Journey to the mainland

Thorjen

Thorjen heard his name being spoken in a whisper. His vision was clouded in a thick fog of darkness, so he wasn’t sure if this was a dream or not. Within the silence, he saw an azure light forming the outline of a winged being. Four bright wings unfurled away from its body. The being had the longest pair of ears he had ever seen. And for some reason he was drawn towards it like a moth to a flame. Thorjen stretched forth his hand desperately. Even though the figure was right there in front of him. He couldn’t reach it no matter what he chose to do.

“Please...s-s-save me-please" He heard the voice say,

Thorjen tossed his two hands towards the light, this time he felt a surge of power propelling him forward. He was nearing towards it, inch by agonising inch, and just when he was about to make contact with the four winged being, he suddenly saw a black outline appearing behind it, he tried to scream to warn the four winged being, but no audible sounds broke free from his mouth.

The sinister figure also had a set of black wings, although its kind looked more bestial. Its claw of a hand grabbed the being from the back and in moments dragged them both into the abyss of darkness. Thorjen was alone again, he tried to scream but nothing was heard.

“Thorjen...” he heard a voice

“thorjen wake up...”

Thorjen awoke from his slumber. His mind was muddled whilst his light clothes were drenched in sweat again. He rubbed the side of his aching head, glancing around the unknown room he had found himself inside of.

“Hey Thorjen what you doing sleeping there? a delicate voice spoke

“haha don’t tell me you got so upset about life and started to drown your sorrows in a drink?” a second and less friendly voice spoke out

“Upset? What would he be upset about?” Asked the first girl

“I mean he probably didn’t receive a blessing. Being a cripple and all”

“Hey-shut up Maisy don’t be so mean.”

‘Why am I in the training hall?’ he thought to himself. Thorjen looked around and noticed two Elvfen girls dressed in grey training wears.

One of them was glaring at him with annoyance, whilst the one with blue hair tied into a ponytail carried eyes of warmness towards him, albeit still a sense of pity too, but at least she was friendly.

“Deliah? what am I doing here” he asked foggily.

“Huh how would she know weirdo, we came her to train and found your ass sleeping here. Don’t tell me you’re going crazy now cripp- hey! Why you nudge me for? that hurt”

“Maisy seriously shut up. Sigh...We just got here Thorj and saw you lying there...is...is everything alright?” Deliah asked softly. Seeing her concerned watery eyes, Thorjen could only gently nod his head.

“I must’ve passed out after overexerting myself...I'll...I'll be fine.”

The morning sun ached through the stoned hall. He looked at the broken pieces of debris beside his feet. A training sword had been shattered into pieces.

There were also bizarre deep slashes and marks against the training dummies. Thorjen tried to piece together what happened the night before, but all he could think about was this terrible headache he was nursing. The memories from the previous night had struck him, he failed to awaken his blessing so he swiftly left the training hall.

Once he departed Deliah couldn’t help but observe his lonely back walking away.

“Hey Del, why are you still worrying about that loser for. We’ll be heading to the mainland shortly, and there will be a whole host of strong fellows there. You’ll forget about the cripple in no time hmph.”

“Thorjen used to be considered a once in a lifetime genius. It’s sad to see how his life has turned out.”

“What's so sad about it. The guardians of fate control the lives of us all. He can only blame his karmic energy for how things have turned out Del, and if I was you id forget about how charming and handsome he looks. He’s bound to bring disaster wherever he goes if you ask me.”

“no one asked you Maisy, and it wouldn’t kill you to show some compassion. Hmph acting like your life is mapped out to be glorious. Everyone has to answer to the guardians of fate one day you know.”

“Oh, I know, and that’s why my fate will surely not be tainted by staying close to that cripple with bad energy. Anyway, enough about him lets train.”

Thorjen casually limped towards his dorm room. However, he didn’t make it halfway through the corridors when he was halted onto his heels by the sight of a familiar beautiful figure blocking his view. Standing ahead of him was a tall and voluptuously shaped Elven woman with long golden silk like hair and dark runic tattoos along her arm. She had a single golden braid roped down to her incredibly large chest.

‘_Mother?” _His eyes drew a look of confusion

Before his mouth parted his mothers towering figure swiftly closed the gap between the two and bearishly squeezed him into an embrace. “Thorjen where in heavens have you been! I've been worried sick!” Her voice cracked a little, he could tell she had been crying not too long ago. His heart ached slightly; he hated making her worry over him like this. Thorjen wrapped his arms around her. Snuggled into her warm bosom and suddenly all his woes from the previous night had suddenly fleeted away.

“Sigh…let’s go inside and talk. You look like you need something to eat.” Eleanor said stroking his rough head filed with tow coloured dreadlocks.

Thorjen walked alongside his mother and followed into her room. Unlike the standard dorms he was used too seeing, her own room was a spacious living quarters. Which contained most of the things one would find inside of a small cosy house. His mother was one of the instructors within the sect, so she was afforded a much simpler way of living compared to everyone else.

They sat down together around a squared table and ate a hearty breakfast whilst joking about fonder memories they both shared, before Thorjen enrolled as a disciple beneath the azure sect. Thorjens appetite was still the same as ever. He devoured the entire plate in minutes and even had room for seconds. Once both of their plates were empty. Thorjen noticed his mother had something on her mind.

“Mother? What’s wrong.” Her almond shaped eyes lifted from their lowered gaze once his voice reached her.

“There was an incident raised by the elders. Someone...or something broke into the hall of blessing. D-do you know anything about that?” she asked him with a slight tremble in her voice. Thorjen could already tell from her frightened gaze that suspected he bad something to do with it . He wasn’t quite sure how she found out it was him. But he still felt embarrassed about the whole ordeal, so admitting to it wasn’t easier neither.

He kept his eyes focused on his empty plate, his silence was deafening and also understood his lack of a reply had probably told his mother everything she needed to know. Thorjen wasn’t sure why he felt so stricken into telling her the truth. He always told his mother everything. Perhaps he didn’t want to see those eyes, not from her anyway. Those eyes which carried pity and sadness.

“Thorj...my dear, I-I also have some good news to share with you.” His mother's eyes brightened suddenly. Changing the subject quickly, she dabbed a cloth around her pretty mouth. She then took out a very distinctive iron shaped badge hidden between her obscenely large bosoms. Drawn against its face was an eagle with four wings and a tilted crown. Beneath the creature’s feet was a sword wrapped in thorny vines. He watched his mother place it on the table between them both. Thorjen glared at the thing for a few moments in silence. Then he lifted a questioning stare towards his mother.

“Don’t look so surprised. Did you really think I wouldn’t let my only son venture to the mainlands? What use are all the titles I’ve earned if I couldn’t grant you this one wish.” Thorjen blinked a few times. Trying to make sure he was hearing things clearly.

“Wait…you mean this is…the m-ma-mainland? I’m going to the mainland.” His voice was cracking whilst the sheer disbelief had rendered him speechless. Thorjen could only sit there staring at the badge. An unknowingly tears started to fall without him knowing.

“Sniff-sniff-snort. I’-i’m sorry I’m just…”

“It’s ok my beautiful boy. There’s nothing wrong with being happy. With everything you’ve been through, you deserve to be happy. I’m proud of the man you’ve become. Your father would be too.” Her voice trailed into a whisper. Thorjen wiped his wet eyes and snorted back up the mucus threatening to descend. His mother hardly ever mentioned his father. Thorjen only knew of him through the brief explanation he was given about his passing.

But currently he was too excited to think about much else. How did she even manage to pull this off, Thorjen imagined the price she possibly had to pay for this. He couldn’t help but feel determined to make sure he gave her a life worth living one day.

“There’s a lot to say but we don’t have enough time to say it all. All I can tell you for now is that you wont be training under the warriors guild like everyone else. But instead you’ll be tutored under the mages guild. I have a friend who goes by the name of Shava Watermoon. She’ll be expecting you once you arrive at the capital.”

‘The mages guild?’ Thorjen thought to himself. That could only mean he would be learning magic? he had read through many texts that long ago Elves were specialized in the art of magic. Only something happened during the course of history, a war of some kind, which as a result wiped out most of the royal elves from the deep northern regions. The snow Elves they were called. And with their extinction the magical colleges were lost forever with them.

“Yes my boy-Magic! Just like our ancestors of old. You’ll be learning from the humans the art which only a chosen few can master. This is the only way I can guarantee you’ll be well looked after. My beautiful boy, I need you to remember the mainland can be a very dangerous place. You must mentally be prepared for all the different types of people you’ll eventually meet there. And I know your heart is so pure and you try to find the best in everyone. But don't forget that people will be looking to take advantage of you at any opportunity. And if you’re no use…then you’ll be seen as prey. You must never allow that to happen.”

Thorjen understood his mothers words, but he felt as though there wasn’t a single piece of news today which could ruin his day. After he finished his breakfast, he washed himself and went out to meet Julien and Threyja. Once he told them about the good news they both could hardly contain their excitement as well. Threyja especially welled with tears whilst she hugged him so tightly and told him how happy she was he was joining them.

Ever since the trio could remember, they had always been together. It first started with a small Thorjen giving them advise on how to maximise their cultivation efforts. Due to the high standing of his mother, Thorjen was misjudged as obnoxious or someone who believed he was too good for others. Threyja and Julien were the first ones to realize this was far from the truth. And as they grew with stature and wisdom, their friendship had become as stronger than ever.

Their main goal was to all venture to the mainland one day and build their legacies together. And until earlier on today, for the longest time now, Thorjen had accepted that perhaps that wouldn’t be his fate.

The next few days the trio managed to spend a few hours together either training or venturing around the gardens situated around the mountains. Most of the chosen youths who were poised to venture to the mainland were given time off for these last few days to do what they liked.

Thorjen saw his mother a lot during these rare days, whilst the rest was spent either with Julien or Threyja.

Finally, the expected day had come.

A new morning arrived and the chosen youths were all summoned to a single hall. The human envoys had finally reached the blue mountains. Thorjen and the rest of the youths were clothed in the traditional azure and white robes. They stood in a large group watching a dozen gold and white carriages being pulled by the most beautifully tanned steads they had ever seen. These horses were larger than the usual kind, with soft pale furs streaked down their heads. Their hoofs were also covered with the pure fluffy white fur.

Two figures soon appeared from within the carriages. Two humans, one was a man clothed in dazzling silver armour. He was clean shaven with short blonde hair. He carried a large sword by his hip. And a shield strapped against his back. The second figure was a slender woman, she carried the face of a young girl but her aura foretold she was anything but young. Her hair was fiery red and flowed down like silk. She wore a dazzling fitting gold armour which enunciated her subtle curves.

The shorter woman walked forwards, halting her heels just before the gathering of the Elven youths. She said nothing for the first few moments and simply casted an expressionless gaze across the hall. All the youths suddenly felt a cold tension crawling down their backs, Thorjen included, who felt as though her piercing dull eyes could see right through him.

“My name is Aaliyah, this here is Troy, and we’ll be your escorts to the Lucien Kingdom.” There was a domineering feeling she gave off, Thorjen was assured it wasn't only him noticing that fact. From what he understood about the methods of acquiring power amongst the mainlanders. Her voice was likely laced with a different version of Qi or some kind of battle spirit, so strong she was unable to contain it fully.

Other than cultivating martial forms and techniques, Thorjen was aware that the mainlanders practiced other methods to increase their powers. One of the popular methods was a process known as Battle Qi manipulation. Rather than absorbing the breath of heaven and earth around them like Elves were taught. The mainlanders tended to forcefully purify high amounts of natural Qi flowing through their bodies. This process **** them to push their bodies to the absolute limits in order to sustain constant high amounts of pure Qi stored in their bodies. Once this was achieved, they were now **** to develop their own form of a Battle spirit. A process that ancient men related to the ways the Demi Gods of old used to hone uniquely destructive powers. This then allows them to harness a unique form of power known as Aura's of annihilation.

‘Her presence is so chilling to be around, this must be aura, how terrifying. Which means she must be at quite a high level.’ Unlike most of the other youths who weren’t experienced with the different forms of power. He started to steady his breathing whilst making sure he wasn’t directly looking at the fiery haired lady in armor.

Aaliyah was looking around the gathered youths, and her eyes slightly widened upon noticing Thorjen's peculiar gaze towards her. She gave a knowing smirk before turning her eyes away from him.