Rise of the Godking - Chapter 101

The elf looked between them both expectantly, as if hoping that whatever he had said would be enough to convince them.

The only result was that Daneel's eyes were pulled down even more, and Alex had one hand firmly in his coat, clutching something so tightly that it could only be a weapon.

Daneel now noticed that the elf had long hair that had been tied into a ponytail almost at the nape of his neck. His clothes were much richer, up close. Whatever material they had been made of, they reminded him of the enchanted clothes from Angaria, with various functions such as automatic dust removal and even, in some cases, defensive barriers that would activate whenever one came under threat.

'Whoever he is, he's wealthy… but because I know nothing, knowing this helps me in no way whatsoever.'

With a dejected sigh, the elf finally got up.

"I can tell where I'm not welcome. My mother always did say that first impressions are important…and I seem to have messed mine up. I just find these messages really, really interesting. I don't have a stake in the game, as you know, so I would only ever be a bystander. If you change your mind and wish to find me, you can do so three inns away."

With a forlorn look, he took a step towards the door and Daneel almost let out the breath he had been holding. Only…before his hand pushed it open, he seemed to get a thought that made him pause, and then, turning around, he spoke with a face that was almost glowing.

"I almost forgot! You humans put a lot of store in barter, or the idea of wealth, right? Is there any way that I can buy your words? I wish I could use the ancient elvish custom of exchanging knowledge for knowledge…but I've heard that this is seen as useless in your folk. Tell me…how many vajrams do you need?"



There was only silence for a few moments, but after that, interest finally shone in both Daneel's and Alex's exercise.

Looking beside him, Daneel almost chuckled when he saw that the reasons due to which each of them had been tempted were different. Whatever 'vajram's were, Alex seemed to be drawn to them, and as for him, he was more interested in the knowledge.

"Wait outside. And this time, don't eavesdrop. Go to the counter to get a drink, and we'll call you when we make a decision."

Hope finally entered the elf's face, and with a graceful nod, he walked out, closing the door behind him.

"Rich bastards. It's tempting…but also worrying. Do you even know what vajrams are? There are different types, but on average, just one of them is equal to 100 processed crystals! A hundred of them! And he's talking about them as casually as if they were processed crystals! What kind of a background does he have? I don't want to get mixed the fuck up in elvish schemes…but it's tempting."

Alex gave a start, surprised by Daneel's insinuation, but a second later, he grudgingly nodded.

Throwing both his hands in the air then slapping them down on the table to take support, he got up and went out the door.

A few seconds later, he returned with the elf who was beaming. Before he could speak, though, Alex raised one thing and said, "Payment first. Two vajrams for two messages. An additional vajram because we're taking a risk. I don't think I need to say that I'll find you wherever you are and kill you if you tattle about this, or us to anyone else, right?"

The good-naturedness didn't leave the elf even when Alex spoke his price…but the moment he made his threat, steel entered his face, and his tone.

"Never threaten an elf, especially one who has come to you of his own accord. If I do not keep my word, I will perish. I swear that I will not speak of you, or what we speak of here to anyone. As a Forn Elf of the High Reaches, such is my oath."

Alex raised both his eyebrows and shot to his feet as soon as those last words echoed in the room. Almost running, he peered out of the doors to check whether anyone had been listening, and he sat down only after making sure that they were alone.

Of course, the elf's words meant nothing to him, so Daneel waited for an explanation. It was given in a whisper that could be heard by the elf as the room was too small, but still, as he heard it, Daneel had a similar reaction.

"This changes things. I suspected it…but I couldn't be sure. No one…and I repeat, no one would be dumb enough to use that name if it does not belong to them. Remember that Empire I told you about? Its remnants still hold a vast portion of the Mainland, and of them, the ruling family are called the Forn Elves, or simply, 'Ancients' in the Ancient Tongue. They possess more power in magic than even normal elves…because of a pact they made with the Will. They speak no lie, and they never take any action that weakens the Will, in any manner. In return…their magic is aided by the world, itself. Their oaths are part of their very blood, their very existence. We can speak freely now. No matter what happens, what we discuss will not leave this room."

With a surprised smile, the elf took a seat and spoke after Alex was done.

"A human rebel learned in history? Interesting…very interesting. I accept your fee. Can I hear the messages, now?"

Alex looked like he was about to speak, but shooting him a warning glance, Daneel gave the answer. 

He gave it in such a manner that he left out anything that linked the prophecies to him. He made it seem as if he had come across it casually, and that he was carrying it forward because those people had sacrificed their lives for him. As for the part where the island had sunk, he claimed that he had heard of it from a maid in one of the islands on the way.

For some reason, when he stopped speaking, Alex shook his head again and leaned back.

The elf's lips twitched as if he was trying not to laugh, but giving up, he chuckled and said, "A fine tale…but filled with too many lies for my liking. Your friend should have told you that because we speak no lies, we can detect when they are being told to us. Now, don't bother… I could tell that the messages are real, no matter how you came about them. Unless you are somehow valinn, there's no way that you could have come across the messages in any way that is very far away from what you said…"

He laughed after that, looking between Daneel and Alex as if expecting them to laugh, too. After finally noticing that his was the only laughter that filled the room, he stopped and scratched his head before saying, "All the elvish girls always say that I have a great sense of humour…but more and more, I see that they might have been indulging me."

He sighed, then, and seemed like was about to say something else, but unable to stop himself, Daneel asked, "Valinn? What's that?"

The elf looked surprised, but he tried to hide it as if he realized that it would be rude. In a steady tone, he answered, "It means 'chosen'. Well, if you asked my teacher, he would give you an hour-long lecture…but I'll try to shorten it. You seem to know what the Will of a world is, right? Well…there exists a will for the realm that we live in, too. It is the realm that what existed before transformed into when it collided with the realm of magic…and in so doing, it was forever changed. Valinn are…you can call them darlings of the Will. Chance and luck and coincidence lose all meaning near them. Things that they need might fall in their lap before they know they need them. Most think it is a fable…but no one knows for sure."

'Valinn. And a Will for the realm? Holy crap! I started this journey to find out stuff like this, yes…but damn, I never expected that there could be so many secrets waiting to be unveiled!'

He pondered on the elf's words for a few moments…but after that, he sighed as the system sent a message in his head.

[Incoming danger!]

Almost with a bored look, he leaned back as a large man burst through the door wielding a gigantic axe, and while shaking his head, he thought, 'All right, this is a little too much action…I just wanted to deal with that guy, and go back and calmly build a Kingdom! Can't I be left alone for a day, at least? Fuck!'