Ever since I was born it felt like everything and everyone I would ever care for will be taken from me. My mother, a Human was raped by a murdering thiefieg Elf... Supposedly... in her screams for help the knights patrolling the small coastal village was able to apprehend the man, but it was too late…

Nine months later and I was born and though people in Seayer was tolerating of Elves, they had no clemency for a Halfling as myself. My mother, too, barely acknowledged my existence!

Growing up, no one thought I would be able to develop my Aura, less be able to use Magic! Being deterred my entire life, I would hide out in the forest behind an old mansion to practice my Aura Control, though never did I got a hold of it, and Magic, being half an Elf it was difficult to teach myself! I could use Light and Water Magic, but just barely, the basics was a strain! I envied the Elves who could use their Magic Freely! My silver-blue Aura surrounded my hand once again, a hint of a cheerywood color flowed in my Aura like a river, my Earth Element was weak and I struggled to bring it forth on its own!

Returning home each day, I’d be scolded for being useless, but it was alright. I’d cheer myself up, knowing that at least I was fortunate to have a mother, that there were orphans without even a memory of having a family! I would lavish in the knowledge that I had a warm bed to sleep in and food to eat, while there were others that slept in the cold nights surround by nothing more than the clothes on their backs and without any hope that tomorrow they’ll be able to eat… Some never waking up, died because of hunger. Though a Halfling, that didn’t fit into this world, I had a decent life! That was until… Practicing my Magic in the forest, sure that no Elf or Knight would catch me, but one man had snuck up on me…

“You should be more cautious with your Magic.” The man spoke, scared I was about to run, when he stopped me.

“Don’t fret, I won’t tattle on you. In fact I was wondering if you could help me clean and fix my place out.” He smiled, but I couldn’t understand why a Human would speak to me with such kindness, I was part Elf; no one even spared me a second glance, let alone a smile!

“I’ll let you practice all you want, I could even teach you how to properly control your Aura, what do you say?” He gestured to the mansion a ways off in the distance, peaking out behind the forest trees.

“Who are you?” I had to ask, I had never seen the man before and the owner of the mansion was supposed to be a well sought after Healer, apparently even the King had requested him to work in his court!

“You can call me Theo. And you are?” Again caught off guard I stuttered to remember how to speak my name…

“T… Tay…” I kept my head hanging low, fearful that this man, Theo, was just pretending.

“Well Tay, why don’t I take you home? I think its best if asked for you parents’ permission to take you in as a student.” Theo held out his hand, but ignoring it I stepped around him and headed down to the village. Reaching my house, my mother was furious that I had disappeared again without doing all my ‘chores’ not that any of it will ever be finished! Theo seemed to comprehend something and before I could prevent him from speaking he shook my mother’s hand, my mom just standing there silent as a mouse.

“Good Morning, I’m Theo. I found your Daughter tending to my mansion, I’m truly grateful for her help! In fact I’d like to have her as my student.” Theo spoke with a gentle soft tone, that seemed to have enticed my mother, she just nodded while looking for words.

“Healer Theo, welcome back. I hope your travels went well?” She finally spoke up. Now I understood why she was so silently cautious, this man was a Healer… The Healer! Others that passed by, bowed respectfully, scurrying away to get back to their daily tasks, tasks that now started to fill with gossip. And the once dreary village town was now abuzz!

My mother, not wanting to disrespect the Healer, had agreed so long as I remained living with her, to serve her as a ‘slave’. My days at the mansion was a breath of fresh air, that I would extend till night fall, and would start before the first light would filter through my window. But the sudden joy would soon end when one knight was found dead on the beach and the blame to be placed on non-other than me.

It was the first time I saw my mother fearing my life... She took the blame, sparing me, though I knew that she was innocent. Though she always treated me 'ill' it did not mean I didn’t love her, and when the she was taken into custody, after Master Theo could reassure them that I was studying with him, I was set free.

Finding myself now sitting, alone in a house that wasn’t ‘home’, I felt heavy with regret! Never having gotten to have a happy home, just me and my mother... The next day my mother was executed for treason, my heart felt like it had shattered into dust and if it dust could become even finer it would have!

A week later another knight was found on the beach, eyes turning to me, there no excuse for me this time…

Master Theo had allowed me to take time off to morn my mother, and the entire village knew it, but the knights aren’t allowed to touch a student of a Healer without proof and I lost my freedom that day. Followed night and day to the Mansion and back to an ‘empty’ house I couldn’t reveal to them my magic and so I requested Master Theo to allow me to tend to the green house, the plants became my counsel, Master Theo having forbidden Knights from entering the greenery, to the fact that they might ‘contaminate’ the medicinal plants. He truly is a genius when it comes to tricking clueless fools!