Chapter 5: Ancestors Blessing

By the time that they had Grem's suit flushed out and ready for the ceremony, large horns were blown signaling the start of her coming of age ceremony. Soon everyone was gathered around the ancestor tree and Kali was nowhere to be seen. Nym smiled brightly towards all the elves that followed him in the Ebonheart forest.

"Today is a once and a lifetime chance for young elves that have finally reached the age of adulthood, if they can be blessed by the ancients then their future is limitless. My daughter is the one celebrating the coming of age ceremony today and along with much joyfulness in the village. As you all know the Shatteredsoul's lost prince has also returned this year and as arranged by His father and I, our children will also wed." his booming voice carried over the entire courtyard so all could hear

In the back of the crowd Gildor Naeries, leader of the younger generation, completed his ceremony a couple of decades ago and has had his eye one Kali since they were kids, his face turning sour quickly. As he mumbled under his breath" she was supposed to be mine and only mine." Gildor started venomously at Grem's back.

As the coming of age ceremony began music began to play softly as the most beautiful elf in an emerald green dress and silver trim walked towards the Ancestor Tree and a soft wind blew through her hair and under the helm of her dress as she stood in front of her father.

"Today we honor a tradition that has stood as long as the Vale itself, today my daughter makes her vow to the ancestors and to the heavens themselves." Nym said proudly.

" I Kali Ebonheart of the Ebonheart Vale vow upon all my life and magic that I will protect the Vale and my people, no one will stand upon our necks anymore." Kali said with fierce determination.

A draconic roar sounded from the tree silencing the forest before two wisps of energy condensed from the tree, one was red and the other pure white and the white one touched Kali's head and the other Grem's head. As the wisp of energy touched their heads an ancient voice sounded from the tree. "Since the birth of Nula, the village was created around the corpse of me and my companion. I have only blessed 3 people and my companion dragon lord vibrant steel has only blessed that human boy. Since these two are to be wed then this village will one again prosper."

"Step forward you two so that we can impart something that can only be imparted once and after this we will have to sleep for 100 years before we can pass any more energy or blessings." the ancient voice said as Kali and Grem walked up to the tree and put their hands on it.

As their palms touched the tree they became still and a small energy dome was constructed around them.

Kali and the elf ancestor found themselves in a constructed mind space of the ancestor and began to talk and train the Typhoon Tome since her elements of wind and water were found inside her body

Grem found himself within a deep volcano were a young Dragon lord. The surrounding temperature was hundreds of degrees and it didn't feel hot to Grem it felt like a warm pleasant day, and the young Vibrant Steel was practicing his magic.

"Come forward young boy, you are the only other person I have met to share steel magic with. May I ask what form your steel is in?" the dragon asked.

"The form of my steel is molten. Can you teach me how to use it please? I don't know the first thing about using magic." Grem replied.

"Molten steel you are indeed fit to learn from this young dragon lord. I will teach you how to stand on top of the world since dragons are oppressed, but you must promise me something in return." the dragon told Grem.

"What do you need?" Grem replied readily.

"You need to promise that if you do live and grow to see the top of the world, you must free the dragons. We are proud beings but we are also arrogant which led to us being deceived by humans." the dragon's eyes showed some regret.

"I swear upon this life and my last life that if I make it to the summit of the world, I will free your brethren." Grem replied knowing what it felt like to be oppressed to just a name.

Hearing the young man's vow a spot in his heart grew warm again. "Good that makes you enough to teach." Vibrant Steel replied.

After what felt like a year for both Grem and Kali was only an hour in the world and the village stared at the dome that surrounded them waiting to see when they would come out. Just as it reached the two-hour mark the dome began to ripple into drops of pure energy that seeped onto the two under it.

The intense energy flooded into Grem and Kali, it pushed them onto the next level of being true mages. They became 1-star apprentices and the typhoon energy swarmed from Kali as did the Steel energy from Grem.

The energy fluctuations and both had a faint mark on their right wrist one of a tree and the other of a dragon. No one noticed as the joy of two 1-star apprentices filled the whole village, and Nym came forward and said loudly" even the ancestors have given their blessing for this joyful wedding so let's get it on the way."

Kali stood under the tree with her emerald and silver dress as Grem was walked by Nym all the way to her and they said the vow that would bind them forever more in the struggles ahead.

"We bow to the heavens, we bow to our ancestors, in this life we rise" both Kali and Grem said staring into the eyes of the other a faint joy and exploration glistened in their eyes.