No One in the El'lor Family Can Read...

[Élise]

“You’re kidding right?”

“No, sir!”

“You’re telling me that this is the most you can read and write?”

"Yes, sir!”

“You’re shitting me,” A heavy sigh clamored together with the sound of pointless shuffling as Élise’s superior threw his arms in the air. He was exasperated. One of the newest recruits that was shoved into his group couldn’t read or write. They were completely useless when it came to communication much less teaching by the book. They couldn’t make reports much less be expected to follow memos given to them, “Just my luck. Not only am I stuck with a Halfling, but a ritgr that can’t properly do their duty! If you were just a regular soldier, sure, it wouldn't matter, but you're not! You're supposed to be training to lead, not to follow mindlessly.”

“I’ll learn as quick as I can, sir—“

“SHUT UP!” The man slammed his hands down onto his desk and stood. He was a pureblood elkagr and a bit taller than Élise. Even so, she wasn’t intimidated. She remained professional, never breaking eye contact with her superior, “This,” The man stabbed his finger into Élise’s journal, “This is a fucking joke. You,” Now he was jabbing his finger in Élise’s face, “You are suspended from the guard until you can actually function as a respectable citizen! You may have dirty blood, but I sure as hell won’t be keeping a dog on my squad. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.” And with that, Élise was excused.

Taking her journal, the half-elkagr made her way home as quickly as she could. Her face was stone frozen, stuck in a perplexed state of serious and devastated. It stayed that way all through the streets of Fordeth, into the inn that she called home, and passed her brothers. Only once she had slammed the door and collapsed on her bed, sword armor and all clanging against her, had Élise let out a scream into her pillow.

She had trained so hard to finally be accepted into the Sovereign military as a knight. For people like her, that's not an easy success. People like her end up as he said, dogs meant to follow, not lead. She'd always been afraid of that - afraid of not being able to do anything. She couldn't protect others by just being another body to count at the end of a battle. Élise wanted more than that. She wanted to represent something - something bigger than herself. But now - OH. NOW. - She was being blocked from this destiny by something as trivial as reading and writing. 

No no no. This was important, it just seemed annoying now because she had been trying so hard already. Trying really hard for all of it to be thrown against her as a "fucking joke". 

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[Deleted]

“Élise?”

“NGGGGUUUMMM”

“Oh come on Élise. You still have your boots on!”

“NGGGGNONOGNONONONOOOHMYJUL!! VENTUS DON”T THAT TICKLE-GYAHAHAHAHAHA” There were several snorts breaking up the laughter caused by her brother.

Ventus had noticed – because who hadn’t noticed – the bizarre return of his sister. She had burst into the inn, not beaming with her usual radiance and whatever other kind of glory that came with being on the Sovereign guard, and run straight to her room. Now this might be the usual for him, but not for Élise.

No, Élise was the friendly sibling. She was always giving everyone her smiles and not neglecting anyone for a conversation. For her not to at least say “hello” or “I’m home” was enough to tip him off that something was wrong.

But he wasn’t just going to come right out and say it. No, besides being friendly, Élise was also weird about what she shared – especially when it came to feelings. Maybe it was a girl thing, maybe it was part of being an El’lor, but Élise especially was never comfortable with sharing her thoughts.

So yeah, Ventus had barged into her room while she was smothering a pillow with her face. He’d tugged off her boots, thrown them across the room, and poked her feet. No, he hadn’t tickled them – she was just a sensitive pansy.

“Ew,” He crinkled his nose and laughed, “They smell” Ventus teased as he reeled back from Élise, only to sit beside her on the bed. She smacked him with her pillow and laughed. Ventus grinned at her sheepishly for a few moments before setting the pillow in his lap and giving her a very awkward, ‘are you alright’, brotherly affectionate expression. He, rather stiffly, patted her back and cleared his throat, “So… Uh,” Ventus scratched the back of his head. His voice got a little quieter, as if this conversation truly was only theirs’, “Rough day?”

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[Élise]

The brat was lucky to have moved. Nobody insults a knight’s feet!!
All laughing aside, Élise really appreciated her brother’s efforts. It was nice, knowing that there was a family that cared.

Ever since it had been announced that Élise would be selected for the Sovereign military, Ventus had seemed a little put-off. The air was always tense between them, as though an argument would explode at a second’s notice.

So this moment was really important to Élise. She didn’t answer his short question, just smiled down at her hands and let out a sigh. She nodded slowly and tried not to let a pout form across her features. To distract herself, Élise grabbed her journal – which had been thrown across the bed. She handed it to Ventus, who looked rather curious.

She watched his expression go from excited to confused in a matter of seconds as he opened the book. “What is this?” He asked her while squinting at the letters. He recognized them from his days at the academy, but had never bothered paying much attention to them during class. He flipped through the only two pages that were completed and shrugged, “Is this for some lame knight training?”

“Yes..” Élise took the journal back and sat it on the bedside table, “I have to learn how to read and write High Cruic soon. I can’t continue my responsibilities if I don’t learn soon.” 

[Deleted]

“Ugh,” Ventus grumbled as he pushed himself up, “That is so stupid.” 

“No it isn’t. Its important. I should have learned this long ago…” Élise stood too and put her hands on her hips, “You too. Why is it that none of us actually learned how to read?”

Ventus gave her the most judgmentally sarcastic glare, “Remember? Those courses were for purebloods only. Dogs like us don’t deserve to be equal with the oh-so-superior-elves.” The teen laughed and mocked, “WOOF WOOF” He stuck his hands up over his head like dog-ears to emphasize the point.

Élise didn’t like it, but Ventus was right. She couldn’t deny the way the elves looked down on everyone else, even such close relation as half-elkagr, “My superior called me a dog today.” That had her brother shut up. He frozen, his teasing tone suddenly silenced and his expression dark.

“Don’t listen to him. He’s so suffocated by his perfect life that he can’t even breath sense. We’re not dogs. No,” He looked down at the ground, “Rather, he it is they who are serpents – biting at our ankles.” He stamped his foot into the ground, as if crushing the serpent’s head. Ventus seemed to catch himself, letting out a withheld breath and looking apologetically at Élise.

“Nevermind that. Come. Cassius has been looking for you. I think he has some good news that’ll help with your studies.” Ventus went to the door, only to glance back when Élise called out to him.

[Élise]

“Ventus!” She hadn’t followed him yet. Élise was always a bit shocked to hear Ventus voice such violent opinions of the elves. His tongue would get him in trouble one of these days. She wanted to warn him not to vocalize such disdain, but didn’t want to fight, “You’re leaving tomorrow right?” She asked instead.

He just shrugged, “Yeah. I’ll be heading to the Mardok Duchy tomorrow. Somebody came through the inn not long ago talking about an open job at a craftsman’s workshop. I figure it’d be better than anything I could find here.”

Both of their heads were swarming with concern. How can I protect you from so far away?

Of course, because the stubborn fault of handling touchy emotions was actually an El’lor trait, they didn’t voice these thoughts.

“Well you’ll be fine. You’re as good a swordsman as me,” She met up with him by the door after grabbing her journal once more. They started walking down stairs to the inn’s main hall, “Though it might not hurt to ask around the inn. There might be another person passing through on their way to Mardok. Traveling in a group can be helpful,” Ventus scowled at this. He wasn’t really a fan of company; “It would also put your family at ease.” She encouraged. He couldn’t argue with this. He only gave a brisk nod in return.

Once downstairs, Élise left Ventus to his business and looked around for Cassius.

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End for this Thread. 
Both Ventus and Élise working on High Cruic I knowledge.