The dim candle light flickers from a slight breeze, creating dancing shadows along the wall. A yawn escapes my mouth and I prepare myself for a good night's sleep. However my nightly routine is interrupted by frantic knocking at my door. "What is it now?" I huff as I throw off the comforter, irritated at being disturbed. I open the door and see a young elvish woman on the other side.
"I need your help, please, please, please." She begs, while nervously looking around the hall.
"Alva what do you want at this hour?" I reply, leaning against the door frame.
"I need your help to fill in my paper work for the court." She continues.
"Not again! I already helped you last year." I sigh.
"Please, you are the only one who can help me. I know it's late, but I was working on a project for the empress." Alva explains.
"And you forgot the paperwork for the court again." I state, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Yes." Alva mumbles, looking down. It is always the same with this woman. She is brilliant, a prodigy in the art of magic and can read the most ancient books without any problem. However, she can't manage to organize her life. "Did you forget to wash your hair again?" I ask.
"What? Oh, that." She replies, pulling a lock of hair in front of her eyes. "It looks fine. Anyways, you know the emperor and the empress don't really care for that stuff. However, the tax collectors will throw a fit if we don't have all the papers in order.
"They'll throw a bigger fit when they realize it's your fifth time that you didn't file them on time." Alva's eyes widen and she puts a finger to her lips. "Ssh! Don't say that out loud. I'm begging you. You know they will kick me out of the court if they find out. Just one last favor, I swear."
I cross my arms and look at her sternly. "What do I get in return?" Alva gives me a questioning look and I continue. "I had to help you last time. If I do this again, I expect compensation."
Alva puts her hands together in front of her face, and speaks with a sweet voice. "Oh please, this is really important to me. I can also share some of my super secret research with you."
"The secret research that makes your hands blue and purple after every experiment?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Yes! It's really fascinating stuff. I think you would like it. The coloration, well it is still a work in progress, but the effects are real. It's almost finished." Her eyes light up.
"Almost finished? Hah, you've been saying that for two years now." Alva's expression drops and she sighs. "Alright, alright, I'll help you with your paperwork." I finally relent.
"Yay!" She claps her hands.
"But! I expect some results for my troubles." I say sternly.
"You got it! Now let's get started, we still have a lot to do." Alva pulls me along, and I'm too tired to resist.