The butler walked me to the room Violet was waiting in.

“Ah, Violet! Thank you for receiving me. Yes.” I announced myself with a curt bow. Violet was sitting on a cushioned chair before a small table, I took my seat in front of her.

She put down her book and looked at me inquiringly. “Yes?”

“I wanted to notify you,” I began. “There’s no longer need to look for Allen Smith, he has returned.”

She pierced me with her pale blue eyes. “I see,” she said. “Please have a seat, I’ll have some tea prepared.” She gestured to a maid, who bowed and left the room.

“What kept him from returning? He seems very dedicated when it comes to attending magic lessons,” She asked noncommittally.

“He had been imprisoned in the elven city of Danaanlar…” I relayed her what I had heard from Allen earlier.

“Offended the Goddess of Nature… Touched by a dark god… Soul was scrutinized… A casket of potions…” She whispered to herself, her gaze temporarily unfocused as she tapped on her chin with a finger.

“Exactly! Yes? I told him, no adventures, take a walk.” I said. How dumb did you have to be to risk your life by adventuring? Pretty dumb, yes.

“That seems an excessive reaction. There’s something amiss.” Violet stated, returning her gaze to me.

I shrugged. “Perhaps he omitted some parts, hmm, or enriched the story? Who knows!” Footsteps on my left caught my attention.

The maid had come back with our tea. “Here’s your tea, sir,” I received my cup. “There’s also some purified honey if you so wish.”

“Yes please,” I said with a nod. Only the best alchemists knew how to remove honey’s dangerous toxins, but it was well worth the price. Hmmm, yes. I sipped the sweetened tea enjoying the rich taste while Violet did the same.

“In any case. Can we chain him to a chair? That should make sure he doesn’t kill himself. Yes?” Violet shot me a glance and took another sip without replying.

I had been really worried, for the first time in years I had met someone with a passion for magical constructs and an interesting branch of knowledge. It would have been a terrible loss to magic progress if he died.

I remembered something I wanted to ask. “Ah, yes. He keeps pressing for me to teach him Magic Generators.” Also known as Proxy Magic. “What am I supposed to do? He’s getting quite insistent. Yes.” I eyed her inquiringly.

“Keep stalling for time, I want to be sure of his intentions and we can use it as a bargaining chip.” She took another sip and continued. “So, are you learning anything useful from him?” She asked, her expression not betraying anything.

I smiled. “Indeed I am, yes,” I replied. “It’s even more than I expected. This will completely change how we make magic tools!”

“How so?”

“Up till now to make tools follow instructions we were limited by those inefficient and unruly independent magic constructs, yes? But with this…” I waved my hands to emphasize. “With only the tiniest amount of magic potential we can obtain the same in a completely reliable and predictable way!” I exclaimed excitedly.

“All of that with just spell triggers?” Asked Violet. She was the one who had told me of that silver cube with intricate spellwork that picked my curiosity.

“It’s more than that, spell triggers are merely the building blocks! Then there is Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, processor design, opcodes, compil–”

“Stop!” Violet exclaimed, exasperation in her voice. “You’re starting to sound like him…” She had begun tapping her fingers on the desk. Yes, Violet didn’t like when she couldn’t follow conversations.

“My point is, yes, this is a whole new field of magic. Hmmm, we could make four new classes from it if not more. I have merely scratched the surface of this discipline.”

Allen wasn’t very good at explaining these concepts, every unknown terminology he used would lead to more foreign words. He clearly wasn’t used to teaching, jumping from one topic to the other only causing confusion!

For that reason, I asked him to help me compile a glossary of all the terms involved, then I had him organize them separately, drawing a diagram on paper. Yes, It took some effort and multiple papers to write it all down, but eventually, I could see the big picture and its hierarchy before me.

Thanks to that I knew where to begin and how to move forward. We had started from logic gates and were now in the process of exploring in depth the topics related to Boolean algebra.

Now that I understood the basic concepts, I could see the elegance behind it. Yes, at the core I found some similarities in things I’ve done and seen, like linking different smaller spell triggers with very simple conditions so they’d take less magic potential.

But this was on another level. With boolean conditions I could go even smaller at the cost of having to design a more complex but smaller and reliable mana circuit. Hmmmm. And then there was that kind of algebra that allowed you to design and simplify them without resorting to blind attempts!

I sighed, looking down at my empty cup.

It was too bad that I couldn’t inspect those contraptions Allen had told me about. Yes, truly a shame. What sort of magic could run without magic? Hmmm. Was that knowledge really lost forever?

“What’s on your mind?” Violet asked, reading my disappointment. She had always been the perceptive one, yes.

“Nothing, it’s just that I would have wished to see those lightning-powered machines Allen told me about, yes? But since his homeland is gone…” I shook my head sadly.

Violet leaned toward me and narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean by ‘his homeland is gone’?” She stared at me with a peculiar intensity.

I furrowed my brows. Did she not know?

----------------------------------------

I was enjoying watching the outside scenery from my office’s open window. The sun shone brightly without any hint of clouds, the colors of autumn were a constant reminder of the approaching winter. I breathed in the fresh air.

Winter was near and with it, my old pains would return. Old age is unfair even to an accomplished magician such as myself, I thought, stroking my long beard. And thanks to those blasted demons waging war on us I have to stay cooped up here, at disposal for emergencies. I grimaced.

Ha! But if they think I won’t take my little vacations when no one is looking, they’re fools! I sniffed. I was the specialist in molecular displacement, after all.

* Knock Knock *

“Hmm?” I turned toward the door, who could it be at this hour? “Come in.” I invited them in.

The figure of Violet emerged from the door. I smiled.

“Ahhh, Violet Val Mariannet. What do I owe the pleasure?” She was as attractive as ever, I remember when she first walked into the Academy, all the teachers began praising her talent. Too bad she’s always so cold.

“Amadeus, I need a favor.” She said.

“Haha, always straight to the point with you. Official business or personal?” I asked anticipating the request.

“Personal. Keep it under wrap if possible.” She replied coolly.

Violet was Violet. “Where to?” I asked her, stroking my beard.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Danaanlar.”

I lifted my brows. “Why there? I thought we had cut connections with the elven cities until further notice.” I asked her.

She only stared in silence with her blue eyes without offering an answer.

I sighed. “Fine. But as you know there’s magic disrupting the opening of portals. I can open one on a clearing outside the city.”

“That will be fine.” She said with a nod.

“How long do you expect it to take?”

“One Repose should be enough.”

“Very well, I’ll reopen the portal at the same place in a Repose, then.” I agreed and began weaving the spells to open the portal.

I summoned the marked memory of the location and formed the portal before me. Space rippled as the dimensional distortion began showing a flush clearing. Once stabilized, I nodded to Violet who then crossed to the other side.

I then cut the flow of mana and let the portal ripple out of existence without a trace.

I found the proper hourglass to match a Repose, turned it upside-down and watched as the obsidian sand flowed down.

I wonder if I’ll ever find a suitable successor, I thought, letting out a deep sigh. My retirement was still far on the horizon.

----------------------------------------

“High Priest, we found a human woman just outside the city. She is asking to meet the high priest.” The guard reported.

“I’m coming!” I said, putting my notes in the chest. Strange, we weren’t expecting any visitors. Who would risk crossing path with hellhounds unless for a reward?

Was it perhaps some diplomat coming to complain about what had happened to that blasphemer from a while ago? The young noble girl had been vocal about it. If that’s the case I’ll just send them away.

I followed the guard to the outskirts of the city to meet the human. I couldn’t hide my curiosity. She was turned toward the forest, showing her back to us.

I coughed to catch her attention and said, speaking in Arstei. “Greetings, what brings you to our humble city?”

“I have questions to be answered,” Spoke the woman in perfect Elvish as she turned toward us.

The moment I saw her face I felt the blood draining from my own.

Violet Val Mariannet.

How? Why is she here? I quickly looked around in panic. No! You’re the high priest, don’t let the human intimidate you. I stood my ground.

Her pale blue eyes stared at me coldly, no trace of a smile or any expression on her face.

“Is… that so?” I said, feeling a little queasy.

She walked closer.

“Taldinann, I don’t recall you being qualified to be the high priest. Where is high priestess Myralith?” She asked, stopping a mere two steps in front of me.

“S-She is not here.” I stammered. “I have been elected to handle the matters during her absence. But please… let us continue this conversation inside the temple…” I forced a smile as I proceeded to turn and walk, but suddenly a force froze me in place halfway. “Huh?” I yelped in surprise.

“Do you take me for a fool?” Violet warned. My heart started beating hard inside my chest.

Why did it have to be her?! I ground my teeth.

The guard next to me tensed and brought forth his bow, pointing an arrow at the woman. Several other elven scouts, who had remained hidden until now, did the same.

Violet seemed unfazed.

“Stop! Don’t harm her!” We couldn’t risk a diplomatic incident. Not here! The scouts lowered their bows but did not let their guard down. I sighed.

Besides, she would never forgive me for causing problems to her acquaintance. Did this human deserve such consideration? I wasn’t so sure of that.

The constriction keeping me in place was lifted.

“I had expected Myralith to show herself to discuss the elven involvement in the Demon War. Instead…” She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “We were met by an elven messenger relaying the elven noncommitment.”

“Her Holiness Myralith was and still is, on a mission for the Blessed AnAlher,” I forced a smile despite the cold sweat forming on my forehead. “She deeply regrets not having been able to attend but the Elven Council has spoken.”

“Is that so? How strange that I haven’t been able to get in contact… It’s almost as if she had disappeared into thin air.” She said wryly, staring at me without blinking.

Does she know? No impossible!

“Her Holiness is not to be disturbed until the accom–” I was interrupted.

“You know, I have been thinking. Why would the high priest decide to visit the old capital at such an inconvenient time?” She said, hinting at the hellhounds migrations.

“The faith must be upheld even in the remote provinces! We can’t abandon AnAlher’s faithful.”

“And I heard about a man who had been imprisoned here and scrutinized by the Goddess. She must have been paying careful attention to whoever approached the temple. Despite this place being so remote to the elven capital.”

“The Blessed One is not like your gods, she pays attention to her subjects!” My voice came out a little strained.

“And then there’s the matter of a potion casket. I made a few inquiries. Do you want to know what I think?” Se said narrowing her eyes.

My heart pounded loudly. I looked left and right, there were too many ears and eyes. Passersby were stopping to see what was going on.

“Wait. Not here, let’s discuss inside.” I said, trying to keep my composure.

We headed toward my home. I asked the guards to wait outside and weaved an incantation to make sure no one could eavesdrop.

“She is here in this city, isn’t she?” Violet asked behind me.

I said nothing.

“This…” I felt the anger swell in me. “This is all you humans fault!” I said, punching the wooden wall.

She stared in silence for a few seconds before speaking again.

“Explain.”

“The day she left with the delegation to reach the summit, they were ambushed,” I balled my fist. “All because she wanted to pledge her support against the demons.” Violet’s eyes turned hard.

“Of eight people only two survived. One of our Elder Spellweavers and Myralith.”

“I need to talk to her.” She said.

“You can’t,” I said slumping down on a chair. “No one can…”

Her brows lifted up a little.

“She killed the demons, but in their dying moments, they cursed her. Having been hurt and weakened during the fight she was left unable to counteract them,” I continued. “She hasn’t woken up ever since.”

I put my hands to my face. “Two of the assailants were elves! We’ve been betrayed by our own kind!” I said venting out my anger. There were those among us that didn’t like humans, to think they had gone as far as to make a deal with those accursed demons!. Curse them and curse the humans for bringing us into this.

“I see.” She said, letting the silence linger. “So the potions…”

“Yes, we needed them to treat her damaged soul,” I said. “And yes, the Goddess is paying attention to her Chosen One.”

“Why Danaanlar?”

“Why? This is the only place with a consecrated temple that is strong enough for the Goddess to manifest and far enough to be left unmarred by sedition. The old capital has been forgotten by many and dismissed by the rest.”

“Why not retaliate?” She asked. “Do you really think they’ll spare you once they’re done with us?”

I looked at her in the eyes.

“Retaliate? How?! Without our greatest champion?” I exclaimed in bewilderment. “Do you know what this city was?!”

I stood up and waved a hand toward the window.

“I know because I was there! Luscious vegetation brimming with life, beautifully woven structures from living trees and shade offered by the Great Trees. We were fifteen thousand strong, yet we had never imagined such an attack!” My voice started to break. “I was there when the lake was corrupted and started brewing abominations, I was there when the demons attacked with their unholy armies… I was there when we fought and retreated, watching our friends and children die, until only the temple remained. I was there when we chanted until passing out in a desperate attempt to keep what was left of us alive. Only a thousand… a thousand.” I said with despair.

I felt my eyes water at the memories of the horrible nightmares. It had been a hundred years since that day, but it still hurt like it was yesterday.

“Nothing remained but the temple, even the land remained completely barren for seventy years… and what of the Three Kingdoms? Where were humans and dwarves when we needed them the most?!”

“According to the records, Valarest and Mitharul suffered similar fates. No one could expect such a big scale surprise attack right to the heart of our adjoined capitals. But you already know this.”

“You humans stood back up pretty quickly, though. You bred like goblins during these years, yet we have barely started to recover. I cannot condemn our people for not wanting to face such a challenge so soon.”

“Perhaps you could have done the same if you weren’t so bound to your pride and the absurd amount of rituals and rules involving mating.” She said in a cold tone.

“We are elves, we are our traditions.” I retorted, daring her to say more.

Violet remained silent.

“Is this all you wanted to know?!” I said frowning. I didn’t care how powerful she was, I would not let anyone make fun of our ways. Especially not by humans who were too deaf to listen to the Song of Nature and too blind to see anything besides themselves.

Who was she to speak, a human female of barely twenty-five turnings? She may have great power, but she had yet to begin to live and truly understand life.

“No, there was another matter,” She cut the silence. “Allen Smith.”

I groaned. The name made me feel exasperation, ever since he left everyone at the temple had been grumbling about the food. I should have kicked him out the city on the first occasion.

“Nor I nor the Goddess will apologize for that blasphemer,” I said with disgust painted on my face. “A man touched by ExFeras itself, walking in at such a critical moment, making absurd claims and even insulting the Blessed AnAlher on her sacred ground! What were we supposed to think?!” I yelled the last part.

She shook her head. “I’m not interested in apologies. I want to know what he said and what the Goddess found by scrutinizing his soul.”

I raised an eyebrow. So she wasn’t here to speak in his defense?

Fine then, who cared about the ramblings of a madman? If it helped to make his life more miserable, all the better!

I eagerly shared the blasphemer’s answers to our questions and what the Goddess had found by inspecting his bare soul.

“No signs of mindweaving, then…” Violet said, seeking confirmation.

“No, he was clearly insane and believed what he said to be the truth. The extent of his delusions was impressive.”

“I see,” she said, standing up. “That’s all I wanted to know.” She headed toward the entrance… and stopped.

She turned her head slightly to the side and asked. “Do you need anything to help with Myralith recovery? She is a friend... I don’t take friendship lightly.”

I shook my head. “No, with those potions we already have all we need. Between our Elder Spellweavers, who specialize in soul recovery, and the Goddess, Myralith couldn’t be in better hands.”

Humans were centuries behind in the treatment of souls, there was nothing they could do to help.

“I want to be informed when she wakes up.” She said before finally walking out.

I truly hoped she would. Oh Myralith, without you we are lost.

I had done everything I could do here, I had to move soon before anyone else started suspecting anything.

I prayed to the Goddess for her guidance. We needed our Chosen One to unite our people, now more than ever.