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Cold wind blows snow in Novi's face, tossing her jet-black hair in every direction. She struggles to keep up with the others as her small legs sink deep into the snow of the mountains. She looks up at the elven woman in front of her. She is three times Novi's size and dressed in thick fur shoes, wide brown pants that are secured to her legs by thin leather straps, and a white tunic with an embroidered green trim around the collar. Her long white hair is held down by a dark-green cap secured by a metal diadem of twisted bronze. She's stomping through the snow, fast steps increasing the distance between her and Novi. “Mom, don't go so fast. I can't keep up.”
Her mother turns but doesn't stop. “Kaisa. Help your sister.”
“When I fell behind, you said, ‘Fall behind, get left behind.’” Kaisa grabs Novi's extended hand and pulls her out of the snow.
Their mother looks back. “You're an adult. Stop whining.” She increases her pace, forcing Novi to stumble along as Kaisa struggles to keep up herself. Their other two sisters glance at them but don't say anything.
The mountain looms in front of them and soon their destination comes into view. Jagged rocks form the start of a narrow path up the mountain. Tents have been set up around the entrance and orange lights spill out of the windows of slowly crumbling houses. Campfires provide warmth to the dozen or so elves giving what was once the village of Kin’s Minas new life.
“Mom, are we there yet?” Novi asks. Her feet are nearly frozen and her body both burns from exhaustion and feels numb from the cold.
“We are.”
The other elves greet them as they pass. Novi's mother doesn't pay attention to most of them, but one catches her eye. The male elf is busy sharpening a slightly tarnished bronze sword. Novi's mother changes course and approaches him.
“Erling. I thought you'd like to meet your daughter. Novi, say hello to your father.”
Novi stumbles towards the man, who sets down his sword and stands up to meet her. "Ah, Illiana. It's been a while. And this is Novi. She's grown quite a bit.”
Novi looks him up and down. He's tall and has his white hair tied back in a short ponytail. She doesn't remember ever seeing him before and wants to say something, but can't come up with any words.
The man only gives Novi a glance before her mother's words pull his eyes back onto her. “Children tend to do that.”
“Will you be joining our warband in the raids? We could use a master of life.”
“Yes I will, but I won't be participating in any fights I don't need to.”
The man nods. “We always need someone to watch the children and wounded. What about your daughters?”
“Kaisa and Nahda can cast their spells under pressure and Kin will give them the courage they need. So yes.”
“Your daughters are just as beautiful as you and I'm sure they're just as skilled in magic as well. If I had any sons, I'm sure they'd be charmed.”
Novi's mother smiles. “You always were a charmer yourself, but really? Not a single son?”
The elf picks up his sword and sheaths it. “I know of twenty-three children from nineteen different women and not a single one is a boy. I know the odds are low, but they're not that low and I'm starting to think something's wrong with me.”
“Come on. It's probably dumb luck. The Destroyer’s curse affects everyone equally.”
“Yes, that it does... Anyway. Once enough have gathered here, we will form a warband. I intend on keeping the mantle of dictator for now. If I’m allowed to keep it, I don't want to take any big risks this season. We'll hit a few smaller villages without penetrating too deep into the human lands and see how things go. I've heard rumors. Another Deep Wood Invasion is coalescing, and while the legion is busy, we will use the opportunity. Until then, we will bide our time and play it safe.”
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“Mom, what's a Deep Wood Invasion?” Novi asks.
“I'll tell you about it later, dear.”
The male elf lets his gaze wander over all of them. “Before you ascend, I wanted to ask whether you will support me during the vote.”
Her mother's gaze darts to Novi, then back to the man. “I'll give you a yes, with reservation. I need to see who else applies before I can give you anything definitive.”
Novi turns to her father. “What do you want Mom's support with?"
“You see, little one, even our grandparents in the Elven Empire knew that for us to be effective we can't argue about everything. Sometimes someone just needs to make a decision. That person is a dictator. But a dictator can only lead if everyone trusts him, so once we are all gathered here, we're going to have to figure out who we trust enough to follow. Everyone who wants to take on the great responsibility of leading us will come forward. Once these people have made their case, everyone votes, and the person who wins will lead the warband for one year. In the old days, dictators had a lot more power, but a new age gives old titles new meaning. I led this warband last year and I hope everyone trusts me enough to follow me for another. There are a lot of new people here, but if they know a master of life will follow me, a lot of them will be inclined to do so too.” He looks up at Novi's mother. “Anyway, I don't want to keep you from visiting the sanctuary.”
The woman pushes Novi forward. “We'll talk in a more... private setting afterward.”
A smile creeps across the man's face. “Yes. Maybe I'll be able to convince you to support me then.”
She chuckles and leads her daughters towards the fire. Behind them, the rhythmic scratching of stone against bronze resumes.
They eat and warm up at the fire before they start their ascent.
The path is narrow, and on several occasions, they have to climb over deep crevasses and up small cliffs. Her sisters help her, but Novi still feels like she's dying. The fire offered some respite from the cold but now the frigid winds howl over the rocks and rip what little warmth she managed to gather from the flames out of her body. Unlike her adult mother, her young body isn’t strong enough to just warm itself through the icy winds. Worse than the cold is the exhaustion, made even worse by her fear of heights. She'll never admit it, but every look over the edge makes her heart drop into her stomach.
They finally reach another narrow path that leads up to a sort of plateau. From here Novi can see the Avalanche Pass as it snakes through massive mountains towards the border of the Confederation. On the other side, the valley she's spent most of her life in stretches into the distance, ending in another mountain range. Endless forests expand in every direction, covered in white by the approaching winter. The plateau itself only has a few bushes that grow from cracks in the mountain. Oval stones grow out of the rock beneath. Some stand like pillars, while others rest on their sides, but they are all at least a bit taller than Novi's mother. Unlike the gray or brown stone that forms the mountains around them, these are made from a dark and rough material. Their surface has the same texture as coral, and in addition to the natural roughness, they are covered in crack-like markings that spread all over their surface. Vines that the snow has already killed still cover the stones.
As soon as Novi climbs onto the plateau, she feels something odd. A presence that fills the air and gives her the feeling she's being watched by something just out of sight. A small amount of fear creeps into her heart and is instantly replaced by a wave of courage. The presence fills her with a feeling of strength.
“Mom, what is this?”
Her mother doesn't seem bothered by the presence as she steps onto the plateau. “This, Novi, is the Sanctuary of Kin. Come.”
Novi slowly approaches the pillars, and with every step the presence's power grows. Quickly it turns from a passive presence into a chorus of quiet whispers. Deep voices murmur unintelligible words in Novi's head. Through the nonsense, occasional meaning slips through. 'Strong...’ With every step, she stands taller as exhaustion and fear are covered by confidence and strength.
“Can you feel it Novi?” her mother asks.
“I feel... strong. I can do anything.”
“I know. Go. Touch one of the pillars.”
The crack-like markings begin to emit a purple glow. At first, it's the faintest bit of light fighting its way out of the stone, but as Novi gets close enough to touch the pillar, the light grows to a strong glow. She places her hand on the pillar and the whispers of confidence snap together into a presence of incredible power. It washes over Novi, purging every bit of doubt and insecurity. The pain in her arms and legs is no longer the cold. The fact that she can barely breathe is no longer exhaustion, and the burning in her stomach no longer hunger. It's an opportunity. An opportunity to push herself even further.
Like light through a lens, the whispers focus into the burning gaze of ambition made manifest. A power as overwhelming as it is inspiring. As alien as it is familiar. Every dream, every fantasy of glory, fame, and power forces itself into the front of her mind. Her sisters gaze in wonder as she slays the god-emperor from the stories single-handedly. Her mother showers her with praise, as blood stains her hands and magical energy pulses through her veins. She has just performed a golden invocation. Impossible dreams? Here, before the lord of ambition, these are futures that must be seized. No failure is too great, no obstacle too hard to overcome, no goal too ambitious. Novi knows she can achieve anything and Kin knows it too. She savors the blind trust only a god can give, until she finally pulls her hand away and the fiery presence scatters back into a million quiet whispers.
From behind her, her mother says, “To achieve greatness, you must suffer the road to it. I believe in you as much as Kin does, but unlike him, I have to help you make it real. Will you ever complain about training again?”
“No,” Novi whispers, still overwhelmed by the incredible confidence that fills her head.
“Good.”