Though he tried to pretend otherwise, Alyse could tell that the repeated disappointment, and the years spent effectively magic-less, were taking a toll on Reynard's spirit. Hoping to remedy the situation, Alyse successfully petitioned the Royal Palace for access to their comprehensive library of dark spells. If a rare dark class spell they hadn't yet seen was known to elves, they could find it there.
Reynard – then age 13 – was ecstatic about the opportunity to visit the palace with his sister, and the possibility of finally learning magic. Alas, after several more months combing through the royal family's unique collections, they returned home empty-handed. He had a dark class affinity, and by extension an ability to use some spells, but those spells seemed unknown to elves. Reynard was effectively magic-less.
Following their fruitless trip, Alyse watched her little brother fall into an uncharacteristic well of sadness. Over the next year, the smiles and warm company she'd come to expect from Reynard faded, and his enthusiasm in their sword training slowly drained away. Alyse could hardly bear the sight of it.
It did not help matters that the news of Reynard's definitive lack of practical magic spread through the family around that time. One day, Alyse once again overheard gossip from some of the family servants while wandering the house alone in thought. This time, she wasn't the only subject of derision.
"…a negligent heir, now a child that's useless with magic. Tragic for the Egris family name…"
Alyse's vision had nearly blackened with rage at the comment. She could handle them looking down on her. She may not be able to help the fact that she had no desire for men, but she figured that she at least made a choice to abandon her succession to the matriarchy.
Reynard, on the other hand, was truly innocent in her eyes. He had absolutely no control over his situation. In fact, she'd thought, it was fair to say that the elves had failed him, and not the other way around. After all, he had a dark class affinity and plenty of magic power, the elves merely lacked the tools to let him utilize it. That's how Alyse saw it.
She knew that if Reynard heard these kinds of comments going forward, as she'd been hearing them for centuries, her sweet little brother may very well break. No matter what, she was determined to make sure that never happened.
With these thoughts on her mind, Alyse had approached the servants responsible for the rude comment in a haze of fury. They'd seen her approach and quickly become fearful, no doubt noticing her anger and assuming that she'd overheard them talking about her. However, Alyse had merely glared at them coldly and spoke in a similarly icy tone.
"Gossip about me all you want, but if Reynard ever overhears a comment like that about him from any of you...I'll kill the person responsible. This is your only warning, let the others know."
The servants in question had gone pale, and immediately squeaked their assent to Alyse before running off. Violence between elves was virtually unheard of, but one look at Alyse's face and they knew she meant what she said. They also knew that, regardless of what others said about her failure as an heir, there wasn't anyone in the entire city that could stop her from killing them if she really put her mind to it.
While the present day Mizuki would have found it hard to believe based on Alyse's behavior around him, she'd remained exceedingly pleasant with everyone up to this point. Sure, there were a couple of crass comments to the Prima when they'd pushed her to far, but she'd always strived to be polite for her mother's sake. This was the first time she'd let her cool exterior be corroded so thoroughly.
While Alyse could be rightfully called apathetic about most other elves, and slow to form attachments, she was fiercely loyal to those that she did love. Her mother, and now her little brother – she'd do anything within her power for them. She didn't care about the consequences for herself.
That's why, following Reynard's descent into despair and her encounter with the gossiping servants, Alyse made up her mind to do what she could to remedy his situation. If Reynard couldn't use spells of his own, she'd make up the difference with enchanted gear.
Unfortunately, while elven craftsmen are quite skilled otherwise, alteration classes are rare, and enchanting affinities rarer still, within the elf population. In fact, there was only one elf alive at the time that could craft enchanted items, and they were in direct service to the royal family. Unless it was for a critical project for public good, like drinking water systems or bathhouses, not even nobles could solicit enchanted items. Similarly, the kingdom had no international trade.
Consequently, the enchanted items that did exist within elven country were either existing heirlooms, royal treasures, or personally obtained from outside the kingdom at great risk and expense. Alyse couldn't just buy them on a whim. Of course, such items could be bought throughout the human countries for the right price, but even Alyse was hesitant to venture into such dangerous territory alone. This was before Elmesia existed.
That only left the dwarves, who had the highest prevalence of enchantment affinities of any race. They were rumored to live in small mountain settlements throughout Gelrod's Pass, but their exact locations weren't generally known. Still, that challenge didn't deter Alyse.
After a few months of preparation to secretly acquire her mother's blessing, the necessary money and materials, and a volunteer with the non-alteration class spell affinities that she needed for enchantment, she set out for Gelrod's Pass. After several more months of searching, she finally located her first dwarven village.
She found that the dwarves – whom she'd never met before – were surprisingly welcoming. However, they were also unexpectedly resistant to her request for custom enchanted gear. This was because many of them had the prideful belief that enchantments were a 'crutch' of sorts in creating quality weapons, but also because of an even more widespread obsession that items only be forged by the craftsman's own inspiration.
Fortunately, one of the less archaic blacksmiths in the fourth village she found, a dwarf named Hal'vez, was open to discussing Alyse's request. When she described the kind of gear and weapons she wanted, and their general capabilities, Hal'vez merely nodded along politely. After her explanation, when Alyse asked him if he'd accept the job, the old dwarf just shrugged.
"Tis' hard for me to say. That doesn't depend on y'er kind of items or their capabilities. My inspiration lies in the meaning behind the weapon. I cannot forge these items, pour m'eh very soul into them, without a clarity of purpose for them in mind. I ask yah...what destiny will these creations of mine have? That is what I need to know to answer y'er question." (Hal'vez)
Alyse had been taken aback by the odd question. She assumed the purposes of armor and weapons were clear. She wondered, would he only craft gear that he assumed would be used for some noble pursuit or grand adventure? Alyse doubted that saying it was to cheer up a little elven boy would qualify. Should she lie or embellish what they'd be used for, she'd wondered?
She had always been inclined to very direct interactions with people. She wasn't a schemer or a skilled manipulator, nor did she enjoy dishonesty. However, she wasn't above lying for her brother's sake.
Still, while she had no skill at manipulating people, per se, she was quite good at judging them, and her instincts told her that honesty was the way forward with Hal'vez. So, Alyse explained the reasons for her journey, and her brother's situation, in its plain truth. Hal'vez didn't give anything away as she did so, he just listened stoically.
"So, you see, I just want my little brother to believe that, in some way, his goals are within reach. I don't want him to feel...to feel like he's worthless. Like he's missing something the rest of us have that holds him back. I can't tell you what he'll use your items for specifically, but I doubt that it's some grand destiny. Still, while it may not seem like much to you…it's everything to him. I'm begging you…please…will you help me?" (Alyse)
Alyse had steeled herself for rejection as she finished her plea, hardly able to look Hal'vez in the eyes as she held back tears. Her requests to the other dwarfs had fallen on seemingly deaf ears, much to her frustration. Somehow, this plea to Hal'vez seemed like her last chance, and it was all she could manage to keep her voice from breaking while she'd spoken.
More than anything, she wanted to dispel for her brother the feelings of being a misfit, a failure, that had tainted her own life the past millennia. If Hal'vez turned her down...she couldn't bear to face her brother until she found another solution.
When she raised her head to meet Hal'vez's gaze, however, she only saw a warm smile from him. He nodded proudly as he responded.
"Aye, I'd be honored. He doesn't need to slay dragons or rescue princesses with m'eh creations. If y'er saying he'll pour his very soul into using them, to rely on them while he gives his life purpose, then they could have no greater destiny in m'eh eyes. I'll forge y'er brother the finest weapons and armor I can manage." (Hal'vez)
Hearing his response, she'd first been speechless, then despite herself, she'd sobbed dryly with immense relief as she stuttered out her thanks. Hal'vez had just waited patiently, reassuringly patting her on the shoulder. Eventually, she pulled herself together, and they discussed item specifics.
Alyse stayed in the village while Hal'vez crafted the items she requested. It was grueling work for him, with several failed iterations. Alyse commonly had to venture outside the village to collect special materials. After several months, though, the requested items were finally finished.
With heartfelt thanks and a sincere goodbye to Hal'vez, Alyse finally made her way home to her brother after almost a year. Unbeknownst to Alyse, life had become harder for him in her absence.
Reynard was then 15, nearly a young man. So, though Alyse's threats to staff had kept him from ever hearing negative comments about his situation from those around him, their general sentiments and pitying stares were not lost on him either. During their time apart, without Alyse there to act as a voice of encouragement, Reynard had grown progressively more despondent over his situation. Of course, his mother was generally supportive, but due to her pressures as matriarch, she wasn't as involved in his life as Alyse had been.
When Alyse finally returned, he expressed both relief over seeing his big sister again, and anger over her mysterious departure. Since she didn't want to worry him or get his hopes up if she failed, she hadn't told Reynard where she was going or why, just that she'd return from an important trip within a year. Consequently, Alyse was both elated and guilt-stricken upon reuniting with a jaded Reynard.
She apologized sincerely and finally explained the reason for her absence. She revealed the items she'd obtained for him – armor with physical enhancement and minor healing enchantments, which could be adjusted to fit his body as it finished maturing, and a short sword with enchantments for ice, fire, and physical enhancement. Within the Elven Kingdom, they would easily be considered royal treasures.
Once he processed what was happening, Reynard had taken the gifts in trembling hands, and met Alyse's gaze with disbelief in his eyes and tears streaming down his face. It wasn't just the generosity of the gifts themselves that overwhelmed Reynard, it was the underlying message that his sister believed so vehemently that he was worthy of them. The past year of his life had seemed devoid of such sentiments from others.
He didn't want to admit it to Alyse, who he admired more than anyone, but he was on the verge of giving up on the sword when she'd returned. He'd just felt like, no matter how hard he trained or refined his technique, he'd never be consequential as a warrior without practical magic.
However, seeing his older sister again, and feeling the encouragement of her gifts, Reynard felt a new resolve take hold in his mind. If Alyse believed in him enough to spend a year of her life outside the safety of the kingdom, supporting him like this, then he must be worth something. Without ever speaking it out loud, he made a vow then that he'd give everything he had to proving her correct.