words, and it will be so.”
Whi ll lost himself in her eyes. Before his mind’s eye, the beautiful new world she promised was rich with life and bursting with beauty, a place where war was a distant legend, sickness and disease a myth. Together, they would guard their world kingdom against evil, she, from her heavenly throne, and he, from his earthly. Together, the three races of man, dwarf, and elf would thrive. A new age of enlightenment would be born of their union and would live eternal. The beautiful new world she promised brought tears of joy to his eyes. She released him, and the pleasure subsided as did the vision, leaving him yearning for but a glimpse of what he had envisioned.
Kellallea stood before him with her intoxicating smile. Beyond her eyes, Whill sensed a knowledge unsurpassed by all but the gods, and he was humbled. Confused, he tried to remember why he had refused her, why he had fought the inevitable. Why didn’t he just give her the power of Adromida? It could all end now if he only said the words…
“ You need only say the words, and you shall deal the fatal blow against the dark one, you shall become legend. Your name will be spoken in celebration for time immeasurable.”
Whill realized why he hesitated. It had been there at the back of his mind the whole time, wavering but somehow staying alit like a candle of reason against the winds of her persuasion.
“ You allowed the rise of Eadon, and the destruction of your people,” he said.
“ It is a small price to pay for the world that we can create. Sacrifices must be made.”
“ No,” said Whill. “You are no different than Eadon. You would leave a trail of destruction in the wake of your pursuit of power.”
“ I did not allow the rise of Eadon, or the destruction of Drindellia,” she said with sorrow in her voice. “His crimes are the crimes of many. I once stripped the elves of their knowledge and power, because we almost destroyed ourselves over it. What began as a great enlightenment and enrichment of elven life, soon became its greatest danger. And for an age, there was peace in Drindellia. But the ancient knowledge and the pursuit of power began to grow once again within the hearts of my kin. The memory of magic held strong throughout the ages, and soon one came to me that had rediscovered the old ways. I thought to kill him, but something stayed my hand; now I know my mercy was a mistake. For now history has repeated itself once again, and my people have suffered at the hands of those that would seek infinite power.”
“ You seek infinite power,” said Whill.
“ I seek infinite peace!” she yelled, her brow bent with indignant anger. “Eadon must be stopped.”
“ Why did you not raise a hand against him when the Dark Elf Wars began?”
“ I have not existed these thousands of years as you understand it. I took the form of a tree those many ages ago. I slept, and I grew. I became like the mountain and the forest. I became one with the spirit of all things, and I knew peace. I was mildly aware of the struggles of my kin, but knew not the full extent of their plight until I was awakened, until I was attacked by Eadon. He came to me as I slept and attempted to steal from me all the power that I possessed. The battle nearly killed us both. What it did to the land is my deepest regret. He is my equal; I cannot defeat him without the power of Adromida.”
Whill wasn’t sure what to believe. He knew he could not defeat Eadon on his own, yet he did not trust Kellallea. He alone could wield Adromida, and he alone possessed the ability to transfer its power. He realized she had likely been the reason Eadon had made it so no elf could wield the blade.
“ Will you help me? Surely, together, we can defeat Eadon, and then this business of the blade can be dealt with,” said Whill.
“ I offered my help young Whill, and my offer remains, with but a word this can all be over,” she reminded him.
“ I do not trust you
Whi ll lost himself in her eyes. Before his mind’s eye, the beautiful new world she promised was rich with life and bursting with beauty, a place where war was a distant legend, sickness and disease a myth. Together, they would guard their world kingdom against evil, she, from her heavenly throne, and he, from his earthly. Together, the three races of man, dwarf, and elf would thrive. A new age of enlightenment would be born of their union and would live eternal. The beautiful new world she promised brought tears of joy to his eyes. She released him, and the pleasure subsided as did the vision, leaving him yearning for but a glimpse of what he had envisioned.
Kellallea stood before him with her intoxicating smile. Beyond her eyes, Whill sensed a knowledge unsurpassed by all but the gods, and he was humbled. Confused, he tried to remember why he had refused her, why he had fought the inevitable. Why didn’t he just give her the power of Adromida? It could all end now if he only said the words…
“ You need only say the words, and you shall deal the fatal blow against the dark one, you shall become legend. Your name will be spoken in celebration for time immeasurable.”
Whill realized why he hesitated. It had been there at the back of his mind the whole time, wavering but somehow staying alit like a candle of reason against the winds of her persuasion.
“ You allowed the rise of Eadon, and the destruction of your people,” he said.
“ It is a small price to pay for the world that we can create. Sacrifices must be made.”
“ No,” said Whill. “You are no different than Eadon. You would leave a trail of destruction in the wake of your pursuit of power.”
“ I did not allow the rise of Eadon, or the destruction of Drindellia,” she said with sorrow in her voice. “His crimes are the crimes of many. I once stripped the elves of their knowledge and power, because we almost destroyed ourselves over it. What began as a great enlightenment and enrichment of elven life, soon became its greatest danger. And for an age, there was peace in Drindellia. But the ancient knowledge and the pursuit of power began to grow once again within the hearts of my kin. The memory of magic held strong throughout the ages, and soon one came to me that had rediscovered the old ways. I thought to kill him, but something stayed my hand; now I know my mercy was a mistake. For now history has repeated itself once again, and my people have suffered at the hands of those that would seek infinite power.”
“ You seek infinite power,” said Whill.
“ I seek infinite peace!” she yelled, her brow bent with indignant anger. “Eadon must be stopped.”
“ Why did you not raise a hand against him when the Dark Elf Wars began?”
“ I have not existed these thousands of years as you understand it. I took the form of a tree those many ages ago. I slept, and I grew. I became like the mountain and the forest. I became one with the spirit of all things, and I knew peace. I was mildly aware of the struggles of my kin, but knew not the full extent of their plight until I was awakened, until I was attacked by Eadon. He came to me as I slept and attempted to steal from me all the power that I possessed. The battle nearly killed us both. What it did to the land is my deepest regret. He is my equal; I cannot defeat him without the power of Adromida.”
Whill wasn’t sure what to believe. He knew he could not defeat Eadon on his own, yet he did not trust Kellallea. He alone could wield Adromida, and he alone possessed the ability to transfer its power. He realized she had likely been the reason Eadon had made it so no elf could wield the blade.
“ Will you help me? Surely, together, we can defeat Eadon, and then this business of the blade can be dealt with,” said Whill.
“ I offered my help young Whill, and my offer remains, with but a word this can all be over,” she reminded him.
“ I do not trust you
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