The morning air in Noctyra smelled of wet stone and smoke, though no fire burned nearby. Aelira Veyne stepped lightly along the cobblestones, her fingers brushing over the moss that clung stubbornly to the edges of the alleys and also picking herbs. Most would have called her ordinary just another girl in the quiet village of Eryndor, that layed behind forests and mountains of Noctyra but Aelira had always sensed things others couldn't: the soft hum of magic in the wind, the faint pulse of life beneath the earth, the whispers of things unseen. Her green eyes were keenly fixed on the herbs she was picking. Her long golden hair was kept in place by a piece of old scarf tied neatly. Her smooth white skin shone under the sun.
She paused and sat down on the luscious green grass still wet with dew. She looked up at the sun for a while before shifting her gaze to a little intruder. A stray bird landed on the grass near her herb basket, pecking the ground in search of the early morning worms. Aelira smiled and knelt, murmuring softly. The bird tilted its head, unafraid, and as if sensing her presence, it hopped closer. A spark of warmth danced along her fingers. Small, subtle nothing a passerby would notice, but enough to remind her she was not entirely like the rest of the villagers.
And yet, for all her differences, she craved nothing more than a normal life. She picked her basket and headed back to the main village. "Fine morning to you sir Thalos" Her soft voice silenced the woodcutter's axe.
"Ah. Aelira" Evans Thalos said. He flexed his muscle a bit then dropped the axe down. His face dripped with sweats "It's a pleasure meeting you today, I'm really grateful for how you helped healing my father to good health" he brimmed.
Aelira smiled back. She was obviously the village's magic healer "remember to keep the old man Thalos away from stress and definitely away from climbing apple trees". Her comment drew a chuckle from Evan. He watched her figure depart towards the village, further away from his sight.
The main village bustled with energy and life. The smell of farm, smokes brought a sense of belonging to Aelira. She exchanged a few greetings with the other villagers, each thanking her for one ointment or medicine, some even pushing a few gifts into her basket after her refusal. She was satisfied with the little payments she received and didn't need any more gifts.
The sounds of mothers shouting was a normal everyday tune but she wouldn't forget the familiar voice of Mrs Thryss.
"Where on earth has she disappeared to again." Eliora Thryss bellowed inside their small cottage "I'll grind her bones to fairy dust and if I must marry her to a cow to teach her how to be a woman....." She ran out of the cottage, only to meet Aelira at the doorway about to knock. Her earlier angry face and tone disappeared at the sight of Aelira.
"Good day to you Mrs Thryss" she smiled warmly.
"Lovely morning to you my dear. But I'm afraid I'll have to ruin this day searching for Elowen" she grumbled
"She's probably somewhere practicing" Edgar Thryss said from inside. He was Elowen's older brother and once a knight but was sent away due to a war that cost him his left eye and adding a limping leg to his tall, muscular gait.
Eliora turned sharply to face her son. She has always been a woman of zero tolerance to those that broke rules. "If you hadn't ignored I and your late father's warning on teaching her how to fight at such a young age when her mind was feeble to be tuned, she would have been married by now. For the moon's sake she's two decades old". Her voice rose in pitch as she went back inside.
Edgar walked passed his mother. He wasn't bothered again about her constant reminder of how Elowen should behave more like a woman and how it was his fault that she had turned 'wayward' in his mother's terms. "Morning Aelira" he greeted, his voice deep with manly age. His other deep brown eyes still shine with youthful virility. He was still 27 and agile.
"Just wanted to stop by and deliver your regular ointment" Aelira held out a small glass jar to which Edgar collected.
"Don't know what we'll do without you" he thanked her. "Do you mind finding out where Elowen is, she's supposed to take the beef and mutton to the main city and deliver it to the butchers"
"Of course, I'll find her. She can't possibly hide away from me".
Aelira made her way slowly towards the little forest behind her cottage that she shared with her grandfather. She lifted her lime dress up to ease her walking. She finally arrived at a little mass of space, surrounded by a big orchid tree and a little pond right beside it. This was hers and Elowen's safe place, where they would come to talk and obviously escape as in the case of Elowen. "Elowen!" She called out softly. A light movement, caught her attention but she couldn't figure out where.
"Ahhhh" Elowen shouted from behind Aelira making her jump a bit. "Still scared as ever" Elowen laughed histerically.
Aelira clutched her chest lightly. She would never get used to Elowen's sudden scare. How could she, Elowen moved like a shadow. Elowen was dressed in male clothes. From the white shirt which no doubt was her brother's down to her boots which she haggled from a shop during one of their visits in the main city. She had thick curly metallic orange hair, which she always carried as a mess, calling it her wild nest for her dreams to sleep. Her brown eyes that were always judging, shone brightly whenever she smiled or laughed wildly. Her freckles were scattered like stars on her face. She was taller than Aelira and more fuller at the bust since she was three years older than Aelira.
"You wild hog!" Aelira playfully insulted. She wrestled Elowen down to the ground "I've been looking all day for you and you find it amusing to scare me every time". Elowen's laughter only erupts the more. She pins Aelira down swiftly and pulls away the scarf in her head. Aelira's golden hair spreads. She erupts in laughter as well.
They lay down on the ground under the orchid tree, laughing till their laughter subsides.
"Your mother insists on you going to deliver the beef and mutton to the main village" Aelira was the first to break the silence.
"I'm not going alone. I'll wait till when you are ready to sell your medicine. Then we'll go together" Elowen firmly stated.
They were close like blood sisters, but each had different ambition and hopes, all in the mind of making a name for themselves. "My mother was discussing marriage with the goldsmith"
Aelira props herself up on one arm and stares back at Elowen, suddenly intrigued. "Is it not Cassius?"
"The one and only" Elowen sighs. "she can't fix marriage for Edgar after how he left his bride to be and joined the Royal knight without anyone knowing, only to return 5 years later with a deep emotional scar and a broken body".
Aelira hugs Elowen "she just wants the best for you both. I envy you for having someone who would go to any miles just to make sure her children have the best of life"
"Oh be sure she'll make hell out of your coming of age" Elowen chuckles "she yaps all day how you are so much of a woman and would make a fine wife. She's actively preparing for coming of age".
"We'll see if I'm ready or not" Aelira sighs.