Eternal Fear

Chapter 2 - Toron's Story

It was an energetic day in the Yddrigsal Forest. The sun shone calmly through the trees that overhang the village. Elves were living their everyday lives, preparing for the Elders showing as well. Ellie woke up in the sanctuary, ready to meet up with her master, Elder Toron. Today, he was out of his area for the first time in a while, and she was excited to finally see the village again with the elf who had raised her. Ellie rushed up out of bed and did her morning meditation. The Elder suggested this exercise in the morning to help Ellie bring out her happiness since she gets worked up over her fear, rejection.

Waking up in the sanctuary always calms her since it's always outside, and everything is colorful and silent. Ellie loved being alone with the Elder, but it gets a bit boring since she's never allowed out to town without his blessing. Inside the gates of the sanctuary is the Elder's private part of the forest. Ellie loves taking walks there since she is allowed anywhere inside the gates. No one could judge her; she was allowed to be who she wants. Even that perfect life for her got a bit boring as well. So whenever the Elder goes to the village, Ellie loves to tag along.

The Elder was nowhere to be found within the gates which made Ellie worry. On days like this, he never leaves without her. Must have slept for too long, she thought, and went on to find the Elder. She looked for him in the central area—nothing. Next, his garden... still nothing. Up in the trees, nope. Aha! Maybe he is in the back of the gated forest! Ellie eyes lit up, knowing that it is his favorite place to be and started to run towards it, excited to go into the village.

Toron was watching the small creek run through the back area surrounded by yellow and green flowers, just like the one in Ellie's hair. Toron goes to this area to listen to the sounds of nature in the forest. This fills him full of life and wonder since nature is his center. Toron wonders if the forest was not here, how would his life be? These random questions of his existence is what keeps him going, making sure that he knows he is in the right timeline, making him feel complete.

Ellie loves to listen to his stories, filling her with wonder and adventure. Toron used to be the Follower, and the second oldest elf in Yddrigsal. He kept order in the forest and preserved the life around it. It was the Elder's job to keep the life alive in the forest, checking the balance. But the Elder Toron followed, refusing to do that. Soon the stress of Toron's work caused him to break and isolate himself. The order of the forest went out of place, and there was a panic. The vulnerability from Toron's isolation and the Elder not keeping his place caused dark magic to emit from the forest. Soon, the life around the elves started to die slowly. Toron did his work in the council a little, but he did not notice the life dying.

Promptly, the dark magic started to reach the villagers, affecting them in ways that should not harm an elf. When elves started to fall around him, dying, it gave him a warning sign. That's when Toron took it upon himself to help the forest and become a better Elder. The Elder at the time refused to give up his position, but his clouded mind made him weak. If Toron did not get to his senses, he too, would have died. Soon, the Elder died. No one had taken up position, and order became nothing. Toron tried to grow the forest back, but it would not work. He helped out the elves in any way he could. He, Jacob, and Tori, two younger elves—about 300 years old at the time—soon restored order; they become close friends, and shortly after, they also restored the council. However, the forest kept slowly dying.

Toron was soon turning 2,000 years at the time as well, around when the elves first entered the forest and made it their home. Nature meant a lot to Toron, and to watch the forest die made him heart broken. When the trees in the forest would not revive, he found himself at a new low once again. The other elves demanded he become Elder since he did his best at keeping order and trying to preserve the life in the forest.

As he took up the position, he never entered the sanctuary for years. Until one day, he decided to check it out to see how it was holding up. When he entered, it was alive—breathing. Leaving him in shock, he decided to explore. He went as far as he could he to the gated area, where he found a wooden staff wrapped up in vines and blue flowers. He picked it up and admired it. As soon as he gave it a wave, it instantly summoned green and yellow flowers. This made him jump, feeling the power of life grow before him. Curiosity and wonder struck him, and he ran up to a dying tree in the gated area and tapped it. It began to glow a radiant white and yellow light that went up the tree, bringing it instantly back to life. Soon, he was able to bring the forest back to life.

Ellie begs him to tell his life in the past 2,300 years—the lives he changed and influenced. Her master was seriously, an amazing elf. He really deserved the position of Elder. She let this story race through her mind before losing track on what she was aiming for. She suddenly realized what she was forgetting. Crap! Master Toron, she thought and quickly ran for him. She was close to the creek and saw him in sight. She got excited and ran up to hug him before stopping dead in her tracks, knowing how he is not very affectionate.

"You know, sweetheart, you are allowed to hug me," Toron said in his deep raspy voice, sensing Ellie's presence as she got closer.

"I'm sorry, sir, I did not mean to bug you at this time," she was worried she was interrupting something.

"No need to apologize! It's your birthday, dear, and you know I don't mind if you treat me as family!" Toron was a really caring elf for Ellie, like she is his own daughter.

"But it's very informal, Master, I'd rather not go against our ways." Ellie said while rocking back and forth on her feet.

Toron stared at the child, with so much light in her eyes, ready to explore the world around her. He sighed, knowing that the elves fear her, then staring at her demon horns, which were dark and light green, darkest started near her head. This side of Ellie never worried Toron, as well as respecting his dear friend, Tori, and her wishes with her own child. I wish Jacob saw past you. If only Jacob wasn't infertile, but I rather have her here right now, anyway. This thought made Toron smile. He stood up, walked towards his "daughter" and hugged her, leaving her in a bit of shock. "Well then! Let's head into the village, birthday girl!"