advance chapters on my Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/Mvxzz
The next morning, we set out early for the Forest of Elshire.
The group was small: just Virion leading the way, Tessia, Arthur, and me. My parents had stayed behind at the palace to attend to matters of state that could not be postponed.
"Rinia doesn't appreciate crowds," Virion had explained when my parents asked if they should accompany us. "Especially official visits. It'll be better if I go alone with the children."
My mother had hesitated, but finally agreed. "Take care of them, Father."
"As if they were my own eyes," Virion had promised.
Now, as we walked through the forest, I could feel why my parents trusted Virion. His mere presence was intimidating to any mana beast that might be lurking. His mana radiated power and absolute control.
Tessia walked beside Arthur, pointing out different plants and explaining elven flora to him. I walked close to Virion, observing everything carefully.
After about an hour of walking, we reached a clearing where a small cabin stood. It was rustic but cozy, with vines growing along the walls and wildflowers surrounding it.
Virion stopped in front of the door and, without ceremony, kicked it with his boot.
"HEY, OLD WITCH! OPEN THE DOOR! I'VE GOT VISITORS FOR YOU!"
"Grandfather!" Tessia scolded him, mortified by his manners.
"What?" Virion shrugged. "That's how we've always greeted each other."
The door flew open, and an elven woman appeared. Despite being called "old," she looked surprisingly young—perhaps middle-aged by elven standards. She had long silver hair tied in a loose braid and eyes that were a pale turquoise, almost white. But the most distinctive thing about her eyes was that they looked glazed over, as if they were looking through things rather than at them.
"VIRION ERALITH!" Her voice was sharp and indignant. "How many times do I have to tell you not to kick my door? One of these days I'll curse you so warts grow in very uncomfortable places!"
"Kekeke, empty threats as always," Virion mocked, though there was affection in his voice.
Rinia's expression softened when she saw the rest of the group. "Ah, but you brought the children. That makes up for your rudeness. A little."
"Great-aunt Rinia!" Tessia ran to her.
Rinia caught her in a warm hug. "My little Tessia. You've grown since the last time. Soon you'll be taller than me."
Her eyes moved to me, and for a moment, I felt as if she were truly seeing me. Not just my body, but something deeper.
"And little Kael," she said softly, stepping closer to me. She knelt to be at my height, placing a hand on my cheek. "Mmm. Interesting. Very interesting."
Her touch was warm, but I felt something else. A tingle of mana, as if she were trying to read something within me.
"Aunt Rinia," Virion intervened. "This is Arthur Leywin. The boy who saved Tessia."
Rinia's glazed eyes shifted to Arthur, and I saw them widen slightly.
"Ah," she said, slowly standing up. "So you're the special boy Virion won't stop talking about."
Arthur gave a polite bow. "It's an honor to meet you, Elder Rinia."
"Elder, huh? At least this one has manners, unlike a certain rude commander." She shot a look at Virion, who looked unrepentant.
Rinia walked around Arthur, studying him the same way Virion had earlier. "Mmm. Yes. Very special. So special that there are parts of you even I can't see. Fascinating."
Arthur tensed slightly at that.
"But you came for a reason," Rinia continued, turning toward her cabin. "Come in. All of you. You need to see this."
Connection
The inside of the cabin was warm and cozy, filled with herbs hanging from the ceiling and jars of things I didn't want to identify. In the center was a circular table with a bowl of water.
"Sit," Rinia ordered, pointing to the chairs around the table.
We sat down: Arthur, Tessia, me, and Virion, with Rinia at the far end.
"So, boy," Rinia spoke directly to Arthur. "You want to talk to your parents, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Arthur replied. "I need to tell them I'm fine. That I'm alive."
"Do you know where they are?"
"In the city of Xyrus, in Sapin," Arthur said. Information he hadn't mentioned before. Interesting.
Rinia nodded. "Xyrus. Far away, but it doesn't matter for my power." She placed her hands over the bowl of water. "Now, listen carefully. I'm a Diviner. My magic doesn't fit into the four elements. I have clairvoyance and telepathy. I can see distant things and connect minds across great distances."
"How does it work?" Arthur asked, genuine fascination in his voice.
"First, I need you to visualize your parents. Their appearance. Their voices. Their mana essence, if you can sense it. Close your eyes and focus on them."
Arthur closed his eyes, his expression sharpening in concentration.
Rinia placed one hand on his head and the other over the bowl. Her mana flowed, and the water began to glow with a soft light.
"Good. I'm finding them. Just a moment…"
The water in the bowl rippled and then rose, forming a floating sphere. Inside the sphere, an image began to appear.
I saw a human woman with brown hair and warm eyes, sitting at a table. Beside her, a sturdy man with a beard and a worried expression. Between them, a small baby in a high chair.
Arthur's parents. Reynolds and Alice Leywin. And his little sister, Ellie.
Arthur opened his eyes and gasped at the sight. Tears immediately began to form.
"Dad… Mom…"
"They can hear you," Rinia said softly. "But you only have two minutes. The mana cost to maintain this connection is enormous. Speak quickly."
"MOM! DAD!" Arthur almost shouted toward the water. "It's me! It's Art!"
In the sphere, his parents jolted, looking around in confusion.
"Arthur?" His mother's voice came from the water, distorted but audible. "Where are you? Are you okay?"
"I'm okay, Mom. I'm in Elenoir, the elven kingdom. I'm with… with good people who are taking care of me. But I needed you to know that I'm alive."
"ARTHUR!" His father stood up abruptly. "How did you get to Elenoir? Are you hurt?"
"It's a long story, Dad. But I'm fine. I'm staying with the royal family. They're training me. I'm going to… I'm going to be here for a while, but I'm safe. Please, don't worry."
"How can we not worry?" His mother was crying now. "You disappeared without a trace. We thought… we thought that…"
"I know. I'm so sorry. But I promise I'm okay. And I will come back. When I'm stronger, when I've learned more, I'll come back home. I promise."
"One minute," Rinia warned.
"I love you," Arthur said quickly, tears streaming down his face. "Both of you. And Ellie. Take care. And know that I think about you every day."
"We love you too, son," his father said, his voice breaking. "Come back safe. You are our light."
"Thirty seconds," Rinia murmured.
"Goodbye! I'll see you soon!" Arthur nearly sobbed the words.
"Goodbye, Arthur! We love you!"