Rise of the Demon Lord - Pt 3

“Now listen and understand. The words themselves are not the key, it is the shadow they cast upon your mind that is important.”

Seven pairs of dumbfounded eyes stared back at me.

“You will see in time. We will meditate on the chant for a while, then pair up and practice once more. Gift, with me.”

We sat under the brilliant night sky, two by two. The other seven muttered a healing chant under their breath: Patience, Tenacity, Gift, and four others that the matriarch had recruited from the village. I wondered if any of us would still be alive in a moon’s time.

Gift broke me from my reverie.

“I-I’d like to ask a question. Is that okay?”

I glared at him. He swallowed and took that as permission.

“Do you know why the Elf chose you?”

“I do not.”

Judging from the way his wings deflated, that wasn’t the answer he was looking for.

“It is difficult to mark the passage of time in their memories. The Elves use systems that are alien to us. I know that I do not remember appearing in my dream. I remember their plan. I remember preparation - a great deal of preparation. I remember copying my- their memories into the web.”

“And nothing after that?” His gaze penetrated deep into me. “Don’t Elves live forever? What’s that like?”

I took a moment to think. Had I really not stopped to reflect even once in the time since I was visited? Something inside compelled me forward.

“If you must know, it feels like there is so much of them, that there is very little of me.”

An excited shout came from behind me.

“I-I did it! The blood is gone!”

- omegastick