THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

Litty's voice, a sharp crack in the serene atmosphere, pierced through Yue's obliviousness. "Yue!" The young elf blinked, her mind a vacant canvas. "What?" she replied, innocence dripping from her tone.

Litty's patience, a thin veneer, shattered. "Your questions are offensive," she hissed, her gaze darting to David, where a storm was brewing. Yue, a clueless puppy, tilted her head. "How?"

Litty, exasperated, slapped her forehead, a dramatic gesture that mirrored her frustration. Her grip tightened on Yue's arm, a firm anchor in the chaos. "Ow!" Yue protested, her hand lingering wistfully over Luna's soft ears.

Litty's stern glare silenced the young elf. "We've caused trouble," she began, her voice laced with apology. David, a silent observer, found the spectacle amusing. An outsider? The term echoed in his mind. "Why do you think I'm an outsider?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

Yue's eyes, twin pools of mystery, held his gaze. "Two essences," she replied, her voice filled with wonder. "Mana, and something else, heavy and unfamiliar." Litty, sensing the tension, intervened. "She's always been sensitive to energies," she explained, her voice soothing the ruffled waters.

David nodded, dismissing the matter. Yet, a seed of curiosity had been planted. Yue, despite her youth, was a keen observer. The world, he realized, held many more secrets than he imagined.

The elf's words echoed in David's mind: "Unfamiliar essence." Ternion, it seemed, held secrets beyond his comprehension. A quest for knowledge ignited within him. The System Mart, a digital bazaar of the virtual world, offered a potential clue. A pack of strawberries, a simple earthly delight, became his chosen offering. Luna, the stoic companion, was left behind; chatter was not her language.

Approaching the duo, David held out the crimson bounty. "Perhaps we began on the wrong foot," he offered, a peace offering in his hand. The elf child's eyes, twin emeralds in a forest, widened with curiosity. Litty, her guardian, seemed wary. "Please, it's because of my companion. Don't mind us at all," she explained, her voice laced with apology.

"A curious mind is a gift," David replied, offering a berry to the child. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, but Litty's hand shot out to restrain her. David, unfazed, took a bite. "Harmless," he assured, the sweet tang a symphony on his palate.

But before Litty could protest further, Yue's spirit was untamed. With a swift motion, she claimed the fruit, her fingers brushing against his in a fleeting touch. She carefully examined the fruit.

"Don't you dare!" Litty warned, but Yue popped the fruit into her mouth. Her calling was to be curious and to delve into the unknown.

The moment the strawberry touched Yue's lips, a transformation occurred. Her eyes, once filled with wonder, now held the cosmos. The sweet symphony of flavours exploded on her palate, a celestial fireworks display. A giggle escaped her lips, a sound as pure as morning dew. Juice dribbled down her chin, a testament to her unbridled joy.

"What in Sylvarion did you give me?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. The ordinary had become extraordinary in her mouth.

"Let's make a deal," David proposed.

"What type of deal?" Yue asked curiously, while Litty, a shadow of disapproval, sighed.

"You share your knowledge of energies," David began, "and I'll reveal the secrets of these," he gestured to the strawberry bag. "Plus, you get the whole lot." The offer hung in the air, a tantalizing promise. Without a moment's hesitation, Yue's hand met his. "Deal," she affirmed, their palms connecting. "I'm Yue, and this is—"

Litty's interruption was swift and sharp. "Litty, her escort," she corrected, her tone brooking no argument. For a moment, Yue seemed confused, but under Litty's harsh gaze, she nodded in agreement. "Yes, Litty is my escort," she echoed, her voice a mere whisper.

David, a silent observer of this dynamic, chose to let the matter rest. "David," he introduced himself, gesturing to Luna. "And this is Luna, my companion." He settled beside the young elf, a silent acknowledgement of their budding pact.

"So, kid," Yue began, her voice dripping with mock authority. David, amused by the irony, noted the pointed ears that belied her youthful appearance. "What do you want to know?" she pressed.

David ignored the playful jab. "You said something about a dense essence," he replied, his voice carrying a genuine curiosity. "What do you know about it?"

"As I said, kid," Yue explained, "I am unfamiliar with the dense essence within you. All I know is that you possess mana, too."

"Enlighten me on this essence you speak of," David prompted, eager to expand his knowledge. Yue, a mischievous glint in her eye, began to weave her tale. "In Ternion, six essences shape reality," she declared, her voice carrying an air of authority.

Curiosity ignited within David. "And these are?" he pressed. Mana was the only familiar term in his lexicon.

"Lumin Essence and Vortex Aether, the crown jewels," she began, her voice filled with reverence. "Verdant Spirit and Pristine Ether, the domain of our brethren," she continued, referring to the non-human species. Finally, she concluded, "Arcanium and Mana, the tools of humanity." A newfound respect for the young elf blossomed within him.

"Aren't you a bit smart for your age?" David teased, a playful challenge in his voice. Yue's demeanour shifted, her expression turning sour. "Huh? Age? What in Sylvarion are you talking about?"

she demanded, confusion and indignation swirling in her voice. Litty, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter.

"Oh heavens, please... don't mind me," Litty pleaded, her voice trembling with mirth. Yue's disbelief was palpable. "Humph," she snorted, her pride wounded. "Child, am I?" she retorted, her gaze fixed on David, who looked utterly bewildered.

"Aren't you?" he replied, a gentle hand ruffling her hair. Litty's laughter reached a crescendo, threatening to collapse her with mirth. Yue, with a swift movement, swatted his hand away. "Enough," she commanded, her voice laced with irritation.

Her attention shifted to the strawberry pack. "Tell me, what are these?" she inquired, her curiosity reignited.

David offered the treasure trove of crimson delights to Yue, her eyes lighting up like twin stars. "Strawberries," he introduced the earthly wonder. The name was foreign to her elven ears. "An unfamiliar fruit," she mused, her curiosity ignited. "Where did they come from?" Her question was a direct shot.

David hesitated. A simple answer would unravel a world beyond her comprehension. "A complex tale," he replied, his voice a gentle shield.

Confusion painted her face, a canvas for doubt. "If it's money you want, I can gladly pay you for the information," she offered, her voice carrying the weight of sincerity. David shook his head, a silent refusal.

"That's not what I meant," David corrected. "I'm saying that they don't exist here, and I am the only one who can acquire them."

Litty, the ever-watchful guardian, scoffed. "A blatant lie," she muttered, her disbelief palpable. David met her gaze with a serene indifference.

"Believe as you wish," he replied, his tone indifferent.

A moment of silence stretched between them, a tense pause. Then, Yue's voice broke the stillness. "I believe you," she declared, her voice carrying a weight of sincerity.

David's eyebrow arched, a silent question. "A traveller encounters many wonders," Yue explained, her voice soft. "These are a mystery I'm willing to accept."

Intrigue sparked within David. How far had this young elf roamed?

The carriage jolted to a halt, a jarring interruption to their discourse. A gruff voice boomed, "Destination reached!" The atmosphere, thick with unspoken questions and concealed knowledge, hung heavy in the air. David rose, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"A most intriguing journey," he began, his voice carrying a note of finality. "Until our paths cross again." Yue, her eyes darting about, searched for Luna's shadow. The creature, ever elusive, had vanished into the twilight of Eldoria. David's chuckle, a gentle chime, broke the silence. "Another time, perhaps," he assured her, a playful pat on her head. To Litty, he offered a courteous nod.

As he stepped onto the cobblestones, the world seemed to burst into colour and sound. The bustling city was a stark contrast to the enclosed carriage. But the echoes of the journey lingered. Yue, her face contorted in mock anger, pinched Litty's cheek. "A brat I've raised," she scolded playfully.

"Ouch!" Litty yelped. "Mother, please stop! It wasn't my intention; it was David who made me laugh," she explained, but Yue was relentless in her playful discipline.

What a mysterious group, especially that boy, Yue thought as she continued to discipline the begging Litty, her daughter. The thought lingered as she reflected on the strange energies David possessed and the unique fruit he had shared.

The city of Eldoria, a sprawling beast of life and commerce, welcomed him with open arms. Yet, his mind was still occupied by the enigmatic elf and her guardian. The taste of the unknown lingered on his tongue, a tantalizing promise of adventures to come. Mana, essence, and the secrets of Ternion - these were the threads that wove the tapestry of his destiny.

As he walked, the rhythm of the city became his heartbeat, a steady pulse in the symphony of life. He was a stranger in a strange land, yet a sense of belonging was already taking root. The encounter with Yue and Litty had been a mere chapter, but it was a chapter filled with unexpected turns and unforgettable characters.

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A/N: Sylvarion, Keeper of the Glade, Sovereign of Sustenance: Patron god of the elves and bounty within Ternion.

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