Elrodan had heard people talking about it and seen the posters. Well, who hadn't. It was bound to pull everyone in, which was great but also meant it would be busy. He had that slight advantage, flight. He couldn't count on himself being the only one to be able to do this. If he wanted a prime spot on the roof, he'd have to be there early. It was the day before and getting late. Forsaking the normal tree for his bed he chose to head to the arena and sleep there. It felt like a warm enough night and the flight there was easy enough. Settling down on the roof with only a few birds for company further round, he made himself comfortable and fell asleep. 

As the sun crested over the horizon, the little fairy rose from his slumbers and standing up, stretched while he surveyed the world before him. It didn't surprise him to see plenty of activity going on below in preparation for the games. The throngs of crowds not being present as imagined, he decided to go see what there was being set up. Flitting over the tents, the lively chatter of the stall holders filled his ears. From what he could see, there was an awful lot of food and drinks stands going up. 'I bet it won't only be some of the contestants who can't stand by the end of the day!'. Any other stalls he spots, seem to be taken by trinket and merchandise peddlers. As he continues round he finds an open door into the underneath of the arena's stands and decides to see if there's more going on there.

Touching down and walking except when there was a sudden group to get by, he looks around to hear the slight panic in someone's voice. Nonchalantly walking closer he tries to listen in on what's being said.
1 - "...believe it! How can it be that the medics are ill?! Can't they heal themselves?!"
2 - muffled reply
1 - "Oh... well that's still leaves us in quite the predicament. One or two medical assistants, if they show up, won't be able to help if things go south for any of the contestants. Find me a doctor in the town, in fact try and get anyone who resembles a medic, even a vet!"

At this point, Elrodan decides to make his presence known, in his haste to help, forgetting about the games he was here to watch. "Excuse me, I can heal. I'm more than happy to help.". As he flits into the air to be closer and more visible to the people talking, he can see the standard medical sign displayed.

The pair, a gnome with thin rimmed glasses holding a clipboard and looking somewhat official, and a skinny young lad, presumably a messenger, eye the fairy with initial surprise. The gnome then dips his head a little to look over his glasses.
1/gnome - "And do you have any proficiency in medicine?" they say with a slight tone of derision.
Elrodan drops to the floor before replying. "Despite my appearance, I am indeed a worthy medic."
The gnome holds his quill to the clipboard "Well, that's good, you're hired. I think we'll still need someone, with a bit more to them. I don't doubt your healing fairy, just the reach of your arms and your ability to lift a hefty prize fighter in full armour, am I wrong?", his quill striking something off on the paper before him.
Elrodan gives a small chuckle "Hehe you are indeed correct. I'll not deny the fact that I would need help with that."

She heard it from a mate at the tavern, whose husband used to play cards with this other guy that had a sister, and his sister was the neighbor of a healer, and the healer was sick. Nothing out of the ordinary - healers were also people, they were allowed to get sick. But they were out of luck, and the timing couldn’t be worse: the championship would begin in a few days, and all the other healers were out, by the same illness. Kamille could even think of some kind of curse or bad luck being cast over the championship, someone perhaps wanting harm to befall upon the champions of the continent. Maybe even the Gods, trying to wipe out some of the most powerful, the bravest and strongest of heroes.

And while the thoughts of paranoia, murder and murderous schemes filled her mind - for what other reason someone would target the entire medical team of the championship? - the idea to stand against the odds quickly rose in her mind. She was no doctor or competent healer. Sure, she helped heal some children with the wooping cough, or patched up some farmer here and there, but she knew only the very basic. Perhaps she could use the experience for some learning.

Kamille had already traveled to watch the championship unfold, excited to make bets and listen to everyone’s stories. She was much ahead of herself, arriving several days before, asking around and seeing the place being readied. It was all very exciting.

When she heard that rumor the medics were all sick, she started to ask around, until she finally met someone who seemed somewhat involved in the organization of the event. He was a young human, and looked a bit overwhelmed by everything, and Kamille wouldn’t just shut up. In the end, he agreed to take her to talk to his "boss" and see where it went from there.

Kamille happily followed the lad, and when they arrived, he waited for a moment, seeing as they were already talking to someone. He didn’t know the fairy, but assumed he was just lost, so the young man cleared his throat and politely interjected.

"Excuse me. This woman claims to be an alchemist, and says she can volunteer and give medical assistance, providing we could suply with reagents."

Kamille looked over his shoulder, curious. She never saw a fairy before, so it was only natural she'd be intrigued. Mischief, the raven, was perched up her shoulder.

The gnome breathed out deeply and loudly "And what reagents would that be? How much will it cost? I'm sure I don't need to point out they best only be used for the welfare of any patients" then raising an eyebrow, "And is that crow your assistant or is it at least trained enough not the defecate on the patients and the equipment?". A thin smile creeps over his face.

Elrodan turns as he steps back and to the side, allowing a more open stance for all participants to see one another in the conversation. The woman was dark and mysterious, there was certainly a hint of elf too. Yet what was the crow doing there? He didn't mind either, there was plenty of elves and birds back home that would forever be around. He liked to engage with them, although he hadn't really mastered talking to them to understand what they were saying, he felt that at times at least they understood him. Perhaps any animal would understand someone offering them food in exchange for stroking them and listening to him. He smiled up the lady.

The gnome, after the reply comes ticks off something on his notepad, then adjusts his glasses to be back on his nose properly before looking at the fairy and lady in turn as he speaks. "Well, I'll leave you two here to get things sorted, I trust that you will each work to the benefit of the competitors. Mickaelesh, please take care of the ladies requests. If you see they are struggling, either fetch me or go look for a doctor who will help. I have enough to be taking care of, I bid you each good day!". He gives a small cough and starts to walk away. (You can still interrupt should you wish)

With the gnome gone, Elrodan walks a few paces towards the woman, gives a small dip of a bow and extends up his hand towards her, "My name is Elrodan, a pleasure to meet you both I'm sure." looking from the eyes of the woman to the crow on her shoulder. "It could be handy having someone who knows potions and lotions. It's one aspect I never really took on. I mean I know some some salves using different plants but I don't know if they grow here. Shall we see what they have here? I think he said there may be a couple of other assistants turn up. Oh I should let you get your things ordered first..."

"I'll make you a list of ingredients and suplies I assume will be necessary. If you’re worried, I can do a complete inventory and report how every reagent is used and with which champion. And Mischief - the raven - knows better than to mess with my table. Just... don’t give him any more ideas."

Mischief would probably be kept outside either way, so nothing to worry there. They must be really desperate for some healers, she wondered, since it didn’t take much convincing to let them take their places. Kamille noticed Mischief was abnormally silent, eyeing the fairy with great interest. He probably never met one, she would guess.

"So this will be the infirmary, right? Just let us take a look and I'll have Mischief deliver a list with the things we'll need."

When everything was set and done, Kamille finally felt like she could turn her attention to the fairy. She knelt before him, with a smile that reached her deep, blue eyes. Despite her somber looks, her smile was warm. And despite her classy clothes, she approached him with an open heart.

"My name is Kamille, a pleasure to meet you. Forgive me for staring, but this is the first time I see a fairy."

"CRAW! Fairy?"

The raven finally spoke up. He jumped from her shoulder and landed close to Elrodan, staring intensely at him.

"If you don’t mind me asking... Do you use magic to heal? How's that like?"

It became clear that woman and raven alike were intensely curious.

Once Kamille is fine with her list, the young lad takes the list and darys off without saying much more than a mumbled thanks.

Elrodan looked at the lady. Kamille knew how to dress, how to act, and knew her potions. She's be a catch for someone for sure. "Kamille, it sounds warm somehow. And Mischief, how could you possibly have got that name?" he says squatting down with a silly smile on his face. "Caww...? And you can talk too. That's very smart of you Mischief. I have a little friend too. Would you like to meet Sparky? I'm not sure if you will be scared but no need to be." he says tilting his head and half stretching out a hand towards the crow. 

At last, he comes back to the questions asked of him, "I do use magic yes. Do you not have any magic yourself? I would have thought you would at least dabbled. How long have you been brewing? I don't know quite when I started, but it was when I was young. I was taught to focus on the world of magic and direct is flow. I guess it may not be too long before we have our first visitor and we get to share our talents.". With that he stands up and jumps into the air, floating around head height as his wings flap away. Moving into the tented hospital, there's a small section with a cluster of make shift beds to one side and to front, was a higher metal table with a couple of smaller tables besides. Behind this raised table was a set of shelving units. 

Mischief wasn’t easily scared, and maybe that was a problem. When Elrodan stretched out his hand, the raven stepped forward, looking at his hand as if expecting the fairy to give him something. Mischief softly pecked at his hand.

"I... do magic. Not that kind of magic, though."

The kind of magic she was used to using wouldn’t be of help there, probably. She looked around for a moment.

"How about we set up something for some tea, while we wait for our services to be needed?"

She stood up, going over to the table to start and improvising some kind of fire and water to make some tea with her own herbs and spices. Hopefully that would make the fairy comfortable, although he already seemed very friendly. She was curious and wanted to hear more. Mischief followed both, always paying attention to what they were doing. His curiosity was so genuine it was kinda funny.

"You said you practice since you were very young... but do you remember how did it start? Was magic always a part of your life to the point you don’t remember life without it? Or did you have a moment that you crossed a threshold and felt you could do it for the first time?"

Elrodan felt annoyed that he didn't have done kind of for Mischief, but he didn't recoil at being pecked. "I'll make it up to you next time. Don't worry, I'll find something really yummy."

"What kind of magic do you do then? Oh tea, hmm could do, do you have any honey too?" he says watching Kamille move about, putting together a tin and some water, improvising a little stand then looks for something else... 'What is she...'. "Excuse me miss Kamille, what are you looking for? Oh! Of course, fire..." while Kamille has her back turned, he reaches down to a pouch, then whispers "Ok, time for you to shine, let's heat that up good and proper.". With a flash, Sparky flew to underneath the pot and tried to burn with all his might. The little mote glowed happily. Elrodan could ette joy in his little black eyes as he moved around under the improvised kettle.

"Fire is sorted. Now, as to my magic... I know I learnt it at some point, but I don't know at what point. I think I was doing it before, but I do recall helping with a small bit a friend had when they fell one time. They still have the scar on their knee from it. We were both proud at the time, but then when... Miss Aleas saw it, she said I had done it wrong then taught me to control it better." as he explains this, he sits in a ball on the 'operating' table and draws on his knee with a finger as he explains his story. A smile on his face as he does so.

If there was someone that could smile with the eyes, it was Kamille. She watched in amazed silence as she saw "Sparky", completely bewitched. Then she remembered she was about to make some tea, and then put her bag on the table and started to unpack. She grabbed some herbs and started mixing and griding, all the while listening closely to Elrodan.

"Unfortunately I don’t have honey."
Once the mixture was done and all that remained was to wait for the water to boil, she grabbed a small stool nearby and sat before Elrondan, ready to unpack that small being.

"So it comes naturally to you, but you need to learn to control it better, right? Is it like that for all fairies? Do you do only healing spells or...?"

Kamille thought healing spells would be very useful for her own trade. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the talent for it.

"My spells are... not suited for indoors, mostly."

As if to ilustrate it, she made a motion with the hand towards Sparky, and it seemed to make his fire a bit stronger.

"Where do you come from, Elrodan? I came from Moonglade. People have been telling me there was a lot to see in the world, so I started to make some traveling. A championship sounded like a great opportunity to meet new people from all around."

Elrodan thought about the lack of honey for the tea, well a bit late for it now. He would just have to try it as it was. The smile in her eyes as she looked at Sparky warmed him, it reminded him of how he felt. Everyone seemed to love Sparky and it gave him pride that Sparky was so happy to stay with him.

Giving a brief thought to the questions posed he changed to sitting crossed legs before answering. "I guess it did and yes. When I focus on the magic I can see a little mist around the point in focusing on. It used to be just a small patch on the tip of my finger. Now I can easily use both hands or see further off points. The further away is harder to push around to do as I want but I hope to be able to do it soon enough. I haven't ever asked other fairies... I guess so, but I don't think it is the save. Others always had other magic, some taught by the elves, some had other teachers. I do indeed only do healing. There are scary things in the world so part of me wishes I could do more... But I would rather master being able to heal everyone first. There is still so much I need to learn. You never know, I may even pick up some tricks here that I can deal with but just never knew from having never seen the issue before."

With a look of confusion he questioned further, though he was happy to see Sparky suddenly be stronger. "You.. Do outside magic? Fireworks? Or... Helping magic?"

Stretching out his legs and leaving forward to touch his toes he was again in thought of home. "The championship would be good! Oh I came here to watch someone win! Oww... Hmm. Maybe I'll be able to watch their fight. No doubt I'll have to tend to their opponent afterwards anyway. Hmm. We'll see. As to where I'm from... I come from Pelegrithia, it's an awful long way away. I should still be there now had it not been for a terrible wind tower. I'm starting to be grateful for being here. There are lovely people here, like yourself miss Kamille, but only one has said they know of my home and have said it is such a long way away. I will go still, but I will explore around here a bit first. To be able to take back great tales to sing on my return."

She listened intently, taking a while to take a good look at his beautiful wings. When further questioned about her kind of magic, she promptly answered.

"I do fire and earth magic. It feels more... raw, I guess. It's what I’m good at, although some healing magic would've been nice. Where I live, people come for me for potions and spells, some minor healing, some simple diseases and stuff like that. I even helped bringing some children into this world a few times. Whenever you decide to travel to Moonglade, ask around the Starlight City for the witch's house. If I'm not traveling, you may find me around pretty easily."

Kamille smiled as Elrodan spoke of going back home with good stories to tell. Sounded like herself, a little bit. She loved a good story.

"I'm sure you'll have some great stories to tell when you’re back home. Never heard of this place before... What is it like? And, if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly happened that made you leave? Wind tower?"

Taking a moment to look at kamille while he talks, he notices her inspecting his wings. Dutifully he slowly flaps them. "You can touch them too, if you wish that is."

'Earth and fire, interesting. Many others had practiced those arts back home' he muses. "You must be very good if people come to you for those things. I'll get happily stop by. It's there a woods near it too? I'm wanting to visit all of the woods before I go anywhere. I'm guessing it's only small though, and you don't need help there? I could try and teach you if it helps? Are you a witch that you are often in the witch's house? You don't look like one, far too pretty. Or have you put a spell on one of us? There was some witches near us that did that one time. It was funny what they did with some elves, though they didn't find it so funny when they found out."

Clears his throat a little. "Home, Pelegrithia, is a lovely forest, there's so much vibrant life there. The elves and fairies live together, sometimes other folk arrive for a short stay but ohhh! The happy memories. The forest is big, as are all the green trees. Queen Melian looks after the place, keeps it safe. Though there are still patrols and such that go out further to help. I used to help them when they came back. One time I was just out and about. Enjoying the air when it became spent, and before I could take shelter, a swirly tower of wind caught me and threw me around. I tried to fight it but it was too strong. Eventually something else caught me and the next thing I knew, I was falling towards Kingswood as I since found out it's called." as he finishes he sighs and turns away. 

"Can I?"

Kamille clearly wanted to examine his wings, and when he allowed her to do so, she stretched out her hand. Her touch was very gentle, as if she thought his wings were extremely delicate and she feared hurting him. It was very new to her, and she smiled at him as amazed as a child seeing something new for the first time. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to feel the flow of magic around his wings. She heard fairy's wings were extremely valuable for their magic, and despite knowing she would never do anything to hurt a fairy, it was nice to see it first hand.

"They are really pretty..."

As the water started to boil, Kamille stood up and started brewing their tea.

"You are very kind, but I am the witch, yes. Perhaps witches are different where you come from..."

She listened to his story, and assumed he was caught in some sort of hurricane or anything like that. He didn’t seem too homesick or desperate to go home immediately, so she assumed he was okay.

"Your circumstances are not the best, but you seem excited to know this place and gather some stories. That’s a good approach to life. I hope destiny has good things in storage for you. There. The tea is ready. I hope you like it."

She had only normal sized cups, so she poured them both just a little bit of tea. It was a blend, and while it wasn’t that much sweet because she had no honey, it was soft and velvety to the tongue and left the tip of the fingers and toes tingling with a cozy warmth.

It was funny, the way kamille ran her hand over his wings so softly that it tickled and he shivered slightly. Still, better than being too rough, then again she didn't seem like she was so inclined to such tendencies. "Thank you, the green is from my mother's side and the rings my dad's."

As she moved away, he thought to offer help, but he wouldn't know where to start, and it did only seem to be water and herbs. However, as Sparky found his duty done, he flew up above the hand of kamille as she reached for the water, before returning to Elrodan and his left shoulder and letting out a small crackling sound. Elrodan looked at Sparky "Yes, you're right. And great work Sparky. Oh witches tend to be old and hmm possibly not so blemish free..." he says looking around as if one was listening near by and getting ready to jump and turn him into a frog for the comment.

He took the cup and blew on it, he could feel the heat already. He took a quick sip, 'ouch'. Hmm, not the sweetest, not like honey water, or the honey and lemon of his favourite tipple. All the same, he didn't want to be mean, so he gently put it down. "It's a bit hot for me at the moment. I'll let it cool for a bit, if that's OK by you? I can play us a tune if you wish while you drink yours?"

She found it curious that, as Elrodan said, the color of the fairy's wings were a mixture of the color of his parent's wings. There was still so much she needed to learn. Mischief was quiet this whole time, intensely watching Sparky. It was clear he couldn't wrap his small brain around the concept of a what Sparky was and just watched, intrigued.

"I think every place has a different idea of what is a witch. Where I come from, it's the women that makes potions and stuff like that. Kinda like an alchemist."

Which she was, also. Kamille chuckled a bit at Elrodan's reaction to the tea.

"If you didn't like it, you can say it. You won't hurt my feelings."

She made a mental note to get a hold of some honey for the tea with the fairy. She was enjoying very much the company of Elrodan before the championship - she wondered where the fairy would be headed after all of that was over. Which led her to think about the championship itself.

"What do you think happened to all of the other healers? That's a bit odd, don't you think? That every single one of them got sick? Maybe they drank the same contaminated water or something?"

She took a sip of her tea and perked up.

"Do you play something? Or sing? I would love to hear it!"

"Yes, they do that, but... not always with good intention. They are used in stories to make children behave. They're very scary..." He goes into a whisper as he finishes what he says.

"I didn't mean to seem like that. I just... Sparky made it very hot... too hot... I'm just going to leave it a few minutes to cool." after which he blows on it as if trying to speed up the process. "I'm sure I'll like it... just when I can drink it."

The other healers... "I had heard the gnome saying about it when I arrived, but I never heard what was wrong with them. I do hope they're ok though. Perhaps they'd all been to treat an outbreak... No. They could have all caught the same thing... but what are the chances of all of them having drunk or eaten the same foul thing?" he shook his head unsure.

Taking forth the flute that had been discreetly stowed between his wings, he begins to play a gentle tune, watching Kamille to gauge if she was wanting something slow or energetic. He decided energetic. No matter what she looked like, she acted happy, and that made him happy. With a slight pattern change, he upped the tempo. Eventually using his wings to bring him to his feet as he closed his eyes and focussed on the music. After several minutes of playing he took to the air, stopped playing and started to sing.

"In the darkening forest light,
A goblin prowls without fright.
With sword by his side,
He swaggers every stride"
Elrodan pretended to walk cockily in mid air.

"From out of his hole,
A magical fox does stroll.
With his nose in the air,
He could tell who was there."
Sticking his face forwards, pretending to sniff before himself.

"When the goblin saw the fox,
He thought of his lunch box.
Then the goblin did laugh,
"I'll eat you while upon the path." "
He snapped his teeth and pretended to bring food in with both of his hands.

"Yet our fox was smart,
and knew his part,
growing thirty foot tall,
he swallowed goblin all."
The doing a swan dive, his mouth wide open, returns to upright and rubs his belly.

"Let this teach you,
be careful of what ya do.
For not all is as it seems,
As if in the land of dreams."
With that he returns to standing on the table before Kamille with a smile on his face.