A Temperamental Enchantress- Chapter 1 (Patreon)

Chapter 1 Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end! `I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?'- Alice in Wonderland

Mira Nelson- Tsukishiti, Moon Elf Capital unto places unknown

Mira stood in the still burning remains of what had been an elven village. Her trip to the Moon Elf capital had been nearing an end, but then she felt some corrupt magic and found this. The air still burned where a moment before a portal to a dark realm had hung in the air. All around her, the elves from the village had been struck down where they were.

Some showed signs of having been in the middle of their daily tasks. A few appeared to have been fleeing. An even smaller number looked like they had tried to fight back. There was one thing they all had in common though. Each and every elven body she could see, man, woman, and even tiny children were headless.

Whatever had removed their heads had done so with a surgical precision and cauterized the wounds at it went so that precious little blood had leaked from any of the corpses. Mira thought she had seen a lot since she arrived in Eloria. Spider monsters, the kidnapping of her sister, and even an acid spitting drake, but none of it had made her feel like this.

She fell to one knee and leaned forward as she emptied the contents of her stomach. The evil of whatever had done this was profound. Mira sent out a pulse of her Esoteric Senses and couldn’t find anything in the area, but there was a clear trail of dead elves as whatever it was had traveled to the northeast.

It took a moment but Mira finally realized that only elves had been slain. None of the domesticated animals in the village had been killed, nor had any of the forest creatures. Even the burning buildings in the village seemed to be more by accident than intention.

She pulled her awareness back in and realized that not only were her six bodyguards all surrounding her in an outward facing circle, but each of the four wardens with them had taken up positions with bows at the ready. Mira gathered herself enough and stood up.

“It’s gone. As far as I can tell whatever did this headed to the northeast.”

One of the wardens let out a sigh. “So not towards the capital?”

“No, but I’m sure there are plenty of other villages in that direction,” Mira replied.

“All the more reason for us to get you safely to the Throne, m’lady. That way you can deliver this news. The Throne will know best how to handle this,” her chief bodyguard said.

“I could get to the capital vey quickly, but not with the rest of you.”

One of the guards frowned but she shook her head. “Don’t take it personally. I know you can all run quickly and that the forest wardens in particular are very good at making their way through the forest, but none of you has a tenth of my speed. It just is the way it is. Whatever killed these people was a monster of the greatest magnitude. If I didn’t get a feeling in the pit of my stomach that it is overwhelmingly powerful, I would chase after it on my own. As it is, I’m willing to concede that the best thing to do is to race for the capital.”

Mira hated sounding so grown up almost as much as she hated making responsible decisions. No matter how powerful she felt she was though, she had the sense that this thing was beyond her. She knew she was too old for this feeling, but it was like when she had been a little girl convinced there was a monster underneath her bed. The person she wanted here now, more than anyone else in the world was her father. If anyone could handle whatever did this it was him. Although, even then she had her doubts.

The guards spoke amongst themselves for a minute but then Mira said, “Look, I know you think this is your responsibility, but I’m a Nelson, and my mother is a Lady of the moon elves. I can’t let my personal safety be the determining factor, so I’m going to run to the capital. I’ve seen the maps. I know the way. Follow as quickly as you can.”

Then instead of waiting for more argument, she took off racing. Thanks to the Watcher’s Ongoing Provision, she was faster than any person had a right to be. Her foot speed was measured in hundreds of miles per hour. While the forest might slow her down some, the fact was that with her Air Walker trait she would be able to virtually run on the air and so the rough terrain would be little to no problem.

They were less than 30 miles from Tsukishiti so for her it was a matter of less than 9 minutes. As she ran, she began to sense the defensive perimeter. The initial rings were simply notification spells, but the closer she got the more she saw how the spells were intended to have other effects.

One layer tried to cause a generalized confusion in anyone who entered it. The spell was set to not affect moon-elves. Between her mixed heritage and enhanced ability to resist magic, Mira made it through without trouble. Another half mile and she hit a ring of enchantments built into the very trees of the forest. A feeling of dread came over her as though death itself waited for her if she went another step.

This was probably why the guards said she needed a special pass to enter here, but Mira wasn’t going to be stopped. Even as she ran, she reached out to the threads of magic she saw with her mana sight. They were woven like a tight web and no doubt as she passed through them they were alerting whoever kept an eye on this, but at her speed it would be hard for anyone to make out who or even what she was.

She warmed the spell carefully, moving the threads just enough so that they created a small gap for her to go through. Mira made a mental note to let the powers that be know about it. She could even fix it for them but now it was too important that she reach them as soon as possible.

The third ring was an illusionary one. It made it appear as though there was nothing but endless trees and came with the mental impulse for her to be bored by this. Everything inside of her screamed that this was a total waste of time and she should turn back but it was only Tier 4 magic even if it had been enhanced over the centuries. She was a meta-mage and manipulating mana was her specialty. Even as she zoomed along, strides inches above the ground, Mira sent out a pulse of her own mana and warped the illusion.

It helped that she knew the location of the city, but as soon as she warped the enchantment she it was a like wiping a swath across a steamed up window to reveal what was on the other side. What she saw caused her to come to a rapid halt. Sadly it took her a couple hundred feet to come to a complete stop. Her body simply wasn’t strong enough to endure an instantaneous stop at that speed.

Mira raised her hands in a universal sign of surrender as she looked at the two dozen arrows aimed directly at her. The circle of wardens enclosed her and then moved forward while a number of druids waited behind them. She could sense their spells at the ready and had no doubt they would fire them off if she made the slightest aggressive action.

Directly in front of them and behind the others she saw an elf who was old enough to have gray hair. More than that he radiated magical power, so she knew he was someone of significance. She took a chance based upon her mother’s description and bowed, just the appropriate depth to show respect from a noble to another.

“Archdruid Hidenori, I bring grave news and must present it to the Throne as quickly as possible.”

The man in back coughed and the circle parted to allow him to walk forward. Mira noted that not a single arrow was lowered nor were any of the spell matrixes released. He walked forward slowly, with the air of a person used to having others wait on them.

When he got to within five feet of Mira he said, “Having meet your mother and her consort, I have little doubt about your identity. We have been expecting you, but you were to come with a guard and a token to allow you to bypass our defenses. Recent times have made it clear that we needed to activate ancient barriers and create new ones. Let you have simply strolled through all of them as though they didn’t exist, so you will have to humor me Lady Mira if I am being extra-cautious.”

Mira did her best to extend the more formal moon elf greetings which her mother had taught her but she did it half-heartedly. Formality and American teenagers rarely go together and given the news she had to share, she didn’t think now was the time for it. After doing her best not to embarrass her mother she replied, “My guard and guides will be here shortly, I am just much faster than they were.”

Then she described the village they had passed through. Hidenori gestured to some of the others who went running without them even exchanging words. Mira noticed that no order was given to lower their weapons but slowly all the bows had been put away. She could still feel three different druids holding spells aimed at her. It was starting to annoy her.

“Is this anyway to treat the daughter of an elven Lady and a human noble as well as an ambassador of goodwill to your people? I am the chosen apprentice of Hiroto the enchanter, have studied the martial arts of our people under the tutelage of Daichi, and am the bearer of important news.”

Hidenori’s face remained impassive as he said, “I already explained that your method of arrival had us on edge before we were able to identify you. But all the weapons have been lowered now, m’lady. You are a welcome guest. We will make you comfortable and when they are ready for you the Throne will summon you.”

“Then why are those three still aiming spells at me?” Mira asked as she pointed at one after another of the druids in succession. She made sure her hand gestures were a bit overdramatic to make a spectacle of it. She realized that simply saying there were still spells aimed at her was likely to be perceived as a guess, but by pointing out the specific elves who were aiming magic at her she would increase her credibility.

There as a slight thinning of Hidenori’s lips before he replied. “Either you are very good at guessing or the intel we have about your abilities is woefully lacking.”

Mira shrugged. “Look, I need to speak to the Throne now. What I know can’t wait, nor is it for the leaves of every tree to hear.” She was proud of herself for remembering the moon elf expression.

Before the archdruid could respond, the wooden gates to the city opened and a messenger came running out. He stopped next to Hidenori and whispered something in the man’s ear which caused him to frown. He replied back to the messenger in much more than a whisper, “As the Throne wills.”

Then he turned towards Mira, “It appears that the unconventional treatment afforded your family will be extended to you. The Throne commands your presence immediately. I will escort you there myself, but be sure to be on your best behavior.”