I remember the day I saw him fighting among Fiandel's soldiers. The day I saw the warrior who was once the pride of the entire elven race: Golhalrin, the lion.
I could not forget his figure, so majestic and, at the same time, so animalistic.
He was tall, had long hair and his hands handled a spear that tore the body of my soldiers as if they were made out of water.
The blood of the Markav warriors that the elf buried during the battle were used as ink to cover the right of our people over lands that belonged to our ancestors.
I remember the day that Golhalrin killed my brothers and sisters. As if he were beside me, smiling over the body of my allies.
I will never forget the way he cut them with his spear. And, even though he is dead, his lineage still lives.
The blood he shed that day signed the decree of death of his offspring, as the death of my people gave life to a circle of vengeance that can never be undone.
Bernadir, the Correct - President and Chancellor of Markav
*
-Two coins per arrow.
-These arrows were made by Dryads of the Great Forest. I cannot sell them for less than five coins. You know that.
-Listen here, dryad. I'm tired. Why don't we skip the small talk and do it like a few days ago, when you accepted three coins for each arrow? Or do you think I don't know who produces these arrows? Do not fool yourself: Were it not for their quality, I would kick you out of my store.
-You are lucky that I don't want to waste my time here.
Ohana throws on the counter the quiver full of arrows she made with materials collected during the trip to the small village of Avenel. Located at the junction between the territories of Haern and Naeva, the village was located near the Tormented Sea, the aquatic body that bordered all the great kingdoms of the eastern continent.
Avenel, like several territories on both continents, is a village subordinate to a great kingdom, but that only saw its sovereigns on two occasions: when new soldiers needed to be conscripted and at the time of annual tax collection.
At that moment, away from the hands of the king of Haern, the village obeys the local elder, who works as a ruler and it was to whom Ohana informed about the arrival of Arthur on the other side of the world. Those news were met with skepticism, just as it had been in every village and even in the capital of Haern, where the dryad had almost been arrested for spreading rumors and unnecessary panic.
The arrival at Avenel, however, made her happy for two reasons: The first was the possibility of taking the first break on her journey. She had not allowed herself to rest for even a moment, and the need to use Helena and Vincent's carriage meant obeying the schedule of both, who had not even planned to stop in the capital of Haern and the constant pauses in all villages to alert local leaders were already too many for their schedule.
The second reason was also what allowed her to take such a break: Arriving at Avenel, on the border between Haern and Naeva, also meant arriving on the middle point of the journey. After that, she would only need to alert the villages and the capital of Naeva before starting the journey back.
"That is, after I help Dan with whatever he has to deal with the Unbelievers." She sighs as the merchant hands out the coins and counts the arrows. “What can he have to do with them? He doesn't seem to be the kind of nutcase who believes in what they preach...”
-Here. - The trader hands over the coins with some hesitation and the dryad decides to withdraw before he changes his mind. She keeps the newly received coins and gets out of the store, running her hand over the scar on her cheek, feeling a slight discomfort.
-You should let me negotiate. - Dan and Vincent were waiting for her nearby and start walking through the main street with her. The two, who started out as opponents, now seemed like good friends and, whenever Vincent was not close to Helena, he sought out his new friend to talk.
-My arrows, my coins. - She says, tapping the small bag on her waist. - Besides, in the vicinities of the Great Forest, those arrows are sold for a single coin. With the profit, I now have enough to cover basic expenses for the rest of my trip.
-You mean to say "our trip", don't you?
-Yes, that's right. - She waves, dissatisfied with that correction, which has become a habit. - But don't think I will pay any of your expenses.
-I know, I know. - He nods and changes the subject. - But we better get out of this village soon. I heard that there are signs of a convergence nearby.
-A magic convergence? Here? - Ohana lowers her tone. – Are you crazy? I would have heard of something like that.
-It seems that some things alerted the villagers beyond those hills. - Dan points south-east from his position, where they would have to travel soon. - Nobody seems to know the exact location. Also, it seems to be a relatively new convergence. The news about it has not yet reached our continent.
-We heard about that while you were negotiating. I’ll have to talk to Helena. - Vincent announces. - We intended to spend our honeymoon in Naeva, however, if there really is a magical convergence on the road...
-I get it. - The dryad shakes her head.
-As for our arrangement, we can compensate you-
-That was just a bet between you and Dan. - She interrupts him. - If you want, you can pay him. I will not hold you responsible. I know about the risks of getting close to a convergence. I wouldn't force anyone to go through that.
-We will stay a little more in this village. If you want to wait with us...
-If there is a convergence, I need to hurry, otherwise the roads can be closed. I need to fulfill my mission and deliver my messages. - Ohana sighs. The message about Arthur could wait a few days, however, the message to the Maetar Tribe member could be urgent. She didn't know the details, but she couldn't take the risk.
"A dryad doesn't fall back on her word." She repeats to herself. “I have to preserve the good reputation that we have earned with so much effort. I cannot embarrass my family.”
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-And I’ll keep traveling with Ohana. – Dan announces.
-But the convergence-
-I don’t care. You are my traveling companion. We are together on this journey to the end. Besides, what's the worst that can happen?
*
-This is the gelato! - Valkyrie proudly showed her dessert to Arthur.
-It looks like ice cream. - He comments, realizing that, except for the crystallized coloring, the girl's candy looks exactly like an ice cream, since it is, basically, an icy mass placed inside an ice surface prepared by magic.
-It must be the same thing. Gelato is based on a dessert from the human world. - Rinlia approaches the two while Valkyrie, indecisive, looks at Arthur and then at her candy. - As far as I know, the humans were the ones who had the idea to manipulate ice magic in this way.
-The difference is that glass of ice... - He analyzes the candy again. - In a world with magic, maybe it is easier to create something like this than a surface made separately, huh?
-You may be right. Everyone can manipulate some magic, but only a few decide to use it in battle. Some specialize on other things and earn a lot of money from it. After all, there aren’t many gelato producers, even in the capital.
The trio walks side by side in the city center. Arthur had spent his afternoon asking questions about small things he saw and could not understand, such as clothes that had no sewing marks, or else about the monetary system with its brass, tin, copper, silver and gold coins (the first two were only used by some villages and foreigners).
-Here. - Valkyrie offers him the ice cream jar and the ice scoop.
-What happened? - Arthur asks, confused.
-You can have it. - She says, with some effort. The “donation” seemed to be a great sacrifice for her. – You need to eat it. It's very good.
-But...
-Take it. - Rinlia puts her hand on the boy's arm and smiles. - It's from the heart, isn't it, daughter?
The girl nods silently and leaves the items in Arthur's hand, who sees her skip down the street, guiding their walk.
-She is a good girl... - He murmurs, touched by her gesture.
-I'll buy her another one, later, as a reward. - The elf seems proud.
Arthur takes some of the dessert to his mouth and is surprised by the quality of that “ice cream”.
-Wow, it's really good!
-Is it the same as the one you had in your world?
He thinks for a moment, having trouble invoking such a trivial memory.
-No, this one is better. I don't know what it is... Maybe...
Suddenly, he finds it difficult to speak. His throat chokes. Arthur finds himself on the verge of tears.
“Wow, am I this happy because of an ice cream? Life in this world is driving me crazy!” He thinks, struggling to contain the emotion.
He needs a few moments to compose himself. Rinlia waits until he looks recovered.
-The clothes we bought actually fit you well.
-Thank you. - He looks at the hunting pants and the linen T-shirt, the latter hidden under a leather blouse. - After I get some money, I’ll pay-
-That amount is no problem. - She shakes her head. - For now, I am responsible for you. In the future, the kingdom will give you some official post, you’ll have your own gold and will be able to buy your own things.
-That's very kind of you.
-You think? - She shrugs. - I have almost no reason to spend what I earn, except for some savings I have made for Valkyrie’s future. Other than that, I have no reason to accumulate wealth. Spending some money on clothes for someone who needs my help seems to be one of the best ways to spend it.
-If you insist... - He sees Valkyrie talking to several creatures she meets on the way. - The people here seem to like her a lot. And you. They seem to respect you a lot.
-I was born in the capital. It is natural that they know me. Besides, they know about my position as commander.
-It seems like something... Deeper than that. - He had noticed the respect that the merchants and soldiers had towards the elf. Despite the position of commander, the reverence seemed excessive. - Do you have a position that I don't know about?
-Yes, but that is not the reason why no one dares to approach us.
He feels a wave of relief when he realizes that she hasn't dodged the point of his questioning. After all, they talked undisturbedly and didn't even need to disguise Arthur's origins thanks to the distance that everyone kept when they realized she was having a private conversation.
-Can you tell me the reason?
-Oh, it's a very long story. - She shakes her head. - You know the basics: My father was someone very respected in the kingdom and I followed in his footsteps. At this point, my lineage is respected by tradition and also because of the reputation I built in battle. - She realizes that he is not completely convinced. - There are other factors, but everything can be summed up in the fame that I achieved by winning some battles.
-I see... - Satisfied with the explanation, he lets his mind wander at will. As he eats his ice cream, his eyes end up resting on the image of the girl who walks in front of the human and the elf.
The way they are now, they look like a family. Arthur realizes that and tries hard not to let the thought intimidate him. Then, another thought gets into his mind.
-What about Valkyrie's father?
-What do you mean? - The elf's tone does not change.
-Where is he?
-He is dead. – The answer surprises him. It also brings other questions to his mind, but he does not have enough courage to ask anything. She notices that. - It happened some time ago. I... I don't want to talk about it right now, if that’s okay with you.
Arthur blinks a few times. How to deny such a request?
Rinlia looks away, touched by the memory.
The boy shakes his head a few times and takes a deep breath.
-I am curious about the language of this world. It seems to be a universal language that I can understand, so... Could we go to a library or something?
The elf smiles, grateful for the new topic.
-Sure, we can. But I can tell you in advance that the answers are boring.
-How so?
-The answers are terribly inaccurate. "Magic", "unknown phenomenon", "mystical events", etcetera. You will see. Let’s go.
*
The window in Arthur's bedroom sway and, slowly, opens up. The boy's sleep is interrupted, but he does not feel that he is waking up abruptly, on the contrary. It is as if the sound of his window was a soft song, which removes him from the abstractions of the sleeping mind and rescues him to the reality of the arrival of a visitor.
-Finally. I knew I felt you during the test. - He says, sitting on the bed and using magic to light the lamp in his room.
-I thought it was time to come to you. I was tired of running away from you every night.
-I knew I was getting close. - He says with a half-smile.
-What can I say? You got better at using your magic.
-And you didn't leave Fiandel.
He looks into Akemi's bright eyes. The incorporeal materialized in front of the bed and sat beside him. Her hair shines in the black glow of the night. Her skin looks more real than ever.
He wants to embrace her, but he restrains the movement.
-I didn’t want to get too far. - She says in a pout. - You could die while I was gone.
-I almost died during the test. - He smiles. - And you didn't do much to avoid it.
-I've been watching your training from a distance. - She answers. - Your teacher cares about you. Both of them. They wouldn't let you die.
-That's not what it looked like. - He says, massaging his neck, with the wound reacting to the memory.
-Does it hurt?
-Do you care?
She takes his hand away, bringing her face closer to examine his neck. Her hands feel very real.
-Of course, I care. Although you don't deserve it.
She caresses the region and, suddenly, their eyes meet. Arthur's heart decides to skip a beat.
The girl with black hair and bright eyes walks away.
"How is THAT not having a body?" He thinks, looking to her face. "How can they think she doesn't have a life as real as everyone else's?"
-Hum... Well... - He fumbles. - So, you came to see me because you were worried?
The incorporeal adjusts her hair behind her ear, recovering for an instant before looking back at the boy's face.
-Thanks to the energy I gathered while I was in your shadow, I was able to investigate several things on the sly. - She says in a secret tone. - Some of them concern movements of the Great Forest and a guest who arrived in this kingdom.
-And is that a reason for us to worry?
-I don’t know. - She shakes her head. - I only managed to listen to parts of conversations and had to deduce several things that may be wrong. But, if I'm right, Fiandel can get involved in big things in the future. And you can't forget that you promised to help them.
-Do you think it will reach that point so soon?
She shrugs.
-I went to the arena to see the test and try to understand what they wanted to do with you. It was clear that they wanted to test your power and self-control. The next logical step would be to test the limit of your skills.
"And is there a better place to do that than the battlefield?"
*
*