Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Nothing happened

The elves were undoubtedly the largest group. After all, it was their jungle. Right now, all their eyes were on a small group of less than ten, who were talking among themselves. Especially, in one of them.

Elendnas had been an idol among the elves. He was a genius who had achieved great power despite his youth, a living hero of whom many exploits were sung. He was a role model for many young elves.

However, he had retired some time ago. More or less founded rumors said that he had suffered a serious illness. There were even those who believed that he had died. Evidently, those last rumors were false, since now he was there again.

Most of the looks were of curiosity and admiration. There were even infatuated ones, from some elves who wanted to be able to approach and seduce him. Unfortunately, news had spread that had broken many hearts, and they had even been confirmed by some authorities. Elendnas was married, and had two daughters.

Melingor had been the architect of this news, with the approval of the elf, and especially of Goldmi. It was a good way to keep his admirers at bay, although they weren't sure if it would be effective with all of them. At least, it should be with the majority.

Of course, not all the gazes were friendly. Like that of the young elf who approached him.

"You're Elendnas, right?" this asked him with patent hostility.

"Yes, that's me. How can I help you?" Elendnas was surprised.

There was something in the newcomer's tone of voice that he didn't like. In the past, he had been approached several times by elves wanting notoriety, or who for some reason hated him.

"You don't look like much. The rumors are exaggerated," the young elf provoked him.

"If that's all, I have work to do," Goldmi's husband wanted to ignore him.

"Are you afraid? Maybe in the past, you could be the leader of your generation, but you're rusty. I, Ilunbdor, am the best of this generation. Much better than you ever were," he continued to provoke him.

"Congratulations. Anything else?" Elendnas responded condescendingly. He was no longer the irritable and easily provoked young elf of the past, although that didn't mean he didn't feel annoyed.

"Yeah. It would be much better if I led the battalion in your place. Go back to your retirement. I'll take your place," Ilunbdor became more emboldened.

"I guess I was that impetuous in the past too, but I don't remember being so disrespectful. I don't even think I was that ignorant. Do you really think you can do better? Tell me, how many battles have you experienced? How many life or death situations? Do you have experience in an event on this scale?" Elendnas finally countered.

"I may not have that much experience... But I have the talent!" the young elf replied proudly.

"Talent isn't enough. It has to be developed, and this isn't the time. Are you aware that your bravado could put thousands of lives in danger? Also, are you aware of how stupid your request is? Do you think you can catch up about the objective of the mission, what the other battalions are going to do, how to cooperate with them, the protocols for action in each scenario? Do you believe that you can just come and take charge? How many of us do you want to kill with your incompetence!?" Elendnas this time responded more aggressively. He was starting to get irritated. Maybe he wasn't as patient as he had thought.

"Excuses! You're envious of my talent!" Ilunbdor refused to accept.

"Well, if you're so talented, why don't you start by eliminating the enemy's spies instead of wasting my time?" he said with disdain. He was pointing with his gaze at the corrupted birds that were flying above them at a safe distance.

"Do you think I'm an idiot? No one can hit them at that distance. Do it yourself if you're that capable!" the young elf almost spat.

It was planned that aerial beings would take care of those spies, although for now they didn't care that much about them. After all, the main objective of that operation was to distract the enemy, to attract their attention. Although, it didn't matter if some were erased from the sky.

"No one can? My wife would do it with her eyes closed. I'm a little worse, so I have to open them," Elendnas boasted, somewhat amused.

Ilunbdor wanted to ridicule him, to provoke him to try it. To his surprise, his rival had already taken his longbow, and had put an arrow on the string. It must be said that the bow impressed the young elf. He couldn't help but feel envy, even greed.

When Elendnas shot, the mana fluctuations shocked him. As much as he wanted to refuse to acknowledge it, they were more powerful than what he could accomplish.

"It's because of the bow," he told himself, not wanting to accept that he had lost in that regard.

Despite this, the young elf was sure that the arrow wouldn't hit the target. The distance was too big, so the corrupted bird could perfectly dodge. In fact, it tried.

Unfortunately for the lost, the elf had learned Curved Shot from his wife. He hadn't mastered it like her, but it was enough to thwart its clumsy attempt to avoid the attack. The powerful arrow, imbued with wind, reached the bird with enough power to pierce it from side to side.

Before Ilunbdor's astonished gaze, the bird not only vanished into the air, but the arrow returned to stick in front of Elendnas. He simply picked it up and kept it. The special arrow made by Eldi was intact.

In fact, the elf would have liked to catch it with his hand on the fly, but his Curve Shot skill wasn't good enough yet.

Without saying anything, he walked away from the defeated young elf, who had been left speechless. He didn't know how to react. His own words, deliberately loud, were now hurting his pride.

"This's nothing. If Goldmi had been here, you'd be crying," Elendnas mocked inwardly.

At first, he hadn't wanted to confront the young elf, but he had no other choice. That youngster had spoken loudly, so that everyone could hear him. He wanted to ridicule Elendnas and gain support. If he had done nothing, the troops under his command could have lost confidence in him, and that could be dangerous.

"Ha, ha. You've taught him a good lesson," Melingor patted him on the shoulder.

"I hope he learns it. Surely, he has talent, but he can't be so full of himself," Elendnas responded seriously.

"Well... I remember that we too... Do you remember that time, in front of the blue-haired princess that you liked..." Melingor began.

"That didn't happen! If you ever say a word about that in front of Goldmi, I'll have to talk to Lidia about a certain matter in a tavern!" Elendnas threatened, unusually nervous.

"Ah... Well... Nothing happened!" Melingor assured vehemently.

In fact, those events had happened before they had met the women they would marry, and weren't serious enough to make them feel guilty. However, those events were extremely embarrassing. For nothing in the world did they want their wives to find out.