My Servant Is An Elf Knight From Another World

946  Changing Scenes

With everyone else going their separate ways, Sammy and I were left to our own devices. Two feet apart dawdling aimlessly around in each other's company without much to really say. I went to coast along the perimeter of where the next scene was being prepped; get a sense of what to expect for Chester on his next fling into the fray. A spray of leaves here, a bundle of twigs there, with big, looming trees positioned against the backdrop while set dressers ran amok clearing and sweeping up any bits of unwanted flora. And honestly, for a scene supposedly being a focal point of the whole shoot, it doesn't seem to have quite much actually going for it other than the equivalent of an excellent picnic spot. But I guess it wasn't about what was in the scene, but who was, and when viewed under that context… then, yeah, sure… less was definitely more.

"So, what's gonna happen next?" Sammy had followed me, of course; ogling the same things as I was only with a much elevated sense of interest. "Big forest scene, lots of open space—ooh, you gonna be fighting some big giant forest monster now? The Lorax, but evil? Bigfoot?" "I wouldn't mind Bigfoot," I said. "Bigfoot loses to evil Lorax?" She snorted, chuckling at the implication. "What—are you scared of the color orange or something? Or is it the big, weird mustache? "Would you wanna take a chance on an evil dude with a weird mustache?" Sammy only needed a moment of thought before the answer arrived on her narrowing lips. "Maybe not." We both went back to idling about, watching as time flew by in the general bustle of things. But every now and again, my gaze would latch back onto her and I could feel the rampage of the elephant in the room struggling to break loose from my mouth.

"How's Lyn doing by the way?" I asked. "Ahem—Emerald is doing just fine, thank you very much," Sammy said with heavy emphasis. "She gets restless and noisy when she's in the stable too long, so we mostly keep her out in the field. Dad got a guy to watch the farm while we're gone. And, speaking of Emerald, I think the poor girl is starting to resent you." "Huh…" I wasn't expecting to hear that one. "How do you figure?"

"Won't let any one of us ride her for more than five minutes now without trying to buck us off. She used to play nice before, after we got to know each other, but now? Well, Dad said she's yours—I dunno—I'm thinking the poor girl is wondering when you're gonna come back and pay a visit." Returning home was barely a notion that crossed my mind as of late. There are just so many things I've got going presently that I never really got the chance to nurture the thought. But I'm sure I'll be able to do so soon… hopefully soon. "If you like, I could quickly hop us back home for a sec, go say hi," Sammy suggested. "You know, if you wanna." Home was miles and miles away from where we were. So realistically, the idea would have been a load of nonsense. But, like, come on, who's even trying to confer to that kind of ridiculous standard anymore? "Mom doesn't want you misusing your magic, remember?"

Sammy rolled her eyes in that full revolution of rebellion. "It ain't misusing if it's actually necessary, right? It's for Lyn—Emerald, I mean. Come on, Big Bro, don't you wanna see her?" Apparently, that chance I was talking about was now; to think and to nurture, letting the thought grow, develop… I mean, if nothing else, it would be nice to see Lyn again. "We'll make it quick, alright?" I conceded. "I still got a movie here to shoot, y'know." And quick she was; immediately grabbing me by the arm and pulling us away into a spot between the trees barren of any accidental gazes. There, she continued to take the lead, her hand in mind and holding tight, as we slowly began pacing forward.

"Don't let go now," she warned. "We'll be there in a flash. Whoosh. Just like that." Then, it happened. Not a flash like she said, but that sudden heart-stopping feeling of freefall. I thought maybe I had tripped; a random tree root that I didn't see or something but when I looked down I only saw a stray piece of straw crunched under my shoe. In the air, a musty, dusty smell of grain and wood. I heard a loud neigh, and I quickly snapped my eyes forward. Lyn was staring back at me behind the gate of her stall. Another whinny, and she loudly puffed her nostrils sending a gust of air rippling across my face. I was back. As she said. Just like that. In the barn of our home. I immediately recognized the dim, discolored light of the sun filtering through the dust. Yet, despite knowing that, the realization was yet to sink in. I mean, I didn't pack my bags, didn't even book a ticket, how the hell could I be home? Lyn leaned herself forward and promptly nudged me on the forehead. I returned the greeting, stroking the bridge of her nose, the glimmering green of her eyes staring back at me from both ends. Evidently, she liked that; pawing the dirt with her hooves, and tilting her head at angles for me to reach for. "Really did miss me, didn't you, girl?" I said weakly, and realized only then I was sorely lacking a significant amount of air in my system. "Oh man, that was… something." "So I'm guessing you've never experienced that before?" I saw Sammy's arm reach out to my right, her hand gently brushing beside mine, patting Lyn on the side. "I made the same face when I went from my room to yours in a blink of an eye." "No, never," I replied, still feeling a little funny, a feeling that luckily was slowly receding. "How does that work? How do you even do it?" I paused to breathe again, to blink. "And why my room?" "Random pick," Sammy said. "And I can only do it with someone or someplace I'm very close with, so it's not like I can just pop up anywhere, and, um, whoo…" she gave her head a rattling shake, wobbling a little. "...and that was me just now realizing it takes a lot more out of me if I have a passenger along for the ride." "You okay, Sammy?" "Fine, I'm fine," she steadied herself, bouncing back quickly with a sudden jovial grin. "Anyway, now that we're already here—wanna put on the saddle, take her out in the field for a bit? We can take turns if you want." Sammy stood there in place wearing a hard, affronted glare, and from a distance, I 14:10

could see Mom manifesting through the expression on her face, the loose braid draped Ah, so the curtain's finally being pulled wide open on her intentions. And here I was thinking just how unusually generous it was of her to try and make Lyn happy. Apparently, that happiness comes at a cost.

"You just wanted to ride Lyn again, didn't you?" I said, calling out her nefarious scheme. "Made me into a tool, a stepping stone, appeal to my compassion—you're own brother. You monster."

"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Sammy said in an egregious attempt at downplay. "Look, I haven't gotten to properly ride Emerald in like two weeks! And all the other horses aren't as good. You've been on her before, you know how it's like—it's like you're flying! I wanna fly again! Come on, big bro! Please?" Lyn reared her head up in response and began stamping the earth with a restless vigor yearning to be expended, and if it was just Sammy I was letting down, then I was more than confident I could take the heartbreak… but this, but her… after seeing in person how excited she was to see me again… goddamnit, dude. "Can't get my suit dirty," I said, stepping back and carefully began navigating through every risk of contamination on my way out the barn. "You go get Lyn ready. I'll be waiting outside." "Yes!" Sammy exclaimed, with Lyn neighing merrily along, sensing victory. "Thanks, Big Bro! You're the best."

"Not so fast," I said. "I never said you'd be taking her anywhere." "What?" "I'm taking the reins. Meanwhile, you can be perfectly content sitting behind me."

"What?!" "Oh, don't be so dramatic," I said in turn. "It's either that or I ride her on my own. Either way, I'm happy and Lyn's happy. And if you ask me, that's the only two things here that actually matter." Sammy stood there in place wearing a hard, affronted glare, and from a distance, I could see Mom manifesting through the expression on her face, the loose braid draped over her shoulder, even in the way she turned and looked away, pouting… there was so much that was too familiar. And once again I felt the same urge, the same elephant. attempting to pry my mouth open. "You're a monster, you know," she called out to me, unlatching a leather saddle from a post. "Completly heartless." "I'm sure I am," I nodded back in agreement, giving in to the urge just a little. "Runs in the family, I guess." Merry Christmas, dear lovely readers. <3 I hope you're all having a good one this year, and I hope you'll have an even better one in the next!

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