The The Melian Revelation
Episode 6
Aelwen was relieved as the Dark Mist that surrounded the Telssier Forest gradually thinned out. He had never seen Dark Fog so close, even on his way from Granville to Mildryd.
Dark Mist that covers this continent is a place of life for Daemon— vile creatures that live by preying on other creatures. Daemons have inhabited this continent even since before the Elvar Nation. Where there is fog, you can be sure they are not far from there.
The trees are becoming less frequent now. Finally Aelwen could see their destination, the expanse of grassland hidden in the middle of the forest.
Aelwen's struggle seduced and begged Vrey— to be invited to hunt Nymph—paid already. He hasn't seen the Nymphs. But just looking at the field made him feel amazed. The wild grasslands are beautiful. Much more beautiful than the gardens in Granville.
The field is overgrown with various kinds of flowers. Lilies, begonias, and daisies are in bloom even though it is not yet time to flower. The place was bathed in sunlight, unlike the other parts of the forest that looked grim. In the middle of the field there is a pond with very clear water. A lotus with bright purple flowers thrives there. Hundreds of dragonflies and butterflies floated above him.
Aelwen gaped to his amazement. He had never seen such an incredible place. Even in the book or painting—and he had already read hundreds of books and seen many paintings.
“This is where the Nymphs live,” Vrey said. The girl sat between the flower carpet and straightened her legs.
Aelwen sat beside him, “Here? But I didn't see a single one. Anyway why is there no Elvar guarding it?”
“Nymph is a plant spirit that exists in the Forest of Telssier,”
Vrey explained. “They are also shy. They won't
showing himself in front of other creatures. I suppose
that's why the Elvars thought this place was unnecessary
guarded.”
“But if you can't see it, how do you
catch them?”
“I'll show you,” replied Vrey.
Vrey speechless. Then he looked at Aelwen sharply.
“Remember, don't tell me anything you see later to friends in the store or I throw you into the rapids earlier!”
“What's the reason?” Aelwen was curious.
“See for yourself,” replied Vrey briefly. He took a deep breath and began to open his mouth. A soft and melodious voice flowed out from Vrey's lips.
Aelwen suddenly felt his hair bristling. He realized the dragonfly and butterfly that had previously flown irregularly were now approaching Vrey as if listening. Although Vrey hummed without singing a word, Aelwen could feel magic power flowing from Vrey's voice.
That's when Aelwen realized the appearance of creatures the size of a palm from behind the flowers and grass—para Nymph. Their wings that resembled the wings of a butterfly flapped tightly. Every flap of it dropped a trail of glittering fine dust.
The Nymphs flew over. Now Aelwen could clearly see the creature he had only read about in a fairy tale. At first glance Nymph resembles Elvar. But their eyes are big like insects. In addition, their bodies are overgrown with a kind of violet flowering creeping plant.
A pair of Nymphs flew right before Aelwen's eyes. He was so impressed that he wanted to touch them. But Aelwen did not dare to move, worried that the Nymphs would fly away.
Beyond Aelwen's expectations, Vrey suddenly stopped singing and grabbed the pair of Nymphs with lightning-fast movements. The other Nymphs disappeared from Aelwen's sight. The meadows returned as before, all the butterflies and dragonflies flew back irregularly to and fro.
“That's how I caught him,” Vrey said. He lightly pulled out the wings from the backs of the Nymphs.
The creatures screamed in a heartbreaking voice before their shape changed. Their pretty figures seemed to fade and dry to resemble the roots of a rotting plant.
Vrey throws the lifeless body of the Nymph into the pool, leaving their wings in his hands. Aelwen shuddered as the incident rolled before his eyes.
Like a spider, Vrey lures the Nymphs and takes their lives. But unlike Aelwen, Vrey, who was raised by thieves in Mildryd, is used to doing these kinds of things. The girl was not even troubled by Aelwen's change in expression.
Carefully, Vrey stored the wings of the Nymph into a small pouch he carried.
“Remember, don't tell this to anyone,” said Vrey.
“Gill and the others will laugh me to death if they know I can sing.” He then added two scribbles on a piece of shabby parchment—note the number of Nymph wings he had collected.
“But your voice is so sweet. And I've never heard a song like that before? What is Elvar song?” ask Aelwen.
Vrey was silent for a moment. “Honestly, I don't know either. I don't even remember where I learned the song. I just know that I can sing it since I was a kid, that's it.”
“Then how did you know your singing could lure the Nymphs?” ask Aelwen again.
“The story is long,” replied Vrey.
Aelwen chuckles small “We also have plenty of time, right? Come on tell me,” her insistence.
“Oh, sorry,” said Aelwen was wrong. He doesn't know about Vrey's past because the girl never talks about it.
“Haha, take it easy,” Vrey said. “I also don't really remember my childhood with my grandfather. After all, I've considered our conspirators like my own family.”
Vrey picked up a pebble and threw it to ricochet in the pond before continuing. “But once at a time, I was curious about the other side of me,
about Elvar's blood flowing through my body. So six years ago I secretly left our group to live in Falthemnar with the Elvar.”
“Not that Vier-Elv is not allowed to set foot on Falthemnar?” cut Aelwen curious
“You're right. It's also a long story and I don't want to talk about it, we just skip that part.”
Aelwen actually wanted to ask further. But he noticed the sadness that was emanating from both of Vrey's eyes when he said that, so he paused it. “It's okay, I understand,” he said.
Vrey continued. “After almost a year I realized my place was not with the Elvar, so I left Falthemnar,” said Vrey, a bitter smile filling his lips.
“On my way home, I crossed this forest. That's when I was scared. Afraid that Gill and his accomplice would not accept me again after leaving without saying goodbye. Finally I walked without direction until I found this place,” Vrey stared around the meadow.
“I sat in this place and muttered a song I've been singing a lot since I was a kid,” Vrey explained.
“Singing that song always makes me feel comfortable. Her melody helps me forget fear and anxiety.”
Vrey muttered the same song and the Nymphs came back. One Nymph flew closer towards him. And as before, Vrey deftly caught the Nymph.
“That was my first Nymph,” said Vrey. “At that time I was so happy. I thought if I brought Nymph to Gill, she'd take me back. I didn't realize I caught the Nymph thanks to my singing.”
“Then, you finally returned to Gill's place?”
“Yes, but once I got home, I haven't given him that Nymph Gill beat me to the ground.” Vrey smiled wryly in memory of the incident.
“Then the Nymph you caught?” ask Aelwen.
“I never gave it to Gill,” replied Vrey. “It just so happened that time Gill went out of town, so I searched for information about my catch. That's when I met a collector in Mildryd. He's a rich old man who looks learned, so I showed him the Nymph.”
“What does it say?” aelwen asked curiously.
“Of course he was surprised,” said Vrey. “Nymphs are extremely rare, even among the Elvar Nation. To lure the Nymphs, the Elvar nation must sing a song
special song. And it is said that even among the Elvar Nation though not many are able to sing the song.”
“Why do the Elvar nation need to lure the Nymphs?” ask Aelwen again. “Surely not to retract its wings like you did, right?”
Vrey chuckles. “Of course not. The Elvar nation lures the Nymphs to collect powder from their wings.” Vrey pointed out the fine dust still stuck to his finger.
“This powder has magic power and can be used as a mixture when forging various kinds of weapons and armor.”
He continues his story. “The old man was very happy to see the Nymph I caught, and he told me about the mythical Cloak Nymph.”
“Cloak Nymph?” Aelwen squinted his eyes.
“So I said the powder from the Nymph wings could be used to mix the forging material, right,” Vrey reminded.
“Imagine if you could collect Nymph wings in bulk. You can turn those wings into clothes as light as feathers and as strong as steel.” Vrey looked at Aelwen fixedly and continued. “That the power of the Nymph's Cloak is able to exceed the strongest armor forged by the Draeg nation though.”
Vrey's eyes flashed as he said that. No wonder, the Draeg— Nation who are also the original inhabitants of The Melian— are known for their talent in processing metal. It was said that there were no blacksmiths in this world capable of forging weapons and armor as good as them.
“So since then you started collecting Nymph?” ask Aelwen.
“Iya,” reply Vrey. “Which thieves are not tempted to hear such a story? Moreover, after investigating on my own, I learned that the Nymph Cloak is a treasure of all treasures. Dreams of hunters and collectors in this world,” he added.
“How many more wings do you need to finish the robe?” ask Aelwen.
“Actually I hope to make up the amount today,” Vrey said. “But we have to be fast. The Nymphs will not appear as late as noon.”
Vrey's answer seemed to ignite something in Aelwen. He unconsciously jumped to his feet. “Then wait what else?” tanyakanya. “Come! You sing, I catch, so we can finish before noon.”
Vrey smile. “You sure?” tanyanya full of search. The way Aelwen looked at him as he plucked the wings of the Nymphs did not escape his attention.
“I'm sure,” replied Aelwen.
Vrey was quite satisfied with that answer. “Alright,” says the girl finally.
Aelwen and Vrey spent the rest of the morning collecting Nymph wings. And when the sun is directly overhead, they finally get the wings needed to make the Nymph Cloak.
