Ereollynda S2.3

Happy Friday! Snow is in the forecast for the weekend, and I'm so excited for it. Unlike most, I love the cold, and I love the snow. It also means I'll have more than enough time to work on Codex sketches and next month's updates. Valentine's Day shop items are coming, and commission slots are now open! Everyone stay safe this weekend ❄️-01/23/26

Ereollynda didn’t realize her exhaustion until she lay curled up in the safety of the inn’s bed.

She slept through the night, and didn’t stir until dawn. As the sun rose, so did she. Feeling Nelius’ anticipation for her, she skipped breakfast and made a beeline for the stables. There in the back stall, the heilang lifted his head at the arrival of his master. 

“Ah Nelius, your leg already looks so much better,” she exclaimed once she saw him. He happily rested his head in her outstretched arms and purred lightly. 

Thank goodness you’re going to be okay, Ereollynda could finally let the relief wash over her. 

“I see Axel has done fine work as usual,” a voice came from the front of the stables. Lynne came to stand before the girl.

“Yes! Thanks to Ms. Axel, Nelius will make a full recovery,” Ereollynda said. The magical thread in the heilang’s leg still shimmered, keeping the wound safely concealed. What once was an ugly gash now looked like nothing more than a long cut. 

“She is probably one of the best in Balenos, although she’d never say that herself,” Lynne chuckled.

“Since he is well taken care of, I thought now would be a good time to talk with you.” To this, Ereollynda turned. She stroked Nelius a few more times, then nodded.

I’ll return shortly, Ereollynda followed Lynne back into the morning sunlight. Olvia remained quiet as they walked. It’d take another hour for the people to wake.

“It’s rare to cross paths with another descendant. There are few of us left,” Lynne began to speak as they neared the outskirts of town.

“We come from a tribe known as the Yawaka. The origins are somewhere deep within the Black Desert,” Lynne continued. Ereollynda hung on her every word. Ereollynda never had any proper education. She soaked in all the information freely given to her.

“Centuries ago, a great plague took hold of the entire continent. Every nation fell into chaos as they tried to combat the illness and keep their people alive,” the path took them closer to the shore. They walked among the bare trees and open fields.

“Black stones, artifacts with untold power, became a key to ridding the world of this illness. The nations began excavating these stones wherever possible. Massive resources were poured into obtaining and understanding black stones” Lynne said. The pair continued on their walk as the winds whistled through the tree branches. Clouds off from the sea began to roll in.

“The Yawaka were already ahead of the rest of the world in their knowledge of black stones. They cultivated them, studied them, and used their power for a multitude of solutions, including the current plaque. The tribe remained in the safety of the harsh desert along with their many secrets,” Lynne said. The sun tucked away in the clouds leaving the afternoon temperature to drop further.

“Much of history agrees the sickness started in Valencia. The rest of the world began to turn its back on the nation. The isolation drove them to search the vast and dangerous desert for a solution.”

“And so, the tribe couldn’t remain hidden forever. Valencia soon realized the Yawaka while plundering the Black Desert for stones. Described as silver-haired nomads of the great desert, the Valencians were understandably cautious at first. However, when the Yawaka offered to heal the sick, a relationship began to form.” Excitement and anticipation ran through Ereollynda while Lynne spoke.

“Things were well between the two nations for years. The Yawaka’s knowledge saved many Valencians, and drove the plague out of the desert. In exchange, Valencia offered protection, riches, and the precious resource of water.” Flakes of snow began to fall from the graying sky. They paused and looked up. The first snowstorm of the season brewed above them.

“But greed is a powerful force,” Lynne said and looked back down. Ereollynda continued with her when she began on the path leading back to Olvia.

“The Yawaka kept much of their findings about black stones to themselves, and the Valencians began to grow dissatisfied with the agreement made before,” she continued.

“And since they couldn’t have what they wanted, dissatisfaction turned to distrust. Misunderstandings turned into fear, and the Yawaka were demonized and labeled as heretics. They retreated deep into the desert, and practically disappeared again.” Their walk took them most of the way around the small town. The snow picked up into a flurry.

“The tribe appears to have journeyed past the desert and into other parts of the world over the centuries. But tracking down their history after the period of plague has proved difficult.” While disappointment hung in Lynne’s voice, Ereollynda beamed with exuberance. Until now, mystery shrouded her existence. She felt as if a curtain had been pulled back. 

“I’d like to pass everything I’ve learned on to you. And one day maybe you’ll uncover secrets of our lineage yourself,” Lynne concluded with a smile. 

“Really?” Ereollynda asked in disbelief. Lynne nodded.

“I’ll do my very best!” The girl bowed with gratitude, and followed her chuckling mentor back into town.