Cornellus and his Elves 1
Story by TikTikKobold on SoFurry
Caladine is searching for her lost sister Selani, when she comes to the home of the mage Cornellus. What will she discover has happened to her sister on this dark and stormy night?
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Cornellus lives high in the mountains, accessible through either the perilous climb or through the flight of his magnificent Sky Brigg, Nova. This made visitors quite rare, save for the most determined, the most magically inclined, or the most desperate. The elf was at least two of those three.
The elf knocks upon the intricate oak door while clinging desperately onto the traveling cloak, drenched dark and heavy with the rain. Moments pass like hours, but the door does indeed open, and on the other side is a humanoid figure, featureless, but carved by a sculptor’s tool. The golem’s only defining feature is the crystal embedded into its chest.
“You have arrived at the abode of Cornellus. Please state your name and intentions.”
The elf clings onto the cloak, which whips in the furious winds. The voice hardly reaches up past the clap of thunder. “I’m Caladine. I’m looking for an elf, like me. I have reason to believe my twin sister was in this area. I seek to know if she took refuge in last week’s storm!”
The golem stands motionless a moment before it steps aside for the new guest. “Please, Caladine, step inside.”
The greeting room is cozy, but not displeasing to the eye, nor to the nose. The lavender scent fills the air, and the warmth from some unseen fire instantly dissipates the drenched coldness.
The golem pulls the elf’s cloak off from slim shoulders and carries the dripping thing under its arm. “Please, head into the study just over there. Warm yourself. Is there anything I can get you to drink?”
“Something warm,” the elf responds, heading in the direction the golem indicated. The golem nods and walks off without another word. Aside from the golem, there seem to be no more servants around. Caladine assumes that the place is run with magical spells of some sort to keep everything so orderly, clean, and warm in the terrible conditions.
Soon, the elf enters the study where two chairs are situated by the fire. A figure already sits in one of the chairs, a mature gentleman, writing notes upon a parchment. A steaming cup of tea sits on the table beside him.
Once Caladine closes the door, the man lifts his gaze towards the elf and gestures towards the empty seat. “It must have been a tiring trek all the way up the mountain in this storm. Please, rest yourself. Your drink will be prepared for you shortly.”
Caladine slips into the chair, feeling a little unease at the wet traveling clothes upon the soft surface.
“Now, then, I’ve listened to your conversation with my butler,” the mage begins, placing his writing materials down and bringing the teacup to his lips. “You want to know about our mutual friend, the elven lady Selani, am I correct? She never mentioned having a sister, so I must admit that this is a pleasant surprise.”
Caladine grips the chair and leans in. “Yes, please. Tell me. Was she here? Is she still here? If she isn’t, I must be going, I-”
Cornellus holds his hand up and shakes his head. “OH, no, I must insist that leaving the house tonight is out of the question. But you won’t need to do so. I assure you, she is here, and she is quite content. You see, fate has brought our paths together purely on happenstance, but it just so happened that she came to my abode just at the right time to help herself and to help my own studies.”
The door opens, and the golem steps in, carrying another pot of tea and a cup. It pours the tea before Caladine, holding it out to the elf. Caladine glances between the cup and between the mage and takes the offered drink. “What do you mean? Is she safe? Can I see her?”
“Oh, of course. Gregg,” The mage looks over towards the golem. “Go fetch Selani for me. Have her bring a fresh set of clothes for Caladine and let her know that she will be entertaining a visitor.”
Gregg bows and heads back out of the room, leaving the two alone once more.
“A visitor?” Caladine says, putting her cup down. “Now, wait just a minute, here. I’m here to bring her home.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” the mage says, weaving his fingers together. Lightning flashes, brightening the room for a second.
“And why not?” Caladine says, standing up now, fists clenching tight. “What aren’t you telling me, old man? Where is my sister, and what have you done to her?”
“Sit down,” the mage says, “And I shall tell you the story. By the end of it, I think you’ll be having a much different tune to your voice. Thank you. Now, then, where to begin? Yes…
“Your sister came here much the same as you did. Selani was wet and frantic, blabbering about her trip to a town to deliver medicines. She had accomplished her goal, but her way back home, she got hopelessly lost in the woods. With only this mountain as her point of reference, she chose this place to be her refuge. Since then, I have taken her under my wing to help her in her trials, and, well, I can say the result has been quite beneficial, indeed. Her woes are all gone.”
Caladine sighs, sinking back into the chair, but the door opening has the elf hop up to greet the lost sister, only for the elf’s face to go pale, and then bright red. “Selani!?” Caladine gasps. The maid that she sees walking into the study was the spitting image of Caladine. However, she does not wear a single stitch upon her body, save for a hairband, a pair of white gloves, and a pair of slip-on shoes.
The maid stands there, smiling warmly towards the visitor and gives Caladine a bow. “Here you are, as my master ordered. I hope you find these clothes acceptable.”
Caladine stands up, facing the spitting image in the naked maid. Selani was always a bit curvy, with plump breasts and matronly hips. Her face still held a youthful exuberance to it, but it was burdened with sleeplessness and stress in the past. Now, though, her face is as bright and cheerful as someone without a care in the world. Her long blonde hair is braided and goes down her back, almost like a silken rope in its beauty. Her bright emerald eyes stare at Caladine’s. There is servile happiness to them, but not an ounce of recognition.