Cygnus' Day Off
Chapter 1
Something Todo
The bustling city of Magnimar was a pleasant sight to witness. Children chasing each other throughout the streets. Shops and stands with people hollering out to passersby. In the distance is an overwhelming sight, large buildings and monuments overlook the town as they stand on cliffs. The elegant infrastructure is a boggling sight to any wanderer who passes through the bustling town. The sky was clear, and the roaring waterfall gave the town a cool, refreshing breeze. A tall elf strolled down the streets with a shorter human, bouncing with every step, the elf's ears swayed as she turned her head to the human.
“Oi kid, why don’t you go run off on your own today? I can handle myself you know.” The person stopped and turned to her.
“Well from what I remember, Cygnus, you always get yourself into trouble, whether you be smashed or just unattentive to your surroundings.”
“What are you on about? I oughta make you beg for mercy after that one.” In response, the human put his hand to the top of his head and massaged his scalp.
“Whatever, I’m going to stop by the market and see if I can fetch up dinner for tonight, or at least a good spot to eat.” He turned away and waved as he trotted off into the busy street. Cygnus pouted as she turned away from him and continued on her way. Observing the hoi polloi as she walked was an interesting pastime. People bustling and worrying about what they have to do in that exact moment was amusing to her. She smirked and thought to herself, “Ugh, I need a job. Something easy and fun. I don’t really care about the pay,” she smiled as she grasped her bulging coin pouch in her coat.
She strolled through the town, her hands up behind her head. Stopping abruptly, she turned and looked over at a sign with the symbol of crossing swords. She shrugged, opened the door and stepped into the building. An overwhelming smell of paper, ink, and booze wafted into her face. People sitting at desks, scribbling away at various documents. The ever-so-often thump of a stamp echoing throughout the room. She scanned the room and saw a man pinning papers to a bulletin board. People around the room looked up, scanned her, and went back to work. Slightly uncomfortably, she walked over to the man and raised her voice.
“Hey human, uh, I mean sir,” the man turned and in his eyes lit up with fear for a moment as he glanced up at the elf leaning over him.
“Y-yes ma’am, what do you need?” Cygnus leaned back, giving the man some distance.
“Something quick and easy, maybe fun too.” The man pondered for a moment, seeming to compose himself. He mumbled to himself for a moment and ran his finger across some of the papers pinned up. He shook his head, then began to flip through the papers still in his hands. Impatiently, Cygnus twiddled her thumbs and watched the paperman do their jobs. Something about it seemed boring to her, “imagine filling in boxes and reading for your whole life” she thought. One older woman looked up and made eye-contact with her. As if to say “your life isn’t better, you know,” she stamped the paper with more force than usual.
“Well,” he pulled a scrap of paper out from his pocket, “we’ve received complaints of goblins harassing the nearby camps on the outskirts of town… bu-” Cygnus smiled, and replied.
“Say no more,” she snatched the paper from his hand, “just point in the direction.” The man walked over to another wall where a large map of Magnimar was hung up. He reached into a pocket and pulled a small green pin and pushed it into a location in the map.
“Right here miss, come back with proof of your completion and you’ll be compensated accordingly.” Cygnus nodded, and on her way out she glanced at the older woman once more and scoffed.
⍽⍾⍽
Chapter 2
A Quiet Morning
Rays of light kissed the bed frame as a woman sat up and stretched. Her shirt slightly agape, revealing a sight any man would want to see. The bed was pushed up against the wall, and allowed for a nice view of the city. The inn was of high quality, clean floors, occasionally room service, comfy beds, things to accommodate the important folks of Magnimar. As she began to collect her mind, still sleepy from a long and refreshing rest some thoughts went through her head. Images of a young girl with a pet wolf, the wolf dying to a horrendous monster, and then the woman leaving. Everytime this train-of-thought runs through her head, it always sours her mood. She shook her head and slipped on a nice day dress and made her way to the commons of her inn. The creaking of the floorboards and cold ground against her feet was a nice relief from her warm bed. Opening the door to the commons she scanned the empty chairs and sighed once more. There she saw a man in a tunic and pants sitting in a chair, reading a scroll and pondering. His foot up on the table, leaning the chair back on only two legs. He sat at a desk with three chairs and only two table-cloths, each with an embroidered star in the corner.
“Gus,” the lady spoke, “where is everyone?” The boy without looking pointed to a small torn-open envelope. A look of sorrow was clear on the woman’s face.
“You know what happened to Sheila, Sally” Gus stated coldly. She looked down at her feet and nodded.
“Ah, I know…I do hope she’s ok out there.” Making her way over to the envelope, Gus looked over at her.
“It’s too early to sigh like that you know” Sally paused, took a breath and smiled as a mother would smile proudly at her son. She picked up the envelope and pulled out the message scribbled inside. It reads:
“Out on a purge, don’t get antsy without me. And Gus, make sure that woman doesn’t root through my stuff.”
Sally sighed and placed the paper lightly back on the desk. She strolled towards the window, opened it and leaned out. Allowing the breeze to kiss her neck and face. A sour look twisting her lips. Without looking away from his scroll, he called out to her.
“You have anything planned for today? You seem anxious.” Sally took a deep breath, enjoying the cool breeze running through her hair. She leaned over, setting her elbow in the window sill and laying her face on her hand. Her other arm tapping along the outside of the building.
“I think I’ll just take it easy today. Maybe visit the Father, get something nice to eat while we’re here.” She waited for a response but was received with silence. “Would you want to come, Gus?” The boy leaned forward, his chair falling down with a clack. He rolled up his scroll and placed it back into a cylindrical tube and pushed the cork back on it.
“I don’t think I will, sorry.” He pulled a cloak over his shoulders and brushed the pollen and dirt off of it. He looked over his shoulder, paused, and left the room, closing the door softly.
“Well, the day isn’t going to start itself.” Sally smiled as she stood up and stretched her arms up, touching the ceiling.
⍽⍾⍽
Chapter 3
Fun Without The Sun
Squawking, nails being discarded after being torn off with rotten and chipped teeth. Goblins, sitting in front of their den. Cygnus earlier was directed to the goblin’s den after she met with the village’s chief. The village’s chief was a nice man, old-fashioned and to-the-point when it came with the security of his home. The trek to the goblin den was quite easy for Cygnus. Besides having innate abilities from her elven blood, her specific set of skills allowed for easy navigation through the forests. From the bushes, eyes peered through. Observing silently, pondering. The smell of plants and life was in the air. Anyone unaccustomed to the forest would be clogged with allergies. The foliage was thick around the den, allowing for effective cover to a small entranceway. She collected herself, and began to focus on her main goal. Looking around behind her, she knew the coast was clear of any other humans or disturbances. She pulled a mask out of a pouch pinned to her belt. A grotesque mask, with a streak of blood across one of the eyes. Sighing she whispered a small prayer and put the mask on. Suddenly she was able to see the blood circulating inside the goblins. The mask gave the blood a pungent illumination, allowing her to even see it through their bodies. She pulled her scarf down, her ears bent and pointing straight out, she approached the goblins. Her mind became twisted, her conscience screaming at her to kill. To violently remove the lives of the creatures in front of her from this plain. She was trembling in anticipation and ecstasy. She emerged from the brush, her breath muffled from the mask. Taking in a breath, and began to sing in the goblin’s tongue. They took a step back in fear and looked at one another. With the power of the mask, she can feel the cold sweat begin to bead on the back of their necks.
“I like the goblin fried in oil, I like the goblin when it’s good, I like the goblin fried in oil, I love the goblin, I love the goblin-” She ran at them, and pushed the heel of her boot into one of the goblin’s nose. It yelped in anguish as she spun around, grabbing a stray stone and bashing the other goblin’s skull. She stood up, her posture skewed as she began to stomp on each goblin’s throat on the beat of her chanting.
“We march my friends, we march my friends.” She felt their fear peak, then slowly subside as their lives faded away. She could see the blood in their veins. It came up towards the surface, and flowed to the wounds on their heads and throats. She drew her elven thornblade and her rapier.
“We march, we march, we march,” she bounced her arms with the beat of her singing as she treaded into darkness. The overwhelming stench of feces, death, and decay was nothing new to her. The cave was dim, with slight purple light reflecting off the moist rocks and fungus. She took a corner and saw the glowing-pulsing blood of more goblins.
“Kiasas! Elken sumen!” the goblin in the back pointed and roared. She paused and shrugged.
“Kiaso? Hah! Goblen schisen es haiki timen! We march my friends, we march my friends.” Sheathing her thornblade, she pulled out some darts from a sashe. With a flick of a wrist she wizzed two darts directly at one of the goblins. With a squeal it fell to the ground as one entered its shoulder and the other its hand. The other two goblins, quick to react, charged her.
“One goblin fried in oil-” she hummed as she slid the rapier into the charging goblin’s mouth. “One goblin changes us into a lion.” She kicked the corpse off her sword into the goblin behind it. Then like a juicy kabob she skewed the two heads together. She pulled out a white table-cloth she got from the inn and wiped her rapier on it. Staining the rag with globby blood. “One goblin fried in oil.” She got down on one knee next to the goblin. It blinked and grabbed a stone from the ground and brought it down on her head. Cygnus exhaled, paused, then looked back at the goblin. She grabbed it by the neck, lifted it, and plunged its face into the stone it just hit her with. “Usas crean mi, goblen vaulti mi reiki. Naw ughi! One single goblin,” she slammed it once more, “one single goblin,” she pulled the dart out of its shoulder and plunged it into its ear “Ki ki”.
“We march my friends, we march my friends.” Once again wiping the darts tip onto the rag and slipping it back into her boot. She could feel the rag begin to stiffen as the blood dried, and seep into her socks. Staying on one knee she pulled out a small dagger. “Es floki bestka! We march,” plunging the knife into the goblin’s chest. “We march,” ripping open its chest cavity. “We march,” reaching into its chest, grabbing some ribs. “We march my friends,” with a grunt she cracks and tears the rib off the spinal cord. “We march my friends,” squinting in disgust but smiling with satisfaction as she walks towards the next open area. The corpses in her wake all share an expression of pain until the very end. Glazed eyes, puckered tongues and bloody gums. The next pathway was smaller than the last. She ducked under the cave wall, and made her way to the next common area. As signified by the amount of feces and animal corpses, she knew this was a populated spot. She dug a small hole in the ground, whispered something into her palm, and pushed it into the soil. She stood up, and scanned around the room. “But no goblins for the weak,” she strolled over to a mound of goblin feces and smeared the broken ribs, making sure not to get any on her gloves. “No goblins for all these dogs,” returning back to the small hole she dug, she pushed the ribs into the ground, leaving the sharp-chipped ends jutting out.
Wiping her dagger on the same stained rag, she sheathed it. Still singing she moved her way into the next room. Inhaling, she can smell the cold sweat on the back of the goblin’s necks. Feel the goosebumps rise as they hear her footsteps getting closer. The out of tune scratching of Cygnus’ singing pierces the ears of those clutching their weapons. Smiling under her mask, the muffled breath echoing throughout the cave. “But no goblins for the weak,” her form emerges in the entryway. “No goblins,” she draws her rapier. “No goblins,” with her other arm she pulls out her thornblade. “Haisis timen…”
⍽⍾⍽
Chapter 4
A Moment In The Grass
Cygnus laying on her back, gazing at the flowing clouds. The foliage around the cave’s entrance casted a nice blanket of shade on a patch of grass. The wind whipped around her, the trees swaying and leaves sailing in the wind. The grass tickled her neck and ears while the overwhelming smell of pollen made her eyes slightly water. Stained in blood, her mask returned to her pouch, she panted. Her face flushed, eyes slightly twitching, her mind still racing and begging her to go back in and find more life to snuff out. In the distance a twig snaps and the howling wind almost submerges the sound of footsteps and clanking armor. Cygnus sighed as a woman emerged from the woods. She stood in the open area before the cave, closing her eyes and enjoying the smell of plants and life. Without looking at the woman, Cygnus spoke up.
“What do you want, Sally.” Sally eyes scanned the area, then looked down at the blood-stained figure.
“I heard you were going out, anything wrong with checking in with a friend?” Sally said as she placed her hands on her hips. The armored plates on her dress bounced off one another like wind chimes. Beforehand, Sally made her way through town and stumbled upon the same questing hall Cygnus visited earlier. After speaking to the shrill man, she noticed a green pin on the map. A quick discussion later and after she heard it was a goblin hunting mission a strangely excited elf accepted, she made her way over. She tilted her head and pouted at the lack of response. “Cygnus, you’re covered in blood.” Cygnus smiled and placed her arms underneath her head, making a pillow with her hands.
“It’s not mine… well,” she raised her left foot and kicked off her right boot. Revealing a blood stained sock and a crusted rag that settled next to her. “That probably has a little bit on it, I think I bit my lip out of excitement.” Sally squinted in disgust at the rag, then her eyes caught a familiar embroidered star on the rag.
“Is that…” she rubbed her forehead with her fingers, “so that’s why it was gone.”
“What?” Cygnus laughed, “I’m not ganna let my sword get stained in that shit.” She sat up, looking at her blood-stained clothes. “Ugh I need a drink, something to help calm my conscience. But man, that’ll never get old.”
“Let’s get you washed up first, you stink.” Sally walked over and offered her hand to her. After a moment Cygnus slipped her boot back on and took her hand. “And stop wearing your nice clothes when you go on missions like that.” Cygnus shrugged as if to say ‘this is all I have though’. As they walked back, Cygnus whistled a tune in satisfaction after a job well done.
Cygnus and Sally returned to the inn. As they made their way towards the room, fearful gazes were cast on the elf. Sally looked down in embarrassment as they hurried along to their room. Up the stairs and around the corner was a large door with a hanging sign that read ‘SANDPOINT SCOUNDRELS’. She pushed open the door and saw the main living room. On the back wall, windows gave a nice scene of the sunsetting on the quieting town. In the center of her room a table with 2 tablecloths and three chairs were empty. On her left and right too symmetrical doors. Cygnus smirked as she kicked off her boots, grabbed the hardened rag, and tip-toed her way to the left door. Sally sighed, sat in a chair and removed her shoes. Then shaking her head she grabbed Cygnus’ boots and placed them on the welcome mat next to her’s.
Placing her ear on the door, Cygnus listened for a sound. She heard some paper’s rustling and quiet mumbling. “Bingo” she whispered as she clutched the rag in her hands. She twisted the door handle and pushed in with her shoulder. The door zipped open, and with a sudden “Think fast!” Cygnus lobbed the bloody rag like a hardened disk straight at Gus. With a thwak the rag bounced off of Gus’ head, crimson flakes exploding out into the room. He yelped, grabbed a wand off his desk and spun around. Cygnus’ eyes widened as she hid behind the door frame yelling “Wait, wait, it’s me! Don’t let that off in here!” Gus looked around the room in confusion then felt a strange itchy sensation on his cheek. Hesitantly, he reached up and began to rub crusted red flakes off his face. Cygnus peaked her head back in and was trying to contain her laughter. “I-I’m home kiddo.” She snickered as she made her way to the other side of the common room. “And through that shit away, it’s nasty.” Gus’ eyes slowly looked down at the horrid blood encrusted rag. It’s folds and wrinkles petrified, and globs of a dark red blood snapped off onto the floor. Small piles of red flakes blowing in the breeze from an open window looked like angry fire ants. Gus, frozen in fear and anger was completely oblivious to what his other party mates were doing. “Oi Sally, I’m gonna go get this outfit off me, it's nasty. No peeking.” Cygnus entered the door on the right side of the room and closed it behind her with a slam. Sally, who just finished removing her armor, hung it on a hook near the right door and went to go check on Gus.
“Uh… hey, how’s your head?” The boy’s stare was still unbroken by Sally’s concern.
“T-that fuckin’ bitch...” Gus shivered as he looked at the wand in his hand.
“What was that? It’s kind of hard to hear y-” before Sally could finish, Gus beelined it out of his room. As he stomped out, his foot landed on the rag with an unsettling crunch. Gus grit his teeth once more and marched past Sally. She reached out to grab his shoulder but hesitated. He barged into the room to see Cygnus slowly lifting her shirt over her head. Her back and lower body exposed besides her under garments. She covered herself, her face beat red exclaimed:
“G-Gus?! How dare you barge into a fair elf’s room! Beat it!” As she wound up to slap him Gus lifted his arm and shot off an array of lightning from the wand. She yelped as the bolts grazed the top of her hair and with a boom a small stone sculpture exploded with smoke. Cygnus’ and Gus’ eyes both lit up in shock. After sighing, Sally put her hand on Gus’ shoulder and led him out of the room.
“You may want to put some clothes on, you’ll attract some wanted attention.” Sally sighed as she smiled and closed the door to their room.
“Yeah, right. With that body?” Gus scoffed as he grit his teeth and stomped back into his room. Cygnus turned her head to the window where she saw a small audience who gathered outside the inn to the thunderous roar of Gus’ blast. Panicking she slammed the window shut and closed the blinds.
⍽⍾⍽
Chapter 5
The Inevitable
Time passed, the sky was turning a pleasant pink, a cool breeze whipped around Cygnus’ neck. She shuttered and pulled her scarf up a tad. As she approached the tavern, she ducked under the doorway and looked into the dimly lit pub. On her right was a classic bar with wooden stools. Glasses and flasks on the back wall for sale, and lines of liquor and different kegs of beer and wine are stacked atop one another. On her left were a collection of small round tables, each with a few seats around them. Various people sitting around the tables, playing cards, talking, and drinking their stress from another day of labor away. She stepped into the pub, took a deep breath of the musty-humid scent and sighed. A dwarf cleaning a wooden mug glanced over at her and smirked.
“The usual?” he scoffed, and reached for a bottle of liquor without even waiting for her answer. Cygnus smiled as she approached the bar. Sizing up a large man in the stool to her right, she sat down and scooted herself in. She looked back at the dwarf, picking at the cracks in the wooden bar.
“What’s with the tone little man? If you knew what I did today you’d be a little kinder.” She sat down and leaned onto the bar, resting her head on her hands. With a thump he placed a cup in front of her and filled it to the brim. In the corner of her eye, a man with an overly-large horned shield leaning against his leg, stole a glance at her. “Got something to say?”
“Not to you,” he chuckled as he grabbed his shield, flipped a coin into the dwarf’s mug, and ducked under the doorway as he made his way out. She looked back at the dwarf, sat up and grabbed a hold of the mug.
“What’s his problem?” she asked the bartender, blowing at the foam almost leaking out of the mug. The dwarf just rolled his eyes and went back to conducting various chores in his pub. More time passed, Cygnus made her way to the corner of the tavern, making herself at home. She kicked her legs up on the table, leaning her chair back and balancing the two back legs. Rocking back and forth she enjoyed one of her hobbies: human watching. Her nose, cheeks, and ears beet-red from the warmth of the alcohol. She watched people come in and out. Talking, women getting swooned, men getting slapped. Arguments under the candlelights that gave the tavern a cozy orange glow. Looking to her right, a man, still in most of his armor, was leaning in whispering to a young lady. Puckering her lips in thought, she yelped out at the man. Spilling some of her booze she cried out, “Hey guahd!” With the scraping of armor as he looked over, he sighed as he released who was talking to him. “Do yhou know who I ahm? Tell your boss to pay me more m-money, or at least give me free dhinks while I’m hehre!” The city guard, who after duty comes to this tavern to take the edge off almost every night, sighed as if this is a common occurrence.
“Miss, please, we literally go through this every time you see me. Please stop talking to me.” Cygnus sat back in her chair, almost tipping it over, and pouted.
“Prick…” Not so soon after, an ear piercing sound of compressing air blares throughout the tavern. Sparks and a sudden breeze filled the tavern. The candles flickered, people yelped, and Cygnus was just closing her eyes. But she is suddenly thrown awake as a person falls from thin air directly onto Cygnus. Knocking over all the alcohol on the table, and toppling her onto the ground. Now on her back with a heavy weight on her lap she gulped for air.
“Ouch ouch ouch…” the mystery girl rubbed her head in pain as she postured up still on top of Cygnus. Looking out at the tavern, she felt the gazes of every person in the tavern. Her hair flowing in front of her face she took her time trying to blow it back into place. After some trial and error, she used her now sticky hand from the grime of the pub floor to push it back into place. The city guard had his hand on his sword, standing in front of his date. Tilting her head in confusion she felt a shifting from underneath her. She turned her head and stared at the partially conscious elf. “Hup!” With a quick spin she turned herself around and faced the elf, her hands on her stomach and her hips sitting on her lap. She leans in, “Helloooo? You awake?” After a moment with only groans from the elf’s mouth, she noticed something peculiar. The girl felt a stomach-churning aura coming from one of the elf’s pouches. Hesitantly she unpinned it and pulled out a mask with a blood steak across its eye. “Woaah what’s this? Ugh it reeks!”
‘T-thats!” the dwarf’s eyes lit up. The guard, drawing his sword pointed it at the mystery girl.
“Where did you...:” Dozing off in thought he shook his head and yelled. “Drop that at once! And this is no place for a child.” Leave before you get hurt.” The girl looked back at the mask, then back at the guard.
“Uh, mister, it’s not hurting me or anything. But I do sense a strong evil presence coming from it. You see, I’m one of Big Sis’ devine servants!” The guard gazed in confusion and looked at the dwarf, who just shrugged and shook his head. Pointing his sword at the mess in front of him once more he called out.
“Y-you there, elf, you’re under arrest for crimes against Magnimar!” he staggered over to her and pushed the girl off of her. “Omph,” the girl fell onto her side, clutching the mask to her body and hiding it from sight. Cygnus sat up, confused, looked over at the mask in the girl’s hands.
“W-wait you got the wrong idea…! Agh, get your hands off me! H-help, someone! Gus! Guuuss!” She squirmed as the man threw the drunken body atop his shoulder and marched his way out of the tavern. The girl, sitting on the floor with her knees bent and legs to the side put her finger to her mouth. She nodded, put the mask in a bag on her hip and exited.
⍽⍾⍽
Chapter 6
The Girl Who Came From Nowhere
Cold air whipped into the jail cell through the barred window towards the top of the room. Grey stones paved the floor and walls of the cell, with old but sturdy metal bars. Cygnus sat on the floor, her arms crossed and eyes closed. Her toe tapping the air impatiently.
“Any visitors now?” She called out to the empty hallway. No response but some muffled voices in the distance. “Ugh, I hate it here…” she sighed as she banged the back of her head on the wall. Gazing up at the moonlight sinking in through the window. She looked back down at her clothes. Her usually elegant attire was stripped off her when she got to the prison. She was now wearing white clothes with some holes and tears. A few buttons off the shirt were broken, which revealed her pale skin. Allowing the breeze to keep her at a slightly uncomfortable chill. The needle pulled from her hair left her twilight colored hair drooping over her shoulders.
Time passed and she began to fidget with boredom. Toying with her nails and teeth, allowing what buzz she had left from the tavern entertain her. Her eyes shifting around, she fought back the temptations that come with boredom, she bit her lip and sat on her hands. A sound rang through the hallway. Muffled voices, sounding calm at first and getting more agitated. She heard quiet footsteps, as if the guard on post left the halls for just a moment. Then with a door slam, the voices stopped. “Alright, well it seems like they don’t care about me so…” Cygnus felt around the top of her head and pulled out a small metal pin, about the size of her finger nail. She smiled as the pin shimmered in the moonlight. Crawling over to the cell door she looked out in both directions. To her left, more cells with the sounds of snoring and muffled murmuring. Lowly lit candles painted the hall in a dim yellow. She pouted, then looked right. She saw the end of the hall, with a big metal door and the figure of a man in armor. “Hm? That’s strange, I thought there were two. Well, I ain’t gonna complain.” She whispered to herself as she began to feel around for the lock. Rubbing her tongue on the inside of her cheek she began to focus on the task at hand. On her knees, her head leaning against one of the bars with both hands fidgeting in the dark. She slipped the pin into the keyhole, and with a smile began to feel around for the pins.
She heard the muffled voices on her right getting louder. Until a sudden bang rang throughout the hole hallway. She yelped and dropped the pin, which rolled out of arm's reach. “Shit! Shit! Shit! Ugh now I have to actually wait…” She looked over to see the door open and some figures arguing. She slid back against the wall, sitting right under the window once more.
“One, two~!” a femine voice sang out and with the clang of metal she heard the body of someone in a suit of armor collapse. Footsteps began to become louder and louder down the hall. The singing became clearer as it got closer to the cell. “It’s so hard to say it~” Cygnus ears perked up as she realized she didn’t recognize the voice. “But darling let’s face it~” Cygnus pondered to herself, “Is she here for me? A prison break? Ah shit, who’d I piss off recently?” The voice right around the corner Cygnus sat up against the wall, her nerves vibrating with anticipation. The shadow of the person slowly coming into view. “These feelings revealing~” and with a tap of her foot, she walked in front of the cell and paused. Then with a whisper, she turned to the elf in the cell, “Cannot be ignored~” She giggled to herself as she noticed something under her foot. Cygnus sat quizzically, allowing her mind to process the situation. Then after a moment of looking at the girl, it clicked. Her ears perked up as she said “Wait, you? What the hell are you doing here?” The girl bent down and picked up a small black pin. She rolled it around in her fingers, then looked back at Cygnus.
“Something’s off about you, plus I’m curious. Oh! And I have something you need sooo.” She tossed the pin back at Cygnus, it hit the wall next to her face and rolled next to her. Cygnus sighed, crossed her arms and said, “well do you have a name?” The girl smiled, her black eyes peering through her black hair.
“Of course I do, silly. You may call me Pish, Pish Wisp. From a place far gone, known as the Village Under the Moon” Cygnus stared at her in silence, then after a moment she panicked. Racing over to Pish, she wrapped her hands around the cold bars.
“Wisp? Wait, wait, wait… I remember Cirrus marrying a man with the name Wisp…” She glanced around the room, pacing in thought.
“Oh! You know my parents? Hah that’s crazy. I knew something was weird about you.” Pish leaned against the wall, smiling and slowly sliding down until her boots were resting against the bars and back of the wall. She nodded her head side to side as if to say I’m waiting. Cygnus, still in disbelief piped up.
“Well spill it, are you ganna let me out of here?” Cygnus knotted her brow as she asked. Pish stared at her in silence. “...My name is Cygnus? Cygnus Veil?”
“Ah, now we’re getting somewhere. So you’re one of the Veils eh? The warrier branch of the village. Always looking out for the best of their people. Or so I thought…” Pish trailed off as she placed her finger on her chin. A moment went by and she continued. “The Veils were a noble household, so what are you doing in a jail cell? And with such a nasty, gross mask?”
Cygnus rolled her eyes at what Pish said and slid back to the wall of her cell. Sitting in a similar manner as Pish. “It’s complicated, and I don’t feel like spilling the beans to someone who literally just met.”
Pish pouted, and pulled her legs behind her, sitting up. “Aww what? C’mon! We’re cousins aren’t we? I’m not just someone who waltzed in here, demanded entrance even though the prison is closed for visitors, knocked out the guard anyway, all just to come and satisfy my curiosity for why I got the heebee geebees from some elf with an evil mask!”
“...” Cygnus blinked once, twice, three times. Pish, her face lighting up with one last idea smirked, her eyes squinting.
“Plus, I have this…” Pish pinched her nose and pulled out the mask, and waved it around.
The elf jolted forward a bit, then composed herself. “It doesn’t smell, quit acting like a baby.”
Pish’s face blushed a bit with a mix of anger and embarrassment. “I’m not a baby! I can handle it, it just reeks of evil and anguish.” But after closing her eyes. She nodded to herself. Speaking elven, she whispered “Oh… Yes, mhmm, well I’m dumb I should of started with that.” Cygnus’ brow raised up, it’s been awhile since she heard her native tongue. She got a weird feeling in her chest, not fear but a twinge of anxiety. Pish spoke up, smiling once more, as if she was a different person. “Well if you won’t speak, I’ll just burn it right here right now…” She pulled a match from her bag and struck it against her boot. With a snap it lit, bathing the bloodied mask in an orange tint.
“Wait, wait! I need that, and it would be -unwise- for you to do that without knowing what it is right? Use your head.” Cygnus sat up flustered. Pish taunted her, moving the match back and forth. Then she flinched, like something loud went off near her ear.
“Fine Pish, I was not actually going to do it. Here, listen to your dumb story and let’s just leave We have shit to do.” The girl closed her eyes once more and with a yelp put out the match. Shaking her hand trying to cool down after almost singeing her finger tips. “Ugh I hate those, why is Mis obsessed with them?” She shook her head in disappointment and continued to mutter to herself.
“Uh, hello?” Cygnus spoke up once more, “can we get this moving please?”
“Hey! I’m the one asking the questions here missy.” Pish leaned forward once more to the bars. “Now I want to know why you have this mask.”
“Ugh if I say will you let me out? And give it back?”
“Hm, I don’t see why not. But only because we’re cousins. Oh! And you have to let me call you Cuz.” Pish giggled and she looked down at her. Cygnus stared at her for a moment, perhaps waiting for a punchline or a follow up. But was disappointed with a haze of silence.
“Well, it all started when I was young. On the way to my elder brother’s house, perhaps you know of Simon, I was abducted by goblins. I wasn’t tormented physically, but mentally. The years in those caves bleached my hair black, my eyes this weird purple. Eventually a corpse was thrown into the cell, perhaps to further break whatever spirit I had left. However, this man was a blessing from my Savior. Time went by and through His teachings I was able to escape. Claim my own fate and freedom and live the life I only dreamed of. I kept the name they plastered onto me, and marched into the world with a smile. But every so often I would get a… urge. Nothing too bad, but my life on the road, fighting for my life quenched it with ease and satisfaction.” Cygnus leaned a little closer, almost hunching over her lap. “Time went by, and I got good. Good at killing or whatever I needed to do to get by. It was my fate, so who am I to complain? But then I found this mask. A direct conduit to my Savior from all those years ago.” Cygnus eyes became glazed as she continued to drone on into the empty halls. Prisoners quietly adjust to hear her speaking clearer. “I kill under his name with that. But before you go and assume, I don’t just murder innocent right? I have control over my fate and I’m sure of it. But I noticed killing helped the callings, the urges. With that they came less often and with less aggression.” Cygnus got even closer to Pish as she continued to speak. “I even tried settling down before, but it was too difficult. Fate is a fickle thing, and it has led me to that mask. And with that it will help me further control myself. So before anything gets out of hand… I recommend returning that to me.” Cygnus stopped, inches away from the bars. The moonlight casting a shadow over her face, her purple eyes and white teeth peering through. Pish froze for a moment, closed her eyes, then awakened them once more.
“Bravo, Ms. Veil. It seems you thoroughly spooked my sister back into her shell.” She stood up, pulling a cigar out from her pouch and placing it between his fingers. He crouched down, and looked at the elf in the eyes. “I like you.” He placed the cigar in his mouth and chuckled. He stood up, took a look around and tossed the mask at the foot of the cell. As he walked out, he raised a hand and flicked his fingers to say See you around. He pulled another match out, struck it against the wall and lit his cigar. With a puff and a sigh he walked out of the open metal door. Then as he left someone walked in through the door. They bumped shoulders, and without warning he kept walking.
The tall woman stepped over the body of the guard, who was still groaning, and walked towards Cygnus’ cell. With a look of horror she raised her voice.
“Wh-what did you do?” She got closer, and with an angered hush she whispered. “And what’s your mask doing here? Isn’t this important to you? Don’t just leave it in the open, you’ll get in trouble!” She bent down, her armor creaking a bit and picked up the mask and pushed it into a bouch on her hip.
Cygnus looked up at her, and raised her arms out in a shrug, as if to say Took you long enough.
End
⍽⍾⍽