I am an Elf of clan Karnista, which means “Spell Maker.” Every member of my clan was, an Eldritch Knight from birth. Magic is just in they’re blood. I am the only one that was born without magical ability. Most would think that because I was born without magical ability I would be kicked out of the clan, but elves are not that cruel. Instead I was merely trained in the art of swordplay. For many years I was taught how to use a sword, and then became a practice dummy for both swords and spells to strike. In fact, now that I think about it, maybe it would have been kinder to kick me out of the clan for not having magic. Being hit with a spells nonstop throughout the day with no more protection than leather armor is much worse than being clan-less. Or maybe not; I guess I wouldn’t know unless I was clan-less. Anyway, my life was basically just training and having spells thrown at me every day. That is until the time when I was about 80 years old, which for an Elf is still a child. At that time the whole world turned upside down.
You see humans feared the great magical powers of the Elves. Elves were not allowed to live in human towns, which left the choices of living underground with the Dwarves, in the planes with the Halflings, or in the Swamps with the Orks. The Dwarves wouldn’t work because Elves don’t like living underground; we like the fresh air. Living with the Halflings wouldn’t be too bad, but the plains have few trees, and may elves make their homes in the trees. Residing with the Orks was probably the worst choice, because no Elf would ever be caught living in a swamp with those dirty savages; we are much too civilized.
Back to the point: humans feared us Elves so much they decided that keeping us in the forests was not good enough. They decided they needed to wipe us out. They needed to destroy every Elf. The Elven villages are arranged into a ring-like shape with the nobles in the middle, and the best warriors—the Karnista —at the edge. This means our village was attacked first. When we were attacked I hid inside a tree while my clan was obliterated as they held off the humans until reinforcements arrived. When I was found it was by the king’s youngest son.
He did not understand why Humans hated Elves so much, for Humans, although needing much study, could use magic as well. So instead of kill me, he took me “prisoner.” The Elves had finally organized and forced the Human army to retreat. When the Humans had gotten far enough away from the Elven land the king’s son approached his father and said he had captured me, and that I must not have any magical ability, because I had not yet used a single spell. The king agreed with his son, and took me with them to be their ambassador to the Elves to avoid future conflict. I was never allowed to leave the castle during the day, and could leave for no reason during the night except to go to the Elves on business for the king. In my free time I studied what the humans called tomes; they were books filled with spells and magical secrets.
Eventually I had started my own spell book after I realized with minimal study I could master a spell, unlike humans who took years to master just one. Although I was happy with my magical ability I kept it to myself for fear that the king would kill me if he found out. I then learned that I did not belong to the Karnista clan, but a much smaller, and much less known clan of Magi known as the Templaruil clan, which means “Magic Sword.” After learning this I found where they were located; in a small area that was thought to be inhabited by only the most dangerous creatures, for no person had returned from there.
I planned it perfectly: the king gave me a mission to go to the elves, and I did, but instead of meet with the leader of the elves I traded my horse, and all the money I had for an untraceable Elven horse, and I headed to where my true clan resided. When I got there I was tested mentally and physically to be sure I was one of them. I finally felt, after 135 years, that I was with my own people.
I will have my revenge on the king one day; I do not know how, or when, but I will avenge all the death, and all the pain he caused.
