The sun started to rise, and Aella couldn’t lift herself from the bed. His hips were screaming in agony, numb from the inside and burning from the bones.

“Are you okay?” Arad asked, helping her sit.

Aella touched her hips, scratching them, “I’m as red as a tomato and as soft a tenderized piece of meat. I won’t say I’m fine as that would be a lie,” She smiled, managing to stand up, “Nothing that a simple healing spell won’t help with,”

“You sure?” Arad stared at her, feeling guilty as that was certainly his fault.

Aella stared at him with a smile, “I’m not fine, but this isn’t a problem,” She walked toward his side, patting his shoulder. “Just be gentle with Mira next night. We don’t want you cracking the egg inside her.”

Arad nodded, “Sorry,”

“You don’t have to,” Aella giggled, “I did half the moving, remember?” She giggled.

Arad looked at her, “I will take your words then,” He lifted his hand, and a gust of dark void consumed the bed and everything around it. He then stared at the lake. What a beautiful place. Didn’t have much time to explore it. 𝚍ｏ𝚟𝚕.ｏｒｇ

They walked by the lakeside, staring at the sun’s reflection on the water, and soon they found something buried under a mound of bushes and mold.

“Something is there,” Arad said, approaching the thing. He started pulling the vines away with his palm. Aella stood beside him and then started scoping the mold with her hands.

After just a few seconds, a stone statue emerged. A naked with long ears and flowing hair, holding a sword as if dancing with it.

Arad lifted the statue and put it straight, staring at it’s eyes.

“The moon maiden, the goddess of swordplay, songs, and dance.” Aella said, looking at Arad, “One of the dark elves goddesses, Elis.”

“So this was a place of worship in the past?” Arad asked, looking around.

Aella froze in place and started sweating. She turned around and looked where the bed was, “We need to get out, now,”

“Fine,” Arad grabbed Aella’s hand and attempted to teleport, but he couldn’t. His magic won’t work.

A divine light emerged from the statue’s eyes, radiating power as the lake trembled. You Mortals dare defile my holy land? A gentle voice boomed from the statue.

Arad swung his fist at the statue, “Sorry,” CLANG! His fist connected with the stature but didn’t harm it. “GAH!” Arad pulled his hand back. His fingers were broken. You dare hit the statue of a goddess?

CLANG! Arad hit it with a second punch, breaking his fist again.

You do not learn, Mortal

“Speak for yourself. What are you?” Arad growled, but Aella grabbed his hand, “Calm down, listen to her.”

She is right, I would have smitten you already if I so wished, but I’m in debt to thee. The voice boomed again.

Arad sighed, “I assume you are that goddess. Elis was your name?”

The aliased mortal kind use to address me, accursed one. Far few those who knew my name and lives to tell of it. The voice seemed to drift away, and then rush closer, You have restored my statue. Thus my power can once again reach my holy land. I shall forgive your transgression upon my sacred ground.

Arad looked at the statue and then at Aella, “You could have just remained silent if that was the case. I never heard of gods speaking directly to mortals, even when the whole world is in danger.” Arad said with a smile, still trying his best to activate the void step and bolt it out.

“Don’t poke her,” Aella stared at Arad with a worried face. She knew the matter wasn’t simple when a god spoke, and any wrong word could kill them.

You speak of wisdom, accursed dragon. And you, spirit master of the wind. Fear not, as I came to you with a mission to reward your efforts in cleansing my land.

“You reward work with more work?” Arad stared at her, “Is that how it works, or is this a hook?” Arad stared at the statue.

You speak like a devil, accursed dragon. But fear not, I do not hoard power like your kind, the divine magic oozing from the statue seemed to smile.

Listen well, and obey. In the depths of the ground, amid the dark caverns of the forgotten kingdom, the daughter of the unholy shadow assassin of old, hunts. That abhorrent, ugly deformed lump of hatred and blood is none but an accursed child just like thee. Mortals have forsaken her, only seeing the monster ravaging their flesh, yet I have not.

Arad looked at the statue, “So you want me to kill her? Or help her kill?”

Neither. Help, save, and lift her curse. And I shall be thy advocate, in the hall of the gods.

Aella blinked twice, “What?” she poked Arad’s side, “She’s serious?”

“You serious?” Arad looked at the statue, “And advocate, what’s that?”

Daughter if the spirits, you may speak to me directly. I do not hate your kind, as some tradition may entitle. The statue vibrated. Advocate. I shall speak in your favor to the gods, what they might grant you, that I don’t know. But I can at least promise that their power shall not kill you,

Arad sighed, “Vague promises, but I would at least try. Would be nice if I didn’t have to worry about a wild smite sending me under the dirt,”

My the silver light guides thee. The divine magic started fading from the statue. But then returned. Almost forgot. You can do it again here, not like much of my worship remains. But I won’t refuse a dance, if possible…possible…possible…

The voice faded away. Arad stared around, “Was that truly a goddess? My guts telling me she’s a fraud.”

Aella looked at the statue, “This is indeed a statue of Elis, a dark elf goddess. I never heard her voice before. I don’t think any of her worshipers did for that matter. But that was a huge amount of divine magic.” Aella recalled what she knew about the gods, “The rituals of worshipping her are a bit…well, weird.”

“She said something about a dance,” Arad replied.

“Her priestesses must be dark elves and ones skilled with the sword on top of that, preferably longswords. They dance with their blade, naked under the moonlight. Their steps slowly take them over the water, and those who manage to dance over it without falling to the lake, are favored.” Aella explained.

Arad nodded, “I see, dancing dark elves, but why?” He stared at her, confused.

“Two words, Blade dance. The most powerful sword fighting style. It uses the momentum of each attack and moves the empower the next. Legends have it that if you master the skill, you can fight perpetually till the end of time without getting tired, and with each of your attacks being stronger than the last.” Aella sat on the ground.

“But, the skill is insanely hard and complicated. To the point where any extra weight on you would twist your understanding of it, it’s best to train naked they said.” Aella sighed.

Arad stood, “She’s getting no prayers here,” He sighed, “I will look into the sword skill later, but for now, let’s head back and see what the others are up to,” He smiled.

Aella smiled, “Mind carrying me? Someone got a number on me,” She stared at him with a smug face, tapping her hips.

“Of course, of course.” Arad smiled, kissing her on the forehead, and lifted her in his arms. “Let’s head back,”