I sit on a patch of grass, admiring from afar the sophisticated cabins as they lie on high-rise platforms. Ren's elf village was kept on a higher level, using thick trees as bearings for the larger platforms. Ren approaches, a basket in his arms. "I managed to get you some cultivated goods from our stores." He hands the basket to me. It's full of large fruits and mashed nuts. My mouth waters just looking at the thick, yellow fruits.
"Thank you so much, Ren. I'll find a way to pay you back someday." I lick my lips, biting into the fruit. It was quite tart, with a sweet, juicy aftertaste. "What is this fruit?"
"That is an apple." He states. I widen my eyes.
"This is an apple? It certainly is round and tastes like one..."
"Yes..." Ren looks confused, like I just stated the obvious. "Don't worry about paying me back, Wren. We elves share our food with each other. It's not expected of you to bring anything in return."
The elves' culture was unlike anything I'd known in my home country. "How do you decide who does what?"
"We simply do what we are best at."
"Are there any elves who can use magic?"
"I can use Status magic."
"I mean... like magic. You know, fire and water and such."
"We have a couple shamans, but none who can use such magic."
"Can I learn magic from them?"
"They are a respected sort in our village. It's not for me to say. But they use Anima, same as your affinity, so it's possible they can take you in if they are interested." He smiles as he sees my eyes widen with excitement. "Don't tell me you want me to be your diplomat?"
"Please?" I clasp my hands. "It is as you see, I am begging!"
"Winds... fine. Stay close to me as we go."
We ascend to the platforms using a steep wooden staircase. I struggle to get through each step, but Ren easily ascends with his long-legged figure. "By the way... what do you mean when you say Winds?"
"It's an exclamation. To the force of nature, Aelus."
"Ellis?"
"Ae-lus. They bring the Winds of Tuhuaili to our world."
"Tu-way-lee?"
"You're going to need a whole lot more than Magic lessons, Wren..."
"Haha... I've noticed there aren't many other elves outside. Are you an unusual sort, Ren?"
"Not necessarily. I am a hunter, so I spend my days in the forest, looking for prey. Most other elves are either indoors creating fabrics or sleeping."
"Are you nocturnal?"
"Hm? I'm surprised you know that word. Yes, we usually sleep during the day and wake at night. Because many game animals are out and about during the day, my schedule is a little different from most, but I am by no means abnormal." He holds his arm out in front of me. We stop at a large cabin, the door covered in colorful woven fabric. "This is the shaman's abode. Hold my bow for me." I take the shortbow from his hands, awkwardly inspecting it as Ren goes into the building. It seemed crude, but upon closer look, the grip is delicately carved, and the string is taut and thick.
After some time, Ren opens the door, seeming somewhat exhausted. "You may go in, Wren. Please show the shaman respect however you can, even if you do not know our ways." I nod. Handing him his bow.
"Thank you, Ren." I close the door behind me. The shaman's cabin is colder than the outdoors, with an energizing, fruity scent about. I see an old woman at the front desk, yawning as she stares at me. I walk towards her, stopping some distance before the counter and kneeling to greet her. "My greetings. I am Wren, a human. I believe Ren has spoken of me?"
"Hmph." She looks down at me, somewhat pleased. "He has spoken little of you, but spoken he has. You seem to be a human whose memories were taken. I've heard of such cases." She stands from the counter. She is slightly taller than Ren is, and her brown hair reaches her shoulders. She turns around to paw through some of the titles on a bookshelf, finding a rather small book to put before me. "Your memories must have been stolen by an evil spirit. A Jaksha, to be exact." Flipping through the pages, she finds the entry and shows an illustration. It was an unusual drawing. The Jaksha looked to me like an imp with bulbous eyes and thin limbs.
"Can I get them back?"
"Not likely. It has probably been eaten and digested."
"How do you eat memories?"
"Magic."
"Ah."
"You shouldn't experience any other problems, but I recommend building your resistance to Psycha."
"Psycha?"
"Magic."
"Ah."
"Ren told me you wanted to learn magic from me. That you have a high affinity for Anima." The old woman smiles.
"So it seems. Is Anima useful?"
"I wouldn't be a shaman if it wasn't."
"You are a healer?"
"I am Ipha. A healer, yes, but I am more of an exorcist." Ipha's face scrunches into a grin, chuckling. "I like you, Wren. You share a name with our token hunter, so I feel inclined to take you in." My mouth opens, but no words come out. She cackles. "Now what is that look, boy? You seem awfully excited to put your nose to some tomes."
"Is magic boring to you?"
"Hah! You'll see."