The Unlikely QuestChapter I - Meeting Emma The two bright blue stars had just climbed their way up to peek over the mountains and shine brightly in the eyes of a young girl, sleeping in a carpet of leaves under a twenty meter tall oak, messy, shoulder-length blond hair covering her face. As the light slowly kept creeping down and reached her skin, which looked pale violet, you could notice the first signs that this girl wasn’t what you would call human. Her skin glimmered in the light, at times almost seeming translucent. As the beams of light increased their warmth and reach, with the passing of dawn, she seemed to stir a bit revealing ears, slightly longer and less curved than usual. During my travels I came to know her race as elven. One full of great heritage, splendour and most of all magic. Many types of elves exist throughout the cosmos and just like human races they all share similar traits as if descendant from a single group. I could keep going on for aeons on that subject, buuut I will leave that for another time. For now the important traits to know are their lives span for hundreds ,if not thousands of years in some rare cases, and they tend to lead these lives in a symbiotic relationship with nature as well as having an affinity for magic. Now this particular race of elves has long lost the knowledge or ability to use magic naturally but instead have to dedicate large amounts of time studying various arcane arts, which they can perform by channelling their power through crystals. Elven children of the planet Andorra attend academies and practice with crystals from a very early age. Now, this particular elf is meant to be in one such lesson but has decided otherwise. Meet Emma. By all accounts she is a completely ordinary elf with no special talents, or at least nothing that the rest of her kin would deem as such. Emma doesn’t really like being confined by rules or anything for that matter. She rarely does duties assigned to her and even less often follows through with her studies. She can usually be found meandering through the forest or playing tricks on other elves. If you look past all of her quirks and difficulties though, you will find an adventurer with insatiable curiosity and the crazy spirit to follow her curiosity through to the end. On this particular morning Emma was meant to have crystal practice which she hated and thus hadn’t even bothered to go home the previous evening. She lazily yawned, scratched her head and fell back into the leaves. Emma enjoyed spending her time in the wilderness and even found threes and the forest floor more comfortable than her bed at Rose’s, which more often than not could be found untouched and collecting dust. After another five minutes passed Emma finally got up again and groggily made her way through the trees, where upon reaching a familiar little grove she proceeded to take off her linen shorts and shirt and dive straight in. - Ahh! No better way to start the day than a nice cold bath.- said Emma while splashing about in the water.- That’s better. Now I am ready for another fun day spent exploring the Erylian Forest. - the elf exclaimed as she settled down for a bit. - One day Emma, you will have to get a little more responsible and start showing up for your lessons. - a kind yet serious voice announced from beyond the treeline. - And when that day comes Rose, elrogs will turn red and phonelas will start eating grass. - You really need to stop running around. Soon even I won’t be able to get you out of trouble.- stated the tall elf that just entered the grove. Her long blood red hair reaching all the way beyond her waist, she wore a sleeveless dress, knee-length and of the same material as Emma’s yet you could see some personal touches here and there. A rose on the right strap of it, and a bouquet of flowers embroidered on the bottom left of it. Her face very regal and fair had to deep blue gems in the middle of it. - But it’s so boring and the forests are so much more exciting to explore than those dusty old books.- replied Emma while putting her clothes back on. - Yes while that may be the case one needs to do some work every now and then to do your part in society.- said Rose while smiling at the little elven girl. Her smile warmed Emma to the core. She could never say no to Rose, for that matter very few in town could. - OK, OK. I’m coming, but it’s a waste of time. No matter how many times I try I am no good. Nothing happens, I can’t make it work. I’ve tried all the different techniques the teachers have told me but it doesn’t work for me.- the elf exclaimed exasperated. - You will find your way one day, but until then you will have to keep working hard. I will always be here to give you a hand when you need it. - said Rose still smiling. I know, I know. I appreciate your kindness Rose but I feel so constricted and uneasy within the city. When I roam the forests is the only times I feel like myself, Fel agrees with me.- answered Emma while the warmth filled her up again. At times she felt Rose used some kind of magic but she would always deny that being the case. She just had an aura that made you feel safe and happy. While talking they started heading back into the general direction of town. - How bad am I getting it this time?- asked Emma, even though her voice suggested she doesn’t really care as she kept jumping between rocks and roots, hands raised high in each direction. - Well Ferris was fuming as usual, Uma was unsurprised and Dain decided an hour of cellar duty should suffice.- replied Rose slightly more jovial now. See the three that she mentioned form a council in charge of the academy and deal with all administration and management tasks within the academy. Ferris is in charge of the historical sections of the academy, Uma the more homely subjects such as cooking, potion-making, natural studies, craftsmanship and many other whereas Dain heads the more arcane focused subjects. - I guess it could have been worse. I definitely think anything is worth the amount of fun I had around here.- added the little elf while still jumping around. - Did you now? I can’t wait for you to tell me all about it. Is Fel still around? - Of course, Fel is always with me. He is currently flying around you. Go on Fel give her a kiss on the cheek. - said Emma and chuckled. I feel this is a good place to introduce Fel. He is a blue pixie that is so small most people only see him as a speck of blue light. Unfortunately nobody other than Emma can see or hear him so they all think she is crazy but he has been with her since she could remember and has always been by her side on her adventures. - Why thank you Fel. I will make sure to leave you extra grapes on the side.- exclaimed Rose. - It’s nice that you believe me and all but you couldn’t feel that could you?- asked Emma. Rose took a couple of seconds before responding. -That is true but I thanked him nonetheless. I hope to be able to see him one day. From the description you have given me he seems like quite an interesting person. - We both still can’t quite figure out why nobody else can see or hear him but I hope to find answers in the forests and caves of Andorra. - Well you can do that after you take your punishment and finish your homework. As Emma made another step she felt the ground fall through beneath her and in a matter of seconds found herself falling down a deep tunnel, Fel flying frantically after her. As Emma was sliding down and Fel flying after something unexpected happened. As Fel reached her outstretched hand, dazzling light radiated out of the contact. As they neared the end of the fall Emma gently floated to the ground avoiding any serious serious damage. She felt as light as a feather. - Fel, are you seeing this? Fel? Fel where are you? - I feel like I'm here but I also don't. It's weird- said a confused voice in her mind. - Where did that come from? - exclaimed Emma. - It's me Emma. It's Fel. The feeling is very weird. It's like I am seeing through your eyes. It feels like we are sharing the same body. - stated a very confused Fel. - I do feel different. But how can it be?- Emma was very confused but she felt rather nice. For once she felt powerful. She could float and something made her think this was not the only new ability she would discover. In an instance, she felt a strong energy flow and the two separated. All of a sudden Emma felt exhausted. She could not move for another 5 minutes until the effect passed. - We need to learn how to do that again, that was fun. - yelled Emma excited. - First we have to find a way out of here - said Fel matter-of-factly. - Where is here anyway? I remember I fell through a whole under the leaves but I didn't notice how long we were falling or if it was straight down or not. At that point they finally looked around. Behind them they saw an earthen tunnel the end to which was not visible. Ahead for a couple of feet dirt continued and then gave way to stone. It took them a couple of minutes before they realised that it wasn't complete darkness. There was light but it didn't come from behind them but rather from ahead. Curious they both started walking down the tunnel. After about 10 meters they got to a part of the corridor that didn't look natural. Slowly they realised that it was man-made or in this case elven-made. Cobbled floors, 3 meter high ceiling that has been evened out and weird looking light sources on the walls. Upon further investigation they found the light was just there. No sconces, torches, lamps or crystals. Just central points out of which light shone outward throughout the corridor, 10 meters in between each light source. - This place is very mysterious. Do you know anything about it Fel?- said an intrigued Emma. - Not a clue. Honestly how do you always forget that I woke up next to you with the same amount of knowledge as you, meaning none. - replied Fel, sighing deeply. One fateful day fourteen years ago a baby was found near the town gate with nothing but the ragged clothing on her body. Many took it as a bad sign but Rose decided to take care of it. That child was Emma. What people didn't notice was that a little pixie was sleeping on the shoulder of the baby, that being Fel. They were both too young to remember anything before Rose's hospitality but they often dream of wacky versions of what brought them to such a circumstance. Their parents being gods, people from another planet, fugitives, members of a secret society and so on and so on. - I don't know. Maybe your pixie powers give you some more knowledge. Any way as interesting as this light is I feel there might be something even more intriguing ahead. - said Emma giddy with excitement. The two had been walking in silence for about half an hour down the corridor until they finally reached what seemed like the end of this corridor and bright light coming from what seemed like a chamber. When they finally passed through the entrance they both felt like some energy overwhelmed them for but a second before taking their next step but shrugged it off. They found themselves in a grand chamber full of gadgets, trinkets, clothing, furniture, gems and many other items scattered everywhere.
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Zhivko'Jay'BatalovJust a fantasy enthusiast |