The The Melian Revelation
Episode 3

Valadin's eyes were pounded on the Rubi Relic in his grasp. The ring shimmered red, as red as blood, as if representing sadness and a feeling of guilt that clumped in his heart.

An unbearable pain instantly seeped from his chest, tearing his sanity apart. But, Valadin persisted to not show it. He must be strong. For the sake of his friends, and for the future he dreamed of.

Valadin turned his gaze away from that dazzling red light. But his gaze was instead pounded on his armor and blood-stained sword, a reminder that today he has fallen into an unforgivable sin to fulfill his ambition. And as punishment, he had to lose something very precious to him.

Four months ago while starting to plan all this, Valadin was already aware of the risks. But there was absolutely no evidence in his mind that the situation would be like this.

***

The moon that looked like a shining ring peered out from behind the dark clouds that enveloped the Telssier Forest.

That vast forest filled almost the entire northern tip of The Melian— Continent - a small tropical continent shrouded in mist and located right at the center of the equator of the Terra world.

Valadin stands among the field flanked by acacia trees. He stared at her at night, as if looking forward to something. Like an Elvar, the darkness of the night did not bother him at all.

A female Elvar was standing not far from him. Partners—Ellanese. Ellanese hair that looks like yellow corn choppy and decomposes to the hips. He grasped a long white stick that resembled a walking stick, but its top was studded with clear crystals. Ellanese looked like a girl in her twenties, but Valadin knew she was seven hundred years old. Just a few years older than him.

“Lourd Valadin—” Ellanese was about to say something, but the tinkering of an eagle from a distance surprised him.

Valadin smiled, the eagle was the answer to his wait. He rushed following the prowess of the eagle and headed towards the field several hundred meters north of the forest.

In the middle of the field, a brunette-haired young girl spread out her hand wrapped in leather gloves. The eagle swooped down among the branches of the trees before landing on the girl's glove.

That girl was very young compared to Valadin. He was no more than eighteen years old. His large, red-brown eyeballs looked radiant as they stroked the nape of his eagle.

Laruen turned his head towards Valadin. “Lourd Valadin,” said, hastily saluted Valadin. “What are you doing here?”

“I'm looking for you,” Valadin replied. He gestured for Laruen to act ordinary. Valadin did not particularly like formality.

Laruen smiled back. But his smile was gone when he noticed the presence of the Ellanese that followed behind Valadin.

“Goodnight, Leidz Ellanese.” Laruen stared reluctantly at the Ellanese. Lourd and Leidz were respectful calls from the younger Elvar to the older ones.

But Ellanese replied to Laruen's greeting with a slow snort. Valadin breathed a heavy sigh. Ellanese and Laruen are like cats and dogs. No wonder, considering the Ellanese hated the Vier-Elvs, and Laruen was a Vier-Elv.

“What did Peregrine tell you?” valadin asked, trying to melt the atmosphere. Peregrine is the name of the Laruen eagle.

Laruen exhaled before answering. “Peregrine just saw a gang of thieves, not too far from here. But I'm afraid we're late.” The girl's voice trembled as she continued her report. “They've got the horn.”

Valadin. “Again,” regretted it with a choked voice.

The long silence followed the bad news that Laruen delivered. The buzzing of insects and the rustling of leaves were not able to break them.

“Maybe we better see it directly?” laruen asked, which Valadin answered with a slow nod.

Laruen unleashed Peregrine, which shot straight into space to indicate direction. “Please, Lourd Valadin, Leidz Ellanese.”

Accompanied by Laruen and Ellanese, Valadin walks through a dark and foggy forest. He relied on his fox-sharp vision to find his way between the lush acacia trees and the kaliandra shrub. The Peregrine's flap that was straddling above the forest was leading him in the direction to go.

Arriving at the foot of the ramp, Valadin stopped. From the crevices of the forest canopy he saw Peregrine swooping into the back of the teak tree.

“Behind that incline,” said Laruen.

Valadin started climbing as fast as he could. He stopped when he reached the top of the mountain. So did Laruen and Ellanese who followed later.

In front of him, Peregrine perched on a branch of teak. The bird was twitching softly as it stared at Shadhavar who was lying at the bottom of the tree.

Valadin's chest immediately felt crowded watching the heartbreaking scene. Shadhavar's horn has been cut off. A gaping stab wound on the lower side of his soft belly, it seemed like the hunter who injured him did not have a weapon capable of slitting Shadhavar's neck covered in thick fur. The blood pouring from the wound stained her beautiful fur and created a dark puddle on the ground.

The poor animal was unable to make a sound, let alone move, apparently due to the influence of drugs used by hunters to paralyze it. The Shadhavar stared back at Valadin. His big gray eyes were emitting sadness and pain, as if asking, what happened to him? Why should he be hurt in such a way?

Valadin couldn't look at him for longer. He slowly approached the deer and knelt beside it. Shadhavar's blood soiled his robe and shoes, but he didn't care. Valadin gently stroked the neck of the animal.

Unasked, Ellanese approached them, pointing her white stick at Shadhavar's body and closed her eyes. The crystal at the end of his wand glowed. A warm white light shimmered from the crystal, enveloping Shadhavar for a few moments.

Soon after, Ellanese lowered her wand. He shook his head weakly at Valadin.

“I will put an end to your suffering,” whispered Valadin in Shadhavar's ear. He closed his eyes and prayed. “Hamadryad, The Aether protector of the forest and its contents, I send this dim soul to shine again by your side.” Valadin then stood up and pulled out a sword from his waist.

The sword was about half Valadin's body in length. The blade is bright, even in darkness. That was Schalantir, a sword forged with rare metals and containing magic power. The holy power that served in Schalantir made the sword shine brightly, even though it was over hundreds of years old.

Valadin plunged his sword into a gaping wound in Shadhavar's stomach. The creature screamed silently as Schalantir's sharp tip pierced through his heart. His eyes widened as he finally died.

Valadin knelt down and closed the deer's eyelids with his hands. He clenched his jaw furiously. As Eldynn—the holy knight— who protects and defends those who are weak, taking Shadhavar's life was the last thing he wanted to do. But he had no other choice ...

Shadhavar is hunted for his hollow horns. That horn is what collectors are looking for rare objects. Currently the number of Shadhavar left is very small. The creature, along with almost all the magical animals that live in the Telssier Forest, is on the verge of extinction.

Laruen knelt beside Valadin. His fingers touched the ground. Valadin realized the existence of four footprints that scattered towards both directions.

“One of them must have carried that horn,” sis Laruen.

Ellanese agrees. “We can split. In a matter of minutes

they will be caught.”

But Valadin shook his head. “No need,” said.

“For what? They will only be handed over to the authorities, and then punished by the law of Man. That won't bring Shadhavar's life back.”

“I have no intention of handing them over to the court,” said Ellanese growled. “They deserve the same fate as this Shadhavar!” His eyes did not emit any doubt as he said it.

Valadin looked at Ellanese with a faint smile. When it comes to other nations—especially Man—Ellanese often lose patience and say unexpected things.

“A loving and forgiving Vestal should not say such words,” Valadin reminded. He cleaned the tip of his sword with a robe. Valadin stood up and looked up, staring straight at the dark sky. The moon and stars were no longer visible, engulfed in the dark, creaking Mist. “In the near future this place will be filled with Dark Mist,” continued Valadin. “We should bury this Shadhavar properly before the Daemons arrive.”

Laruen. “I understand,” he said faltered. “Send it to me.” His breath was holding as if holding something back.

“What's up?” ask Valadin.

“I'm sorry,” said the girl finally. “I'm in charge of guarding this part of the forest. All this happened because of my negligence.”

“I don't blame you,” Valadin said. “You've done your best.” He patted slowly on Laruen's shoulder. “Again there's not much we can do. Humans have taken over this continent. The nation that arrived on this continent one thousand five hundred years ago actually got rid of us who were here first,” Valadin regretted. “The glory of our nation came to an end centuries ago when Queen Ratana and the Elders signed the Treaty of the Three Nations. They are like giving up this continent to be controlled by Humans,” he added.

For a moment all was silent. Only the whirring of the wind and the shriek of the Peregrine plan were heard.

“Laruen, you're a Vier-Elv,” Valadin said suddenly. “What do you think of Humans?”

“I hate them!” sahut Laruen's. “They stained this forest with their greed. Imagining that my body is fed with human blood alone has disgusted me,” he continued in a cold voice.

Valadin smiled hearing that answer. He expected it. “I dream of a beautiful future for this continent,” he said. “Future where creatures like Shadhavar can live without fear of being hunted. A new era in which the Elvar nation came back to power and was respected as it had been thousands of years ago. An era in which there is no more blood and death due to the greed of Man. Have you ever dreamed the same thing?”

Laruen glanced at Shadhavar's body next to him. “Every time I witness something like this, Lourd.” His voice sounded desperate.

“I'm glad to know we have the same dream,” Valadin smiled. He stared fixedly at Laruen. “Are you willing to sacrifice for that dream?”

Laruen returned Valadin's gaze, there was no doubt in his eyes. “Nyawaku I will sacrifice as long as it can be realized, Lourd Valadin.”

“Good.” Valadin's gaze turned soft. “It's getting closer.”

“Tell me what to do,” said Laruen impassioned. “I'm ready to do it.”

“Sabar,” said Valadin calmly. “Everything has its time. I'm still waiting for answers from two other friends before we can start all this.”

“Who are they?” asked Laruen impatiently.

“You will know when the time comes. But for a while, keep this matter a secret from everyone. Can I trust you?” valadin asked, which Laruen answered with a steady nod.

“Good. We will restore the glory of the Elvar nation,” Valadin said. “For too long we have been a second-class nation, in the shadow of Man.” He patted Laruen's shoulder.

Valadin sheathed back Schalantir. He turned around and walked towards the trees that were not covered in Dark Mist. His armor glimmered pale under the moonlight that peeked out from behind the Mist. She smiles. Soon everything will begin …