Marble Realms: Lost Gods

Chapter 2: The Woods

Nathuss

Anger and guilt were all Nathuss could feel. His kin was slaughtered in front of him, the ones he had been with since the beginning, gone, dead. It still felt like a horrible nightmare, Gods he wished it was.

The sight of his mate calling out to him as the mage entrapped their soul was burned into his mind. The memory played every time he closed his eyes, accompanied by the sounds of screaming dragonlings. Who kills children?

Nathuss opened his eyes to the darkness of the forest around him. He sighed and tilted his head back, looking up at the large branches of the oak above him. “It has been nearly 1,000 years since I last saw you, Luxopal. I wish it was my soul that was trapped,” he whispered, closing his eyes. Nathuss took a deep breath and stood.

Since the war, he had been hiding out in Stonesoll Woods in the kingdom of Baxon hundreds of thousands of miles north of Elmstall and the resting place of his kin. The Dragons had a form that allowed them to interact with other creatures. The form allowed them to look more like a tiefling; the only way to tell was their height and light patches of scales on their body. This form was the only way that Nathuss survived hiding from the humans for so long. Nathuss hid under the descending kin of Xilceran Elves .

The dragon made his way through the dense forest towards the elven clan he had been staying with. Xilceran clan had been his savior after the war. The first keeper allowed him to stay under the protection of the clan. Most creatures other than humans still saw the Dragons as their Gods even after the Great War. They believed the powerful creatures still watched over the Earth in a spiritual sense. Nathuss knew they were right. The Dragons still existed but not as strong as before. In fact, none had the strength they once had when they were alive.

Stepping out of the wall of trees, Nathuss was greeted by a young elf.

“You know you have a place to stay here, there is no need for you to go off in the woods to sleep,” the young elf said, crossing his arms, giving Nathuss a worried look.

“I was not asleep, merely reflecting,” the dragon responded, walking past the other and into the clan’s camp.

The elf sighed, “reflecting or making yourself depressed?” The young male raised an eyebrow at him in question as he followed

“Just reflecting, Alosrin,” he said, glancing back at him.

“Wishing, hoping you would have been the one to be trapped, not Luxopal?” Alosrin inquired. Nathuss shot him a look, frowning, before sighing, not wanting the elf to continue his interrogation. “Why are you even up? It is nearly dawn?” He asked, trying to change the subject.

“Waiting for your dumbass to return,” he said simply before leading the other through the camp. “I got some news for you.”

“News? Should I be worried?” He asked, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

“Not really, but it depends,” Alosrin shrugged, “Remember when you mentioned wanting to go back to Elmstall?”

“Yes?” Nathuss questioned. The elf now had his attention. “What about that?”

“I got the okay and some information from the Keeper,” Alosrin said with a smile. He pulled out an old roll of paper and handed it to the dragon. Nathuss took the paper untying the string and unrolling it. He took in the maps details and old map to Blackrock Dreki, his homeland. “How did you get this?” he asked, catching the other’s eye.

“When I went to Marrac a fortnight ago, I heard a few humans talking about several mages attempting to go into Mount Blackrock Dreki to see if they could get the remains of the gods. Supposedly, your bones after death are valuable to the blood mages,” he said with a frown.

“I see, humans haven’t changed that much in the past thousand years,” he stated, with a sad sigh. “When did the Keeper say we could leave?”

“Whenever we like, we need to let her know to make sure we have our supplies,” Alosrin said with a shrug, “When do you wish to leave Nathuss?”

“Tomorrow at dawn.”

Alosrin

Alosrin didn’t wake until later that day. Maybe staying up and waiting for Nathuss wasn’t the best plan. The elf began his morning routine before leaving his tent and making his way to the Keeper’s quarters.

“Keeper Aemma?” he called out into the enclosed room. “May I speak with you?”

“Alosrin, come in. I was expecting you to come see me this morning,” the older elf said as the other entered the space. “Have you spoken to Nathuss, dear?” she asked, “What was his take on this?”

“I spoke with him early this morning. He wishes to leave at dawn tomorrow,” he said, sitting on the floor in front of his mentor.

“I knew he would be eager to return home,” she stated. Aemma stood going to the far end of the room and grabbed something. “Alosrin, if you are to go on this trip with him, your staff will not do, especially with how feared magic is among the outside world,” she stated.

“Yes I understand that, Keeper. I wasn’t planning on bringing my staff,” Alosrin said, confused as to why Aemma would say that.

“Good, because I want you to take this. It will be much better used on your adventure than here,” she said, returning to the other with a special mage staff. The long, sturdy weapon had a spear-like end, a battle mage's weapon. A magic infused one, only Keepers had one and would use it to help fight in battles. Alosrin stood staring in awe at the beautiful staff.

“Keeper Aemma, I haven’t completed my training to be Keeper,” he said, looking at her confused.

“While that is true, Alosrin. This is your test to prove your worth, it is your test to show your willingness to protect the gods we hold dear,” she said, “Nathuss even personally agreed to bless your ceremony when you return from the trip.”

Alosrin was shocked. He blinked a few times, shaking his head to focus. “He did?” he merely whispered. Nathuss never believed in the whole ritual and needing a blessing to be able to lead the next generations, but for the god to agree to personally bless and do the ceremony was huge. “When did he agree to this?” He finally asked.

“This morning, he came to talk to me. He said he never asked for you to help him on this journey and wishes to show his gratitude and his thanks by holding your ceremony,” she said with a smile. Aemma knew how Nathuss saw the rituals as well as the bond between the two males. Alosrin made a friendship with the God when he was young, and that friendship only grew over the years. Alosrin nodded in understanding. He took the staff and looked at the Keeper. “Alosrin of Clan Xilceran, I bless you with luck and good health as you embark on your trial to becoming Keeper. May Tel' gods suor var ent viaren adventure lor nae Alet,1” Aemma said softly to the other.

“May Tel' gods aegis Tel' clan while sal am away,2” Alosrin responded with a soft smile. Aemma nodded and wrapped the young elf in a hug. “Stay safe, my child,” she said before pulling away.

“I will, mother,” he said before leaving the room to find Nathuss.

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That night, Nathuss and Alosrin prepared for their trip, packing their bags with dried meats, berries, water, and other supplies needed, including healing herbs. Alosrin did not bring up the information Aemma shared with him about the promise the God made. Aemma and several of the elders did see the two off when dawn approached. It was going to be a long journey ahead of them.

1 May the Gods bless you and your adventure

2 May the Gods protect the clan while I am away.