Caelestra, the Heavenly Continent Vol. 1

Chapter 2 - Bast Astra Part Two

Chapter 2 - Bast Astra Part Two

The sun had begun to set, a orange glow falling over the trees. The big tree stood majestically amongst the others, small paper lamps hanging around, illuminating the Elven people which stood around it, the atmosphere a happy one. You see, there was a certain time of the year where the Astra Elven Clan would all come together and celebrate – A night of the new moon, the night the Earth Goddess Damiast would descend from the heavens and bless the Earth with fertility. This day was seen as the most happy day of the year for the nature and earth loving elves.

But, there was another side to the story. Where there is light, there is always darkness. When the Goddess Damiast descended, she would always take the form of a certain animal. The nature of the beast was unknown, but it was a clear fact that no one should disturb it. Because of this, every time this year the people would come together for a feast around the tree, prohibited from leaving it's proximity. As this went on, Damiast would carry on with her blessing until the sun rose. As long as everything went well during this time, everything would be okay. But, let me tell you from my personal experience: wherever Bast is, there is no way things well end “okay.” At least not without some huge disaster in the middle.

There was one sure way of knowing that Bast had come back from a murder- hunting trip. The young elf was a cheerful one, always smiling brightly. He was normally someone comfortable to be around. That is, except for certain moments. At his most evil- helpful moments, such as when he came back from these massacres- trips in the forest, bringing back corpses- meat for the clan members, the whole air would grow cold and the color drain from the faces of all.

The celebrations stopped, silence took over as everyone stood, stock still, eyes boring into the path which stood amongst the smaller trees around the big one. The sun set even lower now, covering the tips of the trees in a eerie bloody red color. The only noise was the dragging of the long spotted cat as Bast came out of the forest, the beast on his shoulder.

The smile on his face was the same as always, but why did he make the elves feel this way? Was it the fresh warm blood splattered across his delicate features? The steady feel of his strides? The bloody red color that followed behind him?

Even the most cold hearted beast could hide behind a smile. But, the eyes are the true door to the soul. The glint in the azure orbs and the tattered body of the cat which created a path of blood through the forest was all that was needed to see the true depth of his heart. Bast was different from his fellow members of his clan. He was not a peace and nature loving elf. The only thing that could truly move his heart was the fresh feel of blood, the terror in the eyes of his prey, and the adrenaline as his sword destroyed all in his path, taking the last breath of life away.

Now, dear reader, do not be mistaken. Even if the same man is now behind me, leaning closely so that his azure eyes watch every word written down on this piece of paper as he innocently says with a smile – “Eh~ Am I really like that? I just like having fun, you know? Just like everyone else.” – I can assure you that is not so. If everyone in the world were to be like him, I'm afraid there would be no world.

After throwing- leaving the beast on one of the wooden tables which vibrated and almost broke with the force, the young elf didn't even bother with the celebrations as he headed directly for the wooden door, entering the majestic tree which housed the clan.

Even though the elves were a race that secluded itself from the rest of the world, hiding with nature in the depths of forests, they were in no way an ignorant people. Centuries of knowledge was stored in their grand and extensive library. Past and present knowledge, with the occasional tell of the future, plus medicine, cooking, and hidden secrets of magic known only to elves was kept in a collection of books that filled the hollow shelves made inside the tree they chose to live in. It was easy to spot a forest which was territory to an elven clan – A gigantic elder tree which reached far up to the heavens themselves, where the clan created their home. These centuries old trees were filled with nature more than any other place in the world, the magic emanating from it's gigantic roots.