Necromancer’s Sorrow: (Series Finale)

by Pablo Andrés Wunderlich Padilla

  “Róganok. He was a monumental beast, elegant and powerful, and if I remember rightly, he liked to defend humans. Apparently, he had quite a lot of respect for them.”

  “Had?” Luchy repeated, looking worried.

  “Unfortunately, yes, had.” Karsa allowed some Sands to pass before she explained to Luchy about what had worried Manchego and his dragon, and how Róganok had defended humans when Lohrén had tried to insult them. Then she told her that Hiz the Spellcaster had seen in the magic orb that Róganok had been destroyed by Górgometh.

  “We’re sure Róganok is dead. But about Manchego—Alac—we know one thing.”

  Luciella waited impatiently for the answer.

  “We know he’s not dead.”

  The relief Luchy felt was enormous. It was as if someone had lifted ten thousand rocks off her chest. She clutched her ring, watching intently with new hopes.

  Karsa studied Luchy’s behavior and concluded that she was so much in love that it would be impossible for her to realize how much in love she was.

  “A ring? It’s beautiful,” she said.

  “It’s a jewel from Alac’s shield,” Luchy explained. She told her the story of how Manchego had given her the ring and what it was for. Karsa looked thoughtful.

  “You’ve known each other since childhood?” she asked. Luchy told her eagerly how they had known each other since they were little and that she had no memories in which Manchego was not present in one way or another. The story went deeper and she told as much of it as she could.

  “Congratulations on the engagement!” Karsa said. “You’re betrothed to the God of Light!”

  Luchy continued to tell her the story; they were chatting together like old friends.

  “We’re being summoned,” Karsa said. She turned toward the tower where Uyca must be. “We need to hurry. We’ve been enjoying ourselves telling stories, and we forgot that the Council of Elves is waiting. You’re going to take a bath now, then put these on.”

  Luchy accepted the garments. They were as soft as the most delicate silk.

  “This outfit was made on a shirt of elemín chainmail,” Karsa said. “It’s a type of defense that’ll protect you against the worst attacks and the worst climates. They say it can stop the fiercest weapons. Look, here’s a natural tub.”

  Luchy admired the clothes in her hands, trying to feel the chainmail within the fabric, but she could feel nothing but its softness. Karsa turned her back so that Luchy could have some privacy. The girl took off the wyvern clothes the Wild People had given her and folded them on a bench. It was delightful to be naked again, to be able to expose her breasts and buttocks to the fresh air. She felt shy, although nobody was watching her.

  She got into the tub, a depression in the wooden platform where many roots collected warm water in some way. She washed her body, face, armpits, and other parts, concentrating on eliminating the bad smells and grime she had accumulated over so many days of sweat and dirt combined. She still had dirt under her fingernails, but for the moment she had to restrain the desire to file them.

  She tried hard not to get her hair wet, since she had nothing to dry it with. She got out and dried herself with a couple of cloths. She put on the underwear she was offered, which was very different from the kind worn in the Meridian. This was made of a finer, more durable material. Then she put on the outfit Karsa handed her.

  The outfit was green, and it was not a dress but a bodysuit that was quite close-fitting. It covered her from her ankles to her wrists, up to her neck. She examined her figure, noticing that her buttocks and breasts stood out more than usual. Had her breasts grown?

  “And now this,” Karsa said, handing her a cloak. “It’s a foreigner’s cloak, made of an ultra-resistant material which can even defend you against spells and sharp swords. It will keep you warm against intense cold, and protect you from the worst heat.”

  Luchy donned the cloak and Karsa fastened it with a short chain that hooked at both ends in front of her throat. The hood hung down her back.

  “Now the shoes. They’re short boots made of the same material as the outfit you’re wearing. At first, they’ll feel soft, but I can assure you that the material’s unique and stands up to practically everything. Now you have whole-body armor without the weight of iron or steel. Isn’t it wonderful? Your head is the only unprotected part, but if you wear the hood you can cover that too.”

  Luchy tried walking in the boots. She felt as if she were wearing nothing more than socks and she noticed that her footsteps barely made any noise.

  “I’m ready,” she said.

  ***

  Luchy was trembling. The gigantic trees intimidated her and still worse were the inquisitive looks of the elves who were staring hard at her as if she were a strange animal. The elves were attractive and it was hard to distinguish their sex. Men, women, boys, girls, and elders all wore their hair long and so straight that it fell like a waterfall. Were they born with long hair? Their eyes were very deep, ranging from light blue to turquoise, and they wore two-piece tunics, one over the torso and the other covering the legs. Most of them wore light boots while others wore higher ones that reached their knees. The girl noticed that none of them were armed.

  “This way,” said Karsa.

  Luchy began to climb a flight of spiral stairs toward the structure called Uyca. The steps were both simple and impressive, consistent with the elven culture, in which everything seemed to have that simplicity without showiness.

  Her gaze turned toward the moorland. She had not yet grown used to seeing the stars in front of her nose.

  She found herself inside Uyca after climbing the stairs. The place was recognizable by the enormous columns that supported a gigantic dome. It was enclosed and in the dome were two entrances and two exits. At the top of the dome was a hole that allowed the light of the sun to come through and from it, a sunbeam penetrated and shone on the center.

  Luchy had never imagined that sunlight could shine in purple, violet, or even turquoise. But more impressive than this glimpse of colored sunlight was the Council of Elves, who were seated on the floor in a semicircle. There were no tables or seats and she knew that this delicate race did not need them. Inside, Uyca had no decoration beyond the pale blue of the walls and floor.

  A figure was standing in the center of the semicircle of elves. He wore a thick red and purple cloak and his hair was braided. On his head was a hat like a bird’s beak. One of the elves of the Council, she saw, was a massive man, the biggest she had ever seen, and his clothes showed him to be a soldier. His hair was tied up in a bun on the top of his head.

  Next to this central figure, who seemed to be their religious leader, was another older elf whose jet-black hair set him apart from the others. He was holding an orb that he was stroking delicately between his knees.

  The elves began to talk and, as expected, Luciella understood not a word. In a few moments, a seraph appeared and came to float beside her.

  Greetings, Luchy. I am Alaris, the same Naevas Aedán who helped you to communicate with Flóregund when you first met him. I have been asked to help you again by translating the words of the Council of Elves.

  Luchy nodded. She was so nervous she was finding it hard to keep her poise. She was standing alone before the Council as if they were about to pass judgment on her.

  A female voice said, “Welcome, Luciella Buvarzo-Portacasa, to the Council of Elves. Alaris, I am grateful for your assistance to Luciella during this brief but very important meeting. The representatives of the following houses are here: Vái of the House of Cíuyu, Hari of the House of Gaya, Xatl of the House of Selda, Koldi of the House of Song, and Uín of the House of Nina the Princess of Yonder.”

  Each elf stood up when he was named.

  “Of the hundred houses that existed in Érvein,” the voice continued, “may those five that survived the Times of Chaos flourish in Allündel. Let the meeting begin.”

  There were a hundred houses, Luchy thought. And now t
here are only five. This made her see how much the elves had suffered during the Times of Chaos.

  “Luchy, you are the first human to have set foot on our sacred land and I think you will be the only one with that privilege for a long time. You might argue that Manchego and Balthazar are humans too, but they possess unique qualities which differentiate them from a normal human.

  “It is not that we do not appreciate your company,” the voice added. “Or that we despise normal humans. It is just that the elves have isolated themselves from the universe after the Times of Chaos and thus, our location will remain until the end of time. My name is Azuri.” Luchy liked the fact that a woman was the leader.

  “Has someone cut out your tongue, Lohrén?” said someone from the Council.

  Luchy turned to see who the question was aimed at. It was the big elf. She saw the muscular man blush.

  The other elves thought it was strange that the soldier should say nothing. Luchy shrugged and went on listening.

  “The moment is ripe and we must hurry,” Azuri said. “It has been a hundred Sands since Alac Arc Ángelo was here with his request. The Summoning, as we all know, was a failure because of the treachery of the God of Fire ArD’Buror and the Goddess of Water Mythlium.”

  Luchy was stunned. She knew that Manchego was the God of Light and, although it was not the first time she had heard the idea of uniting the forces of good to destroy evil, she had never imagined it would involve dragons and the other Gods.

  “With the defeat of the five essences,” Azuri said, “the God of Chaos has increased his power dramatically. With it, he has begun to gather together his army that covers more than a hundred thousand worlds and a hundred thousand different species. The Times of Chaos have begun anew.”

  “But that hasn’t happened yet,” objected the big elf called Lohrén. The soldier could not take his eyes off Luchy.

  “It has begun, Lohrén,” Azuri said. “Mórgomiel is resurrecting his demons and summoning his legions all over the universe. He is ready for the conquest and soon he will begin exterminating worlds with his renewed powers. We must make haste. Luciella Buvarzo-Portacasa, the elves of Allündel come to you for help. We are desperate and we have no better weapon than you. Hiz, go on with your detailed explanation, please.”

  “Me?” Luchy asked in surprise. The best weapon? She barely knew how to use a table knife. There was no way she could be the best weapon for anything.

  “Princess of the Holy Comment,” Hiz began. This was the elf who was sitting with an orb between his knees. “The Orb of Galium has shown us what your heart has always told you. We know that Alac Arc Ángelo, alias Manchego, has not died. The problem is that we do not know where he is.”

  “And what makes you think I do?” Luchy demanded, her assertive personality coming to the surface. Her firm voice made an impression on the Council of Elves.

  “Neither you nor I, my dear, know where he is,” Hiz stated. “But there is a being who might help you find him. His name is Teitú, a Naevas Aedán who, for many long years, was Alac’s ally. We know it was thanks to Teitú that Alac managed to flourish.”

  “Is Teitú lost?” Luchy asked.

  “During his precarious journey to the Old World,” Hiz explained. “Alac told us Teitú glimpsed his destroyed land, Tutonticám and decided to leave Manchego to devote his life to the fallen. The Naevas Aedán are seraphs with an enormous capacity for feeling. Teitú saw the souls of those who had fallen during the War of One Lament and decided to remain with the fallen. If anybody can rescue Teitú, it is you. The Naevas Aedán would respond to someone he knows. That is why it is so important that you should go to him and save him from his sorrow.”

  Luchy felt so many emotions that she felt she would rather not analyze any of them. She noticed that someone was making signs to her. Turning, she saw Karsa trying to attract her attention. When their eyes met, the elf pointed at her ring finger. Luchy looked down at her ring to confirm that it was still winking steadily.

  She looked up from her engagement ring. “I have this,” she said. It had been a long while since she had felt at ease looking at the jewel, but now she felt pride. She smiled as she had not smiled in weeks and her heart lifted.

  It was Hiz who stood up with a start, leaving the orb on a small sky-blue cushion.

  “Princess, let me see that.”

  He took Luchy’s hand with extreme delicacy. At this distance, she was able to study his features carefully, admiring his simple but unmistakable beauty. His eyes, although they were not looking at her, gave an impression of profound depth. It was an impressive sight.

  “This jewel, it’s wonderful. Who gave it to you?”

  “It’s my engagement ring. Alac gave it to me before he set off on his mission. I remember he told me the jewel was part of his armor. To be exact, part of his shield. He assured me that the closer I was to him, the brighter it would shine.”

  “Azuri, Uín, Lohrén, and the other elves of this prestigious Council, Luciella holds a magic artifact that Alac himself gave her before he left: an engagement ring! The God of Light chose a wife! Is this possible? For a god to marry a mortal? Although Alac is a demigod. I suppose it is possible.” Hiz was thoughtful, his fingers on his chin. “Whatever the case, this is a sign that the God of Light is wise, but also that he trusted that his beloved could save him if the worst came to the worst. The time for finding him has come. With the jewel and Teitú, I am sure that Luchy will find her love without any trouble. There is still hope in the universe.”

  “Praised be Luciella the Princess of the Holy Comment!” shouted Lohrén. Some of the elves were surprised at the soldier’s behavior when he had always been loud-mouthed and disrespectful toward humans.

  “Let Limleiyón the Swordsmith proceed with his offering,” Azuri said with a smile. “The time has come.”

  Through one of the entrances to Uyca came a sweating elf wearing only a simple grey tunic. He was dirty with soot and on his arms were many scars. The elf was carrying something in his arms, holding it so delicately that it looked as if it would break if he were to let it drop. His hair was platinum blond, worn loose so that it fell down his back. His eyes were moss-green, eyelashes and brows the same color as his hair, and his skin as pale as that of the other elves. He was attractive and although it was impossible to guess his age he emanated wisdom, just as Hiz did.

  The elf bowed to Luchy, offering her a small sword as he did so.

  “My name is Limleiyón the Swordsmith of the house of Selda. I have been the smith of Allündel for many, many Sands and I trust for many more. This weapon is cast from elemín. It is a magic sword, Luciella, that will grant you the support you may need during the journey you must make to save the God of Light. May Sorideth, Lumibel, Arcalam, and Alambam bless this sword, today and forever, and grant Luciella the power she needs to win.”

  Limleiyón raised the sword to the sky, perhaps invoking the power of the ancient gods.

  “Luciella Buvarzo-Portacasa, Princess of the Holy Comment, do you accept this sword which from today forward will define you as a warrior of Light?”

  Luchy looked from side to side, noticing that all the elves were looking at her with hope in their eyes. Karsa more than anybody else was hopeful, with crystal tears in her eyes.

  “I accept,” Luchy said. The swordsmith knelt before her and offered her the weapon.

  Karsa went to Luchy’s side and fastened a belt to her waist. On its left-hand side was the scabbard.

  “For you to keep the sword when you are not using it,” she said with a smile. Then she withdrew back to her position a few steps behind Luchy.

  The girl reached for the sword and grasped the pommel, noticing how light it was. She brandished it in the air, impressed by how it shone as it reflected the light of Oris.

  “Luciella, you are the hope of the universe. You, and nobody else, are the one who will bring us the light of salvation.”

  The elves cheered enthusiastically.

 
“Let the leiwas come in,” Azuri said.

  The leiwas? Luchy thought in surprise. She had never heard the name before.

  In a few moments, the whole Council was whispering, excited by the introduction of this new personage they had never heard of before either. A few moments later, the noblest person Luchy had ever seen entered Uyca. It was Mojak. But why had they called him leiwas? Was it one of his names that she did not know? She knew Balthazar had at least three names. Maybe leiwas was Mojak’s elven name or maybe it was something completely different. She remained expectant, noticing that all the elves stood when Mojak came into Uyca and stopped beside Luchy.

  What was this? Even Azuri was paying homage to the Wild Man’s presence.

  “Mojak, leiwas of the Sacred Lands of Devnóngaron, where Ÿ has consecrated the Great Mesh to you, where the lands of El Malush lie, bordered by the impressive Devonic Range of Simrar, precious lands violated by Mórgomiel when he conquered the world and created Kanumorsus under its geographic faults. You honor us with your presence in this Council.”

  Mojak said nothing, but his eyes moved from side to side and he bowed his head very slightly.

  Luchy found it strange that the elves considered her the first human and had said nothing about Mojak being the second one there. Did they not consider him human?

  “Leiwas, you have suffered like none other. You were tortured in the wells of Árath for centuries, and your soul was twisted into so many knots that I fear there is no way of healing them. Even so, my dear leiwas, here you are, alive and taking part in the last hope of overcoming Mórgomiel.

  “Luchy,” Azuri said to her. “You truly are fortunate. Thanks to Balthazar, Mojak was rescued from the pits of Árath, and thanks to his advancement as a vassal of Ÿ, he gave Mojak powers in the tattoo he has in his left arm which is now permanent. Mojak is mute because his tongue was cut by the demons of your land, but even without words, he can communicate with you through a seraph. Brave leiwas, please accept this offer before your departure back to the Meridian.”

  Limleiyón had withdrawn and now came back with something in his hands that looked heavier than the sword Luchy had been given. The swordsmith went up to Mojak and presented him with a war mace. It was the one he had brought with him. But the mace, which before had been wooden, was now decorated with a leafy stem of elemín that went from the handle to the tip. Luchy noticed that Mojak was no longer wearing the wyvern skins that had covered him until then. He now wore strange armor which was made of the same soft material as her own.