The walk back to the temple passed in complete silence. However, now the abbot did not evoke that feeling of overwhelming power. It was an exhausted ancient old man leading his grandson home. The conversation with Askeltak took all the strength of the once great paladin. When the temple of Aronis appeared around the bend, the elder spoke:
- Klein... We are weak. Very. People have always been weak... And now... I cannot stand alone against the Unnameable... Become stronger, my boy... Become the shoulder on which I can lean. Otherwise we are all doomed.
- Why... Why me? There are God's chosen ones, the Golden Halo, the same adventurers with bird masks!
- They have their own way. Which, I hope, will lead them to us at the moment when their strength is needed. But the Nameless One has his own disciples. We must kill them before they become dangerous. This task will be yours. After all, if I call the strongest adventurers, the Overlords may consider this a violation of the agreement...
- Teacher... What that monster said... Is it true?
Arthur sighed heavily and reluctantly answered:
- He's a monster. Monster. A creature that we must kill at any cost. But no, he almost never lies... He doesn’t say enough. Manipulates. But he's not lying.
- So you...
- Yes. I am forced to tremble with fear at every word they say. The rulers can break this agreement at any time... Yes, they will be in danger. But not from you and me, baby. They are in danger only from other Overlords.
The abbot entered the temple. He greeted the other clergy weakly and headed to his room. At its entrance, Klein was about to say goodbye to the master, but he ordered him to move on with a sign. Once in the room, Arthur pulled back the carpet from the floor, revealing a hatch down into the ground. It was obvious that it was used very often. The old man continued to say:
- Therefore, Klein, you need to become stronger... You and your comrades. You must defeat the minions of the Unnamable and stand on par with the Ground Angels. After all, when the time comes... - Arthur looked at his pupil, and the fire flared up in his eyes again. “I won’t die of old age, baby.” I survived that fateful day. But this won't happen again. I'll give you as much time as I can. And when I feel that I will die soon... I will break the agreement. I will attack the damned lich. And on this day you should be with me. By this time I will find out about the condition of my comrades... If I'm lucky, there will be three of us.
- Three? – Klein was amazed while walking along the underground path under the temple. The guy had no idea that such a place existed here. - Why three? Weren't there five Angels, including you, who survived that battle?
- Yes... How do the storytellers sing there? “The victory fell heavily on the survivors, and only five looked at the corpses of their friends. A light paladin, a fierce hero, a silent ninja, a destructive rune master, and a cheerful bard.” In some ways the storytellers were right. But they were wrong in many ways. The bard was not cheerful. Especially after that battle. But he was clearly the happiest of the five of us.
- Why?
- Because he died. Two years after the battle. He got drunk and hanged himself. You know, I even envy him... I tried to make up my mind many times, but I just couldn’t...
Klein looked in horror at the back of his so unfamiliar master. Suicide? The great leader of the Ground Angels thought about this?.. And envied the suicide. The man who committed the greatest sin possible.
Meanwhile, two paladins approached the enchanted steel door, and the old man began to tinker with the lock, and the young man asked:
- Then that leaves four. Why were we talking about three?
- Unnamable... He's not lying.
- You... Did you kill one of your comrades?..
The door gave way, revealing to Klein the most secure room in the temple. All the walls, floor and even ceiling were hung with protective amulets and magical formations. Arthur smiled sadly and said:
- Meet the “silent ninja” from the Ground Angels in the flesh. My dear friend... Ksenmarilak...
Klein saw a figure standing in the middle of the room and stepped back. In the center of all the formations, like a statue, stood an absolutely middle-aged elf with gray hair at his temples. It looked like the most beautiful work created by a genius of sculpture. The whole pose, the aura emanating from her, every muscle, everything looked as if after a moment the captured warrior would take a step forward, strike, for which he raised a strange sword above his head.
The only thing that stood out from this figure bursting with life was the eyes. There were many expressions frozen in them, rage, anger, the desire to kill. And at the same time - sadness, despair, disbelief, grief. And the most important thing is indifference.
- What... What is this? – Klein asked in shock. He couldn't take his eyes off the figure, and it frightened him. The elf was so alive... And absolutely devoid of any life.
- I told you…- Arthur answered sadly. – My friend Ksenm... Exactly the same as six decades ago...
- What did you... What did you do to him?
- I? - The old man smiled sadly, taking something out of the closet. - I stopped his blow when he tried to attack the Overords after the agreement was concluded... None of us liked this agreement. But Ksenm refused to accept it. And I had to stop him... It broke his heart.
- And... And that's all? – Klein said incredulously.
- Yes. That was enough. Hold it, help me.
The abbot threw a wet rag to the guy, and he, turning it over in his hands, asked incomprehensibly:
- Why do I need this?
- What do you mean why? We'll wash him.
- What?
- Wash. Should I not leave my dear friend standing alone and covered in dust?
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Klein looked at Arthur, expecting a trick, but he took out a second rag, dipped it in a bucket of water, and began to wash the elf with neat and precise movements. The young man took a closer look and realized that the entire room was absolutely clean. And so did the visiting legend of the past. He realized this and began to say:
- How often…
- Every day. – The old man answered, continuing to dry his comrade. - All fifty-eight years. I come here, keep it clean. I'm talking to him. I tell you everything that happened in the world. Many elves believe that people like him are still alive, and are aware of everything that is happening around them... And I want to believe in this too.
- “People like him”? Are there others?
- Elves... - Arthur grinned. – Very fragile creatures. They live forever. Or a number of years close to that. They have the power of magic that people can only dream of. They are good at absolutely everything, and beautiful in appearance. We were all born on the same planet. So how could it be that humans and elves are so different? And at the same time, the long-ears still haven’t enslaved us all? Why are there so many people, but few elves, if they don’t die of old age, hardly get sick, and are incredibly strong? What way could this happen?
- What way?
- No way. – The elder answered harshly. - This is impossible. But it happened. Because... Because elves and people were never born on the same planet. We're not even from the same world.
- What!? – Klein was amazed, stopping wiping the elf standing in front of him. This creature suddenly appeared in a completely new light.
- Once upon a time... Only we lived in this world. It all belonged to us, the people. There were no gods in those days. They were still just angels somewhere in heaven that never answer to mere mortals. And there was no magic. As well as miracles. And classes with class skills.
- How is this possible!? How then did people generally defend themselves from attacks by monsters and dragons!?
- No way. There were no monsters or monsters. A world without goblins, minotaurs, chimeras, dragons. Without magic and other races. Complete reign of man, where the strongest enemy is the bear.
- This... It’s incredibly difficult to imagine, - admitted Klein.
- Yes. Me too. But the ancient chronicles speak about this. I don’t know how it happened, but... Once upon a time, about three thousand years ago, the First Coming took place. And it opened the door to the world of elves. That's how they came into our world. Like everything that happened in their world...
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- Big tree. Great tree. I feel its ancient power... - Said the graying elf, touching the giant oak tree towering high above the travelers.
- A tree is like a tree. Just big. Let's move on. We need to kill the monster that is attacking the villagers. – As always, the young paladin answered emotionlessly. He was a little over seventeen, but he was already the backbone of a very motley squad.
- As always, cold as steel, hehe! – The dwarf girl, covered with runes and tattoos, grinned. - Arthur, are you ever satisfied?
- Yes. When I kill the undead. A little less when I kill other monsters. And also when you are silent. – The paladin looked at the halfling girl with a contemptuous look. He pursed his lips when he saw her tattoos again. He understood and approved of runes; her strength directly depended on them, but simple drawings on her body? Scorched by some dubious dwarven tool? Pointless, stupid and doesn't help in killing monsters.
- Hey, don't be a fuzz! – The gnome, not at all offended, exclaimed, shoving the guy in the side. – These are not popular with girls!
- I do not care.
- With men too!
- I don’t care... Drugna, what are you hinting at now? – The paladin got angry, wishing that the girl in front of him was not a monster who could be killed at any moment.
- That you should be more relaxed! And the fact that you and Ksenm are two pieces of disgruntled excrement of the Gnamgyens! You should learn to smile at least sometimes! Look, even that old elf can do it, look!
Arthur looked and was surprised to see that, indeed, the usually silent and indifferent elf was still standing by the oak tree, closing his eyes and smiling. A lizardman archer from their team approached Ksenm, and, touching him on the shoulder, shyly said:
- Hey buddy, are you okay?
- Yes.
- Sure? You're just smiling. This is not normal for you. You can tell everything that happened, we will understand and support you!
The elf opened his eyes and, with obvious regret, walked away from the tree. He looked around at his comrades, and, realizing that they were waiting, began to speak.
- This... It reminded me of home. When I and other elves did not yet live on Earth... In Al'Zeldarn there was our little paradise... Everything in the world was subordinate to us... Our whole world was filled with life given by the Great Tree. It gave birth to us and protected us. We drank its juice and became immortal. We slept in his canopy and learned magic. We observed the circle of life under its crown, and gave birth to life. We enjoyed all the benefits of the Great Tree, which made us like gods... When we needed food, it grew in any part of the world; when we needed to travel, the branches of the tree carried us where we needed; when we needed peace, exquisite houses were woven from the roots . We were happy. We weren't afraid of anything. We created everyone else. I was not among the first elves, but my great-grandfather was one of those who created the leviathans. Others dealt with other creatures: dragons, basilisks, beastmen...
- And you created goblins too? – The young mimic, who now had the face of a handsome guy of about twenty, asked with his mouth open, in response to which Ksenm winced:
- No. There are parasites everywhere that cannot be removed, no matter how hard you try... We lived in an idyll. Until some were sucked into that hole... And I... I was one of those who followed them into the unknown... Eons of years in paradise made us forget about the words “caution” and “fear”... And this tree... It reminded me a little of home... Sorry for the stop, let's move on. Work doesn't wait.
A dozen listeners began to heatedly discuss what the old elf had said, but Arthur spoke louder and more decisively than anyone:
- Yes, yes, very cool. Will this story help us kill the creature that has settled here? No? Then I don’t care about your story, let’s not linger, let’s move on. Grandfather again forgot to drink his medicinal herbs.
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The old man looked sadly into the face of his old friend and spoke bitterly.
- I should have talked to all of you more... Forgive me, Ksenm, I was such a pain in the ass... One way or another, the elves who came to us were deeply shocked. Their home world was filled with magic. In ours, it appeared only with their arrival. But the worst thing is that there was no Great Tree here. And the elven race lost access to all the sacraments that required his help. They became weak. All their faithful slaves and animals turned against their masters. Elves... Hell awaited them. And it still affects them today. Even the elves born here are full of melancholy. Longing for a home they have never seen, but which their body craves. They feel inferior. Elves know their capabilities very well. And every second they have to live with a misunderstanding of why they need all these powers if they cannot use any of them. And this resulted in a terrible illness for their entire race...
The old man finished washing Ksenm and laid his hand heavily on his shoulder, finishing the story.
- They began... To freeze. In sequence. The elves, having experienced a severe shock, or having lost the meaning of life, simply began to freeze. They are alive. They breathe. Blood flows in their bodies. They can be killed. But they don't react to anything. Never. Simply having lost motivation for life, elves fall into the deepest depression, not seeing the point in any movement. I saw elves who stand like this for centuries... And not one of them woke up...
- And Master Ksenm... - Klein began.
- Yes. Seeing me engage him in battle, defending the Overlords... He froze.
Arthur closed his eyes, struggling to relive that moment. The moment when he personally killed one of his last comrades... He opened his eyes, full of pain, and spoke again.
- That's all I wanted to show you, Klein... Now I have no secrets from you. Therefore, I ask... Whatever the Nameless One promises you, do not help him... Do not betray your old teacher, and everything he fought for...
- Yes, master. I won't betray you. I swear.
- Ok, I believe you. I'm sorry for attacking you then... Now go. I'll finish it myself. Klein. Get stronger. You don't have much time. I'm not young anymore... Tomorrow. Tomorrow I will apply for a personal quest for your group. I know where some dungeon masters are around. Perhaps they are the wards of the Unnamed One or other Overlords. You must kill them, Klein. Obliged. Now go. A very, very difficult job awaits you...