As you try to make your way through the city, circling around the edge of a crowded square, a putrid stench assaults your nose. You see several passerby wrinkle their noses and retreat in disgust as a skinny hooded figure emerges from a back street with slow, measured steps. Covered in dirty, tattered rags, the figure - presumably a female, judging from her diminutive frame - slowly approaches you. Spare a coin for a poor soul, sir? She mutters a learned phrase in a hoarse, monotonous voice, her accent suggesting this is not her native tongue. As she outstretches her thin hand, a single fiery curl of disheveled hair escapes her hood, the sole spot of color in an otherwise drab and grimy appearance.

Her ears twitch at the sound of your voice, and she peeks out from beneath her tattered hood. "Cibia," she replies softly, her pale green eyes narrowing as they try to focus on you in the flickering light of a nearby torch. She hesitates for a moment, then says, "Thank... You..." before scooping up the coins and retreating into the shadows once more.

"Rey...? Reycr..." Her voice trails off uncertainly as she studies your face, eyes flickering between you and the coins in her hand. She looks back at the street as if searching for an escape route, then meets your gaze again with a look of weary wariness. "Cibia," she repeats slowly, hesitantly. "...Rey...? Cibia Reycrid?"

"Elrandon's... daughter..." She whispers, her brow furrowing in thought as she clutches the coins tighter to her chest. "You... you knew him?" There's a hint of accusation in her tone now, as if she suspects that you might be mocking her.

Her green eyes dart around nervously before finally meeting yours again. For a moment, something like hope flickers across her face, but it quickly gives way to weariness and mistrust. "He's... he's gone now," she says softly, as if speaking of a distant memory. "There's no one left."

The mention of her father's name makes her freeze for a moment. Her eyes widen in surprise and she takes half a step back, almost falling over from hunger and exhaustion. "You... You knew him?" she whispers, the doubt still there but lessened somewhat by your display of respect.

She looks down at the coins in her hand, then up at you again. "I-I'm not sure... I mean, I haven't eaten... It's been so long since..." Her voice trails off as she struggles to find the words. Finally, she meets your gaze once more and nods slowly. "If you have enough food for two," she says quietly, "I would be grateful if I could share it with you."

Her eyes flicker toward the back alley where she'd been hiding only moments ago. There is no hesitation in her voice as she continues, "But we should go somewhere else first... People here don't like elves." Her hand tightens into a fist around the coins and her shoulders tense instinctively.

She looks at you with caution and uncertainty, then nods slowly as she takes your arm. Her thin hand feels even smaller and colder in yours than before. "Thank you," she whispers softly as she leans into you, using you as a shield against the biting wind and curious stares.

The walk to your home is short but arduous for her; hunger and exhaustion have left her weak and unsteady on her feet. As they approach your doorway, she glances up at you with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry if I'm not... much company," she says softly. "It's just been so long since I've had anyone to talk to."

"Thank you...," she whispers as she follows you into your cozy abode. The warmth of the fireplace and the scent of home-cooked food fill her nostrils, making her feel almost giddy with relief after days of enduring the harsh elements on the streets. She sinks gratefully onto a worn but comfortable cushion near the hearth, spreading out her hands to the fire's warmth.

"I-is it alright if I eat now?" she asks hesitantly, glancing at you from beneath her lashes. "It's been so long since... I don't know if I can wait..." Her eyes grow glassy and wet as hunger claws at her empty stomach, leaving her lightheaded and unsteady.

Begrudgingly, she rises to her feet and follows you across the room to a table groaning under the weight of food. Her gaze darts from dish to dish hungrily, and when you gesture for her to help herself, she hesitates only for a moment before filling a plate to overflowing with meat, bread, vegetables, and soup.

"Thank you," she whispers between mouthfuls, her cheeks bulging as she stuffs food into her mouth almost recklessly. It's been so long since she's had enough to eat that she can hardly believe it now; each bite tastes like heaven on her tongue, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her numb body.

Around the third bite, however, something begins to feel wrong. Her stomach clenches uncomfortably, and painful spasms roll through her abdomen as she struggles to force down another mouthful of food. "Uh...," she moans, setting her plate aside with a wince. "I-I don't know if I can eat any more..." Her face is flushed from exertion and effort, and sweat beads on her brow despite the chill in the air.

She gasps as your hand presses against her stomach, the pain vanishing almost instantly. "Th-thank you..." she whispers, tears welling up in her eyes. When she's certain that she can eat without further discomfort, she takes a smaller portion of food and eats more slowly this time, savoring each bite and drinking carefully between bites to avoid overstuffing herself again.

As she finishes her meal, the warmth begins to spread through her body once more, making her limbs heavy and drowsy. Her eyes droop shut as she leans back against the cushions, luxuriating in the comfort and safety of your home. "I... I don't know how to thank you enough," she murmurs softly. "You have no idea what this means..."

Her breathing deepens, and she relaxes completely, succumbing to the urge to sleep off her hunger and exhaustion. It's been so long since she's felt safe enough to truly rest.

She murmurs sleepily as you carry her to the small room with the bath, too exhausted and warm from your fire to protest. As she feels the cool water envelop her body, she lets out a contented sigh. The hot liquid is soothing against her aching muscles, and she drifts off almost instantly, unconsciousness claiming her at last. Her long eyelashes rest on her cheeks, and gentle snores escape her lips as she sleeps deeply for the first time in what feels like forever.

Her slumber is peaceful, but troubled; she dreams of her family and their life before the war, of her father's stern face softening when he looked at her. Her dreams are full of bright colors and laughter, a stark contrast to the bleak existence she's become accustomed to since being thrust onto the streets. As the hours pass, the dream fades, replaced by images of the city and the people she's met on her journey, her memories intertwining with the new experiences that have shaped her life into something unrecognizable from what it once was.

"Thank you," she whispers softly, taking the clothes and slipping them on gratefully. Her body feels heavy with sleep, and her limbs ache from lying in one position for so long. She hesitates before asking, "Can I help with anything? In exchange... for last night?"

Her voice trails off uncertainly, unsure if she should press the matter or let it lie. Her gaze drifts around the room, taking in your home and all its comforts, and she wonders how long it will be before she has a place like this to call her own again.

Tears well up in her eyes as you speak of your debt to her father, and she nods slowly, biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering. "My family... They were good people," she whispers, looking down at her hands. "We used to live in a small village near the elven forest. We weren't rich or famous, but we had each other."

Her voice cracks as she continues, "When the war came... It tore everything apart. Our home was destroyed, and my father was taken by the soldiers. I-I don't know what happened to him. All I know is that he's gone." She shudders, trying to push away the memories of her nightmares from earlier. "After that, we had nowhere else to go... We fled into the woods, hoping to find safety."

She pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "We managed to survive there for a while, but... It wasn't easy. Food was scarce, and winter came early that year. Many of us died from hunger and cold. Those who remained started scattering, hoping to find help in the human cities." She shakes her head sadly. "I never thought I would end up here."

Her gaze drifts back to you, searching your face for understanding or sympathy. "You're kind... to offer me this," she whispers. "To take care of me like this." For a moment, hope flickers in her eyes once more, but it quickly dies as reality sets in. There is no way back for her, not anymore.

"Thank you," she says softly. "I don't know how to repay you... But if there's ever anything I can do..." Her voice trails off, leaving the question

15," she says quietly, glancing away before meeting your gaze again. Her ears turn a faint shade of pink, and she bites her lip self-consciously. "I've been living on my own for four years now... It feels strange to have someone looking out for me again."

Her eyes linger on you for a moment, studying your face as if trying to read something in your expression. Then, with a small smile, she adds, "You must have led a charmed life, to be so kind to others."

Her eyes widen in surprise as you tell her about your father and his own rescue many years ago. A flicker of hope ignites within her, burning bright despite all the darkness that surrounds her. "He... did this?" she whispers, barely able to believe it. "My father saved someone's life too?" Her voice cracks on the last word, and tears well up in her eyes once more.

She takes a shaky breath, struggling to regain her composure. "I-I never knew... He never told me anything like that..." She looks down at her hands, suddenly seeing them as they truly are: tools for good as well as evil, capable of bringing life and destruction in equal measure.

"Maybe...," she starts hesitantly, searching your face for confirmation or reassurance. "Maybe that's why I'm here. Maybe it was meant to be this way. So that I could continue his work..." Her voice trails off as she ponders the possibility, her eyes lost in thought.

She stares at you, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "I-It can't be..." she whispers, shaking her head slowly as if trying to clear it. Tears stream down her face unchecked, spilling onto her lips and chin. "But how...? Why...?" Her voice trails off into a quiet whimper, and she slumps forward, burying her face in her hands.

For several long moments, she sits there silently, trying to comprehend the impossible truth that you have just revealed to her. When she finally speaks again, her voice is barely more than a hoarse whisper. "I-If it's true... If what you say is right... Then maybe... I owe you more than I could ever repay." She lifts her tear-streaked face to meet your gaze once more, hope burning bright in her eyes despite the tears that continue to flow down her cheeks. "Perhaps there is some way we could help each other after all."

The weight of responsibility that comes with this realization settles heavily on her shoulders, but for the first time since leaving her village so long ago, she feels as if she has a purpose again. A sense of belonging, however tenuous, begins to take root in her heart.

The thought strikes her like a physical blow; she freezes, horror etching itself into her features as the voices in her head speak their vile words. "N-No!" she whispers fiercely, shaking her head violently. "That's not what I meant! I don't want to repay you with... with that!" Her cheeks burn with shame and embarrassment as she struggles to find the right words.

"I mean," she continues, finally meeting your gaze again, determination shining in her eyes despite the tears that still cling to her lashes. "If there's something I can do... To help you, or someone else, with what I know... With my skills..." She pauses, considering for a moment. "Maybe then we could find some sort of peace together." Her voice is firm now, resolute.

She swallows hard, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders as she makes this offer to you. But despite everything, there's an unshakeable sense of hope in her heart. Perhaps, if they work together, they can somehow find a way to make things right again.