An Expected Betrayal |TBATE

Chapter 57

TESSIA ERALITH

The stone skipped across the small pond. It skipped 3 times, rather impressive considering how uneven it was. I picked up another and skipped it, ignoring its path. I wasn't doing this because I thought it was fun, it was just another menial task meant to keep me moving while my mind stayed restless.

I only stopped once my finger got cut on a small rock. Looking down, it was a small cut, nothing threatening. I sucked on it while I let my mana heal the cut. Sitting up, I began to walk around.

Of course they still saw me as a glass statue? What else would I be in their eyes? Even without mana I could hear their conversation. Being the only people in such a large cave while discussing the war effort tended to be loud.

What I didn't like was that each and every single plan involved me on the backlines, safe from harm. Kathyln did try and protest against it, if only because she also knew what it was like. Although her quiet and passive nature stopped her from arguing enough to actually help.

Walking up to Grandpa's room, I took a look inside. I was curious, nothing wrong with that. It was simple. A stone bed lined with random clothes, probably scraped together what he could. Mine was a bit better, I had used plants to make a comfortable bed.

What grabbed my attention wasn't the bed, but rather the small medallion on his bedside table. Poking my head back out, I looked around. No one was around, still in the meeting. Taking the medallion, I began to speed walk towards the teleport portal that aunt Rinia had used to save me from Agrona.

I looked at the controls, they were simpler than the ones I was used to. I had learned how to use them during the war incase of emergency. Manipulating it a little bit, I changed the destination to Novisto. A small elven town that rested near the edge of the beast glades. Stepping through, I held the medallion firmly in my grasp.

My senses were assaulted by bright lights and familiar smells that didn't exist down in the cave. I saw dozens of elves rushing about, worried about what was happening. I couldn't blame them. News must have only reached the important towns like Xyrus or each corresponding capital. Therefore, people in small towns like this without much strategic value, must barely know anything.

There was still an order to the chaos however, children ran, unaware of the danger while women washed clothes with one another. I took a deep breath. I was here, doing something instead of hiding underground.

"Princess!"

I don't know who shouted it, but in a second everyone's focus was on me. A small child, a girl with a flower crown, had immediately grabbed my legs with her tiny arms. "Are you here to save us? Mommy said that you would!"

A rare smile graced my face. Bending down, I touched the small crown with my fingers. Using a little bit of mana, I rejuvenated the dying flowers, the petals blooming once again as the steam regained some of its green color.

"Well your mommy was right. Can you go get her for me?" I asked, my voice was sweet and calm. It wasn't laced with the poison I saved for Grey nor the harsh tone I had learned in the war. The little girl nodded, a newfound hope ignited in her eyes. She ran off, presumably to her mother.

Standing back up, I looked around. The population of Novisto was around three thousand, before the war. I don't know how many people left during the war, although if I had to guess, there were only about 1,700 people left.

The Sanctuary could house thousands as it was. With a little bit of effort and time it could hold more. The pond was actually a spring that produced fresh water and would for a while. Food would be difficult, but with enough time and plant magic, we could get a stable supply.