After months of training and learning his squad's routine, it was already autumn. The young solider found gaps of time for him to forge and find a space to brew tea at night. Using to the excuse of being 'a nervous piss-er' works surprisingly well during the day if one would want to explore the nearby woods for a while. But one has make sure to get back before your squad come to get you as a search party. It gets embarrassing quick.


While 'taking a walk' in the woods, one can encounter many things. Normal plants, poisonous plants, small animals, big animals, and sometimes another person! This day was one of those days. "You call that... tea?" a feminine voice came from behind him. The soldier quickly turned around and unsheathed his sword while a lady now in front of him, quietly and slowly approached while she put a dagger on the floor and kicked it to him. Her features other than her mouth were covered by the hood of her grey cloak. While calmly standing with her hands up, the lady instructed the young man how to improve flavour in his tea by brewing with a different setting on his equipment. He was suspicious and reluctant to drink it after the tea was brewed. "May I?" asked the lady as she pointed to the tea. After the soldier nodded, he set his sword nearby, then cautiously poured her a cup. She took a sip. Seeing that the lady drank the tea with no hesitation but only enjoyment, he sheathed his sword, then used another cup and sipped warily. In that moment, his brows raised high when he tasted it. The lady really did enhance the flavour. "How did- how did you know to use it?" asked the bewildered soldier. "I had one." she replied, "Did no one teach you how to use it?" "Oh.. I forgot to ask my mentor to teach me how to use it and I think my mentor forgot to teach me when giving me this." he sheepishly replied while scratching the back of his neck. "Sounds like someone I knew." she muttered under her breath with a faint reminiscent smile. Then they talked more about tea and agreed to meet here whenever they were available. He returned her dagger before parting ways. After this encounter, the managed to meet a few more times and learned about tea from each other. These interactions reminded him of his mentor, where they talk about nothing but tea for hours on end. The soldier's newfound friendship blossomed like spring flowers despite winter approaching.


One day, the lady revealed that she was from a nearby village and that they were attacked. When the young solider asked why, the lady hesitated to answer. She reluctantly revealed that the village was attacked by humans. Human soldiers with the same armour as his, not bandits. This confused the solider, he refused to believe that soldiers would attack helpless citizens. The soldiers would only be instructed to attack if provoked. The lady's eye brow twitched, then calmly, yet containing an overwhelming wave of rage and disclosed that the soldiers raided their village for resource and did not care for its people. The soldier was bewildered at this statement. The lady sighed, her eyes scanned their surrounding and quickly moved her hood ever so slightly back and quickly back on. But it was long enough to see her pointed ears. She was an elf.


The lady explained that since elves are more akin to nature, they are better at producing quality products relating to nature. This includes tea leaves and tea making equipments. Since the elves wanted to make a living through trades with all countries, the refused to give any formulas to humans when they came knocking. Humans being persistent and greedy, started a war, at first, to force the elves' hands and make them spill the beans. Then they decided to pillage villages to take their products. Humans continue to fight and sell those produces in their markets as traded goods. The elves grew tired of their relentlessness and decided to face the war head on, but with the goal of destroying the human race so no one will harm them again. "We are being lied to this whole time?" the shocked soldier asked trying to compose thoughts and this shattering reality. "Yep, it seems that way. Must be a lot to process." she gave him an awkward a light pat on the shoulder. "You seem nicer than the other humans" said the lady. "If you ever want to flee the battle field, you can always come to the village with this tea set and help serve tea there." The lady smirks, "We could also use the extra help." "Wait... you guys have no repercussions for being a deserter?" asked the poor confused soldier. "Well, there were some extreme punishment years ago since we needed the troops. But then most of us realised fighting battles are terrifying and haunting. So we stopped trashing the cowards and deserters- I mean those people's homes" That sounded familiar. "I had to fight in place of my late husband since he abandoned his post. So now I'm a captain!" The poos soldier's face turns pale. "You.. are a captain? On the enemy- I mean other side?" She nodded. "I have been drinking tea, for the last season, with the captain of the enemy-" The soldier took a deep breath to calm down. "Also, did you husband have raven black hair and a grey cloak?" The lady's eyes widen, a smile rushed onto her face with relief, joy and surprise. The soldier immediately share the same response. "Wait, so is he also-" "Yes he is an elf." "Oh! Now everything he said made more sense! I-"


"Hey! Newbie! You done pissing? We need to go!" "I'll be there soon!" the soldier shouted back. "Can I leave the tea kit with you?" both of them started frantically pack the tea kit "Are you crazy? If my family saw my with his tea kit they'd think my husband is back. They might try to find him and murder him!" "Oh right, I'll just put this back in the bag and bring it with me. Don't have enough time to put it back!" The soldier packed up and rushed out and called to his comrade. "Sorry man! The piss anxiety was no joke." "I thought you were talking a walk?" "Yeah, but then I need to go so I though might as well..." As the soldier's voice trail off, the lady quickly makes it back to her station while holding in her laughter all the way back.