Enchanting Embers: Dance with the Divine

Chapter 12: Nature

When Aurora left, it was almost noon. She dashed through the mountain roads, carrying a basket, occasionally brushing past neighbors, reassuring them with a glance that she was fine, catching her breath as she hurried toward the town perched on the highlands.

Gasping for air, she rushed into the town, arranging her wind-tousled hair shyly among the passersby's good-natured smiles, then headed straight to the tavern as planned.

The tavern was close to the square, where several streets intersected, making it bustling. It wasn't a large establishment, often crowded. The owners, a couple, were busy behind the counter.

In the hall sat two distinctly different-looking orcs, muscular and hairy, bearing heavy weapons either slung or strapped around their waists.

The orcs glanced at her but quickly lost interest, turning back to their drinks. However, a few humans didn't immediately avert their gazes. A young lad seemed eager to stand up, apparently wanting to strike up a conversation with the golden-haired girl entering the inn.

"Good day, young miss," a dark elf appeared on the staircase, "You're very punctual."

The humans in the hall immediately shifted their gaze. The young lad lowered his head, focusing on his drink. The orcs, however, reacted completely differently. A werewolf abruptly stood up and took a couple of steps forward as Aurora passed by, barely dodging a stumble as he nearly collided with her.

The werewolf uttered a long string of demon language in a low, rapid tone, blurred and filled with swallowed syllables.

The dark elf listened quietly, casually touching the large gemstone ring on his hand. Sunlight streamed through the window, reflecting a dazzling golden glow off the ring's surface.

"If he gained another two hundred pounds, he'd probably resemble those wealthy merchants in the empire," Aurora mused silently, hearing Lorian reply briefly in demon language.

He spoke fast and urgently, lowering his voice and using a few entirely unfamiliar words. Apart from the initial "I am..." Aurora barely understood what he said.

The orcs fell silent for a few seconds. Then, a bear-man wielded a huge, spiked wolf-tooth club, smashing it heavily onto the tavern floor. The hard rock instantly cracked, and he roared excitedly, pointing at the dark elf on the stairs and speaking at length.

The surrounding guests promptly got up. Having already settled their bills, they all fled. The owners behind the counter looked despondent; they were probably accustomed to such incidents.

Lorian shook his head, looking confused at the bear-man. They exchanged a few words, and the orcs' expressions softened. Even the werewolf, who had acted earlier, sat back down.

The owners heaved a sigh of relief. At least they wouldn't have to deal with smashed tables and chairs or even beams and walls this time. They looked at the dark elf with a hint of gratitude.

Lorian beckoned to the young girl again, this time using the common human language. "Your admirer came looking for you again?"

"I don't have any admirers," she shook her head weakly. She ran up the stairs and lowered her voice, "What were you talking about just now? It seemed like they wanted to challenge you. Why?"

"Orcs like to challenge anyone," the dark elf said nonchalantly, "You didn't understand what they were saying?"

"No, I didn't understand what you said either," Aurora sighed, handing him the basket, "Check it."

"Aren't you afraid I might take the things and renege?"

"You can take it away from me anytime," Aurora tilted her head up, "or even kill me whenever. I just feel you won't do that."

They walked through the narrow corridor on the second floor and entered a small room at the end, with only a small bed and a worn-out cabinet. Lisa stood by the bed, evidently not planning to sit, holding a long parchment inscribed with a fluid script of spells.

"She read that contract five times before we arrived," Lorian closed the door, "Sorry, miss, the blood pact might cause a bit of a stir. It might attract attention on the street. We don't mind, but considering you're a resident here, let's do it here."

Aurora nodded. The blood pact bound to the space ring was a kind of magical contract that ensured nobody but the owner could use the ring. If the holder died, the things inside the storage space could never be retrieved.

This is also why the nobles are so eager for spatial magical tools; after all, they always have more secrets that cannot see the light of day.

Lisa was still examining the blood pact contract and seemed to have no intention of dealing with anyone until she finished. Lorian absentmindedly tousled the girl's slightly curly golden hair.

—Pretty much what he was thinking; it feels really good.

The dark elf casually asked, "Do you really think we wouldn't do something as heinous as murder or smuggling?"

"I..." Aurora paused for a moment, "...I don't know. I just feel like you wouldn't do that to me."

Even Lisa, in the middle of examining the contract, couldn't help but give her a strange look. "You shouldn't be so confident in matters like this, especially considering you were a citizen of the Hayden Empire before—I remember you all had to study in the church's schools? So, you should at least know how treacherous people can be."

"You're right, but..." Aurora sounded somewhat fatigued, "Before I met you all, I decided to change my accent. I deliberately paid attention to it while speaking. However, is it still so obvious?"

"Yes, very noticeable. It's not easy since you're thirteen—"

"Doesn't matter, we're all quite young... Why change your accent? As long as you're not a follower of Elvis, nobody cares where you're from."

"To study magic in the Taven Empire," the young girl sighed wearily. "When I passed through the Taven Empire, I wanted to undergo testing in the guild, but those mages rejected me because of my accent and background. Real spies would certainly conceal these things; they were incredibly foolish."

Lisa finally finished checking the contract and chuckled at her last statement. "That's true."

Lorian, however, was pondering something else. "You grew up in the Hayden Empire—did you know about magic from a young age?"

"On this matter," Aurora explained briefly, "my dad is an elf, my mom is a half-dwarf. They are not young and have traveled to many places. Of course, they were aware of the existence of magic. So, I always wanted to know if I could become a magician. However, if I were, it would mean separation from my parents, and I'd have to swear allegiance to the God of Light. I didn't want to do that."

The dark elves exchanged glances. With their vast experience, they clearly understood what the other was talking about—

In the territories influenced by the church, the kingdoms were unable to buy any books related to magic. The crystals that detected talent were also controlled by the church. If someone wanted to learn magic or find out if they had magical talent, they either had to willingly become a prisoner of the church or be in the company of other magicians.

Lisa handed her the parchment. "Drip your blood on the contract."

Aurora forcefully pricked her finger, and the fresh blood splattered onto the parchment, spreading like a beautiful crimson flower blooming slowly. The spells on it gradually flickered with a faint light, and the entire paper slowly became transparent, then disappeared completely in her hand after a dazzling glare.

Lisa pulled out a ring from her pocket and tossed it to her. "The creation of spatial magical tools is our clan's core inheritance. Such talents are engraved in our bloodline. Even if I and Lorian serve our master in other ways, our craftsmanship is no less than anyone else in our clan."

Aurora excitedly received it.

The mithril ring sparkled and automatically adjusted to fit her finger. The ring face was inset with a transparent sapphire, pure in color and vibrant, enchantingly beautiful.

She covertly grabbed a few silver coins from her pocket, and with a thought, all the silver coins entered the ring's storage space. Aurora tried to take them out; as soon as the thought occurred, the coins reappeared in her hand.

The young girl suppressed her joy of wanting to dash out. "...I never doubted your abilities."

"That's because you don't really know what's going on," Lisa shook her head. "Relatives in our clan—think of them as being ordered to supply the military's mages. That's their duty, so most people choose to trade with them. Anyway, people like you, who moved from the Western Continent, are rare, especially residing in countries under the church's influence."

"So what? You just said," she shrugged, "I never worshipped the God of Light."

"Wasn't your life extremely difficult before? As far as I know, you should be surrounded by many staunch believers, and you—your accent sounds like you lived in the west?"

"Jasmine City," Aurora nodded reluctantly. It was one of the most prosperous cities in the Hayden Empire. These well-traveled elves must have heard of it. "I lived in a town in Jasmine City's jurisdiction but often went to the city. I also went to school there. I've been 'blessed' several times."

The dark elves chuckled. They had been to the Western Continent and had seen that kind of spectacle from afar—

A crowded temple, yet it was silent. Devout believers prayed, and in the milky white divine light, angelic wings appeared. In major cities, even minor gods might appear. If it was the Holy City, it might be the God of Light himself. Then, the believers would fall to their knees, shedding tears of reverence.

"When I was in the academy," the girl sneered slightly, a little disgusted, "after each miracle or blessing ceremony, we even had to write an article at least thirteen inches long. You had to use every word to praise the God of Light—and for a while, people in school were immersed in joy, and most topics revolved around that."

"And you?"

"I?" Aurora hesitated for a moment. "Before I started school, my parents told me that to avoid trouble, I should learn to fabricate harmless lies, like pretending to share the same emotions as those around me."

Lisa strongly agreed, "Smart move. Otherwise, once labeled as a heretic, everyone around you would suffer."

"But, Miss," Lorian said thoughtfully, "It sounds like your family hasn't constantly instilled anti-church views in you. They just wanted you to live more easily. Yet, you seem to spontaneously detest all this... Have you ever thought about why you're against the church?"

This time she answered without hesitation, "Because of them, I lost the chance to study magic."

The dark elf looked at her without confirming or denying anything. "When did you find out about the existence of magic?"

"Two years ago..."

Aurora paused.

Both dark elves had somewhat meaningful expressions.

Lisa smirked, "So before you were eleven, you probably didn't like the church much? That's truly rare because as far as we know, most residents of the Western Continent aren't forced to become believers; they genuinely seek the favor of the God of Light."

Aurora gazed at them blankly, "Actually... my father was expelled from the clan because he refused to pledge allegiance to the God of Light. I've known about this since I was little, perhaps because of this? I despise those elves who abandon their families for faith, and therefore, I detest the church."

"Is that so," Lisa smiled briefly, "From what I know, pure-blooded High Elves—Light Elves, naturally yearn for the kind of power symbolized by Elvis. And growing up in the clan surrounded by devout believers, your father had no reason to become someone different."

"Unless he was a half-blood," Lorian added softly, "That could explain your uniqueness."

"And," the dark elf girl raised her voice, "a half-blood of the dark race."