***Back to MC***
Astaroth was looking into the clearing, and he just couldn’t believe what he saw.
In front of him, in the middle of the clearing, was Arborea!
The giant stag was laying down, doing nothing. The glow he had seen earlier was emanating from it.
The mythical creature had its eyes closed, and the surrounding light was coalescing between its antlers.
It was like the moonlight was descending from the sky, and agglomerating over the creature’s head. It was forming a ball of glowing, milky white light, like a miniature moon.
The grass and shrubs around it were growing at a visible pace, and the flowers were going through a cycle of blooming and wilting like time was on fast forward.
Astaroth was watching all this happening, his jaw dropped and his eyes wide. Why was Arborea even here?!
“Join me, child.” A soft female voice entered his ear.
Those words snapped Astaroth back to reality. He looked around, trying to see where they came from.
Not finding anyone around him, he looked back to the middle of the clearing. There, Arborea’s eyes were open, staring right at him.
“Are you the one that spoke?” He asked the stag.
“Indeed, it is I. Join me. Do not be afraid.” The soft voice said again, Arborea blinking.
Astaroth briefly hesitated, but he walked into the clearing. He stopped before he reached the circle of flowers wilting and blooming.
Who knew what kind of effect standing in those would have on him? For all he knew, that zone was in a time acceleration and he would end up stuck in it too.
A light laugh came from Arborea. It sounded more like crystals knocking together than a laugh. The sound of it was soothing.
“Do not be scared, child. I am not affecting time. Just the cycle of life and death for these plants.” Arborea said.
“Is there really no danger for me?” Astaroth asked.
“It is completely safe.” Arborea replied.
Astaroth hesitated a few more seconds, before walking forth again. He stopped when he stood mere meters away from the mythical creature.
From where he stood, Astaroth could feel the immense mana pulsing out from Arborea.
It was not overbearing, like standing in front of a furnace, but more like standing in front of a soundless bass speaker. The pulses vibrated his body to the core, but it didn’t hurt.
The mana inside him became agitated by the pulsing. He had to cycle it willingly, just to stop its erratic movement.
He didn’t know if it would have negative repercussions, but he couldn’t take that chance.
“Why did I feel called here? Was it your doing?” Astaroth questioned.
“I did not call you here.” Arborea replied, shaking its head lightly.
“Then why did I feel beckoned by that glow of yours, then?” He asked, puzzled.
“You can see the glow?” Arborea asked, tilting its head slightly.
“Why yes, quite clearly. I would be surprised if anyone couldn’t see it.” Astaroth answered, with a slight frown.
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“Most living beings can’t see it.” It added.
“How could one not see this ball of light and the glow it’s producing? It may not be blinding, but it is definitely bright.” Astaroth said, his frown deepening.
“Because most beings can not perceive this energy.” The stag replied.
It could see question marks in Astaroth’s eyes.
‘How can anyone not see this?’ He wondered.
“It would seem you see it.” Arborea stated, its eyes locked on Astaroth.
“Clear as the moon in the sky.” Astaroth replied.
“Then do you know what this is?” The stag asked.
“Uh… Moonlight?” Astaroth replied.
“Hihihi.” Arborea laughed in its crystalline tone.
“One could indeed say it is. But not exactly.” It added.
“Then what is it?” Astaroth asked, now curious.
“It is Aether. The purest form of mana.” Arborea answered.
Astaroth furrowed his brows, trying to remember where he had heard that term. Then he realized.
When he and Aberon were talking about the purity of mana, he had talked about Aether.
Then he realized something. Arborea was collecting it, this Aether, like it was just water from a fall.
Mana in its purest form and that stag was siphoning it like it was natural. He realized just how strong one had to be to do this.
He thought to himself, ‘If Arborea was strong enough to siphon Aether, how easily could it kill him?’
He shivered at the thought.
Arborea was still staring at Astaroth while he was having his internal musings. To it, the qualms of such a young ash elf were entertaining.
It waited for the young man, letting him come back to the now on his own. Astaroth didn’t make it wait long.
Astaroth looked at the orb of Aether over the stag’s head. It really looked like a small moon, but when he focused and used his perfect mana sense, it transformed into a blazing sun.
The energy in that small orb looked like it was enough to fuel a small nuke, in his opinion. He promptly shut his eyes to save his eyesight.
Arborea saw the scene and only wanted to laugh.
“Now I know why you see it.” It said.
“You are naturally attuned to mana, at a physiological level.” It added.
“But this isn’t mana, right?” Astaroth said, confused.
“In a certain sense, yes.” Arborea answered.
“Aether is to mana, what blood is to the living.” It added.
“I don’t follow.” Astaroth said, not able to understand the metaphor.
“Aether is the essence of mana, just like blood is the essence of living.” Arborea explained, not mad at his lack of understanding.
“So, what you mean is that Aether is like the mother of mana?” Astaroth asked, trying to make sense of it.
“You could also view it that way.” Arborea agreed, with a nod.
“Can you teach me how to harness it?” Astaroth asked, getting excited.
If he could harness such potent energy, wouldn’t his spells be overpowered? That got his blood pumping.
But he was soon to be disappointed.
“You are not ready to harness such force. And it remains to be seen whether you ever will be.” Arborea said, declining his request.
Astaroth’s shoulders drooped.
“But, that you can see it makes your chances higher than most.” It consoled him.
That did not give Astaroth his enthusiasm back, but it at least gave him hope.
If he could one day harness that power, it would make him an incredible mage. One that could not be toyed with or manipulated against its will.
As he was thinking of all that, the energy accumulating over Arborea’s head stopped coalescing. Dawn was peeking over the horizon and the moon would soon be gone from view.
“My time here is ending. I must go back.” Arborea said, standing up.
From this close, the stag was towering over Astaroth by twice his height. Three times, if one counted the tall antlers over its head.
“It was a pleasure to talk to you, little one.” It said to Astaroth.
“Wait! If I ever need to find you, is there a way?” Astaroth asked, trying to leave a channel of communication open.
One could never be wrong, making friends with a mythical creature, right?
Arborea stood still for a while before lowering its head to the ground. There, it poked the ground with its snout, causing a small plant to grow.
The plant looked like the stem of a flower, but at the end, Astaroth could see a small whistle.
The whistle looked like the one Aberon had blown.
“Use this to call me, but only inside this forest. My domain does not extend further.” The stag said, turning to leave.
“Thank you!” Astaroth said, bowing and leaning to grab the whistle.
Arborea took a few steps away before stopping. It turned around once more.
“I have another gift for you, though one you won’t be able to use before some time.” It said.
“Hmm?” Astaroth hummed questioningly.
A portion of the Aether over Arborea’s head detached and entered its head. Astaroth could see the glow through its body as it traveled closer to its chest.
It then pulsed three times before exiting through the chest. Immediately after, it zipped into Astaroth’s chest, flying at him like a bullet.
Astaroth was expecting an impact, but the energy ball just phased into him.
“What was that?” He asked.
“You will know, in due time.” Arborea answered, turning to leave again.
This time it didn’t stop, and as soon as it crossed the treeline, it disappeared.
Astaroth was confused. He could feel the orb hovering near his soul, but it wasn’t doing anything to it.
No energy leaked from it. No connection formed between the two either.
Since he couldn’t understand its purpose, he stopped paying attention to it.
That’s when he noticed dawn on the horizon. He dashed back to camp, hoping that no one had gotten up yet.
“Oh man, I hope they are all still sleeping.” He said to himself as he ran.
