Thread: Darkness and light (LeatrixSage and Silver Star)

Iblith , that word soon started to sound familiar, as she kept on using it to refer to him. Aelir had no idea what it meant before, but soon he found himself thinking that it meant something like 'man' or 'human', it suddenly became the first word he knew in her language. Maybe later, if they kept on having conversations and getting to know each other better, he'd be able to ask the woman to teach him more of her native tongue, as it could prove to be of help in the future. Of course, he wasn't expecting to find the Drow woman willing to teach him anything, let alone wanting to bond with someone like him. He very well knew what most people considered priests to be, for they very openly and frequently said it to his face. Living a life of service and devotion wasn't for everyone, most considered it to be useless and very limiting, a choice that took much more than what it gave to the one embracing it. Something for cowards, for men without the courage and strength to take arms and fight. But what other choice could a man like him have? He had been an orphan ever since he had a memory and it was the priests of the light who gave him a chance at becoming someone with a purpose. Within the stone walls of the temple that protected him from the cold and dangers of the outside world, Aelir found the love and comfort that the god of healing and compassion offered him. Sure, he had never experienced the warmth of the loving arms of a woman around his neck. The embrace of passion and pleasure that all sinners craved and described as one of the best reasons a man had to be alive. Aelir stayed away from those things, for the lord of light demanded him to be pure and free of sin. The priests that took care of him made sure that he would understand that. In the lord of light he would find all the love and comfort he'd ever need, the path of salvation and righteousness was all a man could ever need. That was one of the reasons why Aelir was more timid in front of women than men, for a part of his human nature and young spirit was designed to go against the strict orders of his religion. He obviously managed to control his impulses and behave properly at all times, but to say that he never had an impure thought during the course of his adulthood would be a complete fallacy. More than once he found himself staring at maids and farm girls longer than needed, but he knew how to correct his wrong thoughts and pray for forgiveness after such unworthy actions. Anyway, he had no time to think about that kind of affairs at that moment. He was on a mission, he had to stay focused. I highly appreciate that... Said Aelir as a response to the drow's explanations to consider not going out of her way to find confrontation. If it had been a human riding next to him, he'd probably wouldn't have felt the need to request that, but since he had been taught that the Drow were a very confrontational race by nature, he was afraid that some minor encounter with others along the road could cause the woman to lose her temper and bring problems to the both of them. Fortunately for Aelir, his protector, who claimed not to be his guide, had some common sense. Those concepts about the Drow being purely evil creatures started to appear as nothing more than generalizations and unfair judgements than anything else. Of course, it was too early to jump into conclusions, but the priest felt like he had to give the woman a chance to make her own reputation instead of carrying the one achieved by his ancestors and other members of her community. He hated to admit it, but the words that came out of the drow's mouth next got him thinking and doubting. It was a valid point, he had to save a life on his mission, a very important one, but considering they would surely meet enemies along the way, he could also be the cause of the loss of others. The god of light... he protects us from evil, teaches us to be kind and respect all forms of life. We try to bring peace and comfort to the living, to help the sick and heal the wounded. We, as priests, refuse to resort to violence, to... take lives... Aelir frowned and looked down, clearly feeling conflicted by the mere thought of having to kill others, no matter if they were evil or not. The drow was right, in order to stop the curse from continuing the consumption that was killing the queen, he would have to nullify the source of the spell and, knowing how black magic worked, it would surely mean to slay the conjurer. It is with heavy heart that I have accepted my fate as a sinner. If we succeed and I successfully destroy the source of the curse, I will be taking a life with my hands in the process. He closed his hands in fists while keeping the horse's reins with a tight grip. Us priests of the light, we value all lives, no matter the past, present or future of the being. Every life is precious, and we vow to protect them all... He took a deep breath and looked at the female, pausing for a moment before he'd finish his sentence. I had been ordered to sin, and I accepted it. I will forever carry a stain on my soul because of it... and it pains me to accept it, but accept it I must... for the sake of the Queen, and everyone in the kingdom. He looked away from the drow and again to his front, to the road that lay ahead of them. I beg you to protect me during this journey. I understand what it means, and I take full responsibility for all the lives that you may be forced to take because of it... But I must not fail on my mission. I only hope that the lord can forgive me for what I will do... He took a deep breath and remained silent after that. Would she consider him weak? Would she mock him like all of the others did? The journey was barely starting and the two would be riding east until the sun would set over the horizon. He had very limited knowledge of the locations they'd be traveling to after leaving the city behind, but it seemed like their next stop would be safe, maybe a small town or someplace that will present them with a roof over their heads, a much better option than having to make camp out in the open, exposed to the dangers that could be waiting for them in the shadows of the night. So, where will this road lead us? Aelir asked as they continued marching, hoping she'd give him good news. The farther they'd ventured, the riskier it'd be, but perhaps she knew of a path safe enough at least for that day.