The Hidden Realm

Chapter 24 – TRUSTED CONFIDANTE

KHARYN left him at a safe distance, a few meters away from the gigantic gate of the temple. She used her magic to make him appear like he just got back from the Steri Volcano.

Eleand was in a total mess. His battle armor ripped, and the speckle of blood spread over his body.

“What the hell is this?” he complained. He looked decent earlier. Now he came to view as ten goblins had played off him.

“I told you, they shouldn’t know that I helped you. It’s time to show them what you’ve got. Master the fire magic. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon,” her smile was reassuring.

“Don’t leave me yet, I have tons of questions—”

Then she was gone.

Eleand could not utter the hundreds of questions playing in his mind.

He cussed harder. When he realized the distance that he had to walk to reach the foot of the temple, it was like walking in the Great Wall of China, going there.

Eleand started moving, his pace steady. Few minutes had passed, and Enkille emerged from nowhere. She wore a white gown embroidered with gold. Small braids neatly tucked in her hair.

“Why, you look a disaster! What happened?” her face tormented. She moved around him to assess the damage in his body.

He wanted to tell her the truth, but he remembered Kharyn’s warning.

“I want to rest,” he simply said. He would find an excuse later once he freshens up.

Enkille breathed out heavily. “Did you know that I almost persuaded the time to move faster to finish the council meeting in Argia? Holy heavens, Eleand! Do you think I didn’t hear how many times you called my name? But I can’t rescue you. I’m too far. I can’t ditch the conference.”

“I’m fine. It was just a scratch, anyway.” He gently tapped her shoulder.

She rolled her eyes. “All right, I’m overreacting. Tell me, what the hell happened to you?”

Eleand shrugged. “As usual, Fariyah tried to kill me using her ice magic. She brought me to Steri Volcano and left me to die,” he chuckled before he went on, “A pack of wild beast attacked me. But I never ran out of luck, I was dying, but I killed them and eventually escaped,” he winked.

“But you’re wounded,” she examined his chest, “Were you bitten by the Sterian Beast?”

“No, don’t worry. The wounds are not that fatal.” He smiled through his lies. At least he was honest about what happened in the Unforgiving Mountain. Except regarding the faerie with golden eyes.

“Let’s get back to the temple. I will tend your wounds.”

“That’s a good idea. I’m tired of walking. It’s a miracle you are here,” he giggled.

“All right, let’s go.”

Eleand held her shoulder, and they vanished. The Vanire was quick. In just a blink, they were inside his room in the temple.

“How did you go down that mountain if you were injured?” a hint of doubt in her voice.

Eleand gestured his shoulder. “One step at a time, it took me an entire day to go down, and I rested for another day. I found a lake near the Spring Region.”

He looked straight into her eyes to convince him of his lies. Too bad he despised lying. But he thought maybe he could make her believe him.

“You’re lying. Steri Volcano is far from this temple. How did you travel that fast? You never get lost?”

He burst into laughter for his stupidity. She just caught his act, and he told her the truth. She saved his life, too.

“I apologize, but the truth is a faerie saved me from death. I don’t know her. She brought me back here.”

“I won’t tell Fariyah about what happened. Just be honest. I need you to trust me. Who is the faerie who saved you?”

He debated within himself whether he would drop her name. He trusted Enkille, but could he betray the other?

“She said her name is Kharyn, a faerie with golden eyes.” He gazed down and let out a long sigh.

“Kharyn…” Enkille shook her head, but she was grinning, “I know her. Rest assured, we’ll keep this a secret.”

“Is she your friend?”

“Yes, she is,” she looked relieved.

“I have other concerns, though.” He needed to confirm what he learned from Kharyn. Regarding the chronological order of elements of magic.

“Spill it.”

“While you were in Argia, Fariyah taught me the Aghenum. Believe me. I studied everything in the book. But I can’t wield the water. What went wrong?” he hardly shook his head while removing his armor.

Enkille paused momentarily to think, “Then my theory was probably right. There is something special about your blood, the reason you can’t manipulate the water. You must be not a pure mortal.”

“Well, my blood type is O negative. It’s kind of rare for humans,” he said sarcastically. However, he heard from Kharyn about the possibility of him having faerie blood.

Enkille remained serious, “It’s not like that. There must be a hidden power in your bloodline, and you’re just unaware. I bet your ancestor is a fae who bred with humans. If that’s the case, you need to learn Vatranum first, and Aghenum must be the last.”

“I don’t get the connection?”

“If you can manipulate the fire, my suspicion is right. That’s the correct order once a faerie learns the nature element magic.”

“I will do it. There’s no harm in trying.” He concluded that Kharyn’s advice was accurate. Maybe his great ancestor was a faerie. Whoever he was, he should thank him, for his blood would save him in this world.

“If your ancestor was fae, you can do magic a human can’t.” Enkille nodded, “Rest, for now, I will teach you the Vanire as promised. I hope your mortal body can handle it. I can sense you have just enough mana. If not, we will try your shapeshifting ability.”

Eleand paused from getting his clothes from the closet. Shapeshifting was not his cup of tea.

“Leave the shapeshifting. I told you I’m not interested.” He showed his dislike by hardly shaking his head.

Eleand chose decent clothes and put them in his bed. He would take a shower later.

“Shapeshifting is not limited to changing into animal forms. You as a mortal, if you’re powerful enough with your faerie blood, you can shift into your faerie form.”

His eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“I’m not kidding, Eleand. Aren’t you curious what you’re going to look like as a real fae?”

That caught his interest.

“If that’s the case, I would love that!” his face brightened. It sounded cool. If ever he got a chance to shift into his faerie form, he would not need Aserah’s illusion magic. And he wouldn’t depend on the amulet. Shapeshifting was the answer!

“But it is not easy. We are not yet sure if you have faerie blood,” she reminded him.

“I’ll do everything by the book,” he winked.

“All right, I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll explain to the priestess what happened. Be ready tomorrow. Fariyah might teach you the fire magic.”

“Thank you so much, Enkille.”

“You’re welcome,” she smiled and disappeared.

Eleand exhaled sharply several times. He silently prayed that the fire magic would be his attribute. He could not stop thinking about the brewing war. If he could learn magic, he would survive.

He went inside his bathroom to freshen up and clear his mind. He was enthusiastic about learning another element of magic.