While they were stopped, Zeiss questioned, "Where are we going anyway, Commander? We've been travelling in the same direction for a while."
"Well, I had two thoughts in mind. According to the scans Jask sent, we should be coming to a plateau soon which would allow us to get a better view of our surroundings," Emory explained, "Second, one of the pulses came from this area. I don't think they're in the area anymore, but if they are, we need to know. Or if they're not here, perhaps we could learn something about them from this location."
"What if there are people up here?" Geese asked as he gripped one of the war hammers on his waist.
"The first priority is to not get detected," Emory emphasized, "If we do, leave me and return to camp with the intel for Tethys. I can face any threat that may appear." She sounded incredibly confident as she spoke the last few words.
Ellen stuttered, "Leave you? You're the commander of this whole operation; we can't leave you." The others nodded in agreement at her statement.
"Clearly, you four aren't going to follow that order, huh?" Emory sighed, "Just be safe then and stay clear. I'll protect you." With that discussion over, the group got up and continued with their hike, though a little slower as they got closer to the intended destination. After they climbed another half a mile, the ground began to level out. But this wasn't the only change as Emory noticed fewer and fewer animals as they approached. Then Emory stopped the group just under a quarter mile before the pulse location.
Emory commanded quietly, "Stay down but look around for any signs of intelligent life. We're close to the location of the ping." Everyone crouched and scanned the area for either intelligent life or signs they had been here. Strangely, the wind was stiller here, and it had been a little bit since Emory had seen the last bit of wildlife. "Anyone see anything?" Emory checked the scans as one by one, the group responded negatively to the question, "Then let's creep closer. Stay alert."
Little by little, the group crept closer and finally stopped about a hundred feet away from the location. Unfortunately, they couldn't find any evidence they were looking for. Emory motioned for the rest of the group to hold tight as she slowly inched closer to the site. As she did, she felt her magik rising up inside herself. With every step, her magik sloshed around more and more vigorously until she was within five feet of the location and the very ground began to tremble. She stopped immediately and scanned the area, even looked back at her group with her glowing eyes. Yet this part of the plateau looked as grassy and overgrown as the rest of the area. Turning back to her team, she shrugged and motioned to them for suggestions. Zeiss made a gesture showing her to release a wave of magik and wipe away the brush around her. Without any better ideas, Emory expelled a wave of magik from around her entire body that shredded the plants and pushed away small animals in a twenty-foot radius. Underneath all the overgrowth, they found a circular stone tablet embedded in the ground, and it was lighting up.
Emory yelled, "So much for not getting detected!" Using her martial arts technique, she hopped off the tablet and back onto the grass which caused all the weird phenomena to stop instantly.
"What's the plan now, Commander?" Wolt hollered, "Clearly, the entity or entities that are living here can use magik. Some fairly advanced magik by the look of things."
"I'm not sure yet. I recognize some of these symbols. I think it's teleportation," Emory called back.
"So, it's probably not the Mantoan, right?" Ellen wavered, "They can't use magik."
Geese coughed, "That we know of." The three surrounding him glared at this comment.
"Not the Mantoan, but perhaps something even stronger," Emory remarked as she bent down to look at the tablet more closely, "Have any of you heard of the Fae before?" Most of the group shook their heads.
"Do you mean like faeries?" Ellen asked.
Emory nodded, "The Council of Witches believe they were real at one point, that they were the ones who taught magik to humans in the first place. What if they're real?"
"Faeries are just myth," Zeiss laughed, "A fable meant to teach little children."
"Well, that's enough of that ignorant speech," a deep, echoing masculine voice chuckled. A tall, spindly man with flowing golden hair down to his waist appeared on the tablet's center as Zeiss had said his last words. He was wearing white robes and holding a long, gnarled staff, but most noticeable of all were his piercing blue eyes. With a snap of his fingers, the four people separated from Emory disappeared into thin air. Then he turned his attention to Emory and smiled, "Now we can talk freely, little one."
Emory's eyes opened wide, glowing blue and gold, as her magik ran wild once again. It had enveloped her body and shook haphazardly as she scowled at this newcomer. She barked, "What did you do to my friends? If you hurt them, I swear."
"Calm down, little one," the man raised his hands, "I've just sent them back to your base. They're perfectly fine. Go ahead and check."
"Emory, the rest of your squad just appeared out of nothing without you. Are you okay?" Tethys's voice beeped from Emory's suit.
"All good," Emory continued to frown, "I'm taking care of the situation." She clenched her fists while her magik slowly calmed down to a thin cloak over her body.
The man smirked, "See? Safe and sound. Now, let's start over. My name is Athos. What can I call you besides little one?"
"You can call me Emory," she responded coldly, still not trusting this new person, "Why did you separate me from the others?"
"Ah the easy questions first. I separated you to talk with you. In all my years, I've never felt a mortal with so much magik, though I suppose you're only a child; you may yet become an immortal," Athos kindly explained.
"Mortal? You mean a human?" Emory continued, "You mean you've met other humans?"
Athos nodded, "Sure. I mean, it's been a few thousand years, but I met some humans back in the day. Now, you answer one of my questions. Who were your parents? I don't mean their names; I mean what were your parents."
"As far as I know, my father was a human," Emory answered politely, "But my mother was a Hexblood."
"Well, that accounts for some of this magik, but not all of it. You're very impressive for a young one, Emory," Athos warmly complimented her. He snapped his fingers again, and two wooden chairs appeared on the tablet next to the pair. Before taking a seat, he motioned for Emory to sit as well, which she cautiously did.
"My turn, what are you?" Emory asked, "I have some guesses, but I want the truth."
Athos smiled widely, "We call ourselves Elandrian, though when we first encountered you humans, we called ourselves the Fae."
"Just what I thought, but I'm not entirely convinced," Emory replied, "How do I know you're really a Fae?" After this question, Athos held out his hand and created a perfect sphere of prismatic magik.
"Does this prove I am who I say I am?" Athos laughed with his whole belly. Emory nodded and relaxed a little in the chair.
Emory commented, "You really are a Fae. This is incredible! I have so many questions for you."
"I'm sure you do," Athos remarked, "And don't worry. I will answer all your questions in due course. How far are you with your Arcane Sphere?"
"I can cast the Bolt and the Shield," Emory sheepishly conceded.
Athos jerked back and looked at Emory in astonishment, "Only the first two levels? Then you're still in training with an older Hexblood, no?"
"Actually, I got this far on my own," Emory clarified, "As far as I know, I'm the last Hexblood, and I didn't learn about my heritage until recently."
"Well, that won't do. I'm sorry for your loss. Let me help you then," Athos rubbed his chin before leaning forward in his chair.
"Help me train magik?" Emory enunciated every syllable, "You would really do that?"
Athos grinned, "Of course I will. You intrigue me. Plus, I'd be a shameful Elandrian if I let someone only half trained run around with our gift. Meet me back here tomorrow at about the same time, but alone this time, for the start of your training."
"Thank you very much, Sir Athos," Emory humbly bowed as she stood up.
"Quick question, just so I know what to have prepared," Athos acknowledged her bow as he too stood up, "Have you practiced a second sphere yet? You know, since you're like us, you can learn the exalted spheres."
Emory sighed, "Unfortunately, I haven't learned another sphere yet. But I did know that there were other spheres I could learn besides the normal ones. What is your other sphere?"
"Luck," Athos revealed a toothy smile as he faded away into nothing.