Magic which couldn\u2019t be explained was taken very seriously by the Council. That was why they were so against Dilmir, and why, once Erundil recovered himself enough to fully relate what had happened, several mages were dispatched into the forest. Alfimir led a group to where Erundil and Dilmir had trained, trying to find who had caused the fire. A larger group split up, searching out the elves still training in the forest, unaware of what had happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It seemed clear to Dilmir that he was the only target, but he went into the forest anyway, heading for where he knew Ilrin was training. He didn\u2019t like the strange magic any more than the Council. He had gotten used to controlling everything he could feel; a piece of magic he couldn\u2019t control was quite unnerving, and not something to be taken lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The similarities between the fire in the forest and the fire used by Alfimir at Arath Imil were not lost on Dilmir. Both had been used as traps, surrounding him and constricting, and both had resisted his attempts to quench them. But this was different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Arath Imil, he had been able to feel the fire, and the magic controlling it. He had been able to fight it, but the fire had fought back, simply refusing to go out. These spells were different. Dilmir couldn\u2019t even touch them. Despite the similarities, he was convinced Alfimir was not behind the attacks. He might want Dilmir dead, but he would never have attacked Erundil. He was sworn to protect the elves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These thoughts ran through Dilmir\u2019s mind as he made his way through the forest. This section of the Great Forest was safe, free of wolves. They only really controlled territory west of the Ans Aras, the river which split the Great Forest down the middle. Here, east of the river, Dilmir could follow the Elven path without worrying about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elves trained in various clearings just off of the path, but Dilmir saw that these were already empty as he ran by. Someone had already warned them. Ilrin would be deep into the forest however, where no sound from other training elves could disturb her studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir eventually found them \u2013 Ilrin and her trainer, Eledim \u2013 in one of the last clearings. They both looked up as he entered the clearing, Ilrin surprised, Eledim frowning. Dilmir knew why: Lifeformers guarded the secrets of their craft carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s danger in the forest,\u201d he said, trying to catch his breath between words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWolves?\u201d Ilrin asked, getting to her feet (she had been kneeling, probably growing some plant).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir shook his head. \u201cMages,\u201d he said. \u201cThere was an attack\u2026 The Council has ordered everyone back into Eld\u2019rin while Alfimir investigates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had teetered for a moment on saying who had been attacked, but had decided against it. The threat was real; he didn\u2019t need Eledim doubting his words anymore than she already did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked at him suspiciously, but if the Council and Alfimir were involved, she had no choice. \u201cCome,\u201d she said to Ilrin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, without waiting, she strode from the clearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin looked after her for a moment, and then moved to where Dilmir still stood, breathing heavily. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She knew there was something he hadn\u2019t said. He shook his head. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said. \u201cSomeone attacked us \u2013 me and Erundil. They used spells, but I couldn\u2019t feel them. I couldn\u2019t control them. We need to get back to Eld\u2019rin,\u201d he added. \u201cThey could still be out here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even as he spoke, Dilmir let his magic flow out of him, realizing he should have done it long ago. Two years, and he was still getting used to it. The magic flooded over the forest, Dilmir sensing every speck of energy around. Nothing. They were alone. But then Dilmir had thought that while dueling Erundil, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on,\u201d he said, leading the way back to the path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin followed him silently, perhaps sensing just how worried he felt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They moved down the path, not running, but walking quickly. Dilmir kept his magic unbound, allowing it to flow freely around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reality of the attack was finally beginning to settle in. Dilmir had gotten so used to being in control that it had taken him this long to fully realize how close he had come to not making it out of that fire. It had taken a spell from Eltuthar, a spell which according to all other elves wasn\u2019t supposed to be possible, just to escape. This was no attack from the Council, easily thwarted by a few enchantments. This was something else entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was still mid-afternoon, but due to the closeness of the trees and the overcast sky, it was dark in the forest, Dilmir and Ilrin moving through an almost-twilight. Eledim was long out of sight. The entire forest was silent, the pines dark, the other trees bare. Only the rustling of the leaves underfoot made any noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They continued on for some time, the silence and darkness starting to get to Dilmir. He wasn\u2019t usually jumpy, but he was sensing everything around them with his magic, and the tension was beginning to mount. Ilrin took his hand in hers, and Dilmir felt his tension lessen. He gave her a quick smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were nearing the edge of the forest, and Dilmir was just able to make out clear sky through the trees, when he finally felt what he had been dreading: a spell, slippery and untouchable, racing through the air towards him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir wasn\u2019t going to let the spell anywhere near him or Ilrin. He flung his magic forwards, in the direction of the spell, and caused vines and roots to sprout from the forest floor in the spell\u2019s path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spell struck, and the makeshift barrier \u2013 a good fifty feet in front of them \u2013 exploded into flame. Dilmir could still feel the barrier, the roots which made it up under his control. But the fire was shielded. He couldn\u2019t stop the barrier from burning. He caused the roots to fall to the ground, but the fire stayed, a burning wall of flames rising from the earth. The flames began to ignite leaves and fallen twigs on the ground, moving quickly towards them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fire was right in their way, blocking them from Eld\u2019rin. Dilmir turned to Ilrin, unsure what to do. She nodded to the right, and they left the path, both running in that direction. The fire chased them, as if drawn to them, passing around trees, leaping across bare ground. It was almost alive, and all the time, Dilmir couldn\u2019t touch it. Again, any barrier he created would be flammable and not stop the flames.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir finally halted, stopping Ilrin with him. The fire was gaining on them; they couldn\u2019t keep running forever. \u201cI\u2019m going to teleport us!\u201d he shouted to Ilrin over the crackling of the approaching fire. \u201cHold on!\u201d Ilrin gripped his hand tightly and squeezed her eyes shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLer imi elsen! Tirs imi im Eld’rin! Fesil imi ene!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, Dilmir felt sudden heat. Then the sound died, color merged to white, and then\u2026 they were both thrown violently to the ground, right where they had been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The spell had been blocked. Actually blocked. Who could do that? Who would know how? Not even Dilmir could guess how that was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He scrambled to his feet, helping Ilrin up as he stood. The fire surrounded them now, a perfect circle, the walls of flame too high to see over. Dilmir pushed at it with his magic, using every ounce of power he had, but it was no use; he couldn\u2019t touch it. Slowly, the circle of fire began to constrict. He was out of options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDilmir!\u201d Ilrin cried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can get us out of here,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I need your magic!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir didn\u2019t hesitate. He didn\u2019t pause to wonder what Ilrin\u2019s idea could be, or how it could use more magic than she possessed. He just merged his magic with her own, giving her complete control over it. \u201cHurry,\u201d he said. The flames were getting closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin wasted no time. \u201cSilin, esvress fener! Keliess fineth il imi il aseldienim!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir was ready to feel Ilrin use a vast amount of magic, but nothing seemed to happen. It took him a second to realize the heat from the fire had vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWalk through it,\u201d Ilrin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Dilmir said. \u201cThe fire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin nodded. \u201cKeep your magic linked with mine. I don\u2019t know how strong the fire is; I might need your magic to keep the spell in place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was magic Dilmir was unused to: Lifeformer magic. He had no time to question it though; the fire was mere feet away, and closing quickly. Trusting Ilrin, he turned, and put one foot into the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now he felt the drain on his magic. It was slight though, hardly anything to worry about. It was a strange feeling, having someone else control his magic. Dilmir hadn\u2019t even known it was possible until Ilrin did it. He supposed it must be another secret of the Lifeformers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ilrin stepped into the fire, and the pull on Dilmir\u2019s magic doubled. He still had plenty though. He and Ilrin looked at each other, nodded, and stepped fully into the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a moment, Dilmir was blinded. All about him was light, yellow and brilliant orange blazing around him, hurting his eyes, Ilrin\u2019s hand in his the only tie he had to direction, his feet somehow finding the ground as they stumbled forwards. His magic continued to drain, quickly using up far more than the Curse would have allowed. Dilmir continued to feed his magic into Ilrin as it depleted, wondering as he did so how long the flames could last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then they were out. They took two final steps and collapsed to their knees, the relative darkness blinding them as effectively as the flames had. Dilmir turned, and saw the fire behind them, a half-sphere of flame. As he watched, it slowly constricted in on itself, growing smaller and smaller, until it fizzled out of existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir watched the spot for a moment. Then he pulled his magic from Ilrin, and flung it outwards in all directions. The elf responsible had to be nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over burnt ground, around charred trees, through chill air his magic sped, searching, vengeful, hungry. And finally he found what he sought: an elf, at the very edges of his magic, running. His magic was slippery, but that didn\u2019t matter to Dilmir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFel, hart imis!\u201d he shouted. He felt the forest about the elf come alive, vines tripping him, roots snaking over him and binding him to the ground, tree branches fencing him in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He hastily pulled Ilrin to her feet, and then ran to where he knew the elf lay, held immobile by the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was just light enough in the forest to see the elf, firmly bound by vines and roots. He was lying face up, and Dilmir could see that he wore a dark cloak, with a dagger strapped to his side. He wore no armor; only a padded jerkin. He wore no emblem, no symbol of who he might be working for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir knelt beside him, his magic still in full control of the forest. \u201cWho are you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elf blinked up at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho are you!\u201d Dilmir repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elf smiled. \u201cWe are the Asdelarcen,\u201d he replied. His voice was calm, too calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asdelarcen. The word was Elvish, but Dilmir didn\u2019t know it\u2019s meaning. He glanced to Ilrin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe directing hand,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned back to the elf. \u201cYou said \u2018we,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cThere are more of you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany,\u201d the elf said, still smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy are you doing this?\u201d Dilmir asked. \u201cWhy are you attacking me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreater magic draws greater foes,\u201d the elf said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s no answer,\u201d Dilmir snarled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elf\u2019s eyes flicked to the left, somewhere above Dilmir. Dilmir felt a spell fly from his bound hand, and heard a corresponding crack. He turned. Ilrin screamed. A tree was falling right at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dilmir lunged out of the way, grabbing Ilrin around the waist and taking her with him. He refocused his magic on the tree, but wasn\u2019t entirely surprised to find it shielded from him, slippery like the spells. It crashed to the ground, right where they had been. The Asdelarcen was gone, the shielded tree the only remaining sign of his presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Had he teleported? He shouldn\u2019t be able to, unless he was Uncursed like Dilmir was. And if he was\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Greater magic draws greater foes\u2019 he had said. What manner of enemy was after Dilmir? And why?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Magic which couldn\u2019t be explained was taken very seriously by the Council. That was why they were so against Dilmir, and why, once Erundil recovered himself enough to fully relate what had happened, several mages were dispatched into the forest. Alfimir led a group to where Erundil and Dilmir had trained, trying to find who … Continue reading Chapter Seven – Asdelarcen<\/span>