Chapter 13:

Spell Deciphered

Short & Short


"Say, Shorty," Starkus started one afternoon a few weeks later. His voice was thoughtful and somewhat heavy. Edelgard turned around, looking at the conflict between his knitted brows and his scowling mouth. Something was up. "Why do you visit the elders so often these days? Are they so pleasant to be around?"

Edelgard studied his face.

Was he pouting?

Maybe he was angry for their reduced time together... no, that couldn't be it. He knew what... who was waiting on top of the elders' tree.

She had intentionally avoided the subject, but now, it seemed right to bring up.

It was time to solve this mystery!

"I visit your brother," she revealed, startling him. His usual composure was gone. "Is that a problem?"

"No, no..." he assured her in a tone that suggested that he was definitely not alright with it. "He gets so few visitors, after all."

He nodded a few times, turning around.

"Where are you going?" she asked standing up.

"Just collecting some Argus Milk... we're out again, haha."

"I thought that wasn't something to have at home at all times?" Edelgard asked innocently, knowing how much it would pressure him... but she wasn't made for teasing, she found out. She felt bad for him. "But it tastes well enough, so I can forgive that." She walked, stopping next to him. "Should I help you carry?"

She studies him as he failed to come up with an excuse to go alone.

"Should we race there?" he stammered. "You can start ahead."

"I don't know where to get Argus Milk," Edelgard said truthfully, giving Starkus a gentle push. "You lead the way."

"Don't you want to spend some time with Graetia and Serya-"

"I already walked around with Almerya and I visited Karkass... though that one fell short. He didn't feel very good today..." When he heard that, both worry and guilt washed over him. "What I want to say is this: I want to spend some time with you today! I'll visit our neighbors tomorrow. Karkass said I shouldn't bother when he feels so bad."

Again, Starkus twitched, refusing to meet her gaze.

"... Alright."

"Oh, I'm happy to hear that! So, where do we need to go?"

"There," Starkus said weakly, leading the way.

It was the same as always. They walked over bridges, passed countless huts, and although Edelgard did manage to find the key buildings (home, Almerya's home, bath, elders' tree) on her own by now, she got lost once they left that small circle of familiarity.

Perhaps it was because they walked and didn't race, but today's journey seemed to take way longer to Edelgard.

They even crossed the river where she'd cleaned the Nutri Roots with Graetia and Serya... where did Argus Milk even come from?

"Say, where are we going?" she asked.

"Argus Milk comes from the Argus animal," Starkus readily explained, happy about a safe topic, it seemed. "They are generally found in the Argus Field, at the border of our living space. That's the advantage of living at the edge, but tell that to the central. They have their own specialties, though, so maybe that's just fair."

"I've always wanted to ask this question, but how big is your civilization?"

It was true, now that Edelgard thought about it. The huge trees only went on in one direction, the other half was level.

Did the elves live around these large trees, or do they plant new ones whenever it was needed?

"It is recorded that there are 176 elders' trees, the most central one being the largest. Every century, the elders of every tree must come to the center for a meeting... though it's another 48 years until the next one. That's when the whole civilization will find out about you, most likely. Nothing much happened aside from your appearance, after all."

"That's very interesting, but I want to know how large it is in numbers... like, space-wise. Is it even possible to measure it?" she asked.

Starkus rubbed his chin, then nodded.

"I don't know if there are other elves out there, but before an elf is considered an adult, he first has to take the Journey of the Decades, to show their worth. That's the closest thing to a specific number I can give you," he said.

"And when do I need to take it?" Edelgard asked.

"... That is to be decided."

They soon reached the Argus Field.

An Argus was a little creature with leathery wings. It had fur and tiny legs, which it used to hang down from trees. They had thick bellies, and the women had fat utters protruding from it. Here and there Edelgard found the Argus young suck on the teats, but they didn't drink a lot before flying on. The faces of these creatures looked like she imagined an ugly elf to look. Hair sprouted from their black skin, and their snouts looked like their nose had been bashed into their skulls.

Yet Edelgard couldn't deny that they were undoubtedly cute... in their own way.

A single Argus barely moistened the bottom of the jars they brought, but when one finished, countless more were ready to take its place.

Soon, their jars were filled to the brim, and they made their way back.

"What happens if nobody drinks their milk?" Edelgard asked.

"They fly to the neighboring huts before their utters become too heavy to fly until someone takes their milk. Incidentally, that's why they stay and don't leave, as well."

"Huh..."

Having acquired what they sought out to take, they made their way back home. Carrying two heavy jars took its toll on Edelgard's arms, and she could barely even hold her feather afterward, that's how intensely she trembled.

Starkus acted like it didn't bother him, which somewhat upset her.

The atmosphere was as awkward as they had left it...

"I advise you to stop," he then said.

Edelgard turned around.

"To stop what, exactly?"

"Studying... that's the prophecy about you, isn't it?" he asked, pointing at the scripture she was desperately trying to decipher.

A smile donned her lips.

"No... this is one of the first writings from the time of myth... or something." She smiled shyly. "I don't really understand it, myself. Almerya told me to start with this one."

When he heard that, Starkus's face softened.

He came closer, examining the parchment. His eyes widened.

"The first spell..." he muttered looking at her. "This is the scripture about love."

"Love?" Edelgard parroted.

"It is said that to ensure our survival, we needed a power to stop our logic from making us feel embarrassed while making kids... hence, she gave us love. It only works with one other person, and upon finding her, you may marry that elf..."

"Love..."

She thought back to Almerya's words. The one closest to Karkass was a concept personalized... it all made sense, now!

Edelgard even had a hunch of whom she had spoken about.

"Should I teach you how to read it?" he asked her.

"Please, do!"

She had to learn as much about it as she could!