Chapter 2-Separation
Nessi stood still for a second with her back to the elves, allowing for her abilities and her latest feat to sink into the minds of the elves of the forest. Then she turned to walk toward the table. A smile slid onto her face as she felt their blank faces and fear-tainted minds.
Nessi put her hands on the table, "I'm looking for one, one that tips the balance of good and evil, one that resides here."
"What do want with this one?" The Archmage looked harshly at Nessi, "know that I won't let anything happen to any on my subjects."
"Oh, you have your pathetic vows and I have mine," Nessi replied as the Archmage's eyes blazed. Nessi continued, "I'll take the one I seek and you won't stop me; you won't endanger the lives of all of these elves in the wood. I have no such restrictions so I win."
The Archmage stood up brimming with rage, the spike of her magic sent her throne flying. Green energy buzzed around her and discharged in an icy gale. Nessi was caught in the gale and flew backwards until her outline glowed blue and she stabilized in the air. The Archmage spoke up, "I've dealt with you before. You never got the one before and you're not getting her this time."
The Archmage's magic flared again and she pointed to the ground. Vines sprouted quickly and flew at Nessi. With every second, each of the vines doubled in diameter and length. Nessi also flared and a thin bubble surrounded her an instant before the vines enveloped her.
The vines formed a sphere around her. While the vines held and began to fade, the Archmage's magic flared again. The vines unwrapped as a thick beam of green energy engulfed Nessi. The beam engulfed her and the bubble protecting Nessi popped out of existence but the green energy bridge remained. Nessi dropped to the ground, her magic bound and resources destroyed.
Suddenly, the spectators felt the presence of another. The elves of the forest recoiled, as though struck, and fell. Luareth, not effected as the others were, looked around at the elves huddled within themselves and she felt the evil and decay building.
Nessi grimaced contently as the bridge disappeared. She stood weakly and said to the air, "You took long enough. I was thinking I would have to do it myself, then again, I would get all the glory and the reward for myself." She stood up straight, her power returning and her bad mood refurbished, "Well, what are you waiting for? Reveal yourself and let's get this done."
Above her, the air wavered and a simple rotting cloak appeared. It seemed a normal cloak except that it rustled and snapped, as if in a great breeze, despite the still afternoon air. Despite the wind's influence, it didn't move, hovering in the air and it took a moment for the assembly to realize it's alive.
"Listen carefully, Archmage, because this will rock your world," Nessi smiled thinly, "This is my new friend. History will know him as the Nightwere." Nessi pointed to a spilled basket of fruit. One of the juiciest pieces shuttered and rose. Nessi reached for it and the fruit flew to your hand. Instead of catching it, Nessi motioned the fruit over her shoulder and the fruit slammed into the Nightwere. The Nightwere slid backwards through the air effortlessly from the impact. The fruit withered and rotted in the air and shattered as it hit the ground.
Nessi let that saturate among the Elves and the Archdruid for a while before speaking, "That was just one touch; do you still want to fight still want to fight?"
The Archdruid looked sadly at Luareth, and shook her head mournfully. Nessi flashed out. Cries came from the elves around Luareth as Nessi appeared behind her. Nessi put her hand on Luareth's shoulder and sighed for a second, "I wish I were still that weak." Luareth felt her skin bubbling and cracking, her skin turning inside out, but when she realized she felt it the feeling was gone. She stood next to Nessi and the Nightwere.
The Archmage stammered and cried out, "She's safe here. She belongs here."
"She's not safe anywhere," Nessi replied coldly. "Every mage will be after her power and I can't let them have it."
"Take her to the Counsel, she'll be safe there. No one dares attack the Counsel. . ."
"I have my own designs for her," Nessi shot back, "and the counsel knows of Luareth, why aren't they here too? They can't stop anything. I should know. Say good-bye, child."
Luareth closed her eyes as she heard cries erupt, severed suddenly, and then she felt disoriented and the bubbling and cracking began again. Luareth opened her eyes to a blue whirlpool of light below her and she fell into it. Alone. She opened her mouth, but solid energy oozed into her mouth. Her muscles felt like her skin had melted away.
Then it stopped. Luareth fell to the ground, sprawled on the sharp grass, and she paused for a moment, making sure this was real. Her arms and legs ached as she stood up.
Nessi motioned to a dancing light in the distance, "Go to it. Others wait for you there." Luareth felt physically drained, like she hadn't slept in days. It took Luareth a while to realize that it was a fire, a flickering yellow and orange geyser with roasting meat above it. Somehow she found a log to sit on and roasted meat was put into her hands. After eating the meat, she collapsed backwards onto the sand and fell asleep immediately.
Luareth strolled a forest path of her youth, feeling pleasure and relaxation from the rich green puddles of light that studded the earthen path. Birds and animals twittered and she knew it was for her. Her vision and senses flowed throughout the forest, and she was a part of the forest. No, the forest was a part of her, she had mastered the forest and the forest saturated her soul with life.
A brown dog leapt onto her shoulders and she smiled. This animal was unlike any other, Luareth knew that and she felt the connection. As she continued walking, she came to a clearing. In the short grass, rabbits and birds stopped jumping and lions lay before her. All of their senses on her, enveloping and strengthening her, and she knew they were hers to command.
A red figure stepped into the clearing. Luareth had felt it was there but still she was surprised. The red figure materialized into a young man, about her age, but taller and furious. Its mouth moved but a voice reverberated around the forest, "This is the power you will get, but I can't let that happen."
Luareth quivered slightly as the figure raised its arm to point at her, "you know too much, I can't let you live." Luareth trembled again, a might tremor that started in her legs and vibrated up as orange flame gathered and condensed on the stranger's fingers. Luareth shrieked and bolted as flame dispersed and bathed the forest.
She scampered across the dirt until she could make a standing rush into a different path then she had come. Along side her, animals and flame raced and danced. Beside her, a wolf easily matched her pace. With a gruff and breathy grunt, the wolf spoke "Why won't you help us? You should protect us."
"I can't," Luareth squawked, "I don't know what I'm doing here."
--Then you are a traitor and you don't deserve to rule-- The wolf leapt into Luareth's thigh, sending Luareth sprawling to the ground. Luareth could only weep as she felt claws and flames graze her back. Luareth writhed in her sleep for a moment and went into a black sleep. She wouldn't remember anything..
Nessi stood still for a second with her back to the elves, allowing for her abilities and her latest feat to sink into the minds of the elves of the forest. Then she turned to walk toward the table. A smile slid onto her face as she felt their blank faces and fear-tainted minds.
Nessi put her hands on the table, "I'm looking for one, one that tips the balance of good and evil, one that resides here."
"What do want with this one?" The Archmage looked harshly at Nessi, "know that I won't let anything happen to any on my subjects."
"Oh, you have your pathetic vows and I have mine," Nessi replied as the Archmage's eyes blazed. Nessi continued, "I'll take the one I seek and you won't stop me; you won't endanger the lives of all of these elves in the wood. I have no such restrictions so I win."
The Archmage stood up brimming with rage, the spike of her magic sent her throne flying. Green energy buzzed around her and discharged in an icy gale. Nessi was caught in the gale and flew backwards until her outline glowed blue and she stabilized in the air. The Archmage spoke up, "I've dealt with you before. You never got the one before and you're not getting her this time."
The Archmage's magic flared again and she pointed to the ground. Vines sprouted quickly and flew at Nessi. With every second, each of the vines doubled in diameter and length. Nessi also flared and a thin bubble surrounded her an instant before the vines enveloped her.
The vines formed a sphere around her. While the vines held and began to fade, the Archmage's magic flared again. The vines unwrapped as a thick beam of green energy engulfed Nessi. The beam engulfed her and the bubble protecting Nessi popped out of existence but the green energy bridge remained. Nessi dropped to the ground, her magic bound and resources destroyed.
Suddenly, the spectators felt the presence of another. The elves of the forest recoiled, as though struck, and fell. Luareth, not effected as the others were, looked around at the elves huddled within themselves and she felt the evil and decay building.
Nessi grimaced contently as the bridge disappeared. She stood weakly and said to the air, "You took long enough. I was thinking I would have to do it myself, then again, I would get all the glory and the reward for myself." She stood up straight, her power returning and her bad mood refurbished, "Well, what are you waiting for? Reveal yourself and let's get this done."
Above her, the air wavered and a simple rotting cloak appeared. It seemed a normal cloak except that it rustled and snapped, as if in a great breeze, despite the still afternoon air. Despite the wind's influence, it didn't move, hovering in the air and it took a moment for the assembly to realize it's alive.
"Listen carefully, Archmage, because this will rock your world," Nessi smiled thinly, "This is my new friend. History will know him as the Nightwere." Nessi pointed to a spilled basket of fruit. One of the juiciest pieces shuttered and rose. Nessi reached for it and the fruit flew to your hand. Instead of catching it, Nessi motioned the fruit over her shoulder and the fruit slammed into the Nightwere. The Nightwere slid backwards through the air effortlessly from the impact. The fruit withered and rotted in the air and shattered as it hit the ground.
Nessi let that saturate among the Elves and the Archdruid for a while before speaking, "That was just one touch; do you still want to fight still want to fight?"
The Archdruid looked sadly at Luareth, and shook her head mournfully. Nessi flashed out. Cries came from the elves around Luareth as Nessi appeared behind her. Nessi put her hand on Luareth's shoulder and sighed for a second, "I wish I were still that weak." Luareth felt her skin bubbling and cracking, her skin turning inside out, but when she realized she felt it the feeling was gone. She stood next to Nessi and the Nightwere.
The Archmage stammered and cried out, "She's safe here. She belongs here."
"She's not safe anywhere," Nessi replied coldly. "Every mage will be after her power and I can't let them have it."
"Take her to the Counsel, she'll be safe there. No one dares attack the Counsel. . ."
"I have my own designs for her," Nessi shot back, "and the counsel knows of Luareth, why aren't they here too? They can't stop anything. I should know. Say good-bye, child."
Luareth closed her eyes as she heard cries erupt, severed suddenly, and then she felt disoriented and the bubbling and cracking began again. Luareth opened her eyes to a blue whirlpool of light below her and she fell into it. Alone. She opened her mouth, but solid energy oozed into her mouth. Her muscles felt like her skin had melted away.
Then it stopped. Luareth fell to the ground, sprawled on the sharp grass, and she paused for a moment, making sure this was real. Her arms and legs ached as she stood up.
Nessi motioned to a dancing light in the distance, "Go to it. Others wait for you there." Luareth felt physically drained, like she hadn't slept in days. It took Luareth a while to realize that it was a fire, a flickering yellow and orange geyser with roasting meat above it. Somehow she found a log to sit on and roasted meat was put into her hands. After eating the meat, she collapsed backwards onto the sand and fell asleep immediately.
Luareth strolled a forest path of her youth, feeling pleasure and relaxation from the rich green puddles of light that studded the earthen path. Birds and animals twittered and she knew it was for her. Her vision and senses flowed throughout the forest, and she was a part of the forest. No, the forest was a part of her, she had mastered the forest and the forest saturated her soul with life.
A brown dog leapt onto her shoulders and she smiled. This animal was unlike any other, Luareth knew that and she felt the connection. As she continued walking, she came to a clearing. In the short grass, rabbits and birds stopped jumping and lions lay before her. All of their senses on her, enveloping and strengthening her, and she knew they were hers to command.
A red figure stepped into the clearing. Luareth had felt it was there but still she was surprised. The red figure materialized into a young man, about her age, but taller and furious. Its mouth moved but a voice reverberated around the forest, "This is the power you will get, but I can't let that happen."
Luareth quivered slightly as the figure raised its arm to point at her, "you know too much, I can't let you live." Luareth trembled again, a might tremor that started in her legs and vibrated up as orange flame gathered and condensed on the stranger's fingers. Luareth shrieked and bolted as flame dispersed and bathed the forest.
She scampered across the dirt until she could make a standing rush into a different path then she had come. Along side her, animals and flame raced and danced. Beside her, a wolf easily matched her pace. With a gruff and breathy grunt, the wolf spoke "Why won't you help us? You should protect us."
"I can't," Luareth squawked, "I don't know what I'm doing here."
--Then you are a traitor and you don't deserve to rule-- The wolf leapt into Luareth's thigh, sending Luareth sprawling to the ground. Luareth could only weep as she felt claws and flames graze her back. Luareth writhed in her sleep for a moment and went into a black sleep. She wouldn't remember anything..
