IV - The Story of Love: The Promise
"R-Remove the fog? A-Are you serious?"
"No, we'll be playing hide and seek." Alvieha was taken aback. "Come to think of it, I can kick you of here instead so I don't need to search for any deaf human."
"What I mean is... why a sudden change of heart?"
"You said you would visit me anytime as long as there's no fog covering the tower. The fog may be protecting this place, but I'm not going to let a guest get away just because of synthetic clouds beyond my doorstep," the elf then distanced from Alvieha.
Meanwhile, a heartfelt grin snuck on the lady's face, cherishing a memory. After passing through the colossal entrance, the elf headed upwards. Beyond the staircase. Alvieha followed.
As they flew higher, darkness also started to take over their surroundings. While the two shadows raced to the top, no one uttered a sound; it was a silent flight. All that echoed within the hollow tower were the sounds of their breathing and tweets of birds on small windows along the tower.
While flying, Alvieha glanced at the small openings. Outside, as expected; it was as blurry and impossible as it was earlier. When her eyes returned up ahead, her companion has already gained quite a distance. Determined to catch up, she collected strength on her two feet.
And, then, she sprang up.
It didn't take her long. At the peak, the elf was already waiting. On a hallway faintly illuminated with mounted torches, Alvieha's companion stood, hands crossed while back on the wall. When she arrived at the top, she instantly got a cold greeting.
"I didn't know humans have the gall to let others wait for them."
"M-my bad. I wasn't expecting you'd … you'd fly very quickly," the woman apologised, taking in precious oxygen as she spoke. "Although... I thought we'd go down to where I entered from."
"That was merely the back door," Alvieha was slowly being left behind. She dashed to reach the companion. "Besides, I have to be on high ground if I want to remove the fog." The lady simply hummed.
The short walk was relaxed; both tried to familiarise each other. For Alvieha, she continued their chat with the question she should've already asked.
"It's a bit awkward to talk to you not knowing your name. Can I?"
"Alqueivious [Al keeyey veeyuhs] Ng. Call me Alqueivious."
"That's quite a mouthful," Alvieha joked with a chuckle. "How about I call you Alque instead? The latter part of your name sounds like an accident waiting to happen."
The elf huffed. "Suit yourself, Alvieha." The other only giggled.
Both continued exchanging words.
What does it look like outside this tower? In what kind of places has the tower appeared so far? Who's the current ruler of this land? Queries like such. But, the last one stuck for a while.
"Is it lonely being alone in this tower?"
"Of course, it is," Alqueivious came out bold. "Once, many idiots ran amok here. Now, the only sounds I hear are mine and the occasional birds mating above the shelves."
"But, I believe I accepted this for quite some time already. Fate runs in mysterious ways, Alvieha. There is a reason why I was left behind in this tower."
So true...
And both reached the end of the path. Two wooden slabs, weathered by time and adorned with rusting metal, stood against them.
"Well, that's the main entrance," Alqueivious commented, dusting off two hands as the procedure was prepared.
"Here we go."
With two hands in front, the elf pushed the door open. Instantly, fog welcomed them – not the trees, nor the mountains beyond the horizon, but aggregated water droplets.
For a while, two long ears rejected any sound. Eyes shut, chest expanded, mind cleared. The elf prepared. And once hands were in the air once more, two golden orbs shined amidst the fog.
The elf's voice was low. "Yuan ta de weida..."
For Alvieha, the words were unfamiliar. She could've been puzzled by what the elf was saying, but let it pass. To her, it may be the incantation needed to remove the visibility concern.
The chant was subtle. It was short. And when Alqueivious ceased uttering words foreign to her, Alvieha prepared herself. The process will now really commence.
With the elf's hands now coated with light, two arms were spread further apart. Out of thin air, an illuminating book materialised in front of the elf. It rapidly opened, pages flying very quickly, until it came to a halt.
"Gas Magic: Fading Veil."
As the grimoire shined brighter, the surrounding became clearer and clearer. Birds flying beyond the blue skies became more visible. The green trees, the firm, brown soil, even other wildlife of various colours, they became more noticeable by the second.
Witnessing the phenomenon, Alvieha couldn't stop herself from standing with awe. The white nothingness shrouding the area, the hindrance to her earlier expedition, was fading gradually.
After a few minutes, the fog completely vanished. Rocks and leaves now bathed in sunlight. Meanwhile, the tower was now completely naked, so did Alvieha and Alqueivious.
With a snap, the floating grimoire shut and let air devour it in plain sight. Beside the elf, the visitor of the tower still had to utter a word.
Alqueivious stared at Alvieha, one brow raised. "The fog is now gone. You might want to close your mouth before the birds here get lost in there."
"T-That was... amazing," Alvieha jumped at the elf, grabbing the other's hands into hers. "The fog that covered the entire forest... you lifted it easily."
"Learn to clean up after oneself, I believe," Alqueivious said in a matter-of-fact tone, "Since I created the fog, I can get rid of it as well. What did you assume? That I'd summon some birds to blow the fog away?"
Alvieha simply chuckled nervously – mentally.
"Well, then. Now that the fog is gone, I assume you're going, yes?"
"Not just yet," Alvieha popped the bubble. "I may have seen some books earlier that I'm a bit interested in. Can I stay here for a while? Of course, I won't stay for free."
The elf's head tilted. "What do you mean?"
Alvieha's hands moved beneath her cloak. "As thanks for letting me read all the book I want here," two pale hands emerged from underneath the worn-out garment. "Take this."
On the elf's own appendages, a silver pendant shaped like a coin landed. On its surface, a symbol of a teardrop in front of a blooming six-petalled flower was engraved.
"W-What is this?"
"That's a locket. Open it." The elf followed. Another symbol behind the cover was etched; it was an animal the long-eared fellow previously seen in a book previously read. A bull.
"Take care of that, okay? I got that from someone I really cherish."
"Then, why would you give this to me–"
"That's because I know we'd meet again someday. Maybe, not because I visited your tower. But, because you ventured out of here. In case I do forget, show this thing to me and the rest would be fine. Can you promise that?"
"You humans sure have weird customs, now do you?"
"Sure, embarrass me after being kind."
Away from Alvieha's precious orbs, a bright smile appeared.
"Come on, Alque," Alvieha returned inside the tower. "I need to start reading the books you have here. I'm sure my partners won't be looking for me just yet."
"Before that. Time flows differently inside the tower. And since the fog has been cleared, I would be moving this tower somewhere else in a moment. For safety."
"Even better. Travelling while reading. Make sure you pop this place beside a hot spring, okay?"
"Might as well send this place underwater if you're that in to swimming, but I already warned you about the time difference, all right. Don't blame me if you missed a lot of things."
"I won't, I won't. I'd need a lot of time if I want to read this place dry."
And after seconds, just like the fog that ravaged the area, the tower near the small town of Albuepo vanished.