The wings of the large double door leading to the main hall were shoved open, causing a deep resonating boom that traveled through the entire mansion. Heavy footsteps rushed into the hall, only to stop suddenly, likely in shock by the sight of the chaos that engulfed the previously pristine room.
Then the deep and furious voice of a dwarf man bellowed across the hall.
“By the name of the Guardians! What evil has been unleashed here before I arrived!?” — The unknown voice shouted in bewilderment.
Then I heard more hastened footsteps as more people rushed to the hall. There were sounds of horrified gasps and mutters of curses as more and more people arrived.
I felt a hesitant presence standing by my side, then I heard a distant shriek echoing through the hall. — “My daughter, she has been injured or worse, murdered! Call a physician this instant! Whoever dared to attack her in the heart of our home will pay for this!”
There were sounds of worried murmurs and loud arguments. A few people run by me, but the previous presence still remained at my side as if uncertain what to do. I felt a shaky hand softly touching my shoulder, shaking it gently in an attempt to wake me up.
I decided that I have played dead for long enough, and slowly opened my eyes to look at the person who was currently kneeling next to me. To my surprise, it was Dura of all people.
She seemed to be in a panic, her face as pale as a white sheet. Her appearance was quite ruffled to match her state of mind. Still, seeing that she didn’t seem to be injured. I would wager that the girl mostly avoided my spell.
Thank the gods for small mercies. I wouldn’t want to hit her with that.
Following that thought, I felt an icy dread forming at the bottom of my stomach. Did I hear it right? Oh God, I hope I didn’t actually kill Jolga… While she was a bitch of the highest order, I still didn’t intend to kill her with my spell.
Dura seemed to get back some of her natural color, when she noticed that I responded to her touch. She immediately hastened her movements, lifting one of the chairs I got entangled with off my chest.
There were more footsteps arriving, but my attention was drawn away when I heard the previous woman’s voice screaming with rage once again. — “This must be the workings of that elven witch! I warned you, didn’t I!? I told you she was trouble, yet you insisted on treating her as family, of all things! Now look at where your bleeding heart got us! Attacked, assaulted in our own home, not even a day after she arrived! Get that evil bitch in chains right now! She is an assassin of the elves! That much has been proven!”
My heart fluttered in my chest chaotically, witnessing the absurd accusations. I attempted to sit up and defend myself as fresh adrenalin pumped into my system, only to get assaulted with another burst of vertigo when I tried.
Dura, seeing my actions, placed a gentle but firm hand on my shoulder, pushing me back to the ground.
Then a somewhat familiar voice filled the hall. It was the voice of a young man this time. — “If said witch was indeed an assassin of the wood realm. She would hardly be caught up in the consequences of her attack. Aside from that, my father has guaranteed her- …” — The voice was violently cut off with another shriek.
“Your father is a fool, child! You are following in his path when you defend an elf in the hall of your ancestors.” — The woman lashed out, venom dripping from every word.
There was a heavy pause in the air before the young man continued in a strained voice of politeness. Hearing his sarcastic voice, I finally remembered who those snarky words belonged to. It was Erirmun who was currently defending me. I guess I should have connected the dots when he mentioned his father, but I was still in a bit of a haze.
“While I admit, my father's sense of justice sometimes overshadows the potential dangers of certain situations. His judgment regarding people’s nature was hardly ever wrong before. You would be wise to keep your judgmental behaviour to yourself, aunt Yonalda, until we know anything for certain.” — The words trailed off, a silent threat left hanging in the air, filling the place with further tension.
“Hah!” — The woman now revealed to be named Yonalda, who I immediately realized to be Jolga and Dura’s mother and Emrum’s older sister shouted back in a familiar derisive tone as Jolga used to talk to me not so long ago.
“So you have finally grown some balls, little kit. I am warning you, boy… Don’t get too cocky, for I might decide to hammer some sense into that thick head of yours… again. I still remember vividly how I sent you to the medical wing after you last dared to challenge me in public.” — The woman spoke in a mocking tone, clearly enjoying the situation.
There was another heavy suspense, then the boy, Erirmun, spoke up with a similar satisfaction coloring his tone. — “Oh yes, dear aunt. I remember that just fine, but how do you know that the present state of your dear daughter isn’t just a result of a similar challenge?”
“You…” — Yonalda started, but was cut off by Erirmun this time.
“Even if that is not the case, who knows? Maybe she just went too far with her usual antics. She might have become a bit too touchy with the wrong elf this time around? After all, we have all heard the rumors surrounding her taste in men… and women.” — There was a sparkling tension in the air now. It was suffocating, but it didn’t seem to bother Erirmun at the slightest as he continued with a lazy tone.
“Did your daughter by chance mistaken the ancient hall of our ancestors with the red lights district in downtow-…” — There was a loud crash as once again chaos engulfed the hall.
The sound of rushing feet among violently flung chairs and enraged shouts filled the air. Then, just as suddenly as it started, everything stopped in the wake of a booming voice that shook the entire hall.
“CEASE YOUR IMPUDENT QUARRELING BEFORE I ERASE EACH, AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FROM THIS FAMILY’S HISTORY. YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE DIMHOLLOW HOUSE!”
Everything seemed to come to a stop. If I didn’t know better, I would think that some mysterious wide area spell was unleashed in the hall freezing time itself.
All attention turned towards the old dwarf, who was the first to reach the grand hall. His presence, while imposing, was just as quickly forgotten by the others. All thanks to the fact that he decided to wordlessly take in the entire picture, at least until now.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
The old dwarf in question had a long white beard, its tip still holding onto a deep red fiery color. A distant reminder of its original shade it once must have held. The dwarf also had white long hair. His aged visage holding many marks of the passing years. He seemed to have just as many scars as wrinkles by now. Still, among the forest of wrinkles and scars, there was a pair of intelligent dark brown eyes.
“I have not lived past two centuries only to see my own blood biting at each other’s neck like wild dogs!” — The man’s reprimanding words seemed to bring a semblance of order to the hall.
The fickle moment of serenity was broken by another shriek of rage. — “But Emir! Can’t you see my daughter’s state!? This is a-…”
“SILENCE!” — The old dwarf’s voice erupted once again, this time focused on the screeching woman, who seemed to be physically struck by it.
“I have heard enough of your screeching for a single day, granddaughter. Choose, get out of my sight, or shut your trap until I tell you otherwise.” — The woman’s face turned stark red with anger, but she nodded eventually with visible struggle.
Now the old man turned towards the few gathered people and spoke out. — “Was there anyone here who have witnessed the unfolding events? If there was, I order you to step forth.”
I felt Dura’s body shook with fright. Now that she removed the last chair I was entangled with, the girl was simply tending to my injuries.
Until those very words were spoken.
She stood up slowly, panic visible in her light brown eyes, but she still stepped forward, causing the attention to shift to her.
“Dura my child…” — The old man’s words seemed to soften as he focused on the girl’s frightened expression. — “Tell us what have ensued in this hall.”
Dura hesitated, glancing at me, then towards her older sister who was sprawled out at the other side of the hall… Presently being tended to by some of the women, I recently walked past in the corridor. She was, hopefully, just unconscious. Then she looked at her mother, who seemed to have a furious expression at the time, staring daggers into her.
“Tell us what you saw, child.” — The booming voice of the old dwarf echoed once again, causing Dura’s attention to flick back to him from her mother's glare.
“Um…. I, they… There was a quarrel…” — She started, pausing awkwardly.
“Yes, continue child!” — The old dwarf urged. — “What caused this quarrel?”
“S-she… I mean sister, might have grabbed and… Umm… S-s-spanked the elf… I mean S-Selora… a few times… T-then e-ee-everything started flying…” — The girl finished with a shaky voice, but her words caused another heavy silence to fell over the entire hall.
“WHAT DID SHE DO?!” — The old dwarf's enraged voice boomed across the hall for the third time this day. — “What do you have to say about this, Yonalda?!”
Now the attention was turned back to the silently stewing woman on the other side of the hall. There were a few moments of hesitation, as the woman was momentarily uncertain of how she should react to the unexpected accusations by her other daughter. Then, at last, she decided to spoke up.
“Even if… even if that might have been the case. Is touching her butt in any sense comparable to the destruction which was unleashed in this hall? That elf is clearly unable to control her own magic. She is a risk to the peace of this mansion, and might even be a risk to our lives! She could be one of those despicable blood mages!” — There were a series of gasps traveling through the hall. — “That’s right! Did any of you bother to ask her where she practiced her magic? Could she prove her connection to any respectable tower of magi?”
The frantic woman finally seemed to run out of air, stopping her words and waiting for the verdict of the surrounding people.
I silently stared at the slowly unfolding events, managing to push myself into a sitting position. The previous sense of vertigo has gone away at some point, leaving me with the troubles of this aching body.
Yonalda’s mention of blood magic seemed to catch my interest. As a matter of fact, I knew that I have seen a particular art of magic among my exotic knowledge regarding spells and incantations. It was back when we battled the horde of goblins. I was looking for powerful battle magic that could turn the table. My mind has thrown up several suggestions on its own. Among those options were one that was called blood magic as well. Of course, in the end, I choose golem creation.
I remember that I instinctively felt a sense of certainty that blood magic worked fundamentally differently from all of my other spells. I just knew that it was using blood as a catalyst for casting spells in place of magic power. I skipped it at the time, since I wasn’t willing to experiment with an entirely different type of magic casting when my life depended on it.
Still, what was Yonalda saying about blood mages? That they were despicable? Is that so… I bet anybody that woman thinks as despicable are actually a pillar of morality and valor.
Now the old man’s gaze at last seemed to turn towards me as he undoubtedly noticed that I sat up. There was a twinkle in his dark brown eyes as he directed his words towards me. — “Those are heavy accusations. Fortunately, it seems like one of the participants of this incident have woken up. Let’s see what she has to say about this. Tell us, Miss Selora, are you a blood mage, as lady Yonalda says?” — I could feel the subtle joviality in the old dwarf’s tone. Was he finding these accusations humorous? I seem to be right about my previous suspicion. Blood mages could hardly be evil compared to that vile woman.
I straightened myself slightly and started to form my answer. — “I…” — Cough-cough… — “I meant to say… well… I a-…” — My words were cut off with a loud bang as the sounds of furious stumping seemed to fill the room.
“EMIR DIMHOLLOW!” — Sounded the terrifyingly infuriated voice of a certain wood elf woman. A shudder went through the audience as the spear dancer, whose hair was still drenched with water, partially soaking her hastily thrown on clothes and armor, stormed into the wide hall.
She leveled the old man with a fierce glare that sent shivers up my spine even when it wasn’t directed at me.
“HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST THAT A WHITE ELF OF ALL PEOPLE WOULD PRACTICE THE MOST VILE AND FORBIDDEN ART OF ALL MAGIC?” — There was a heavy pause left in the air followed by the elf’s statement, who likely just jumped out of a bath to get here hearing the commotion.
The old dwarf’s attention now fell on Aria, a deeply furrowed pair of eyebrows etched into his features. — “Ariawyn Virdithas,” — The man spoke with a leveled voice. — “I have hardly accused her of such. You would have known as much if you were here. The accusation comes from lady Yonalda, and I found it prudent to humour her worries with asking the girl’s opinion on the matter.”
“Alas, it is true. It would be unlikely for a white elf to thread such a dark path as blood magic.” — The old man chuckled, while giving me a shrewd glance. — “And even if she did… it would have been most unwise to admit so, as such would lead to her swift execution.”
I shivered, feeling the color quickly draining from my face. A sharp pain spiked through the left side of my lips as I unknowingly bit down on it with such force that it immediately draw blood.
What the… did… did I completely misread the situation?
My panicked thoughts swirled in my mind, just like the room seemed to be swirling around me as distinct waves of warmth and freezing cold seemed to frequently exchange places through my entire body.
Aria seemed to kneel by my side, speaking to me with a worried expression, but I didn’t seem to hear her words. Funny, my elven hearing should have been better than that…
I smiled at her politely, the furious pulsing of my blood washing away every other noise.
Did I almost killed myself? The thought crossed my mind, but it felt distant, and I didn’t want to think about that. Yeah… best not to think about what would have happened if my stupid ass finished that cursed sentence.
Yep-yep… Come to think of it, my butt still stings… But I am not a blood mage… definitely not. Nope-nope, I might be a butt mage, but most certainly not a blood mage.
With that dubious last thought passing through my mind. I passed out.