The Forgotten Legacy

Chapter 3

3

We started running through the forest and after about and hour and a half I saw the most majestic thing I have ever seen before. Sulos was going to bed for the day, and Stella was coming out to welcome the cool nighttime. Standing on top of a steep hill I looked down to see a crescent-shaped lake as deep as it was wide. The water becoming like a glowing blue smile as if to say welcome me to the small village located on the inner lune of the lake. The houses looked just like giant versions of every kind of tree I've ever seen and even some I have never even thought to imagine. And in the middle of it all is the largest tree I have ever laid eyes on, and can with certainty say I will never see another even half as tall or wide as it. I would later learn that this tree is called The World Tree, and it is the beginning of all life on this plane of Yelta, but that is for another time.

Winston turned around with a giant grin on his face, "Pretty amazing huh..." He then pointed his finger at me and I started to float across the glowing sea below me heading for the largest tree I have ever seen in my life. On the way to the tree I saw various elves going about their daily life in the forest. Winston then said,

"There are about two thousand or so of us elves living here. Though there are over ten thousand spirits living amongst us as well. We all live here protecting the World Tree there in front of us, as well as the Spirit Lake in front. I'll introduce you to the rest of the elders when we get inside, in the meantime let us enjoy our view on the way there."

He then turned around and we started moving faster towards the World Tree. Everyone around us was acting like everything was normal, so I figured that Winston was just a man beholden to his whims. The World Tree was even bigger up close. I could not even see the canopy of the magnificent tree from the ground where we were standing.

"This here tree is my home, and also contains the Great Hall for meetings and banquets," Winston spoke while leading me towards the grand door on the tree facing towards the lake. "When we get inside we'll have to introduce you to the others and explain why I brought you to us."

We stepped inside and the first thing I noticed was the amount of translucent beings just floating within the cavity inside the tree. I asked Winston, "What are all of these translucent beings I am seeing around us right now..." As I was saying that one of the little beings, A small blue Salamander, glided down towards me and landed on my backpack again. I recognized it as the same one that was with Winston when he saved me.

Winston spun around with wide eyes and sputtered, "W-wait a second, you mean to say you can see the Spirits of the World around us?"

"Am I not supposed to be able to see these spirits as you call them?" I replied.

"The ability to see spirits is a latent power that can only be acquired by being born part spirit. We will have to see which of the Spirits of the World you have been born from. All of the elves that live here are also part spirit, so we have a way to tell which spirit you hail from. Though to have a spirit conceive outside of the Enchanted Forest is unprecedented. Let's head inside though and introduce you to the others, we can continue our discussion about everything later."

We continued to walk to what can only be described as a cathedral. A large room with high ceilings and tall windows that let in light from outside. The Spirit Lake was glowing a bright blue-green painting the inside of the Grand Hall an eerie but soothing color. Winston led me to where a group of five other people were sitting conversing amongst themselves.

"Thanks for coming on such short notice everyone," Winston said to those five.

One of them, a large boisterous man replied, "Only you can get away with being late to your own called meeting little Winst."