35 Chapter 35

It feels like a major weight is pressing down on me as I reach out to hit the door control, the unknown in this situation is the risk. But to continue on is necessary. I take a deep breath and slam the control panel and the door slides open with a faint hiss, and step out into the corridor. The door closes automatically behind me and there are two directions I can take at this point. It doesn't really matter to me which one I take, so I decide to just head off to the left path.

There is no one around that I have noticed, this however doesn't alleviate the tension I am feeling, but only makes me more anxious. Being out in the open, with the chance that anyone can see me at any given time. I start to move around acting a bit more confident, otherwise it will likely seem suspicious if I'm acting a little too off such as skulking around the narrow corridors.

Several minutes of wandering and taking random turns at intersections, but still remembering to memorize the path back to the storage room I hear some voices coming closer. I don't recognize the accent's even though I can understand the words being used. Two people turn the corner, They are striking in features, One has reddish brown skin with a thin tail wrapped around their waist, and two horns curling up from their temples and sweeping up and back behind their head, and hair as red as fire reaching down to their waist. Exquisite and sharp facial features, though almost too sharp, yet still enough to be considered pleasing to the eye. It had a distinctive female quality to them.

The other was considerably taller, by at least a good thirty centimeters. Putting this person well above the two meter height, Chestnut brown hair framed their face cut much shorter than the other, at just around the shoulders. Their face was a bit more elongated in a charming sort of way but not particularly all that attractive. A chiseled jaw line, with a well trimmed rusty brown beard, and thick neck, large muscles could be seen pressing through their clothing. But the more shocking aspect of this person aside from their height, that If I had to guess was approaching closer to three meters in height rather than two and a half. Was that from their waist down it broadened out to much thinner hooved legs, befitting that more of an equine. and the rest of the body to match.

I pause and press up against the wall as they pass, The woman glances at me and pauses causing her companion, the horse-man thing to pause as well and give me a rather uninterested look. "Initiate" She spoke up, the voice sounding like a smoldering fire "Why are you wandering the corridors alone? Why did you separate from your training group?"

"I'm sorry, I was assigned to clean one of the storage rooms and then report to the mess after, However I seemed to have gotten lost on my way there." I come up with a fast excuse but the pit of my stomach is screaming that this ruse is about to be over. She gives me a critical look and shakes her head "This is why initiates are always supposed to be together." she sighed exasperatedly "Follow me, we will take you there"

I fall in behind the two. "So initiate, tell me, What is a Svartálfar doing here? I thought your kind didn't come up from Svartálfheim that frequently, nor Have I ever seen your kind serving in the federation, Not that I haven't heard rumors of Dark Elves serving, just that its quite rare."

I almost miss a step at hearing this. 'Svartálfheim? Svartálfar? Dark Elves? what?, the name though sounds familiar... where have I heard this before..' I think to myself, I realize I am in a situation of having no information, and if I'm to figure out where I am, and how to get out of this potentially hostile situation, I need to learn more information, and fast. "It's rare, but couldn't the same be said about the two of you? Though you are right and It hasn't been all too long since I left Svartálfheim? I'm curious as to what rumors you've heard of my people?" I offer respectfully 'and lets see why I'm being called a Dark Elf. Clearly there are humans here, why did she call me a dark elf..'

She shrugs, "Just the common rumors. That your a matriarchal Society, quite religious almost to a fault, and some of your religious practices are... Well, some of the sentient races don't look all too kindly upon it. Though, those rumors I know to be a bit exaggerated as I often traveled with my parents to Svartálfheim during trading missions, and would spend many cycles in the cities. I always had a fascination with your architecture, It often rivaled that of the dvergar." She offered

I nod slightly, in mock understanding, though this did not provide me with any information that would explain why it was that she considered me a Dark elf. "And what of you my Taur friend?" I look at the horse-man and hazard to guess at his race.

The horse man turns and scowls at me "Watch it Drow," he spits viciously "there are many of us Ixionidae here that don't take kindly to that slur." I hold my hands up a bit in front of me in surrender "Understood, I meant no ill, That's just what I'm accustomed to calling your people, I was unaware that y'all took exception to it as I almost never see your kind. Nor have had the chance to talk to any." He glowers at me, and replies "Then I will apologize for my slur as well." though he said that It didn't come off as if he meant it and I just shrug "I take no offense to being called Drow, though i cant speak for others of my race."

I look over to the Woman and decide to double down on this risk, "Then I should ask what your race is called before I possibly offend you as well from my ignorance." I offer and she throws me a quick smirk

"Not the most unwise option to take after that little misstep, Thought like you I'm not one to take issue with some of those phrases thrown at us Tieflings," she looks at the Ixionidae "And I haven't met a Drow that has yet taken offense to other races calling them Drow. Its just some of the other races that seem to think it some sort of Slur." She looks back forward and points off to a corridor "The mess is just down that way, you cant miss the doors. And next time, don't separate from your group. Especially while you are in training. The instructors,.... Well, you know." She smiles evilly "Hope you don't have any attachment to your limbs, the instructors do like to smoke, and they particularly love the flavor of initiate limbs"