Irene and her small contingent of elves returned to the village, their faces smudged with dirt and sweat, their weapons stained with the blood of their fallen foes. Despite the fatigue etched on their features, there was a sense of triumph in their eyes as they surveyed the aftermath of the battle.
"Finish them off," Irene announced to her sisters as electricity warped the air around her.
With practiced efficiency, they set about cleaning up the remnants of the goblin invasion, gathering the bodies of the fallen, and tending to the wounded. The villagers worked together, their spirits lifted by the victory and the knowledge that they had defended their home against overwhelming odds.
I let the non-combatant villagers contribute, each of them wielding short bows of their own and taking potshots at the dwindling goblin forces. I looked at Red Scale, the giant snake I had summoned here, and telepathically ordered the creature to retreat.
As the night wore on, the village began to settle into an uneasy calm. The walls, though damaged, still stood tall. The elves gathered around the bonfire in the center of the village, sharing tales of bravery and valor, their voices mingling with the crackle of flames and the chirping of crickets.
Irene stood tall amidst her sisters, her gaze somber yet determined as she addressed the gathered elves. "Tonight, we mourn the loss of our fallen sisters in arms," she began, her voice carrying a weight of sorrow. "They fought bravely, sacrificing their lives to protect our home. We will remember them always, for their courage and their sacrifice."
Her words hung heavy in the air, mingling with the crackle of the bonfire and the rustle of leaves in the night breeze. "But amidst our losses, we have gained something new," Irene continued, her tone shifting to one of cautious hope. "The Gifted among us have awakened powers beyond imagination. Though we mourn those we have lost, we must also embrace the gifts bestowed upon us."
With a gesture, Irene summoned electricity to dance around her fingertips, illuminating the darkness with crackling energy. "Behold," she declared, her voice tinged with awe, "the power of the Gifted. With these abilities, we shall defend our home and our people against any who would threaten us."
As her sisters watched in awe, Irene lowered her hand, the electricity fading into the night. "Let us honor the memory of our fallen sisters," she concluded, her voice firm with determination. "And let us embrace the strength and unity that will carry us forward into the challenges that lie ahead."
Irene looked at me, her eyes reflecting gratitude as she remarked that my contributions were acknowledged by the village.
"The wood elves of this forest are indebted to you, Ivan… For that, the village thanks you."
The other elves turned their gaze towards me, expressions ranging from admiration to curiosity. Yet, I preferred remaining in the shadows, away from the spotlight. With a smile, I subtly used my psychic powers to redirect their adoration towards Irene, the true leader of their tribe.
"It is Chief Irene's wisdom and courage that have led us to this victory," I remarked, my voice soft but carrying weight in the conversation. "Her trust in an outsider like myself, and her strategic plans, have paved the way for this small triumph against overwhelming odds."
Irene nodded in agreement, her expression one of humility mixed with determination. "We stand together as one," she declared, her gaze sweeping over the assembled elves. "Every contribution, no matter how small, has played a part in our defense. Let us continue to work as a united force, drawing strength from each other and from our newfound abilities."
The elves murmured their agreement, their spirits bolstered by Irene's words and the sense of camaraderie that permeated the air. Together, they had weathered the storm, and together, they would face whatever challenges the future held.
But they were far from over… The threat of the goblins far south remained uncontested.
As the elves celebrated their small victory, I took a step back from the festivities, my mind already analyzing the situation at hand. Despite the triumph, the losses would weigh on the elves immediately and would even affect their morale.
Still… The elves had gained over fourteen Gifted individuals, each with newfound powers, but it came at a cost—three times that number lay fallen, their lives sacrificed in defense of their home.
To me, it was a good deal… Usually, for me, it would take at least twenty times that number. For the elves though, it would be more hurtful knowing that they just lost three-quarters of their abled fighters. I could hear dissatisfaction from the few elves' surface thoughts already.
The threat of the goblins remained, lurking to the far south, unchecked and potentially regrouping for another assault. It was a sobering reality amidst the revelry of the village. My advice to launch a raid against the goblins gnawed at me, knowing that those lost lives were in part due to my counsel.
I considered myself human, which was why from time to time, I would entertain my 'conscience' and even helpfully categorize what I did whether it was evil or good… this time, what I did was purely utilitarian, in some aspects, it could be good at the core, what I did was evil.
It was a madman's work to catalog your evil deeds and good deeds, but perhaps this was my way of counting my Karma, not that I believed in any religion.
Turning away from the bonfire, I sought a quiet corner where I could gather my thoughts.
I glanced back at the gathered elves, their faces lit by the flickering flames, their voices raised in camaraderie. They deserved a moment of respite, a chance to celebrate their hard-won victory. But in the back of my mind, I knew that the peace would be short-lived, that the looming threat of the goblins demanded action.
In fact, I'd love to conquer the Goblin Kingdom right now, steal their souls, and imbue their soul energy on my daughter, but I wouldn't be so reckless… The Goblin Kingdom could be considered a whole country and back from where I came from, no matter how small a country was, it would nominally be a difficult endeavor to conquer one.
My mind whirred back at the new Gifted Elves. I was honestly impressed. Through my telepathy, I subtly scoured their memories to see how well they fought. It appeared the Memory Packets I gave them worked splendidly. Not to mention, the elves in general had incredible talent at wielding gifts.
As I observed them, a sense of satisfaction washed over me. These elves, with their newfound abilities, could potentially turn the tide against future threats. But their training was far from over. I could sense untapped potential within them, waiting to be honed and perfected.
Very valuable pawns, I realized… I guessed it would be such a waste not to make use of the elves at this point.
I made a mental note to speak with Irene about organizing further training sessions for the Gifted. They needed to master their powers, to become proficient warriors capable of defending their home with ease. And perhaps, with enough training and guidance, they could even launch a counterattack against the goblin threat.
Mayne approached me, her steps silent amidst the murmurs of the celebrating elves. Her expression was a mix of concern and curiosity as she addressed me. "Ivan, how do you find the night?"
I turned to face her, noting the genuine concern in her eyes. "Thrilling," I replied, my voice was calm not giving much in the avenue of emotion. "It is a time of reflection, of introspection. And tonight, it carries the weight of our recent victory, tempered by the knowledge of the challenges that still lie ahead. The goblins won't give up, and we should be prepared."
Mayne nodded, her gaze lingering on the flickering flames of the bonfire. "Indeed," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "We have prevailed against the goblin invasion, but the threat lingers. And with the emergence of the Gifted thanks to you, there is much to consider."
I sensed the uncertainty and hostility in her words, the underlying fear of what the future might hold. "The Gifted possess incredible power," I remarked, my tone measured as I sought to offer reassurance. "But with power comes responsibility… and I must say, they were worth it."
Mayne's expression softened, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "Your guidance has been invaluable, Ivan," she admitted, her voice tinged with sincerity. "Irene trusts you implicitly, and that trust extends to all of us. We are grateful for your presence here."
"However," she intoned, "Is it really worth it to lose this many elves this early in the fight? I knew at some point we elves have to fight for our survival considering the loss of the male population, that was evident even during the Frost Fire Sect's attempts to subjugate us but this was different… I never thought we would fight on this scale, of a war… We elves don't even exceed the triple digits in our population…"
I inclined my head in acknowledgment, a small smile touching my lips. "I am merely a humble advisor," I replied, deflecting the praise with practiced ease. "The true strength lies within the unity of your people, and in the leadership of Chief Irene. You are right to doubt, but never let your doubts hinder you… Don't mull over things that you have no power to change, because you would only be torturing yourself."
Mayne regarded me for a moment as if weighing my words. Then, with a nod of understanding, she turned to gaze once more at the gathering of elves. "You are right," she admitted, her voice firm with determination.
"Tonight, let us celebrate our victory and honor the memory of those we have lost," I added while sipping on a mug of booze another elf was sharing among the crowd.