Chapter 3
The flames swallowed everything in its path, leaving nothing but ashes behind, and amidst the devastation, a young girl stood.
“MOM!” she cried, her voice echoing past the raging flames, and in her arms, she held a wooded staff close to her heart as if it was going to escape at any second, leaving her all alone.
Despite the flames burning all around her, she continued, walking past the devastation.
“MOM!” her cries echoed.
Her tears flowed down her face. Searching past all the ashes of things that were once vibrant and alive, reduce now to nothing more than lifeless, burned remnants of a world she once knew.
“MOM……”
She stopped, her voice betraying her as her gaze fixated upon a figure in the distance.
Standing atop the ashes he had brought, he stood.
Towering above the charred remains.
The catalyst behind this inferno before her.
The young child stepped back, holding the staff that was twice her size close to her.
“SOON!” the figure roared and the flames surged forth like a raging sea, devouring everything in its path once again.
“MOM!” the young child’s cries pierced through the engulfing darkness that had surrounded her.
“Elvyra was wrong!”
A woman barged into the room, her urgency filling the air.
“It’s nothing Mom,” Elvyra managed to say, her voice trembling, as she wiped away her tears, as she looked around, letting out a sigh of relief for she was back in the safety of her room. Which was adorned with great oak furniture, a striking contrast to the chaos she had left in her dream.
“Was it the same dream?” her mother asked, settling by the edge of Elvyra’s bed, her concern etched on her face.
“Yes, Mother,” Elvyra replied,
“Perhaps is time we seek counsel from the village elder, ” her mother suggested. This dream of Elvyra had gone on for far too long now, maybe the elder would know how to bring back her daughter’s peace of mind.
“Are you sure, Mother? Maybe it’s just my overactive imagination,” Elvyra said, forcing a smile at her mother, trying not to worry her about a dream, even if she had been haunted by the same dream ever since she could remember, but this time it was different, this time it felt more vivid, more real.
“There’s no harm in talking to the elder about it,” her mother said, gently caressing Elvyra’s blonde hair, her pointy elf ears catching the warm rays of the sun that poured through the window of her room, embracing her in the warmth that came every morning to the Elven Village.
Their home.
“Dreams sometimes carry the language of the unseen, we just have to listen to them closely, ” her mother continued, smiling at her daughter, a smile that carried a hint of nostalgia, as she recalled the tales she had heard as a child, passed down by her mother to her.
Tales about extraordinary gifts bestowed exclusively upon the elven race, that no other race in Monstro Island had.
Gifts blessed to them by Gaia the mother, the creator of all living things.
Even though those tales had become nothing more than mere fiction told at bedtime to elven children, a part of her still wondered if her daughter had perhaps been blessed by Mother Gaia, bringing once more her gifts to the elven race.
“D-Dino,” a small green dinosaur Monstro emerged behind the wooded door of Elvyra’s room.
A worried expression was on its lizard face.
“Is okay Dino,” Elvyra said, smiling at her Monstro partner, reassuring him.
‘D-Dino, Dino,” the green small dinosaur Monstro said, relieved to see his partner unharmed.
“He’s quite the sensitive monstro for a Monstro of his kind,” her mother chuckled, amused by Dino’s gentle nature.
“He’s a gentle soul,” Elvyra said, welcoming her Monstro partner with open arms.
Dino belonged to the dragon class of Monstros yet, unlike his kind who were mischievous and often rowdy, hers was gentle. Which she liked.
“Dino , Dino,” Dino said, jumping into Elvyra’s arms, and licking her tears away.
“There, there ,” Elvyra said, petting her Monstro partner.
“Is going to be alright.”
Both Elvyra and her mother looked out the window as the birds began to chirp, hoping that this wasn’t the start of something soon to come.
“GRRRRRL” a loud noise interrupted the silence that had fallen on Elvyra’s room for a brief second, they both look at Dino and laughed.
“I think is time for breakfast for the two of you,” Elvyra’s mother said as she got up and walked out of Elvyra’s room.
***
The sunlight spilled into the kitchen, casting a warm glow upon it.
Elvyra sat at the wooden table, her breakfast spread before her.
As she eat, Elvyra couldn’t help but feel the weight of her recurring nightmare lingering on her mind. The taste of uncertainty mixed with her morning meal made each bite bittersweet.
Her mother watched her closely, her eyes filled with both worry for her daughter and her village, not being able to shake off a certain feeling of dread inside of her.
“Elvyra,” her mother began gently, breaking the silence that hung in the air.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.
Elvyra let out a sigh, her spoon clinking against her bowl.
“It’s like…” she stopped herself, how could she explain the feeling that was forming deep inside of her as if it was clinging to her and pulling her toward it.
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Elvyra’s mother reached across the table, placing a comforting hand on Elvyra.
“Don’t worry my daughter, the village elder has knowledge and wisdom beyond our own, and if there’s anyone that can help, is her.”
Elvyra nodded, finding solace in her mother’s words.
“Dino, Dino,” Dino said as it tried to put on its most valiant face it could.
“Thank you Dino,” Elvira said, a smile gracing her lips as she affectionately petted her faithful companion.
With their breakfast finished, Elvyra and her mother both cleaned the dishes together.
The clattering of plates and the flow of water provided a soothing backdrop to their thoughts.
As they finished tidying up, they gathered their belongings and headed toward the village elder’s dwelling.
The vibrant colors of the Elven Village greeted them as they walked outside toward the elder village’s house.
Lush green foliage adorned the village, creating a sea of green around them. Each house was built with oak from the giant trees that protected the village from the outside, and a soothing aroma filled the village as the air buzzed with a sense of community.
As Elvyra and her mother made their way through the village toward the elder house, they were met with friendly nods and greetings.
‘Were here,” Elvyra’s mother said, as they both stopped in front of the village Elder’s house.
Elvyra looked at the house, every time she saw it she couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace washing over her, yet that nightmare of hers still felt present in her despite the safety she felt by the Elder’s village house.
“It’s going to be okay,” her mother said, placing her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
“Shall we?”
Elvyra looked at her mother and nodded, it was time to find the truth to this dream of hers that had haunted for far too long, ready to finally get a peace of mind.
Inside the Elder’s house, the atmosphere was serene with an aura of ancient wisdom around it. The scene of fresh herbs and blossoms was present in the air, their fragrance mingling with the essence of aged wood. There were a few nature-type Monstros cozily at the corner of the house and rays of sunlight came through the windows, casting a warmth that illuminated the room, creating almost a garden-like ambiance to the house.
Elvyra and her mother were greeted by a figure with pointy ears and long flowing gray hair. She had on a robe of earthy hues, and her deep green eyes had a certain wisdom she had accumulated over the years, she was carrying a dark brown tamer staff on the other hand that seemed to have been made from some old ancient tree oak.
“Good morning my children, what do I owe this visit for,” she said, smiling at them.
image [https://i.imgur.com/0rbW3v8.jpg]
‘Good morning Elder,”
Elvyra and her mother said in unison, bowing before the elder.
“We're sorry to interrupt you so early in the morning, but we….”
“Is alright my child,” the elder said, gesturing with her hand away any doubt they might have had.
“Come sit, and join me for some tea, it comes straight from the Port city, you got to give it to these humans, they have a knack for picking the best leaves for tea,” she said, smiling.
Elvyra and her mother followed the elder to her sanctuary which was through an arch pathway behind her, where a grand bookshelf stood, its shelves lined with weathered books whose pages were filled with ancient wisdom accumulated through generations.
“Sit,” she said, gesturing at them to take a seat at a grand oak table adorned with delicate teacups almost as if she was waiting for a certain visit of theirs.
“ My dear won't you be so kind as fetch us the hot water,” she said, talking to the Monstro that had seemed to come out of the wooden walls of her house.
It was a large Tretan, a nature-type Monstro that looked like a walking tree.
image [https://i.imgur.com/mcwuB7V.jpg]
It fetch the water and began to pour it into the cups that were laid in front of them.
“Take a sip, and tell me that that isn’t the best tea you ever had,” the elder said, as she took a sip of her tea.
Elvyra and her mother both grabbed the tea cup and took a sip and for a minute they felt like they were inside the grand Elven forest, surrounded by its beauty, their bodies feeling refreshed.
“So, tell me, what seems to be weighing on those shoulders of you two.”
Elvyra looked at her mother, and she nodded.
The ambiance of the room, with its oak furniture and lush plants, fostered a sense of calm and serenity for Elvyra.
Elvyra took a deep breath and began to recount the vivid details of her recurring dream that had become more prominent in recent times, painting a picture with her words that mirrored the fiery chaos that plagued her mind. Her voice trembled at times, but with the determination she had, she describe every detail of her dream, leaving no corner untouched.
The village elder listened as the young elf recalled her troubles, filled with understanding and compassion, she nodded thoughtfully as she absorbed the weight of Elvyra’s words, seeing the emotions it evoked within her. Made her realize this wasn't an ordinary dream but something more.
When Elvyra finished speaking, a moment of silence enveloped the room, as if the very air held its breath in anticipation of the village Elder’s response.
The silence almost seemed deafening, when finally the elder clasped her hands together, her gaze fixed upon Elvyra.
“My dear Elvyra,” the village elder began, her voice gentle yet firm,
“Dreams can have powerful messages if you look closely at them, they are a window into realms beyond our waking consciousness. They hold the potential to guide us and reveal truths that lie hidden within our world. Your recurring dream speaks of a special connection that seems to be connecting you to the forces that shaped our very own world and it appears it's trying to communicate with you now, almost like its screaming for it to be heard, and we must not ignore its cries, my child.”
“What do you mean, Elder?” Elvyra’s mother asked,
The Village Elder rose from her chair, moving gracefully toward the bookshelf behind them, and grabbed a book that seemed to be almost as big as her, it was adorned with sacred symbols and ancient elven text. Her fingers delicately traced the intricate patterns carved into the piece of wood that made the texture of the book, as if she was drawing strength and inspiration from the ancestral knowledge that was hidden inside of it.
“My dear,” she said, as she took her seat, facing them both.
“You possess a unique gift. A gift that has not been seen within our people for a long time and is the second gift bestowed upon in my life time.
“What do you mean Elder,” Elvyra's mother asked,
“Patience child,” the elder said,
“This gift of yours, granted by Gaia herself, holds you both responsible and a keeper of its message. “
“Its message?” Elvyra asked, feeling like her world was about to change forever, for just this morning she had awoken to the recurring nightmare that plagued her, and now she was being told she was responsible for something she had no idea of what it was.
“Fear not my young child,” the village elder’s gaze shifted between Elvyra and her mother.
“We are here to guide you, to help you unlock the secrets hidden within your dream. Embrace the unknown for it is within the realm of uncertainty that growth and discovery reside.”
As the village elder’s words hung in the air, Elvyra felt a sense of responsibility coming down on her shoulders.
“Here,” the village elder said, giving her the book.
“What is it?” Her mother asked,
“This book contains knowledge of ancient times but unfortunately the one that can read it does not live here anymore, and the bearer of the second gift blessed by Gaia. The gift of understanding the ancient language of the first elves, my granddaughter.
She is somewhere in Monstria City, find her and bring her back, we cannot keep this dream of yours waiting, if what you tell me is true, then we don’t have much time to waste. For I fear for what’s to come if we ignore it”
“Well go,” Elvyra’s mother said,
“No,” the elder village said,
“You must stay here and help me prepare for their return.”
“But Elder she’s…”
“Is okay Mom,” Elvyra said, she felt scared and lost, but she also understood that whatever was happening, was bigger than her.
“I’ll go to Monstria City and find you granddaughter,” Elvyra said, determination coursing through her veins.
“The only clue that I can give you is that she enjoys taming battles,” the elder said, letting out a sigh,
“She seems to have taken a liking to the human art of theirs.”