The Elf Guardian and Covenant

Almost three weeks have passed and the Estrella Pollux is starting to glow its brightest. The golden radiance of the single estrella dominates the midnight sky as the Estrella Castro plummets on earth to hunt. While Pollux overwhelms the sky, Castro exudes a bright white light that attracts his prey.

The descent of Estrella Castro is an event for the entire Irca where soldiers are out hunting monsters on land and in waters. The denizens believed that they are blessed with full protection and guidance as one of the gods' sons has arrived to join them. No denizen has been recorded harmed while fighting with powerful monsters, even those who are not mages need not worry. It is quite an event everyone is waiting for after Bakunawa's feast.

The Elf Guardian chose this time to meet with the Most Highs as spirits are also in their most powerful state during the descent. She wanted to rule the covenant hearing as well as show them how powerful she can be and that they should not fear trusting the covenant to be laid by her.

The Elf Guardian is the protector of the region of now Boho in the new Sibu—Irca. The Most High Kataw might not be getting an equal advantage on the covenant but he still thinks of the Elf Guardian as superior to anyone on earth. She is their protector as well and he is elated by how she mediates during this moment in their lives. She isn't someone who shows herself to everyone, even the other Most Highs haven't seen her. Even though the Kataw believed to meet her one day because he is in her territory, it is presumptuous of his.

The Most High Denizen exudes pride and authority but he is not to control where the water should go this time. He's in the presence of the Highest Spirit on earth and he knows the faults of his kinds. It is his shortcoming that his kinds have been devoured by greed and do nefarious acts.

The elves created a phantasmagoria of a vast, green, and breezy meadow. It looks so majestic and serene.

"I can sense that both of the Most Highs have come here with clear minds and undisturbed hearts."

The elf bowed politely and remarkably gracefully while her hands are outstretched to her sides to gesture her acceptance of them. The two Most Highs bent their right knees and bowed until they are permitted to stand back.

"Rise."

"We are humbled to receive the invitation of the Highest Spirit, the Elf Guardian."

The two bowed once again after getting back onto their feet.

"I understand that the Most High Denizen has nothing to do with the kidnapping and enslaving the Kataws. However, I need not understand how you became lenient with the plight that has continued for 2 years. Should it happen that the elves aren't spirits, I am afraid to look into the possibility that we will be in the same state like the Kataws."

"I have no excuses. I am ashamed of my incompetency."

"Most High Kataw."

The Kataw flinched but quickly returned to his composed self and bowed quickly.

"Yes, Elf Guardian."

"I must not overlook the incident that happened long before, the reason why your kinds have been found out. You were commanded by the gods to stay in the deepest water and entrusted of the seas. Your kind, as well, has let himself devoured by darkness which led to your sudden discovery. You were cherished by the gods and were protected by us until something happened we couldn't put our hands into."

Silence wrapped the vast meadow, even the breeze started to faint. The elf continued as events of the past and present continued to be projected, surrounding them. Everything felt so real that the Most High Kataw fell onto his knees.

"Enslaving is no different from killing innocents. The hearts and minds of the denizens and kataws may be different, same as ours, elves and dwarves, even monsters… but denizens, lawful creatures, spirits, believe in the balance of nature. If denizens will enslave and kill the Kataws, the seas will protest, loathe, and forget them. If kataws will just wait for their liberation or fight back to regain everything that was lost, everything will just be a cycle."

The projection of images of the future continued to play. No more peaceful meadow. They could all hear the piercing cries and raucous collisions of swords; exchanges of profanities and downplaying.

"High Spirit, if you may allow for me to speak."

The Most High Kataw's sonorous voice babbled in the rowdy fighting scenes in the background.

"You may."

"Our minds are not strong like the denizens. We may be the most powerful creatures of the waters but the wills of the denizens are incomparable to ours. We value life, we value peace and harmony. More so, we respect the gods who keep us alive. We honor their decisions and so we lived for long."

His voice was pragmatic and seething at the same time.

The denizen felt terrible, feeling the blame falls on their race. They are superior to any other creatures, they have their wills and principles. They have the superior concept of right and wrong—and they opt to choose erroneous things.

The elf felt the kataw wanted to blame the denizens in some way but she shouldn't betray her words.

"There is no time to blame who's in the wrong. I am not siding anyone, even myself. You should know that you have put a great scale of horror upon me. I am the highest spirit and your protector as well."

Suddenly, the meadow returned to its picturesque view. The cool breeze caresses them and the soft scent of the grasses kiss their noses once again. An arcane warm light shone behind the elf and the sound of rustling leaves was heard. There stood a monumental, verdant, cedar tree. From its bulky trunk, the arcane light prominently shone and burst.

"Healing is the first step we need to take so we can create a new beginning. Let your race believe once again."

The elf handed the two Most Highs the seeds from the cedar tree. The arcane light sparked from within of each seed.

"Once the seed felt the changes, they will sprout to new cedar trees, symbolizing the continues healing process within your races. You have the responsibility of growing the trees. It doesn't matter if it will take decades or centuries; what matters is that the trees are growing, not wilting, not dying. Do you understand what I am implying here?"

The elf wanted them to realize their wrongdoings on their own, without blaming each other and themselves. It isn't easy to impose change on a nation. They have to delve into the context to maintain the balance of the changes. It will be painful, frustrating, and tormenting, even so in the end, it will be rewarding and consoling.

Another burst of light came out from the tree. A wood tablet where the covenant was written was in the hands of the elf.

–You will be the start of the new races. From this day onwards, denizens and kataws are to protect each other from common enemies and will not fight each other. Should a thing be inevitable, the fight must be within the protected area of the spirits and should be blessed by the spirits;

–Denizens won't inflict any harm or danger towards Kataws. They are to respect them equally as other denizens;

–Kataws will stay in the deepest part of the seas and will continuously live in peace. They are to protect the waters of Irca and the denizens from any dangers it would encounter;

–There are no reasons that are judicious and irrational should the covenant be broken;

–Severe and unprecedented punishment shall be bestowed upon those who will break the covenant;

–The covenant shall live forever and pass down.

The conferment of the covenant to the two Most Highs of denizen race and kataw race was concluded with a blessing ceremony.

A few months after, captive kataws have been salvaged and treated before sending them back to their home. A classified operation was planned in cooperation with some high-rank kataws to identify their kinds. Magic can be superior and helpful but having kataws acting with the denizens is safer and faster.

After almost two years of fighting the crime concerning kataws, they finally completed the mission and all the involved inhabitants all over Irca were punished: the positions of high-ranking officials were revoked and they were demoted to the lowest status of the working class.