"You already know our history so I am going to discuss to you directly what we Elves are guarding. It is Nature Magic. Basically, it is the control of nature and the living things living in it. That includes the beasts and the animals. What made Nature Magic amazing than the other Ancient Magic is that it greatly suits people who lack magic power such as you."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Nature Magic is the only magic that is not depending on the caster's magic power. Do you know what the Great Goddess of Nature's motto? 'The nature provides'. The more living things is around you, the more power you can control. The only downside is the way how to learn the magic. Us Elves are in tuned with nature so we don't have a problem with learning."
"But for you, it will be hard. To learn Nature Magic, you have to connect to the Elder Tree. The Tree will then judge you if you are worthy yo learn the magic. But, before you can connect to the Elder Tree, you must have no internal turmoils on you. It will act as a hinder on the communication between you and the Tree."
"Follow me." He said. He opened he passage way and I was met with the bright light outside. He led me deeper in the woods and after arriving on a clear area far from the Elder Tree, he ordered me to sit.
For a moment, it was silence. The blowing sound of the wind and the rustling of the trees are the only thing I can hear. 'I wonder if there dangerous beasts in here' I thought.
I was startled when the Elder spoke, "Close your eyes."
I closed it. It was a few minutes later when I have gotten impatient. I opened my eyes but then, "We won't get any further if you won't obey me."
So I closed it again. I fought the temptation to open my eyes, I was about to give up but I hear his voice again, "Feel the earth beneath you. Smell the breeze of the wind. Hear the river running. Lower your guard and offer yourself to nature."
I did what he said. I felt the earth beneath me feeling the small granules of sand, smelled the wind with the musky and earthen fragrance of the forest, heard the river nearby as it flows down stream and felt the heat on my skin as I bask myself on the light of the sun.
I lost myself for a moment and I can feel myself travelling underground seeking a powerful entity. I saw a light and I went to its direction. I was about ten meters away from the light when a giant figure obstructed my view. It was me, the enraged me.
Instead of attacking the village, it was attacking me instead. It attacked me and I did my best to dodge but its attacks are getting faster and I cannot keep up. I looked up and a giant palm was coming towards me. I ran to the side and I managed to get out but my foot was trapped on its palm. It picked me up with his hands and put me closer to its face. "Murderer" was the last thing it said before it squeezed the life out of me waking me up from my meditation.
I was gasping for air and I did not even notice that the Elder was rubbing my back asking what happened.
"This is what I told you about. You won't be able to communicate with the Elder Tree having this internal battle of yourself. Accepting nature starts with you and that means you have to accept yourself. I won't insist that you tell me what the problem is all about. I will let you face your own problem. Just remember that you can't learn Nature Magic if you can't solve this problem."
After that incident, I tried many attempts but no such luck. My nightmares were also getting worst and I only have a small amount of sleep every night. Despite this, I still kept on trying to reach out the Elder Tree but the Giant Me always come out. In every attempt that I did, the Giant had already killed me in every possible way. On the first one I was squeezed. The second one was being flattened by the giant palm. I was also killed by being stepped. I was also eaten.
Even though I know what will happen, my fear for it would not lessen.
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Two monts had passed since the incident and I still haven't made any progress on learning Nature Magic. The dreams are still there but I tend to ignore them. It was also getting worse because I can see the Giant even when I'm awake to find out, it was only a tree. I often wonder if I'm going insane.
I was getting desperate and tried contacting my beasts but I still can't feel them. The earring that Dean gave me which is the trigger for the beasts did not respond and it's stressing me out.
The good news was Grandpa Rashid managed to learn Nature Magic. The Elders had a meeting that they might make Grandpa Rashid into an Elder despite being human but it was still in process. They have to decide if it is wise to let Grandpa Rashid in the Council.
Right now, I was in my bed thinking about what my family's situation are now. Are they safe?
I was disturbed when shoutings were heard below us. When I went down, I was shocked to see too many injured Elves. They were bleeding and some of their wounds are swelling releasing a green puss. Thankfully, Elves have the innate ability of healing. Though it won't heal the wounds conpletely, at least it would somewhat lessen the pain and will be cured after a few days of rest.
I saw Rin and Ren crying beside a guy who was asleep on the bed. He was on critical condition having a huge hole below his chest. Thankfully, it did not puncture his heart.
Elves immediately surrounded him applying herbs and murmuring incantations. The wound closed a little but it was not enough. Grandpa Rashid together with Elder Orion came in and check the people. When they saw the wound the man has, they immediately went to our direction. As a Light Elemental Master, Grandpa Rashid has some healing techniques and he immediately applied it to the man's wound but it did not do anything. Elder Orion also tried his hardest but he only shook his head signifying that there is no hope.
The brothers Rin and Ren sobbed. They hugged their old man as if they won't let him go away. The First Elder walked away followed by Grandpa Rashid. They want the boys mourn for their father, among the Elves they probably were hurt the most.
One by one, they started to move away until I was the only one left standing. I came closer and said to them in a soft voice.
"Can I try?"
"What does it matter? He is gone and he is never going back." Rin said.
I rubbed his head and hovered my hands above the wound. I concentrated very hard, I felt the magic power flow from my stomach going to my arms. A very bright light came out of my hands and illuminated the room.
When the light started to dim, all people looked at me. I was sitting on the floor rubbing my forehead from the use of my small amount of magic power. I stood up and looked at the wound.
To my surprise, the wound was already gone not even a scar. What was more amazing was that all the people in the room were cured. No traces of scars were embodied on their bodies.
The people were shocked but when I saw Elder Orion's expression. He was smiling like he knew what happened.
When one of the wounded was awake, he immediately explained what happened.
"It was the rogue Demon Spider. While were following its tracks, it ambushed us. It began to rampage and we cannot stop it. I don't know what is happening but it was killing everything it sees. I just hope it won't encounter Grug. It would be very messy fight and we would be in chaos."
The rogue Demon Spider was what we encountered when I was questing with Ethan and a few adventurers. It killed one of our comrade and injured a few. Grandpa Rashid and I was also attacked by it when we were going to Elven Village. Thankfully, we were helped by the Elven Soldiers.
In the last two months, the Spider was keeping on making havoc wherever it goes. As protectors of the forests, Elves are responsible for the Spider but we did not know that this is how powerful it is.
Grug is the resident Stone Giant. He is a beast made up of stones which is as tall as a three- storey building. He is one of the protectors of the forest but he only takes action when the forest is really threatened.
Elder Lance came inside the room and announced. "We have decided to kill the Spider. It has been a threat not only to us but also the other beasts. If you want to go with me, come immeditely to our training field."
We usually don't kill beasts but when it gets too far, we don't have a choice.
Right now, I was thinking about Elder Lance's announcement. To be honest, it felt good to help heal all those soldiers since the last two months, I haven't done anything productive. So I decided to go to the assembly to help kill the rogue Spider.