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Izzy and Adika headed immediately back down to the Visitors Hall where Adromeda was waiting to send them off. The Statem's had left already to see Trent cared for properly, as well as having a city to command in Charlotte's mysterious absence. Heading through the portal was second-nature for Isabelle now, although just before coming out the otherside she felt a strange feeling overwhelm her body. It was like a warm shiver up her body just before her foot touched the ground. Light dispersed and she noticed she was standing on stone, then she looked up to see Aurumvallis for the first time in her life. She gawked, her lips parted as she took in a breath of fresh, fragrant, summer air. She stood in a great valley, a vast expanse between small mountain ranges. It was unlike her expectations, normally elves live in densely populated forests, but Aurumvallis was nothing more than a valley and woods. The trees here were silver barked and very, very took, but they were spaced apart and to make up for the gap between their trunks they had a great canopy that kept half of the kingdom in shade. As for the rest, great summery beams of light struck down on the gardens and meadows, lighting it all up. The leavers of the trees were golden, leaves of sprouting plants near the trees were orange, and there were flowers with great lily-like blooms of a glorious golden-yellow. She and Adika stood on a large circular platform beneath the shade of one of those great trees, it was intricately patterned and seemed to be vacant of any decoration. But she saw polished stone paths leading from it, leading to a few other paths that lead to circular buildings with domes roofs, but going diagonally along this great valley was a wide path decorated with tall lamps, benches and shrubbery. When she looked right, she saw a gigantic gate that lead out of the kingdom, build onto it were tall buildings of cream stone with long tapestries dangled out of the windows and carpets leading out of the doors and almost onto the courtyard where a fountain in the centre could be seen. To the far, far left she saw a different entrance to the kingdom, one that seemed to be cloaked by more trees than this side, but the buildings there looked worse off than the ones here. Older perhaps, she could see walls covered in more vines and more golden leaves, but there were less people. Now she had taken in the awes of the architecture she noticed the elves themselves. There were many more here than in Calen, but of coarse this was a Kingdom, not just a refuge. She remembered reading that the Elven Kingdoms sometimes looked more like stretched out cities, because it was never too dense but spanned a large area. The only Kingdom she did remember once reading about being so dense was the Forgotten Kingdom of Axis Mundi. The Elves here were robes or armour that always had colours of cream, golden, or bright green or red, even sometimes blue.

"Wow" Izzy let out, then looking over her shoulder to see Adika and the portal close behind them. She hadn't the time to speak more when a voice came from behind her, in Adika's view. "Valiant li Nathlam hí Maloseden'santalath" the voice was soft and feminine, but at the same time it had a body that gave it structure and a bit of an oomph. Isabelle turned to find a tall lady with long, wavy golden hair. Her skin was far and her eyes were green, greener than any plant or grass here. She wore a dress that hugged her chest and waist made of blue velvet with golden thread. From her shoulders hung more fabric that cascaded down her arms and joined her dress past her waist. Of all her body, it was her neck, shoulders and back that were revealed. Over her head was a circlet of gold with green gems that matched her eyes, it also had fine chains of silver than hung delicately with her cheeks or hair. Behind her were a couple of male elves, one with brown hair and the other with blond. They wore metal chest pieces, shoulders and bracers over robes of purple and blue. Isabelle gathered they were guards imediately, and this beautiful woman had to be someone of importance. The woman stepped before them, her hands clasped at her abdomen and her eyes ever curious. Her face had sharp features, but they did not sway her beauty. "Forgive my tongue" she said almost more slowly than normal, "welcome to Aurumvallis, Valiant. It troubles me so that you have come here without warning" she stared between Adika and Izzy before going on to say "I am Lady Emildrial, Queen of this Kingdom. For what is your urgency?" Isabelle bowed her head before then looking to Adi out of the corner of her eye, waiting for the message to be handed to the Queen for her to read.

Upon revealing the parchment Emildrial's eyes followed it until it were in her soft hands, she carefully took it from Adi and opened it to set her eyes upon the script inside. She found the message in elvish and quickly recognised who it was from. Izzy barely heard it, but Emildrial certainly muttered "Faelthonor". She then mysteriously curled the paper in one hand as she looked up to gaze upon the girls again, her lips slightly apart before she spoke. "You wish to go to the Fray?" Emildrial asked, "I trust Faelthonor completely, and I can indeed offer you what you require. But news that a cult is once again in the home of all darkness... it unsettles me." She spoke half to herself and half to them, "How am I supposed to trust that you will come to do what you are tasked with and not do more? Your kind will not fit well in the Fray, your attack-first judge-later mentality may well put you in danger. Why does Faelthonor put more trust in you than his love for the Highgarden's?" her eyes shifted and emerald irises set upon Adika, obviously Faelthonor's message must have mentioned Adika, a reason to make her stand out beside Izzy. "Your wings give me reason to be careful, as do your bracelets" she then nodded to Izzy. Izzy scowled, it was like this woman could sense everything, and the way she spoke put Izzy on edge, she wasn't used to such a well-spoken lady, let alone an elf that was so cautious of them.

But getting through this small hurdle she hoped wouldn't be too difficult. She already knew that the Elves did not interfere with troubles that do not directly involve them, but she had a feeling that Emildrial was beginning to think their involvement might upset whatever balance they have going on here. Izzy could no longer tell if Emildrial was humble or cold.

Emildrial's lips parted, as if she were silently gasping, when Adika stated she was not like the Valiant. At first it was Lady Emildrial's assumption that she was a Valiant, going by appearance alone that would appear to be the case. But Isabelle saw it now, Emildrial's change of perspective, as if she peered through them layer by layer. It made her uncomfortable and she began to wonder what on earth Lady Emildrial could be capable of. She did not know much of the elves of Non-magic Earth. But she kept reminding herself that they are of the oldest race known to the world, even before humans that cultivated the lands. She reminded herself that unlike any race or magic born from Magic Earth, the magic of elves was much more subtle. Isabelle put her hands behind her back, as if that might sway the Queen from staring at her demonic bracelets. But Emildrial's stare was always on Adika now, emerald eyes waiting patiently as the gypsy explained what they intended. Emildrial took in a breath and closed her lips, as if she was relieved to hear what Adika had to say. Emildrial seemingly looked away with her eyes, her chin tilting delicately as she did so and her hair cascding further over one shoulder when she said "you are very correct..." she said, then returning her gaze as Adika finished. "Black water" Lady Emildrial repeated, confirming her knowledge of the awful substance. Isabelle felt a bout of hope rise up within her as she saw the elf Queen's eyes glisten. "Then you know all too well the dangers surrounding that place." the Queen said, looking over her shoulder slowly and softly speaking elvish to one of her guards. Faelthonor's name was mentioned, but that was all Isabelle could understand. Emildrial then turned to Izzy and Adika, returning them a soft smile as the guard turned and began heading immediately towards the buildings towards the far right. "In all my years" she began, "I did not expect the courage of Magic Earth mortals to pierce the darkness of the Fray. Come with me."

Lady Emildrial lead them down the long path of cream stone, they passed floating pots of tall green shrubs and benches with the odd elf or two reading books and enjoying the sunshine. Guards like the one still accompanying the Queen passed sometimes, sticking to the paths and patrolling, it was almost as if they were still on guard, always watchingful, always keeping an eye on the northern entrance behind there - where the ruins of old still stand. Emildrial's voice began to seep into Adika's mind as they watched the southern corner of Aurumvallis grow closer. "You bear a darkness within you, and yet, the light still shines over the horizon of your gloomiest mountains. It came from somewhere similar to the Fray..." she turned not her head to see Adika, she peered directly ahead with a small smile on her lips and her hands clasped together at her waist. Isabelle, unaware of this conversation between their minds, strode just behind the guard before her, taking in the valley. "You embrace it - almost." Emildrial's small smile became more of a grin at the corner of her lips just then, "and yet the fear my predecessors once had for such a darkness does not possess me. I will help you, Gypsy of Occulas. And do not worry, your enchanted jewellery works quite well. My eyes see more than the vision of others."

Lady Emil'drial stepped onto the courtyard, where the gigantic archway of cream stone, gold trimmings and blue decoration and tapestries could be seen. It was the southern gates of Aurumvalis,through it the forests of golden and green could be seen, more dense than the trees within the kingdom. The buildings here were tall and majestic, but they did not take away from the vast openness of the coutyard which overlooked the valley, the spaced out circular buildings beyond and even further than that, what would have once been a beautiful view of Eden, now ruined in the far distance. Emildrial stopped by the large fountain in the centre, it's water came from three statues that surrounded three of four corners of the large circle pond. The place from which a fourth would fit was flat and empty. The statues where of elves, one female and two male. Each had an orb of water in their singular stone hands which were stretched above the centre of the fountain, the water trickled some down their arms, but the rest fell rom the orbs and on the top tier of stone, from where it cascaded down a stone formation of twirling and layering roots, mimicking the serpentine roots of an old tree woven into the ground. A pool, calm and surprisingly still sat at the bottom. Izzy took in the size of the fountain, it was as wide as several carriages and as tall as half an old tree. Emildrial's hand extended upwards, much like the stone elves did in the fountain, and Izzy's eyes followed upwards. Far above the fountain, in the air where the sun shined down there was a glisten. Light began to reflect, and a shimmer of gold came with it as shards of crystal began to come into view. These shards descending, revealing themselves to be more like polished crystals, some narrow, some round, all pristine and almost see-through if not for their morning gold glow. It was like a chandelier of gems, floating in a hive. They stopped just above the fountain, all but one however. "My gift to you" Emildrial said to both of them as the crystal came down to meet with her palm, which it fit into nicely. "One of many children, a single light of the zenith from Shangri-La that saved my Kingdom ages ago, Terra-Áre. This is one of the Áre'anna." Emildrial slowly turned to face them, extending her arm to Adika with the gift. It was warm to the touch and it's sharp edges were surprisingly soft and pristine. Peering through it was as if looking through honey. "This power resonates in Aurumvallis, it's light forces out the darkness of the Underworld and all it's dark servants. Hold it to Black Water and watch it flee from the infected, it will not betray you."

((Hey that's no problem! I hope everything starts to chill out for you soon though, D: ))

With their private discussions to an end, Emildrial was happy to part this gift with Rur'adika. "Stop whatever it is that is taking place in that cursed place" Emildrial said, cupping her hand over Adika's with the Are'anna in her palm. It was warm to the touch, but not so much to make you sweat. "That will be enough thanks." Emildrial took her hand away and with a calm smile, one that was equal parts hope and seriousness. Only Emildrial could pull off such a beautifully inviting yet intimidating look. Isabelle wasn't sure whether to smile back as she watched the two... or two immediately press on. She went with a mixture of both. But first she had another question. "Forgive me for more questions, my Lady. But Fael'thonor also said you would have weapons - of the more dangerous type."
"You are quite right, young Valiant."

Within minutes Emildrial had guards coming out of one of the buildings behind her with a few gleaming weapons in their hands. Isabelle had turned town the larger blade, perhaps too heavy for to handle, with the words "oh, no. Stealth mission." To which Emildrial gladly gestured towards two small knives, like those in Fael'thonor's realm. Isabelle ran her finger along one of the blades edges. Emildrial said they had been stored with some of the Are'anna, absorbing it's radiance and in turn becoming charged with it's light. Isabelle relished at the power they would have against the Grey Witches. Isabelle then mentioned as she looked to Adi, saying that these kinds of weapons would be perfect in the Occult. But Emildrial said nothing in return, almost as if the thought was taboo. Isabelle also took a bow and a quiver, the tips of the arrows had a slight glow, as did all of the metal, enchanted by the radiance of the Are'anna. The guards then turned to Adika, in case there were any weapons laid across their arms that she might desire. "Thank you, again" Isabelle said, just as Adi had done before. "Good luck to the both of you, us elves have pressing matters to address now. Follow my guards north, they will show you the way out of my Kingdom."

And with that they were on their way. Emildrial seemed to raise her hand to them from afar as she almost smiled. Her beautiful blue and blonde grace becoming smaller and smaller as they followed a couple of blue leather and golden-clad guards along the long cream stone path that lead through the city. They passed where they had emerged, Isabelle noting it for the second time, then taking in the landscape once more. Even for the second time she was still mesmerised, long, far grasslands beneath the wide and high golden canopies of the creamy birch trees. She noticed how the blue-roofed rotundas were lined with blue and gold-trimmed carpets inside, with the cats loved. Now that she had seen the many shared of Terra'are, she was noticing their slight glimmer in other locations too. Like in the tall archways of the greatest circular buildings with the most elaborate glass domes. They hovered in the air, only visible when the light passed through then at an odd angle, when their edges did not align with the sun's rays and refracted. And then everything began to get cooler. As if they were leaving the grace of Emildrial's Elven Kingdom of Aurumvallis. But Izzy looked around, they were not out of the outer walls, but they were heading into the ruins of Eden. Everything here was far more condensed, tall towers of cream stone, long walkways through more tall buildings, intertwined with what must have once been great parks of greenery, now dusted over with rubble and wreckage. There were some unkempt grass, darker than the bright green grass of the rest of the kingdom. The pathway they took seemed to be a long, wide road that led straight to what could almost been seen as a great archway. But after the minutes went by and Isabelle noticed more of the destruction this city had seen millennia ago, she noticed how the archway had once been a great pair of gates. "Tall enough for gods to walk through..." Izzy murmured without much thought. One of the guards turned his head then, continuing to walk, and said "They were for our most beloved Mother, Lady Earth. Eden was... and always will be the crown of the forgotten Elven Kingdoms.

After some more time the sun indicated to Izzy that it was some time past midday in Europe, and now they were at the gates. To walk from side to side, she bet it would be almost a minute. The debris of the once magnificent doors of stone lay around them, a small path made between them for travelling elves to get through if they so wished to burden themselves with the burden of their once beautiful and extraordinary home. The guard that spoke before points over a large stone bridge that covered a dip in the ground. "Continue north, Magic Children. Use the trees in this map to cut the distance."
"Thank you"
"May the light bring you back, always." The Elf gave a short bow and then the two of them began marching back towards their valley, not giving the remnants of Eden a second thought or even a moment to etch memories into their minds. Isabelle let out a sigh and looked over the map, it was hand-drawn with ink, most probably a quill. "It's the same as the tree network in North America, we should be there in no time" Izzy said to Adika, nodding and marching forwards across the bridge.

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And in no time they were.

(((Moving to The Fray thread)))