<div class="floatleft">(http://www.nationalacrobat.com/Gallery/i.php?/upload/2015/01/31/20150131130633-f24c1729-xs.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Enastril Rixxle<br/><strong>Class:</strong>Fighter/Mage<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Harvester 15, 577 C.Y.<br/><strong>Location: </strong>Highfolk<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Parents<br/><strong>Content Warning: </strong>Nothing Unusual<br/><br/>Yvannah and Celeros Rixxle had been patiently waiting for their son to arrive. He'd finished his apprenticeship with Master Evandine Theressial eight years ago, and then spent many years with the local sword master Andurain van Ymir learning the arts of swordplay. He'd been a natural with blades, and had insisted that once his apprenticeship in magic was complete, that he would learn the way of the blade, against their wishes. Now that he'd mastered entry level swordsmanship and magic, they had hoped that he would apprentice under one or both of them as an advisor and counselor for the High Council that helped direct the way that the elves who led Highfolk and it's regional elven enclave lived and prospered, but so far he had not indicated what he had intended to do now that he was, in essence, of age as an adult to dictate his own life. He had grown up in a typical high elven home, and had the education and lifestyle that his people had lived for thousands of years in his blood, yet they had noticed their son was different in many ways. He was somewhat close with his older sister Ci'ona, but they couldn't get anything out of her that he didn't want them to know, she'd been a very frustrating source of information for them regarding her brother. They were beginning to suspect that he'd already made up his mind regarding a few things, and that they were not going to like the answers they heard, which is why they had taken the direct step to summon him to meet with them.<br/><br/>The last time he'd been summoned by them in this manner had involved his ill-timed fling with one of the human noble's daughters who was studying magic as well. It was when she was being sought after as a marriage candidate that Enastril had engaged in several trysts with her, and while there was no doubt mutual satisfaction and encouragement, Lord Bessarib was not pleased, and placed the blame squarely on Enastril's shoulders, and by relation, his parents.<br/><br/>They had also found out through Master Theressial that Enastril had been writing and exchanging correspondence for years with Kirien Silverlark, lately of Beratana in the Vesve Forest, and that had them a little uneasy. While they had nothing against Kirien, in fact what they knew of her was that she was bright, intelligent and a wonderful young lady, they had recently been approached by House Lavorial regarding their daughter Fiorala, for a potential match in marriage. Enastril's parent's had been an arranged match, and so had his uncle and aunt, and it was well known that his sister likely would be as well. They were concerned that Kirien Silverlark was something that might interfere with the prospects, although that was the furthest thing from the truth. In actuality, he had met her by chance when they arrived in the same part of the arcane library in Olve Minrath decades ago, both seeking tomes to further their arcane apprenticeships. They'd had a good couple hour discussion, of things arcane and esoteric, and that had evolved into a decades long exchange of letters. In those letters they'd helped each other decipher formulas and encouraged each other when certain parts of their apprenticeship had gotten tough, and there was a friendship there that he'd not shared with his parents, for multiple reasons. In fact, they were about to find out that this friendship was part of the spark that was driving him now.<br/><br/>He was ready to get out. He was ruminating over what he was going to say to them when he sat down.<em>Highfolk is safe. It's nice, in fact quite pretty and idyllic, but it's safe. Too safe. There's not much to learn about the real world here as far as seeing, touching, tasting and feeling it. All I can do here is read about it, or hear tales from those who have been elsewhere. That doesn't help me experience it</em>he thought to himself as he made his way to his parent's study. His last letter from Kirien included a description, in minute detail, about Beratana. It may not have been a grand city but the way she described it, and how she felt about it, was conveyed. He wanted to see it for himself. He knew once he left, he would not come home for a very, very long time.<br/><br/>He'd already begun the process, moving out of Highfolk and up to High Vale, into a small cottage of his own. The change of scenery had done him good. His mother had come to visit a few times, but not his father. His mother had badgered him about not being in town much anymore, and had tried to find out his plans on multiple occasions.<br/><br/>Even out in High Vale he'd also heard rumors that his parents wanted him to marry. He was barely one hundred and twenty five years old. The thought of getting married in Highfolk were beyond crazy in his opinion. His sister had confirmed those suspicions.<br/><br/>Whatever they were discussing today, he was already late. It was pretty normal for him to be distracted on a long walk to anywhere really. He'd decided to take the long way to pass through a particularly lovely glade where late season flowers were in bloom, and he stopped smell a few, and pick a few, and imagined how beautiful of a painting the scene would be. An avid painter, he made a mental note to come back to this location and paint the scenery. It was truly beautiful. He'd then meandered through the town, and stopped to purchase a few sweetcakes, and then made his way to his parent's home.<br/><br/>He entered their study. They were formally dressed. It was going to be one of those meetings.<br/><br/>His mother got up and greeted him. 'Enastril, please, sit down' and as he did so, she moved to shut the door behind him. He took a seat. He was a little underdressed, with just a simple tunic and pants on, and sandals. He couldn't help but feel their eyes on him, boring into him.<br/><br/>'Glad you could come' his father said. 'We'd like to discuss your future with you' he said to Enastril.<br/><br/>'My future?' he asked, both curious and a bit annoyed. He held his composure however. It was indeed to be one of<em>those</em>conversations. The last time they'd had one, he'd left before it was finished.<br/><br/>'Yes' his father said, looking at his mother before proceeding. 'You have been done with your magical apprenticeship for over eight years, and you recently completed your training as an arms master, which we had assumed meant you'd enter either the Prince's Guard, or better yet, perhaps strive to the Knights of the Hart here in Highfolk, however, it does not seem to be that way. Have you decided to follow the path your mother and I chose, to serve on the High Council?' he asked.<br/><br/>'No' he said simply. 'Honestly, I have not. I am sorry to say, that thought has never really crossed my mind. I'm ill suited for spending day after day in meetings, diplomatic endeavors and pacifying angry or disappointed families and officials. You should know that, after all, I am your son. It was all I could do some days to make it through Master Theressial's lessons, but not for the love of magic, I would have likely been a bigger disappointment, but as such, the topic fascinates me, and reading about magic and putting it into practice is one of the joys of my life, so I managed to succeed there. It's not that I think it's a bad profession, but I have the feeling that were I to try to make it my life, it would not be as smooth a proposition as you think, and I think it would not end well' he said. There, it was out. He'd said it. Well, part of what he wanted to say anyway.<br/><br/>His father's face was neutral, but his mother's was not, she was both angry and saddened. He looked at his mother.<br/><br/>'Mother, please, you know I respect you both, and I am not saying anything negative about your positions. I recall one of your lectures to me about the freedom and individuality of our people, and the drive that we have to be independent and free spirited. If that is the case, then you should be proud that I'm deciding to forge my own path' he said to her.<br/><br/>'Don't patronize me, Enastril' she said to him. 'I want a secure, solid future for you. I want you to put your hard learned skills to use' she began.<br/><br/>'That's what I plan on doing. Why do you think that I spent years learning magic, and then five more years learning the art of swordplay and all that I could from the arms master. It wasn't so I could be a clerk or diplomat, we have enough of those' he said in a matter of fact tone of voice. 'I want to use my skills to make a difference, and to help people, and to get out of Highfolk. I dream of more than this' he said simply.<br/><br/>His mother frowned. 'That hardly sounds like a plan. That sounds like daydreaming to me' she said to him.<br/><br/>'Yes' interjected his father. 'Not chasing some fairy tales and stories that the humans and others in your classes have filled your head with' and now his father was upset. 'We know about the letters and correspondence. While we don't know about the details, I can only assume that you are intending to put your skills to 'adventuring' or worse, some common mercenary work. I was against you learning sword play, my main fear was that it would drive you to seek out some folly of an ideal to follow or believe you could follow some noble quest with a glorious reward at the end. You are better than that' he said to his son. 'You are throwing away your potential and ignoring a stable future for yourself.'<br/><br/>'Plus, there is the matter of marriage' his mother began. 'Fiorala Lavorial's parents have indicated that you and our house would be a good match for their daughter. Your father and I agree. It is a worthy match, and would benefit us all, especially you. Some stability in your life would be good for you I think' she said.<br/><br/>'Ah' he said to them. 'I see where this is going. My skills and training were to be for the benefit of whatever career or path you decided I should take, and that should include a wife, and not befriending those of other races. I am on track so far?' he asked. 'Was anyone going to ask me if I wanted to get married? I mean, I am young. I have a lot more to learn about myself and the world at large. Being married may not be the ideal situation for Fiorala to be in as far as that is concerned. I mean, I plan on traveling and seeing the Flanaess, and experiencing the cultures and places that lay before me. No offense to the charming, and lovely Miss Lavorial, but I can't see that lifestyle suiting her very much.' This time he was being serious, and actually thinking about someone else, yet of course, it came across totally wrong to his father.<br/><br/>His father frowned. 'Insolence does not become you.'<br/><br/>'Well father, I guess you won't have to worry about it much longer. I've decided to take a trip to Beratana, and then go wherever the trail leads. Unfortunately, that leaves Ci'ona in the unenviable position of having to listen to you complain about me and my total lack of awareness and other things. It also leaves Fiorala Lavorial needing another suitor. I am truly sorry about that, and I will convey that to her in person. You have fostered in me the desire to seek knowledge, and explore. You should be proud of that. What you have not fostered in me is the desire to conform. I don't see why you are so disappointed, but there we are. If you will excuse me, I have a few social calls to make before I leave'. Barely restraining himself, he bowed to his parents, and even kissed his mother's cheek.<br/><br/>His father was furious. 'You would throw it all way to traipse across the Flanaess with the gods know who, doing who knows what. If you walk out of this door-' and he was cut off.<br/><br/>'Yes, yes, I know. I'll regret it. I don't think so, and I think in a few decades, you'll see that you won't regret it either. Father, mother' and he turned to leave.<br/><br/>He was met by his sister outside, and she was not sure whether to hug him or hit him. 'Well, I think you've made my life a bit more difficult, but I admire your bravery. Here, take this' she said, handing him a small leather pouch.<br/><br/>He opened it and inside was a piece of shiny metal, of unknown origin. Ci'ona looked at him. 'It was supposed to be a research project for me, to figure out what it is, but I don't think I'm going to have time. I think Master Thesserial knew I'd give it to you. He said you'd know what to do with it' and she hugged him. 'Good luck. Try to write when you can'.<br/><br/>He grinned, and held the item. 'Interesting. Regardless of what Father and Mother say, you and that old wizard are both part of this whole conspiracy against them, you know' he said, winking. 'I'll see what I can figure out. Tell mother that she really shouldn't be disappointed. She is the one that inspired me to dream. She just doesn't see it. Anyway, I've got to go explain to Fiorala why there isn't a proposal, and then I'm off to the Vesve. Take care, and try not to be too upset with me.'<br/><br/>With that, it was time to finally leave Highfolk.