Elves, Humans, and Dragons Galore!

“It's over…”

Mairi stared at the corpse of her lifelong enemy.

“The tentacles are all breaking down as well…”

Her look bore a mix of relief and exhaustion, as she allowed the weight of all that had occurred wash over her.

“A few months back, when I first learned that island crashed into the sea, I thought it couldn’t possibly be that easy, but now… now I have avenged my family… I think.”

“What does that mean honorable elder sister?”

“I guess I just can’t believe it. You all thought the island crashed and brought the creature with it, only to find that it survived, now it’s just… gone.”

“In our defense, the floating isle was still somewhat functional as it sunk into the clouds, so we weren’t exactly certain it was dead.”

Just like mine was huh?

Mairi reflected on the irony of the situation before speaking once more.

“I see… apologies Shari, I suppose it has simply been too much in such a short time for me to not be a little skeptical.”

“It’s quite alright, honorable elder sister! Is there anything else you need?”

“Actually… I’ve been meaning to ask, how do you know you're younger than me? If I understand correctly from my lessons a few hundred years ago, heroes are put in stasis until they are needed to keep them in pristine condition at all times. But in the past couple centuries, there has been a decreased number of new heroes, causing the average age of heroes to rise. I don’t exactly remember how old I am, mind you. Due to the… long period of time I spent trapped in this chaotic place. But I must admit I am unsure of how you could be so sure.”

Shari looked sad for a moment before shaking her head.

“Do not worry about it! I am young! Young forever and ever!”

“All of us are. It’s the premier trait of our race, other than our ears.”

“HA! If that's true, then what about those other kinds of elves?”

Armos, who was nearby, suddenly entered the conversation.

“Do other elves not have long ears…?”

“HA! I meant the other thing!”

“So they don’t live long lives? Well whatever, they were cowards who abandoned the god tree so it isn’t surprising.”

Armos was grinning at this point, it wasn’t quite malicious, but it was certainly savage.

“And how many of those other types didja see on your island?”

At this point, Shari was glaring at Armos, but refused to say anything, not wishing to raise any sort of suspicions within Mairi.

“Umm, not any I suppose? What’s the point of these questions?”

“If ya ever meet another kind of elf, just ask ‘em for their age, just make sure ya ain’t confusing tans for dark skin!”

Armos began to laugh in full force, cutting off any sort of retort as he found his own joke to be the most amusing wordplay in all the land. Before Mairi could reflect more on this however, Miyo, who was also nearby, heard Armos’ boisterous statements and felt a sudden wave of inquisitiveness.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, hello Ms. Miyo! Honorable elder sister and I were just discussing elf types with Armos.”

“There are different… types of elves?”

Mairi didn’t even bother looking at Miyo, still pondering Armos’ words, before her thoughts were cut off by Shari.

“Quite so, are they not common where you are from?”1

“Well, I knew of the concept of elves, but I thought they were fictional.”

“Really? fascinating! I must visit your world one day!”

“I’ll give you a tour!”

The two shared a smile and short laugh.

“What's your home LIKE anyway? You all said you were from somewhere else before coming here, but if I remember correctly it was called a… floating isle? But where does it float? I am unfamiliar with this place, but based on what you said I can only assume it's somewhere in the sky?”

“Quite so! Though its current location aludes even us.”

“Are you lost?”

“Ha! Can ya find a boat once it leaves for an ocean? Sure ya can guess, but can ya be certain?”

“It moves?!”

Armos and Shari shared a grin, happy to brag about their home.

“All throughout the skies, like a migratory bird.”

“Could I see any of them from here?”

“No. You can’t see any of them from this location unfortunately.”

Could I see it?

““““?!””””

What?

Once more someone heard the conversation and walked in, but this time nobody heard the massive dragon walking up somehow.

“Weeee! Hahahaha! Move more Mr. Dragon! Like before!”

I really can’t do that, not unless you're more safely attached.

“Cmon, Cmoooon!”

Oh right, you can’t hear me, guess I was too used to Shari figuring me out so quick.

“To answer your question Mr. Dragon, while you probably would be able to sense it, I doubt you would be able to see it.”

And right on que… Actually wait a second, Is it that high?

“Invisible, actually.”

““REALLY!?””

Much to Shari and Armos’ surprise, it was not just Miyo, but also Mairi who expressed shock at this fact.

“Were you never taught this as a child, honorable elder sister?”

“No… well maybe? I guess I might not have remembered if I had, given the centuries I spent trapped here, but I remember most of my childhood remarkably well despite that. So I don’t imagine I would have forgotten that fact.”

Especially early on, when I spent those days looking from the mountaintops for a sign from them. You’d think I’d know it was a wasted effort if I knew they were invisible.

“Ya really trust yer memory eh?”

“I certainly hope I can. That's all I have left from my home.”

“HA! What a way to put it!”

“It’s true though.”

“Yeah yeah, fair enough I thinks.”

Whatever the case the five continued speaking, as the moon began to sink gradually into the sky, and the sun began to rise.

“Huh?”

As they spoke, Shari noticed a light, and turned to look at it.

“Oh dear, I think it may be time to go to bed, Armos.”

“Ah really? Ya sure it can’t just be you and Mairi?”

“Do you really want to fight any battles while exhausted?”

“...”

“As I thought.”

“What are you two talking about?”

In response to Miyo’s question, Shari adopted a mystical tone.

“The SUN is rising.”

“...So?”

Only to be immediately caught off guard by Miyo’s apathy.

“Well, the sun here is dangerous to us, I don’t know how your world works, but it’s certainly kinder than ours if you don’t need to deal with that disk of pain.”

“I heard it was spherical! Now higher Mr. Dragon higher!”

“...Lovely.”

Giving up on imparting the danger of her ‘disk of pain’ Shari and Mairi hopped onto Ithicos.

“Please bring us to the cave Mr. Dragon!”

On it!

Despite the aforementioned apathy Miyo followed this order, and they began to make their way towards the cave, though the explosion and battle afterwards had rendered some of it inaccessible, the blockage was easily cleared, and all but Ithicos and Miyo walked in, preparing to go to bed for the night.

“Ya know, I don’t need no sort of protections from the sun, so I think I will stay a bit longer to watch the young ones.”

“If you insist, but do not complain when you are awoken exhausted.”

“Yeah yeah.”

“Well, with that I suppose everything is resolved, and I shall now do the sweet rest I so rightfully deserve.”

“Actually, we never did figure out what was going to happen with that prophecy huh? If I remember correctly we never met any sort of multicolored boy, and Ithicos is totally fine.”

“Oh dear, your right honorable elder sister! But you know… I have a feeling he won’t be hurt so easily, so mayhaps we will be more knowledgeable in the future, who knows.”

“I suppose you are right. But it still is a worrisome thing. I mean, who was that strange kid with the strange eyes.”

Actually, I knew who they were speaking of, and for the sake of this report, I shall report on this as well.

In a wooden cabin, on top of a tree, in a burned down forest

“Oh jeez… what a wonderful body.”

After awakening a few minutes ago to the mysterious sunlight, the not not quite as mysterious boy took in his surroundings.

“I feel so warm, soooo… comfortable.”

He admired his arm, continuing to wax platitudes despite being no older than fourteen.

“That light is definitely weird too. It hurts just to be near it, unlike my world's light.”

He looked up and sighed.

“I wake up in a new world huh? How's that for cliche? Well whatever. This body is worth it, no beyond that, my old body was worthless compared to this one!”

Smiling widely, in a way not dissimilar to mania, Baron looked to the sky, unaware he was being watched. More specifically, by a trio of long eared dark skinned merchants.

“Oh great… we found a good location for trading after all these years, only for our secret base to be compromised.”

“You think he’ll just leave?”

“I’d hope so, but if our luck sticks to its general trend, he probably won’t.”

“Selfish! Stupid! Shortsighted! Sickening!”

“Yeah yeah, look if you hate it that much, complain to him why don- STOPSTOPSTOPYOUIDIOT! Uhhggg, what is wrong with you exactly?”

“Intruder! Ignoramus! Intoxicating! Indecipherable!”

“Hahaha… yeah Makky! Tell her… hold on, what was that about ‘intoxicating’?”

“...”

“Well… umm, what should we do, Alice?”

“Tis simple~ we hide. If he doesn’t leave, we sneak attack!”

“Like! Love! Liquidate! Lop Off!”

“Lop off what exactly?”

“Head! HEad! HEAd! HEAD!”

As Baron continued to laze around, considering his next move, he remained completely unaware of those planning to murder him one room over, or of Ithicos and Miyo, who shared a similar predicament to him. Not that they were the only ones. For I counted dozens of not more than a hundred all around the lesser moon, but as they were not relevant to the tale at hand, I saw fit not to give a more large-scale investigation to each and every one. After all, if I had, there was a chance I would miss more… relevant information with the current group. Such as the fact that there was a human watching Ithicos and Miyo with huge, shocked eyes.

Back at the cave

This human was so unbelievably scared he made neither sound nor movement. Merely standing shocked and pale at the sight before his eyes.

Am… am I dreaming?

Despite their power to go wherever they wished, dragons tended to stick to areas of spiritual significance to them. As such not many individuals had ever so much as seen a dragon. Unfortunately, due to this rather unknown nature to the creature before him, the human immediately assumed the worst possible outcome, aka, immediate death. To add to these unfortunate circumstances, this momentary lapse of thought meant a momentary lapse in concentration. Allowing this human to be sensed by Ithicos.

Huh?

Perhaps in a sort of fortune, Ithicos was not quite used to sensory yet, and as such was in a position of relative uncaring as one does when they notice an odd sound. This gave the human a moment of freedom, one which irregardless of talent, they seized upon with pure instinct perfectly. This human ran for his life, quickly and unceasingly, until he reached his village, and told his own little tale of horror and awe to knights who happened to be stationed there.

“You mad fool, any man of even base intelligence could see you are full of metaphoric shit. Though I would not be shocked if you gorged on the real stuff as well.”

“Tis true tis true! I swear it! God be damned I swear it! It could kill us all, it will kill us all if we aren’t fast enough!”

“And your proof? I presume you have that?”

“What sort of evidence could I bring?! Simply go by the path, that way! Go forward and forward and forward more, and you will eventually see the cave, the destruction, the monster!”

“Hmph, how can I trust the potential instructions of a madman? You must bring me there, if you are so insistent on your case.”

“Are you mad?! To go there again would bring me to corpse-hood early with fear! I cannot go back! I will not go back!”

The knight sighed and shook his head, an earlier battle had brought him here after being separated from the main force, this indignity was beneath him, but… he was in all manner of truths, bored. So after a few moments he made up his mind to at least survey the area, they were soon to be his lands by inheritance anyway. So perhaps it would do him good to show some generosity to even the mad of the region, and at least survey the lands of his.

Though I wish for no sort of humiliation… I must be sure this man has no sort of reputation to drag me into the mud with. But altogether, all that means is checking the authenticity of this little tale.

“Red hair! Red hair! Come here now!”

“Yes lord?”

As the knight called for his servant, much to the confusion of the raving peasant, a servant woman in a simple blue gown with red hair walked over.

“Go on, tell your tale again.”

The knight motioned to the peasant.

“Y-yes sir…”

The strange quality to this action had an almost calming effect on the peasant. Though that was also likely because he had gotten far away enough from beings of such great power. Regardless, he once more told his tale to the servant girl, this time emphasizing how truly sane he was.

“I was about with my fields, taking a nightly stroll from the hall… and heard a strange, hard sound! I at first thought it be a simple miracle, an odd occurrence, not worth worrying over, only for the strange noise to continue, far into the distance!

“My friends-who can CONFIRM my sanity- had heard the noises as well last night! I was the only one of us to investigate! They can tell you they heard as well! It sounded as though… as though the grain storage burst to flames! Like a bolt of lightning had struck!

“But then-THEN-the fools said it was ‘nothing to worry about!’ fools! Traitors! BAS- apologies sir… As I was saying, I decided to investigate. There had been a forest fire last night you see, so I was worried for the village! I am an honest man of great virtue! A liar I am not! I- yes sir… sorry sir…

“I went through the forest, following the direction of what I thought were the lightning strikes… I was nervous you see. Nervous that a fire would start near, and our fields would be destroyed. I suppose the fire from earlier had inserted itself into my imagination… and prayed upon me in dreadful visions of ill tidings!

“Well regardless, I continued forward, towards the sound, towards the strangeness. I suppose I was still somewhat drunk, as in hindsight I should not have gone out into the woods so late… but I swear what I saw next was no lie born of alcohol! Twas sheer terror! Terror made flesh! A demon or devil brought to judge!

“Oh lord… am I to be slain for seeing this horrifying thing? Am I to be cursed for looking upon its horror?

“As I made my way through the woods, into the clearing, as the sun rose, I saw it. Destruction, flames abound, a field I had known since childhood made into a desert of holes, pits and crevices. As though countless decades had been spent slowly but surely molding a place of natural beauty into that of a scene from hell! Yet… it looked NEW. Not some sort of project of years, but a whim of seconds. The flames were just petering out, the dirt still loose with overturned fresh grass seen just beneath.

“My horror was mounting, yet my curiosity, righteous indignation and courage rose to meet it! Yes, even in a moment of horror, I raged at those who had destroyed my home. Be it work of man or beast or bizarre natural phenomenon. I made an oath that I would find the truth and ensure justice would be doled out! Perhaps if possible warn my village of the dangers as they presented themselves unto me!

“So I snuck and sneaked my way through the destruction, in case those who caused it were still around… and saw a cave, a cave of normal stature and girth, which I had seen and even explored a few times… and from that cave… from that cave, on the mouth…

“Oh lord… when I first saw it I thought it was mere debris or rocks covered in moss! As though it were as natural to the land as you or I… but I assure you there was nothing ‘natural’ about it!

“For as I approached, giving it little mind, I saw a girl. A strange, inhuman girl, with odd clothes and horns. Even her face looked strange, and unlike any I had seen before. A witch without question in hindsight, or perhaps another devil?

“When I first saw her, I thought to call out for my curiosity, but then thought better of myself, perhaps she was somehow responsible for this? If not alone then perhaps her compatriots were in the cave?

“I was courageous certainly, but no fool. Any who could mete out such destruction was not for the likes of me to trifle with.

“So I approached quietly, thinking I could see her more closely and if possible, catch her companions as well if they existed. Yet… yet, as I approached, I noticed details of the so foolishly called debris, I saw movements, slow, distinct and conscious. I saw eyes, green and alive, staring into the sun as though it were some ancient enemy or lost love… and so I realized what was before me. With wings on its back… or at least I thought them wings… a large snake-like mouth… and four large arms with serrated blades for claws… Twas… twas…

“I cannot say! I cannot know! For my mind was too unraveled to even consider such things! Even now I see it in the corners of my open eyes, and the darkness of my closed ones.

“Ah! The horror I felt! As though all I was would be smothered! In an instant I saw the most ancient of man’s companions… it was age and decay; foolishness and hubris; madness and hope; it was failure… it was death… and even it was powerless towards the creature before me.

“Fortunately, for a brief moment, as I stared and marveled at its mad existence, I noticed it moving its head slowly and deliberately in my direction, and the horror I had felt briefly alleviated, or no… perhaps it is more meaningful to say it consumed me so thoroughly I could do nothing but run. To the point where I could run here and tell my tale to you, before my life is ended, as I have no doubt it had some awareness of my presence, though I have no idea why.”

The knight looked forward for a few moments, considering the tale carefully.

My… what a convenient story, perhaps I will tell it myself in a gathering? It may give me a greater reputation as an intellectual if I do so properly.

“Sounds almost like a dragon from the old tales. If what you say is to be believed.”

“A…”

For a moment the man looked confused, then angered, before finally reaching a look of enlightenment.

“That… that is what it was… I am certain without question”

“Truly?”

“It cannot be! It cannot be!”

The knight was a tad taken aback, he had only said dragon to get a better idea of what Ithicos looked like, and to also sus out himself if the man was lying, even after hearing this tale (albeit with less detail) once before, he continued to consider the decision.

“Why are you so shocked peasant?”

In his confusion, the knight allowed his less than flattering views of the peasant to be known.

“That cannot be, it is impossible! Dragons are fictional!”

“Like your tale?”

“NO! It cannot be anything so ridiculous! I refuse to believe it!”

Why on earth do peasants choose to die on such ridiculous hills?

In my experience that is more a trait of mortals in general, and less just peasants.

“Umm, my lord?”

“Hmm? Ah yes, I had forgotten you were there, what is your view?”

The servant girl Amelia looked speechless for a moment before explaining.

“I… believe he is telling the truth.”

“Oh…?”

“I saw no signs of lies when he spoke of the strange beast.”

“I see. Very helpful! Good job, red hair.”

He’s lying… and he knows that I can tell. Was he perhaps already planning on going regardless? Then why call on me to begin with? Am I merely a toy or insurance? Does he find my gift so worthless and merely amusing that he finds it only useful for games such as this? If he thought more of me he would at least know my name.

Amelia kept her face level despite these thoughts. But curiosity overtook her desires, and she could not help but ask a meaningful question.

“My lord… do you need to know my name? Or perhaps wish for a more descriptive title to call me?”

“Why should I?”

“It could… make it easier to call for me in a crowd?”

“I have no interest in learning your name witch. Do you not know the tales? Names have power, and I have no interest in living in a world where I am below you for any reason.”

“Witch? WITCH?!”

The peasant immediately began freaking out, bringing out a sigh from the knight.

“I doubt she is a threat, do not worry old fool. This girl is only capable of seeing through lies. Tis all she is good for frankly.”

“But she may be aligned with-”

“I assure you, if she were aligned with anyone of power it would be me, now stop your prattling and wait here, I must assemble some of my fellows.”

The knight smiled to himself as he left.

Oh I wonder… What manner of songs will they sing of me after this? I will certainly make my way into history with this tale… For there will always be a tale, regardless of size, big or small; regardless of contents, humorous or dashing; and regardless of result, glory or death. My tale shall be told I think, and it will most certainly be remembered.

The peasant looked at the knight as he left, and spit once he was gone.

“Lousy BRAT! He’ll get us all killed!”

“He may well might.”

“Don’t think I trust you for a second witch.”

Amelia looked down, she had hoped for a small amount of solidarity with the peasant, but even that was denied to her. Her talent to see through lies had only confirmed once more what she had already known, that the man she was forced to work for was a bastard, through and through.

Alexander… my so called ‘master’... I despise him… I hope, oh so badly I hope that the creature could burn him and everything else in this blasted world to cinders.

Amelia looked to the forest, keeping her silent prayer to herself as she did so, not sure of what would come next.

1: In the beginning, these species WERE one, a single species with no name, living within the web path. However, many millennia ago the soon to be elves abandoned the web path to spread out and gain fortune. According to legend, they were unprepared for what was to come. As even within the water path their skin would burn somewhat. But once they reached the very realm this tale takes place in, the burns they gained from being in its sun for too long was so bad it nearly killed them. Some say these ancient elves burned their skin so badly their ancestors would carry the burns. To alleviate the pain, the elves created a program of gradual interbreeding with the local human populations to gain resistance. Once this was done they finally were able to truly spread out, and began conquering the water path and blood path, though this eventually led to the war on the ancient path with the dwarves. At the end of this war, the dwarven word of enemy was taken by the elves as a name, in a sort of mocking jab. Due to these ancient elves being the first variety to truly spread out throughout the realms, all races related to them were given the same species name posthumously, with the occasional prefix added for clear distinction, such as with dark elves or wood elves.