Author's Note: I would like to apologize in advance for the excessiveness of the elves ahead. I could not resist.
Luka and Miku were standing back to back in a large, dark cavern, as the ominous sounds of rattling bones and goblin cries reached them. Luka could make out, vaguely, the shape of a bowed skeleton approaching her. Miku let out a little gasp from behind Luka and started mumbling something to herself again, and once again Luka heard the snaps of breaking bone. The sounds only increased in frequency and amplitude. Luka looked around. They were surrounded by skeleton warriors. Slightly behind them were the hunched forms of goblins, one of whom was obviously a goblin chieftain, his neck adorned with rat skulls, carrying a staff with some goblin's head staked on it. One of the skeletons lunged forward to strike at Luka, and Luka desperately blocked and struck back. Her sword got caught in the skeleton's ribs and Luka tried to pull it back, bracing her back against Miku's.
"Stop it!" Miku hissed. "I can't concentrate!"
"My sword is stuck!" Luka cried, trying to free her sword from the skeleton.
"You two are the worst adventurers we've ever seen," said a graceful, musical voice.
Luka immediately turned to look for the source, before she found that the goblins surrounding the ring of skeletons were all dead, a good amount of the skeletons were being infused with a sort of blue light and collapsing, and, most prominent of all, there was a party of humanoids dressed in delicate green fabrics, some carrying bows, the others, swords. They looked lithe, nimble, their bodies slim and strong.
"Elves," Luka said, her voice a little awed. She had never seen any in the flesh before. There were never any elves in Marlon.
"We aren't adventurers," said Miku, her voice still Cryptonally haughty. "We were looking for shelter."
An elf laughed, a musical tinkling noise that was bliss to Luka's ears. She liked these elves already. "Shelter in this goblin-infested cave?"
"We didn't know it was a goblin-infested cave," said Luka, who was feeling a little dazzled. "We were just, um...looking for shelter."
Miku was looking at Luka with an odd look on her face that Luka could not understand. "Luka...snap out of it."
"Snap out of what?" asked Luka.
One elf separated from the group and walked over to Luka, his gait calm, confident, and graceful. Up close, his face was inhumanely beautiful, his hair a gorgeous shade of red-
"Luka!" Miku's voice was a little desperate now. Luka, confused, looked over at Miku.
"Luka," said the elf, and instantly Luka focused on the elf, all thoughts of Miku fading from her mind, as if she was being smothered by a blanket. "And...who are you?" He looked over at Miku, who frowned at him.
"Miku," said Miku, her voice icy.
The elf examined Miku with interest. "You aren't reacting like her."
"I'm used to elves," Miku said.
Luka could hardly believe that Miku could possibly get used to elves. They were so...perfect. They were flawless. Luka's eyes were completely fixed on the beautiful elf before her. He even smelled good, a clean forest smell of elms and bayberries and hawthorns.
"Enough, Yuuma," said a voice, more commanding, female this time. "They are trespassing on our forest."
Another female voice piped up, a little meeker than the others, yet no less beautiful, no less perfect. "But Mew, it was a mistake. I mean...we can be lenient. They're only travelers."
"Humans are humans," sniffed the commanding voice. "You do not know of these things, Yukari. So you'd do well to keep quiet."
"But...but," Yukari doggedly continued, "humans aren't all bad."
"Silence," snapped Mew. "You read too many of those human books. Do you remember what the humans did to the Nilveri? The war, the fighting, the slaughter..."
"I understand, Mew," said Yukari, her voice a little downcast this time.
Mew hesitated a little. "...Cuff them."
Yuuma nodded and, with a single, lithe movement, Luka found that her left hand was bound to Miku's right. So entranced was Luka with the elves, however, that she did not mind at all. She only grinned a little stupidly, eager to see the sight of the elf village, or wherever they lived.
"Nilveri?" Miku asked Yuuma. "I only know of the Silvani."
"We Nilveri live in the forests," said Yuuma. "The Silvani do not. That is all you need to know."
"What are Silvani?" Luka asked Miku.
Miku shrugged. "Elves that don't live in forests, I guess. The only elves where I..." she glanced at Yuuma's back, "where I lived were Silvani. That's what they called themselves."
"Oh," said Luka. She smiled. "I like elves."
Miku scoffed. "Don't like them too much."
-o-o-o-
The elves lived in a tree top village. There were homes, simple ones that melded with the trees, connected to each other via rope bridges. The air filtered in through the leaves, and there was a subtle energy to the air, one of magic and nature. There were rabbits and birds and even deer frolicking around, and Luka stared at them in wonder. They all looked so content. Yuuma patted the head of a deer as he passed, and it did not spook, nor did it run away; it just stood there, accepting, before bowing its head back down to the grass to eat.
Miku was frowning, but Luka didn't care. Everything looked so perfect and peaceful. There were a few elves out, some of them weaving, a few sitting down on the grass, sketching, writing, or reading. Some of them were playing instruments, or singing hauntingly beautiful songs. All of them stopped what they were doing to stare at Luka and Miku. Luka flushed under the weight of all their combined gazes, feeling a little ashamed of herself, of her ordinary humanity, compared to the graceful perfection of the elves.
"Snap out of it," Miku hissed.
"Snap out of what?" Luka smiled at Miku, dazedly. "Everything in here is so great...I wish I was an elf."
Miku stared at Luka before looking away, shaking her head. Eventually, their party entered the only ground-floor building of sorts - a grand hall, outdoors, with only columns around them. There were elves dressed in grand, light cloth of forest green standing around a wooden throne on an elaborately carved dais in a semicircle. Sitting on the throne was an elf of such beauty that Luka's breath caught in her throat. She could not tell its gender, but it was no less beautiful. Its face was flawless, it looked as though it was carved by angels. It had flowing blond hair and pointed ears pierced with blue rings. Its face was serene and calm, its body willowy and slim. When it spoke, its voice was so beautiful, Luka wanted to cry.
"More intruders?" it asked, softly.
"Yes, your majesty," said Mew, who Luka could see now was slightly more muscled than the other elves, her face hard and unyielding, yet no less beautiful. She held a grand steel rapier in her hand, and she was bowing her head a little. "We were going to execute them, but the princess asked for leniency."
The head elf turned its head to look sternly at an elf, presumably Yukari, with long lilac hair and pointed ears pierced with the same blue rings. Yukari flushed and looked down at her sandals.
"They were struggling against goblins and skeletons," said Yukari, meekly. "They are harmless."
"Appearances deceive," said the head elf, its tone lightly rebuking. "You know this."
"I know, but...but look at them!" Yukari lifted her head and swung her arm towards the cuffed Luka and Miku. "They are little more than children in the eyes of humans."
"I'm seventeen," said Luka, her tone dreamy.
"Seventeen was the age of Roluo Undegar when he destroyed Verandil and Jefrend," said the head elf. "They are too dangerous to let live."
Even though the elves were discussing their deaths, Luka found that she did not care. Their voices were surrounding her, making her mind grow lethargic and happy, like a glutton after a satisfying meal. She smiled sleepily and closed her eyes, enjoying the music of the elf voices.
"Please, father," pleaded Yukari. "They are harmless. And humans...humans are not as bad as we think they are."
"How dare you suggest that," said the head elf, his voice suddenly turning very cold. "They decimated our race. Us Nilveri used to span the whole of the land, until the humans burned our forests..."
"We have done the same to them, in the past," said Yukari.
"The humans are animals. Every day, they pervert nature. They slaughter animals. They cut down trees, wantonly. They do not respect the balance."
"But they write so beautifully," Yukari protested. "They sing. They dance. They create art. Like us. They are a new race. These humans are only children. Please spare them."
There was a long silence. Luka opened her eyes. The head elf was staring at Yukari, a strange, angry look distorting his perfect features.
"Very well," said the elf, stiffly. "They may go. But you must go with them. Travel with them, and maybe you will see the cruelty of humans first hand."
"What?" Yukari gaped at the head elf. "I...I have to...go with them? But father-"
"It is best for you to...cleanse yourself of your delusions," said the head elf, distantly. "Travel with them. If they are as harmless as you say, nothing will come to you. If at any time you feel threatened..." the head elf withdrew a small amulet from his robes and pressed it into Yukari's hands, "use the amulet, and you will return safely home, and hopefully you will have learned the errors of your belief."
Yukari took it, a baffled expression creasing her face. "But I..."
"Release the prisoners," said the head elf.
Luka felt the ropes around her wrist loosen and fall. She rubbed at her reddened, sore wrist with her free hand as she unsteadily got up with Miku, who was frowning. Luka herself was elated. She would be traveling with an elf. An elf! Sheer perfection!
"I..." Yukari started again, before the head elf shot her a withering look and she quieted.
"Get whatever you need," said the head elf, "and leave with them when you are ready. As for you two," the head elf turned to Luka and Miku, his face stern, shifting his gaze from one to the other. "If any of you lay so much as a finger on my daughter, then I will see that you both shall die."
"Yes sir," Luka grinned and nodded, not really parsing what the elf was saying, too enamored with the elves to notice.
Miku said nothing, but she nodded, her face clearly registering discontent.
-o-o-o-
Luka, Miku, and Yukari left the elf village. Up close, Luka now took the opportunity to examine Yukari more carefully than before. The elf had pale skin, and perfectly formed, pointed ears with deep blue earrings on each. Her eyes were a clear and friendly purple, her lips pink, her figure slim and graceful. She walked with a flowing, easy gait, one with the forest. She had arrows and a bow as her primary weapon, the bow lacquered and elegant. A belt encircled her slim hips, carrying a small gold pouch and a sheathed shortsword.
Luka's intense examination did not go unnoticed by the elf, who was looking uncomfortable.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked, a slight elvish accent tinging her voice, giving it even more of a musical quality. Her voice was clear and sweet.
"You're beautiful," said Luka, her voice awed.
Small spots of red appeared in Yukari's cheeks. "Wh-what? Um. Thank you?"
Miku sighed. "She's glamored."
"Oh..." Comprehension dawned on Yukari's face. "That does happen..."
"When does it wear off?" Miku's voice was a little annoyed.
"Um, I don't know," said Yukari. "I can make it so that you give off some glamor too. That way, she can get used to it at twice the rate."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Miku began, but all at once her voice sounded sweet and clear and wonderful. Luka stared at Miku in disbelief. Miku was stunningly beautiful. Luka noticed it before, of course, but now, it seemed as though Miku's beauty was cranked up by a factor of ten. Her hair, a perfect shade of teal, her eyes, a bewitching blue, her skin, pale and perfect and unblemished, her lips, soft and pink...
"Miku," said Luka, her mouth slightly gaping open, "you...you're...you're gorgeous. You're beautiful. Did you know that?"
Miku groaned, but despite that, she was blushing, and she seemed a little pleased, although by what Luka didn't know. "I told you not to do that..."
"You seem happy about it though," said Yukari, sounding rather clueless. "Why didn't you want me to?"
"Luka's going to act like an idiot for hours!" Miku's voice was agitated, although even though she was insulting Luka, Luka didn't mind at all. Miku sounded so wonderful.
"Miku," Luka sighed, happily.
Miku's face turned even redder. "D-don't say my name like that..." she looked away. "It's...it's strange..." Miku looked and sounded so flustered; it made Luka's knees feel weak for some reason.
"Sorry," said Yukari, guiltily. "I don't know the ways of humans very well...even though I read a lot." The sound of Yukari's voice was pure pleasure. Luka couldn't stand it anymore. She fell to the ground, the combined memories and force of all the perfect elf voices and Miku's sweet one in turn overwhelming Luka's mind. There was nothing inside her head but pure auditory bliss.
"Luka!" Luka felt Miku's clothing brush up against her arm, and she shuddered at the sensation. It felt as though she was being blessed. This was too much bliss for one person to carry. Miku and Yukari's perfect visages swam before her vision, briefly, a flicker, and then nothing.
-o-o-o-
"Ugh..." Luka sat up, rubbing her head. She felt bleary, and she looked around, her eyes blinking slowly. It was night. There was a small fire burning, illuminating the darkness around the trio. Luka was lying on a bed of leaves and grass. Sitting next to her was Miku, her head bowed and her eyes closed in sleep. Yukari was sleeping up in a tree; Luka could see one of the elf's feet dangle from her bed in the elm.
Luka looked closely at Miku. She was still beautiful, but she was not as heart-stoppingly beautiful as Luka perceived her to be some time earlier. Luka got up and looked at Yukari. The elf's face still possessed grace and beauty, but it was not as goddess-like as Luka thought it was earlier. Strange. Luka shook her head and blamed it on the stress from the goblin battle. She went over to her sack, which was sitting next to the fire, and took out an apple, biting into it and staring up at the night sky, dotted with stars, forming constellations. There was the north star. Avagrin was to the south. Luka then looked for her birthsign, for fun. There it was, hanging up in the sky - The Fair Maid of Candlemas, a constellation that resembled a snowdrop flower. People born under it were supposed to be hopeful and pure. Luka was unsure about her purity, being a thief and a street rat, but hope...maybe.
Luka stared back at Miku, who looked innocent and peaceful in her sitting sleep, and resolve strengthened Luka's heart. She would bring her to Avagrin and they would see a mage and find the source of Miku's power, and why people were hunting her. Luka would protect her too, as best as she could, but...she twitched her lips up in a sad smile. That fiasco in the cave...Luka had been useless. She had to get stronger, but how? Luka looked around; there was nothing around them but trees. Luka got up and grabbed her short sword and took a few practice swings with it, getting her body used to it, before she stared up at the sleeping elf. Maybe Yukari knew how to use a sword...she had a shortsword too, after all. Maybe Luka could ask her. Even though Yukari was a new addition to their traveling party, she seemed friendly...
Luka put her sword down and looked up at the stars again, trying to find some insight written in them - after all, people always said that destinies were written in the stars. Luka looked as hard as she could, but all she saw were the same constellations. She sighed. The future was still unclear.
-o-o-o-
"Another battalion, taken out," reported the messenger to the man sitting on a luxurious throne. The room the two were in was a vast throne room, richly decorated in gold and scarlet. Tapestries hung down stone walls and elaborately carved angels peered down from the ceiling, gazing at the humans below. If they were alive, they might laugh at all of humanity's foibles, but they were only stone, and whatever thoughts they had were forever unspoken.
"Another one?" the man sitting on the throne said, his voice tired, drawn. He was an old man, face etched with the worries of years. He was dressed in elaborate, heavy robes and had on his head a crown that seemed ready to slide off his liver spotted head at any moment. His shoulders were slumped, head down. A defeated man, it seemed - looking at him now, no one would be able to tell that in his youth he had been a roaring, ferocious warrior, a man who carved a bloody swath to Elphegort and took it back from the raiders and demonborn.
The messenger licked his lips nervously. "Yes, your majesty. The Harbinger's memories, purpose, and powers hadn't yet awakened, but in times of danger..."
"...the slumbering power awakens, briefly," the man finished, wearily. "I know." He put his head in his hands.
"What should we do?" asked a younger man, standing next to the king. He was a lean youth with blonde hair and blue eyes, dressed in official-looking clothes with gold threads running through scarlet fabric, though his eyes were wide and his face was pale with stress. "Why can't we wage a public war against it?"
The man on the throne shook his head. "The reasons should be obvious, Len. Public unrest, civil disorder, and of course, you have those who will refuse to believe that the Harbinger is real, or that it will take on the form of a young girl. The Harbinger is cunning. It knows how to use its appearance...in the end, we will be the ones who are in the wrong."
The blonde, Len, looked down at his boot-clad feet, seemingly in thought. "But Father, we can't just let the Harbinger be, otherwise..."
"I know!" the man on the throne yelled, his voice for an instant regaining power and majesty, before shrinking down to a quiet whisper. "I know. But this is all we can do. Perhaps we should try a different tactic..."