Overwhelmed

Eris was given a warm robe after the bath and the priestess excused herself for a moment. Eris sat at the edge near the spring, the steam still keeping her warm. She looked at her hands and noticed how the cracks were mostly healed and her skin wasn't dry anymore. A sigh escaped from her lips, her arms tightly wrapped around her. She kept biting her lip and breathing kept getting more and more difficult. She rolled her eyes and tried to think of something relaxing. Her garden at home… Which is now nothing but ashes. Her granny. Who is dead. And Cashimir… Who left.

No matter what she tried to think about to calm down, it only made everything worse. In desperation she looked up and tried to blink away the tears and instead of thinking of something else she just tried to stop thinking and slowly began to zone out.

The high priestess soon returned with a few books in her arms and slowly sat down beside Eris who was pulled back into reality. She focused her eyes on the priestess horns and jewelry. The priestess was both very pleasant and unpleasant to look at the same time.

"I apologize, dear child to have taken such time. It's just that most of the information we have of your kind was almost lost because of the current king Roland." Eris nodded and tried to listen to her words as much as she could.

"Many usually just call you merfolk, mermaids or people of the ocean. Similar to how my kind is mixed up with dragons or lizardfolk. We are called the Eldernara. And you dear child, belong to the Seanes. They are usually not out of water for long and die if they are on land for too long. I assume that you are only half Seane. Other half must be human."

"Human?" Memories of how the townspeople said she was anything but human flashed by. She felt how a burst of sadness and anger almost burst through but she tried to swallow it all. She doesn't even belong to one species. But two different ones. And the humans are already casting her out.

"I have a book about them with me. As well as about the world, different species and history. And a book of magic, filled with spells and what to think of." Information kept piling up and Eris wanted to run away and escape. But to where? Stuck underground. Above them is only ice anyway too.

"Is there something wrong child?" The priestess kept calling Eris a child. She felt so small and insignificant in front of this person. She almost froze to death earlier then almost crushed to death. She kept moving forward, trying to survive. She's so far away from home now. She never even felt safe once. If it wasn't for the mercy of others she would have been dead by now.

"I never knew my parents… They cursed me from birth with my appearance. I had never heard about seanes before. The villagers burned down my home, my only friend left me… Because the goddess Theelia noticed what a saint he is. I have nowhere to go. I'm so scared of this… Big world I know nothing about. From that small village with only humans. To here with… Eldenara, satyrs and magic…" Tears began to fall, her blood was boiling and she quickly hid her face in her hands. The priestess was quiet and hesitantly moved her hand towards Eris but then the butterfly mark began to glow in a golden light. A light breeze surrounded Eris before Evodine appeared in infront of Eris then bowed.

"What do you wish for Eris?" Evodine's voice was caring, the playfulness wasn't present.

"I want to rest… Not think of anything… Just… Get away from here…" Evodine gently stroked Eris' forehead as golden dust began to fall from her palm. Eris slowly began to relax and soon fell into a deep sleep. Evodine sat down beside Eris and let her fall into her lap as she kept stroking her forehead then played with her hair. At least for a moment… Evodine sent her into a peaceful dream.

The priestess just stared at the odd looking fairy and soon their eyes met. A smile curled upon Evodine.

"I am her patron, yes, your Grace. I admit I haven't told her anything about magic nor been much to help. But those are for reasons I can't tell, for now." Her voice was carefree and her hands were still running through Eris' hair, almost as if she was combing it. The priestess slowly stood up, her eyes pierced at the butterfly fairy.

"You put her into a very dangerous situation. It was a miracle that her body was able to handle it. If it hadn't-"

"But she did. She was able to control and handle it. There is a reason why I chose her. I knew she could do it even if she struggled a lot from it… I will take care of her better from now on." The priestess didn't seem to believe any of the words she said. Her tone didn't even have a hint of seriousness in it. What's worse, she's a fairy. One of the most carefree beings who loves to pull pranks and play with words. But this one seemed dangerous, her eyes having some sort of hunger in them. The priestess sighed, feeling how her patience wouldn't last for too long.

"I'll show you to her room and leave the books in there. Feel free to read them." Morgensen then moved downstairs with Evodine following close by with Eris in her arms and the books floating beside them.

They arrived at a door, decorated with blue crystals and "guest" was written on the door.

"Make her feel at home."

"What about me?~ Shouldn't I feel at home?" The priestess simply stared at her.

"Don't try anything funny. I'm just staying cautious since I don't know what your REAL motives are." The fairy simply smiled as she carefully laid down Eris on the bed.

"Your hostility pains me your Grace. But I won't leave this room, I promise~" Evodine bowed then crossed her heart at the promise. Morgensen was still sceptical but relaxed slightly, a fairy promise was usually kept. However they were known to find loopholes in them. But she didn't question her and closed the door.

"I'm sorry sweetheart…" The priestess heard Evodine's voice through the door. This time, her tone was filled with remorse. Knowing that, Morgensen left them alone without worrying about any pranks.