In the holy land of Avantika, the elves reside. A race with elongated pointy ears, blonde hair, blue to green eyes and fair complexion. They are regarded as beautiful and sacred.
However, they do not get along well with other races. They are extremely wary of the humans. Because in the distant past, humans ravaged their forests. They burned down the forests and captured them, turning them into slaves and experimental animals.
This ended two millennia ago when the brave queen, Alexia, rose up and rallied the slave elves against the humans.
They were victorious and managed to earn back their freedom. Nowadays, they lead a secluded life seldom mixing with other races.
Till this very day, humans try to infiltrate their homeland and capture them. But they have realized their latent talent. So humans can no longer capture them like before.
Closing the book, an elderly elf woman stood up.
"Kids, remember this lesson. Every last word of it is true. But there are exceptions to this lesson as well."
She has gray hair due to her age. Her skin is showing its age and her eyes have become almost black. Her ears have shrunk meaning she is nearing the end of her life.
The kids in the room are elves of the age of 50 to 100. By elvish standards, you are a child until 20, teenagers from the age of 21 to 100. Then you step into adulthood and become a full fledged adult around 350 years old.
This elderly elf lady is the oldest of the elves. She is nearing the one thousand year mark.
"Granny Milla, you said exceptions? But what are these exceptions?"
A girl asked. Obviously she is an elf. She is 40 years old. By human standards, that's almost middle aged. But she is considered a teenager by the elves.
"Not all humans are bad. Not all elves are good. If you encounter humans, be wary. But if they are genuinely good, you can trust them. However those humans have reduced in numbers nowadays." (Milla)
"Did you meet a good human, granny?"
Another girl asks.
"I did. He was a wonderful man. Till this very day, I remember him vividly. We spent 84 years together. For a human who only live for 80 years, he lived 24 years more for my sake. And now, my time is approaching as well." (Milla)
She sits down on the chair. Another elf woman enters the room.
"Mother, are you still telling them about your love story?"
This woman who looks just like a younger Milla, is her only daughter. She is a half elf.
"Why wouldn't I? The only man I fell in love with was your father." (Milla)
"But still, didn't he die more than 700 years ago?"
"Melinda, I still love your father and I always will." (Milla)
Melinda just shakes her head in exasperation. This is the umpteenth time they were having this exact conversation. Milla soon falls asleep on her rocking chair.
"Kids, it's time to go home." (Melinda)
"Yes, aunty Melinda."
The kids get up and leave one by one.
This is the present situation of Avantika. A holy land only for the elves. Despite being a half elf, Melinda is respected by all. Because her father got along well with other elves. It did take him some time but he managed to break the ice between them.
Since then, they consider whether a human is truly good or just pretending. They don't hold any prejudice.
One such day, a farmer was ploughing his field with a hoe. But he hit his hoe on something and it broke. He thought it was a big rock. But he dug for it only to find something else.
"A ruin was discovered in your land?"
"Yes. My hoe broke when I hit it. It probably is magically protected from the elements. I believe it is an ancient ruin left by a destroyed civilization."
The farmer reported this to the lord. The lord of the elves is decided through popularity. The current lord is Melinda's husband, Gustav.
They organized an exploration team and left for the ruin.
Upon arrival, they found a black door on the ground. It has a weird shape with a circular handle attached to it.
Gustav held the handle and tried twisting it. After a few tries, it started turning and the gate opened. A similar handle is on the opposite side as well.
Ladders were leading down. They started descending one by one.
After reaching the bottom, they searched for light sources. Normally ancient ruins have extremely advanced contraptions that can generate light without any mana. After looking for a bit, Gustav found something akin to that.
He flipped a switch and the entire hallway lit up.
"Sure enough, it is one of the ruins." (Gustav)
"Then it must contain treasures as well."
Someone said but who, it wasn't clear.
They started walking down the hallway. There are no branches. It's just a hallway.
At the end of the hallway, they found a door. This door has something written on it.
"What does it say?" (Gustav)
He asks an archeologist. But he moves his head sideways.
"I am afraid this is the first time I have seen this script. I have no idea what ancient language is this. There have been no ruins with writings similar to this."
"So this is one of a kind. Let's enter. But exercise caution all the way." (Gustav)
They all enter the room after Gustave pushes the door open.
There is nothing in the room. Except a clear pod.
"Is there someone in that contraption?"
The archeologist points at the pod. Everyone looks at it.
There is someone floating inside. A human.
Everyone almost attacked it. But calmed down soon enough.
"What is a human doing here? Did he sneak in?" (Gustav)
"No. I believe he has been here all this time. There are no signs of anyone entering or leaving this ruin. He must have been here since the beginning."
The archeologist answered. But the big question remains. How did a human end up in a ruin?
"Is he even alive?" (Gustav)
Gustav approached the pod. The human is breathing normally. He seems to be alive. He is just asleep.
"What can we do?" (Gustav)
"How about we take him outside? Maybe he is stuck or something."
The archeologist just wanted to examine a human. He is thinking of things like him being a remnant of an ancient race or something.
When Gustav touched the pod, something bizarre happened. The human in the pod opened his eyes.
Everyone leapt back and prepared for an attack. They waited for the human to move.
The human in the pod looked around the room and suddenly disappeared and reappeared. He came out of the pod without even opening it.
He said something but no one could understand him. He then closes his eyes for a moment and opens them.
"Can you all understand me?"
His voice was heard again. This time, they understood what he said.
"Who are you?" (Gustav)
"You replied meaning you understand me. Me, I am just a humble human. My name, well it doesn't matter now."
He said with a distorted smile. His creepy smile made them take their guards again.
"How did you end up here? You aren't a treasure hunter. What are you?" (Gustav)
"Like I said, just a normal human. Still, even elves are here. This place sure has come a long way. I'm just glad that they didn't find me."
He looked up like he was remembering something.
"What was that? What did you say?" (Gustav)
"Nothing. Just an old man reminiscing. But the question remains, where should I go? It's been so long that I don't think I can go anywhere."
He starts walking. The elves point their weapons at him. Mages are also chanting elementary attack magics.
He halted. He seemed surprised.
"You are chanting? This is the first time I have seen anyone chant for activating a spell."
He was surprised. But Gustav was just getting impatient.
"You are seeing someone chant for the first time? Can you even use magic?" (Gustav)
Humans can use magic. Most of them can't use very strong magic due to having too little mana. The ones who can use stronger magic, become adventurers and soldiers.
Elves are the best when it comes to magic. They are blessed by nature. They can even communicate with nature through spirits.
The human just looked at him.
"You are asking me that because you can't feel any mana from me, right? Then let me show you. The very basic spell."
He pointed his index finger upwards and a ball of fire appeared. He didn't move his lips or chant or even say the name. Just pointed his finger and a ball of fire appeared.
Everyone was shocked. The mages were about to faint.
But the ball of fire disappeared. Next, a ball of light appeared, illuminating the room. This was the final nail on the coffin.
Light is an element that's very rare. Even among elves, only a handful can actually use the light element.
"Basic spells like this don't even require a chant. Although I have never chanted to begin with. I should go outside."
He just kept walking until he found the ladder. He climbed the ladder and went outside.
When he stepped out, his eyes were hurting.
"How many years has it been since I last basked in the sun?"
He hadn't looked around as his eyes weren't used to the sun. When he started seeing again, he found himself surrounded.
Many soldiers had already circled him. But he didn't move. Well, he just jumped. His just didn't feel like a jump. He probably made himself lighter and floated.
"This place has nothing but elves. But I can't even go anywhere. What to do?"
He was floating in the sky as he asked himself this. He observed the situation for a bit longer. When Gustav came outside with his soldiers, he came down.
"I still haven't gotten your name."
"Gustav. What about you?" (Gustav)
"My name is Indrajeet." (Indrajeet)
He introduced himself. Gustav invited him to his house. The soldiers were dismissed. Only the archeologist remained with them.
"Welcome home. Darling, where did you find this human?" (Melinda)
As a half elf, she has never encountered another human. This is the first time she is seeing a human aside from her dead father.
"Welcome our guest. This is Indrajeet. We found him in the ruin we investigated." (Gustav)
Melinda wasn't very thrilled to see a human. But she did lead them inside for the time.
"Sorry about my wife. She has never seen a human before." (Gustav)
"Don't worry. I am used to this. This place has only elves, right?" (Indrajeet)
"Yes. The only place where elves can lead a normal life without worries. Then let me ask you. Who are you?" (Gustav)
Indrajeet has a hard to describe face. He seems conflicted.
"I wonder how many years have passed since I locked myself in that place? Because this entire plot of land, I used to own it." (Indrajeet)
"That is impossible. We have been living here for the past two thousand years. A human can simply not own this land."
The archeologist said. He was listening to Indrajeet but he didn't agree with him.
"Only two thousand years. Then you are relatively new to the area. I built that place more than ten thousand years ago, I think. Even I forgot the exact date." (Indrajeet)
Gustav was just watching him. Like he is some sort of a madman.
"This may sound impossible coming from a human. But ten thousand years aren't a big deal. I have been alive for far longer than that." (Indrajeet)
No one said a word. It was so silent that even an ant's crawling could be heard.
"By the way, what is this place? I mean, does it have a name? Because when I was was living here, it was just an unnamed wasteland." (Indrajeet)
He decided to restart the conversation. Gustav shook his head like he woke up from a dream.
"Ah…this place is called Avantika. It is named after a goddess. Although we have never seen this goddess. Apparently our founder, Alexia, worshipped her." (Gustav)
Indrajeet thinks.
"Avantika? That name doesn't ring a bell. Maybe a new goddess. I was out of touch with everyone for ten thousand years so a lot of things must have changed." (Indrajeet)
Gustav could only wryly laugh. The archeologist is going nuts in the corner.
"Well, I should go and show my face to my wife. I guess she is pretty angry with me." (Indrajeet)
He stood up. But Gustav had a question.
"Your wife? Do you have a wife?" (Gustav)
"Yeah. She should be sleeping in the Arctic. I should go and wake her up." (Indrajeet)
"You said the Arctic, didn't you? Then is your wife per chance, The Arctic Queen?" (Archeologist)
"I don't know who this Arctic Queen is. But my wife is an ice dragon. Her name is Anahita." (Indrajeet)
The archeologist fainted. He keeled over. Indrajeet caught him and put him down the sofa.
"He fainted suddenly. What happened?" (Indrajeet)
"Well, you said a name that anyone would faint as soon as they hear it. Anahita is the Arctic Queen. She has locked her region with ice storms so huge that nothing can pass through. And you say that she is your wife?" (Gustav)
"Yes. Maybe she is still mad at me. Well, I will go and see what I can do." (Indrajeet)
Saying that he disappeared.
"Who was that human?" (Melinda)
An angry Melinda storms the room. Gustav is overwhelmed.
"Why did you bring him here? He was spouting nothing but nonsense all the way and where did he disappear to?" (Melinda)
"Melinda, let me tell you how we found him." (Gustav)
Gustav tells her how they found Indrajeet. Melinda didn't want to believe it at first but a lot of witnesses are present. She has no choice but to believe it.
"Should we ask your mother about this?" (Gustav)
"Mother may be the oldest elf alive but I don't think even she knows of this human." (Melinda)
But they had no other options anyway so they both went to Milla. She was sitting on the porch of her home.
"Mother, it's me." (Melinda)
"Hello, Milla. How are you?" (Gustav)
"Gustav and Melinda. Come, take a seat. What is the matter? Both of you sound serious." (Milla)
Milla can not see very well due to her age. But she sensed the tension from their voices.
Gustav briefly tells her about the situation. Milla looks like she is in deep thoughts.
"Indrajeet…. I have heard of that name before. But why would this name come up now?" (Milla)
"You know him, mother?" (Melinda)
"No. But our founder, Alexia, named this plot of land. Avantika is the name of a goddess and her father was slain by Indrajeet. Indrajeet's spouse is Anahita. That's what I remember. It's written in the mythos." (Milla)
"The mythos? That red book father used to read?" (Melinda)
"Yes. I still have it. You can take a look for yourself." (Milla)
Melinda goes inside and searches for a read, thick book. She eventually finds it and brings it to them.
She flips through the pages and finds the name, Indrajeet. It even has a painting of him.
"This is it. There's no mistake. This is his face." (Gustav)
Indrajeet appears on an island near the Arctic. The entire sea is frozen. Huge snowstorms are ravaging the area.
"She sure is upset. I have to be a bit forceful."
He covers himself in a barrier and starts walking to his wife's location. Anahita is an ice dragon. Well, she was. Currently she is the ruler of the Arctic and the sovereign ice monarch.
However no one has seen for the last 5 millennia. Even so, her name is recognized throughout the world.
He reaches a cave. The blizzard is so strong that even his barrier needed an external barrier to maintain itself.
He enters the cave. There are ice dragons everywhere. From juvenile to adult, they all were hostile towards him. But no one attacked.
He kept walking through the cave until he reached the end. A big ice crystal was hanging from the ceiling. Inside of it was the silhouette of a woman. She looked human but had two protruding horns on her head.
"Honey, wake up."
He floated to the crystal and touched it. The crystal broke and the body was falling. He caught the body. Sliver hair, ash horns, a blue tail which was not a human feature, she is Anahita.
She looks no more than 25 but she is by no means a human.
She slowly opens her eyes and sees Indrajeet. Seeing him, she was very worked up. But Indrajeet pushed his lips against her.
She tried to resist but he kept pushing his lips and eventually she stopped resisting.
He parted his lips from hers but soon kissed her again. This time, she opened her lips and let him inside showing no resistance at all.
They were embracing each other and sharing a passionate kiss. After their kiss had finished, he looked into her eyes.
"Welcome back, honey." (Indrajeet)
"I am back. You really are a sly man." (Anahita)
"I knew that you would be angry so I was a bit forceful." (Indrajeet)
"This time I will let it slide but it won't work again." (Anahita)
They stand up. Anahita was originally a normal ice dragon. However a curse made her the strongest ice dragon in existence. She became a sovereign after that and met Indrajeet.
Indrajeet was the only person who understood her for who she was. Even her own race was afraid of her and won't even look at her normally. Indrajeet understood that she is just a lonely person so he decided to keep her company.
That decision ended up becoming a marriage and they had to part ways temporarily because Indrajeet was facing a lot of opposition from his side. He would settle down the opposition and return, that was the plan. But it ended up taking a lot more time than that.
"What will you do, honey?" (Anahita)
"Yeah, the city I built has become a ruin now. A few elves stumbled inside and awakened me. You on the other hand have become the queen who rules over the Arctic." (Indrajeet)
"That's just a silly name the humans gave me. Let's go then. I have been stuck here for a while. I want to see the outside world." (Anahita)
But before they could leave, a horde of ice dragons had appeared before them. They had blocked the exit.
"Our Queen, who is that human? And why are you acting so intimate with him?"
One ice dragon inquired. He sounds old.
"He is my husband. Don't you remember him?" (Anahita)
Indrajeet realized the situation. He transformed into a look they would recognize.
Bare chested, pointy hair, carrying a drum wheel on his back, wearing a tiger leather, the appearance of the mythical god of thunder. His face is the same but he looks accurate to his mythical version.
The elder ice dragon realized who he was.
"Forgive me for my rudeness, lord of thunder."
He bowed down and asked for forgiveness. Indrajeet transformed back to his normal body.
"Don't mind it. That isn't even my real look. That's something I was doing as a joke and it became like that. I'll be taking my wife with me." (Indrajeet)
No further question came at them. So Indrajeet held Anahita's hand and teleported.
Since he had nowhere else to go, he went to the outskirts of Avantika first.
"This place sure looks barren." (Anahita)
"Yeah. But when I first came here, it was even worse. Hailed as the graveyard, this place was literally the land of death. I made my palace and tried living there but they wouldn't stop pestering me. So I went silent and hid myself. I just woke up today." (Indrajeet)
"Should we live in your palace?" (Anahita)
"It's habitable but that place is now underground. It'd be an inconvenience." (Indrajeet)
Indrajeet and Anahita decide to walk through the village. The elves at the gate did not stop them because they are not humans. Elves are beings who can sense the life energy of other beings.
Humans possess too little to be able to use magic. Elves have a decent amount so they can use that to create phenomena on their own.
Both of them are releasing an insane amounts of energy. Everyone is wary of them. Gustav came outside to check the commotion and found Indrajeet.
"We decided to come back. We'll be living in my palace for a short while so we'll be neighbors for now." (Indrajeet)
"Don't mention it. But if you can suppress your energy a bit, that would be helpful. Everyone is on edge." (Gustav)
Both of them suppress their energy to a minimum. Their energy control is immaculate. They are not even releasing any energy anymore.
He introduced Anahita to Gustav and left for his ruin.
"Did that human come again?" (Melinda)
"Yeah. He really brought the Arctic Queen with him. I guess he is the real deal." (Gustav)
Thus began a strange tale of a mysterious man with his wife and the entire elf settlement. They are about to get a visit from a few travelers who are not your everyday travelers.