Chapter 19

“Breaking News: A group of Earther’s have been eliminated from the opening round of the Fahirfleanyn. They attacked the Arebellornddaryn party in the safe zone, and were defeated and disqualified from further raid competitions. The I.E.G. were summoned and the individuals were arrested after the witness’ testimonies…”, A male elven anchor stated with an excited tone.

The raid broadcast was viewed by a large number of Draegun and Earther’s a like.

“Tod, it’s amazing that the I.E.G. got involved! Seems to be another case of an isolated Earther’s rambunctiousness”, said a female anchor with a business suit, two horns on her forehead, and wings; she was famous for her beauty and had many fans

A voice came, as a male with ungulate legs, a human torso and face with curled horns ran into the studio, “We got an interview with the arresting inspector!”.

“We now go to Shyryla, on the scene for an exclusive interview”, the elven anchor said with enthusiasm, and a charm that would make many women swoon.

The executive producer was watching the events unfurl before him, as the many studio staff ran around frantically. What luck, for such a story to hit when the month-long raid had started and he even managed to obtain an interview. He would definitely get a pay increase and maybe even a promotion if he reacted quick enough to properly cover the lucky story. The ratings would soar!

“Everybody stay sharp, keep it tight, this is crunch time, as the Earthers say”, the dragon in human form, said via a communication app, clenching his fist firmly.

“Hi, my name is Bob”, Bob said, as he waved at the camera with a smile, running his nervous hands through his black hair, “So to answer your question, after the party from Arblellornddaryn shot a yellow flare, raid security officials landed; and upon learning the situation, detained the Earther’s and I was summoned”.

“Huh??Your name is Bob?!...Anyways. Were any of the Arbellornddaryn members injured? Why were the earther’s arrested? Was it an attack? Have dark wizards infiltrated the raid?”, Shyryla asked quickly, the breeze picked up gently lifting her hair under the noon suns as if the elements were embellishing the scene on cue.

‘Nice shot’, the executive producer thought to himself as he watched the monitor projected from his tablet.

Bob responded professionally, seemingly unaware of his utterly mundane name, “It appears that the Earther’s involved were affiliated with some criminal elements on earth. Amazingly enough, only two of the raid members confronted them. One of the assailants Piero, was sent to the nearest hospital under custody for serious injuries as well as two others”.

To which Shyryla queried, “Whoa! Complete devastation, and only two?! That means, the magic guild party could very well be in the running to win this competition. What was the motivation for the attack? Do you think we should regulate entrants more thoroughly if they are Earthers?”.

Bob replied, “We are still investigating the cause, but it seems to be a petty grudge from Earth. As per your other question, we do not draw a line between Earther’s and Draegun. All are free to participate, if they have the required skills and prescribe to the rules. Let’s remember something like this is not uncommon, and we have policies and procedures to counteract such an incident”.

Shyryla wrapped up the brief interview, as the sunlight made her blonde hair shimmer like the night sky, “Thank you for your time…Bob… We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on that party, maybe we can expect a resurgence from the magic guild which has fallen from number one in the recent decade due to Liam’s absence from competitive raids. Tod back to you”.

The producer leaned back in his chair, satisfied, a brief interview, the facts concise, and a hook for viewers to keep watching. ‘I’m definitely going to get promoted’, he thought to himself.

In Dduradum, just before dawn broke, a bird flew. Out of breath out of hope, it had strayed from its flock. The dead forest reared itself from the ground, an eternal stain on the flowing emerald hills and mountains of Arbell. The bird dared not alight on the branches of the trees. Instinctively it felt danger, and foreboding. The very air seemed a poison, as smoke-like fog wreathed around and twisted through the rotted trees. The bird began to rise riding on the thermals, flying over the forest hoping for some water and a place to land. It sensed no movement of the wind, in the forest, as if the air had remained stagnant and unmoving for thousands of years.

Deeper, ever deeper it plunged into the sprawling heart of the forest. It was as if the lone bird was behind enemy lines in some forsaken warzone. A clearing up ahead, it could finally land. It came upon the still, black crimson lake of Kalybrila. The primal instincts of a wild creature urged and pleaded for it to leave; however, the bird was already a victim. The toxic fumes from the dead water filled its beak, and it sank down as it began to lose vitality. The very life of it was sucked out in an instant. The bird fell as its blood travelled, pulled like a magnet underneath the water. Like a mirror reflecting another world, the water hid a castle underneath its cover at the very bottom.

Though underneath the lifeless water, the land was dry as if the castle was in a different world. The ground was dyed red, a long land bridge protruded from the cliff, with utter disregard for the laws of gravity. Just wide enough for four people to walk shoulder-to-shoulder it stretched from the cliffs to a lone circular mesa, which grew from the ground below like a pedestal, upon which the black spires were perched, stabbing at the black sky.

In the bowels of the castle a figure clothed in utter darkness, stretched forth its hand; with an ominous voice that echoed through out the castle, it uttered with a sophisticated growl as the life of the dead bird entered its parched lips, “The time is nigh, the time is ready. The pieces are beginning to assemble, the wand bearer is approaching. After eons of waiting the time to move is now! Go forth show the hospitality of The Grand White Duke! We will have oceans of blood to drink!”.

Only a malicious glint of the eyes could be seen in the darkness; the darkness that hid countless beings with an insatiable thirst!

Amy was marching forward next to Shatira. She looked back at Toshiharu who had escorted her thusly to the edge of the safe zone and was returning. His haunches moved up and down in his dragon form as his claws dug at the ground like half a dozen farmers ploughing a field.

As a biology major, Amy noticed the shape of the Shinsai dragons were sleeker compared to Glyn and especially William. The legs were shorter, the neck and tail longer, and instead of two black horns, Toshiharu had several ivory-colored horns protruding around his face from his black scales. He flapped his massive black wings, and launched into the air.

The party had travelled several miles from the rendezvous. Glyn and Sean were conversing in their native tongue, walking together. The elf was walking with the orc, and the other orc was walking with the other elf. Meanwhile Amy trudged on silently, reviewing what had just taken place. She questioned if it was because of her wand, or because of coincidence. Regardless, it was the first time she had been assaulted, accosted by another person.

She had encountered many creatures hungry for her flesh, but her head knew it was only a simulation in the illusions Radim conjured. The feeling was different, the atmosphere was stifling. Amy was not pleased with her performance; their skills and abilities were far below hers; they were trash. Yet still, she allowed an opening in a moment of hesitation, she could not allow it again, for it could be her death.

Amy realized their level when the night stick moved to smite her. It was slow; she should have, could have moved to counter but she shrank back; she was embarrassed. Even then, her speed which had grown exponentially due to her hellish training had allowed time for Shatira to block sparing her injury. Was her mental fortitude only this much, she groaned inwardly.

“I’m sorry you got involved in my shit”, Shatira said guiltily avoiding eye contact with Amy, “I’m sure you want to know why they assaulted us”.

Amy nodded silently.

Shatira sighed, “It was when I was little, my father used to beat my mother, then my brother, and finally me. My brother was almost dead after my father and his fellow mafioso had fun while they were tripping balls. I killed them both, my brother had always endured to tire my father out so I would be beaten less, and I couldn’t stand it. They were pure human and had no magic. I didn’t want to go to jail, and I didn’t want to stay, so, I left carrying my brother. Apparently, the family ordered a hit on me, they couldn’t lose face, they couldn’t show that two of their top enforcers were killed by a little girl. It would tarnish their reputation; so, they hunted us. When they finally found us, Liam and Ian appeared and saved me, taking me and my brother to their public magic academy; then, after I was old enough, I joined the guild academy like you, for proper magical training to repay my debt to Liam, and to protect my brother”.

“You don’t have to apologize, who would think they would be stupid enough to attack in the dragon’s domain”, Amy began to understand the real Shatira hidden underneath the armor of her provocations, and roughness, and began to understand her motivations and values, and so she responded, “You saved me from that attack so we’re even”.

“That was pretty stupid though, on your butt with your hands up. You looked so pathetic like ‘save me save me’. You could have destroyed all of them with a few words”, Shatira said with a click of her tongue, as her guilty expression relaxed.

Amy’s eyebrow twitched as her pride was hurt, and she retorted with a defiant voice, “Well you got distracted and left me with three people, so it’s still your fault I was even in that position”.

Amy caught the glance and smirk Glyn threw in her direction. They were nearing the coastal range of Dylandil. It would have been much faster if Sean and Glyn flew, but it was prohibited per the rules. Still, Amy would not have witnessed the sight of the oaken forest up ahead if they flew.

The trees in Arbell were on a different scale from Earth, a small tree would be comparable to the loftiest of redwoods, while the largest, the eldest of the trees were the size of skyscrapers. The sheer scale was grand as the forest in front of her arose from the mountains in regal splendor.

As they hiked through the forest that began in the foot hills, the sunlight bled through the trees, birds were flying to and fro, singing secret words betwixt each other.

After a couple of hours of walking suddenly Boom! Boom! Boom! Amy could feel the ground shake with each step of this yet unseen giant.

“What is that?”, Amy asked nervously as her fingers tightened around her wand.

Lorenn and Veve looked back at her with a rueful expression.

An aged large voice, that seemed to grab a hold and shake the very air responded, “That, or ratherrrr I, am an Ent little humannnnnn”.

It was a moving tree, the size of large trees on earth. Amy could hear its wood like flesh groan and creak as it moved. Boom! It took a step. Boom! Another step until it stood in front to address the party.

Amy was taking mental notes as she gasped gazing up at this gigantic creature she had only read about. It had a bi-pedal form; moss hung around its face as if it was a beard, underneath a protruding bulbous knot for a nose. Its eyes were the color of dark mahogany, and it carried a warm expression. Leaves fell from its branches whenever it took a step.

It eyed Amy with curiosity, as his bark like eyebrows wrinkled in concentration, “Come ffffriends of Ian, fffffriends of Liam, fffffriends of Radim. We have been waiting. My name is Longgggrowww, I will guide you to the hidden enclave of Dylandil. But be warned according to our laws, you must never speak about this place, onnnlllyyy can senddddd new friends here”.

“Whah?! I never even knew this village was here”, Veve, remarked, although it came off as somewhat stiff and unconvincing.

Amy was puzzled, Minerva whispered into her ear, “Every Ent enclave supposed to be a ‘secret’ they are, the village is actually well known it is a form of manners for the Ents. Anwyays rarely people visit they do, because it is so far away from the roads”.

“Ahhhh”, Amy nodded as she understood the interaction was a formality.

The ground shuddered in recoil from every step as the party followed the moving tree to their destination.

Amy was a little fatigued after the day’s march. They had covered twenty miles as the dragon flies. It was a fast pace considering they were not on the roads. Their hosts: the Ents, had no lengthy conversation, no awe-inspiring words of wisdom, it was very much nrief and anti-climactic.

When they arrived to the settlement in the evening hours, Longgrow, said, as he pointed to the structures grown from wood, grafted into the trees, “Welcommmme to the village of Dylandilllll. Yourrrrrrr quarters are over there”.

Without ceremony he marched off, as Ents were reclusive people. Yet speaking to one outside their race was considered as a sign of friendship.

Amy looked down the boulevard fabricated from growing trees. It wasn’t a traditional boulevard in any sense, instead rows of large trees, stood together. Stairs grafted to the bark lead up to a second level where an interwoven span of branches and leaves were fashioned into streets and pathways and buildings with magic.

Since she met the Ent words had not come to her mind, instead all she could was marvel at the sights unfolding. They climbed the stairs for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, after mounting the stairway underneath the wooden archway, they entered the elven village. There were lights strewn, hanging off the woven branches like fruit, giving off a serene soft white light. The moonlight navigated its way through the branches from above. In the starlight, and light from the fruit of the trees, Veve, Lorenn, and all the elves in the village seemed white like ghosts, clad in noble flowing green garments.

Veve turned around from the front with a bright and energetic smile, “Welcome to my home town!”

The party had reached their first destination on their sojourn: the village Dylandil; a reclusive enclave of traditionalist elves and ents.