“But what’s that building for, Mimi?” Questioned the woman’s granddaughter, Leela. “I see people going in and out every day, but we’ve never visited!”

The old woman sighed heavily. She had been avoiding the 12-year-old’s questioning all afternoon. Still, “Mimi” - or Greta, as most townspeople knew her - couldn’t help but smile slightly at her persistence. Leela was so much like her mother. They both shared the same adventurous, inquisitive, and slightly reckless spirit.

“Mimi, come on!” Leela groaned dramatically, making pale-golden locks of hair fall over her face in a grand display of impatience.

“Alright, alright, Leela,” Greta chuckled finally, “I’ll tell you. But just promise me you’ll not go there. It’s not safe for you.”

There was a moment of silence as her granddaughter appeared to debate her response. But eventually the excitement of getting to hear an answer overruled arguing against Greta’s request. She nodded and settled down with a grin. The old woman laughed again and shook her head.

“Child, you make me age more with each passing day.” After a slight pause, Greta began the tale of the Elementals.

“You are familiar with the Elements, yes, Leela?” Leela nodded. “Right. Your mother would have told you all about them, I’m sure. The Elements are the foundation of our world. Fire, Air, Water, and Earth. The energy of these Elements is what keeps our water clear and cool, to provide for us and the animals. Similarly, Earth works with Water to ensure we have good crops and plenty of plants to live with. Fire makes warmth, innovation, and clears way for new life. Air lets us all live.

“Without these Elements, we would not be able to survive. They were placed here long ago by the Ancients of our kind so that our children could live on forever.”

Greta paused and looked over at her granddaughter, who was entirely entranced.

“So what does that have to do with the weird cabin on the lake?” She demanded, puzzled.

“Patience, child,” the woman grinned, “I was getting to that.

“There are certain territories where different Elements rule more freely. In the Teira Deserts is where most Fire Element energy tends to reside - or in the Kahala Hills within the volcanoes. Or, for example, anywhere around the Senetian Seas is going to be a strong area to find Water Element energy.

“Our little town of Orwal just so happens to be positioned in such a way that it makes as a perfect central location for each Element. Neutral territory, sort of. This doesn’t mean much to you and I, or any other human descendant. But when our Ancestors settled here, these lands were already inhabited. The beings that lived here were similar to us, but they had been born of the Elements. So, in addition to their ability to manipulate their Elemental energy, they often don’t follow the same rules that us of flesh and bone might.” Greta stopped and thought for a moment.

“The best way I can explain it is that, since they are made up of so much energy, their physical body doesn’t always have to be physical. Often you’ll find beings like this who can shift their features or become one with the wind or rain. But they tend to enjoy behaving like humans in a lot of ways, too.

“They’re who helped our Ancestors ensure our survival. Without them we wouldn’t have been able to live here. They’re very big on tradition and structure, so our treaty is as safe as it could ever be.” Greta leaned in a little closer and lowered her voice, with Leela absolutely on the edge of her seat listening.

“But they can be sort of nasty creatures, too. They’re well-mannered and rather elegant, but tricky and testy. Some say they live too long. The Element energy they possess enables them to live 1,000’s of year. For some of them, life gets boring and they have to find ways to make it more exciting.”

“So,” she continued, leaning back again, “the Ira Tavern is a common meeting ground for Elemental Beings of each kind to visit and kill time. Some humans can tend to feel very drawn to the Elementals, so they go there too. But it never ends well for us.” Greta paused, deep in thought for a moment. Leela stared on, bewildered. Then, suddenly, the old woman stood to her feet and returned to cleaning the house.

“Just don’t go there, Leela.”