Out at sea, there was a navy ship out in a storm, while most of the crew were maintaining the ship, there were two who were apart from the rest in the command center. One man was sitting at his desk, the captain of this ship, the other was one of his lieutenant commander, Gareicht Zweigrimm.

            "Sir, is this the time to talk about something secret?" Gareicht asked him.

            "There are many capable men out there, you have my word that everything will be fine. Now let's get to the matter at hand." His captain responded, "Have you ever heard of a weapon called the Holy Spear?"

            "Isn't that a legend where a weapon chooses its master and it goes back and forth between each country every generation?"

            "Yes, however it's not a legend, it's real. It should currently be in elf territory, we've been in a power struggle with them for quite some time, stealing that should tip the balance."

            "Even if I steal it, that doesn't mean I can use it, right? Since it chooses its wielder. Why give me this task anyway?"

            "I can't give this task to anyone other than you, I looked into it, and you're a descendant of a previous wielder, so the Holy Spear may recognize you as a master. As soon as we reach land, you'll depart at once."

            Bewildered, Gareicht had no choice but to salute "Yes sir!" to his captain. The whole idea was pretty preposterous to him, but it was futile arguing about it.

            "Not to mention," His captain smiled wide, "it can get rid of curses, ailments and it might even wake up your precious sister."

            Shocked for a moment. His mood couldn't decide whether to be optimistic about helping his sister, or to be shocked that he knew that much. Then again he did say he did a background check, so he may have found out about what lead her to be that way.

            His captain then patted him on the shoulder and said, "Good luck to you." he then motioned for Gareicht to leave.

            It soon reached daybreak, the storm had settled, and they were approaching land after their mission. Gareicht calmed his nerves, and separated from the rest of his men. He went and visited his sister, and grabbed packed his things. Traveling to elf territory will take one-two weeks depending upon weather and modes of transportation. If he had the expenses he would get on an aircraft, but while his captain forced this mission him, he had not paid him for the fare. He was trying to suppress his irritation. He walked to the nearest train station, and embarked on his journey.

                                                                               ***

Morning had risen, Ellava bounced out of bed, and began to do her daily rituals. Cleaning, reading, and meditating spear in hand.

She looked out one of her color-stained windows, and noticed the sky had turned cloudy. She leaned in on the window and watched the rain pour.

            "So peaceful...the wonders of nature's music." She smiled, her long pointed ears twitching rhythmically to the peaceful sounds until she heard the door open. She turned, it was too dark for her to see the figure though.

            "Um hello?" She heard no answer back, just the slight dripping from the rain, "Did you take shelter from the rain? I'll go grab a towel."

            "No, that isn't necessary." Gareicht answered calmly and walked into the light, "I'm here for an entirely different reason."

            Perplexed, Ellava's eyes watched him as he moved closer and closer. And he grabbed a hold of his sword sheath.

            "I personally don't want to raise my weapon against an innocent woman, but the Holy Spear, hand it over to me."

            She sighed seemingly not surprised by his demand at this point, and gently raised her hands with the spear in tow. As he put his sword down, he went to touch the spear and a electric-like barrier forced him back.

            "Ow, dammit. I knew this wouldn't work. That damn old man believing I could take it." He then sheathed his sword and went to turn away.

            "Is that all? You're done trying?" Her eyes blinked as if she was watching a hallucination.

            "I mean I'd rather not have my hands turn to cinder. Do you want me to keep trying?" He clicked his tongue which was dripping in annoyance and a bit of sarcasm.

            "No...it's just most don't believe their eyes the first time so they normally keep trying. It's no wonder the barrier allowed you inside."

            "Barrier...?" He blinked.

            "Yes, there's a barrier erected around the cathedral, it keeps those with vicious intent out, but it also keeps me in." To demonstrate she placed her hands at the barrier and it left a red mark on her hands.  

             What a pitiful soul, He thought to himself, a part of her reminded him of himself but he didn't want to admit it. He watched her as she bustled around him again, seemingly having enough energy to be mistaken for a child.  

            "Are you sure you don't want a towel?" She asked, how could she just go back to normal after some random guy held a sword towards her, he began to question her sanity.

            "It seems, like you don't want me to leave, if you're implying what I think you are, then maybe I'll make you fall in love with me, and obtain the spear that way."

            "Eh?" Ellava uttered, her face turning as red as a tomato.

He watched her reaction, as her golden hair that shines as bright as the sun danced along her body as she seemingly panicked, her eyes that looked like they were made from emeralds growing wider and wider, as her skin which lacked sunlight-- was turning redder by the second. That was what Gareicht saw as he looked at Ellava, her face beet red notwithstanding.

            And to him that wasn't even her most attractive feature.

            "Eh...fall...fall in love...?" She squeaked, apparently the phrase made her short-circuit her brain.

            He realized that she doesn't get much social interaction, but nevertheless being told "to fall in love" within a matter of ten minutes was probably too much. Gareicht almost wanted to take it back, feeling a bit guilty he added, "You know, you don't have to take what I said to heart, especially since we don't even know each other's names." Hearing that, she seemed to calm down a little bit, "May I ask your name?" She looked at him, her emerald eyes shining.

            He smiled a little, "It's Gareicht, and yours?"

            "It's Ellava!" She smiled.

            "How could you smile at someone that just pointed a sword at you, and told you to fall in love with him within a matter of minutes just to gain a weapon...?" Gareicht, puzzled, asked her.

            "It's true that they both...took me by surprise a bit, but if you had any intention of being erm, forceful, the barrier would've either kicked you out...or I would've banished you with my spear myself." She could barely looked at him in the eyes, her hands clutching her dress.

            "Oooh, I see. If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been here?"

            "To be honest," She began, and turned to a window, "I don't even remember how many suns and moons have risen up since the day I was sent here."

            That long, eh? He thought, but figured it'd be rude to say it out loud.

            "May I ask you something?" She asked him.

            "Go for it."  

            She turned back at him, her eyes seemed like they were staring directly into his soul, "Why do you wish to obtain the Holy Spear?"

            "Originally, I thought it was just a myth to bring unity to the lands, but I learned recently that it was but a truth; I came out here on my captain's orders, as it seems my nation wants to claim it, and then I learned that I can use it for my own gain as well. Selfish isn't it?" He laughed in a depressing tone.

            "What's wrong with being a little selfish, if it's not putting anyone in harm's way, then once again I ask what's the harm in being selfish?" Something about the way her eyes sparkled as she said that made it seem like...

            "What about you though, why haven't you told anyone that you want to leave here. I can see it even without you saying it."

            "I have...no one to be selfish to." Her smile was so painful that it felt like someone pulled out his heart, and in the same way he saw a little of her in himself, and now he knew why she looked at him the way she did, that longing expression.

            "Then before I leave, you can spill all your worries on me, all of your selfish desires, anything you've been holding in. I will listen to it all. To compensate for my own selfish desires, I will listen to yours!" His words echoed through the building, as if to solidify his statement.

            Hearing those words coming from his mouth made her quiver, the tears too hard to choke back, it seemed that for right now, hearing those words was all that she needed.

            He smiled slightly, patting her head, "Is there nothing you want to say?"

            She looked back up at him, parting her lips, but struggling to let out the words, trying to constantly wipe away her tears, her anxiety constantly fixating her gaze on him and then pulling away. As he waited, the sunlight began to filter through the stained glass windows again, creating a kaleidoscope of colors surrounding them.

            "Um,...I..."

            "You don't have to answer right away if it's too overwhelming, let's sit down then."

            "Sorry, I lost my composure..!" She babbled, and he almost didn't understand her at first. As she sat down on the church pew, he ears red, and she continued to stare at the marble-style floor.

            "Um...then would you stay here...?" She looked up at him as his eyes grew wide, "N-Never mind that's too selfish...p-pretend you didn't hear that. I was just so happy to talk to someone in such a long time that I..."

            He gently put his hands on her shoulders to try and ease her panicked state, "Shhhh...I'm not offended, you don't need to take those words back, I'm happy to have received them."  

            She didn't say anything, so he added, "I know you didn't mean it that way but...living with a man who is alone with you, a woman 20/8...are you certain that's what you want...?"

            "Eh-ehhh---EHHHH? Um--I...I didn't mean--," Her brain overloaded again, "I wasn't trying to propose to you...I--I'm sorry."

            Now he felt guilty for being a little mean, he cleared his throat as if to wash away his guilt, "Sorry I was just teasing you a little but that came out meaner than I intended, however what I said wasn't necessarily a lie."

            Ellava went quiet, "Then, would you come to visit and we can listen to each other's worries every once in awhile? Does that sound...better?"

            "Yeah. It does."

            She smiled, and he felt compelled to do so as well.