Element. Flame of Elisar

round seemed to be smashed and rush past me, never even giving a chance to catch a line

ghlands happy with its bright colors, sounds and scents. The mountain snowcaps that had got so fat

ar any of them clearly. And I had no time for that, actually. I was in a hurry to complete Mammy's special commission – to deliver a speci

is time it was definitely to be used for some weapons. The thing was that I did not have the time to ask what power exactly Narg

ed to move even faster. Well, at least it

g and turning into a slow and heavy mass, while

). I have no least idea how I do it, and it doesn't matter, to be honest. Most citizens have already got used to seeing me show up so brightly and unexpectedly

fast, moving around all the parts of the High

d she was really wise and experienced, just take my word for it – she knew how and when to collect herbs, she could feel when the time was just ripe and the herbs were in their full strength, and she remembered hundreds of secret details: what to mix with what, how to cook it, what was to be air-dried and what – sun-dried, and finally how to prepare elixirs with exactly

ight with us while trying to drive at least something into our stupid heads, always saying just one thing – we were the only two troubles

n to... well, just below the waist. And even although in the morning my caring sister helped me

and plush lips. The only thing that is different is the eyes. My sister has them bright green, the color of eme

mmon for the Highlands. Here, unlike the rest of the world, all types of

s", which could be roughly translated from Ancient something like "burning" or "

able life. Southern Elses appreciated the Ice Water skills, whereas the northern ones valued Burning. And people developed numerous fables and tales about it, and even

e. First, all the suitors were not very much of suitors – between hay and grass, if I may put it that way, and second, the typical cu

accept gifts from them. As for sister, she was still a little girl, seen by boys as a friend and

d hardly stopped and let the time go its conventional pace when the door to the shop opened with the "Great Master Blacksmith" appearing in the doorway, wearing

eted me with his lo

day here! Saw me coming?" I sat

re when moving, could see you from far away. Must have c

cket. "Listen, Truvle, what is this? I did not have the time to ask Mammy but

ut that one," he said and returned the look. "How

ull of water again, up to your knees, the waterfalls are getting strong. L

e uttered watching the clouds hugging the hillside

al-shaped bowl, where from its northern side, five waterfalls – each of different power – fell on

the Full-Flow River, which rushed out of the

ing brew had quite an acceptable shelf life retaining its effect for up to two months. Elixirs, Fillers, though, had an effect that never lasted long – no more than three days, and then they broke up into totally stupid ingredients. And there were even some that lived j

cided not to torture me any longer and snapped, "Com

oss his face in the next moment was a

mell of cinders overwhelmed us. The place was small

tion as well. Nargara likes experiments, so when the blacksmith asked her to help him make his craft better, she took it up with great enthusiasm. That was a path of cut and try, where N

ed. Besides, he got more and more orders for magical blades; they were tailor-made, which, in turn, made them

ood. A piece of wood impregnated with a special concoction just never burned away. An

hrone in solemn silence, and throwing one single glance at the weapon was en

on the handle, then he forged a sword, which would fork out into an unseen steel snake tongue as soon as you turned the guard. Well, that was his hobby – not to create j

as a typical creator, would never concede to anyone else. Each of the things he ma

ed at the weapon and whispered, "Order from the capital. Some

" I could not

s from under the hood... Just whispered he would be back in seven days, and then stuffed into my hand a note list

t like him

ustling... But the moment he paid me I nearly fell

racious turn coming to a thin and sharp point, while the body itself was decorated with curls and whorls resembling waterfalls. They went up to the handle getting larger and more visible, while at the crosshead the streams of metal hugged tenderly a huge light-blue gem and then split in

ped. "Truvle, you

ith was definitely happy with the praise, and I c

ed to see if I could make it even brighter, and here the blade caught my e

at the handle ... Okay, patience was defin

up! What is

he right filler here. And the transformation elixirs your Mammy makes, they ar

mentioned Mammy. It looked like the honored Master was not indifferent to t

ll do the job. The cu

it?" I was once again

t just a simple pebble either, but that would

here in the book ab

oup of the most powerful gems in magic, which are able to enhance the man's potential. Topaz corrects human thoughts making them clearer; concentrates m

ade to the anvil. "I think Nargara is a little wrong when she calls you numbskulls! There is at l

ut to retaliate with another joke when the blacksmith said something tha

e flask with the elixir into his huge palm. "And remember, whatever happens, don't even th

u!" I s

t the container to the weapon and started pouring the liquid on

ed greedily the dark liquid. Nothing was ha

rls gave some bluish radiance, and then suddenly the blade spread... just spread

pped back. "Wow! Is it going to rem

e to the metal! Just wait," Truvle was piercing the

of weapons ready to go – all types of swords, daggers, stilettos and lots of other stuff I did not even know the name of. And the throwing knives, of course! I knew that most of them had a secret – a little hollow in the blade, filled with mercury through

ts Truvle's voice broke th

ed thing on the anvil get back in s

g metal streams rushed to the hot gem gathering into something looking like an octopus, which wriggled and coiled. And as soon as the metamorphosis was complete we could see a bracelet – w

at the shining ring Truvle shouted,

n think about it!" I said

was trying to compose a totally innocent and attra

rk is a mess!" he mumbled and turned to the cabinet to take

and splashed the bracelet with the

ood!" I

replied, "its futu

's a Vernor?" I

the man gave a ha

emy get such a thing... well, all we can say is it would never make that enemy happy. It might remain sa

k – his hand was heavy enough to kill a bull. And then, realizing he had nearly crushed me, Truvle said, as if by way of apology, "You k

a midsized box. I rubbed my shoulder and stared at what he had

used to look forward to his visits that always seemed something of a miracle – we were rather poor those days, so sweets were a lu

ed for me, and as soon as I looked in my eyebrow

e!" I ex

asy job to get it!" Truvle smiled totally del

girl getting her best doll for birthday. But as soon as I could get back to my normal senses

was nothing short of cosmic iron. And th

ctually! Perhaps nothing would have happened if you had had som

s I knew perfectly