Fair point.
Will be mentioned more in future chapters... but there are benefits.
Are there issues? Well, you'll have to read to see
Above Eden: Of Science, Magic, and Gods (Original, Sci-Fi/Fantasy First Contact)
- Thread starter okmangeez
- Start date
- Original
Fair point.
Will be mentioned more in future chapters... but there are benefits.
Are there issues? Well, you'll have to read to see
Chapter 12: The Eyes of God
A day prior to the meeting between the Danj elders and the UN…
"So, your people come from somewhere beyond the black sea?" Chiu asked the healer. She was unlike any being he had met, lacking a spirit but containing emotions and thoughts. Despite this contradiction, he saw her as a living person.
A beautiful person at that. Her obsidian-like hair shimmered in the light, and her soft red eyes were calming.
Nurse Lee slowly nodded, her hands on the transparent square she called a "tablet," though it was unlike any tablet he had seen before. "Yes, we call that black sea "space." It is dark and cold, and we do not think any life can exist in the naked emptiness of space."
"Why not?"
"The scientific explanation may confuse you, so I will answer your question simply. Space has nothing that allows living beings like yourself to exist within. If you were to step out into space without the proper wear, you would perish very quickly."
"What about you?"
"Since I am… man-made, I can exist in almost any extreme environment. Though, I would prefer not to."
He was unsure how humans worked, but perhaps some humans were actually made by other humans with tools? Chiu was still confused on that matter. "So… how long was the journey?"
"Sixty three night cycles. Our ships are swift and capable. Just several… rotations ago, we would've taken at least two hundred night cycles. However, our tools have rapidly improved."
"Are you from a place beyond even the gods?"
"I do not understand," Nurse Lee said, tilting her head.
"Eden. Where the gods live, it was said to be beyond the sky."
"That word is familiar, from the Bible."
"Huh?"
"To answer your question, no. We did not see any "Eden," if that is what you're asking."
Chiu frowned and looked out the window. "My people worship Tesa. He exists; I've felt him before. The sky has always been off-limits to us… but maybe being beyond the sky is fine, right? Especially since I'm not peeking into Eden."
"I believe your god will not object to you seeing the wonders of space. I am sure he would be in awe as well…"
+++++
"I have seen much through the eyes of Caelu and Chiu," the being within Chiu declared. Every word rumbled through the air, vibrating the chair that Captain Moore was sitting on. "One could say that both are… fascinated by these new people and Bie's domain."
Elder Auru gasped while Elder Septen vibrated on the floor. "We…we dare not to! We did not know. We will ensure that the two are punished…"
"No." Tesa declared. "You will do no such thing. These outsiders are… unique. They are not of this world and have no animosity or relations towards Bie. I have glimpsed into their thoughts and memories, and even I am found wanting more."
"You've read our thoughts?" Captain Moore asked. His question slipped out inadvertently through his slack jaw and wide open mouth.
He silently prayed… to the god before him that he wouldn't be smited.
"I am the earth; nothing escapes my sights," the god boomed. He shifted his attention to Assistant Director Fletes. I can feel the dull shine of gold within you, though all humans are afflicted with such greed. Yet, you are… in distress over the potential failure of your journey to this… "planet." An interesting word to describe this world we are in.
To his credit, the assistant director immediately bowed his head and greeted the deity. "Sir Tesa… we apologize for intruding…"
"You may save your apology for a later time. I decided to unveil myself to my chosen people and your people to resolve this… conflict between both sides."
The elves quietly awaited on the ground while the humans of Earth respectively bowed their heads from the immense pressure emitted from the being.
"Earth… A quaint name for your home planet. You've named your world after the ground itself. No name is more fitting than such for any planet."
Captain Moore swore that the tone of the voice jumped a pitch, a soothing, pleasant rumble instead of the powerful earthquake that echoed through the room before.
"And yet, I have seen what your people have done to your Earth and the earth of other worlds. You build, so certain of your will and abilities… yet contaminate the ground, poison the waters, and suffocate life. Every hearth you create… you damage and ruin. Only to make a pitiful effort to restore the beauty it once offered."
That did not sound good, the voice returning to a tone of simmering discontent, a volcano waiting to erupt. He glanced at Caelu, who looked stunned and confused at the god's words. Meanwhile, Elder Septen looked vindicated, a smirk forming on the edge of his lips.
"In any other situation, I would've dismissed you from my lands and tossed you back to your world. The sins your people have committed in other realms would've been judged in full here," Tesa continued. His eyes swept the room, the ablaze balls of molten silver boring into the souls of every being. "But your appearance has caused a stir in Eden, for the better or the worse. Expelling you will not change this; unfortunately, this earth and my people will be caught in the exchange."
"Heed my word, elves of the Danj." The elves dug their heads into the ground even more deeply, which Captain Moore didn't think was possible. "The humans will stay. Open your minds to them. Pay them a modicum of respect and cooperation. I will offer them a hearth in this section of the forest, which I will expand to allow them to grow. You are to aid them, and guide them. They are… experienced, yet ignorant of this world and its ways."
"I hear you, Lord Tesa…" Elder Septen said. "However, as you said, they are destroyers of the earth…"
"There is something amiss, and it is better that these humans are by your side rather than the humans of this realm, who are blinded by far more sinister things. These humans are… imperfect, yet there is a potential to them. Even amidst their destruction, they try to make amends with the earth. They are untouched by the divine, some of them do not even believe in a divine." Tesa sounded… amused, a spring breeze floating through the air and dissipating the quakes from before.
"That is not to say that I will allow these humans to run wildly within my domain. No, if they even dare to touch even a blade of grass without my permission, they will face my wrath."
The entire camp shook violently upon Tesa's words, the sudden shift that caused Captain Moore to lose his footing. He stumbled and fell upon the ground, and looked up just in time to see Tesa snap his fingers to stop the quake.
"You have awakened giants, humans. I can only hope you are prepared."
"Thank you for your words of wisdom, Lord Tesa. Your will is now ours," Elder Auru stated, her body slowly rising from the ground, though she refused to face the divine. "Will we see you again soon?"
"Every moment I remain in the mortal realm, I expend more of my powers. Even for the most powerful gods, manifesting into this plane remains difficult."
The god's voice turned into a sorrowful tone, the melody of a bird eyeing its destroyed nest after a hurricane. "I'm afraid I will not be able to speak to your tribe during the Equinox. However, know that you will continue to receive my blessings. I hope in due time, you will be free to roam the earth, my domain, instead of being confined to this forest."
Tesa turned to Captain Moore and raised his arm. "You, a human with a decent heart. Continue to watch over my people, if you wish for your people to remain here. As for Caelu… may you find strength in the near future from what you will experience. I wish I can protect you from her, my child, but it seems she may not be controlled…"
With those final parting words, the spirit of Tesa left Chiu's mortal body. A physical green smoke exited through his mouth and dispersed into the ground. The damage left behind the god remained, though that thought was the last thing on anyone's mind.
Chiu slowly sank onto the floor and laid down, his breathing steady as if he was sleeping. Caelu quickly ran to his side and held his hand. "Chiu…"
Captain Moore joined her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He'll be fine. I'm more worried about what he said about you, in all honesty."
"I… I guess I'm not an atheist anymore?" Assistant Director Fletes joked, letting out a nervous chuckle as he climbed back into his chair. "Where were we?"
"Tesa has spoken through the Messenger, Chiu," Elder Septen declared. His tone was remarkably softer and a bit higher pitched, perhaps due to the sudden appearance of Tesa. "Even the Grand Elder can not overrule this. You have my… our approval."
+++++
AN: Shoutout to CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
I do have an extra scene I'm working on related to this chapter, so stay tuned. I'll hopefully have it out by Monday/Tuesday. After all... if a god is proven to be real, how would that affect some of the ordinary folks from Earth?
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
"So, your people come from somewhere beyond the black sea?" Chiu asked the healer. She was unlike any being he had met, lacking a spirit but containing emotions and thoughts. Despite this contradiction, he saw her as a living person.
A beautiful person at that. Her obsidian-like hair shimmered in the light, and her soft red eyes were calming.
Nurse Lee slowly nodded, her hands on the transparent square she called a "tablet," though it was unlike any tablet he had seen before. "Yes, we call that black sea "space." It is dark and cold, and we do not think any life can exist in the naked emptiness of space."
"Why not?"
"The scientific explanation may confuse you, so I will answer your question simply. Space has nothing that allows living beings like yourself to exist within. If you were to step out into space without the proper wear, you would perish very quickly."
"What about you?"
"Since I am… man-made, I can exist in almost any extreme environment. Though, I would prefer not to."
He was unsure how humans worked, but perhaps some humans were actually made by other humans with tools? Chiu was still confused on that matter. "So… how long was the journey?"
"Sixty three night cycles. Our ships are swift and capable. Just several… rotations ago, we would've taken at least two hundred night cycles. However, our tools have rapidly improved."
"Are you from a place beyond even the gods?"
"I do not understand," Nurse Lee said, tilting her head.
"Eden. Where the gods live, it was said to be beyond the sky."
"That word is familiar, from the Bible."
"Huh?"
"To answer your question, no. We did not see any "Eden," if that is what you're asking."
Chiu frowned and looked out the window. "My people worship Tesa. He exists; I've felt him before. The sky has always been off-limits to us… but maybe being beyond the sky is fine, right? Especially since I'm not peeking into Eden."
"I believe your god will not object to you seeing the wonders of space. I am sure he would be in awe as well…"
+++++
"I have seen much through the eyes of Caelu and Chiu," the being within Chiu declared. Every word rumbled through the air, vibrating the chair that Captain Moore was sitting on. "One could say that both are… fascinated by these new people and Bie's domain."
Elder Auru gasped while Elder Septen vibrated on the floor. "We…we dare not to! We did not know. We will ensure that the two are punished…"
"No." Tesa declared. "You will do no such thing. These outsiders are… unique. They are not of this world and have no animosity or relations towards Bie. I have glimpsed into their thoughts and memories, and even I am found wanting more."
"You've read our thoughts?" Captain Moore asked. His question slipped out inadvertently through his slack jaw and wide open mouth.
He silently prayed… to the god before him that he wouldn't be smited.
"I am the earth; nothing escapes my sights," the god boomed. He shifted his attention to Assistant Director Fletes. I can feel the dull shine of gold within you, though all humans are afflicted with such greed. Yet, you are… in distress over the potential failure of your journey to this… "planet." An interesting word to describe this world we are in.
To his credit, the assistant director immediately bowed his head and greeted the deity. "Sir Tesa… we apologize for intruding…"
"You may save your apology for a later time. I decided to unveil myself to my chosen people and your people to resolve this… conflict between both sides."
The elves quietly awaited on the ground while the humans of Earth respectively bowed their heads from the immense pressure emitted from the being.
"Earth… A quaint name for your home planet. You've named your world after the ground itself. No name is more fitting than such for any planet."
Captain Moore swore that the tone of the voice jumped a pitch, a soothing, pleasant rumble instead of the powerful earthquake that echoed through the room before.
"And yet, I have seen what your people have done to your Earth and the earth of other worlds. You build, so certain of your will and abilities… yet contaminate the ground, poison the waters, and suffocate life. Every hearth you create… you damage and ruin. Only to make a pitiful effort to restore the beauty it once offered."
That did not sound good, the voice returning to a tone of simmering discontent, a volcano waiting to erupt. He glanced at Caelu, who looked stunned and confused at the god's words. Meanwhile, Elder Septen looked vindicated, a smirk forming on the edge of his lips.
"In any other situation, I would've dismissed you from my lands and tossed you back to your world. The sins your people have committed in other realms would've been judged in full here," Tesa continued. His eyes swept the room, the ablaze balls of molten silver boring into the souls of every being. "But your appearance has caused a stir in Eden, for the better or the worse. Expelling you will not change this; unfortunately, this earth and my people will be caught in the exchange."
"Heed my word, elves of the Danj." The elves dug their heads into the ground even more deeply, which Captain Moore didn't think was possible. "The humans will stay. Open your minds to them. Pay them a modicum of respect and cooperation. I will offer them a hearth in this section of the forest, which I will expand to allow them to grow. You are to aid them, and guide them. They are… experienced, yet ignorant of this world and its ways."
"I hear you, Lord Tesa…" Elder Septen said. "However, as you said, they are destroyers of the earth…"
"There is something amiss, and it is better that these humans are by your side rather than the humans of this realm, who are blinded by far more sinister things. These humans are… imperfect, yet there is a potential to them. Even amidst their destruction, they try to make amends with the earth. They are untouched by the divine, some of them do not even believe in a divine." Tesa sounded… amused, a spring breeze floating through the air and dissipating the quakes from before.
"That is not to say that I will allow these humans to run wildly within my domain. No, if they even dare to touch even a blade of grass without my permission, they will face my wrath."
The entire camp shook violently upon Tesa's words, the sudden shift that caused Captain Moore to lose his footing. He stumbled and fell upon the ground, and looked up just in time to see Tesa snap his fingers to stop the quake.
"You have awakened giants, humans. I can only hope you are prepared."
"Thank you for your words of wisdom, Lord Tesa. Your will is now ours," Elder Auru stated, her body slowly rising from the ground, though she refused to face the divine. "Will we see you again soon?"
"Every moment I remain in the mortal realm, I expend more of my powers. Even for the most powerful gods, manifesting into this plane remains difficult."
The god's voice turned into a sorrowful tone, the melody of a bird eyeing its destroyed nest after a hurricane. "I'm afraid I will not be able to speak to your tribe during the Equinox. However, know that you will continue to receive my blessings. I hope in due time, you will be free to roam the earth, my domain, instead of being confined to this forest."
Tesa turned to Captain Moore and raised his arm. "You, a human with a decent heart. Continue to watch over my people, if you wish for your people to remain here. As for Caelu… may you find strength in the near future from what you will experience. I wish I can protect you from her, my child, but it seems she may not be controlled…"
With those final parting words, the spirit of Tesa left Chiu's mortal body. A physical green smoke exited through his mouth and dispersed into the ground. The damage left behind the god remained, though that thought was the last thing on anyone's mind.
Chiu slowly sank onto the floor and laid down, his breathing steady as if he was sleeping. Caelu quickly ran to his side and held his hand. "Chiu…"
Captain Moore joined her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "He'll be fine. I'm more worried about what he said about you, in all honesty."
"I… I guess I'm not an atheist anymore?" Assistant Director Fletes joked, letting out a nervous chuckle as he climbed back into his chair. "Where were we?"
"Tesa has spoken through the Messenger, Chiu," Elder Septen declared. His tone was remarkably softer and a bit higher pitched, perhaps due to the sudden appearance of Tesa. "Even the Grand Elder can not overrule this. You have my… our approval."
+++++
AN: Shoutout to CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
I do have an extra scene I'm working on related to this chapter, so stay tuned. I'll hopefully have it out by Monday/Tuesday. After all... if a god is proven to be real, how would that affect some of the ordinary folks from Earth?
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
Chapter 13: Home of the Elves
The trek through the forest was much more calming than before. Instead of venturing into the vast sea of trees in the dark, Captain Moore was now traveling with Sergeant Wells and his men, along with Specialist Smith. Caelu and Chiu were close by, chatting with the soldiers casually. The only outsider was Lieutenant Li, who tailed the group with great interest and wrote some notes by hand in a small pocketbook.
A strong, earthy smell permeated the moist air, and Captain Moore felt the crunch of branches and leaves under his boots. Fresh dew clung onto the purple and gray leaves of the tall trees. A few select green foliage was also present in some of the smaller bushes, though they were overshadowed by the pillars of nature reaching towards the heavens. Clouds drifted aimlessly through the golden sky, presenting a bit of shade for the sun rising to the west.
Initially, the entirety of Bravo Company and even the Marine Recon Force were slated to accompany the elvish entourage back to the village. However, upon Elder Septen's insistence, that escort group was cut down to the bare minimum: a squad, the captain, the observer from China, and the specialist acting as the liaison for Caelu.
"Bringing that many would lead many to lash out. Are you seeking for peace or preparing for a raid?" Elder Septen had scolded General Bassot and Assistant Director Fletes. "Only a dozen or so at most."
Elder Auru and Nedurp remained behind at Fort Colossus, seemingly to act as diplomats, a term that had fallen out the tribe's use for centuries. However, Captain Moore knew they remained at the fort to enjoy the modern amenities they increasingly depended upon.
Despite the encounter with Tesa the day prior, there was ease amongst the group as the situation of Fort Colossus was mostly resolved. Everyone except Elder Septen and his 'prisoner' looked pleased.
The 'prisoner,' a male elf named "Roke," winced when the elder poked his back with the staff. "Elder, please..."
"Silence! It was already reckless for you to attempt such a vain attack against the humans. Yet, you dared to invoke the name of the elders to weasel your way out of trouble? You will face a stiff punishment once we return to the village," Elder Septen scolded.
"Is it that big of a crime?" Lieutenant Li asked. He and Sergeant Wells were the only ones scanning the forest while walking.
"The position of an elder is an exclusive important position, chosen by Tesa himself. For one of our own to falsely claim such a burden is an insult to our people and Tesa," Elder Septen answered.
"Ah, blasphemy. I understand then."
Sergeant Wells slowed down and nudged the captain. "How was the… god like, captain?"
Captain Moore gripped his rifle tighter. "Triggered some memories of my childhood, that's for sure."
"That bad? Damn. I might actually go back to church then. You think God is real?"
"All I know is that one god is real."
"Shit, so I should convert to Hinduism then? Take my chances that at least one of their gods is real?"
"That might not be a bad bet, honestly."
"... I hope Tesa is a bit happier to see us next time. I was taking a fat shit when the rumbling started; I'm just glad the toilet didn't explode."
The captain sputtered at the comment, though Caelu and Chiu looked curious if anything. The young male elf looked at Specialist Smith. "What's a toilet?"
"Oh, I know this one!" Caelu answered instead. "It's that thing they use for ah… I believe the humans call it "business?" I used it every day back at Fort Colossus."
"What's business?"
"It can mean doing work, I believe, trading things. Or it can mean…" Caelu blushed. "Er, letting out excrements, Chiu."
"Yuck," Chiu said, making a face.
It was unimaginable that a god had spoken through Chiu only a day ago. Yet, the elves were walking around as if this was completely normal, which caused Captain Moore to re-evaluate the… norms of this world.
Even after his "divine" experience, the boy seemed utterly normal. If anything, he acted like many human boys his age… which also involved asking for the synth nurse on the UNS Nimitz to join him on his journey to the village. After a few minutes of consideration, the request was denied and "delayed indefinitely."
The beaming smile from Caelu when rustling Chiu's hair was reassuring. The siblings had complimenting hair colors, though Chiu still seemed… blessed by Tesa's brief stay within his body. His skin was crystal clear, and his hair was a lighter green than his sister's.
"We're here," Elder Septen announced.
Despite knowing the village's location from his briefings, Captain Moore looked around for recognizable landmarks. Everything looked the same to him, though to the elves, who were attuned to the earth, the entrance was probably like a glaring beacon within the woods.
The elder struck his staff onto a small pile of leaves, and the earth parted to reveal a passage into the underground.
"Did he just Moses that shit?" Sergeant Wells asked.
"Who in Tesa's name is Moses?" Elder Septen asked in an irritated tone.
"Never mind that," Captain Moore waved his hand towards the passage. "We can discuss religious things after we're in the village."
True to their Tenth Mountain spirit, Sergeant Wells and his men barely paused before entering the passage after Elder Septen and Roke. The other elves, Specialist Smith and Lieutenant Li, followed shortly after, with Captain Moore in the rear.
"Anidom," Captain Moore mumbled, his hands tracing the hard earth that lined the passage walls.
Caelu turned and smiled. "Of heart and home. A village name befitting for the tribe blessed by the God of the Earth and Hearth."
The walk down the narrow passageway took a few minutes, but when he reached the end of it, he ducked under a tree root to witness a completely foreign sight.
A large chamber appeared before him, with glowing yellow stones embedded in the walls and streets, providing a soft ambiance. The interior was vast, large enough to fit the entirety of the Nimitz and more. If he had to guess, it would take him at least an hour to run from one end to the other.
A giant shimmering boulder was attached to the center of the ceiling, its bright red coloring and luminosity simulating the sun. The temperature within the underground felt just right, a warm ray of sunshine mixed with the coolness of the morning.
Dozens if not hundreds of elves were milling around, going about their daily business. Carts of grain, meats, and other goods were being pushed onto the busy streets below. A quick sniff revealed the faint smell of bread and roasted meat, prompting Captain Moore's stomach to growl despite himself. There was also a tinge of nuts and earth mixed into the air, a freshness that he didn't know was possible underground.
A large market sat at the center of the village, with the spiraling outer layers holding numerous houses made from giant tree roots or the earth. There was a small canal surrounding the limits of the markets, and water flowed from the center to the outer reaches of the village through the patterned dirt streets. At the very heart of the town, where the water originated, a large tower served as a beacon and reference point for all. It looked like the Washington Monument, though it was gray with a flat top.
The walls furthest away from the entrance held numerous openings to other large chambers, though Captain Moore could not see what lay beyond. From the looks of those entering the chambers, he guessed that a few held underground farms or orchids. Judging from the environment, it was even possible that the elves had their own herds of monsters or animals.
Each corner of the main room held an enormous tree, its numerous purple leaves and branches all remaining under the ground and looming over the elven village. The tree had a sword and a shield carved into its dark brown bark.
"Holy shit," Sergeant Wells muttered after Captain Moore arrived next to him. "I thought it would be a few mud and wooden huts."
Even Lieutenant Li, who remained aloof while observing Bravo Company, looked impressed. He snapped a few photos with his camera and beamed. "Fascinating! I believe I've visited some of the underground churches and villages back in China. This is on a far grander scale… as if an entire city was sunk into the ground."
"It took several months of magic to carve out the cavern like this," Caelu said. "Our ancestors took great effort to make it as spacious and grand as possible so that we could live within the earth forever if needed."
"Magic certainly seems to have its uses, as long as it doesn't drain your life essence."
Elder Septen hummed, jabbing Roke again with his staff as he led the group towards the village. "There are far more spectacular feats of magic than this. You humans have seen nothing yet."
"Oh, I don't think you've seen everything we have to offer as well," Lieutenant Li assured.
"We'll see," the elder shook his long greying hair and growled. "Damn… the Grand Elder knows I've returned. I will go greet him."
Captain Moore raised an eyebrow. "Should we also…"
"No. I'll greet him first and take Roke with me so he can receive his punishment. Caelu and Chiu, you two can show the humans around… and slowly inform the rest of the tribe of what transpired in that place."
"You mean Fort Colossus?"
"Fort whatever the heck. Such a silly name for something as important as a home."
"It has a pretty deep meaning actually…"
"... Whatever. Enjoy the splendors of our village, and try not to speak too much of human things."
After the elder and his prisoner stumbled away to a secluded path to a nearby chamber, the soldiers looked at Caelu and Chiu, who both smiled at each other and jogged toward the outskirts of Anidom. "Come on!"
The humans trotted down the road, encountering some elves heading towards the entrance with spears and bows. They all looked to be around Caelu's age, dressed in simple robes and displaying streaks of dirt on their skin. One of them noticed Sergeant Wells' ears, prompting a surprised yelp from the elf.
In the blink of an eye, they all pulled out their weapons and glared at the humans. "Outsiders! Caelu, what are you doing with them?"
Despite the hostility, the men of Bravo Company remained calm and raised their rifles, their stance tightening at the sudden draw of steel. Captain Moore and Lieutenant Li followed suit, though their rifles were still tilted towards the floor.
"Stop, Ger!" Caelu rushed over and placed herself between her tribe members and the soldiers. "Lord Tesa himself has sanctioned them!"
"That's outlandish, Caelu! Tesa, approving of humans?" the elf with purple hair named Ger growled, raising his spear. "He despises what the humans did to us and the earth."
Caelu unsheated her dagger, which was returned to her the day prior. "You may not like the truth, but it is as I say. If you dare touch them, you will face his wrath and mine. We're friends, Ger, but Tesa approved of them."
Specialist Smith came in between the elf and Caelu, leaving the rifle by her side. "If you hurt Caelu, you will face a severe punishment."
"You can hit first," Sergeant Wells taunted. "But you're not going to like our response."
"I doubt you could hit me with those weapons of yours," the purple-haired elf scoffed.
"You don't need to doubt, 'cause you'll be on your ass anyways."
"See? These outsiders don't respect us, and they are aggressive even when invited to our home. Their presence of itself is a mockery to all that we live for!"
"Put down your weapons," Captain Moore said, pushing down the barrel of Sergeant Wells' rifle. "We're guests here. Let's behave a bit, even if we might find some of them… disagreeable."
That earned a dismissive scoff from the unknown elf, but the human soldiers settled down unhappily. Sergeant Wells kicked a mound of dirt near him, his red hair flaring through the air like prickling flames. "You'll see us around a lot more, so get used to it."
"Sergeant."
"Whatever. They're lucky they have a god on their side."
As if Tesa heard their bickering, the ground below them rumbled, causing the elves to jump. Captain Moore noted that their verticals were… impressive, to say the least.
The elves seemingly understood the meaning behind the shake and walked past them without further incident. The purple-haired elf glared at the group before heading towards the entrance, his ears rustling consistently. Captain Moore frowned and spoke up once they reached the outskirts of the village. "Are they all going to be like this?"
"Many will be," Caelu admitted. "Though, I hope they will change their mind after learning more about your people. None of them have experience with outsiders… except the Grand Elder."
"Will we ever get to see him?"
"He's a bit reclusive and enjoys reading in seclusion… so it's highly improbable. However, if he says anything, Elder Septen will inform us."
"What are the chances that he's NEE…" Sergeant Wells wondered out loud.
Captain Moore cleared his throat. "Sergeant. No. Especially not here."
"Wasn't going actually to say it. Besides, they can't understand us."
"Until they learn English or get access to a MicroTranslate."
"I believe what Sergeant Wells meant to say was NEET…" Specialist Smith interjected.
"... Specialist, please mute yourself for the time being," Captain Moore said.
"Is that a direct order?"
"No, but it's not good to call a foreign leader that word."
"Sergeant Wells was the one who referred to him as such…"
"Regardless."
"Acknowledged, sir."
The elves looked at the humans curiously, but Lieutenant Li chuckled. "I assume it's possible though, no? Should we hook up a computer in his room to double-check?"
"A computer?" Caelu asked. "Is it possible to bring some here? I truly enjoyed using them. Those "videos" and "games" were…"
"We can discuss it in the future. For now, we'll need to get used to your tribe first," Captain Moore said.
He looked around to see the older elves avoiding his group like the plague, making an effort to sidestep off the road and around them. In contrast, a few younger elves around Chiu's age wandered around them curiously. Captain Moore waved at the children with an easy smile. "Heya."
One of the kids jumped and hurried away, though two remained behind and watched the captain with bated breaths. Chiu ran up to them and grinned. "Modiu, Pallu!"
"Chiu!" the small boy with dirt brown hair named Modiu said. "What are you doing with…them?"
"We met them in the forest!"
"Above?"
"Yep! All sorts of cool stuff happened."
As Chiu went on a rant about his experiences in the lands above, the boy who had run away a few moments prior ran back towards the group. Compared to the other boys, this one was a tad younger and smaller, with locks of purple hair. He saw Captain Moore and shuddered before tumbling onto the earth in a heap. As he cried in a heap on the ground, the captain ran up to him and helped him onto his feet. "Careful little one."
"Mommy said you were monsters…" the boy sniffled.
"No monsters here, kid. I'm a human. See? Just like you, but with shorter ears," Captain Moore assured, pulling his ears. He rummaged through his pack and pulled out a Snickers bar. "Do you like sweet things?"
"Yeah!"
"I think you'll like this candy then. Try it. It's called "chocolate" in our world."
"Chocolate," the boy repeated, taking the candy and trying to eat it with wrappers and all. He spat out a piece of plastic and glared at the officer. "That's not tasty! You tricked me!"
"You just have to peel the outer layer here."
After the captain helped the boy peel off the wrapper, the boy immediately dug in and laughed in delight. "This is delicious!"
"Do you think they may be allergic to anything from Earth?" Lieutenant Li asked, scribbling something into his notebook.
"No clue, but chocolate should be safe. Caelu ate some a few days back, and they ran a diagnostics test on her," Captain Moore said. "We'll need to be cautious of potential allergic reactions, though. We still have much to learn about them."
"Well, I hope you had more chocolate. Otherwise, we'll have an unhappy crowd."
Captain Moore turned around to see Chiu and his friends standing before him, along with a few more children with wide eyes, staring at the purple-haired elf boy devouring a chocolate bar.
He sighed and pulled out a family-size pack of Snickers bars hidden in his pack. "Who wants one?"
+++++
AN: Already at chapter 13, whoowhee. I didn't have time to work on the omake for the past few days due to being busy irl. I'll see if I can squeeze some time in today or tomorrow though.
Shoutout to CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
I do have an extra scene I'm working on related to this chapter, so stay tuned. I'll hopefully have it out by Monday/Tuesday. After all... if a god is proven to be real, how would that affect some of the ordinary folks from Earth?
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
A strong, earthy smell permeated the moist air, and Captain Moore felt the crunch of branches and leaves under his boots. Fresh dew clung onto the purple and gray leaves of the tall trees. A few select green foliage was also present in some of the smaller bushes, though they were overshadowed by the pillars of nature reaching towards the heavens. Clouds drifted aimlessly through the golden sky, presenting a bit of shade for the sun rising to the west.
Initially, the entirety of Bravo Company and even the Marine Recon Force were slated to accompany the elvish entourage back to the village. However, upon Elder Septen's insistence, that escort group was cut down to the bare minimum: a squad, the captain, the observer from China, and the specialist acting as the liaison for Caelu.
"Bringing that many would lead many to lash out. Are you seeking for peace or preparing for a raid?" Elder Septen had scolded General Bassot and Assistant Director Fletes. "Only a dozen or so at most."
Elder Auru and Nedurp remained behind at Fort Colossus, seemingly to act as diplomats, a term that had fallen out the tribe's use for centuries. However, Captain Moore knew they remained at the fort to enjoy the modern amenities they increasingly depended upon.
Despite the encounter with Tesa the day prior, there was ease amongst the group as the situation of Fort Colossus was mostly resolved. Everyone except Elder Septen and his 'prisoner' looked pleased.
The 'prisoner,' a male elf named "Roke," winced when the elder poked his back with the staff. "Elder, please..."
"Silence! It was already reckless for you to attempt such a vain attack against the humans. Yet, you dared to invoke the name of the elders to weasel your way out of trouble? You will face a stiff punishment once we return to the village," Elder Septen scolded.
"Is it that big of a crime?" Lieutenant Li asked. He and Sergeant Wells were the only ones scanning the forest while walking.
"The position of an elder is an exclusive important position, chosen by Tesa himself. For one of our own to falsely claim such a burden is an insult to our people and Tesa," Elder Septen answered.
"Ah, blasphemy. I understand then."
Sergeant Wells slowed down and nudged the captain. "How was the… god like, captain?"
Captain Moore gripped his rifle tighter. "Triggered some memories of my childhood, that's for sure."
"That bad? Damn. I might actually go back to church then. You think God is real?"
"All I know is that one god is real."
"Shit, so I should convert to Hinduism then? Take my chances that at least one of their gods is real?"
"That might not be a bad bet, honestly."
"... I hope Tesa is a bit happier to see us next time. I was taking a fat shit when the rumbling started; I'm just glad the toilet didn't explode."
The captain sputtered at the comment, though Caelu and Chiu looked curious if anything. The young male elf looked at Specialist Smith. "What's a toilet?"
"Oh, I know this one!" Caelu answered instead. "It's that thing they use for ah… I believe the humans call it "business?" I used it every day back at Fort Colossus."
"What's business?"
"It can mean doing work, I believe, trading things. Or it can mean…" Caelu blushed. "Er, letting out excrements, Chiu."
"Yuck," Chiu said, making a face.
It was unimaginable that a god had spoken through Chiu only a day ago. Yet, the elves were walking around as if this was completely normal, which caused Captain Moore to re-evaluate the… norms of this world.
Even after his "divine" experience, the boy seemed utterly normal. If anything, he acted like many human boys his age… which also involved asking for the synth nurse on the UNS Nimitz to join him on his journey to the village. After a few minutes of consideration, the request was denied and "delayed indefinitely."
The beaming smile from Caelu when rustling Chiu's hair was reassuring. The siblings had complimenting hair colors, though Chiu still seemed… blessed by Tesa's brief stay within his body. His skin was crystal clear, and his hair was a lighter green than his sister's.
"We're here," Elder Septen announced.
Despite knowing the village's location from his briefings, Captain Moore looked around for recognizable landmarks. Everything looked the same to him, though to the elves, who were attuned to the earth, the entrance was probably like a glaring beacon within the woods.
The elder struck his staff onto a small pile of leaves, and the earth parted to reveal a passage into the underground.
"Did he just Moses that shit?" Sergeant Wells asked.
"Who in Tesa's name is Moses?" Elder Septen asked in an irritated tone.
"Never mind that," Captain Moore waved his hand towards the passage. "We can discuss religious things after we're in the village."
True to their Tenth Mountain spirit, Sergeant Wells and his men barely paused before entering the passage after Elder Septen and Roke. The other elves, Specialist Smith and Lieutenant Li, followed shortly after, with Captain Moore in the rear.
"Anidom," Captain Moore mumbled, his hands tracing the hard earth that lined the passage walls.
Caelu turned and smiled. "Of heart and home. A village name befitting for the tribe blessed by the God of the Earth and Hearth."
The walk down the narrow passageway took a few minutes, but when he reached the end of it, he ducked under a tree root to witness a completely foreign sight.
A large chamber appeared before him, with glowing yellow stones embedded in the walls and streets, providing a soft ambiance. The interior was vast, large enough to fit the entirety of the Nimitz and more. If he had to guess, it would take him at least an hour to run from one end to the other.
A giant shimmering boulder was attached to the center of the ceiling, its bright red coloring and luminosity simulating the sun. The temperature within the underground felt just right, a warm ray of sunshine mixed with the coolness of the morning.
Dozens if not hundreds of elves were milling around, going about their daily business. Carts of grain, meats, and other goods were being pushed onto the busy streets below. A quick sniff revealed the faint smell of bread and roasted meat, prompting Captain Moore's stomach to growl despite himself. There was also a tinge of nuts and earth mixed into the air, a freshness that he didn't know was possible underground.
A large market sat at the center of the village, with the spiraling outer layers holding numerous houses made from giant tree roots or the earth. There was a small canal surrounding the limits of the markets, and water flowed from the center to the outer reaches of the village through the patterned dirt streets. At the very heart of the town, where the water originated, a large tower served as a beacon and reference point for all. It looked like the Washington Monument, though it was gray with a flat top.
The walls furthest away from the entrance held numerous openings to other large chambers, though Captain Moore could not see what lay beyond. From the looks of those entering the chambers, he guessed that a few held underground farms or orchids. Judging from the environment, it was even possible that the elves had their own herds of monsters or animals.
Each corner of the main room held an enormous tree, its numerous purple leaves and branches all remaining under the ground and looming over the elven village. The tree had a sword and a shield carved into its dark brown bark.
"Holy shit," Sergeant Wells muttered after Captain Moore arrived next to him. "I thought it would be a few mud and wooden huts."
Even Lieutenant Li, who remained aloof while observing Bravo Company, looked impressed. He snapped a few photos with his camera and beamed. "Fascinating! I believe I've visited some of the underground churches and villages back in China. This is on a far grander scale… as if an entire city was sunk into the ground."
"It took several months of magic to carve out the cavern like this," Caelu said. "Our ancestors took great effort to make it as spacious and grand as possible so that we could live within the earth forever if needed."
"Magic certainly seems to have its uses, as long as it doesn't drain your life essence."
Elder Septen hummed, jabbing Roke again with his staff as he led the group towards the village. "There are far more spectacular feats of magic than this. You humans have seen nothing yet."
"Oh, I don't think you've seen everything we have to offer as well," Lieutenant Li assured.
"We'll see," the elder shook his long greying hair and growled. "Damn… the Grand Elder knows I've returned. I will go greet him."
Captain Moore raised an eyebrow. "Should we also…"
"No. I'll greet him first and take Roke with me so he can receive his punishment. Caelu and Chiu, you two can show the humans around… and slowly inform the rest of the tribe of what transpired in that place."
"You mean Fort Colossus?"
"Fort whatever the heck. Such a silly name for something as important as a home."
"It has a pretty deep meaning actually…"
"... Whatever. Enjoy the splendors of our village, and try not to speak too much of human things."
After the elder and his prisoner stumbled away to a secluded path to a nearby chamber, the soldiers looked at Caelu and Chiu, who both smiled at each other and jogged toward the outskirts of Anidom. "Come on!"
The humans trotted down the road, encountering some elves heading towards the entrance with spears and bows. They all looked to be around Caelu's age, dressed in simple robes and displaying streaks of dirt on their skin. One of them noticed Sergeant Wells' ears, prompting a surprised yelp from the elf.
In the blink of an eye, they all pulled out their weapons and glared at the humans. "Outsiders! Caelu, what are you doing with them?"
Despite the hostility, the men of Bravo Company remained calm and raised their rifles, their stance tightening at the sudden draw of steel. Captain Moore and Lieutenant Li followed suit, though their rifles were still tilted towards the floor.
"Stop, Ger!" Caelu rushed over and placed herself between her tribe members and the soldiers. "Lord Tesa himself has sanctioned them!"
"That's outlandish, Caelu! Tesa, approving of humans?" the elf with purple hair named Ger growled, raising his spear. "He despises what the humans did to us and the earth."
Caelu unsheated her dagger, which was returned to her the day prior. "You may not like the truth, but it is as I say. If you dare touch them, you will face his wrath and mine. We're friends, Ger, but Tesa approved of them."
Specialist Smith came in between the elf and Caelu, leaving the rifle by her side. "If you hurt Caelu, you will face a severe punishment."
"You can hit first," Sergeant Wells taunted. "But you're not going to like our response."
"I doubt you could hit me with those weapons of yours," the purple-haired elf scoffed.
"You don't need to doubt, 'cause you'll be on your ass anyways."
"See? These outsiders don't respect us, and they are aggressive even when invited to our home. Their presence of itself is a mockery to all that we live for!"
"Put down your weapons," Captain Moore said, pushing down the barrel of Sergeant Wells' rifle. "We're guests here. Let's behave a bit, even if we might find some of them… disagreeable."
That earned a dismissive scoff from the unknown elf, but the human soldiers settled down unhappily. Sergeant Wells kicked a mound of dirt near him, his red hair flaring through the air like prickling flames. "You'll see us around a lot more, so get used to it."
"Sergeant."
"Whatever. They're lucky they have a god on their side."
As if Tesa heard their bickering, the ground below them rumbled, causing the elves to jump. Captain Moore noted that their verticals were… impressive, to say the least.
The elves seemingly understood the meaning behind the shake and walked past them without further incident. The purple-haired elf glared at the group before heading towards the entrance, his ears rustling consistently. Captain Moore frowned and spoke up once they reached the outskirts of the village. "Are they all going to be like this?"
"Many will be," Caelu admitted. "Though, I hope they will change their mind after learning more about your people. None of them have experience with outsiders… except the Grand Elder."
"Will we ever get to see him?"
"He's a bit reclusive and enjoys reading in seclusion… so it's highly improbable. However, if he says anything, Elder Septen will inform us."
"What are the chances that he's NEE…" Sergeant Wells wondered out loud.
Captain Moore cleared his throat. "Sergeant. No. Especially not here."
"Wasn't going actually to say it. Besides, they can't understand us."
"Until they learn English or get access to a MicroTranslate."
"I believe what Sergeant Wells meant to say was NEET…" Specialist Smith interjected.
"... Specialist, please mute yourself for the time being," Captain Moore said.
"Is that a direct order?"
"No, but it's not good to call a foreign leader that word."
"Sergeant Wells was the one who referred to him as such…"
"Regardless."
"Acknowledged, sir."
The elves looked at the humans curiously, but Lieutenant Li chuckled. "I assume it's possible though, no? Should we hook up a computer in his room to double-check?"
"A computer?" Caelu asked. "Is it possible to bring some here? I truly enjoyed using them. Those "videos" and "games" were…"
"We can discuss it in the future. For now, we'll need to get used to your tribe first," Captain Moore said.
He looked around to see the older elves avoiding his group like the plague, making an effort to sidestep off the road and around them. In contrast, a few younger elves around Chiu's age wandered around them curiously. Captain Moore waved at the children with an easy smile. "Heya."
One of the kids jumped and hurried away, though two remained behind and watched the captain with bated breaths. Chiu ran up to them and grinned. "Modiu, Pallu!"
"Chiu!" the small boy with dirt brown hair named Modiu said. "What are you doing with…them?"
"We met them in the forest!"
"Above?"
"Yep! All sorts of cool stuff happened."
As Chiu went on a rant about his experiences in the lands above, the boy who had run away a few moments prior ran back towards the group. Compared to the other boys, this one was a tad younger and smaller, with locks of purple hair. He saw Captain Moore and shuddered before tumbling onto the earth in a heap. As he cried in a heap on the ground, the captain ran up to him and helped him onto his feet. "Careful little one."
"Mommy said you were monsters…" the boy sniffled.
"No monsters here, kid. I'm a human. See? Just like you, but with shorter ears," Captain Moore assured, pulling his ears. He rummaged through his pack and pulled out a Snickers bar. "Do you like sweet things?"
"Yeah!"
"I think you'll like this candy then. Try it. It's called "chocolate" in our world."
"Chocolate," the boy repeated, taking the candy and trying to eat it with wrappers and all. He spat out a piece of plastic and glared at the officer. "That's not tasty! You tricked me!"
"You just have to peel the outer layer here."
After the captain helped the boy peel off the wrapper, the boy immediately dug in and laughed in delight. "This is delicious!"
"Do you think they may be allergic to anything from Earth?" Lieutenant Li asked, scribbling something into his notebook.
"No clue, but chocolate should be safe. Caelu ate some a few days back, and they ran a diagnostics test on her," Captain Moore said. "We'll need to be cautious of potential allergic reactions, though. We still have much to learn about them."
"Well, I hope you had more chocolate. Otherwise, we'll have an unhappy crowd."
Captain Moore turned around to see Chiu and his friends standing before him, along with a few more children with wide eyes, staring at the purple-haired elf boy devouring a chocolate bar.
He sighed and pulled out a family-size pack of Snickers bars hidden in his pack. "Who wants one?"
+++++
AN: Already at chapter 13, whoowhee. I didn't have time to work on the omake for the past few days due to being busy irl. I'll see if I can squeeze some time in today or tomorrow though.
Shoutout to CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
I do have an extra scene I'm working on related to this chapter, so stay tuned. I'll hopefully have it out by Monday/Tuesday. After all... if a god is proven to be real, how would that affect some of the ordinary folks from Earth?
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
- Location
- England
Chocolate, they already tested, but Snickers have peanuts in them. Try not to cause an interplanetary incident by killing off some elf kid.
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Chapter 14: Don't Think We're in Kansas
The group strolled through the streets of the village, admiring the impressive view with cameras and interested gazes. None of the buildings reached beyond two stories, except the giant monument in the center of the town. Yet, the thriving village had an urban feel. Captain Moore noted that a few elves frowned and closed their windows or doors once they sawed the human group, but he paid little attention to them.
Unlike the humans, Caelu received a round of smiles and waves as she passed through the village.
"Caelu! It's good to see you safe. Where were you?"
"Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?"
"What are those clothes?"
Several elves greeted and hugged her warmly, most pointedly avoiding the humans hovering near Caelu.
The group continued their trek through their village. Next to the dirt streets, water flowed through the numerous canals, which provided clear, fresh water. A fishy smell leaked into the streets, though Captain Moore saw no fish in the water.
Several trees and plants grew canopied parts of the streams, mimicking the vegetation found above ground. Captain Moore saw several elves draw water with buckets, though none seemed to be using the water for bathing.
Behind the captain's group was the elven children, who followed Captain Moore with pleading eyes and smears of chocolate on their face.
"How do plants grow here?" Captain Moore asked.
Caelu pointed to the very top, causing the group to fixate on the luminous rock illuminating the large cavern by itself. "The sunrock acts like the sun, with all its nurturing and lighting properties. Legends say that the god Anulos tossed sunrocks onto this realm during one of his many fights against himself…"
"He fought against himself?"
"Anulos is the God of the Sun and the Moon. He has two faces, and they are locked in an eternal struggle for dominance."
"Isn't the sun stronger?" Sergeant Wells wondered out loud. "I swear I learned enough science to know that the sun is brighter and stronger."
Lieutenant Li nodded. "You are correct. However, this world's moon is pretty large and unique, in that it glows by itself despite being similar to our own moon. Perhaps this explains the reason why."
"Gods lighting up the moon? What are they, some sort of batteries?"
"Gods exist here, and it would not be ridiculous to think that the God of the Sun and the Moon… may also be linked with this world's moon."
"Right, so… Anulos is two-faced, and in a fit, tossed a bunch of these sun rocks onto the ground?" Captain Moore repeated.
"Yes! Since Tesa is the God of Earth, he was the first to find these and bring them to us for our tribe to use. We have three other chambers with these rocks, which allow us to grow our own food and remain underground," Caelu stated.
They continued their tour towards the center of the town with a sizeable group in tow.
"... And that's the communal bakery! It's run by the old man Inap, one of the oldest elves of our tribe. I heard he didn't want to become an Elder, so he decided to take over the bread shop…" Caelu rambled while the group passed by a small building with displays of strangely shaped breads. Some were vaguely familiar to the human group, though others were shaped in patterns or figures that looked… crooked at best.
Lieutenant Li pointed at one of the breads. "What grain do you use for baking?"
"Wheat!"
"Wheat… is also on a planet trillions of miles away from Earth? Which also happens to have humans…"
"Aliens?" Sergeant Wells offered. "That was the most common theory among our boys."
"Maybe there's a more scientific reason for all this," Lieutenant Li grumbled, skimming through his notes. "I'll need to look into it once we return to Fort Colossus. I think I saw a turkey earlier as well."
"The logical explanation would be that someone planted it here and also on Earth. Hence the existence of similar grains, animals, and humans on both planets," Specialist Smith offered.
"So the History Channel got that shit right? Earth was built by aliens or some shit?" Sergeant Wells asked.
Captain Moore cleared his throat and glared at the soldiers. He spoke in English, ignoring the stares from the elves. "We are not getting into a whole discussion about this while we're on a mission. Even if we're in a friendly settlement, we're still amid the unknown. I want eyes up, and no one getting into arguments until we get back to the fort. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." the response was unanimous and in English.
"What did you say to them?" Caelu asked after a minute of silence. "They're so silent now. I understood... two words about "friendly" and "discussion?""
"They were talking too much. Since you're the guide, you should talk more than them," Captain Moore suggested.
"Oh! I could show all of you some of the games we play. I think we've seen most of the sights already."
"Do you think we'll have any luck appealing to the other elves?"
Caelu peeked at an older elf walking nearby, but the man frowned and trotted off in a different direction.
Captain Moore frowned. "I see."
"Not until the elders announce it…"
"I guess it can't be helped… so about the games you were discussing."
Several minutes later, Captain Moore and the other soldiers were surrounded by kids while Caelu cleaned up the 'playing field,' as she called it. The size of the field suggested it to be some sort of long-distance activity, as the boundaries were about the size of a typical soccer field.
"Woah!" the elven boy with purple hair from earlier shouted while he poked Captain Moore's ears. "Why are they so stubby?"
A few kids around him giggled, prompting the captain to smile and gently place the elf down next to him. The small boy had smears of chocolate in his mouth. "Well, we humans have stubbier ears."
"Why?"
"I dunno. But I'm guessing you can hear pretty well with those ears, huh?"
"Yep! I can hear to the end of the village if I really concentrate!"
"Well, I can't. So you've beaten me there."
The kid rose to his feet and thumped his chest, "I'm better than the humans!"
Others nearby cheered at his silly antics, earning a weak chuckle from Captain Moore.
The other humans were interacting with the elven children to a degree. The captain noticed Sergeant Wells drawing some wacky patterns with dirt on his face to amuse the kids. Specialist Smith had only one elf beside her, awkwardly patting the elf girl's head with a smile. Lieutenant Li was showing a few pictures of stuff from Earth through his camera, with a dozen kids letting out oohs and aahs.
Some adult elves dragged their children away with fear and scorn in their eyes. Yet quite a few kids remained, perhaps those with busy parents or orphans.
"What's that?" the elven boy asked, pointing to the rifles.
"It's a weapon from our tribe," Captain Moore said. "They're very dangerous, so don't touch them."
"What do they do? They look like weird sticks or clubs!"
"It shoots these tough and sharp metal fast. It's kind of like a bow but much more powerful."
"A much more powerful bow? I want to see it! Can I see it?"
Captain Moore secured the rifle between his legs before the kids tried anything. "Maybe in the future, but not right now."
"They're here to learn more about us," Caelu said. She clapped her hands together and smiled. "Why don't you guys play a game to show them what you do to have fun?"
"Ok!" the purple-haired boy shouted, dragging Chiu and the others along to set up their game.
A few minutes later, the group was at a small empty field with rigid lines drawn upon the earth. The kids ran around while forming teams, and soon, the human group and Caelu watched the children play their 'game.'
"You know, they don't seem much different from kids on Earth and Nova: running around, playing sports…" Captain Moore watched the local children play a game while sitting on his pack.
Sergeant Wells snorted. "Yah not too different, if you just ignore the fact these kids are tossing fucking chunks of rocks at each other. Christ, this is a children's game?"
A team of half a dozen young elves slung a flurry of rocks and hardened mud across a line, forcing the opposing group to erect barriers created from dirt. Simple earth spells were done with a wave of a hand and some concentration, while more difficult techniques required seconds of chanting and hand motion.
Captain Moore watched as a young girl no older than five lobbed a small mudball with her hands after she had formed it with magic. In response, Chiu threw up a rock shield on his arm and stuck out his tongue.
Surprisingly, the rock shield was massive, which prompted a look from even Caelu.
He watched an older teenage elf finish chanting a stanza in Hanj and forming a mudslide by pushing the wave forward with two hands.
Sergeant Wells grinned. "These elvish kids make American kids look like pussies."
"I think football is much easier to follow than…this." Captain Moore motioned to the flying projectiles filling the air.
"... Shit, imagine this, but with a football. You try to tackle the quarterback, but wham! A dirt pillar to the face."
"What's football?" Caelu asked, keeping an eye on the field due to her position as the 'referee.'
"Something only Americans play and call the wrong name for." "The greatest sport."
Lieutenant Li smiled as Sergeant Wells gave him a dirty side-eye. "After all, football is actually…"
"We've been hearing that same joke for a century; I don't think you need to finish that sentence," Sergeant Wells grumbled.
Caelu scratched her head. "I… don't think I understand."
"It's a sport where there is a ball made from the skin of animals and tossed around while men 'fight' for it," Captain Moore answered. "There are rules to ensure that one can only knock the person carrying the ball."
"Perhaps it's similar to beluball, but with no weapons?"
"Wait, what?" Sergeant Wells asked. "A ball sport… with weapons. Football, with swords and bows?"
"The ball is a target but can only be struck by weapons. It is a game created by one of our ancestors to hone our mastery and grace with weapons even while living in isolation underground," Caelu explained.
"Football… with weapons. This… this is phenomenal. How has no one thought of this at home? Combine the two greatest American things into one: football and guns!"
Captain Moore sighed. "No. I don't even know what else to say. Just, no."
"Do you think if an elf decided to come back to Earth and play football, they would be allowed to use magic?"
Caelu frowned. "Why wouldn't they?"
"Because our world has no magic," Lieutenant Li clarified. "It's natural for your people, but to us?"
"Honestly, the NFL just might. The ratings would be through the roof," Captain Moore said.
Finally, the attacking team paused their onslaught when Caelu raised her hand in the air and cracked the ground below with her feet. As if a light switch had been flicked, the defenders slid out of their makeshift barriers and slung attacks across the line.
"Like a turn-based dodgeball, but with death on the line," Sergeant Wells noted while ducking a mudball that strayed too far from the field.
Suddenly, the cavern began to rock back and forth, prompting a few rocks and dust to shower onto the ground. Captain Moore immediately placed his pack over his head and held his breath while staring at the ceiling. "Holy shit, not again!"
Instead of a god appearing and shaking the world, the grey obelisk at the center of the town grew popped into his view. The tall tower started to grow, until it was nearly touching the sunrock on the ceiling. Shortly after, the earth shuddered three consecutive times before it settled.
"Well, it looks like it's finally time," Caelu announced.
Captain Moore turned to the elf. "Time for what?"
"The Elders are calling for the village to gather. They're going to officially announce your arrival to the others."
+++++
AN: Omake is still being worked on... Working on a two-part omake for what's coming next. I'm pretty confident it'll be posted by tomorrow.
Shoutout to Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
Unlike the humans, Caelu received a round of smiles and waves as she passed through the village.
"Caelu! It's good to see you safe. Where were you?"
"Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?"
"What are those clothes?"
Several elves greeted and hugged her warmly, most pointedly avoiding the humans hovering near Caelu.
The group continued their trek through their village. Next to the dirt streets, water flowed through the numerous canals, which provided clear, fresh water. A fishy smell leaked into the streets, though Captain Moore saw no fish in the water.
Several trees and plants grew canopied parts of the streams, mimicking the vegetation found above ground. Captain Moore saw several elves draw water with buckets, though none seemed to be using the water for bathing.
Behind the captain's group was the elven children, who followed Captain Moore with pleading eyes and smears of chocolate on their face.
"How do plants grow here?" Captain Moore asked.
Caelu pointed to the very top, causing the group to fixate on the luminous rock illuminating the large cavern by itself. "The sunrock acts like the sun, with all its nurturing and lighting properties. Legends say that the god Anulos tossed sunrocks onto this realm during one of his many fights against himself…"
"He fought against himself?"
"Anulos is the God of the Sun and the Moon. He has two faces, and they are locked in an eternal struggle for dominance."
"Isn't the sun stronger?" Sergeant Wells wondered out loud. "I swear I learned enough science to know that the sun is brighter and stronger."
Lieutenant Li nodded. "You are correct. However, this world's moon is pretty large and unique, in that it glows by itself despite being similar to our own moon. Perhaps this explains the reason why."
"Gods lighting up the moon? What are they, some sort of batteries?"
"Gods exist here, and it would not be ridiculous to think that the God of the Sun and the Moon… may also be linked with this world's moon."
"Right, so… Anulos is two-faced, and in a fit, tossed a bunch of these sun rocks onto the ground?" Captain Moore repeated.
"Yes! Since Tesa is the God of Earth, he was the first to find these and bring them to us for our tribe to use. We have three other chambers with these rocks, which allow us to grow our own food and remain underground," Caelu stated.
They continued their tour towards the center of the town with a sizeable group in tow.
"... And that's the communal bakery! It's run by the old man Inap, one of the oldest elves of our tribe. I heard he didn't want to become an Elder, so he decided to take over the bread shop…" Caelu rambled while the group passed by a small building with displays of strangely shaped breads. Some were vaguely familiar to the human group, though others were shaped in patterns or figures that looked… crooked at best.
Lieutenant Li pointed at one of the breads. "What grain do you use for baking?"
"Wheat!"
"Wheat… is also on a planet trillions of miles away from Earth? Which also happens to have humans…"
"Aliens?" Sergeant Wells offered. "That was the most common theory among our boys."
"Maybe there's a more scientific reason for all this," Lieutenant Li grumbled, skimming through his notes. "I'll need to look into it once we return to Fort Colossus. I think I saw a turkey earlier as well."
"The logical explanation would be that someone planted it here and also on Earth. Hence the existence of similar grains, animals, and humans on both planets," Specialist Smith offered.
"So the History Channel got that shit right? Earth was built by aliens or some shit?" Sergeant Wells asked.
Captain Moore cleared his throat and glared at the soldiers. He spoke in English, ignoring the stares from the elves. "We are not getting into a whole discussion about this while we're on a mission. Even if we're in a friendly settlement, we're still amid the unknown. I want eyes up, and no one getting into arguments until we get back to the fort. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." the response was unanimous and in English.
"What did you say to them?" Caelu asked after a minute of silence. "They're so silent now. I understood... two words about "friendly" and "discussion?""
"They were talking too much. Since you're the guide, you should talk more than them," Captain Moore suggested.
"Oh! I could show all of you some of the games we play. I think we've seen most of the sights already."
"Do you think we'll have any luck appealing to the other elves?"
Caelu peeked at an older elf walking nearby, but the man frowned and trotted off in a different direction.
Captain Moore frowned. "I see."
"Not until the elders announce it…"
"I guess it can't be helped… so about the games you were discussing."
Several minutes later, Captain Moore and the other soldiers were surrounded by kids while Caelu cleaned up the 'playing field,' as she called it. The size of the field suggested it to be some sort of long-distance activity, as the boundaries were about the size of a typical soccer field.
"Woah!" the elven boy with purple hair from earlier shouted while he poked Captain Moore's ears. "Why are they so stubby?"
A few kids around him giggled, prompting the captain to smile and gently place the elf down next to him. The small boy had smears of chocolate in his mouth. "Well, we humans have stubbier ears."
"Why?"
"I dunno. But I'm guessing you can hear pretty well with those ears, huh?"
"Yep! I can hear to the end of the village if I really concentrate!"
"Well, I can't. So you've beaten me there."
The kid rose to his feet and thumped his chest, "I'm better than the humans!"
Others nearby cheered at his silly antics, earning a weak chuckle from Captain Moore.
The other humans were interacting with the elven children to a degree. The captain noticed Sergeant Wells drawing some wacky patterns with dirt on his face to amuse the kids. Specialist Smith had only one elf beside her, awkwardly patting the elf girl's head with a smile. Lieutenant Li was showing a few pictures of stuff from Earth through his camera, with a dozen kids letting out oohs and aahs.
Some adult elves dragged their children away with fear and scorn in their eyes. Yet quite a few kids remained, perhaps those with busy parents or orphans.
"What's that?" the elven boy asked, pointing to the rifles.
"It's a weapon from our tribe," Captain Moore said. "They're very dangerous, so don't touch them."
"What do they do? They look like weird sticks or clubs!"
"It shoots these tough and sharp metal fast. It's kind of like a bow but much more powerful."
"A much more powerful bow? I want to see it! Can I see it?"
Captain Moore secured the rifle between his legs before the kids tried anything. "Maybe in the future, but not right now."
"They're here to learn more about us," Caelu said. She clapped her hands together and smiled. "Why don't you guys play a game to show them what you do to have fun?"
"Ok!" the purple-haired boy shouted, dragging Chiu and the others along to set up their game.
A few minutes later, the group was at a small empty field with rigid lines drawn upon the earth. The kids ran around while forming teams, and soon, the human group and Caelu watched the children play their 'game.'
"You know, they don't seem much different from kids on Earth and Nova: running around, playing sports…" Captain Moore watched the local children play a game while sitting on his pack.
Sergeant Wells snorted. "Yah not too different, if you just ignore the fact these kids are tossing fucking chunks of rocks at each other. Christ, this is a children's game?"
A team of half a dozen young elves slung a flurry of rocks and hardened mud across a line, forcing the opposing group to erect barriers created from dirt. Simple earth spells were done with a wave of a hand and some concentration, while more difficult techniques required seconds of chanting and hand motion.
Captain Moore watched as a young girl no older than five lobbed a small mudball with her hands after she had formed it with magic. In response, Chiu threw up a rock shield on his arm and stuck out his tongue.
Surprisingly, the rock shield was massive, which prompted a look from even Caelu.
He watched an older teenage elf finish chanting a stanza in Hanj and forming a mudslide by pushing the wave forward with two hands.
Sergeant Wells grinned. "These elvish kids make American kids look like pussies."
"I think football is much easier to follow than…this." Captain Moore motioned to the flying projectiles filling the air.
"... Shit, imagine this, but with a football. You try to tackle the quarterback, but wham! A dirt pillar to the face."
"What's football?" Caelu asked, keeping an eye on the field due to her position as the 'referee.'
"Something only Americans play and call the wrong name for." "The greatest sport."
Lieutenant Li smiled as Sergeant Wells gave him a dirty side-eye. "After all, football is actually…"
"We've been hearing that same joke for a century; I don't think you need to finish that sentence," Sergeant Wells grumbled.
Caelu scratched her head. "I… don't think I understand."
"It's a sport where there is a ball made from the skin of animals and tossed around while men 'fight' for it," Captain Moore answered. "There are rules to ensure that one can only knock the person carrying the ball."
"Perhaps it's similar to beluball, but with no weapons?"
"Wait, what?" Sergeant Wells asked. "A ball sport… with weapons. Football, with swords and bows?"
"The ball is a target but can only be struck by weapons. It is a game created by one of our ancestors to hone our mastery and grace with weapons even while living in isolation underground," Caelu explained.
"Football… with weapons. This… this is phenomenal. How has no one thought of this at home? Combine the two greatest American things into one: football and guns!"
Captain Moore sighed. "No. I don't even know what else to say. Just, no."
"Do you think if an elf decided to come back to Earth and play football, they would be allowed to use magic?"
Caelu frowned. "Why wouldn't they?"
"Because our world has no magic," Lieutenant Li clarified. "It's natural for your people, but to us?"
"Honestly, the NFL just might. The ratings would be through the roof," Captain Moore said.
Finally, the attacking team paused their onslaught when Caelu raised her hand in the air and cracked the ground below with her feet. As if a light switch had been flicked, the defenders slid out of their makeshift barriers and slung attacks across the line.
"Like a turn-based dodgeball, but with death on the line," Sergeant Wells noted while ducking a mudball that strayed too far from the field.
Suddenly, the cavern began to rock back and forth, prompting a few rocks and dust to shower onto the ground. Captain Moore immediately placed his pack over his head and held his breath while staring at the ceiling. "Holy shit, not again!"
Instead of a god appearing and shaking the world, the grey obelisk at the center of the town grew popped into his view. The tall tower started to grow, until it was nearly touching the sunrock on the ceiling. Shortly after, the earth shuddered three consecutive times before it settled.
"Well, it looks like it's finally time," Caelu announced.
Captain Moore turned to the elf. "Time for what?"
"The Elders are calling for the village to gather. They're going to officially announce your arrival to the others."
+++++
AN: Omake is still being worked on... Working on a two-part omake for what's coming next. I'm pretty confident it'll be posted by tomorrow.
Shoutout to Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
My god, the funny thing is, I had a scene where this is mentioned in a future chapter. And I wrote it before even seeing this comment lol.
But yeah, imagine a war sparking off over something as frivolous as a peanut allergy...
- Location
- England
No. The most logical reason would be that Earth had the original plants/animals and someone transplanted them over. At least, that is the most logical assumption until you take a good hard look at the fossil record on your new neighborhood.
There is a way, but it's not pretty and is sworn off by most on the world.
As for gods, as mentioned, they can't throw their power around too willy-nilly. Is it possible though? Depends on which god we're talking about.
Honestly, this is probably the other, more likely theory. Though, for Moore and his crew on the ground, it seems as though these things have been here for some time, perhaps centuries.
Humanity unlocked FTL travel pretty recently... so how would that be possible?
- Location
- England
a) Magic.
Earth may have had magic in the past, and fairy rings, dimensional gate, whatever joined the two.
b) Third party aliens.
Makes you wonder what happened to them, though.
Could be from a couple hundred thousand years ago and still not be immediately obviously different to Earth species back home. Unless they happen across a mammoth or a dodo.
- Location
- On a speck of dust, floating through the void.
Oh dear, it's leeching off somedy else's lifeforce, isn't it?
I do have an in-world explanation for it, but that is still some time off. I'll see if I can bring your points up later on, potentially through the eyes of the scientists.
It would make things even more confusing and potentially make the Earth humans lean towards "transfer life from Earth" if things like the dodo are around...
Imagine Earth managing to un-extinct a species by finding them millions of miles away from Earth.
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
i mean, even that isn't really bad.
grow some plants or raise livestock for the purpose of harvesting?
- Location
- On a speck of dust, floating through the void.
... Yeah, that's why I said somebody, not something
Well if there is an equivalent exchange required... plants or livestock may not be enough
Hence Caelu's horror at the thought of necromancy.
Chapter 15: Meeting Two Gods with Two Elves
"For the fifth time in a thousand rotations… Lord Tesa has reached his divine hand out to the Messenger Chiu, brother of Caelu, and delivered his words of wisdom for our village." Elder Septen, standing on top of the obelisk, spread out his hands towards the ceiling. He wore the hood attached to his tunic, covering his eyes and exuding a presence of mystery to the crowd below.
The elves gathered by the thousands in the center plaza of the town, where the tower resided. Many of them cheered and looked enthralled by the elder's words, which echoed throughout the cavern. The flurry of excitement caused a few rocks and mounds of dirt to swirl wildly, perhaps outbursts of earth magic caused by the crowd's ebullition.
Despite everyone being streaked with mud and dirt on their skin and clothes… the smell was somewhat pleasant. Much of the elves nearby smelled like a freshly dug trench in the middle of the woods.
After hearing the elder's words, many turned to Chiu, who remained hand in hand with his sister and stared at him in awe. The boy shrank in the face of the sea of stares, yet they continued, prompting him to hide behind Caelu. Captain Moore noted the stress on the word "Messenger," which he took as a title similar to that of "prophet."
Captain Moore's group remained towards the rear, Lieutenant Li snapping a few more photos while the captain watched the spectacle with binoculars. After the nearby elves finished staring at Chiu, their interested and awed stares shifted to ones of hostility and fear at the sight of the strange humans.
"He looks like that homeless dude I saw at Roosevelt. You know, the one that smoked too many rocks?" Sergeant Wells whispered in English. "Well, before him and the city went up in smokes."
Captain Moore snorted and glared at the sergeant, though noting that the elder's clothes earned him no favors regarding that observation. Yet, there was little doubt that the elderly elf's words were backed with power: the power of the earth and a god.
"His exact words were," Elder Septen pulled out a rolled parchment and unfurled it with a grandiose swagger. "The humans will stay. I will offer them a hearth in this section of the forest, which I will expand to allow them to grow. You are to aid them, and guide them. They are… experienced, yet ignorant of this world and its ways."
This announcement caused some intense mutterings and grumbles between the elves, many turning towards the human group with increased intensity. When Captain Moore saw a few nearby boring into his appearance, he waved with a smile.
That earned him a few snorts.
"He declared that there will be… conflict and tribulations ahead for our people and this world. However, these humans will assist us, as we are to assist them."
That statement prompted another round of hushed whispers and speculations, which Captain Moore overheard.
"... Another war?"
"Surely the last one was enough to give even the gods a pause?"
"How can we win in such a war? The Kingdom of Lonsaure is long gone! We are but a small tribe…"
"Heresy! Tesa will deliver for us. If he says we must fight, we shall fight…"
Elder Septen stomped his foot, causing the ground to rumble and the crowd to silence. "It is the will of Lord Tesa. No matter what my or your opinions are, what he declares is law. I can not say that I have full confidence in our new… acquaintances, but I can not deny that what I have seen from there so far may tilt the balance in our favor.
"So as He commands, we shall provide our strength and knowledge for these… humans. Humans from a place called Earth. One may say they are… the Humans of Tesa, while we are the Tesa's Chosen.
"Let it be declared that today, Sixteen Days after the Autumn Equinox, the Dunj Tribe, Tesa's Chosen, draws Tesa's symbol with the Humans of Tesa. May both of our tribes protect the earth and all life that dwells on it."
The elder raised his hand and, with magic, created a long trench in front of the human delegation. The top of the line faced the left, traversing into a straight line before halting.
Captain Moore stared at the drawing and looked back at the elder. "Can I ask what this is before I sign this?"
"A Symbol of Friendship between our two tribes. It will create a magical agreement, a guarantee to not attack each other and work together to promote our mutual interests."
"I don't think I have the authority to do that."
"Tesa has willed it, and your leaders also agreed."
"This is a bit above my pay grade."
"Your what?"
"... Never mind." Captain Moore took a step back and tapped his ears. "Iris, did command mention anything specific about treaties?"
"From the brief, you were given the authority to negotiate and act upon the UN's behalf… since you're technically acting as the representative of the UN."
"Why me and not a damn career diplomat?"
"I just read stuff and report to you, boss."
The captain turned back to Elder Septen and stood before him, letting out a tired sigh. "Do you swear upon Tesa that this piece of magic is everything you claim it is? That there is nothing nefarious or hidden about this that can be used to harm my people?"
"I swear upon his name," Elder Septen answered.
The cavern rumbled, sealing the vow with a minor quake of seeming approval.
"So… what do you want us to draw?"
"A jagged line with three top points and two bottom points."
"So, a W?"
"What?"
"Never mind. A W it is."
Captain Moore grabbed his rifle with both hands and drew a W under the drawing. He placed the center of the W to meet the bottom line, finishing the strange symbol. Right after the captain finished drawing, the lines glowed momentarily before sinking into the earth.
"The earth has accepted the pact. And with it, Tesa signals his approval. Until the earth itself is destroyed, so our words will stand."
After those words were uttered, all the nearby elves placed their foreheads on the ground, even Caelu and Chiu. They remained in place for a few minutes before returning to their feet. The dirt on their foreheads remained firmly in place, and glowed a green hue.
"Is this what the Spanish felt when watching the Aztecs?" Lieutenant Li wondered.
"There aren't any blood sacrifices here, so I would say it's infinitely better," Captain Moore answered.
Caelu, who remained prone on the ground, was the last one to rise amongst the crowd. Regardless, Elder Septen continued his speech, begrudgingly promoting peace and harmony between the two sides. Chiu looked at his sister with concern after she refused to stand, leading him to poke her shoulders.
Seconds later, she convulsed in place and screamed.
"Caelu?" Captain Moore asked, walking towards the elf girl as her screams stopped.
Instead of rising to her feet, Caelu's body floated from the ground, and a sky-blue aura radiated from her body. Her eyes flashed open, revealing shining white pupils amidst a blue iris. Out of nowhere, gusts of winds surrounded her, and a cloud materialized underneath her feet, supporting the body in mid-air.
The air itself felt… cold and fleeting. The whirlwinds caused by the sudden change clashed with the earth and its followers, the sound of scratching against the dirt by the wind.
"... Shit, is it that god again?" Sergeant Wells asked, gripping his rifle.
Captain Moore shook his head. "He glowed purple last time and was surrounded by earth. Another god, then?"
"You guess correctly, human," the entity controlling Caelu said, her mouth twitching awkwardly. The voice was gentler yet faster and airy compared to the deep rumbles of Tesa. "It has been a long time since I occupied a mortal body. A child of earth that has learned to love the sky. Perhaps the only one in a millennia.."
"Bie," Elder Septen choked out as he gasped for air, pulling out his staff. "How dare you intrude upon this place!"
Some of the other elves ran to their residences, possibly to grab any weapons they could to face down the god. The others remained frozen in place, staring at the appearance of a foreign divine hovering over their precious settlement.
The Goddess of the Sky and Rain shook Caelu's limbs, rotating her head and cracking her back. "Relax, old man. I am not here to fight you or Tesa today. If anything, I'm here to make the same pact."
"You? Work with Lord Tesa? Bah! You've been fighting for rotations, for time eternal!"
"Well, that was until I saw these humans," the divine declared, her voice laced with pride. "Beyond the skies, there is something greater… A shame that no entity can claim such vastness."
"You're Bie," Captain Moore said.
"That I am. If the elves or Tesa had not found you, I would granted you my blessings. Alas, your people and his people were meant to be. Maybe if you named your planet something other than "earth.""
Despite knowing the futility of his actions, Captain Moore raised his rifle, with his men following his lead. "So why are you here then, controlling Caelu?"
"Oh, like any good god or goddess… Searching for more followers and seeking more power," Bie grinned widely, expressing her glee to the fullest. The air vibrated around her, and the cloud lifted her higher towards the ceiling. "Your people have interesting toys, toys that I would love to see more across my domain. Especially your "pilots" or whatever they are called. If they promise to worship me and acknowledge my divinity, I will ensure that no foul weather hinders them when they fly…"
"That… might actually get all the pilots to sign up," Lieutenant Li admitted.
"You think we can ask Tesa for a counteroffer? Like no mud stuck in our clothes or vehicles?" Sergeant Wells asked. "Cause hell, I think most of the boys would gladly throw out the chaplains for that."
"For what? Are you also preparing for… whatever Tesa mentioned last time?" Captain Moore inquired towards Bie.
An arrow whizzed by Bie, though she halted it in mid-air with a wave of a hand. She glared at the elf that shot it and lashed out with her arms, prompting a barrage of air to sweep over the crowd. Several were knocked back, including Lieutenant Li and the other soldiers. However, Sergeant Wells and Captain Moore barely remained on their feet.
"An arrow, really? As for your question, mortal… I do not know what Tesa confided with you. What I do know is that Eden is awake, more than ever."
"Eden meaning… heaven?"
"The Garden of the Gods. Even more importantly, the Superior Synod is stirring more than ever before. The last time this happened, millions of you mortals perished, and dozens of gods and goddesses were forever weakened."
"Including yourself and Lord Tesa," Elder Septen growled, climbing back onto the flat surface of the obelisk.
"Because the elves that I blessed were too weak! I swore I would never forgive your kind… especially those arrogant idiots from the Kingdom of Lonsaure. I promised I would never forgive the humans, either. Yet, with that god shaking in his slumber…
Bie's voice sharply rose, causing a sonic boom to rattle the cavern's walls. The cloud underneath her feet started to drizzle the ground below. "Never again will I bless elves with my presence or glory. Tesa remains foolish as always, so insistent on sticking with those that led to our own ruin, which is why these humans will do. They already have masteries over the sky and beyond, and I want that."
"Yeah, here's the issue," Captain Moore said. "We're not pilots. You're asking the wrong people."
"The only one I could feasibly possess was this girl."
"Why?"
"Because she believes in the divines of this world, the Synod. And because she loves the sky."
"You talk more directly than Tesa."
"Tesa believes he sounds more profound if he talks with an air of mystery and vague words. I believe he's trying to hide that he's not as strong or as knowledgeable as people think he is," Bie shrugged, sparking a small breeze to rise higher into the air. "I don't have any followers or the such to brag to. I killed them all."
"Do not insult Lord Tesa!" Elder Septen shouted.
"I'll do whatever I want. What can he do, smite me?"
The cavern rumbled, and a rock dropped from the top and whizzed past Caelu's head. The goddess possessing the elf frowned. "Very funny, Tesa. Save your powers for the future. Eden knows I have plenty saved up for a future tumbling, unlike you interventionist twig."
She turned to the human group and smiled. "Anywho, humans, that is all I had. Go tell your friends at your fort. Maybe I'll speak to them directly to earn their support. Since I'm not like Tesa, I have much more energy to spare. For now, see ya."
With that, a whirlwind exited Caelu's nose and dispersed into the air with a loud bang.
Caelu slowly floated onto the ground, landing on her back with the wind cushioning her fall. When Captain Moore rushed over, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at her surroundings. "W…What happened?"
"Looks like you and your brother have a knack for… gods?" Captain Moore answered.
"It is done then," Elder Septen declared solemnly. He thrust his staff onto the obelisk's surface and glared at Caelu. "The first Messenger of Bie in hundreds of rotations… Caelu."
++++++
AN: AHHH, schedule irl is limiting my writing. But I'll do my best
Shoutout to Shabab Didar, Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
The elves gathered by the thousands in the center plaza of the town, where the tower resided. Many of them cheered and looked enthralled by the elder's words, which echoed throughout the cavern. The flurry of excitement caused a few rocks and mounds of dirt to swirl wildly, perhaps outbursts of earth magic caused by the crowd's ebullition.
Despite everyone being streaked with mud and dirt on their skin and clothes… the smell was somewhat pleasant. Much of the elves nearby smelled like a freshly dug trench in the middle of the woods.
After hearing the elder's words, many turned to Chiu, who remained hand in hand with his sister and stared at him in awe. The boy shrank in the face of the sea of stares, yet they continued, prompting him to hide behind Caelu. Captain Moore noted the stress on the word "Messenger," which he took as a title similar to that of "prophet."
Captain Moore's group remained towards the rear, Lieutenant Li snapping a few more photos while the captain watched the spectacle with binoculars. After the nearby elves finished staring at Chiu, their interested and awed stares shifted to ones of hostility and fear at the sight of the strange humans.
"He looks like that homeless dude I saw at Roosevelt. You know, the one that smoked too many rocks?" Sergeant Wells whispered in English. "Well, before him and the city went up in smokes."
Captain Moore snorted and glared at the sergeant, though noting that the elder's clothes earned him no favors regarding that observation. Yet, there was little doubt that the elderly elf's words were backed with power: the power of the earth and a god.
"His exact words were," Elder Septen pulled out a rolled parchment and unfurled it with a grandiose swagger. "The humans will stay. I will offer them a hearth in this section of the forest, which I will expand to allow them to grow. You are to aid them, and guide them. They are… experienced, yet ignorant of this world and its ways."
This announcement caused some intense mutterings and grumbles between the elves, many turning towards the human group with increased intensity. When Captain Moore saw a few nearby boring into his appearance, he waved with a smile.
That earned him a few snorts.
"He declared that there will be… conflict and tribulations ahead for our people and this world. However, these humans will assist us, as we are to assist them."
That statement prompted another round of hushed whispers and speculations, which Captain Moore overheard.
"... Another war?"
"Surely the last one was enough to give even the gods a pause?"
"How can we win in such a war? The Kingdom of Lonsaure is long gone! We are but a small tribe…"
"Heresy! Tesa will deliver for us. If he says we must fight, we shall fight…"
Elder Septen stomped his foot, causing the ground to rumble and the crowd to silence. "It is the will of Lord Tesa. No matter what my or your opinions are, what he declares is law. I can not say that I have full confidence in our new… acquaintances, but I can not deny that what I have seen from there so far may tilt the balance in our favor.
"So as He commands, we shall provide our strength and knowledge for these… humans. Humans from a place called Earth. One may say they are… the Humans of Tesa, while we are the Tesa's Chosen.
"Let it be declared that today, Sixteen Days after the Autumn Equinox, the Dunj Tribe, Tesa's Chosen, draws Tesa's symbol with the Humans of Tesa. May both of our tribes protect the earth and all life that dwells on it."
The elder raised his hand and, with magic, created a long trench in front of the human delegation. The top of the line faced the left, traversing into a straight line before halting.
Captain Moore stared at the drawing and looked back at the elder. "Can I ask what this is before I sign this?"
"A Symbol of Friendship between our two tribes. It will create a magical agreement, a guarantee to not attack each other and work together to promote our mutual interests."
"I don't think I have the authority to do that."
"Tesa has willed it, and your leaders also agreed."
"This is a bit above my pay grade."
"Your what?"
"... Never mind." Captain Moore took a step back and tapped his ears. "Iris, did command mention anything specific about treaties?"
"From the brief, you were given the authority to negotiate and act upon the UN's behalf… since you're technically acting as the representative of the UN."
"Why me and not a damn career diplomat?"
"I just read stuff and report to you, boss."
The captain turned back to Elder Septen and stood before him, letting out a tired sigh. "Do you swear upon Tesa that this piece of magic is everything you claim it is? That there is nothing nefarious or hidden about this that can be used to harm my people?"
"I swear upon his name," Elder Septen answered.
The cavern rumbled, sealing the vow with a minor quake of seeming approval.
"So… what do you want us to draw?"
"A jagged line with three top points and two bottom points."
"So, a W?"
"What?"
"Never mind. A W it is."
Captain Moore grabbed his rifle with both hands and drew a W under the drawing. He placed the center of the W to meet the bottom line, finishing the strange symbol. Right after the captain finished drawing, the lines glowed momentarily before sinking into the earth.
"The earth has accepted the pact. And with it, Tesa signals his approval. Until the earth itself is destroyed, so our words will stand."
After those words were uttered, all the nearby elves placed their foreheads on the ground, even Caelu and Chiu. They remained in place for a few minutes before returning to their feet. The dirt on their foreheads remained firmly in place, and glowed a green hue.
"Is this what the Spanish felt when watching the Aztecs?" Lieutenant Li wondered.
"There aren't any blood sacrifices here, so I would say it's infinitely better," Captain Moore answered.
Caelu, who remained prone on the ground, was the last one to rise amongst the crowd. Regardless, Elder Septen continued his speech, begrudgingly promoting peace and harmony between the two sides. Chiu looked at his sister with concern after she refused to stand, leading him to poke her shoulders.
Seconds later, she convulsed in place and screamed.
"Caelu?" Captain Moore asked, walking towards the elf girl as her screams stopped.
Instead of rising to her feet, Caelu's body floated from the ground, and a sky-blue aura radiated from her body. Her eyes flashed open, revealing shining white pupils amidst a blue iris. Out of nowhere, gusts of winds surrounded her, and a cloud materialized underneath her feet, supporting the body in mid-air.
The air itself felt… cold and fleeting. The whirlwinds caused by the sudden change clashed with the earth and its followers, the sound of scratching against the dirt by the wind.
"... Shit, is it that god again?" Sergeant Wells asked, gripping his rifle.
Captain Moore shook his head. "He glowed purple last time and was surrounded by earth. Another god, then?"
"You guess correctly, human," the entity controlling Caelu said, her mouth twitching awkwardly. The voice was gentler yet faster and airy compared to the deep rumbles of Tesa. "It has been a long time since I occupied a mortal body. A child of earth that has learned to love the sky. Perhaps the only one in a millennia.."
"Bie," Elder Septen choked out as he gasped for air, pulling out his staff. "How dare you intrude upon this place!"
Some of the other elves ran to their residences, possibly to grab any weapons they could to face down the god. The others remained frozen in place, staring at the appearance of a foreign divine hovering over their precious settlement.
The Goddess of the Sky and Rain shook Caelu's limbs, rotating her head and cracking her back. "Relax, old man. I am not here to fight you or Tesa today. If anything, I'm here to make the same pact."
"You? Work with Lord Tesa? Bah! You've been fighting for rotations, for time eternal!"
"Well, that was until I saw these humans," the divine declared, her voice laced with pride. "Beyond the skies, there is something greater… A shame that no entity can claim such vastness."
"You're Bie," Captain Moore said.
"That I am. If the elves or Tesa had not found you, I would granted you my blessings. Alas, your people and his people were meant to be. Maybe if you named your planet something other than "earth.""
Despite knowing the futility of his actions, Captain Moore raised his rifle, with his men following his lead. "So why are you here then, controlling Caelu?"
"Oh, like any good god or goddess… Searching for more followers and seeking more power," Bie grinned widely, expressing her glee to the fullest. The air vibrated around her, and the cloud lifted her higher towards the ceiling. "Your people have interesting toys, toys that I would love to see more across my domain. Especially your "pilots" or whatever they are called. If they promise to worship me and acknowledge my divinity, I will ensure that no foul weather hinders them when they fly…"
"That… might actually get all the pilots to sign up," Lieutenant Li admitted.
"You think we can ask Tesa for a counteroffer? Like no mud stuck in our clothes or vehicles?" Sergeant Wells asked. "Cause hell, I think most of the boys would gladly throw out the chaplains for that."
"For what? Are you also preparing for… whatever Tesa mentioned last time?" Captain Moore inquired towards Bie.
An arrow whizzed by Bie, though she halted it in mid-air with a wave of a hand. She glared at the elf that shot it and lashed out with her arms, prompting a barrage of air to sweep over the crowd. Several were knocked back, including Lieutenant Li and the other soldiers. However, Sergeant Wells and Captain Moore barely remained on their feet.
"An arrow, really? As for your question, mortal… I do not know what Tesa confided with you. What I do know is that Eden is awake, more than ever."
"Eden meaning… heaven?"
"The Garden of the Gods. Even more importantly, the Superior Synod is stirring more than ever before. The last time this happened, millions of you mortals perished, and dozens of gods and goddesses were forever weakened."
"Including yourself and Lord Tesa," Elder Septen growled, climbing back onto the flat surface of the obelisk.
"Because the elves that I blessed were too weak! I swore I would never forgive your kind… especially those arrogant idiots from the Kingdom of Lonsaure. I promised I would never forgive the humans, either. Yet, with that god shaking in his slumber…
Bie's voice sharply rose, causing a sonic boom to rattle the cavern's walls. The cloud underneath her feet started to drizzle the ground below. "Never again will I bless elves with my presence or glory. Tesa remains foolish as always, so insistent on sticking with those that led to our own ruin, which is why these humans will do. They already have masteries over the sky and beyond, and I want that."
"Yeah, here's the issue," Captain Moore said. "We're not pilots. You're asking the wrong people."
"The only one I could feasibly possess was this girl."
"Why?"
"Because she believes in the divines of this world, the Synod. And because she loves the sky."
"You talk more directly than Tesa."
"Tesa believes he sounds more profound if he talks with an air of mystery and vague words. I believe he's trying to hide that he's not as strong or as knowledgeable as people think he is," Bie shrugged, sparking a small breeze to rise higher into the air. "I don't have any followers or the such to brag to. I killed them all."
"Do not insult Lord Tesa!" Elder Septen shouted.
"I'll do whatever I want. What can he do, smite me?"
The cavern rumbled, and a rock dropped from the top and whizzed past Caelu's head. The goddess possessing the elf frowned. "Very funny, Tesa. Save your powers for the future. Eden knows I have plenty saved up for a future tumbling, unlike you interventionist twig."
She turned to the human group and smiled. "Anywho, humans, that is all I had. Go tell your friends at your fort. Maybe I'll speak to them directly to earn their support. Since I'm not like Tesa, I have much more energy to spare. For now, see ya."
With that, a whirlwind exited Caelu's nose and dispersed into the air with a loud bang.
Caelu slowly floated onto the ground, landing on her back with the wind cushioning her fall. When Captain Moore rushed over, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked at her surroundings. "W…What happened?"
"Looks like you and your brother have a knack for… gods?" Captain Moore answered.
"It is done then," Elder Septen declared solemnly. He thrust his staff onto the obelisk's surface and glared at Caelu. "The first Messenger of Bie in hundreds of rotations… Caelu."
++++++
AN: AHHH, schedule irl is limiting my writing. But I'll do my best
Shoutout to Shabab Didar, Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
i'm guessing Tesa is more into sustainable worship, while Bie is more into Big Harvests?
kinda reminds me of the gods from Onyx Equanox
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0pGPLC4huY
Chapter 16: The Grand Elder
Caelu stared at the dimmed ceiling and sighed, wrapping her arms around her legs and cradling herself back and forth on the uncomfortable wooden chair. She and her friends from Earth were waiting for their meeting with the Grand Elder. They had been escorted into a private room holding the entrance to the Grand Elder's chamber, though they had yet to enter their destination.
The dimly lit room was bare except for a few seats and a long purple rug that filled the entire length. The dirt walls held numerous light stones embedded in them, and the floor was lined with limestone.
A light stone above Caelu's head flickered before dimming completely, causing another streak of light to fade and darken Caelu's face further. She felt the air around her chill, and a slight breeze swept her hair, prompting her to look around. None of the humans had used magic, and they all looked deep in thought.
Yet, she had sensed the rift in the air. That shouldn't have been possible deep underground, especially since there wasn't a Windstone embedded within the room's walls.
It was… peculiar.
The past few hours had gone by in a blur. One moment, she was smiling and looking up at Elder Septen, offering a Symbol of Friendship between her tribe and the humans. After a single blink, she was sprawled on the plaza floor, her clothes and hair in a whirlwind of a mess, while the other elves stared at her in a mix of fear and shock.
It was only after the elder spoke that everything became crystal clear; she had become a vessel of Bie.
She sniffed the air without a thought, and a small whirlwind swept into her nostrils. Caelu could smell it all: the charred metallic smell from the light stones, the chocolate in Leader Moore's pocket, and the burning candle wax in the Grand Elder's chamber.
Even the gentle whispers between her friends were crystal clear, even more so than before. Her senses had always been sharp…, but now the air seemed to obey her will and move even without concentration on her part.
She was far below the sky, within the earth itself, yet the powers of the sky lingered within her due to that goddess.
The sky… it was beautiful. Caelu enjoyed the breeze, the endless sea of air, and the feeling of liberation from the confines of the forest she called home. Yet, even now, her hands were pressed together in prayer to Tesa: for a sign, for reassurance.
Chiu had been chosen for his faith and suitability… so wasn't she just as suitable?
"Please…" Caelu whispered. "Tesa… Father of the Earth. Am I not your child?"
Her heart sank with each passing moment, her ears shut and surrounding her silently. There was no purple glow, no godly presence. There wasn't even a sliver of a pulse from the earth.
A small cloud manifested next to her, causing her to grit her teeth and wave it away with her hands.
"Just because she was possessed by… whatever that god's name is, they decide to treat her like an outsider?" Group Leader Wells said, leaning in his chair with his arms crossed. The short man was fiery like his hair and grunted like a wild boar with every sentence. He was on the opposite end of the room and talking gruffly, though Caelu could easily hear him.
Caelu smiled despite her situation. Wells' crude language was refreshing, considering the way her tribal members and even many of the humans spoke. Many within her tribe would've called him barbaric, but she thought he was noble despite his relatively limited vernacular. She could sense his frustration for her being and his anger at the seeming injustice stemming from her tribe's newfound treatment of her.
She silently thanked him for it behind the lingering tears in her eyes.
"Bie," Group Leader Li answered. "She is considered the chief rival and foe of their tribe's patron god. Considering these elves' lives revolve around Tesa, it shouldn't be that surprising."
On the other hand, the group's newest member was the complete opposite of Li. She could tell he was like Nedurp: intelligent, well-spoken, analytical. Unlike most of her new friends, he hailed from a tribe called "Chai-na," a tribe that had a complicated relationship with "Am-ar-eca."
Caelu had assumed he was some sort of hostage until Elize reassured her that he was a warrior sent by Chai-na to observe Am-ar-eca's warriors. And Am-ar-eca was fine with it.
Even though only rotations prior, the two nations had apparently fought each other over control over… an ocean in their world. And millions died from it.
She still had much to learn about Earth.
"Caelu being possessed by the sky deity should not subject her to isolation by her tribe," Elize commented, her tone rising at the end of her sentence. Her voice was usually monotone, yet when it came to Caelu, her tone dipped ever so slightly. Caelu had discovered only she noticed this and that the "golem" had far more emotions than the humans believed.
"I would imagine it's like finding out your neighbor was actually a spy for another nation," Leader Moore said. "Or at least, something akin to it. Maybe the Salem Witch Trials is a better example?"
There were always a few words mixed into the humans' speech that she barely understood, though Caelu felt like she was learning the "lingo" they used rapidly. She tapped the dictionary in her chest pocket and smiled at the thick stack of parchment neatly bundled behind the hard cover.
"Regardless, it's… illogical. Caelu is clearly not happy with the possession, nor is she showing any inclination to betray her tribe or her faith in the earth god."
"People are illogical, especially in the face of gods and religion."
"Elves are different from humans."
"They are much more alike than they would want to believe."
"Stop it." Caelu's voice rang out before her mind could process her action. She looked around and saw the people around her, humans she had only met a week prior. Yet, despite the abnormalities the curse placed upon her, they still stood by her.
Unlike the members of her tribe.
Caelu took a deep breath and straightened her posture. "Thank you for standing up to the others for me. But it doesn't matter. I've been… marked by Bie. Unfortunately, that mark is permanent, and no matter what I do, the others will always look at me with suspicion and scorn."
"Is that why your brother was paraded by the villagers and treated as some sort of prophet?" Lieutenant Li asked.
"Yes. He is the first in many rotations to be personally blessed by Tesa's touch. The gods only commune through mortals if they are fit to represent the gods that commune through them. By communing through Chiu, Tesa has displayed his favor and approval of Chiu being his representative in the mortal realm. They are called the Touched and receive a much stronger blessing to amplify their life and magic."
"Then…"
"And Bie has done the same through me." Caelu frowned while she explained. Her friends lacked information, and she knew Group Leader Li would write it down for them to read later on. "Being chosen by a god is… a rarity and a blessing. Seldom is the day that gods and goddesses choose lower beings to wield their will within the mortal realm.
"Only the most powerful gods and goddesses could occupy multiple hosts, those on the Superior Synod and some. For Tesa and Bie, who had fallen wayward with much of the immortals of Eden, only one or two were possible."
Captain Moore held up his hand. "Are you saying that Bie personally approved of you? But how? Why?"
"The sky," Specialist Smith said. "According to Bie's own words, Caelu was chosen because "because she believes in the divines of this world, the Synod. And because she loves the sky.""
"So what you're saying is, it's our fault, ain't it?" Sergeant Wells grunted. She felt a pang of guilt from his words, despite his tough exterior.
Caelu shook her head. "It's not."
"Yeah, I'm sure our planes and shuttles didn't have anything to do with your love for the sky."
"Admittedly, they did help me appreciate the sky more than before… but my love for flying and the sky happened due to me, and me alone. None of you are at fault for what I decided."
"That would've been a bit reassuring if you weren't in tears, Caelu," Captain Moore mentioned. He walked over to her and patted her shoulders lightly before bowing his head. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's… alright." Caelu rubbed some tears that still lingered. Despite her urges, they remained stubbornly attached to her. "What is done is done. All I can do is live with the consequences of my choices."
"So…. is Bie any good? Like, is she a decent goddess or what?" Sergeant Wells asked.
Caelu felt him changing the topic to lighten the mood, though she knew none of them would like her answer. "To my knowledge, Bie killed the remaining believers that survived the War hundreds of rotations prior. They survived the destruction of the elven kingdom, Lonsaure. When they fled from the charred ruins, Bie struck them down for their cowardice and failure."
"That does not inspire confidence at all," Elize noted. "I fail to see how this is a blessing."
"She certainly isn't Jesus," Leader Moore said. The other humans scoffed, though Caelu failed to understand his words. He saw his confusion and clarified. "Jesus is… was a god on our planet. Or at least, some believe as so."
"I see. What sort of god is he?"
"A kind one, the son of God. Nothing like what you've said about Bie."
"She is certainly… demanding, from the stories I have heard," Caelu admitted. She had always heard the tales of Bie's epic clashes with Tesa and her wickedness upon her poor elvish followers. "Yet, even from our tales, I could tell she was a… free-spirited goddess. One that moved the sky her own way. According to legends, she even challenged Cheth to duels for fun several times."
"Who is Cheth?" Group Leader Li asked.
"The God of Death. He is one of the strongest deities and sits upon the Superior Synod with four others."
Before anyone could ask more questions, the doors to the Grand Elder's chambers swung open, revealing a grave Elder Septen at the widened entrance. He looked up at Caelu, a head taller than him, and grimaced. "You may enter with the humans, child. Be warned, we are more than prepared to deal with any of Bie's trickery should you be possessed by her again."
Sergeant Wells growled, but Caelu raised her hand at him and bowed to Elder Septen smoothly. The wince that appeared on her face at the scathing "child" remark was long gone, replaced by a serene smile. "I assure you, elder, I harbor no ill will to the Grand Elder or the tribe."
"That remains to be seen," Elder Septen answered, pounding his staff and huffing back into the chamber. "Leave your weapons here, all of you. Remember humans to respect the Grand Elder. He is revered even amongst the Council of Elders. You are to show deference to him when he speaks and only respond when he calls for you. Do not forget where you are."
Her smile masked her heart beating faster with every step towards the chamber's entrance. Caelu had never met the Grand Elder; very few had the opportunity and honor to do so. Despite her predicament, her hands shook with excitement at meeting the longest-lived elf within the tribe, one that had guided her people for generations.
When she finally stepped into the sacred room, Caelu covered her eyes and blinked due to a large sunrock blinding her sight. The immense heat from the stone sizzled her skin and provoked beads of sweat to rise to the surface. The overwhelming sensations prevented her from reaching out and feeling for her friends, which caused a pang of worry to strike her heart.
Yet, she continued forward, unwilling to back down to meet with the Grand Elder.
"If anyone can help… it's the Grand Elder," Caelu muttered with her eyes closed. She felt her body scream in protest from the burning sensation spreading through her joints and the heat raging from her hair. Even so, she stepped forward again, placing her bare feet onto the firm ground, cooking the soles and toes like slabs of meat on a grill.
She could even smell the sizzling from below.
"I see… they are worthy," a man's voice rang out. It was unlike any voice she had heard before, a mix between the mortal and the divine. There was power, echoes, behind the voice. Yet, he was contently mortal, a 'mere' elf.
The heat disappatiated in an instant and she blinked when she saw the sunrock on the floor flicker off. Her vision was finally restored, and she witnessed a large chamber lit with candles rather than lighstones. Mountains of books towered to the ceiling, and several parchments filled with maps and unintelligible notes filled the walls. Amidst all this was a single throne in the center, occupied by someone.
Caelu glanced at her own body and tapped down her arms and legs. Nothing was burnt or out of place as if her experience for the past several minutes were… illusions. She glanced at her friends, and they, too, looked confused and in pain, though there was a distinct lack of visible marks on their bodies.
Magic. Magic beyond her understanding.
When she looked up, she saw the Grand Elder face to face. The older elf was ancient, yet he hardly looked a day over thirty rotations. His neat mustache and beard were braided, a deep brown with the sheen of rusetal. He wore a dark purple robe with buttons and belts made of gold, his long hair just covering the ears that held numerous silver piercings. Instead of looking like a wise man who guided her tribe, he looked more akin to the tales of kings and princes Caelu had heard from her caretakers.
More importantly, he was completely clean, unlike her other tribal members who decorated themselves with the earth in honor of Tesa. None of the familiar streaks of dirt and mud blessed his pale skin. Instead, he was bare and clean like her human friends, wearing some leather coverings on his feet while holding a golden staff with his hands. His clear golden eyes watched all the new arrivals with a dispassionate interest as if he were observing a new set of tools.
Seeing an elf's bare face, with visible age lines, was an unfamiliar experience. However, something about the Grand Elder's presence, his aura as he sat upon his large yet simple wooden throne, forced Caelu to focus her attention on him.
Strangely, much like Elize, the Grand Elder's soul seemed… missing—a void where the center of a mortal being was supposed to be. Instead of the warmth and heat she felt prior, all she felt was an odd coldness icing through her veins at the sight of her tribe's beloved Grand Elder.
Realizing she was gawking in his presence, she fell upon both knees and bowed her head onto the granite-cut floor. "I greet the Grand Elder of our tribe."
Her human friends remained on their feet, though they also bowed in respect. A few elders awaited quietly towards the side walls of the room, though some growled in annoyance at the sight of the human warriors.
"Caelu," the Grand Elder stated. His deep voice rumbled throughout the occupied chamber, snuffing out a few nearby candles. "Daughter of Tesa… and Bie."
"Only Tesa," Caelu answered.
"Once you are possessed by the divine, you are theirs till your death."
"That does not make me a Daughter of Bie."
The Grand Elder thumped his long staff on the floor, prompting a flurry of magic to vibrate through the room. Caelu could feel the elements swirling at the Grand Elder's fingertips: earth, air, fire, water, and even the most coveted magic, life. "So it would seem. I am not here to debate semantics, Caelu. I sit here, distracted from my studies, to meet the… strangers from afar."
"You're a sage," Caelu said inadvertently, covering her mouth for her insolent behavior.
Instead of berating her outburst, the Grand Elder chuckled. "That I am, only made possible due to trials of fire and blood. Pray that you are never forced to be a sage when blessed by a divine child."
Those blessed by gods or goddesses were inherently blessed with the magic of their patron. Yet, being a sage while blessed meant… they needed far greater magic—for power… or survival.
Sacrificing their soul for immortality and magic.
"Now," the Grand Elder continued. "I believe it was… Moore. Yes, Leader Moore. Step forward."
Leader Moore approached the old elf and stood at attention, bowing his head once again. "I thank you for your hospitality."
"Be at ease. I have heard much already from Elder Septen and the others. I gave them my permission for the Symbol of Friendship, sealed and guaranteed by my own magic. I am eager to always learn more, especially about this new world called "Earth."
"Yet, the words of our Lord Tesa and even his chief rival Bie have painted a bleak painting for our tribe's future. One that is filled with misery and war, like all those years ago. Even now, the local human duchy has taken notice of this forest. The presence of two divines in a span of days has not gone unnoticed, and you have invited them to invade our sacred home."
"How do you know?" Leader Moore asked.
The Grand Elder frowned. "You may be unfamiliar with the workings of this world, but the divine descending upon the mortal realm is an event that can be sensed by mages and sages alike for leagues on end. I have no doubt the humans have a few among their tribes. To them, this forest is now a beacon, like gold to a troll. They will investigate, whether by those well-versed in magic or the local fiefdoms investigating the source."
"If worst comes to worst, we will defend the forest," Leader Moore declared, folding his hands on his stomach and standing erect. The tone of his voice held a distinct lack of fear or worry, which made Caelu sigh in relief. "But we will first pursue diplomacy and ensure they turn back."
"And yet, if you are to leave this realm and return to your own, we will be stuck here with newfound hostility and enemies. No, it is better for you to destroy them and make them fear taking a step into this holy forest."
"We have been ordered to avoid bloodshed."
"Then abandon your naive mindset because your tribe and ours will only be safe when those threats are destroyed, not catered to. If Lord Tesa is correct, and he always is, it is better to destroy those following the Superior Synod before the beginning of another War of Eden.."
Captain Moore stiffened, drawing a long look from the Grand Elder. "We will deal with them, but we will not resort to mass murder for an… advantage. No matter who we may face in the future."
Caelu suppressed the shock that threatened to spill over on her face. Even the elders who held greater hostility toward outsiders were not as… bloodthirsty. The Grand Elder's emotions felt flat, devoid of the intensity and colors she was familiar with in others, as if the thought of killing thousands of humans was akin to wiping out a colony of ants.
"Do not say that I did not warn you, human," the Grand Elder replied, the few age lines on his face deepening with each word. "But should you fail, I will release the beasts of this forest to deal with the invaders."
She felt only one emotion echo from the Grand Elder: glee. It was more potent than the muffled mockeries of emotions she had felt from him so far.
As the Grand Elder offered his staff for Leader Moore to shake, Caelu bit her lips and shuddered while she stared at the unnerving smile on the elderly elf's face.
+++++
AN: I did finish part 1 for the Omake. I'll be posting that tomorrow!
Shoutout to Shabab Didar, Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
The dimly lit room was bare except for a few seats and a long purple rug that filled the entire length. The dirt walls held numerous light stones embedded in them, and the floor was lined with limestone.
A light stone above Caelu's head flickered before dimming completely, causing another streak of light to fade and darken Caelu's face further. She felt the air around her chill, and a slight breeze swept her hair, prompting her to look around. None of the humans had used magic, and they all looked deep in thought.
Yet, she had sensed the rift in the air. That shouldn't have been possible deep underground, especially since there wasn't a Windstone embedded within the room's walls.
It was… peculiar.
The past few hours had gone by in a blur. One moment, she was smiling and looking up at Elder Septen, offering a Symbol of Friendship between her tribe and the humans. After a single blink, she was sprawled on the plaza floor, her clothes and hair in a whirlwind of a mess, while the other elves stared at her in a mix of fear and shock.
It was only after the elder spoke that everything became crystal clear; she had become a vessel of Bie.
She sniffed the air without a thought, and a small whirlwind swept into her nostrils. Caelu could smell it all: the charred metallic smell from the light stones, the chocolate in Leader Moore's pocket, and the burning candle wax in the Grand Elder's chamber.
Even the gentle whispers between her friends were crystal clear, even more so than before. Her senses had always been sharp…, but now the air seemed to obey her will and move even without concentration on her part.
She was far below the sky, within the earth itself, yet the powers of the sky lingered within her due to that goddess.
The sky… it was beautiful. Caelu enjoyed the breeze, the endless sea of air, and the feeling of liberation from the confines of the forest she called home. Yet, even now, her hands were pressed together in prayer to Tesa: for a sign, for reassurance.
Chiu had been chosen for his faith and suitability… so wasn't she just as suitable?
"Please…" Caelu whispered. "Tesa… Father of the Earth. Am I not your child?"
Her heart sank with each passing moment, her ears shut and surrounding her silently. There was no purple glow, no godly presence. There wasn't even a sliver of a pulse from the earth.
A small cloud manifested next to her, causing her to grit her teeth and wave it away with her hands.
"Just because she was possessed by… whatever that god's name is, they decide to treat her like an outsider?" Group Leader Wells said, leaning in his chair with his arms crossed. The short man was fiery like his hair and grunted like a wild boar with every sentence. He was on the opposite end of the room and talking gruffly, though Caelu could easily hear him.
Caelu smiled despite her situation. Wells' crude language was refreshing, considering the way her tribal members and even many of the humans spoke. Many within her tribe would've called him barbaric, but she thought he was noble despite his relatively limited vernacular. She could sense his frustration for her being and his anger at the seeming injustice stemming from her tribe's newfound treatment of her.
She silently thanked him for it behind the lingering tears in her eyes.
"Bie," Group Leader Li answered. "She is considered the chief rival and foe of their tribe's patron god. Considering these elves' lives revolve around Tesa, it shouldn't be that surprising."
On the other hand, the group's newest member was the complete opposite of Li. She could tell he was like Nedurp: intelligent, well-spoken, analytical. Unlike most of her new friends, he hailed from a tribe called "Chai-na," a tribe that had a complicated relationship with "Am-ar-eca."
Caelu had assumed he was some sort of hostage until Elize reassured her that he was a warrior sent by Chai-na to observe Am-ar-eca's warriors. And Am-ar-eca was fine with it.
Even though only rotations prior, the two nations had apparently fought each other over control over… an ocean in their world. And millions died from it.
She still had much to learn about Earth.
"Caelu being possessed by the sky deity should not subject her to isolation by her tribe," Elize commented, her tone rising at the end of her sentence. Her voice was usually monotone, yet when it came to Caelu, her tone dipped ever so slightly. Caelu had discovered only she noticed this and that the "golem" had far more emotions than the humans believed.
"I would imagine it's like finding out your neighbor was actually a spy for another nation," Leader Moore said. "Or at least, something akin to it. Maybe the Salem Witch Trials is a better example?"
There were always a few words mixed into the humans' speech that she barely understood, though Caelu felt like she was learning the "lingo" they used rapidly. She tapped the dictionary in her chest pocket and smiled at the thick stack of parchment neatly bundled behind the hard cover.
"Regardless, it's… illogical. Caelu is clearly not happy with the possession, nor is she showing any inclination to betray her tribe or her faith in the earth god."
"People are illogical, especially in the face of gods and religion."
"Elves are different from humans."
"They are much more alike than they would want to believe."
"Stop it." Caelu's voice rang out before her mind could process her action. She looked around and saw the people around her, humans she had only met a week prior. Yet, despite the abnormalities the curse placed upon her, they still stood by her.
Unlike the members of her tribe.
Caelu took a deep breath and straightened her posture. "Thank you for standing up to the others for me. But it doesn't matter. I've been… marked by Bie. Unfortunately, that mark is permanent, and no matter what I do, the others will always look at me with suspicion and scorn."
"Is that why your brother was paraded by the villagers and treated as some sort of prophet?" Lieutenant Li asked.
"Yes. He is the first in many rotations to be personally blessed by Tesa's touch. The gods only commune through mortals if they are fit to represent the gods that commune through them. By communing through Chiu, Tesa has displayed his favor and approval of Chiu being his representative in the mortal realm. They are called the Touched and receive a much stronger blessing to amplify their life and magic."
"Then…"
"And Bie has done the same through me." Caelu frowned while she explained. Her friends lacked information, and she knew Group Leader Li would write it down for them to read later on. "Being chosen by a god is… a rarity and a blessing. Seldom is the day that gods and goddesses choose lower beings to wield their will within the mortal realm.
"Only the most powerful gods and goddesses could occupy multiple hosts, those on the Superior Synod and some. For Tesa and Bie, who had fallen wayward with much of the immortals of Eden, only one or two were possible."
Captain Moore held up his hand. "Are you saying that Bie personally approved of you? But how? Why?"
"The sky," Specialist Smith said. "According to Bie's own words, Caelu was chosen because "because she believes in the divines of this world, the Synod. And because she loves the sky.""
"So what you're saying is, it's our fault, ain't it?" Sergeant Wells grunted. She felt a pang of guilt from his words, despite his tough exterior.
Caelu shook her head. "It's not."
"Yeah, I'm sure our planes and shuttles didn't have anything to do with your love for the sky."
"Admittedly, they did help me appreciate the sky more than before… but my love for flying and the sky happened due to me, and me alone. None of you are at fault for what I decided."
"That would've been a bit reassuring if you weren't in tears, Caelu," Captain Moore mentioned. He walked over to her and patted her shoulders lightly before bowing his head. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's… alright." Caelu rubbed some tears that still lingered. Despite her urges, they remained stubbornly attached to her. "What is done is done. All I can do is live with the consequences of my choices."
"So…. is Bie any good? Like, is she a decent goddess or what?" Sergeant Wells asked.
Caelu felt him changing the topic to lighten the mood, though she knew none of them would like her answer. "To my knowledge, Bie killed the remaining believers that survived the War hundreds of rotations prior. They survived the destruction of the elven kingdom, Lonsaure. When they fled from the charred ruins, Bie struck them down for their cowardice and failure."
"That does not inspire confidence at all," Elize noted. "I fail to see how this is a blessing."
"She certainly isn't Jesus," Leader Moore said. The other humans scoffed, though Caelu failed to understand his words. He saw his confusion and clarified. "Jesus is… was a god on our planet. Or at least, some believe as so."
"I see. What sort of god is he?"
"A kind one, the son of God. Nothing like what you've said about Bie."
"She is certainly… demanding, from the stories I have heard," Caelu admitted. She had always heard the tales of Bie's epic clashes with Tesa and her wickedness upon her poor elvish followers. "Yet, even from our tales, I could tell she was a… free-spirited goddess. One that moved the sky her own way. According to legends, she even challenged Cheth to duels for fun several times."
"Who is Cheth?" Group Leader Li asked.
"The God of Death. He is one of the strongest deities and sits upon the Superior Synod with four others."
Before anyone could ask more questions, the doors to the Grand Elder's chambers swung open, revealing a grave Elder Septen at the widened entrance. He looked up at Caelu, a head taller than him, and grimaced. "You may enter with the humans, child. Be warned, we are more than prepared to deal with any of Bie's trickery should you be possessed by her again."
Sergeant Wells growled, but Caelu raised her hand at him and bowed to Elder Septen smoothly. The wince that appeared on her face at the scathing "child" remark was long gone, replaced by a serene smile. "I assure you, elder, I harbor no ill will to the Grand Elder or the tribe."
"That remains to be seen," Elder Septen answered, pounding his staff and huffing back into the chamber. "Leave your weapons here, all of you. Remember humans to respect the Grand Elder. He is revered even amongst the Council of Elders. You are to show deference to him when he speaks and only respond when he calls for you. Do not forget where you are."
Her smile masked her heart beating faster with every step towards the chamber's entrance. Caelu had never met the Grand Elder; very few had the opportunity and honor to do so. Despite her predicament, her hands shook with excitement at meeting the longest-lived elf within the tribe, one that had guided her people for generations.
When she finally stepped into the sacred room, Caelu covered her eyes and blinked due to a large sunrock blinding her sight. The immense heat from the stone sizzled her skin and provoked beads of sweat to rise to the surface. The overwhelming sensations prevented her from reaching out and feeling for her friends, which caused a pang of worry to strike her heart.
Yet, she continued forward, unwilling to back down to meet with the Grand Elder.
"If anyone can help… it's the Grand Elder," Caelu muttered with her eyes closed. She felt her body scream in protest from the burning sensation spreading through her joints and the heat raging from her hair. Even so, she stepped forward again, placing her bare feet onto the firm ground, cooking the soles and toes like slabs of meat on a grill.
She could even smell the sizzling from below.
"I see… they are worthy," a man's voice rang out. It was unlike any voice she had heard before, a mix between the mortal and the divine. There was power, echoes, behind the voice. Yet, he was contently mortal, a 'mere' elf.
The heat disappatiated in an instant and she blinked when she saw the sunrock on the floor flicker off. Her vision was finally restored, and she witnessed a large chamber lit with candles rather than lighstones. Mountains of books towered to the ceiling, and several parchments filled with maps and unintelligible notes filled the walls. Amidst all this was a single throne in the center, occupied by someone.
Caelu glanced at her own body and tapped down her arms and legs. Nothing was burnt or out of place as if her experience for the past several minutes were… illusions. She glanced at her friends, and they, too, looked confused and in pain, though there was a distinct lack of visible marks on their bodies.
Magic. Magic beyond her understanding.
When she looked up, she saw the Grand Elder face to face. The older elf was ancient, yet he hardly looked a day over thirty rotations. His neat mustache and beard were braided, a deep brown with the sheen of rusetal. He wore a dark purple robe with buttons and belts made of gold, his long hair just covering the ears that held numerous silver piercings. Instead of looking like a wise man who guided her tribe, he looked more akin to the tales of kings and princes Caelu had heard from her caretakers.
More importantly, he was completely clean, unlike her other tribal members who decorated themselves with the earth in honor of Tesa. None of the familiar streaks of dirt and mud blessed his pale skin. Instead, he was bare and clean like her human friends, wearing some leather coverings on his feet while holding a golden staff with his hands. His clear golden eyes watched all the new arrivals with a dispassionate interest as if he were observing a new set of tools.
Seeing an elf's bare face, with visible age lines, was an unfamiliar experience. However, something about the Grand Elder's presence, his aura as he sat upon his large yet simple wooden throne, forced Caelu to focus her attention on him.
Strangely, much like Elize, the Grand Elder's soul seemed… missing—a void where the center of a mortal being was supposed to be. Instead of the warmth and heat she felt prior, all she felt was an odd coldness icing through her veins at the sight of her tribe's beloved Grand Elder.
Realizing she was gawking in his presence, she fell upon both knees and bowed her head onto the granite-cut floor. "I greet the Grand Elder of our tribe."
Her human friends remained on their feet, though they also bowed in respect. A few elders awaited quietly towards the side walls of the room, though some growled in annoyance at the sight of the human warriors.
"Caelu," the Grand Elder stated. His deep voice rumbled throughout the occupied chamber, snuffing out a few nearby candles. "Daughter of Tesa… and Bie."
"Only Tesa," Caelu answered.
"Once you are possessed by the divine, you are theirs till your death."
"That does not make me a Daughter of Bie."
The Grand Elder thumped his long staff on the floor, prompting a flurry of magic to vibrate through the room. Caelu could feel the elements swirling at the Grand Elder's fingertips: earth, air, fire, water, and even the most coveted magic, life. "So it would seem. I am not here to debate semantics, Caelu. I sit here, distracted from my studies, to meet the… strangers from afar."
"You're a sage," Caelu said inadvertently, covering her mouth for her insolent behavior.
Instead of berating her outburst, the Grand Elder chuckled. "That I am, only made possible due to trials of fire and blood. Pray that you are never forced to be a sage when blessed by a divine child."
Those blessed by gods or goddesses were inherently blessed with the magic of their patron. Yet, being a sage while blessed meant… they needed far greater magic—for power… or survival.
Sacrificing their soul for immortality and magic.
"Now," the Grand Elder continued. "I believe it was… Moore. Yes, Leader Moore. Step forward."
Leader Moore approached the old elf and stood at attention, bowing his head once again. "I thank you for your hospitality."
"Be at ease. I have heard much already from Elder Septen and the others. I gave them my permission for the Symbol of Friendship, sealed and guaranteed by my own magic. I am eager to always learn more, especially about this new world called "Earth."
"Yet, the words of our Lord Tesa and even his chief rival Bie have painted a bleak painting for our tribe's future. One that is filled with misery and war, like all those years ago. Even now, the local human duchy has taken notice of this forest. The presence of two divines in a span of days has not gone unnoticed, and you have invited them to invade our sacred home."
"How do you know?" Leader Moore asked.
The Grand Elder frowned. "You may be unfamiliar with the workings of this world, but the divine descending upon the mortal realm is an event that can be sensed by mages and sages alike for leagues on end. I have no doubt the humans have a few among their tribes. To them, this forest is now a beacon, like gold to a troll. They will investigate, whether by those well-versed in magic or the local fiefdoms investigating the source."
"If worst comes to worst, we will defend the forest," Leader Moore declared, folding his hands on his stomach and standing erect. The tone of his voice held a distinct lack of fear or worry, which made Caelu sigh in relief. "But we will first pursue diplomacy and ensure they turn back."
"And yet, if you are to leave this realm and return to your own, we will be stuck here with newfound hostility and enemies. No, it is better for you to destroy them and make them fear taking a step into this holy forest."
"We have been ordered to avoid bloodshed."
"Then abandon your naive mindset because your tribe and ours will only be safe when those threats are destroyed, not catered to. If Lord Tesa is correct, and he always is, it is better to destroy those following the Superior Synod before the beginning of another War of Eden.."
Captain Moore stiffened, drawing a long look from the Grand Elder. "We will deal with them, but we will not resort to mass murder for an… advantage. No matter who we may face in the future."
Caelu suppressed the shock that threatened to spill over on her face. Even the elders who held greater hostility toward outsiders were not as… bloodthirsty. The Grand Elder's emotions felt flat, devoid of the intensity and colors she was familiar with in others, as if the thought of killing thousands of humans was akin to wiping out a colony of ants.
"Do not say that I did not warn you, human," the Grand Elder replied, the few age lines on his face deepening with each word. "But should you fail, I will release the beasts of this forest to deal with the invaders."
She felt only one emotion echo from the Grand Elder: glee. It was more potent than the muffled mockeries of emotions she had felt from him so far.
As the Grand Elder offered his staff for Leader Moore to shake, Caelu bit her lips and shuddered while she stared at the unnerving smile on the elderly elf's face.
+++++
AN: I did finish part 1 for the Omake. I'll be posting that tomorrow!
Shoutout to Shabab Didar, Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
Somewhat. Tesa is a bit more benevolent while Bie is more... well, egotistical. Both see mortals differently, as you can tell from their words/actions.
Omake Part 1: We Can Make A Religion Out of This…
This happens directly after chapter 12.
+++++
"So the rumbling was caused by a god, right? That dude named Tesa or whatever?"
"For the last fucking time, stop pestering me with that shit."
"Normally I would, but we're talking about gods, sergeant."
Sergeant Wells rolled his eyes and edged his jaw out, thumbing over his shoulders at Private First Class Perez. "You're ruining my private time, private."
The nine-man squad was gathered in their sizeable rec room, shared by their entire platoon. It was a private sanctuary for the lower ranks, with a communal kitchen and fridge, varying electronics, and numerous codes for "various" VR activities on the walls. The sergeant was sprawled out on one of the couches in the room while five of his squad members crowded him with eager eyes.
All of them were in varying forms of dress, though Sergeant Wells was only wearing hot pants and a wife beater while staring at the football game projected onto the wall. A couple of soda cans and chip bags were strewn on the floor while the smell of grilled sausages wafted from the kitchen.
"Sergeant," Corporal Sizemore said, ensuring he stayed clear of Sergeant Wells' line of sight. The corporal had a unique twang, a mutated Cherokee accent only found on Nova. "I heard multiple nerds ranting about their experiments being ruined from the quake. And I'm pretty sure that quake hit the entire forest. Was it caused by… that being?"
Despite his annoyance, Sergeant Wells noted that the corporal had gripped the cross hanging from a silver necklace.
Instead of giving his subordinate another snide remark, the sergeant answered with an annoyed sigh. "Yeah it was a fucking god. Yeah I saw the captain's face after he left the meeting room. That motherfucking Tesa just carved a path of earth straight through concrete and tiles. That piss UN bureaucrat looked scared out of his fucking mind. Now that was a sight to remember."
"Holy shit," PFC Perez whispered. "Dios mío."
"Yeah, I don't think that God is here on this planet kid."
"You sure that it wasn't some wizardry or witchcraft? Like some human or elf pretending to be a god?" Corporal Sizemore pressed.
"Maybe, I dunno. I only heard some of the voices and the aftermath. If they were some wizard, they did a convincing job considering that the elves all keeled before him."
"So it could've been an illusion or some sort of elaborate trick."
"Look, corporal, if you want to have a theological debate with the natives, be my guest. Hell, I'm sure the company chaplain would be more than happy to reassure your faith after he interrogates the captain," Sergeant Wells answered. He chugged a Sprite and crushed the empty can. "But I am not the guy you should be debating about religion, of all things."
"I thought you were Christian too?"
"Do I look like your typical Christian? I've been going to church 'cause there are cute chicks there."
A strange whine escaped Corporal Reynolds' throat, prompting a round of snickering from the others. Private Perez took the moment to jump in between the two of them. "I heard that worshipping a god in this world comes with perks and blessings. Does that mean if I worship this Tesa dude, I get cool ass perks too? Like earthbending shit?"
"Oh yeah," Sergeant Wells said with a snort. "And you get to talk to animals too. Not to mention, you can make your own living sex doll from dirt, like Adam and Eve."
"Where the fuck do I sign up?"
"Don't be an idiot," Corporal Sizemore said. "He's messing with us."
Private Perez blinked. "Shit, I've been with y'all for a bit, and I still feel like a dumbass sometimes."
Sergeant Wells pulled out a pen from his pocket and pantomimed writing in the air. "Because you are. I'm afraid it's terminal. There's a reason we named you 'Turbo' when you were first assigned to me on Nova."
"I still don't get that. Doesn't that mean I'm fast?"
"No, you are so slow; you make everyone else look fast."
"Speaking of the chaplain… how is he handling things?" Corporal Sizemore asked.
Sergeant Wells pumped his fist when he saw the Eagles score a touchdown. "Last I heard, he's trying to calm everyone and their mother down. You're taking it a lot better than some of the more religious ones."
"Because I have faith in God."
"Weren't Cherokees supposed to worship like, native spirits or some shit?"
"I'm neo-Cherokee." The corporal pointed to his shirt, which contained the blaring words 'ATSEHIGADA, NOVA USA. 53RD STATE.'
"... Still wild to me that some of the first American colonists were Cherokee members forming a new American colony… on another planet. Some reverse colonization with the original natives of America, helping America colonize. Nova has some bizzaro history."
"You think the Army will recognize Followers of Tesa or whatever as an official religion?" PFC Perez asked in a serious tone. "Already heard a few digging their toes into the dirt every morning and praying to that earth god. Some wacky, cult shit."
Sergeant Wells shrugged. "Again, I don't give a shit. God is real, god is fake, god is dead, whatever. Life goes on."
"Except for those that will have their faith challenged and also seek false idols," Corporal Sizemore muttered while rubbing his cross.
"Well then, I don't know how the God thing works, but I hope the God of Earth can rumble on this planet. Because otherwise, we're gonna need to find a bigger gun."
+++++
"So the rumbling was caused by a god, right? That dude named Tesa or whatever?"
"For the last fucking time, stop pestering me with that shit."
"Normally I would, but we're talking about gods, sergeant."
Sergeant Wells rolled his eyes and edged his jaw out, thumbing over his shoulders at Private First Class Perez. "You're ruining my private time, private."
The nine-man squad was gathered in their sizeable rec room, shared by their entire platoon. It was a private sanctuary for the lower ranks, with a communal kitchen and fridge, varying electronics, and numerous codes for "various" VR activities on the walls. The sergeant was sprawled out on one of the couches in the room while five of his squad members crowded him with eager eyes.
All of them were in varying forms of dress, though Sergeant Wells was only wearing hot pants and a wife beater while staring at the football game projected onto the wall. A couple of soda cans and chip bags were strewn on the floor while the smell of grilled sausages wafted from the kitchen.
"Sergeant," Corporal Sizemore said, ensuring he stayed clear of Sergeant Wells' line of sight. The corporal had a unique twang, a mutated Cherokee accent only found on Nova. "I heard multiple nerds ranting about their experiments being ruined from the quake. And I'm pretty sure that quake hit the entire forest. Was it caused by… that being?"
Despite his annoyance, Sergeant Wells noted that the corporal had gripped the cross hanging from a silver necklace.
Instead of giving his subordinate another snide remark, the sergeant answered with an annoyed sigh. "Yeah it was a fucking god. Yeah I saw the captain's face after he left the meeting room. That motherfucking Tesa just carved a path of earth straight through concrete and tiles. That piss UN bureaucrat looked scared out of his fucking mind. Now that was a sight to remember."
"Holy shit," PFC Perez whispered. "Dios mío."
"Yeah, I don't think that God is here on this planet kid."
"You sure that it wasn't some wizardry or witchcraft? Like some human or elf pretending to be a god?" Corporal Sizemore pressed.
"Maybe, I dunno. I only heard some of the voices and the aftermath. If they were some wizard, they did a convincing job considering that the elves all keeled before him."
"So it could've been an illusion or some sort of elaborate trick."
"Look, corporal, if you want to have a theological debate with the natives, be my guest. Hell, I'm sure the company chaplain would be more than happy to reassure your faith after he interrogates the captain," Sergeant Wells answered. He chugged a Sprite and crushed the empty can. "But I am not the guy you should be debating about religion, of all things."
"I thought you were Christian too?"
"Do I look like your typical Christian? I've been going to church 'cause there are cute chicks there."
A strange whine escaped Corporal Reynolds' throat, prompting a round of snickering from the others. Private Perez took the moment to jump in between the two of them. "I heard that worshipping a god in this world comes with perks and blessings. Does that mean if I worship this Tesa dude, I get cool ass perks too? Like earthbending shit?"
"Oh yeah," Sergeant Wells said with a snort. "And you get to talk to animals too. Not to mention, you can make your own living sex doll from dirt, like Adam and Eve."
"Where the fuck do I sign up?"
"Don't be an idiot," Corporal Sizemore said. "He's messing with us."
Private Perez blinked. "Shit, I've been with y'all for a bit, and I still feel like a dumbass sometimes."
Sergeant Wells pulled out a pen from his pocket and pantomimed writing in the air. "Because you are. I'm afraid it's terminal. There's a reason we named you 'Turbo' when you were first assigned to me on Nova."
"I still don't get that. Doesn't that mean I'm fast?"
"No, you are so slow; you make everyone else look fast."
"Speaking of the chaplain… how is he handling things?" Corporal Sizemore asked.
Sergeant Wells pumped his fist when he saw the Eagles score a touchdown. "Last I heard, he's trying to calm everyone and their mother down. You're taking it a lot better than some of the more religious ones."
"Because I have faith in God."
"Weren't Cherokees supposed to worship like, native spirits or some shit?"
"I'm neo-Cherokee." The corporal pointed to his shirt, which contained the blaring words 'ATSEHIGADA, NOVA USA. 53RD STATE.'
"... Still wild to me that some of the first American colonists were Cherokee members forming a new American colony… on another planet. Some reverse colonization with the original natives of America, helping America colonize. Nova has some bizzaro history."
"You think the Army will recognize Followers of Tesa or whatever as an official religion?" PFC Perez asked in a serious tone. "Already heard a few digging their toes into the dirt every morning and praying to that earth god. Some wacky, cult shit."
Sergeant Wells shrugged. "Again, I don't give a shit. God is real, god is fake, god is dead, whatever. Life goes on."
"Except for those that will have their faith challenged and also seek false idols," Corporal Sizemore muttered while rubbing his cross.
"Well then, I don't know how the God thing works, but I hope the God of Earth can rumble on this planet. Because otherwise, we're gonna need to find a bigger gun."
Chapter 17: Playing With Fire
"So this is…"
"An iPad. A type of tablet."
The Grand Elder stroked the smooth, transparent surface and tapped the small metallic support on the bottom of the electronic. "This is unlike any tablet I have seen. Glass mixed with metal, projecting images and sounds! Even the magical tablets recovered from the ruins of Lonsaure's cities were not this fascinating. The metals are… foreign, strange. A hint of steel that I am familiar with. Just the properties of this tool alone would take rotations of my life."
"A combination of metals, yes," Captain Moore explained. "Think of it as… a much more advanced stone tablet? Our people designed them and crafted them to perfection by our tools."
After shaking the Grand Elder's staff, they were led to a small meeting room with refreshments on a table. During that time, the Grand Elder inquired about the tablet in the captain's possession, which led to this moment.
Prior to this, Captain Moore felt the Grand Elder's cold indifference to his group's presence. Yet, the reveal of the iPad had caused a stir, provoking an intense gaze of curiosity from the otherwise detached Grand Elder.
It only took a few minutes for the leader of the tribe to learn the functions of the tablet and browse through it with his own hands. There was a glint in the Grand Elder's eyes as he hungrily dug through its content, though Captain Moore attributed it to a thirst for knowledge.
"This is our written language…" the Grand Elder pointed to the transparent screen flashing Danj texts. How have you managed to transcribe this?"
"Elder Auru at our fort has helped tremendously with understanding your language."
"I see. So, what does this thing hold? You have already shown me some of its marvelous features."
"Anything and everything, including the entire history of our civilization and more."
"And you can just… hold onto this wonder?"
"They are commonplace amongst our people."
"Truly?"
"Generally speaking, every human I know has one or something akin to it."
"Interesting… And this "A History of the World, Part Twelve." Does this mean your world was destroyed eleven times prior?"
Captain Moore bit back a chuckle, though he heard Sergeant Wells failing to hide his snickering with his fake coughs. "No, it's just much has happened every century since the very first series of this book, that they've updated it with new information as time passed."
"I see," the Grand Elder commented. He browsed through "Records through the millennia, even from ages beyond my comprehension… Your world is old. What little we know of the beginning of time in this realm is from the whispers of god. Are your gods more obliged to address your people's history?"
"No. This was made possible due to "archaeology" and a lot of time to review various artifacts and records."
""Archaeology?""
"A study of history through excavation and analysis of various artifacts and remains."
"Ah. I do not think anyone in our tribe has considered such a study due to our… exile within the forest. Even before then, the earth was not seen as something to be dug up for our enjoyment or study. Much of our time within the earth has been spent living and slowly expanding our boundaries as deemed fitting, with the occasional push for minerals or metals if needed. If this archaeology can help us recover our lost history, perhaps it would be useful to look for remains within the earth elsewhere, especially within Lonsaure."
"We could assist with such an act," Captain Moore said. "We have more than a few archaeologists back at our camp."
The Grand Elder smirked, hovering the tablet in the air with a wave of his hand. An earthen podium arose from the solid marble floor and surrounded the tablet with a graceful embrace. "While I'm sure your people have experts in the field, my people are blessed by Tesa. No beings are more suited for studying things within the earth than our tribe. Instead, it would be wiser for you to seek our help to carry out your archaeology in this world."
"I could probably relay the thought to my superiors…" For a moment, Captain Moore imagined some of the more entrepreneurial members of the UN expedition would be interested in the Danj elves' ability to detect metals within the earth. And their abilities to burrow through the earth with no difficulties.
Iris whispered in his ear, a first during his time down in the elven village. "... Wouldn't that make mining easier? And some people on Earth would argue this would allow them to mine without damaging the local environment or whatever…"
That was a thought that horrified him, considering the report of the metals within the planet's crust. The last thing he sought to see was the elves under his care used as… digging machines.
He made a mental note to downplay the Danj elves' abilities in future reports and remind the others to do the same.
"What we will need from you is to learn more about your tools and technology, especially the combination of your metals."
"It will take a long time."
"Time is something I have plenty of."
Caelu shifted uncomfortably in the seat next to him, though she remained silent. Captain Moore noticed her discomfort and noted her blank expression in the presence of the Grand Elder. It was something he would need to ask her about later on.
"Even with magic, I do not believe that creating tools like the tablet is a feat that can be replicated within a few seasons," Captain Moore answered. "There is a complexity to each of the tools we hold, especially its internal parts."
"I have yet to meet something I have failed at," the Grand Elder replied, his golden eyes shimmering compared to its previous dull tint. "And with infinite time, I will be able to learn an infinite number of things."
The captain understood the implications of the Grand Elder's words, but it was Lieutenant Li who decided to ask the question for confirmation. "So you are immortal then?"
"Every sage is. I assume you do not have sages back in your world?"
When Lieutenant Li shook his head, the Grand Elder grinned. His smile looked hollow, but there was a glint of amusement in the elf's eye. "You have much to learn about this realm, and as promised, I will share the information you seek. In return, I expect the same exchange when I ask more about your world."
"Magic," Lieutenant Li said. He held a tight grip on his pen and notebook, his stare boring into the Grand Elder with flaming intensity. "What sort of magic are you able to do? What are the limitations of magic? Can anyone do magic?"
The Grand Elder frowned and stroked his beard, flicking his hands into the air and arranging a glowing ring of various elements at his will. Captain Moore saw metal, ice, water, earth, wind, lightning, fire, and countless other things floating around.
After allowing the humans to take in his magic, the Grand Elder plucked a fireball from the ring and spun it around in his hand effortlessly. "Magic, like many studies, requires its user to learn and practice. I have been alive since the War and learned much from the terrible conflict.
"My abilities are far beyond what you can comprehend, and they are not limited. A long-lived sage with a creative and experienced mind can shape mountains and continents. Some say a few challenged the gods themselves, though the gods are another realm of beings entirely.
"After all, while any can learn, no mere mortal can challenge the divine. Even the weakest of divines is something else entirely. Not even sages, who have sacrificed their soul for an eternal pursuit of the mystic arts, can come close to the breadth of knowledge and power of a single divine."
"I have always wondered this," Lieutenant Li said while jotting down every scrap of notes he could. "Is your magic enough to compete with some of our most advanced tools?"
"Ah, but you have asked enough questions." The Grand Elder rose from his chair and stood above them, a head above everyone else. His presence filled the small room, a tangible mist of power that even those without magic could feel. "Your people lack magic; you have tools advanced enough to compensate for such weakness. Tell me, what sort of weapons do you possess for war?"
Lieutenant Li glanced at Captain Moore, who cleared his throat and spoke up in the lieutenant's stead. "Powerful enough to wipe mountains, if needed."
"I assume you would be open to a demonstration then? Perhaps with those… weapons that you've brought with you earlier."
"We could, but those are far less impressive."
"But they do the job against foes, no? Foes that will undoubtedly occupy our future."
"Kill them? Yes."
The Grand Elder snapped, and suddenly, Captain Moore felt like he had shrunk into a cube before being released into the air. Every bone in his body felt liquid momentarily, yet the single second felt more akin to an hour. He felt every bone in his body reassembling into solid form and his limbs popping out with a hissing noise.
He dry heaved from the strange, crushing sensation and stood up to see that the group was now in an empty area within the woods. Sergeant Wells was keeled over and moaning, his usual persona buried under pain. The same went for Sergeant Wells' men and Lieutenant Li, though Specialist Smith looked unphased as always. His rifle, the XM12, materialized in his hands, and a feeling of nausea set in his head.
"What happened? One second, we were in that weird room, and the other second, we're out here!" Iris asked in his ear, the video camera on his helmet fidgeting.
Captain Moore took a deep breath before mumbling his answer. "Magic."
"That should be the furthest range of an arrow from our best warriors, without the use of magic, of course," the Grand Elder mentioned, his expression displaying a lack of discomfort or pain from the sudden teleportation. He pointed his finger at a distant but large target embedded in a tree trunk about two thousand feet ahead. "What is the range of your… weapons?"
"This," Captain Moore groaned, an unsettling growl emitting from his stomach. Regardless, he gripped his trusty firearm and showed it to the elf leader. "Is a "rifle." And its range is way beyond that. I suggest you close and cover your ears, as the weapon is quite loud."
The captain checked the location of the people around him and motioned for Caelu to move away, prompting a disappointed sulk from the eager and curious elf. When he noticed her ears were still bare, he pantomimed her ears being covered, and she obliged after a frown.
Instead of ordering Sergeant Wells or Specialist Smith to take the shots, the captain flipped off his safety and raised his rifle. He dug the buttstock low into his shoulder, lowering his head and tightening his stance as his vision zoned in on his target. After staring through the M350 ACOG, he squeezed the trigger after his aim was directly upon the glaring white target in his sights.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
And a fourth time for good measure.
Each shot hit the target directly head-on, with the fourth shot punching through the thick tree completely. The rifle's cracks echoed through the forest, accompanied by the cracking sound of metal meeting wood.
""Rifle,"" the Grand Elder repeated. His ears twitched, and a few lines marred his forehead as if the sound had been louder than he had expected. Yet, his eyes were fixated on the weapon, his pupils imprinting the image of the gun onto its surface. "How many are you willing to trade in the spirit of our partnership?"
"That… is something I would need to ask my superiors," Captain Moore answered.
"And these are the weaker weapons you have?"
Captain Moore noticed the strange shift in the Grand Elder's voice and answered vaguely. "Somewhat."
"Still a pale imitation for some of the strengths of magic, but with this… the dream of a new Lonsaure is not yet dead. Any and all, even children, could suddenly wield power beyond what the eyes can see." The Grand Elder knelt and rubbed his clean, pale hands all over the dirt. "Praise Tesa! He has led us to an army with the warriors and weapons to carry out his divine will!"
"We are not mercenaries for hire, nor will we engage in some war of conquest."
The Grand Elder rose to his feet, the earth on his hand shimmering into the air and his eyes glowing. "Perhaps not now… but your opinion will change once you see this world and experience the divine yourself. There are foul beings, nations out there, willing to destroy us and you to seize power for themselves."
"Even so, I don't think our answer will change," Captain Moore said with steel in his voice. He felt an immense pressure suddenly weighing on his shoulders, a gravity well that pushed him towards the ground. Captain Moore maintained his glare even with the force emitting from the Grand Elder.
Staring down a centuries-old elf with magical powers was the last thing he imagined to do months ago, yet his conviction was here.
There would be no repeat of the disaster at Nova.
Even if his superiors reprimanded him for this act.
"Grand Elder," Caelu intervened between the two of them with a hand calming down both sides. "Perhaps it would be fitting to continue this conversation at another time. After all, they have only seen a small slice of this world."
The pressure suddenly stopped, and the Grand Elder's eyes returned to normal, a lazy twinkle occupying the gleaming torches present just a moment prior. "Of course. After all, I have all the time I need.."
Captain Moore flicked the safety back on but nodded an unspoken agreement with the soldiers under his command. He gestured for them to lower their rifles, though the Grand Elder looked disinterested as he swept past them and opened some sort of doorway back to the village.
Sergeant Wells whispered in English as he walked by to go through the portal. "Air support?"
"No," Captain Moore answered. "But a surveillance drone might be necessary."
+++++
AN: Shoutout to Shabab Didar, Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
"An iPad. A type of tablet."
The Grand Elder stroked the smooth, transparent surface and tapped the small metallic support on the bottom of the electronic. "This is unlike any tablet I have seen. Glass mixed with metal, projecting images and sounds! Even the magical tablets recovered from the ruins of Lonsaure's cities were not this fascinating. The metals are… foreign, strange. A hint of steel that I am familiar with. Just the properties of this tool alone would take rotations of my life."
"A combination of metals, yes," Captain Moore explained. "Think of it as… a much more advanced stone tablet? Our people designed them and crafted them to perfection by our tools."
After shaking the Grand Elder's staff, they were led to a small meeting room with refreshments on a table. During that time, the Grand Elder inquired about the tablet in the captain's possession, which led to this moment.
Prior to this, Captain Moore felt the Grand Elder's cold indifference to his group's presence. Yet, the reveal of the iPad had caused a stir, provoking an intense gaze of curiosity from the otherwise detached Grand Elder.
It only took a few minutes for the leader of the tribe to learn the functions of the tablet and browse through it with his own hands. There was a glint in the Grand Elder's eyes as he hungrily dug through its content, though Captain Moore attributed it to a thirst for knowledge.
"This is our written language…" the Grand Elder pointed to the transparent screen flashing Danj texts. How have you managed to transcribe this?"
"Elder Auru at our fort has helped tremendously with understanding your language."
"I see. So, what does this thing hold? You have already shown me some of its marvelous features."
"Anything and everything, including the entire history of our civilization and more."
"And you can just… hold onto this wonder?"
"They are commonplace amongst our people."
"Truly?"
"Generally speaking, every human I know has one or something akin to it."
"Interesting… And this "A History of the World, Part Twelve." Does this mean your world was destroyed eleven times prior?"
Captain Moore bit back a chuckle, though he heard Sergeant Wells failing to hide his snickering with his fake coughs. "No, it's just much has happened every century since the very first series of this book, that they've updated it with new information as time passed."
"I see," the Grand Elder commented. He browsed through "Records through the millennia, even from ages beyond my comprehension… Your world is old. What little we know of the beginning of time in this realm is from the whispers of god. Are your gods more obliged to address your people's history?"
"No. This was made possible due to "archaeology" and a lot of time to review various artifacts and records."
""Archaeology?""
"A study of history through excavation and analysis of various artifacts and remains."
"Ah. I do not think anyone in our tribe has considered such a study due to our… exile within the forest. Even before then, the earth was not seen as something to be dug up for our enjoyment or study. Much of our time within the earth has been spent living and slowly expanding our boundaries as deemed fitting, with the occasional push for minerals or metals if needed. If this archaeology can help us recover our lost history, perhaps it would be useful to look for remains within the earth elsewhere, especially within Lonsaure."
"We could assist with such an act," Captain Moore said. "We have more than a few archaeologists back at our camp."
The Grand Elder smirked, hovering the tablet in the air with a wave of his hand. An earthen podium arose from the solid marble floor and surrounded the tablet with a graceful embrace. "While I'm sure your people have experts in the field, my people are blessed by Tesa. No beings are more suited for studying things within the earth than our tribe. Instead, it would be wiser for you to seek our help to carry out your archaeology in this world."
"I could probably relay the thought to my superiors…" For a moment, Captain Moore imagined some of the more entrepreneurial members of the UN expedition would be interested in the Danj elves' ability to detect metals within the earth. And their abilities to burrow through the earth with no difficulties.
Iris whispered in his ear, a first during his time down in the elven village. "... Wouldn't that make mining easier? And some people on Earth would argue this would allow them to mine without damaging the local environment or whatever…"
That was a thought that horrified him, considering the report of the metals within the planet's crust. The last thing he sought to see was the elves under his care used as… digging machines.
He made a mental note to downplay the Danj elves' abilities in future reports and remind the others to do the same.
"What we will need from you is to learn more about your tools and technology, especially the combination of your metals."
"It will take a long time."
"Time is something I have plenty of."
Caelu shifted uncomfortably in the seat next to him, though she remained silent. Captain Moore noticed her discomfort and noted her blank expression in the presence of the Grand Elder. It was something he would need to ask her about later on.
"Even with magic, I do not believe that creating tools like the tablet is a feat that can be replicated within a few seasons," Captain Moore answered. "There is a complexity to each of the tools we hold, especially its internal parts."
"I have yet to meet something I have failed at," the Grand Elder replied, his golden eyes shimmering compared to its previous dull tint. "And with infinite time, I will be able to learn an infinite number of things."
The captain understood the implications of the Grand Elder's words, but it was Lieutenant Li who decided to ask the question for confirmation. "So you are immortal then?"
"Every sage is. I assume you do not have sages back in your world?"
When Lieutenant Li shook his head, the Grand Elder grinned. His smile looked hollow, but there was a glint of amusement in the elf's eye. "You have much to learn about this realm, and as promised, I will share the information you seek. In return, I expect the same exchange when I ask more about your world."
"Magic," Lieutenant Li said. He held a tight grip on his pen and notebook, his stare boring into the Grand Elder with flaming intensity. "What sort of magic are you able to do? What are the limitations of magic? Can anyone do magic?"
The Grand Elder frowned and stroked his beard, flicking his hands into the air and arranging a glowing ring of various elements at his will. Captain Moore saw metal, ice, water, earth, wind, lightning, fire, and countless other things floating around.
After allowing the humans to take in his magic, the Grand Elder plucked a fireball from the ring and spun it around in his hand effortlessly. "Magic, like many studies, requires its user to learn and practice. I have been alive since the War and learned much from the terrible conflict.
"My abilities are far beyond what you can comprehend, and they are not limited. A long-lived sage with a creative and experienced mind can shape mountains and continents. Some say a few challenged the gods themselves, though the gods are another realm of beings entirely.
"After all, while any can learn, no mere mortal can challenge the divine. Even the weakest of divines is something else entirely. Not even sages, who have sacrificed their soul for an eternal pursuit of the mystic arts, can come close to the breadth of knowledge and power of a single divine."
"I have always wondered this," Lieutenant Li said while jotting down every scrap of notes he could. "Is your magic enough to compete with some of our most advanced tools?"
"Ah, but you have asked enough questions." The Grand Elder rose from his chair and stood above them, a head above everyone else. His presence filled the small room, a tangible mist of power that even those without magic could feel. "Your people lack magic; you have tools advanced enough to compensate for such weakness. Tell me, what sort of weapons do you possess for war?"
Lieutenant Li glanced at Captain Moore, who cleared his throat and spoke up in the lieutenant's stead. "Powerful enough to wipe mountains, if needed."
"I assume you would be open to a demonstration then? Perhaps with those… weapons that you've brought with you earlier."
"We could, but those are far less impressive."
"But they do the job against foes, no? Foes that will undoubtedly occupy our future."
"Kill them? Yes."
The Grand Elder snapped, and suddenly, Captain Moore felt like he had shrunk into a cube before being released into the air. Every bone in his body felt liquid momentarily, yet the single second felt more akin to an hour. He felt every bone in his body reassembling into solid form and his limbs popping out with a hissing noise.
He dry heaved from the strange, crushing sensation and stood up to see that the group was now in an empty area within the woods. Sergeant Wells was keeled over and moaning, his usual persona buried under pain. The same went for Sergeant Wells' men and Lieutenant Li, though Specialist Smith looked unphased as always. His rifle, the XM12, materialized in his hands, and a feeling of nausea set in his head.
"What happened? One second, we were in that weird room, and the other second, we're out here!" Iris asked in his ear, the video camera on his helmet fidgeting.
Captain Moore took a deep breath before mumbling his answer. "Magic."
"That should be the furthest range of an arrow from our best warriors, without the use of magic, of course," the Grand Elder mentioned, his expression displaying a lack of discomfort or pain from the sudden teleportation. He pointed his finger at a distant but large target embedded in a tree trunk about two thousand feet ahead. "What is the range of your… weapons?"
"This," Captain Moore groaned, an unsettling growl emitting from his stomach. Regardless, he gripped his trusty firearm and showed it to the elf leader. "Is a "rifle." And its range is way beyond that. I suggest you close and cover your ears, as the weapon is quite loud."
The captain checked the location of the people around him and motioned for Caelu to move away, prompting a disappointed sulk from the eager and curious elf. When he noticed her ears were still bare, he pantomimed her ears being covered, and she obliged after a frown.
Instead of ordering Sergeant Wells or Specialist Smith to take the shots, the captain flipped off his safety and raised his rifle. He dug the buttstock low into his shoulder, lowering his head and tightening his stance as his vision zoned in on his target. After staring through the M350 ACOG, he squeezed the trigger after his aim was directly upon the glaring white target in his sights.
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
And a fourth time for good measure.
Each shot hit the target directly head-on, with the fourth shot punching through the thick tree completely. The rifle's cracks echoed through the forest, accompanied by the cracking sound of metal meeting wood.
""Rifle,"" the Grand Elder repeated. His ears twitched, and a few lines marred his forehead as if the sound had been louder than he had expected. Yet, his eyes were fixated on the weapon, his pupils imprinting the image of the gun onto its surface. "How many are you willing to trade in the spirit of our partnership?"
"That… is something I would need to ask my superiors," Captain Moore answered.
"And these are the weaker weapons you have?"
Captain Moore noticed the strange shift in the Grand Elder's voice and answered vaguely. "Somewhat."
"Still a pale imitation for some of the strengths of magic, but with this… the dream of a new Lonsaure is not yet dead. Any and all, even children, could suddenly wield power beyond what the eyes can see." The Grand Elder knelt and rubbed his clean, pale hands all over the dirt. "Praise Tesa! He has led us to an army with the warriors and weapons to carry out his divine will!"
"We are not mercenaries for hire, nor will we engage in some war of conquest."
The Grand Elder rose to his feet, the earth on his hand shimmering into the air and his eyes glowing. "Perhaps not now… but your opinion will change once you see this world and experience the divine yourself. There are foul beings, nations out there, willing to destroy us and you to seize power for themselves."
"Even so, I don't think our answer will change," Captain Moore said with steel in his voice. He felt an immense pressure suddenly weighing on his shoulders, a gravity well that pushed him towards the ground. Captain Moore maintained his glare even with the force emitting from the Grand Elder.
Staring down a centuries-old elf with magical powers was the last thing he imagined to do months ago, yet his conviction was here.
There would be no repeat of the disaster at Nova.
Even if his superiors reprimanded him for this act.
"Grand Elder," Caelu intervened between the two of them with a hand calming down both sides. "Perhaps it would be fitting to continue this conversation at another time. After all, they have only seen a small slice of this world."
The pressure suddenly stopped, and the Grand Elder's eyes returned to normal, a lazy twinkle occupying the gleaming torches present just a moment prior. "Of course. After all, I have all the time I need.."
Captain Moore flicked the safety back on but nodded an unspoken agreement with the soldiers under his command. He gestured for them to lower their rifles, though the Grand Elder looked disinterested as he swept past them and opened some sort of doorway back to the village.
Sergeant Wells whispered in English as he walked by to go through the portal. "Air support?"
"No," Captain Moore answered. "But a surveillance drone might be necessary."
+++++
AN: Shoutout to Shabab Didar, Stikulzon, CJ Moran, Philip Mackinoths, Demoniose Oculus, Rémi Dufour, and deathraven181 for their support on Patreon. Thank you so much
As always, thank you for the support. Any comments, criticism, and suggestions are always appreciated.
And I do have a Patreon if you want to read advanced chapters/support my work. https://www.patreon.com/okmangeez.
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
Hmm.
They connect their soul to the God directly, and as long as the god chooses, the Sage can enjoy immortality, but if the god chooses, the connection is reversed?
The idea is that since magic expends lifeforce itself, a being, with enough exertion and force, can sacrifice their entire "being" (aka soul) in exchange for sage status.
However, it comes with a cost, and it will be explored a bit later on down the line. As all things in life, nothing is free, and especially not a way to use magic for eternity (if all goes right).
And the method mentioned above is nowhere near perfect either.
Gods can grant their "chosen" people with the gift of magic, which allows their chosen to use magic without the drawback of losing life. Though, this does sap the gods' powers.
Krazyfan1
Worrying for the future.
- Location
- Australia
i'm guessing that Sagification requires the gods to sign off on it?
if the god goes "No" all the prospective sage did is throw their life away?
so only for Rare occasions, and if the god really really likes them?
GBscientist
The Empire's Greatest Mouse
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Sages sound like a pretty toxic cultural feature, overall. Sure, let's keep around one or more biologically immortal, magically unlimited sociopaths around. And then, in the case of the Danj, put said sociopath in charge. For a healthy society, sages would have to be pretty strictly regulated in the sort of economic and political power that they could amass.
If every country is run by sages, I can absolutely see eternal rivalries and grudges shaping international relations even more than they do on Earth. If only the Danj are ruled by a sage, it would help to explain why he's trying to bias the humans against everyone else.
If every country is run by sages, I can absolutely see eternal rivalries and grudges shaping international relations even more than they do on Earth. If only the Danj are ruled by a sage, it would help to explain why he's trying to bias the humans against everyone else.