Page 2 of Trapped With My Dark Elf
Veylan’s gaze fixes on me. “And this artifact—what does it do?”
There are several ways to answer that. Most of them inefficient.
“It does not increase power,” I say, choosing precision over spectacle. “It opens paths between outcomes. The old records call that the Deceiver’s craft.”
“Explain.”
Of course.
“It binds possibility by creating a gateway between what is and what could be,” I continue, watching them as I speak, “thenforces one path to remain open long enough to become real. Some records claimed such gates did not only open forward. They allowed things sealed beyond the present to press back through weak points: blood, prophecy, fear.”
That is when the room stills. Not because they understand it fully. Because they understand enough. Good. They are not such idiots after all. And I keep the whole truth hidden. It keeps the suspense, and I relish in it.
Maelrik exhales slowly. “That removes consequence.”
“Yes.”
And without consequence, power becomes absolute.
Veylan’s expression hardens slightly. “If Velkiron has access to this?—”
“They don’t,” I interrupt.
He stops and listens.
“If they had it,” I continue, “this discussion would not be happening.”
That redirects him. Focus returns.
“They’re searching for it,” Drathis says.
“Yes.”
“And we are not,” Xalith adds, irritation cutting through his voice.
“We cannot locate what does not remain in one place,” Veylan replies, though there is a fracture forming now, a recognition of limitation he does not like acknowledging. “The records place it within the Dark Forest.”
Even Xalith understands what that implies.
“Then we burn it,” he says.
I almost admire the consistency.
“That would fail,” I reply.
His gaze sharpens. “You assume that.”
“I don’t,” I say, meeting his stare without resistance. “The forest does not respond consistently to destruction. You wouldlose resources attempting to erase something that does not remain in the same state long enough to be erased.”
He does not like that answer. That is irrelevant.
Maelrik speaks instead. “Then we have no way to find it.”
There it is. The moment they reach the edge of what they can solve. The point where force stops being effective. Which is precisely where I become necessary. I let the silence hold, not long, just enough.
“We do.”
Veylan’s attention sharpens fully now. “How?”
