After everything was done to put the guild together and the sword mage trainees, when all was said and done Orion was glad to have set up the new sword mage guild building, he even had a rat become the guild master there. As the group left the were village, they had fifty more sword mages to fight the battle ahead and they left fifty behind to help with the guild. As they traveled to the forest ahead looking for the elves and hopefully a forest dryad. As they went through the forest the new recruits had chances to fight beasts and other enemies.
In another part of the world in the Shadow King's throne room, the messenger comes in "sire the black dragon you sent those men after killed all of the shadows, and what's worse is he has a living sword that he used on our troops and he cut them down like they were wheat"! The Shadow King says "what do you mean he was a sword mage and a dragon how is this possible I thought all the dragons were in hiding and we finally heard where one was and this happens! What's happening what have we heard of where the sword mage is I thought we had someone tracking him and his". Messenger states "well last we heard he went into the rats' forest and we haven't heard from him".
King asks "so we lost them. And it's been weeks and no one said anything"? Messenger states "we figured they all died in the rat forest you know no one goes in and returns alive. And the sword mages went in"! King snarls "so all this time it was thought that our ancient enemy who was a friend to all races was dead because he went into a forest, he who can ask the dryads to open paths for him and you thought he was dead. How can you be so stupid. It looks like you haven't realized the threat that he is. Somehow, he has already trained at least one dragon but if he has more and has trained the rats we are already doomed. Every step he makes we need to know right now we are stumbling around in the dark because one sword mage has now become many. We need to send men to that forest and see if we can find them." Messenger says "but sir every time we send men or possessed to that forest, they all die like dead and never come back".
As they moved through the forest of the elves, they knew that they were being watched. That's when they started to sing the song of truth. Orion started it before long one hundred and fifty voices joined his. This song made the forest go silent as one hundred and fifty swords lit with the flames of truth lighting their way and making any elf that was even thinking of using a bow to attack them. Three elves went to the elven city and reported what they saw and heard to the elven Queen.
The elven Queen said "one hundred sword mages are heading to our city singing the song of truth! Go and make preparations for a large feast we have guests coming, guests that offer us salvation and healing". Elves ran everywhere to set up a warm welcome for the sword mages. The elf messenger ran to her companions and gave the guest symbol and they all showed themselves and bowed welcoming their guests and one asked who is the leader and Orion says "that's me". The elf bows and says "my Queen says that we will feast may I ask why there are so many of you".
Orion says "because we are gathering an army to beat the shadows. We will offer the elves a chance to have some of your people train with us and become sword mages and we may even take some of you with us and leave a sword mage guild here." The messenger whistled and said the Queen respects your order but I have never heard of you and I want a fight with one of you to see how strong you really are. Orion smiles and says you see that were‑tiger over there? His name is Timithy if your Queen approves you and him can fight to display your fighting prowess.
So, they proceeded into the elven banquet hall in their great tree, their homes were all made as part of trees and the trees still grew as normal. In the banquet hall Orion was seated next to the Queen and they talked all through dinner. Orion suggested a little match to the Queen and mentioned how the messenger wanted to battle one of the sword mages and he told the story of the were‑rats and they were village and he told how Timothy was a were‑tiger who needed more battle experience so he was volunteered. The Queen agreed and the messenger and Timothy were put in the middle of the dinner circle and given permission to fight.
Timothy bows and asks what would you rather fight in hand‑to‑hand or with weapons? The messenger elf said hand‑to‑hand will work. So, they began and it was nice to watch both fighters' movements were precise and looked like they flowed into the next. The fight was beautiful. They danced like it was practiced then Timothy smiled and started to go faster and the messenger landed on his butt. After Timothy offered his hand and said can we go again? The elf smiled and said that was fun so let's give them a good show.
So, they did. They danced again faster this time and once again the elf found himself on his butt on the ground. This happened two more times and everyone was enjoying the show. At the end of its Timothy thanked the elf for the dance lesson and said "they could dance any time". The elf said "he was embarrassed that he had no chance to win and had so much fun because it was obvious that Timothy was way faster and yet he held back".