Tyler Kimball - Lessgently
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Pallesia: Chapter 133 - Plan ahead.
🕑 Added 2024-04-24 14:28:36 +0000 UTCAfter walking away from a small food stand, more than a little embarrassed, with a handful of what looked to be wraps of meat and vegetables in a cornflour shell, Lee headed back to Em. Along the way, he tried to ignore the pointed look Regina was throwing at him.
“Remember what I said about giving out your money? I take all of that back. You’re not allowed to help with our supplies if you’re going to give away the last dregs of your savings.”
Lee ignored her remark and continued to sort through his Hidden Cache, looking for his remaining coins.
While buying dinner, Lee experienced an unfortunate and awkward mishap where he could not afford the meal. Luckily, Regina had pulled through and saved him from holding up the small line formed behind them.
“You saw me get paid, Regina. There’s a silver coin somewhere in this damn storage…” Lee mumbled.
Regina clasped his elbow and saved him from running into some nearby passerby as he was lost in his mind, sorting through his cache. “You must be one of the poorest healers in existence.”
“I can’t agrue with that, but still…” Lee’s eyes widened as he smiled. He materialized a single silver coin and four bronze coins out into his hand. “Told you I had some money.”
And instantly, Regina swiped the coins from his gloating, open palm and stuffed them into her wide open, billowing sleeves. “Payback for the food, with some added interest. Come along, I’m hungry.”
She quickly led the way back to the livery, and not long after, Regina, Lee, and Em sat in a dark, enclosed barn-like building eating wraps.
“Well, this is depressing,” Lee said as he glanced at the drab interior.
Em stabbed her wrap with a sharp pointed finger, impaling her foe and raising it up to her mouth like a kebab. After a viscous bite, she said. “It’s better than the last time I was here. Last time, I had to be with the horses.”
Regina pointedly glared at Lee, but he didn’t understand what the look was supposed to tell him. He didn’t do anything yet! Not wanting to sit silently after that depressing sentence, he decided to talk about the future.
“So, when we reach Felispar… Are you still going to stay with us, Regina? How long are you going to stay with us?” Lee tilted his head toward Em, indicating she was part of the ‘us.’
Regina finished her meal as she spoke. “Until you’re done teaching the members of the military healing magic. At that point in time, I shall return to the front and resume my duty as Fatalina’s attendant.”
Em was the next to speak, her red eyes shimmering in the darkness. “What are you going to do after you teach everybody, Lee? Are you going to another kingdom?”
Lee paused to think for a second but already knew what he was aiming to do. “I’ll stay around until the Healer’s Sanctum is either gone or changed. While doing that, I want to ensure that the Dark Elves are free from their imprisonment. I know neither of you know much about them, but they’re good people. Without them… Well, let’s just say there would be no healing magic without their help. I’d be dead. Killed by some damn Jackalope or something equally as shameful.”
Lee looked at Regina. “I’d like some updates about how soon they will be freed from the Shadowgrove. If you can’t get in contact with them, send a group into the forest. They will find you. Have them ask for Elder Sono. You should be aware of him, as you’ve been meeting with him every one hundred years to deny him and his people any freedom.”
Regina’s lips thinned as he finished, but Lee thought that needed to be said. From what he’d seen and heard about so far, the common people of Thexis weren’t even aware of the Dark Elves. Hell, the members from the Wall of Shadows didn’t even know that much about them. They thought they were protecting the border from monsters, not keeping an entire race of people out of their kingdom.
Before she could respond, Em asked a question that surprised him. “Do the Dark Elves have people like me? Defenders?”
“Not that I saw. I only met one other person similar to you there, and they didn’t seem to be friendly with one another. It was complicated.” Lee said, remembering Jud.
“Do you think they would—No, never mind.” Em said, shifting her eyes toward Regina.
Too bad, Lee noticed. “Go on, Em. Say what you want to say.”
Em looked conflicted. Her eyes shifted from Lee to Regina as she decided whether to ask her question. “Do you think they would accept people like me? Not like it is here, where we’re hidden away and asked to risk our lives for those who hate us, but as people to live with?”
Lee leaned back onto his arms and stared at the ceiling as he processed the question. While the Dark Elves were nice to him, someone different than their own. They didn’t take well to… monsters. Of course, after a few minutes of introduction, he could readily say that they wouldn’t be hostile towards Em, but he couldn’t go as far as to say they’d accept her.
“I don’t know. I hope they would, but I don’t know for sure.” Lee said honestly.
After a second of silence, Regina seemingly felt the need to defend her kingdom. “I know that the role of Defender isn’t fully fleshed out as of yet, but I do believe that it’s better than the alternative. We all know what would happen to you if you didn’t accept the role. Many have declined in the past, and they no longer exist. You’d live in the forests, out of civilization, competing with actual monsters for the rest of your life. While you’re…—I think what we have is better than nothing.”
“There is no honor in being a Defender. It’s not a real choice. Either you become one, or you die in the wilds. We’re hidden away and only seen when a true disaster happens. If we do not act accoridng to our roles, we’re replaced. Where do those replaced go to Regina? Where is the defender of Lopus right now?”
Regina didn’t answer. So, Lee asked as well. “Where is Lopus’ Defender? I never met them, heard about them, saw them fighting, or anything. It’s almost like they didn’t exist.”
Em swiveled her head toward him and answered in Regina’s place. “Either they died at the start of the emergence of the statues, or there was never a defender to begin with. If there wasn’t one to begin with, then either the original was removed from their position, or they didn’t have enough candidates. Now, why would they remove someone from their role if there is no one to replace them with? They don’t give us any aid, so it’s not like it costs them anything. Also, the lack of candidates suggests that they need us more than what is shown. We could all refuse the position. We are given a choice, after all.” Em’s tone was heating up. This was a weight she needed to get off her chest.
“I’m in a special position. Without you standing up for me and being my friend, I would be banished to the wilderness for leaving my post. Sometimes, we’re hunted down by adventurers for abandoning our post. I don’t know who posts those quests, but I have a pretty good guess.” Em glared at Regina.
“The Kingdom is—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Lee said, shocking both Regina and Em. “If things are as bad as you say, then fuck them. You can stay with me. We can travel across the world together, and then when you find somewhere you like and want to stay, we can part ways.”
Lee locked eyes with a shocked Em. “Even if you never find a place that will accept you for who you are, you can stay with me for as long as you like. If there isn’t a place currently, maybe one day, you can create a place for people like you. You have a long life to live, Em. Don’t worry too much about the little places like Thexis.”
Lee got up from the straw-cushioned floor and patted down his pants. He withdrew his Robe of the Genesis from his Hidden Cache and held out the pristine, clean, and elegant garb out into the air. Afterward, he threw it on and again looked like a proper healer. “Let’s leave early tomorrow. I’ll bring breakfast in the morning, Em.”
Em just nodded. She was looking at the floor, deep in thought. “Let’s go, Regina. I don’t even know where our rooms are. Lead the way.”
Once outside and underneath the bright stars up above, Lee spoke casually but quietly to Regina as they made their way to the front of the Inn. “People are a resource. I’m sure you guys have unemployment and whatnot; it’s terrible for a country. What’s equally as bad is losing your resources because you took them for granted. Maybe Bardum treats their more unique people much better? What’s stopping your precious defenders from leaving to join them? You? The threat of violence? Fear and violence only work for so long. Eventually, people will grow sick and tired of being treated like shit. They will leave to find a better life for themselves, or they will topple those who are keeping them down.”
Lee patted her on her shoulder. “I’ve told you guys once before, and I won’t repeat it again. Treat them better. Make them proud of their station. Reward them for their efforts. Do something, or you will lose them. You’ve lost one already, maybe two depending on what happened in Lopus—Well, I’m sure you have it handled.”
He released his hand and shrugged when she gave him a black-faced staredown. “I know to you; it seems like I don’t know much. But from my perspective, you’re both so advanced in some areas and behind in many others.”
Regina continued towards the Inn. “I could say the same about you.”
Jeremy and Kendri both had a room to themselves. Which in and of itself was an anomaly he was growing worried about. Either they had gotten to be true friends while he wasn’t looking, or a disaster of unimaginable proportions was about to unfold. Or… He could just be wrong about how much they disliked one another. He hoped it was that.
That left the other room for Regina and Lee. Regina shared the room with him for two reasons. One, she was responsible for his safety, and being in the same room as him enabled her to do her job. And two, he was deemed the most acceptable male to room with as he was a healer. Why that was the case? He wasn’t sure. He thought maybe it had to do with being a “Medical Professional,” which he most assuredly was not. So, he was at a loss for the reasoning. Not that he minded rooming with her. It wasn’t like they would share the same bed.
After one of the soundest sleeps he had since arriving in Thexis, finally being able to sleep in a proper bed without guilt, Lee awoke to an empty room. After getting dressed and brushing his teeth, Lee found a small wicker basket covered by a small piece of cloth with a note attached at the foot of his bed.
Jeremy bought breakfast. I think you forgot about having no money again. I’m checking our supplies with the others and getting the wagon ready. Take this and eat with Em.
Regina.
Looking inside the basket revealed one of Lee’s weaknesses. Sweets. Lee looked over his shoulder, double-checking that the room was clear before he absolutely demolished one of the donut-eqsue pastries. The sweet, sugary glaze and the fresh-cut foreign fruits exploded on his tastebuds, causing him to let out a happy moan. He saved the others to share and eat with Em, and then, he was on his way.
Comments
Wintermelody
Thanks for the Chapter
James Faulkner
Tftc!
Skylar
I'm glad he is taking care of Em. Good man. I can see his growth. ❤️
