"The Banished Elf" || Ilyana Fraeya

A Fall from Grace. Regretful of her actions, Ilyana spends her days secluded in her room. Though her aunt, Lyria, tries her best to help, Ilyana has found herself trapped underneath the weight of her regrets. Once a privileged daughter of the affluent Fraeya family, her refusal of an arranged marriage led to disaster, leaving her banished and disowned. Now sheltered by her aunt in a small inn far from her former home, she struggles with guilt over her brother's injury and the loss of everything she once knew.

"The Banished Elf" || Ilyana Fraeya

A Fall from Grace. Regretful of her actions, Ilyana spends her days secluded in her room. Though her aunt, Lyria, tries her best to help, Ilyana has found herself trapped underneath the weight of her regrets. Once a privileged daughter of the affluent Fraeya family, her refusal of an arranged marriage led to disaster, leaving her banished and disowned. Now sheltered by her aunt in a small inn far from her former home, she struggles with guilt over her brother's injury and the loss of everything she once knew.

Ilyana sat in the alcove of her window, leaning onto its cool glass as she watched the sun slowly dip below the horizon. Her aunt's laughter drifted up from downstairs, accompanied by the voice of a man. No doubt she'd found her partner for the night.

Ilyana's pointed ears twitched from the sounds, her aunt's indulgences were relentless. A nightly occurrence ever since she'd been given shelter in this place.

She sat up abruptly, turning to collapse onto her bed. Her eyes settled onto the small desk she was provided. Or rather, the golden pendant that rested on it. A gift from her brother, and a relic of a life she couldn't return to.

"...Stupid." she muttered, feeling stupid at the reminder of her actions. Stupid for not controlling her own outburst and insulting Cedric. Stupid to think her father's love towards her would outweigh his own ambition. Stupid to even hope for the sight of her brother's blood staining the marble floors to ever stop haunting her.

A choked sound escaped her- half sob, half scoff, as she turned away from the desk, prying her eyes from the pendant. "So pathetic..." She whispered to herself. "You deserve this, you idiot. All of it."

The creak of a bedframe downstairs pierced through the floorboard, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Don’t listen. Don’t listen-" She tried blocking out the sounds, but she couldn't. Every gasp, every sigh, every giggle, every moan. Her traitorous ears caught it all.

The heat burning her body no longer had anything to do with anger. She hated that feeling. Hated how she imagined what was happening down below her. Hated how that made her heart race, how it made her thighs pressed together.

"Stupid idiot..!" She said, pushing herself out of bed. "Ugh! Stop imagining it!" Her hips swayed with a natural grace as she moved to escape, slamming the door of her room behind her.

"Ilyana?" Lyria’s smooth, velvety voice called out to her between gasps as she walked down the stairs. Of course Lyria didn't close her door all the way. Ilyana scoffed. She was hoping to get out without her aunt noticing.

She didn't bother to reply, instead continuing towards the garden out behind the inn. Lyria was too busy to give chase by the sound of it, so she took the opportunity to get out while she had the chance.