𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢ë 𝐔𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫

—Betrayal of the Elders

There were originally two races in Udan, Land of Tragedies, Elves and Dwarves.

Firstborn were the Elves, wondrous, light-footed and joyous, who learned magic from Nature itself. They were followed by solemn Dwarves, children of iron and skilled at crafts.

Three millennia afterwards, Men appeared. The first Man was shaped with Dwarven chisels from wood. Elves brought life into them with Magic. Men were the combination of Elves and Dwarves, in mind and looks. They had features and language of Elves, stubbornness of Dwarves and average statures. They were combined with solemnity and joy, grace and awkwardness, nature and stone. Elves taught them Magic and Dwarves arts of the forge. Together, the Age of Splendour came, a time of legend past. The rivers ran golden, the forests lush, the world full of laughter. All lived harmoniously, for trickery and lying didn’t exist. Magic made everyone immortal, at least to old age.

All changed when a child was born about three hundred years later: Urung. He was son of the King of Men and heir to the throne. However, in his teens, he was arrogant enough to travel in the forests of Solau, sacred to Elves and dangerous to Man. There, he sought out Black Magic, an evil and forbidden sect of Magic. Twisted was his mind and wicked were his thoughts afterwards, though he was cunning in his madness and hid it well.

When his father relinquished the throne, he was crowned King, he assembled an army and bade them massacre the Elves and Dwarves, claiming they discriminated and abused Men. Personally, Urung thought of the elders as animals, so killing them wasn’t murder, only cleansing leading to extinction. Warriors under the influence of Black Magic did as told.

Elven King Quildan and Dwarven Monarch Beaargon tried to form an alliance and stand against Urung but failed when the Dwarven capital was razed with Black Magic before Elven messengers arrived. Desperate, Elves gathered to defeat Man, but they were too few in numbers.

The last day came on December 24th, a holiday now for Men, an ironic remembrance of history. Quildan and his army fought, protecting citizens and land. After twenty hours, the army was vanquished and he was the only Elf remaining, and still fought on for another five hours. However, Urung battled him in a duel, and due to fatigue, Quildan was killed. Thus, Elves and Dwarves seemingly went extinct.

Elf - Elrond from Rings of Power, actor Richard Aramayo

Urung crowned himself king of all, reining for 500 years - these were the Dark Ages. The following is about his fall and happenings afterwards.

· · ·

500 years after Urung’s usurpation, he was beheaded in the night by the last Elf living, Allaigi, daughter of Quildan. She escaped massacre by hiding in the forests of Solan and came for revenge.

The palace were roiling black shadows. Allaigi didn’t need a map - the only person arrogant enough to decorate his room gilded gold in the middle of a fortress was Urung. Allaigi clutched her dagger and crept into the king’s room by the window silently. The magical barriers designed to keep men away didn’t affect Allaigi in the least.

She woke Urung up, wanting him to know who killed him.

The king’s mouth opened, fear on his face, “You’re alive?!”

“Duh.”

Then he was decapitated.

Dark smoke rose from his body, engulfing Allaigi. She thought, Uh oh, before pain penetrated her skull.

She fell to her knees as it stirred up immense pain. She struggled to cast a spell, sealing up the room before she toppled to the floor and screamed. Pain made her ignorant to the evil presence dominating the black cloud. Evil thoughts took her. It broke through her defenses and flooded her mind with an evilly strong power. She was trapped inside herself, possessed by Black Magic. She lost control over her own body.

When she regained her senses, she was sitting on Urung’s throne, a man’s corpse before her, and it was someone she recognized.

How much time elapsed?

· · ·

Every century, a traditional ceremony was held. Monarchs were criticized by ten citizens from the city. Even Urung had followed the old Elven tradition. Now, no one volunteered.

Except one, who was willing to sacrifice.

He walked into the court and bowed, starting to read from a scroll.

“Queen Allaigi, here are your faults,” he started, “You have been a tyrant, executioner and despot. People loath you for massacring the innocent. We initially welcomed you as a savior and the last Elf, but you have disappointed us! You are worse than Urung.”

Then, he lifted the hood hiding his face. His face, she realized, was from her childhood.

The man interrupted her thoughts, “Allaigi, you are the last elf! You promised never to be like Urung! Wake up! How—”

Her forehead furrowed into an enraged frown, and she ordered, “Guards—”

Iron-clad warriors stepped forth and surrounded the critique.

“Kill him.”

The man’s body was dragged out of the palace.

“Who’s he?” Allaigi asked.

“Syron, your majesty,” someone answered.

She sank into deep thought, trying to grasp fleeting memories, but they slid away, like a piece of butter you can’t grab.

“Tell me more,” she ordered, lounging on the throne.

“He’s a hundred and forty, ” another told her, “his family was poor. His father, Janua, was a carpenter - ”

Memories burst forth.

The six-year-old smiled impishly, blue eyes dancing with mirth. He asked her a question she could not answer, “Who’s your father?”

She frowned, her five-year-old brain remembering her mother’s warning, “Can’t tell. Mother doesn’t let me.”

“My father’s a carpenter, and he can make you anything you want!”

“- and his mother was Marla - ”

“What about your mother?”

“Can’t tell either, ” said twelve-year-old Allaigi, “Father wanna keep it secret.”

He laughed, “So your mother won’t let you talk about your father, and vice versa?”

“Basically. ”

“My mother’s Marla, and she helps my father.”

“- he almost joined the army to vanquish Elves when he didn’t know their purpose - ”

“Run! Run, Allaigi, run!” The teenage boy shouted, his frantic face mirroring his agitation, “They’re coming to get you!”

“What?”

“No time, run!”

He grabbed her hand and sprinted into Solau. He stopped at the edge of the forest, still holding her hand, “I can’t go further. Explain later!”

Then he let go and ran back.

She frowned, but obeyed.

“ - He disappeared multiple times afterwards, never telling where on pain of death.”

“This is the last time I can come. Urung has taken hold of the entire population. I will not be spared. Take care!”

Her gaze stuck onto him a moment too long. Then she blushed. “I’ll be fine.”

“No, you won’t! He’s controlled by Evil, Allaigi! Promise-” he looked into her eyes, “-that you’ll never be like him!”

She glowered, “What? Never! He killed my family!”

He flushed. “Sorry. I know, just… be safe.”

She turned away, “Don’t worry. Go, Syron, you father probably needs you.”

Her mind cleared. She gasped. “Syron!”

Allaigi looked around, horrified. Where was she? What was she doing?

She fled to a nearby forest.

She started on her task, weaving spell after spell, lacing the night with a magical scent. Her spells progressed while her strength diminished, figure hunched and whispers dying out.

All of a sudden, wind whooshed on the mountaintop, and Magic vanished.

Allaigi was gone. In her place, a scattered scroll burned itself away soon after. The last verse was preserved, however, and they ran thus:

May Magic disappear,

May the world be in peace,

May the memory of Man fade,

May they start anew,

And may peace rule their hearts.

Magic, Elves and dwarves faded from the world, driven by havoc. They went extinct by the hand of Man.

Will Man repent or will they ruin the world again?

Author's Notes:

Word count: Exactly 1300

Extra information:

Allaigi rhymes with unlucky, comes from the Greek word for change

The elvish verse means:
May Magic disappear,
May the world be in peace,
May the memory of man fade,
May they start anew,
And may peace rule their hearts

What Allaigi did:
A. Free the world of Magic
B. Eradicate all traces of the Age of Splendor
C. Erase the memory of Man
D. Made our history start from caveman times (yeah blame her)
E. Deceived poor Darwin
F. Killed herself

Where does EXTINCTION fit in?

• The elves and dwarves races killed
• Magic gone
• Urung’s line of emperors ended
• Old Elven & dwarven traditions removed

The italic & small text parts are memories

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