"What an incredible landscape..." Magnus said, reigning in his horse to enjoy the amazing view. He had reached this plateau on his way through the hills and he felt he had to stop and marvel at nature's wondrous display. Everything was so beautiful up here, the land, the trees, the river, the hills... Even the colors were more radiant, somehow...
"Actually, I could make a stop here... My butt is getting so damn sore from all the travel," he said out loud, even though no one was there to hear it. He dismounted his horse and removed the saddle to let the horse rest, and then took out some food and stretched on the ground. It had been a while since he had a chance to speak with another human being, or even see some trace of civilization. Yet this part of the world had no human settlements... as per the agreement, apparently. Magnus was deep in the Elven lands in search of an elven Seer, the one that would hopefully help him locate his sister. The road had taken him through Vistania and then east into Fluvia. From Fluvia, he kept going north, always north. He had passed the last human settlement two weeks ago and he knew he was somewhere in the land of Elves... He suspected he was being watched in the last couple of days. Did it mean he was nearing an elven settlement? Magnus certainly hoped so. He had to hold on to this one chance of finding his sister.
After he finished eating and after taking some rest, Magnus got back into the saddle. It was early in the afternoon and he hoped to put some more miles behind him until he had to stop for the night. He rode, feeling his eyes wander all around, enjoying the look of seemingly untouched nature. He marveled at tall, big-leafed trees, the likes of which he had never seen before. There was something special about this land. The nature seemed so... present and so vivid.
"Go no further, Human Mage!" a voice came from somewhere among the trees.
Magnus raised his eyes, trying to pierce through the trees and locate the owner of the voice. The voice sounded so melodic and well... female.
"I wish you no harm!" Magnus said, stopping his horse and raising his hands in a placating manner.
"These are elven lands, human. I hope you have a good reason for trespassing!" the same melodic voice said.
"I am searching for an elven Seer... Please, I need to see him."
"What makes you think the Seer would receive a human?"
"Please, I need help... I am searching for my sister. I am willing to pay whatever you require..."
There was complete silence for almost a full minute. Just when Magnus opened his mouth to ask for help once again, three forms came out of the trees, walking towards Magnus. Magnus watched them approach with silent awe. He dismounted and waited until they came close. Their steps were soundless. Magnus found himself speechless as he came face to face with an Elf for the first time in his life. Well, more like three of them, two females and a male.
The male was slightly taller than Magnus. His skin was light blue, his body slender and hairless, at least the parts he could see, with the exception of the head. His hair was of some blonde/light brown color and was falling around his shoulders in braids. He had visible muscles, yet even those were somehow... slender. He was dressed in a plain sleeveless leather shirt, pants, and boots. He watched Magnus carefully, like a panther ready to pounce. Both females were of the same height as Magnus, their skin color somewhat lighter compared to the male. The one to Magnus' left had green hair, braided as well. She wore similar clothes, yet her clothes had some ornaments and decorations, some subtle signs showing her clothing was more than just something to keep her warm. Magnus found her quite pretty, even if he couldn't wrap his brain around their ageless faces that had no apparent wrinkles.
Yet, it was the face of the female in the middle that drew his attention the most. She had a lovely silver hair made into a single long braid that curved across her chest. On her beautiful face, Magnus saw a pair of purple lips, their shape making him think of the fact that he hadn't had sex since he had left the capital of Fluvia, weeks ago. Her big eyes were of some peculiar blue and green hue and they were watching him with curiosity and wariness. She wore clothing similar to the other female, somewhat tighter in the chest and Magnus couldn't help noticing the curves that were telling about moderate size, yet quite firm-looking breasts. He stopped himself from licking his lips, barely.
"My name is Lanaya, Human Mage," the female in the middle said. Magnus recognized the melodic voice he had heard earlier. She was obviously the leader of the group.
"I am Magnus," he said simply, his eyes still on the leader of the group, Lanaya.
"My name is Sela," the green-haired Elf said.
"Voron," the male Elf said solemnly.
Magnus nodded to both of them, returning his gaze to Lanaya.
"How did you know I was a mage?" Magnus asked finally. Lanaya raised her eyebrows.
"I see you don't know much about my people," Lanaya said simply. Her eyes were occasionally shifting as if looking at his hair.
"You are still being generous in saying that, I am afraid," Magnus said, giving her an apologetic smile. Her lips began stretching in response, but she stopped herself.
"Why do you seek the Seer? Do you realize you are in breach of the agreement we made long ago with human kingdoms?" Lanaya asked after a moment.
"I am quite desperate... My sister has been taken by the slavers and I am grasping at straws, trying to find her..." Magnus said, some of his pain showing on his face. Lanaya stiffened at the mention of slavers. After a long moment of deliberation, she finally nodded and turned away.
"Follow us, Magnus..."
Magnus took his horse's reins and followed them on foot, trying to keep pace with the three Elves who almost glided across the land. They walked for almost an hour before they reached what looked like a huge valley between two hills. Magnus followed them into the valley, his senses suddenly overwhelmed by the amazing sight.
"Gods... and I thought the colors of the land I passed through were radiant. Yet here they seem... alive,"
Magnus thought, while his eyes moved on their own, trying to soak up the wonder of his surroundings. The valley was indeed very big and Magnus thought he saw a glimpse of the river in the distance. The valley wasn't completely surrounded by the hills, so it still had plenty of sunlight.
"Welcome to our home, Magnus," Lanaya said, smiling at the awe that was showing on his face.
"This place is so beautiful..." Magnus said, feeling like a little boy who was visiting the fair for the first time. They ventured into the valley and Magnus felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of colors and shapes. He saw trees with leaves and flowers in all possible colors, he heard sounds of life everywhere around him. It felt like nature hummed with life in this incredible place. He soon noticed the first elven buildings and immediately thought of a story he had heard in a tavern once, a story that mentioned Elves living on the trees. Magnus chuckled. Their houses and buildings were built on the ground, yet they somehow seemed to be... integrated into nature itself. The buildings were beautifully crafted, almost all of them made of some kind of stone that had a faint bluish hue. As they walked through the elven settlement, Magnus lost the sense of time and space, still marveling at the things he was seeing everywhere around. The elven trio finally stopped in some kind of huge square, containing a large stone sculpture of a female.
"This must be some queen or maybe a goddess..."
Magnus thought, gazing at the exquisite workmanship depicting a beautiful elven female, naked, save for the pubic area that was covered by leaves and flowers.