Her Soldier, His Warrior

In Plain Sight [Part 5]

"I advise against going there now, it's quite dangerous with the monsters running about at night." An older man told Enya as he was giving Zira a piece of dried bacon. "Those poor boys, they're probably monster food by now. I don't get why they were running around with an elf, the villagers probably wouldn't have even touched them if they stayed."

"How old was this elf anyways?" Enya asks, her curiosity now piqued.

"About...as old as the taller boy, a teenager if I am right. Or a short adult, those exist, but she sounded too young to be an adult so I'm going with her being a teen."

A teen female assassin, there weren't that many in the village who would be skilled enough for Runaan to have sent off on such a high ranking mission. Rayla was a pretty good fighter, but she was too young to be sent out on this sort of mission and very inexperienced in killing. Maybe it was Fleur or someone else? Well whoever it was, she would need their help once she caught up to them and the princes - assuming they were all still alive by the time she found them.

After thanking the man for his help and the snack, Enya and Zira made their way towards the "haunted" Caldera. They managed to cross a good amount of the land until it had gotten dark, but so far no monsters had popped out anywhere. It seemed odd that the humans thought this place was haunted, perhaps because of the noise the wind made blowing through the trees and the way the shadows looked eerie.

"Hey if any monsters come around, are you gonna run or will you try biting it?" Enya asks Zira as they walk, the Moonstrider taking care to not lose her footing as they were navigating their way through the trees. Zira makes a chuffing sound that sounded like a scoff before stopping and lets out a low growl. "O-oi what's gotten into you girl?"

She had never seen her mount get like this before, save for that time they came across a Moonstrider with a bad case of rabies that was running around loose in the forest. Were they in danger? Now alert, Enya quietly pulled her knife from its sheath and gripped it tightly before nuding Zira to keep walking, her free hand gripping the reins tightly. Gods help her if there was something dangerous on the mountain -

Zira gave a loud bay as something large and glowing dropped down from the trees and let out an ear-splitting screech. Enya nearly fell out of the saddle as Zira reared up, barking and snarling at the creature as it screeched and roared back. It took her a moment to realize it was some sort of giant spider with a creepy glowing face on its rear, nothing that she had ever seen before in Xadia. Did the human territories have creepy giant spiders? Maybe these were the beasts and monsters the villagers feared, and if so, perhaps there was a reason it was here.

"Easy girl, easy!" Enya yells as she gripped the reins tightly as Zira growled and snarled, but dared not to get close to the spider. "Heel Zira!"

The Moonstrider snorts as she stops her thrashing, but kept letting out low growls as she eyed the creature warily. Enya carefully hops off and slowly walks up to the spider, which didn't even do anything. Curious, she lifted her hand up to touch it, only for her hand to go right through it. It was a fake!

"Well, it seems I found the illusionist dad told me about." She says to herself when she pulls her hand back from the spider. "Guess I found another good ally here in Xadia, and I suppose a visit is due."

It took her a while to pull Zira away from the illusion, that kept turning to watch them before it was out of view, and she finally calmed down enough for Enya to climb back on and keep riding. It wasn't until the barren trees started to start looking more healthy, grass was seen poking out of the ground and a small statue of an elf covered in moss was spotted that Enya thought they were within range of where the illusionist was living. And once further up the mountain she spotted what looked like small living quarters and various arches that she was sure she was in the right place.

Huh, who would've thought there was so much elf architecture in this area of the human kingdoms alone, and a lot of it looks like it's been here for more than a century. The assassin thinks as she dismounts and grabs the reins to lead her mount down a worn path. If that illusion is still running around the mountains, that means the one who cast it is still here, So where is the -

"Can I help you?" Enya yelped in alarm and spun around to see an older woman, a Moonshadow elf to be exact, standing behind her, giving her a curious look. "Are you lost?"

"Uh...no, I'm looking for some kids, specifically two human boys and an elf? Someone saw them run up towards this mountain." The assassin responds. "You...you wouldn't happen to be the illusionist who made that creepy spider in the woods, would you?"

The older elf beams in pride. "Oh yes! So how was it? Realistic enough until you touched it?"

"Umm....yeah. So, about those kids I asked about?"

"Oh you mean the two human boys and their elf friend? Yes they are here, along with a little human girl, her pet wolf, a glow toad and a baby dragon. Such a sweet group they are, but they have been making a mess of this sacred site, but it's nice to have company - especially 6he company of elves. What village are you from?"

"Silvergrove?"

"Oh! That's where the young elf is from too, Rayla that's her name!" Enya felt like her heart leapt into her throat. Rayla, the elf who was like her baby sister, was here? She was the assassin seen getting away with the princes?! The older elf must have seen the panicked look on her face and gave her an assuring smile. "Oh don't worry, she's fine! The silver assassin ribbon she was wearing was removed so she's fine, as for the princes they are fine as well. Do you want to see them?"

"M-maybe in the morning, it's late and they need their sleep." Enya said quickly. "If there's a place for me to stay."

"Of course! You can stay in that one near the kids, I'm sure Rayla would be happy to see you."

"Yeah, I sure hope so."