ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 99 The Elven Delegation

Chapter 99

The Elven Delegation

Realizing she still had a few minutes, Alexa first ran to her room, got a quick shower, created a new set of magically created clothes and then grabbed her school supplies and left for class.

By the time she arrived to class, she was surprised to see that Ms. Tutlidge was already present. Also, it turned out that Alexa was one of the last members of class to arrive.

“Oh, Ms. Thyme, thank you for joining us today.” Ms. Tutlidge said, as she nodded her head towards Alexa.

Alexa nodded, and silently made her way to her open seat right in the middle of the class. As she looked around, she made eye contact with each pack member. Then scanning a little further she saw a relieved Luke, followed shortly by a notedly cross Julie. Not only did Alexa’s analyze tell her that her disposition was cross, but this designation seemed to be further enforced by the way Julie’s arms were crossed over her chest in  a sign that denoted pure agitation.

Alexa nodded to the two, Luke nodded back, while Julie just relaxed her hard stare for the moment. With that little issue dealt with, Alexa turned her attention back to the front of the room, where their chronically late teacher was not only here, but she was here on time.

The fact that Ms. Tutlidge was on time to class set off warning bells in Alexa’s mind. There were only a handful of times when Ms. Tutlidge had appeared on time, at least in the short time that she had known the teacher. The last time was when there was a…

“Good morning class, since all of you are now here, I can tell you what we will be learning about today. Today, we will have two very special guest speakers from the Elven Delegation coming to tell us what to expect about the planetary Integration.” Ms. Tutlidge

There it was, that one statement was enough to cause Alexa to realize why everything felt so off. On the one hand it answered so many questions that Alexa had, particularly those she had about why Ms. Tutlidge seemed to be acting so off. Even watching her now, Alexa could see the nervous fidgets and insecure movements of her fingers that were clear indications that Ms. Tutlidge was nervous. As for Alexa, she herself had a few of her own emotions that she was going through. Most notably why were elves coming here, now of all times?

The only logical reason Alexa could figure was they were either drawn to talk to Mr. Mackie the head security and a Knight Captain for the elves. There was also the fact that she had managed to slay the Red Countess here on school grounds. While Alexa didn’t feel that the elves would have an issue with her slaying the Red Countess, particularly because she was part of the dragon faction and an Infernalist to boot, that is one who willingly contracted with demons to gain more power.

Thinking of that, Alexa was reminded of her time in the gate, how the last dungeon seemed to be designed around destroying a Lich King. During the battle it seemed that the dungeon was content to allow hundreds of participants to merge together as an army and face the enemy forces all at once. Then they all partook in the spoils of battle. While everyone should have been given a reward based on their overall contributions to the battle, Alexa had messed with the settings enough to make it so everyone got the same reward. Something that the dungeon didn’t seem to mind, as it gladly coughed up nearly two hundred reward crystals in all.

But even with that, there was something off about the whole situation. Everyone agreed that Necromancy was bad, terrible even. It was also apparently something that everyone had access to, everyone was aware of the Faustian pact, selling part or all of your soul to a demon, in order to gain untold power capable of destroying your foes. Still, there had to be something more to them.

Remembering back to her duel with the Red Countess, Alexa clearly remembered the voice of the demonic entity summoning the terrified soul of the Red Countess to it. In that moment, Alexa knew that the Red Countess showed true fear. Never once in their entire duel together did the countess show as much fear as she did when trying to flee from the grip of the demonic entity. In a way that was likely what made such a pact even scarier, the fact that the demon was able to summon a soul from presumably anywhere in the universe. Did this mean there was an entire demon planet? One that the dungeons knew to avoid? Or was there something more?

So many questions filled her mind that she was almost relieved to see the two elves appear. Of course, this was just the remainder of her stolen energy slowly working its way from her system. By now, most of the world was slowly fading to its normal dull and muted tones. If Alexa wanted, she could easily continue her high, as she still had quite a few crystals saved up in her backpack, but she held off. For now, she wanted to keep up her blank mask of indifference, particularly when dealing with an enemy delegation.

“And here they are now. Our gest speakers on the topic of Integration. Yolandara and Wilken.” Ms. Tutlidge stated, gesturing to the two elves who entered the room. It was odd seeing a pair of both a male and female entering the room together. To many people who were not used to seeing the pale and flawless features of elves, one might assume the two were either a couple, siblings, or both. Of course, those people would be wrong on all accounts. The subtle shifts of their bodies away from each other, the minor and subtle differences in the placement and shapes of the eyes, the way they carried themselves. Everything about the two spoke volumes about how these two were not related by relationship, blood, or if Alexa had to guess, related by faction.

“Good morning, I am Yolandara.” Yolandara, the female began in elven.

“Good morning, Yolandara.” Alexa spoke back in English, letting the rest of the class know what had just been said.

“Oh, we have a native speaker?” Yolandara said, instantly perking up at the fact that Alexa had responded.

“Yes.” Alexa said, her tone and demeanor was flat, even though her voice was oddly agreeable to the two.

Hearing her speak, the male elf, Wilken, gave a quick glance over to Yolandara who seemed to miss the glance. While Wilken seemed to have a look of comprehension on his face, Yolandara sadly seemed to have missed the entire subtle glance. As it seemed that Yolandara thought that Alexa’s response were not a sign of true mastery of the language, but rather a sign that she was just good at guessing proper responses.

“Tell me, if given the choice, what would you prefer more, the chance to learn Healing magic, or the chance to learn Nature magic?” Yolandara no doubt figured this would be a true test to first see if Alexa was in fact fluid in Elven, and second to see if she could get a particularly precocious student to their ranks already. This was a common tactic, lure in the best and promising individuals with the appeal of magic and then lord it over them until they either died while proving themselves or were discarded as not being able to prove themselves enough. It was a common tactic and judging by the way everyone seemed to pay attention to everything this one tall warrior said, converting her to the cause was a top priority.

“Neither.” Alexa again replied in English.

“Neither?” Yolandara parroted back, then paused. “You do not wish to learn magic?”

Alexa just shook her head. “I wish to learn magic very much. That said, the schools of magic you offer I have already mastered.” She then looked down at her chest and realized that in her haste to come to class, she forgot her school issued sash.

Seeing her oversight, she shook her head and then held up a hand to show she was using magic. Again the act of holding up her hand itself was pointless, but it still caused the elf to pause.

In a matter of seconds a green and blue piece of cloth began to appear in her outstretched hand. Almost like she was using a 3D printer in the palm of her hand to create her missing school apparel. As she wove the threads of cotton together, she also created the metal tabs that showed her now five psychic tabs, along with her eight schools of magic and related proficiency in each. In all, she had four schools that were mastered, including the two that the up until a moment ago arrogant Yolandara offered.

Once complete, Alexa took the completed sash and draped it over her head.

Yolandara just stared in slack jawed amazement, as that was clearly a level of skill and school of magic that she had never seen before.

“That…That magic that you used just now? What was it?” Yolandara finally managed to ask as a look of hunger filled her eyes.

Seeing that, Alexa let out a fake smile, then for the first time in their conversation she spoke back in a perfectly melodic elven. “You truly want to know?”

“I do.”

Hearing that Alexa nodded to herself, then said, “break all prior allegiances and pacts that you have formed until now, then join me and my faction.” Alexa said, gesturing to everyone in the classroom, “swear loyalty to us and I will tell you the name of the magic I just used.”

“A name? Not even to be taught, but the name of the school of magic that you used?” Hearing Alexa’s counter proposal, Yolandara became livid.

Seeing her reaction, Alexa just stared coldly at her. “Are you done?” She asked, once again in English.

Hearing that, Yolandara shook in place as she clearly clenched and unclenched her fists in an attempt to gain control over her emotions.

“Yes, we are done.” Yolandara said, and then turned to leave the classroom, going so far as to give Wilken a follow me gesture. Wilken on the other hand showed that he was not linked to Yolandara and her faction at all by giving a wide grin and signaling that he would stay. Then with a step forward, he moved forward to greet the rest of the class.

“Good morning. As you might or might not have guessed, we are both elves, on of the races that are going to help free you from the persecution and tyranny of the other alien species that wish to come and conquer your planet. Also, as you might or might not have guessed, there are many different factions of elves. I myself represent the Tulpa party, while Yolandara represents the Eclipsian party. While our factions have sometimes gone to war with each other, we have brokered an amicable truce that has served us well over the past few dozen millennia.  While I would caution you to listen to everything being offered, particularly when creating a contract with one of our factions. I am oath bound to say, that I would recommend either of our great factions as a possible landing spot for any of you.” Wilken said, a slight smirk filling his lips as he spoke.

Seeing him and seeing that he was pressing forward with his personal recruitment pitch Yolandara got visibly angry. Which for an elf meant taking a step into the personal space of Wilkin and speaking to him in a slightly deeper octave.

“What are you doing?” Yolandara asked in elven.

“What we were both sent here to do, to warn these good people about what to expect when the integration happens and how we are here to help.” Wilken replied in English, instantly making him seem far more trustworthy of the two to anyone who was listening.

Seeing this, Yolandara visibly tensed, but then relaxed. It was clear that to her pride was a huge factor to consider, and while Alexa had clearly out played her, she let that minor set back make it so she and by extension her faction were losing out to Wilken.

Realizing that Wilken would stay regardless, Yolandara also decided to stay, but clearly under protest, if her crossed arms and glaring scowl were any indication of her mental state.

“Now as many of you might or might not know, the integration is coming and will be upon us shortly after midnight on the first of January of your calendar. This will mark the end of your one hundred years of integration to the universe as a whole and make it so your planet is readily accessible by both friendly and malicious factions alike. Perhaps some of you have already heard about dragons being released to your world. The dragons in England are particularly dangerous especially as they are growing in power with each Super they kill.” The elf began, “we are here to both warn you of the fact that after the integration is complete more dragons will appear, and with them, more problems. Now you can either bow down and claim subservience to these magnificent beasts, or you can go with the alternative.” Wilken said, a smug smile on his face. “Now you all seem like smart individuals, can any of you tell me what alternative you have to your dragon problem.”

“Aru’ka!” Kylie said loudly.

At that, a number of students all laughed at the sudden look of shock that came over the ethereally handsome elf’s face. “What is an Aru’ka?”

“Whom is Aru’ka is a better question.” Alecia, the pack member to Alexa’s left and number two in the pack ever since Julie was all but forced out, said as she gave a smile and a sideways glance at Alexa.

“Good point Lia,” Kylie said, calling over to Alecia, both affirming Alecia’s redirect of the topic away from Alexa and towards the fact that what was being offered by these two was completely unnecessary.

Alexa for her part just sat there stoically looking forward.

“I am sorry, I am not familiar with this person.” Wilkin said, clearly getting flustered himself at the way this pack of sophomores seemed to have no sense of awe or wonderment at his grandeur and status.

“I can answer that.” Ms. Tutlidge said, “Aru’ka is a super who has been working with the local authorities to both heal the sick, and as was the case in Madison, kill a black dragon.”

“Oh, I assume it was a weak dragon.” Yolandara said, once again rejoining the conversation.

“Only if you consider a level 87 black dragon the size of a football field weak. Then sure.” Lilly said, her voice clearly speaking with pride.

Judging by the way all the students were getting animated it was clear that they all felt a strong personal relationship to the mighty dragon slayer. Everyone, even the two who sat at the far end of the classroom seemed to have a slight glow and warmth as they seemed to agree with the statements.

“I am not certain of what this football field is, but a level 87 black dragon would be nothing to scoff at.” Wilken said, before continuing. “Who exactly was this again, and where are they now?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, even if the students did know, they would not be able to say. The whole point of a hero wearing a mask is so they can protect their friends and loved ones from reprisals, after all.” Ms. Tutlidge cut in and stopped any students from saying anything they likely shouldn’t. While none of the students would wish ill upon Alexa, it was clear that they all had a lot of respect for who she was and what she was doing.

“Right. Well, I guess I should get back to my speech about what to happen after the integration occurs. When the integration is complete, your planet will be given a choice to choose between one of three main factions, the destructive dragons, the smelly orcs, or the charming and single elves.” Wilkin said, giving a slight wink to the ladies of the room.

Much to his shock, most of the girls just shuttered at the idea.

“Uh, he’s so creepy.” Lilly said, whispering to Kylie, all except everyone’s supernatural senses made the comment easy to pick up.

Hearing that, Yolandara who had had been mostly out of the conversation to this point broke out into a bright smile and then made her pitch to Luke, the only male in the class.

“Yes, I fully agree. Elven men are so… obtuse. That is why I have come to appreciate humans, human males in particular.” She said, staring at Luke and licking her lips in a suggestive way.

Seeing that, Luke visibly flinched and turned to Julie.

“Go on say you fell for a second cougar, I dare you.” Julie said, as she crossed her arms in defiance.

“What? She is clearly coming onto me. I am the victim here.” Luke protested.

“Uh-huh, keep telling yourself that.”

“I am, and just did…” Luke said, no longer even allowing his head to turn in Yolandara’s direction.

“Uh, perhaps we could make this less about seducing minors and more on the purpose for why you came?” Ms. Tutlidge said, a note of disgust in her voice as she clearly didn’t know how to handle this situation with foreign dignitaries.

“Right, where were we…” Wilken began.

“I believe we were just leaving, it is clear that we are wasting our time with these children.” Yolandara said as she left the classroom, this time she didn’t even stop to see if Wilken would follow her.

“Right excuse me.” Wilken said, as he bowed to the classroom.

As they left Ms. Tutlidge looked lost for a second, then after a moment’s hesitation she paused and said, “well I am glad I had a lesson plan ready as a just in case…”