Alec's fingers traced the contours of the chamber's cold, stone walls, absorbing the thrum of power that ran through them. The chamber, for so long had been filled with a silent, dormant energy, now pulsed with the warmth emanating from Karn's book, which lay at its centre. The energy was reviving, rejuvenating – a flicker of light after years of darkness under the cruel King's reign.
As Alec neared each altar, he could feel the spark of life within each core stone. These infant Elementlets had, for years, locked themselves away in their stony shells, too terrified of the outside world and the potential wrath of the King. The tormented past was evident in the hairline cracks and muted glow of each heart. But now, there was a discernible shift in their energy.
Pausing at a particularly radiant altar, Alec peered down at a shimmering stone that displayed a rusty red sheen. The energy it emitted was different, warmer, and more...alive. Even as Alec watched, absorbed in its glow, a sudden noise from above made him snap to attention. Panic surged within him, fearing the younglings had been discovered.
He braced himself, ready to lunge for the book if needed, his stoney eyes fixated on the entrance.
However, a wave of relief washed over him as he spotted Maze's tired, yet familiar features peered back at him, the ambient light casting shadows across the storyteller's wrinkled face. Behind him trailed the water visage of Scarf, a figure of wilfulness and curiosity.
Alec couldn't help but chuckle, the tension of the moment easing away. "You sure know how to scare the gravel out of me," he remarked.
Maze smirked, "Well, someone has to keep you on your toes."
Glancing at Scarf, Alec raised an eyebrow, "And she followed you?"
Maze sighed, "Like a persistent shadow. But maybe it's for the best. You could use all the help you can get. And she’s causing nothing but distractions for our new students."
As the trio grouped within the centre of the cavernous den with the chamber sealed behind them, they began to discuss their next steps. With the addition of Scarf, the core stones seemed to react and pulsed stronger.
Good, Alec thought. Her presence is soothing the other younglings.
Alec studied the young water Elementlet intently, his brow furrowing in concern. Scarf, with her radiant energy harnessed by a green silent core, had been riddle he couldn’t solve. When he was among the many younglings of his past, those Elementlets would already be grasping the nuances of the human language by now, Yet Scarf persisted in communicating in the ancient ways - through the vibrations of elemental harmonics.
He approached her, the deep connection between Elementlets allowing them to converse in a manner unperceivable to human ears. Subtle shifts in temperature, a soft rustling, and pulsations in the air conveyed meaning more profound than mere words.
“Why have you not spoken in the human tongue?” Alec's question resonated through the chamber, echoing through her core stone.
Scarf's response was a melodic wave, a whisper combined with the soft trickle of water. “In the void of silence, I find solace. The human words are strange and feel… wrong.”
Alec nodded understanding the sentiment while Maze looked on with silent fascination.
“Young one, these children need our help,” Alec continued. “We cannot let ourselves be distracted in our task here.”
The vision of Ellie smiled softly as understanding and recognition flashed over her features. It was a wonder to Alec that the young creature could grasp the intricate nuances of the humans’ facial features yet not their language. He guessed it had to do with the particular bond she had created with the human Ellie.
“I will not fail our kind,” Scarf said determined. “I will not let them drown in the darkness as I have.”
Alec felt a pang of sympathy. Scarf had awakened in a world devoid of natural energy. The transition from an ancient world, rich in elemental magic, to a barren land could distort an Elementlets growth.
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Maze, observing the interaction, approached cautiously. "Is she alright?" he inquired.
Alec sighed, "She's adjusting, but the absence of magic in her initial stages has left her... inhibited, in a way. For now, we communicate through the old ways, but I'm unsure when or if ever she'll transition to spoken language."
Maze nodded with understanding. "Everyone has their own pace. Perhaps Scarf's journey is just taking a different path."
Alec sighed. "True enough. And as long as she's with us, we'll ensure she finds her way."
Maze's eyes settled on the blood-red cover of the book. "Has is made any difference?" he inquired.
Alec sighed, glancing at the vibrant tome. "While it ensures the younglings won't dwindle, their mental scars remain. The poison of their past experiences can't be easily erased."
A shadow passed over Maze's face. "I know that kind of burden all too well," he murmured.
Alec’s stone fingers traced the edges of the book. "But with luck, Karn will soon make good on his word. Then, these little ones can heal in an environment that resonates with their essence." Alec met Maze's gaze with determination. "We can only hope Karn learns swiftly for their sake."
“I guess I’ll need to find a way to help as well,” Maze said as he ambled toward the chamber's exit, Alec's eyes tracked the old man's movements. A series of old memories flashed in his mind, the visage of a young, vibrant human that bore an uncanny resemblance to the weathered man’s face. Those same deep-set eyes, the particular curve of the nose, the way he held himself - all of it was too familiar. Was he somehow related to that youth a descendant maybe?
"Wait," Alec called out, just as Maze was about to cross the threshold.
Maze paused, turning back with a quizzical expression. "Is there something else?"
Alec hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the right words. "You... you remind me of someone. Is it possible that you have kin I’ve met before?"
Maze's eyes deepened with thought. "My lineage has always been rooted here in Ren Daral. But who knows, perhaps you have met an old relation."
The thought intrigued Alec. "Perhaps."
Maze gave a thoughtful nod. "Our ties of fate are vast and complex. There's much we don't understand. Maybe there are deeper connections?"
With a gentle smile, Maze continued his exit from the chamber. Alec watched him leave, pondering the profound statement. The old man always had a strange way of turning a phrase that left the audience pondering significant questions. Alec lost in thought jolted when Scarf's playful energy interrupted his deep contemplation, suddenly bringing him to the present.
The atmosphere in the chamber was thick with energy, the pulsing vibrations of the awakening Elementlets stirring the air around them.
“Alright young one. Let’s start tending to the hearts, there’s a few in the bac that will need our attention.”
Scarf nodded and moved to the far end of the chamber with fluid grace as he slowly followed.
No matter how much he wanted to focus on the task at hand, he found his thoughts far removed from the activity.
His earlier conversation with Maze nagged at the edges of his mind. The resemblance was uncanny. Alec had known a young man, a prince from Brancourt, with the same expression and look in his eyes. But that would’ve been centuries before the long-lived King was even in the picture. Maze would have been aged beyond belief, and yet, the resemblance was too hard to ignore.
A gentle nudge interrupted his ruminations. It was Scarf, her essence communicating in the ancient language, filled with warmth and concern. “What troubles you?”
Alec sighed, releasing his worry to her. “The old storyteller, Maze... I believe I knew him long ago when he was young. But it seems impossible.”
Scarf, wise beyond her age, responded with a comforting certainty. “The currents of energy I feel from him are benign. Time and magic can be strange companions. Whether he’s the boy you remember or not, I believe in the present he’s a friend.”
Alec nodded, appreciating Scarf's insight. While mysteries surrounded them, the core essence of trust and understanding remained unchanged. He resolved to approach the situation with caution, but also an open mind. There were truths waiting to be uncovered, and only time would reveal the answers.
Scarf approached a glimmering blue core stone elevated above Alec on an altar. Unexpectedly, a surge of water cascaded from her, drenching Alec.
"Hey!" Alec exclaimed in surprise, using human language before reverting to the ancient tongue that Scarf favoured. "What was that about?"
Her aquatic form shimmered with embarrassment. "I apologize," she murmured, her voice rippling like a gentle wave. "I didn’t mean to."
Alec regarded her thoughtfully, sensing the distress the youngling's core had caused her. "That one had suffered greatly, intended to be a vessel for the king's dark magic," he remarked.
Scarf hesitated, her liquid form swirling with concern. She then eyed his diminutive size and asked, "why haven't you returned to...?" She motioned to her full stature, suggesting Alec's original, grander size.
Alec exhaled, a gentle breeze swirling around him. Memories of his fierce battle with the corrupted gem still lingered in his mind and within the cracks of his heart. "My core is fragile right now. I worry any transformation would intensify the fractures."
Scarf's luminous gaze filled with empathy as she regarded the older Elementlet.
“Don’t worry, time heals all wounds,” he lied. “Focus on these poor younglings as their fate has yet to be written.”
Scarf nodded then began her work, listening to Alecs instructions as she helped sooth the swirling energies within the dim chamber.