by Eden Redd
“Jon, step outside for a moment while I handle the transaction,” Lilly directed.
Jon raised an eyebrow. He was about to say something, but decided against, unsure what she was going to do. His first thought was she was going to rob the shopkeeper, but the relaxed keeper gave off no hint of fear or concern. With that, the young man stepped out in his new clothes.
When the door closed, Lilly opened a leather satchel at her hip. She pulled out five gold coins and placed them on the counter. The shopkeeper moved to pick them up when Lilly held up a hand, halting the keeper before she touched the gold.
“I can simply pay you with gold or I can barter something you have never tasted before. Some would say it is more valuable than gold,” Lilly grinned and pulled out a small pack of ground coffee.
Outside, Jon stood with his back to the shop and took in the atmosphere. The sun was low in the sky. It burned brightly, but didn’t seem to sting Jon’s skin like Urth’s sun if he stayed out too long in it. He looked at his jacket sleeves and found the clothes to be very comfortable. A hand slipped into his jacket, feeling the sheathed dagger tied to his new belt.
I look like a pirate. I really feel like a pirate!
Jon smiled to himself before the door opened. He turned to see Lilly putting gold coins in her leather satchel.
“Let’s go before it gets dark. We have one more stop before meeting the others at the Laughing Rat,” Lilly smiled before turning and walking along the dirt road.
Jon joined her side, walking with his chest out as he felt like a new man.
“Do I blend in?” Jon asked.
Lilly smiled. “You do if no one is looking directly at you. The longer they look, the more they will see you have a different bone structure then the rest of us. It should be fine for the time we are here.”
Jon nodded and looked ahead. The Monastery stood at the other end of the island, but since it wasn’t a big island, Jon guessed they would get there in a few minutes.
“Is our new crewmember there?” Jon asked.
Lilly nodded. “Before we arrive, have an open mind. She is very devoted to her goddess. Vala’s ways bring a sense of forgiveness to minds and bodies. The people here of Soul Drink want to be forgiven, but never stay on the path of light. They wander back to town until the need of forgiveness arises and come crawling back to those who follow Vala’s ways. It has become a cycle here, neither side wishing to truly be forgiven or healed.”
Jon scratched his head, trying to understand what Lilly was trying to say. Before he knew it, they arrived at the front doors to the monastery. Lilly grabbed a large knocker and slammed it against the door a few times. The metal ringing and vibrating along the door was loud enough to be heard across the island.
The door opened and a timid elf peered out. “How can I help you?”
Lilly bowed. “We are here to seek forgiveness for our dark needs. May we see Cleric Moon?”
The elf bowed her head and opened the door a little more. “Please, come in.”
Lilly stepped through, Jon following. Inside, Jon noticed the long, flowing black outfit of the thin elf. She wore something similar to a nun’s habit. She was covered from head to toe, only her hands and face visible. She walked along, leading them into a large chamber. Stained glass windows were to the right and left. A statue of a robed woman with a crescent moon in her hands stood. The robe covered her head, inky shadows covering the statue’s eyes.
To the right and left, worn down pews stretched out. Some of them had cracks in them and one to the back looked like it had completely fallen into disrepair, slanted and broken.
The chamber reminded Jon of churches back home, but this one felt slightly alien, a strange scent hanging in the air.
“I’ll fetch Cleric Moon,” the elf bowed.
Lilly and Jon watched as she walked to a side door, opened it and disappeared through it.
“I’ll do the talking, but if she speaks to you, simply be yourself,” Lilly smirked.
“Should I be worried?” Jon asked just as the door opened again and a blonde elf stepped through.
The elf moved with careful ease, closing the door behind her. She wore the same uniform as the other elf, complete with habit, long black dress and a necklace with a silver crescent moon shape hanging from it. Her features were smooth and pale. The elf’s ears were similar but different from Lilly’s ears. Where Lilly’s ears were long and parallel to the sides of her head, this elf’s ears pointed directly out from the sides of her head. They twitched as she slowly approached, slipping between pews and stepping closer. When she reached the middle aisle, the elf continued to look between Lilly and Jon. Jon watched her as it didn’t seem she was looking at anything in particular.
“Welcome to Vala’s home. How may I help with your dark needs?” the elf asked with a small smile.
“A kiss is a start,” Lilly smirked.
The elf blinked before her small smile grew into a grin. “I thought I saw your soul through the walls.”
“It’s good to see you,” Lilly said, keeping her smirk.
“That jest never gets old,” the elf said.
Lilly stepped closer and hugged the pale elf. She hugged the sun elf back, her eyes staring at nothing.
She’s blind.
“I’m sure your friend is taken aback about my lack of sight,” the elf said as she pulled back.
Lilly nodded. “Eryn Moon, please meet my Shullkar, Jon Song.”
“You have found a new Shullkar! I’m so happy for your both,” Eryn smiled brightly.
“Pleased to meet you,” Jon bowed.
Eryn nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. You don’t have to bow because I can’t see it anyway.”
Jon stood up as an awkward feeling took root.
Lilly continued, “I wanted to talk to you about the future.”
Eryn nodded before slightly turning her blank eyes in Jon’s direction. “I’m happy to talk. May I study Jon as we speak?”
Jon lifted an eyebrow.
“It’s nothing unusual. I study many new people when I meet them so I can form a pattern to their soul,” Eryn quickly followed up. “Please, have a seat while we talk.”
Jon eyed Lilly and the sun elf gave a small nod. Jon stepped over to a bench with a high back and sat down. Eryn moved to him as Lilly stood to the side. Jon watched as Eryn stood before him. Pale hands drifted down to her long skirt. Taking hold, she lifted it up and sat in Jon’s lap, facing him.
Heat bloomed as Jon looked into Eryn’s dark eyes. Hands rose up, touching his face.
She’s just trying to get to know me better.
Jon tried to convince himself it was an innocent way to read him when Eryn’s hips moved slightly. The heat between them grew as Jon found this not innocent at all. Her hips made small motions and despite the fact that they were both completely clothed, blood rushed to his manhood and it began to thicken. To make matters more uncomfortable, her covered breasts were pushed right up to his chin as her fingers moved along the defining lines of his face.
“Stay still so I may have a complete pattern,” Eryn directed.
Lilly leaned on a nearby pew as Jon was stock still, the blind elf moving her hips on his lap.
“I have something to ask,” Lilly began.
“I don’t believe I can give any more. The note I sent with Captain Thorn was the last of it. If I help any more, I cannot aid the lost souls of Soul Drink,” Eryn said flatly.
“Spare me,” Lilly laughed. “The souls of this island only want to spill their needs to Vala because that is how she forgives and heals. You can do so much more than tend to a flock of misfit sheep.”
Eryn was silent, her fingers tracing along Jon’s face. Her hips ground harder and Jon found his cock being strangled in his pants. He resisted the urge to touch her waist, feeling it might be taboo to lay hands on an elf of the cloth.
“Your soul is so bright and golden,” Eryn said with a faraway tone, her other hand touching Jon’s arm.
Hea
ling light engulfed Jon’s arm, the warm energy seeping into his broken fingers and healing them. Bones set and fused as energy caressed damage from torn muscles and ligaments.
Jon didn’t say anything as he tried to fight his hard-on and wanting to see his healed fingers.
“I have need of you,” Lilly’s voice came out firm.
Eryn’s breath grew hotter as her lips parted. She dry-humped Jon’s lap as fingers moved to the side of his face and traced along his ears. Dragging the tips of her fingers down, she touched his neck as her hips slid like a primal creature against him.
“My place is here,” Eryn said breathlessly.
“On my Shullkar’s lap?” Lilly smiled.
“If that is what Vala decrees. May I speak with your Shullkar? The goddess may have some wisdom in his words.”
“Ask him anything you wish. He has his own voice,” Lilly said flippantly.
Eryn moved with caged power, driving Jon’s cock to the breaking point as he sat. Her covered breasts bobbed against his chin and soon his mouth and cheeks as Eyrn stared at him with blank eyes.
“You’re wondering about me? I can sense it along your soul. I assume they don’t talk much about half-breeds on Urth. It’s okay, you’re not the first to wonder about my kind. When a sun elf and a luna elf love each other, they sometimes bear children. Half-breeds don’t often survive very long and those that do, often have some kind of ailment and a blessing. I grew up without normal sight, but I can see souls. They appear as balls of flaming light, hovering in the darkness. It can be quite beautiful as many have told me it’s similar to them seeing stars in the night.”
Eryn pushed her chest into Jon’s face further, his face buried up to his nose in a pair of breasts. The fabric was nearly suffocating him, but he remained still and rock hard. Her thighs clamped on the outsides of Jon’s hips as she let out a light gasp.
The cleric continued, “I was abandoned and left at this very monastery. I have explored a little of Aquris, but I always end up coming back here. I can say it is the only home I have known.”
Jon looked up as she writhed and moved against him. Another gasp filled the air as her hips moved with urgency.
Is she getting off on me?
“Jon, I’m going to ask you an important question. Your answer could change the world so I must have your honesty. Can you do this? Can you give me an honest answer?”
Jon lifted his mouth above her burning hot breasts and looked into Eryn’s blank eyes. “I will.”
Eryn let out a small moan before she hugged him close, burying his face in her covered cleavage and her lips by his ear.
“Jon, I must know the truth before my goddess, do you want to stuff that big cock in my mouth or my ass?”
The young man looked up with wide eyes.
Eryn looked down with a sarcastic grin. “Either is fine! Take your pick but make sure you shove it in deep. I want to choke on it. Choke my asshole with your cock!”
Eryn and Lilly began laughing like two witches in a bog. The echoes of their laughter vibrated through the chamber. Jon’s eyes narrowed, heat turned his face red. He pulled back and gasped for air as Eryn leaned back a little to give him some room. Her hips continued to move but her grin remained.
Lilly moved closer and sat beside them, looking to Jon with adoring eyes. “We couldn’t resist.”
“Syndra didn’t like it either,” Eryn laughed.
“This is why we came all this way, so you can play a joke on me?” Jon asked with annoyed eyes.
Lilly and Eryn shook their heads.
“No, no,” Lilly began. “We truly came here to ask Eryn to be part of our crew. It was simply impossible to not do this again.”
Jon grabbed Eryn by the waist, lifted her up and put her down beside him. The moon elf tried to stop her giggles as Jon was up and stepping back into the aisle. The raging hard-on in his pants only made him more uncomfortable as he tried to stand normally.
Eryn slid over to Lilly and laid her head on the sun elf’s shoulder. Lilly reached up and touched Eryn’s cheek as Jon simply stared.
“I wish I could go with you, but I’m needed here,” Eryn said in a sad, whimsical tone.
“You can bring Vala’s light to many others, at my side. I’m conscripting others to my crew and we need a cleric. Jon and Zelda have known pain. Syndra is strong, but not strong enough to heal us should we need it. You’re the only cleric I can trust.”
Eryn looked up to Lilly with blank eyes. “You say that because no one would dare trust a half-breed such as myself. You dangle your trust to entice me. I’m blind, but I’m not a fool. Life is simple here. Why would I join your crew when your cause is certain death?”
Lilly let her hand linger against Eryn’s cheek. “Because the winds have changed. We are not running anymore, not since we discovered a dragon spirit.”
Eryn lifted her chin off Lilly’s shoulder and turned her blank gaze to Jon. “It’s true? His golden soul is a dragon spirit! I’ve never seen one before. I’ve only heard the legends.”
“We know it to be true. Do you still think our cause is lost?” Lilly smiled.
Eryn pulled away and stood up. Her head was tilted forward, shadows covering her eyes.
“I… I cannot give an answer now. When do you depart?”
“We leave in the morning, with or without you. We are staying at the Laughing Rat. You have till late morning. I do hope you join us.”
Eryn lifted the crescent moon symbol around her neck to her chin. Blank eyes looked to the side before they closed. Jon watched each nuanced movement, the elf clearly thinking over her options.
After a long moment, she opened her eyes halfway, but kept her head bowed. “Lilly, if I took this path with you, this will be the first step on a long, difficult journey. Would you not be happier staying in the Urth realm and living your life in peace?”
It was Lilly’s turn to stand up. The Captain moved to Jon’s side, reached over and took his hand into hers.
“If our realm was not broken, I would live a simple life. I would love my Shullkar for many lifetimes and sleep well every night in pure bliss. It is a dream, but a wonderful one. I know the path ahead of us. I know it will be difficult, but I cannot abandon what the very gods have shown me.”
Lilly kissed Jon’s cheek before turning to Eryn. “Think about it. If I don’t see you in the morning. I’ll know your answer.”
Lilly pulled Jon with her. The two began walking back the way they came. Eryn stood like a statue, her eyes covered in deep shadows, but not taking any step toward them.
Jon glanced back a few times before they exited the monastery. The thick doors closed shut and a lock slid into place.
“I don’t think she will join,” Jon said in a low tone.
“We will have to wait for her answer. For now, let’s get some drinks!” Lilly smiled before walking toward town.
The pair made their way back, the sun touching the horizon. The sky glowed with a bright pink and orange light. Clouds drifted in thin patches across the heavens. Lanterns along the town began to glow to life. Townspeople moved about, some drunk, others pushing the drunks.
Jon and Lilly walked, still holding hands.
“Lilly, do you believe meeting me will change your world for the better? I’m just a Dock Inspector back on Urth. I’m not even a hero like many in my family. I’m just a lucky guy. I don’t know if luck can heal so much cruelty the Empire has caused.”
Lilly slowed her step until they stopped. The elf turned and faced Jon with a somber gaze. The green in her eyes was dark, like a thunderstorm was brewing.
“We have spoken about trust. I want you to understand, I have never been truthful with anyone in my life, but my parents… and you. Truth can be ugly, casting its light on faults and misery. It has broken the strongest of backs. It has ripped apart many lives. No one likes the truth, no matter how much they crave it. You will pick up truth and marvel at it before it stings you with torment.”
Lill
y took Jon’s other hand into hers, her head bowed. “I want to save my parents. I want to break the Empire. I want to live a happy life, just like everyone else. Those dreams give me hope, but my hope is not for everyone. I give Syndra, Zelda, and Cora hope, but I do not give them the truth, not all of it. They trust me and I trust them. They know, they will one day hear the truth when the time is right.”
Lilly’s eyes trembled slightly before they became still as frozen ponds. “I have to give hope to others or we are all lost. It weighs on me like a chain around my neck. I don’t wish to show weakness but, with you, I feel I can and it scares me.”
Jon’s grip tightened along Lilly’s hands. “It scares me too, but it doesn’t stop me from loving you. It doesn’t stop me from loving our friends. I know the truth hurts. I have spent my life running from it. When I met you, Cora, Syndra, and Zelda, I knew I couldn’t run any more. I knew I wanted to be there for you and our friends. Your cause is my cause. I trust you and I can be your confidant if you need to unburden your soul.”
“And if what I unburden, scares you?” Lilly asked, her gaze sharp as a knife.
Jon smirked. “I climbed a sea serpent and cut off a mystical scale on its head. I think I’m beyond fear and full on into brave idiot territory.”
Lilly smiled warmly before it faded away.
“Jon, tomorrow we don’t set sail for the portal. Tomorrow, we set sail to save Zelda’s family.”
Jon’s eyes widened, but before he could utter a word, Lilly kissed him. Lips touching, Jon watched as Lilly closed her eyes, hiding her pain. The sensual kiss sank into his body, bringing a comfort he had come to crave and enjoy. His eyes half closed, he let Lilly’s intoxicating kiss fill his spirit.
She didn’t want to tell me. She was going to keep this secret for as long as she could. Is this because of our connection? Is she using me and hiding more secrets? She told Eryn that I can help save their world, but was it just another lie to keep her crew in line? How long before she lies to me just to make me happy?
Lilly broke their kiss and leaned her forehead against Jon’s, “I know your questioning everything. I know my world is strange to you. I know my intentions scare you. I know you wonder how long before I lie to you just so I can use you. Those thoughts are natural, especially here on Aquris. Almost all use each other for their own gain, but I am going to tell you my intentions and we will not speak on it again until we are both ready.”