Elves? Why Not?
Percy POV
Previously:
'Guess I should say goodbye to this planet,' Percy thought to himself. "Goodbye Earth, I had some fun times here, but the bad memories overrule the good ones. I hope to see you again once I got myself all figured out. But for now," Percy let a tear fall "Goodbye". And with that, he jumped into the portal, starting his new adventure.
Present:
Percy soon realized that jumping through an unknown portal that could lead to anywhere wasn't the smartest idea, seeing as he was falling from very high up, and rapidly decreasing the distance he was from the ground. He frantically looked around, trying to find a way to break his fall. Bullseye. He spotted a source of water. He could try to use it to soften his impact. 'It's worth a shot,' he thought to himself.
He felt the familiar tugging sensation in his gut as he willed the water to his location. The mass of liquid slowly inched to his dropping point. Just before he hit the ground the water pillowed his fall, slowing his impact. He wasn't slowed fast enough tough, and the crash was still strong enough to knock him out, blackening his vision, and making him lose consciousness.
Percy started to regain consciousness. He rubbed his head and started to open his eyes. 'Where am I,' he thought to himself. The memories of his leap flooded into his mind. 'Well, that wasn't the smartest thing I have ever done,' he thought to himself, continuing to massaging his head to ease his massive headache. Percy decided to look at his surroundings.
He was in a comfy cabin. Picture frames lined the cabin, consisting of a little boy, an older-looking girl, and 2 adults, probably their parents. His eyes searched around some more. A fireplace, probably giving him the warmth he was feeling, and other assortments of furniture, and living room items.
After Percy finished looking around, he started to ask the logical questions.
"What am I doing here," he asked out loud.
"You're in my cabin," an unknown voice replied. Percy quickly turned around, and his eyes widened. In front of him was a woman. She has silky auburn hair and smooth pale skin. Her eyes were a light green, like the leaves on trees as the sunlight bounces off of them. She was definitely beautiful, but her most defining feature was her ears. She had pointed ears that were hanging off to the side. Percy gaped. 'Who is that,' he wondered.
Unlucky for him, his thought was said aloud.
"I am Aubree Herefina, owner of this cabin. And you are?" asked Aubree, tilting her head. Percy paused for a second, collecting his thoughts.
"Oh, my name is….," he stopped and thought for a moment. If he was going to start a new life, he would need a new name. What could it be? He needed something with meaning, something with purpose. Something that represented a new him. Something that showed that he wasn't someone to mess with. "Karma," Percy answered. "I'm Karma". Aubree threw him a questioning look.
"Just Karma?" she asked.
"Just Karma," the newly named Karma answered nodding. Aubree shrugged.
"Not that I'm not thankful for you helping me, but why am I here?" Karma asked looking around again.
"I saw you collapsed on the floor, soaking wet, and thought I would bring you here before you got a cold," Aubree explained. Karma now noticed that he was in some new, warmer clothes. He started to realize something and blushed.
"Did you cha-," Karma started. Aubree cut him off, blushing as well.
"Nonononononono, I did not change you. Well I did but I…well I...," she paused and recollected herself. "I used magic to change your clothes. I didn't see, nor touch anything," Aubree promised, her right hand in the air, and her left on her chest.
Karma nodded, before remembering a key feature in that sentence.
"Magic?" Karma asked bewildered.
"You don't know about magic?" asked Aubree, equally confused. "Did you come from another planet, it's not often we get visitors?" asked Aubree again. Karma wasn't sure how to answer. He knew nothing about where he appeared, nor how anything worked. Throw magic in the mix and now Karma had a real predicament. He looked up at Aubree and looked into her eyes. Karma had gotten pretty good at reading people, a skill which is very useful if you want to survive on your own for two years. He saw no reason to not trust Aubree so he told her the gist of his story.
He told her how he lived on a planet that had no contact with other planets, and that he had found a gateway that could lead him to discover planets, so he used it. He said that he was falling from the sky and was knocked out when he reached the ground, and also told her how his planet didn't have magic.
Aubree listened intently to his story and when he finished she raised her hand.
"Yes?" asked Karma.
"Why were you covered in water when I found you. Also from the dent on the ground, it would seem that you fell a long way, way longer for just a concussion. Are you going to tell me about that?" asked Aubree. Karma debated with himself for a bit, on whether or not he should tell Aubree. Karma decided to do it.
"I manipulated the water in the river to soften my fall," Karma told Aubree. Aubree looked confused.
"I thought you said that your planet didn't have magic?" asked Aubree. Karma shook his head.
"We don't, I'm a special case on my planet. My abilities come from my…. heritage," Karma told her. Aubree didn't look satisfied with that answer but accepted it nonetheless. She started to leave the room.
"You can stay here for now, but if you're going to stay here, you're gonna have to help me out," Aubree declared. Karma tilted his head.
"How can I help," he asked. Aubree looked surprised about Karma's willingness to help.
"You said you could manipulate water right?" Aubree implored. Karma nodded. Aubree smiled. "You're going to help me with my farms," she told him. She beckoned Karma to follow her. Karma stood up and looked at his attire.
"Can I get my clothes first?" asked Karma. Aubree nodded.
Karma and Aubree were walking outside in the blinding heat, heading toward some fields of some very unusual crops.
"How old are you again?" asked Aubree.
"Turned 20 a few days ago," answered Karma. Aubree nodded. "How old are you?" he asked.
"Don't you know it's rude to ask a woman's age?" reprimanded Aubree. Karma started to get flustered.
"I uh- I mean uh- I meant to say-," Karma's rambling was interrupted by Aubree's laughter.
"I'm just joking, you really don't know how to talk to women huh?" asked Aubree. Karma just nodded, too embarrassed to say anything else.
"67," Aubree mumbled.
"Huh?" asked Karma.
"I said I'm 67," answered Aubree. Karma was about to comment about the fact that she didn't look a day over 21, but then he remembered he knew a 12-year old that had existed for centuries. He himself could live forever if he didn't die in battle, so it would be hypocritical if he thought that was strange. Aubree continued to explain.
"Elves tend to live a very long time. 67 isn't a very old age for my kind". Kara nodded his head. 'She is an elf huh,' he thought to himself. 'Neat'. "You said your kind is called humans, correct? I can't imagine only having 80-100 years to live," Aubree said, finding the idea preposterous. "Doesn't that mean you will die in about 60 to 80 years"? Karma shook his head.
"Because of my heritage and other factors, I'm actually immortal," replied Karma. Aubree started at Karma with aw.
"I have never met an immortal before," Aubree told him, mouth still agape.
"Well, I'm partially immortal, I can still die by injury," Karma said, feeling a bit uncomfortable from the stares from Aubree.
As they continued to walk, Aubree leaped over a big dent in the ground. Before Karma could question it, Aubree explained.
"That's your dent," Aubree said. Karma awed. He made quite a dent.
Finally, they reached their destination. Rows and rows of strange flowers lined the ground. Aubree started to explain what he would be doing. Karma was told to drag water from the river and soak small amounts of water into the mounds that held the flowers. Aubree said she would enchant the flowers to help them grow. That comment led to a discussion on magic while they worked.
"So what is magic?" asked Karma, willing water onto the flowers. Aubree stretched out her hand. It began to glow a light green. The flowers began to glow a similar color.
"There are two types of magic," Aubree started. "The first is basic magic. All elves can use it. Basic magic is everyday magic, liking picking up small objects from the ground, or clothing yourself or somebody else". Karma nodded.
"Then there is unique magic. Unique magic is one's own life force. Everyone is born with their own unique magic, and it has nothing to do with heritage. My magic is life magic, which can help things grow, while my brother's magic is..."
She stopped. Her face darkened. She looked in pain as if relieving a painful memory. Karma started to get worried and walked over to her. He shook her.
"Are you ok?" questioned Karma. Aubree recollected herself.
"Yes, I'm fine," Aubree reassured. Karma could tell something was up but decided it wasn't his place to pry. They continued to farm for the rest of the day. Aubree gave Karma multiple tasks, really taking advantage of the extra help she had. Though Aubree worked him to the bone, Karma didn't mind, he needed something to take his mind off his troubling past. He could still see his friend's happy faces. He truly realized that he wasn't wanted anymore. He had been replaced. Though he was extremely depressed about that, Karma was happy about the new opportunities. He could explore the universe, help people in need, and do it for an eternity. He liked the sound of that.
After the day had ended Aubree and Karma went back to Aubree's cabin. Aubree left to her room, thanking Karma for his help, and pointing to where the guest room was. Karma went to his room and fell on the bed. As Karma drifted from the realm of reality to the realm of dreams, he hoped that he would get a happy dream or no dream at all. He did not get what he wished for.
Dream:
Karma was watching a scene. Something happening at this moment. He could see Annabeth and Jameson lying in their bed. It hurt to look at them, but he couldn't look away. The scene shifted to other moments for the happy couple. Them having picnics, hanging out with friends, and other regular activities.
'Come on, I'm sure this precognition isn't just to show me how happy they are without me,' thought Karma. Suddenly the scene changed. It was the bedroom scene again, only Jameson was sitting upright. He got off the bed and started to walk down the hallway of their apartment. Dream Karma followed. Jameson walked to the sofa and sat down. 'I wonder what he is doing,' thought Karma.
His question was soon answered, when Jameson's eyes, mouth, and any other opening in his body started to glow a pure white. A deep voice filled the room.
"You have done your part well Jameson, all the pieces are falling into place," the mystery voice said.
"Yes my lord, the preparations are making way," Jameson replied.
"Good," the voice said, "you may go now".
"Yes my lord," Jameson replied.
Dream ended:
Karma woke up and looked around his room. So many questions swarmed his head. Who was that voice, what was its goal, why was Jameson assisting it, are they good, is this another Luke situation. He shook his head. He didn't have to worry about that stuff. That was their problem, he didn't have to, or need to help.
Karma got out of bed and started to get ready. After he was fresh and clean, he made his way to the living room to see Aubree cooking some food.
"Hey Bree," said Karma. Aubree looked his way confused.
"Bree?" Aubree asked.
"Since I'm going to be staying here for a while, I thought I would give you a nickname," explained Karma. Aubree still looked confused but shrugged it off.
"Is there any way you can make the food you're making blue?" Karma asked.
"You are the most confusing person I have ever met. Why would you want blue breakfast?" asked Aubree.
"Well you see, my mother and I…" He stopped. Memories flooded his head. Of his own mother telling him to stay away from her family. A tear slipped from his eyes, that did not go unnoticed by Aubree. She rushed over and wrapped Karma in a big hug.
"Are you okay," she whispered. Karma nodded.
"I'm ok now," Karma told her. Aubree reluctantly let go.
"I'll go finish breakfast," Aubree said. Aubree went back to the kitchen to finish the food. 'I'm ok,' Karma told himself. 'I'm ok'.
The next few months had formed a routine. Karma would get up, eat breakfast (Aubree started to teach him how to make some dishes, and he would teach her some of his, trying to use alien ingredients), then help Aubree out with the farm. Sometimes Karma and Aubree went to the villages and bought the necessary materials. He noticed that other elves would constantly look at him, which he guessed was normal. He was the only non-elf there. The natives had a different language they could speak, and Karma got Aubree to teach him. It took him a while, but Karma learned the language and also learned that a lot of the comments by the other elves about him were about his looks, and how they wished he would marry their daughters. Karma shivered. Desperate parents were terrifying.
After farming, or going to the village for materials, Karma trained. Although he was in no immediate danger, if he was going to tough it out in the universe, he wanted to be strong. He was good with a sword, but without an actual blade, he would need some time of replacement for the time being, as his water swords weren't the most effective.
Karma wanted a long-range move, one that would hit his opponents with a huge explosion. He tried many things to get this to work. Summoning a huge sphere of water and throwing it didn't seem to work that well. It would mostly just wet the entire area, and it didn't move very fast. He tried shooting a barrage of smaller spheres of water, but that also didn't give him the effect he wanted. He tried shaping the water into spears, but that didn't give an explosive effect, no matter how hard he threw it.
Karma was stumped. What was he supposed to get his perfect? He decided to try again tomorrow, as he couldn't think of anything today. As he made his way to Aubree's cabin he thought about her. Karma and Aubree had become very close over the past few months. They had a brother-sister kind of relationship. He still didn't know a lot about her, like her family, or why she lived alone, but he guessed that was fair. He didn't share a lot either.
As he walked through the streets of the village, he noticed that there weren't any children playing on the streets, or parents sitting outside chatting. 'That is strange,' he thought and started walking faster to Aubree's cabin. When he got to the cabin, he knocked on the door. Not a second later Aubree threw the door open and ushered him inside.
"What are you doing Bree?" asked Karma. Aubree had a frantic look on her face.
"You need to hide," she said.
"Why?" asked Karma.
"Because they are coming," answered Aubree. Karma started to ask who it was when he heard a knock on the door. Aubree visibly paled.
"They are here".
(Hello, Author here. Thanks for reading A New Light, Chapter 4. I again would like to thank everyone who has been giving me feedback and support and hopes more people will start to share their opinions on how things should go. If you have any questions, I will answer them to the best of my ability without spoiling the story. That is all, and I hope you will read Chapter 5, An Evil Ruler and a Long Lost Brother.)
