Suddenly Stout Oak heard a low growl from the first invader and before his eyes the scaly creature appeared out of thin air. A blade and a blaster in hand the drakken leaped forward. Odd, the two don't seem to be on the same side. The second cloaked individual made his move. The figure momentary rippled into definition as a blue flash split the distance separating the drakken and the newcomer. A look of satisfaction crept through Stout Oak's eyes as the drakken mortally injured by an invisible blade slipped through the leaves into a concealed pit. The ground collapsed around the hole revealing the impaled drakken on the sharpened roots at the bottom of the pit. The other individual's cloak failed as he flailed for balance teetering on the edge of the pit. Stout Oak scanned the figure covered in clearish blue light plate armor. A long glowing sword hummed as the man caught his balance and stepped back. Stout Oak remained still as the newcomer began scanning the forest surrounding him. A scowl formed on both their faces as the newcomer focused on the area Stout Oak occupied. The blade hummed as the newcomer took a defensive stance and stared at the still motionless elf in the tree above. Stout Oak was about to make a move when he felt the sharp end of a weapon pressing against his neck.
“Father?” Sapphire's voice stopped Stout Oak's counter attack.
“Whose side are you on?” Stout Oak stood carefully avoiding the sharp branch that had been pressed to his neck.
“I don't hear the whispers anymore.” Sapphire stepped around the tree onto a branch opposite Stout Oak.
“Who is that?” Stout Oak tipped his head towards the man below.
“I think he is the one the prophecy spoke about.” Sapphire self-consciously slipped a strand of hair behind an ear.
“You fight him?” Stout Oak passed a critical eye over the still wary individual below.
“He beat me twice.” Sapphire sounded embarrassed by the admission. “He is really strong.”
“He hides himself like them.” There was a hint of an accusation in Stout Oak's tone.
“His abilities are.... Unique.” Sapphire evaded further questions by swinging down the tree to the ground.
Stout Oak dropped to the ground and approached Kiyan. “Might I examine your blade?” Kiyan gave a quick glance towards Sapphire before extending the handle towards Stout Oak.
“Fine edge, excellent balance, light yet strong.” Stout Oak furrowed his brow and snatched back his hand when he ran his fingers along the flat of the blade. “Cold.” The word was mumbled under his breath. “Constructed from ice? Yet still strong. Passive energy draw imbued into the blade.” Stout Oak looked up before addressing Kiyan and noticed that his armor was made from the same material as the blade. “You are an ice bender.” Stout Oak gave the blade a couple swings listening to the song it made. His eyes widened as he saw the cold blue flames that followed the blade in its arc. “Unique indeed.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Kiyan had overheard the conversation in the tree and was a little apprehensive of Sapphire's father. Possible due to Luke's feelings spilling over.
“It would be my honor if you really are the luminous one. There is only one way to be sure. Come.” Stout Oak made a leap that landed him twenty feet in a tree. Kiyan glanced at Sapphire who returned the glance and followed her father. The realization that this was probably a test spurred him to action. A burst of air bending landed Kiyan up in the tree and soon he was jumping through the trees in pursuit of the agile elf. A couple times only his enhanced reflexes saved him from plummeting to the ground far below as a limb suddenly shifted position or a vine snapped tight in his path. A slice of the sword or another shift in the density of the air was sometimes all that kept him in the race. Kiyan realized that he was only maintaining his position and that Stout Oak was trying to knock him out of the trees. On this realization he began climbing higher and finally burst through the green leaves into the sun. Using a hybrid of firebending and airbending Kiyan soon caught up with Stout Oak. Once he had caught up he found his progress stymied by the fact he didn't know where the destination was. He maintained a position over the leading elf while he tried to figure out the dilemma.
The answer presented itself when Kiyan saw trees in the next valley that towered above the giants that made up the forest. Kiyan shot forward and rapidly closed the distance separating him from the trees. When he arrived he saw that a grove of the giants had been grown from normal trees into a village of sorts. Vines grew together and formed bridges and walks between the tree houses connecting them on a number of levels. Using his life bending enhanced vision Kiyan found one that glowed the same color as Stout Oak. He was pretty sure that this one had been grown by Sapphire's father. Setting down on a crotch where the top of the building grew together he waited for the arrival of the other two elves. He didn't have long to wait as he soon heard them coming through the forest below.
“How can he claim to be the luminous one capable of defeating the other two heroes if he can't even move through the woods at a reasonable speed.” Kiyan heard Stout Oak complaining as he effortlessly sped up the tree.
“You were laying traps.” Sapphire exclaimed over what Kiyan suspected.
“The fact that I could take the time to lay traps randomly and still outdistance him with ease speaks volumes of his abilities.” Stout Oak swung over an edge and landed on a platform overlooking the forest just below Kiyan. Sapphire followed him a half second later.
“At least give him a chance, he did defeat me and I represent the forest elves.” There was a hint of frustration in Sapphire's voice.
“I prefer "different" modes of transportation over being land bound.” Both the elves jumped as Kiyan dropped to the platform behind them.
Kiyan could see Stout Oak's eyes narrow behind his mask. “Perhaps I was wrong about you. You have yet to defeat the other tribe’s representatives. Do this and then I will believe it is you spoken of in the prophecy.”
“So what now?” Kiyan was beginning to realize he wasn't going to get anywhere unless he fulfilled all the requirements of the prophecy.
“You have already proven some skill life bending. Probably an accident defeating my daughter but never the less you must also prove that you can defeat the representative of the mountain tribe and the water tribe. Do this and you will have earned the hand of my daughter in spite of your poorly developed ears.” Stout Oak watched the suddenly reddening of faces of both Kiyan and Sapphire.
“I, uh, it’s not me that likes her, its Luke. I mean I like her but not that way.” Kiyan stammered out an objection. He could sense several confusing sensations from Luke at the announcement. Apparently the point where Kiyan stopped and Luke began was rather blurred to some observers.
“Who is Luke? Do you deny having feelings for my daughter? I have seen how you look at her.” Stout Oak's eyes were mere slits now.
“Luke is a shape shifter that lives with Kiyan.” Kiyan wasn't sure if the blush was from Sapphire’s father embarrassing her or from the partial lie. The strange sensation of nanites seeping through pores in Kiyan's skin and then when Luke constructed a physical form together with his telepathic projection. The result gave Luke the ability to interact with his environment while maintaining any appearance he wanted. Kiyan suppressed a laugh when he saw Luke's pointed ears.
The silence could have been broken by a pin dropping. “So what about finding the other two challenges?” Kiyan tried to defuse the situation by changing the topic.
“A linked life form.” There was a short pause as Stout Oak appraised the new apparition that's stood before him. Kiyan saw Sapphire flinch as her father reached out and grabbed Luke by the shoulder. “For a moment I thought you were a telepathic construct but no construct could ever simulate the sensation of touch adequately.” Both Kiyan and Sapphire were a little surprised at the announcement that showed Stout Oak’s suspicions. “Sapphire will be your guide and take you to the other challengers.” With that Stout Oak glanced at his daughter and turned toward his house. With a wave of his fingers a seam opened up
allowing him entrance and closed after him.
“Luke! How did you do that?” Sapphire experimentally touched Luke to see for herself.
“I used some of Kiyan's nanites to construct a thin layer at the projection boundaries and used a honeycomb like structure inside to give it strength while using as few nanites as possible.” Luke was about to continue but Sapphire interrupted him.
“You have nanites in your body? We only use them to construct things we can't grow.” Sapphire reminded them that the elven race had been a space race some time ago.
“Well anyhow, what should we do now?” Kiyan was at a loss.
“If you aren't tired we could find the water tribe champion and continue the quest right now.” Sapphire adjusted her pack and looked at Kiyan and Luke expectantly.
“I'm not tired.” Kiyan had hardly finished talking before Sapphire stepped backwards off the platform and made a backwards swan dive. Kiyan rushed to the edge in time to see thin vines snaking out of her pack and swinging through the trees.
“I will modulate your force fields.” Luke and Kiyan weren't about to let a girl out do them. Kiyan followed Sapphire off the ledge and free fell for a few seconds. Kiyan threw out his arms and his force fields rippled out beyond his fingers. A strong gust of wind bent into his wings sent him through the trees at a terrifying pace. Kiyan found that augmenting his airbending with wings made flight a lot more maneuverable. Sapphire was also keeping up a furious pace herself. Kiyan dodged and swooped between the trees as he slowly caught up. Kiyan bent up a strong tailwind and sailed through a narrow corridor making up a good distance between himself and Sapphire. When he exited the corridor and swooped in behind Sapphire, they were now only separated by a hundred feet. Sapphire glanced over her shoulder and gaped at the sight of Kiyan gliding through the air. She only looked where she was going just in time to miss a tree in her path. Kiyan deftly flew around the tree but was surprised when a number of vines shot out into his path. Unable to avoid the net he tore through it and lost control of his wings. Stunned Kiyan slammed into another tree and fell tumbling through the air. Kiyan tried to regain control but only managed to send himself tumbling in another direction. When he finally gained some control he slammed into another tree. This time he tore a handful of bark off with icy fingers as he began to shift. This gave him an idea and when he hit another tree Kiyan was better prepared. The impact drove his claws deep into the hard wood securing him still a few dozen feet above the ground. The sound of splintering wood filled the air as Kiyan yanked his claws out of the tree and clambered up to a limb. He looked at his hands before shifting back and saw that he had reached a partial draconic transformation and had claws on hands and feet. He had just managed to return to normal when Sapphire dropped down to the limb next to Kiyan.
“Are you alright? I'm so sorry, I didn't realize you would fall.” Sapphire apologized profusely.
“My shields absorbed most of it and my armor got the rest.” Kiyan reassured her by stretching and showing that all his limbs functioned normally. “Let's travel on the ground for now.” Sapphire paused and looked at the imprinted form and deep claw marks in the side of the tree below the limb Kiyan was perched on and glanced back at him with a question in her eyes but didn't ask.
“So why is your dad seeming eager to get you married?” Kiyan asked a question that had been nagging him since he had talked with Stout Oak.
Sapphire hung her head before answering. “I'm nearly a hundred and thirty. Most elves are married before they are a hundred. No one seemed to want to marry an elf that can beat just about anyone in a fight.” Sapphire got a suspicious glint in her eye and asked Kiyan and Luke how old they were. “Surely you have to be very old to be so strong.”
“I'm only about twenty.” Kiyan had calculated the numbers that Sapphire gave three times and still came out with a hundred and thirty.
“I have existed for about three thousand years but have only been awake for seventy three.” Kiyan rolled his eyes at Luke. Kiyan could claim existence for more than twelve thousand if he so desired.
“How do you look so old? Is your race only limited to a handful of years?” Sapphire looked incredulously at both of them.
“Hey, he is an AI and I am an elemental. Unless you throw me in a star or something I won't be dying, especially not of old age.” Kiyan stopped talking before he got in too deep.
Sapphire looked at them with a puzzled expression before turning and walking off through the woods. Kiyan followed silently through the jungle floor. No one spoke until they reached a wide river that snaked through the forest.
“So how do you propose we cross this river oh mighty elemental?” Sapphire's tone exuded sarcasm.
Kiyan picked up on her tone and decided on a cautious plan of action. “I bow to your many years of experience.”
“Fine, you grow a boat or a raft and float across.” Sapphire took a seat on a rock and made it obvious that Kiyan was meant to do the work. As usual Luke developed a design for a small boat that could easily be grown and that could move through the water efficiently. Kiyan began by bending a couple saplings into the form for the boat. He grew a series of limbs from the sides of each tree and wove them together making a watertight bottom and sides. When he was done a small boat was floating on a quiet spot along the shore tethered by the trunks of the two original saplings. Kiyan grew a seat near the prow and motioned the still sullen Sapphire towards it at Luke's prompting. When she had gotten aboard and taken her seat Kiyan unloosed his sword and neatly severed the tree trunks holding them to the bank with a couple blows.
“Don't you need paddles?” Sapphire pointed out what she considered an obvious flaw in their plan.
“Let me worry about getting the boat where we are going. You just relax and enjoy the ride.” Kiyan sat down, crossed his legs and connected with the water that surrounded them. Kiyan had grown tubes in the bottom of the boat and he began to draw water through these tubes. The boat lurched into motion as the water began to spray out of the back of the boat. Soon they were skimming along at a good clip.
“I'm sorry if we did anything to offend you.” Luke managed to make up the courage to say what Kiyan hadn't been able to yet. Luke's apology was followed by an awkward silence for a minute.
“You shouldn't have to apologize. I'm the one that has been extremely rude to you.” Sapphire was silent for another moment. “We need to go down river instead of across.” At the change of directions Kiyan bent a wave of water ahead of the small craft. When they reached the wave a second later the boat rolled slightly to one side as it banked off the wave pointing itself down the river. Sapphire noticed this manipulation of the river and her curiosity got the best of her. “How is it you can bend more than two elements? Some elves can bend two elements but you can bend water, ice and life elements.”
Luke had been assisting Kiyan in controlling the boat but left Kiyan to it when he heard the question. “Kiyan's parents are both energy life forms. Kiyan is a young ascendant himself. He likes to exist as a corporeal form but due to his affinity with energy is able to connect with and manipulate the energy around him to a greater extent than most. He is able to bend all the known elements with varying degrees of skill. Also due to the fact that he can exist as energy, he can become an elemental or exist as an elemental. He has achieved the greatest level of mastery in the water element school. Ice is an extension of the water school and the life element, as you call it, is generally an affinity with energy as a whole. Life benders as you know can detect and manipulate the life energy around them. Usually human life benders can bend one or two other elements with a good deal of skill.” Sapphire had a new look of awe on her face as she listened.
“I am really sorry for how I acted. I didn't know how different our abilities were and was embarrassed that I was beat by someone a fraction of my age.” Sapphire blushed a little as she apologized. “As far as elven life benders are concerned, I have tried bending water, ice, air and earth without any success.”
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“I don't know enough about elves to know why that would be.” Luke explained what he could and didn't try explaining what he don't know about. Sapphire remained silent for a while thinking about what she had learned.
Kiyan focused on controlling the boat and he left the other two passengers alone with their thoughts as they sped down the river. After a while he was about to ask Sapphire how far they still had to go when he heard the sound of waves crashing on a rocky coast in the distance as they came around a bend. Sapphire heard it too and stood up.
“Land over there.” Sapphire pointed towards a narrow strip of sand by a peninsula. A gentle wave steered them towards the indicated location and soon they had slid to a stop on the beach. They all jumped out and pulled the boat up beyond the line on the sand made by the wave action. Kiyan settled onto the sand and realized he was more tired than he had thought.
“Singing Waves usually comes up to watch the sunset.” Sapphire stretched and settled down on a patch of sand a few paces away from Kiyan. “He is the water tribe representative.” Kiyan began to feel the lulling effects of the constant rhythm of the waves and the warm feeling of the sun. The effects of the day took their toll and Kiyan slipped into a peaceful sleep. A couple hours later when Kiyan awoke he mumbled something about long days on this planet under his breath before deciding to take a quick swim. Kiyan was enjoying the cool water, floating on the gentle swells when he heard voices.