The Appointed Time Arrives

Well, today came so quick, though that may have to do with the exhaustion yesterday. The combination of stress and magic isn't a fun one, especially to a one year old. I suppose I had that coming, trying to help calm the foals in such a roundabout way. It would have been difficult to pacify them otherwise, and using my Aura was much quicker. Speaking of the foals, I've been feeling a new weight, as if it's coming from my soul. Is that where they are? This is a strange phenomena, I assume it's similar to phantom pain, feeling something that isn't there.

It's odd, I can actually feel their emotions flowing into my mind. Happiness, serenity, they feel so at ease with me. Like all the stress of yesterday never happened. I'm glad that I saved them from the cruel fate that was thrust upon them. I must give them names, ones that they can feel thrilled about receiving. But what kind of name do you give to a horse?

Hmm... How about Specter and Spirit? Specter for the ash-gray and Spirit for the pure white. Oh, I think they approve, I felt their emotions stir. I think the names fit too, I could come up with more exotic ones though. No, I think these will work fine, especially since they like them.

Specter and Spirit, they both seem to be female, maybe I should give Specter a different name? Hmm, She doesn't seem to mind the masculine name, I guess I'll keep it. Where are my parents? Usually, they're still in the room when I wake up, but today it feels like there is a grim atmosphere covering the Palace. Is she sending out that army to die? It's only been one day since my birthday, that's a little too quick to be making this decision.

More importantly, I don't wish to see the deaths of so many Elves. Such a waste, even worse is that there will be no support from a single High-Class Mage that protects the Palace. There's only a couple hundred Mages in the army, and the Giants have a high degree of toughness. Magic has a hard time penetrating their thick skin. Fey Magic anyways, I don't think I'd have a hard time with Aura Magic.

The vast majority of High Elves choose to learn Fey Magic, as a tribute to their ancestors, The Fey. It's not a bad magic, it's just not very powerful until you've spent a thousand years training it, which is the same as any other magic. Okay, it's good at detection, allowing you to feel the Mana in the air, thus locating other potential spell-casters. But that spell's range can only go so far, limiting it to about a 3 meter diameter around you. Sure, within that diameter you can feel all spells that target you, but you don't have any real time to react since spells are completed in fractions of a second.

So in order to be a great Fey Mage, you need to have great physical capabilities, which most High Elves don't have. If they had a proper form of martial arts, High Elves would have much better soldiers. At this point, they don't take advantage of their godly flexibility or agility. Obviously, I'm certain that even if they did have a martial arts, it wouldn't be at the level of mine. The M.A. I practiced in The Void is a combination of all the various ones that came from my previous life. I haven't given it a name yet, but it should be extremely powerful.

(Courtyard POV)

"You'll be known in the annals of history, as the soldiers of the Glorious High Elves! Now go forth, and kill the wicked Giants." Allisia's voice, amplified by a bit of Wind Magic, sounds over the entire Courtyard.

"OH!" The thousands of soldiers leading out beyond the Palace walls all shout out, fired up for the coming fight.

The end of the speech signals the beginning of the war against the Val'tiir, and the High Elf attempt to claim the Fey Ruins. These proud warriors won't be seen for months, some will likely never be seen again. Val'tiir Giants are widely known to be willing to eat any kind of meat, even that of sapient beings. Putting that aside, what could these Elves possibly hope to find in these ruins? Treasures? Ancient Weapons? Some kind of Holy Artifact? Only the Queen knows, and she hasn't told anyone, not even her husband.

(Lugh POV)

Well, Mother has come back, but she looks stressed about something. I hope it doesn't have anything to do with that damn crusade for the Ruins. This war is going to tear her apart as she keeps her Queen facade. The only reason she's the Ruler is because the old King didn't leave any descendants behind, forcing the Noble Families to put a competition together. Only the most powerful and talented noble would take the throne. That was my mother, and the crown's pressure is slowly killing her. What a joke of a Kingdom, forcing a young girl to give up her life to keep it afloat. At least Father is alleviating some of the stress, but I can see her Aura diminish a little every time she comes off that throne.

Dammit, I'm getting frustrated just thinking about this, I'll go mad before I can actually help her.

"Oh, little Lugh, I hope you can bring this to an end when you grow up. I just hope I can retrieve the Fairy Crown before it's time. If you have that, no one would deny your claim to the throne. I hope that old book is right, and I'm not getting my hopes up like last time." She sounds so sad.

This Fairy Crown, I'll wear it if I must, but I hope that she gives birth to a new child before then. I don't need this kingdom to be happy, I only need to know that my parents still live. I'm not cut out to rule, I just want to live in relative peace. Though, I would be lying if I said I didn't want a life similar to this.