The Echo

by M C Sheridan

  The Echo

  A Prelude to The Adventures of

  Dauntless Grimm

  By M. C. Sheridan

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  The Echo © 2019, by M.C. Sheridan.

  All rights reserved.

  mcsheridan.books@gmail.com

  mcsheridan.com

  Cover design by NancyDesign (nancydesign360)

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in a database and/or published in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN (e-book): 978-1-9990311-0-7

  ISBN (paperback) : 978-1-9990311-1-4

  To my friends and family who pushed me, my beta readers who believed in me, and the writing community who supported me.

  Most of all, I dedicate this book to my beloved husband, for if it weren’t for him, Dauntless would cease to be. Thank you sugar plum, your honey bee loves you.

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Can anyone tell me how the world we know came into existence?” asked the elven professor as he stood stoically behind his lectern in front of the large classroom.

  “The first gods spoke the world into existence.” replied a tiny gnome with her hand raised high. “Their voices left behind the Echo that created the lesser gods”

  “Very good.” said the professor. The elf paid close attention to his mantle as he smoothed down the black fur-trimmed along the sleeves of his silvery robes, “Now,” he continued, with eyes still on his garment, “can anyone tell me what the Echo is?”

  A human student raised his hand, “Professor, everyone already knows this. It’s kid’s stuff. Why are we going over all this now?”

  “Because!” snapped the professor standing straight again, “I was most disappointed in this class’ scores from last week’s test on world history. Most of you will be attending Siannodel Academy at a university level next year and although you all passed, I believe your marks could improve. All of you. Your grades reflect my teachings and I refuse to send you off to my colleagues without first being prepared. If I have to go back to basics, then I will do just that.” The professor clasped his hands behind his back and exhaled audibly, “So, I repeat, can anyone tell me what the Echo is?”

  The students groaned.

  “The Echo,” continued the human male, “is the leftover resonance of the voice of the first gods; Life and Death. Their voices left behind the magic that created the many lesser gods who watch over the earth and created the first races.”

  “And what are the original races?” he said stepping from behind his lectern. “In order of their creation if you please.”

  The human male took in a deep breath as the professor approached, “Dragons, gnomes and merfolk, elves and zorns, dwarves, goblins, hobbledehoy, and then humans.”

  “Almost correct.” said the teacher with a disapproving look, “There are only eight races created by the lesser gods. Although they lived among the first of the true eight, goblins are not counted as one of them. They were merely a product of zorns who forcefully interbred with gnomes. And how did these races come to use magic?”

  A female elf lifted her hand, “The lesser gods taught them how to manipulate the Echo and how to use magic for themselves. All except zorns I mean.”

  “Mhhmm. And why is that?” asked the professor.

  The she-elf blinked, “Zorns are too… dumb?”

  The professor rolled his eyes, “Their thirst for violence and domination is what fuels them. The gods didn’t see it fit to grant them the ability of Echo manipulation. Go on. Continue.”

  The elven student let out a breath of air she was unconsciously holding in, “The first races then became powerful and they learned to cast spells and create other helpful beings like fairy creatures.”

  “And,” continued the professor, “what of the less desirable creatures like vampires and hags? Where do they come from?”

  The female elf nervously replied, “People creating them by accident; not being thorough with their magical abilities or using magic with hatred, malice or corruption.”

  “Very good.” said the professor with a slight nod. “Yes. One must have good and clear intentions when using magic. If not, you might not only create abominations, you may become one yourself. Even with the simplest spells, poorly manipulated magic can backfire horribly.” The teacher’s eyes swept across the room and found one of his students sleeping at their desk. In one swift movement, he reached behind, picked up a long wooden pointer stick from his lectern and thwacked it on the slumbering pupil’s desktop.

  “I’m awake!” shouted the dazed half-elf, as she jolted from her seat. The students chuckled.

  “Quesys Lujor.” huffed the professor. “While you were getting your beauty rest, the remainder of your classmates were getting an education. Do you think it’s fair that they had to be interrupted because of your disinterest in higher learning?”

  Quesys looked around the classroom. Her violet eyes filled with embarrassment, “N-no, Professor Lang.”

  The teacher walked around her desk, slowly, like a hawk circling its prey, “And do you think it’s fair that I have to remind you to stay awake during my lectures when this is purely for your benefit, not mine?”

  “No, Professor Lang.” she replied, nervously twirling a lock of red hair around her finger.

  Stopping in front of her, the professor moved his gaze downward to the she-elf. His 6’0” frame towered menacingly over her. “Well then, since you’ve wasted all our time, I see the only reasonable thing to do is to waste yours. See you after class Miss Lujor.”

  The rest of the class snickered as Quesys sunk low in her chair. She tugged at the collar of her blouse, loosening the knot in her black necktie. She glanced upward at the clock hanging on the wall in front of her. There were twenty-two minutes left of class and she was sure it would be the longest twenty-two minutes of her life.

  * * *

  Quesys was a short eighteen-year-old half-elf with a petite hourglass frame and a pink complexion. Her general appearance was much softer than most elves who tend to have sharper features. Her fiery red locks hung just past her shoulders and had natural strands of gold throughout. Her bright violet eyes were almond shaped and slanted slightly downward like a feline. Being caught between two worlds, the combination of her human and elven inherited looks made her face seem almost uncanny. She couldn’t help but stand out amongst the other tall, delicate and graceful elves around her. She often thought of herself as a bit of a lumbering meat sack in comparison.

  As the students poured from the classroom, Quesys sat still in her seat, moving only her eyes about the room. The stark white walls of the lecture room always bothered her with their absence of color and decor, never offering her a moment’s distraction from the tedium of Professor Lang’s teachings. There was even an absence of smell to the room. Unless cold was a smell. Cold and sterile like a time-worn medical house after it had been wiped clean.

  Now, more than ever, the white walls seemed barren with only a smudged blackboard and an angered professor to stand out in contrast.

  Quesys sat uncomfortably in her in her small wooden chair, anxiously rubbing her heel against her ankle as she watched the professor eye her from behind his wide oak desk.

  Professor Lang was a fair skinned elf with long strawberry blond hair and light grey eyes. He folded his slender arms over his chest. “Falling asleep in my class, again.” he said unmoving, “Do you mind giving me the reason for this selfish behavior?”r />
  Quesys sunk lower, hoping her desk would swallow her.

  “I’m sorry.” she said with a shrug. “I just don’t see the point in learning about magic. It’s just not for me so… so why do I have to be forced to learn about it?” Her fingers fumbled with the golden buttons that adorned her crimson-red vest.

  The teacher shook his head, “Miss Lujor, it’s almost unheard of for an elf—even a half-elf—to be unable to wield magic. The Echo is literally in and all around you to use and yet you refuse to even try.”

  Quesys leaned forward. She lifted herself from her seat, her fingers clenched the edges of her desktop, “I try!” She said with a raised tone, “I’ve tried really hard. Honest!” The professor raised an eyebrow at her. Catching her outburst, Quesys uncurled her fingers from the desk and slumped back into her chair, “I’m sorry.” she said adjusting her skirt. “I just don’t have the talent for it. Some people just don’t.”

  “Some humans or goblins maybe,” replied the professor, “but there’s no excuse for you. Quesys, I want you to succeed. Maybe your future career won’t focus on you using magic but you—oh for gods’ sake! Will you stop fussing with your clothes and sit still, girl!” The professor scrunched up his face as he massaged the bridge of his nose, “I wish you’d take your schooling seriously. You’re not even wearing the proper uniform.”

  Quesys looked down at her clothing, “Yes I am.”

  The professor clacked his tongue, “Miss Lujor, the uniform given to you by the academy included an ankle length skirt or a floor length jumper. Your skirt barely reaches mid-thigh. I have half a mind to report you to the dean.”

  “But I am wearing the proper skirt. It’s just shorter now. There’s nothing in the rules that say I couldn’t alter it. Maybe if I were allowed to wear pants…”

  Professor Lang narrowed his eyes on her, “Your passion for menswear is noted, Miss Lujor but no. For the hundredth time, you may not wear pants to my classroom. Save it for your sparing lessons.”

  Quesys huffed.

  “Now,” continued the professor, “as I was saying, maybe your future career won’t focus on you manipulating the Echo but you will be depending on it and those who use it. You will be encountering it on an everyday basis, just like you do now. For this reason, you must learn about it so you can respect it. The gods and the Echo itself deserve nothing less. The least you could do is keep your eyes open during school until you graduate. Is that such an extraordinary request?”

  Quesys shook her head, “No. I’m sorry Professor Lang. I’ll try harder.”

  Professor Lang stood from his desk. “Too right! I want a five-page report on why the Echo is so important to all creatures with a focus on how it affects even non-users. You’ll be giving an oral presentation on Monday, so I suggest you start right away.”

  Quesys’ mouth fell open, “No, no! Not an oral report! I’m terrible at those. Can’t I just hand you the paper and be done with it?”

  “I’m afraid not, Quesys.” said the professor, “Perhaps this will cause you to think twice before nodding off in my classroom again.”

  Quesys put out her hands pleadingly, “Well… can I at least have an extension? I’ve got riding and dance lessons this weekend and I was planning on fighting at Swizzlestix’s to make some extra money. I won’t have any time.”

  “You found time to nap during my class, so you should feel refreshed enough to stay up a bit later and finish this paper. And what’s a young lady like yourself doing fighting in dirty Copper District brawl pubs to begin with? No self-respecting elf should go there. It’s unrefined. I understand you may not be the wealthiest elven family in the Silver Sector, but I could only imagine what your dear mother thinks of her only daughter spending time in such places?”

  Quesys straightened her back, “My mother says a lady should be well rounded and I gotta pay for dance lessons somehow. Besides, she knows how important my independence is. She supports all my decisions, even if she doesn’t agree with them.”

  A smile crept across the lips of Professor Lang, “Hmm. Althea always did have a free spirit. I suppose stifling yours would go against her nature.” His eyes wandered upwards as if searching for an old memory.

  Quesys lifted her eyebrow at the professor.

  Professor Lang noticed her quizzically looking at him and immediately changed his expression. “Anyways,” he said clearing his throat, “don’t think of this as a punishment. Think of this as an opportunity. I want you to really dig deep here. Question why we need the Echo so much. Question why the past relied on it and why our future depends on it. You might surprise yourself and actually enjoy this assignment. And who knows, you may even end up with a new appreciation for magic in our world. Now go on before I alter my decision and give you detention as well.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  The half-elf huffed as she left the classroom, trying to mentally map out when she’d have the time to finish her report. The wide halls of the academy were just as plain and polished as the classrooms and if it weren’t for the bustling bodies walking to and fro they’d be just as dull.

  She irritably tugged at her skirt that was beginning to ride up. “Gah. Stupid uniform. Stupid skirt.” she grumbled to herself, “Why can’t you be pants?”

  “Quesys!” shouted a voice from behind her.

  Looking over her shoulder she saw a comely elf waving to her. He was wearing a long red jacket and black trousers almost identical to her uniform. She admired his more comfortable looking attire with envy and feigned a smile as he approached.

  The male elf, like most western elves, was long and lean. His hair was the color of rich mahogany with garnet red streaks throughout. It was tousled and messy but still very fashionable. The back of his hair was short while the front remained longer, fanning up and out. He had a small pointed nose and cheekbones to die for. His face was completely shaven except for a tiny pointed soul patch in the middle of his chin. Most girls seemed to like it. Quesys just thought it looked stupid.

  “Hello my pretty flower.” said the male elf. “Oh dear, what’s that face about?”

  Quesys sighed, “Hey, Darcassian.”

  The elf screwed up his lips, “Oh, now I know it’s bad. You only ever call me Darcassian when I’ve done something wrong.”

  Quesys shook her head, “Sorry Kazzy, it’s not you. I fell asleep in world history class and got chewed out for it.”

  Darcassian clacked his tongue, “Again? Tsk. It’s all that sleeping you do at night. Why don’t you just meditate instead? Seems rather strange to bother with sleep. It’s probably what’s messing you up.”

  “But I like sleep. I prefer it to meditation, actually. You should try it sometime.”

  Darcassian swatted at the air, “Oh come on. You know full well that elves can’t sleep. I mean, there have been a few reports of elves dreaming after falling unconscious, but that’s a rarity. Most of them claimed it felt unnatural.” he leaned in and whispered behind his hand, “Some even say dreams to be the work of devils.”

  Quesys let air putter through her lips, “Pfftt. There’s nothing wrong with dreams. I guess sometimes they can be a little scary, but some are fun too. I had a dream just last night that—well, it was enjoyable.”

  “Really?” Darcassian gave her a rakish smile. His green eyes flashed with curiosity, “Ever dream about me?”

  She smirked, “Yes.”

  Darcassian put his hand to his chest, “Oh my gods, really? What did you dream? I have to know. This is something I could write about one day.”

  “Nuh uh. There’s no way I’m sharing that with you. If you’re going to be a famous bard, you’ll have to get your inspiration elsewhere.”

  “Oh, please?” the elf pleaded, “What about my best friend privileges? Doesn’t that count for something?”

  Quesys paused for a moment, “Nope.”

  “Oh, come now,” he said with a pouted lip, “don’t be shy. So much of my work has already been inspired by you. Why, just yesterd
ay I wrote a sonnet about your little nose.” he said poking her on the tip of her nose, causing her to swat his hand away.

  “You liar.” she chuckled. “Say, if you’re feeling really inspired, maybe you could help me with my paper? I have so much to do already this weekend and I don’t think I’ll have time to finish it.”

  “I’m afraid not this time my dear,” replied Darcassian, “I have archery lessons after school. Which would be a lot more fun if someone hadn’t dropped out.”

  Quesys frowned, “I told you I couldn’t afford them anymore.”

  “And I told you I’d pay for them as a birthday gift.”

  Quesys put her hand on his arm, “Thank you Kazzy, but I can’t ask that of you. Besides, I have enough going on as it is.” She paused, “Are you free on Saturday?”

  “Sorry Flower, but I have a date on Saturday.”

  “Oh yeah? And who’s the love of your life this week?”

  “Omylia Parieth.” said Darcassian lifting his head proudly. “She’s stunning Quesys, really, but unfortunately, completely untouched. This weekend I plan to change that.” he said waggling his eyebrows.

  Quesys stuck out her tongue in disgust, “Mmmkay I really didn’t need to know that.”

  “Look who’s playing the part of the prude all of a sudden. Are we a tad jealous maybe?”

  “Jealous?” scoffed the half-elf. “Please. I have nothing to be jealous of.”

  Darcassian leaned over her, his thin, arrogant smile shiny with gloss, “Are you suuure? Perhaps you’re upset that I’m giving my attention to another?”

  “I am not!” she snapped. “And besides, even if I was, in two weeks she’ll do something unforgivable like belch or blow her nose and you’ll forget why you even liked her in the first place. I can belch and blow my nose in front of you all I want and I still can’t get rid of you.”