Chapter 6
Waking up. I find myself back at the glade. The familiar green moss a soft mattress against my skin. Feeling around, her gentle warmth against my back Immediately makes me want to go back to sleep.
Has she found me and carried me back?
Delicately turning around while lifting her arms, I notice her sleeping face. She seemed to have been crying. Putting my forehead against hers. All I can whisper is “I’m sorry, mother.”
Opening her eyes. I hear her whispering back: “You should feel sorry.”
Getting ourselves up, and steeling myself for the inevitable scolding. I ask: “How did I end up back here?”
“Not too hard to find with the mess you’ve made.”
“I’m sorry I…” Before I could continue, she interrupted me.
“I found you in the middle of a crater, full of wounds and completely dry of mana! You could have died, you foolish daughter!”
PAH! Came the sound of her slap. Facing the distraught elf, I’ve begun to feel an indescribable guilt. She truly cared for me and I’ve made her worry.
“How long was I out of it?” I managed to ask while suppressing my distress.
“Five days. It’s how long it took for me to heal your mana pathways and body. Luckily, you don’t seem to have any lasting effects.”
“I know I did something stupid and almost got myself killed. But I just had to do it. I’m sorry mother.” I said as I held her hands again.
“And what could possibly make you go against a horde on your own?”
“It was a hostage. A woman was taken by them. I dare not think what could have happened to her if I hadn’t intervened.”
“I assume that’s why that Fenrir is always following you around took so long to get back here.” She said so as she sighted.
“I commend you for helping the races. This gentleness in you can be a great strength. As well as a great weakness. Just promise me you will think before plunging into danger again.”
“I will mother.” As she pulled me once again into a hug.
“And besides. Don’t think this excuses you from your chores around here. You hear me young lady?”
“Yes, mother. I love you too.”
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After breakfast, as I prepared to do my chores and continue my experiments. I’m once again tackled by a beast.
“Ok. Ok. I get it, I’m fine!” I said to the goofy ball of fur almost the size of a horse currently licking my face.
“Did you get the girl back to safety?”
WOOF! Was the assenting bark. The dog clearly happy for clearing its mission. Way too happy to not be suspicious, but I’ll let it go this time.
“C’mon, we got work to do.”
Finishing my chores. I turn back to what I refer to as my “laboratory”. A small secluded corner that I used earth magic to transform into a protected workspace.
Passing through the opening, there’s many workbenches and stone shelves filled with assorted designs and failed experiments. To one side you could see large arrays of runes etched on the floor, and to the other a prototype forge I’ve painstakingly built using the shred of knowledge I had on the matter.
For some reason, all the Fenrirs refuse to enter this space. Come on, a small explosion and they all turn their tails and flee. No scientific spirit on these ones.
Getting to my seat I begin to work again on my barrier artifacts. They’re tablet shaped pieces of stone and metal with assorted runes on it. Activated by pressing a small amount of mana into the activation rune.
The largest operational problem I’ve noticed in the last battle, was the extensive need for charging and limited time under stress. My personal barrier artifact simply could not withstand my explosion magic and broke before it was over. Further damaging me. If it wasn’t for my mana attuned body, I certainly would have been a goner.
They’re charged by small mana crystals embedded into the material and directly connected to the runes. Those are made by a complicated mana gathering array. With each crystal taking days to form.
I tried just using more of those so I can make it last longer. All I accomplished was overloading the operational runes, making for a pretty messed up explosion.
Not to mention these items tend to be one time use only, because the crystals tend shatter when fully drained.
For the last few years, I’ve been working on trying to miniaturize the mana gathering array so I can embed them on the artifact and have them recharging the crystal while they’re used. Extending operational time, and allowing for reusability.
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The problem is that the logic for the mana gathering is just too complex to fit all into a small artifact. It could be done, But I simply don’t have the necessary mana control to carve the intricate system by myself in that scale.
After a few hours of breaking my head against the wall trying to come up with a solution. I catch myself looking at one of the openings where the mid-afternoon sun shone through. Particularly how the light seemed to catch one of the crystals on the table and get concentrated after passing through like a lens.
“Lens! That’s it!” I screamed for the whole glade to listen.
If I use a huge lens like mana array to focus the shaped mana and concentrate it on the target, I could use it miniaturize the whole process. Allowing all kinds of self-recharging, complex artifacts. The possibilities are limitless!
Immediately I begin to set a space for the formations, as well as cast the earth magic to shape the lens artifact. Which ironically won’t be a glass lens and more like a hole with a bunch of runes around it.
This work will also require the gathering of more mana conducting metal and further smithing for the artifacts.
Getting giddy for the work ahead, I’m suddenly interrupted by a beautiful long-haired elf standing by the doorway.
“Are you going to spend the whole day playing around with your crafts? I thought you would be a dutiful daughter and spend some time with your mother. If only for the grace of not getting grounded after your previous screw up.” Said the grinning beauty.
“Yes, esteemed mother. This dutiful daughter shall entertain you with its presence.” I said grinning back.
This project can wait for a bit. There are more important matters in life to deal with.
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We Dark Elves for long have toiled. This settlement, possibly the last of our kind. Is facing one of its largest crises.
Under the now called Vulpes kingdom. Our ancestors have been allowed to settle upon these lands under the guise of protection. Relegated to the corners of the kingdom, bordering the Untamed Forest. Our village has been left to fend for ourselves against monsters and settle these lands.
For generations we prepared the soil. Under our labor, we tamed the wilderness and killed the monsters. Slowly making a place we could call our own.
But the kingdom takes no mind of our ancient deal. Year after year the taxes upon our crops have been increasing. To the point that most of our food is taken away. Leaving us starving and under the threat of annihilation.
There is also the ever-increasing threat of bandit raids and illegal slaver groups. Unfortunately, our race is greatly valued as slaves for our beauty. Leaving us as easy targets to their greed.
Too many of us have been kidnapped and sold around the kingdom and beyond. All to satiate the lust of monsters in the guise of man. There’s hardly any family left that hasn’t lost one of its own to their raids.
Many requests for aid have been sent over the years. All falling under deaf ears. All under excuses like increased military spending or no available resources. It’s obvious they are complicit, even taking part in our plight themselves. Making a mockery of our powerlessness.
I’m currently returning to the village after days of searching.
“Chief Layla! Have you found any trace her?” Said the elder waiting for me.
“There’s signs she’s been taken by goblins. But the tracks go into the Untamed Forest. We will need to prepare a larger search party tomorrow. We can’t enter too deep without preparations.”
“The more people we use to search for her. The less hunters we get to protect the village. I know it’s your daughter, but with the recent slaver activity we cannot risk it. You know of this Chief.” Said the elder with a heavy tone.
“I will not abandon my daughter!” I said trying to contain my hopeless rage.
“Aida is just a little girl. She cannot fight like me, and she’s been taken by those monsters!”
After a few moments of silence. I’ve come to a decision.
“Tomorrow I will go by myself. This is something I must do. I cannot risk the village just for my daughter.”
“You will die if you go by yourself. It is too dangerous.” Said the now clearly distraught elder.
“So it is. It will be upon you and the rest of the elders to find a replacement for my position if I don’t return. As is tradition.”
As we made our way through the village. Suddenly I hear the warning whistle.
“Hunters. On me!”
As the nearby hunters gather around me with their spears. We begin to make haste towards the signal. But before any of us can react. A large animal jumps in front of us.
“Stop! Don’t attack him!” Shouts Elder Thana.
What we saw before us is a huge wolf the size of an ox. It’s beautiful long fur, only contrasted by the two imposing horns.
Strangely. It didn’t seem to be taking an aggressive stance.
“This must a Fenrir. A sacred beast of the forest. My grandparents used to tell me about them when I was a child. They must not be harmed.” Continued the elder. Taking a bowing stance toward the creature.
WOOF! Barked the beast, before lowering himself, and gently laying the contents of its back. It was my daughter!
I immediately run towards her taking her into my arms. She seemed exhausted and full of bruises. But otherwise, alive. The sacred beast brought her back to me!
After leaving my daughter in care of the healer. I return to the square to find the beast curiously looking around the houses and turning around to leave.
Prostrating myself before it I say:
“Thank you, sacred beast, for bringing my daughter. Is there any way we can repay you for your deeds?”
WOOF! The beast sat down and seemed to take a haughty attitude. Pointing it’s nose up and furiously shaking its tail.
“I think it wants to eat, Chief.” Said one of my hunters, whispering into my ear.
That night, we threw a small feast in celebration. The expenditure in resources no small price to pay for a little increase in morale. We needed it.
The Fenrir patiently waited for its food, and incredibly, took a liking to playing around with the kids. All happily hanging on his fur.
After eating its fill. It promptly left the village. Leaving no sign of its presence.
A few days later. Aida finally recovered enough to tell us what had happened.
She told us she was attacked while gathering herbs near the village. She was beaten up and taken to a large goblin settlement. Before being rescued by a strange and powerful girl, that for some reason wore no clothes and used the Fenrir as a riding beast. And then stayed behind so that the Fenrir could deliver her back.
Bringing this story to the elders. The only one who could take a guess of what transpired was Elder Thana.
“Perhaps she is a Dryad.”
“What are they?” We asked.
“Ancient creatures of nature. Tasked with maintaining the world’s mana. Whatever that means. Even our ancestors thought them extinct. Only a few stories surviving.”
She continued. Trying to recall more information.
“In the old days, the Untamed Forest used to be called the Forest of Emesh. As the namesake of the Goddess herself. The Dryads were her daughters and keepers. And it is said that great power came to those who followed their guidance.”
“Do you think they could help with our predicament?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Perhaps. I only thought of them as legends till now. All I know is that the journey to the center of the forest to find them would be a difficult one. Requiring strength and courage.” Said our oldest elder in a contemplating tone.
Such journey would be foolish under normal circumstances. Maybe we don’t have the luxury of being smart anymore.
Perhaps I was always a foolish one.