The Severaine

Chapter Eleven The Mountain of the Spirits-3

It was times like this, as they navigated the winding maze of openings and passageways, that they missed Elly the most. Her knowledge of such places was unfathomable. She seemed to possess an inherent skill to traverse even the most complex maze with ease, never falling prey to its deceptions. Given that she was working alongside Night, perhaps this seemingly miraculous ability came from research done prior to leading them straight into the hands of their enemy.

Manoeuvring through the intricate network of tunnels had been no simple task. Their only point of reference had been the unusual energies Eiji had become aware of since first entering. There had been numerous twists and turns, dead-ends and backtracking, but all the paths had one thing in common, they led downward in gentle gradients. They walked for unmeasured time into depths untold.

Eiji gave a sigh as the tunnel exited into a large open space. It was another dead-end. He sat down near one of the many moss-covered boulders and once more began to centre his energies. His vision focused on the area around him, it was saturated with a strange earth-based power.

Numerous openings lined the cave walls, but all were too small for them to consider attempting to enter. Daniel sat beside him whilst Acha peered cautiously into some of the closer holes.

“It's definitely here, just give me a moment. I think I have t'…” Eiji closed his eyes trailing off as he channelled the energy through him, combining it with his own in a way which would announce his presence to anything in the area, good or bad.

An earthy scraping sound resounded with the vibration of rock grinding against rock as the air grew heavier with the earthy presence. Small boulders vibrated, collecting and gathering to a central location, propelled under their own energy as they moved to form humanoid shapes. The tallest of which stood no higher than their waist.

“What brings you here?” A voice demanded sharply as the assembled rock moved, taking form. The one who addressed them was the largest of the creatures, the moss growing on its surface reminiscent of hair, the browning and decaying of older mosses giving the impression of age. As it spoke, several such creatures gathered closer.

A smaller one peered cautiously from one of the many holes in the walls. It stumbled into the clearing with an old battered cloth hat rested upon its head, the hat itself covered with as much moss as the small creature. It moved to stand beside another, positioning itself slightly behind its leg, allowing it to explore its curiosity, whilst remaining safe. This seemed to be the only one of the smaller, clearly younger creatures to brave exiting the holes. The others peered cautiously, waiting to see what threat these strangers would pose.

“Well?” It prompted impatiently. “Anyone would think you've not seen a gnome before.” The coarse voice scolded. He stared at Eiji, who remained the only one of their group he acknowledged, and thus, he was the one who spoke.

“I'm Eiji, my friends are Acha and Daniel, we…” He paused thinking how Daniel was better at this kind of thing, even as he heard himself, he knew his introduction sounded clumsy and strained.

“How nice for you,” interrupted the gnome, its earthy voice filled with sarcasm. “What brings you here?”

“Ah yes, well, we're hopin' y'd re-forge somethin' for us. Y' see it was melted down by accident.” The gnome, seeing the two items held within the Elementalist's grasp extended its hand. Its composition altered slightly before their eyes. The blades pulled sharply from Eiji's grip as the gnome manipulated its magnetism to claim them. The metal struck stone with a resounding clang and all within the enclosure turned to look upon them.

“How do you accidentally make weapons?” asked the gnome harshly. “Do you even realise what this is?”

“Yes, but the person who—”

“Enough, empty your bags.” Eiji looked to Daniel and nodded. The gnome rummaged through their belongings in turn, his stone composed fingers strangely quick and flexible as he nimbly removed several items. “This will be our holding fee. I suggest you return when you have the third piece and something worth trading for.”

“Like what?” Eiji questioned. He understood nothing in this world was free. It was common sense they would request something in exchange for their services, just like a trader requested funds for wares. However, elemental beings had different concepts of value. They would not want something as commonplace as money, after all, it possessed no worth to them.

“That's for you to figure out. How can I appraise you if I simply give you the answer? Now leave, return when you are not wasting our time. We are not a repository.”

“Erm, thank y',” Eiji stated watching as the stones reverted to their inanimate form, the spirit occupying them returning to its resting state on the magnetic plane. With nothing further to say they gathered their remaining belongings and left.

* * *

“So what now?” Eiji questioned as they sat on the steps to Poseidon's temple. It was a beautiful place for the modest structure. It was clear to see why the god would have chosen it. Its entrance, at this time in the evening, was completely shrouded by the shadow of the mountain. Before them the vast greenery of the plain stretched giving way to the occasional collection of trees which lined the base of the surrounding mountains. The gentle rhythm of waves washing upon the rocky shoreline served as a subtle reminder of the sacred nature of this land.

Seeing Eiji's exhaustion from the prolonged use of his abilities, to not only find but to communicate with the gnomes, they had decided to take a brief respite at the temple.

“I guess we have to figure out what they want. What they will be willing to sacrifice all their kin for,” Daniel mused, staring deep into the crystal waters.

“Sacrifice their kin?” Acha stared at him in confusion.

“Well, yes. If they help us and we succeed, all the elemental creatures now reappearing due to the Severaine's release, will vanish again. By aiding us they endanger themselves.” He stared at the strange darkness that shifted at the bottom of the lake, almost as if something was swimming beneath it. Although the water here was shallow the strange shadow seemed to give the impression of both great size and depth as it swam below.

“Then they too would vanish?” she questioned uncertainly.

“No, the gnomes have always lived there. My master visited frequently,” Eiji volunteered, moving to join Daniel by the water in order to fill his leather skin. He sat down, casting his vision across the deserted plains. “He said the Mountain of the Spirits has always had a strong link t'magic. The energy it's gathered since the dawn of time is absorbed in the rock itself, so the creatures in this area would never vanish.”

“Did your master say anything else about them?” Daniel turned his attention to the book he had pulled from his backpack. He flicked through it absentmindedly, allowing himself to watch the shadow over the pages as it grew closer, larger, its dark shape seemed to be rising.

“Not that I remember, but the real tales are only told t'those who meet them and earn their friendship. No one but Elementalists know their secrets, because none but us believes anymore.”

“That's not true, we believe,” Acha protested as Daniel placed his book to one side. He had been watching the shadow for some time now over the edge of its cover. It seemed to be coming closer, as if it would break the water any moment.

“But only because y've seen them, but before, were they not just creatures of myth?”

“True, I never use to believe anything existed like that out the pages of a book, not until I met Zo.” The shadow darted from side to side, its ascent gaining in speed.

“Maybe… that's it,” Eiji exclaimed, and a hidden answer rang in his tones. “My master used t'keep a journal, maybe there's some clue t'the real secret in there, somethin' that'd help us, after all, he dealt with them often.”

“Brilliant,” Acha exclaimed enthusiastically. “But how will you find it?”

“It should be at home,” he paused, thinking over his words. It had been a long time since he had visited his master's dwellings. It would be so empty without his presence to brighten the room. He was sure, even after all this time, the place would have remained untouched. Everything would be just as it was the day he had left, a day he remembered so clearly…

…“Y've studied with me for long enough, now it is time for you t'see the elements as they are, t'harness them, t'learn from them. Y' can learn nothing more from me.” The old man, who most knew as Nikki, stood before his pupil. His pride shone clearly; the day had come for his student to undertake his own studies. There had been times, situations, where he had wondered if he would live to see this day. But now it had finally arrived, it was time to release the only thing which now tethered him to this world. Now, after so many years, he could finally know rest.

“Yes, master.” The young man's tone was filled with doubt despite the confidence of his words. After a moment of prolonged silence he spoke again, trying his best to delay the inevitable departure. No one could ever be held in higher regard to Eiji than this man. He had been both a father and a mentor to him, and despite being eager to undertake this journey he also longed to remain here. “Although there's still much t'learn from y'. I'll return once my studies have been completed.” Again questions filled his words. He hoped to return and show his master what his studies had taught him, to show him the years of time invested had not been for nought. But as he well knew, things didn't always work out that way. He convinced himself he still had much to learn from his master because he could not accept the truth, the meaning behind his departure. In return his master did not question his words, trying in his own way to silently comfort his student.

“As y' wish.” The old man's cold grey eyes glistened as he looked back on the expression he himself had worn at Eiji's age when the time came to leave. He too had been filled with such conflicting emotions. “Make me proud.” He reached out placing his hand firmly on Eiji's shoulder before retreating slightly to hold his weight against the table, a place where he and Eiji had spent many hours in conversation.

“I shall, master.”

“If y' only remember one thing, remember, it's not y' who controls the elements but they who flow through y', choosing t'give y' aid. They could just as easily choose another but, my child, for now they've chosen y', but never be fooled into thinking y' control them. They are wild forces, and with these words we must part.”

Eiji took one final glance around. To his right was an alcove, the floor lined with hide rugs where he and his master would place their blankets each night. To his left stood a large handcrafted trunk, its padded lid carefully designed to double as seating and before him, where his master now stood, was the table, rickety and unstable in appearance, yet able to withstand even the most frustrated of fists. This small area had been his home since his master's wife died twenty years ago, a day that marked the beginning of his training. It was small and simple, but it fulfilled all of their needs.

Reluctantly Eiji made his way towards the door. When he had first begun his training, he had been told this place and everything within was now his, but he had never realised the implication behind those words. His hand rested on the handle, his eyes burning into the knolled wood. He stood for several seconds before turning back to face the man who had been as a father to him. His master seemed to have aged so much in the time he had averted his gaze, making him question how he could have possibly failed to notice.