Chapter 1

  Elaine the Elf

  Elaine woke with a jolt, sitting straight up and grasped her left eye. "Strange." She thought out loud. Near moments ago, she could have sworn her head was throbbing. Perplexed, she glanced over at her alarm clock that read, 6:42. "Ughhhh." 18 minutes of precious sleep she had wasted. She glanced at the foot of her olive wood bed frame, where her beloved pet ferok named Nyx rested from night to morning. Oddly enough he was nowhere to be seen. She brushed away the inconsistency, he is just an animal after all, then proceeded to lay back down under the warm covers. That's when she noticed the damp bedsheets that lie beneath her. What is going on this morning. As she nimbly exited her once comfy mattress, her bare feet caressed the brisk tile floor. "There is no way I did that!" She loudly announced. Her entire mattress, covers, and sheets were soaked. I haven't wet the bed since I was 5, and that time wasn't even my fault. Astonished she continued to look at her newly made waterbed as the morning light peeked through her blinds. Her ears began to warm with embarrassment. It was then that she noticed her two pillows, made from roc bird feathers, were also soaked. Well now I KNOW there's no way I did that. In fact, the more she glanced at the potential accident the more she noticed it was a perfect oval shape. Night sweats then? She shrugged it off as one time mishap and immediately started stripping the covers off and discarded them onto the floor.

  Faint chimes rang out from her alarm clock, signifying Elaine's uncharacteristic day has officially commenced. She quickly silenced her alarm. I'll just have to leave this mess for Mom to take care of. Shoving her thoughts away she continued her normal routine. First things first, I have got to fix this crow's nest. Elaine glared at her reflection with an intense look. She had begged her parents for weeks to get her luxury pillows in order to fix her violent reoccurring bedhead. Dad's gonna throw a fit once he sees the state they're in. Without another thought she picked up a brush and started the long chore of styling her hair. Elaine believed her hair was her strongest physical trait. It's cherry-brunette hue brought about a vibrant warmth to her light skin pigment, each stream of color glinted with a reddish sheen that seemed lively. After finishing the last bits of her fishtail braid, Elaine dabbed a few pats of aconite petals on her cheekbones. While aconite was an extremely poisonous plant when consumed by smaller creatures, it was used fairly common among the satyr women for aesthetic use. Happy with her new appearance, Elaine once again looked at her finished product in the mirror. Her dainty figure seemed electric as she witnessed the masterpiece, she had crafted upon herself. Her now blushed cheeks matched her vibrant hair. "Perfect." She exclaimed confidently. She quickly crammed her brush and poisonous petals into her drawer and locked it. Can't have Nyx getting into any of this. With absolute grace she removed her sleep wear and replaced it with her school uniform, and just like that she was ready to take on the world. Elaine stumbled into the into the family kitchen, overhearing her father's voice echoing in her pointed ears.

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  "Another complaint from the carpenters? That's the second time this season! I swear these jokers are never satisfied with the prices."

  Elaine noted the uncharacteristic comments spewing from her father. He was never one to slander the work of a different race, regardless of their actions. "Is something wrong Dad?" She asked concerningly.

  "Why not at all my little sunbeam. You look as radiant as ever this morning. I was just thinking about how delicious your mother's breakfast is this morning."

  "Oh... Right, sorry for asking." Elaine retorted, still confused about the exchange. Before she could try to draw up conclusions there her father's voice was again as he glanced at his paperwork.

  "If the dwarves from 'The Sturdy Chisel' decide to go on strike, it could spell bad news for this entire district's economy. I suppose I'll have to meet with them personally this morning to prevent the worst from occurring."

  "What will happen if the dwarves from this district stop working?" Elaine asked, curious to her father's one-sided conversation. Elaines mom stopped whisking her bowl and her father set down his documents.

  "How did you know about their complaints?" Her father asked with a puzzling look.

  "What do you mean? You were just-", but before she could finish her statement, her mother intervened.

  "Eyrndor that's enough. You know the rules, no work conversations during family meals. I mean it, not another word, and move your cluster of papers off the table." Elaines mother, Vearina, snapped with a gentle tone. While soft spoken her words felt like weighted daggers when she was serious. "Now then sweety, how are your classes going?"

  "Same as always, history class is still a total snooze fest, herbalism and potion crafting are my favorite, ohh and I got a perfect score on my calligraphy test. " Elaine released a slight grin at her oh so humble accomplishment. "I've tried helping Sam with it but it's just not his strong suit I suppose."

  "Well, I'm sure Sam appreciates the help, besides I know he keeps you from drooling on your desk during history." Vaerina jokingly teased.

  "I do not drool! I'm a proper lady." Elaine clapped back. It was just then that she remembered her soaked bedsheets. Well, I can't bring that up now, I would never hear end of it. For the second time this morning her sharp ears turned beat red in embarrassment. She decided to take care of the morning accident after she returned from classes this afternoon. She hastily consumed her mother's cooking and made her way to the front door. With a gentle wave of her hands, she slipped on her long leather boots and headed off for school.