The lights in the room flickered on and off, on and off. Danny stood transfixed by the door, brushing his hand across a patch of brightly colored moss. Each pass of his hand turned a bulb of tree flesh, hanging from the ceiling, into an orb of light. When the lights turned off the moss took on a bioluminescent property.

"Danny, what are you doing? You are going to make yourself go blind playing with it like that..."

*Wait, what did she just say?*

Brooke stood in the entryway to the guest room assigned to Danny. Danny wished the elves used something more substantial than the heavy fabrics covering doorways. Danny turned to stare dryly at her while still turning the light on and off repeatedly. The staring contest began.

Danny finally gave up and blinked first. Turning in frustration he pointed up at the ceiling, "How is that doing... that! I can't do that with my affinity aspect. I have to change my whole body, while this... this tree can change just a small portion of itself. That would be an extremely useful ability."

Brooke nodded her head, obviously pretending interest, "Yes, your right, it would... So, you going to come eat supper with us or play with your room all night?"

Danny stopped staring at the ceiling and sighed, "I'm coming. Just let me go to the bathroom and I will be there."

The guest room provided to Danny in the palace was spacious. The rooms shape was best described like a bread bun. There were no corners, the walls, ceiling, and floor were all one continuation of each other. Leaves grew out of the ceiling, which made zero sense from a light gathering role. Though, with the fresh air, it could help parts of the building not feel so stuffy. Furniture was crafted by hand and consisted of a bed, dresser, desk, and small table with chairs. A opening exited onto a balcony overlooking the elven capital.

The bathroom consisted of an attached, much smaller, room with a toilet, counter with sink, and a large tub. They all had more moss activators that turned the water on. The tub even had a special activator that heated the water. How they got the tree to use flame affinity without burning itself was going to be another thing to drive him crazy figuring out.

After stepping out into the hallway outside his room, Danny headed down toward the large entryway to the guest wing of the palace. This doubled as a sitting room and dinning room for non-official functions with visiting guests.

Everyone was already gathered around the table and apparently waiting on Danny to arrive.

Danny had expected to be rushed off to meet the Queen and the Elders immediately when they arrived, but apparently it is considered rude to rush things when visitors had just come on a long journey. Palace guards had guided them to their guest rooms and the palace staff had shown up immediately after to make sure everyone had what they needed.

While the Basalt Shadow had received a room to themselves, Danny had been separated from the girls. Danny had expected the girls to argue, and they looked like they wanted to, but they kept quiet about it in the end. Danny didn't want to be rude and followed the palace guard to his private room. Which turned out to be a good thing in the end, since he would have driven the girls crazy studying the lights in the room.

Danny was surprised to see they were not going to eat by themselves tonight. The Basalts and the girls all sat on one end of the dinning table while a group of elves took up the other side. Danny recognized Leaf and Elder Breeze, but Danny had not met the other four elves at the table. Danny’s vision flared as Cranny highlighted a number of other individuals hidden around the room. Danny assumed these were here for the protection of the additional elven dinner guests.

The elves stood to greet him as he approached the table. The Basalts and the girls quickly stood as well.

Danny paused, unsure what was happening, until Elder Breeze moved over to guide him towards the far side of the table.

"Danny, it is good you were able to join us. Please let me introduce you to everyone."

Danny looked around and mumbled, "My apologies for making everyone wait."

Elder Breeze's hand moved through the air as if swatting a fly, "Don't worry about it. You already know my grandson Leaf."

Danny smiled at the young male elf, "Hey Leaf, how are the ears? None of those odd things I mentioned happening?"

Leaf smiled, "No Danny, they are better than ever. Thank you again."

The Elder waited for the two to finish before directing Danny over to the four elves he didn't know. The strangers had gathered on the side Danny had been approaching, where the only empty seat was next to Ivy. The elf who would be sitting on his other side from Ivy was a tall boy who, if he was a human, would appear to be in his twenties. He had bleach blonde hair and vivid crystal blue eyes. He was dressed in what Danny assumed was a military uniform, dyed to match the color of his eyes. His face was almost classically handsome, with chiseled features and high cheekbones.

The Elder gestured to the young elf, "Danny, this is Prince Hawke, heir to the elven lands."

Danny, while bowing politely, did his best to hide his surprise at a male being able to inherit. No one had mentioned this to him and they did not cover that in the elven culture and language book he had read back at the academy. This place was starting to look better and better. Though he didn't fail to notice the girls stealing glances at prince. He thought he might have seen Brooke lean over to get a better look at the backside of the prince.

Doing his best to hide his jealousy, Danny greeted,"It is a pleasure to meet your royal highness."

Prince Hawke's face split into a huge grin as he nodded to Danny, "It is good to meet the one who saved the life of my best friend here, Leaf. Please if you ever need anything, just let me know."

Danny bowed again, "Thank you, but I did not save him on my own. I could not have done it without, Ivy, Brooke, and Jade."

The Prince nodded and smiled towards the girls, "Of course! I have also extended my offer to each of them as well."

"Your highness is too kind."

Turning to the two that had walked over from the other side of the table, Elder Breeze introduced them, "Danny, this is the commander of the elven forces, Prince Consort Barrow and this is Princess Willow."

Danny bowed to both of them individually, as he had been instructed beforehand.

The Prince Consort was impressive for an elf. Most of the elves he had seen looked lithe and built for speed. The Prince Consort was not only taller than most, but he looked like he was also built for ripping trees apart with his bare hands. He had the whole ruggedly handsome thing down to perfection, with dark hair and eyes to top it all off. He also wore a military uniform, but unlike the Prince's, he wore a sash that crossed his chest with different medals and insignia sown into it. His collar also sported golden leaf pins shaped like the leaves of the tree they were currently inside. While his demeanor was polite, Danny couldn't help but notice the Prince Consort was looking at him as if gauging a potential enemy.

The princess looked to be around the same age as Danny and the girls. Her beauty was a cut above the rest, and that was saying something for one of the elven race. It was obvious, she took after her father. Dark blonde hair and aqua marine eyes sat on petite face with fine features. She wore a gown that flattered her petite figure. The princess tried to smile at Danny but couldn't seem to stop the confusion from showing on her face.

Before the Prince Consort could speak the princess suddenly stepped closer to Danny, looking above his eyes, “Are humans supposed to lose all their hair when they become druids?”

Danny was too humiliated to speak and tried to shrink in on himself.

The last elf, a statuesque woman who had yet to be introduced, reprimanded the princess, “Daughter, that is no way to speak to our guests. Can't you see you have offended him greatly. You will apologize immediately!”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

The princess looked shocked and turned to Danny, contrite, “My apologies, Danny, I did not mean to offend you. I just haven't seen a human without hair above their eyes... and on their head.”

Danny, face still beet red, nodded and mumbled, “It’s alright. It will all grow back soon.”

Elder Breeze was frowning, but quickly put a smile on his face before directing Danny to the woman who had just reprimanded the princess, “Danny, it is my pleasure to introduce you to her majesty, Queen Kestrel.”

Danny quickly bowed as low as he could, “It is an honor to meet you, your majesty.”

The queen was tall and had the bearing one would expect of one of power. When Danny had walked into the room the way she carried herself left no doubt about who she was. She wore a long flowing gown that hugged the full curves of her body. Her beauty would be unrivaled except for odd scaring that appeared to radiate from her left eye. Whatever had caused the scaring must have damaged her eye as well, because Danny had yet to see her open it. It was a testament to her appearance that this did not detract from her overwhelming beauty.

The queen was turned so her back was to the table when she suddenly opened her left eye. Inside was what looked like a polished stone. Tiny fractures along the stones surface started to glow.

The queen closed her eye after a few moments and smiled at him, “Danny it is an honor to meet one such as yourself. I see now that Elder Breezes’s initial assessment was correct and you are more than what we had been informed.”

The Basalts visibly tensed upon hearing these words spoken by the queen. The girls looked unsure of what was happening but followed the Basalts lead. The walls of the room shifted as elven guards, completed covered in the camouflaged armor Danny had seen before, seemed to grow from the tree wall behind them. Each guard had a hand ready to draw their weapons.

The queen frowned and raised her hand in the air, “Hold!”

Turning to the Basalts, the queen spoke calmly, “Do not worry, we are not barbarians to just take him away from you. We hold our alliance with your people to important to do that.”

The Basalts visibly relaxed, but Danny doubted it extended much further than that. The elven guards faded back into the tree, though with his mana sight, Danny could see them standing there, watching.

The queen called for everyone to return to their seats and dinner was promptly served. The food was delicious and and soon everyone seemed to forget the tense moments from before. They kept to mundane conversation topics, asking about his family and the academy.

Sitting next to him, the prince turned to Danny, “So Danny, you said your hair would grow back?”

All the individual conversations around the table stopped as everyone focused on him.

Danny had been coached beforehand on what he was and wasn't allowed to say. Seeing as the elves seemed to know something about his new abilities, he figured his origins were the only thing he would remain silent on.

Taking a sip of the watered down wine that had been served with the meal, Danny cleared his throat, “Yes, recent events have led to me attaining new ways of using my magical affinities.” Danny proceeded to explain to them his first attempt at using flame aspect. Instead of laughing, the elves seemed shocked.

Elder Breeze spoke up from across the table, “That was very dangerous, Danny. You could have burned yourself alive.”

Danny nodded, “Yes, but I had reason to believe otherwise.”

Elder Breeze hesitated before continuing, “If you wish to try another of these aspects then please have me or one of the other elders there in case something happens.”

Danny smiled, “I would like that very much, thank you.”

The elder nodded to him, smiling.

Danny spoke up again, “I can't help but ask, are there elves here like me? You seemed to recognize what I am when we first met.”

Elder Breeze started to speak but turned with a questioning look towards the queen. The queen who had been listening and bowed her head as if deep in thought. After a few moments she seemed to have come to a decision, “I would like to speak with Danny alone with Elder Breeze if possible.” With this said the queen looks across the table at the Basalts.

Arya takes a long time, while her gaze switches back and forth between the queen and Danny. The entire time, not a single emotion is expressed. Even as she finally replies, “Yes, of course, your majesty.”

The Queen and Elder Breeze stand with Danny quickly rising to follow them. The three leave the guest wing of the palace but do not travel far before entering another room. Servants are inside removing sheets from the furniture in the small sitting room. A few extra chairs are taken away, as the three sit down in the chairs left behind. A servant brings in a tray with tea, setting it down at a short table set between the three. A large window overlooks a small courtyard that holds a small pond and garden in a bend of the palace's base. Music starts playing from somewhere outside, a string instrument of some kind.

The queen picks up a cup of tea and Elder Breeze and Danny followed her lead. Taking a sip the queen spoke softly, “Danny, what I am going to tell you is a secret normally only told to royalty and the Elders. I am going to take a calculated risk and tell you this secret as well. I hope we can find a way for my people to become someone you can trust and depend on as well.” The queen paused to take a sip of tea before continuing, “Now Danny, while I would like for us to begin on a relationship of complete trust, I hope you understand that should you divulge what I am about to tell you with anyone else, you will become an enemy to the elven state. This is a condition placed on all who hear what I am about to tell you. Since you are a human, I will also add the condition that our alliance with your people will be dissolved. Do you understand what I have told you? This is your only chance to back out."

Danny didn't wait and nodded, "Yes, I understand. I will keep your people's secret safe and understand that should I not, myself and my people will suffer for it."

The queen didn't respond immediately and studied him for a moment. Standing she walked over to the window and looked at the courtyard below. Turning to Danny, she gestured for him to join her.

Once Danny stood beside her the queen began her tale, "Before the great cataclysm our people had groves all over this world. Our people were only found in those locations suited to growing our sacred trees. The rest of the races believed us to be religious zealots, as we would allow no one to enter our cities, our sacred groves. We fostered this belief by giving the great source of all mana the name Gaea.

All of this subterfuge held a purpose, and that was to hide the weakness of the Elven people. We elves are born with magic and for the rest of our lives we require mana. These sacred trees produce tremendous amounts of mana which they store in their roots, branches, and leaves. We elves can access this mana to use as our own. We do this because while we can store more mana than humans, we do not generate much mana through our connections to the source. It is a pitiful amount and our bodies use mana for a specific purpose."

The queen took a deep breath, as if what she was preparing to climb a steep hill, "Our longevity is a byproduct of us storing mana in our bodies. You humans have a taste of this, living two or three times what you should. Elves can exist for millennia. The more magic we store in our bodies throughout our lives, the longer we can exist. These bodies of ours use significant amounts of mana in order to do this. The sacred trees provide this mana, and we in turn protect the trees and aid in their proliferation. That is until the great cataclysm, when the last ascendant of the royal lineage died halting the advance of the invaders so his children, my ancestors, could travel to this secluded grove. This palace you see around you is nothing compared to the great sacred tree that housed the royal family of ages past."

The queen lapsed into silence, looking lost while staring out at the tree that grew around the small courtyard. Danny thought about asking her a question, but decided to wait for her to collect her thoughts.

The queen blinked and shook her head slightly, turning to look at Danny, "My great grandfather was the last ascendant of the royal line, and he died so we could live on. Since then, there have been no more ascendants to come out of the royal line. Every so often an elder would ascend and be welcomed into the royal family, but they too have not produced an ascendant since the great collapse."

Danny interrupted her, "Excuse me your majesty. You keep using the term ascendant, but I don't know what that is. Who were the ascendant?"

The queen looked confused, "Danny, you are an ascendant."

Elder Breeze spoke up from his chair, "Your majesty, I believe the humans call them variants."

The queen's mouth opened, "Oh, that's right!"

Danny was thinking how he hadn't seen a variant since he had changed so he couldn't confirm it himself. He never bothered to look to closely at one with his mana sight before, because he was too busy trying not to die.

The queen interrupted his thoughts, "I tell you all this with a purpose. The sacred trees of this city are all that keeps my people from living short lives like the humans who have not unlocked their mana. Our people can maintain the sacred trees we have, but only the ascendant could induce them to propagate. These trees would grow uncontrolled throughout the world if left to their own devices, so our ancient ancestors locked their ability to procreate without our assistance. This unfortunately has led to our own slow and eventual fall into abject mortality. The more elves that are born the fewer trees there are to sustain them. The shorter our lives, the more young that are born each year. It is a cycle that only has one ending.

Our people are capable of becoming truly unlimited beings, but that is changing. Danny, will you help us gain back our birthright? We will gift you all that we have, wealth, artifacts, weapons, armor..." The queen paused and spoke quietly, "I will even give you my daughter's hand in marriage. In exchange for my peoples freedom from this fate, I will give her to you. Like most nobles, our people only marry to form an alliances between houses. Marrying my daughter would cement your place among my people."

Danny was rendered speechless by the weight of what was being asked of him. He finally gathered his thoughts enough to give a reply, "How do you even know I can do this?"

Elder Breeze moved over to join them by the window, "Given the sensitive nature of this knowledge, nothing was written down on how to accomplish this task. You, of course, will not do this alone. I am certain with your apparent genius and the full experience of the elders, we should be able to accomplish this."

The queen added, "Once the task is finished, you will be granted whatever you choose as your reward."

Danny turned to look out the window while he pondered what he should do next.

*Take the princess!  Just look at her mother if you want to see into the future!  Maiwage, maiwage is wot bwings us togedur... then there was something about twu wuv?*

Danny rolled his eyes. Turning back to the two awaiting elves, Danny bowed low, "I will be honored to help your people, your majesty."

*In exchange for the princess!*