Story-Mode Lore c.1:
Estel
It was an unusually slow day within the clan kitchen and Estel loved it. Sure she was a baker and enjoyed every second of a full establishment, but it was exactly the reason
why she embraced the solitude she now found herself in. A smile would curl upon her lips and, with the adjustment of her hat, off she went to work. The sounds of the tinkering pots and the smell of mouth-watering jam would set the kitchen ablaze while the gleam in her eyes would create a whirlwind of determination as Estel set her mind to work. In the midst of it all, she had forgotten that her small companion had been sleeping soundly within her ingredient pouch.
”H-Hey..!” A tiny yelp rang loudly throughout the empty kitchen walls, causing the Guardian to stop in her tracks.
”H-huh?” Her eyes would widen in realization as her small Fae companion would come crawling out in a daze. His accusatory stare would cause a hearty laughter to escape her lips.
”I’m sorry,” She would grin apologetically. The Fae would just
humph and slide back into her pouch, snoring peacefully as she continued her work.
With renewed vigor and a lot of hard work, the preparations were soon done and the batter had been put into the oven to bake. Her attention would then focus on creating her famous pumpkin spice icing, setting it aside once it had been ground and mixed. Noticing that the time had gone quite a long ways, Estel would then nudge at the pouch and her sleeping companion would stir.
”You going to help me ice these treats?” Those magic words sprung the Fae to life as he rushed from the pouch -his tools ready to go.
”Where do I begin?” He would exclaim in excitement. Estel would only smile and wave towards the oven.
”They still need a bit more time.” The Fae’s wings would droop only to regain its enthusiasm when the ring of the timer made its sound.
”It’s tiiiiiime..!” The Fae exclaimed as he rushed off to the oven.
”Hurry..!” The Baker stood still for sometimes as nostalgia washed over her. Times like these would make her remember the days she was a child. The days in which she left everything behind to pursue her one big dream -to become a baker.
~FLASHBACK~
”Estel..!” A rumbling roar could be heard throughout the clan house as Estel’s father, McCree, came flying about in a frantic, angered search. It was clear that he was upset, and so all little Estel could do was squeeze her eyes shut and pray to the deities that he wouldn’t find her.
”You were supposed to go to training with the others!” Estel would cringe at her Father’s words. They were true, but it was far from what she wanted to hear and do. And so, she hid until her Father calmed and, after a minute of pensive thought, would walk over to her secret place. Estel would crouch so much so that a little
squeak escaped her lips.
”Estel…” This time, his words were soft and out she would emerge in defeat.
”Why didn’t you go?” He would let out a sigh and Estel’s wings would droop in regret. For, if there was one thing she didn’t like to do was upset him and, due to her selfishness, upset him she had.
The tiny dragon’s eyes would lower and her shoulders slump as tears of anguish and anger would well up at the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall. Still, she did not speak and her gaze continued to look down at the scattered pebbles across the beaten road. It was unfortunate, but her Father, McCree, had never truly understood that, for Estel, combat was not for her. In fact, what she desired the most was to do away with the need to train and, instead, focus on giving back to the clan in a productive way. Yet, unlike the way her Father thought, she wanted to do it through the art of baking. It was a strange way of thinking, but, for the little baker, it was sweets that could ultimately change the world. It was, after all, what brought everyone together along with happy smiles that sprouted at the taste of the savory delights. Still, she understood her Father. He was one of the strongest dragons of the clan and he expected her to do the same.
Once McCree realized that Estel would not speak or, more so, refused to, he would shake his head and, with a sigh, would give her head a gentle ruffling. It would be at that moment that the little baker would look up at her Father, her golden eyes glistening with unfallen tears. Her Father would close his eyes in pain, only to open them with newfound resolve. It was clear that he had made a decision.
”I have no idea what you do, Estel, but…” He would look at her with earnest in his eyes before continuing.
Whatever it is that you do,” He would pause and take a deep breath as it was clear that what he was about to say would hurt.
”I’ll support it. I may not know much about the things that you do, but, I guess… ‘the sweetest things in life are the simplest.’” It was the moment of truth and she would take it. A decision made, Estel’s life would change forever and, for her, there was no turning back.
~END FLASHBACK~
”Hello?” The repeatedly wave of the Fae’s hand would cause the Guardian to wake from her trip down memory lane. Shaking her head confused, her golden eyes would wander until they stopped at the counter where the cake had been placed.
”Ah..! The cake!” Estel said in surprise as she glanced back at the oven. It appeared that the Fae had moved it all by himself, something that the Fae obviously felt like boasting about.
”It wasn’t that hard,” He said with a proud smile.
”Piece of cake. They would both grin at the pun before setting off to crumb coat and ice the awaiting cake. Now, it was in this time that the clan had grown merry as the children seemed to pour into the kitchen halls all at the same time.
”Estel! Estel..!” They would shout in glee. All would crowd around her, proudly showing off their souvenirs and gathered trinkets of the day.
”Loooook!” Estel would just smile and nod in a motherly way. She had grown accustomed to the children and, although she had no children of her own, she treated the hatchlings like they were her own.
During this time, Estel had finished the treats and had begun distributing them to the children. The children would squeal at the sight of them and, in return, would tell her the stories of the day -bringing back news of the exalted and the gossip of the clan. This was something the young baker rather enjoyed as she rarely left the kitchen. It were talks like these that helped her feel at home and included as she was able to gain people’s trust and, as a healer, was more apt to help them with anything going wrong. It didn’t take long for the smell of the cakes to cause the baker’s train of thought to falter. Her mouth watered and her eyes would constantly drift towards the tray of baked goods. It would take every ounce of willpower for her not to reach out and take some, but, alas, the need to taste her creations won. So, as the children talked, Estel reached out for a savory treat. Sure they had been for the children, but, it wouldn’t hurt to take one… or two.. or even three. Stretching out her wings, Estel would then sit with the hatchlings as the Fae rested upon her shoulder. He would both hear tales and stories about the clan that had welcomed her in not long ago. Sure it still had responsibilities to train and serve the deities just like her old home had, but… Estel glanced at her tray and grinned. Little by little, she would change the world. It was only a matter of time. For now, though, she would enjoy the life she had been given. One sweet at a time.
WC: 1391