Alaia Skyhawk: Heehehe, Yasin is almost as sneaky as I am XD
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I don't own Tales of Symphonia so please don't sue me. I do however own Krishka, Dallinius (Dalli), Aluran, the Alurannai and any OCs, except Sanaro and Annule, who belong to Mr Who 2123, Mika and Fiuras, who belong to WingedWithFireyMana, and Gaea Silverleaf, who belongs to Sparkling Moon Phoenix, so please don't steal them...
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Chapter 10: The Hand of Friendship
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Six figures trekked through the forest, five of them leading the way for the sixth that followed their lead. After speaking to the Narim, Yasin had gotten exactly what he'd wanted and was asked to represent the Alurannai in meeting and forming a friendship with the Elves. He, Kirian, and the other elves had departed shortly after that to begin the four-week journey on foot to Evarial; the new elven settlement set amid the rolling hills and plains of what had been named the Kharlan Grounds by the elves. During the time walking since, Yasin had remained almost totally silent. He certainly wasn't as talkative as he'd been that night Kirian had caught him red handed with the drawings, which given the company did not require the man to hide he was different from his people only made Kirian puzzled.
Glancing back at the ambassador he was leading, the aforementioned elf frowned and sighed.
"Yasin, do you really need to talk so little? You're making me nervous when you stay quiet like that."
Amber eyes flicked up to meet the elf's, the distant thoughts in them drawing back as he placed his attention squarely on Kirian.
"Bear in mind that, despite my knowledge, I have still only existed for a bare two and a half years. As the one who must guide my people in their growth as a Race, it is a heavy burden to carry at such as age with so little actual experience. There is so much I cannot tell my people, or risk ruining the delicate balance of mana we set up when we planted the Sentinels and linked them together."
Kirian averted his eyes in remorse, the other elves also tactfully staying silent. Yasin had already explained to them about the Sentinels, which Kirian had called Arba Liudis; 'Tree Lords' in elven. The elves had ironically built their new settlement quite close to one of the great trees, calling that tree by that name when they had sensed the vitality that spread from it into the lands about it. One day that Sentinel would serve as a gateway between the future Elven City of Evarial and the future Forest Citadel of Alahnsyr, but at this time none of those present knew that. The friendship forged between their two Races would be second only to that between the three Offspring Races, and that friendship would spawn an era of peace and unity that would remain largely un-sundered for uncountable ages.
Here and now, though, both sides were still unsure how to react to the vagaries of the other, and it would take time for that understanding to come...
Once again uncertain, Kirian sighed again, before resuming walking south.
"My apologies. Feel free to speak when you wish to, we will not query your silence again."
Yasin almost winced at the stiff formality behind that phrase, aware that it would take some effort for him to regain the almost easy camaraderie of that night in his house. What had been comfortable when in just Kirian's presence had proven uncomfortable in the additional company of the other four elves, and until he got past that such informal conversation would be impossible for him.
Once again in silence they trudged onwards among the trees, trees that were part of the belt of forest he had flown over carrying the seed of a Sentinel to the island where his true task had begun. Glancing around at them he could sense these trees were but infants despite already reaching between twenty and thirty feet tall. These trees would one day be over a thousand feet tall, so tall and strong they would be an awe inspiring barrier between the meadow where the Tree stood and the open world beyond. They would even tower far far larger than the Kharlan Tree itself, although these would never be termed by the name Giant Tree. That name was for the Kharlan Tree, which on its home world of Derris Kharlan would have towered over all other living things in existence.
He shook himself from his musings, realising he was falling behind his guides. Hurrying to catch up to them he found them stopped at the edge of a river, which had cut a steep sided trench into the forest floor.
The female among the elves frowned, indicating the barrier to the alurannai man.
"We're still in the area where Ratarani doesn't want us using magic... We'll have to follow it until we find a place we can cross."
None of the elves looked particularly happy at the thought, especially considering that using magic crossing such a trench would have been easy. Knowing as he did he needed to try and foster the as yet uncertain friendship between him and these people, and failing to consider the fact he could have just carried them across... Yasin deigned to use a skill particular to the Alurannai.
"Here, let me make a way across."
He strode straight past them, walking right to the edge without stopping and stepping over it. The elves lurched towards him as if to stop and catch him, but before he could fall so much as an inch, thick vines erupted from the edge of the trench for him to step on. They shot across the width of the river, plunging into the far side before settling into sturdy span wide enough for people to cross in single file. Yasin continued his walk across it as if it were nothing, while the elves just stared at it, Kirian stuttering.
"H-how did you do that? We didn't sense any magic."
Yasin stopped on the other side of the bridge, realising only now the gaff he'd just made. Bringing a hand to his face, he sighed and explained.
"Vines are plants, and as a fellow plant in this area under the Tree's dominion I can call on them to do my bidding... We needed a bridge, so I told them to grow across the river and form one."
Kirian and the others crossed it, the elven man still frowning as he looked Yasin top to toe in disbelief.
"You're a plant?"
"Yes..."
"But you don't look like one..."
"Looks are often deceiving..."
The two of them stared at one another for several seconds more, before Kirian relaxed his stiff posture and shook his head in amusement.
"You told me back at the meadow not to underestimate you, I guess I should have listened a bit better since I know so little about your people." He smiled, some of his previous tension easing. "Well since you are a plant, are there any special requirements you will need when we reach Evarial?"
Yasin smiled back, relaxing a little as well. Maybe his gaff with the bridge wasn't such a bad thing as he'd expected.
"No, I have no special needs." He tilted his head. "A place I can sit in the sun would be appreciated. I don't need sunlight, but sitting in it is... nice."
All five elves chuckled, Kirian patting Yasin on the shoulder.
"Then I'll make sure I find a nice spot for you when we get there. Is there anything else I need to know about your people?"
Yasin shook his head, as they set off again once more.
"Not that I can think of right now. I'll tell you if I think of anything."
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It was with a cheer that the sight of the edge of the forest was spotted, elven guides breaking into laughter and charging out onto open grass. Watching them Yasin could only chuckle, since the edge of the forest marked the border of Aluran and the end of the magic ban on the quintet. The group of elves immediately assigning tasks among each other, to set up camp and prepare the evening's meal, the alurannai man located a nearby spot where the grass was somewhat shorter and settled himself down to sit in the sun. He'd offered to help every night since the trip had begun, and had been turned down every time. Being one who could take a hint, he'd soon stopped asking if they needed help and simply left them to it.
Kirian watched him settle himself, smiling at the contented expression on Yasin's face as he lay down to bask in the sun's rays. It was late in the day, so he wouldn't have time to do much of it, but seeing the man relax so completely in their presence made clear the level of trust he placed in them. If Yasin could trust them that much, then they could do the same.
Two of his companions setting up the tents, while the other two began to discuss what would be cooked this evening, for the first time since the Tree had given its command Kirian left flint and steel inside his wing pack and instead reached for magic to light the campfire. It was a relief to do it, given how ingrained the habit of using magic was for most elves. They all carried the means to do things the more mundane way, but magic was so much quicker and simpler that to use it was second nature.
Sighing with a kind of contentment similar to the basking Yasin's, Kirian gripped the mana around himself and drew on it, a puff of flame erupting among the pile of firewood before him the same instant Yasin suddenly let out a shriek of pain.
All five elves leapt to the feet and rushed to the still whimpering alurannai, all five stopping to gape at what had happened to the grass around him. Grass that had been short now stood a lush three feet tall, the mana around him having risen so high so fast that the grass had been forced to grow quickly or explode.
Yasin winced, coughing painfully as he pushed himself upright. His skin was tinged grey despite the glowing sunlight, as he gasped irregularly before managing to speak.
"P-please... don't do that again... It... it hurts..."
Yasin shuddered, trying to get up but failing when his legs wouldn't straighten. Pulling at the hem of his robe trying to find out what was wrong, he blanched even paler when what was wrong was revealed. Parts of the skin on his legs had turned rough and brown like bark, and while the effect was visibly receding the restored skin looked sore and red.
Staring at where Yasin's flesh had begun to turn into tree, Kirian looked almost sick.
"This is why Ratarani didn't want us using magic while in Aluran, isn't it. What happened just now?"
His expression still pained as the last of his skin returned to normal, Yasin lurched to his feet grimacing.
"When you drew on the mana to cast your spell, I sensed the levels around you drop and my body reacted out of instinct. It began trying to counter the drop, throwing out mana, too much mana, for me to sustain the generation of. If you hadn't stopped, the drain on my body probably would have killed me."
The elven man reached out to support the trembling alurannai, awed despite the situation.
"You can generate mana the way the Kharlan Tree can?"
A stiff nod came in reply.
"Yes, though at only a tiny fraction of the level and only for limited amounts of time. I hadn't realised I had so little control over it yet. It wasn't until my body acted out of my control that I knew... Maybe it's not such a good idea for me to come to Evarial yet. Another incident like this and I'm not sure I'd live through it."
Kirian frowned, thoughtful, before turning to one of his companions and ordering tersely.
"Run on ahead to Evarial and explain this to the Elder. I want him to impose a complete ban on magic until after Yasin has completed his visit to cement the beginning of the friendship between the Alurannai and the Elves. It's not right we make him turn back after coming this far, when something so simple can be done by us to permit him to come. Make sure it's understood what the use of magic will do to him, so that none will be tempted to ignore the ban." He then turned back to Yasin. "It won't be like this forever will it? A close friendship might be difficult to maintain if my people have to ban magic every time one of you visit."
Yasin laughed, still a little grey.
"No, I don't think it will be. It would be awfully inconvenient for my people if every time we used magic around each other we hurt each other, and I know we are capable of magic. No, I think it's just a case of needing time to adjust and stabilise, we are very young still after all."
The elven man shook his head, smiling a little but still serious.
"Even so, I'm going to make sure every precaution is taken. You are one of the stewards of the world's mana, and none among the Elves would ever do anything to risk you or your people being hurt by our actions. Rest up for tonight, Yasin, and we'll set off again in the morning. In two weeks time you are going to meet the Elven Elder in Evarial, and be given the welcome you deserve for what you and your people are doing for all life on Symphonia..."
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Alaia Skyhawk: I'd considered putting the bit with the Elves in one chapter, but decided to keep it as two. I'll start work on the next one right away :D