Meridias

  Cerra suddenly decided that she wanted to train with Elunduil and after some insistence the elder let them. Elunduil wasn’t too sure why she wanted to train all of a sudden but didn’t mind. “You’re good at making barriers right?” Cerra asked when they broke off from the rest of the group. “Er, I guess,” he replied eliciting a chuckle from the elf.

  “You’re too modest. After all I heard you managed to defeat a behemoth!” Elunduil looked troubled. “That’s only because of… Ark.” His eyes darkened. Cerra noticed his troubled expression. “I heard everything you said to the elder. If you want to talk about what happened I’m here.” Elunduil looked up to see Cerra smiling softly at him and was taken aback. He’d honestly forgotten that an elf’s hearing was better than a humans.

  “Uh, thanks,” he said suddenly embarrassed. The elf giggled.

  “Anyway, show me how to cast a barrier! I’ve never done it before.” Elunduil nodded and concentrated. He held a hand out and formed a barrier with magical energy. A transparent green light manifested in front of him. Cerra’s brow furrowed as she analyzed his spell. “I see… so you concentrate magical energy together to form a wall.” Elunduil sensed her concentrating her magical energy together and then was alarmed when she shot several shots of ice at his barrier. They broke harmlessly against his wall and he let it fall. “Sorry! I was just testing my strength!” she said apologetically. Elunduil replied with a grunt and shrugged.

  During the next hour Cerra spent her time creating a barrier with various degrees of success. The part that she seemed to struggle with the most was forming the barrier. Elunduil suggested that she just focus on first making a small barrier. She finally managed to make a small sheet of ice that hovered in front of her palm, and Elunduil promptly broke it with a spell of his own, much to Cerra’s shock. Elunduil grinned. He was just mimicking what she’d done to him earlier. Cerra continued to practice until she was able to make a barrier roughly the size of a basketball. Elunduil noted by her breathes that she was near her limit.

  He was about to call it a day but Cerra insisted that he test the strength of the barrier. He was about to comply then thought of experimenting. Before they’d fought the Behemoth he’d been unable to use an aura and it’d caused him physical anguish. He was whole now. He suspected that he should be fine trying to use an aura this time.

  He took a breath and concentrated on his body. Cerra watched him curiously as he stood for several long moments without moving. He wanted to concentrate all around himself. To emanate his presence outwards. Something connected in his mind. Something deep inside him that hadn’t been there before. He felt nothing, he felt everything. He felt as if the world around him crumbled and fell away. An emerald light appeared around his arms and his legs- no it was around his entire body! It intensified and tendrils of light whipped up from around his body. It moved like a calm, serene flame.

  He heard Cerra’s surprised reaction and looked up to her. “Elunduil that’s your aura!” she looked excited and apprehensive at the same time. Elunduil held up a hand. Cooper had said that using magical energy you could manifest an aura but… He hadn’t used any. He’d been so focused on just the first steps of using an aura that he’d forgotten about using magical energy. Angurvadel appeared from seemingly out of nowhere and said. “It would be best if you did not attempt to use it on Cerra’s barrier.” Elunduil looked up at the elder quizzically. “Why not?” he asked. The elder brows furrowed and his face was serious.

  “For an Aura Wielder the manifestation of the aura and what the aura is capable of reflects the nature of its wielder. Though we can clearly see your aura we cannot sense it. That alone is reason enough for caution.” Elunduil looked back to his outstretched palm. Could he move the aura around? The moment he made that thought the emerald light rose up from his palm. “Elder, let me test his aura!” Cerra called out.

  Elunduil and Angurvadel looked to her with surprise. “I’m sure Elunduil won’t harm me but he also needs to understand the danger involved with his aura,” she said. Angurvadel sighed and nodded. “Very well child, but only this one attempt. Your magical energy is running low.” Cerra nodded and looked to Elunduil. He wasn’t sure what to think but looked at his palm and imagined his aura gathering in it. A moment later an emerald flame was floating above his hand. He looked at Cerra’s barrier. His flame was smaller but he felt as if making it bigger would be bad. He held out his hand and shot the flame at Cerra’s shield. The emerald light smacked against her ice barrier and it cracked and splintered as his aura’s flame licked over it. Cerra let her barrier dissipated. “You held back, huh?” she said. Elunduil nodded. Some part of him knew his aura was dangerous. He relaxed and the light around him faded. Cerra leaned forward for a moment and put her hands on her knees. “Well I’m exhausted!” she said cheerfully. Elunduil turned to the elder.

  “Is… an aura manifested without magic able to be sensed or…” he trailed off. Angurvadel stroked his silver beard. “Yes it can be sensed. Though yours is different. I cannot sense your aura’s energy, rather it’s more like there’s… nothing there. Like a hole in the world.” The elder seemed troubled to Elunduil.

  Soon afterwards Angurvadel concluded the morning’s lesson and called out to Elunduil and the others. Elunduil wondered what the elder could want as everyone gathered. “Let us make a visit,” he said and led the group out of the room. They went toward the back of the town hall until they came to a door with several seals on it. Angurvadel waved a hand across them and they hummed to life with a green light. The wall faded away to reveal a grove of luscious trees with a fountain of deep green in the middle. Large particles rose from the surface of this pond. This was Life’s domain. Elunduil unconsciously put a hand up to his chest. He had a feeling he knew why the elder was bringing them before this entity.

  The liquid in the fountain rose up into the air and formed a humanoid shape. It had a feminine shape and its eyes shone with a green light that had no pupils. It has been long since you’ve last visited here children. Life’s voice said into their minds. Though Elunduil had been through this before, he was still jarred when she spoke. I know why you have brought them before me. Elunduil’s aura. The others looked to Elunduil. He was curious as to what the entity had to say. Angurvadel acknowledged Life with a nod. Very well Elder. Ask your question. Angurvadel stepped forward. “In our lore a person’s aura, when made manifest, is a reflection of the wielder. You could say it shows the core of someone’s personality.” Angurvadel paused. “Aura Wielders have appeared from time to time in our long history. Though I feel that the nature of Elunduil’s is… different somehow.”

  The group waited for several long moments before Life responded. His aura is unchanging. It is like breeze with no touch, and the world will fall away before it. He is not an Aura Wielder. What you see is like a shadow cast on an autumn day. Elunduil wasn’t sure what to make of Life’s words. If he wasn’t an Aura Wielder than what was his aura? A shadow cast on an autumn day? A shadow of what? The elder bowed his head to Life. “Thank you, Life. We shall take our leave,” he said and turned around. The others began to follow him as he walked towards the exit. Elunduil, wait a moment. Elunduil turned at the voice in his mind. Life lifted an arm and gestured for him to come to her. Elunduil looked to the others for a moment before walking towards the entity. “Y-yeah?” he said nervously. He heard joyous laughter through his being. It is wonderful that your soul is whole once more. The meek side of you that had been missing is quite amusing at times. Elunduil felt bashful and looked away. I must warn you though child. Though you are whole again your lifespan is still less. It is better than when you were two but still less. You recently lost your connection to me after all.

  When Elunduil rejoined the others he was confused. He’d lost his connection to Life? He couldn’t recall when that could’ve happened but it must’ve been so brief he hadn’t noticed. As they walked along the hallways of the town hall Tanis spoke up. “Say Angurvadel if aura’s manifest depen
ding on the user’s personality then if something changes their personality will the aura also change?” The elder smiled.

  “Yes. Though it is often a traumatic experience that so drastically shifts someone’s personality. In Elunduil’s case I don’t think a traumatic event would cause his aura to change.” Angurvadel replied. Tim chimed in on the conversation.

  “According to the goddess though Elunduil is not an Aura Wielder, but for all intent it appears the same way as an aura, so what should we call his ability?” The elder thought long and hard. Elunduil could care less what it was called. He just wanted to try and find Alicia before the day was done. “What did he call that ability that he used to defeat the behemoth?” Cerra asked. Tim and Tanis shrugged. Elunduil hadn’t volunteered that detail merely what he’d done. “Destiny’s End,” he said quietly. Cerra smiled gently.

  “That was Ark’s ability wasn’t it? How about using that name for your ability? It only makes sense,” she said. Elunduil thought about it. The aura was the same color and Ark was a part of him so… He nodded and the matter was settled. The group left the town hall afterwards and decided to look around Ellicia with Cerra until the time came for them to leave. There was still no sign of Alicia when they returned to Earth so they decided that she must’ve left for the day and parted ways.

  ***

  It had been two days since Ashblade had started teaching Joel. He still hadn’t broken his habit of winding back before his swings and Ashblade made sure to punish his arms for it. Joel rose from his slumber. Today marked the 31st day since he’d been taken in by the military. He didn’t really have any problem with Ashblade and the others and was more annoyed by the fact that he’d spent so long under the blistering sun. He stabbed a piece of cardboard. If he’d marked the days on it correctly then today should be his birthday. He doubted that anyone here would know that. He crawled out of bed and saw Nadir was also up reading a book while eating some rations. Joel sighed. If Revais were still with them he’d have whipped up a tasty breakfast. The flap to the tent opened up unexpectedly and Joel was momentarily blinded by the morning sun’s light. “Joel, Ashblade wants to see you,” Draxus said loudly. The flap closed and he could hear Draxus walking away. Joel scrambled to his feet and threw on his uniform and his boots before he trotted out of the tent and into the cool morning air.

  He first looked over to Ashblade and Draxus’ tent and caught the flap of the tent closing. He was about to walk to the tent when Ashblade’s voice called him over the desert breeze. He turned his head and spotted the Sergeant over by the armory tent. Joel hustled over and saluted Ashblade. “I heard you wanted to see me, sir!” Joel shouted. Ashblade waived at hand. “At ease soldier. This isn’t a formal meeting.” Joel let his hand fall.

  “Then what do you want to see me for Ash?” he asked. Ashblade sighed.

  “ASH-blade!” he emphasized. “Anyway despite what you may think I’m well aware that today is your birthday so…” he reached behind the flap of the armory tent. “I arranged a gift for you.” What he pulled out was one of the most beautiful sights Joel had seen since he got here. It was a silver and black single-barrel shotgun that was so polished that one could clearly see their face in it. “You’re giving me a shotgun!” Joel’s voice brimmed with excitement. Ashblade chuckled. “I had a feeling you’d appreciate it. It’s fully loaded if you want to take it out for a test drive. Also we have explosive rounds if you want to play with those.” Joel squealed as he took the shotgun and turned it around in his hands. Draxus came up to them from behind. “Ashblade there’s a couple of Antlions wandering around over the ridge,” he said. Ashblade frowned. Joel looked up to Ashblade and then to the ridge, and then back to Ashblade and the ridge several more times. “Ooh! Let me go! I want to play with my new toy!” Ashblade and Draxus shared a look. “Ok, fine but no explosive rounds. This will be a good test for you,” Ashblade said. Joel moaned. “Oh come on at least a couple explosive rounds!” he whined. Ashblade shrugged.

  “Ok fine but only three. Good hunting!”

  “Really? Only three?” Ashblade’s eyes narrowed at Joel.

  “I can make that zero,” he replied sternly.

  “No complaints at all. Absolutely none!” Joel cocked the shotgun and laughed evilly before he bounded toward the ridge. Ashblade and Draxus followed behind to see how Joel would do.

  What Ashblade sees when he reaches the crest of the ridge is Joel as he barrels down on the Antlions while gleefully calling out to them. “I thought you said there were only a couple of them,” Ashblade says to Draxus. The other man shrugs.

  “There were, guess another one showed up.” Three Antlions turn towards Joel and hiss at him. They then charge at Joel as a pack. Joel laughs “Three at once? It’s my lucky day!” he says as the creatures bear down on him. He blasts the first one square in the head when he gets in range. Black blood sprays out onto the desert sand and Joel ducks to the side as the other Antlions try to cut him down with their scythe like arms. While he dips and weaves, he shoots one of the two Antlions legs off. It screeches as it loses its balance and falls to the sand. He would’ve finished it off but the other one slashed through the air at him. Joel grunts and rolls to avoid its scythes.

  He loads one of the explosive rounds into the chamber. He still has three normal rounds ahead of it. What happens next is almost surgical as Joel intentionally and precisely shoots off the creature’s legs and one of its arms. As the creature lays in the sand it seems almost pathetic as it tries to claw at Joel. “This is for the Frenchman!” he says angrily and shoots his final round into the creature. There was a small explosion of heat and fire that erupts from the creature’s chest as the bullet impacts it. Its arms twitch for a few moments before it stops moving. Joel went to the second Antlion that had attacked him and used the other two explosive rounds on it. Despite how it looked Joel had carefully planned out his attack.

  Draxus whistled and looked to Ashblade. “Kid’s bloody insane. Sure it was a good idea to give him that?” he asked. Ashblade was pensive for a moment.

  “He’s that type that will stick with you through thick and thin if he feels like he can respect and trust you. It’s not like he’ll get to keep the weapon when we return.” Draxus snorted and cocked his head. “I see why The General chose you to lead this mission. Memorizing details about people like their birthdays and making it seem like you care isn’t something that I could’ve done.” Ashblade gave Draxus a sidelong glance.

  “Yeah, well your birthday’s next month isn’t it?” Ashblade replied. Draxus laughed mirthlessly. “Well damn you really do have your list checked!” Draxus said as he turned and walked back down the ridge to the camp. Joel ran up a few moments later. “I did it Ash! They’re all dead!” he said triumphantly. Ashblade sighed. This kid had too much energy sometimes not to mention… “It’s Ashblade!”

  ***

  Elunduil and the others spent the next three days learning more about magic with Angurvadel. Sean hung out with Damon during this time as well. They hadn’t seen nor heard from Alicia and any attempts to contact her had been met with silence. Elunduil still hadn’t said exactly why he thought Alicia was upset with him so everyone else was left to speculate. Angurvadel explained to them in more depth about how sensing magic worked. He told them that when trying to find a specific material that the material would have its own kind of signature that distinguished it.

  Having the knowledge of the materials composition also greatly helps to find what a person may be looking for. However there could be various reasons as to why a mage may not be able to sense what they are trying to find. Distance was a big factor as well as the sensing magic being blocked by certain materials or a magic that dampens or hides the signature. Elunduil and the others realized there was much more to sensing magic then finding something.

  Tim also spent time in the city hall reading through some of the Elvin tomes that had been translated into English. One interesting tome told tales of when the elves once walked on pl
anet Earth. There was quite a bit of history here but one thing that he found particularly interesting is that there was mention of an elf during the Age of the Gods whose magic could not be sensed until cast and left no traces. The story itself didn’t go into much detail about the elf beyond the fact he was a male and fought in the Third Punic War which lasted for three years. It is said that at the end of the war the elf used a Genesis Seed called Auras that left the fields of Carthage destitute. It was after this act that the elves sealed the portals between Meridias and Earth. He’d heard of this story on the first day they came back to Meridias but was intrigued.

  Tim frowned to himself. He wasn’t well versed in ancient history but he did seem to recollect that the salting of the fields of Carthage didn’t have any historical texts to back the claim. He was also interested in whatever a Genesis Seed was and made a mental note to ask Angurvadel about it later. He read through the rest of the book but there wasn’t much else of note other than the fact that the elves had split into two separate towns a couple of centuries ago. He already knew about the elves of Tellia Armon since the elder had mentioned them when he’d first come to Meridias when they’d learned he was capable of using enchanting magic.

  He closed the book and leaned left the library. He walked over to Devin’s smith and the elf greeted him when he entered. Tim returned the greeting. He wanted to practice his enchanting. Enchanting was quite a long and complicated process that also used valuable materials. When he’d first come here he’d learned there was actually a couple of different enchanting methods that could be used. Spell Weave enchanting which used various spells together to get the desired effect, and Conceptual enchanting which used a mage’s understanding of concepts to get the desired effect. Conceptual enchanting was far more dangerous as a lack of knowledge and conceptual understanding of the effect that you wanted to enchant would likely lead to the object exploding. Almost like how Elunduil’s sword had almost exploded on him. Speaking of the sword what would he do about that? Elunduil did need a new weapon.