#feels weird to draw short haired astra but that's how it is at that point in time probably

[lotusliasart]

So I joined the trend of 'draw your inky in the DA:A style', idk if it's quite there but I like it nonetheless!

Ex-inquisitor, now fulltime keeper Astralis Lavellan, yet again tied into Some Bullshit. The arm and staff are both enchanted ironbark but idk how ironbark is supposed to look like shh

[bookhoardingdragon]

That’s the Fey’s Problem -Ch 2

Fae vs. Fey

After a marathon event of unpacking her stuff and branding her corner of the room Corn was satisfied. And she’d only fallen off the bed three times while hanging stuff on the wall. That was a personal best.

“What do you think?” She spun around and threw out her arms. Sil and Hecate were sitting on Sil’s bed. Sil had her legs crossed and was holding a throw pillow in her lap.

“It’s…” Hecate tilted her head to one side as she studied Corn’s handiwork, “colorful.”

“Yay! That’s what I was going for!” She was still riding the enthusiasm train with no sign of an exit approaching. But it hadn’t backfired yet so that was a plus.

“You definitely succeeded.” Sil looked amused.

Corn spun around to survey her work again. Yes, she was definitely satisfied. “Ok I’m starving! Is it dinner time yet?”

“Are you sure you’re stable enough for dinner?” Sil sounded concerned.

“Please.” Corn waved a hand dismissively. “I only fell off the bed three times.”

“And the desk twice.”

“Ehhhh” Corn waved her hand again. “I’m fine.” She propped her hands on her hips trying to look put together, but tripped and stumbled to the side.

“Ok.” Hecate hopped off the bed. “She’s clearly not stable but I think we need to feed her.”

“Yay!” Corn pumped her arms in the air from the floor. “Feed me!”

Sil slipped off the bed and pulled Corn to her feet. “How have you survived this long?”

“What do you mean?” Corn bounced to her feet.

Sil laughed. “I’ll explain later.”

“Okay.” Corn shrugged and followed Hecate and Sil out of the room.

Outside Sil and Hecate guided her to the dining hall. Once they got there they led her through the array of food and then to a table were Felda was already sitting with another astonishingly beautiful girl.

Sil and Hecate sat down, leaving the last chair for Corn who took it eagerly. “You must be Rin!”

The girl eyed her. She had light brown skin and thick mane of bright pink hair that fell all the way to her hips. Broad ears covered in short fine fur poked out of her hair and hung at a slightly downward angle. A thin tail draped over the back of her chair, ending in a broad fan of pink and gold feathers with deep blue hearts. “Who are you?”

“This is Corn, our new roommate.” Sil stretched her wings out, draping them over the backs of Hecate and Corn’s chairs.

Rin studied Corn with a severe expression. “So what’s your deal? Why don’t you have any friends that want to room with you?”

“Rin!” Hecate scolded.

“What? It’s a legit question.”

Corn shrugged. “I transferred here. I don’t know anyone.”

Rin studied her for another beat. “Alright” she said with a shrug and turned her attention back to her food.

Felda smirked and shook her head but then a puzzled look crossed her face and she tilted her head up, drawing in a deep breath, her eyes narrowing on Corn.

“Hecate? What happened to your den mother mojo?”

“What do you mean?”

Felda pointed at Corn. “Your girl isn’t wearing any iron.”

“What?!” This came from everyone else at the table, startling Corn. Jumping a little in her chair she dropped her fork on the floor. Leaning down to pick it up she banged her head on the table when she tried to straighten up again. As she sat up, rubbing her head she realized everyone was staring at her.

“Is that like a roommate thing? You all wear iron?”

“Umm no it’s a not dying or getting taken thing.” Rin was giving her a strange look.

“What?” Corn glanced around the table, confused. Maybe the enthusiasm had been too much and this was how they got rid of her.

“You have to wear iron, especially at night, as protection from the Fey.” Sil was speaking in a calm teachery kind of voice. Like she expected Corn to know this already.

Corn cut her eyes at Felda who had definitely heard what Sil had just said but wasn’t reacting. She knew she was new to this whole interacting with other species thing but she was pretty sure that was rude no matter what species you were. “Umm Sil.” Corn put a hand up beside her mouth and whispered, “Felda is a Fae.”

Felda snorted and Rin rolled her eyes. Sil looked like she didn’t really know what to say.

“Not Fae. Fey. F-e-y.” Hecate said sounding exasperated.

“There’s a difference?” Corn was very confused. She’d taken a class on all the different species to prepare her for transferring here but that had never come up.

“Yes.” Felda propped her chin in her hand, “there’s a difference.”

Corn glanced around the table. “Ok what’s the difference then?”

Rin shook her head. “Fae are like Felda.” She gestured to the girl sitting next to her.

Or was it supposed to be female? That was the thing Corn always struggled with, what you were supposed to call people. It was different for every species.

“Fey with a y are a product of dark magic that was used during the human war. The magic the humans were using left a dangerous residue and it transformed a bunch of fairies and sprites into the Fey. They’re monsters, incredibly powerful, and extremely dangerous.”

“And they come to school here?”

The other girls exchanged glances.

“Corn. Where did you transfer from?” This was from Hecate.

Corn was surprised by the question. It seemed like the kind of thing you wouldn’t be likely to forget and they should already know. “Terrantis.”

Several sharp gasps echoed around the table as the girls stared at her with wide eyes.

“They didn’t tell you guys?” Corn was even more confused now. Which was saying something. “I thought they would before putting me in your room.”

“Why did you transfer here?” Rin leaned in giving Corn a hard look.

Corn shrugged, feeling uncertain for the first time since she’d arrived here. “Clearly you guys know what Terrantis is like. It’s so small and everyone knows everyone. And everything is the same year after year. I just felt like there had to be more to life, to the world. No one was very happy with my decision but I think they’re all expecting me to realize I made a mistake and come running back in like a week or so.”

Corn peeked up at her new friends, expecting to be met with angry looks.

“Well we’ll show them.” Felda crossed her arms and scowled but her ire was clearly not directed at Corn.

“It doesn’t bother you?” Hope was brewing in her chest again. Maybe they didn’t want to get rid of her after all.

“You can’t help where you’re from.” Sil shrugged.

“But what made you choose this school?” Rin still looked perplexed.

“It just seemed like the total opposite of where I was from. I learned about Queen Astra and how she made Elimar this place of inclusivity and art and learning and it just sounded so perfect.”

“But no one told you about the Fey before you got here?” Hecate asked.

Corn shook her head.

“Wow.” Hecate slumped back in her chair.

“Okay the short version is the Fey are basically evil because they were made by evil magic snot. They seem nice and friendly but they are tricksters and their goal is to kidnap you and keep you forever. Or kill you.

“They can’t lie but they’re very good at loopholes and manipulation. They will be very cruel to you but if you say anything not nice about them they will come for you. But if you’re too nice to them they will come for you too because they like being told nice things.

“What’s your major?”

It was a weird transition but Corn decided to just roll with it. “English.”

“Well that not great, but it’s better than music.”

“What’s wrong with music? I play music.”

“Of course you do.” Rin shook her head. “Look we’ll get you fixed up, teach you the rules, but no more going out without iron or any sort of protection. You are tiny and insane and the Fey will love you and want to keep you.”

Corn shrugged again. She was pretty sure they were overhyping the whole Fey thing. “That’s the Fey’s problem then.”

Rin laughed. “You really are insane. I like you. But that is a very foolish mindset.”

“I mean I’m sure they’re dangerous and all, but I am a human disaster. I have like a destructive super power. They will have regrets if they try to keep me.”

Felda snorted.

“I probably shouldn’t be telling you guys that though cause you have to live with me.” Corn scrunched her mouth up and made what she hoped was a sympathy worthy face.

Hecate presses her hands flat against the table and leaned forward. “Guys I know you’re always teasing me about being the den mother but I really think we need to do something here.”

“Yeah I’m with you on this one.” Felda still looked amused.

“Okay tiny disaster person. The Fey might regret taking you but we are going to do our best to make sure they don’t get that chance.” Rin slipped a ring off her finger and held it out to Corn.

Read Chapter 1

Read Chapter 3