“I thought you said you’d be able to detect if anybody was near us,” Kaiden said accusingly, as he kept his movements minimal, wary of the unseen archer.
Aridan shot him a wry look, his tone laced with dry humor despite their situation. “Apologies. I didn’t account for us barrelling into the forest with the subtlety of a heard of rampaging minotaur’s,” he retorted.
“Quiet!” the voice from the trees commanded sharply. “Who are you, and why have you entered the forest from the Wastelands? I don’t recognize you, elf.”
“I recognize that voice, is that you Falwin? I told you that if you kept staring into the sun you’d go blind.”
Out of the dense foliage, an elf with long golden hair emerged, his bow drawn and aimed directly at them. His features were sharp, his face softening as recognition dawned. “Aridan?” he asked voice full of disbelief.
Aridan smiled, a mix of relief and fatigue evident in his expression. “Believe me, it is good to gaze upon the face of another elf, even if it is yours, Falwin,” he replied warmly.
“We thought you were dead,” Falwin said as he lowered his bow, stepping closer with a frown. “I attended your lantern funeral myself. How are you standing here?”
Adridan’s smile faded into a somber line. “That tale is long and dark, but for now, know that it is through no small feat – and the bravery of my friend here – that I am returned to you.”
Falwin’s gaze shifted to Kaiden, his eyes narrowing as he assessed him. “A human?”
“This is Kaiden Hunter, a human from one of the nomadic tribes. He is here seeking refuge and aid.” Aridan explained before Kaiden could respond.
The tension seemed to ebb slightly as Falwin considered his words. “Very well,” He said finally. “But, appropriate authorization will still need to be obtained before he can stay.”
Aridan nodded, “I figured as much, I don’t suppose you could spare some food and water, it was a long arduous journey across the wasteland.”
“Of course,” Falwin responded, tapping the top of his head twice in a deliberate gesture. Suddenly, three elves materialized from the forest.
“We’ll rest here briefly,” Falwin declared, nodding to the smallest elf with sharp, alert eyes. “Ellisar, take the first watch. We’ll have someone relieve you soon.”
As they settled, Falwin’s attention turned to Kaiden. “And let's see to that arm of yours,” he added.
He looked at Kaiden’s arm, let's get that arm fixed too.” He gave another nod to an elf, distinguished by his cloth gambeson armor adorned with a healer’s emblem.
The elf stepped forward and cast a healing spell. Kaiden felt a surge of cool energy wash through him, soothing yet startling as his bones realigned with a jolt of pain that quickly dissipated. He watched in muted awe as the spell knitted his flesh, sealing cuts and smoothing over scrapes right before his eyes.
The elves shared their provisions – modest rations of dried nuts, fruits, and berries. “Apologies, this is all we have on us,” Falwin said, handing out the food.
Kaiden and Aridan, famished and fatigued, nearly wept with gratitude. The nuts were crunchy, the fruits and berries filled with a sweet tartness that melted on their tongues, a stark and welcome contrast to the jerky and monster meat they had subsisted on. Kaiden relished each bite, surprised at the similarities that some of the flavors bore to foods back on Earth.
“The closest town is Enyath, from there you can take a mage portal to the capitol. Felwin explained, “Sorry we don’t have any extra clothes for you, but once you get to the capitol you can bathe and acquire new clothes there.”
“A mage portal?” Kaiden inquired, curiosity piqued.
“A portal for quick travel between locations. Surely, you’ve seen one before? They’re quite common in the human kingdoms,” Falwin explained.
Aridan shot a discreet warning glance to Kaiden from behind Falwin’s back.
“Sorry, my mind is a bit addled from everything that’s happened,” Kaiden replied as convincingly as possible.
Felwin nodded, seeming to accept the explanation. “Are you both feeling rested enough to move? He continued “If we leave now, we can make it there before tomorrow nightfall.”
Eager for the comforts of civilization, Kaiden and Aridan readily agreed.
Their journey to the elven town was uneventful. The elven scouts were proficient in spotting any threats well in advance. Kaiden was amazed by their ability to navigate the forest. They moved with silent speed and grace, darting between trees, vines, and underbrush. In comparison, Kaiden felt as if he were trudging through the forest with stone feet.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew larger, their enormous trunks stretching upwards. Kaiden marveled at the sheer size, their towering presence made him feel minuscule in comparison.
“I can’t believe how tall these trees are,” Kaiden remarked to no one in particular.
Aridan nodded, a hit of pride in his voice as he glanced around at the ancient forest. “Some are over 500 handspans tall, believed to be over a millennia old.”
After hours of trekking through the dense forest with the sun beginning its descent, the group suddenly came to a halt. “Why have we stopped?” Kaiden asked puzzled.
“We have arrived,” Aridan declared.
Looking around, Kaiden saw only the continuous expanse of trees, in a flash of inspiration, he looked upwards. To his astonishment, nestled high in the treetops were structures and platforms that weaved between the trunks. “How…how do we get up there? he stammered, searching for any stairs or ladders.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Aridan remained silent, watching as Falwin approached a tree stump and inserted what appeared to be a dark wooden stick into a hole. The stump and stick momentarily glowed with enchantments, signaling magic at work. Moments later, the ground beneath them stirred, causing Kaiden to stagger slightly, cursing under his breath. Aridan’s eyes twinkled with suppressed amusement, clearly aware of what was about to transpire.
The ground on which they stood was, in fact, a large floating platform. It began to ascent gently towards the town in the treetops. Cautiously, Kaiden edged towards the side, watching as the forest floor receded.
“What no safety rails?” he joked nervously.
An elf nearby snorted dismissively. “If an elf fell from this, they deserve to die.”
As they reached the top Kaiden exhaled deeply, his eyes wide with wonder. “This is amazing,” he marveled.
The scene before him seemed plucked from a fairy tale. Large circular wooden buildings sprouted seamlessly from trees, each connected by expansive wooden walkways that hung suspended by hundreds of vine-like ropes intertwined with the branches above.
“How is this possible?” Kaiden asked his voice filled with awe.
“We have the best wood craftsman classes in the world,” Aridan replied with obvious pride.
It was then that Kaiden noticed something unique about the city, there appeared to be very little metal. Even the elven soldiers had spears and arrowheads made with bone. Their helmets appeared to be crafted from wood, and they wore a type of brigandine armor, and although he couldn’t discern the material underneath the cloth covering he suspected it was also wood.
“Why is there so little metal?” Kaiden asked.
Aridan glanced around before responding, “There are a few reasons, but the short of it is that it’s mostly for economic reasons. We don’t have metal mines in the Elven Federation, and this forest is the only place on the continent where the Ashen Sorrel trees grow, which are abundant here.” He gestured to a towering tree beside them, its dark bark smooth.
“Why is the Ashen Sorrel special?” Kaiden asked as he inspected the towering trees around them.
Aridan’s eyes lit up with pride as he replied. “It’s the hardest wood; on its own, it’s as tough as bronze, but with a few enchantments, it becomes even stronger. Unlike the kingdoms that mine their landscape for resources; we have specialist horticulture classes that work with the trees to harvest the wood without causing harm. This process imbues the wood with a special trait known as ‘living wood,’ which means it can repair itself. The specialized craftsman then shapes this wood into our desired items, like weapons and armor.”
“That’s amazing, it sounds better than metal armor,” Kaiden said.
“Like anything, it has its advantages and disadvantages. Having an abundance of wood in our culture has shaped our class system – hence the prevalence of archers, spear wielders, and nature mages.” Aridan explained, gesturing towards a group of elves practicing on a large platform, their fluid movements almost seemed like a dance.
As they moved along the pathways shaded by the canopy above, Kaiden noticed the distinct alertness of the passing elves, along with a prevalence of weaponry and armor among the populace. He mentioned this to Aridan.
“This town, being the closest to Dragonborn lands, serves as a frontier outpost. Most of its population consists of soldiers.” Aridan explained.
They eventually reached the town heart where a large glowing portal stood on a raised platform. This portal was translucent, showing a hazy rippling image of the other side as if viewed through water.
Felwin halted before the shimmering portal, its luminescence casting flickers over his face. “Well, this is as far as we go,” he said. “I need to report to the garrison. I’ll be sending a report of your return up the chain of command. I suggest you report in after you’ve had the chance to rest and clean up.” His expression softened. “It’s good to see you again, friend,” he added, clasping Aridan’s shoulder. Then, addressing Kaiden, “Nice to meet you, Kaiden.”
“And you,” Kaiden replied, nodding respectfully.
With final nods of acknowledgment, the group of elves turned and marched off.
“What happens if you bump into someone else passing through,” Kaiden asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
“You definitely don’t want to do that,” Aridan said gravely.
Kaiden's face paled, as his imagination conjured up horrific images of bodies melding in unnatural ways. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
“Come on let’s go.” Aridan urged, breaking his thoughts.
Aridan strode confidently through the portal, his figure blurring as if moving through water, before coming to the other side, beckoning him.
Kaiden took a deep, steadying breath and approached the portal with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. He peered intently to the other side, ensuring that the path was clear. Tentatively, he extended one hand through the portal, feeling a cool breeze brush against his skin from the other side. Steeling himself, Kaiden stepped through, his arms outstretched protectively in front of him. The transition was smoother than he anticipated, and he quickly sidestepped upon arrival, eager to clear the entrance of the portal.
He caught Aridan’s eye, his friend was sporting an amused grin. Kaiden noticed a few elves nearby who had paused to watch his cautious entry, their expressions full of amusement.
Realizing what had happened, he felt his neck heat in embarrassment.
Kaiden muttered under his breath, which only seemed to amuse his friend further.
“What actually happens if someone is in the way when you step through?” Kaiden asked.
“You’d just bump into them, the same as if you were walking down the street,” Aridan replied nonchalantly.
“You couldn’t have just told me that?” Kaiden replied, a touch of annoyance in his voice.
Aridan chuckled, “Where would the fun be in that?” he said, clearly enjoying his small prank. Aridan clapped him on the shoulder and guided him away from the portal and deeper into the new City.
Kaiden’s eyes widened as he took in the size of Emendel. The buildings towered around him, each structure intricately woven into the trees.
“This place is massive,” Kaiden breathed out, his voice tinged with wonder.
“This is Emendel, the Elven Capitol City. It’s our largest city. Each building you see here has been grown, shaped, and nurtured over the years by expert builders. Aridan explained with pride.
“It’s so much larger than Enyath,” Kaiden remarked, craning his neck to absorb the sights.
As they navigated the city, walkways became narrower and more labyrinthine, the crowd denser. Despite the congestion, people seemed to instinctively give them room, likely due to their less-than-fresh appearance.
Aridan eventually led them to a building and entered the main door. They followed the passageway which curved following the natural twist of the trunk it surrounded. Soft bioluminescent light for clusters of large, glowing mushrooms cast shadows along the corridor. They passed several doors along the way before ascending a winding staircase before Aridan abruptly stopped outside a particular door. He stood there, a mix of resolve and reluctance in his posture. Kaiden’s gaze was drawn to the wooden plaque next to the door, engraved with the name ‘Everclear’.
“Is this your house?” Kaiden asked, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
“No,” Aridan replied. “I lived in the barracks as soon as I joined the Army.” His eyes remained fixed on the door as if seeming through it to memories beyond.
Kaiden’s brow furrowed in confusion for a second until understanding dawned. “Wait, is this your parents’ house?”
“Yes.” The word was barely a whisper, laden with years of pain and relief at his unexpected return. Aridan lifted his hand, hesitating for just a moment before his knuckles rapped against the wood. The sound echoed slightly in the corridor, a hollow knock that seemed to resonate with the gravity of the moment. Kaiden stood next to his friend, aware of the profound step Aridan was about to take into the past left behind.