Soul Transmigration Arc End (Original chapter Chapter 102)
Elves.
Ever since I had heard Master Clarke mention them at the start of term, I had dug into research about this non-human race in my spare time via the Academy's library and a very helpful librarian, who was thrilled to have such a studious Mage-in-Training.
Elves, as it turned out, did not occupy large kingdoms in the world, rarely taking up more than a dozen islands in total per kingdom, but their military forces were even matches for human kingdoms many times their size. This was, in the main, due to both their long lifespans granting them many, many years to learn their craft, and the fact that ALL elves were naturally born with Core Crystals, meaning that they were a race of mages. It had, as a matter of fact, been an elven mage several hundred years ago who had deduced the method by which human mages could gain Core Crystals.
They also had direct communication with their 'gods' (No, I did not stutter) and all elves had access to a living golem that followed them around their whole lives. The elven pantheon had the 'greater' gods, which had the usual setup of a single patriarchal figure with numerous gods and goddesses as his family and subordinates, as well as the 'lesser' gods. The Lesser Gods, known to us humans as the Apostles, were elves who had taken a single aspect of life to the ultimate and perfect form, being raised to the status of an immortal and being assigned to being the Apostle of whatever they had perfected.
Using their golems as a medium and vessel, an elf could fire spells without drawing on their own magical power, so long as they had made proper observances towards the Apostles they were going to invoke beforehand.
The fact was though, that elves frequently interfered in the affairs of humans for seemingly inane and nonsensical reasons, when they deigned to give one at all. Last year, just as an example, an elven ship had kidnapped a fisherman for two days before returning him with no memory. Ten years ago, they had sent an archer to assassinate a footman in the service of Lord Biron, with the excuse being 'he's a problem.'
All of that being the case, Master Clarke's muttered series of curses was a surprisingly mild and restrained reaction in my opinion.
"Have all Masters gathered on Canis Minor at once!" he snapped at the soldier, who saluted and ran off. "Girls, Go and join your classmates. Miss Hebert, congratulations on acquiring better materials than I initially assigned for you to find; the Devil Taijitu is yours. The skin will be used for your casting implements and the Academy will no doubt wish to purchase the rest of the corpse, plus the Devil Mamba, from you. Something to discuss later, I think."
Nodding, I led my friends out of the dorm building and to the edge of the enclave.
"Why would elves come here?!" Lily asked urgently.
"Who knows?" I shrugged. "If memory serves, the nearest elven kingdom is the Cygnus Queendom, right?"
"Yes." Amelia nodded. "They border us, the Libra Theocracy and the Cassiopeia Oligarchy to the south. They weren't involved in the incidents inside our kingdom, at least not for the last twenty years. It's been the Princedom of Lupus to the north who has been doing that."
"Regardless of who they are and what they've been doing, we should be careful." I said decisively. "Elves are tricky characters and we have no idea why they're here or what they want. The masters will try and protect us, but elves are almost always a Master of at least one Sphere if they're in the military, and it's almost always a military ship that deliberately enters the central waters of human kingdoms like this."
"You read that in a book, didn't you?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow. Shaking her head at my shrug, she just sighed. "Well, here's hoping that nothing happens."
The next hour was more than slightly angst-filled, but the sight of the elven ship coming into vision of the naked eye was quite a spectacular one. Elven ships look like upsized versions of Ancient Greek Triremes, minus the banks of oars. Not only was it bigger, the entire ship was what I would call a work of art, with the outer hull having a carving of a bird of prey burned into the hull, from beneath the fo'c's'le to just before the stern. Embroidered onto the sail was what looked like a gothic letter, but what I knew was actually an elven rune, although I had no clue as to what it meant.
"An elven Soaring Eagle-class frigate." Amelia identified it after a moment. "That symbol on the sail is the emblem of a Noble House."
Elves had 'Houses' in their kingdoms, which were basically alliances of various families for a specific purpose. The Royal Houses were all related to one another distantly, at least according to the book I had read. Noble Houses rarely left their kingdoms, leaving that to Military or Mercantile Houses.
So why was one here, of all places?
All of us students were herded into the dorms and ordered to be silent before the elven ship docked. Fortunately, the dorm was easily within earshot of the pier, so we could listen in to the conversation.
Master Clarke led the delegation of Masters, with the soldiers arrayed in stiff and formal military parade formation ashore. By contrast, only three elves disembarked from the ship, all wearing fancy, but serviceable clothes in white, with fancy runes and patterns embroidered on them in various colours.
Elves, I found, were not like Vulcans from Star Trek in regards to their ears' shape and size. Their ears were long and pointed like daggers, and twitched every so often. I also found them somewhat androgynous. Each possessed an egg shaped golem about the size of a watermelon floating at their shoulders.
"Greetings. I am James Clarke, Master of the First Order and the representative of the Sirius Mage Guild, as well as the ranking member of the Mage Council on the Canis Isles." Master Clarke stated formally. "Might I ask for your names?"
"I am Lord Davide." The central figure stated softly, pronouncing it dah-veed. "I am the current Patriarch of House Davide, of what you humans refer to as the Cygnus Queendom. These two are my bodyguards."
He gestured carelessly at the other two elves to either side of him.
"I see. Might I enquire as to why you have some to us here on the Canis Isles?" Master Clarke asked carefully.
"You are of the Kingdom of Sirius' Mage Academy?" Lord Davide asked, apparently ignoring Master Clarke's question.
"Yes, I am in charge of the First Year Students in the dormitory building behind me." The master said calmly.
"Excellent. I have three students for you." The elvish lord said in satisfaction.
Master Clarke might have started in shock; I know almost every student in the dorm did, including me.
"I'm sorry, but I was under the impression that the Cygnus Queendom had its own, very fine, Academy for Magic?" Master Clarke said delicately.
"Sadly, these students are not welcome there due to their heritage." Lord Davide said with a sigh. "They are half-elves."
Oh. Oh dear. Half-elves.
A fair few humans disliked half-elves, but the older elves cordially despised 'half-breeds' as they were called. They were very rare as well, since it took not just the usual biological process for a human man to inseminate an elven woman or for an elven man to impregnate a human woman, but also the human had to be a particularly powerful Mage in their own right. The number of human mages that went to the kingdoms of the elves is carefully monitored, so discovering who their fathers were would be fairly simple, but that would cause a scandal in the Mage's Guild and Mage Council.
But three half-elves at once? That was an unprecedented number.
"…ah." Master Clarke said weakly. He shook himself before continuing. "Ah. May I ask if their human parents…?"
"…are not from this kingdom." Lord Davide assured him. "Their human parents came from a kingdom most distant and are unlikely to bother you."
"Might I assume that they are of age with the children I am currently watching over?" Master Clarke enquired.
"Twelve human-years old." The elven lord confirmed. "Forty-eight seasons old to we elves."
Oh yeah, elves went by seasons rather than years sometimes. Weird.
"And their academics?" Master Clarke pressed.
"Their skill at reading and writing the human language is slightly advanced for their age, as is their mathematics, but their social skills are somewhat stunted due to their…heritage." Lord Davide stated. "Their Core Crystals were formed approximately three months ago, as I believe your students' own were also?"
Huh…evidently, half-elves didn't have inborn Core Crystals like their full-blooded brethren. Interesting.
"Correct." The Master nodded once. "I must ask for payment for this service on behalf of the Academy if we are to go through with it. Also, might I ask what provision there are for the holidays?"
Lord Davide merely clicked his fingers once and a chest was levitated down from the deck of his ship. "This is full of modestly rare materials and reagents in payment for their first two years. Another payment will be made for their final two. As for the holidays…I am at a loss. Their elven parents have indicated a lack of willingness to see them again…ever."
"I…see." Master Clarke said, his voice not sounding happy about that. "Well perhaps a student will invite them home for the holidays. Failing that, I am certain that accommodations can be made available to them and a Mage designated as a temporary guardian during the times of the holidays."
"Thank you, Master Clarke." Lord Davide sounded relieved.
"I have perhaps two further questions, if I may." Master Clarke said evenly. "Most Nobles who attend our Academy either return to oversee their family estates or join the Guild upon graduation, whereas those not of Noble birth join the Kingdom of Sirius Army or Navy as a way to repay their debts. Neither applies to these children, so may I ask what you see them doing post-graduation?"
"Returning to the Queendom would be…approaching impossible for them." The elven lord stated quietly, with a grimace on his face. My group had a Wind Sphere listening spell active, so we were probably the only ones who heard him. "Joining the Guild will likely be their best option, or otherwise finding employment in your country. They are as aware of this as I am."
"I see." Master Clarke said. "For my last question…do they actually wish to attend the Academy?"
"Yes." Lord Davide nodded emphatically. "They were unhappy in the Queendom and desire to go elsewhere and become self-sufficient. Becoming a Mage was the best route for that."
"Very well." Master Clarke nodded. "Would having a student here ease their nerves when they disembark?"
"I would think so. Who was it that slew that Devil Taijitu Snake there?" the elven man asked. He had sharp eyes; the snake's corpse was quite some distance away!
"That would be the current highest-ranking student of the First Years." Master Clarke replied. "She's Lord Hebert's Heir. Would you like me to call her out?"
"Please do. The three children, all girls, are very shy about boys." Lord Davide said with a sunny smile.
"Miss Hebert, please shut off your spell and come out, please." Master Clarke said dryly. I flushed at that; he had known I was listening in the entire time. Great, I could probably expect a telling off for that.
Ending my spell, I nodded at the others and smoothed my dress down with another spell before heading out to meet the elves.
As I approached the pier, it became obvious that someone was watching from the ship; I caught sight of three pairs of eyes watching me from the main cabin of the ship.
"Lord Davide, this is Miss Taylor Hebert, Heiress of the Hebert Family and daughter of Earl Daniel Hebert and his Lady, Annette Hebert." Master Clarke introduced me once I was near enough. I dipped a curtsey at Lord Davide, which he acknowledged.
"Miss Hebert." He greeted me. "Do tell how you managed to defeat a Devil Taijitu."
"I am a Summoner and am in possession of a Circle 5 Monster of my own, my lord." I answered steadily. "I summoned it and used it to defeat the Devil Taijitu in combination with my roommates."
"You are able to control a Circle 5 monster?" one of Lord Davide's guards snorted in disbelief. "I'll believe it when I see it."
"Georges, we've talked about speaking out of turn before, haven't we?" Lord Davide said mildly.
"My Lord." The man said, but he flashed a superior look at me as he returned to his neutral expression.
Oh, you are asking for it, buddy.
Out of reflex, I checked my bandolier and the crystal containing my Giant Hercules Beetle. It had returned to normal now and stood ready to be summoned.
"Begging my lord's pardon, but I can simply summon my monster to prove my story." I offered with a hint of steel in my voice. "I dislike being accused of lying."
Lord Davide raised his eyebrows in surprise before looking to Master Clarke. "Is that permissible?"
"I supplied the containment circle that she used to summon the creature she speaks of, Lord Davide." Master Clarke sighed. "But I am afraid that my word would be of little good here, as Miss Hebert's pride as a Noble and a Mage has been stung. Very well, Miss Hebert. Please summon your monster…over there on the shore, if you please. There's no room over here."
Nodding, I curtseyed again before hurrying off to the shore. Once I was there, I took the crystal from its pocket and was about to start summoning it when a massive explosion of seawater erupted from in front of me and a massive blue serpent with three ruby eyes on either side of its head emerged from the sea.
I recognised it immediately; it was a Leviathan Sea Drake, the monster which was the crest of my Family. It was a Water Sphere Circle 5 monster which could more than hold its own against monsters up to two Circles above it. I was screwed, but I was not going to go down without a fight.
"Beast sealed in crystal, hear my call!" I chanted rapidly. "Emerge from thine confinement to serve your master! I summon thee!"
Throwing down my crystal, the large form of my Giant Hercules Beetle rapidly emerged. As soon as it did, I scrambled atop of it and ordered it into the sky. Just in time too. Bare seconds after I took flight, the Leviathan unleashed one of its special abilities, [Surging Sea Cannon], a powerful blast of water that could cut through foot-thick stone like a hot knife through butter, at my last position, tearing up the earth.
"Dammit!" I cursed as the Leviathan ceased its attack almost immediately and started to track me. "It's after me!"
This had to be someone's Summon monster. Leviathan Sea Drakes were usually only found in the northern seas of the Kingdom of Sirius, and even then rarely showed themselves unless it was their mating season or if someone deliberately provoked them. They were known as the Sleeping Giants of the Seas for that reason. For one to be here, over a week's journey from their nesting territories, meant that someone, possibly the same bastard responsible for the Devil Taijitu, was controlling this one.
"Apostle of Hunting, descend!" A calm voice boomed and I saw the golem in front of Lord Davide glowing yellow. "Your eloquent words are akin to arrows of light! [Lok]!"
The next moment, hundreds of beams of light erupted from the golem and arced towards the Leviathan, striking it all along its body and making it roar in pain.
"[Sonic Scissors]!" I shouted, adding my monster's own long range attack to the party, scoring several hits across its head.
"Miss Hebert, it seems you are its target." Master Clarke projected to me via a Wind Spell of some sort. "The other Masters and I will be adding our spells to the barrage, so please focus on evasion until the leviathan is defeated."
"It's a Summon, Professor." I told him. "Keep an eye out for where the crystal goes after it is defeated."
"Noted."
The sheer amount of spells that the masters were unleashing at the Leviathan Sea Drake was astonishing; spells of so many Spheres that I had to wonder exactly how powerful the masters were really. What was almost more astonishing was how damned resilient the Leviathan Sea Drake was being! It was shrugging off the spells from Master Clarke and his fellows as if they weren't even there!
"Apostle of Rainclouds, descend! Your endless lash is the blade of justice. [Calgo]!"
"Apostle of Air, descend! Your strong fingers are sacred swords. [Frei]!"
"Apostle of Projectiles, descend! Your unbreakable will is an arrow that never misses the target. [Iere]!"
The three elven men on the dock were also pouring on the spells. One unleashed a length of yellow energy that formed into a ring that bore down on the Leviathan like a giant buzz saw, one fired ten bolts of yellow energy that pierced the Leviathan in several parts of its body and the last fired a single bolt that pierced one of the great beast's eyes.
It still wasn't enough to even slow down the Leviathan. And it was now firing blasts of high-pressure water at me like nobody's business.
"Lord Davide." I said once I mumbled the correct spell. "Do you have anything capable of stopping the movement of the Leviathan temporarily? I think my Giant Hercules Beetle's main attack can damage it enough to force it to retreat, but I won't be able to hit it if it keeps swaying like that."
"Certainly, I have a spell that can do that." The elven lord replied instantly. "Be ready to attack in about a minute."
"Yes, my lord." I replied.
Seconds later, I heard all three elves chanting the same aria.
"Apostle of Bindings, descend! Your immovable grip is the beacon that lights the way! [Rom]!"
In a trice, the Leviathan's massive body was wrapped up by countless ropes of light. I didn't waste my chance.
"[Horn Buster]!" I ordered and shuddered as the magical power was drained from me. The main attack of my Giant Hercules Beetle was triple the magical power that [Sonic Scissors], and my magical power was already drained from using it twice just a short hour or so ago. Still, this was the best chance I had to take this thing down.
With a roar from my monster, the familiar orange glow surrounded its horn and we flew straight at the head of the Leviathan, striking it like the fist of an angry god. The horn actually managed to pierce through the skin and out the other side, as I had made my mount charge it from the side, not wanting to give the damned oversized sea snake a chance to use its long-range attack on me. That meant my mount had just dealt six times its normal amount of damage rather than triple.
With a shriek, the Leviathan Sea Drake started to turn into crystal and shrink, returning to its sealed form as it was defeated. Once it was barely visible, it sped into the reluctant hand of the Master who had come over from Canis Major…Master Merle.
It didn't take long before Master Clarke had the rogue Master stripped of his crystals and bound hand and foot. At that point I landed, dismounting from my mount with a fond pat on its carapace. I think it purred or something.
"Miss Hebert." The elven bodyguard who had dissed me earlier stepped forward and bowed low to me. "My apologies for dismissing your abilities and disbelieving your capabilities."
"Apology accepted." I said somewhat magnanimously. "I am only twelve years old and a human at that. It's not surprising that you would disbelieve my abilities with my youth and race against me."
With another bow, the man retreated to his lord's side.
"Well, well, well. This is a magnificent specimen of a Giant Hercules Beetle." Lord Davide said as she stepped forwards himself. "You have somehow earned its allegiance too, haven't you? I find myself quite jealous; Circle 5 monsters are notoriously picky about to whom they give their allegiance. To have gained its immediate loyalty like this…you are one to watch, Miss Hebert."
I blushed and stammered my thanks before hastily returning my Beetle to its crystal before staggering at the loss of magical power.
"Ah, allow me." The elf lord smiled as his golem floated above me. "Apostle of Eternity, descend! Your restorative aura is the poetry of time! [Kalute]!"
A wave of yellow energy washed over me and I gasped as I felt my tiredness and almost empty Core refill instantly with more magical power. I could also tell, somehow, that my veins were reinforced a bit more as well.
"It's quite the heady feeling, isn't it?" Lord Davide smiled understandingly. "Now then, we'd better introduce you to the children while Master Clarke is busy interrogating that idiotic man."
I had never seen Master Clarke so obviously furious since I had met him. He was shouting at the cowering Master Merle with an expression of such contempt and disgust on his face that I'm surprised the other man wasn't sinking into the dirt beneath him.
Georges went back aboard ship and returned with three girls about my height, hesitating at the boarding ramp. Unlike full-blooded elves, their ears were a lot more like a Vulcan's, except about an inch or so longer. Then I got a good look at who they were. My self-control slipped for a bare second as they were escorted off the ship as I caught sight of their faces…faces from my previous life that I could never forget.
Lisa…Dinah…Sabah…
They were the half-elves…
OK, so here's where I'm ending it for the moment. I may well come back to it at a later point, but this is what you've got for the moment. Enjoy. Sorry for the very-evil cliffie there. ^_^