Among the Birches *NaNoWriMo 2013*

People of a Scorched Earth

The outskirts of the town, where they arrived first, were full of the ripped-apart homes: fabrics left gleaming in the sand, reflecting still the light they once shaded the inhabitants from. Several of them were even charred, perhaps by a fire turned errant in the heat of attack. It was clear that the place had been under a siege of some sort-- perhaps much like the Island-- but had not gone without a trace but stood, fought, and-- for the first portion of the town-- failed to keep their limits safe. It was a sorrowful place to head through, and it filled each person with a feeling of reverence for the people. Surely, some must have died-- the houses were in too complete a disarray and devastation for their to have been no causalities. Because there were no bodies to be seen, however-- and because they had seen intact yurts deeper in, from the hilltop-- they figured that there were survivors still. The sun elves were, to some extent or another, still living.

It was not long before their intrusion brought an emissary: the elf was an absolutely splendid-looking creature which, though quite similar to Kya and Jasper (more so the former), was also entirely different. Judging from the impressive poker face it maintained and the meager eye contact made with the party, it was more aloof than any forest-dwelling elf that they had ever met (which was quite the feat), and its air of self-control was not quite equal to a forest elf, though-- thought Kya-- thought could be due to its having survived some greivous assault.

"Greetings," said Kya. "I am from the Island, and I and my companions come to greet you and seek your counsel."

"You have come to an odd place for that," said the sun elf. "There are few of us left to offer it."

"I see that your town has endured a terrible assault. Though we knew not of it until we came over the sand dune before your town, we have reason to believe that perhaps your tragedy may be tied with one which has befallen those of the Island."

The sun elf's dull eyes lit up, making them equal to Jasper or Kya's in ferocity of will. 

"I will admit you to see our leader and the ones who remain of our land. They have sent me, seeing that you did not appear a grievous threat, to accost you and have you turn back, if need be; but I perceive that it is not necessary in the given circumstances. Come, follow, and see the devastation of my people."

"How is it that a single elf thought he could ward off the three of us?" whispered Nicholai as silently as he could manage. Kya readied a hypothesis to explain the phenomenon, but Nicholai's impudent question had reached his ears, too.

"Have our people so wholly vanished from the world's eye? Ah, all the better. There were days, however, when we were revered for our magical prowess. There are few equal to us in the ability to learn and hone magical skills; few wizards can match even the lowliest of our mages. We have summoned the dead to rise again, restored life to the breathless, and won battles which drained us of all but the dregs of our spirit. Some of these things you may think immoral, but we are not of the same mind-- nor, for that matter, are we evil."

"Sir, if I may ask: how, if you are so mighty in magic, has your town been destroyed?"

"And why, if you are indeed able, did you not peer into our minds in place of coming to question us?" said Nicholai. In response, Kya shot Nicholai a stern glare.

"My people and I will answer such inquiries together. I am in no position to speak alone."

How had I forgotten? The sun elves are mages. It hasn't been so long since we sent messages to one another-- almost always through third parties, however-- and now it seems such an obvious fact. They feed off of the sun's great energy and it enables them great power. Yes. In fact--

"Jasper... These people are the ones who crafted the seer stone."

"What?!"

"When the world was newer, the sun elves and we were closer. When we began to move apart but still held a strong, tying bond, they created the seer stone so that we might communicate with them still. Over the ages, it has primarily been used for other means. Luka, of course, used it to communicate with us and, occasionally, with other leaders and peoples."