The Severaine

Chapter Eleven The Mountain of the Spirits-4

“But master where should I go?”

“Y' life's y' own now. Go where the wind drives y'. Y' path's y' for the making, follow it with an open mind, and know this will always be y'home.” The elderly man began to cough. His breathing rattled as he recovered, his wrinkled hand reaching out to steady himself.

Eiji stared in disbelief; when had his master's health begun to fail him, how could he not have noticed such an illness? He could not leave now, he was alone, with no one to watch over him, and he looked so frail. His thick white hair had turned thin and dusty grey, while his taut firm hands were covered with loose wrinkles and shook under the strain of simply living. His master offered an aged smile, raising a hand to gesture him away. Turning his back to him he obeyed this final request with a heavy heart, not daring to chance a final glance.

How could he have been so blind not to have noticed this before…

…He had not known the fate of his master, or at least, he had not been willing to accept it. He was naive, wishing to believe he lived on, and Blackwood had used this to manipulate him. Eiji had barely walked the paths of the world when someone had struck him from behind and dragged him into their carriage.

After his arrival at, what he would later discover to be, Blackwood's mansion just beyond Phoenix Landing, two men roused him roughly. Their clothes bore an insignia he recognised, but never thought he would see. Their existence was merely a myth, but there, on the right lapel, was embroidered the symbol of the Twilight Empire. Eiji had been informed he was to cooperate fully should he wish to see his master again.

His mission had been simple. He was to follow Blackwood's daughter, Elaineor. A person who eventually led him to meet the people he now came to regard as friends.

“By the Gods, are y' all right!” Eiji snapped back from his memories hearing Daniel let out a terrified scream as he plunged into the water. Acha grabbed him, her quick reflexes pulling him to the shore despite the fact there was seemingly no danger. The terror beneath his scream had her believing, in that instant, he was about to be dragged down unimaginable depths. Daniel coughed expelling the inhaled water. He sat gasping for breath, a genuine reaction of terror from what seemed to be nothing more than an embarrassing slip. The panic he displayed raised the concern in Eiji's tone. “What happened?”

“Didn't you see it?” he gasped. His vision moved to the water where all seemed calm, even the ripples from his sudden entrance now smoothed across the surface.

“See what?”

“That thing, the thing that grabbed me?” His vision scanned the water searching for the dark shadow.

“Daniel, we didn't see anything,” Acha insisted. She had been watching him very carefully for some time, her concerned glances always lingering in his direction. She felt uneasy about his deteriorating health. An unease which had been growing stronger since their visit to Drevera. He was showing clear signs of paranoia, believing they were being followed almost at every turn. Now he was seeing things that weren't there. She had discussed the option of taking him home, back to his mother, where he could get some help, but she and Eiji had both agreed to see how this escalated. It was doubtful he would remain there even if they took him. It was safer, for now, to stay with him.

Her constant vigil meant she had been watching him, very closely. Just moments before he lost his footing, she had been certain he was beginning to doze.

Daniel looked between them for support. Surely one of them had to have seen it, but the looks on their faces confirmed his fears. His more rational side, a side that seemed to pay him few visits these days, suggested that perhaps this whole thing was in his mind. A fact reinforced by the lack of the gaping wound he felt tear his flesh when the creature had grabbed him. He gave a sigh.

“Sorry, I must have been daydreaming.” The conviction behind his words did little to convince either him or his friends that he believed the words he spoke. But he would have said anything at that point to stop them staring at him in such a manner. He glanced once more between his friends as the wind swept past them with increasing pressure. Something was wrong, that creature had been as real as either of them, yet they had failed to see it. Just like before, just like outside Ashley's home.

* * *

An Elementalist, by nature, was a solitary person, so to find Eiji's master's home deep within a forest located on Therascia was not a surprise. Its location, concealed high above within the branches of a tree, was shocking to say the least.

The tree in question was old, so ancient in fact that it was doubtful any would remember it as anything but the mighty king of the forest it presented itself as. Its gnarled wooden trunk was as wide as any modest cottage, the curvatures and differences in the wood and texture, almost implying it had assimilated other trees that had once grown near to its mighty form. There were no branches near its lower sections, and certainly nothing which could be used as a climbing aide. Yet there, barely visible under the heavy foliage, was a small modest dwelling, built upon a natural terrace. The branches themselves seemed to grow around it, offering protection.

The tree must have belonged to an ancient breed because neither Daniel nor Acha had seen anything even similar to the giant which stood before them. Extending slightly from the almost invisible home was a small platform and, had their vision been able to distinguish the fine details, they would have seen a small rope ladder, hooked carefully upon it. A ladder, which given the height, no climber would be able to reach. Seeing their expression of awe Eiji decided to explain how this place became his home.

“My master chose t'live here, the wood of this tree is very special. It's said, should someone take its heart, they'd be granted powers beyond the dream of any mortal. Hearin' the rumours of this sacred tree, a hunter set out t'test the legend, his thoughts only on the power he'd gain.

“My master had long been known as the forest guardian, his own master had spoken of this tree and how it was possibly the last one in existence. Whenever the hunter arrived, my master was there t'stop him. He spent each night from the first attack sleepin' at the tree's base or hidden within its branches, then one night the tree accepted him.

“That night, through his dreams, the tree spoke t'him offerin' a pact. In exchange for his protection, it would shed some of its branches so he could use the wood t'build his home within its aegis, and he in turn would be its guardian. When my master awoke, the enormous branches lay gathered at its trunk, and the tree itself seemed t'have changed as he slept, growin' and alterin', the bark extendin' outward, grantin' him access t'the upper branches where his home now rests.”

“But, since your master has… gone, could the hunter not return to destroy it now?” Acha questioned. Even standing at its base she felt the enormous power radiating from its colossal form. A blast of wind whipped around the tree to shake free the rope ladder as she watched in surprise. Eiji climbed upward, motioning for them to follow before he answered.

“No, an Elementalist's home is special. It's hard t'explain really, but once a place is built and lived in by an Elementalist, the place itself becomes, enchanted. That's why most leave their homes t'the one who'll be their successor. When my master built this he used his powers t'aid him, that power was absorbed int' the very fabric of the house. The elements feel this power and work t'protect the area.”

“Not only that,” Daniel added when he was sure Eiji had finished. “The tree itself has special properties. I wouldn't be surprised if its roots were home to sprites and forest gnomes of some description.” He looked to the raised roots, roots wider than he himself was. They intertwined, almost like a lattice around the tree's base. He could almost imagine himself crawling through the openings into a world below. “The tree itself is capable of fierce protectional measures against those who would wish to harm it, but the fact your master vowed to protect the forest means that it in turn would wish to protect him.”

“You're familiar with the Akegata tree?” Eiji shook his head in mild amusement. This was Daniel after all, why had he expected anything different? But still, the existence of this tree was a closely guarded secret, this alone was the only way to ensure its continued survival.

“I guess so,” Daniel answered, stifling a yawn. He was unsure exactly where that information had come from. He was almost certain he had heard its tale whispered on the wind. With a shrug he followed Acha and Eiji into the small cabin.