XII: Sky Elves

This story follows Siphanien Syltris’s perspective.

It almost feels like I’m slowly descending in a deep-sea; where the light of the sun slowly fades as the darkness of the ocean’s depths embraces me whole. I feel a strong urge to struggle and bring myself back to shore, but my body refuses to heed my command. I am afraid. Mother, when will you come for me?

“Arise.” An intrusive voice woke me up from my nightmare.

I know that voice. I’ve always longed to hear him speaking to me for many decades now… yet not like this. I brought myself upright and wiped my eyes off with the sands that had built up from my slumber. I looked forward to the 30-foot door that stands at the opposite end of the room from where my bed is. He stood there.

My father. The King of Odaoqith, himself, Galaeron Syltris. I should be elated, but every part of my body is filled with shame. I cannot even see his face. With the only light coming from outside my room, there is a dark shadow cast over his face as he peered into my room. Just a silhouette. Perhaps it was all I deserved.

I wanted to answer, but something was stopping me — whether it was fear or shame, I could not say. He moved away from my door without another word to say. I managed to get a glimpse of the side of his face as he turned to face away. He is not pleased. That neutral expression of his never changed unless it was of anger. I am sorry, dear father.

A dozen helpers entered the room a few moments after my father left. They had the courtesy to light the room with light spheres and placed them on each of the glass sconces that decorated my room. It was lit up almost as if it was daytime.

The helpers rushed in with methodic precision and escorted me out of my own bed as they quickly fixed it without prior instruction. After surviving a trip outside into the human lands, having the pampering of an elven princess does feel good to have.

I undressed myself in front of the mirror to the right of my bed that is affixed to the wall. Well, it is technically an entire section of wall in itself, only bordered by vines and branches. The silver silk robes didn’t even have time to fall to the floor as a pair of helpers caught it before it landed.

I stared at my ungarmented body in the window for a moment or two. There were no more scratches that came from being dragged through the kingdom by my brother’s sword. There are no markings, yet the shame surely remains. Perhaps they only healed my skin and bones so that the royal family could avoid further embarrassment. Funny, I had assumed I would already be banished at this point. Was procuring the Dreamwalker a quest that was not worth its reward? Dear Mother, how I wish to hear your voice once more…

“Dear princess.” One of the helpers said.

“The king requests your presence in the royal chamber to view the proceedings of the trial about to happen.” She continued.

“Would I not be a part of the trial?” I asked.

“The king has granted you a full pardon on the behest that you come promptly.” She kept her head bowed as she said this.

“Thank you,” I said with a weak voice.

I felt the skin covering my body as one that isn’t my own. I hate being healed by magic — it is never quite as clean and precise as it’s made out to be. Parts of my arm and stomach feel like a different texture and elasticity than others. I feel dirty; like an amalgamation of imaginary corpses that make up the whole that is I.

Moments later, the helpers approach from behind holding the royal clothing that I am meant to wear. They stop a few steps behind, waiting for me to raise up my arms sidewards so they could begin. I submit and mindlessly do as I am expected.

Raise your arms. Slide it through the silk-woven fabric. Allow them to wrap your chest in fine wool fibers. Extend your fingers for the golden rings. Wear Elvenite mail over the wool wraps. Raise your arms upward. Be outfitted with loose-fitting fabric with all of the royal embroidery and symbols. Be the princess that your father expects.

I walked out of the room with the helpers walking behind me with their heads bowed. I commanded them to scatter as I no longer have a need for them. I only have to walk to the royal chamber.

Every elven guard patrolling the corridors of the wide and winding palace took a knee and looked downwards as a sign of respect. I was to just walk past them as if they did not exist. How crass.

I arrived at the fifty-foot tall door of the royal chambers and it was opened to me from the inside by masked elven guards each wielding spears made out of pure Elvenite refined to its highest quality — red-colored and possessing a golden sheen.

Everyone is here. The whole fucking royal family.

“Ooooh, here comes trouble!” Ayluin teased me.

The little elf ran up to me and made faces as he tried to block my way. As annoying as this little rascal is, I can’t believe this is the third prince to the kingdom. I wish father did not bear any more children with his second wife. He never needed a stronger hold for his claim to the throne, it was not as if my brothers would fail to secure his succession.

“I’m sorry, dear sister. Please forgive my brother for his rude behavior.” Leilatha said.

The third princess was kind in comparison to her younger brother. Because of her, I guess I cannot completely curse the children that my father bore with his second wife.

“We are all siblings, Leilatha. The difference in the mothers that bore us makes no difference that our dear father is Galaeron, King of the Sky Elves.” Ilsevel diffused the tension between us siblings.

She is the oldest of the litter that is called the royal children. Firstborn. I wonder if she looks at me with disdain for causing this much trouble. That would be the most unfortunate outcome of this event…

“Siph. Would you care to sit down beside me?” Ilsevel spoke with queenly elegance.

She tapped the soft cushion lying beside her. Everyone was sitting in large cushions made out of fashioned softwood and metal strings that contained a combination of feathers and Owlsheep wool. Must be the handiwork of an Elvenite Smith. How uncharacteristic of my father to put faith in a dwarf.

Father’s throne was elevated at the far end of the room; a formation of vines and branches that spawned from the floor in an elegant formation. He didn’t even react to my entrance. His eyes laid fixed to the center of the room where a window spell was cast for us to be able to view the trial.

I walked up to the cushion that Ilsevel pointed at. Leilatha dragged her younger brother back to his seat while the latter kept making faces at me. The seats were positioned in even spaces around the circular window spell, each granting us unobstructed vision. Every seat was filled except for three; Elluin’s, since he’s facilitating the trial; Aerendyl’s, as he is in a different room to serve as a witness, I’m assuming; and lastly, the queen’s seat.

“Leilatha, care to fill in your older sister to what has already transpired?” Ilsevel commanded the younger with an authoritative tone.

“Certainly, dear princess.” Leilatha bowed as she spoke.

How endearing, younger sister.

“Our dear brother has presented the accused with a certain number of accusations, but the human pleads not guilty of his crimes.” Leilatha recapped what I missed.

“What kind of lies has Elluin delivered now?” I replied with disappointment.

“Hey! Elluin isn’t a liar like you are, Siph! You made a fool out of him. You’re lucky that father was kind to pardon you of all crimes. When I become king — “ Ayluin rampaged with his immature words.

“Ayluin! Cease this childish behavior!” Leilatha spoke with worry.

“Shut up, Lei! We both know that Father would punish her a hundred times over if she didn’t look like her dead mother!” Ayluin said.

I felt my fingers instantly roll up into a ball. I didn’t even know that I was reacting. The next thing I saw was the fear in my brother’s eyes. I’m already inches away from him with a full-coat of mana surging outward from my body. The only thing that stopped me from completely obliterating this annoying waste of a royal prince is Ilsevel’s unique magic — Chaos Chains.

Every limb has been bound by black chains made up of my sister’s own mana. I can’t believe she actually used it on me. To think I was the one that named her magic.

“You’ve made a mess, Siphanien. I apologize for the crassness of the method, but there was no other restraint that would have made it in time before you could harm our brother,” Ilsevel spoke to me.

The chains hurt. It burns my skin. Stop, Ilsy. Please, no more.

She uncast her magic as if being able to read my mind. I fell to the floor. The loose silk robe I was wearing got reduced to shreds after being exposed to the explosive amount of mana that I released. I’m in shock. That never happened before.

“Leilatha.” A deep and commanding voice spoke from the end of the room.

Father’s gaze from the trial was broken. He’s looking straight at me even if he spoke Lei’s name.

“Y-Yes, my dear King.” Leilatha shakingly said.

“Take Ayluin to his chambers. I will hear none of this disrespect any longer.” Father spoke with an increasing amount of anger behind his words.

“Father! I — “ Ayluin’s mouth was covered by Leilatha.

She picked up the small elf prince and ran swiftly out of the room. Smart girl. I would have done the same. I am not aware of how much Father’s anger would extend. If anything, his love for his first wife, my mother, never ceased.

Both Ilsevel and I took a bow before returning to our seats. Ilsevel went back to watching the trial as if nothing happened. Helpers arrived with new fabrics to replace the ones I destroyed. Father is watching the trials once more.

I fucking hate this family…

“Oh?” Ilsevel audibly reacted.

I was about to ask before seeing what was happening in the trial. This boy… I knew it!! He is most definitely a Dreamwalker of legend!

Although invisible to the naked eye, the room was dancing with an overflowing amount of mana that can be expected from a human being. Let alone a young boy! The mana inside of the oval room swirled and danced around him as if to rejoice and obey his whims.

“Interesting,” Father spoke.

Of course, something like this would also interest you, wouldn’t it, Father? Despite the white Elvenite mask he’s wearing, I know for a fact that Elluin is deeply afraid. He is well versed in the legends and rumors that are thrown around with the name of “Dreamwalker”. If even half of them are true, it would be enough to bring this prince to his knees!

The branches and roots keeping the young boy bound to the platform started to crumble and fade away from repeated exposure to this dense concentration of mana swirling around him. I knew it was the right idea to bring him home!

“SHOW ME ALL THE POWER THAT I HAVE, WORLD!!” The young boy shouted out with full resolve.

As if a servant obeying the command of their master, all of the mana that flowed and swirled around the oval room poured into a single point — the boy’s body. All of the spheres that the Court of Elves held out got snuffed out like candle flame. My brother was brought to his knees!

After all of the mana poured into him, his corporeal form started to disintegrate. It was amazing to watch… Something that defies all of the laws of magic that we were taught since we were children! The anomaly of magic, a Dreamwalker!

I couldn’t help but smile. Looking at the room with eyes sensitive to mana felt like staring at a colorless painting! This… This is the power of an unawakened Dreamwalker! What do you say now, Father?

Fa-Father?

“Is he?” Ilsevel is just as dumbfounded as I am.

“Smiling… Father is smiling.” I said with just as much astonishment.

The King of the Sky Elves stood up from his throne with a face of pure delight — eyes wide open and a grin that went from ear to ear.

A mixture of confusion and fear sunk into my heart. Just what is going to happen now?

Thanks for reading another chapter, everyone! This plays out almost at the same time as the previous chapter, but in Siphanien’s perspective. We never really found out what happened to her in the previous ones, and this story aims to show us just what happened! I also took the liberty of showing the different members of the royal court. The only one missing now is the new Queen of the sky elves. I wonder what she’s gonna be like? See you until the next one! :>