Slowly, the appearance of new starlight petals tapered off as the once mighty jets pouring from outstretched hands slowed to a trickle before ceasing altogether. The tens of thousands of summoned petals, having shifted from blazing spotlights to every other color imaginable, continued to float higher, with most now lost to sight behind the dense forest canopy above. Continuing the steady skyward advance, soon, every glowing leaf was far above the city and began spreading in all directions for hundreds of miles. Darkness once more settled over the gathered crowd. The city’s many lamps remained dimmed, no brighter than reserved candlelight. No one stirred, and a distinct feeling that everyone was waiting for something settled upon me.
Everyone’s eyes were still trained upwards. Then, something happened.
Unseen by any, the last petal summoned halted its ascent and momentarily hovered over the elven city of Quarris. Radiance from within the simple mana construct gathered as the lone petal multiplied into a beautiful whorl of petals, into an intense corolla of light. Brilliance built to a crescendo as the flower burst into a soundless explosion of pure starlight. The shockwave carried no force as the sphere expanded in all directions like a supernova. The spherical wave moved at a prodigious rate, passing harmlessly through the highest buildings in Quarris, the myriads of wooden platforms, straight through the colossal redwood trees, and stretching towards the forest’s floor.
Darkness yielded to the brilliance, receding faster than the rising sun. Crashing downward, a part of me wanted to flinch back, but, still, no one cried out in alarm. Not a single look of concern or worry touched the faces of the gathered mass at the encroaching light. Realization struck. The elves had been expecting this. In a flash, the superluminous pulse passed through everyone and everything before disappearing from sight beneath the packed earth below our feet. An unmistakable sense of rightness, of total serenity, flooded into every fiber of my being. Pain and loss were replaced with acceptance.
Basking in the feeling, my eyes still trained towards the forest canopy, the hundreds of lamps overhead swiftly transformed from jasmine candlelight to vibrant emeralds and intense jades. The globes of twisting flames shone with renewed radiance as if a hundred identical suns were shining with the color of life. The city, awash in renewed vigor, seemed to pulse like the slow beating of a massive heart. The heartbeat of the forest, once more reborn, signified the end of the ceremony.
Finally lowering my eyes, I witnessed as the small dunes of churned earth and dirt quickly sprouted thousands of baby green blades. What would normally take weeks of painstaking growth, the fledgling stalks elongated and broadened to encompass every grave in lush, healthy grass. The hundreds of roses, orchids, tulips, dahlias, lilacs, and other flowers I had no names for similarly proliferated to truly magnificent sizes. The sweet scent of blossoming flowers reached new heights, amplifying the profound sense of life everyone was experiencing.
Congratulations! You have been blessed by ‘Celestial Sepulture.’
Celestial Sepulture – Not many among the many surface races have had the privilege of witnessing an elven ceremonial sepulture. Tales of those fortunate few spread far and wide due to the incredible wonders witnessed as an elven city mourns as one, professing a final farewell to the honored dead. At its conclusion, the minds and bodies of all participants are nourished, emotions touch upon serenity and peace, and perceptions of the approaching future broaden.
Congratulations! This blessing has bestowed the following effects for the next 72 hours:
+10% to all stats.
+25% to natural health, mana, and stamina regeneration.
An improved ability to remain clear-headed in stressful situations.
An empowered confidence and outlook allowing you to see momentary adversaries as no more than simple obstacles to overcome.
Engrossed in the joyous feeling and many possibilities in store for us, I didn’t notice at first as the gathered crowd began to disperse. Thankful laughs and encouraged smiles flourished in the wake of the ceremony. Unrushed, the people of the High Thicket scattered in all directions, heading for the dozens of lifts awaiting to return everyone to their homes.
Stella and I found each other’s gazes. Her muzzle was damp with tears, but her eyes held a look of hopeful optimism. Her smile was warm and inviting. I wrapped her in a bear hug, holding her tight to my chest. She responded by pressing her face into me. Lowki brushed against my thigh, indicating he, too, would appreciate some affection. Acquiescing, I knelt and wrapped an arm across his wide shoulder blades as I pressed my head into his neck.
The once somber mood of the city had been replaced with sparks of joyfulness and the happy memories of the departed.
Standing again, with a firm pat across Lowki’s shoulder, I looked at Tallos before pulling him into an embrace. He accepted appreciatively, and the tether of our friendship deepened. Separating, we noticed a small group of elves approaching from a dozen yards away. With the thinning crowd, Tallos’ friends finally spotted us and moved to rejoin us.
“Who was the elder who spoke in the clearing?” I asked, hoping to identify the older woman. Her words truly moved me, as she had with many others by the look of it.
“Elder Corona,” Tallos answered as he waved a hand to his friends. “You’ll see her again tomorrow at the council meeting.”
Cheers, hugs, and spent tears heralded the reconnection of our two groups, all of us bygone crew members of the noble Moon Siren. Recalling their names from before the ceremony, I more closely examined each in turn. Jakob was an unusually short, dark-haired elf who wore a perpetual smile. He had an air about him like a temperamental teenager on the lookout for the next rush. Leandra was a lithe elf with flowing auburn hair whose eyes seemed focused solely on the smiling Tallos. Seeing the two lock eyes, I smiled inwardly. So, she was the one stealing the majority of Tallos’ attention of late. Phyros was a plain-robed half-elf who had the look of a mage about him. Finally, there was Miya, a muscular heroine clad in scale mail armor the color of mountain green.
“Care to join us?” Miya asked, the soft chink of metal brushing against metal sounding as she motioned a hand towards the closest lift. “There’s a pub not far from here that is always open to former Sirens such as all of us. We spend most evenings there, recanting stories of old and enjoying a bottle of wine or two.”
Miya then pointed towards the domineering Ripley and the nimble Lowki as she continued, the collection of scales covering her dark leather armor rippling with the movement. “All are welcome, though we’ve never been blessed with a company such as your noble friends before now. We would be happy to have them accompany us.”
Lowki barred a toothy smile, which, while slightly horrifying, garnered a return smile from the elven lady. Ripley also responded to the kind words but with only a stoic nod towards her fellow warrior-sister.
Whole-heartedly agreeing, Jakob cut in right as Miya was about to say something more. “Excellent,” the braggadocious elf said with a clap of his hands, catching everyone’s attention. He walked closer to my side before placing an arm over my shoulder. A friendly sort of fellow, he was. “So, Tallos says you are talented in the ways of magic. Would you do me the honor of casting one of your…”
And, like that, Tallos’ prediction was fulfilled. I played coy at first, but the elf simply wouldn’t relent. The ostensible masochist grilled me on my entire spell repertoire as we stepped on the platform lift. I shot Tallos a look when Jakob asked me for the fifth time to cast one of my newest spells on him, saying he ‘could take it.’ My ranger friend was of little help and shrugged his shoulders as if jokingly telling me to figure it out myself. Boy, you’re a real help, I told myself, shooting an evil-eye glare in Tallos’ direction.
Little did Jakob know, my newest spell, the average-tiered Piercing Swarm, was powerful enough to tear through both my empowered aegis and my far smaller health pool in under two minutes. Considering the elf was only level twenty-one, I had, of course, inspected him. I doubted he had the same level of durability as my ability afforded me.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Stella came to my rescue while my so-called friend, Tallos, pitifully attempted to hide a snicker behind Leandra’s face. “Jakob, his newest spell causes enough damage it would likely take down any of you, with only…that… one… spell. He will not risk your life, nor any other, to prove your fortitude. Which, I’m sure, is quite extraordinary.” While her words sounded genuine, the last bit was accompanied by a discreetly forced smile, signaling to me she wasn’t being entirely honest with him.
Jakob’s shoulders fell dejectedly at her words. His eyes drooped at first, yet he quickly shot back up at her apparent compliment. He clearly believed the white lie. “Alright, then what about another…” he started but was quickly interrupted.
“No,” Stella stated firmly, indicating the matter was settled. Sadly for her, Stella was utterly unprepared as the elf turned complete attention to her as we ascended the lift. At one point, it sounded as if she was simply repeating the word ‘no’ repeatedly while gazing skyward. It was like she was pleading for solace from a greater power than herself.
The rest of us chatted lightly and shared a few laughs as Jakob hounded the poor pooch. Several minutes later, as we neared our destination, a respectable and quaint pub called ‘The Siren’s Galley,’ she finally snapped.
“Fine!” she shouted before swiftly facing the shocked elf. She cocked her head as if fuming. “You stand… right… here. I’m going to confer with Xaz, and if you move… so help me, I’ll…”
She left the implied threat unspoken as if she was begging the elf to do anything other than wait. I couldn’t see her entire face, but I could picture it. A part of me was surprised she hadn’t barred any teeth at the difficult elf. No one would have held it against her after the downright irksome tactics Jakob had attempted to use on her.
A stern look splayed across her face when she zipped over to me, indicating that she was not one bit happy. I was about to say something when a message appeared in my vision, catching me a little off guard.
Stella: I am NOT saying this out loud so the blasted idiot can’t know what will happen.
Xaz: Stella…
My message was cut off as I was relaying my thoughts. I wasn’t even sure such a thing could be done as I mentally began typing. Learn something new every day, I reckoned as Stella continued.
Stella: I want you to cast… No, dual cast minor restless slumber on the fool. I will brook no argument about this. He called this upon himself and is about to reap his reward.
Xaz: But…
This time, I wasn’t interrupted by yet another message from the glaring poodle. I had paused after seeing a dangerous narrowing of her eyes, a perilous flair of her nostrils, and a growl that I felt in my chest. As if my words were suddenly caught in my throat, so too had my mental keyboard.
As one, we turned to face the shell-shocked Jakob. Stella's about-face was far faster than my own, indicating her frustration, so I mentally whispered an appeal to whoever might be watching. Seeing his dream about to come true, the foolish elf’s face shifted to a self-satisfied grin as if his opponent had just conceded victory. Whoa, but wasn’t he in for a surprise? Well, perhaps not if my low-tier spell didn’t work anyway. The enchantment might fail outright, likely encouraging him to ask me to try a different one.
Ah, so that’s why she wanted me to dual cast it. Such a devilish sphinx, I recognized internally.
Holding my hands out in forced submission, I focused on the lanky fellow. Everyone else turned to watch. Jakob wore a simple brown tunic and pant combo with a thick leather belt wrapped around his waist. A pair of half-full pouches sat comfortably over his hips. His tan, open-toed sandals hinted at his uncaring nature. The elf didn’t have a single piece of jewelry.
Additionally, he bore no weapons or magical trinkets I could detect. As my hands moved in a synchronized dance, I whispered the words to restless slumber. Even dual cast, the spell’s amplified mana cost would still be nothing but a tiny drop in the bucket compared to my lake-sized power reserves. Heck, the mana would likely be regenerated in less than ten seconds after casting it.
Jakob set his feet, imitating a fighting stance, and tensed his body. Being far less stocky than his friends, I doubted activating his core would help much with what was to come. “I can take it,” the elf whispered to himself as his eyes took on a serious look.
Completing my spell, a ripple of energy reached across the distance between us. Everyone saw as the magic flew true, striking Jakob between the eyes. Straightaway, his eyes rolled back in his head, and as if his marionette strings were cut, Jakob started falling bonelessly to the floor. My eyes widened after realizing the consequences if the spell actually took hold. A large part of me doubted it would, especially considering how often it sounded like the elf tormented spell casters to use him as a walking test subject. I instinctively began reaching out my arms to catch Jakob, even though I was nowhere near close enough to have a chance of succeeding. Stella, pleased by the outcome, crossed her arms over her chest and so much as flinch.
Thankfully, someone else among us had been preparing for such an eventuality.
Ripley's intelligence was far higher than implied by her silent demeanor. She was always ready to jump into action. Her movement was a blur as she darted forward when Jakob’s eyes rolled back and caught him before his body reached halfway to the redwood under his feet.
As Ripley gently set Jakob down, Stella huffed her displeasure as if perturbed the consequences had not been more severe. She whispered something that sounded awfully like, “You deserved that,” or something similar.
I turned a wide-eyed stare toward Jakob’s friends, but each only wore an amused expression.
“It’s about time someone did that,” Miya stated casually, not at all bothered her friend was knocked unconscious. In fact, she looked somewhat entertained. “Phyros, can you please carry him… Err, can you help Ripley as she carries him home so Jakob can sleep off his worries?”
After putting the irritable Jakob to bed, the rest of the evening turned quite idyllic. Ripley returned with Phyros a few minutes later and joined us inside the Siren’s Galley. The half-elf bartender happily poured us a round of drinks, which I was surprised to find barely contained any alcohol content. I wasn’t bothered as I had never been much of a drinker in either of my lives. Instead, it was just another interesting quirk of the elves fast becoming our friends. The wine was incredibly refreshing, possessing a fruit-forward flavor to it. Even Stella joined the festivities, though she required the wine to be poured into a clay bowl.
“Don’t be rude, Xaz,” she said after I questioned her request for me to lean across the bar. Apparently, stating she would only lap at the wine if no one could see her doing it, which, of course, was an impossibility. At first, I could only barely hide a smile after she ordered her first bowl from the surprised barkeep. “You know I’m sensitive about these things. Now, cover for me. This smells lovely.”
I had no idea what sensitivity she was referring to, but I helped her out. Leaning forward on my bar stool, I heard Stella greedily slurp at her wine. Once she finished it—in one go, I might add—she signaled to the bar elf to remove the bowl so no one could see it.
As twilight deepened, friendships were built and then strengthened. Boisterous laughs from rousing and embarrassing tales filled the aesthetic pub. Far later into the evening than I think anyone expected, our two groups parted ways and ventured into the emerald city for our homes. Though our fruity nightcaps were mostly non-alcoholic, Lowki and Ripley helped me steer clear of the platform edge and cross several rope bridges.
Tallos, as Stella and I teasingly predicted, left with Leandra about an hour before the rest of us headed home. After the two left, Leandra’s arms wrapped tightly around Tallos’ elbow. The pair had been the butt of quite a few jokes. Apparently, the two were quite the couple aboard the Moon Siren. Leandra had been one of Captain Larsa’s officers, having joined the crew several years before Tallos. It had been quite the sendoff when the lissome elf decided to return home to the High Thicket. Miya shared that Tallos had been depressed for a solid week after she left. Tallos advised on more than one occasion he would find her again once his destiny carried him beyond the Siren.
The story surprised me as Tallos never seemed to be in a rush to come here. After joining our fledgling band of adventurers, he seemed content to hunt down Minotaurs and the many other foes we encountered along the way. Miya waved off when I questioned her, saying, “To an elf, time holds little meaning when it comes to the heart. He would have been just as happy to finally see her ten more years down the road, exactly as she would have been. Elven love knows no bounds. One day, they would return to one another.”
With Ripley’s steady guidance, I greeted my bed with a hearty smile. It felt like falling into the softest cloud, and I was asleep in seconds.
Rousing the following morning from my marvelous bed, I was shocked that not a single physical or mental ache rose with me. I would have to remind Stella to have us pick up a case or two of the Galley’s fabulous wine. Drinking as much as we did, I fully expected to wake up with a pounding headache. Mercifully, this is not the case. Sitting at the edge of my bed, I inhaled deeply. The richness of the redwood filled my nostrils, carrying the wonderful scent of nature deep within my chest. Leaves danced outside our windows, the thick bark of the giant sequoias proudly proclaiming their magnificence grown over a thousand years.
Stella continued snoozing away despite my movement. Unlike most nights, she had been snuggled up against one of our plush pillows instead of me or Lowki. Looking for the cat, I found him resting, oddly enough, in the hallway. I was surprised he didn’t make full use of either of the other guest beds. Closing my eyes again, I inhaled deeply, feeling completely relaxed as if the woods wrapped around me like a warm blanket.
Ready for the day and planned council meeting in the evening, I stretched out my arms as a mammoth yawn escaped my lips. Kinking my neck side to side, I suddenly felt a deep growl in my belly. “Time for breakfast…” I started but was blown backward into my bed as Lowki barreled into me. He had apparently been waiting for the several hours we slept through for his breakfast. Like any cat, he expressed his displeasure to be kept waiting. We nearly crushed the snoring Stella, thankfully only causing her to yelp out and kick her velvety pillow away in fright.
“Xaz!” she exclaimed angrily, thinking me responsible for her scare.
I was in no position to correct the injustice, buried as I was by several hundred pounds of a thoroughly annoyed panther.