The Hidden Realm

Chapter 34 – GAOITHERIE

DURING the breakfast, Eleand was personally invited by Duke Navi and his wife. He met Nikola, the Duchess of Croea. She looked stunning. Her complexion was fair, and her hair was golden blond. And just like her husband, her gray eyes were like Asian.

“I hope you enjoy your stay, Eleand.” Nikola’s voice was sweet.

“Certainly,” he smiled.

Eleand’s training immediately started when Navi brought him to the library to learn the basics of Gaoitherie. He gave him thick books to read.

“Learn all the magic inside those books. Then let me know when you’re ready. I will assess your improvement.”

“I’m a fast learner, don’t worry.”

“I know. I will not assign anyone to assist you aside from me. I believe in you, Eleand.” The Duke tapped his shoulder and left.

Eleand was caught in surprise while studying the wind manipulation. It was easy for him. The spells were not complicated, unlike the Vatranum.

He wasted no time. Even inside his room, he would practice some spells slowly until he could summon the wind. He could make a small tornado in his palm. Even the levitation was not that hard.

Eleand could levitate for a minute. If he could practice more, he could probably fly even without using wings.

It took him a week to memorize basic spells and incantations.

Eleand would always join the couple in their breakfast. He felt privileged because they were so nice.

He even met the Spring Army. They were called the Vierte. Eleand was not surprised to see the warriors used their swords and wind magic. These warriors seemed friendly and approachable.

Eleand strolled around the Spring Region with the help of Navi. He reached the borders of Croea and the Great Sea of Alsache. He could not forget the pink lake near it. It was potable, according to the Duke.

THE day of the match came, Navi would assess his improvements. Eleand was in his second week, learning wind magic. He somehow polished everything to ensure that he would not suffer an accident where he unintendedly removed the air in his body. It happened once; the air became thin until he found himself gasping for oxygen.

While busy with his wind manipulation training, he constantly practiced the Vanire and other magic he acquired before. He was more careful now using the transportation magic since he might emerge on the enemies’ territory if he had been inaccurate. He considered the fact that the enemies lurked around somewhere in Erganiv.

“You’ve been diligent these past few days. It’s time to try your knowledge.” Navi said.

They were in the middle of the Spring Forest, where the surroundings were primarily covered with thick grass. The duke chose this place away from the warriors to prevent unwanted casualty when their sparring began.

“I’m ready,” Eleand was confident.

“Show me what you’ve learned.”

Eleand chanted the spells in his mind with the combination of the ancient symbols he memorized. When he motioned his hand, a medium-sized tornado materialized before them.

“Great! You’re terrific.” Navi looked impressed.

He clicked his fingers, and the tornado was gone. “Please teach me some stronger wind magic.”

Navi giggled, “Of course! I will teach you to control the surroundings using the wind.”

His brow raised, “Really? How?”

“Watch me.”

Navi motioned his hands. The petals of magnolia on the ground levitated, and in just a blink, it became pointed and deadly. When the duke clicked his fingers, the petals flew fast and targeted the trunk of the giant trees around. All a clean hit.

“Whoa! That’s cool. How can I do that?” his face was in awe.

Navi explained the process. He started from one petal, and he increased the numbers when needed. It took him a few hours to do it without an error. But he was drained.

“One last time, if you could do it properly, I will send you to Aderawiel tomorrow. You’ll immediately train for your earth-wielding. We received an order from Lady Aserah to hasten your magic training.” Navi lightly shook his head, “I was planning to spar with you to test you further. But we don’t have much time.”

“All right,” he inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. The symbols and spells were carefully flitted inside his head.

Eleand motioned his hands in the air, and when he opened his eyes, a lot of petals seemed dancing in the wind. He clicked his fingers twice, and the petals transformed into a deadly weapon. From pink, it turned black. On his last command, the black petals moved in group and directly hit a tree.

“Wow, that was unique. That’s the first time I saw something like that. You could change the composition of the flower.”

“It was correct, right?” he was catching his breath.

Navi nodded. “That ends your lesson from me. Practice what you’ve learned. I’m here to guide you if something happens.”

“I owe you a lot, Duke.”

“You’re welcome,” he patted his back.

In the nighttime, Navi threw a party. Many faeries joined in the spacious dining hall. Others were playing music, and some danced in joy.

Eleand sat beside Navi and Nikola. The couple introduced him as a valued guest from the Golden Palace. He did not protest, even though he hinted that Navi knew he wasn’t a faerie, although the duke did not mention it.

“Eleand, when something goes wrong. Remember that the Spring Region will fight along with you.” Navi assured him when the party was done.

“I owe you a lot for teaching me the wind magic.”

“When you have learned all the magic you can wield, do not forget your origin. Always look in the goodness of your heart. It will guide you to the right path.” Navi said poetically.

“I will remember that.”

He went inside his room and prepared himself for his travel to Aderawiel. He wished that the earth’s magic was easy as the wind. If he could wield all the elements, even the basics, he could go back to the Golden Palace and be reunited with the High Corps.

ELEAND was surprised when he found Enkille together with Althy in the castle’s entrance hall. It was late in the afternoon. Althy held a golden bow and quivers full of silver arrows. It was his.

“What brought you here?” his smile broadened, and he walked towards them.

He nodded at Enkille, and he tapped Althy’s shoulder.

“Are you okay now? Where is Rade?” he asked him.

“I’m perfectly fine. Oh well, Rade was given a task to look around the temple. I just went along with Enkille to give this back.” Althy handed the bow.

“Are you ready to train in Aderawiel?” Enkille asked.

He chuckled. “Yeah, would you like to give me some briefings?”

Enkille shrugged. “Well, learn Erdeterra quickly. Practice more. But don’t forget to enjoy yourself and be careful. We will always fight along with you.”

“I know that,” he winked.

Enkille rolled her eyes, and Althy gave a piece of advice.

“I hope you remembered what I told you before once you met Alva. She’s hot!” his eyes beamed in mischief.

“What do you mean?” His forehead furrowed.

“Give her what she wants, and everything will come in handy.” Althy laughed out loud. He just stopped when Enkille gave him a warning look.

“Will you send me off to the Autumn Region?”

“I will send you there,” Navi said behind him.

Enkille and Althy acknowledged Navi. The duke titled his head in return.

“We just came to give your bow. You’re good to go.” Enkille said.

“Are you ready?” Navi asked.

“Yes, I am.” He bid goodbye to Enkille and Althy. They disappeared first before he and Navi vanished.

Eleand noticed that his dizziness faded even if they traveled far now that he could use the transportation magic. Unlike before, his stomach turned due to severe motion sickness.

THEY emerged in between the domain of Croea and Aderawiel. Eleand radiated in wonder as the trees and plants were amazingly inline but with a different season. It was like an invisible line parting them.

“This is the boundary to two regions. I stopped here intentionally because I have something to show you. I felt her presence around.” Navi said while his eyes surveyed the area.

“What is it?”

“Wait and see,” he pointed the left direction on the autumn part where huge vines crawled on a rectangular stone beside a gigantic tree with vibrant red leaves.

They waited momentarily. Until Eleand witnessed a fascinating creature gracefully strolled going to the rectangular stone.

“What kind of faerie is that?”

It was a golden deer, and its antlers glowed in bright yellow flame. It stood on top of the stone.

“She is Unaeth, the last of her kind. Noyuh keeps her protected. She’s been living for a thousand years.”

“So beautiful!” he would never get tired looking at it.

They immediately left after he satisfied his sight and went to the heart of the Autumn Region.