6. When Dreams Collide
“When I woke up again I was alone. Thick smoke engulfed the forest. Despite the pain, I stood up and ran. I did not know where I was going at first. I just ran anywhere. The Blades of Correlon were gone. I suspect the humans must have taken them from my presumably dead body. After an hour of senseless running, I stopped. I had forgotten about my pain but the moment I stopped, it came back once again. I fell on my knees but the dryads’ healing was the best in the world so moments later I began to feel relieved. My mind was clear. I knew exactly where to go – Dreamfall.
The smoke was getting thicker. The forest was set on fire. The humans had come to wreak havoc and bring war and destruction to our peaceful grove. As I was running towards my city, I saw a human patrol. There were four of them. I was just about to jump on them when I realized I am weaponless! It is then that I remembered Maenir’s advice after the test in the chamber – “Use your elements young Erina!”
He was right. I had never used the techniques that Legoen had taught me during my training. I was a master of the elemental magic but I only remembered it when all hope seemed lost! Guilt is still burning in me to this very day!
The humans did not even realize how ice appeared from nowhere trapping them and how the ground suddenly erupted under their feet sending them to their Gods. I could easily master a patrol of humans but as I closed down on Dreamfall, their numbers increased. I could see what was happening. The elven city was under siege!
I got there just in time to see something that I will never forget for the rest of my life! Dreamfall was on fire! The humans were cutting down the tress on which my beloved home stood. Arrows were pouring down on them. The city had not given up yet but they were expecting help from their Windrunners. They still had no idea that Erina’s Fist…the Vanguard of the Elves was defeated and smashed to pieces.
As the trees fell one by one, I could see elves flying through the air hitting the ground with tremendous force. It was a gruesome sight but I held myself back…until I saw my father lying in a pool of blood under the tree that had been our home for so long. I thought of Daphne. She was also lying dead somewhere. Her tree was cut down and burning. Rage arose in me! I was determined to die if I had to but to take those wretches with me!
Then I heard Maenir’s voice inside my head.
“Run…run young Windrunner! Save yourself, you cannot win against such a numberless enemy. In a couple of hours, you shall be the last of our race. On your shoulders lies the greatest mission yet – to preserve our heritage and memory! Run, Erina! Remember Dreamfall and let others hear our story! The elves must not be forgotten”
I looked up and I saw him. He was standing on the tree the humans were cutting down. I think he was smiling. The tree fell and he joined his brethren in their journey to the Shadow Realm.
What choice did I have? I ran…
* * *
I escaped the burning forest and set up camp on a hill overlooking my home. I stayed there until the last trees burned down to ashes and the bloody sun shone upon the scorched land. I cast my last spell then. I summoned the spirit of the land and asked that nothing should ever grow on the spot where the elves once used to live. The place is barren to this day and stands as a testament to the humans’ greed and lust for power.
We have always dreamed of having a home. In Dreamshore forest, we finally found what we were looking for. The humans however have always dreamed of controlling everything on their planet…and destruction and suffering always follow the collision of two dreams…
* * *
I wandered the hills for two days when I found this little village. I decided that I should stay here. I have been living here ever since and I think I have completed my mission in a way.”
She opened the door to her house and inside I saw a boy and a girl, both blonde, and incredibly beautiful like their mother…
On the next day, I went to the barren place where Dreamshore forest used to be according to Erina. I placed an entire bouquet of flowers in the middle of the wasteland. I spent the whole day there as a silent witness to what our greed and megalomania had lead to…
I took the next boat up the river and hurried back home to let the world know what its ancestors once did. I hade made a promise to my companion that I should never let the memory of Dreamfall die like its inhabitants had – by the hand of a human…
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