Master Of None

”Brother, I am prepared to go on this expedition. Before that, I want to make sure that the others are ready to handle things while I am gone.” This was the biggest worry for Onyx.

He had been focused on the fact that the naturally formed light and dark rune in his governed territory would not be secure enough with him leaving for the expedition in to the fire elemental plane. As much as the younger serpents and told him they would handle it, he would not stop worrying with just that.

”I know that you want to check things again and again, but you need to show them trust. You have many of the younger serpents who have managed to go through training with guards, soldiers, and even some of the other representatives of Genesis.” The way that Onyx looked at Walker showed that it was not having much of an effect convincing him.

”Fine, then look at Midnight. She hadn’t been worrying about the dragon hatchlings since she made plans to have others check on them. She specifically made plans with multiple elder dragons of all affinities to check on them and make sure they are not straying for their planned education.”

This did have an effect as Walker saw that Onyx had lowered his head and was clearly thinking. ”I made sure that Ibis would be venturing there to check on them. I can ask for the vampires to go as well as some of the demons.” While Walker didn’t expect that as an answer, he did hear that the vampires and demons had actually become closer with the serpents under Onyx’s guidance.

Part of that was because they had been able to share in some of the common dark and light affinities which they shared through their people, but also because they had the habit of being awake during dawn and dusk more often as a focus. This allowed them to interact more often than what some of the other races did.

With this worry being eliminated, Walker turned his head to another last minute issue that had been brought up to him while he had been trying to make sure all the preparations were completed. ”Now, can you explain to me why the elves are trying to send seven additional members to the expedition?” Walker brought this question to Gil.

”Everyone else managed to succeed with the training. They managed to push through all the issues and struggles to be allowed to come. They are not at risk as much as these new people would be at risk. They have also trained with one another now so that they can help without a single doubt. Why would we add unnecessary risks?”

This was something that Walker knew every single Genesis representative would ask. To be fair, it was also generally strange that this was even a conversation. There shouldn’t be anyone trying to join this expedition last minute even if they had been through part of the training.

”It’s related to the high elf bloodline that more elves have managed to awaken and strengthen themselves. There was another path that was found because of the training and these elves have just awakened.” For Gil to be so serious, Walker felt that this was something he had not expected either.

”What do you mean something else awakened?” Gil looked at Walker with a clear seriousness that told Walker this was a matter that was extremely important to the elves. So much so that Alma might have specifically kept it a secret until now so that nothing poor could develop.

”It’s the elves who decided not to focus on the high elf bloodline that we have all mostly strived to return to. Some believe that the changes in the bodies and over time for the race have been leading us to a different path. They don’t have issues with the high elves, but they believe that like races developing in the elemental planes and the world being different, it is the same thing.”

This was not just the elves that believed this. There were many angels who wanted to meet their related ancestors who had become different races within the elemental planes. This would allow them to understand the traits that they shared along with the many other aspects of their current existences, which might be able to lead them to further understanding of what they were.

This was just part of it though, Gil looked like he had more to say so Walker held himself back from saying a word. Naturally just this idea was not enough to just allow a few more people to join the expedition.

”They focused on the fire elemental affinity that they were able to learn and grow over the years. Instead of being able to awaken a high elf bloodline that changed them and focused their potential on a more natural side of things, they pursued a purely elemental focus.”

”The appraisals of their bodies when they were injured during the training said that they had been healed even though their bodies appeared to be damaged still. When we attempted further healing flames began to bloom from their bodies and wrap them like cocoons. We thought this was an illness or worse until we used more appraisals.”

Now this was a secret that Walker didn’t know about but felt was touching on something more important with the purity of fire mana that had been used during all the training.

”They are called true flame elves. Elves that accepted only the fire mana affinity and purified the mana in their bodies to reflect that. They were able to take in and grow the fire mana and now fire burns on their bodies at all times. They are also able to directly communicate with the fire elemental spirits and more easily with the fire affinity members of the spirit race.”

This was the key. They had pushed aside the other aspects of their ancestry to be able to take a new path which just have been the final step in the natural development when the elves and split themselves many years ago. They had remained true to their fire affinity which shaped their bodies and race. Meaning this was possible for the other elves to do. Whether they returned to their ancestors as high elves or pursued a different path, it was clear that the choice was theirs to make.

”They are asking to be identified as their own race and enter the elemental planes to search for others that might have developed the very same way. They believe that they might find elves who adapted in the same ways as they have. They accepted that the higher manas they received from training was the cause of this. That they instinctively took this step because they had the right environment.”

Now this was an issue that had to be kept secret simply because it might cause a lot more conversation that ended focus before the expedition. If the other races began to theorize they could split himself sin to other races and lose their footholds it could cause some chaos.

Many were unsure of where their race stood right now since they were all focused on development. If their race’s numbers split in half because they became an entirely different race, that could cause people to stop focusing on growth and instead on whether someone was loyal to their race. Right now they needed loyalty to unity of all races, not a focus on one race.

Besides this, the elves that had taken the change to become true flame elves were small in number. They might be ostracized at first because they changed their race and went against the desire to return to their ancestral ways. Something that the elves were very passionate about right now. Beyond this, there could be no telling what others might think.

”They will be able to come then, but there is going to be a lot that they need to answer for. Alma will need to prepare a clarity announcement along with them all making a stand to show their loyalty to Genesis. They want to be their own race, that is fine, but it needs to be done right and clearly so that all the people feel they are able to understand safely.”

Panic and chaos was not an option. Gil had been serious for all the right reasons. The fact that the training and this effect proved how close the world had been to breaking down and was now again moving toward an even more unique future. The number of races would just grow and grow as everyone came together. It makes the future unique, but also could be seen as unsettling. Walker had to do his best to keep it positive.

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