Chapter 05b: The Fate of the One Who Was Touched

Recollection of Sehanie Moonbow, Wood Elf scout of Elaeseryn

I awoke amidst unfamiliar surroundings.

I looked out from the window, and it was already dark. Perhaps midnight. As I recalled what happened, I had a throbbing headache. That and also my hand shivered uncontrollably. As stood up, trying to regain my balance, I looked around at my surroundings.

I wonder where am I, right now?

I looked around and found myself in a room. The room was dark, but with my elven sight, I had no trouble seeing in the dark. The room was small but yet cosy. I saw some water basin beside the bed.

And my belongings… Ah! Where is it?

I look around frantically inside the room, but I don’t have to look far. I found it at the corner of the room.

Looks like everything was here, including all my weapons and arrows. I was on scouting duty and I did not bring a lot of items with me, save for my bow and a quiver of arrows, a dagger and also a scout horn. In case of emergency, I need to blow the horn in order to notify my people of imminent danger.

Yes. I was in danger.

My mind was a little muddy from what that happened previously, but I knew Claude saved my life. And that girl too. That young boy has become my saviour. From the one who held my hand tightly back when he was still a kid, to now a young man who carried me in his arms.

“Thank you, Claude.”

And somebody must have brought me here and nursed me. I could see bandages and some empty vial, perhaps used to contain healing potions. Perhaps this room was a healing place of some sort. Perhaps an infirmary in the Brotherhood of the Sun.

How long have I been here?

That sudden realization froze me in my tracks. That meant only one thing; that I cannot be here any longer. I opened the window near the bed and the chilly midnight wind breezed past my face.

I need to report this to the Elder. Fast.

They need to know what happened back in the forest. And… also of that blinding light.

As I get dressed up and prepare to take off, I wrote a simple thank you letter to the one who had nursed me back to health. He or she really did a great job of healing my injuries. Though not fatal, but without his or her help, I wondered how long would I passed out alone in the forest. I will say my thanks to you properly some other day, but I cannot delay any further.

Under the cover of the moonless midnight sky, I leapt out from the window and began my journey back to Elaeseryn.

I have arrived in front of the door that leads to the Council of Elders. As I extend my hand to open the door, suddenly a deep sounding voice can be heard from inside.

“Come in, child. We have been expecting you.”

I took a step inside.

“Take a seat in the middle of the room.”

I did as I was told. The deep sounding voice belonged to the Chief of the Elder, Chief Elsandryl Stargazer. She was our matriarch and Guardian of the Crystal, a sacred object passed down to us since ancient times.

“Now, tell me, what happened in the forest two days ago?”

“What?! What do you mean two days ago? Don’t tell me I had passed out for two days?”

“You are lucky, that you only passed out. We thought you died!”

Another voice came out. A familiar voice. I looked at the source of the voice and found it.

“Father?! What are you doing here?!”

“None of your business. Now, hurry up and explained to the Elder your story. We have waited for your return if you ever to return.”

I can see my father face very clearly. I know he was very worried about what happened to me but true to any male of the Moonbow clan, he sure had some emotional constipation.

Oppss...

I used a word that I’m not supposed to say. It’s not my fault. Claude taught me that word.

“Patience, Alystaire Moonbow. She will tell us when she is ready. Are you ready child?”

I nodded my head and explained all down to little details of what happened, especially the battle with that monster.

“Is that all?”

My father said once I finished my explanation. Again, I nodded.

“That is all, father.”

There were only three of us, the Chief, Father and myself. However, there was such an eerie silence across the room. No one dared to make a noise. However, the spell was broken before long by raindrops falling on the roof.

The Chief took something out from the altar behind her. The object was a blue crystal, a size of a melon that somehow shone brightly on her hands.

“As you had realized, I’m also known as the Guardian of the Crystal. And this here is the sacred crystal that had been entrusted to me by my forefathers and foremothers since more than a thousand years ago. Our Wood Elf village has been the safe keeper of this ancient artefact and I am its current Guardian.”

“Now, let me get to the real issue…”

I watched her nervously, so did my father. The Chief shifted from her seat, trying to make herself comfortable before she continued.

“To the Elders, we call this the Jewel of Resonance. Until two days ago, the crystal shone white in colour. But, because of what happened two days ago, the jewel now emitted blue colour, instead of white. This is the first time it happened, since the ancient times, when the crystal was first passed down to us, by our Elven God King, Aldwynn Thrandyl.”

I looked at her nervously, pondering at her words and the magnitude of what might come next.

“When a blinding light shone across the land,

when the white light of the crystal becomes blue,

that is when the ending of the world comes true,

a blue flame will engulf the world,

a white flame will cleanse the soul,

so close your eyes,

received your judgment and be released of everything you know,

for the end is near and nigh”

My father recited a verse from a familiar elven tales, passed down from generations to generations.

The Poem of the End. That’s what we called it.

“But father, it’s an old folks’ tale. A tale to scare the naughty children so that they behave.”

“That might use to be true, but I fear that it is no longer a folk’s tale.”

The Chief said to me in a very grim tone. I looked at my father, and he too looked grim.

“The incident that happened in the forest is by no means normal. I have never seen such blinding light and with such intensity. Never in my elven age of more than 500 years old. Although there was a minor one 12 years ago, this time however, it is different. The Crystal has changed its colours.”

“But, perhaps the appearance of the monster made it so.”

“Perhaps, but with you here, our fears have finally been confirmed.”

“What do you mean by that, Chief?”

“She means what she said earlier.” my father interjected.

“What about the monster then…”

“It is no longer a concern of ours. For it had perished and returned to where it belonged. So, leave it be.”

I looked at my father, trying to discern what was important and what was not. I’m confused about what was happening right here, right now.

“Touch the Crystal, Child of Moonbow.”

The Chief urged me on as my father looked at me uneasily. This incident has been hard on him too, which I understood. No father could bear to see his children in such a situation.

As soon as I touched the Crystal, it emits a blue light that shone through the whole room. We were temporarily blinded and spellbound.

“As we fear, child. As we fear…”

The Chief’s expression looks even grimmer by the second. As too was my father.

“What actually is happening, Chief?!”

I asked for assurance. I have this feeling of uneasiness since I entered the room.

“Your friend, the human boy…”

“You mean Claude?”

“That human child, recently unknown to us, and perhaps to him too, unleashed an energy that was not supposed to even exist in this current world right now. It is an ancient energy, and unfortunately for us, we have no record to prove whether or not this energy…”

“Chief, please get straight to the point and tell her already!”

My father seemed very agitated.

I looked nervously at both the Chief and my father, trying to ease my feeling since I entered the room.

“This energy is evil by nature. Pure evil.”

I was shocked upon hearing those words.

“But… but…”

As I stammered my words, the Chief put more fears into me.

“And you have been touched by this evil energy. The traces of the evil energy still left in you. The proof was what you see just now. The same blinding light which all of us are spellbound. Neither of our innate protection works to defend us either.”

“I know. The Wood Elf has some resistance to spellbound and charm magic. But… but… Claude is not evil. I have known him for such a long, long time. I cared for him.”

“Perhaps child. I do not know, but I hope you are right. But we cannot take the chances. I understand your feelings to him, but I need you and all of us here to take the priority of the safety of our clan above all.”

“You will take this Crystal in its current form to Haederynn, the Capital of our Elven Kingdom, Nav’erune. The home where this Crystal originated from. To the descendant of the God-King. Only from there, do we know the proper answer to your fears and ours too. Only then, we can take the next steps.”

“But I don’t want you to hurt Claude. He has done nothing wrong to us.”

“Silence, Sehanie!! Know who you are speaking to!”

“B-but… father…”

“Your human friend will not be hurt in any way if that what worries you. Not for now, until we found out more about this evil energy.”

I felt a little relief in my heart.

“He had saved you in one way or another using this energy. Though the source is pure evil, we need to be sure of its intention. However, as a race that prides itself in gratitude, no harm will come to him. Your father will see to it. And you… Child of Moonbow, need to take this Crystal to Haederynn as soon as possible and tell them of your account firsthand.”

“And, if I am made to believe what will be the next step, your human friend will begin a journey shortly. See to it that you will accompany him until he reaches his journey. And report any of his actions both to us and at the behest of those at Haederynn.”

“You want me to be a spy?”

“If you need to be a spy to save your human friend, is it not worth it?”

My father reasoned out with me.

“You are right, father. My view was too narrow. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that Claude is not evil.”

“Then, you will begin your journey as soon as I conveyed the message to Blizzard Hawk at the Brotherhood of the Sun. He too needs to be made aware of what is going on here. You shall depart at the same time as your human friend”

“I understand, Chief.”

“Now, you can return to your home and rest. You have well deserved it. I’ll ask the healers to heal your wounds and rid you of the evil energy. You can leave us both now.”

I stood up, bowed down my head to both the Chief and my father, and began my walk back to my home. This has been a tiring episode for me, and I do need the rest. The bed will be comfortable once for a change.

I reached my home, get changed and lie on the bed. On the bed, I only think of Claude.

His mischievous little grin, his over the top confidence that somehow pissed me off to no end, his short stature and temper and of course, his own version of being cunning and creative. That and also his panty stealing habits. I’ll forgive him, for now.

But Claude, I swear to you on my own name, I’ll prove that you are not evil. I’ll prove to you that you are my saviour, my hero and will be treated as such. Because I… I…

Before I can have even finished my own words, I slumped to a deep sleep.