Chapter 47: Forced into the Limelight
As I idly played with the light, Selena leaned over, her vibrant emerald eyes reflecting the flickering magic. Her voice carried a mixture of awe and admiration as she spoke, a passionate voice mingling with a soft smile that illuminated her elven beauty. "You possess an unparalleled gift," she murmured, "it has been centuries since a mage of your potential appeared."
"I wish I didn’t," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. I watched through half closed eyes as the light scattered like pollen, its glow fading until the shade was dark again. I was only able to do this much because of Fate’s blessing, but I would discard that in a heartbeat if it meant getting rid of the curse and the revulsion of Enusia. The other heroes seemed to have such confidence and strength, treated like gods regardless of the time or occasion.
Selena lay a hand on my knee and gave a comforting squeeze. "As a worshiper of the Life Goddess, I’ve come to learn about the sacredness of our time here. The birds don’t question their lot or frailty, but live with the gifts they’ve been given."
I might have dismissed the sentiment from most people, but Selena shared, at least in part, some of my suffering.
"How can you see it that way?" I asked, my voice tinged with bitter curiosity. "It’s not your fault you were born an elf."
Sadness cast fleeting shadows across her face, yet a gentle smile washed the melancholy look away. I leaned forward as she spoke, her voice tinged with emotion. "I should have passed the qualifications on my own. Most of my students excel beyond the mark, moving on to become great and powerful mages. But, the arrival of the heroes signaled the imminent demon invasion, and everything changed. beginning with the eradication of the Beast Kingdom, the world raises its guard and prepares for war. Even the elves, as peaceful and good-natured as we are, are seen as an unreliable ally. Of the twenty elves serving as instructors around the kingdom, I expect less than seven to meet the qualifications."
"So few?" I gasped. Given their long lives, elves were naturally more skilled than humans. How could the kingdom give up on such talent so easily?
"That’s why I had to rely on the Divine Dew spell we worked on together. A modified chant, not just a spell, is irrefutable evidence of any mage’s prowess. They’d have lost all face if they turned me away after that."
A melancholy stillness enveloped the garden, and I fell into a contemplative silence disturbed only by the faint rustling of the leaves. There was so much going on behind the scenes, both in the church and world, that I knew nothing of. The small window provided by Selene helped me realize just how small and ignorant my world had been. It wasn’t just us Heroes struggling in the wake of the demon invasion, but everyone.