New Partnership

Aric looked at her eyes; there was a genuine want inside her eyes to know what happened to him. He let out a sigh and bowed his head.

"My father, he didn't want me. The only reason I am alive is because my mother decided that she would keep me.

So my father accommodated her for the duration of the pregnancy, but after she gave birth to me, she died.

I grew up there, an outcast, loved by none, despised by all. There was no elf that was remotely willing to have anything to do with a halfling like me.

I learned to stay on my own, surviving on the bare minimum my father sent every once in a while. Strangers knew him more than I knew him. But I never let it hold me down, and I kept pushing, surviving.

Soon, my very presence became a pain in the asses of others, and so I was set up, framed for something I had no hand in. I tried to speak, but my voice was overwhelmed by the accusations that came pouring on my head. No one wanted to give me even a small chance.

I was banished, thrown away, cast aside—whatever words could properly describe the fact that I was thrown away. And that day, I saw my father for the longest period ever.

Sadly, he was there to ensure that I was cast away like I should be. I had nothing, no one, knew nothing because I was refused a good teaching when I was there.

The knowledge I had was from scraps and crumbs I could pick up.

Now that I had left the elven world, I had to find a place to stay, and I made it to a human kingdom. I had no idea about the amount of hate and anger I would receive from them.

I was beaten close to death and chased out of the kingdom. I was seen as a betrayal to the human race, an abomination mixed with elf blood.

I managed to survive, and this forest saved me from them, only to welcome me to a new hell. Striving and pushing, I managed to survive, and I managed to actually start doing good." Aric finished his story.

Ariel stared at him, shocked that he could still be smiling even after all that.

"I thought dark elves had it bad. I guess you never know what others pass through," she said.

"That's life, filled with pain and filled with struggles. But that's why I want to use the knowledge I have to build a world that is different from what all others have.

I have a special ability that allows me to do some unimaginable things, but I never knew until it was near death," Aric said, throwing that out there to make sure that she would ask questions when she saw some things she didn't understand.

After he said that, Ariel looked around, and it was now she noticed a lot of tools and materials. She shot a look at Aric and asked,

"All this belongs to you?" She asked, picking up a hammer that lay there.

"Yes," Aric responded.

"Did you make them?" She asked.

"I did," Aric answered without thinking much. Her eyes lit up when she heard that.

"You are a blacksmith? These are very well made. They would sell for a lot in any town," she said in an excited way.

She turned her eye to the house that he was building, and then she recalled the food she ate. She wanted more of that, and she wanted comfort, something that it seemed Aric could provide.

"Hey, how about I stay with you?" she asked in an innocent tone.

"Huh? Stay with me? Don't you have somewhere that you would need to be?" Aric asked.

"Nope, just like you, I am an outcast, so we can stay together. I'm well-trained in combat, and I have good knowledge of this world. I can be a guide for you," she offered.

"So what do you offer then, if you are going to protect me and also teach me?" Aric asked.

"Well, you cook really good food, and you seem to be building a nice place to stay. I could help you finish it, and you'll let me stay," she said.

Aric thought about it for a bit. There was really no downside to what she offered because, with her help, he would be able to move faster. But he didn't really know her yet.

After a few minutes of thought, he finally came to the conclusion to allow it to be.

"I'd love for you to stay, but you have to teach me how to use a bow," Aric said.

"Hmmm, that's all? Then fine, we have a deal," she said and hugged Aric out of nowhere. Aric was shocked as two peaks pressed against him.

She finally let go of Aric, who internally didn't want to let her go at all.

"So what can I help you do?" she asked.

Aric walked over to the axe, picked it up, and carried it back to her.

"We need more wood, and I would love for us to have a boat before night," Aric said and handed it to her.

She took the axe without hesitation. She stared at it, admiring the intricate craftsmanship that went into the axe.

After admiring it for a bit, she headed in the direction of her first tree. Aric watched her go. He let out a deep breath and sat on a piece of tree trunk.

"This is weird. A few minutes ago, she nearly shot me with an arrow, and now she is helping me," he said. He decided to push the thoughts away for now. He got on his feet and carried the tools that he would need.

He still needed to make the walls, and the day was going by fast, so he needed to work fast. He was about to start, but then the sound of trees falling at a crazy pace drew his attention. He turned to look, and his mouth opened wide.