Return to Jorgaldur Volume I: the battle mage

Storyteller

The next morning, they left early, heading to the next village. Not that they didn't want to stay a little longer, but everyone was in a hurry, not just Eldi. Weapons and equipment needed to be prepared as soon as possible, as there was much to replace after the last battle.

Although they didn't believe that the enemy would attack soon, they couldn't be completely sure about it. If the battlefield had taught them anything, it was to always be ready for the worst, to never be too confident.

The next village was nearby, and he had no problem learning and teaching the potions he knew. They were somewhat amazed by the variety of potions the high human knew, although, unfortunately, some of them would be very difficult to create, since they lacked the ingredients. However, when they went to the capital, they would check it out. If they could get or order them at a reasonable price, they wouldn't hesitate.

Of course, there was curiosity and interest in learning about the latest events. Although they had already received news, hearing the story of those who had experienced it in person was totally different. The information received by the magic channels was very concise and summarized, totally devoid of details.

In addition, one of the elves who was accompanying Eldi was a really skillful storyteller, capable of attracting the interest of the audience, of involving them in the story, almost making them live it in first person.

"... and then, Eldi raised his hands and a great power arose from him, forming a dense fog that covered the sky and engulfed the attacks of the enemies..." Deranlín narrated.

Eldi was still making potions, although he was aware that many eyes were on him, as well as the exclamations of the children. He decided to ignore them. Hopefully, when the story went on, they would forget about him.

"... out of nowhere, he created magic spears, which not only possessed the terrible aura of lightning, but were capable of annihilating their enemies with a single blow..." she said a while later.

Once again, he felt everyone's stares, especially those of the youngest, who believed they were seeing a great hero. He looked at one of the elves, his eyes asking for a bit of mercy, for not overdoing it. But the elf just smiled in amusement and shrugged, telling him that it was out of his hands.

Also, the elf didn't think the elf woman was exaggerating too much, at best embellishing the story a bit. However, he knew very well that this visitor didn't see things the same, that he didn't see himself as a hero, something with which everyone else disagreed. It is true that he hadn't been the only hero of that battle, everybody had been, but none had shone as brightly as he. Only the hero himself didn't think in that way.

"If this continues, I'll go bald. Couldn't you make me stand out a little less in the story?" Eldi pleaded.

Before leaving, he had ended up letting his hair be cut a little, again. He couldn't refuse the expectant eyes of the elven children, eager to get a hair in order to make an amulet, and add it to the collection of heroes. It was a custom of the youngest ones, and that of the high human would occupy an important position.

"No way!" Deranlín laughed.

"Give up, you aren't going to convince her. Storytellers are inflexible in their stories. And she's especially stubborn," Galdomor laughed too.

"Who's stubborn!?" The elf asked, annoyed.

"Nothing, I've said nothing," he quickly tried to apologize, hiding behind another elf.

She huffed, not looking at him or speaking to him for more than half an hour, while the others looked at them with a resigned smile. They had known them for a long time, and they knew that these fights were common between them.

Eldi wondered what exactly their relationship was. They weren't siblings, and they didn't seem like a couple, but he didn't want to ask either. If they told him, he would listen. If not, he wouldn't meddle in the affairs of others.

They were a large group, whose level was slightly above that of the area they were in, so no predator was reckless enough to attack them. But still, they had to be careful. You can never be completely safe in the jungle, something that was confirmed when a group of blue primates surrounded them.

There were about twenty of them, more than a meter and a half tall, and whose levels were between 70 and 72. They had tried to gain control of their pack, but had been defeated and expelled, so now they were hanging around that lower-level area in search of food, before going back and trying to find a more appropriate place to settle.

They weren't a great danger to the villages, which had formidable protection measures. And, probably, not to the elven hunters either, who knew their hunting grounds well, and were sensitive to the smallest changes. But travelers were more vulnerable. Therefore, they used to travel in a large group and with protection, to avoid surprises.

However, that group was relatively small, so the primates were confident in their victory. But, before starting their attack, their confidence began to crack. Two of their fellows died instantly, their skulls pierced by arrows that had entered through their eyes. And a third was seriously injured. It had managed to turn away from the arrow's path, but, even so, the arrow had partially penetrated its skull, so it would soon die.

Despite being several levels higher, the difference was far from insurmountable, and the elven archers had used powerful skills and spells to increase the power of their arrows, a combination that they could still perform a few more times, though it wasn't as effective once the enemy was aware of the danger. Coupled with their almost infallible aim, the archers had reduced the potential enemy by three.

The three warriors, including Eldi, moved to form a defensive triangle, within which were the archers. The high human immediately summoned a Lightning Ring. If it paralyzed any of the primates, even for a moment, they would be easy prey for the arrows. It was a tactic he had often used with Goldmi.

He then summoned an Area of Attack to increase the archers' power. Other areas could wait for the enemy to get a little closer. He then blessed the warriors' weapons with Vampiric Touch and Burning Touch. Finally, he wielded an axe.