In the morning mother Ara was waiting in the kitchen. She prepared a nice breakfast of eggs for Lera and Mercer.
"Mother Ara, you said you could explain what our visions meant...?" Lera was still a little off, but was now able to focus on her thoughts and the world around her. "I think I am ready to know why my visions were so different from anything I have seen. I had enough time to filter them aside from my own memories"
"Lera... I think your vision directly relates to our family lineage. I believe it is latching on to the berserker blood running through our veins. The visions you were shown could have come from anywhere along our lineage, from any of our ancestors, There are many great fighters who had bloody histories. I had hoped you would not inherit this as it is often as much of a curse as it is a blessing. Often ending up being totally uncontrollable and causing many regrets." Lera looked down for a moment before continuing. "The berserker rage is activated during moments of intense emotion, for me it was after my father had been killed by an opposing empire we were at war with, Alone I almost destroyed their entire empire. It happened again when your father was killed. A squad of guards broke into our home to kill us as they considered me a witch for my fair skin, knowledge, and magical potential. I went mad and slaughtered all of them. I wish I could go back and change it. I can still remember it, the hatred and blood through blurred and dimmed vision. I could not stop myself. I have since not used my magic, to try and protect you, " She looked up at Lera, "The blood rage can take many forms, and I hope yours is much lighter than mine, and it is controllable."
Lera leaned back, letting her head hang over the back of the chair. "That explains a lot of what I saw. I didn't understand it, all I saw was death, and all I could feel was hate. It was brutal and I could not process it so my brain just shut down. I still don't understand a lot of what I saw. There were so many weapons I don't understand."
"I am glad you are coming back to your senses at least. If you need to talk I am always here."
"Wait... you said you could use magic? Is that related to our berserker blood?" Lera perked up, and gazed questioningly at mother Ara.
"No, that was a gift I was given from the Goddesses, I can not teach you."
"Mother Ara, what about my visions? What do they mean?" Mercer sat up attentively and was watching mother Ara's face.
"For that, you must go learn on your own. In the North there is a cave that holds what you need. There is someone who lives there, only they can let you know what you need to know. The cave appears from the outside to have been home to a large beast."
Lera and Mercer glanced at each other. "That one, you knew of it before?"
"Yes, I have been there many times. They are an old friend."
"Then I guess we should go there soon." Lera stood up to leave.
"Wait..." Mother Ara held up her hand, "Mercer must go into the cave alone... Lera, you can take him there, but no more."
"What! No!" Lera was very protective of her bother. "I can't let him go in there alone, we have no idea what's in there!"
"You must Lera. What they will tell Mercer is for his ears only. Mercer will not learn what he needs to know if you come along." Mother Ara was speaking softly, she knew how much Mercer meant to her.
"hmmm fine..." Lera left and began packing up her things, Mercer lingered for a moment longer before he too left to pack his things.
They grabbed a number of tools they might need, matches, lanterns, and food. They wanted to make sure they had everything they could possibly need for diving this cave alone.
After packing the essentials they went to the door and said their goodbyes to mother Ara. Then they turned and left, heading first for the clearing where they found the flower.
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When they reached the clearing they knew that they were getting close to the cave.
"Lera, the flower has turned to stone, come look!" Mercer was crouched next to the flower, and sure enough it was solid rock, cracking under it's own weight. It was probably only going to last a little longer.
"Mother said it was a piece of one of the Eldar, maybe it is finally dieing. Perhaps it used up its power to show us our visions." Lera glanced at it, then began walking towards the edge of the clearing, not wanting to be near the flower even if it was dead already.
Mercer stayed for a little longer, pulling out his journal and adding some more notes about the strange flower's behavior before meeting up with Lera. They then left for the cave being only a short ways from the clearing.
Once they reached the cave they stopped and stared. They looked at each other but made no move for a few moments. Just processing what was about to happen.
"Lera, you know what mother said. You have to stay outside." Mercer looked over at Lera to see her expression.
"I know, that doesn't mean I have to like it." Lera walked over to the side of the cave and began unpacking a few things. Mercer could feel how upset she was. She was tense in every move she made.
"I don't like it either, but if mother Ara said it, then it must be necessary. She has not led us astray yet." With that he turned and looked into the cave. Tense for what the future would bring.
"Alright Lera, I'll see you on the other side." Mercer stepped into the cave.
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~Eldar Flower~
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(picture of a flower was drawn here)
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Appears to glow in many colors
A mountain nymph was dancing nearby
Showed visions to us when near
turned to stone days later
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