An old elf read a hastily written note.
[I have decided I am old enough to adventure. I am leaving with Purai. Don't follow me. I love you but I want to travel. I'll return someday. Please take care of my flower garden. I have met most of my favorite people because of those flowers. Love Lillith. P.S. Grandpa if you came home from your fishing trip early and are reading this, the people I am traveling with and I are not fish to be caught. Stay out of my decision.]
The paper wrinkled in his grip. "How dare someone deceive my adorable granddaughter into traveling in the unsafe world?" He took a breath and put the paper back down. "Cirith, I'm going out again." Lillith's grandpa said.
"Already?" The woman questioned. "You just got back. Aren't you going to rest?"
The old elf humped. "Did you not read Lillith's letter?"
"I did. Why? Should I be worried about her?" Cirith questioned. "She has always had an adventurous spirit, it was bound to happen someday. She even specifically asked you not to go after her. Are you going to go against her wishes?"
"Lillith doesn't understand the world. She is too naive and was likely deceived into following someone. I will save her even if she doesn't want to be saved." The old elf confirmed. "I'm going."
Cirith sighed. "Stubborn fool, she will only come to hate you."
"Lousy mother, she will never learn if you don't teach her anything." The old man retorted. "I know you only think like that because you hate me too but at least you aren't easily fooled by strangers. I am leaving now. Are you going to come after Lillith with me or not?"
Cirith huffed. "Then go already."
The elf walked out of the tree. He chanted a spell causing a firefly to appear before him. "Guide me to my granddaughter." He spoke to the small insect.
The insect flew off.
Inside the house the female elf burst into tears. "I'm sorry Lillith, I tried to stop him for you. I know how important this choice was to you." After some time to calm down, she wiped her tears and followed behind the stubborn old grandfather. "I can tolerate your rigidness but Lilly is my daughter, not yours. I know you don't see me as a good mother, but that doesn't mean you can parent for me, father. I may not care enough like you said, but you care way too much."
***
Carn approached Jericho and waited until he finished. A strange wreath like crown with a dark purple gem somehow embedded into the plants rested in his hands.
Jericho finished playing and looked up. "Back already?" Jericho inquired.
Carn nodded. "I am. Here is the crown. It is embedded with a mere few seconds of my memories so it shouldn't have too much of an effect on your mind. Let me explain how it works."
Jericho nodded to show he was listening.
"The crown, when worn initially will pass on the previous wearer's memories. The amount of memory given is equivalent to how long the previous wearer wore the crown after receiving the memories stored on it before they wore it. So the best way to not drastically affect someone's mind is to take it off as soon as the memories are transferred unless your goal is to pass specific memories like playing the new instrument. Please be careful what you think about while wearing the crown as those thoughts and feelings will also transfer. You can see why it is a dangerous artifact." He handed over the crown.
Jericho took the crown. "I understand. But why would you have such an item?"
The old goat Baa-laughed sadly. "Before we were believers in Arglwydd y Ddawns we were believers in Brenin Tragwyddol. The crown was fashioned so our ruler could wear the crown and when he died to pass on that crown to a newborn satyr to continue his life. After many lifetimes, the ruler became a bit crazy so we brought an end to his reign. Sadly it required a terrible sacrifice as the one who wore the crown knew he was fated to die soon after wearing the crown. Those were dark times before we discovered the glory of culture." The old satyr shuttered. "After all of that, we locked the crown away and only bring it out for specific things that would be deemed necessary."
"Wow," Jericho exhaled. "I had no idea. I am glad you are satyrs of culture now though. I would have hated to imagine what would have happened to us if you weren't."
"You probably would have been sacrificed on a great bonfire." Carn grinned. "Now, please use that crown wisely. It can be very dangerous if used incorrectly. When you are done passing on the necessary knowledge, please return it to me."
"I will. Thank you. Can you gather the satyrs that will be playing the instruments, including the two that will be learning the guitar?"
Carn's eyes widened. "Two? How intriguing. I will gather the satyrs. Is the dance ready to be taught yet?"
"It should be close."
"Good, teaching someone how to play a new piece or to perform a new dance does take some time; even with the crown's help." He started to trot off.
"Oh, Carn wait! I have one last question. Do the satyrs know how to read sheet music?"
Carn turned around with a smile. "Of course we do! Arglwydd y Ddawns created sheet music in the first place!" He replied with their cultural beliefs about their deity.
"Excellent!" Jericho pulled out the remaining parchment and pen his sister had gotten him and started drawing.
The satyr smiled. "I'll leave you to it then." He walked off leaving Jericho alone.
***
Jerichos 2 and 3 were practicing the various pieces of the song when the leaves rustled once more.
{One who has the Gemini Lilies in his soul… Can you hear our voices?}
The two Jerichos looked around. {I hear you. Where are you?} One called out.
{Return to being one being and follow us.} A nearby sapling tree, a flower and a stalk of some sort sprung to life in front of him and took on mildly humanoid shapes.
Jericho sighed. {The other two parts of me are busy with important tasks. Do you need all four of us to be one or just the two of us?}
{Just the two of you will be fine. We only wish to talk for now. Bring the water elemental with you as well.}
The two Jerichos merged back into one bard. {Glaw, you heard them right?}
{Indeed. Lead the way lesser wood elementals.} Glaw replied.
{Come!} The trees groaned and opened a path. The tiny plant shaped wood spirits make their way through the overgrowth.
Jericho and Glaw entered deeper into the woods. {Lesser wood elementals? They look like living plants.} Jericho inquired as their surroundings darkened.
{Yes, but living plants are not immortal wood spirits like these ones. There are a few other differences but that is irrelevant right now. I doubt they have come to get us just to talk. You are our both our brother and experiment at the same time. To them, you are currently like a distant cousin. At least I think that is how you mortals would explain it.} Glaw replied.
{I see.} Jericho grunted as the plant life became thicker and harder to traverse.
The whispering sounds around the two ceased the moment they walked into a grove enclosed by thickly woven plants. A large, old oak tree towered in the middle. Vines and branches sealed off the way they had come from.
{Greetings. I know mortals hold much sentiment towards names. You may call me, Eiche. What is yours?} The lone oak in the clearing opened its eyes and lowered its branched to look a little bit more humanoid.
{I am known as Jericho the Bard. But you can call me Jericho.}
{I am Glawio, but Jericho here calls me Glaw.}
The old tree creaked with laughter. {Jericho and Glawio, it is a pleasure to meet you officially. We have been watching you for some time. The forest has watched as you have avoided taking life unnecessarily. A rare feature among humans I might add. Is this something you have formed after becoming a water elemental?}
Jericho shook his head.
Glaw nodded. {Jericho and his sister, Dancing Princess, have been like this since before we met them. It was actually this part of their nature that solidified our choice in making him one of us.}
The tree smiled. {It seems my worries were needless then. Jericho, will you hear what I have to say?}
{I will listen. What is it that you wish to tell me?} Jericho replied seriously.
The large tree elemental creaked. {Since there is a bush next to you, there is no reason to beat around it.} The elemental paused to observe the lack of reaction from the bard. {Ah, I see my joke was lost on you. My apologies.}
Jericho continued to wait; he understood the joke but didn't think it was very funny.
{First, I should tell you that we do not possess a soulless wood elemental core here. So for now, we cannot further the desires of our ruler. I know that that is most likely one of the reasons for you to visit our forest and remain close to our territory for so long.}
Jericho shook his head. {To be honest, I didn't know your territory was here or even about the experiment until Glaw mentioned it yesterday.}
The large wood elemental paused. {Truly? Well in that case, there really wasn't much of a reason for us to summon you here then, my apologies. Regardless, we do not have the core you need.}
The bard nodded. {Glaw did mention soulless elemental cores were rare.}
{They are. However that is not all, the Wood King passed down an order. We wood elementals will not give any of the experiments a wood core until they have become acquainted with both water and earth. So before you can be accepted as part of the plant life, you must be accepted by the earth. If you can do that, then being accepted by us is not a problem. However you must find the wood elementals that are in possession of one of the soulless cores we have.}
[You have received the quest become one with the Earth: Become an Earth elemental. Reward: After returning to a place with wood elementals, they will willingly bestow upon you a soulless wood core however this particular group does not have a soulless wood elemental core so you will have to search elsewhere.]
The large wood elemental continued. {The three elements northward probably don't care about such precautions but it is wise to take the time to understand the risks of chaotic behavior. If you head west out of the forest, you will find the Clogwyni mountain range. Our Earth elemental friends there should have an earth core. But you are too weak. The mountains are a bit dangerous for you mortals.}
Jericho gave a nod. {I understand. You said they are to the west? There is an exit that way?}
{Of course there is an exit that way, the forest doesn't go on forever. But if you are asking if there are any mortal pathways, then no. Also the forest becomes more dangerous the closer you get to the mountains.}
{Thank you for being forward with me. It seems I must continue my previous quests. I was in the area to help a friend get past the satyrs without violence and got roped into making a song for a line dance for them.}
The tree-humanoid looking wood elemental nodded. {Until our roots touch once more.}
{Was there anything else or did you summon me here just to inform me of this information?} Jericho asked to confirm.
The tree shaped elemental lowered his branches. {Informing you was only half the reason however the other half has been completed as well. We wanted to be sure of your nature. I will inform the other wood elementals of what has transpired here today. They will be very relieved that you are a tranquil creature. You may leave.}
{Thank you.} Jericho gave a light bow as he turned to leave.
{Jericho, please wait!} A small daffodil shaped wood elemental cried out in front of him.
The bard paused. {Okay? Do you need to tell me something as well?}
The old tree groaned once more. {Narzisse, why do you stop him? We have said what needs to be said.}
The humanoid flower slumped. {But, my friends and I have been watching the elf girls he came to the forest with. We want to go meet them. Can we go? Please?} It pleaded with Eiche.
{Go then. Meet the mortals that have drawn your attention.} The tree replied.
{Yay!} Narzisse shouted and motioned for a few other small plant shaped lesser wood elementals.
The vines and branches blocking the way back opened once more. Jericho, Glaw and a small horde of lesser wood elementals left the clearing.
© J Eranoth