As Promised second chapter today. Let my reign of chaos lead us towards the progress of Ley's future.
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It was early in the morning as the sound of clanking armor and spells being prepared for quick use resounded through the forest. This was the group put together by Darlung's garrison Commander and they were swiftly closing in on Ley's location since that's where one of the mages with the group had sensed a huge disturbance in the aetheric flow which all mages use to cast their magic.
Commander- How much further till we reach the disturbance Luther?
The mage named Luther didn't answer immediately mainly due to him needed to reconfirm the location but also because he was slightly afraid of the man. The Commander had never concealed the fact he has little to no love for mages for reasons he won't talk about and was strong enough to mold his grip into solid iron being from the grey wolf beastman tribe. His stare alone was enough to make most of his new recruits piss themselves upon first meeting him but the truth was unless something dangerous was happening like right now he was more like a puppy than a wolf. But Luther still had that slight tinge of fear left over from the time he saw the Commander become enraged by a couple of guys that came from his tribe and started making pokes at his life let just say those two didn't stay around for very long after the Commander flipped his lid.
Luther- It's not far now a little more than half a mile and we'll be there.
Commander- Good I don't like it when there's possible danger to Darlung right on our doorstep.
As the group of combat ready soldiers were on the move Ley had long since woke up and had started infusing essence again. He had found out after his first time that just having the essence enter his body wasn't the whole process he also needed to absorb it as part of his body, mind, and soul or else it would just be stored inside his body and sit there. It took him two days to get the absorption rate balanced with his intake of essence but now it's a steady ceaseless incoming flow of essence with an absorption rate to match it perfectly.
Just as Ley was entering his third hour of essence melding as he named it he heard sound that don't belong to the forest that he knew like it was it his own body. These sound made feel uneasy. These were the sounds of warriors preparing for battle and mages getting ready for spell slinging.
Ley- Why are there combat ready people out here in this part of the forest? Wait are they here for me?!?! What did I do to piss off the people of Darlung so bad they'd send a full combat force after me?!?! Think think was it because I had picked up those coppers and whoever dropped them was a noble and wants them back? Was it because I had accepted that half eaten fish pie from the little girl at the fishmongers? Was it because.......
As Ley was continuously questioning what he had done the group had entered the clearing with the lake and saw Ley standing there mumbling wildly to himself about nonsensical things that no one would be angry about in the slightest. After a while of listening to this the Commander looked around and then Looked to luther.
Commander- Luther this is the place right cause all I see is a blithering idiot talking to himself.
Luther- Yes sir this the place and even though I don't understand why or how the aetheric disturbance is gone almost like it was never here. There's no trace of it anywhere which in of itself should be impossible. To have made such a large disturbance in the aetheric flow but leave no trace like this it well it just can't happen.
Commander- Well apparently it did happen and the only witness we have is that guy and I for one am going to.............. What is that sitting on the ground next to him!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Commander let out a huge howl when he saw the rather large object on the ground next to Ley and rushed over to confirm what he thought he saw was real.
Commander- By the gods it is it really is!!! Kid do you know what you have here this is aetheric mithril one of the rarest and most precious high quality metals in all of Vestra!!!!!
The commander was practically drooling over the large man-sized chunk of metal ore and Ley was completely confused over the man's behavior. One has to understand that aetheric mithril is a material that is formed when an already somewhat rare metal called mithril is bathed in a aether vein for thousands of years and absorbs aethers ability to influence the elements and can be use as a magic conduit. Aetheric mithril is so rare and expensive that anyone who has a weapon or armor made with only has a thin layer over the surface of another metal but the strength of it so great that even that makes the weapon nearly unbreakable and the armor nearly impenetrable. Mages can also benefit from aetheric mithril by having a magic focus mage and mounted on a staff to use as a conduit for their spells.
Ley- Um sir if you like this thing so much please take it as my apology for whatever it was that i did.
The Commander froze at those words and his heart was a whirlwind of emotions but it lasted but a moment as the Commanders character and integrity won out instantly and he stood up and looked at Ley with a serious look then spoke.
Commander- Boy I don't know why you think you've done something that requires you to pay for it by giving away this priceless treasure. A chunk of Aetheric mithril this size is unheard of the amount of money you could get even after having a weapon and armor forged from this is still a small mountain of gold.
Ley was dumbstruck he had found this chunk of metal randomly when he had punched the cliff face next to the waterfall on the other side of the forest but it was worth so much that Ley felt a bit ill from what he just heard.
Ley- Sir please explain something to me just what is aetheric mithril? Why is it worth so much?
Now it was the Commanders turn to be dumbstruck. Who hadn't at least heard of aetheric mithril it was a legendary metal.
Commander- Okay kid tell me the truth how do you not know what is sitting at your feet is?
Ley- Well sir I've lived my entire life in this forest and I'm completely unwelcome in Darlung due to me being thrown out by my own race so I don't really have much in the way of worldly knowledge.
Commander- Well that explains it all right but um just what race are you from? I don't think I've ever heard of anyone like you before.
Ley- I'm a Celestial sir but i was born a bad omen for my people many wanted me dead on the spot including the doctor that delivered me but my father the king instead decided that i'd just be thrown into a random place and leave it to the gods if i survived or not but I was to never be allowed into the Citadel ever again.
Commander- Did you just say you're the son of the king of the Celestials as in you're a prince!?!? But you were thrown away and banished at birth for looking like this?
The Commander was furious after hearing this he was a man with strong family values and the thought of throwing away a newborn just because he looked a bit different was unforgivable to him. He didn't even need to think about what to do next there was no path but this in his mind and it was one he was happy to take. At the same time Ley could see the seething fury on the big wolfman's face and started to get worried and was preparing to augment for speed to run far far away when suddenly a voice chimed in.
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Luther- Sir! The disturbance is back and it's coming from him I don't know what he was doing but I certain he was going to attack you!!!
Ley was dumbfounded that the mage picked up on he was preparing himself but even more so for what he just accused him of.
Ley- I wasn't going to attack I swear!!!! The wolfman here is looking really angry for some reason and it scared me so I was preparing to run as far away as I could as fast I could! I swear on my already worthless life that I wasn't going to attack.
While Ley was panicking the Commander calmed down and spoke up.
Commander- Kid can I ask if you were the one that caused all the ruckus in the forest over the past week?
Ley- Huh? Oh you mean my training was it really making enough noise to reach Darlung?
Commander- Training huh? Haa haa haa if that was you training i think it's a good thing you weren't going to attack me and run instead because from what i saw on our way here you could break all the bones in my body with one punch armor or no. Alright kid what's your name?
Ley- Um it's Ley sir but i was kinda the one that gave the name to myself since my parents didn't give me one.
A hint of anger flash on the Commander's face again but only for a moment.
Commander- Okay then Ley I have an offer I'd like to make you. How would you like to come live at the garrison with me and my men? We can give you proper training in how to use that strength of yours and Luther there can get to learn about and understand that disturbance you cause when you're about to do whatever it that you are doing that causes it. Actually I'm kinda curious myself about it.
Ley- Um if I accept I'm gonna be nothing more than the clean up boy right so why train me? I mean the offer is still severely tempting even with just being a clean up boy but I fail to see the logic in training the person you keep around just for cleaning up.
Then Commander was filled with pity for this poor boy thrown out and banished as a newborn, hated and shunned by everyone because of something no right minded parent would ever even consider, and to top it all off completely void of a sense of self worth it was to sad.
Commander- Ley I'm asking you to come to be our clean up boy I'm asking if you'll come and let me take you as my son and student. Also start taking some value in your life it's what gives you a reason to live. Now Luther come over here and say hello to Ley.
The young mage made his way over quickly because if the Commander saw this guy as worth taking as his son then there is no doubt this guy in good hearted.
Luther- Hi my name is Luther nice to meet you Ley. You have to tell me how you're influencing the aetheric flow so powerfully but leaving no traces behind when you stop!!
Ley- Mmm it's hard to explain the only real things i can put into words are that my power is called the gift of Gaia and I'm what's called an elementor.
When the Commander heard the words gift of Gaia followed by elementor he turned pale and looked at Ley with an expression of disbelief and had to know for sure.
Commander- Ley this elementor thing you just mentioned what is it?
He wasn't sure if Ley had just heard or read the name of those once great and powerful nigh undefeatable beings and was just calling himself one or if he was speaking the truth but he needed to know.
Ley- Well basically being an elementor means first making a spiritual connection to Gaia then using the raw essence infused into you through the link to then absorb the elemental essence from the world around you to gain understanding and mastery over them. The process of absorption can be stopped at the point before the elemental essence is infused into your mind and soul and instead be melded with the body to augment it in various ways depending on which element or elements you meld with. All the broken places in the forest were caused by me training my control over augmentation.
The Commander was speechless and ten shades paler than before. What he had heard was a perfect description and summary of what was detailed in his tribe's ancient scrolls. His tribe were the loremasters and keepers of history for the whole beastman race and only now did he start to remember a very important detail about elementors and that was they appeared in only one race, a long since extinct race called the Nightwings.
They were cousins to the Celestials and in ages long past they were also one of the high races and their appearance was that of a slimmer Celestial with a single black wing. They were wiped out in a complete genocide committed by the Celestials who had proclaimed them as a foul vile existence that taints the pure noble image of the Celestials. But the real reason for the genocide was that the king of that time's daughter had fallen in love with a nightwing and attempted to run away with him but was caught in the act and the young nightwing was charged and executed for attempting to kidnap the princess Even after the princess had told her father the king she was the one who had pushed to run away and the young nightwing was trying to talk her out of it. After his death by her father hand the princess ended her own life to follow her love to a place they could be happy together. When her body was discovered the next day the kings already bigoted views flew off the handle and he order the whole Celestial army to kill each and every nightwing for assassinating his daughter. It wasn't until after the deed had be done a finished that a servant appeared before the council of elders and presented the princesses suicide letter which resulted in the king being dethroned and put to death by way iron maiden for his act fitting only for demons.
Commander- Ley from this point forward don't tell anyone what you just told me when we return to the garrison there are many things we need to talk about but for now let get whatever personal belonging you have including the aetheric mithril there and head back to show you your new home and the people who will be your new friend and family.
Ley couldn't believe what he was hearing friends, family, a home, and on top of all that just like that someone actually wanted to be his father it was to much to be hit with at once and all the pain,sorrow, and loneliness he had suffered finally sunk in and for the first time in his life Ley understood what it meant to be happy. It was then tears started to flow from Ley eyes and wouldn't stop as if they a river that been held back by a dam and that dam had just fallen apart. By the time Ley finally stop crying he was asleep behind his new father on the back of a horse on the way back to Darlung where his new home waited for him and his new life.
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Well I promised two chapters today and i delivered. I hope you guy are liking the story so far expect at least one chapter tomorrow. Oh and between you and me <.< >.> next chapter gonna be exciting.
Well until then stay chaotic. ; )