Restiv

     Nym Alai was born a pure high elf in Haelun’or in a family line of strict supremacists. Most of the Alais weren’t fond of really any race aside from the high elves, but were fully invested in any conflicts against the wood elves. In their family culture, wood elves were seen as the dirty side of their race, and it was in the Battle of Leyulin that the hatred grew immensely. Nym’s grandfather, Selemar, was a member of the Evarir’Thilln Guard, and had perished in the battle, along with a few other Alai family members, leaving Ara Alai and her daughter, Vivian Alai alone. Ara continued to raise Vivian in Haelun’or with peace in mind, hoping in time she could change the culture of the Alai family, perhaps to lessen the loss of future loved ones due to bloodshed. In time, Vivian would meet Alec Xinfir’rn, a young high elf soldier who shared the dream of unity among elves. Vivian birthed Nym Alai with the belief that he would be the answer, and to pass down the torch that her mother, Ara, had lit. 

     Soon after Nym’s 10^th birthday, the Sillumir of Haelun’or had condemned the Emperor of Oren to death by acid, meaning conflict was on the horizon. Alec would have to partake in any battle, so he quickly had Vivian and their son escape Haelun’or to Cerulin, the newly formed city of the wood elves, where an old friend of Alec would be waiting. Though reluctant to leave Alec at first, she knew what was best for Nym, and soon made her way out. Though greeted with caution and dismay by the wood elves that had seen the two among the city, Avnir Violetti, the wood elf Alec had sent Vivan and Nym to, was there to greet them, and quickly hid them in his home where they would be safe.

     The brief war between Haelun’or and Oren would see the death of more Alai members, including Alec and Vivian’s mother Ara. Alec had mentioned Avnir in his will, so the message got out to him and eventually Vivian about the death of Nym’s father. The news was heartbreaking for Nym, who had been awaiting the day that his father would come to Cerulin and have as much fun as he was. Time would pass while Vivian would teach Nym everything she could, ensuring the best for his morals, ethics, and skills. Avnir and his family grew fond of the two Alais, and began to share the ideal of Nym potentially being a pillar of unity in his future days. They also taught him skills and, while more practical, were useful, such as cooking, farming, and upkeep. During this time, Vivian would begin to spend extra time with Avnir’s brother, Azureth, who very clearly had a thing for her. He had taught Nym how to hunt small animals, and brought him to the Violetti family’s shop to work different areas. Nym was 12 years old when, on a normal evening, his mother sat beside him on a bed in the same room they had been hiding out in for the last two years. She began to explain that she was pregnant, and that Azureth had given her the gift that would be his new brother or sister. She then warned him that this would likely cause trouble among the Alai family and many others, as this new sibling would be half high elf and half wood elf, which is unforgivable among the Alais. Nym didn’t understand, questioning why it would be such an issue, but Vivian didn’t have much of an answer. She made him promise that no matter what happens, he will be there for his sibling, for perhaps this new child would accomplice Nym in the pursuit of unity. Two halves of a divided race in one child, while likely very dangerous, could prove beneficial, especially alongside the promising brother Nym.

     Time had passed and Vivian gave birth to a beautifully impure daughter who she named Iris. Vivian was as happy as could be alongside Azureth, but she knew she would eventually need to go back to Haelun’or to see her family after the years of hiding. Haelun’or and the Dominion had just recently gained their freedom from human reign, and so she wrote to her family back home to make a date for a dinner, mentioning only of her two children, nothing of the wood elves or Iris’s secret. She then brought the two along with herself back to Haelun’or, where the remaining Alai (still a large number of them left) were quick to notice the difference in Iris’s features. Brown hair with matching eyes that were like pools of honey, and a more golden skin than her brother, yet Alec nor Vivian had these features. Nothing was brought up until everyone was seated at the table, when one of Vivian’s cousins questioned Iris’s features. The other family members quickly nodded in agreement, as they were all thinking the same and wanted an answer. Vivian looked around the room before taking a breath and telling them that her beautiful daughter did not come from Alec, but from a wood elf. Gasps filled the room and her older cousin quickly stood up in disbelief, throwing the word betrayal at her. Vivian was quick to reply, telling them that the bloodshed must stop, and that the family must give up this unreasonable hatred for other kinds. The room remained silent as the food was brought out, eyes moving from Vivian to Iris, and then back. In their eyes, not only had Vivian been unfaithful to her lost soulmate, but with a wood elf. As they began eating, the eldest cousin, Salmir, kept a grim face and informed Vivian that she must take the impure child away from Haelun’or, and that Iris could not be accepted as a part of the Alai family. When Vivian began to speak she was quickly shut down with Salmir telling her this will likely be the final dinner she will have with the family, for she could not be forgiven for what she has done. Vivian took a breath before nodding and giving them a very well, then stood up and told her children it was time to go. None of the three had finished their plates, but she quickly took them and headed towards Cerulin once again. She had known the outcome before she had even went, but she needed to try, and she did. After all, it was her children that had the torch.

     Vivian began to become sick on the way back to Cerulin, and once she had reached the Violetti house, she could hardly walk. Azureth helped her inside and onto the bed, telling the children to stay downstairs. Vivian’s mind raced as her body felt extremely weak- perhaps she caught an illness along the travel? Though the real truth was that one of the Alai members had poisoned her food, one of the youngest that was not able to understand but could only compare what Vivian had done to the hatred of the wood elves, Vivian would never know that. She couldn’t fathom the family would go that far, and so the illness that could’ve been airborne, or perhaps salmonella, quickly continued to weaken Vivian to the point where her vision began to blur and she could no longer move. As Azureth stood by her side in shock of what was happening, she could hardly make out her last words, “Take care of them.” And just like that, the hatred that coursed through the veins of the Alai family , and many other high elves, saw the death of Vivian Alai. 

     Nym would continue to be raised in Cerulin alongside Iris by the Violettis, and continued to take in all the knowledge he could along the way. He was fascinated with almost everything, and books were his go-to. He had a hunger to learn, and thanks to the Violettis, he knew what his parents wished for him from the beginning. Perhaps to was time to move on from Cerulin. With his sister safe with Azureth, Nym wanted to go off on his own in search of the knowledge and skills he needed to pursue his ultimate goal.