In the years following our marriage, I hesitate to label it as unequivocally successful. Our shared history comprised both moments of happiness and adversity, creating a nuanced narrative. While our union wasn't flawless, I conscientiously upheld my responsibilities as a dedicated husband to Relia. The incident involving the blood moon altered the course of our lives, resulting in the absence of any offspring. This development raised eyebrows among the Elders, who, in their traditional outlook, deemed a childless marriage of considerable duration as a matter that could not be overlooked—an impending scandal.
As I awoke in my room, a chill enveloped me, accentuating the profound sense of solitude. The absence of Relia in the bed and the open windows intensified the cool atmosphere. Determined to investigate, I rose from the bed and discovered my favorite breakfast meticulously prepared on the table—a bowl brimming with simmered green vegetables, milk, and nuts. I savored every bite until the bowl was emptied. As I stood up, the gentle morning breeze caressed my senses, bestowing a soothing tranquility upon the awakening day.
I carried the bowl to our kitchen, diligently washing it until the lingering aroma of my meal dissipated. Subsequently, I arranged the bowl and the utensils on the table, leaving them to air-dry. Despite completing the cleaning task, there was no sign of Relia, who typically frequents the kitchen around this time. It occurred to me that she might be occupied with errands or perhaps at the market, and I anticipated her return later.
Our humble abode comprised a single floor constructed with sturdy clay bricks supported by wooden beams, and a robust roof crafted from heavy wood. A well situated nearby supplied our water needs. The limited space in front of our house extended only to the adjoining road. Despite my modest income as an artisan, I found contentment in our dwelling and the simple life it afforded.
Stepping outside for a breath of fresh air, I observed passersby and merchants tending to their stalls. Among them, young elves with golden hair lingered, creating a lively scene. It then dawned on me that a festival to honor the gods for a bountiful harvest was underway, a detail I had forgotten. Sighing, I took a seat on the bench in front of our house, contemplating how Relia might have gently reminded me of the celebration.
A lively scene unfolded as people queued up in front of stalls, while others made their way toward the temples, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. Spending several hours seated in front of our house, I patiently awaited Relia's return. Succumbing to boredom, I eventually drifted into sleep. Upon awakening, I harbored the hopeful expectation that she would have returned, yet, to my disappointment, she remained absent.
A growing sense of concern washed over me as I acknowledged that something might be awry. Despite it being well into the second hour of the afternoon, Relia had not returned. The majority of festival attendees had dispersed, yet I couldn't spot her in the crowd. Fueled by worry, I intensified my search, exploring various places where she might be. Checking the temples and prayer sites yielded no sign of her, deepening my unease about her whereabouts.
"Where could she possibly be?" Anxiety and perspiration overwhelmed me as I grappled with the unsettling thought of her potential abduction or some other ominous scenario.
Emerging from the final temple, I scanned the surroundings for any elven woman bearing silver hair and features akin to Relia's, but my quest proved fruitless. Despite diligent searching, she remained elusive, and with nightfall imminent, I reluctantly abandoned the pursuit, resigning myself to the impracticality of continuing in the dark. Tears welled up on my cheeks as concerns for her safety intensified. The unsettling notion that she might have departed due to our childlessness lingered in my thoughts.
The harsh reality weighed heavily on me, evoking a profound sense of self-reproach and failure as a potential father. I couldn't shake the thought that having a child or two would bring immense joy to Relia, and in that regard, I felt I had fallen short. Instead of focusing on my perceived inadequacy in providing happiness, I should have expressed regret for my apparent shortcomings. It pained me to admit my inability to contribute to the growth of our family, both in terms of offspring and as a reliable provider. The stark realization that reality often deviates from our expectations was a bitter pill to swallow.
The following morning unfolded with a disquieting familiarity, yet this time, my breakfast lay untouched. A thorough search of the house revealed Relia's absence. A gnawing sense of unease set in; Relia had consistently been faithful. Doubt and suspicion crept into my thoughts, leading me to consider the possibility that something untoward had occurred or that she might have taken some drastic action. The unsettling idea of infidelity crossed my mind, triggering a surge of apprehension. I reminded myself, however, that if such suspicions were confirmed, the consequences for her actions would be severe and unforgiving.
Proceeding toward our kitchen, an insistent knock echoed from outside our door, persisting without respite. Irritated by the disturbance, I hurriedly approached and swung the door open. To my surprise, a group of guards dispatched by the elders stood before me. A wave of confusion washed over me as I pondered the reason for such an official visit. The presence of the guards indicated only one likely scenario—I was being summoned, and the prospect left me with a sense of foreboding.
In a resonant voice, one of the guards addressed me, proclaiming, "Elios Siggrith, the Elders summon you!"
The summons from the elders hinted at a matter of grave importance. An uneasy thought crossed my mind: "Could this be linked to my marriage with Relia? I hope not!" Anxiety enveloped me, and recognizing the futility of resistance, I acquiesced to accompany the guards. Though they refrained from chaining me, a tight formation was maintained around me, ensuring there was no chance of escape.
As we traversed the road, I sensed the penetrating gazes of onlookers, their scrutiny seeming to pierce through the very core of my soul. The disapproving looks shattered my confidence, as the disdainful expressions conveyed an unspoken condemnation. In the elven community, failure was deemed unacceptable, and depending on the circumstances and severity, it could entail shame or, in more dire instances, one's demise.
Numerous scenarios flooded my mind as I was led toward the House of the Elders. The temptation to break free, becoming an outcast or a fugitive, loomed large, as did the haunting prospect of facing death as a perceived failure to my responsibilities. The weight of various consequences and potential outcomes burdened my thoughts. Opting for a moment of introspection, I chose to calm myself and press on. After all, what is shame when faced with circumstances beyond one's control? The inability to have children and the challenges that accompanied it were not something I could be coerced into changing, resisting the societal expectation to produce offspring abundantly.
After a thirty-minute walk, we reached the House of the Elders, where the guards conscientiously dusted their shoes before entering. My inability to wear mine left me to continue walking, escorted by the guards. As we stepped into the forum's halls, an indoor stadium meant for debates, trials, and religious gatherings, a gathering of onlookers awaited. The weight of their collective gaze sapped my spirit, making me feel as though every aspect of my character and soul was under intense judgment.
Their slanderous words and baseless accusations filled my ears with toxicity. Head bowed in shame, I pressed forward as the guards guided me towards our destination. Nearing the stage of the forum, the elders were already seated at the forefront. As I lifted my head, I caught sight of Relia, elegantly adorned with jewelry and dressed with poise. The summoning held a foreboding significance—the very thing I had feared.
With a resigned sigh, I accepted my fate, mustering a smile despite the weight of their judgment. It was evident that they had already labeled me a failure, signaling an impending status as an outcast. As the elders rose upon my arrival, a figure adorned in purple robes spoke, declaring, "Elios Siggrith, by now you should understand the purpose of your summons!"
I nodded in response, my spirit depleted and my sense of purpose and dignity stripped away. I found myself unable to utter a word, my lips frozen. The attention of the elders then shifted to Relia, seated in front of me. In her eyes, I discerned a mixture of sadness, disappointment, and shame. She remained silent, avoiding direct eye contact, transforming into a distant figure, almost like a stranger to me.
"By the laws of our grandfathers and their ancestors before them, being a failure as a father to sire children carries its own punishment!" The elder in his blue robes declared sternly, "You are hereby banished from the city and its walls. You are to live as an outcast!
Upon hearing these words, an intense and unexplainable emotion surged within me. Memories of the blood moon and the haunting echoes of Relia's screams from that night replayed vividly in my mind. In a burst of overwhelming emotion, I let out a loud roar. The guards attempted to restrain me, but their efforts proved futile as I tossed them away with newfound strength that seemed to surpass all limits. The atmosphere in the forum shifted, and I could sense the fear emanating from the elders, Relia, and the onlookers.
An ethereal white aura enveloped me, and I sensed a peculiar transformation within. The elders, frozen in fear, gazed upon me as if confronted by a spectral force. After the abrupt surge of energy subsided, I gradually regained composure and knelt down in exhaustion. Observing my weakened state, the guards, seizing their spears, aimed them towards me with heightened vigilance.
Upon witnessing the unfolding scene, one of the elders rose from their seat and
intervened, commanding the guards to stop, "Halt, leave him be!"
With awe replacing their initial fear, the other elders approached me, instructing an attendant to retrieve a scroll from the library. As the ethereal aura dissipated, I crumpled to the ground, drained of strength. The elders directed the guards to assist me, and upon the attendant's arrival, they unfurled the scroll.
One of the elders inquired, "What transpired? Why have you been bestowed with such ominous powers?"
"Powers?" I questioned, perplexed.
"Provide an answer!" The elders demanded in unison.
I shook my head in response, utterly perplexed by their inquiries. The elders, undeterred, examined the calendar and probed further. They sought information from Relia about any recent extraordinary events we might have encountered. Relia, hesitating at first, eventually confessed, recounting her visions related to the blood moon and detailing the incident during the ec
The elders nodded in acknowledgment as they listened to Relia's account, drawing a conclusion from her words. They then convened in front of me, with the elder in the purple robe declaring, "He must be enlightened!"
The attendants positioned a large mirror in front of me. As I caught sight of my reflection, shock rippled through me. My once silver hair had turned pure white, and my brown eyes now glowed with a deep red hue, akin to blood. "No!" I screamed in terror, witnessing the transformation unfold before my eyes.
An elder in yellow robes spoke, delivering the conclusion of my fate, "Once every ten thousand years, the rarest among our kind undergo a transformation, becoming one of our mightiest warriors and saviors. Elios Siggrith, born during the Autumn decade, reveals his true form."
Another elder, adorned in red robes, continued, "With hair as white as snow and eyes as red as blood, he is a descendant of the Lunar order—the rarest among our kind, thought to be extinct after the Twilight Wars."
The eldest elder, garbed in black robes, concluded, "The extraordinary resurgence of their kind signifies a singular purpose! His presence indicates a glimmer of hope for averting an impending catastrophe. We, the elders, retract your sentence of exile and will guide you towards the path of immortality. Consider this a blessing bestowed upon you. You are absolved from your marital vows, forgiven for your perceived failures, and destined to ascend to the highest echelons of our kind."
Upon hearing those words, I found myself uncertain about whether to be pleased or not with the elders' proclamation. While it meant avoiding a fate of hunger and exile, the path they outlined remained ambiguous.
Glancing at Relia, she steadfastly avoided meeting my gaze. It seemed that my marriage, I surmised, was now forfeit, marking the initiation of a new chapter in my life.