[Chapter 4 - Ad Meliora : Towards Better Things]
As my hand gently touched my cheek the wooden door to my left was flung open making a loud thud into the wall. In its clearing stood 3 people. In front was a younger man and woman. The man had a lean figure and long pointed face. His eye's eyes were a vibrant green and he had long straight black hair that reached his waist. From the sides of his hair emerged two long pointed ears with silver metal jewelry covering the ends like armor, at their tip a small purple jewel was embedded. Beside him was a woman with a huge smile and shining yellow hair. Small curls formed along her hair at the bottom making it look like a waterfall of gold. Like the man her ears were adorned by the same type of silver jewelry and gem. She had vibrant brown eyes that were filled with excitement. I would know them anywhere, it was Louse and Aela.
Behind them stood a tall and beautiful woman with hair like silk and eyes even more beautiful than amethyst. As I saw her memories flooded my mind. They were filled with love and compassion. A small heartache formed in my chest and though tears felt they would come at any second they were suppressed by an overwhelming thought
'So this is the feeling of having a family'
As I stood frozen and stared lost within my own thoughts she began to approach. Her hair was almost floor length and bounced softly. It was like a lion's mane. As she did, Aela and Louse quickly moved aside. Though louse maintained a professional demeanor and softly bowed, his smile did not fade. Aela swiftly moved though unlike Louse, she did not once break her gaze from me and kept a large grin on her face. As the woman passed them she clasped a small wooden box in both hands. It had several etchings of various beasts in the wood. When she reached me she had a soft and warm smile.
Gently she extended it towards and me with a delicate voice "Happy 10th Birthday Elly"
I reached my hands out to receive it as a smile formed "Thank you Mother"
As if on cue Aela immediately threw two big piles of vibrant silver petals she had been holding in her fists.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
The silver petals gleaned almost as if they were metallic. I didn't recognize them exactly but I had similar memories of various other colors of petals being thrown the same way during past comings of age
As I watched them flutter around me I couldn't help but feel in awe. If not for holding the box my mother had just given me I'm sure I would have jumped around trying to catch them like a little kid. Though I guess technically I am, so maybe it would have been fine. As I was thinking all this the word escaped my mouth in a soft whisper
"Silver"
Louse quickly smiled before chiming in with the tone of a professor
"Indeed, like the tree they come from, silver petals are among the rarest of the Ashen. They will bring you great luck fitting for your day of awakening."
That's right. The Patron had mentioned something about this earlier. That it was Elvin tradition to train when you turn 10 or something like that, but why do I not have any memories of this. Perhaps that was bonus information I didn't previously know. With that thought in mind I moved my focus from Louse to my mother who was in front of me with a large smile on her face.
"Yes Elly" she spoke happily "Today you will begin your training as an Elf. Get dressed and when you are ready meet me at the hill behind the house.". After smiling softly once more she left the room. This time both Aela and Louse bowed properly with Aela following close behind her as she usually did. Louse softly stood straight "Happy birthday young master" he smiled fondly as he closed the door behind him.
I must have stood there staring at the gift my mother gave me for 10 minutes. The reason wasn't the intricate details of the box or the fact there seemed to be no way to open it as it had no cuts or locks. No, it was because on the side of the box was a folded paper stuck with wax. When I opened it the contents read
'To our Beloved Son on his day of awakening,
Happy Birthday! We apologize as we wrote this letter pretty far in advance so it might be short and unspecific. After all, who knows what route you will choose in life. To be a swordsman like your brave, strong, fearless and handsome dad?'
Beside that was an arrow pointing to the sentence and note drawn 'Your dad put that while I wasn't looking -mom'
Reading it I couldn't help but break the face of shock I was holding with a smile. The note gave the feeling of two kids in love. After a couple of seconds I continued reading
'Or perhaps you will become a mage like your mother. Whatever you choose, we will always be proud. As a reminder of that we have specially made what is inside the box to always change and grow with you.
Loving you always,
Mom + Dad'
As I stared at the letter
"Patron"
<"Hello">
"I thought you said my father was off limits?"
<"Correct. Up until this point you should have no direct memories involving your father aside from the instance previously discussed. This would be the first recorded instance of Ventris Vinswain providing anything regarding your father.">
"I see, thank you."
<"Understood">
After getting dressed I grabbed the box and opened the door of my room. Though the patron said to allow up to one month, my memory seems to at least be good enough that I can navigate my day to day life seamlessly as if I had always done it because technically I had. As I closed the door I walked down a wide halfway and eventually a set of spiraling wooden stairs. As I approached the door I heard a man's voice calling out to me.
"Young Master, please do not forget your cloak I fear there is quite a breeze today"
I began to turn around
"My wha-"
I stopped to see Louse standing with something draped over his arm. He then unfolded it and with one fell swoop wrapped it around me flawlessly and squeezed a clasp by neck resulting in a crisp snap sound. I was immediately wrapped in what could only be described as a magician's cloak. It was made out of a deep purple material that felt like velvet. Along the edges of its entirety was a half inch of embroidered silver thread.
"O-oh yes of course, thank you Louse"
Louse smiled softly and bowed before disappearing somewhere in the house.
To be completely honest I have no memory of this cloak but he acted as if this was a normal thing.
'Patron' I thought clearly in my head
<"Hello">
"Why don't I know what this is"
<"Answer. That is a family cloak gifted to you by your grandfather Yeldan shortly after your birth. You often make it a habit of not wearing it when you leave the residence resulting in your mother scolding you. Please allow up to 1 month for seamless integration">
"Right…"
I then lifted the hooded and walked out the door. This morning had begun to go so smoothly I had almost forgotten my memory is still adjusting, I need to be more careful until it's done. 'At least I know where the hill is' I thought to myself.
After a 5 or so minute walk through the various oranges and yellows of the trees that surrounded the majority of the estate the scenery suddenly changed to vast open grassland. In the distance a small raised hill could be scene and atop it stood a woman in a cloak that matched mine. The difference was her hood was down allowing her hair to flow freely in the breeze. As I grew closer she turned to me and smiled before looking down at the box before a small sad and solemn smile appeared
"Given you brought it with you I assume you read the letter?"
"Yes Mother"
"Very good" she smiled softly before lifting her hand to touch my cheek. "Let us begin"
As the words left her mouth I felt the spot on my cheek that her hand touched become warm before my vision grew blurry and I began to fall to the ground as everything went black.
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Name: Elwen Vinswain
Race: ?!?!/High Elf
Mana: 1000/1000
Ki: 100%
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Current Classes: N/A
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Effects: N/A
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Titles:
[Freyja's Patron]
[Elven Noble]
[Vinswain]