Chapter IV - More confusion, dear Lemalian...

-You are afraid, my dear Lemalian, and you are right to be. Just for your general knowledge, I could kill you with a breath. But I won't... you gave me no reason yet. So pay attention to my words and stop looking for ways to escape. There's none. And after I am finished with you, I'll set you free. You'll be able to do what you please... After all, this world is more yours than it is mine.
-I am listening.
-That's better. I know you've been to the Thas'thali meetings. Now tell me, what was their decision?
-I don't think you ought to know that...
-You don't, do you? I am really tempted to teach you some respect, but I'm afraid I will not have a dialog partner any more... Listen, Lemalian, I find stupid both your resistance and your defying attitude. You should have learned by now you stand no chance in front of me. And ... I know about their decision, of course I know... I was just making small talk with you to detente the atmosphere... They chose to let them pass. Elves... always acting cowardly when war comes to the gates.
-We are not cowards! We want to protect our own kind... what you call cowardice is in fact wisdom and respect for life!
-Oh, here some big words coming... You must be a fool or a dreamer. I actually prefer dreamers, they're more funny. So you consider wise to let the humans enter the forbidden lands and do what Turturi tried to accomplish a long time ago... to open Rubshi's door to the Abyss... and unleash all evil in your world... Yes, put this way, it actually sounds clever... How many Lunthosz brainstormed in there to come to this bright idea? Seven? Yes, the wise Elves have done it again...
-Turturi is only a legend... Did you expect to allow death and misery to enter our lands just for the sake of some old fairytale?
-A legend, you say... Turturi is as much of a legend as I am... She's more real than you and your Thas'thali... and she will do much evil if she's given the chance. She still haunts the forbidden lands with her army a spirits... there's evil and hatred and lust for revenge that your mind couldn't even conceive... They'd kill every life they encounter to ease the pain of death they're carrying with them for centuries... They have no weakness, no emotion except the drive for death... Darkness emptied their minds, their will... They have no other desire than to destroy, since for them, there is no redemption. Perhaps this is your only chance: that Turturi would kill the human armies before they even know it. And that's what's mostly to happen unless...
-Unless they're after the same thing...
-Well, I knew you were a dreamer, not a fool... Exactly! If Turturi figures out she could use the mindless and conceited humans in her benefit, she'll keep them alive. And with her help, they would be able to open the door... Turturi would unite with her goddess, Rubshi, and the world would taste the chaos and the sorrow... But I bet your council didn't think at that, did they?
-I will speak in the next meeting. I'll make them change their minds... At least I'll try...
-Oh, Lemalian, my dreamer... Admit it... There are few chances you'll succeed in this task. But we have to try this too. It would be much simpler.
-But what else can we do about it?
-Oh, there are some other options... Where is the spirit of the warrior? Did one political meeting choke it? Are you so easy to defeat?
If they won't cooperate, and I believe they won't... We'll just have to destroy the door ourselves...
-Like in going to the forbidden lands, fighting Turturi and her army, finding mysterious door to the Abyss nobody ever saw and... destroying it?
-Yeah, something like that... and I like your sarcasm. There are people who could help you... You'll have to start looking for Wuu...
-Who's this Wuu?
-This Wuu is the Master of wings and fire bows. He was born from a lightning and he comes from the beginnings... He is a spirit of the war, but not the creature of Rubshi... You'll have to get him to help you. And there's another man, the one who also helped your brother...
-What do you know about Liv? He helped him to his death?!
-Easy now... He didn't kill your brother...somebody else did...
-You know who did it?
-This, Lemalian, is a long story and our time is growing short. Gru-Kwan lives in human territories, in the Middle Lands. Last time I heard from him he was lounging around Dardas... Yet I doubt he's still there, he's a nomad and a mercenary.
-I have to trust someone who trades death for money?
-You have to put your trust in no one. Not even in yourself. But use who you need to get to your purpose. And you need Gru-Kwan, believe my words!
-And even so, how do you propose to get into the forests and not to get killed instantly?
-Everything at its time... For now, we have to keep on hoping... That your unskilled oratory will change the mind of seven stiffed and traditionalist Elven Lunthosz...
-Indeed... but... why didn't you speak to somebody else, then? To somebody more influent, more experienced?
-I speak to who I please, young warrior! Now go! And let Demius guard your steps into the light...

The heavy darkness started to fade as the two golden eyes disappeared in the night. Lemalian continued to stare in the foliage, at the place where the mysterious creature faded. He's mind was full of unanswered questions and confusion. He even wondered if that all wasn't nothing more than a dream, a creation of his tired mind. But the pain he did still bear in all his body reminded him it was all for real. The old footpath was now visible in front of him, but he had no drive to go home. He felt knotty and helpless...
“Roun, he thought, Roun would have understood all of this... He's so fond of mysteries and dillemas. He would have made some sense out of all this... He would have known what to do next...”

And far away, in Qualinesti, Roun was keeping Astara's hand into his own, telling her things she'd rather not hear...
-You took it, didn't you, she asked. Otherwise you wouldn't be standing here, with me, that self content smile on your face. You would be gone to one of your secret places to muffle the wounds of your vanity.
-I did take it... But I'm not very proud of myself, you know... I made mistakes I shouldn't have made. But I am a magic user now... A White robed magic user!
-A magic looser, if you asked me...
-Astara, I have to go...
-What, you have a bed-time hour?
-I have to leave Qualinesti...
-Hm... I was afraid you'd say that. Where do you want to go now? You drained out all the fountains of knowledge in here and you're still thirsty?
-You know I am... Tartas said he has no more to teach me. If I stay... I would resign to mediocrity.
-Now you're calling Tartas a mediocre? You're more vain than I thought...
-No... He's not. Yet, I must know more... I fill the time passing through my veins... and I seem to stare of it and do nothing... I have to do something... to complete myself, my magic...
-We all have to fight time to conquer our destinies... yet there is more to life than magic.
-I know... but... you haven't seen what I was able to do. I have to let it grow, I have to master it.
-You're delirious... You have everything here. But you're still chasing shadows.
-My magic is not a shadow.
-Your magic is my worst enemy...
-Why is that, Astara? You've always been like this towards magic... why?
-Because, my dear Roun... No, forget it... Where do you intend to go?
-Saligredan, in the Middle Lands.
-Human territories! Are you out of your mind??!! Your parents... do they know?
-Not yet. I came to speak to you first. I hoped... you might understand.
-You're going to live among humans... far away from our homelands... there are devious things happening there, humans are devious creatures... they don't like us, they fear us...
-...
-But I do understand.
-Thank you Astara, my dear friend.
-Don't thank me... at least... don't thank me... She softly stepped away from him, her dark hair flowing in the wind.
-Speak to your parents. It's gonna be way more difficult to make them understand. When are you living?
-Tomorrow, I guess...
-Typically you...couldn't wait one more day... So be it... travel well my friend...

Roun left the garden with a strange feeling. He expected something else from Astara. He expected invectives, screams, frets, fury explosions... and, after all these went flat, he really expected a friendly warm smile and a hug. Instead he had to bear Astara's sadness, the feeling that he has disappointed her, that he hurt her somehow. And he was sad.
The talk he had with his parents, on the other hand, was exactly as he imagined it. They were very discontent of his decision. They even mentioned that if he wouldn't have passed Phyotas. They would never allow his departure. Heavy words were said, but in the end they had to give Roun their blessing.
In the morning, hardly trying to hide her tears, lady Thalida walked him to the gates.
-Travel well, my son...
Astara didn't come.