Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 13: Elf Community

Mhir burped after eating the leg of the long-horned bullfrog Leui caught earlier for their lunch. The bullfrog is as big as a human baby, so it is more than enough for them three to eat. Its long horns are red and its legs are webbed. Its skin has black and hard scales, thus it took longer for Leui to cook it.

Leui looked at Mhir and laughed, making Mhir blush in shame. She then slowed down her chewing on her food, thus the chewing noises disappeared. Then, Leui looked at Tinum who sat beside him. His back is very straight as he elegantly ate the belly of the bullfrog. Leui, on the other hand, ate the horns of the bullfrog. He ate with gusto since he didn’t have his dinner and breakfast. Right now, they stopped on the riverbank. Leui picked a flower’s petal and chewed it to lessen the gamey taste of the bullfrog’s meat. “Here.” He gave Tinum a petal since he knows, as an elf, Tinum would never directly harm a life from nature.

Mhir, on the other hand, ate money petals as if they were candies. Tinum hesitatingly took the petal from Leui’s hand and chewed it. Their fingers slightly brushed, but he ignored it. Then, his face brightened when he tasted the sweet juice of the petal. “Sweet.” He muttered as he looked at the flowers surrounding them.

Leui chuckled and took a flower. Then, he squeezed them in his palm. He let the juice from his palm drip down the meat in front of Tinum. He already noticed earlier that Tinum ate less because the bullfrog’s flavor is strong for his taste. After the meat was coated with the flower’s sweet juice, Tinu resumed eating and his pace fastened. Leui looked at him, his eyes bright, then he resumed eating.

After they ate their dinner, their group resumed their travel. Sometimes, they would meet some boarolves or other small monsters, and Mhir and Tinum would take care of them. Leui would just wait at the back, but there are times he would be sneak attacked by some monsters. He could only let the monsters bite his bag instead of his limb, then he’d call Mhir and Tinum for help. Mhir would either smash the monsters’ head with a stick, or she’d smash them with her bare hands. Leui knows of her fierce and aggressive personality when in danger or when she’s pissed. Thus, Leui doesn’t dare provoke her.

On the other hand, Tinum doesn’t kill the monsters and instead just subdue them by making the vines wrap around their body until they can't move. He is a silent killer, thus Leui doesn’t tease the elf that much. He doesn’t want to wake up, one day, his whole body was wrapped by the vines like a mummy and he’d suffocate to death.

Today is their 8th day of travel. They saw that the trees are bigger and taller than usual. “An elf community.” Mhir, who was walking ahead of them today, said when she saw an entrance decorated with leaves and flowers. Some flowers bore fruits and Mhir picked one of them. When she took a bite of the fist-sized fruit, suddenly, the entrance seemed to glow.

They looked at each other. When they saw nothing happened after the light died down, Mhir entered the walkway. Leui followed and Tinum, still his wrist tied to Leui, had no choice but to follow them. Mist suddenly appeared behind them and covered the entrance.

“WOW!” Mhir exclaimed with rounded eyes and mouth as she looked around the walls. There were glowing stones of different colors like gem crystals, casting some light upon their figures. “I have never been to an elf community before. I just heard my grandma and mother talk about them, and they always say elves live in a beautiful community!” she said.

“Must be because they are beautiful, too.” Leui said and glanced at the silent Tinum who was walking beside him.

Mhir looked at Tinum, then unwillingly nodded. She continued to look around until they reached the end of the path and found a wide, open area. “Wow…” Mhir muttered under her breath as she looked at the sea of flowers before them. On one side is a pond where they raise fishes, and there is a wooden bridge with flower vines on their rails. Around are large trees that look like tall buildings with their wide canopies roofing the area, permitting only a small amount of light pass through their leaves.

On the trees’ trunks are the elves’ houses. “Amazing…” Leui muttered as he looked around. He has seen many movies and series with a fantasy setting, but it can’t compare to the real scenery before him. It’s really different if you have seen it with your own eyes. He thought and looked at Tinum who was also observing the community.

Tinum felt Leui’s gaze on him and he turned. “What?” he asked.

Leui just smiled and looked away. This is the most beautiful elf he had seen. He thought and walked towards Mhir. “Everything seemed empty.” He said when he noticed the problem.

Mhir nodded as she walked around the sea of flowers. “I already told you that they were extinct.” She said, then glanced at Tinum.

“Yes.” Leui said as he picked a flower and stared at it. Even though the flower is beautiful, but he’s more interested on the exotic plants of the Stinky Flower Shop. His work must have ingrained in his mind. “You also said that their disappearance is related to the Great War.” He said and tucked the flower on Tinum’s silvery-white hair. The flower became more beautiful, but still paled in comparison on Tinum’s beauty.

Tinum frowned and was about to pull the flower when Leui held his hand tight to stop him. “Let go.” He told Leui.

Leui ignored him and pulled him as they followed Mhir. Then, they heard Mhir speak. “Since the beginning, all races have been fighting each other because of their differences. Many disagreements sprung between them. The humans, since they are the weakest, almost became extinct.” She said,

Leui was surprised. “But, isn’t it the elves...” he said and looked at Tinum.

Mhir stopped and turned to them. She nodded. “Yes. But, before, it was the human race.” She said as she continued. “Humans are powerless against the other races since they are the weakest. The monsters are the strongest – they are the hybrids of different beasts.” She said, “Next are us, the dwarves. We have our strong body as a defense against the attacks. Then, the trolls. They have thick skin. Then, the fairies. They are weak with their bodies, but they can control nature and the elements. The nymphs may have no physical body but their power is very potent since it is the purest. Then, the elves – “ she said and looked at Tinum. “ – their power, the music that can affect nature, is weaker than the nymphs and fairies. However, since their body is agile – although fragile, they also have their bows and arrows. This makes them stronger than humans.” She explained. “The humans… they still have their own power – their intelligence. And this is the cause of all the races’ submission to Lord Loheiruchel.” She said and looked at Leui who was carefully listening.

“You have mentioned that he dabbled in witchcraft.” Leui remembered. Witchcraft, no matter how different it is, but it still gave the humans power. This is the reason why the other races resent the human race.