Shade's Story - Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The moon was now appearing over the top of the trees, illuminating the unusually quiet town of Torin'Ev. Shadows fell dully along the streets, unhampered tonight by the lights that usually lit the elven houses and overflowed through their windows. The subtle smell of flowers and sunlight that usually permeated the air in Torin'Ev was replaced with the faint odor of blood and the orcs that had defiled the town. The wind blew silent and steady, keeping the night air colder than usual for the season. There were no clouds in the sky to divert and hide the moon's gentle light, and from above it appeared only one thing moved in the town below.
Endymion moved swiftly along the streets now. His eyes were dully lit as he looked down at the path before himself blankly. His mind and heart raced between feelings of deep pain and anger at what had happened, especially to her. He had failed to save her, taunted by that dark elf which had vanished as suddenly as it seemed to have appeared. Because of his stone sleep he had missed the Elven rites of passage for her and all the other brave elves that had died in the battle. He wanted to know why the orcs had attacked them in the first place. He wanted to know why that dark elf had been with them, perhaps leading them in the attack.
He wanted to know why Princess Selene had to die that night.
But he was no longer comfortable staying there. He didn't have much to take with him so he didn't bother going back into his room after he awoke. Anything valuable he had was on his persona. He glanced down at his hip, at the sword that sat heavier than usual on his side, at the lifeless sigil that adorned the hilt. He grimaced and reached up with his other hand at the necklace he always wore, similar in appearance to the hilt of his sword. He squeezed it hard, enough until his hand started to hurt from the pressure, and then he let it go, continuing his long strides to the entrance to the city.
When he was almost outside the city, a small object suddenly appeared in front of him. He stood quietly, his face uplifted to look squarely into Endymion's. Endymion grimaced ever so slightly as he recognized the elf now as Jasine. The auburn haired elf stood not even at shoulder height to the massive gargoyle, yet his presence alone would halt the fiercest of beasts. His eyes were smaller than most of the other elves, giving the impression his amber eyes were more piercing, more knowledgeable. He wore the same attire as every other elf in town except for a small necklace he wore around his neck, hidden from view beneath his shirt most of the time. He was told it was nothing more than a sign of his rank, but Endymion always figured it as something much more powerful.
Endymion wasn't feeling up to talking with anyone, let alone the crafted mage who taught him the little magic he knew. He just wanted to slip out quietly before anyone realized he was gone, like the shadow he saw himself as. The gray gargoyle wrapped his black wings tighter about himself, blending in with the night's dark cloak, stopping a few feet away from the elf. They stared at each other for a few moments, but Endymion became quickly impatient. "Why are you here Jasine?" he quietly spoke.
"I could ask you why you are leaving, but we both know the answer to that one too." The words came out gentle and musical in the chill air about them. Endymion always admired the musical quality their language had, how even in a somber tone an elf could uplift the heaviest souls with a simple sentence.
Endymion let out a gentle growl, aimed at himself rather than the wise elf before him. He should have glided out of the town. But there was no way of getting around the confrontation now. "I'm leaving no matter what you say. Say your goodbyes and I will be out of your lives."
The gargoyle made a few steps around the elf, but the elf raised his hand quickly to the same side, motioning him to stop. "I did not come to stop you, or to try and persuade you not to leave Endymion Aurile." The name sent a shiver down the gargoyle's back, now a sad reminder of the life he was trying to leave behind. "I come as your magical advisor, to tell you one last thing before you set out on your own journey."
Endymion could see the disappointment in Jasine's eyes once he had spoken, something he was not familiar with. Even when the mage had first begun to teach him the rudiments of magic, something that came so easily to even the youngest of elves, Endymion's failures did not bring out that reaction. He was a kind teacher. He understood the difficulties that would follow them through their trainings, and had never once grown despondent or impatient. The gargoyle stopped, his own dark eyes wandering off into the Agrian woods as he waited for the elf to complete his message.
"I never talked to you about this. I was waiting until you were older, until the magic was more awake inside of you." The elf took a step towards him, his eyes focused on the great sword at the gargoyles waist. He raised his hand, pointing a finger at it. Endymion caught his gaze and slowly turned his head down to where the thin finger was pointing. He looked at the sigil upon it, at the carving of the moon and the black form encircled by it. He blinked his eyes as he started to see the eye light up again, confused, remembering the fight from last night suddenly. He looked towards the elf quickly, upset that he was not taught about this.
"There is a magic which flows inside of you." The elf spoke quietly but slowly, thinking of each word before he used it, not wanting to be misunderstood. "It's not Elven; it's not the same type in which you have been taught. When you were young, around the age of 12, I began to see its aura encompassing you. As you grew older, so did the magic. But I knew so little about it that I could not begin to teach you of it." The elf paused a moment, looking up at the gargoyle still, thinking of how he would continue. Endymion stood silently before him, listening, his wing shuffling to cover up the hilt of his sword uncomfortably.
"The sword by your side was created about 4 years later. I had it specifically created to help guide the flow of magic within you. I still did not want to start your studies of it, not until I knew more. But it appears my time has run out." Jasine suddenly smiles up at him, pausing a moment again before continuing. "I can tell you it's very powerful, and will only grow more powerful as you age. Its roots lie in darkness-- not evil, but darkness, such as the nighttime sky about you. It's a neutral magic, which is why it has been able to lie so dormant inside of you for so long. However, I do not know how to teach you to tap into it."
Endymion remained silent, his eyes unwavering as he could feel the wind rise about him, causing him to grow colder. It was hard for him to understand how he could have any kind of magic inside of him, especially one not given to him by his Elven brothers. "But I thought my kind was not born with magic. I am no fey or elf."
"I can't tell you where the magic comes from, only that you have it. Your sword will act as a focus for your magic. However, it is only an aid; I fear as your magic awakens inside of you, the sword will not be able to control it once it reaches a certain point."
The mage went silent as he looked upon the gray gargoyle that was looking off into the distant dark horizon. Endymion did not know what to think of all of this. He did not remember ever feeling any kind of natural magic inside of him. Even now, knowing about it, he could not feel it even stir. It added to his confusion, his indecisions which had suddenly consumed his life. It was just another thing he had to run away from for the time.
"Thank you for the information. I promise you I will try my utmost not to misuse this magic you say I have." Endymion nodded once to Jasine, locking eyes with the wise elf for just a moment, and then began back towards the entrance, trying to push the matter aside for more important regrets.
"I hope you will return one day, when you know what it is you are searching for. I for one will be waiting." Jasine stepped to the side, watching the gargoyle step past and head hurriedly to the forest. He sighed softly, unsure as to whether their large brother would ever return. As he headed slowly back towards his home, he hoped he had not been wrong in telling Endymion about the magic. Maybe he should have discovered it on his own, or perhaps it should have lay dormant forever. He walked off down the cold dark streets of the quiet town and disappeared from sight.
As Endymion walked off into the woods, stretching his wings as he prepared to climb a tree and take flight, only one pair of eyes looked upon him. Their red glare blinked once and then receded with the black shadow deeper into the woods, following the gargoyles flight in the deep woods below.