The Frozen Underbelly Of Tundrafel {2/3}

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    Sage finished packing up the carefully wrapped bottles into her satchel, she had gone to pick up a few supplies for an experiment she wanted to do that evening. When she stepped outside her mind quickly changed, it was later then she thought and she wished to have a nice dinner with Tristan. Pulling the collar of her long coat tighter, and buttoning up the extra button at the top she started to make her way back towards the academy district. The shop she had been at was at the border of the merchant and the academy district and caters to many of her students.


    As she walked the bottles in her bag clinked gently in their wrappings and her mind drifted off to what they would eat that night, then back to her experiment. She was trying to find a way to amplify ones magic abilities, seeing as her own were lacking, most likely due to her human heritage. She was about to the common road when heavy footsteps behind her drew her attention. She turned to see a young elf taking off down the road, followed by her beloved.


    Interest piqued she followed after, just in time for the lad to be cornered. She smiled at Tristan using his guard voice for a moment but then her eyes went to the boy. He didn't look well, he looked half-starved and sickly. She smiled as Tristan told off the human male, who was obviously the aggravated party. Quietly she made her way closer to where they stood, ready to step in with a less intimidating presence if the young elf seemed like he needed it.


    (had this half written so i just made what i had work! riri would you mind making your posts a different colour, its hard to read blue on my computer, its fine if you don't of course)

    "This dagger-ear stole from me." The vendor spat with a growl. His eyes pointed down towards the single apple in the elf's left hand. The man did not make an attempt to approach the elf. As much as the white-haired boy upset the vendor, he wasn't about to do anything with a guard standing there. The white-haired elf seemed relieved by this. However, he kept a tight grip on the apple in his hand. It was the only source of food that he had in the last few days, and he was not about to give it up.


    The elf wished he could deny the charges, but the vendor had been right. He did steal the apple, but he did so out of desperation. His eyes staring at the two shapes, backing into a wall when a third shape appeared. Two humans was bad, now a third showed up?

    "Then that makes him my responsibility. See, guards such as myself....Don't appreciate vigilantism too much. If you would kindly step back, I'll handle him myself. Me and my fellows."


    Tristan moved closer to the shopkeeper. Not entirely phased by his insistence that the white-haired humanoid was a thief. He lifted his sword from half-way inside. From where he now stood, he could see that the elf indeed took something: An apple. While the blonde was highly aware of the issues with imports...He couldn't let anyone, regardless of species, go hungry. "I assume neither of us wants an accident on our hands. Am I clear, merchant?"


    He stood there. Watching, waiting, ready to scare him with a blade, if required. And yes, he was willing to do this all for one elf.

    The merchant debated about it for only a second. Obviously the though of self-preservation was more important than the loss profit from an apple. He threw his hands up in the air sluggishly, signing that he was giving up. "Fine, fine." He muttered and began to step away from the elf.


    However, before the merchant left he pointed a finger at the elf accusingly. "Be lucky, dagger-ear that one of those pro-Elf guards were here to save the day for ya. Also, don't come anywhere near my stand again. Next time, I'll do more than rough ya up." With that, the merchant left the three alone. Now it was only Ashur and his two saviors... if they were his saviors. The guard could easily lock him up and Ashur was fully aware of that. "Um, um. Th-Thank you." He managed to stutter out.

    Tristan shook his helmeted head before reaching up to flip up his visor. As such, only his blue eyes were showing. "It's nothing, sir." he assured the elf. He'd address the whole 'theft' issue in a second. Thefts had been reported throughout the area. Which he handled multiple times before. In desperate cases, such as this, he would allow the matter to slide.


    "Now, while you have stolen goods, it's obvious you did so out of necessity. After all, you couldn't eat a necklace," Tristan lightly joked, before continuing, "As such, I will merely let you off with a warning. But next time, I cannot promise the same." He was serious. The human male could only do so much until his superiors became suspicious.

    Seeing that Tristan had managed the situation Sage decided to take the opportunity to reveal herself to him. She scowled at the merchant who passed her and made her way to Tristan side. She smiled softly at the elf, before gently laying a hand on Tristan armor. "No need to thank him, he probably just has a hero-complex," she joked light heartedly. She took a chance to look closely at the boy, he was a pure elf as far as she could tell. How she wished that society had not ruined their relations, she was desperate for an elf to study in her college, their proficiency with magic and elven spells was an envy of many human mages.


    "I'm, Sage, and this guy is Tristan. Can I ask your name?" She felt her heart tug, the boy looked too downtrodden to just abandon to the wilds of the streets. Though he seemed like he had been getting by before. She wondered if it might be the elf side of her, the side she rarely shared with others, that want to get to know him as one of her kin. Sage wanted to help him, but wasn't sure that offering him a few coins would do much for him or his pride. She would offer him a job at the university, if only it was appropriate, but she didn't know him well enough and knew better then to just go from a gut feeling.


    Having an idea she stood up on her tiptoes to whisper in her lovers ear. "I was planning supper earlier for us, at my house, maybe we could invite him to join us? Or is that to strange." Sage was weird at times, and relied on others to let her know if she was overstepping any bounds.

    To be honest, Tristan forgot or didn't even know that Sage had followed him. Until he saw her in the corner of his eye as she walked closer to himself. He smirked underneath his helm when she suggested he had a hero complex. That...Was pretty correct. Why else would he go out of his way to occasionally bend the rules? Especially for the occasional elf.


    "That's...Actually a good idea." Tristan whispered back. Being completely honest with his lover. Treating the white-haired stranger to dinner would work. He looked like he needed a meal. And one measly apple wouldn't do him too much good. "Poor fellow looks ready to fall apart."

    Upon seeing a girl appear out of nowhere, Ashur scrambled back a bit. He was obviously frightened and chose not to run. "I'm Ashur." The elf managed to say without stuttering.


    He stared curiously at the pair. He looked as though he was about to book it, but he knew that they could easily catch up to him. His ears pricked slightly at the hearing the word 'supper' being whispered. "I have already troubled you enough, but thank you." The scruffy-looking elf humbly declined. However, his stomach made a loud growling sound. The young elf couldn't help but blush and rub at his neck uncomfortably.


    (Sorry. On phone.)

    Sage laughed as the elf's stomach betrayed him. "Don't be shy, I have roast enough for five people I need to cook and me and Tristan never mind a bit of company. The house is nearby." She turned to speak to Tristan, "when are you done your shift, dear? Should we head home without you or can you come now?" The house was only a few minutes from where they were, it was on a upper street where the university and the castle were clearly visible. The bottom floor was her dining room, kitchen and a simple lounge room. The second floor and her room, along with a guest room and her study. Next to the house was carefully designed library and experiment room she got good use out of.


    (I'm assuming Tristan also has his own house?)

    "The two of you can go on ahead. I'll come home after my shift."


    Tristan shrugged. He never felt threatened in regards to losing Sage to someone else. So, he wouldn't freakout over the two being alone. The young woman might do well, meeting another of her kind, in a way! When asked about the incident, Tristan would mess with a few details. Maybe say it was a misunderstanding.

    "Okay, then once you're done rush over." She went up on her toes to give Tristan a quick peck on the cheek before turning to the elf. "Why don't you come with me hon, I could use some help peeling vegetables if you're worried about being trouble. Although I'm sure your company would be enough as well," as she said that she pushed her silver hair behind her ear, revealing that pointed ends of a half elf.

    Ashur watched the exchange between the couple. It was no longer that he was scared of the two, but curious. When the girl turned back around to face the pale-haired elf, he nodded in agreement to helping her. It was the least he could do. "...!" He stared in shock as the girl combed her hair behind her ears. The points weren't as defined as Ashur's, but he could still tell she had elf ancestry. He assumed based on her appearance that she was a elf-human hybrid. "L-Lead the way." He stuttered.

    "Okay, it isn't far." She waved goodbye to Tristan and lead the young elf through the streets and towards her home. It took longer then usual for her to make it as she stopped to speak to one of her students on the way. When the lad had finally gone on she gave Ashur an apologetic smile, "I'm an assistant professor at the university, they think they'll get a leg up on there next test if they corner me on the street and ask questions." They rounded one more turn before she finally motioned to her house, "here we are, this on is the house and this is my library. Come on in and we can get started." She made note to see if the boy could read later, she felt like she wanted to get to know him better.

    Ashur had followed the young woman, at the moment he wasn't entirely intimidated by her. In fact, he felt quite relaxed. However, when one of her students had approached them... it took a lot of strength not to run off. He had kept a bit of distance between the teacher and her pupil, awkwardly staring at the ground. "Mmm..." He responded. "Y-You're a busy person" His eyes not looking directly at the woman, instead they were focused on the roofs of buildings. I hope she doesn't think I'm rude, I just... don't know what to talk about. He nervously thought. "Hm?" It had not long before she mentioned that they had made it to her house. Ashur stared at the house in wonderment when he glanced over at the building. It... it was huge (at least to Ashur). "Wow." He muttered under his breath. As they entered the house, he stared around curiously. It was... warm and smelled good. He suddenly felt self-conscious, as if his presence, or the fact that he was covered in soot and the city's grime, would dirty the house.