Untitled (for now)
an excerpt

The birds chirped happily at the elf as he passed by, just like every other morning. He had the same happy smile plastered on his face and in his hands were several books that he had just acquired from some oddly dressed travellers yesterday. Their behaviour was odd but that is somewhat expected if they hailed from the south. But it was kind of them to come all the way up here to hand in those books to him when they heard of his growing library.

“Deryk!!!!” A chorus of high-pitched voices called which made the happy elf turn to look at the source of the voices. Ah, it’s those curious kids again…

The elf – Deryk – smiled warmly at them as they tried to catch up with him. “Really, you kids seem to be getting here earlier each day,” he chuckled as he balanced the books in one hand and tried to unlock the library door; his second home.

“We couldn’t help it. Yesterday you promised to tell us the history of this land…” A boy trailed off as he looked around nervously. “In your friends’ point of view,” he concluded once he confirmed that the coast was clear.

The other kids chorused their agreements after him, making Deryk chuckle again as he opened the door and entered, the kids trailing behind him. They began to make themselves cosy at one corner of the library where the pillows were. Each of them watched impatiently as the light pink-haired elf began his daily routines of preparing the library before he sat on a chair near them, a huge tome in his hands.

“This,” he patted the leather bounded tome proudly before he opened it. “Is our history… witnessed and written by my friends and I during our journey. Or rather, it’s a compilation of all of our journals.”

The kids went closer to him, trying their best to catch a glimpse of the writings in it. Sure, they couldn’t read on their own yet but one day – with the help of Deryk – they can.

“Now… Listen. Years ago before there were peace amongst the humans and non-human community under the guide of a single king. He was worshipped by the humans and respected by the non-humans. Even elves and drows – the proudest race at that time – respected the king. However, the king died quite early because of an unknown disease. His death was mourned throughout the whole land by everyone… except one. His eldest son, Prince Xehathorn. Always hungry for power and thinks that his father was an idiot for not ‘purifying’ the land-“

A raised hand interrupted Deryk when a little girl looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Purifying?” She squeaked out, unsure whether she would like the answer when she saw the grim expression that the warm librarian wore.

“Yes, purifying. In his mind, the humans are the purest creature of them all and we non-humans are not. To him, we carry dirty blood within us and he does not wish for us to sully the humans’ pure blood by isolating us, banning marriage amongst humans and non-humans and even going to the extent of killing us-“
He was yet again interrupted by a series of gasps which only made him chuckle. He patted the head of the kids closest to him, reassuring them that everything was indeed fine.

“You don’t have to worry about anything. I’m here and you see other non-humans roaming around, right? That means his evil plans failed. His younger brother – Prince Wexnell – disagrees with him and they had a little war for the throne. But Prince Xehathorn won the war, sparing his brother’s life as an act of ‘mercy’. Also because Prince Wexnell knows well of the legend of the ten relics,” Deryk paused to take a breath as he eyed each children. They seem to be engrossed in the story already.

“I’m sure by now you've known the legend of the ten relics,” he paused to see them nodding enthusiastically before he looked down at the tome. “Then, there is no need for me to explain that part to you. As I was saying, he knew of the ten relics that were crucial to either open or seal the Diamond Gates at the end of the world. Prince – no, King Xehathorn wishes to obtain these relics and open the Diamond Gates. He wanted the power that lies beyond the gates; to his brother’s disapproval. And that is when our journey begins…”