With a loud smash, Avery placed a golden laced bottle on the counter, gaining the attention of some.
''Yes?''
''When we come down for dinner, put this on my partner's food, preferable his greens.''
''I'm afraid...'' The owner stilled as more silver clanged it's way down onto the counter, for a while the owner painfully waited.
For a full on second Avery thought the other wouldn't do it but his assesment was proven right as old eyes gleamed.
Upon readily accepting the money, the other spoke as a thug would with shining eyes. ''Consider it done.''
\--
The rapid movement of coming up the stairs and in the room had the effects doubling, leaving Aethelstan to grab the bed for support, after getting thrown in it's direction.
That fucking.... ''Why would you even do something like that?" Unlike Aethel's own frustration, Avery was as calm as he could be, shrugging his shoulder as he sat relaxed in a chair.
"It would have been boring otherwhise.''
''Boring?''
Groaning wether it was from the effects or the frustation Aethel did not know. His head was swimming.
"As much as I like you all fired up, you need to calm down.
Otherwhise you will ruin this whole village and what lies beyond.
And aren't you just so against violence?''
Huffing, Aethelstan struggled to open his eyes, once he did he could see the way his mana swirled...materialized itself around him.
Destructive in nature, ice now making up the entirety of the room and possibily beyond.
Even Avery struggled to keep it at bay, he wouldn't admit it but his eyes were widenend , his fire burning wildly around him .
He was barely keeping up, the ice rapidly etching closer and while a part of Aethelstan wanted to give the human a lesson, he once more couldn't risk all those lives.
Wether or not they would sell him if they could.
Stilling entirely, he crashed on the bed. "Antidote?"
Apparently even Avery could have a moment of hesitation, before throwing a bottle his way, grumbling slighly. ''It was just to make it realer.''
The absolute murderous glare trown his way was enough to make the other leave.
''Stay here.''
As if he would listen to his poisoner, twirling the bottle in his hand, Aethelstan thought for just a second before placing it away.
With eyes still burning in anger he undid his braids and loosened a few buttons.
He was being impulsive, this was something Adrian would do, uncaring except in consent.
There was no doubt about it, he is now closely being watched.
They should have seen Avery leaving in a rush, could connect it to their third member that hadn't shown up yet.
The perfect moment for them to take action and for him to find out how big the situation actually was. There was no way this rundown village had the capacity to make all kinds of races vanish and selling them all throughout the world without something or someone bigger at play.
Checking himself over in the mirror, he nodded, he looked disheveled enough, not like before all dressed up and immaculate.
Neither was he too messed up, enough to charm people in whatever way they liked, humans had always been ridiculously easy.
In the beginning he had been surprised upon meeting humans properly, they kept staring at his elfs with maniac eyes.
Either wanting to have them, touch them, take their powers or kill them.
It had been a big part part of their decision to restrict their meetings with humans, unfortunately for him that doesn't seems to be the case anymore.
Sighing, Aethelstan stood and accepted what was going to happen.
Humans....once more he was forced to socialize with them.
He thought he was finally done with that but no, it was just not meant to be.
As if they would ever be worthy.
The moment he openend the door was the moment he decided to fall victim to wathever drug Avery had subjected him too.
''Huh...huff...''Letting his control vanish, his breathing fell into dissarray.
Vision going from whole, with the support of his mana that had been blocking some if the effects, to fractions. Clearly this wasn't just some drug Avery had gotten from the market.
It was as if he was experiencing everything in a different viewpoint, his hand reached for support, barely grabbing the wall.
His heartbeat still erractic , heightening as two different voices approached, the owners had been there all this time.
Watching.
''He got drugged good.'' Keeping his eyes downcast, he heightened his breathing just a bit more. If harmless is what they wanted, than harmless is what he would be...for now.
''Still an elf...they will be pleased. Maybe we will even get a promotion.''
''Yeah, there has never once been an elf.
They hide... understandable.
Look at their beauty.''
A roughed up hand grasped his chin and forced it up, the other grinning far and wide. ''Now whats your name?'' Aethelstan could see the way he was filtering everything in his mind, every detail from his eye to his ears, stilling on them for way too long.
The same turned up blush appearing on the other's cheeks.
Their all very much the same, in the other's reflection he could see the silver glow from his own eyes becoming brighter yet it would be unhelpfull if they knew he could use mana even through his clouded mind.
Controling his mana was the bigger issue now, replicating the moment where his nerves burned endlessly just years ago, he let himself fall.
Right in the opposing arms. ''Heh?" The other was shocked but so was Aethelstan as the one who stood before him was a woman. Not that it mattered, he just hadn't noticed.
The one who had grabbed his chin grunted.''Seems like we don't need to seal his magic, the one who drugged him already did that.''
''Hmm then we should go before he returns. He looks troublesome, an arrogant noble.''
''One with an issue, did you see the way he was holding onto the elf?''
"How could I not, actually....it looked kinda hot....in a way they are both handsome. So they did make a stunning duo.''
''Yeah, yeah let's go before he notices his missing elf."
The same black shadows washed over the three and soon the tavern hall was left empty.
\--
*Avery pov
It had been hours since he left Aethelstan to his own devices, in search of Valeriana and while he didn't really want to admit it, it was also so the elf could calm down.
In a way he had always known the other was strong, he was an elf, his weakness however had been his empathy and symphathy for humanity.
However that same symphathy was not and probably never will be directed at him.
What an emotional rollercoaster.
It was him who decided to force the other on his knees and it was also him who liked it.
To be honest, he didn't even think the other would have a permanent place at his side, altough once more he was the one who placed the elf there.
Dragging his hand through his short hair, he stood by the decision he made the first time he saw the elf.
His perfect target, with his soft silky voice and looks made of marble.
Emotions very much etched in nothingness, wich may have influenced his decision to test Valeriana's drug on him.
The way he had flinched and didn't notice him standing besides him, the way Avery had been capable of clasping his hand around the elf's slim wrists and the way the elf was too numb to do anything about it.
The feeling of control, the way the wrist just fitted in his hands, the way he had been capable of dragging the other behind him.
Not forgetting the way he had tricked the elf in eating the drugged greens, as expected...elfs always went for the healtier option.
Despite the way Aethelstan had reacted, intending on freezing him to what some called the ice age when this planet used to be earth, afterwards Avery couldn't help but feel some sort of accomplishment.
He wouldn't say it aloud or he would really turn into a popsicle if Aethelstan got the chance.
Reaching the tavern, not having found Valeriana or any viable hints, he accepted the anger that was sure to be directed at him now that the elf had taken the antidote.
In some way it was better than his emotionless face.
His feet thudded as he walked up the stairs, the inhabitants of the tavern where silent, a factor he only noted and rejected immediately.
It wasn't really worth his attention, humans usually never where.
Smiling as he reached the top of the stairs, he turned and went straight to the room assigned to them.
Avery's smile vanished as soon as he sensed something amiss, the door was open and a trace of black wisps still lingered in the hallway.
Rushing, a slight panic forming into his chest, his thought was proven correct, the room was empty.
He should have been safe..they couldn't have gotten inside.....unless he left himself.
His eyes inhabited his anger, the purple taking over and gleaming brightly in the empty hallway. Before he knew it, his anger exploded, purple fire taking out everything around him.
Whoever had stayed in the rooms to enjoy the night where now slowly burning to a crisp, how dare they mess with what was his!
His fire was far more patient then he would ever be, slowly licking it's way up of the remaining pieces of wall and furniture alike.
How long had he been gone, five minutes, ten or maybe even the whole hour?
Had it been hours, his protection spell a waste seeing the elf left on his own free will.
Flames burning brighter, a lighter purple, aligning more closely with his anger.
They would regret having been born!
Familair sounds of his fire wooshed through the air, surrounding him in a pillar sky high, he teleported and returned downstairs in seconds.
Hovering, fire crackling in his hands, reflected in the mirrors he couldn't see a trace of his orginal brown eyes but he didn't care.
"Where is he?''
Panic rose as the whole tavern was surrounded by his sky-high fire, they would burn and he would celebrate upon their burning flesh.
Metal scraping in it's scabbard was what pulled his attention, those mice think they deserved to live!!
With a click of his fingers, two flames bursted out of the eyes of the would be attacker.
Fire eating him from the inside out as his scream decorated time, delicious.
Avery liked it when they screamed, it reminded him of how he could trample them in seconds.
''Once more, where is he?''
The figure behind him was still wriggling but his death was already destined, the others would follow if they didn't speak up--
''In the mountain...behind the waterfall.''
Grinning in succes, he decided they would live.
''Good job, now you shall regret ever standing against me.''
The sky coloured purple, only Avery was immune as screams took over the atmosphere, those with more fat would live their life in deeper agony as it was a fuel to his fire.
Soft issues would contract, their skin would tear, their muscles and even internal organs will shrink. The consequences of their actions will follow them as long as they breath air.
Would the elf be grateful?
They would still be alive, breathing, just permanently scarred.
Laughter filled the air as he flew up, fire propelling him in the direction of the far off mountain he knew existed.
Fires sprouted along his way, the village would be shrouted in darkness before morning came!