Explore the town.

You and Amara walk together through the elven village. Her arm brushes up against yours. For some reason, she's staying incredibly close to you, and with both of you being on a first name basis, it really does look like you're engaged to be married. You glance over to her, and her eyes shift over to greet you with a sweet, caring smile. The air is calm and warm, and between the distance chatter of the townsfolk is the melodic singing of birds, and the whispers of trees in the wind. Up ahead, there's a stone statue of an elven woman kneeling down and a fox eating from her hand.

Amara points forward with her staff. "Look at that," she says and steps closer. "Isn't she beautiful?"

You cross your arms and look it over. "Eh. Not as much as you."

Smooth. Wait, why did I say that? She's going to be super weirded out! It was supposed to sound clever, but that just sounded super cheesy.

When you look over, Amara is turned away with her staff up against her head. "Sorry," you say. "I--"

She slowly turns an eye back. Her face is pink. "Kyle... I did not expect that. Thank you."

Both of you turn at the sound of a voice not far away. It speaks the familiar spell, "Minor Heal," in a smooth feminine voice. There's wisdom in the tone, like a goddess of old. Though you weren't the one healed, you felt a calm restorative feeling wash over your body upon the voice alone. Amara looks much more distracted than you, however. Her eyes cast off into the distance. Before you can speak, she begins running off, and you quickly move after her before she disappears.

"Hold up!" you call out.

She doesn't answer. You continue chasing Amara towards a pair of buildings where two figures stand between. One is a hunter rubbing his shoulder, while the other you almost mistake for Amara, despite her being right beside you. She resembles her quite a lot, though not so much in the chest, and she's taller as well. Her hair flows all the way down her back like glistening gold, and her body is covered by a dress that blows in the breeze like a ghostly white cloud. It consists of a front half that wraps over her bust and down her body like an apron that reaches her ankles, which is tied to a back half that's much the same. Her body is bare down the sides, where you can make out the fringes of her braless breasts, and a dark golden pair of panties tied around her hips. To match, a belt hangs around her sides, which is covered in tiny pouches. Sleeves cover her arms from wrist to just beneath her shoulder, and stay on with golden bands. She also wears a white cloak so thin you can see right through, which drifts behind her as light as a feather. Though not adorned with more jewellery than a moon pendant necklace and a circlet in her hair, she looks like an illustrious woman sent from Heaven itself.

The woman slowly turns her head. Bright emerald eyes shine on a face that knows the passage of time, though her skin is just as smooth and fair as any other elf you've met. Her pale complexion is almost radiant under the rays of the sun from above. Her hand grips a beautifully ornate silver staff that curves like a crescent moon at the end around a bright blue crystal.

"Thank you again, miss. You are too kind," says the hunter.

She steps forward. Her feet are covered by a pair of sandals--white, silver, and gold. They match the crown above her forehead. She reaches out, and places a hand upon the man's shoulder. "Please be more safe," she speaks. "Now, return to your family."

"Of course!" He salutes, and then marches off straight past you.

Amara trembles. While you may be in awe of the woman's beauty, it's your companion that's losing her composure. Her staff falls to the grass with a thud, and then she bolts forward with tears in her eyes. Sobbing, she throws her arms around the woman and squeezes her tight. "Mother!" she shouts. Amara buries her face in her chest. "Mother..." she repeats.

You reach down and pick up her staff before following behind. "I guess you're Amara's mom. Is that right?"

She rubs her open hand up and down Amara's back. "Oh. My sweet angel. You speak like we have not seen each other in a century." Her eyes turn up to you. "I am. Do you happen to be her travelling companion?"

Amara slowly releases herself from her mother's grip. She turns, and graciously takes the staff back from you. "Yes." She sniffs and wipes her eye. "Kyle is a very close companion of mine. I have made many new friends since we last spoke, mother."

The woman smiles. "I see. I think I understand." You can feel the weight of her stare as she inspects you closely.

Do you have to do the first name thing in front of your mom?! What is she going to think?

She steps past her daughter, pinches her dress, and lowers her body to a polite curtsy. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Yaera Tedrilui, an archpriest and mother of your dear Amara. Please do not be nervous. I can see kindness in your eyes. That being said, I dearly hope you are taking good care of her."

"He takes very good care of me, mother," Amara replies.

Why do I feel like I'm being judged? It isn't like we're actually engaged. "My name's Kyle Warren. I'm actually a knight in Tivera, which is still weird to say. Mostly, we're all adventurers, and we came here on a quest for a specific item."

"I see. I would be more than happy to help you," Yaera responds.

Like a child, Amara reaches up and tugs on her mother's sleeve. "It has been a long time... Must our reunion be so simple?"

"My Amara." She runs her hand down through her daughter's hair. "You know that I travel--"

"To help people in need, yes," she interrupts. "And I am so proud that my mother is such a kind soul. But before we find the flower we hunt, I would not mind us spending a little bit of time together at least."

With a long sigh, her mother smiles warmly. "Of course. You have me for as long as you wish. I would be overjoyed if you told me tales of your new companions and everything you have done. After we catch up, then we will hunt for this flower in question. Is that satisfactory?"

Amara nods. "Let us converse in the spring then."

"That sounds lovely."

Amara then reaches over and grabs your hand. "You will love the hot spring here, Kyle. The water is so warm, and the minerals are wonderful for your skin. It even has restorative properties. I believe after all we have been through, it will do our bodies good."

"How sweet," says Yaera with a hand on her cheek.

I'm not going to deny Amara a chance to talk with her mom. I'm sure the flower won't take long to find once we're out there anyway, especially with Yaera here. "Then lead the way. Sounds good to me."