The sun had risen high into the sky and shone down upon the beach. The summer heat was alleviated slightly by the sea breeze that caressed Imp’s face. Her visage was marred by the considerable gouges left from Renzen’s brutal raking, but she had regained her bright cheer and playful disposition. Turning to her left and facing Renzen, she spoke.
“You know, you’re not the first elf I’ve taken in a fight. But I’ve never seen one move like you do. Those nails of yours might as well be claws. None of the other elves had those either, and I must say no elf I’ve talked with has been as abrasive as you. What makes you so unique?”
Imp swung her leg over the other side of the log and planted her elbows onto her knees, resting her head on her clasped hands so that she might study Renzen’s alien figure. He continued facing the sea as he responded in a detached tone.
“I am simply myself. I couldn’t care less how other elves carry themselves. I have no love for the vain pleasantries that the rest of my race insists on showcasing.”
Imp sat, staring at the man for a few moments, expecting him to continue.
“Gods, I’d have an easier time wringing a pail of water out of a boulder than getting words out of you, wouldn’t I?”
A hint of a smile curled at the tips of Renzen’s mouth before returning to its resting frown.
“Surely you dragged me out here to do more than ask pointless questions about my temperament and appearance? I could be spending this time training.”
“It’s not pointless! We’re going to be working together and delving into ancient ruins covered in fearsome beasties! I should know how you operate and what you’re capable of. So tell me, how does Renzen work? How do you prefer to fight in a group?”
Renzen let out a comically long sigh and closed his eyes, but humored Imp’s persistence.
“I strike quickly, and aim to kill. I’ll go for the throat on humanoids, otherwise I’ll disable joints and paralyze when appropriate. I’m aware of multiple pressure points that can incapacitate opponents with ease. I have no need of weapons. My nails can pierce through solid rock without cracking. If I’m required to fight with others, I’d request that you leave my targets alone. I am more than capable of handling my own problems, and I don’t need anyone else making the situation unpredictable.”
Imp produced a small pout at his response.
“I suppose I should have guessed you’re a one-and-done combatant with a name like Striking Viper.”
Renzen’s eyebrows jumped and he faced Imp.
“You speak elvish?”
“I try to keep myself worldly. That is what Renzen means, isn’t it? A little odd to me that the ‘zen’ part is at the end when the translation puts it first, but that is how it should come out right?”
Renzen nodded.
“Indeed.”
“Do all of your tribesmen have similar tattoos based on their name?” Imp’s eyes traced the winding snakes that painted his arms.
“Hardly. My tribe considers tainting your body with a stain like this to be an affront to nature’s perfection. I inked these myself after abandoning them.”
“Now there is a juicy question.” Imp leaned forward and placed her chin on the log, letting her arms spill onto the sand while she looked up at Renzen like a pleading puppy. “What made you ditch your people?”
Renzen returned his gaze to the ocean, and remained silent.
“Ugh, I swear you stoic types are all the same. ‘I’m such a dark and mysterious man, ooh look at me and my lack of emotion! I’m the only one who understands how the world works!’” Imp retorted in a deep mocking voice.
Renzen’s fists clenched at his knees, before he stood up and hurried toward the Guild.
“Good going, Imp…” She sighed to herself and buried her head in her forearms.
Renzen made for the courtyard where he and Imp sparred a few days prior. His elven fortitude sped his recovery, but Bayin’s magic prevented his wounds from scarring. He was sure that Imp was provided the same treatment, so it was curious to him why the scars on her face remained. Try as he might to block them out, visions of his battle with her plagued his mind, as he performed physical drills alone in the courtyard. Despite leaving his home over a century ago, Renzen remembered every stance and stretch of his tribe’s ritual exercise. He had remained in practice of the art every day, even after his emigration. His arms bent like reeds, and his spine contorted as if it were liquid. The graceful posturing was punctuated by spurts of explosive striking at invisible targets. He continued his hypnotic dance for the better part of an hour before Kelek joined him in the courtyard. Renzen was keenly aware of his presence, even through his closed eyes, but made no effort to greet him. To his annoyance, Kelek started a conversation anyway.
“Everything alright with Imp? I saw you guys at the beach, is she back to normal?”
Renzen continued his poses and strikes with closed eyes, but deigned to respond.
“If you can call that unsettling cheeriness normal, then I suppose so.”
“Well, that’s good at least. I was worried we’d already made enemies.”
“What do you care? So long as they see to their work, why does it matter if they’re friendly?”
“Come now, everyone wants to have friends. Our jobs will be easier if our coworkers enjoy being around us. It would be a sorry sight if you were my only friend here.”
Renzen opened his eyes at the remark.
“And what makes you think I am your friend?”
“Oh don’t be such an ass, you wouldn’t have escorted me out of those woods and had so many friendly chats with me if it weren’t for my roguish charm.” Kelek winked and brightened his face with his signature smirk. Renzen was unamused.
“I’ll admit I find myself… fond of your company for some reason. I don’t have the same difficulty talking with you openly as I do others. But don’t let that fool you into a false sense of security. Our relationship is one of convenience. Don’t expect clemency if your actions go against my goals.”
“Are all elves this obstinate, or is being a prick another part of your tribe’s tradition?”
Renzen let out a good natured laugh, which caught Kelek by surprise.
“You’ve got a set of brass ones, I’ll give you that. Few humans would talk that way to an elf that could wring their neck in an instant. To answer your question, no. If anything, my tribe is far too polite. They preach kindness and calm observance in harmony with nature. They hone their bodies into lethal weapons, but would sooner swallow burning coal than harm a mosquito.”
“Why such rigorous training then? You said yourself your home was hidden in the forest, so you must have had few intruders. Why spend so much time with martial arts if it is unnecessary? Wouldn’t they rather frolic in the fields and enjoy nature?”
“Because their true goal…” Renzen clapped his palms together and bowed forward, finishing his exercise. “Is enlightenment.”
“Enlightenment?”
“They believe that if one achieves perfect mastery of their body through intense physical training and meditation, to the point that every aspect of the self can be manipulated, then a state of enlightenment can be reached. They strive to reach this enlightenment in the hopes that the ultimate meaning of life will be revealed to them.”
Renzen walked past Kelek and made for the hall, his mood clearly soured. Kelek followed his steps, not allowing him to escape the conversation so hastily.
“So this body mastery training is how you were seemingly able to defy the laws of motion when you fought Imp?”
“What part of mastery is eluding you? I am able to control my momentum, redirect my blood flow, and even externalize my strength into manifestations of pure energy. Though I admit, that last one is not so easy. It took years of practice to get that to work. My mastery is not restricted to my body either. My mind is equally disciplined. It is thanks to that, that I am able to not only ignore pain, but transform it into a source of energy. It’s also why I was able to enter your dreams the other night.”
“Wait, you’re saying you were actually physically inside my nightmare? That wasn’t just part of the dream?”
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Well I could hardly rest with your incessant spasms and whimpering. I figured I would project myself into your conscience and lay your fears to rest for both of our sakes.”
Had Kelek not already been inundated with fantastic knowledge, the news would have stopped him in his tracks. As it was, he merely added it to the growing pile of mysticism that revealed itself to him. He was thankful that Renzen saved him from his fright, but concerned at the invasion of privacy. As the pair reached the hall, Kelek excused himself to their quarters, leaving Renzen to dine with Renault and Dmitri. Before he reached the stairs, Dmitri called out to him.
“Oi, when are you lot going to start earning your keep? You can’t expect Bayin to feed and shelter you for weeks on end just because you walk into some dank cave every few months.”
He nodded toward the noticeboard that stood at the end of the bar.
“Some bint posted a bill this morn’ while you were messing around in the basement. I’d take it myself, but Renault already nabbed a job for us in Vencollis tomorrow. Not sure on the details, but she mumbled something about her grandchild playing around on the beach. I just told her to post the bill and someone should take it.”
Kelek changed his course and made for the board. Various scraps of weathered paper remained nailed to its face, remnants from whole sheets that had been ripped. The only intact paper was a long narrow scroll filled with information that corroborated Dmitri’s account. Kelek removed the nail from the board and took the sheet, reading aloud.
“Missing: Benjamin Leeson. Age: 8. Height: 4 feet. Hair: Short and brown. Last Seen: Playing along the Argentum Sea beach in Tynemouth, Reward-”
Kelek’s face expanded with shock.
“Two-Two thousand gold!? That’s more than has moved through my whole village in a year!”
Dmitri rapped a knuckle against Renault’s polished platemail and teased.
“Should’ve waited before grabbing a job, apparently Tynemouth’s got richer nobles than expected. Don’t get too excited now boy. That’s how much the client is giving to get the job done, not to you specifically. These hall’s ain’t cheap. Half of the reward fee is due to the guildmaster. After that you’ve got to split your remainder with whatever mates you take on the job with. If you want to keep friends, I’d recommend an even split.”
“Still, that leaves us 500 gold apiece, Renzen!”
Renzen’s ears shifted like a cat’s at the sound of his name.
“You presume I’m joining you on this task?”
“You’d better if you don’t want Bayin kicking you out. Elf or no, every man has to earn his keep. You’d do best to take a bill at least once a week to stay in good graces.” Dmitri fiddled with his pistol as he explained.
“You’ll get used to it soon. Besides, it can be some fun work. You never know when some mayor might come in wanting us to slay an ogre or chase off a pack of goblins. Of course there are always less glamorous jobs, such as the gig Renault here volunteered us for. Playing bodyguard for a traveling merchant that wants to hawk his wares in the city. Can’t say it sounds any less exciting than playing hide-and-seek with a child though.”
Kelek looked to Renzen, who rolled his eyes in protest, but rose and joined his side.
“This better not take longer than an hour.”
Despite his reluctant company, Kelek was excited to finally perform his first actual work with the Guild. The entrance to the beach sat less than a mile away from the hall, but the sandbar stretched for nearly five miles before curtailing at sheer cliffs at either end. Fortunately the edge of the northern end was visible from the sloped beach entrance. The rocky cliff face rose forty feet from the end of the beach. Renzen’s keen eyesight provided a thorough examination as the pair surveyed the surroundings. Both concluded that there were no hiding places for the boy, and resigned themselves to walking the lengthy beachside to check the other end. It was the first time either of them had a chance to have a real conversation together since their first meeting in the woods, and though he would never admit it, Renzen was thankful for the companionship.
“Tell me, have you learned anything useful from the wizard?”
Kelek reached for the garnet rod that he had fastened to the back of his purple tunic.
“Quite a lot actually. I had no idea there were so many rules and intricacies to magic. He seems to think I have a talent for both healing things and… changing temperature.”
An air of disappointment accompanied his final words, but Renzen seemed uncharacteristically interested. As they continued their walk, he scooped up a handful of coarse sand.
“Just how much of a temperature change are we talking about?”
He held out the sand and raised a querying eyebrow. Kelek quickly caught on to his meaning, and was eager to test the limits himself. He pointed the rod’s polished garnet directly at the sand in Renzen’s palm, wetted his dry lips and incanted.
“Heat.”
He could feel the familiar warmth course through his right arm that gripped the scepter. It started at his shoulder and surged in a wave down to his fingers. Curiously, it remained there as the warmth worked its way to the staff, causing the garnet to illuminate in a dim glow. The sand grew hot in Renzen’s hand. It began to bubble and undulate like a liquid, before settling into a jagged mass of dirty glass, which held form for two seconds before continuing to melt further. Renzen yelped and dropped the infernal glass into the sand beneath.
“Damned fool, warn me before casting your magic in my direction! You nearly melted my hand off!”
“I’m sorry! I had no idea it would get that hot! I’ve never used a focus before. Bayin told me that they amplified magic, but I didn’t realize it would be to that extent.”
Renzen tenderly rubbed the blisters that started to form on his palm.
“What exactly were you thinking when you cast the spell?”
“Exactly what I said, heat.”
“No wonder then. The magic was looking to your addled mind for instruction and all it was getting was ‘heat’ so it kept getting hotter and hotter.”
Kelek cursed his foolishness. He had not taken Bayin’s words about specifying a spell's parameters to heart before attempting his magic, and was thankful that the mistake was minor in this instance.
“How do you know that’s how a spell works? Are you a Harnesser yourself? I’ve never seen you perform magic.”
“I have lived one hundred of your lifetimes so far. I would have to be a unique brand of fool to remain ignorant of the basic nature of the world for so long. Even your human adults are aware of magic’s core concepts, though I suppose the superstitious farmers in your hometown may be an exception.”
They continued their stroll along the beach for an hour before the southern cliff rose into view. Unlike its northern counterpart, the cliff had a large blackened recess that sunk deep into the rock, and could be seen sloping into the earth. They fruitlessly searched the exterior of the cave before due diligence demanded that they examine the coastal cavern. Kelek hesitated at the entrance as Renzen shouldered past him.
“What, scared of the dark? Your kind’s sight may not be as gifted as ours, but I can assure you the shadows are incapable of physically harming you. Though the same can’t be said for whatever they may hide.”
Renzen started into the damp cave on his own, while Kelek hoisted the rod in front of him. Solutions presented themselves in his mind before he decided on one. Careful to explicitly determine every aspect of its effect, Kelek spoke his spell.
“Light.”
With surprisingly more effort than his prior feat required, a slight tingle of warmth traced Kelek’s arm and climbed the length of the scepter. As it nested in its crown, the rod’s garnet emitted a gentle blue aura of light that painted everything in a gossamer cerulean hue that contrasted the garnet’s auburn color. Satisfied, Kelek hurried to join Renzen in the cave. The crashing of the Argentum’s waves grew loud as they descended the slick ramp of the cavern’s mouth. Trickles of seawater flowed in rivulets on either side of them, and Kelek felt as if he was walking into the gaping maw of a hideous beast, the slimy ramp its tongue, and the salty creeks its saliva. The sloped ground turned from sand to limestone as they trekked deeper, and the walls narrowed to the point that they had to walk single file to continue forward comfortably. A strange metallic taste tinged the air as Kelek breathed in. It reminded him of the coppery taste that he sensed after Bayin had stopped time.
“Hold.”
Renzen’s voice echoed in resonating booms as it bounced off the cave’s walls.
“The ground is slick here, and the grade declines steeper than usual. Take care not t-”
His words were cut short as horror spread across both of their faces. The sound of rushing water pounded through the cavernous interior as they looked back and witnessed a torrent of blackened seawater stampeding toward them in a liquid avalanche. Kelek racked his brain wildly for a magical solution, but panic stole his reason. In a desperate maneuver, he jabbed his rod toward the wave, but he was too frantic to guide the magic with words or thought. Several heedless beams of magical bolts bombarded the wave, transforming whorls of water into jagged icicles. The flowing deluge was now a formless monster with massive teeth of ice that crashed against each other and released splintered shards of frozen shrapnel, primed to flay skin. The flood had nearly closed thirty feet from them before Renzen grabbed Kelek by the forearm and forced them to the floor, letting the slippery cave floor hasten their flight. The ground continued to decline such that standing upright was impossible given the slick nature of the limestone. The speed of their descent began to alarm Kelek. They had not gained any distance on the violent water, but he feared the cave would take a sharp turn, and they would be thrown into a rock face and obliterated by the sheer weight of the water, if not ripped to shreds by the twisting icicles. He began to cry out in the hysteric wails of a man faced with his demise. Renzen tightened the grip on his arm, and Kelek was suddenly beset with a profound calmness. His thoughts emptied of his immediate danger, and his vision was torn from the deathly cavern. Instead, all he could see was an empty meadow of wildflowers and honeybees. In the center of the meadow, Renzen appeared from the air and spoke to Kelek in a calm and unusually kind voice.
“We need you to have a clear head. We may need to rely on your magic. Use this temporary sanctuary to gather your thoughts, and cast your magic carefully.”
All of Kelek’s senses were removed from the peril he was just faced with. The scent of the flowers was so real, he felt as if he could reach down and pluck one. Before he could lose himself in the pleasant meadow, Renzen grabbed each of his hands and looked deeply into his eyes, his face showing a warm and comforting gaze.
“There is a small hole we are approaching. It is about three feet across and two feet tall. You’re going to need to cast a spell to get us through that. I know you can do it.”
Kelek thought on the information for only a moment. The calm of the meadow made it easy to craft a spell and focus it properly
“Shrink”
Renzen smiled and gave him a nod of approval. At that moment, Kelek’s vision returned to the cave. The ghostly blue light from the scepter was gone, and he was completely blind. Renzen shouted something incomprehensible as he felt his backside leave the floor of the cavern and the pair of them flew through the inky blackness. They remained airborne in the abyssal dark for a few moments before Renzen wrenched Keleks body around him in a series of contortions. The movements pained Kelek, and he could feel a rush of energy surge through his body, not unlike the feeling of casting magic. When Renzen was done, both of them could feel the air move gently around them as they drifted slowly to the floor. Droplets of water rained down on them from the hole they escaped from, but the cavern seemingly took a turn and carried the majority of the water, and icicles, along with it. Kelek hefted the rod in his grip and was shocked to find it standing as tall as he was. He was unsure if the meadow was an actual event, or merely his mind’s consolations before death, but his diminutive size lent credence to its veracity. Kelek cleared his throat from his harsh cries and recast his light spell. As he did, both of them immediately shot back to their usual heights, and Kelek observed the vast openness of their new dwelling.