“Okay, okay, but I still need the help of my not-so-distant ancestor with that gate equation I was trying to come up with.”

  “Yes, I know, I don’t get in here often enough. I keep telling you, though, that I think the problem with your equation is that it requires a higher-tier magic than you can muster,” Dave said with the tone of a man tired of having the same discussion.

  “Which is why I need you here. You can make it work. I just know it, but you never stay here more than an hour at a time. You have to be excited by the idea of a more direct teleport rather than only going to a specific bind point.”

  “Of course I am, but don’t you think we should learn the Dimensional Flutter spell first? It is right on point with what you are trying to do.”

  “Fine then, let’s set up another dungeon run. Just high level. Doesn’t even have to be in the raid wing. We can do a high-level survival challenge. That way the core would get to flex a bit, and we would actually get some real XP. I’m getting closer and closer to Tier 4. If you helped me get there, then I wouldn’t have to bug you so often.” Mira did her best winsome smile.

  Dave knew that he was on the verge of giving in when he pulled out his ace in the hole. “We will have to ask your mother about that. I agreed not to do any dungeon runs with any of you kids without clearing it with her first.”

  The grumbling noise that Mira made told Dave that some things never changed. She might be a magical genius, but she was still his teenage daughter.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “As Mary Poppins said about sugar and medicine, so too are harsh life lessons best smothered in grand accomplishments.”—Private journal of Emily Nelson, Chosen of Shanelle (note there has been much conjecture by scholars as to who the Chosen was referring to by the code Mary Poppins).

  Eris’ Rise—Emily Nelson

  A truckload’s worth of realizations had struck Emily in the past two weeks. She was always one who had preached acceptance of the culture in the places you went to visit. Yet somehow she had been the one who struggled the most with adapting to Eloria.

  It was counterintuitive. This wasn’t just a place she was going to visit. This was her new home. Which was likely why she was having so much trouble adapting to their way of life. They seemed so barbaric to her.

  Or at least they had. There had been three tipping points for her in the past few weeks. The first had been something that finally wore her down. Time and again she had been shown that life was very harsh here. Repeated notifications warned her that the very essence of Eloria was conflict.

  Those same messages showed her all the nuances of that conflict. It wasn’t a simple battle. The struggles were internal as much or even more than external. Nightmares and miracles had presented themselves time and again to her. Maybe it was a testament to her stubbornness that she only truly came to the realization when others around her backed off from preaching it at her.

  So her first realization was Eloria was not Earth, and she couldn’t treat it as such. This didn’t mean that she had to accept the customs of those around her blindly. It did, however, mean that she had to forget the rules of Earth.

  Her second realization was a bitter pill to swallow. Dave was changing. At first she thought it was for the best. He had needed to realize that his value came from more than what he could provide. She remembered being proud of him for overcoming his challenges and embracing the fact that he could have something he wanted while at the same time being a great husband and father.

  Emily knew that Dave liked to say he lived by the motto happy wife, happy life. Truthfully, she hated that expression. Oh, sure, it meant that he often gave in to her, and at the moment that might be sweet. But they simply couldn’t be equal partners if it was all about her. A happy life required balance between self and others.

  It is impossible to love your family like you love yourself if you don’t love yourself. Well, Dave had overcome that pitfall. The problem, as Emily saw it, was that the pendulum seemed to be swinging too far the other way. Her beloved husband was displaying pride and arrogance. He had accomplished much, but seemed to be losing balance in the opposite direction.

  She had kept it in because she needed to think and pray on it more, but it had scared her deeply when Dave told her about the offer he’d received from that hooded monster. That battle was a microcosm for her concerns. First, Dave acted arrogantly by engaging the enemy and trying to show off for everyone. Then when presented with real danger, he had acted as best he could to try to save the rest of them.

  Maybe that was it. Dave was so quick to be willing to die for them, when what she really needed was a husband who would live for them. Perhaps if he overcame this surge of pride, he could settle back down in the middle. Be the confident man that she knew he could be. Neither afraid to embrace what he wanted in life, nor willing to belittle others to get it.

  It was that balance that she sought. The same balance that she knew Dave needed to find. That was what had led her to her third tipping point, so to speak. She was a deeply spiritual woman. It thrilled her that here in Eloria, Shanelle was so much more real and present than her prior experience of God on Earth. She yearned for that.

  Yet she knew that there was more to it. Shanelle must have made her a Chosen for a reason. So she dug into who she was. It was then that Emily realized she had been neglecting an entire portion of who she was. Emily Nelson, nurse, mother, and wife from middle-class, Midwestern USA was not prepared to survive in Eloria. There was, however, a part of her that was. Lady Emiri of the moon elves was fit to survive in Eloria.

  She had to believe that her choice to become a moon elf was more than just a fluke. For that reason, she decided to embrace this new identity. She’d had the customs and knowledge of her people downloaded into her head. That wasn’t the same as truly having experience, though.

  That was part of the reason that she had asked Daichi to begin training her and eventually added the girls into that. It was also the reason that she had taken to meditating next to the sacred ash.

  To her it was symbolic that the tree had grown next to the now complete church of Shanelle. God was revealed in the tree through the greatness of creation. At least that was how she saw it.

  In practical terms, what she found was that the more she embraced her elven nature, the more she felt at peace. There was a connection to everything around her that made her quite content. It started to show in her work too. She maintained her cool better and found better resolutions. The unity message and all the perks that came with it felt truly earned to her.

  Emily desired nothing more than to come to grips with all of Eloria and understand its secrets. First she had to find her place in it. The training that Daichi gave her at first felt like it was something she had to force herself to do. Then it began to feel natural, and the motions came easier, even the state of mind that he was teaching. Eventually it was more like who she was rather than what she did.

  The old monk had told her at the end of this morning’s training that she was the fastest student he had ever taught. It struck her that she wasn’t learning something new as much as she was waking up from a dream to be who she was meant to be. These realizations caught Dave and the girls off guard. They weren’t quite sure what to make of the new her.

  Rather than upsetting her, she chose to take it in stride. Old Emily would have ranted about why couldn’t they appreciate the fact that she was coming around to see Eloria in a way more like they did. Yet old Emily never would have made that leap, so it was a moot point.

  These realizations had not been easy. They had cost her emotionally, and even as she was finding her balance, she still felt the loss of the old her. Today she had a cure for that, though. Today, she intended, Shanelle willing, to perform a miracle. The best part of the miracle was that it would be an object lesson in the balance brought about by unity.

  She had to make a few stops to pick up things, but everything should be ready today. First she headed off to the home built into a tree by an older elven couple. They were both woodshapers who had taken up residence in Eris’ Rise. They’d opted to create their own home out of an oak tree rather than live in a built home.

  Emily had been very glad to make their acquaintance. The way they lived and worked with nature gave a quiet lesson in balance. More than that though, in them, she found craftsmen able to shape the device she needed. She picked up her purchase from them, paid them over their protests, and accepted their deep bows of respect to Lady Emiri. More than ever, she actually felt worthy of that name.

  From there she headed to Balayria’s. The half-orc woman had become an odd friend of hers. The woman didn’t truly feel at home surrounded by elves and humans. Her nature was more rugged than either of these races. Yet she was making a home for herself in Eris’ Rise. In that they were kindred spirits.

  It was also hard to fight with a woman who so doted on your child as Balayria did with Sara. The bond between the women might have begun with a shared love for Sara, matured over a shared sentiment of not belonging, but it had now developed into a friendship. This was something that Emily realized she had missed without ever knowing what she was missing.

  On Earth, Emily had had plenty of acquaintances. These were the people she did things with. What she had always been lacking was deep friendships. Those were the kind of people that you could just be with. Apart from Dave, at inconsistent times, she hadn’t had anyone like that in her life. She now found that in the half-orc who was so different from her. More than just tusks or the woman’s fixation on halter tops, their very nature was different. Yet both felt free to be themselves with each other.

  Emily walked into the little building that had become Balayria’s home, art studio, and most surprising in her shop, she saw that the half-orc was talking to another customer. He was picking up a painting that she had made. Emily watched as they exchanged some friendly banter, and then the man paid her before she handed the art over to him.

  Once the other customer was gone, Emily smiled. “I bet you never thought you would have a waiting list for people asking for your artwork, did you?”

  A deep throaty chuckle issued forth from the half-orc. Her tusks gleamed in the light streaming in from a window while her shoulders moved up and down with her laughter. “Not at all, Emiri. It has been a great oddity. Does it make me bad that I like it?”

  “Of course not, you have a talent and people are recognizing it. So do you mind if I ask what sort of requests you are getting?”

  “Mostly just for paintings to hang on their walls, simple decorations. There is something whimsical and refreshing about painting solely for the beauty of the painting. A few of the requests are like yours where they ask for the more magical side of my gift, but even those requests are exciting. They each present a unique challenge, and they are requests, not commands. I find that having a choice in my life is a great joy,” the half-orc responded.

  As Emily looked at her friend, she could see the faint elven traits. Most of Balayria took after her orcish father’s side, but there were hints if you knew what to look for. “What kind of paintings do they ask for?”

  “Sometimes it is simple things like landscapes. A few have asked for a portrait of themselves or their family. The most common request, though, is for action paintings of either you or your husband.”

  “Oh, I had no idea,” Emily said.

  “Just be prepared that if you visit your citizens in their homes, you may find some rather flattering paintings of yourself or Dave hanging on their walls. Perhaps even both of you.”

  Emily supposed it was a good thing that even with the impending invasion, the people of Eris’ Rise had both income and time to think about things as mundane as decorations. “Not to rush things along, but will you be able to finish the project?”

  “Yes, if you have the package, I will do it while you wait. I have already prepared the paint and imbued it with the magic necessary. If this works as you think it will, then we will perform a miracle,” Balayria replied.

  “Only the Gods can perform miracles,” Emily said, perhaps too quickly. It was what she believed, but she didn’t want to be such a zealot that she pushed others away.

  Her half-orc friend only gave her back a toothy grin as she said, “Well then, who better to be the instrument of such a miracle other than you, the Chosen of Shanelle.”

  Not wanting to get lost down a rabbit trail, Emily pulled out the package she had just picked up. Gently unwrapping the cloth surrounding it, she handed it over to Balayria. Then she followed as the half-orc went to a back room filled with paints and various supplies. It was obvious she had been planning for this task, and Emily appreciated her friend’s diligence.

  Over the next hour, Emily sat still, absorbed in how her friend worked. It was entrancing, but more than that, Emily was learning to view the world differently. Expecting a lifespan of hundreds of years changed how one saw the world. For her, it brought her into a place of less concern for the future and more living in the moment.

  Before she knew it, though, Balayria was done. After the paint dried, she returned the object split into its two parts. “To the best of my ability, it will work exactly as you intended. This is a good thing that you do, Emiri. However well it works out, remember that.”

  “Good intentions are excellent, but today, I am hoping for a win.”

  “I think you will. What else has to be done?” Balayria asked.

  “The rune crafters already inscribed their work before the woodshapers finished. Now that you have painted it, all that remains is to pick up the rings that Hiroto prepared for it, and then the blessing ceremony. I can’t help but be nervous. We are less than an hour away from seeing if this works. If it doesn’t, then I am out of ideas.”

  “You worry too much, Emiri. The plan is sound. It will go off without a hitch.”

  “I hope so. Will you be at the ceremony?” Emily asked.

  “I wouldn’t miss it. Noon, right?”

  “Yes, while both suns are in the sky, we will all gather at the church. I will see you there. Now, I need to go pick up the last part.”

  The two friends hugged and Emily left. To think that only a few weeks ago she had been nervous around Balayria. She was so grateful for her as a friend and a godmother to Sara. Things had been strange lately. As busy as Dave was with accomplishing research and preparing their people, Emily had been equally busy building relationships.

  When Emily arrived at Hiroto’s home, she was greeted by Akira, his wife. “Lady Emiri, may I offer you some tea?”

  “Your hospitality is always welcome. I will never forget the first morning that I woke in your home. Or the kirashemi you introduced me to. I appreciate that you treated me as one of our people even before I understood what it meant to be such. Today though, perhaps I can pass, as I must get ready for the ceremony,” Emily replied.

  A smile and gesture for her to enter the home was the only response. Inside, Hiroto was working, sitting at the table, talking to a pair of young elves and, surprisingly, Aloysia, Talvenicus’ daughter. When Emily raised an eyebrow, Hiroto stood and bowed. “Lady Emiri, please meet my three new apprentices. Your husband has asked that I try to pass on as much of the enchanting art as possible. While Mira remains my I, these others have all expressed an interest, so I am once again a teacher.”

  “Your lives have been changed so much for the simple fact that they tasked you with housing Mira and me one night on our journey to the Throne. I hope that what you have gained makes up for what you have lost,” Emily said.

  “Many times over, my lady. Please don’t worry about us. You have given me a place where my face can shine,” the old enchanter replied.

  “That is good. Now, I don’t mean to interrupt you, but you know why I am here.”

  “Yes, and it will be good for the apprentices to see this. May I hold it?” Hiroto asked.

  Unwrapping the object, she again handed it over to a craftsman, this time only passing the top half. As he inspected it, Hiroto said, “And you are certain that the two pieces are linked?”

  “Yes, they grew from a single seedling and were nurtured together over the past few weeks. They have been rune marked, and Balayria painted them this morning. Even separated, the two are still part of one whole. All that remains is your part and, of course, the ceremony in half an hour.”

  “Then there is no time to waste. Juri, go and get the three rings upon the red velvet-lined tray,” Hiroto said.

  Immediately one of the elven apprentices hopped up and ran towards the back of the home. He returned a minute later with a wooden tray lined with red velvet, just as Hiroto had described. On the tray was a set of three matching rings.

  Emily asked, “You believe that the enchantment will overcome the natural limitation of one ring per hand?”

  “My lady, it is not a true hand, and even if your miracle takes place, it will still be something different. The one ring is just an epic health ring, and the other ring will promote regeneration both of health and mana. The central ring is the one that will sync with his consciousness if this goes according to plan, and give him complete control of the items.”

  Emily watched then as Hiroto carefully placed the rings upon the carving before then wrapping it back up and handing the item back to her. “Will you be at the ceremony?”

  “Change is upon us, but I am still an old elf. I am not yet comfortable with the goddess you serve, but you do right by our people, so I don’t worry. Please forgive me for not being there,” Hiroto said.

  “Only know that you are always welcome.” With that, Emily returned the bow she received from Hiroto and his apprentices and then took her leave.

  She headed straight away for the church of Shanelle. When she arrived, it was already full. Her eyes scanned the crowd. All the priests, not just of Shanelle, were there, as were most of the paladins and a church full of the faithful. Everyone was here to see a miracle. The one face that she was looking for she didn’t see, but as she walked in, Elias, the priest of Shanelle in Eris’ Rise, told her, “He is in the back room. It was getting awkward for him with everyone trying to ask him questions.”