Chapter 17: Meeting An Elf


    Soft and delicate white translucent silk curtains danced with the gentle breeze swirling through the curtained pavilion. It was spacious with eight strong statue-like pirs supporting the massive octagonal roof. Small crystalnterns hanged on each corner of the roof, gleaming brightly against the sunlight.


    A lone figure sat on a delicately designed chair, elegantly setting a teacup down on the simrly designed table. Soft tinum hair fell down from the woman''s shoulders like a waterfall of silk. Her oval angelic face, beautiful light grey pupils, and soft milky skin made her look like a deity except for the pair of pointy ears, visibly protruding. With one look, she was clearly an elf.


    "My Lady!" Jonac, the knight, greeted the female elf with respect.


    Lady Phaelona was an elf mage serving the Fraunces Family since Moulin''s father was young. Before then, she was still an apprentice mage, and currently, she was now an esteemed Mage as well as a valuable educator in the well-known Azuran Academy. Although she was years older than Lord Fraunces, her beautiful face remained unyielding.


    She had just returned from the tiring journey to the country of Meian. Upon hearing about the disappearance and return of the third young master, she hastened to return quickly to check the family.


    "Jonac, don''t call me that" Phaelona cracked a smile at the heaving knight. Jonac never failed to amuse him. She always prefers for people close to her to call her by her name.


    "Sorry, it''s a habit" The man scratched his head, bashfully. "Where''s Kashter?" He asked, eyes roaming around in search of the blue golden-eyed Aezelian long bird that had often apanied the woman in front of him.


    "I sent her away to check on something. She should be done by now" Her voice was cut off when loud beatings ofrge wings came closer as a marvelous bird, no longer than a meter, glided through the pirs. Kashter, the Aezelian bird, Fluttered her colorful bluish amethyst wings as she descended and perched on the crest rail of Phaelona''s chair. Fixing its gold eyes on Jonac, it chirped in greeting.


    Kashter''s chirps were like musical chimes as she conversed with her master about her discovery. Jonac watched like a spectator, observing them as theymunicate with each other. The man was already used to it.


    "White hair?" Phaelona''s eyes perked up, curiously. How strange... This was definitely something worth investigating. Moulin''s strange transformation was something unusual indeed. Perhaps, it would be nice to sit and chat with the third young master for a little while.


    Since, Chn, the spirit seer, could not identify the cause of Moulin''s change maybe she could perhaps examine him herself. The spoiled child must be frightened by his sudden transformation. She had always wondered how in the world did that frail boy manage to survive in the deathly freezing winter mountains.


    "Are you talking about the third young master?" Jonac''s eyes were wide and sparkling, oozing with adoration which surprised the woman. "Young master Moulin has changed tremendously ever since he returned. He hasn''t insulted anyone, hasn''t bought anythingvish, and he even learned to train how to fight every day. Although he had gotten much quieter, he''s now kinder and gentler to everybody. His smile is like a dazzling ray of sunshine, like a cure for the dark heart".


    Kashter tilted his head, staring dumbly at the exaggerating man in front of her master.


    "That''s... quite surprising" Phaelona blinked in disbelief. That child was like a hoarding bear, endlessly unsatisfied with everything he would own. It was a bit much to describe Moulin in Jonac''s point of view.


    "Why don''t you meet him yourself? You''re bound to be surprised by his change as well" With a proud grin, his freckles looked extremely childish. "I heard he''s going to be attending the Moonflower Gathering in Faerim City soon. I''m a bit worried about him but young master Moulin is very different now so I believe he will be fine".


    "Hmmm..." The light grey eyes narrowed as Phaelona leaned back, thoughtfully thinking.


    "Young master!"


    The wind brushed through long wavy white hair like silky waves. A rxing sigh escaped Moulin''s lush lips as he sits on the balustrade of the slightlyrge balcony of his room. A week had passed since Lord Deilin had visited the manor. His moment of peace was disturbed by the sound of shuffling servants arriving in the room.


    Seeing his master dangerously sitting where he shouldn''t be, she quickly rushed into the balcony and reprimanded him. Her yapping sessfully made Moulin enter his room.


    "What''s all this?" The young master gave a questionable look at P who happily sent out the servants who have delivered a number ofrge trunks. The two sets of borately carved trunks were arranged on the furred rug.


    "These were sent by the young master Emlen while these sets were given by young master Maxille. The young masters aren''t here to present these themselves for they left with the Lord an hour ago ".


    "And these are?..."


    "New clothes the masters had picked themselves!" She giggled. Her young master was so cute, all reluctant with red cheeks to ept the noble family''s coddling. "Why don''t you sit while I open them, young master".


    Looking at thevish trunks opened one by one, Moulin could not help but feel an ache in his heart. Look at how much money these siblings of his had wasted so much on. Did he look like he was running out of clothes?! His dressing room almost looked like an enormous boutique enough to clothe the whole city all thanks to his mother and now this?! He refuses to be some precious baby girl!


    Moulin sat on his bed massaging his forehead feeling his jar of stress being filled up once again. A little fox quietly sat on hisp, excitingly gazing at a set of nes especially bought for him.


    "Oh my, Second young master really hasvish taste..." P lifted an item of backless upper clothing with translucent sleeves. Moulin almost had the urge to burn the provocative clothes into ashes. There were tight, open, transparent, thin, and more scious looking clothing that if one was worn by him, he would feel like a sheep parading in a den of wolves.


    On the other hand, Maxille''s gifts were all very conservative from the neck-high. There wasn''t a single rousing outfit on sight. The only problem was all the clothes were tooplicated to put on and take off. What kind of clothes requires twenty-five strings to untie?! In this case, he might as well bathe with the clothes on.


    "Take them away, P" Picking up Snow, who was eagerly staring at his jewelry, Moulin nced at P "Take a rest after you finish. I''ll be reading in my garden ".


    P was reluctant, eager to follow Moulin but if the youth mentioned the garden it would mean that no one was allowed to disturb him. With a bow, she quietly busied herself while Moulin carried Snow out of his room.


    Snow: ()


    After half an hour of turns within the manor, Moulin walked down the outdoor hallways setting the little white fox on the floor after carrying him the whole time while walking. Their frames shadowed the ground as the pair walked.


    Out of the blue, Moulin felt a strong gust of wind blew in their direction, irritating the young master. He moved his hair off his face in annoyance as he looked around. His silver eyes had a sharp glint obviously sensing that the wind hadn''t naturally urred and was caused by something.


    The little white fox at Moulin''s feet twitched his ears, noticing a vague shadow on the ground. Letting out a sound, Moulin glimpsed at Snow and almost immediately caught sight of arge bird-like shadow on the ground. With long strides through the pirs, Moulin stepped outside the hallways and gazed at the sky.


    A familiar bird flew in circles above them. It was big and it''srge bluish-purple wings elegantly moved in the air as it eyes them. Letting out a pleasant call towards Moulin, it flew somece else urging the pair of the young man and his fox to obediently follow them.


    The bird looks absolutely familiar. After running through the body''s memories, Moulin suddenly snapped out of his thoughts as he quickly followed the bird. Of course, how could he not pay attention to the owner of that bird? It belonged to a Mage elf who had served the family for years. Excitement suddenly overwhelmed Moulin knowing he was about to personally meet a real live elf. He read about a number of different races living in the world of Corhan and the elves were one of them.


    He followed a stoned walkway on the grass beds at a secluded part of the gardens. His t shoes walked steadily as his eyes carefully surveyed the area. The little fox had caught up with him leisurely running around the grass.


    Melodious chirps from the blue sky once again reached his ears causing Moulin to curiously nce upwards. The Aezelian bird entered swiftly inside a white curtained pavilion where the stoned walkway had led him.


    Calmly easing his nerves, the white-haired youth hesitantly neared the pavilion and stepped inside. Softly pushing away the flowy curtains, Moulin caught sight of a slender figure elegantly seated on one of the two chairs with a ss table in between. Moulin had already imprinted her name in his mind while he slowly walked forward.


    "Lady Phaelona?"


    Kashter was perched on the crest rail of Phaelona''s chair, eyeing the Snow white fox that had apanied the third young master inside.


    Phaelona tenderly smiled with astonished eyes. What Phaelona adored next to her race was blinding beauty. And the youth in front of her was like a dazzling star,pletely rendering everything else dull. His beautiful white hair and silver eyes were too eye-catching and were the very first things the elf noticed. His soft voice was charming like melodious ringing bells, as pleasant and pure as the songs of elven music.


    "My Lady?" Moulin felt a little nervous at her deep scrutinizing gaze. At the same time, his eyes glittered with excitement as he stared at her. Pointy ears! Long hair! Beauty of a goddess! Markings on her... neck? The gears in his head moved and he immediately looked at her with respect. The light markings on her neck was a symbol of her loyalty to her race and a sign of the direct descendant of the Holy Moore Elves.


    "Come and sit with me, Moulin" She gestured to the chair beside her. As Jonac predicted, she really was surprised by this version of Moulin. He had an aura of purity and gentleness around him. He was like another person.


    Moulin sat on the chair next to her with a smiling face. Up close, The elven woman beside him was very unearthly. He couldn''t help but calm the excitement in his heart as Phaelona offered to pour him tea.


    "You are very different than you used to be..." Phaelona started, resting her chin on the back of her left hand. Her eyes sized him up in interest. There was absolutely something different about him that she could not point out. "How have you been? I heard you are training".


    "Yes, I have. Captain Vid became the instructor of my lessons" Moulin took a sip at the well-brewed tea. The bittersweet scent wafted into his nose and he weed it.


    "The captain did? Charming" She chuckled. "I hope he didn''t go too hard on you. He''s quite a teacher. I remember your brother, Emlen. When he was young, he cried his heart out when Sarto pushed him to duel with his elder brother. He was extremely afraid of losing to Maxille".


    Moulin''s radiantughter earned him a smile from the elf. He looked so amused and carefree.


    The two people chattered and discussed, enjoying the happy atmosphere as they appreciate the tea. Kashter and Snow chased around each other as they yed by themselves inside the pavilion.


    "Moulin?..." Phaelona ced the teacup down on the table gently. The youth responded with a smile as the elven woman opened her palm to him "Give me your hand..."


    "Oh..." Moulin unhesitantly ced his hand on hers. "Is there something wrong?"


    With a shake of her head, she enclosed his hand with her other hand and a soft blue light glowed beneath her palms. Moulin was startled and then rxed when he felt the soothing energy from her fingers. "I am going to search your body for anyplications and impurities. Don''t be afraid. It is exactly like how Chn had done when he examined you".


    Moulin''s had a bluish twinkle from his pupils as it reflected the glow from his hand in Phaelona''s grasp. He nodded slightly at her. He was a bit nervous about any hint that she would manage to find.


    Closing her eyes, Phaelona furrowed her eyebrows as she searched through his internal body. Adding a bit of energy, she was surprised to find a strong force forbidding her from going any further. Like a thick wall surrounding something very valuable. Maybe this was the reason why Chn could not find anything unusual. This force was stealthily masking itself from any foreign energy, defensively concealed. If she could pry her way through she might find the root of Moulin''s physical transformation. But if she executed, she was afraid of hurting the young master.


    "Young master, bear with me for a moment"


    "What--"


    Before Moulin could finish his words, unbearable pain suddenly shoots deep in his chest like something was scratching its way through his organs, mindlessly scraping the flesh within. His other hand unconsciously, grasped the clothing on his chest, pressing harder as his breathing sped up. His fingers started to tremble and his vision became unfocused as he bore the intolerable agony inside him. What the hell is this woman doing?!


    The little fox also noticed his master''s distress and halted his movements. He dashed towards Moulin growling with hostility as he bared his teeth at Phaelona.


    A more searing pain suddenly exploded within. He could faintly hear a crack in his mind as if his insides were excruciatingly mashed together. This time Moulin stifled a painful moan as he yanked his hand away with significant strength.


    Clutching his chest, he staggered as he abruptly rose, spilling the tea on the table. He heaved as he took a few steps away from the woman. He was oblivious of the lethal re in his silver eyes as he stared down at Phaelona.


    A few secondster, he felt the pain gradually receding, leaving a sting. He silently scowled at the elf with evident indignation. He was confused about the technique the woman performed on him. ''Same as Chn did'' my ass. Every bit of excitement he felt before vanished into thin air and was reced by animosity.


    Phaelona''s dted light grey eyes were fixed at Moulin with extreme astonishment and shock. His current brutal expression was also infinitely rming but what startled the elf more was her discovery.


    "Moulin...Y-your a wielder?"