"Ysmir's beard!" Jorleif exclaimed "The man was always a bit odd, but I would never expected--" his words trailed off. taking a moment to recompose himself, he gave the argonian a warm smile. "You've done this city a mighty service, friend. I believe you'll find the guards to be a bit more cordial with you in the future."
Quill-Finder simply nodded, before turning to the doors and walking away.
As they walked through the town, the tone was different. People looked towards the three, not as outsiders, but as heroes. Slayers of The Butcher. whispers were replaced by smiles, "thank yous" and pleasantries. it was almost... nice.
It had been decided that they would stay one more night, and head out on the road in the morning.
The Inn, more lively than usual, bustled with a joy and energy that wasn't there the last time that Quill-Finder was there. People looked to them and cheered, thanking them.
A number of people, including the woman they had saved, offered to buy the three drinks with smiles on their faces.
As Lydia and Illia celebrated their victory, Quill-Finder was quiet.
the night rolled on until Quill-Finder finally stood, saying that she was going to retire for the night.
She lay on her bed, trying her best to sleep the night away. everyone who hated her because she was an outsider suddenly loved her. she hated it. all she could do is play the events over the past few days on repeat ad nauseam. until finally, she drifted to sleep.
Departure was quick. for once, Lydia was the second person to wake. Quill-Finder was already dressed, packed, and ready to go. She couldn't wait to leave. with well wishes being handed by the innkeeper, Quill-Finder, Lydia, and Illia set off for the road once more.
Quill-Finder walked briskly down the bridge back to the stables to collect their horses.
"Slow down!" Lydia called. "What's gotten into you?"
Quill-Finder simply responded, "The sooner we're away from this town the better..."
"I don't understand..." Illia said with confusion. "you weren't comfortable here because the people hated us, and now that they adore us, you can't wait to leave?"
Quill-Finder stopped. the wind blowed, carrying the cold winter air. Quill-finder shivered. "When you walk into a town, what is the first thing they see?"
Lydia and Illia exchanged a look, unable to answer the question.
"People." Quill-Finder turned to face her two friends. "When you walk into a brand new town, people may have questions, but they don't immediately judge you, because you look like them."
She continued. "you're not elves, you're not beastfolk. you're human. and that's fine. But when I walk into a new town, they see nothing more than an argonian."
"Quill..." Lydia tried her best to console her friend only to be rebuffed as Quill-Finder pushed away.
Quill-Finder pointed towards the city. "When I walked into that town, I was judged. Not because I was new, but because I was a lizard. I was worse than an outsider, I was subhuman."
"Now, almost overnight," she continued, "They adore me. they can't get enough of me. Because I did something they never expected me to do. be useful."
Illia stood back, silent. listening. she went to say something, but no words came out.
"I did something that they couldn't ignore, and now I'm not just an argonian, I'm an argonian that slayed the butcher. I'm one of the 'good' ones."
no one said a word for more than a minute. no one moved. Quill-Finder shook with anger, frustration, sadness. a mix of emotions that not even she knew how to fully describe while Lydia and Illia stood there, stunned.
Finally, Lydia broke the silence. "You know you're worth more than what people think, Quill..."
"You don't get it!" Quill-Finder cried, "had either one of you walked into town by yourself, you wouldn't have had to worry! You wouldn't have needed someone to guard your door all because you were different. Had I walked in on my own, I very well might have walked out!"
another moment of silence.
Quill-Finder continued, "It's not just Windhelm or Skyrim. It's Cyrodiil. It's Hammerfell. it's Morrowind. It has been an uphill battle to get where I am all my life!" Quill-Finder stared down Lydia. there was a burning anger in the argonian's eyes. not directed at anyone in particular, but it was clear that Qill-Finder was upset. "They treat me with respect, not because I'm a person, but because of what I can do for them."
Eventually, Quill-Finder broke away. "We have a long ways to go. the sooner we leave, the sooner we get there..."
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