Chapter 1: Warriors of the Forgotten Forest
"Keep running, Nythis!" A young white-haired elf coughed out as he protected their flank. He wouldn't be caught by them, not this time.
"There are more up ahead!" Yelling back to the other elf, Nythis reached for his hand, a physical connection. She wasn't helpless like the fragile elves in the cities, she was a fully-fledged dalish hunter, a proud warrior of the forgotten forest. Daring the enemy assailants to take Arahel from her, Nythis' eyes glowed as she hid their presence running through the trees.
Arahel clutched her hand tighter, strengthening the flow of mana between the two. Alone, each was like a wisp in the sky, sailing through clusters of trees. But together? Nothing matched their force of will, indomitable and unshaken.
"To the right!" Arahel shouted, trusting in Nythis to dispatch the human ranger while he upheld their barrier. "We can't keep this up forever, we have to lose these shem before we can report back!" His focus locked on Nythis, Arahel backed towards her, enabling the humans to catch up and encircle the elves.
"Ready, brother?" Nythis whispered, a sadistic smirk rising.
"Always." Arahel replied, clasping Nythis hands from behind. Deep breaths calmed their thoughts as they focused their mana into a pulsing mass. Growing larger, the mana begun to encroach upon the humans surrounding them. Another deep breath unleashed the magic with great force upon the unsuspecting humans. Having thought they were the predators, until they were caught in the trap like flies in a web.
"These ones are all yours, sister." Arahel wiped the blood off Nythis' cheek as he pried a crystal out of the hands of a dead shem hunter.
"They keep straying closer to the border each season. How much longer can we keep the temple uncontested?" Nythis asked, scanning the dead bodies as a mortalitasi mage would.
"As long as commanded. I am bound to service, as are many of our brethren." Lowering his head in contemplation, Arahel adjusted his golden bracers, a representation of a time long past. "We should return now." His gaze shifted as the nearby trees blew in the wind.
"But the bodies… we can't leave them. If the shems-" Nythis protested, confused by Arahel's statement.
"The tenders of the forest will take care of them. We have been instructed to return to the temple." Moving past her, Arahel grabs her by the hand and begins to dart off into the forest back to the temple.
Whispering to herself, Nythis kept up speed with her brother. "I didn't hear anything." Arahel had been elected as the temple leader from a young age, much to Nythis' distress as his twin sister. It was not something so basic as jealousy, but a realisation her brother would never be as carefree as he had been when they would play tricks on the shemlen who had strayed too close to the Forgotten Forest. Their appearance so similar that they can only be told apart by gender and rank caused many such antics until the year before he was appointed. She missed how they were as children, playing freely, yet somehow, their bond was stronger now and in battle, a force to be reckoned with.
Temple life in the Forgotten Forest was not easy, especially if you were one half to a great power, in service to ancient elvhen gods. Arahel, through necessity, was bound to the temple while Nythis was given free reign, training as a hunter and a mage, protecting the local clans in the forest when she wasn't guarding her brother. Both fierce fury and gentle compassion battled within Nythis, wielding enough emotion for herself and her twin, Arahel being the calming force of reason.
Approaching the outer temple gates, elvhen guards bowed to the priest and huntress mage. "High Priest, Huntress. Welcome back. Commander Ethron requested an audience at your earliest convenience."
Nythis cringed at the name, "Ethron? Ugh, what does he want with you, brother?"
Arahel raised an eyebrow at Nythis' reaction. Unsure whether her dislike for the man was a mask for some secret affection towards him or if she genuinely disliked him. Arahel sighed in response, "I am sure he will be as delighted as you are to see him when you attend the meeting with me." Doing his best to hide his smirk, Arahel turned his head away from Nythis.
"I hope this is you making jokes again… it is, right? I'd rather scout with Tarsev than that! And he never shuts up!" Nythis continues to plead Arahel as they walk past the guards towards the temple gardens. Noticing Arahel isn't replying, Nythis turns to see him trying so hard not to laugh. "Elgar'nan! You are the worst brother ever."
Calming down, Arahel finally speaks up, "Should I be pulling rank on this one, Nythis?"
Nythis recoiled at the mention of her name. Arahel had dropped the act, pronouncing it with too much formality. They had reached the gardens and Ethron could be seen on a far bench. Sighing to herself, she gave a small nod to her brother.
During their conversation, Ethron had caught sight of the pair. An easy task considering all eyes naturally followed them. Straightening his armour as he stood up, Ethron strode over gracefully.
A slight bow of the head, "High Priest, I apologise for taking up your time."
"Commander Ethron, where is Captain Tah'vos? Usually he makes the reports in person." Meeting Ethron was not out of the ordinary for Arahel, however, the majority of military matters were reported from Captain Tah'vos; a close friend and by far, more enjoyable company. Nythis, leaning against a nearby pillar to remain inconspicuous, smirks at the mention of Tah'vos. Women had appeared to be a subject of little interest to Arahel, his constant remark that Nythis was the only woman he needed. Typically inducing a blush from Nythis as she coughed out a response of wanting to see little Arahels' one day and being the 'favourite aunt', despite being the only one. Of all the concerns that filled his mind, Nythis delighted in observing his one reprieve, his so called 'friend' Captain Tah'vos.
"The Captain sent me ahead to report sightings of the crystals you were investigating. From observations, the humans stumbled across an abandoned mine when they were trespassing in the valley." Ethron reported, apologising that the Captain could not be there.
"If Tah'vos sent you, then these trespassing shem have been dealt with?" Arahel, typically composed, especially in the temple, showed growing distaste for the humans. The very concept infuriated him, humans constantly expanding and claiming areas for themselves when they have no right to even step foot in these sacred lands.
Nythis, quietly observing, clears her throat loud enough to draw their attention, "The High Priest has other duties he must attend to before evening rituals. I take it that is all, Commander?"
Drawn from his rage, Arahel nodded to Nythis as he examined a sample of the crystal from the mine that the Commander had handed him. "It appears to be what I am investigating. Thank you, Commander. I am afraid I must return to the inner sanctum now, but do inform Captain Tah'vos to see me upon his return." Not waiting for a reply, Arahel ventures back inside the temple, disappointed he would not be graced with his 'friend's' presence.
- End of Chap 1-