“In the room is a dream of a lady, her tail as divine as they come.
She winks and is pleasantly greeted, as her heart beats it’s song like a drum.
The steed he rounds the corner, his eyes are wide and clear.
He sees the lovely lady and draws his body near.
Oh the lovers, they’re bond is magnetic, they stroll hand in hand down the hall.
They find a sweet refuge to steal a kiss, not caring who looks on at all.
Their arms are all akimbo, their bodies pressed so tight.
They enjoy this time til the clock chimes just right
They realize they’ve been there allll niiiiiight.”
The bard set down his guitar with a flourish as the crowd of distinguished ladies and gentlemen burst in applause. He winked, his eyes creasing with jovial crows feet, as he stepped to the side and allowed the orchestra to strike up a rousing tune for the people to dance to.
Arcadis, tall and slender with silk vestments and shiny shoes, grinned as he saw the object of his impromptu song moving from the room. A master at improvisation and music writing, he was chosen as the nights featured entertainment as everyone came together to celebrate the birth of their queen, Jenna. He was being treated as a guest of honor and wasn’t surprised when three modestly dressed servants offered him fruit, wine, and a place to sit as soon as he was off the stage. He settled in his plush seat and began to view the room again. He needed more inspiration.
His eyes were drawn back to the couple he had first noticed when he came in. They stood out quite a bit, being two of a small handful of Charrs that were present at the event. She was beautiful, her fur a dazzling shade of orange that caught the eye as she moved, soft and flowing around her face in soft waves. Her eyes, the color of polished amber, seemed to light up as she scanned the face of the Charr that was with her. He too was a sight to behold. Towering over most guests in the room, he had a rugged look about him, his black and cream fur unruly and fluffy gave off an air of confidence and mischievous intent. The female softly tugged at his left ear with a playful snarl. It had a distinctly weathered look, almost as if it was a plaything and he grinned back at her, obviously enjoying the attention.
Her purr, low and seductive, spoke volumes as the two could hardly keep their paws off of each other and the flicker of their tails signaled their obvious desire to flee this place for more private quarters. Arcadis chuckled to himself as the two slipped down the hallway. As predicted, the two had urgent matters to attend to.
“Sir, will you sing again?” A girl dressed in a flowing purple gown meekly asked him.
“Yes, of course, soon,” Arcadis found himself looking around the room again, his eyes lighting on a shadowy figure standing in the shadows cast by the intricate candelabra placed around the room. He was holding a sealed envelope, the symbol was from a distant land that was notoriously at war with their kingdom. Another person walked up to him and the two began to talk. It was obviously a military man, his coat of arms and other medals lining his chest told the story of many battles.
Arcadis went back up on the stage.
“And the black cloaked stranger with missive in hand, doth wait in the shadows for his contact to land.
And when he does appear his message is sent and the kingdom must worry about what honor was spent.
For the battle rages onward with no end in sight, the soldiers are weary but keep up the fight.
And in the old town of Queensdale the spy does disperse, his mission at hand and his gold in his purse.”
Arcadis was gleeful as he watched what he just poke come to pass. A cling of gold, a knowing look, and the black cloaked man stepped back into the shadows. He couldn’t resist, he had to know more about this mysterious stranger.
“Might I offer you some wine? This is the best in the house, an Asuran blend with hints of cherry and apple blossom and a smooth finish…” Arcadis extended a glistening stone goblet to the cloaked man who was purposefully looking at his feet to avoid attention.
“No thank you, I don’t drink,” the cloaked figure said still not looking up.
“Well, more for me then,” Arcadis remarked, taking a sip of his own and setting the full glass on a table nearby. “Well, if you won’t drink, might I interest you in a bacon wrapped shrimp puff or a cream cheese delight?”
“No, I’m fine… I will be leaving shortly,” The man turned slightly away, as if to give a signal to be left alone.
“Well, a word to the wise, if you wanted to be inconspicuous, you might choose to blend in rather than stand out. No one else is wearing a hood like that,” Arcadis chuckled. It had become apparent to thim that this young man was obviously very new at his job and had a lot of learning to do. “My name is Sir Arcadis, tonight’s glorious entertainment. You caught my eye and I thought I would introduce myself. If you need anything at all, I’ll be near the stage enjoying some of these delicious bacon wrapped shrimp puffs!”
“Well… I’m Elicit…,” The man removed his hood revealing a very normal looking man. His skin was tanned showing he obviously spent time outside in the sun. His eyes were dark and discerning while his hair was cut short and out of his face denoting a man who wasn’t a stranger to hard work. He definitely didn’t seem the type to slink around hiding his face and looking suspicious. “I’m just trying to learn, you can understand. Please don’t report me…”
Arcadis laughter caused a few heads to turn.
“I wouldn’t think of it, you make my life interesting! Come with me, lets get you in some proper clothes and lets enjoy this party!”
Elicit seemed uncomfortable. He adjusted his cloak and fidgeted with his bag. His eyes darted around teh room.
“Don’t worry, that man you just met with won’t be back until the Queen arrives. That’ll be hours from now. I hear they have roasted dolyak with truffle potatoes in the banquet hall. I have just one more song to sing before my break and I would love to have you join me and tell me more about what it is you’re learning to do.”
Elicit seemed to be put at ease by Arcadis. Maybe it was his infectious laugh or his welcoming smile, but Elicit followed him to one of the adjoining rooms and waited as a few of the servants scrambled to get his sizes and appropriate clothing for him to wear. He felt a little out of place as someone asked him to raise his arm so that it’s length could be measured. He was a simple man from a simple farm. The closest he had come to something like this was his fitting for his customized wide brimmed gardening hats.
“You, my new friend, look spectacular!” Arcadis exclaimed. Arcadis looked into a full length mirror at the crisp white shirt and smooth pants that had replaced his worn garments. A jacket was being slipped over his shoulders, fitted almost perfect to his body and he felt transformed. “Now come, please sit down, and let me sing a song of the battle of the mists… where true warriors go to prove themselves and claim victory for our realm!”
Elicit smiled, he had heard of the mists, a place where factions from other realms came together to fight for dominance and bragging rights. Many mercenaries spent their lives there, while others were simply hungry for blood and pride, devoted all of their time to the battles that raged all over that strange and foreign land.
“The castle is there with walls towering tall
In the mist we hear it’s sweet sirens call
The soldiers to fight for it without end
the soldiers fight for the great Yaks Bend.
Oh Stonemist castle you are the prize
Oh Stonemist castle where our banners rise
We love thee with all of our blood and our sweat
Let them come for you and they will surely regret.
Oh Stoooone Miiiiiiist
Stooooone Miiiist
The pearl of our eye
Our raging war cry
is for Stoooooooooone Miiiiiiiist.
And so the fight wages on, the blood is on the blade
The bodies pile around it’s walls but their hunger does not fade
Oh Stonemist with your turrets tall, tempting me to be your knight
Oh Stonemist with your beauty great, fighting for you all night
The lord watches over with serene power and might
and for you we will never cease our tireless fight
You are the prize we all want to own and defent
You are stonemist the jewel of Yaks Bend
Oh Stoooone Miiiiiiist
Stooooone Miiiist
The pearl of our eye
Our raging war cry
is for Stoooooooooone Miiiiiiiist.”
The audience erupted as Arcadis’ voice trilled inthe air. Everyone loved to hear songs of the mist battles, in the war of the worlds versus worlds. Elicit felt a strange stirring in his chest. It happened sometimes when he was relaxed and happy. A bead of sweat broke out on his brow. He had to leave, something wasn’t right and he couldn’t risk being in a room full of people if he fell ill.
“Did you like it?” Arcadis asked, sipping from a goblet that was handed to him as soon as he stepped from the stage.
“It was lovely, but I must go. Thank you for everything, I can return these clothes tomorrow.” Elicit was now sweating profusely and there was a tingling sensation all over his body. He knew it was coming and he had to get out.
“Hey man, don’t think about it. Those are a gift. Please, come to my performances near the carnival if you’re around. I’d love to speak with you again and see how the spy life is coming along,” Arcadis chuckled. “I can see you’re very nervous right now, you’re sweating quite a bit. Are you okay?”
Elicit gulped and nodded, gathering his belongings and making a beeline for the exit.
“I’ll talk to you aga-” His voice cracked and a strange whistling escaped his throat. His hand began to shake and he could feel his entire body starting to burn as if someone had doused him in kerosene and set him on fire.
With no time to waste he turned and ran from the room, frantically pulling his tattered cloak around his body and pulling the hood over his head. He rushed past several people causing them to stare and whisper about the strange man fleeing the celebration. As soon as he was outside a groan escaped his throat as he fell to his knees in a dark corner of the empty courtyard. His body flailed as unimaginable pain consumed him causing him to fall into a pit of blissful black where he felt nothing at all.
A few minutes passed. His body lay on the ground, twitching and moving in a strange liquid fashion beneath the covering of his cloak. After a particularly violent jolt he went still except for the shallow breathing of someone who had fallen unconcious. Time passed, almost 60 full minutes before he moved again. Fingers reached out and flipped up the fabric over his eyes. Their normal dark brown seemed to swirl and then replace with a misty blue. Further exposure of his face revealed an even more alarming change. The masculine edges of his jawline had been replaced with the soft curve of a female, his lips full and pursed, his nose small and pert. His skin began to glow a soft shade of green like blades of grass, small purple and pink spots sprinkled across his face like freckles. He arched his back and flung off his cloak.
Elicit had changed. His hair, normally borwn and short had been replaced with strange long leaf-like strands that sparkled a dirty blondish color, almost like sun washed wood on a beach.
“It’s happened again,” he whispered, his voice feminine and soft. It was apparent it was still his persona within the mind but his body had changed into something else. “I need to get out of here…”
“Excuse me, are you alright?” A voice said from the doorway. A servant girl was looking at him with a troubled expression. “You look sick. I heard Sylvari might need to stay inside where it’s not too cold. Can I help you? What is your name?”
Elicit sighed. He didn’t want to draw too much attention. He’d never be a spy if he kept making friends.
“I’m Cordicia… please just… let me get back to my quarters alone.”
He stuttered a bit as he stood up, even as he realized his clothes were the same tailored outfit of his male form and looked sorely out of place in this grand fancy banquet. He quickly pulled his cloak over him again, hoping that the girl hadn’t seen much.
“Alright, well… if you need anything, just ask for Arey!” She smiled and turned away to head back inside.
Elicit, thinking he was safe, sighed and moved towards the gate that would lead him to the streets. He had to get to the school. One of his friends there would be able to help him find a place to sleep for the night and hopefully he’d wake up normal again. Ever since the incident in the Caledon Forest… he had suffered this affliction. He hated to think about it. It had forced him from his home and to this new life of trying to be a spy so that he could keep to the shadows and still make enough coin to send home to his wife and their children. He had always just wanted to be a simple farmer but it would seem that wasn’t in the cards for him.
“Elicit! Is that you?!” A voice whispered from just outside of the royal grounds. Two guards looked at him as he moved past them towards his friend.
“Daisy, I am so glad you’re here.”
“Well, you told me to meet you here. Do you even know what time it is?,” Daisy stepped out of the shadows and her eyes widened. “You transformed!!! I love it!!!”
She grinned, giggling to herself at the sight of her friend looking like a Sylvari, and a female one at that. The two kept moving, not wanting the guards to pay too much attention to them. They stopped in an alley nearby as Daisy rummaged in her satchel. With a flicker of her wrist, she pulled out her focus, a beautiful string of butterfly shaped charms.
“Well, lets get you back to the school. You can sleep this off in my room.Let me try to use this new technique I just learned. It’ll keep you cloaked while we travel. I know you don’t like people to see you when you’re… her.” Laughter tinkled out of er lips. She couldn’t help it, he looked so helpless and afraid and painfully awkward.
“Please hurry, this is torture!” Elicit pleaded.
“Hold your horses, you know I’m just learning this stuff!”
She closed her eyes and started to focus. Several minutes passed. Elicit pulled his cloak tighter around his body. He needed to get out of the city streets. A purple glow began to emanate from the focus but puttered out not long after.
“Oh forget mass invis, lets just use my veil,” Daisy complained after a few attempts at the more powerful magic failed. She pulled out her scepter and laid out a shimmering line in front of them. Lets go!
They both crossed, their bodies disappearing into shimmering translucent shapes that quickly turned completely undetectable to the naked eye. They moved off towards the School of Illusions where Daisy was currently a student trying to gain her mastery in Mesmerology. She was still too young to go out to battle, but one day she hoped to use her skills to fight enemies and help her realm. Once she had just been a young girl from the same little village as Elicit. He had helped her get into the school, so she felt like she had to do her best to repay him.
Meanwhile, back at the banquet, Arcadis hummed to himself as he walked back into the building. He had kept an eye on his new friend, even after the collapse, diverting guards and wondering guests as they tried to exit into the courtyard. Once it was clear, he resumed his place on the stage, strumming his guitar quietly as the orchestra finished their song. A quiet tune escaped his lips and he sang softly to himself:
“And so the spy has more secrets that he must hold
his life has changed in more ways than he has told
From man to creature strange and foreign to the eye,
we see this man has many sides, the least of which are spy…”
He’d have to add this new little verse to his next set. Just as he was about to start his song, he caught a glance at the two Charrs he had spotted earlier. They were giggling and leaving a storage room, obviously disheveled and in good spirits. It was a beautiful sight to behold, a true 05bond, a true love.
“Free drinks for these two for the rest of the night!” Arcadis pointed them out to a servant who nodded and quickly brought them both full glasses. They settled on a comfortable looking bench lined with cushions near the stage.
“You’re a true friend!,” the female smiled and raised her glass.
The party had just begun.