Evolve: Chapter 3 Part 4/End

Nexyl

Nexyl mastered a lot of the basic spells his brother showed him and after lunch they were to build the portal from the library to Nexyl's closet. He was really excited about that. He didn't want to have to resort to going all the way out to the garden and touching his great-great grandfather's statue right in the middle of his crotch area. It was not a place he wanted to touch, especially not on a male family member. 

Nexyl knew his brother was open to that sort of relationship. He didn't think his brother was only interested in men, just that he found someone to be with and that that love was all he needed in this world. He knew his brother found women attractive, and if he had found a female to be with, then he would be with her rather than with that Dwarf. Well, a Dwarf. He wasn't sure if it was that Srel person or someone close to Srel. He just knew that Venril's lover was a male Dwarf in the West where he usually goes and visits his friend Srel. He didn't know much, just that he suspected it might be Srel.

Nexyl was not a fan of Srel. He thought Srel had a short temper and was too fond of the Dwarves. He never liked to look down on others, especially other races who he felt had no equal status in the Kingdom. However, he was not going to judge his brother or butt into his personal affairs. It was not his duty to do so so there was no need to.

Venril came back from his portal in his room and smiled. "Okay the portal for you in the library is ready. Now just need to connect the one in your closet to that one." He said before he forced Nexyl's hands onto the portal's sides and supported his back. "Now, concentrate on the portal downstairs, the one near the left bookcase, picture it and then put all your energy and magick into this one and the connection should be set." 

"Should be?" Nexyl questioned looking confused and worried.

"Yeah, it worked for me and the connection helped. And believe that it is possible, hold that thought and don't let go. Okay?"

Nexyl looked nervous before he sighed and closed his eyes. "Yes." He then thought of the portal, even though he hasn't seen it before and pictured it in his mind. His Elf light glowed brighter and his hands looked like they were on fire or the flesh was burning off with steam arising from it. His energy was strong and his magick was young but able to grow quickly and with that the portal was opening and the hazy purple and blue colors were forming inside the rims of the frame his hands were placed on. He could feel Venril's hands supporting him. It was a good thing Venril was there otherwise Nexy would be pushed back by the force of his magick and thrown into a wall. He wondered how his brother did this alone and he knew that he was not about to be second in comparison to his brother. With that resolve his portal was forming and he was creating his own portal and when he was almost spent of energy, he let go and thankfully he finished it because he was not sure he had enough energy to do it a second time. 

After a few breaths and his brother catching him as he felt back he looked up at his brother curiously. "So why did I have to do that?" 

"Because now it is your portal, no one may enter it without your guidance first." Venril said with a smile before he picked his brother up and set Nexyl on his bed opposite from the closet in the middle. "Now just rest a while and you should be back to normal. It took a lot out of me too." He said with a smile and knelt down by his brother's bed and laid his head on the sheets as he watched his brother to make sure he was alright. 

Nexyl smiled and he reached his hand up and started to pet his brother's head. "Thank you." He said with a smile. "When do you leave today for the Dwarf village in the west?" He asked looking a little sad he'd have to be parted from his brother for a few days.

"I was going to leave after I helped you with the portal. If you want to stay till your energy has come back I will." He said holding onto his brother's hand to stop the petting as well as comfort him. "It's alright, you can leave when you want. It shouldn't be long till I am up and running again." He said with a smile. He glanced over at the portal and smiled. "On your way out though, can you close my closet and make sure it is hidden from my servants?" 

"Of course. I'll be sure to do that. Rest for about an hour or two and you should feel better." He said with a smile before he stood up and kissed his brother on the forehead. "Take care brother, I'll see you within a week or two." He said sweetly with a caring smile.

"Likewise. Have fun." He said with a sweet smile back and went slowly to sleep to rest.

Venril smiled and walked to the closet and closed the doors and then he looked back before he left his brother's room and smiled one last time before closing the door and told the servants not to disturb him for a few hours. 

Venril

He finished packing hours ago and was ready to leave, knowing very well he should considering it would get dark soon. He grabbed his sack, archery equipment and sword, a few snacks for the journey and left the Kingdom. When he was far enough from the walls of the Kingdom, he started to teleport little by little till he was halfway to Srel's village. It took him until dark to reach to the halfway point which was usually marked by Srel and him as a very obscure looking tree that twisted around in the ground and bore a oddly shaped burn mark in the center of its thick trunk. He always wondered about the mark and where it came from. He and Srel talked about it numerous times about where it originated from and Srel's theory was a torch. Of course, he always picked torches as his main answer for burn marks. It would strike Srel in the pride to see Elven magick for the first time. 

Venril smiled and looked down at his hand. It was growing darker as the shadows begun to form around him from the setting sun. He loved nightfall. It was the perfect time of the weather for him and the most enjoyable moment of the day. He was always a night owl and knew very well that if he could have it his way, he would wake up at night and sleep during the day. During the summer that is. So far, he never got that opportunity with his stiff schedule as a prince. He sighed and walked a little ways to get his energy back up so he could continue teleporting.

He was tired and needed to rest. He knew it would take a few more hours before he was even close to the village, however, his excitement was growing the more he got closer to see Srel. He couldn't wait to see Srel and finally get a chance to be with him again, let alone tease him for all he was worth. Venril smiled and remembered moments where teasing Srel was difficult because Srel was not in the mood to even be teased. Typical for a dwarf, always ending the conversation short. Venril gasped before he laughed finding the pun way too amusing to pass up. It was too easy to make short jokes and puns, especially when considering his friend.

However, his friend was not the typical Dwarf, he was taller than the rest which made Venril happy. Srel would be easy to spot in a crowd of Dwarves let alone in general. He wondered about Srel and his family lineage and why Srel was so much taller than most Dwarves. It was too weird to have a Dwarf so tall. His entire family was like that. Even his father was tall. His mother was quite stout but didn't eat much so her weight was usually thin and much more lankier than that of a normal Dwarf. Venril thought at one time that Srel might be a Half-Dwarf. It wasn't a common thing but he did read about it once or twice from his grandfather's stories. However, a Half-Dwarf usually consisted of a human in the mix which would be weird considering only magick could bring Humans to their world or transport one being to the next world. It was something only magick thought of doing. If that was the case, however, it would explain a lot about Srel. 

Venril sighed, realizing it was hard keeping up a long distance relationship but thankfully that won't last much longer. He planned on creating a portal for Srel and him so they can see each other more often. He already built a portal in his room in his second closet so he could see Srel. All he needed was to create the other one in Srel's closet so they could see each whenever, hopefully every night. The thought of such a thing occurring made him even more excited, allowing him to regain his energy and begin his journey again. The rest of his stops consisted of snacks and small breaking points to refuel his energy. He had to admit though, he was getting better and better at magick. He did remember to bring the magick book with him to learn more and show Srel. He was really curious if other creatures other than Elves could create magick too. The thought made him smile, and he was even happier to see Srel walking up from the village he was only feet away from. They smiled at each other before running up to each other, wrapping each other in a hug and holding on tightly as if they never wanted to let go. 

Srel seemed surprised to see Venril so early and so fast considering he just got the letter early that morning. However, he waited by the gate just to be sure Venril wasn't walking into the village on his own without an welcome back greeting. 

"It's good to see you Srel." Venril said, letting go of his hug and placing a hand on Srel's face. 

"Likewise Venril." He said before he grabbed Venril's shirt and pulled him down into a desperate, longing kiss. Venril smiled in the kiss and then picked Srel up simply to make him mad that he was being picked up and treated like the submissive one. It worked because Srel grew irritated and started to pinch Venril's cheek to punish him. 

"Don't ruin the moment with cheap tricks, idiot…" Srel said irritatedly and pushed Venril away so he could be put down. "Now are you coming or not?" 

Venril smiled and sighed. "Goodness, I sure have missed that short temper of yours." Venril said as he hugged Srel from behind. 

"Yeah yeah," Srel said before he hopped Venril up in the air and gave him a piggy back ride to his house, surprising Venril and startling him that such a short guy could carry such a large Elf. 

Evolve: Chapter 3 Part 3

Venril

Venril promised his brother before he left to see Srel that he'd show him how to make portal in his room as well as learn a few basic magick techniques that he learned in his first days of learning the craft. Nexyl was a natural at magick, able to grasp it right away and harness incredible power. His light was even brighter today from his good long night of sleep and Venril could tell his brother was much more energetic and calm than he was the day before. 

Venril showed Nexyl how to levitate objects and cause the elements in his hand to form with only a few basic materials from the ground. He also showed Nexyl how become invisible which was a hard technique to learn. Venril hasn't fully perfected it. 

"So let me get this straight, the body is the easy part to make invisible but the clothes are harder to make invisible at the same time?" Nexyl questioned.

"That's right. Remember that time that vase fell and broke without anyone near it?" He asked looking a little embarrassed.

"That was you!?" Nexyl said before he understood why Venril was so embarrassed. "Oh. Not very becoming but as long as no one saw you." He said almost smiling.

"Yeah, I know. I couldn't figure out how to do the clothes as well as the body at the same time. It takes a lot of concentration and many hours to perfect the technique. I finally got most of it down but overall, I am not fully able to perfect it." He said before sighing.

Nexyl understood his brother's concern but maybe there was something Venril wasn't seeing. He smiled and realized the pun he just made. 

"I can't understand what it means to make the clothes a part of your body. Am I suppose to fuse them together first before going invisible?" Venril asked curiously.

"Hmm. I think what it means is to see yourself as you are and as what you are suppose to be. Like for example. We are princes, we are born to look and act like high class, professional leaders who need to dress well. Think of your clothes are part of who you are. That they are an extension of yourself.

"Hmm. So is it like when a person is nervous, that old tactic of picturing everyone naked to help calm yourself down? That it makes you feel like you belong just as you are because everyone is in the same boat as you are?"

"I guess so. A weird way to see it but okay we'll go with that. Think of your clothes as a part of yourself, what makes you you. Your identity and structure. Without them you are an internal part of yourself that no one else will see, so they can't see you. The true you is invisible to them because of the clothes you wear." 

Venril nodded then he stood up and thought of his clothes as an extension of himself. His clothes reminded me of something he masked, something he forced people to see rather than what was underneath. He didn't think of clothes as just something he wore, but what he was forced to show to hide who he really was. And with that realization and the want of turning invisible, he was able to go completely invisible with ease. He smiled when he couldn't see his own body and he noticed Nexyl clapping and smiling.

"Good job." He said before a flower ended up in his hair without his knowledge of anyone putting it there. "Haha, very funny." He said before Venril hugged him from behind.

"Thank you brother! I'm glad you are here to do this with me." He said happily.

Nexyl smiled and patted Venril's arm that was around his neck. "No problem little one. Now what else did you want to learn or could show me?"

"There is a teleportation spell I want to show you." He said before he did it and he teleported to the other side of the room. He then looked dizzy, making Nexyl get up and worry about him and catch him before he fell to his knees.

"What's wrong!?" Nexyl shouted looking worried and confused.

"Oh, that one just takes a lot of energy. Especially with how much you have practiced with and how far you teleport." He said exhausted and pointing to a chair to sit down in.

Nexyl helped Venril into the chair and knelt by him. "Let's take a break." 

"No it's alright." Venril said with a smile. "I'm good to try again." He started to get up but was still too weak to do so.

Nexyl looked angry and he pushed his brother back down in the seat. "No. Stop that!" 

"Stop what?" Venril asked.

"Acting like you don't matter and that your problems and pain are less than that of someone else. Think of yourself for once rather than the sake of others for a change. It pisses me off that you don't consider yourself sometimes." Nexyl said looking annoyed but then sighed and looked worried. "You are my brother and I love you. If anything happened to you because you tried to save someone for their sake rather than your own, I would be devastated. So stop pushing yourself to do stuff that is out of your control to do." He said as he placed his hand on Venril's arm and looked at him sincerely.

Venril was shocked to see his brother so worried but then he smiled placed his hand on Nexyl's and then leaned in to kiss his brother on the cheek. "Don't worry brother. I'm alright. If you want me to worry more about myself sometimes I will. But honestly, I am alright. I just put too much thought in where I was going and used too much energy to teleport in such a short distance with all that energy. I over exerted myself, that's all." He said calmly and smiled, waiting for Nexyl to smile back so he could finish.

"You're right. I'm sorry I shouted at you." Nexyl said sadly.

"It's okay. Besides, I know you can handle the spell. Just remember to picture where you are going and put only that amount of energy in getting there or you can always put little energy into shorter distance teleports and get there quicker but in parts." He said with a smile before he stood up and stretched, feeling his energy return.

Nexyl smiled. "I'll be sure to remember that." He said with a smile.

Evolve: Chapter 3 Part 2

Srel clenched his hand on his spoon he had in his soup and wasn't able to calm himself down until his sister appeared. Oera was a beautiful dwarf, skinny too. She was not stout like most of the Dwarves in their village. It may have to do with their father who was never really a Dwarf. In fact, his father was the tallest Dwarf in the kingdom and would never tell them his family history. All he knew was that they were Giants among Dwarves. That was all Srel knew and all he cared to ask. He could care less why he was taller than the rest, just that he was tall enough to help out in times of need, especially with something needing to be placed high up. 

Srel was about five-feet and two inches, Dwarves usually not exceeding that of four foot and ten inches. Oera was five feet even and lanky at that. Srel was pretty masculine, but not stout like most of the Dwarves. In fact, he was good proportion for his height. Srel had messy black hair, that Oera always wanted to brush but he never let her. He said that brushing his hair would make him appear girly like an Elf. Then they found themselves laughing when they thought of Venril, who's hair was spiky and messy half the time. Venril was not an average Elf because he was so masculine and rugged. He was not afraid to get dirty or to go a week without bathing. Srel loved Venril for his down-to-earth charm and rugged good looks. He wish he had Venril's spirit and charm, yet he knew his anger got the best of him forcing him from being able to have such charm like Venril. Srel sighed at the thought his sister looked at him curiously and staring down at his food as if she wanted some.

"What?" He said questionably as he looked up at her, his voice deep and slightly irritated.

"Nothing, just wondering why you seemed so down all of a sudden when your food looks so delicious." She said with a smile. She always did have a big appetite but never seemed to gain any weight or fat. It was a mystery to everyone really. 

"Want some? There is still half of what I fixed up on the stove." He asked her sweetly.

"But is it still warm?" She asked, not bothering to check first.

Srel looked annoyed and pouted. "I just fixed it. It would be a better option then the food I already sunk my teeth in." He said before he started to devour his food faster so she couldn't even get a chance at stealing it from him.

"Oh alright, don't have a cow." She said rolling her eyes before she went to the kitchen to grab herself some food. "By the way, where is Venril these days? He hasn't been buy in weeks. Usually he comes by every other week to see you." She said curiously as she started to nibble on some bread first before grabbing her own mutton.

"Oh he is probably busy with his duties as a prince. He hasn't even sent me a letter or anything."  He said kind of sounding a little hurt his Elf probably forgotten him.

"Actually, a hawk brought a letter by not too long ago. It seemed like a rush order from Venril." She said before she set her food on the table and sat down.

Srel stood up almost excited and urgent to read it. "Where!" He shouted at her looking like a love-sick puppy who finally got the chance to play with its favorite toy again.

His sister looked at him rather shocked and dumbfound at her brother's enthusiasm then she smirked and held it up in between her fingers. He reached for it but she pulled it away, teasing him. "What do I get in return?" She asked slyly. "A new set of daggers?" She asked, desperately needing a new set since hers were almost about to break from her last battle with a giant Werewolf. Females were not allowed to hunt or fight and Oera normally go there tools from her brother or her father. They knew she had a passion for fighting and protecting herself and her family, so they raised her like a tomboy and a fighter, probably even a better fighter than her big brother. 

"Fine! Now give it here!" He said before it was in his reach and he was able to finally snatch it from her and read it.

Dear Srel,

It is good to finally get around to talking to you. I am deeply sorry that it took me this long to finally get enough time to talk to you let alone make a trip back to your village and see you. I miss you terribly and hope that within the next few days, I will be able to see you once again. I have so much to tell you my dear friend. Much of it deals with a secret my ancestors has kept from us and another part of it is about my brother, Nexyl. I hope you will wait for me and then when possible, our meetings will become much more frequent and accessible to the both of us. Do wait for me, I plan on leaving my Kingdom this afternoon after right writing this. I should be there within a day or two, if not sooner. It may not even take that long. I wish you and your sister the best. 

Sincerely,

Venril

Srel read the letter, and smiled when he finally understood that Venril was heading to him within the day. His smile must have been bright and big because his sister giggled at him making him seem really embarrassed.

"Venril said he was coming in the next day or two or sooner." He then stopped and thought and reread a part of the letter. "But how can that be? It usually takes him four days to reach our village. How can you reach us so quickly? It must be part of what he is going to tell me when he gets here." He said with a smile. "Either way, I get to see him." He said happily before he coughed and changed his demeanor back to normal. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see if Kvor needs any help with that new house their building." He said putting the letter in his room and then leaving the house to go and help his friends with the workload.

Oera rolled her eyes and smiled and then reached for her brother's leftovers on his plate before he came back in and drank the rest of his soup and taking his mutton leg with him out the door. Oera frowned and looked saddened she couldn't have seconds. 

Evolve: Chapter 2 Part 3 (End) - Chapter 3 Part 1

Venril

Venril awoke in the middle of night, stirring abruptly and deep in thought. He never did that before. What was eating away at him so important that it woke him up in the middle of night. He was dreaming rather well and it seemed like he had someone on his mind. The name, what was the name in his dream? Srel. Yes, his dear friend in the west among the Dwarves. This Dwarf, quite wise and strong and easy to tease, for Srel's temper was as easy to stir as the ripples in the water from a single touch. Why was Srel on his mind? He knew that magick could affect ones psychic connections to someone close, but was Srel that close to him that he had to tell him about something. Something important it seemed. Did it deal with his brother? Yes, that was it. His brother had become rather annoying it seemed to him, the kind of annoying that bugs you until you tell someone to let it off your chest. He needed to confide in his friend, to understand what should be done about his brother and why he was even questioning his brother in the first place. 

He needed the companionship of his friend, Srel. They had many sleepovers together, some he dare not say in public company, for it was too intimate to really speak aloud but it was common between the two of them. They were close enough to have such a relationship and still stay friends. It was nothing but companionship between friends that appeared to be close to a consort's passion. It was weird to talk bout and a little too private to discuss among someone other than the two who took part in. He enjoyed it all the same because he cared for Srel. He thought about the Dwarf almost every day and wondered when was the next day he would see him and how long he had to be with him. Hopefully he will get the chance to be with him for a good long while.

He sighed, knowing that staying awake thinking about Srel wouldn't bring Srel to him. He did, however, want to create a portal in Srel's closet in his little humble home and connect it to his so he could visit Srel quickly as much as they both liked. That gave him some peace and helped him go to sleep a little easier knowing that he was able to harness such power in order to see his friend more. Hopefully, he remembered to bring the book of spells with him when he went on his little trip to Srel. 

Chapter 3

Srel

Srel woke up, naturally hungry and grumpy. The dwarf was always grumpy, yet not entirely hostile. His temper, usually quick and agile, would rise whenever he felt threatened, tense, pressured or teased usually by a clique of friends who knew they could get a rise out of him and they thought it was humorous. Never did he show violence or hostility towards the people close to him. He dealt with the issue with his own family where his uncle would come over, drunk on ale and usually not very wise when visiting. He'd hit on his mother, who was his uncle's own sister, and his father would control the situation by putting an end to his uncle's behavior quickly and roughly. They would then consider straightening him out the same day but it still did not force his uncle to change his ways. The attitude and character his uncle displayed, always rose in him. He hated to see his mother hurt and distraught. He almost wanted to join his father and punch his uncle's lights out, even at the young age of five. Since then, he has always despised drunks, whether happy or angry, he hated people going nuts on drinking and then lose control with their inhibitions. He drank, but responsibility. The other Dwarves saw him as weak and unwilling to take risk but then they realized who they were dealing with. The Dwarf who could snap them into two if they ever dare mess with him. He trained to defend himself and the ones he cared for, so punching a guy upside the head was no problem. For him, that is. 

Srel was a proud and hardworking dwarf, one that knew a lot about fighting and how to provide an extra hand to his village west of the Elf Kingdom, which he visited often, knowing one of the princes there. Venril visited him often and they had a friendship like no other, one that was close and trusted. Srel respected Venril and they have been friends since childhood. Since they were young, they played together in the Elven Garden of the Kingdom and traveled over the wall into the fields on the southern side, picking flowers and swimming in the nearby lake. 

As they grew up, they started to practice hand-to-hand combat with one another in defensive training. Srel instinctively wanted to in case he dealt with someone like his Uncle. He believed that immoral acts were a sign of weakness in people and could easily be handled if dealt with properly like to put people in their place who need to be knocked down a few pegs from their ego. He even thought that there would be more people like his Uncle and that they should learn for the future how to protect themselves and the people close to them. Venril agreed, also thinking the same way, it was hard enough being a prince and having servants doing everything for you. It would be nice to fight your own battles rather than force someone else to fight for you.

Srel was one of the Dwarves whose height exceeded that of any normal Dwarf. Being taller than the rest, yet not nearly as tall as Venril was, was sometimes a challenge. He was sometimes not even considered a Dwarf at times, and he could feel his anger boiling until he was reminded that his father was also tall and that it probably was the cause of his own giantism for a dwarf . Venril had a good foot on him which was a short distance apart considering a Dwarf and an Elf standing next to each other. A Dwarf was usually half the same or smaller than that of an Elf but for some reason Srel was much taller than the rest of his people. He was sometimes called a Giant in comparison to his friends, which he never mind. He liked to feel taller and stronger than the rest. It showed he was the alpha in the group as well as the one to turn to if someone ever dared to belittle his people. 

Srel got out of bed and started to make breakfast. He knew how to cook thanks to his sister and his mother. He was a mama's boy at heart but never dare admit it to his friends. He started to fix a good deal of food, just for himself. For a Dwarf's size, it was hard to believe they could eat so much. Srel remembered Venril mentioning that all that meat and bread would go straight to Srel's sides and he'd be a good sphere and easy to to roll around. Srel grumbled at the thought of being pushed around like a ball. He didn't want to get fat, so sometimes he usually fixed half of what his stomach had ordered and called it a meal fit for two, two for cat kittens that is. He smiled, knowing quite well he made a joke, but soon turned the smile upside down in order to hide it.

He sat down at the table with his mutton and mushroom soup. The mutton was of course from a sheep, a good source of proteins which he knew he needed to get through the day. He remember giving some to Venril once, Elves being vegetarian and how sick Venril was afterwards. It was a good payback for calling him a midget the day before, but he did feel bad afterwards knowing how much he hurt Venril in the end. 

Venril was his best friend. They were lovers too. They had many intimate nights together and at the same time able to stay friends or hide it from the rest of their friends. He knew Venril's brother, Nexyl, suspected that Venril had a consort and perhaps it being a Dwarf in the West, but Nexyl couldn't say who it was in particular. Nexyl. That Elf was as quick-tempered as he was but was always able to hide it so beautifully for the sake of his image. He despised that Elf. He thought Nexyl belittled Venril half the time and didn't respect thin as a prince, let alone his own brother. He saw a hollow darkness in Nexyl, one that was fueled by pride and politics. He knew Nexyl to be the logical, practical type but that was no reason to shun away your brother with work or to act as if you are better than everyone else. What an asshole. How dare he treat Venril like that when all Venril has been is kind, generous, thoughtful, and caring. Venril was a good soul and Srel knew that he'd do anything for him, let alone protect him from whoever treated Venril unfairly.