78

Life Essence

“Blood, you need blood!” Cries a voice filled with pain and hopelessness.

“You see that was not so difficult Mr Caretaker, now you only need to tell me what blood I need. So tell me… Please. Tell me and your pain will end.”

Silence reigns and the first voice says nothing until the sound of flesh being ripped and flayed is once again audible. “Tell me how to get into the vault. Tell me what blood I need. Tell me, tell me, tell me. Tell me!”

The Elf murmurs something incoherently, causing the figured covered in blood to fall silent. He leans closer tilting his head a little as if it can help him hear better somehow. The elf takes a few deep breaths and then says what he had been mumbling a bit louder. “Kill me.”

The figure stills and then erupts… “No! Tell me and I will give you release. That is how this works, it’s so simple just tell me and you won’t suffer anymore. I won’t suffer anymore.”

“Kill me.” Is his only reply.

The figure sighs and rubs at his temples with bloody fingers. He presses the blade to the elf’s throat and for a moment he can see the hope in the elf’s eyes… but then he lowers his hand denying the elf his death and freedom.

The figure’s voice cracks as he himself nearly starts to cry. “I cant, don’t you see I am as trapped as you. I cannot escape no matter what I do, so I cannot let you die unless you tell me what I need to know. You will live and you will suffer until I know what I need to.”

With that the figure turns around and leaves the room, slamming a thick iron door behind him. The dark room is quiet once more.

*****

Slyfer sitting at a large round table fiddles with his lip for a moment while he thinks.

The dwarf sitting on a chair across from him moves about restlessly, waiting for an answer.

Slyfer stops fiddling and lowers his hand. The dwarf perks up. “You have come to a decision?”

Slyfer shakes his head. “I have no idea what to do regarding the situation.”

The dwarf frowns. He thought someone that can rip another man’s head clean off would be more decisive. -I can’t really blame the boy… or whatever he is. I don’t know how to deal with nearly six thousand humans so how should he.-

Others in the room also seem to be stuck thinking about the same problem. The high elf queen speaks up first. “We can’t just let them go there may be spies among them.”

King Great hunter leans forward. “We also cant just kill them, that would be…” He stops speaking and looks at his hands.

Slyfer looks at the huge green eye staring into the room through a large door leading to a balcony. “Serena have you got any ideas?”

The dragon blinks. “There is no correct answer to this and there is no outcome in which humans do not die, but you will have to choose soon. The situation in Atlantia cannot continue as is.”

“I say we kill them.” Everyone turns to the Snow Elf prince; his father had left and given him the task of negotiating on their behalf, much to Slyfer’s irritation. His sister sitting at his side places her hand on her brother’s shoulder which he shrugs off.

Slyfer smiles. “Okay", he gets up and draws a sword from one of his guards causing many of the leaders around the table to share worried gazes. Slyfer places the sword on the table and slides it over to the prince. “I give you permission to go and kill thousands of woman and children who has had nothing to do with the actions of their leaders. Better yet, I leave this whole operation in your hands. You should have no problem as the blood in your veins are as cold as the ice your people rule over.”

“That…” The Snow Elf looks down at the table and the blade of the sword laying there. He does not move, nor does he have any words.

Slyfer snorts. “Outright killing the humans is not an option. I will not allow this alliance to become like the very same monsters we are fighting.” Slyfer looks over at the Queen who was about to say something but then continues when she stays quiet. “We also cannot allow them to remain in the city the risk is too great."

The dwarf representative asks. “So what will we do then?”

Slyfer thinks inwardly at the dragons. –I could use some of your wisdom right now.-

The voices turn in a maelstrom, each one with a different opinion, but most want the same thing… -kill the humans.-

This causes Slyfer to shake his head. He does not want that blood on his hands. –Does that make me weak?-

Salvation comes in the form of Fira. “I have a suggestion.”

All eyes at the table turn to her. “On our way here we passed many different villages, empty villages. We can let the humans live there.”

Large rabbit ears twitch at this. Slyfer has learned that the race may be small and overly happy for no reason but they are fierce warriors. “The humans will not accept it. On the surface it seems like a good thing but many will still see it as discrimination. Many of those pushed out will turn to banditry or worse.”

Fira nods. “It is by no means a perfect plan and the villages will need to be policed.”

The Snow Elf sneers. “And who will do this? Who has the manpower and will be willing to do it? We cannot spare forces to babysit.”

Slyfer thinks for a while and looks at Aldowin who is silently sitting in a far corner away from the main table. With his eyes closed he almost looks like he is sleeping. He prods the swordmaster with his mind. “Any suggestions?”

The swordmaster’s eyes flicker open. “The Snow Elf is right. We cannot spare the forces, the soldiers we choose for the policing will undoubtedly discriminate and eventually there will be some kind of uprising. Fira has a good idea but to implement it…” The swordmaster trails off and his thoughts stop dead.

“Master?” Asks Slyfer.

“What are your plans concerning the academy, do you still want to be a part of it?” Asks Aldowin out of the blue.

Slyfer frowns at the question. “I have no interest in what they are willing to teach; in fact I plan on disbanding the institution.”

Aldowin shakes his head. “That would be a mistake. The current teachers may have been teaching-“

Slyfer interrupts, anger laced in his mind’s voice. “They were not teaching but spreading lies. I do not care to keep a place used for propaganda in our enemies favour.”

Aldowin snorts. “You can replace the teachers, change policies and what is taught. You can use it the way your enemy did and in doing so change the mind-sets of the humans living in Atlantia and its surroundings. It will take a long time but eventually the younger humans and other races will learn to work and live together. Sort of paving the way for the future. It amy set some spies free, but what can they tell the humans that they dont already know. We can try and hide whatever we feel nessasary as the humans move."

Slyfer ponders on it for a moment. “What do you suggest and where will we find teachers?”

Aldowin shrugs, but since they are talking through their minds it goes unnoticed by Slyfer. Realising this he replies. “I do not know where to find suitable teachers but my suggestion is that you turn it into a military academy. Those that go there will automatically be drafted into the army. Young soldiers will then be given tasks and a way to prove themselves by becoming the force that polices the surroundings. It will give them a chance to distinguish themselves and since they will not be part of the main army we will not feel it as much.”

Slyfer has to admit the idea holds merit. At Aldowin’s next few words he nearly audibly objects though. “I want you to join the academy.”

Slyfer turns in his chair and frowns at his master causing others that were arguing around the table to fall quiet and look at the two of them. “Why?”

Is all Slyfer gets out.

Aldowin rises slowly and walks towards the table while mentally answering Slyfer. “Because of your inexperience to command. Don’t get me wrong you fight well, but you always do so alone. You always rush ahead leaving others behind. You have no ability to command and you always make mistakes.”

“I don’t always-“ He stops mid-sentence having to fight his pride. Slyfer knows Aldowin is right.

Slyfer lets out a long breath before turning to Elyna standing to his right. “Are the representatives of the academy still around?”

She gives a curt nod. “They are here and have requested an audience more than once.”

Slyfer bites his lip and begrudgingly says his next words. “Please bring the liars here.”

The other leaders look at him with curiosity. He shrugs, “we may have a solution to our problem, it’s not perfect but it’s better than a massacre.”

They don’t wait long before the representatives arrive. Slyfer can’t help but notice that there is one present that was not there before. The creature looks more fish than human but it does not have the same bubble of water that he has seen on the others. Slyfer takes a back seat as Aldowin explains what they want. The rest of the leaders give their own opinions and soon a plan starts to form.

The new representative starts to frown the more he hears. “I do not agree, militarising the academy goes against traditions.”

Slyfer interjects. “Does teaching lies also fall under these traditions?”

The fish creature thing bows low. “It was not our choice to teach those things, we were forced. Perhaps we should have put up more of a fight, however, our families would have been killed had we not done as we were told.”

Slyfer shrugs. “Now you will be forced to teach military strategy, of course we will provide our own teachers for this so it won’t affect you liars at all.”

A fin on the top of the representative’s head flares up displaying bright red colours. “It seems the young master cannot be made to see reason.”

Aldowin frowns at the creature and his voice is filled with steel when he says. “It is not about reason but need, we need the academy to do this so that we do not have to enact a massacre or release people that will later become criminals.”

Slyfer puts his hand on Aldowin’s shoulder. “In any case, the choice is not yours. The alliance has decided.”

The fin flares even more and Slyfer starts to feel irritated. For a moment he contemplates ripping it off. Silence settles in the chamber like a cloud as the creature stares at Slyfer and then speaks. “The academy has always been a separate entity from the government to avoid situations like the one enacted by the dead human. It is that way so that students can study in peace, make up their own minds and follow their own paths in life.”

Slyfer stands up and starts walking around the table. “Study in peace? You seem to misunderstand the situation we are in. There is no peace so how can they study in peace. We do not have the luxury of deciding a path. We have been forced into one, one that goes beyond any others.” Slyfer leans against the wall and looks the fish man up and down. “The path is one you have already chosen over your duties.”

The fish man tilts his head and asks. “What path do you speak of?”

Slyfer smiles and says. “Survival.”

The fish man regards Slyfer. “You have a way with words.”

Slyfer shakes his head. “No, I only speak the truth and I have grown tired of using words. Decide now, help us or leave the academy.”

The representative’s eyes bulge and he opens his mouth, but Slyfer interrupts. “No words, make a choice. Anything other than that will be seen as your resignation from whatever position you hold.”

It lets out some kind of growl, this time fins fan on his arms too as magic starts to gather around the creature. “My family has sacrificed too much. We have always been a part of the academy.”

Slyfer lets out a long sigh and turns to the other representatives. “He no longer works for the academy, do any of you wish to follow him. No harm will come to you if you choose to do it, but know if you stay. You will have follow our orders.”

None speak and Slyfer turns around to go back to the table.

“You cannot do this!” Continues the man.

Slyfer ignores him and sits down. “Please escort our guest out before I throw him out. The decision has been made.”

Another representative steps forward, a woman guesses Slyfer by the sound of her voice “My Lord, please reconsider, Lord Bargerove is a large asset to our school and well versed in the ways of magic.”

Slyfer clenches his jaw. –Why do I always have to struggle?- He looks at the woman then says. “Then it’s a shame he is an imbecile in other matters. Now… will you be leaving with him?”

She shakes her head and stands back.

Elyna along with a few more guards are already escorting the man away. Slyfer looks at the rest of them. “Let this be a lesson to you, those that are not with us are against us there is no sitting on the fence. No middle road. It’s us and its them, anything in between gets lumped with the enemy. I do not expect any of you to sing our praises or talk about our greatness. I want you to teach the truth the way it was meant to be. Of course, I also want you to teach our people to fight. If we fail at least they will be able to survive a little bit longer.”

With that, the meeting ends and Slyfer gets up only to bend down and pick up his sleeping step-sister. She had fallen asleep during the meeting. Slyfer realises the pressure that has been placed on her must be great and it causes him to feel guilty. He is the last one to leave with the short woman in his arms, but he runs into Fira outside. Next to her is a nervous looking Nirn and the human girl. Her eyes are focused on the ground causing her hair to cover her face but Slyfer can sense something is different about her.

Without a word he turns and starts to walk towards Jade’s room with the rest in tow.

******

Trisha looks up at the sky. The sun is already setting but they are nowhere near the tower. If fact they have not even turned back yet and she feels tired. It had not occurred to her until today, but she feels like she is becoming soft. Training to keep up with the rest of the elves had honed her instincts and abilities but lately she had been lax. Staying with Slyfer is… amazing to say the least but she is beginning to go soft and she now knows it.

The warriors around her had surprised her more than once today. They had travelled non-stop in the morning until they reached a river and from there they headed North. They soon found tracks belonging to horses. It is then she realised that it this was more than a training exercise. It was a hunt.

The commanding officer, a dark Elf with the name Luka that was always with Ban had given instruction to stop and dismount. Giving the wolves a chance to rest. Trisha quickly made her way towards the front and stopped. She could smell it; blood and the scent of fear.

She made her way through the warriors and soon found a sad sight. A lizard girl, very young judging by her size lays bloody and trampled. Luka had watched her for a moment before commenting. “We have found similar instances in the last few days. It seems there are some bandits in the vicinity and from what we can tell they are attacking the lizard people that are leaving Atlantia in fear of the dragons. Yesterday we got a group of them and from them we learned that there is a large bandit camp that gets moved every day, kind of like a moving town.” Trisha looks back down at the dead girl.

She shakes her head. “What race are they?”

Luka tilts his head in question and Trisha can almost feel how she is being judged. “Does it matter what race they are?” He asks.

Trisha looks at him like he is stupid. “Of course it does. Knowing the race can give us an inkling of what abilities they may have. Like the humans may have wards, or Snow Elves ice magic.”

She is about to go on but Luka holds up his hand. “I understand your reasoning my lady.”

Seeing the smile on his face she realises he was testing her. –Is he doing this out of his own or did Aldowin tell him to?-

She does not have a chance to ponder on it for long, before Luka answers her question. “They are a mix of races. Humans, Snow Elves, some Orcs and those rabbit folk things.”

“Pencas.” Says Trisha in thought.

Luka tilts his armoured head at her. She snaps out of it. “They are not Rabbit folk but Pencas. Take care no one hears you speak that way or it may cause issues. We are an alliance now, some may think you are being disrespectful.”

Luka shakes his head. “I saw them train. If anything they are good fighters. A bit crazy sometimes but good. I just didn’t know what they are called.”

Trisha acknowledges his explanation with a nod. “So what do you plan to do when you find them.” She looks over the three hundred warriors and as if reading her mind Luka says.

“We won’t be attacking them. At the moment we only have eight mages of which three are High Elves that only occasionally join us to instruct the Dark Elves that have shown some ability. Unfortunately, it seems my people are more adept with fire magic hence only one has shown some ability with earth. The fire mages are nowhere near her highness of course.”

“You mean Fira.”

Luka nods. “Yes.”

They stand in silence looking at the broken and dead girl. Luka gestures at a few of his warriors. “Bury the poor thing and then prepare to move I want to find them before the end of today.”

That had been a few hours ago and they are still searching. The trail has led them all over the place sometimes changing direction for no apparent reason. They did find two more bodies during this time, all trampled to death.

Luka orders them to halt with a hand gesture and they do so. Trisha having learned tracking from Elyna knows exactly why. They are getting close.

As if on que a three lightly mounted warriors crest a hill, there wolves running as if Alric himself is on their tails. The trio soon reaches them and the wolves are cared for first, receiving food and water while the scouts relay their message. “Sir we found a large group of bandits.”

Luka scratches at his chin. “Was it a camp or just riders.”

“Riders Sir, but there is something else.” When Luka says nothing the scout continues. “The bandits are chasing down some lizzardfolk.”

******

Slyfer looks at the strange substance in a glass tube and then at the three women standing restlessly while he assesses them in turn. –Fira looks worried… can’t blame her for that.- He turns to Nirn, she too is worried but for a whole different reason.

Slyfer cocks an eyebrow. “You used this before consulting me?”

Nirn does not say anything, she cant what Slyfer had said earlier was right. She should have told him before she used it on the human, now…

Slyfer turns to the fidgeting girl. Her eyes are locked on the vial in his hand. A small bead of sweat runs down her neck. Slyfer had been surprised that the girl is now completely healed, although it came at great cost. She is now completely addicted to the stuff.

Slyfer rubs his hand through his hair. “What a mess.” He says to no one in particular and turns to the girl with a question in the human language. “How do you feel when you are not near the… the-“

“Life Essence.” Chimes Nirn, sounding too proud for Slyfer’s taste.

The human takes a small step towards Slyfer or more accurately the vial in his hand. “It feels like I am missing something, something important. It feels like not having it will leave me empty for the rest of my life.” She shudders. “It feels like when I was on that… monster’s table, without it, it feels like death.” She takes another small step.

Fira frowns at the interaction and then turns to Nirn. “How much did she take.”

Nirn stoically answers. “Two drops.”

Slyfer ignores the two and although he feels a bit guilty for treating the human like a test subject, he needs to know more about life essence. “Have you noticed any changes to yourself except for the healing?”

The girl nods as if in a daze and then says. “Right after taking it there is a rush of energy and my senses get heightened, the world seems to slow down or maybe I just go faster? I can think clearer, I feel stronger and the world looks completely different… its as if I can see the life or energy in everything around me and I am connected to it.”

The voices in his mind start to speak. –It sounds similar to the way you were taught to sense your surroundings. Have the girl try and use magic next time she takes it.-

Slyfer rounds on the voice. –Next time, there won’t be a next time. I won’t let this go on any further. What if it gets to a point where she tries to kill for it?-

-Dont be naïve, young one. The more you know about this substance the better we will be able to use it. It will also give us an inkling of what this amazing ability you have is.-

Another voice interrupts. –We cannot use it. Slyfer cannot take that risk. What if the girl is captured? What if the enemy finds out? The young one may be stronger than most but there are things out there far stronger than him. Things at our enemies’ disposal. Plus you have not thought of what may happen if Chronos were to get a hold of this. He could lock Slyfer up and use him as a resource to gain back some of his strength, if only momentarily. Or the enemy could have an instant army of mages, judging by what the girl just said.-

The first voice snorts. -Sensing the magic is different to using it.-

Other voices soon join in and they grow ever louder. Slyfer does not listen for a moment longer, shutting them out completely. The other two regard him curiously Fira has an inkling of what just happened, in fact the voices in her head are arguing too.

Slyfer takes a deep breath to steady himself and come to a decision. “For now, I want you to stop making the substance, but do not destroy what we have. I will give you some of my guard to help keep it safe until I can decide what to do with it.

Nirn although displeased keeps it to herself. The human girl looks startled for a second until she heard that the vials already created will be kept. Sighing Slyfer finally turns to her. “You may not care now but I apologize that you got involved in this. Nirn will help you try and get rid of the addiction.”

The girl is about to say something when there is a rustling near the entrance to the balcony of Jade’s room, causing them all to freeze. There is a split second of silence and then a loud crash akin to an explosion as Slyfer jumps into action. The floor cracks beneath his feet as he rockets in the direction. Jade’s papers and furniture are thrown up, some blasting against the walls, shattering into debri and then silence once more.

Jade now wide awake sits up with raccoon eyes. For a moment she just stares at her room that now resembles a battlefield. “What in the hell gates!”

Her surprised eyes spots Slyfer's figure holding a familiar creature. He makes his way back towards them. He stops in front of her and the others whom Jade only now notices. Rubbing at his hair, embarrassedly he says. “It was only Schree.”