Aello Faewynn and Flora Faewynn.
Within years of spawning and breeding numerous offspring, the elves split between land and water.
Flora Faewynn enjoyed the land. As her name suggested, nature was her calling. Flowers, trees, and everything green brought a smile to her face. Aello, however, was more indifferent to the land and preferred the peaceful tranquility of the water.
They needed each other to survive and both enjoyed the luxuries the other provided. Aello loved Flora's aromatic flowers and sweet nectars, while Flora admired the ornamented jewels from the water. Both understood the necessity of the other.
Aello brought soil and plants to the water in clay pots, and Flora used magic to create endlessly flowing waterfalls and fountains from the lake's freshwater.
Mistakes were made initially, as with humans or any other race, fostering jealousy and envy. But over time, with their lengthened lives, grudges faded as they were rarely anything severe.
Even the arguments between Aello and Flora were relatively shallow. Were the shining jewels and wildlife under the water more beautiful than nature's serene beauty?
As for the humans, beastkin, and dwarves, they were easy to deal with. The elves, while peaceful, preferred their isolation, using magic to create confusing mazes and divert foot traffic away from their home. When they were spotted, as long as they weren't approached too aggressively, they simply shooed the humans or beastkin away.
Natural isolationists, and bigots.
"They are animals who don't know how to bathe and are out of touch with nature."
"The humans to the south defile the earth for rocks to kill each other with. Barbarians."
"Do these beastkin think with anything else other than their *****?"
"Ugly, hairy midgets came down from the eastern mountains. Their behavior is as low as their stature."
By the Year 500, none of the other races were yet aware of this. To them, elves remained mystical beings of the forest, dwelling along the eastern shores of the lake and within its surrounding woodlands, wielding formidable magic.
Beautiful and untouchable. Jewels of nature, forever beyond their reach.
But this illusion of invincibility began to crack after the Year 478. Goblins emerged from the depths of the forest, ambushing unprepared elven expeditions with unquenchable bloodlust.
Though elves were not strangers to violence, having resorted to it on occasion, they were completely caught off guard by the goblins' frenzied savagery.
If the elves could spot them, the goblins were easily dispatched- vines twisted their heads off, wind blades severed their bodies, and spheres of water drowned them where they stood.
If they could spot them.
With their small, green bodies and unnatural speed, matching even the Dark Elves' salamanders, goblins attacked relentlessly. Worse still, they still harbored an unnatural, subconscious hatred for elves. Their losses should have driven them into retreat long ago, but their berserk fury made them relentless.
Tactics meant to cause routs or instill fear were useless. The goblins had to be killed or the elves would perish instead. Fleeing wasn't an option for the elves, as the goblins' speed far surpassed theirs and they wouldn't stop until the elves in retreat were dead.
To ensure survival on land, the elves appointed a single unit to serve as a detector. Using wind magic, this elf could sense creatures moving at speeds that exceeded those of most natural land-dwelling beasts.
For a time, this strategy worked. The goblins failed to land any meaningful blows against the elves for the next decade, and the elves grew more confident. Aello even began discussions of a counter-offensive to rid the land of the scourge once and for all.
That is, until the Year 500, when the goblins changed their tactics.
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Elves, including Aello and Flora, gathered around a waterfall where a young male elf sat cross-legged, meditating deeply.
A rite of passage for the elves living on the lake. Stop the flow of the waterfall and redirect it, making it crash upon another set of rocks before entering the river. If he were of the land, his rite of passage would have been to accelerate the growth of a sapling into a tree.
Outside of the crashing water and the twittering of birds, everything was silent. One elf stood atop the waterfall, acting as the sentry, eyes peeled and wind magic flowing through the surroundings.
Aello, one of the most powerful in wind and water, stood beside Flora with impatient zeal. But respectfully, he remained silent as the trial, which had begun at dawn and now neared midday, continued.
"Perhaps this one is more suitable for the land..." someone murmured in a hushed, concerned whisper.
"Quiet. Allow him to concentrate," Aello reprimanded, his disapproval sharp before his gaze returned to the young elf.
He was concerned for the boy, who took joy in the waters, and this remark was disrespectful as the trial had yet to conclude. That elf would be reprimanded harshly, Aello swore upon it.
Yet, even he couldn't help but glance up to the sky as the trial neared its end, and the young elf had yet to make any progress. Sometimes the process was slow, other times instantaneous, which was why he still held hope.
A tense silence grew as eyes drifted between the sky and the young elf. Flora placed her hand on Aello's arm, her face stricken with worry. This was their youngest son of seven, and they knew failure would break his heart.
Aello placed a hand on her waist and smiled, but it slowly disappeared. The sun was high in the sky, and nothing had moved. Gloom settled over the watching elves, and Aello's expression darkened with sadness. Flora squeezed his arm, her breath hitching.
Opening his mouth, ready to speak the atmosphere shifted.
The roar of the waterfall silenced abruptly.
The water gathered for a mere moment in a large pool before redirecting outward, sending a small tidal wave crashing into the onlookers and the elf.
One older elf, standing near the one testing, redirected the flow around them until it settled. In the last moment, their son had managed to stop and redirect the flow, still holding it even after several seconds had passed.
The elves erupted into cheers, Flora squealing in joy as she hugged Aello tightly, jumping up and down in excitement. Pride swelled in Aello, and as the magic faded and the waterfall returned to normal, their son fell forward, caught by the elder elf beside him.
Grinning weakly, he raised his fist, and another chorus of cheers rang out.
He stood up, legs shaking, and turned back to them with a triumphant grin.
-Splash-
An elven body fell into the water, halting the celebration in dreaded shock.
Zzzt!
Aello's eyes widened in horror. His son stared back at him, wide-eyed and confused, an arrow protruding from his chest.
"Green-skins!" someone shouted and chaos erupted. Aello and Flora both ran forward, watching as the life drained from his son's eyes bit by bit.
"Eleos!"