𝜅 — Adeux
Day after day, I live in the darkness. It feels so deep that it seems to swallow everything around me—sound, light... yet it never manages to be more imposing than the sound of my stomach growling with hunger.
Living in the caves is strange, especially for my people, who see in the dark as clearly as one looks at an illustrated book. Everywhere I turn, I see only two things: black and white. But it's better than nothing, especially when I need my vision to be sharp for the trek.
The galleries connecting us to the surface are usually steep. The floor might look slip-proof because of its wavy patterns, but time-worn degradation is deceptive. This is especially true in regions coated by the waste of Giant Aurorian Centipedes, which acts like a slick, natural varnish.
Stalactites are another hazard. Unlike conventional caves, the caverns of Mount Slabhraítine are volatile in their rock formation. When we pass through the great halls, we must be wary of every noise or misstep; the smallest crack in the floor can scale to the ceiling, sending stalactites crashing down.
I think even the "best" thing down here is grim: fishing in the underground Slabhraí rivers. There is always the chance of being swept away by fierce currents that strike when least expected. Even when the water looks still, it offers no safety. As the saying goes, "caution is never enough."
The only reason it's the "best" thing is that it's a way to get food when the surface weather is too cold to ascend.
But there's a catch: fishing isn't always successful, mainly because of the "monsters" lurking in those waters. I don't know what they eat, but these fish must feast on Kobolds or something similar; nothing else explains their size. Still, I have to admit, "tests of strength" against them are fun. They make me feel like I'm facing a real monster.
Since my father had left for the surface for work a few hours ago, it was my turn to play the man of the house. I geared up and set out to fish.
The river was calm—perhaps too calm.
That was never a good sign.
Actually, it's hard to know what a "good sign" even looks like down here.
I sat near the bank, feeling the icy air rising from the water's surface. It was like staring into a vast void in the areas my vision couldn't reach, but that meant nothing to me.
Black and white ripples moved beneath the surface. I cast the line; as it hit the water, a small sound—like a tiny bubble bursting—echoed. I wedged the rod between two rocks and tested its firmness.
It was solid enough. I leaned against a nearby boulder and began the wait.
Fishing here is a trial of patience. Usually, only the elders of my tribe enjoy it, and I finally understood why. Fishing is a head-to-head battle with your own mind to see who dies of boredom first.
You can almost understand why fishermen fantasize so much. Imagine how embarrassing it would be to admit you stood still for an hour just to catch a fish the size of a palm...
Nothing. One hour of waiting and still nothing. Apparently, even the fish had better things to do.
I waited a bit longer.
"So slow..."
The fish might not have been ready, but my urge to quit was at the end of the line. Just as I was about to pull the line to adjust the bait, it snapped taut.
My mind reacted in time, but my body didn't.
I gripped with all the strength I had, but my body was numb—I had relaxed too much. I was nearly dragged into the water, but slamming against a rock saved me and helped me regain my balance.
Once I found my footing and matched the fish's strength, the rod arched with a dry crack, vibrating as if it would shatter. The weight on the other side certainly didn't belong to an ordinary fish. The thing thrashed fiercely, pulling toward the depths, and for an instant, I felt my feet slip on the smooth stone again.
"Damn it."
I dug my heels into the rocks and pulled harder. I didn't expect that the fish, already pulling strong, would get a helping hand from nature.
The current shifted in the blink of an eye.
The water, once tranquil, began to rush with incredible ferocity. The impact nearly ripped the rod from my hands. I laughed without realizing it. It felt familiar. Where had I read about this? The tale of Zarnat against 100 knights? Or Pororoca against the Kraken in the Valley of Death? Me against something that shouldn't exist at that size... it made me feel alive.
"Come on then..." I muttered.
I pulled one more time.
The battle dragged on, and by instinct, I saw an opening. It was time to land this thing. It was all or nothing. I pulled with everything I had, but...
The sound was loud and fast.
The combat ended right there.
The rod snapped in half with a dry crack, and the tension vanished instantly. I fell backward, watching the line go with the top half of the rod, sinking into the river and being carried away by the current as if swallowed whole.
I stared into the void for a few seconds.
Then I let out a breath.
"So that's how it is...?"
Looks like I'll be skipping dinner again tonight. I'd lament it, but I knew there was a good reason to endure it. I headed home as it was getting late—even without the sun or moon, the temperature served as our clock, and it was getting freezing. These are the hours when Kobolds and Sardin-abás come out to play.
After some walking, I finally saw the light at the end of the tunnel. The cozy lights of our small community brought a sense of peace. In the distance, my house appeared, and I could see the reason I went fishing—and the reason I skipped meals so they could have more.
"Big brother, let's play!" Two boys and a girl ran toward me. My siblings.
It's for them I have to fight. For my family. This sense of responsibility brings back memories of the hero tales I read when I was their age. It makes me want to fight the world to keep them smiling every day. After all, that's the job of an older brother.
"I'll only play if you answer me one thing first. What is it: it has hands and feet like a person, but the head of a fish?" My hand was already in my bag, waiting for their answer.
The two boys looked at each other, confused. It looked like their heads were about to catch fire from thinking so hard. Meanwhile, Eleanor, the youngest, stepped forward. Of the three, she was always the sharpest.
"Thath'th easy. It'th a Thardine Man!"
The words came with a lisp, but the answer was right, even though she was only four. Meanwhile, those two blockheads were eleven and seven... well, at least I could rest easy knowing someone inherited our mother Elara's intelligence.
"Exactly!" I exclaimed loudly. "And the Sardine Man is going to get you!" I pulled the fish mask from my bag and put it on.
We played tag, then hide-and-seek for about two hours. Seeing their happiness was better than any food that could satisfy my physical hunger.
During our games, other village children joined us. I chased them and caught almost everyone, but as always, Thariel—the oldest after me—and Aerendil—the youngest after Eleanor—escaped. What they lacked in wits, they made up for in strength and endurance.
The two of them took after my father, showing an inclination to become great warriors. The only thing that worried me was their reckless courage. If they had to leap across a four-meter gap from one roof to another during a simple game of tag—which they actually did—they wouldn't hesitate.
The game ended with Thariel and Aerendil as winners. The children hoisted them up in celebration. It was revitalizing; it allowed them to forget the burden of living down here, far from any civilization.
It's hard to imagine that these children barely spend time with their families—some don't even have one, as many parents stay away for work for long periods, and some end up in dangerous professions and lose their lives...
It's complicated, living like this for a guilt that isn't ours. Because of a curse cast upon us by a malevolent being named "Alviron," all Elfallins who were Chainuamh had their lifespans reduced. We are looked down upon by races who know of our cursed past. I didn't understand why anyone would be nervous about it; we are the ones suffering, and it's not like a disease that passes to others... I think.
Another thing that happened after the curse was that Elfallins used to be one people. For some reason, after being cursed, we split into two groups with distinct traits. The Chainuamh—my people—seem entirely adapted for caves and the underground. The curse not only affects longevity but causes mana to drain from our bodies as we age. This differs from our rivals, the Crannsciath—who don't have the same bad reputation but still carry the short-life curse—who seem perfectly adapted to forests, as if connected in harmony with them.
They became our mortal enemies because they believe my lineage is to blame for the curse.
After all the running around, I finally entered the house. I immediately noticed a different aroma in the air—grey blueberry, gathered from around the mountain. The author of this fresh sweetness was my mother; she was an expert in these matters. She used to be a successful botanist on the surface, apparently making incredible perfumes and miraculous medicines from various herbs.
I just wonder what made her and the others, even having everything, move here and hide. As far as I know, this community hadn't been discovered as Elfallin Chainuamh in the village where they lived before I was born.
She was in the kitchen, apparently preparing a new perfume recipe for sale.
Anyone visiting would notice the furniture wasn't the best in the world. Nothing fancy, just modest, old, and sagging—especially the armchairs and sofas that had seen better days. They were comfortable, but once I get the resources to improve this place, it will be much better.
"Back already, Dede?" She turned around with a pot in her hand. "Just in time. You won't believe what happened to me."
She was more excited than usual, but what intrigued me was that pot. I had never seen it before, and it looked new—plus, it looked like it was worth more than everything I was wearing.
"You know, this morning, while your father was away at work and I went to the market, I found a pouch with 15 gold coins." She shook a well-made leather pouch. "Since our old pot was falling apart, I took the chance to buy this one, and some extra food too."
My parents always tell me money isn't everything; they taught me that happiness can't be bought. But I noticed that buying that new pot and stocking up our food for today made my mother very happy. I wanted to contribute to seeing her like that more often.
"Mother, you said earlier that you weren't going to the village tomorrow because Dad wouldn't be around." Without realizing it, I clenched my fists in frustration. It felt like I couldn't give back anything they did for me. "But I can go with you. I've been training offensive magic, and I think I can handle it."
She looked at me with a smile—she seemed happy that I wanted to do something for her. She stepped closer and stroked my head. She seemed happy, but I always noticed that she loved whenever she had the chance to walk on the surface.
"All right then, you hear?" She tapped my head lightly. "I'll trust my little Dedeux. After all, you're becoming the little man of the house."
"Mom, I'm not a kid anymore, don't treat me like that," I said, my face turning as red as a pepper.
"Of course, my son, you're an adult. But you're Mommy's little adult!"
"Not like this, Mom... how am I supposed to command respect from my brothers like this?"
At that moment, my brothers—the "Dumb and Dumber" duo—appeared hanging by the window. Looking at their faces, it was clear they had been there a long time based on their expressions.
"Ooh, look at that. Looks like the little baby is the oldest among us, not the youngest."
Thariel, blockhead #1. Always waiting for a chance to mock anyone about anything. His carefree way of acting made the other kids look up to him as a leader.
"I thought 'Dede' was short for Adeux, but apparently it's a variation of 'Baby'.
Aerendil, runner-up in the "who is the biggest fool" competition. He viewed Thariel as a great inspiration and always wanted to do everything he did.
In response, I went to the sofa, grabbed a cushion, and hurled it at them. Both reacted in sync, ducking to dodge the attack.
You two will pay. Just wait until you're asleep to see what I'll do...
The whole mess amused my mother, who didn't hide how much she loved seeing us "full of life," as she put it.
After all that, we went to sleep. My room was known as "our" room, which frequently led to arguments; often, right after whoever was in charge of cleaning that day finished, someone would go in and mess it up.
The next day, I woke up very early and set off with my mother to the village near the mountain. But before leaving, I made sure to leave a "work of art" on my beloved brothers' faces.
χ — Shadow
Working for Wissenia is a drag. Having to close deals with boring old men who don't understand how the modern world works is what irritates me most. It took me five days to close a simple potion partnership, all because the owner of Magi Flasche Odds and Ends made a contract based on a "total buyout." He didn't understand that these were items we would need periodically, not all at once.
And to make matters worse, Abigail sent me to be a "spy," though this feels more like an examiner checking if a test question is correct... "Gather information," she said, but everything about these boys—who are definitely in that "long showers" phase of puberty—has already been gathered. Does she distrust Augusto so much that she needs to send me to confirm?
"Whatever..."
Truly, I feel that every day, "relics" like me in this world are losing their value. No more wars, battles, or an evil king to oppose. Even being a Dark Elf isn't a cause for alarm these days; they've become normal on the surface, and only in a few corners do some idiot nobles give us trouble. That doesn't mean I think these things are good or necessary, just that as the days pass, everything starts to feel like a pile of grey ash thrown onto a white canvas. It's like "modern art"—you can try to fill it with meaning, but in reality, it means nothing. It's just lines without significance.
" At least that first-grade teacher makes some cool paintings..."
But in the end, none of that matters, except for the fact that my ship is about to dock in Remotus. At least I know that matters right now.
Remotus, a city that attracts tourists simply for being a natural anomaly, like everything in this weird region. It's located in an area that the stunning ice of the Aurora Coast can't reach.
Regardless of anything, it's a good city to live in if you want to make some cash, thanks to the high traffic. Despite that, even for Remotus, today seems busier than usual. I usually come on weekends to play the Unicorn Game, but this is the first time I've seen a crowd like this.
"Something doesn't smell right..."
In times like these, there's nothing better than asking someone who knows things. In Remotus, that person is Augusto. Somehow, he knows everything that happens on the Aurora Coast... maybe even in all of Elmund.
Walking down one of the alleys in the poor part of town, I see two brutes at the end of the path guarding what looks like an ordinary wall, but is actually a disguised door.
"Idiot number one and number two, it's been a while." I reached out a hand to greet them.
Their expressions instantly turned to rage. No surprise there; last time I was here, they both tried to beat me in a fight. As you can tell by the black eyes they still carry, it's easy to see who won.
"We told you not to step foot here again, but it seems you didn't quite get it." Rufos tried to squeeze my shoulder, thinking it would intimidate me.
"Looks like we'll have to repeat the lesson from the last fight, but know that this time we're prepared." Bruto and Rufos drew and showed off a ring each.
The star amethyst crystals on the tips of those rings could only mean one thing: mana-nullification rings. Now I just needed to know if they were area-of-effect or individual.
"Look at that, I'm impressed. I didn't think you two could come up with such a good strategy. There's just one problem." I drew two blades I carried. "I don't depend on magic to fight. Did you forget?"
Even though I've spent the last half-century putting aside the way of the sword to seek magical secrets, that doesn't mean I abandoned what I learned in the two centuries of experience before that.
As expected, the fight lasted less than 15 seconds. Taking them down was easier than using magic. Looking closer, the rings don't seem like creations of the Glazmersin, one of the criminal groups funded by the Kholodnyy family.
"I'm impressed you got your hands on something like this. In exchange for leaving you with only another black eye and no more fractures, I'll keep these." I tucked them away and continued, "By the way, where's Augusto?"
" Big Boss went out to scout the city," Bruto said, standing up. "Seems some thieves from distant regions are coming to the Aurora Coast to apply for the Vory."
"I see. So our know-it-all isn't here today... well, it's all nonsense anyway. I thought those low-lifes had given up on that. Anyway, the woman we talked about in letters last week—is she here today? You assured me she always comes on weekends with her husband and sometimes the son."
"Ah, yes. She's at the market getting some fruit," Rufos added, also standing up. "She apparently took the money you mentioned for us to leave on that mountain. I didn't quite get why... Boss said not to worry about it."
Augusto's two henchmen are idiots, but they have their value sometimes. The pouch of coins was Augusto's idea, a pretext to simulate a robbery and see the boy in action. The only problem will be the husband; he's strong.
The husband is actually the reason I'm here today. Apparently, he likes to brag about his son when he drinks too much. Augusto, being no fool, took the chance to check it out, since the school pays well for information on prodigies. Even being honest in a way, I remain skeptical. Maybe what he claims to have seen while watching his son train is nothing more than a father wanting to puff up his kid...
What really interested Abigail is that he's an Elfallin Chainuamh. They resemble us Dark Elves in their way of life; the difference is that the history of their curse drives people away. Abigail thinks this is the chance to understand more about that and their magical secrets.
According to Augusto's intel, not long ago they lived in a village not far from here, but the chief found out about their lineage and grew afraid that everyone was at the mercy of a great evil. I don't judge him; after all, part of the story of their curse is true...
"Listen up, boneheads. You two are going to help me with something. Come with me."
You could say I take pride in my prejudice. I simply created the best thief stereotype with the clothes I chose for the three of us. From here on, I just need to let these two do what they do best—be themselves—and everything will go fine.
The plan was simple: wait for her to finish shopping, move away from the crowd, and then we strike. These two will grab the husband and her while I create psychological pressure on him. That way, he won't hold back.
"Whoa, hold on." I narrowed my eyes at her. "Why is there only one person? Wasn't she supposed to be with her husband too?"
"Yeah, well, that's crazy, right?" Bruto said, trying to dodge the subject.
"We were sure he'd be here today too..." Rufos was already backing away, anticipating an attack from me.
"What you have in muscle, you make up for in stupidity..."
Well, at least the boy had shown up. It would have been a bigger problem if he hadn't.
We waited until they entered the mountain trail to act. After a long time, the moment finally seemed to have arrived—at least, that's what I thought.
Just as we were about to act, some thieves wearing the Vory symbol on their cloaks jumped out in front of them. The three were hooded, and you couldn't tell their appearance, but this sudden appearance might screw up my plans... or help them.
"Get back, Mother! Let me..."
The boy seemed to be trying to play the hero, but this isn't a story of heroes. He was quickly impaled in the abdomen by the spear of the largest of the three, pinned to a tree.
"Whoops, guess I overdid it, haha..."
The spear guy was putting on quite a show after delivering that mediocre attack, twisting around in a pose and laughing ridiculously... does he think he's some kind of supervillain?
But this is good. At least my concern was in vain; these two are fakes, likely seeking approval from the Vory group. If they were skilled, the boy would be dead or they would have hit his vitals. Plus, looking at it now, the stitching on their cloaks is poorly done. They're just idiots... what worries me is the one who hasn't made a sound.
"Hihihi," the small one began to speak. "Hey, we were only after the money, but we can't let this beauty pass us by."
"Not a bad idea," the one who seemed to be the leader spoke; he had a greatsword on his back. "But try to restrain your weird habits. Don't ruin her; after we're done, we'll sell her."
Yeah, these guys were crossing the line, and yet the boy didn't act. Apparently, Augusto was wrong. Well, it's time to move.
"Stop right there!" the boy screamed. "You bastards... I'll... I'll kill you!"
"How charming, hihihi," the small one drew a dagger; poison seemed to be dripping from it. "You're going to die slowly from this venom, and your last memory before you go will be your mother being used like an object, hahaha."
I was about to move, but the boy began reciting words and making ritualistic gestures. It looked like he was going to conjure magic arrows, but at the end of the gestures, he sliced both his wrists.
"Hahahah!" the spear-wielding brute laughed. "Looks like he got scared of you, Irink. Preferred to kill himself first."
They started laughing at him, but the sword guy remained serious; apparently, he noticed too. I didn't expect this, but the boy added an extra touch: to strengthen his spell, he offered a material component that this spell doesn't usually have—his vitality.
"The spirits of the hunt hear me, but it is not them I seek," as he recited, three arrows of pure energy appeared before him. "By my blood, I claim the darkness. Come, ancestors, and take these wretches to the grave with you!"
The blood floated toward the arrows, which grew denser with energy and power as they received it. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into pure black energy, distorting the space around them.
"D... die!"
At high speed, one of the three was fired. Its target was none other than the one who had hit him with the spear. The brute was behind the mother, immobilizing her. For a second, the arrow looked like it would hit her, but at a hair's breadth from her, it changed trajectory, colliding with the big guy's left shoulder, making him release her.
"Curse it, my shoulder!" It was impressive—part of his shoulder simply vanished, as if the matter there had never existed. "You'll pay for that!"
That first arrow was a fine attack, true, but it also served as a distraction. The small one was distracted by what happened, but he forgot there were two other arrows conjured.
In a matter of seconds, he looked down at his crotch. There was nothing left there.
The boy, with fury in his eyes, made sure to take from him perhaps his most valuable treasure. The small one didn't even have time to suffer for the first loss, as the second arrow hit his right elbow dead-on, causing not only the dagger to fall but his forearm as well.
"Noooo, shit!" as he thrashed, more and more blood sprayed the ground. "Kill him, Lucius!"
After that, the small one's hood fell, and it became clear what he was. A damn goblin... but the boy had acted well. When I looked back at him, he had fainted. It was time to act before he lost more blood.
"Bruto, Rufos. I noticed you share the same rage and disgust I'm feeling for those two... I've held you back long enough. Do whatever you want with them."
Both charged at the bastards. With a single blow, they knocked them unconscious—of course, the main credit went to the boy; his attacks did most of the work. The two dragged the unconscious bodies far enough away so the sounds of what they were about to do wouldn't be heard. Two problems down, only one left.
"Hey, who are you?"
Since they started acting, he caught my eye. This sword guy was the only one who didn't step forward, didn't act rashly, and didn't brag. And looking closer, he had nothing on his cloak, unlike those other two.
"Well, I didn't expect to find a traitor from the underground here. Shadow, the assassin of darkness." Raising his hood slightly, I saw he wore a mask covering from his nose up. "Seems you're here for the same goal as me..."
He looked at the boy as he finished. No way. And besides, how did he recognize me?
Well, I'll have to leave that for later. I can't let him get his hands on the boy; there's clearly something very special about him.
"If you know me, you know it's stupid to face me, right?"
"Ah, yes, it would be stupid. But it's a pity; it seems you'll have the youngest wielder of Void Magic in your hands for a while." He pulled a ring from his pocket; the gem glowed unusually. "But enjoy that time. Soon, I will seek what is mine... Goodbye, if you're still alive by our next meeting."
After putting on the ring, he vanished. I tried searching with my goggles that see the invisible, but I couldn't find him. That could only mean it was a high-level escape spell.
"Shit, this guy is trouble."
"I wanted to thank you. You really saved us."
"No need to thank us. We just couldn't let something bad happen without doing anything."
That mother wasn't normal either. While I was talking to that man, she took the chance to conjure a strong healing spell to stabilize the boy. Impressive...
"By the way, not to intrude, but... are you from a circus?"
"Circus?" The question genuinely confused me. "Why the question?"
"It's just that, from the clothes, I couldn't help but notice, haha."
From the clothes, she said. Was I really that outdated in my memory of how thieves dress? Regardless, I'm not liking the reaction of the two idiots over there; they came back at a bad time and still have the nerve to laugh at me.
"Ah yes, you caught us, haha." How humiliating... "We were just passing through to perform in a nearby village."
"Oh, how wonderful! If you pass through Remotus again to perform, I'll bring my children to watch!"
"Oh, marvelous, haha..." Someone make this stop. "Anyway, my two companions over there will help you carry the boy to your house. Right, boys?"
I made sure my gaze conveyed all the rage I felt toward them, making it obvious that if they refused, there would be grave consequences, especially for laughing at me.
"Oh, yes, yes, right, big bro?"
"Definitely, little bro."
Patsies. At least they'd be helpful in finding the exact path to where they live. That will help me once Locke gets here.
"Goodbye. I'll be waiting for you right there."
After saying goodbye to them, I went to the spot I had marked. I needed to be sure no one would see the teleportation ritual I was about to perform. But first, I had to contact that blockhead with the communication crystal.
ε — Locke
How boring. It's been half a day since the last contact with Shadow and still nothing. What a delay. Was the info they passed really true?
At least I can enjoy this sofa cushion; it's soft as a cloud. It just hugs you when you sit on it. I just can't get distracted and fall asleep, or I'd miss Shadow's contact.
"Blockhead, you there?"
A low voice echoed in the room. I looked at the table nearby, where I had left my communication crystal.
"Ooh! The greatest treasure hunter and mage of the last..."
"Enough," he interrupted. "Cut the intro; it's just me here. Just reporting that the thing about the boy is true. And we weren't the only ones after him. Apparently, he has access to 'Void Magic'—notably powerful, I must say."
"Hm, I see." I'd never heard of that magic, but it seems important given people are after it. "Wonderful. I'll be waiting for you to make the teleportation circle."
"Deal. Don't forget anything when you come here. The circle I'm making will store the trip to a temple in the boy's village, Benu, on the border of Drackoon and Stärwind. In other words, if you forget something, it's over. And don't go doing anything stupid."
"Fine, I won't." Obviously, I kept my fingers crossed when I said that. "By the way, you're going ahead to confirm about this Benu guy, right? Who's going to lead me to where the Void Magic boy lives?"
"There are two brutes who went to take the woman and the boy there. They carried him since he was unconscious. Their names are Bruto and Rufos."
"Give me a description. Just names won't help."
"They are..." Shadow hesitated for a moment. "They are dressed as clowns."
"Right... just one question. Why clowns?"
"Hanging up..."
Alright, that was definitely weird, but nothing I can do. Now I just wait for the floor where he drew the departure portal to start glowing, and then the party begins.
After a minute, it began to emit its glow. The signal to leave. I think the only thing I'll "forget" is the return bracelet. It wouldn't be any fun if I didn't enjoy myself a little with these boys.
I'm excited. I hope we find some goblin base or something to toss them into and test their skills. Can't wait!
I think there's only one thing that would ruin this moment: if they turn out to be those whiny brats who don't know how to have fun...
May Grutok help me if that's the case...