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Zero entered the forest of the Elves unhindered, not needing to hide his head or face, he could pass for an Elf rather easily. The large wooden creatures called Tree Guards did not trouble him for they smelled the magic of Elves in his blood. He knew where Kern lived, all Elves did, they could ‘feel’ his power, for the older an Elf became the more his power increased.

‘Kern are you in there?’

‘Why do you even ask Zero when you can feel my presence?’

‘Just to be polite.’

‘It is dangerous for you to be here.’

‘No it is not.’

‘Yes it always has been Zero, you may fool the guards and some Elves but you could never pass the test of the sword, they would know you are halfbreed instantly.’

‘No one has ever chosen to wave their sword over me.’

‘It is good that no Elf has, good thing for you, you look so much like your father whomever that may be.’ Kern alluded to the fact that Zero’s mother was a slave who was ordered to serve the drunken guest of her Elf master. After that night she discovered she was pregnant and her master, Gin set her free. Yet Gin was rather unwilling to reveal the identity of his friend who was responsible. Zero thought many times of torturing Gin to get that information.

‘Do not even think about it Zero.’

‘You reading my mind again old man?’

‘Old habits die hard.’ Kern sat to pour himself some tea, his wooden shack was simple yet homey. ‘You came to ask me something.’

‘Yes I came to ask about The Sword of The Seven Lands.’

‘Why do you wish to wield it? I would suggest  against it.’

‘Why? What powers does it have? And if it is so powerful I do not see Elves leaving it in the hands of men.’

‘It is because the sword gives no power dear boy.’

‘What, the Elves forged it, it must have some magical power.’

‘Listen the power of the sword is simply this to unleash magic inside the one who wields it.’

‘Oh I get it, men have no magic within them so to them it is useless, the Elves have nothing to fear, only they or some other immortal can wield it, but what if I were to…?’

‘Never Zero, do not even think it, heaven knows what effect it would have, you are not an Elf nor or you a man, you are something else, something unknown and new.’

‘I would do no harm, for magic is in me.’

‘Yes that may be so, but of what kind? Not even I know, it is so unique I could feel you coming for miles, it is not like ours, drawn from nature and therefore pure.’

‘Are you saying the magic in me is not?’ Zero became upset his entire life everyone immortal and man alike had cut him down.

‘No I’m not saying that. I’m saying I do not know my boy, best not to trifle with it.’

‘But as a ranger I have used it, my magic that is. It seems to work like all others.’

‘Only on the surface, you have never studied the intricacies of it as I have, you may be able cast spells and do the basics but to go beyond that may have horrible effects.’

‘Or great ones.’

‘Too much of a gamble.’

‘I’ll go now.’

‘Travel safe I will send some fireflies to light your way.’

‘Thank you Kern.’

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