The one and only thing Elven people have agreed on for thousands of years is that information is precious. Even in times of civil war, the outer archives remained untouched. Where research was slow, but research is always slow with elves. But that's solely because elves are lazy. Plain as day. Even myself.
The longest the other races live is three hundred years. Frantically fucking to maintain their subspecies. Most of our people live ten times that, some even longer.
"Why rush anything?" We all collectively and subconsciously agree. Our magic makes us untouchable to the dwarves and gnomes of the Eastern Island of Ironfrost.
The Greenskins to the South are too stupid not to eat their own excrement, it seems. We truly are the superior race when it comes to *REDACTED*. If we could only discover immortality, we could begin our search outside this limiting island on Keceo.
Alleged writing from the first Whisperer, Vecro.
------------------------------------------
Only once the King made his exit did Artero rise from his knee.
He rushed to the Chosen One, whose face hadn't left its shocked state. She couldn't bear to look at the injured. Watching them come to life after being mutilated, or barely even being a body was... traumatic.
They can bring the dead back to life.
The thought was terrifying.
Would they use that to torture me? Kill me over and over? Make an example?
The rules of her world did not apply to Keceo. On Earth, if one were to die, it would take a medical professional, sometimes several, to revive someone—
Five years to kill the King of Terror.
The thought was not only present, but it was a restless thrum of unimaginable realization. It was thrown in her face by someone she assumed to be a God among her people.
"Gwynevere."
A deep voice was distant. Gwyn's ears seemed to ring relentlessly.
A single man could revive several people who were dead only moments ago. If only…
"Gwynevere!"
Artero shook Gwyn until she responded.
"Huh?"
Gwyn rubbed her eyes. A face painted with concern held her shoulders. They were covered in dust and not much else. The burn marks on Artero's exposed arm had faded. She was surprised he was in one piece after that explosion. His muscular hands held her with tenderness.
"Artero, your sleeve…"
He looked in the direction she had mentioned and shook his head.
"To hell with my attire. Are you okay?"
Gwyn had no answer for him.
Those who remained in the remnants of the café were now departing, some shiftily eyeing Gwyn as they passed her by. But the King had spoken. She had five years, then they could do what they wanted with her.
Artero led Gwyn through the crowd. When they broke through and entered the streets, Elise was right behind them.
"Are you okay, Gwyn?"
Elise's voice was urgent and worried. She looked to the Chosen One whose white dress was ruined and whose robe was no better.
"I'm fine."
Gwyn hadn't noticed, but her hand was in Artero's. The moment she was in front of Elise, she released him. All of them stood in the street as the crowd gathered around the café. The silence among them was deafening.
Elise and Artero couldn't even make eye contact with one another, so they did the next best thing.
"Gwynevere."
They seemed to say simultaneously after much hesitation.
Elise narrowed her brows.
"I was going first."
"No, I was going first."
Gwyn just stared at them both; they were now glaring at one another.
"Always about you, isn't it, Artero?"
Elise didn't accidentally call him 'Arty' like before.
"About me? This situation has nothing to do with me." He held up Gwyn's arm. "Someone just tried to assassinate her."
"And if I hadn't healed her, she could've died before my father arrived!"
"If I hadn't shielded her from the blast, there would've been nothing left for you to heal!"
Were they fighting over me right now?
This has never happened before. Although the thought of her death had definitely elevated her heartrate, this, somehow, made her heart beat even faster. Gwyn twirled her hair, trying not to appear bashful.
"I doubt they were a mage of any quality," Elise said, turning her head. "They barely blew a hole in that café."
"Oh, so you're an explosive magic expert now?" He huffed. "Last time I checked, you weren't there during the attack." A thought dawned on him. "Why were you here anyway?"
"Can I not walk around the city where I was born? Is that a crime?" She made a face as though she had just realized something. "Oh, I forgot, you're a hick living in the countryside. This city life isn't for your kind."
"Countryside?!" He shouted, his brows furrowed. "You take that back."
"I refuse. You were probably too busy drooling over Gwyn to throw up a proper spell to protect her."
"That's honestly hilarious, Elise. Have you picked up a circus routine since we've broken up? Because you already look the part of a clown."
Elise clapped.
"Wow, great joke. Did you stay up all night writing it?"
In his mind, he envisioned his journal, where he kept potential clever insults he could use if the situation arose. The one he used today was on page five. He had to stop himself from scoffing.
"N-no!"
He lied.
Gwyn wished she had some popcorn. Two of the hottest beings she has ever seen were fighting for her attention.
A thought occurred to her that she may be enjoying this too much.
Maybe this was going too far.
"What's going on here?"
"Nothing!"
They both shouted, then looked as though they might murder one another.
"Okay! Sorry…" Gwyn took a step back. "Well, obviously, I am missing some pieces."
Elise took Gwyn's arm.
"Let's go, Gwyn."
Artero frowned.
"Oh no, you aren't getting your way." He grabbed Gwyn's other arm. "She was spending time with me first."
She tugged Gwyn's arm to pull her closer.
"I don't care who she spends time with, as long as it isn't you."
"I just saved her life!" He shouted, tugging Gwyn back like a game of tug-of-war. "Or are you too stupid to realize?"
Elise tugged back.
"If that is your reasoning, then I have one up over you!"
Gwyn let them pull her back and forth a little bit. She, for once, enjoyed being the center of attention.
"Gwyn." Artero pulled Gwyn free from Elise's grasp. "You don't want to spend time with her, right?"
She was close to him. Too close. Her cheeks flushed red and—
He smells like… flowers?
Elise turned Gwyn to face her. Their eyes met. Her sparkling lavender eyes had Gwyn smitten. Elise begged without saying as much. She only said one word.
"Gwynevere."
How her name rolled off her tongue, so soft and sultry. Desire and want. Compassion and love all in one utterance of a name.
Gwyn's face turned a deeper shade of crimson.
"I think I can spend some time with Elise, at least a little."
Elise nearly jumped in jubilation, hugging Gwyn.
"Ha! Suck it, Artero."
Elise flipped him off and ran off with Gwyn.
The Chosen One was giggling giddily.
"Thanks for everything, Artero, I'll see you later!"
Gwyn waved and shouted as she ran through the streets with Elise.
A frown creased Artero's lips as his jaw locked.
"Had she used…?"