Foreign Souvenir

Original Submission

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Story

Mere Nights have passed since Belzy visited with her offer to Neli. The devilish ritual behind her, a mark on her soul, without knowing the cost, she gave into it. The burning desire to help her foster father, to succumb while touching Belzy to her darkest urges. It all felt like destiny to her, a way to repay her father for everything, what she learned under his roof, how to behave in royal presence, how to cook and clean, how to manage the Inn. Everything she knew, every moment of kindness she felt at the hands of this man, swayed her from denying Belzy's infernal offer. She had to take her offer without question.

Days after their sinful embrace, Neli was alone again. First, she felt betrayed, Belzy withdrawing from the Inn on the same night, leaving her with the still ill fallen father under the cover of the night. She felt her pact was for nought, her father still diseased to the core. But then, her father moved and got better after a few days. His limbs were not numb, and his mind was not clouded by fog. He was beginning to get whole again. At least, that's what it seemed like to Neli.

Another set of days passed, caring for him day and night. He began to speak, to stand after months of care and degradation. It seemed like a miracle at first, the price not yet shown Neli began to ponder until her dark mark showed itself. As her father began to grasp her arm, he felt pain rushing through his body. The mark on her soul left a burning sensation in whomever she touched. It was a bitter fate for her, marking the first and last time she slept in companionship with anyone. She knew what had to be done, and so did her father offering his help in return by traveling side by side, leaving everything behind to find the cure to her curse. She thought, giving him the answer he wanted to hear, but she planned to go alone in secret, leaving a note for her foster father.

She was leaving her foster father after weeks of care and rehabilitation, searching for the devil who put this mark on her soul, her devil. She ventures forth into the unknown, another soul that needs saving, determined as she is. Finally, she opened the parting gift she got from Belzy. A trace of where she could find her, a foreign souvenir, clothes and accessories from distant lands, she began to travel day and night to find her companion.

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Remarks

Neli in Infera's style is such an excellent interpretation, I can recommend getting one of her Instream Commissions <3!

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Artists

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Characters

Neli © Davidsch