Virion stared out at the ocean, his mind racing. He concentrated on the rolling waves of the Merthal Ocean, trying to clear his thoughts. Too much had happened in one morning. He drew his sword and stared at it. The zestril shone in the afternoon sun, giving off a strange sparkle.
The blade itself was long and straight, double-edged, and not very broad. The hilt was an alloy of iron and zestril, prioritizing strength over magic resistance. The blade shone a pale blue in the sunlight and there seemed to be a quiet hum coming from the magical metal. Zestril had unique properties and was exceedingly rare. The metal was found in limited veins in certain mountains and throughout the years the valuable metal had dwindled in quantity. The metal was among the few rare elements that interacted with magic. It would let out a weak stream of magic constantly that provided it with a high degree of resistance to elemental attacks, which depended on the stable natural channel of magic to stay formed.
His father had forged this sword for him when he was very young. His father, Aylin was a simple warrior who had diligently served the elf army and rose through the ranks to become the army general directly under Lord Varius Salor, Virion's grandfather. Under his service was where he met Virion's mother, Zaleria Salor. Virion had heard the story countless times. Of how he was assigned to her personal guard and how they slowly grew close. His mother would love to set off on adventures to the Sinraal Mountains - a treacherous mountain range home to many large beasts. It was also the prime location to mine for zestril.
Apparently, on many of their journeys, his father would in fact be the one in need of protection as Zaleria would make short work of any beasts that would attack her. Then she would find Aylin, a simple swordsman with limited knowledge of elemental manipulation, struggling while facing down one of the beasts of the mountain. On one of these journeys was where they had collected the zestril that would one day forge Virion's sword.
Virion sighed and turned the blade in his hands as memories of his parents flitted through his mind. He sheathed his sword and rose. For the first time in the day, his mind was clear. He turned his thoughts back to current events. He had missed the morning senate assembly and would have to question elder Symonticus about what had transpired in his absence.
Virion turned and climbed the hill overlooking the bay. He went North, descending the other side of the hill and heading towards the old living quarters where elder Symonticus' house was. Two paths stretched out from the hill, one towards the stronghold and another towards the old living quarters. Over the hill and towards the ocean was a jagged outstretch of land that ended in a cliff. Built at the edge of the cliff was the hospital, overlooking all of the stronghold.
Virion stopped to look at the building. It was tall and made of some strange pale stone. The perabels had devised methods to shape and form the indigenous stone from the nearby hills into buildings. The hospital was built in such a manner as to funnel the strong ocean winds through every room, providing sufficient ventilation to the patients. Its location on the cliffside was also a deliberate decision to give it unobstructed access to all the strong winds blowing in from the great Merthal Ocean. The perabel girl was within, healing. Virion tried to imagine surviving within warlock territory for two months. A feat that seemed impossible, especially for someone with such a delicate appearance.
‘Hawlen Molot...’ Virion turned and continued moving towards the elder's home. ‘I will need to watch her carefully.’
He slowly unwrapped his bandages as he walked. His wounds seemed to be healed for the most part, leaving only pale scars where his opponent’s sword had slashed him. The nurse had tried to stop him as he stormed out of the hospital but he had waved her off shouting 'I am healed!' as he left. He neared elder Symonticus' home and saw him standing at the door, waiting.
'How is she?', the elder asked, with a slightly worried tone. Virion stared at him in confusion.
'My daughter, young Virion. She has returned yes? How is she?'
Realization dawned on Virion as to who the elder was talking about.
'Hawlen is your daughter?', asked Virion, mildly perplexed. They were nothing alike.
'Why yes. I'm surprised you hadn't put that together already, what with your sharpness'
Virion sighed. The elder's constant evaluation of him could get quite tiring.
'Why didn't you go check for yourself?'
'I would have, had our last parting not ended so... fiercely...', he replied while slowly stroking his gray beard.
'Her wounds were serious. She will no doubt be bedridden for at least a week', Virion said as he marched towards the door.
'Shall we go inside elder? I am curious to know the details of the senate meeting'.
Symonticus chuckled.
'Bedridden for a week you say... I wager she will be up and about within three days.'
He patted Virion on the shoulder and marched into his home, shouting back as he entered,
'Come! Let us discuss this all-important senate meeting!'
Virion shook his head and let out an irritated sigh.
'Well you're certainly in a good mood...', he murmured under his breath as he stepped through the doorway. Elder Symonticus sat in one of the chairs at the old wooden table and looked at Virion expectantly, who was standing silently. Virion took a deep breath to calm himself and looked the perabel elder in the eye.
'Can I see her?'
Symonticus' face fell and he stood up slowly and shakily, supporting himself on the handle of his chair. He took a step towards Virion as his expression turned to worry.
'Of course but... Will you be alright, young Virion?'
'Please elder... I need to see her', Virion said quietly.
The
elder nodded and gestured to Virion to follow him as he walked towards a room
near the back of the house. He opened the door to reveal a small room, around
half the size of the bedroom he had given to Virion. There was a window on the
far side facing inland so that, with the door open, a cross breeze would flow
through the house and strongly into this room. In the center of the room was a
cot covered completely by a blanket. Virion stepped forward and pulled back the
blanket to reveal his mother's face.
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