Chapter 3: The Call to Arms

Whispers Of Eldoria:Chapter 2

The next morning, I found my mum already in the kitchen. I held up my wrists, showing her the beaded bracelets I had worn since I was a baby. They were broken, the string snapped and the beads scattered. It was the result of that weird dream from the night before, though I chose not to mention it.

"Good morning, Mum. Can you help me fix these?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

She looked at me, a hint of concern in her eyes, but she simply sighed and took the staff she'd been holding. She helped me fix the beaded bracelets and gave me a new necklace. It was tinier than the old one, but I could feel that it was enchanted with a high-level magic disguise.

"Suppressing your magic isn't always going to be enough if your energy keeps breaking these," she said softly. "This will disguise your magic as a low-level mana source. I guess it's time you learned energy output control so you don't use too much of your excess energy."

She handed the staff back to me, her eyes lingering on it for a moment, but she said nothing about what it was or where I got it. I didn't tell her about the dream and the altar either. The silence hung between us, a new secret we were both keeping.

The days melted into weeks, and weeks into months, filled with school, homework, and a new routine of after-school training. While I worked on mastering my energy output control and the Stone Body spell, Claris had started her own rigorous training.

She had told her father about her desire to become an art mage, just like him. A kind and patient man, he was overjoyed and immediately began teaching her. But it was her mother who took her training to the next level.

A former assassin—a ruthless one, I was told—Claris’s mother insisted that art mages, especially at a young age, needed a lot of defense. Magic wasn't always a solution, and there were times you needed to save your energy. So, while her father taught her the intricate art of weaving mana into beautiful, expressive spells, her mother taught her the brutal art of combat.

The two were a perfect team: one teaching her how to create, and the other teaching her how to destroy.

It wasn't only Claris who was learning combat. My mum's enchanted dummies trained me every night, and those were the hardest times. There's one thing about enchanted trainers: they don't feel pain, so they were relentless. I learned to use my magic defensively, dodging and parrying with my staff. I and Claris trained hard all through our four years of elementary school.

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The final year of elementary school was a great one. My elven self was all grown up, looking like a human teenager, although when I changed back, I was still a small child. I remembered Mum telling me that I would begin to figure things out about the human books and relics she gave me at this stage, and she wasn't wrong. The true forms of the books began to reveal themselves to me.

I wasn't interested in the rest, so I had my diary go through them, since it could also. I focused on the red book. It wasn't a spell book but a manual that could help one activate his inner balance. I thought of the strange altar encounter when I saw the first page. It wasn't something I could practice in one day, so I memorized the whole book and started with the first lesson, which was all about meditation.

"After this, you'll all be heading to different elite schools, depending on your chosen path," the portly headmaster said, his voice echoing across the assembly hall. "We teachers are here to guide you, and I believe you all have what it takes."

He cleared his throat and his expression grew more solemn. "According to a letter sent to all elementary schools, we are to train all of you for the Elite Mage Warriors School. And you can't drop out until the day of the exam. Your performance will determine where you go and will help you find the real path your heart truly desires."

The rest of what he said was what I already knew. What I didn't know was what the exam would be like. It was a test held at the Wisdom God's Temple, and the specifics were a complete mystery. Those who went there said nothing about it afterward. I heard that among the previous set who had just graduated, some had seen hell, and one of them had even ran mad for a whole week. We had to prepare in all aspects because the elite test was something no one had ever witnessed and returned to speak of.

I knew this was a big deal. It felt like the beginning of the end of my quiet life and the start of something much bigger.

"Master Edward, you have witnessed the elite test, right? What was it like?"

I knew he wouldn't tell me due to some enchantment, as I'd read in my books, but I hoped his response would be a hint.

Mr. Edward's face grew distant, his eyes taking on a haunted look. "I have vague memories about it," he began, his voice a low whisper. "All I can say is... it was a mirror."

I didn't understand. A mirror? What did that mean?

He seemed to sense my confusion. "The most terrifying test is the one you face against yourself. In that temple, your own memories are used against you, and the only way to survive is to abandon everything you thought you were."

He quickly regained his composure, as if he had said too much. He simply looked at me, his expression unreadable, and walked away. The hint he gave was a brick wall, but something was fishy. He didn't get enchanted while he responded, which meant he wasn't saying everything. I knew he was hiding something big. He was holding back not because of a spell, but because he didn't want me to know the full truth.

I had so many questions. What else was there? And why would he hide it? I had a feeling the secret was connected to something he had witnessed, something so terrifying that it couldn't be spoken of. It felt personal, as if his cryptic words were meant to be a warning to me specifically.

That day, Claris and I departed after school. We had different training plans—her with her parents, and me with a new goal in mind. We were strong enough to look out for ourselves.

I secretly followed Master Edward home, keeping a good distance. When I got to his place, I saw him practicing his magic. He was trying to cast a snowstorm, which I knew was his innate specialty as an ice mage. But it wouldn't work. The spell would start, a flurry of ice and wind would materialize, but it would fail halfway, collapsing into a puddle of water.

I decided to move closer, curious about his struggles. As I crept behind a large tree, my diary suddenly popped up.

His mutation is being overridden. It's a temporary effect caused by your proximity.

How is that possible? I thought. He's an elf. He shouldn't be connected to me.

"Can you scan him for me?" I asked, knowing my diary had grown stronger as I did and had unlocked multiple abilities from the books it had read.

I cannot cast the spell, my lady, the diary replied. I only simplified it into a passive skill that only you can use at will.

"Okay," I whispered, focusing my will on the new passive skill. I felt a surge of my energy flow outwards, not as a spell, but as a subtle, invisible wave.

I scanned him and discovered something that I didn't understand. A small, faint code appeared in my mind's eye beside his name. It was not a title, but a mark: Defender of the Broken God.

A huge storm swirled in my direction, a powerful wind that threatened to tear the trees from their roots. I had to defend myself with my most advanced defense skill, "Mountain Stand," a more powerful form of my Stone Body magic. I braced myself, pushing all my mana into the spell. A stone-like shield encased my body, and the winds howled and whipped around me, but I stood my ground.

When the storm subsided, the entire area had been wiped clean, but Mr. Edward was still standing, staring at the raw power of his own output. He then looked directly at me.

"Seems like you found out who I am undercover," he said, his voice flat. "You can't hide the truth about being human from the Elven gods." He threw me off balance with his words, and I didn't even notice when he used a frost cloud to get behind me.

"You're only allowed to stay here because the Light Relic chose you as its new light," he continued, his voice softer but no less intense. "You would have been killed along with Miss Elara, who broke the rules, but... just stay out of trouble during the exams. The Wisdom God won't treat you like the others."

Then, he disappeared into a cloud of ice.

His mutation was planned by the gods. Just what does he mean?

My head felt like it would explode with unanswered questions. Who was I? Why did I have no memory of what happened after the wolf-beast killed my dad? How did I make it to the elven lands without a boat, especially since the beast that killed him was right next to me?

"Stay clear, Carly. Let go of the questions. Keep your mind at peace," I told myself, trying to calm down. Slowly, I managed to clear my thoughts.

I suddenly found myself in the other realm where the altar was. I walked closer but didn't touch it this time. I decided to look at everything around me. I noticed the figure on the altar looked more complete; its legs were now fully formed.

I decided to continue meditating, even in this strange realm, focusing on the words from the red book I had memorized: "Finding Inner Peace."

As I meditated, the sounds from the dark half of the realm kept increasing. They were a torrent of garbled questions and chaotic whispers, but I made sure not to listen. The book was right; I had to find my inner balance first. As I continued my meditation, my head became clear, and all the sounds stopped.

A humming song and a vision of the human lands appeared before me. I saw a group of people, their voices unified in a melody of sorrow and defiance.

"The tears of my children have moved me,
How much longer will you remain unshaken?
Eldoria calls,
Never forget your roots.
Free my children from the locks of darkness.
The light shines above the darkness, and with every fall in the sun comes a new light, and we will still keep our voices loud, for we have not fallen.

Our lands have begun to crumble, but still with our hopes assembled, we await the new dawn, we await the new sun. Oh Eldoria, sing to us your melody.
Let your people regain their joy once more."

My heart sank hearing their song. I couldn't stop the tears from pouring out of my eyes. I saw their homes in ruins, their lands turned into wastelands, and the people had become immigrants due to the desertification of their homes. I could feel the tears in the children's eyes. I watched as a mother looked at her child, a view that seemed to say, Oh, why were you born in this period?

I stood up and looked at the figure behind me. It had its whole head completed in an instant, and I saw tears forming in its eyes, too. I could feel a surge of anger. The person who stole the relic of balance from the chamber of light, the one who caused all of this—it was a deep, searing anger.

As soon as I was back in my body, I was filled with a new sense of purpose. I looked at myself, then at the image of the weeping figure in my mind.

I know not much about who I am, but humans like me are suffering. I have this feeling that you're the key to the puzzle, I thought. My face was filled with determination. I'll make sure I get stronger, I promised myself as I got up.

I could now enter the realm of balance freely, and I knew it was the place where a new Light was to be born. I still had my doubts, but everything I had witnessed pointed to me being that new Light.

I looked down at my broken bracelets on the ground. This time, I had no intention of putting my suppressors back on. I transformed back into my human form and headed to Mum's underground training basement.

At that instant, my staff changed into a slime metal that I could reform at will. I started my training, and in my book, two new spells had appeared: "Anger of the Gods" and "Way of the Rogues."

I began my training with the enchanted figures without using magic, focusing solely on my physical skills. Each day, I continued this secret training, both in the real world and in the realm of balance. With every session, the figure on the altar grew, gaining new, more complete parts. I had thrown away my suppressors, as I could now control my energy output at will.

Months passed, and the day of the elite exams was only one week away. Claris and I had learned a great deal and were ready to start a new chapter of our lives. Claris, in particular, had grown much stronger; when I scanned her, I found her energy level had gone incredibly high.

"It's almost time for the test you all have been preparing for," the headmaster announced at a school assembly. "We will now begin our planning for transportation to the Temple of Wisdom for the elites test that will determine your fate as an elf."

"We have been given an update from the temple as to make it known you will be entering in groups of five," he continued. "You will see your group and name on the school's notice board; make sure to check it on time and try to get along with each other." He then disappeared into thin air.

My group consisted of Claris, Kelvin, Ember, and Eastella—people I got along with, except for Kelvin, who never liked to talk. Even though we would only be called in groups of five to enter the trial chamber, I felt the need to speak to them. "At some point in time, we might have to work together, even if it's for a little while, because we can't predict what will happen. Let's try our best."

The others all responded positively, but Kelvin just turned away, muttering, "Sure, whatever."

We all got ourselves ready and trained on our teamwork. It was a rush, but we managed to work well together as a team. We practiced our formations and defensive spells, making sure we understood everyone's strengths and weaknesses. Claris was a master of her art magic, using it to create illusions and traps, while Ember and Eastella focused on offensive and supportive spells. Even Kelvin, though he was quiet, proved to be an expert in stealth and reconnaissance. I, of course, was the core of our defense, using my enhanced skills to protect the team. The tension was high, but we had a plan. We had each other.

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Whispers of Eldoria: Chapter one | Whispers Of Eldoria:Chapter 2

Thanks for reading!
What do you think the elite test will be like?(i have drifted a bit from what I wrote as a kid and I can't think of a trial😂😂) Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. You can also help with some ideas❤️❤️❤️ ❤️ 

Stay tuned for Chapter 4: The Trials of the Wisdom God