Fay couldn't help but feel excited—to finally have someone to teach him properly.
He had always felt like he wasn't using his creatures the right way. Just having them shoot magic or attack like wild beasts wasn't enough, especially when magical creatures could kill them with a single breath of fire… or snatch them away, like the wyvern that had taken the dog.
"All right, I'll help you defeat this thing. What do I need to do?"
Fay had climbed up the tree and now looked at the young elf beside him. The elf didn't seem any older than him—but Fay could tell from his presence alone that he was much older.
[That's a good start. Showing no fear. Just be a little more patient. As you know, we hunters need to set traps. I'm sure you're good at that.]
[As an illusionist, I'll have to show you how to improve—but first, I need to test your skills. The one you know as the Guide, we Eluwyn call the Seer of the Old—an ancient whose will still lingers.]
[He has told me that you have great potential. Now let's see how true that is.]
Elaruîn, the silver-haired elf, suddenly took out several small jewels—each about the size of a marble. They were nearly as large as the ones embedded in his own hands.
"I see the Ravari already performed their ritual on you," Elaruîn said, glancing at Fay's hand. "The Guide who taught them that technique isn't known for his kindness, but he's one of the strongest. Remember—without his support, the Ravari would have never succeeded in passing it down."
Elaruîn gently pulled Fay's hand closer, inspecting the piercing.
"It looks like it's healing well now. The Ravari are rare among tribes—rather than staffs, rods, or crafted weapons, they use these gems to channel magic."
He paused.
"It's dangerous. Feeding mana directly into the body like this slowly helps form an internal core—but if you overuse it or train poorly, it can rupture from within. So do be careful."
After checking that everything was fine, Elaruîn placed one of the marbles onto Fay's palm. He had a handful of them—probably about a dozen in total.
The first was a yellow gem, faintly crackling with static.
The moment it touched Fay's skin, the energy inside leaped toward him, making him instinctively recoil—but Elaruîn held his hand in place.
"Sorry, I forgot to warn you. When one of these stones senses affinity, it'll try to merge with you. I'll be more careful with the next one."
The next gem shimmered with a familiar gray haze, swirling inside its core. Fay recognized it instantly—it was the same type he had once fed to Grin.
This haze tried to slip from the gem and reach him, but Elaruîn quickly pulled it back before contact.
[That's two. Very nice, for a summoner. Not many within the Hum's are this lucky.]
The third gem glowed red, like magma sealed in crystal. Elaruîn brought it near Fay's palm again, but this one showed no reaction. He nodded, unfazed, and moved on.
Then came a green stone that looked like a miniature hurricane churned within it. This one felt dangerous—as if it might burst—but, once again, there was no reaction.
Next was a deep blue stone, as if the heart of the ocean had been sealed within it. Nothing happened.
Finally, he brought forth a white stone, shining faintly like frost atop a snowy mountain.
Still, no reaction.
The next few gems were even more unusual.
One was a silver jewel, faintly glowing as if it contained a trapped soul drifting just beneath its surface.
Another was copper, strangely silent—so silent, in fact, that the air around it seemed to absorb all sound. Even Fay's own breathing felt muffled as it drew near sound seemed to be lost for a few seconds.
After that, he was handed one that looked like a prismatic gem, its shifting colors warping the space around it. Light bent oddly near its surface, and Fay's vision turned blank for a second.
Elaruîn caught the look in his eyes.
[That one,] he said, [is called the Void Jewel. Dangerous, rare… and not meant for most.]
Fay nodded, still watching the gem with fascination.
Next came a black stone, deep and smooth like polished obsidian. The air around it darkened ever so slightly. Fay immediately understood—this was a shadow element jewel, likely the kind Kimya's leopard would need.
Finally, Elaruîn held up another green gem, distinct from the earlier storm-infused one. This one pulsed gently—as if something alive beat softly within it.
Fay glanced toward Elaruîn's small, vine-covered lizard and noticed the creature watching the gem intently, its eyes glowing faintly with recognition.
None of the stones so far had reacted any further. That's when Elaruîn took out something different—not a gem, but a small metallic orb. He examined it briefly and nodded, satisfied.
[I'm glad,] he said, [that you're not a war summoner like most of the Hum's. This one here—] he held up the orb [—usually gives shape to weapons, turning them into summons. A very dangerous element… favored by warmongers.]
Elaruîn now had only two stones left. Fay hoped at least one of them would be meant for him.
The next one was white, but unlike the icy gem from before, this one contained a soft, swirling fog. It reminded Fay of the gray haze from earlier—but it felt lighter, gentler. Purified.
[Interesting,] Elaruîn murmured. [It's not every day someone shows affinity for both Illusion and Dreams. They're usually related to the mind—but they clash. It's rare for both to live in harmony within one body. That may be why the Guide asked me to train you.]
He handed the jewel to Fay.
[Try it. See if you can bring something out from that gem. It doesn't need to be big—just a simple summon. Size isn't everything.]
Elaruîn gestured toward the small, green gecko-like creature resting on his shoulder—a strange, alien-looking being.
[This little one, for example," he said, "is as powerful as any wyvern.]
Fay nodded in response. he knew just how powerful such creatures could get, he just never gave their size much thought.