By the Will of the Gods Pt. 01

"Not the best way to a lady's heart," the mystical woman gave her opinion as she smiled shrewdly, "But I really don't think Tempest minded your eavesdropping!"

"Why are you showing me this?" Zofiel asked with a hint of disgust in his voice. "It was intrusive of me to eavesdrop on her, and I've been praying for forgiveness all day. I regret doing that, and I..."

"Did you get a good look at the girl when the two of you were on shore?" The Seeress interrupted. "After she rescued you, she aided you back to land, and the two of you sat in the sand while you recovered. I don't think I need to remind you again, but you snuck a little peek."

Zofiel sighed and covered his face with his right hand.

"Do you remember what you saw?"

The lovesick man had a million answers to the question, but none of them seemed appropriate for the occasion. "What are you referring to?"

"You saw Tempest naked," the Seeress bluntly told Zofiel. "I don't need to remind you that she was completely naked. And although you tried to look away, you saw her womanhood."

Unable to believe that the Seeress was being so forward, Zofiel again lowered his eyes.

"Do you remember what you saw when you caught a glimpse of her, Zofiel?" The ghostly image asked, and then answered for him by saying, "You saw her pubic hair."

Almost feeling insulted, the adventurer decided the conversation he was having with the Seeress was not one he wanted to be a part of. Talking about Tempest's body parts behind her back didn't feel right to him. "This talk is insulting toward Tempest, and I won't have any part..."

"Zofiel, I don't know how much you know about the dark elves, but their society is very different from your human culture. The dark elves have different customs, laws...and their outlook on sexual activity differs quite a bit."

Zofiel's eyes went directly to those of the Seeress.

"For the dark elves," the ghostly image went on, "Intercourse is not something they partake in for entertainment like the other races. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but many of them follow a strict code, and that code forces them to mate with another chosen person when both partners are forty. The age of forty is thought to be when their bodies reach their sexual peak."

"They don't even get to fall in love?"

Ignoring the question, the Seeress went on, "There is no marriage in the dark elves' society, and forty-year-old males and females never choose who they will mate with."

"But what does that have to do with me seeing her...well, you know!"

"Zofiel," the Seeress said, and grew very stern, "When a female dark elf has sexual intercourse for the first time, she is supposed to shave her pubic hair completely off before the action. For them, this shows their first step toward maturity, and after they lose their virginity, they continue to always keep their pubis bald, so to speak."

The lovesick man was at a complete loss for words. He had heard many reasons to backup the proof that Tempest was in fact still a virgin, and he also had more knowledge of the society she was from. He couldn't believe he had never learned such lessons before.

With a smile of triumph on her face, the Seeress stared straight at Zofiel. The success of proving that the dark elf had never slept with anyone made the mystical woman happy. "Well?"

Zofiel's face showed mostly shock, but the expression masked his true feelings: Joy and relief.

"Unless you wish to talk more," the Seeress spoke up, "You may take your leave."

Zofiel nodded his thanks and simply left without another word.

* * *

"What was it like?" Tempest asked when her traveling companion reappeared. "Is she old? Is she smart? Is she frightening or intimidating? Did she answer your question?"

Chuckling at the girl's curiosity, Zofiel found that he looked at the dark elf in a whole new way. Her innocence and purity radiated from her, and her charm and wit could never be matched by any other female in the world. Finally, the relieved man answered the young woman with a smile and the simple words, "Maybe you should go see for yourself!"

Excitement filled the dark elf as she turned and faced the entryway Zofiel had returned through. She was hardly able to contain herself as she started up the steps.

"I'll be here waiting for you when you come back!" Zofiel called out behind her.

Tempest felt a chill run down her spine upon entering the chamber of the most knowledgeable woman in the world. At first, she only saw the decorations and the fountain in the room, but within moments, an image of a marvelous woman appeared before her. The dark elf was a little scared at first, but it took her only seconds to realize the brilliancy of the glimmering image before her. "Hullo."

The Seeress smiled and nodded once. "Greetings, young one. If you stand before me here and now, you must have some kind of question you wish to have answered."

Tempest nodded in return and stared up at the hovering image above her. Knowing that Zofiel must've asked a question regarding his mission, the dark elf felt kind of embarrassed about the query she had in mind. "Yes. There is something I wish to know, and I have been told that I could obtain an answer from you."

"That's why I am here in Aisha Temple," the Seeress kindly told the young woman. "Now, what is it you wish to know?"

Jumping right to it, Tempest informed the ghostly image, "The man you just talked to...I met him just last night. He saved me in the woods south of here when a wolf was about to make a late meal out of me."

"Yes," the Seeress said, and nodded once. "I know."

"Well," the dark elf went on, "You probably also know that although it may have seemed like I had my doubts about his past for a few moments, my feelings for him never wavered. Yes, I have not been out in the world for long, but I already know that I will never meet a man greater than Zofiel."

The Seeress continued to listen as the young woman spilled her feelings for the man she was traveling with.

Locking eyes with the knowledgeable woman, Tempest finally asked, "What I really want to know is how many women has Zofiel...been with?"

The Seeress couldn't help but throw her head back and laugh. She went on for a few seconds before realizing that the dark elf didn't understand her amusement. "I'm sorry, young one! My laughs are not directed at you, but at the question you ask!"

Tempest frowned. "Is it that bad? He is a handsome man, so I guess I should have seen it coming..."

"Oh no, young lady!" The Seeress cut in. "It's not what you're thinking! It's not what you're thinking at all!"

The dark elf's brow crinkled up as the expression on her face became that of downright puzzlement. She honestly had no idea what the mystical woman was talking about.

"Listen, dear," the Seeress went on in a gentle, motherly tone. "This man you have so swiftly fallen for; this Zofiel...he has never known physical love before. He's never had intercourse, he's never done any fooling around...in fact, he has never even kissed a girl before!"

Tempest felt her spirits being lifted as her frown became a huge smile and her eyes grew wide. "Truly?" She asked with joy in her voice.

Still smiling, the Seeress nodded while informing the giddy girl, "His has been a life mired in heartache and tragedy. He has seen many loved ones pass in his time, and he has blamed himself for the loss of those closest to him whether he was at fault or not. He has felt and known love from women in his time, but he has never acted upon it whether it was due to the circumstances of the situations, or if he perhaps didn't feel the inclination to do so." The mystical woman paused to laugh for a moment before adding, "I'm not quite sure how you've done it, young one, but somehow in the span of a day, you seem to have ensnared his sentiments! He has guarded his emotions for so long, yet around you, he feels comfort and assurance that you won't hurt him in the end!" And with a wave of her hand, the Seeress created a moving image in the water next to her in the fountain. As the image was viewed by the two in the room, it served as a reminder to Tempest of what had happened to her earlier that morning.

The dark elf felt her cheeks grow warm, but that didn't stop her from placing a hand over her mouth and giggling in clear delight.

Giving her best advice, the ghostly image told the young woman, "You have an opportunity for something great, dear, and if it's love you seek, I personally feel you can win his heart."

"Really?" Tempest perked up even more. "Do you think something could happen if we travel together?"

The Seeress' expression changed as she sadly shook her head and answered, "I don't tell the future, young lady, and even if I did, I'm sorry to say that I've already answered your main question."

"That is okay!" Tempest cheerfully said. "I now know what I wanted to know, and now I can move ahead with the knowledge that it is possible for love to exist between Zofiel and myself!" Excited beyond meaning of the word, the young woman turned and began skipping out of the chamber. Before reaching the doorway, she glanced back and thanked the mystical woman for her wisdom.

"You are truly welcome, young one," the Seeress told the dark elf, and then watched her leave with a blissful expression on her pretty face.

* * *

When the two travelers met up back in the entrance room of the temple, Zofiel was quick to perk up when he saw Tempest. "Did she help you?" He asked in a kind voice.

The smile plastered on the girl's face from ear to ear should've been enough of an answer, but she joyously responded, "She is a wonderful lady, Zofiel! I do not know how she obtains her information, but she is so kind...and knowledgeable!"

"Yeah," the mysterious man agreed. "Hobbs was right about her. It was a good idea to come here."

Tempest nodded in agreement as her smile somehow grew larger. She then latched onto the left arm of the man she was traveling with and stared right into his hazel eyes. "Zofiel, if it is okay with you, I want to continue traveling with you. I want to join your group and help you find the rest of these Byblos stones...no matter how many years it takes!"

Meeting the young woman's eyes, the adventurer's voice became protective and stern as he said, "Tempest, the road ahead will be dangerous. There could be anything out there, and I couldn't bear to see you get hurt!"

The dark elf felt warm all over upon hearing the concern in her traveling companion's voice. Fighting back the urge to say something about what she had found out from the Seeress, Tempest instead asked, "Speaking of the quest you are on, did the Seeress give you any indication on what you are to do next?"

Thinking fast, Zofiel came up with an excuse. "Actually, that's why I wanted Sydell to come along. I wanted him to ask what our next step is because my question dealt with...uh, more personal matters."

"Oh?" The dark elf backed up a step to get a better look at the blond man. "I thought you were supposed to ask about the quest you are on?"

Zofiel broke eye contact with the young woman as he searched for another quick excuse. "Yeah, well, uh, like Sydell said, if Hobbs really wanted answers, he should've come along!"

Giggling at the man's response, Tempest made a good point when saying, "I do not think that would have helped, for he used his one question nine years ago, did he not?"

Trying to find a new cover-up, Zofiel realized that the young woman was outsmarting him at every turn. When the girl finally let go of his arm, he found himself pacing back and forth before throwing his arms up and jokingly asking, "Is it wrong of me to ask something about my life?"

The dark elf continued to giggle before informing the fair-skinned man, "You are so cute when you are angry!"

"I'm not angry!" Zofiel called out in a frustrated tone of voice. "I'm just..."

"Embarrassed?"

Zofiel glanced at the young woman while she continued to laugh at him. He felt his cheeks grow red, and he tried to hide it from her by placing a fist up to his mouth in order to clear his throat. He then turned his back to her while mumbling, "We should probably head back to Norburgh."

The dark elf agreed with her traveling companion and happily followed him toward the exit. While doing so, she couldn't help but notice that the pure, unbridled exhilaration in her chest was a sensation she had never felt before. Little did she know, Zofiel was experiencing the same exact feeling as he cleverly hid his emotions behind a façade of discomfort.

* * *

During the trek back, Tempest had a couple questions running through her mind. The main thing she pondered was whether or not something between her and Zofiel could ever work out. She also wondered what exactly it was that he did in the past in order to bar him from seeing the unicorn. The Seeress claimed that he had suffered much loss...and that some of his hurt had been caused by his own failures. Obviously, the mysterious adventurer was ashamed of something, and the dark elf wanted to know what that was so she could comfort him.

"When we get back to Norburgh," Zofiel's voice suddenly broke into the girl's extensive thoughts, "We'll check into a room at that disgusting inn. I apologize in advance for having to do that, but it'll be good to sleep on a bed again instead of on the ground."

Tempest nodded her understanding and agreement.

"And I regret to do this to you, but we'll share a room. That way, you'll be protected from the thugs and lowlifes that frequent that place."

"Why would you regret to share a room with me?" The young woman innocently asked. "You make it sound like a bad thing."

"No, it's just that I don't want to invade your privacy or anything. I wouldn't want to make you feel awkward or..."

"You had no problem invading my privacy earlier today," the dark elf said in a sly voice, and flashed Zofiel her pearly whites.

"I, uh..."

Tempest made a fist and playfully slugged the blond man's left arm. "I am only teasing! I am over what happened!" The young woman paused only for a moment before adding, "Truth be told, I really did not mind at all!"

"Yeah, well, I just have a feeling that I'm never going to live that moment down!" Before he could say any more, Zofiel noticed something up ahead in the desert. At first, it appeared to be just an outline, but as the adventurers marched forward, it became obvious that there was a person moving toward them. Within seconds, Zofiel recognized the man to be his friend. "Sydell!"

When the three were finally close enough to actually hear each other, the dark-haired man was the first to speak up when he shouted, "I hope you're happy, Zofiel! You made me feel bad about not coming along, so I passed up on a fine piece of ass to follow your sorry ass out here!"

Zofiel couldn't help but chuckle as he shook his friend's hand when they stood in front of each other. "Thanks for coming, Sydell!"

"I was actually going to do that back at the inn," the perverted man corrected his friend as he pointed back over his shoulder in the direction of Norburgh. "But since I'm here now, I might as well find out if this all-knowing Seeress is everything she's cracked up to be!"             

Without hesitation, Zofiel told his friend, "You have to ask her about the quest! We need to find out what our next course of action should be! Maybe she'll have some insight on how we should go about things!"

"I thought you were asking her that?" Sydell queried, and caught a glimpse of Tempest giggling off to the side.

"Yeah, well, I had other things I needed to know."

Sydell sighed. "Gods. Now I won't be able to ask about that disease that the elven women of the highlands supposedly carry. I sure hope there's no truth to that!"

* * *

By the time the small company made it back to Aisha Temple, Sydell had his shirt off and folded a couple of times so he could tuck it into his pants. As sweat ran down his body, he climbed the granite steps and glanced back at his companions. "I'll be right back," he informed them, and headed into the tall structure.

Once the dark-haired man was out of sight, Tempest turned to Zofiel and bluntly said, "You know, you can do that too if you are getting warm...and I think you are judging by the way your shirt is drenched in sweat."

Realizing that the girl was referring to him taking his shirt off, the determined traveler became defensive and muttered, "No, I couldn't. I mean, I can't...I mean..."

"What is the big deal?" Tempest asked in a playful way and walked up to Zofiel in order to grab the bottom of the cloth shirt. "It is very warm out here, and I do not want you killing yourself..." Her voice trailed off while tugging the shirt upward.

"No! I'll be okay!" Zofiel flailed about for a moment before pulling his shirt back down. "I really hate sunburn, you see, and a desert is certainly an easy place to get it..."

Backing away from the mysterious man, Tempest wondered what exactly it was that he was hiding. As much as she adored him, she knew he was keeping something from her. It had started with his age, and now he was being too apprehensive to reveal the upper part of his body. There had to be a reason for his insecurity, whether it be something simple like being embarrassed of his fair skin...or maybe it was something more severe and he had scars to hide. Either way, Tempest didn't care. She wanted the man to know that she would adore him no matter what.

After a few minutes had passed, Zofiel realized they had some time to kill. He decided the best way to do so would be to start a conversation that he wouldn't have a problem carrying on. "So, if you don't mind my asking, what was your question for the Seeress?"

"Actually," the young woman started with a smile on her pretty face, "I do mind." The dark elf then placed her hands on her hips and made her voice frivolous while saying, "Do you not believe in a woman's privacy?"

"Well, I just..."

Placing her right hand on Zofiel's left arm, the young woman giggled some more while saying, "Do not mope like that, Zofiel! When you make faces like that, I feel sad!"

"I don't mean to, Tempest," the sweating man told his female companion while looking down at the ground. "It's just that..."

The dark elf perked up and tried to get the fair-skinned man to look her in the eyes. "What is it, Zofiel?"

The blond adventurer couldn't bring himself to say what he had originally intended to tell the girl, so he instead changed the subject. "Tempest, I want you to know that if you do decide to travel with myself and the others, I will do everything in my power to protect you."

The pace of the young woman's pulse quickened as her smile lit up. As her heart continued to race at a faster rate than normal, the dark elf placed her right hand on the kind man's left cheek. "Zofiel..."

Suddenly, Sydell came meandering out of the temple. When he saw what could have potentially led to something more between the dark elf and his friend, he smiled and snickered, "Maybe I should head back inside..."

"No," Zofiel answered as his new friend backed away from him. "We were just..." Unable to find the right words, the determined adventurer instead asked, "How did you do that so fast?"

"Gods, it's not like I was going to sit down and have a cup of tea with her," Sydell answered his friend. "I asked my question, stared at her tits for a minute, and left."

Ignoring the childish remarks of his friend, Zofiel asked, "So what are we supposed to do next?"

"First things first," the dark-haired man started in a serious tone of voice, "I need to get a piece of ass. After that, we're going to Kragg to get the next piece of the Byblos." For a moment, the perverted man paused, but then his face lit up as he exclaimed, "Hey! A piece of ass...and a piece of the Byblos! That's ironic!"