The Arcadia Chronicles III: Wood Elf Quest

Broken Leap Gate

Third person's short POV

With the Dark Elves informed, they started converging towards the direction where Izanami and his army is.

Kiyan's POV

Titania is walking beside me, the other Elves made a formation as we walked, probably to protect her from attacks from any direction.

I asked Do you know the reason why your mother wants you to the point of abducting you? She thought for a moment before replying I have a feeling that it has to be related on the life pendant that I'm about to receive on my one hundred and eighteenth birthday.

I asked curiously What's a birthday? She looks at me like she discovered something ridiculous You don't know what a birthday is?

I crossed my arms and thought for a moment but nothing comes to mind No, I don't.

A birthday is when you celebrate the day you were born. Don't you humans celebrate it?

I said, recalling I don't know, I'm quite grown up now so I don't think I need to celebrate the time I was born. You know, I wasn't born today.

She made a face That is not what I meant.

The Elf, who was talking to me earlier, laughed What the Princess is saying is that when you reach another lifetime, you will eventually reach the day you were born.

I tried thinking about what he meant but it seems like it's complicated I don't understand.

Titania sighed How should we explain it in a way you understand?.. She then asked Do you humans celebrate some events on your place?

I answered Yes, we celebrate something once snow starts falling.

Let's say that you were born on the same day on the event you humans are celebrating, when you managed to reach the same day on the next winter to celebrate it again, it's called a birthday.

I look at the sky, trying to comprehend what she's saying Oh, I get it! So you just basically celebrate the day you were born in!

You finally understood, so when were you born.

I tried recalling I don't know, I never got that chance to know when I was born. I just live my life everyday without knowing that.

The Elf asked me Why, what happened to you?

I lost my family when I was young.

Oh, I'm sorry about that, I shouldn't have asked.

I smiled It's okay, Sir. I looked at Titania By the way, what about the life pendant you were talking about that you will receive on your birthday, what does it have to do with your mother?

My life pendant is a gift from goddess Eara, it gives us Elves an extended life, reaching ages no other mortal could ever reach.

I commented That sounds quite handy. What does your mother want with it?

I don't know but I would never hand my life pendant to anyone else, it's a blessing goddess Eara would give only once in our life.

We cleared the trees and we're arriving at a desolate meadow. I saw a familiar arc made of stone standing on one end of the place. The She-Elf who helped me earlier said It's a leap gate! We could probably go home if we use that!

We went closer to it and one of them inspected it The gate is slightly broken, probably long time misuse and weathering.

I asked But it can still be used, right?