It had been days and Ellephwen still had not returned. Ellena thought about leaving the house, going back to the dungeons but she didn’t want to risk missing the Dryad. It was strange, there was no indication that anything was really wrong, or that Ellephwen was in any kind of danger, but she worried. She couldn’t help it, there was something strange going on.
It was the third night alone in that hollowed out tree that Ellena had her fears confirmed. There was a great earthquake, it shook everything in the house, enough that some plates fell from their perches and smashed upon the ground. Then, shortly after it was followed by a deep and blood draining roar. It had to have been miles away judging by the echo, but it was clear as day.
If Ellena had neck hairs they would have been standing tall, even with her skills that kept her mind from panicking she knew in her very fibre to fear whatever made that sound.
For a moment there was nothing but the sound of panicking Monsters all around the house, then even they grew silent, but it was an eerie kind of silence. Like the very air itself was holding its breath.
Then the earthquakes started again. Some small, some big, but it repeated on and off for a few minutes. Ellena ran around the house trying to stop anything else falling or breaking, having to activate her shield to catch things as her helmet was not exactly built for catching.
Suddenly, the tremors stopped, for longer this time. Ellena stayed on edge, waiting for them to begin again, but after a good ten tense minutes, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and hopped on her bed.
Almost immediately after the door burst open with a panicked and blood spattered Ellephwen standing there. She breathed heavily, staring at Ellena. “Ellena, thank goodness you’re still here.”
Ellena tilted her head. What do you mean? Where else would I be?
The Dryad tried to catch her breath. “Knowing you, I feared you may have ran towards that sound.”
Should I have done?
“NO! No matter what, stay here. Or run in the opposite direction. This is a fight you are nowhere near ready for.”
Ellena frowned. She hopped off the bed and waddled to the panicked Dray. Ellephwen, what’s going on?
Another ear splitting roar shook the room, dust fell from the ceiling as Ellephwen crouched down in front of Ellena. “Have you ever heard of King Levias?”
The Mushman shook her head.
“King Levias is… Was the King of Monsters. An incredibly powerful and beloved Ancient Ent. Just over a thousand years ago, King Levias lost his mind, it is still not entirely understood how, but, with much effort an alliance of Mortals and Monsters managed to seal him away,” she paused and sighed, squeezing Ellena’s sides. “It was my task to stop anyone from entering his tomb, it has been a long time since anyone was foolish enough to try, so I didn’t notice.”
So what, a group of random adventurers managed to wake up a crazy old king?
“I suspect his seal had already weakened from a thousand years of use, but yes. Gedil came yesterday as a messenger on behalf of the Council of the Ents, as I failed my task I was ordered to take part in his resealing, but… We are struggling, Ellena.”
Then let me help! Surely you need all the help you can get in this sort of situation?
“No, Ellena! Even in his weakened and crazed state King Levias has power on par with God Attribute Monsters. It may be cruel to say but you would merely get in our way as you are now.”
Ellena was taken aback. She was hurt, but she also knew that Ellephwen would not be saying that if she didn’t mean it. She could not get involved in this one, she had to sit it out whilst her Kin battled with a being close to Gods. Just sit down and eat moss. Was that really all she could do?
A finger wiped a growing tear from her eye. “I am sorry child, please understand I do this because I care for you.” She pulled the Mushman in for a hug, holding her tight, then gently kissing her head. “Do not worry for me too much, Ellena. The Council of Ents has called in allies from all over the continent. They had to, if we do not stop King Levias now, then he main raise the entire continent.”
All Ellena could think as Ellephwen stood and turned for the door, was about how such a powerful being could exist. She thought she had made progress in her strength, but compared to something like that, she wasn’t even a pebble in a stone quarry. The little Mushman looked up at the Dryad as she left. She wanted to tell her not to go, to stay. If there were so many going already did she really need to?
Ellephwen, who still heard all her thoughts smiled, a smile full of regret and sadness. “It is my duty. As it is theirs. I’ll be back as soon as I can, Ellena.”
Please be safe, Ellephwen.
A simple nod was the only reply Ellena received after that, the door closing slowly behind the Dryad. She did explicitly say it, but she didn’t need to. Ellena knew it was partially her fault this happened. She had apparently distracted Ellephwen from her duties. Even if it was unintentional and she had no idea that it had happened, she still couldn’t help feeling guilt.
The coming night was restless, every time Ellena thought she might sleep the world shook once again. Or a beastly cry woke her up. Even if it weren’t for these, she was so wracked with worry it would have been difficult to fall asleep regardless.
“Skill [Warriors Will lvl 6] has increased to [Warriors Will lvl 7]!”
Ellena scoffed as she stared at the slowly brightening window. She gained a skill in Warriors Will for resisting charging into death the entire night. Or at least that’s how it seemed.
Every hour that passed was more painful than the last, every once in a while the quakes would stop, leaving Ellena to breathe a sigh of relief, only for them to pick up again shortly after.
By the end of the first day it was maddening, yet for all the distress it caused the little Mushman, she could only think in the back of her mind that it was going to be far worse for those in the fight.
It had lasted all day and all night, that was no ordinary fight. Though that was obvious, it also wasn’t normal for a battle to cause earthquakes. She was restless, yet had to try and sleep once again.
This painful repetition carried on for a whole nother day after. Right up until late and night when the quakes stopped all together. At first Ellena did not believe it, then ten minutes passed, then half an hour, then two hours and finally, she accepted it. The battle was over, but the relief was short lived.
The battle being over didn’t tell her which side had won, it didn’t tell her how Ellephwen was or how much was lost for the victory. If it was over and those opposing the mad king won, then it wouldn’t be long until Elllephwen arrived, for better or for worse.
Just as her eyelids were refusing to stay open, Ellena, still filled with anxiety, got her answer. The door burst open and multiple bodies came rushing in.
“Get her to the bed!” A familiar Elf called out.
It was Samora pointing towards Ellephwens bed, she was holding the door open for two unfamiliar Dryads carrying a heavily wounded Ellephwen between them. At this point, no skills mattered, Ellena felt the panic rise up and refuse to fall.
She ran up to Samora, knowing she could understand a thing she said and began to squeak. Jumping up to Ellephwen as the two gently placed her on the bed, a trail of Dryad ichor behind her.
A teary Ellena was pulled back and turned by the Lake Elf Samora, who gently squeezed her cheeks. “Ellie, Ellie! Look at me,” she made sure the Mushmans attention was on her, not on the situation behind them. “Ellephwen is going to live okay? But panicking is only going to make the treatment more difficult. I need you to stay calm and stay out of our way. Please? She’ll live. Just trust me, she’ll live.”
Ellena didn’t know if she could. She had not even gotten over the death of her parents yet, and she might lose somehow else? That wasn’t something her little heart could take right then. She couldn’t watch, but what else could she do?
As she paced back and forth, one of the Dryads sighed and fell back into one of the chairs near the fireplace. Finally, the Mushman looked at what they were doing. Samora stood over Ellephwen, slowly scanning her body with a glowing blue hand. Ellena watched a few of the wounds close up at an unnatural rate, but still not all of them. They were not ordinary wounds.
“So?” The collapsed Dryad asked, panting for breath.
Samora grunted and steadied her now shaking hand. It seemed as though she was exhausted too, but was fighting through it. “She’s past the worst of it, she’ll live. She’ll definitely live.”
“Then you should rest Samora. Rosalwyn and I will go. The Council of Ents has much to do. King Levias made quite a mess.” The Dryad bowed and pulled herself to her feet. She left for the door, the other following hurriedly behind her.
It was the Elf's turn to collapse, but she didn’t have a soft chair to fall back on. Ellena just barely managed to jump behind her so she wouldn’t fall to the ground. She felt the soft thump as Samora fell against her body, then with great care Ellena slowly pushed her over to her own bed. Samora weakly clinged on to the mattress and pulled herself up.
“T-thanks Ellie. You get some rest too, I’ll explain what I can in the morning.”
The Elf pulled the sheets over herself, and fell to sleep almost immediately. They didn’t really tell her anything, everyone was already completely exhausted by the time they arrived, but the shaking had stopped as had the noise. So they must have won, otherwise they wouldn’t be sleeping right now.
Ellena still felt unsure. She felt uncomfortable and confused, but she was exhausted and at least she could sleep a little more soundly now. She looked over to Ellephwen, tempted to climb up, to sleep next to her, but she couldn’t risk worsening any of the wounds, so instead she crawled in next to Samora and collapsed herself. A little more hopeful than she had been for a few days.