000. "Banished."
“We’re here.”
The carriage came to a stop the moment the royal guard said his words.
I looked out the window. A large shipping vessel sat at the dock, a full crew and merchants loading up their wares.
“That’s the ship? Taking me… there?” I said.
“Yes.” Another guard said.
“Will you two be accompanying me?”
“No, we are not allowed outside of our territory.” Said the first guard.
“Then, I’ll be on my own?”
Neither of the guards acknowledged my question, the second guard opened the door to the carriage and stepped out first.
“Come.” The first guard said, grabbing me by the cuffs wrapped around my wrists.
“W-wait please, I can’t do this—”
Dragged out the carriage by the guard, I tripped and fell onto my knees.
The first guard sighed, stopping in place looking down at me.
“Get up, we would prefer to keep this simple.”
“b-but the Queen—” I stammered.
“Has considered you not guilty, yes.”
The second guard retrieved a scroll, unrolling it and presenting it to me. My judgment in writing.
'Final verdict: Guilty. For the use of forbidden magic and murder.’
“The council’s vote however decides the final verdict.” The first guard said, pulling me up as I was forced onto my feet. “As punishment, you are banished from the Kingdom of Elves and exiled from all territories under it’s control.”
“…”
I stared down at the ground, silent.
“Now come, the shipping vessel is leaving soon.” He said, dragging me again.
“Down here.”
We went down into the belly of the ship, going past the crews barracks and deep into the ship.
There was hardly any light, surrounded by various baskets, crates, and packed items. Stacked on top of one another.
I was dragged across the cargo hold of the ship, with the second guard behind me.
We stopped at one open spot in between two stacks of sealed crates, just enough room for me to extend my arms.
The only thing there was a marked floor saying “Reserved by the Kingdom.”
“This is where you will remain during the ships voyage.” The first guard said, unlocking my cuffs and removing them.
“Here?” I said, looking at my surroundings to see if there was a shred of anything. “There’s… nothing.”
“This space was rented by the Kingdom for your safe transport, here…”
A coin purse was handed to me by the second guard.
“You can use the funds to purchase what you need from the merchants on this ship.” The first guard said, turning around. “We will take our leave, may the goddess protect you.”
“…”
I fell onto my knees once more. The two royal guards soon leaving my sight.
...I was alone now.
Looking at the coin purse in my left hand, just below… my wrist had an emblem showing the marking of banishment.
and…
I cried.
Once a royal researcher and archivist for The Queen, my mother.
Now… just another dark elf. Seen as cursed by some.
I had nothing. Everything taken from me as I go to a land far away from the sky islands of the royal elves.
I wrapped myself in my purple cloak, laying on my side. I continued to cry as I felt the ship begin to take off into sea.
— Written by Froey. —