Chapter 5: The First Game

The dark elves were notorious for their aggressive behavior; they also wouldn't hesitate to cheat, or steal if the opportunity presented itself. Dark elves were in the middle of the hierarchy of beings which meant they liked to push around those they thought were lesser than them. This dark elf was fairly tall for an elf just shy of my own height of 5"7 generally dark elves were smaller than myself by a decent margin. She stood tall, had long silver hair tied back into a ponytail, and wore very revealing clothing made of cotton. It was as dark as the cave around us. She also wore a cloak which hid her ears. The only other things showing was her dark red eyes, and her small elvish knife hanging at her side. She was fairly attractive, but I knew that she was also a very dangerous creature that wanted nothing more than to take me for everything I had.

The woman scanned me, and then spoke up "Human? You know how to speak my language? Well then you are in luck I am now in a good mood, and I will spare your life just as long as you fulfill a condition I may even leave your belongings alone too." I tried to think, and choose my words carefully. You can never trust a dark elf; they were very sneaky, and often lied to get what they wanted. I wanted to tell her no, but I knew better than to say that unfortunately since I couldn't fight the only real choice I can make is to agree with her proposal whatever it may be. I finally spoke up "what is it that you will have me do for you, your excellence." I was fine with buttering her up if it even slightly increased my chances of survival by even the smallest margin. It seems she liked my last remark and said "Oh you seem to have good manners unlike the other human bottom feeders i've come across." This angered me, but I kept my composure, and waited for her to tell me what I would need to do. She smiled and stated "since you have good manners the task will be very easy. I want you to answer just one question for me."

I gulped and prepared for the question that she would give me would it be a riddle, or something more complicated. The woman laughed and said "no need to be nervous. The question is something that every elf from my race learns at the age of five." She pointed to me "Alright human the question is very simple: what is the one thing that all dark elves have sworn to destroy?" I frowned that this was not an easy question. She really was a demon, humans who never left their towns would never be able to answer this question. I racked my brain for answers, but it was futile no human could possibly answer this, I was out of options could I outrun her? No I am confident in this ability, but even for me this would be an impossible feat. The dark elf smiled; she already figured that she had me cornered, and was probably already thinking of ways to kill me.

I had to really dig deep, or else my travels would end before they even began, and Noland when he learned that I died may do something reckless himself. It finally hit me after thinking for what seemed like an eternity, so much so that the woman was even growing impatient I figured she would kill me if I didn't speak up soon. I knew someone who did leave the town, and who had learned of many different races grandpa had taught me as much as he could about each race. That's right I remember grandpa saying something about the dark elves, and what they had been seeking for eons. The woman's red eyes flared up like she had found her prey "alright boy I gave you long enoug-" I quickly spoke up "I know what the dark elves have been fighting for eons!"

The woman raised her eyebrows at this comment and then laughed "Speak up human if your answer isn't spot on I may just kill you for wasting my time." I started to sweat, and said in a nervous voice "the dark elves have sworn to destroy the light elves as all costs, and have been fighting for eons for that purpose." I held my breath, and waited for an answer even if I was confident dark elves were fine with lying to get what they wanted anyways. The woman looked surprised and then stated "human where did you hear that from?" she wasn't even trying to hide the fact that I wasn't supposed to get a correct answer anymore. She took a moment to think and then said "well human that is the correct answer I won't ask how you got that answer, nor do I care that much instead I will be on my way."

Looking somewhat shaken up she backed away, and started to head deeper into the cave I breathed a sigh of relief , and resisted the urge to shout triumphantly. I watched her back as she was preparing the necessary things for her travel deeper into the cave when suddenly I felt an impending dread as if she really was about to kill me. I gathered my thoughts, and quickly realized what was wrong I was still at square one. I had no means to continue forward, or to even backtrack in this cave since I had no light. Without light one was as good as dead in this cave I had made a great mistake with my preparation. I should have chosen the other road which would have been easier, but longer I got impatient. Right as I thought this the dark elven woman took out a touch out of her leather backpack that was hidden on her back.

I quickly realized something before she left I needed to get some torches from her at the very least, or else I was as good as dead. Before she could leave I quickly shouted "WAIT!" The dark elf turned around startled, but regained her composure, and an irritated look plastered her face instead. She scowled at me "Human this better be good or I will have no choice, but to kill you I gathered that you were a smart boy, but don't get cocky." She scanned me again, and realized what the issue was, but before I could say anything more she gripped her knife. She hissed "you better not be trying to get any of my torches that would be an insult to me, and I won't be making petty deals for something of that value." I started sweating again. I needed something of value that she would trade for, and only one thing came to mind.

I spoke up again "I wouldn't stop you for such a trivial objective for I am just a worm I can only offer you my own life, for some torches." These words didn't sit well with me, but I figured this was the only thing that I could offer for something like the torches. She looked even more angry than before, and spat out "do you honestly think your worthless life is worth any of my torches?" She held her blade up "I figured you would be more bold than that this trade isn't even worth me turning around for, I will give you 10 seconds to think of something more worth my time, or I will kill you." My mind was in a haze. I had to think of something quickly, what would be something that this demon would trade, and call interesting.

My mind locked onto something ridiculous, but I was running out of time, so I would have to gamble on this stupid deal. Right as she was about to speak up I spat out "what if I bet my entire town of Middleton every single life there including all the crops/money, and instead of asking for your life in exchange I ask that you become my familiar." The woman stood in place hand on her knife and she started holes in me. I knew I was dead. My travels are over before they even begin, there were so many things I wanted to do before I died. The woman proceeded to drop her guard, put her knife away, and a creepy smile fell to her lips. She laughed "you are a very fortunate human any other dark elf would have cut you were you stand, but I am fond of bold people". I sighed of relief again, and decided that I would need to set some ground rules before they began. The woman believes she has no way of losing, and she was likely right.

I would have to give myself a chance even if it was a small chance, but I would also need to not irritate her since she could simply kill me at any time. One thing his grandpa always told him about dark elves is that they were very confident, and since they were so confident they would sometimes make unusual choices in the moment. I would seize this moment, and create rules that will benefit me as much as possible. I turned towards the woman feigning fear, and gave her my rules.