I've let some of the things you've done slide to…Even the things you thought I didn't know about." She smirked at her Granddaughter.
Lena's eyes widened slightly, and she stiffened. "Wait—What things?" She asked carefully, her voice pitching just a little higher. "I—Don't—I didn't—I don't know what you're talking about."
Meara turned fully to face her now, one eyebrow raised, arms still folded. "Oh, you mean like the time you 'borrowed' a few coins from the till to buy that ridiculous hat from that merchant that stopped by last month?" She tilted her head. "Or when Oreon had to save you from that boy who tricked you into coming out with him three nights in a row, just so he could take you to the city gates?"
Lena's face went from pale to bright red in an instant. "I—How did you—That was—" She stammered, waving her hands defensively. "That hat was on sale! And I paid it back!" she crossed her arms tightly. "And that boy was—he seemed nice at first! How was I supposed to know he was trying to—"
"Exactly." Meara cut her off gently, but firmly. "You didn't know. You made a mistake. Just like Oreon did today—" She breathed calmly, walking towards the door that led to the main room of the tavern. "You're young, a few years younger than Oreon, so you're bound to make mistakes. Both of you are." Continuing on, she ambled past Lena."
Lena stood there, mouth half-open, clearly caught between wanting to argue and knowing her grandmother was right. She huffed, crossing her arms tighter. "That's…different." She muttered weakly.
Meara paused at the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "Is it?" She asked softly. "There's this little thing called emotion that you both acted on. You both made choices without thinking them through completely." She turned her gaze forward again. "The difference is—Oreon's mistakes tend to land him in front of men twice his size who want to break his face."
Lena opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again, her expression conflicted. She looked down at the floor, her arms slowly loosening from their tight fold. "…I guess," She muttered reluctantly.
Meara's smile softened further. "You're a good girl, Lena. You care about him—I can see that. Just…don't be too hard on him, alright?" She pushed the door open gently. "He's doing his best with what he's got."
Lena nodded slowly, though she still looked a bit flustered. "…Okay, Grandma."
"Good." Meara stepped through the doorway, then paused once more. "And for the record, that hat was ridiculous. You looked like a colorful bird with multiple feathers."
"Grandma!" Lena's face turned bright red again as Meara's laughter echoed from the main room.
Upstairs, Oreon, Celestia, and Sylvanie had reached the same room they shared the night before. The hallway was still dimly lit by the few oil lamps hanging on the walls, casting their shadows on the wooden floor.
With her hands loosely clasped behind her head, Sylvanie entered the bedroom, stepping in after Oreon, and Celestia followed her.
"So, does that girl downstairs like you or what?" She asked bluntly.
Oreon nearly tripped over his own feet as he stepped into the room. "What—No! She doesn't—It's not like that!" He stammered, his face flushing slightly as he set his bundle of clothes down on the bed near the window.
Sylvanie's smirk indicated her amusement at his flustered state. "Oh, really? Because the way she was glaring at you earlier—like she wanted to either punch you, hug you, or kiss you. Which one was it, human?" She flopped down onto the bed, stretching out lazily. "Human emotions are so weird, I don't know why she doesn't tell you." Her eyes slit towards Oreon.
With a pensive look, Celestia quietly closed the door and set her bundle atop the dresser. "Sylvanie," she said gently, a touch of amusement coloring her voice. "Perhaps you should give him a moment to breathe before interrogating him.
"I'm not interrogating," Sylvanie replied, rolling onto her side to face Oreon, propping her head up with one hand. "I'm just…curious. I mean, she clearly cares about you. The way she acts around you—it was obvious when she was wrapping that sprained ankle of yours when we got here." She paused for a moment, blinking as if she was thinking of something. "So, is she your girlfriend?"
Oreon's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "She's—She's not my girlfriend! We're just…friends. That's all." He ran a hand through his hair, avoiding Sylvanie's piercing gaze. "She's just…" He sighs. "She's just upset that I keep getting into trouble and bringing it back to her grandmother."
"Uh-huh." "Sylvanie replied, turning onto her back. She bent her left knee and swung her right leg over it, letting her foot dangle idly." So, you're single then. Like, how do you humans say it?" She placed a finger on her chin, still teasing him. "On the market or something."
Oreon's eye twitched. "I—That's not—Why are you even asking me this?!" He gestured upward with his hands, showing his exasperation.
Sylvanie's grin widened. "Because it's fun watching you twitch and squirm just to answer a simple question." She stuck one leg out briefly, stretching before letting it drop back over her knee. "Besides, I'm trying to understand how you humans work. You're all so—complicated. One minute you're angry, the next you're blushing like a virgin—oh wait," She paused dramatically, her eyes gleaming as she thought of something else. "Are you a virgin?"
"CUT IT OUT, YOU CRAZY ELF!" Oreon shouted, clearly flustered as he whirled around from her.
Celestia could only press her fingers to her forehead, shaking her head slowly. "Sylvanie…Please."
But Sylvanie just laughed—a genuine, carefree sound that filled the room. "Oh, come on! Look at him! He's practically steaming!" She sat up slightly, still grinning like a cat who'd caught a mouse. "I'm just messing around, human. Relax—though I am still curious about the last question." She added with a playful wink, causing Oreon to groan and turn away completely, covering his face with one hand.
"Someone, please stop her…" Oreon mumbled under his palm.
A gentle sigh escaped Celestia, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "Alright, Sylvanie, that's enough." She walked over to the bed, where her sister lay sprawled out, and gently sat down on the edge of the bed. "I think you've tormented him enough for one day. Pull back on your jokes."
Sylvanie rolled her eyes but sat up properly, crossing her legs beneath her. "Fine, fine, I'll dial it back a bit." She glanced at Oreon's back, still grinning. "Do humans always wear their emotions on their sleeves?"
Celestia tilted her head thoughtfully. "Not all of them…but Oreon seems to be more transparent than most." With a gentle smile, she cast a look in his direction. "Though I think that that's part of what makes him…genuine."
Oreon finally lowered his hand from his face, though his ears were still noticeably red. He turned slightly to look at both of them. "Can we—Can we please just…talk about something else? Anything else?"
Sylvanie stretched her arms above her with a satisfied groan. "You humans are no fun at all," Sylvanie commented before looking back at Oreon. "So, what are we doing tomorrow?" She questioned as she dropped her arms and leaned back on her palms. "Because I don't know about you two, but I'd rather not spend another day getting stared at by half the town."
With a thoughtful nod, Celestia's expression turned serious. "That's a fair point. We need to discuss what our next move will be." She fixed her gaze upon Oreon. "Despite today's earlier showing, I feel we still haven't won the town's favor. I'm sure that there are still humans here who would rather we leave than stay here."
Positioning himself on the cushioned window seat, he leaned his head back. "You're probably right," he admitted quietly. "Grog might've been the loudest about it, but…he wasn't alone in how he felt. Not to mention, I'm sure it won't be long before the Order storms this place. "He sighs. "It's only been a day and a half, and nothing from them yet."
Sylvanie's expression darkened slightly at the mention of the Order. "Yeah…I've been thinking about that too." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "It's strange, isn't it? They should've been here by now, especially since they know you took the dragon shard, and I'm pretty sure they found that traitor elf's body by now. "She leaned back against the headboard, crossing her arms. "I don't like it."
Celestia's brow furrowed slightly as she considered Sylvanie's words. "You're right to be suspicious." She folded her hands in her lap, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "The Order doesn't simply…wait. Considering that this town isn't far from their fortress…" She lowered her head slightly, as if she were thinking. "The fact that they haven't arrived yet is—" She paused, searching for the right word." –Concerning."
Oreon shifted onto the window seat, his gaze drifting toward the darkened glass. Beyond it, the town was quiet under the evening sky, lanterns flickering like scattered stars. "You would think with you guys being out of magic, it would be easy pickings for them to come right in, raise the town, and snatch you guys back with the dragon shard and—"
"Who said we're out of magic, human?" Sylvanie glanced over at Oreon nonchalantly.
Oreon's head snapped toward Sylvanie, his eyes widening. "Wait—What? But I thought—" He gestured vaguely toward both sisters. "You said you couldn't use magic! Back at the fortress, you said—I saw—You were completely drained after we fought Rot!" He pointed accusingly at both of them.
"How the hell—" Oreon was about to continue on until Sylvanie lazily cut him off.
"Relax, human," Sylvanie interrupted with a lazy wave of her hand. "We were drained—that much was true. Using that much magic in one go takes a toll, especially when you're running on fumes and adrenaline." She rested against the headboard, her hands behind her head and her legs crossed. "But we've had time to rest since then. Eat actual food. Sleep in an actual bed…" She glanced at Celestia for a moment before turning her head back towards Oreon. "Besides, we're not like you, human. We heal a lot faster than your fragile, magicless bodies do."
Oreon gave her a light wince as he looked at her with an almost annoyed look. "Was the last part even necessary?"
A grin appeared on her face. "Oh, absolutely. I wouldn't want you getting too comfortable thinking you're on our level." Her head tilted, and her eyes shone with mirth. "But don't worry—you're doing pretty good for a fragile, magicless human. You've only almost died…what, three times since we met?"
"Four, actually," Celestia gently corrected, with a playful tone. "If you count the moment Sylvanie nearly broke your neck when she found out that you were the son of the purifier.
Sylvanie nodded her head childishly. "Yep, could have snapped you like a twig, human." She said it almost as if she were proud of herself.
Oreon couldn't help but just stare at both of them, his expression somewhere between incredulous and exhausted. "You two—You're both terrible, you know that?" He muttered. "Absolutely terrible." He turned his head to face the window, looking out onto the streets. "And how come you two didn't say anything? Here I am thinking you were still drained from the time I broke you out."
Sylvanie shrugged, her grin never fading. "You never asked." She said simply. "Besides, it's not like we were at full strength anyway. We're recovered enough to defend ourselves if we need to, but we're not exactly ready to take on an entire battalion of holy knights." A touch of seriousness showed in her eyes, despite her playful act."
"She's right," Celestia added. "We're not quite at full strength—perhaps seventy percent? Maybe seventy-five?" She held up a hand, summoning a small orb of golden light that hovered just above her palm. That sphere pulsed gently, casting warm shadows across her delicate features before she closed her fingers around it, extinguishing the glow. "Enough to defend ourselves if necessary. Enough to fight."
"Speak for yourself, sister," Sylvanie interjected with a lazy grin. "I'm sitting pretty at about eighty-five percent myself." Dark violet wisps curled around her fingertips briefly before dissipating like smoke. "Shadow magic doesn't take as long to replenish—it feeds on…well, let's just say this town's got plenty of negativity floating around for me to siphon from."
Oreon blinked at the both of them for a moment, still confused as his eyes darted from Celestia to Sylvanie. "I'm…I'm sorry, I don't get it. What now. You siphon from negativity?"
Sylvanie let out a low chuckle, rolling onto her side to face Oreon more directly. "Oh, right—you're just a human, and you don't fully understand how magic works."
"Can do without the insults," Oreon commented back.
"Shush and listen, human." Sylvanie shot back as she propped her head up with one hand. "Dark magic—shadow magic, curses, illusions—all that fun stuff? It feeds off emotions. Negative ones, specifically. Fear, anger, resentment, despair…" She waved her free hand in a circular motion, as if stirring invisible energy. "This town's been radiating all of that since we got here. Every dirty look, every whispered insult, every bit of hatred aimed at us?" She grinned wider. "It's like a buffet for me."
"So that whole thing with Grog then—"
"Delicious," Sylvanie purred, "All that rage, the humiliation, that pure, seething hatred he was radiating? I could practically taste it in the air. "She licked her lips slowly, deliberately. "It's like—How do I explain this to someone who can't sense mana?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Imagine being really hungry, and then someone puts a fresh, hot meal right in front of you. That's what strong negative emotions feel like to a dark elf."
Oreon's face changed from bewildered to somewhat worried. "That's…kind of disturbing, actually."
"Is it?" Sylvanie tilted her head, genuinely curious. "Your kind eats animals. You kill them, cook them, consume them. How is what I do any different?" She sat up slightly." I'm not hurting anyone—I'm just…absorbing the energy they're already putting out into the world. If anything. I'm doing them a favor. Less negativity floating around means less chance of it festering into something worse.
"But don't you guys' hunt and eat animals to?" Oreon asked, confusion returning to his voice. "And if that's the case, then shouldn't you have like…I don't know…And endless supply of it, considering everything that's going on in the world?"
Celestia spoke up gently before Sylvanie could respond. "We do eat, yes—though not as much as humans typically need to." She folded her hands in her lap, her eyes meeting Oreon's. "Elves have different nutritional requirements. We can sustain ourselves on far less food than you would need."
"And as for your second question," Sylvanie picked up where her sister left off. "It's not quite that simple, human." She shifted her position, sitting-crossed legged now. "Sure, there's plenty of negativity in the world—wars, suffering, all that good stuff. But I can't just…absorb it from anywhere. I need to be relatively close to the source." She held up her hand, wiggling her fingers. "Think of it like…fishing. There might be fish all over the ocean, but you can only catch what's near your line."
"So, if you were fighting in a war?" Oreon asked her.
"Oh, now you're asking the right questions, human." She leaned forward slightly, her voice taking on a more eager tone, almost as if she was happy to be teaching Oreon something. "A battlefield? That's like an all-you-can-eat feast for someone like. All that fear, rage, desperation, pain—it's everywhere, thick enough to choke on." In a situation like that, I could pull in so much power I'd be damn near unstoppable. My magic would regenerate almost as fast as I could use it."
"Which is precisely why dark elves were so feared during the wars between our peoples." Celestia cut in. "A single dark elf mage on a battlefield could turn the tide of an entire conflict. The more chaos and bloodshed, the stronger they become."
"My dear sister is right," Sylvanie added. "But there's a catch, so pay attention, human." She said as Oreon could be seen comically nodding his head, listening intently as if he was in a classroom. "Just like you can't eat forever without getting sick. I can't absorb endless amounts of negative energy without consequences." She tapped her temple. "Too much, and it starts to affect your mind. You become…unstable. Aggressive. Paranoid. It's like getting drunk on hatred—feels amazing at first, but if you don't know when to stop…" She trailed off, making a vague gesture that suggested nothing good.
Celestia nodded slowly. "It's one of the reasons dark elves have such a…reputation among other races. Some of them lose themselves to the power, become addicted to that feeling of strength." She explained. "They start seeking out conflict, creating negativity just so they can feed off it."
"But not me," Sylvanie interjected quickly, holding up a finger. "I know my limits. I take what I need, nothing more." She shot Oreon a sideways grin. "Well…most of the time."
Oreon processed this information; his brow furrowed in thought. "So, when you were taunting Grog earlier—"
"I was having a little snack while putting him in his place. "Sylvanie finished with a shameless grin. "Multitasking at its finest."
Oreon brought his gaze back up to meet Sylvanie's as another question popped into his head. "So…wait. If you feed off negative emotions, does that mean positive ones weaken you? Or…"
"No, nothing like that," Sylvanie replied, waving a dismissive hand. "Positive emotions just don't do anything for me. They're like…" She searched for an analogy. "Like trying to fuel a fire with water. It just doesn't work. I can be around happy people all day and it won't affect my magic one way or another."
"Though," Celestia interjected softly. "It is worth noting that prolonged exposure to intense positive emotions can be…uncomfortable for dark elves. Not harmful, just draining in a different way."
'A different way?" Oreon repeated. "I don't get it."
"Like annoying," Sylvanie answered back. "It's just as simple as being around someone who is just happy all the time; it gets annoying after a while."
"It's more than just annoyance." Celestia clarified gently, casting her sister a knowing look. "For dark elves, positive emotions can feel...overwhelming. Like standing too close to a fire—not harmful, but intensely uncomfortable after a prolonged exposure." She smoothed out a wrinkle in her dress. "It's why dark elves and light elves historically had such…complicated relationships."
"Complicated is putting it mildly," Sylvanie muttered, rolling her eyes. 'Try barely tolerated each other's existence.' Your kind—" She gestured at Celestia."—radiates all that goodness and light and hope. Meanwhile, we thrive in the shadows, feeding off the darker aspects of existence." She shrugged. "Oil and water, basically."
"But you two get along fine. You're sisters." Oreon leaned back against the window frame.
"Half-sisters." Sylvanie corrected, though her tone wasn't harsh. "And yeah, we manage. But that's because Celestia isn't constantly blasting me with holy light, and I'm not drowning her in shadow magic." She looked at Celestia with what could have been affection, if not for the sarcasm. "We learned to…coexist."
"We learned to balance each other," Celestia responded as her eyes met her sisters. "Where I see the best in people, Sylvanie sees the worst. Where she acts with force, I reply with mercy." A small smile formed on her lips. "Neither approach is perfect alone."
"Aww, getting sentimental, sister?" Sylvanie teased playfully. "Careful, or I might start thinking you actually like having me around."
Celestia's smile widened slightly. "I never said I didn't."
Oreon continued to look at the two until he finally fixed his eyes on Celestia. "So, then what about your magic?" Oreon asked her. "If she feeds on negative, and you're more positive, if there is no positive energy around. How do you replenish your mana?"
Celestia tilted her head slightly, considering the question with that same patient expression she always wore when explaining something. "It's…different for light magic." She began softly. "I don't feed off emotions the way Sylvanie does. My magic is tied to something more…fundamental." She paused, searching for the right words. "Life itself, in a way. The warmth of the sun, the growth of plants, the natural cycle of healing and renewal—these things restore my power."
"So, like a plant then?" Oreon asked, genuinely curious but also somewhat amused by comparison.
Sylvanie snorted out a laugh. "Yes, my sister, the delicate flower."
Celestia shot her a look that looked as if she was annoyed by that comment. "Not exactly a plant, Oreon." She turned back to him. "But there is some truth to the comparison. Sunlight does help restore my magic faster. Being in nature, around living things, breathing clean air…" She gestured vaguely. "All of that contributes to my recovery."
"Which is why she was so miserable in that dungeon," Sylvanie added, going back to being serious. "No sunlight, no fresh air. Just stone and darkness and…" She trailed off, her expression hardening for just a moment before she caught herself.
Celestia's gaze dropped slightly. "Yes…It was difficult." She admitted quietly. "Light magic requires light—literal or metaphorical. In that place, there was neither." She looked back up at Oreon. "But even in darkness, there are sources I can draw from. A candle flame. The warmth of another person's presence. Even hope itself can fuel my magic, if it's strong enough."
"Hope?" Oreon repeated, his brow furrowing once again. "How does that work?"
"Light magic isn't just about physical light," Celestia explained patiently. "It's about the essence of what light represents—hope, compassion, the will to protect and heal." She placed a hand over her heart. "When someone feels genuine hope, even in the darkest moment, it creates a kind of…resonance that I can draw upon." A faint light shone from her palm again as she demonstrated. "It's why I could never truly lose all my power, even in that dungeon—because as long as I held onto hope myself, I had something to draw from. Though it's nowhere near as efficient as proper sunlight or being around living things." Celestia added, letting the light fade. "Hope alone can sustain me, but it's like…surviving on scraps when you're used to full meals." She looked thoughtful for a moment. That's why I was so weak when you found us. Days—weeks, really—of drawing only from the faintest ember of hope I could hold onto."
"Hmm…" Oreon thought to himself as he took in the information that was given to him by both sisters. "I think I get it now, polar opposites, not just in looks, but personality, magic, but also how your magic works."
"Exactly," Sylvanie confirmed with a nod. "Though I'd argue we're more like two sides of the same coin rather than complete opposites." She glanced at her sister. "After all, light can't exist without darkness, and darkness means nothing without light to contrast it."
"A surprisingly philosophical observation from you," Celestia remarked, gently praising her sister.
"I have my moments." Sylvanie shot back with a smirk.
Oreon leaned his head back on the small pillow that rested against the corner of the wall. "So, I guess I was worrying for nothing then.
"Worrying about what?" Celestia asked, tilting her head slightly.
"About you two," Oreon admitted, his voice quieter now. "I mean…everything that's happened—the dungeon, being enslaved, losing your kingdom…" He gestured vaguely. "I thought maybe you'd both be…I don't know, completely drained or broken or something…
Sylvanie let out a sharp laugh. "Broken? Us?" She shook her head, that familiar smirk of hers appearing once again. "Human, it takes a lot more than some chains and a dark cell to break an elf—especially a dark elf." She tapped her chest proudly. "We're resilient as hell,"
"Though I won't lie," Celestia added softly, her expression growing more serious. "it was…difficult. There were moments when I questioned whether we'd ever see freedom again." Her eyes met Oreon's. "But giving up hope would have meant giving up entirely—and I couldn't do that. Not to myself, and certainly not to Sylvanie."
"Damn right you couldn't," Sylvanie muttered, crossing her arms. "I would've knocked some sense into you if I had to." She glanced over at Celestia but then quickly directed her sight towards Oreon. "Speaking of which…."
"Well, now that I know that you two are better off." Oreon adjusted himself on the window seat again, crossing his arms lightly over his chest. "I'll sleep here again, and you two can—"
"Absolutely not," Sylvanie firmly cuts him off, placing both hands on her hips. "You're not sleeping on that tiny ledge after everything that's happened today, and besides, your neck was hanging all on the side this morning, like someone snapped it in your sleep."
Oreon blinked, completely surprised by Sylvanie's proposal. "I…What…It….It wasn't that bad—"
"Yes, it was," Celestia spoke up, her tone gentle yet decisive. "You looked incredibly uncomfortable this morning. I was actually concerned you might injure yourself if you continued to sleep in such a manner. Besides," Celestia waved her left hand to gesture toward the bed that she and Sylvanie were sitting on. "There is plenty of room on the bed. I will take this side, Sylvanie will take the other, and you can have the middle."
"W-wait, hold on—" Oreon stammered, his face already starting to flush. "I can't just…you two are…I mean…" He shrugged to find the right words. "That's…that's not appropriate!"
"Not appropriate?" Sylvanie, never one for patience, moves off the bed and makes her way towards the window seat and unceremoniously grabs Oreon's arm. "You humans and your misplaced sense of chivalry," She grunted. "Up," She commanded. "This is not up for debate; it's a royal decree."
Oreon looked up at her wide-eyed. "What—you can't just—"
"Watch me," Sylvanie said flatly, tugging him off the window seat with strength he wasn't used to her having just yet. "You're sleeping in the bed. End of discussion. Now come on before my sister decides to give you her queenly voice." She began to drag Oreon towards the bed as he tried to reach for the corner of the wall to pull away.
"Let go of me, you crazy elf!" Oreon tried to pull against her.
"Just get in the damn bed before I throw you over there." Sylvanie gritted her teeth as she tried to drag him along."
The fiasco of Sylvanie trying to drag Oreon away from the window seat and Oreon pulling with everything that he had lasted for a few seconds. The sound effects of Oreon grunting and Sylvanie realizing how stubborn he was beginning to play out until…"
"Oreon." Oreon's body froze instantly. He didn't understand why. The voice he just heard was no doubt Celestia, but the tone was different. It sent an ice-cold shiver down his spine, as if any wrong move would surely warrant a death sentence.
Oreon's eyes slowly turned towards Celestia, who was still sitting on the bed, her perfect posture, hands folded neatly in her lap. Her expression hadn't changed—still that same serene, gentle smile—but something about her presence had shifted entirely. The air around her felt heavier, more commanding. Her sapphire eyes, usually so warm and kind, now held an unmistakable authority that made it impossible to look away.
"You will sleep in the bed tonight," Celestia said softly, each word carrying the weight of an absolute decree. "This is not a request."
Oreon's mouth opened, then closed. No words came out. His grip on the wall loosened completely. Sylvanie, however, being the person that she is, seized this opportunity.
"And in the bed, you go!" Sylvanie shouted as she yanked Oreon away from the wall, causing a slight yelp to escape his lips as she threw him on the bed, causing him to land directly in the middle of the bed, right beside Celestia, who didn't even move an inch from her spot.
"There we go," Sylvanie said cheerfully, dusting off her hands as if she'd just finished some great labor. "Much better." She walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed on, settling herself comfortably on the left side. "See? Plenty of room."
Oreon slowly pushed himself up onto his elbows, looking between the two sisters, still not believing what was going on. "You two…what the hell is this…you can't just force a man in bed with you, it's indecent." Oreon battled.
"Oh, relax, human. My sister doesn't bite," Sylvanie quipped, then added as she showed her teeth a bit. "I, however, make no such promises."
Celestia let out a soft sigh, her expression returning to its usual gentleness as the commanding aura faded. "Oreon, please," She said quietly, her voice back to its warm, soothing tone. "We're not trying to make you uncomfortable. We simply want you to rest properly."
"Exactly. Stop overthinking it, human. We're not asking you to do anything scandalous." Then a thought occurred to Sylvanie as she said this. "Although the royal court would be up in arms right now if they knew a human was sleeping in between their royal princesses, you'd be taken to the guillotine for sure."
Oreon's eyes widened even further. "Wait—What?!"
"She's exaggerating." Celestia cut in quickly, shooting her sister a disapproving look. "Mostly."
"Am I though?" Sylvanie grinned wickedly. "I mean, technically speaking, allowing a commoner—let alone a human—into the bed of elven royalty would have been considered…what was that phrase the court used? An unforgivable breach of protocol and dignity?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Though I suppose it doesn't matter now, considering our kingdom is in ruins, and the royal court is gone."
Oreon groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "This is insane…You two are absolutely insane."
Though neither sister spoke, Oreon caught the faint sound of Celestia's giggle as she turned her back and lay down, Sylvanie following suit. "Now get some rest, Oreon," Celestia finally said as her head gently rested on the pillow.
"Yeah, human, go to sleep." Sylvanie also spoke as Oreon couldn't help but look at the two of them, his eyes going from one elf to the next as he lightly shook his head.
"Maybe I'm the one who's insane." He thought to himself as he, too, finally lay down, his head resting against the large pillow between them, as he looked up at the ceiling, and before he knew it, his eyes were drooping, and finally, they shut, sending him off into a peaceful sleep.
--Meanwhile—
As the night settled, the trio's bodies finally gave way to another night of well-deserved rest. Downstairs, Meara was closing up the Tavern. Lena had long since been sent to bed as Meara took care of the final few chores that she was handling herself.
With the tavern being empty and her back turned to the door, her eyes instinctively narrowed as she felt a presence step into her establishment.
Meara, without looking up from the glass that she was cleaning. "It's after hours, but I reckoned you're not here for a drink." She spoke without fear in her voice, looking up to see a tall figure in an all-black cloak that covered its body and its features.
"Sharp as ever," Its deep voice spoke, "Meara…" The figure's red eyes shone through the cloak over its head as it stared down at Meara, who met the figure's gaze without an ounce of fear.