The egg and stone

Chapter 2 - The Egg and Stone

I'm wandering along through these seemingly endless woods with nothing but some berries I decided to pick along the way. The vast woods looked terrifying before, but in the shining daylight, I can see through the greenery. Small creatures come to nibble at my toes and legs as time passes by. One would never think that the forest of Everack could be this verdant and beautiful. A place that has taken countless lives. Maybe it's because I'm an Elf? Or, maybe I'm just lucky to not have met something deadly yet. I'm starting to get lonely. There aren't any other Elves for me to play with and talk to.

~sigh

"Please, someone find me."

After another full day of listlessly wandering throughout the forest of Everack, I am exhausted, both mentally and physically. Even the beauty of the forest and the calming nature of the birds singing in the morning and twilight can't help me anymore.

"Ahhh!!"

Something lets out a blood-curdling scream that rips through my bones. I shudder at the sound. A squirrel comes shooting out of a hollow tree and skitters up the trunk. I can feel my legs running away from the incessant cry. What's making that noise? Why? Oh, no. Mom always says I'm too curious for my own good. My legs slow to a stop. Go legs, go!!!! I'm not ready to die yet! I'm just going to make a small hut for the night and hope for the best! I can't go this way!! But, what could it be??

I find myself searching in the direction the screams were coming from. As I get closer to the source, the forest seems to get quieter and quieter. The beautiful songbird's chirps are gone and the lively sounds of the wind and forest disappear.

"What the…?"

There it is.

The source of the scream.

Since Elves have a high affinity to mana and the way of the forests, they are more sensitive to high-energy mana in the woods. Elves are able to listen to the forest and plants speak to them in this world.

There's a stone and an egg sitting side by side on the ground, surrounded by what used to be grass, but has now been scorched beyond recognition. Mixed in with the burnt vegetation is ice. It's not melting in the heat, either. The air is frozen beyond subzero, but I'm sweating. It's a mixture of two elements that any normal living thing cannot have. It's impossible.

"Mom and dad taught me that a living organism couldn't have elements that counter each other!!!!"

What will happen if I touch the stone? Will it freeze me or burn me? Or both? I reach out to touch it, but the moment my hand grazes the surface, the stone and egg dissolves into absolutely nothing.

"I feel... different…?"

Authors Note ~ My schedule (as of right now) is a chapter every 10-12 days. This will change going into the summer and I may upload before that or very little after that. Thanks for reading!!