Elf world the complete s.., p.106
Elf World : The Complete Series, page 106
“You are absolutely right,” I agreed. “And that’s exactly why we can’t hold back either.” Trixy whimpered again. The fairy was powerful, but she just wasn’t cut out for this level of violence.
I rounded to her front and put my hands on her shoulders. “Trixy,” I said softly. She looked up at me with those large, pink eyes. “I know this sucks. Believe me, I wish there were another way, but there isn’t. So we need to control what we can control, and that means we have to pull ourselves together and stay focused. As long as we stay calm and remember our training, we’re going to be just fine. I really believe that, and now I need to hear you say it. We’re going to be just fine.”
“We’re going to be just fine,” she repeated, the words coming out so soft that I could barely hear her.
“Say it with conviction?” I raised my tickling fingers and her eyes went wide.
“We’re going to be just fine!” she shouted, wrapping herself up in a protective hug.
“Good, that’s my girl.” I gave her a big hug, lifting her off the ground. “But it’s true, you know,” I whispered in her ear. “We’re going to get through this, I promise.” I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before setting her down.
She did seem a little better now, and that’s all I was going for.
“All right.” I clapped my hands. “Since we’ve got some time to kill, what do you say we do a little exploring? Maybe step out for some fresh air too? No rules against that, right?” The ladies agreed, and we took a little tour of our temporary home.
The place was huge, with way more open space than what was being utilized. They could have brought in ten times as many new recruits and still had plenty of room to train them. I would have loved to see this place back in its heyday. I could just visualize hundreds of high-level magic users and bladesmasters all duking it out, sharpening their skills against one another.
We found some cool things during our explorations, exotic statues and hanging tapestries that looked like they belonged in a museum. But most of the place was just wide open like an airplane hangar, and because of that there was really no way to get lost.
Each wall had multiple entrances, just large openings like a warehouse with no actual doors. We had been cooped up in here long enough, and we were craving some sun and fresh air.
There was a moment of adjustment when we first stepped out from the relatively dark temple. But after some squinting and blinking, the natural light became a welcome sight. As expected, it was rather windy up here, but the brisk breeze was a small price to pay just to be outside for a while.
The view was breathtaking, and down below we could see hundreds of stone channels all weaving in and out throughout the valley. I couldn’t help but wonder how many thousands of years it took for natural erosion to cut such beautifully intricate patterns through the stone.
“It’s so beautiful,” Trixy said, moving right up to the edge of the cliff. While she enjoyed the view with her toes hanging over, Moana and I were happy to keep our distance.
“It’s breathtaking,” I agreed. “But if it’s all the same to you, I think I’ll enjoy it from back here.”
“I’m with you on that one,” Moana said, snuggling up against my back even though we were a good ten feet from the edge. Man, and I thought I had a fear of heights...
Trixy whirled around to face us, and now it was her heels hanging over the edge. “Aww, are you two scared?” she asked, her voice thick with mock pity. “Come on over here, it’s okay. There is nothing to be afraid of—ah...ah!” Her arms twirled in whirling circles, and she kicked her foot out in a last-ditch effort to keep her balance. Then, with a final shriek, she tipped backward right off the cliff.
“Trixy!” I raced toward the cliff, dropping to my knees and sliding up to the edge.
I was peering over the side when the fairy came flying up in front of my face like she was riding an elevator. She hovered there a moment, hands wrapped around her stomach as she laughed hysterically. “I can’t believe it was that easy,” she hooted, struggling to catch her breath. “You should have seen the looks on your faces!”
“Ugh.” I fell right back on my ass and buried my face in my palms. “You...little...shit...” But then I started laughing too. It all happened so quickly that I didn’t even have time to think, and I guess she was counting on that for her ruse to work. Of course the only one of us with wings wasn’t going to plummet to her death.
When I glanced back at Moana, she just shrugged. “Don’t look at me,” she said. “I was just going to let her die.”
But her prank did put us all in a better mood, and for the next few hours we just sat out in the sun and enjoyed the view. It was nice to relax and forget about things for a while.
I caught movement from the corner of my eye, and when I turned, I noticed Haniel and Jemaldra talking in the doorway. The female drow looked just fine, physically. But the look of anguish on her face spoke volumes about her mental state. She stood there with a packed bag lying at her feet, and I knew it was time for her to go.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but it looked like Haniel was doing most of the talking. Then, in what I thought was a most unusual display of affection from the dragon shifter, she gave the drow a big goodbye hug before stepping back inside the temple.
“You two wait right here a moment.” I stood up and started walking before either one could answer. I didn’t know why I felt compelled to do it, but I moved swiftly to intercept the drow before she reached the long flight of steps.
She saw me coming and stopped. “Ah, can’t just let me leave in peace without gloating one last time, eh, human?” she called out first before I could say anything. “Well, go on, then. I know a drow defeat in any form is always a thing to be celebrated for your kind, so let’s just get this over with.”
“I’m not here to gloat,” I assured her. The look in her eyes told me she highly doubted that, but she didn’t say anything more. “Look...I—” I dropped my gaze and started fidgeting with my shirt. I really didn’t know what I was trying to say here, but I still felt like I needed to say something. “I’m sorry for what happened to you, you know, the way it went down. You didn’t deserve that. In the end, it was just shit luck.”
“In the end, I just wasn’t good enough,” she countered, and unlike me, she was having no trouble looking me right in the eyes. “That’s all there was to it.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That is not all there was to it. I watched that entire fight, and I think you’re incredibly skilled. One of the best I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh?” Jemaldra glanced back over her shoulder and barked out a humorless laugh toward the temple. “It would seem that the Kavif do not see it as you do. Now, if you’re done dusting my fresh wounds with salt, I have a long journey ahead of—”
“The Underworld is beautiful,” I cut her off.
She gave me a strange look, hesitating before she spoke again. “What did you say?”
“The Underworld, back on Nelirius, which is exactly where I know you’re going. It’s beautiful.”
Again she just stared at me a moment before finding her voice. “But how could you possibly—”
“Yes, I’ve been there before,” I said. “The city of Orath, to be exact. It’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen, not only in Nelirius, but in any world I’ve ever been.” My eyes went distant as I thought back to favorite memory about that place. “There are two drow women waiting for me there,” I said softly. “Two women that I love, Lazziar and her mother, Aunrae, Matron Mother of House Vurot.”
Jemaldra’s eyes went wide. How could a human possibly have known a high-ranking Matron Mother’s exact name and title unless he had been there before?
“Of course,” I chuckled, plucking nervously at the fabric of my cloak, “I can’t go back to them just yet. I kind of might have sort of killed High Priestess Rilrina Ulass. So I don’t think the Underworld will be rolling out the red carpet for me anytime soon.”
“It’s you,” she gasped. “You’re the human I heard so much about. But the rumors were so horribly exaggerated that I just assumed—”
“In the flesh,” I said, spreading my hands out wide. If things kept going like this, she was probably going to ask me for an autograph. I could just see her whipping out her phone so we could take a selfie together.
“But hey, I didn’t come over here to talk about myself,” I said, trying to get off that subject. “I sincerely wanted to wish you good luck. That, and maybe prove to you that not all humans hate the drow. I certainly don’t.”
She held my gaze for a time before finally picking up her bag. “Um...I better get going,” she said softly. She took two steps and stopped but didn’t turn around. “Good luck to you too, Isaac. And...thank you. Your words meant something to me, and I will not forget you.” With that, she marched toward the long flight of steps at the edge of the cliff.
I made my way back over to the ladies, who were still sitting on the ground, watching us from afar. “What was that all about?” Moana asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “I just wanted to wish her good luck before she headed out.”
“Isaac, she’s a drow,” Moana pointed out, like that fact alone was supposed to negate any attempt I made to bring her peace. “Their world runs on a totally different set of rules.” I probably knew that better than she did, but I didn’t interrupt. “No matter what, she’ll be seen as a failure in the eyes of her house. At best, she will be severely punished. At worst...” She shivered. “Whatever words of comfort you tried to offer her aren’t going to change anything.”
“You may be right,” I admitted. “My words might not change anything.” Jemaldra was near the stairs now, bag in hand. She turned back one last time and smiled at me, and then disappeared down the steps. “But I don’t think they’ll hurt anything either.”
Isaac... came Sara’s voice from inside my head. I know you feel the need to save every damsel in distress, but this time tomorrow there will be someone trying to kill you. Perhaps we should start thinking about putting in some work so that you don’t...I don’t know...die? Thoughts?
“Fair point,” I mumbled under my breath.
“What’s that, Isaac?” Moana asked.
“Oh, nothing,” My gaze drifted back to the temple doorway. “What do you ladies say we go grab something to eat? After that, I think we better start preparing for tomorrow. Trixy, I want you practicing the drills you and Meira were working on. Even mental reps will be very valuable at this stage.
“Moana, I think you should try to get your hands on some of those summoning crystals and see how they work. You know, familiarize yourself with them. You don’t want to be handling them for the first time during live action. If they’re any different than the ones you’ve been using, better to find out now.” The ladies nodded their understanding. “Good, now let’s eat.”
There were some rice dishes laid out for us, but there didn’t seem to be any set eating times anymore. Food was just laid out for whoever wanted it. It was just as well, because most novices were now coming to the tables at all different times, and more often than not they chose to eat alone.
After a light lunch, we decided to go back to our rooms to begin our individual preparations. And given how empty the temple suddenly appeared, it seemed as though others had the same idea.
I closed the door to my room and sat down on the corner of the bed. “Sara?” I waited.
Are you ready? she asked a moment later.
“Yes. I have a feeling I’m going to need every advantage you can give me.”
I could almost feel her amusement. And that is why I am here. Let us begin, shall we?
Chapter 22
As you already know, an astral walker’s strength is the ability to absorb energy, whether that be from a person, or directly from the world around him, Sara began while I listened intently. But cut him off from the source of energy, and he is no different from anyone else.
“Yes, I actually had this experience when I first arrived in this world,” I explained. “Because I had no connection to this world, I didn’t know how to draw its energy. I lost my speed, agility, everything that made me special. Like you said, I just became...average.”
Good, then you understand the importance of what I’m telling you, she went on. It is paramount that you master the ability to absorb and release the energy as efficiently as possible.
“But I already know how to do that,” I said. “I mean, I always did it on some instinctual level, but this is exactly what Alore and I have been working on for weeks. It was hard at first, but now I really think I’ve gotten the hang of it.”
If you are really so confident in your raw abilities, then by all means, show me.
“You bet,” I said, maybe a little more arrogantly than I should have. I made the mental link to the world around me. It was reasonably effortless, and then I began drawing the raw energy. Unlike drawing the life force of a person, the source felt unbelievably vast. The difference was like comparing a puddle to an ocean.
Good, now release.
I reluctantly did as she asked. I never liked that part, and I always felt a touch of sadness when I released the life-giving energy. I knew it was illogical. After all, I could always draw it right back into me again, but that still didn’t change the fact that I just didn’t like letting it go in the first place.
I reluctantly allowed the sweetness to bleed away, and with that came the inevitable sense of regret.
Good, now draw again.
I eagerly allowed the world’s energy to reverse its flow, its crackling sweetness filling me, when...
A high-pitched sound blared in my ears, a shrieking whistle like I had been sitting in front of a speaker at a Slayer concert for twenty-four hours straight.
“Ah!” I shouted, instinctively covering my ears to shield against the pain. But of course that didn’t do any good, considering it was coming from inside my head. “Dude, knock it off. Stop that shit!” Then, to my great relief, the high-pitched squeal faded out.
What happened? Sara asked, trying to play innocent. Even though it wasn’t physically possible, the snark of her tone just made me want to punch her.
“You know what happened!” I shouted back at her.
I do. You were unable to complete a simple task because you lacked the concentration required. Now please, tell me again how easy this is for you. How you “have the hang of it” I believe were your words.
“Okay, okay, I get it,” I said, knowing right away where she was going with this. “I can draw the power under ideal conditions just fine, but I struggle with intense distractions. Is that what I’m supposed to take from this?”
Yes, and I assure you that distractions on the battlefield may come in many forms—a sword slashing at your neck, for instance. If you think a little ringing in your ear was the worst of your problems...
“Okay, I definitely see your point,” I said, feeling humbled. I thought about it for a moment and then made my decision and nodded to myself. I knew she wasn’t trying to embarrass me; she was trying to get the best out of me.
And right then and there I made the decision to just shut my mouth and take everything she could throw at me.
“I’m ready,” I said, knowing full well that the real lessons were about to begin. “Time to knock that inner pussy right the fuck out of me. Let’s do this.”
And so it went throughout the day and on into the evening, our work consisting entirely of drawing and releasing energy while she did everything in her power to scare the living shit out of me. While Sara couldn’t physically touch me, she wasn’t the least bit shy about finding new and creative ways to distract me.
Sometimes she howled in my ear like a wolf. Other times she shrieked like a banshee. She was even able to mimic sounds of battle like there was a war going on inside my head. And through it all she kept pushing for speed, assuring me that a second too late could mean the difference between life and death.
It wasn’t easy, but after a time, I was able to efficiently draw the power no matter what she threw at me. She was impressed at how fast I was able to adapt. Despite how hard she pushed me, I still found the work enjoyable, and the hours just flew by.
I think that’s enough for tonight, she said, just when I felt like I was hitting my groove.
“What? Why? I’m not tired,” I lied. “I can keep going.” But even as I spoke, my eyelids were fluttering. I was having fun, but I didn’t have much left in the tank.
You’ve done well, Isaac, far better than I might have expected. To be honest, we’ve covered a month’s worth of work in a single night. That was never my intent, but I underestimated how fast you would catch on.
But still, going any further tonight will only result in diminishing returns. Remember, you still have to fight tomorrow. For now, a good night’s sleep is your best option.
After reluctantly agreeing, I started stripping down to get ready for bed. She was right: my head was swimming with fatigue when I lay down. I was exhausted but still felt proud about all we had accomplished this evening.
I was just beginning to fade when a rather random thought jerked me awake again. “Sara?” I said softly, not sure whether or not I might be disturbing her.
Yes, Isaac, she answered right away.
“Do you sleep?” I cringed a little at the childlike question, but my curiosity had gotten the best of me.
No, she said simply.
“Do you get bored? You know, not being able to shut down while I’m asleep?” I promised myself that would be the last childish question I asked her tonight. I was beginning to feel like a ten-year-old.
There was a long pause before she answered. I find ways to keep myself entertained. Goodnight, Isaac.
“Goodnight.” In only a matter of seconds, I was out like a light.
When morning rolled around, waking up felt like I was coming out of a deep coma. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but my mind really had been pushed to its limit the night before. The deep sleep was just what the doctor ordered, but as I was slowly coming to...
