Elegy for a Star

Miren arrived early, gathering her food—chicken, beans and a jelly scone; really splurging this time—and sitting at the table where the party typically met. She had a bottle of the wine that her neighbor Ellywick fermented in her dormitory. For all she knew, it may be her last. If her plan worked, it would likely be her companions’ last.

The Winter Fey let out a little sigh and set down the five cups she’d managed to get from the chow hall. She didn’t dare pour just yet, wanting to ensure the rest of the party that her own wine was poured from the bottle, lest Mairaela insist it was poisoned. Damn Sunchild got on her nerves, even if she wouldn’t dare show it. There was a reason that the Winter Fey didn’t get along with their warm counterparts and that was primarily that the latter knew not the trials of the former. They had bountiful summers, gentle winters and the seasons between. Meanwhile the Winter Fey actually had their name for a reason.

The others arrived in pairs. Joyona and Mairaela first, then Gwendolyn and Tess. Tess and Gwen both had flushed faces and were stealing glances and smiles at one another constantly. “Were they just fooling around or having sex,” Miren pondered.

“I brought us some wine as a toast to our upcoming struggles,” Miren said, pouring some wine into each cup, leaving her own for last, “For anyone that would like to partake.”

“Should we really be drinking?” Tess asked, looking around. The truth came to her mind before anyone needed to tell her, “Oh right. Souls don’t get drunk.”

“It should be a tradition to get shit-faced before every assignment,” Gwen said with a chuckle, lifting the cup to her lips.

“Wait,” Mairaela said, narrowing her eyes at Miren, “You drink first.”

Miren nodded, lifting her cup and taking a sip of the wine, “You can wait a couple hours to see if I die, if you’d like. Or would you like to switch cups, to make sure I didn’t slip something into yours? That’s how I would do it, after all.”

Mairaela just sighed and waved her hand, “Fine.”

“I do hope you are more cooperative in battle,” Miren replied with a sourness in her tone. Maybe she shouldn’t have said that, but Mairaela responding with the exact stereotypical Sunchild suspicion to a Winter Elf giving a gift really caused her to grind her teeth.

Gwendolyn and Joyona had already downed their cups while Tess was sniffing at her drink and Mairaela began to sip hers. Miren sipped along. Humans were so weird. Had none of them enjoyed a proper wine before? Well, to be fair, this was far from a proper wine.

Miren refilled the cups as Gwendolyn and Joyona began racing to see who could quaff them faster. Tess finally began to drink. While Gwen and Joyona were busy, Miren addressed the often meek blonde, “So, Tess, what is it you plan on doing once we’re in the Void?”

“What do you mean? I plan on completing the assignment.”

“How?” Miren asked. Tess began to look dejected.

“Lay off,” Mairaela replied.

Miren let out a sigh, “I am not trying to take swings at you.” By this point she left the bottle to Joyona and Gwen to refill on their own. It was nearly empty already. Savages! Miren continued, “I genuinely want to know your strategy. None of us here want you to get hurt.”

“Oh,” Tess replied, not looking particularly happier even with the explanation, “I mean, I’ll stick around with the group, I suppose. Like before.”

Mairaela explained, “Tess is capable. She’ll be fine.”

“I keep hearing that, but then I hear from the captain that you are giftless,” Miren explained, “I was only trying to reconcile that contradiction.”

“Should we tell her?” Tess asked. Mairaela cut a hand across her own throat, instructing Tess to stop.

Miren nodded, “You don’t want to tell me. That is okay. I’ll have to see for myself once we’re in the Void.” To be honest, Miren was intensely curious, and expected a bit of foul play involved, but she couldn’t imagine what it was.

“You took the last,” Joyona observed, looking between her own empty cup and Gwen’s quarter-full one, still dripping little wine droplets into it.

“Because I’m faster,” Gwen replied.

Joyona grunted.

“You’re in a good mood,” Mairaela replied to Gwendolyn, giving a little laugh, “Did something happen?”

Gwen chugged that last little bit of wine and with a sharp exhale she replied, “Just excited to get into the Void, that’s all! I miss the action. Been too much drama lately.”

“This will be our first time receiving an advancement, too,” Mairaela replied.

“You did not receive one from Arkaid in the Void Exercise?” Miren asked. Of course, she knew the answer already. This was the group that ruined the Void Exercise for all those yet to come. It was partly why she chose them. They were the most expendable.

Tess shook her head, “Something happened. Arkaid wasn’t there anymore. Void disappeared when we got back.”

Miren nodded her head, “I see.” She raised a half empty cup and offered, “Some of us may not have any left, but here’s a toast to all going as planned during this assignment.” Of course, she may be referring to a different plan than the rest of them.

Only Tess and Mairaela had any left, but even Joyona and Gwen joined in the toast with their empty cups, echoing Miren’s sentiment.

“So, are we ready?” Mairaela asked, looking at the others. Gwen and Joyona were bickering about who holds their drink better, Gwendolyn’s argument being that she drank more. Tess and Miren both nodded to Mairaela. “Well, let’s finish eating and head out.”

After their meal, the group rose up, cleared their table, and headed out. Joyona was walking just fine, even if her face was a little flushed, but Gwendolyn was holding onto Tess for dear life. Miren knew that Ellywick’s batch was on the exceptionally head-spinning strong side, but she didn’t realize that Gwen had that much.

“Let’sh..  fuck when we get back~! … ‘kay?” Gwendolyn shouted way too loudly, leaning in towards Tess’ ear, whose face was cherry red.

“You’re, um.. I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gwen!” Tess replied. Mairaela was in stitches with laughter, and even Miren couldn’t help but smirk at the once-knight’s lack of self-control.

“I wanna kizz yoo summmore..!” Gwen whined, “I’m gon-.. hic!.. ride yoo soo fuggin’ haard~..”

Mairaela was bent over, struggling to breathe with how much she was laughing.

Tess was embarrassedly trying to shush Gwen and keep her quiet, but there wasn’t much that she could do to help the silvery woman from shouting in the halls.

“Pleeeze let me shuck it~..” Gwen murmured. Miren raised an eyebrow at the comment.

“Gwen!” Tess hissed, but even she began to laugh, “Oh my gods, stop!”