Chapter 5: The Secret Elf Realm
Amidst the waterfall's roar, Edmund and Don's fate was like fallen leaves in a gale, mercilessly thrown into an unknown abyss. Just at the moment of their fall, a soft light wrapped around their bodies; the current was warm and peaceful, dispelling the cold and fear around them. It was as if someone was guiding them invisibly. Suddenly, they entered a whirlpool, and the scenery around them changed. An ancient, mysterious doorway slowly opened, like a dream world before them. The towering crystal pillars were like guardians, engraved with the runes of the Elves, emitting a faint golden glow. Under the feet was soft moss; overhead was the bright starry sky, surrounded by a forest of ancient trees and strange crystals. The scent of flowers and the smell of ancient magic filled The air, sacred and serene, as if time stood still here. They all seemed so dreamy and incredible.
"Where are we?" Edmund asked weakly, feeling the powerful magic the land contained despite his severe injuries.
Don gasped and helped Edmund sit on a moss-covered rock, looking around warily. "It….It is an Elven boundary. We're safe."
Before Tang's words fell, soft footsteps came from the forest's depths. Several elf soldiers dressed in silver robes rushed into the crystal cave and surrounded them, their eyes shining with calmness and wisdom. At the head of the group was an Elf Elder-Philly with long silver-white hair hanging down to his shoulders and eyes as deep as the stars in the night sky.
"Who are the visitors?" Philly's voice was as low as an ancient echo, with a hint of majesty,
"You have set foot in Elos Toriel, the holy land of the Elves. Why are you trespassing here?"
Edmund did his best to stand up straight, but his injuries made it nearly impossible to maintain his balance. Don rushed to support him and bowed to the elf Philly,
"Elder, we... came here to seek the help of the Elves. The darkness is spreading rapidly, and we must..."
Edmund suddenly fainted from his injuries, and Don cried nervously,
"Edmund!!!"
He turned to the elder and pleaded,
"Please help him!"
Philly's gaze fell on the ruby in Edmund's hand, the gem emitting a faint and eerie glow. Philly's expression instantly became grave,
"The ruby you carry is part of an ancient prophecy. Its awakening means that a great crisis is coming."
After silence, Philly finally spoke slowly, "Come with me. We must heal his wounds first."
The elves were led through clusters of amethysts. Don carried Edmund on his back, which shimmered with mysterious light as if the crystals around them whispered and discussed their arrival. They eventually came to a sacred and magnificent valley, where the crystal castle shimmered with the light of ancient runes, like the center of the elven race, full of mysterious power.
Upon entering the castle, the elves laid Edmund on a bed made of fluorite, gently covering him with a light veil and chanting an ancient incantation. A warm glow enveloped Edmund, and his breathing steadied. The elders took Don to the council hall, where amethysts hung around the room, emitting a soft light, and ancient runes were carved into the obsidian tabletop, revealing an unfathomable power.
The elder slowly sat down, and the elven warriors surrounded him with a sharp sparkle in their eyes. He gazed at Don and said faintly,
"Don, it's been long. Do you still remember me?"
Don froze and then said, in surprise,
"Uncle Philly! I didn't recognize you at first."
The elder smiled slightly,
''Edmund's injuries are not severe. He will recover. As for your visit, let's talk about it in detail after he wakes up.
Edmund awoke early the following day, the shimmering light emanating from his bed of fluorite soothing his wounded body. He rose slowly, his gaze falling on the clouds outside the window, but his thoughts returned to the night of Ruby's awakening, and his mind was uneasy.
"How are you feeling?" Don asked with concern.
"Heart beating like it never stopped." Edmund joked.
Don laughed, then solemnly introduced,
"This is Uncle Philly, the deputy patriarch of the Elf Clan."
Edmund sat at the obsidian table, looking solemn,
"We must seek the help of the Elves. Leah has sensed the power of the ruby, and she will stop at nothing to destroy it."
Philly's gaze grew deep,
"Leah's machinations have long transcended the realm of man. She seeks to awaken an ancient darkness that has been sealed away, and the ruby in your hands is the key to her plan."
"So what do we do about it?" Don asked anxiously.
Philly stood up and gently stroked the runes on the table as if awakening dormant memories. He took a deep breath and said,
"Look into the Mirror of Clarity; he will tell you all."
The Mirror of Clarity hung high in the center of the stone hall, like the eye of the stars, its silver light echoing inside the hall. Ancient incantations surrounded the mirror frame as if telling the secrets it carried for thousands of years. Edmund and Tang held their breath and looked at this mysterious magic tool, reflecting their destinies and futures.
The smooth surface was like a pool of still water; as Edmund's finger lightly touched the mirror, a shimmering light surged out from the ruby, touching the power of the Mirror of Clarity. Gradually, ripples spread out. The image that appeared in the mirror then revealed an ancient picture:
In those times, the Black Witch clan was one of the most potent forces on the continent. They held the ruby, which was the source of their power. The power contained in the ruby could bring light and hope or be a source of darkness and destruction. Through forbidden rituals and incantations, the Black Witches transformed the power in the rubies into dark magic, which was strong enough to shake the world.
However, Evelyn's people, a group of witches who once stood alongside the Dark Witch, began to tire of using black magic. They turned to the study of herbs and nature magic and became the Light bringers, their magic filled with healing and protective powers. Their transformation caught the attention of the Black Witch and eventually led to conflict between the two clans.
It was a devastating war. In a final showdown with the Black Witch clan, Evelyn's ancestors, clad in white robes, raised the sacred emblems of herbs and magic. The battle engulfed the night, and the forces of day and darkness met in the air. The Black Witches used the power of the Ruby to try to devour the world with darkness, but their magic and perseverance finally repelled them. Ruby's power was split during this battle, and one part was sealed in this one in my hand, while the other part, Leah's mother, managed to escape. She disappeared to the ends of the world with her desire for Ruby and her resentment for her defeat.
Calm was restored to the mirrors, but their hearts churned like a storm. The secret of the ruby was revealed, and it was a symbol of power and a shackle of fate. Edmund's fists clenched, and the determination in his heart grew more assertive. He would guard Evelyn and this ancient world no matter how dark approached.
"Your arrival is a sign of destiny. With the power of black magic, we can only stop Leah's dark plans by uniting the forces of the Elves and the Wolves."
"But first," Philly gazed at Edmund, "you must learn to master the power of the ruby; it is the key and the curse. If you cannot harness it, the darkness will consume you first." Removing an ancient book, he handed it to Edmund. "This book contains ancient incantations that may help you fight against Leah."
Edmund's hand clutched the ruby, knowing full well the responsibility and danger that came with the gem. Despite his severe injuries, he remained firm,
"I will learn to control it, no matter the cost."
Don whispered,
"If the other ruby is still in the hands of the Black Witch's descendant, then her power must have awakened ... What is her goal?"
Edmund's gaze was as deep as an abyss,
"Her goal is to completely break the seal and release that sealed dark power to make the world monopolize the night. Leah is already preparing."
The silence in the temple seemed to freeze time; only the ruby's shimmering light still flickered, an omen and a warning - a dark storm was brewing.
"Time is running out," Philly whispered." Prepare to face your fate; the battle between light and dark has begun."
Edmund and Don began healing and training in this mysterious land as the elves made arrangements. They knew that every step in front of them would determine the fate of the future. And in the darkness far away, Leah's plots quietly advanced, Brian's failure making her even more determined to destroy Ruby and Edmund together.
The battle between light and darkness has begun, and Edmund and his companions will decide on the end of this war.