Crater Creator

11. The truth about the Pure Elves

Stepping over all the tattered vases, crates, and many other containers, I aimlessly venture into the unknown landscape. The four Guise remain by my side; they sheath me from any incoming traffic. I have not a clue how far or long I have been traveling, but the surrounding area feels like a ghost town. Not a living soul ventures the land, just signs of panic and pain. Meals are not completed, clothes pollute the streets, and houses a mess. When I try to forget Nalak it only slows me down more, I just continue moving. My stomach growls, I have not eaten in so long. My knees are getting tired of walking, my arms are lowered, and my eyes are heavy. I am just about to fall, when the young lad from earlier, comes to me. He gestures for me to follow him. The Guise gets their guard up ready for what is to come next.

I am led to one of the destroyed houses. The lad points toward the door, meaning this is my stop. I open the door to find nothing but an old wooden table with a pair of goggles in the center. I slowly make my way toward it and put them on.

My whole vision changed, the inner wall of the house, become a wall of blue text. It reads, "Whoever bear's the Revealer, may now see the truth of the fall of the Pure Elves. If you wish to find us, find, and follow Zunlin, he will guide you. Alla bul survivor, may you live forever."

I take off the goggles and turn to the boy. "Are you Zunlin, son?" The boy grins and nods and says, "We cannot speak here, too dangerous. Follow me and stay quiet." He and I jump into a couched form, and silently peaked outside of the door. A whole mob a Tainted Elves are gathered in a messy bunch. Their words were indistinct, but their tone stuck out like a sore thumb. I was led to the back of the house, snagging the Revealers, so I could see an invisible door. Zunlin opened it with a grunt. The door made rocks fall with a loud crash. Looking back, I could feel the Tainted Elves creeping upon us. The Guise stays behind to encounter the Tainted, while Zunlin and I jump into the hole in the wall and forcefully shut the door.

It was not long before they were in the house, turning over tables and throwing items. I could hear them fighting the Guise. It was too dark to do anything, but Zunlin knew the way. He said to just keep my head low and move straight. The walls were hard rock and it smelt foul, like nothing, I would every experience. After an hour, give or take, we arrived at a stop. I asked why we stopped. I was hushed as soon as I spoke. A rumbling and grumbling sound came from behind the rock ceiling. I readied my sword but was relieved when the ceiling was opened. A friendly hand came down to bring us up. As soon as I realized who it was, I knew my luck changed.

"Well hasn't your greeting been unkind, remember me Chris?" said Dreamslayer. "I thought you were dead!" hugging him tightly. "More alive than you'd think. I bet you hungry for both food and answers aren't you?" " Oh, you can guarantee that!" The new area was an old and creaky house. The windows are boarded up and there is no way to look outside. Besides Zunlin and Dreamslayer, there is no one else here. They led me to the kitchen where bowls littered the table. "We saved many other Elves and they were fed here. Here take this." I was given a bowl full of porridge. "I know that it's not much, but you need to eat. Now that you have your food, now you'll get your answers, ask away." I took a bite of the porridge, and then asked, "Ok, so what happened here?" "Well, somehow the Tainted Elves were able to wake all of the Pure Elves. No, you have not been in the Dreamworld for all of the time you have been conscious. They launched an attack against us; with no warning, they just somehow gained entrance to Ídchanar. They have killed so many innocent people. If it wasn't for Zunlin, you and I wouldn't be here." " Also, what is so important about Zunlin?" " Zunlin is actually, and don't freak out a Tainted Elf." I became enraged and I threw my chair at the wall. "You mean to tell that little boy is the same people who killed the companion! How could you lie to me?" Dreamslayer tried to calm me down by explaining, "Whoa relax, he led you this why would he deceive you now? Besides, the way you were acting before, if you knew, you would have killed him. Listen am I sorry for what happened to Nalak, truly I am. However, blaming all of it on Zunlin is not going to help. He is but a child who came to us before they attacked, seeking help instead of fighting. He is trustworthy I swear." " *sigh*, Fine if you say so. Is King Xan dead?" " Yeah, he was one of the first to fall. The Tainted can only take to form of someone dead." " When I was awake, there a plant that told me that I was in the Dream World. Who was that plant, more Tainted?" " No, that plant was the Babbling Vegetation. Besides, you were in the dream world, it is just as soon as you found the Revealers, and they acted as a portal, bringing you back to the real world. "Ok, this is my final question, is there any way for me to save Nalak?" "You'll have to talk to Zunlin for that. He is the only hope for Nalak." " Fine, I will seek his help then."

I enter into a bedroom where Zunlin is staring through a crack in the boards on the window. I asked, "Hey, Zunlin I wanted to ask something of you." He did not look back, but he spoke, "Isn't it beautiful? The outside land I mean. I've been so wrapped in the Elven stories, I forgot about the surface world." " Zunlin can you revive my fallen friend, Nalak? Please, I will be in your debt." He looked back at me with sad eyes, "There is only one thing that revives anything deadly, and is called a soul gem. And the only place it exists is in The Horrid, land of the Tainted."