Forest of Elarion [16]

I woke up a few hours as the sun was rising again, Emilia was still in my arms. The carriage was in pieces and laid around us. I was badly hurt, I was bleeding before as I was full of dried blood. "I'll... just heal myself with... the console.", I thought as I opened it. "Huh? This is a story mission in which you cannot use the console.", I read in my mind. Since this is the first time this is happening, you will get some information. 1st. You cannot die, there is a barrier sourrounding you at all times. If you come close to dying, time will be reversed to it can be prevented. 2nd. You will still be able to use your magic and skills like always, you simply cannot use the console. "The fuck is this...", I thought.

"Doesn't matter now.", I said to myself. I sat upright and inspected Emilia's body. She was fine and she woke up a few seconds later. She sprung up as she saw she was in my arms. "Morning... I guess...", I told her. "J-Jin, you-you're full of blood!", she screamed out in horror. "Yeah, I know... I took the hit for you kinda...", I sighed. Emilia looked around. "The whole carriage has been blown up... Jin, how... how are you still alive, how am I not even hurt?", she questioned. "Can you help me stand?", I asked. "And to answer your question, shit I don't even know myself. I just grabbed you by insinct to shield you..."

Emilia helped me up. "Do you know where we are?", I asked. "No, not really... But it seems as if the explosion sent us... flying with the carriage... we're in a forest, that I can tell.", she remarked. "Great... a forest and I can barely move, Emilia, this time it's you defending us...", I warned.

We ventured deeper into the forest. It was weird, we haven't come across any monsters yet though in forest there's usually many monsters. "Something is off... really off... I feel.. watched, but there's no monsters around...", I observed. "Yeah, I'm with you on that, Jin.", she replied. "Something is really off in this forest."

We came across a river, a few wild animals but still nothing. But then I sensed something, something fast. Not magic, but not living. I pulled Emilia out of the way, it was an arrow. 5 elves jumped out of the trees and landed before us. Emilia stood protecting infront of me. "Who are you two and what is your purpose here.", a male elf asked. "We... were just trying to get back to the human capital when our carriage exploded, we got sent flying and ended up here... we walked through this forest and here we are.", Emilia quickly stated.

The elves looked us up and down. "Are you hurt, human?", a female elf asked. "Yeah, I shielded her with my body and took the impact...", I sighed. "Understood. Come with us and we will help you back and treat you.", she spoke. Emilia helped me walk again and we followed them.

We arrived at a small village hidden deep in the woods. As we walked through the village, the villagers looked at us in a weird way, scared almost. The 5 elves showed us the way to the mayor of their village, he was a old man, white hair, long ears and closed eyes. "I see you are hurt, human. We will treat you shortly, do not worry.", he spoke out with a calming voice. "Our scouts have told me what has happened already. You two... have... great potential, by the way. Be sure to use it.", he said as he send us away, the 5 elves came and took us to their "hospital". I got treated there, I didn't know what miracle cure they gave me, but I instantly regenerated.

I got up from the bed and looked at Emilia. The mayor came and entered. "I... have an offer for you two.", he grumbled. "We would like to hear it.", I spoke for the two of us. "I'm getting really old... and I don't have much to do... I could teach you a thing or two if you want.", he murmured. I looked at Emilia and we both had the same smile. "We would love to.", we said at the same time. The old man smiled. "Great. We will give you two a room. It isn't a problem if you two sleep in the same room, right?", he asked. "No, not at all.", Emilia said.

He led us to our room. It was about the same size as the one in the school. It had a small kitchen, a small living room, 2 seperate beds and a bathroom. "Here you will stay for the next few... weeks? months? Who knows. You will stay here.", he chuckled. I just laid down on the bed. "I'm going to need some sleep... a lot has happened today.", I said while smiling, Emilia dropping on the other bed. "Yeah, you're correct on that one.". The old man chuckled and left the room.

"Hey, Jin. Do you think we will learn something from him? And what happens to the school? He said months, we can't just disapear for 2 months without a trace...", she groaned. "It will all be fine, just sleep for now.", I replied.

We woke up the next morning. Two elves stood at our door the next morning knocking on it. "We have delivered the news to both your parents and your school. You will be freed from school for 2 months.", they grumbled as they turned around and left again. The old man came up to our doorstep.

"And? Ready for some training?", he asked while having that same smile as yesterday. Emilia and I followed him out to the forest. "Anyone of you guys able to use multiple magics?", he asked. "Yeah, me, I can use shadow and fire, or, well, blue fire.", I grumbled a bit tired. The old man stopped in his tracks for a few seconds. "S-Shadow you said? This will get more interesting than I thought...", he gulped.

We arrived at an open place in the woods. "Ever used both magics at the same time?", he questioned. "Nah, not really.", I simply replied. "Try it.", he challenged. "Shadow dart.", I said as a dart of shadow formed in my hand. The old man looked shocked again. "W-Where's the incantation? You simply said the name...", he questioned. "I don't need incantations. So what now? A fire spell?", I countered. "Yeah, try a fire spell onto that dart.", he replied in shock. "Ember Spark.", I said. The bolt got sourrounded by blue fire for a second, it glowed and then it just shattered. They nullified eachother. "Great, now you just gotta learn to control it.", the old man said. "Easier said than done. HOW THE FUCK DO I DO THIS?", I barked. "Easy, child. Just figure it out, meanwhile I'll help this young lady.", he said as he walked off to Emilia.

"Great... I'm alone now.", I thought as I tried it again. I failed over and over and over again, I had tried atleast 100 times when I thought about somehting. "I always tried... so summon the spell... in the other one... what if I just do it around the dart..." And I tried again, first casting Shadow dart and then Ember spark. This time it actually stayed there for about 10 seconds, which would be enough for me to shoot it at an enemy if I sped up the projectile using the console. But I wanted more, more control. I tried again and again, I got better and better, 20 seconds, 30, 40 and at 50 it stopped. Each try after 50 seconds it became unstable and shattered.

The old man returned to me. "So? Managed to do it? What, 5 seconds?", he chuckled. "50, actually. 50 seconds.", I responded casually. His smile quickly vanished and he gulped. "50 you say, huh? You take me for some fool?", he hissed. But instead of arguing I just showed him. He was in schock. "Kid. Practice some more... I think you will reach the 5 minute mark soon... after that it's easy to keep it up...", he said as he walked away again.

I just turned around and kept practicing.