[Krome] Ellipsism

[Velaine Krome]

Ellipsism

101st of Vhalar, Arc 717

Ever since the Endors had returned to their land, Velaine Krome had spent her days cooped up in her study, looking for all records of her family’s finances. More specifically, the details of the debts they owed to House Venora. As the papers piled on her desk, Velaine could not wincing every time she glanced at it. Her family certainly had fallen hard after the failed rebellion. The amount was not impossible to pay off, but it certainly would not disappear overnight.

Velaine forced herself not to think too much about it as she began calculating how much nel they should give the Venorans as the first installment, quill scratching against paper. To announce the beginning of their independence – hopefully. She should be grateful with how things turned out for now. Their finances would slowly heal

As if the little wolf could sense the change of mood from his mistress, Chrome lifted his head up from his deep nap and regarded Velaine with its big eyes. The sight alone was enough to make her smile mildly. The female Krome wasn’t superstitious, didn’t believe in good omens, but Chrome’s very arrival had been a sign of hope, a reminder of who she was.

“Excuse me, Lady Krome,” a muted voice suddenly called out from outside, a soft knock followed with a young servant’s face peering inside nervously. “I have a message for you.”

As soon as the door opened, Chrome practically leapt from his perch and ran outside, slipping pass the surprised maid standing in front of the doorway.

“Chrome! Where are you going?” Usually the pup would immediately pause when Velaine called his name, but this time Chrome simply slipped out the door excitedly. The young woman could not fathom what the creature was looking for.

Noticing her distraction, the young maid cleared her throat mildly. “My lady, a man is here to see you. He claimed to himself to be an acquaintance of yours from Ne’haer.”

“An acquaintance?” she asked, tapping her quill on the paper. The young woman hadn’t heard much from her old friends, but some had claimed that they would like to visit her in Rynmere if they got the chance. It was common knowledge that Velaine was nobleborn and her fellow students were more than curious about what the title entailed. “Very well, send him in.”

Perhaps it was Matthew? The last time she had seen him, he had been starting a business on clothing and furs. He mentioned that he planned on visiting Rynmere, wanting to see the quality of fur her house imported. Still, Velaine imagined that any of her friends would have at least sent a letter to announce their visit.

The Krome looked back at her family’s ledgers, wondering if she should probably hide it. It would not do for anyone to know the details of her family’s losses – even though most of the nobility was well aware of the wolves’ downfall. Before she could decide, steady footsteps announced the arrival of her uninvited guest.

And she heard a voice she never thought to hear again. “Lady Velaine, thank you for honoring me with the chance of seeing you.”

[Velaine Krome]

Her heart dropped as her head snapped up. Velaine barely even noticed that she was rising from her seat. Warm golden-brown eyes met her own, the pleasure in them clear for her to see. His mouth was quirked into a smirk that she had often found absolutely infuriating. He’s here. He was here. Truly here. Standing inside her study. This couldn’t be a dream. When she thought about him, Velaine always imagined the man in their old home or their favorite perch in the woods. Never in Rynmere. Chrome was already in his arms, snuggling to him like a spoiled child and whining when the man let him down.

As soon as the door slammed shut, the young woman ran and leapt into the mage’s arms. He caught her in an embrace, letting her sink into his familiar warmth. His arms were as sturdy as she remembered them. Burying her face in his chest, Velaine breathed him in. He had always smelled like the sea and accompanied by a hint of wood.

Elrik chuckled lightly. “Lady Krome, I don’t think you’re being very appropriate.” His eyes scanned her body, taking her in slowly. Only then she realized he had rarely seen dressed so formally, so fancily. “Nobility suits you. I should’ve forced you to wear more dresses.”

Saints, she had actually missed hearing his voice. “A peasant like you should be grateful you are allowed to be in one room with me at all.” She was laughing too, but admittedly hers sounded hysterical more than anything.

Slowly, their laughter trailed off and Velaine found herself sinking into his familiar brown eyes. A moment passed and before she knew it, Elrik’s lips were already brushing against hers. She greeted him out of habit, entirely forgetting where they were. He backed her up until her hips the desk, kissing her harder and harder. She could almost taste the desperation from his lips.

Despite a layer of clothes separating them, the young woman felt the tingling his touch left as his hand traveled down her back. Her body had not forgotten his touch, responding to his eagerly.

In the end, Velaine was the first to pull away, placing a steady hand on his chest. Her whole body was pained by the abrupt ending, but her sensible mind had won out. “We shouldn’t.” She had ended their relationship on the docks of Ne’haer, thinking that they would never meet again. Even if they did meet, her title as heir would still prevent them from being anything more.

Especially with the fact that she was already arranged to marry someone else.

The lady reminded herself that while he had perhaps been the most important person in her life, she could never give him what he wanted from her. When Elrik had so clearly loved her, yet Velaine could not claim the same – no matter if she wanted to. She cared for him truly, but something told her she did not love him the way he did her. The mage had claimed that it was alright, that he was grateful enough with the chance to be at her side, but Velaine knew it was hurting him. This was the best way. A way for them to follow separate paths.

Hurt flashed in his eyes, but Elrik nodded reluctantly. “I know. I wasn’t thinking.” He took a step back, giving a proper distance between them – a stranger’s distance. “I am just relieved you’re alright.”

The statement caused her to raise an eyebrow in confusion, glad for the change of subject. “You’re glad I am alright? What makes you think I am in any danger?” Truth be told, Velaine had been endangering her life more times this season than she had ever did her entire life. But there was no way for him to know. “Did you somehow sent spies to follow me around?”

Elrik gave her a pained smile, running his fingers through his already messy hair. “I never told you, did I? Whenever you’re in peril, the elements spoke to me, warns me. I can’t quite explain it, but I can feel it. Through the passing wind, the slightest tremble of the earth. I suppose in a way I do have spies on you.”

“Through Defiance?” the young woman mused. There was certainly a lot of things she still didn’t understand about magic. Her studies with Elrik had been inadvertently disrupted and it wasn’t like she could find magic books in Rynmere – not without getting burnt at a stake, probably. The thought immediately threw a somber mood over her. Turning her eyes to meet his, Velaine sighed. “You shouldn’t have come here, Elrik.”

[Velaine Krome]

“I told you Rynmere is dangerous! You could have gotten yourself killed!” Velaine had to make sure her voice did not climb to high. She could not afford anyone overhearing their conversation. She did not even dare to utter the word mage. Living as nobility, the Krome that even the walls have ears.

Elrik tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “You do know that you are using my arguments? The ones I used to convince you to stay with me in Ne’haer.”

Of course, she did. The moment the worlds left her mouth, the Krome was reminded of their countless quarrels. She supposed that made her a hypocrite. But she was willing to risk her life to get what she wanted. Not Elrik’s. “Since you’re here, I need to tell you something.”

“I am not going to like it, am I?”

She smiled sadly, digging her fingers into the edge of the desk. It wasn’t nearly enough to ease her growing anxiety. She never imagined she would be having this conversation Elrik. “No, but I did warn you about it.”

His eyes darkened as he shifted his weight to one foot. Enough to tell her that he was restless. “Just get it over it.”

“I am betrothed now. To a nobleman,” Velaine said it quickly, letting the words pour out of her mouth. Only at the last trill that she had the courage to look into her former lover’s face. Of course, his expression showed almost nothing. He had always been good at that, keeping his emotions to himself. Still, Velaine saw the slight tension to his jaw, the slight tilt of his head.

Her chest tightened as her anxiety demanded to be quelled. She couldn’t hold it anymore. Velaine let her Spark wake, hungrily reaching for its parent magic. Elrik’s tangle was not like other people’s. She had always had an easier time discerning them and his threads were more orderly.

“What are you doing?” Elrik snapped, as soon as he noticed her magic trying to shift through his emotions. Though his words startled her, it wasn’t difficult to find the main emotion the mage was feeling. It was impossible not to when the strands throbbed and burned with… not the crimson red of anger, but the vermillion of frustration. It pained him, she knew. She had already broken his heart when she left… and now this. This was why she never wanted to see him again.

If her former lover spent the effort to use his magic, he would just as easily find the color of guilt taking over her emotions. “I told you not to come. Never to come. That day at the docks… It was supposed to be the last time we saw each other.” It was a cruel thing to say, she knew. After he had travelled across the land just to make sure she was fine. “I told you to forget me and move on.”

Elrik laughed mirthlessly, the sound cutting through the air like a knife. “Clearly, you have never been in love if you think it’s that easy.”

If he had slapped her, the effect would have been the same. The young woman flinched at his words. She said nothing because she deserved it. Deserved a lot more than that. Sometimes, Velaine wished Elrik would hate her. Despise her. She did him so many wrong, yet he was still so kind. Yet, at the same time, the Krome couldn’t bear the thought. He was the only person to truly care about her.

Her voice came out barely discernible, a whisper that could be easily snatched by the wind. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

[Velaine Krome]

“What’s his name?” the mage finally asked after a long silence, his voice a forced calm. Every muscle on his body tensed, as if he was waiting for a blow. Then again, this news could possibly be worse than a physical hit.

She shook her head, letting her eyes wander to his rumpled clothes. He must have headed for her estate as soon as he landed on shore. No, she didn’t need to think about this. This wasn’t her fault. She hadn’t wanted him to come. If only Elrik stayed where he was, he would never have to hear about this. “You don’t want to talk about this.”

“No, you don’t want to talk about this. I do.” Elrik rarely used such a sharp tone at her. The mage folded his arms in front of his chest, the glint in his eyes growing harsher as the trills went by. The gesture hinted at his subconscious thoughts – that he wanted to protect himself from her. To protect his heart. He was always the patient one, the understanding one. It just served as a reminder on how much she had upset him.

Velaine looked away, feeling the truth pierce her heart. He wasn’t wrong. This was the last thing she wanted to discuss with him. “Nathaniel. From House Endor.”

“What kind of man is he? Do you like him?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” she blurted without thinking. A lot of people had asked her that. Cousins, uncles, aunts, random nobles, even her maids. All of them she merely answered with a shy laugh “I barely knew him. It’s not like I can fall in love with just a few meetings.”

“You do realize that at the mere mention of his name, you immediately look guiltier?” he pointed out carefully. Despite his neutral tone, Velaine could taste the accusation in it. Usually there was no need for her to hide anything from Elrik. But it seemed like she had shown too much. “You have always been a good liar, Vel, but I am a better observer.”

There was no way for her to properly respond to that.

“Alright, I’ll change my question. Are you drawn to him?”

She couldn’t answer that either.

He sighed and closed his eyes for a brief trill. “I know you think you will hurt me, but I will be fine. It is better for me to know your story then spend the rest of my life still hoping that one trial you’ll finally be mine.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Velaine finally met her former lover’s eyes. He wasn’t wrong. One way to move on is to let go of the fantasy. Even if there was only a small part of him that imagined their romance could work, it would be better if they sort it out.

“Just tell me. Tell me everything.”