Chapter 11
Parties and large gatherings of people were never Elian's cup of tea. The constant chatter and words bombarding her ears felt suffocating and overwhelming, leaving Elian uneasy. You're so different, my dear. I wonder why you can't be normal like your siblings. The Aquilae family can't have a simple girl among us. Elian could hear her grandmother's words already. Those hurtful statements made her feel so small and broken. But even after so many years of becoming accustomed to the idea that she might be different from others, It was still a painful reminder for her.
Elian was not an idiot. She knew the particularities surrounding her life. Yet, her differences did not make her incapable of perceiving what others saw or thought of her.
Whether they were relatives or complete strangers, it was all the same.
Why can't she take jokes? Really, what an annoying kid.
Why can't she speak properly? She mumbles a lot to herself.
Why does she avoid eye contact with people? I swear, she has yet to look into my eyes while speaking with me!
Why does she move her hands like that? Did you see it? How strange that girl is!
Why is she so rude to everyone? Does she even have friends?
Over time, Elian has grown accustomed to hearing those whispers repeatedly, even as she grew up. Nonetheless, her feelings towards it remain unaltered and unaffected. She hated those questions and those words. Elian understood jokes. She could laugh, she could smile, and she could feel joy. True, taking social cues of how to act or behave when speaking to someone or when she was around people was something she had learned from family tutors. But being rude was not something she was doing on purpose, nor did she enjoy it unless the person itself deserved it.
I am not simple! I have eyes to see and ears to hear, just like everyone else! Elian thought that maybe if she were stronger, people would stop thinking less of her. But that did not change, not even when she became a hero. She thought her peculiarity would never allow her to find people in common—friends she could speak with.
But that changed not too long ago.
Lynas, her master, and even the imperial noble, Alex, seemed to treat her like she always wanted to be treated, like a normal person. Although it was early to say since they had only known each other for a few days, Elian was incredibly thankful for being with them, especially with her master, Avnas, who seemed to understand her more than anyone else. In fact, if Elian could admit it, Avnas appeared to be a bit like her in some ways. Not that she would ever ask her directly, but it felt nice knowing that she wasn't alone in this world.
You were wrong, grandmother. My mother was right. She was always right.
As the party continued, Elian's desire to be somewhere else grew stronger with each passing moment.
Elian let out a deep, exasperated sigh, desperate to make a quick exit from the party. The overwhelming presence of so many people and the blaring music and irritating voices were incredibly tiring for her.
"Lynas left not too long ago, and Alex," Elian mumbled, watching how Alex seemed to enjoy his time around the nobles he supposedly detested so much. "Well, he is enjoying himself. I wonder, what is Master Avnas talking about with the prince?"
Elian wanted to retreat to the bathroom or to a secluded spot where she could steal some precious moments of solitude shielded from the gaze of others. So, with that in mind, Elian took a moment to contemplate before ultimately deciding to step away from the ongoing party and take a break.
"It's just for a few minutes," Elian said before waving at Alex and letting him know, in strange and amusing hand gestures, that she would be gone for a while. Alex tilted his head at her, utterly confused about what the Liberia girl was trying to say. In his eyes, Elian was making quite obscene gestures towards him, like doing a slight squat and cleaning her hands with something before smiling and giving him a thumbs up.
What was that? Alex thought as he nodded slowly before slowly returning the thumbs up.
"Good. I knew he'd understand," Elian smiled proudly of herself before leaving the great hall.
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As she walked in the dark corridors of the enormous palace, she thought back to the small girl from early in the night. The princess and how she rushed towards Avnas and hugged her as if her life depended on it. How she cried, the way her little hands trembled, and her need to simply not move away from Avnas. It was, perhaps, the most confusing thing Elian had seen, and it left her only with questions.
"What a strange girl."
Elian whispered, casting her gaze around, only to realise that she was unsure of her exact location. The palace's lengthy corridors resembled a labyrinth adorned with expansive windows and eerie portraits of individuals long departed from the world of the living.
"This reminds me of Casta Blanca," Elian said, recalling the house of her grandparents back in Liberia City. She walked on, noticing how the sound of the party was dwindling. Soon enough, only the sound of her footsteps was all that echoed in the dark corridors. However, Elian couldn't help but notice an eerie sensation of being observed. That sensation put her on alert. But she glanced around and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
The sensation never faded, prompting Elian to act swiftly. Trusting her survival instinct, she stepped into a seemingly deserted room. It appeared empty yet was filled with dusty chairs stacked on top of one another, alongside various furniture items. Elian looked around and soon saw a bunch of pages on the ground, scattered all over the place. Elian took one; at first, she could not understand what she was seeing. The drawings had no thought behind them, or so she thought at first.
Elian's eyes widened as she caught sight of a chilling picture: a drawing depicting a mysterious figure with vibrant blue hair sprawled on the ground. The figure seemed to be drenched in what appeared to be blood, sending a shiver down Elian's spine. Her eyes fell upon the papers strewn across the floor, but her surprise grew when she spotted her sword resting there, waiting for her to find it.
"What?" Those were the only words coming out of Elian before she felt someone behind her. The sensation was incredibly repulsive, causing an immediate reaction to grab her swords and swiftly turn around. In a split second, her sword collided with a dagger, producing a dazzling spark that illuminated the entire room. And when it did, Elian could see the face of the thing before her.
The figure appeared to be a man, although it was hard to tell for sure. Bandages completely covered up his face, and his eyes had a striking deep grey hue. The man let out a groan reminiscent of that of a wild animal as he swiftly swung his dagger in a rapid succession of movements.
Elian blocked each one as she prepared to fight him. "[Arms-strength] [Back-strength]." Her body became tense, her muscles grew, and soon she attacked. The man-creature growled loudly, moving at a speed that shouldn't be possible.
"What sort of creature are you?!" Elian hissed, blocking the attacks heading her way. She noticed how powerful they were becoming. “[Leg-strength]”
Elian had to match the pace of the man in order to keep up, and she managed to do a decent job of blocking him. However, it was evident that her efforts were insufficient to halt his relentless onslaught. It was as if he wasn't getting tired at all.
There is something wrong with him. His movements are so random! Elian jumped away from him and focused on her Mana. Elian couldn't waste more time fighting him. She needed to report to her master quickly. Because if she was being attacked now, it could very well mean Lynas could be in trouble and that all of them could be in great danger.
They are in danger! My—my friends!
Elian's blue eyes then glared at the man who jumped at her like a wild animal, groaning and letting out a strange sound of gurgling liquid.
"[Piercing Edge]" Elian swung her sword at the man, hoping to end him. But shock overwhelmed her when she saw how the man fearlessly absorbed the blow. Swiftly, Elian's sword found its mark, striking the man's skull with precision. It was a forceful strike, with which her sword became embedded in the thick layers of the scalp. Yet, the man still glared at her.
At that moment, Elian came to the realisation that this man was neither alive nor dead but something entirely different. An otherworldly grunt escaped from him just before he slashed Elian's face. Fortunately, her reflexes were still sharp, but she couldn't escape the edge of the blade fast enough. A bleeding wound now covered her face. She hissed, feeling the acute pain.
"[Dash]" Elian's move became blurry as she put some distance between them. Elian was thankful she did not lose her eyes. Nevertheless, her joy rapidly dissipated upon seeing the man's attempt to take Elian's embedded sword from his skull.
"What is that thing?" Elian hissed, stunned at what she was witnessing. "A ghoul?"
As the man, or whatever that thing was, yanked the incrusted sword from his skull, Elian's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't tear her gaze away as she witnessed a grotesque sight unfold before her. From the gaping wound in the man's cranium, slimy tentacle-like appendages writhed out, resembling long, squirming worms. The air filled with a putrid stench, assaulting Elian's nostrils. At the same time, the chilling sound of squelching and slithering echoed in her ears.
"By the Gods! What is that thing?!" Horrified, Elian walked backwards as she watched the parasite thing emerge from the skull.
The man emitted peculiar sounds from his mouth as though attempting to articulate something, yet only producing gurgling noises. Suddenly, the thing puked a dark, thick liquid at Elian. It was more like a projectile than anything. Elian jumped out of the way, not wanting to get hit by that fluid. She was thankful she did since she saw how it seemed to melt everything it touched like some kind of acid.
Elian debated with herself about what she should do now. She looked at her sword on the ground next to the creature and decided on her next step. "[Ghost Steps]" Elian's body seemed to almost vanish from sight, appearing as if she moved with incredible speed. Even though it tried, the creature could not react in time, leaving Elian free to retrieve her sword by using her speed to slide on the floor, all while skillfully evading the attacks of the man-parasite.
Elian grabbed her sword and raised it before attacking again with "[Edge-Strike]". With a swift, slicing motion, her gleaming sword tore through the air, connecting with the man's flesh. The sound of his arm cleanly flying away was perturbing. Adding the fact that he didn't seem to even register the pain of losing a limb made it all more perturbing.
"Undead?" Elian stammered before evading an attack from the strange man. "No, it can't be undead."
Although she was curious to know the identity of the creature resembling a man, the reality was that she wanted nothing more than to escape. This desire intensified, especially as the strange and repulsive tentacle-like parasites began emerging from the maimed arm, gradually replacing the entire arm. But it was a grotesque view, like massive appendages moving, breathing, and recoiling on each other.
"Is he even human?" Elian said, covering her mouth as the smell of rotten flesh increased.
The creature attacked using that arm, and from the looks of it, those tentacles were trying to grab her. Elian dashed away quickly.
"[Piercing Edge]" Elian used her skills again. But while she could cut those tentacles, others took their place. The creature growled loudly, spitting that toxic liquid at her. Elian again dashed away, and she felt her muscles aching as her Mana was running out quickly—one of the bad things about being human.
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"I have to end this!" Elian saw the creature blocking her exit, so there wasn't a chance for her to run anymore. So, with that in mind, she focused on one last attack. The strongest one she could muster. "[Burning Edge]" Elian's sword became engulfed in a swirling vortex of fire, crackling and hissing. But it was kept on the edge of the sword, barely.
Focus! Focus! Control it! Elian mentally commanded, gripping the flaming sword tightly. Observing the creature preparing to strike, she defiantly lifted her sword, ignoring the searing heat that scorched her hands. The steel grew unbearably hot.
"[Sunburn Strike]" With a single strike, Elian's sword sliced through the creature's body, severing it in two pieces. Before long, the flames consumed the creature, scorching it in a powerful burst of fire.
"It's done," Elian sighed deeply, taking a deep breath before relaxing her muscles. She hissed slightly, watching the palms of her hand. She would need to see a Healer soon. "What was that thing?"
Elian muttered, cautiously stepping closer to the grotesque remains of the creature sprawled on the ground. The stench of decomposition filled the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood and charred flesh. She couldn't fathom who would have hired such a monstrous assassin or from where. Where did such a disgusting and morbid creature come from? Her instincts screamed to stay away, but before she could react, the creature jerked to life, lashing out with its tentacle-like appendage. The impact reverberated through her body as she was forcefully slammed against the unforgiving wall.
The grotesque creature slithered menacingly towards her, its slimy body leaving a trail of putrid stench in its wake. Elian, her body drained from exerting her Mana moments ago, gazed at the creature in utter disbelief. It defied all logic for it to still be alive. How could it survive being carved in two and being engulfed in fire?
Elian desperately tried to move, but suddenly, she felt her body in pain, punishing her by overextending herself. Those were the limitations of her human body.
Stay with me, and you will reach beyond human limits.
Avnas's words suddenly came to Elian's mind. The limits of being a human would never allow her to reach her full potential. But soon enough, as the creature approached, she heard a voice.
"[Winterclutch]" Alex cast, pointing his wand directly at the creature. Soon, ice engulfed the creature with a rapid paste. "Hit it now with your sword!". He shouted, and Elian obeyed, swinging her sword with all her might. The blade collided with the creature, causing it to shatter into countless pieces.
It seemed as if ice was the creature's weakness.
Nevertheless, seeing that the creature was scattered all over the place now, it was truly dead. Elian sighed before leaning on the wall. Her body would be truly in pain tomorrow, of that she was sure.
"Are you alright?" Alex quickly approached, worried about the scar on her face. However, Elian simply exhaled.
"Out of Mana, for now, but alive," she replied, taking a deep breath. She touched the right side of her face and winced. It was a small scar; all things considered, there was nothing she should be worried about. "This scar is nothing. It could've been far worse. But how did you find me? I thought your focus was on the nobles."
Elian said, and while her tone of voice may be nasty, there was no malice truly behind it, and Alex noticed it.
"The smell. I've been smelling it since we arrived, but it was not until a few minutes ago that it became unbearable for me. I could smell something putrid and rotten while I was in the great hall," Alex said, having problems genuinely expressing his feelings.
Elian sighed before slowly standing up. "I heard wizards and people who use magic can sense things like that."
"Yes, but it's different for me," Alex mumbled, making Elian frown.
"Your talent makes you even more sensitive to magic?"
"Sort of," he replied, not saying much.
"Still, what was that?" Elian asked, her voice carrying a sense of anxiousness. "I have seen nothing like it. Those tentacles, parasites, or whatever they were. I split that thing in two, burned it, and yet he was still alive."
"I do not know," Alex replied, simply looking at the pieces of ice scattered around the room. "It was not necromancy. I have never felt such putrid magic before. In fact, I don't know if it was magic, truly."
"What do you mean?" Elian questioned, frowning.
"I—I don't know, it was odd. Not from here. I truly can't explain it," Alex said, looking strangely uneasy. "It felt artificial."
"Artificial? What does that even mean?" Elian looked even more confused now. But honestly, Alex was as puzzled as her.
"Look, I don't know! I can't explain it, alright?! I just know that it's not normal magic!" Alex snapped back. "Do you want to continue to argue, or do you want to notify Master Avnas?"
Elian then realised that they needed to help their other companion, who was alone. "Lynas!" She exclaimed, and soon Alex froze.
They had to find her first.
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She could feel the coldness of the metal against her flesh, and adrenaline surged through her veins. The sharp dagger grazed Lynas's skin, leaving a faint trail of blood as she narrowly dodged the attack. She attempted to distance herself from the Dark Elf, but he remained relentless in his pursuit of killing her. The sharp hiss that escaped Lynas's lips echoed through the room, clearly showing her frustration. Fear did not control her actions; Lynas was a veteran of war, strong, and determined. She was waiting for her time to strike back.
But I can't see an opening! He is simply toying with me! He is not taking me seriously!
Dark Elves possessed greater physical strength compared to regular Elves, and Lynas happened to be half-human. Consequently, she found herself pitted against an adversary who was physically stronger than her. Moreover, this individual had harboured deep-seated resentment towards her race for countless millennia.
Shit! Shit! Lynas thought as she wondered what she could do. Lynas knew that defeating him would be impossible. It wasn't as if she doubted her abilities. But it's more about understanding the power gap between them.
"Such a pathetic little thing you are," the dark elf teased, his dagger approaching closer and closer to Lynas' skin. "What was it? Your father sleeping with a worthless human or your mother whoring herself to humans?"
"Shut up!" Lynas snapped back, and the dark elf smirked.
"Mother, it is then. Both daughters and mothers spread their legs to humans. Not surprising at all."
Lynas was well aware that the Dark Elf's intention was to provoke her and lead her into making a mistake. However, the way he spoke about her mother filled her with nothing but pure anger. In an effort to stay calm, Lynas suppressed her rage and focused on other thoughts, such as finding a way to escape. Lynas wondered if this attack had been planned from the start or if the entire palace was being attacked, too. She doubted the latter, but her mind thought of the worst-case scenarios.
Are Alex, Elian and Avnas being attacked at this moment?! I need to warn them!
Lynas gazed out the window, contemplating the idea of jumping down and searching for them. However, she knew she had to be quicker than the Dark Elf. And that was a challenge.
[Leg-strength] [Swiftness]
It took great concentration and years of practice to perform a silent casting of any ability. Even with decades of experience under her belt, Lynas still encountered problems while using her abilities by using silent casting. But right now, she needed to act without hesitation.
I can only use [Eleribany] once. After that, my Mana will be almost gone. Lynas thought, relaxing her body before using one of her strongest abilities.
However, despite being a half-elf, Lynas was unaware of the reasons behind the immense power and dangerous nature of the Dark Elves. The Dark Elf, with his piercing red eyes, noticed the presence of Mana and smirked. He then raised his hand and, with a swift motion, tightly grasped Lynas' inner Mana veins. "I can't allow you to do that. [Verthnlan]"
Lynas suddenly experienced an excruciating sensation, as if her body were being crushed from within. It felt as though her Mana's veins were forcefully closed off, preventing the flow of vital essence. The pain caused by someone obstructing these channels was unimaginable. Lynas slammed into the ground. She couldn't even breathe. Her lungs were having a hard time trying to catch that breath back. Her muscles were slowly being forced back to their original form in a vicious manner.
The dark elf then crushed Lynas' chest with his feet, slowly digging his heels deeper.
"Our ancestors created skills and spells to fight beings of immense power," the dark elf joked, but there was no joy in his voice. But more of resentment and discomfort. "To fight the Althos, the Kaarthan, and Aniik. But here we are, thousands of years later. A shadow of what we once were. No one cares. We have forgotten abilities, powers, and our history. The great Elthien Empire is gone. Now, what's left of it? It's just us."
The dark elf said before pushing his heels deeper, cracking Lynas' ribs one by one. He wasn't even paying attention to Lynas while saying those words, as if he were talking to himself.
"But no more," he said, his words drawn out with deliberate slowness. With each word, he pressed harder, shifting his weight onto his feet. The sound of bones cracking filled the air, accompanied by Lynas's agonised coughs and the splattering of blood. The scent of iron mingled with the metallic taste in her mouth as her lungs were mercilessly crushed under his relentless force.
"Die, you filthy half-breed," he said, but before he could utterly crush Lynas's chest with his foot, a fireball hit him.
"Lynas!" Alex yelled before casting another fireball.
The dark elf remained unamused by the attacks, effortlessly shrugging them off and deflecting the fireballs with his bare hands. However, what did catch his attention was a human girl who swung her sword at him, desperately trying to strike him down but with no luck.
"How insulting," he stated before grabbing the sword's edge with his hands. Elian gasped at the fact that her sword was not cutting him at all. "I am surprised you are still alive. But maybe those things are not useful yet."
Elian hissed, trying to regain control of her sword, but couldn't do so. The grip of the dark elf was so strong.
"Such a nuisance."
Displaying an astonishing show of strength, the dark elf shattered the sword with his bare hands, leaving Elian in a state of shock. Without hesitation, he then struck Elian's stomach forcefully with the pommel of his dagger. The sheer power behind this attack should not be underestimated; Elian's human stomach endured a considerable amount of punishment, causing her to nearly collapse to the ground. But, surprisingly, she refused to fall. Elian glared at the dark elf, and even with her broken sword, she tried to attack him.
She appeared visibly exhausted, her body lacking the Mana to even employ a basic skill. However, she remained determined to stop him.
"Alex, get Lynas!"
Elian emitted a low, primal growl, her muscles throbbing with the lingering ache from the earlier assault. Undeterred, she pressed on, driven by an insatiable desire to protect Lynas. The dark elf fixed a piercing gaze upon her, his eyes capturing the sight of her veins pulsating. Inside the Mana's veins, an unfamiliar reddish hue cast a vague glow unlike anything he had seen before.
Interesting. He thought as he saw the same strange, faint colour in the wizard. Very interesting.
"Lynas!" Alex called, kneeling next to his friend. The green-haired half-elf gave him a weak nod.
"Hey—" Lynas mumbled softly, her voice hoarse with pain.
"Don't worry, we are here," he replied.
"Help her, Alex! I'll deal with him!" Elian hissed, and Lynas, while in pain, couldn't help but respect the girl's resolve, even when facing someone who could kill all of them in the blink of an eye.
"Humans never cease to amuse me," the dark elf whispered. "Always too stubborn to die."
Images of her mother's lifeless body lying before her rushed through Elian's mind. She gripped the pommel of her broken sword. The anger, desperation, and thirst to kill the man responsible for that was slowly changing her from the inside. If she couldn't defeat this dark elf, then how could she avenge her mother? Failure was not an option for Elian. She would stand her ground, fight, and win.
"I'll stop you, no matter what."
The dark elf mockingly sneered, gradually exposing his enigmatic dagger forged from a scarcely known material.
"I will not entertain you, human. I don't have the time," the dark elf replied, his threat lingering in the air. "The stark contrast between our races extends far beyond mere magic. You humans are fragile and bound by the mortality of years and ages. Compared to us, you're like a delicate whisper amidst a roaring storm."
Elian did not fully grasp the meaning of his words, but she couldn't have cared less.
"I am the whisper you are always going to remember," Elian replied as she gripped the sword tightly. The dark elf smirked, almost giving her a modicum of respect for her words. But none of that would matter in a few seconds.
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In a dark room, a small child was frantically scribbling some strange symbols. Her pupils were gone. The whiteness reflected an eerie emptiness before returning to its usual colour.
"I don't understand!" The young princess whispered, stunned that the vision she was having had vanished. "What are you trying to tell me?"
Mariel placed her trembling hands over her throbbing temples, feeling the relentless grip of a monstrous headache. Pulsating waves of pain reverberated deep within her skull. As her eyes closed, she was transported back to the haunting image of those piercing golden eyes that had watched her so intently. In an instant, her mind flooded with vivid images as if she were inside a living nightmare. The sight of countless lifeless bodies stacked in grotesque piles overwhelmed her, the stench of death and despair lingering in the air. The great hall, once a symbol of grandeur and desire, now lay in ruins, a haunting testament to the devastation that had befallen the guests. Mariel felt it. The weight of the tragedy pressed upon her as if she carried the burden of every lost soul.
Mariel could only release a haunting scream that pierced through the air, echoing with the raw intensity of her pain, causing an unsettling fear to permeate the room.
"I don't want it! Mother! Please! I don't want this anymore!" Mariel wailed, but no one was there to console her. "Please! I don't want to see more! Please!"
No child should be forced to see such horrifying visions. No child should ever suffer such a fate. Mariel's desperation grew to the point where she could only watch the scissors on the floor and think they could offer an exit from this life. She thought if she didn't have eyes, maybe she wouldn't be forced to see those visions and those horrible dreams. Perhaps that would help her.
Clearly, Mariel wasn't thinking straight.
"I—no more! I don't want to see you anymore!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Mariel seized the scissors. She brought them perilously close to her eyes, narrowly missing her desired outcome due to her uncle's timely interruption.
"Stop!" He exclaimed, throwing away the scissors.
"U—uncle?" Mariel exclaimed, shocked to see him there, in her room.
"Shh, my child. I know what is troubling you. I came here to soothe your dreams," he said before looking at the symbols on the ground. Those sketches had unusual signs on them. But oddly enough, he recognized them. "It's time for you to help me find the truth. For you to guide me to the key."
Mariel saw those eyes—her uncle's eyes—the ones that terrified her. She wanted to run away, but soon, another figure gagged her mouth and put a hood on her before dragging her away.
"Be careful. She is my niece," he said to the figure, who hissed at him before leaving him behind. The king's brother sighed deeply before picking up one drawing lying on the floor. He stared at it, watching the symbol.
"Brother," he pleaded, his voice filled with remorse. "Forgive me."
He said those words, leaving them lingering in the air before leaving the room.