Chapter 28

Carlisle had given Bella a lot to think about. Both he and Edward had explained many things to her, but she knew there was more. She wanted to know all there was to their realm and how the past was intertwined between their home and Midgard.

"What was it like before the reformation?" She asked Carlisle.

A glazed look came over his eyes as he searched his memories, going back hundreds of years into the past.

"It was simpler time than it is now in many ways. It was a time when everyone had a role, it seemed. There was never anyone who was lazy or didn't pull their weight. At least not where I was from. Everyone had a role in the village which meant we all depended on one another. People today…" Carlisle let out a sigh. "I see it at work, at the hospital, all the time. People are different now. Money is what motivates them and anything they deem they aren't being paid for gets pushed to the side. Even if it's essential for the survival of another.

Not all humans are this way. But I would have to say that most are. And more and more become that way the longer I live."

Bella nodded understanding. "People are selfish and always put themselves first."

"Exactly." Carlisle agreed.

"And what the magic?" She asked, her eyes lighting up.

Carlisle smiled. "Humans, they have such a fascination and reverence for it. On Alfheim, it's just a part of life. Like breathing. No one gives it a second thought."

"So, what was it like when you came here?"

"We were accepted by the human realm. Elves had already lived along side them for centuries. They understood magic in its most basic form, especially when it could aid them or those in the village. That's what we used it for here on Migard. To help."

"I remember the book I read last night said that elves and humans have a different moral compass."

"Yes, you're right. It's tricky business residing in a place that has vastly different views to what you believe. But we respected humans and lived by their rules. This is their realm after all."

"What kinds of things do elves see differently?"

"The biggest one has to do with sickness. Elves don't get sick and because we live for longer we don't reproduce as quickly. We also choose when we want to reproduce. Humans, back then didn't have that option.

So, elves in Alfheim often saw too many people as a bad thing. They could see the hinderance it placed on a village when it became over populated."

"So, what did the elves do?"

"Those of us on Earth did nothing. But in Alfheim, they cast spells to create sickness and disease. They needed to only infect one before it took hold in the community. And at the time, everyone believed in magic…"

"So, it was able to take hold on them." Bella finished for him.

"Exactly."

"So, does that mean this pandemic at the moment, was it caused by the elves on Alfheim?"

"Most likely, yes. They release plagues every few years to help with over population, hitting areas they deem too crowded."

"But what about our will and our ability to accept or dismiss the magic put on us?"

"There are those who still believe in magic or have seen it with their own eyes. They are powerless to being used. Humans except sickness as a part of life. They don't see it as magic, not anymore."

"So that means I'm susceptible now, that's why Edward said I was in danger."

"Yes." Edward said, speaking up. "I didn't want this for you. To have it burden you."

"I'm glad I know." Bella disagreed gently.

Edward smiled sadly. "I hope that always rings true."

"I know not to allow it to control me. Isn't that enough?"

"No." Carlisle and Edward stated profoundly at the same it.

Edward cleared his throat and began to explain. "Just because you don't allow it doesn't mean your brain will accept it. In an adrenaline filled moment, when you're seeing things around you fall. Or the weather begins to become erratic. It's hard to keep that control over yourself.

This was the reason for the fear humans had towards us. The catholic church in particular. They claimed they couldn't trust us. But the elves on Midgard, they weren't the problem."

"It didn't matter how vehemently myself and others explained this," Carlisle explained. "The church had too much power and the fear spread too quickly. The witch trials and genocide that occurred was terrible. Some elves fought back but others, such as myself went into hiding."

"Why?" Bella whispered.

"I didn't want to hurt anyone, it's not in my nature. But most fought back. And all those that fought died terrible painful deaths by fire or drowning. It didn't take Vanir long to intervene. He took the willing and left the rest."

"What happened to the elves that stayed? Did they lose their magic?" Bella asked with wide eyes.

"No. It is not something Vanir can take from us. It is gifted to us at birth, spoken over us. And on Alfheim, something that is a gift can never be taken back. No matter how powerful the elf is. When magic is spoken it becomes physical and a part of the fabric or reality.

Those of us left went into hiding. Humans don't have a long-life span, compared to elves at least. For us to hide for four, five, six decades, it wasn't a problem."

"You hid for 60 years?"

"Yes, some for longer."

"Where?" Bella asked incredulously.

"At the time it was easy, not much of Midgard had been traveled. We are stronger than humans and have endless endurance. So, we could climb the highest mountains or crawl into the deepest caves and survive without being disturbed.

By the time we resurfaced, the church had rebranded magic. Claiming it to be inert phenomena from God himself. Alchemists and healers such as myself, our work was stripped of all magic and instead explained as science. Elves had to find their place in this new human world. No longer could a medicine man grow herbs with a single touch of a finger. Instead, we were hindered by the laws of the human world, by science. Our very survival depended on it. Every now and then, an elf would slip and a witch trial would be held."

"Were many of you killed?"

"To begin with, yes. Some were not as careful as others."

"How many of you are left here?"

"Very few. I haven't come across another of my kind in nearly 60 years. It was Vanir's plan to rid Midgard of elves and magic. Science has already made magic obsolete in human eyes. It's considered an immature set of tricks, designed to play with the brain and eyes, for entertainment. One day, we will be gone completely too."

The trio were quiet after Carlisle revelation.

"What about half elves having children with humans?" Bella wondered, her eyes flicking to Edward inadvertently. "Wouldn't the line continue?"

"Once the magic gene has been split in half, it will not split again. And the elven features will blend with the human ones until it is virtually impossible to tell the difference."

"That's so sad. A whole race just erased from our history, from Earth's existence."

Both Carlisle and Edward nodded their heads solemnly.