Quando was crestfallen. “You don’t trust me.”
“No! That’s not—”
Quando turned away. “You don’t believe in me.”
“I do! But—”
Quando reached for the sky like a tragic actor. “After all these years…Leaving the village, fighting wars, and working my up the ranks to prove myself worthy of you…!” His hand dropped like that of a dying man “….All for naught….”
“Grr…Fine! But only the delegates can come! No guards, no aides, no hangers-on of any kind! Absolutely no ordercraft! And I want the Darwoss family to be the vanguard. They have to make the decision to come on their own; no royal orders! Finally, they have to praise our village without back-handed compliments or stealth insults.”
“Aunt Alexis, that’s not fair!” Annala protested. “They’d never agree to that. They’d accuse us of plotting the assassination of mortal society's leadership.”
Alexis put her hands on her hips and looked down her nose at her niece. “We’re trusting them by letting them past our defenses and into our home. It is therefore reasonable to demand that they trust us in return.”
“What about the Darwosses? Asking them to praise elves is like asking Order to lie. Surely the Heleti family would be better for this once-in-an-elven-lifetime opportunity.”
At these words, Alexis’ stern facade cracked. A smug sneer tugged at her lips and a triumphant light shined in her eyes.
“The Heleti can come with the Darwosses. I want to see how committed the humans are to improving relations. After all, they cast the first stone. Nothing less will convince me.”
Annala sighed. “You make a good point. I’ll try to make it happen.”
She left the Guardian’s lodge in a slouching and despairing posture, but as soon as she was out of sight, she fist-pumped.
“You know your aunt well. That meeting went exactly like you thought it would.”
“Of course I know her. I was her during a defining moment of her life.”
Eric squeezed her waist. “About that, how are you feeling?”
Annala shuddered again, and this time, she didn’t mean to. She took a moment to compose herself before replying.
“Better. I know it didn’t happen to me personally and as long as I focus on that, I can keep it in a box labeled ‘Experience with Empathy’ so it doesn’t overwhelm me. Enough about me; our next stop is the library.”
With Alexis on their side, it was easy to convince others in the village to go along with the plan. Even Meza and his hatemongers agreed to it and promised not to cause trouble. Eric smelled bloodlust in them and warned Annala, but she dismissed it as expected. When she stood before the Supreme Council sitting in the Sage Tree, she outlined her plan with confidence.
“We free our brethren, put the mortals in our debt, and remove a potent propaganda tool from Order’s arsenal, thus increasing the hold Grandmother Chaos has on this world,” headman Jade recapped. “Yes, your plan has merit to it. We, the Supreme Council of Dnnac Ledo, approve this plan and grant you permission to execute it.”
“Thank you, elders.” Annala bowed to them. “May you live in interesting times.”
“You’re welcome, young one.” They inclined their heads to her. “May interesting times live in you.”
All that remained was to convince the Darwoss family to accept Alexis’ demands. Fortunately, the Young Minds From Beyond the Pale of the Human-Elf Border think thank ™ anticipated all of them the night before and passed their recommendations to the queen via Eric.
She then summoned First Baron Isuna Darwoss the Elder to her palace. When he arrived, she informed him of two choices. The first was to swallow his pride and play nice with the elves, and for this, he would be rewarded with a return to marquis status along with enough funds to restore his ancestral mansion. The second was to hang on to his pride and refuse to meet the elves, and for this, he would be rewarded with early retirement and permanent residence in her palace. He thought about it, and shortly after the Supreme Council made their decision, he announced that he would “volunteer” for the mission.
The Enaz family was gathered in the living room when Eric received the news from Kasile. When he passed it on, Annala squeed and glomped him. Her parents hugged her in her turn, echoing each other in their praise of her. Her mother was especially proud; her daughter had just accomplished what she herself had failed.
Forge wasn’t happy about it, so Kallen gave him a noogie. He shapeshifted out of it and returned the favor. She was promptly flat on her stomach with Forge the sumo wrestler sitting on her back. Upon her he inflicted the agony of a quadruple noogie.
“There’s nothing to do now but wait,” Kallen said from her place on the floor, “so how about you practice for the Elven Origins audition?”
Annala pushed her head clear of the hug. “I forgot all about that! Do we have time?”
“Forge, that’s enough,” Nunnal said. “Get off your sister.”
Reluctantly, Forge did so and helped Kallen to her feet.
“The auditions are later today. Does that answer your question?”
In that very room rested an old leather-bound book. On its front and back cover was the Flower of Chaos, ten lines from ten directions entangling in the center. They reached off their page and across the spine to connect with each other. Its pages were leafed with gold and its title was spelled out in the same: Elven Tome.
The hug broke off and Annala raced for it. She picked it up and opened it to the story in question. It was the very first one: “Elven Origin—The Birth of the Parents of Elves.”
“Here’s the one.” She handed the book to Eric. “I know the story by heart, and after you read it, we can practice the lines.”
Nunnal left the room and came back with measuring tape. Without a word, she looped it around Eric’s arms, his waist, and his neck. Then she did the same to the rest of her family, starting with Annala and then Kallen. It was distracting to have that going on around them, but she was deaf to their protests. Then, she disappeared in a flash of light.
“What was that all about?” Eric asked.
“Mom’s Eternal Hobby is research and crafting, so she can get weird about them when she’s in the mood,” Annala answered.
“What's an 'Eternal Hobby'? I've heard Sonic and others talk about it and I assume it's a long-lasting hobby, but it seems more important than that.”
“We’re immortal. If we don’t stay busy, we’ll go mad, so everyone has some hobby or two that they focus on to prevent that from happening. It's part of the elven life cycle and a crucial element of mental and emotional maturation. You can equate it to the human desire to find their 'true calling,' or 'fulfilling their destiny.'”
“Is that why adult elves are always….quirky?”
“Ahuh.”
They manage four repetitions of the story before they ran out of time, then they ran to the stage near Dnnac. A crowd was already gathered there and they squeezed their way through to reach the stage itself. There, the producer, casting director, special effects artist, and stage director appraised the year’s talent.
These four people were actually one person, Remo the Trickster, but that single identity represented four aspects, and so they were four trickster patron archetypes that inhabited a single form and a single soul. They were not four personalities but one personality with four aspects; four roles united into a single purpose and person.
He wore his golden-brown hair curled into a loop about his ears along with a groomed bread. He also wore a toga, sandals, and a pen in his ear. With a flourish of his arms that made his toga swirl, he boomed, "Welcome! Welcome one and all!"
His voice carried over the entire crowd and back to the library, where it activated a special silence rune that was created specifically for him.
"Today, I shall select the best among you to perform this year's re-enactment of the birth of your species and culture, Elven Origin."
In the crowd, he spotted Ralm,
whose attention was commanded by the sight of Annala with Eric at her side. The Subjugation Collar on her neck was impossible to miss, as were the grey hairs on her head and the arm Eric snaked around her waist.
"I have a good feeling about this group. I believe it shall be the truest, most spot on, and realistic portrayal in CENTURIES!"
Pyrotechnics exploded behind him.
"Now, one by one, I would like you to step forward and ACT! Don't tell me what you're auditioning for—show me. CONVINCE ME that you deserve the role you are seeking. Abandon your inhibitions and let your soul ignite with passion! Now that we understand each other, may the Elven Origin Open Audition BEGGGGGIINNNNNN!"
This declaration was followed by more pyrotechnics and several rockets shrieking into the sky and exploding into the words “Audition in Progress.”
"What’s with the explosions?" Eric asked.
Annala shrugged. "He likes explosions."
By the time the auditions ended, Eric had been chosen for the male lead and Annala the female lead. Remho said he saw great potential for chemistry in the two of them. Ralm was to be the villain and Nilo as one of his minions. Remho proclaimed that the female lead’s past and present boyfriends fighting would make for stupendous method acting. The potential stage presence excited him so much he called for an immediate rehearsal.
"Uh...That was quite a convincing act," Eric said afterward.
"Thanks,” Ralm said. “I enjoyed beating you up on stage because I'm terribly bitter that you stole my girlfriend and so I took it out on you in a socially disguised manner."
Eric's jaw dropped. Such a frank and outrageous confession had no precedence in his human memories and thus muffled his grendel mentality. Given his previous behavior, he couldn’t even label the boy as a threat.
Ralm chuckled and playfully slugged his shoulder. "I'm kidding. I was Belco last year so I want to try something different this time."
"Nilo was his Arin," Annala added.
"That was after we broke up," Ralm said. "Stop making me sound like a villain."
"You're playing one now," Annala drawled.
Ralm grinned sheepishly. "Walked right into that one, didn't I? I’m sorry our thing didn’t work out, but we’re both with better people now, so it’s all good, right?”
Annala looked down at her and Eric’s intertwined fingers. “I guess so...”
“Good.” Nilo grabbed Ralm’s arm. “Then you won’t mind what we do between now and the next rehearsal.”
The two of transformed into doves and flew away.
"He seems like a nice guy," Eric said.
"He is," Annala said, somewhat reluctantly. "I shouldn't be mean to him...Or Nilo...It's just...we had a messy breakup and... the village is kinda small..."
Eric hugged her.
"I got an idea," he whispered into her ear. "How about we go on a picnic?"
"In the winter?"
"Welll...it doesn't have to be outside....We can get some food and a blanket and...find a nice empty spot in the library—”
"So that's what this is about! You want to do more reading."
"I want to read poems of love to the lady of my heart."
Annala broke into a giggle fit so intense she had to lean against him to avoid falling in the snow. Not quite the effect I was going for, but at least she's in a better mood...
“Hey, Eric!”
The grendel’s attention was drawn to backstage where Kallen stood with her staff out. The five lights inside gleamed.
“Are you ready for a different kind of rehearsal?”
“What do you have in mind?”
“The story of how the Trickster’s Chosen harnessed the power of gods to slay an evil sorcerer powered by Order.”
Kallen grabbed Eric’s free elbow, and, ignoring the look on Annala’s face, she led the way to the next stage. The noise of the village gradually died down until nothing but the wind could be heard. Her hand accidentally slid from his elbow to his palm on the way, and he didn't seem to mind. This brought her more joy than she could stand. She bit her lip to stop the incoming glee. Encouraged, she led him beyond the Chaotic Curtain hiding the village. It washed over her as easily as it did him.
The Chaotic Curtain is supposed to befuddle anyone without a Seed of Chaos. I guess that means Kallen is still drenched with it after all these years…
All of a sudden, she stopped. Just as suddenly, she twirled around. The expression on her face startled him. She was smiling uncontrollably. The sheer volume of happiness radiating off her made him feel light as a feather. Not even my link with Kasile is as strong as this...Why do I feel like this around her? How can she make me feel so....content?
Joy bloomed in Kallen's heart. She couldn't help it. It was all she could do not to hug him. From his words to the four lights in his crystal, only one thought appeared in her mind. The time's almost come! It’s almost here! It was so loud she was positive he could hear it.
“Big sister,” Annala said, “I hope you don’t have your eyes on my boyfriend.”
She leaned into Eric while holding his arm closer.
Kallen put her hands on her hips. “Sister guilt? Really, Annala? I haven’t stolen anything from you in ages. Nothing since that doll Grandpa Ferdinand gave you for your eighth birthday.”
“You stole my dessert just the other day.”
“Cruel to be kind. Nunnal’s taken your measurements, so you gotta watch your figure.”
Annala frowned and her face puffed up. Eric thought it looked charming.
“Rest assured, even if he were my soul mate, I wouldn’t try to steal him from you. All I want right now is to teach him.”
"You can start with ‘why us’?"
“That’s a long story. Specifically, it’s ‘The Tale of The Two Sisters.’ You’ll find it in the Elven Tome, latest chapter. Moving on, each one of these lights can perform divine magic. It’s different from Three Law Magic, so don’t feel bad if you don’t get it right away.”
Eric didn't think it would be any different, so he approached it from that angle. He wasted an hour and a half. It was so frustrating, he almost threw his staff on the ground. Kallen's laughter only worsened his mood. Annala’s hug removed his anger and he fell into self-pity. He felt like he was back on the Isle of Tisaq struggling with a basic fireball.
"I'm a better mage than this….Why can't I get it?"
"You're trying too hard. You need to feel the power and guide it out."
She knelt on the ground and cleared away a patch of snow with her fingers. Then, without any effort or chants, they glowed with forest green light. Kallen raised her hand and a small flower bloomed. It amazed Eric. His eyes bugged out when the flower jumped out of the ground, ran up Kallen's leg, and into her coat pocket. She stood up and brushed dirt off her hand.
"It helps to be humble."
"You're humble?"
"I can't tell you how humble I am because then I would no longer be humble."
"That's a paradox."
"It really isn't. Try thinking about something else like Annala.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you. This is emotion-based magic and he gets more emotional about you than he does about anything else.”
The couple heard a twinge of bitterness in her voice at those last words.
Eric nodded and closed his eyes. There were so many qualities he admired: her kindness, her intelligence, her mischievous streak, the way she spoke in convoluted sentences, her simple beauty... Kallen smiled, eyes alight. All four lights were shining. Just one more...one more!
Finally deciding, Eric opened his eyes. With a sweep of his staff, he pointed the crystal at the sky and shot a fireball the size of a meteor. It escaped the earth's gravity. He watched it with pride until its glow faded into the blackness of space.
“Wow!” Annala exclaimed.
"Not bad," Kallen said." A little showy, but not bad. Can you do it again?"
Eric swung his staff a second time, and a third, and a f
ourth, and finally waved it erratically. None of the lights responded. "Why doesn't it work!?"
"Because you're treating it like regular magecraft," Kallen explained. "How many times do I have to repeat myself? Avatarcraft is different from the traditional Three Law system because it’s based on emotions. If it’ll help, consider this a Two Law system. The laws are feel and imagine. Now thank me; it took me ages to figure that out on my own."
“Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Eric succeeded in performing avatarcraft five more times in the next hour. Then he fell flat on his back from exhaustion. The heat from his body melted the snow into a puddle, evaporated it, and dried his winter clothes before he could get as much as a chill.
"I feel like I'm on fire."
"That's because you kinda are," Kallen said. "If you overuse these powers, you'll turn into whatever element you're using.”
“Is that why the ancient avatars died?”
“So the theory goes.”
Four days passed. There was a full rehearsal on every one of them and Eric was the only one who thought it wasn't going to be enough. He was also the only one who hadn't seen the play every year since they were a toddler. Afterward, he practiced with Kallen and, every day, he got better. He could slide into the mindset quicker and easier, although the limitation remained the same and would remain the same as long as he had a mortal coil. Still, the rapid progress exhilarated him. His teacher was quick to remind him why it was so rapid.
“You're standing on my shoulders. I spent years working this out.”
Eric nodded, although his stomach turned at the phrase. He was now three chapters into Intermediate Magecraft and Grey Dengel guided him through the transition to rhyme-less spells. He'd learned a total of four intermediate ones, with Explosion being the first. Without Grey Dengel to explain the mechanics, he'd still be struggling with it.
He touched the red hair growing out of his head. Even as I learn two branches of magic, I still can't grasp something that should be as natural as breathing...
"Eric, pay attention!" Kallen shouted.
Eric was so startled his avatarcraft destabilized and a cloud burst over him; just him. He was trying to generate holy water, but instead, a cloud rained on him.
Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) Page 49