The Last Elf Hero

Caladra woke up to the sounds of grunting. With heavy eyelids and sweat dripping from his forehead, in a daze he rose to sit in his bedroll. The grunting sounds only got louder as his senses slowly returned to him, inch by inch as his fever tried to return him it almost won out, but the sounds of two women laughing woke him past the point of no return.

With a slight dizziness and an unbalanced step he exited his tent to see what was the commotion. In his dazed sleep deprived view, were his companions on his journey.

Aurelion, the 'elven' orc raised from birth to become a mage, lifting a log over his head as if to prove his strength, only to drop it again after his arms shook from heavy weight.

The women was Eraldia. Chosen by the village elders to guide Caladra, to complete his journey and sworn to assist him in anyway. She had stolen Caladra's heart once he was introduced to him a few weeks ago at their first meeting when the boy was greeted with the sight of her massive breasts, a sight he was unable to look away from. Thankfully she found it amusing and allowed him to gaze until he could calm down, although if anyone else was present for that 'encounter', she might not have been chosen as by the village Elders for this task. Ever since Caladra had no problem or thought to anger her. He followed her around like a lost puppy with a happy wag until they became inseparable for their journey.

She pointed and laughed, jeering at Aurelion as the green skinned mage lifted the log again as he barked a response to defend his strength. "Even with your damn curse on my body, I can easily lift thi-" Again it fell with a thud onto the grass behind him. Eraldia erupting into a taunting laugh before taunting him further. "An Orc that can't even hold half his own weight is hardly an orc at all. Are you sure the curse mark is keeping you weak? Is all that training you do just for show? Perhaps you just need to try again... and again... and again until you got it right". Her voice was smearing her words into his annoyed face as he bent over again to try and prove himself.

Finally Eraldia noticed her hero, she turned to face him with a concerned look on her face. "My hero, are you sure your able to stand? You should rest a day longer. Would you need a meal or maybe something to ease your fever?" She was again all over him, her hand on his forehead before pulling him in for a hug. "My Poor Cal, you bare such a burden with these gifts. Hopefully the magic will ease its suffering on your body soon".

Aurelion watched from across the small camp, further annoyed by the contrast to how Eraldia treated Caladra. The curse on their bodies was not so different, but reflected the same exact contrast to how all elves treated them both. The mark on Caladra's body, empowered the elf day by day, strengthening his body, A gift from his god. Meanwhile, Aurelion's curse mark shunned his growth, everyday sapping his strength and robbing any ounce of strength gifted to him by his blood, A shackle from their god. Perhaps he should have hated them, but this was how it was ever since his birth.

"Careful she doesn't start offering to breastfeed you with those udders of hers" Aurelion jeered as he teased them both. Eraldia separating from her precious hero to berate the orc as Caladra laughed and tried to hide his own lustful thoughts by the remark. He always got along with Aurelion, ever since they were both young boys. Unlike Eraldia who only seemed more and more annoyed by the orc's presence day by day.

But their usual banter ended abuptly as the curse mark on both Aurelion and Caladra shone bright. But only Caladra winced as a burning pain ran over him, forcing him to kneel as Eraldia knelt by him to support him upright.

"You need to rest! Just like the Elders said, the pain will not stop until you reach the next village, but only with rest can your body take it."