The Breakfast Talk

When I woke up it was the middle of the night, but the fire’s warmth felt amazing after what happened earlier. So nice I didn’t have to make it. Looking around didn’t give me an answer, where I am and where the other one is. I was hoping that he just helped me and left, because that was for the best for everyone, however I had to admit that I didn’t feel pain in my arm and it was treated properly. The sleeve was gone and panic occurred. I needed a moment to realize that the rest of the shirt still covered my body, but I calmed down when I made sure the mirror which I used to cast changing appearance spell and sew in was still intact.

“Good to see you wake up.”

I heard a warm voice somewhere behind me and faster steps, so seconds later the face was in front of me. I moved away, as even knowing that the spell is working just fine, still I was living in fear that someone would recognize me or the signs that it’s not real me, if he gets too close. At least the healer was empathetic enough and noticed that his closeness made me a bit uncomfortable. He tried not to show it made him sad, but I saw that second drop of smile on his face. Subtle features made me a bit suspicious about my companion, but it could also explain some things that happened.

“How are you feeling? Hungry?” he asked to break a silence, my stomach decided to answer with a loud growling. “I am warning you that I am not the best cook. Don’t expect much.”

“Don’t worry about it.” After all, he helped me with the wound and was still taking care of me, so I decided to be a little nicer. “But I see you are quite a skilled healer. I feel really fine and thank you for helping me.”

The goal was achieved, his mood got better and I had a chance to prove my theory, as he tied up hair, and those fine pointy ears showed up. However I didn’t want to make friends and asking questions about race was sometimes considered rude, especially when you were mixed. However the more we spent time together, we were in a kind of situation where we had to make sure we both are not doing anything illegal and we won’t report each other. The half-elf was not so rare but there were less of them than there used to be, at least before a tension between races started to rise after the king-slaughtery falsely credited me.

“I should be the one thanking you, for dealing with that monster.” The healer said, giving me a small plate with scrambled eggs. “I probably would be dead, if you didn’t interfere. The same goes for what happened in the village.”

“I hope that with the monster you didn’t ask for it.” I took a bite, it wasn’t that bad, but elves tend to have much sophisticated taste, so he could think he can’t meet them, but for my human needs it was enough.

“No! I have learnt my lesson. In the village the emotions took over. The monster just showed up out of nowhere.”

That’s good to hear, I thought, however his words worried me a bit. If I didn’t find the spell maybe I would believe it, but not with that knowledge. The monster had to have a reason to attack him, but I didn’t think half-elf was aware of that. His cheerful attitude toward life made me curious of him, or rather I was wondering how much of a mere illusion that was. I didn’t think he was used to meeting monsters, I couldn’t even see a weapon of his, but it didn’t seem to have any impact on him. Still smiling and in a pretty good mood, to the point it made me uncomfortably irritated and more suspicious than I wanted ever to be. In the past I would praise him for approach of this kind, but warned him not to hide negativity, as it's an inevitable part of life. Now I was observing him with much more attention, as expecting another act of betrayal. Memories were knocking to my mind, I couldn’t let them fool my judgment. Hurting someone with pure intentions would destroy me, but the projections that started to firm in my head were more and more realistic.

“What motivated your action in the village?” I asked, hoping his answers will help me calm down and stop seeing him as a danger. “You couldn’t be that stupid.”

“I have meant what I said there.”

A change, his face in a second got serious and there was something in a way he said it. The confidence? The belief in being right? The calmness in the voice? I couldn’t define what exactly made the thrill go down my spine and send all the tension away, however I couldn’t stop myself from hysterically laughing.

“You can’t be serious?” I smirked.

The healer was fast, even too fast for me to notice, and was holding a knife to my throat, after throwing me on the ground and sitting on me. His face was telling me something like don’t make me regret helping you.

“I might look weak, but I will firmly defend what I believe.” Even though he was shaking with anger, he maintained full control of his palm. Perfect pressure, so I knew he wasn’t kidding and that I can’t move an inch until he let me.

“I believe you,” I murmured, thinking that maybe provoking him further would be a good way to say goodbye to life.

I didn't have any specific reason to continue, but considering the fact that I was cursed with immortality, was it even possible? Maybe the not dying rule concerned only the natural way, not the situation, where someone else would take my life? Too many questions without answers. I wasn't in the mood to test and look for ones. The half-elf decided to trust me and stepped back.

“I just can't understand why you would deliberately put yourself in danger by admitting it out loud.”

“I had to,” he explained and sighted, drawing his knees up. I gave him a moment to decide if he wants to share more details with me. “I know it might sound stupid, but I feel like he couldn't do anything he was accused of. The problem is I can't prove it, even though I have tried for decades. At least that's what I could do.”

“Why can't you just let go?”

“Private reasons.” He winked at me, as he was again in a good mood. “But in my opinion Eric is the greatest hero of all time.”

Eric is my name, I had to remain myself and the sound of it just fulfilled my chest in pain. It was forbidden to even say it and the reason people remembered it was so no one would ever be named the same. I was feeling proud when people were showing me their kids or asking me to hold the newborn for a moment, telling me that their names were chosen after me. Then I was trying to get better just to be a good example and hero for them. After being pointed out as the worst, all these people had to change it and probably were hurt a lot because of me. The memories of all those interactions were going again and again in my mind. My cheeks felt uncomfortably wet. I was crying for all these people and myself. For a while tears couldn't stop running down my face.