Elevation of Mana Chapter 65 Homeward

As I made my way home I began to contemplate how my life had gone so far.  This new life was something I could never have expected, and the world of magic it had brought me was, while sometimes tiring, still... full of potential.  There had been struggles sure, but so too was there hope.

One day this world would see magical wonders and beauties the likes of which its people couldn't yet understand, and if I had my way I would be at the forefront of it.  We could have magical computers, magical cars, magical buildings stretching to the sky where people might well live in peace.  Perhaps it would outpace me, and that was fine, good even.  Being part of something bigger and more wonderful was always a boon.

At the same time there were problems, problems that one day would need to be solved.  Magical beasts would haunt us for a long time yet, and may never fully be beaten back.  In my first world the worst of the predators had been brought to heel, driven to the wilds, but even there things happened sometimes.  They might even be needed for the ecology here, something it was good to know before going after them.

There were also the follies of people to deal with.  Elves weren't human, but they also weren't much different.  My new people tended to stick with what they knew, and push it to what it could do, rather than exploring new options, both a boon and a folly.  Unfortunately they still had some of the cruelty that inflicted mankind, the desire to control that allowed men to see other men as things, or livestock.  That last bit was something I wanted to eradicate in time, if I ever grew powerful enough, as it stood though there was little I could do.

There were no roads as of yet, but as I got nearer my new home the paths changed.  Small game trails, barely able to be picked out from where they meandered near the shores of streams turned into wider dirt concourses, pounded flat by the ages of people passing along them.  The solitude of the forest gave way to occasional meetings, passers by waving in greeting as we moved.

People here were still just people, living their lives, trying to make it through the day.  The gathering parties and the occasional group of guards near them carried their pickings for the day on heads or to the side.  I smiled as a few were even pulling along larger sleds, all packed full with fruits and roots on their way to market.

I approached the city as the sun began to sink towards the horizon, perhaps an hour or two before it truly fell, but it still hung low in the sky, the light just starting to change as it made to set.  I stood briefly upon a hill, some ways out, looking out at the place.  To the east I could see the barest strip of shore, with fishermen the size off ants bringing in the last of the day's catch.  To the west, through squinted eyes I could see meadows and forest, the paths into my home filling slowly with people headed to their houses.

South of me was Atal itself, looking like a painting.  The city had dark stone walls, full of buildings of much the same, over which sprouted the trees that made up so many of the second and third floors of the buildings.  Their green made it look less like a city and more like a patch of rocky forest, in which lived the elven nation that ruled this land.  Ancient elders and younglings like myself dwelt here, among stone and living wood, learning crafts and magic as we gained knowledge and power in each.

I made it to the gates before sunset, if gate was really the proper word.  Here I slipped in, just one of many headed back home for the night, or to see what the night brought to the city.  While it got dark there were still stirrings here and there, places where people put up small torches, or in a few cases even shone magical lights, just now coming on to let everyone find their way home.  I passed by streets one by one, going down some, letting others fall behind me.  The street of flowers was one I passed by, some of the girls still out, looking for patrons in the night, even winking and calling to passers by.

Step by step I drew nearer, and thought back to my first home here, to my village, Elayatol.  They'd banished me, sent me away for the destruction I'd caused while trying to defend them.  I couldn't say they were totally wrong, even if it stung that I'd been ostracized for protecting my home.

My parents were still there as far as I knew, they along with a few friends would be there or a time yet.  Would they split and fight like the village I'd left not so long ago, trying to drive Elaya and whatever supporters she had away?  I didn't know, but if it came to pass that they split I would happily go to join them again, a good family was a treasure.

Then there was Isha, one of my closest friends, and one who I'd made a promise to that sometimes made me worry.  She knew I had secrets, and after her questioning I'd promised to share them with her when we next met.  Was that a promise I could or would break?  Would I even need to?  I didn't know yet, and only the future could tell.

Before I could reach my door I ran into my two closest confidantes in this city.  Chien and Ian stood there, glaring at one another before my house.  The guard was, at least officially speaking, probably the one with the greater right to be here, but the waif was my employee and sometimes student, so he was quite welcome as well.

“My my, I wasn't expecting a reception,” I said with a smirk.

“You walk slow Justin.  Asked some folks to let me know if they saw you coming back,” the boy responded.

“Good to know you care,” I replied.

“Eh, wanted to know if you died out in the wilderness,” he answered, shaking his head.

“Bit of the same,” Ian said when I raised my eyebrow in his direction.  “Also wondered what you're working on that took you away for days.”

I chuckled.  “Well my friend, that's no secret, even if it's not working yet.  Why don't you two come and join me for dinner, I managed to pick up some fresh fruit on the walk home and there should still be a bit of dried meat in my pack.”  They both looked at me like I was weird.  “It's been too long since I got to sit around and chat with friends, or whatever, it'll be refreshing.”

“You're actually going to share your projects?” Ian asked with a doubting look as he followed me in.

“Don't question it, Justin's just weird,” Chien laughed in response.