Ava found herself searching her mind for a reasonable explanation.

“Can I speak to that old man who helps others in the tribe? I want to help like him.” Ava tried to voice in a way that doesn’t give away her true intentions.

“You mean old Arwen? He’s the tribes healer and is a very helpful and nice man, so I think it would be best to not burden him…” Her mother tried to politely let her down, but Ava had no time for that, maybe if there was no war going on in the background she could take her time with her growth yet she had no other option now, she had a bad feeling in her heart her peaceful time here was running short.

“Please Mother, I got something important to tell him, I’ve being seeing strange lights and was told he was the one who said I was special.” Ava said bringing out the explanation she was going to use to convince the old man to take her on as an apprentice.

She came up with it with Cense deciding to use what the old man said years ago for her to receive his help.

“Really?” Her mother replied unsure of what to make of what her daughter was telling her, after all she had no talent for cultivation and was neither a warrior nor magus.

She grew up learning embroidery and cultivating crops for the tribe, it was a shock when Xantas started courting her since their status in the tribe was so far apart.

Nonetheless she loved her daughter and would take her to Arwen for her sake.

Ava soon found her Mother agreeing and soon they arrived to a familiar location in the tribe, the hut where she was born.

Upon entering she found it was the same as she had remembered it.

The smell of herbs lingered in the air and vials filled with unknown liquids filled the shelves littered around the room.

At the centre of the hut was the old man from before.

His face had a pleasant smile as he greeted them, “What do I owe the pleasure of the lady of the tribe?”

“It was my daughter who had asked for you actually, she mentioned about seeing strange lights.” Her mother tried to explain to the old man not expecting him to understand.

Arwens eyes widened before he sat forward and said, “Really? Now explain to me what kind of lights…”

The way Arwen leaned down staring intently at her made it obvious who he was directing the question too.

Before her mother could interject she spoke up, “I see blue specks floating around me sometimes!”

Arwens gaze turned passionate as she said that, “You said what? Did I hear that correctly?”

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After she described an accurate account of seeing water elemental Qi Arwen suddenly let out a loud laugh passionate sounding like a crazy old man.

“Looks like I was right! Only a theory, but from ancient transcripts it has been referenced that a strong enough elemental affinity can lead to mutations maybe even evolution among elven kind. The Royal clan have been hiding things from us!” The old man murmured excitedly.

Ava just stood there with her mouth hanging wide open unsure what is going on.

Turns out the herbalist is just some crazed mad scientist, maybe it was a bad idea coming to him, however it was too late for this.

“What do you mean by that?” Her mother asked with a raised eyebrow.

Going by that look she could tell her Mother was annoyed that the old man had seemingly forgotten them in his excitement, failing to explain anything.

“Well it is simple really, what separates us from the Royal clan? The answer is bloodline, they are High Elves and are born with greater talent than us naturally. The Royal clan have only selected those with the greatest talent into their ranks over the years for a reason, everything is to do with maintaining their bloodline, at times there’s irregularities, your daughter is one of them. She was not born to parents with outrageous talent, but seems to possess a very powerful elemental affinity, one which the Royal clan would be desperate to get their hands on, it is why she needs to be hidden from them until she can grow into her strength. Otherwise they will manipulate her like the others.” Arwen explained but this only seemed to confuse them more.

“The Royal clan? Aren’t they the head of the four clans, and those that have been responsible for maintaining peace in our land for centuries? They have been nothing but a blessing to the elven people.” Her mother argued, her good nature finding it hard to see anything wrong with them.

Arwen scoffed and laughed, “The Royal clan good? They’re more sly than humans. How else could they arrive to human lands, kick them out of the most precious land in their territory, close it off for thousands of years yet act like it’s always been their ancestral lands. We’re on nothing but invaded land and the humans want to get it back.”

Her mother eyes turned into that of shock as she replied, “That’s impossible, it would have been passed down from our ancestors, everything just can’t be all a big lie! Elves don’t lie!”

Arwen grinned as he said, “Now you know why I said don’t let those fellows pay much attention to your daughter? They would have been suspicious of her hair the moment they heard of it, I had to come out and say she was blessed to give her time for the testing stone. If they take her under their wing at a young age she will be indoctrinated to their ways, now you said you were here for a reason, what of it?”

“I want to be your apprentice!” Ava said quickly causing her mother to rush to apologise at her outburst.

Arwen though instead grinned and replied, “I wanted you to say that! What an articulate child, of course I’ll take you on. I have plenty to teach you, now let’s hurry.”

Before her mother could raise any protests the old man lead Ava to his work bench and began discussing things with her.

Loriel looked on with worry, Arwen’s words making her concern for her husband grow even further.

“Please return home safe.” She muttered under her breath.

A light smile filled her face as her expression brightened seeing how animated her daughter was being introduced to a few basic herbs used for healing by Arwen.

“She’s growing up so fast, your going to be so proud of her.” Loriel said with hope for the future.

However Arwen’s words about the Royal clan echoed within her mind.

‘He can’t be right!’ She convinced herself in her mind, they will send the humans running away in defeat again and continue the peaceful life that they always had.

After all life in the elven lands had forever been like this, there has never been strife compared to the humans, everything is harmonious and will all go back to normal.