> Galen Vesa

The world flinched and wavered when I got up. My arm itched and burned but the pain dulled faster this time. Only an odd feeling of annoyment lingered as my mana recoiled back within me.

*Dear dolt, be so kind and tell me. First the undead, now the tree huggers. Why do they always want to kill us? Have you incurred some kind of heavenly wrath?*

You ask me? Maybe they know you burned their town. Twice.

They elves here still told legends about a snow white dragon spewing fire from the sky.

Or perhaps I just picked up all the karma from that jinxed job. Who knows.

I let go of the priestess and faced the approaching elf. She looked oddly distorted. Were those fancy eyes of mine misbehaving at such a moment?

*Well dolt. We are about to die. What is your plan B?*

You are my plan B.

*I see. That may not...*

I couldn’t hear the rest of what she said. At this moment my eyes opened.

I do not know how else to describe it. I felt a sudden rush of mana to my eye soon followed by burning pain.

And the world stopped.

Or at least slowed to a crawl. All the colors faded to grey and black. I saw the elven diva raise her hand and light gathered there, then a spear formed within her grasp. Shiny violet smoke filled her entire body.

With a twist of her wrist she sent it sailing through the air. Straight at me.

And I couldn’t move.

Even enchanted as they were, none of my limbs moved. So heavy they were. As if my whole body froze to the ground.

Someone else also saw the blade. Noca jumped before me. Spreading her arms wide to become a better target.

And I couldn’t move.

All I could do, all I ever did…

No.

But I couldn’t move.

Suddenly the spear tip came out of the girl’s back, stopping inches away from me.

Why?

Why do they always do that. What is my wretched life worth to them to offer their own in exchange?

No.

No more.

I whispered to the wind.

Save the girl. Take whatever mana you need.

“Stay still.”

I grabbed Noca before she fell. Blood spilling out her mouth. She tried to smile.

The spear vanished, leaving a gaping hole in her chest. My palms hardly could stop the gushing blood.

“If I may.”

A presence akin to the wind materialized before me and took Noca in her arms. At the same time, hundreds if not thousands of fully corporal elementals surrounded us.

The queen of winds and her generals arrived bearing blades of wind.

Unfazed by this army, the elven Diva raised her spear once more.

“Hold her.”

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

My own voice surprised me but the spirits complied instantly. They grabbed her, brought her down to her knees and pressed her face in the dirt.

And none of the guards moved.

“Bring here the women enslaved by her. All of them.”

No more than a slitter of the leaves sounded and Moss alongside sixty or so of others appeared before me.

“Release them.”

I ordered and a gust of wind blew through the crowd, blowing away golden dust. The remnants of the collars they worn.

“Can you undo whatever else been done to their minds and bodies?”

I ask the spirit that still held Noca's body in a bubble of water.

“Yes.”

She studied me, tilting her head with curiosity then looked at the wind.

“Do so at my behest.”

And the spirit inclined her head while a gentle squall peppered the girls with shining droplets.

Purple ink dripped out of their eyes as their ears twitched and regrew.

“It may take a while before their minds return.”

The entity released Noca from her care, into the arms of her crying mother. Ripped clothes were all that remained from the mortal wound.

“How dare you!”

The diva screamed trashing at my feet.

“Be silent insect.”

The queen of wind spoke and all the air escaped the diva’s lungs. She gasped and choked. Her lungs unable to fill the void.

How little it mattered to me.

“Please, she is not worth it.”

Nafira pleaded.

Why? Why would she?

“Please. Don’t.”

I starred into the horror stricken eyes of the elf held at my feet. Her life would end soon and for all I tried I could not find a reason why she should live.

Death seemed the only logical choice.

Damn. I did it again. If it’s bad, make it worse. Yep. I'm up for any brilliant ideas. Just be it a quick one because the purple lips won’t last much longer.

*As if you ever listened to me. I have no love for the pointy ears but I am against pointless slaughter. Enough of this. Free her.*

Should I? Logic whispered reasons why I shan’t.

I put my foot under her chin and lift her head while Hollywood with its propensity for catchy one-liners brought me inspiration.

Doing my best serious face impression, I spoke to the elf.

“If you ever try to harm them, I will find you and I will kill you.”

And the wind allowed her to live.

Whether she spoke or whatever followed, I do not know. The moment I took my eyes off her, my world went black.

Very black.

And cold. So cold.

For a while I felt as if I crossed the line I should not have.

At long last, Erta's presence came to me and I called to her.

“Hey roomie, did we die this time?”

*Worse dolt. Much worse.*

“I have never met such an impolite dragon.”

Erta hid behind me. A dragon hiding behind a mortal. Not good.

*Silence dolt.*

*That is the Queen of flames.*

She whispered.

“And I govern all that is of water while that brooding giant behind your back governs the earth.”

The one that healed Noca spoke from somewhere to my right.

“We have come for our payment.”