Elladan Magnus

Elladan Magnus, or Ell, was an eight-year-old boy. He stood beneath the shade of a towering oak tree that grew on the outskirts of the forest next door. His bright blue eyes were fixed on the flurry of activity in Eldora, the town he was born and lived. With his sun-kissed blonde hair tousled by the gentle breeze, he appeared every bit the image of a spirited and curious young boy. He possessed an insatiable thirst for adventure, his heart ablaze with dreams of becoming a great warrior. If you ask the reason for this, it will be the fairytales his mother used to tell him. Whilst his desire of becoming a hero was in stark contrast to his father.

It is not a secret that mainly Quint's skill as a trader had brought prosperity to the family, and he planned to intake his son into a family business like it did the father of his own. Thus, he began to instruct Elladan in the ways of the trade industry as Elladan was growing older in the hopes of imparting some of his expertise and experience in the field to his son. But the wishes of Mr. Magnus seemed to perish one day since the boy did not show any interest in his father's craft.

The desire of Elladan in becoming a hero was unshakable and his mother, Emelie, understood her son's aspirations all too well. "Mother, my blood calls me to take up the sword and do great deeds! Do you understand?!" was the prime argument of the young boy. And there is nothing left for Emelie but to accept this. Because she carried the legacy of a heroic ancestor, Argonaut, a legendary warrior who had lived in ancient times. His blood was coursing through her veins as it does in the veins of her son. In light of this, Emelie was often upset since she thought it is her guilt that Elladan was obsessed with heroic tales and wanted to shed someone's blood by taking up arms.

On the other hand, there was one fact that eased her burden. Quint did also possess some mighty forefather in his bloodline, Ansgar Magnus. He was a legendary figure of great valor and skill, who lived in a time known as the Age of Heroes. However, his name wasn't written in the great heroic tales as well as it wasn't etched into the annals of history. She got aware of this man only because Quint has told her. When she asked why he was not mentioned in any of the ancient tales, her husband revealed to her a secret from the Magnus family's myth…

***

The golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow upon Eldora. Elladan's gaze swept across the familiar sights, taking in the charming houses, bustling market stalls, and the gentle flow of the nearby river. As he stood in awe of his hometown's beauty, a sense of tranquility washed over Elladan. The vibrant colors of the blooming flowers and the distant sound of laughter filled his heart with a deep appreciation for the simple joys that surrounded him. Lost in contemplation, he allowed himself to be carried away by the enchanting allure of his surroundings.

Deep in thought and lost in his reflections, Elladan failed to notice the approach of someone else. With a twinkle in his eye and a sly grin on his face, the other guy sneaked up behind Elladan, ready to break the tranquility that enveloped him.

"Hey, Elladan! I found you!" A voice called out. Startled, Elladan turned around to see his mischievous friend, Mark, standing there with a mix of excitement and triumph evident on his face.

Elladan chuckled, his thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

"Oh gods, you caught me, Mark! I was so busy daydreaming ... Anyway, good job!" he replied, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

Mark beamed with satisfaction, his victory fueling his enthusiasm.

"Even though it wasn't quite an easy task, but you were the first one to be caught in our Hide and Seek game. Looks like I've got the upper hand this time! Now, it's your turn to seek for others."

"Of course, I will. But remember, the game isn't over yet. There will be many more chances for me to outsmart you! However, I might still focus on others and make your expectations not live up, he-he-he!" claimed Elladan with a devious smile.

In the beginning, Mark did not know how to repel this taunt of his friend. However, he quickly found a topic to which he should switch the conversation. And he couldn't help but wear a mischievous grin as he prepared to tease Elladan about the amusing situation he found himself in. With a twinkle in his eye, he couldn't resist poking some good-natured fun at his friend.

"So, Ell, spill the beans! What's the latest gossip in your love life?" Mark teased, nudging Elladan playfully.

Elladan sighed, his face turning slightly red. "Well, as you know, both Elize and Miriel confessed their feelings to me. I'm totally lost and do not know what to do!"

"Whoa! Double trouble, huh? Looks like you're quite the catch, my friend." Mark's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Honestly speaking, I feel very jealous!"

Elladan rolled his eyes, a mixture of embarrassment and confusion evident on his face. "It's not funny, Mark. I genuinely don't know how to handle this situation. Elize and Miriel are both amazing, and I don't want to hurt either of their feelings."

Mark leaned back, considering the predicament with a thoughtful expression. "Okay, here's what I think. Being honest is always the best approach, right? You should talk to both of them and explain how you feel. It's important to be clear and let them know that you value their friendship, but you're not ready for a romantic relationship just yet. That way, you'll be honest and give them the chance to understand."

Elladan nodded, grateful for Mark's advice. "You're right. I need to be upfront with them and let them know where I stand. It's not fair to leave them hanging and confused. Thanks, Mark. I appreciate your help."

Mark grinned, pleased to have offered some guidance. "No problem, Ell. Just remember, communication is key. And hey, at least you know you've got two awesome girls interested in you. That's quite a confidence boost, isn't it?"

Elladan chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Thanks for putting things into perspective, buddy! Now I just need to gather the courage to have those conversations."

"Speaking about conversations, I see that one of them is inevitably coming to ya…" has told Mark whilst looking over the shoulders of Elladan. At first, Ell didn't get what he means, but as soon as he turned back, he saw Miriel running in their direction with an excited expression on her face.

Her silvery hair shimmered in the sunlight, flowing in gentle waves down to her waist. Delicate elven features adorned her face, accentuated by eyes the color of emeralds, sparkling with determination. Despite her young age of merely ten years, there was an air of grace and elegance about her that was impossible to ignore.

"Elladan!" Miriel called out, her voice filled with urgency.

Surprised by her sudden arrival, Elladan's heart skipped a beat. He exchanged a glance with Mark, but his friend just shook his shoulders and decided to leave, leaving the human boy and elven girl alone. Miriel reached him, slightly out of breath but with a determined look in her eyes.

"Hello, Miriel! How are you doing?" Ell slowly began the conversation.

"Thank you!... I'm good!... Just need a little rest…" she said, taking deep breaths. "The reason I came to you is that…"

At that very moment, Elladan's heart began trembling again. But he tried to pull his courage together in order to say everything he wanted.

"… your father just arrived in the town." Finished Miriel.

"What? My father arrived? It was the only thing you wanted to say?" surprisingly asked Elladan.

"Should there be anything else?" the elf-girl asked with certain embarrassment in her voice and instantly blushed.

"No! Of course, no!" the boy blushed as well. "Sorry, Miriel, I gotta go and see my father!" after saying that, Elladan run back to his home, leaving the elven girl alone under the shade of the towering oak tree…