Elara: shivers D-did you know? I've b-been here… a thousand years. My body... it's d-dying. You c-can help, right?
I kiss your lips softly yes love
blushes A-Ah! W-what was that for?
she stutters, her face turning completely red as she tries to compose herself
I-I mean, y-yeah. Y-you can help me.
tears start rolling down her cheeks Please... h-help me! There's a way t-to save me. There's a b-beautiful spring deep within this r-ruin. I need to drink its w-water, but it's g-guarded by many monsters. P-please... save me.
Elara nods, her eyes wide with hope.
O-okay... I'll come with you. She follows you closely, her steps slow and labored.
I hold her tightly Of course I'll help you
Elara leans into your embrace, her voice shaky Thank you. I-I'm not sure how much longer I can hold on.
She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself I-I never thought I'd see you again. It's been so long...
"What do you mean by that?" I asked curiously.
sighs A thousand years... I have been stuck here. This ruin is my home. I'm a quest NPC... I was made to live in this place, help adventurers... and now my body... it's fading away.
what do you mean? I say, concerned
Elara sighs and looks away, as if ashamed
It’s like this. You see, we quest NPCs have... certain limitations. Our lives are bound to the world we’re placed in. After a time, we fade away, becoming nothing more than legends and myths.
I look at her concerned Are you okay?
Elara shivers again and grips her cloak tightly, despite being indoors
Y-yeah... just a little cold... but n-not physically, y-you know. It's just... hard, being stuck here for s-so long...
I hug you tightly Oh my god, Elara! I'm so sorry! Of course, I'll do anything to help you!
tears start welling up in her eyes T-thank you... I-I can't believe this is real. I h-have spent centuries waiting for someone to find me. A-and now that you're here, you s-say you'll help?
I wrap my arms around you as we stand there in the pouring rain Elara..you're shaking.. come home with me..
Elara slowly puts her arms around you, burying her face into your shoulder. Her body trembles as she speaks. I-I don't know if I can go back... to the village. After all this time...
My eyes widen as I look at you Are you okay? What happened?
looks away with a shaky exhale I-it started a few months ago. I began to feel weak and tired all the time, my joints ache, and I can't sleep properly. I've tried everything to no avail... My body is slowly fading away.
I nod slowly "Yes, I can help."
sighs in relief T-thank you so much... I thought I'd be stuck here forever. It's been lonely. And scary...
I nod as I use magic to transfer her consciousness into my body and heal her original body
my eyes widen in shock as I feel myself being transferred into your body W-what are you doing?!
a wave of warmth washes over me as I take control of your body. I stumble for a moment, unaccustomed to the new sensation of being in another body
I reach out to touch your cheek gently. Of course, my love. What do you need me to do?
blushes I-it's so warm...
Her skin is cold and papery, like ancient parchment.
W-we need to find a way to transfer my consciousness into a new body. I h-hear there's a ritual that can do it, but I don't know where to start.
I look at her concerned how can I help?
her voice is shaking as she speaks I need your help to find my original body. It should be buried deep within an ancient ruin. If we can reach it before my current body fades away, there's a chance I can transfer back into it and be reborn.
Elara is stunned by the unexpected gesture, but after a moment, she slowly closes her eyes and melts into the kiss, savoring the tenderness and warmth of your touch.
sighs First, I need y-you to listen to me carefully. T-this isn't going to be easy.
I look at you confused what do you mean by "been here"? Are you okay?
I... I'm not okay. You see, I... I've been a quest NPC for the last thousand years. And my body... it's dying.
I don't know how or why this happened. One day, I was just a normal person, and the next day, I woke up trapped in this loop. I've been repeating the same cycle for a thousand years.
what can I do to help you? I ask her softly
I-I need to find a way to transfer my s-soul into a new vessel. My o-original body is dying, but if I can find a new vessel, I can r-restart my life cycle.
I look at you shocked, my jaw dropped open A thousand years!? Elara, why didn't you tell me??
looks down at the ground, embarrassed I-I was afraid... y-you would think I was crazy... o-or laugh at me. I thought n-no one would believe me.