Slowly the world of Alfheim was decaying like the bodies of the elves. The word for elf in elvish was Edhelunque, the Hollow Vessel. They were under an illusion, and they gave so much to that illusion. The world they lived in was cold and grey and black, and dead. But they didn’t see it as so, to them their world was green and lush and beautiful. The only problem were the monsters, the realm had been filled with monsters, the elves had learned how to kill and slay them. They were the rulers of Alfheim, but that gave them no peace, they had no rest, there was always a hole deep in their hearts. Talo, that was his name, that was the name of the first elf to save himself. It happened quite simply, as he was walking through the caves he just tripped. As he hit his head the illusion was shattered. He saw Alfheim for what it really was; ruins, dead land, caves, darkness. He understood, his world was a lie, his body was a lie, everything about it was a lie. He wanted no more of this, so he ran out of Alfheim to earth, to find truth, to rid himself of illusion.
“So remind me,” Chris glared at Pieces while talking to me, “What’s there to think about?”
“Amanda?” I raise my eyebrow.
“Give me a sec.” Amanda nods.
“How about ‘no?” Leix slashed his sword at her, I’m immediately in front of him blocking with Koskematon.
“You’ve got balls, I’ll give you that,” I smile at my adversary, “Attacking my sister right in front of me. You’re either very brave or very dumb.”
“Please,” Leix kicked me, I fell into Amanda, “As if I would be afraid of a mere mortal man.”
“You’d be surprised,” I get up and draw Halidr, “Come at me!” We immediately combat each other. He slashes at my neck, I duck and aim for his arm, I blink and my front is slashed, “augh!”
“Aina,” Leix mocked me, “I am worlds faster than you.”
“We’ll see about that!” I charge at him.
“Alright,” Amanda runs over to Jeremy and Chris and whispers to them, then to Josh, then to Matt.
“Sure, but do you think it’ll work?” They ask.
“It should.” Amanda assures them.
“What if it doesn’t?” Chris asks.
“Then Matt’ll be killed.” Amanda says honestly.
“Oh is that all?” Matt shouted.
Talo took his clan out of Alfheim and searched all of earth, looking for freedom from illusion. He rediscovered the God of Elijah. Their Lord and Master had greeted them. At that moment they realized, they had forgotten Him, they had forgotten the time when they were in heaven with their Lady. It was then that they started remembering Him. They remembered heaven and all it’s beauty, and it’s reality. Alfheim was a world of illusions, Heaven was tangible, real, honest, Talo and his clan longed for that world again. But in order to enter it they needed souls, which they still lacked. So the Center offered a deal, he would give them their souls, if they also accepted mortality. They will never again be angels, they would have to enter heaven as souls, even with the humans that the war started on. This was their original punishment, no one can be truly banished from heaven. Talo and his clan were grateful to their Tree. They willingly gave over their mortality to the Life. They knew they were going to die, but they didn’t care. They then became young again, their souls entered their body and with it came youth, they all became fairer than the sun to look at. The humans met them with awe, this was the first time they had seen elves in a great long time. The humans asked for their name, they told them Edhel, meaning light. They asked where the elves came from, they told them they came from Svartalfheim, meaning The Realm of Lies. And they told them that the rulers of Svartalfheim were called Moriquendi, meaning dead-living.
Chris charges at Pieces again and strikes. Pieces hits it aside and the axe buries into the ground. Chris jumps up and spins around the handle of the axe and kicks Pieces’ face, he falls over and Chris lands on top of him. “TAKE THAT YOU SON OF A—”
“Look out!” Amanda blocks a throwing knife that would’ve hit Chris’ heart. “Be more careful.”
“Now?” Matt asks as he parries Iango’s knifes.
“Not yet.” Amanda told him, Josh, Jeremy, and Chelsea hit the ground out of nowhere, they tried their hardest to stand up but couldn’t.
“We’re stuck!” Jeremy says, Pieces raises his axe to kill the three of them, Chris hits him and Amanda starts chanting a counter-curse.
Elowin and I are both fighting Leix. He is incredibly tough! He is able to defend and attack us at the same time. This guy would be very hard to beat. Excitement rushed through me, this guy was on par with Lodez, I licked my lips, Lodez never faced me at full strength. It was time to see how I stacked up against my enuo. I moved forward more careful this time as Elowin parried his strikes. A part of me wanted to tell her to help the others but I wasn’t stupid. If I’m gonna take this guy out I’ll need help. Leix thrusted at Elowin’s stomach, that’s when I made my move. I back-slashed at him and my blow connected! He lurched backward in both pain and surprise. “How Dare you!” Leix yelled in anger.
“I’m sorry,” I responded sarcastically. “I didn’t realize that that would hurt you!”
“Rrrgh!” Leix jumped at me, he hit away Elowin’s sword as if it weren’t even there and stabbed at me so fast I almost didn’t have time to react. Fortunately I went berserk. The world turned red, surprisingly the blade was going as fast as an average thrust. Thankfully I can avoid average. This time I’ll beat him down with ease! I ran forward and slashed down at him, he dodged it!! What!?
“You think that you’re fast?” Leix asked, “You can only perceive the world at a fifth of a second at a time, try again when you can get to a tenth.”
Shit.
And thus the christianized elves dwelt on earth, keeping to themselves, away from men. Because they had rejoined themselves with the Far and Near. They were filled with joy and steadfastness, for they had their souls back. They had come full circle, and though they will never be angels, they still could enter heaven. Heaven, a more beautiful word never existed, they couldn’t wait to return to their King. However the Other still invoked their punishment. He extended their lifespan, now they had to wait thousands of years to go back. Thousands of years of trials, for with a soul they could enter heaven, but they could also go to hell. So they tried to keep their souls clean. Talo died at the age of six thousand eight hundred ninety-four. He had lived for much longer up in heaven as an angel, and for four thousand six hundred years as a moriquendi, and his last two thousand two hundred and ninety-four years as an Edhel. He and his children lived complete and blessed lives, the doors of heaven opened for him, and he gladly entered. The Gravity was glad to have his son back into his kingdom.
Chelsea and Josh were fighing Ipá and Pesa. They were watching each other’s backs, Josh was coated in rock armor, Ipá couldn’t do any damage to him, but Pesa could cut through rock if he tried. The thing is, cutting rock tires him out a bit. Amanda surmised this, and told Josh to use it to his advantage. Chelsea was blocking and advancing on Ipá, he was having trouble with her. Suddenly Chelsea started slowing down greatly, she could barely block Ipá’s strikes, she was getting slower. “You okay Chelsea?” Josh blocked Ipá’s strikes for her.
“I’m…” Chelsea’s breathing started getting heavier. She was getting tired surprisingly fast.
“Ino manhua kilent!” Amanda yelled as she twirled her knife at Chelsea, she immediately got a huge surge of energy. “The elf in robes is a mage!”
“…” Hate flows out of Olad’s eyes towards Amanda, they both immediately start chanting at the speed of light.
Chris jumps back, avoiding the axe yet again. “Hold still!” Pieces yells.
“Like hell!” Chris dodged again.
“Eina adan!” Pieces yells in frustration.
“I have no idea what you said,” Chris sidestepped.
“Chris!” Amanda yells at him, “We’re ready!”
“On it!” Chris swings his axe at Pieces, who slaps the axe away, it buries into the ground.
“A feeble attempt.” Pieces punched Chris in the stomach, he went flying backwards, he hit the wall head first. Matt ran up to him.
“Is he alright?” Mori tried again to land a blow on Iango.
He’s fine,” Matt told them, “Just unconscious.”
“Malsien!” Amanda shouted at Chris, he stood up immediately. Amanda’s arm turned to stone, she started chanting faster. The stone receded and Olad started glowing. He chanted louder and went to normal. Iango threw several knives behind his back at her. She held up her hand and they froze in midair. She made a throwing motion and they soared at Olad. He waved his hand and they went towards me, Amanda waved her hand and they all disintegrated into nothing.
“Thanks sis!”” I said as I made sure I kept my neck connected to my head.
“Focus!” Elowin actually sounded frustrated. She and I were both working up a good sweat fighting this guy. Leix was unreal! He was somehow able to avoid and parry both my blows and Elowin’s, he was having some difficulty, but not too much, he was pacing himself, ready to go on for the long run. Fortunately some of Amanda’s curses were directed at Leix, unfortunately Leix wore a special charm that, according to Amanda, would reduce the potency of her curses exponentially. The only real benefit we got was that he was slowed down and wearing out. Just keep pushing. Matt and Chris turned and charged at Pieces. He laughed, Matt slid under him and grabbed Chris’ axe. Pieces was surprised, he didn’t notice Chris jump up and slam his knee into PIeces’ face. He briefly lost balance. “NOW!” Matt yelled.
Josh raised the floor so that it basically became a wall. Everyone fell to the new ground accept for Matt, who had a firm grip on Chris’ axe, and Elowin, who jumped off of me and Josh. Josh was also stuck to the “wall” in his rock armor. Josh shot himself up then returned the floor to normal, as he came down Olad shot up due to the floor rising, Olad crashed into Josh and was completely crushed under him, Josh slammed him so hard there was a small crater. When Josh stood up all that was left of Olad was a mess of blood and bones. Matt and Elowin managed to reach the hall to the throne room, they made it through! It was up to Matt and Elowin to kick Morno’s ass, we just had to take care of his lackeys.
Morno halted. Damn him! Morno made the mistake of blinking. He jumped back once again, in time to dodge the stranger’s stab? No. He was able to avoid a fatal blow, instead the stranger’s blade made a deep wound in Morno’s stomach. Morno took a knee. “You.. Aina Crobow!”
“It’s over.” The stranger said, “You’ve lost this battle and you will lose the next battle. You said my mistake was not killing you? Well your mistake was deciding you didn’t need a soul! And you will burn for it.”
“And you’re not the one who’ll burn me!?” Morno laughs, “What makes you think that a mere mortal will kill me? I who defeated seven of your brothers!? I who strikes terror in the hearts of my enemies!? I who defeats all my opponents!?”
“Well,” The stranger started to glow, “Not all of your opponents.” And with a flash of light he was gone.
Matt and Elowin immediately ran into the throne room. “That’s him!” Elowin charged at him.
Milens! Morno stood and raised his blade. He parried Elowin’s strike and kicked Matt in the face. “You waste no time.” Morno panted, he was getting slower, Damn that crowbow for wounding me, if it weren’t for him these two would be dead already. Morno tried his best to parry and dodge both their attacks, but the stranger had done his job, Morno would definitely be unable to kill both of them.
Leix’s kicking my ass heavily. This guy is better than me and he knows it. I can barely keep up with him, it takes all my focus to block his strikes. Fortunately Amanda is fighting along side me, so I don’t have to draw Koskematon, I can put all my effort into attacking. Leix strikes at my head, Amanda blocks it for me and I slice at him, but he parries me just as quick. He is smiling, mocking us. Granted, he’s better, but I managed to stab him in the torso when we fell, so he’s now slower. Even so he has total confidence in his ability to take us on. He moves like clockwork, striking and dodging at just the right moment. He is definitely on a completely different level than me. But he is wounded, so he ain’t as far ahead of me as he was at the beginning. “Amanda,” I say, “Let me handle him.”
“What!?” Amanda blocks for me again.
I kick her before she got stabbed by Leix’s feint, she falls away a while, I draw Koskematon, “My name is Nicholas son of Thomas.”
Leix smiles, “A bold move, Nicholas son of Thomas. Very well, my name is Leix son of Öffer.”
I raise a gust of wind to lift me in the air, then come down, “I will not use that power.”
“You really think you can afford giving me a handicap?” Leix smirks.
“It’s the only way I can grow stronger.” I tell him.
“You are correct.” Leix nods, “I became this great by fighting opponents that were barely stronger than me. However, I am not barely stronger than you. I am far above you, your training attempt will end with your life.”
“I guess so.” We begin to fight.
“If you die!” Amanda yells at me as she turns to Iango, “I’ll kill you!”
“Don’t worry about him.” Mori warned her, “This guy’s pretty good too.”
Chris finally managed to pull out his axe out of the ground as Jeremy was fighting Pieces. “Alright big buy,” Chris jumped up at him, “Round two, huh?”
“Come at me in two’s, come at me in three’s, it doesn’t matter.” Pieces swatted Chris’ axe away and blocked Jeremy’s sword.
“Damn it Chris!” Jeremy yelled at him.
“What!?” Chris asked as he pulled out his axe from the ground again.
“Don’t you learn anything?” Jeremy was blocking Pieces’ axe. “Think, if he always swats your down-strike, then what do you think you should stop doing!?”
“Down-strikes?” Chris pulled it out.
“Down-strikes, yeah!” Jeremy said condescendingly.
“Got it.” Chris Side-strikes at Pieces, he jumped back and the blade of the axe almost hit Jeremy, who raised his shield.
“Dumbass!” Jeremy yelled angrily.
“I didn’t down-strike.”
“I was obviously aware that you were going to side-strike.” Pieces laughed at him, “You’re as predictable as the sunrise.”
“Have you even seen a sunrise?” Jeremy asked.
“Does it matter?” Pieces down-striked Jeremy, he swatted it away with his shield and got punched in the stomach. Chris slashed down as hard as he could, caught off gouard, Pieces blocked with the hilt of his axe, the axe broke in two.
“There!” Chris tossed aside his axe, “Hand to hand, the way a man fights.”
“Very well,” Pieces tossed his shattered axe aside, “I will overpower you then.”
Jeremy sheathed his sword and put up his shield, “Well now you’re talking!”
Chelsea had a huge burst of energy, she had no idea where it came from. Suddenly she was faster, she felt lighter, she was a feather, thin air, a slice of bread. She attacked with the grace and fierceness of a falcon. Ipá was able to keep up with her easily. He noticed this burst of energy and adjusted for it, so she was faster and more attentive, so she was far from tired, Ipá didn’t care, he’d figured out her pattern long ago, and even though she found new strength, her pattern didn’t change. The only thing that got on his nerves was that she was somehow able to avoid his strikes, she was never in position to block them, but she’d always managed to dodge. This is irksome! Ipá thought, were it not for her energy I’d have killed her six times over. Chelsea swung down her staff, it connected with Ipá’s shoulder, he fell forward. No, he wasn’t falling, he was flipping, he pulled off a front flip and axe kicked the back of Chelsea’s head. She face planted and lay still. Got her! Ipá stabbed down for the final blow, but she rolled aside. How! Even an elf would be rendered unconscious from that kick! “That was a good try,” Chelsea smiled, “But you’ll have to do better than that!”
Josh had Pesa on the ropes, Pesa couldn’t pierce Josh’s armor. Josh smiled, this was going to be easy.
Amanda smiled as her and Mori fought Iango, she had decided to let Nick have his way, what a spoiled brat, and was earlier debating on whether to help Mori or Chelsea, she compromised and casted a performance charm on Chelsea and ran to Mori’s aid. Mori was surprised that her tonfa weren’t getting cut, the knives must not be that sharp. Iango was a pro, he fought as if he had four hands, he was able to block, attack, and throw so fast it was almost simultaneous. Mori and Amanda were having trouble. Iango smiled, “Where are you looking?” He threw another knife at Amanda, she dodged them, one cut off some of her hair as it flew by, where does he keep all these things?
“Where are you!” Mori hammered his ribs. “Got ya!”
“Not quite!” He managed to block it with a knife again. He deflected Amanda’s strike with another knife.
“What the heck!?” Amanda kicked at him frustratingly. Ipá dropped his knife, caught her foot, threw her into the air, caught the knife, and threw it after her, all within less than a second. Amanda slammed into the ceiling, which is way up high. Fortunately the knife was off target and buried into the ceiling half an inch next to Amanda’s face. She was slightly disoriented, she saw the knife and it brought her back to her senses. She then fell to the ground and continued staring at the knife. She slammed into the ground and Iango flipped over Mori and stabbed Amanda’s stomach (keep in mind that was all in like tenish seconds). Amanda didn’t make a sound, she stared at the knife as blood erupted from her body, there’s some insignia on the hilt! Iango pulled out the knife and she saw the engraving on the red blade, That’s it! She fought to keep consciousness.
Matt and Elowin wasted no time attacking Morno. They teamed up on him and had been fiercely going at him for quite some time now. Morno was able to handle himself against them, he was making sure he paced himself, knowing that he simply had to hold onto the key until he arrived. He’ll be able to help me kill these insects. “I’ll make a deal with you.” Morno said as he kicks Elowin’s face in. “I won’t kill you if you fight each other, whoever wins will live, whoever loses dies.”
“No chance!” Matt stabs at his stomach, he parries.
“It is not like you to make deals.” Elowin observed, “Are you afraid?”
“…” Morno jumps over Matt’s blade and slashes at Elowin, she blocks it, “Please! I was just feeling generous.”
“Of course!” Elowin sidesteps around Morno, almost losing her footing on something.
Morno saw the brief opening and went for it. Matt barely managed to block it for her. Elowin stabs at Morno, who pulls the sword in and head-butts her, his blade sliding into her stomach. She fell back and regained her footing.
“Are you okay!?” Matt asked her.
“I’m fine!” Elowin jumps back into the fray, her face wincing. Morno and Matt were trading blows incredibly fast, I had no idea that he could be so fast! Elowin thought, These humans amaze me. Morno punched at Matt, who immediately back flipped. That’s when Elowin dived in from behind him. Morno didn’t see it coming, he tried to block it with his hand, it pierced through his left hand, Morno pulled away and disarmed Elowin. She jumped to the right and Matt landed, slashing downward. Morno blocked it with the sword lodged in his hand, then as he winced in pain he stabbed, but not at Matt, he stabbed to his left. Elowin tried to avoid it, but she slipped on something again. She looked down as Morno’s blade dug through her heart. Blood, there was blood all over the floor, but it wasn’t her blood. It was Morno’s blood. Is he wounded? Her world went black.
