Chapter 15: Prove You’re a Druid
The dark elf warrior’s refusal was swift and decisive. She disliked humans, especially those who, like Abyss, lacked permits and showed no respect for their rules. She rolled her eyes, ready to dismiss them.
“I’m a human Druid. May I enter?” Abyss asked, his fluent Elvish surprising her. She looked at him more closely.
His face was even more appealing up close, the kind of handsome young man she preferred. She felt a flicker of interest, her voice softening slightly. “You’re a Druid? I’ve never seen a human Druid. How can you prove it?”
“Big sister! I can vouch for him! I’m a Druid too!” Maggie exclaimed, eager to help.
“You? You’re an elf, but even elves need permits or identification. Do you have any? We’ve tightened our security recently due to an influx of suspicious individuals. Don’t take it personally,” the dark elf said, her gaze fixed on Maggie. “If you’re truly a Druid, you can enter without a permit. Show me a Druidic spell.”
“I can transform into a bird!” Maggie offered.
“That’s not enough. Transformation magic is also used by mages of the Transformation School,” the dark elf said, shaking her head.
Maggie thought for a moment. “I can make plants grow rapidly. Mages can’t do that.”
“Alright, then show me. Prove you’re a Druid.”
Maggie began chanting, and a nearby patch of grass grew rapidly, its blades thickening, even producing seeds. She jumped off her horse, plucked a long blade of grass, and presented it to the dark elf.
“Big sister, is this enough proof? It’s growing so well! But it’s not as impressive as the flower I’m growing back at the Druid council. It can withstand a scythe’s blow! Speaking of scythes, they’re used to harvest reeds. And reeds are used for…”
“Alright, your plant-growing abilities are impressive, but that’s enough,” the dark elf said, interrupting her. Her instincts told her that if she let Maggie continue, she wouldn’t get off duty anytime soon. She turned to Abyss. “Your elven companion has proven her identity. Now, show me a Druidic spell. But no shapeshifting. I don’t want you impersonating a Druid.”
“Alright,” Abyss said, nodding. “What kind of spell would you like to see?”
“Anything.”
The three girls watched, curious. He wasn’t a Druid. His knowledge of their magic was limited. This was partly due to the Druids’ beliefs. They lived in harmony with nature, and even in death, they adhered to their principles, resistant to resurrection, even by someone like Abyss.
If he had his memories, he would remember his attempt to communicate with a deceased Druid, who had angrily refused his offer of resurrection, forcing him to return the soul to its rest.
Abyss didn’t hesitate. He raised his hand, palm upwards, his fingers pointing towards a small mound of earth, then began chanting softly.
The mound rose slowly, growing taller, transforming into a small hill.
“An Earth Druid!” Maggie exclaimed, her enthusiasm undimmed by the dark elf’s earlier interruption. “Wow, you’re very skilled! If my master had ten fingers, he would give you a perfect score!”
“Manipulating earth, hmm?” the dark elf said, nodding. “That’s definitely Druidic magic. Ordinary mages can’t do that. Very well, I’ll open the gate. Fill out these forms with your names, your purpose for visiting, and your destination within the Elven Kingdoms.”
“Thank you,” Abyss said in Elvish.
“You’re welcome. It’s my duty,” the dark elf replied. She wanted to flirt with this handsome young man, but duty called. “We’ve had a lot of humans trying to enter our territory recently, treasure hunters. It’s a nuisance. But we can’t just refuse entry. We have to follow protocol.”
She climbed down from the watchtower, opening the gate, its surface covered in runes.
“Why are they looking for treasure?” Maggie asked, curious. “I’ve only been gone for a few days. What treasure has appeared?”
“Who knows? Humans are always chasing rumors of wealth,” the dark elf said, shrugging. “Most of them end up as cannon fodder or victims of scams—I’ll tell you more later. Names, please. State your purpose, your destination. And you, the cat on his shoulder, you’re a Druid as well, right? You need to register too.”
“My dear, how did you know I was a Druid?” Baggs asked, surprised that his disguise had been seen through by an ordinary guard.
“That’s easy. I’ve never seen a cat pick its nose before,” the dark elf replied, smirking. “Especially with its pinky finger.”
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