Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 43

“So… I’d be Felomin Arkhana’Shola?” Mama asked. She’d gotten home from her Ranger meeting thing, and we’d explained what had happened to her.

“If… You want.” Papa offered awkwardly, he was still hesitating about the whole situation, but before he could say anything more she pushed up against him and I had to cover my eyes.

“Silly man. I married you a long time ago.” She whispered and then kissed him again and Papa seemed to pull her close.

Of course I couldn’t see this, I definitely wasn’t peeking in between my fingers. 

It was sweet that they were so in love. They finally broke apart, but Papa wasn’t entirely re-assured. 

“So we accept? El’Tela is the one doing this… I don’t know how Father will take it.”

“Forget him.” Mama said firmly, running a hand across Papa’s cheek. “We had this talk, remember? Forget him. He isn’t important, he never will be again. Our family is what is important.”

“Okay.” He responded, but I wasn’t sure he was entirely sold. Mama just leaned in and hugged him harder and he relaxed as he held her.

At least that was normal. Mama and Papa loved each other, and all the rest was just nonsense we had to deal with. 

Elf Nonsense. 

The worst kind. 

“How was the meeting?” I asked, when they finally pulled apart.

“Good news this time.” Mama said, as she reached over and fluffed my hair. “King Anasterion summoned the Ranger generals to the Palace. An emergency decision was made. The Rangers are now an official part of the Military. Talanas Windrunner was voted as the first Ranger-General of Silvermoon.” She said practically gushing, she was definitely excited as she was waving her hands around barely able to keep them still.

“That’s good?”

“It’s great Dorah. It means the Rangers will all get better equipment, we’ll have support from Guards and Magisters, and we will have official power to declare evacuations. No more arguments."

“Oh… That is good.”

“There is talk about beginning counter raids on the Trolls. I know you were worried about it Dorah, but don’t worry. We will soon have the Trolls running.” Mama said confidently, and I felt my smile shift into a frown.

I was not so confident. Not so confident at all. 

“There will be a call sometime in the next few weeks, we’re spending this time to call everyone not already out there fighting here to get new equipment, and then we are going to work to stop this attack. I’ll probably be gone a lot in the future.”

“Wha. Wait! You can’t just go! The Trolls are crazy!”

“Dorah, don’t worry. I’ve fought Trolls before, and I’ll have good backup. Talanas is amazing.”

Papa reached over and rested a hand on my shoulder. Obviously I was getting upset.

“How about we spend the next few days together before I go, okay?”

“Okay.” I whispered, I really didn’t want her running out there to fight Trolls without me. Especially since the Elf Gates weren’t going to hold.

“If they are handing out new equipment, I’ll need to look over it before you go.” Papa said, and instantly Mama was smiling at him. 

“I wouldn’t let anyone else.” She assured him, and he smiled looking pleased at her words.

I nodded. Papa was the best Enchanter so that was good

“Do you want to learn Arcane Arrow?” I asked, suddenly and Mama looked at me confused. “I could try to teach you… If you want.”

I watched as Mama looked a bit hesitant for a moment, before she shifted in a smile. “I guess my daughter wants to protect me too. Okay Dorah, how about we go out back and practice some archery and you can show me.”

I nodded. A few days of not grinding right after I started the schedule was annoying, but this was more important.

—--

“So as you draw the string back, convert the Mana into Arcane, and then use your hands. The action of pulling back is the component for the spell to activate.”

“Okay.” Mama whispered drawing back her bow, but nothing, she eased the draw a moment later. “I’m just not getting it.” 

I frowned, cause Mama wasn’t stupid, and she could use magic. So why was she struggling with this so much? She lowered her arms in frustration. Glaring at nothing.

“I really hate this.”

“It took me a while to get it.”

“You picked it up without anyone telling you anything in like twenty minutes Dorah. I know you’re trying to be helpful, but you are just something else.” Mama whispered, reaching over and tugging on my cheek.

“Well you can too! Okay walk me through what you are doing!”

“I bring the bow up, start casting the spell, draw the string back and nothing.”

“Okay, bow up.” I ordered, then pushed my hand against her back. “Now, slow, don’t rush it yet, convert mana into Arcane, slowly gather it, then split it into your hands.”

“Okay… I think I’m doing that?”

“You got it, just like your Strength Surge, move the Arcane like that.” I walked her through, and then when her hands started glowing, I continued. “Now, point with your finger like you are resting it on the arrow. Now the other, imagine both fingers are lining up with an arrow.”

“Not exactly how I shoot.”

“It’s just to learn it, stop arguing and focus.” I told her. It was almost like she was purposefully trying to not learn the spell….

I leaned in and wrapped my hands around her stomach, hugging her from behind.

“Mama is amazing, you know?”

“Dorah?”

“She’s super cool, and amazing, it doesn’t matter if she doesn’t learn something right away, she’ll get it cause she totally can. She just has to let herself learn it.”

Mama was still under my hug for a while before she relaxed, and I could feel her exhale out to relax.

“Now what?” She asked.

“The arrow is right there in between your hands. As you spread your hands when you draw, let the Mana merge between your hands. The whole act is part of the spell. Your hands pulling back, the bow spreading, the Arcane flow, all of it is the spell. Just complete it.”

She drew back, and while I couldn’t see it I could sort of feel it, the flare of Arcane flowing in between her hands. But it wavered and flowed away.

“It didn’t work.”

“No, that’s it.” I said, smiling into her back.

“It didn’t look like it.”

“You still need more practice but that’s literally all it is. Just work on controlling the Arcane until it forms solidly.”

“Not sure I’ve ever done that before.”

“Well practice makes perfect!” I said, and stepped back. She had it now. “Again!” I demanded, grabbing my own Bow right beside her, and walking through the steps verbally as I did it myself.

We both loosed, and Mama’s arrow faded into fog as it hit the stone wall in the alleyway. 

I just turned to her and grinned.

“You got it.”

“I… I guess I do.” She whispered, looking at the bow in her hands for a while before grinning. “I’ll need more practice.”

“Yep! But you’ll have infinite arrows now!”

“That’ll help against all the Trolls.” She reached out and pulled me in for another hug.

Good. This felt good.

“Now enough slacking! More magic arrows!” I demanded, pulling back and pulling my bow up.

Mama laughed, and did the same copying me.

I nodded and loosed, then blinked at what just happened.

[Bows Lv. 10 1/100] [Apprentice]

-[Rapid Fire 1/10]

I finally hit level 10 with my Bows…

Rapid Fire? That was actually pretty good if I wanted to quickly grind the skill…

I looked at Mama, at how hard she was practicing, and how proud she looked. So I nodded. Refraining from sighing, and instead readied my Bow, and started firing Arcane Arrows.

The least I could do was show Mama how much I valued her teachings. Even if I didn’t want to use a bow!

—--

I spent the next few days with Mama, spending time with her. She came home on the last day wearing fancier Ranger armor, with a new bow, and even a new blade to go along with it.

I very pointedly ignored the fact that Mama and Papa disappeared into their room, to ‘enchant’ everything…

But things got quiet once Mama left. Papa was distracted working in the workshop which was fine, but it felt weird with her gone.

Yet before I could get back into heavy grinding there were still more things I wanted to do.

With El’Tela’s help I found out where Ma’Rika and the other villagers were staying, and since Mama hadn’t taken Chocobo.

“Come on Chocoboooo. Choooocooooo!” I sing songed at her, but she was grumpy and did not want to get up.

I reached over and rubbed her feathers, scratching at her itchy points until she was less grumpy with me.

“Come on, it’s just a nice walk, not even that far.” I grinned when it was obvious she was ready to go.

I climbed on. Just the reins in my hand. I didn’t need her saddle for just a quick city trip.

“Yip yip.” I urged her on, and she stood slowly stretching when she stood. I gave her plenty of time before she finally shifted and walked out of the stables. 

I urged her on and we walked down the alley and back to the main roads, shifting to head back towards the entrance to Silvermoon.

Ma’Rika was on the east side of the city, while we had been on the right. Now Silvermoon was fairly large, but it was also very clean, and I did have a mount, so it wasn’t so far that I had to worry about anything.

I joined the main road, which was mostly carriages at this point. No other solo riders. A few of the more open carriages had fancy dressed elves eyeing me as I toddled along beside them until we split.

Once we were out of the noble area, Most of the street was filled with carts pulled by either Hawkstriders, or even a few by Elves, but none of them looked like it was a difficult task, more like they were just shifting their cart along the road, or something.

I hadn’t seen anything like a beggar, or homeless person in Silvermoon yet. Not that you would expect to find something like that in the Noble district where the shop was. 

Finally I reached the large gate to enter Silvermoon. The fact it was wide open was honestly a bit scary with the Trolls out there, but they wouldn’t make it to Silvermoon without being spotted.

It was okay.

Be safe Mama.

I turned and passed it by. Heading up the eastern road, which was interesting. The buildings along the road were mostly shops, split up by small side roads that had two or three story buildings along them, and it looked like everything above the bottom floor was housing.

Of course it was still Silvermoon, and the buildings shifted in size constantly, a single story building with a funny roof, would be right next to a building with no second floor, instead an empty space except a set of spiraling stairs leading to a floating third floor.

Such was Elf architecture. 

I followed the signs, until I found the right one, and turned down. Staying on the major roads, until I found the correct shop.

Ma’Rika’s family owned a restaurant here. “Sunpetal Cafe?” Cute. Either way this was the place, behind it was a housing complex, and I found the side road, and turned down it. Instantly noticing the people.

Not my people, but others. Each home along the back street had a garden connected to each other, even if there wasn’t as much light in between the buildings. The gardens all connected and all the families seemed to be in them, mingling and chatting. Children running around playing, everyone happy and peaceful.

I got plenty of looks as I walked by down the street until the restaurant ended, and it opened up into a open space, surrounded by homes. Two floors, and dozens of little apartments. 

And then I smiled.

“Hello! Mal’Etor!” I called out, the familiar man looking up from where he was apparently working on trying to fix what looked like a metal box.

“Alah’Dorah!” He greeted back, his glare at the box shifting into a smile as he saw me. “If it isn’t our heroine herself!”

I just flushed a little. I mean bringing his mother back to life aside, I wasn’t a hero. I’d just done what I had to.

My name caused a bit of a stir, as others that were just hanging around, people from home perked up and greeted me. I smiled as I angled Chocobo over and with a quick “Yip yip.” She settled down. 

“What are you doing all the way over here? I heard you were staying with Magistrix El’Tela?” He asked, as he rose up and wiped his hand on a rag.

“I am! My family runs a magic shop and there is a big house above it. Grandma gave us some rooms there. But I came to see everyone! And Kimi.”

“Ah that’s right Kimi’Thas is your friend.”

“Yep! But… Umm, how is Kal’Etor?”

“She’s sleeping better.” He said, smiling warmly. “Her night terrors have been going away. She’s recovering. Thank you.”

“Oh, I… I Only…

“Doooooooraaaaaah!” I looked up as on the second floor a door burst open and Kimi came running out of it, screaming my name the whole time she ran to the side all the way to the stairs, and then ran down the stairs, and I had plenty of time to adjust as she slammed into me.

“Hi Kimi.” I greeted back after her pounce.

“Where have you beeeeen!?”

“Staying with Grandma, and settling in. Things have been busy.”

“Really? It’s so boring here! There is nothing to dooooo!” She whined and I felt bad, but at least I could do something now.

“Really. I think this place looks cool, and there are other kids I saw a few of them.’

“Well yeah, but they play weird games, and don’t like birds!”

“Well maybe you just need to explain the glories of birds to them?”

“Yeah I tried that, and they got really mad and screamed at me they don’t like birds, which is why I know they don’t like birds.”

“Oh, not a good plan then. Well we can play some games instead?”

“Yes!” She cheered happily and I relaxed. It was nice to see familiar people again. It wasn’t home of course, this wasn’t the village, but at least it was better than nothing.

—--

I pushed myself back up, casting Blessing of Wisdom, then lowered myself and then back up. 

Zo’Talana hadn’t been around since our first spar, but I knew he’d be back at some point, but until then I was training. 

Blessing of Wisdom and Mana Gems continued to be my main focus. The faster I could sustain, the faster I could grind, and Blessing of Wisdom, despite the Mana costs increasing gave me an insane amount of sustain as I could just focus on Physical training for a bit and then have my mana all back. 

No more long drink rest breaks. The mana flowed into me constantly, and Evocation would shoot me back up the moment I drained myself dry.

I pushed back up, ignoring the sweat dripping off my nose as I once more cast Blessing of Wisdom on myself as I finished another set of pushups

I stopped, arms shaking to cast Holy Light, letting the healing flow over me. It was still a struggle to cast the spell at max level, but I was starting to figure out the cycle.

By the time I needed to heal because my arms were numb, I could cast Holy Light, as strong as I could, and then cast Evocation to restore my mana, and by the time I was needing another heal, Evocation was ready to use again.

“Umm. Miss Dorah?”

“Oh Sha’Narin, hello!” I greeted him as I was restoring my Mana with Evocation, I stopped the spell to see the boy. “All done?”

“I am on a break miss, yes.”

“Great! Let’s go check out the Glyphs then.” I rose up groaning a bit and walked over, and splashed a bottle of conjured water over my head as I hung my head over the fountain. Once I wasn’t sweating everywhere I grabbed a towel and dried my hair and head.

A quick cast of my hair styling spell, and I was good to go. I hurried towards the stairs Sha’Narin following me, as we reached the rooftop garden. And all the glyphs that were glowing. 

“Okay so how is your try so far?”

“Well, I got this.” He walked over to a Glyph that he was working on , and I looked over the chalk markings, and shook my head. 

“No, that won’t work. See here? You can activate this Glyph, but it’s not really…” It reminded me of my own first Glyph, the one in my room, that had only sort of worked, until I’d realized how inefficient it was, and update it to work much much better.

Glyphs to trap in mana were easy. Glyphs to trap in mana that were actually efficient were not.

If it wasn’t for the Sunwell, I don’t think my first Glyph would have done anything. It would have taken me forever to get it to actually suck in mana,

But there was mana everywhere in the air thanks to the Sunwell.

“This is where you made the mistake, you backtraced.”

“I don’t think I did.”

“Follow the Arcane, through the Glyph, and you can see where it glitches out.”

“Glitches?”

“Yeah like… It interferes with itself.”

“Right. I can do that.” He whispered looking over the glyph again, and eventually he pulled out the notebook I’d created for him.

I’d figured it was fair. I would teach him the glyph, and he’d help out, make sure everything was working up here. He’d been very happy with the offer. 

So I’d filled out a notebook showing every stroke of the Glyph in order, one after another. 

While he went back to practicing that, I checked on the other Glyphs. I’d burned lots of Mana Gems into the circles, and it was impressive how much more effective it was at making things gain mana.

Sure, it didn’t work to create the aspected stuff, like the Sun and Moon Flowers, I’d made. It just didn’t work that way.

But that was a big part of what Sha’Narin was helping with. I’d picked up some big flowers from a shop down the road, and every day he would do the minor adjustments that were needed to make sure the flowers only got sun or moon aspected mana.

I had a lot of hope for the Moonflower. 

I’d bought a flower from the store that only opens at night, and with that I hoped it would be even more efficient gathering Moonlight.

Each night I came out to check on it, and knelt beside it offering a prayer to Elune. It wasn’t anything fancy, just anything I could come up with. Hopefully she wasn’t angry that mostly I just talked to her about stuff. 

Hopefully I was even doing it right, and not just wasting my time.

Either way, I did it. I hoped it would help. But it was sunny and bright right now. So I checked on things, and pulled a few rocks and flowers out of the Glyphs. 

The shop had plenty of tubs and things for Enchanting dust, so I’d gotten a few and with a few moments I disenchanted more of the items, filling the tub with dust, a bit more, and then replacing the item with something else.

“I can’t believe it’s that easy.”

“Enchanting starts somewhere, and it can’t be some impossible task or no one would have ever learned to do it.” I reminded Sha’Narin as he’d looked up to watch me disenchant the reagents.

“I guess that makes sense.”

“Mhmm! How is the Glyph?”

“Ah… I forgot where I was.”

“Well redo it.” I said, he’d stopped to stare, and ended up fully stopping.

I sat down to relax for a few moments, before I go back to the grind.