Page 90 of Enchanting the Elf
“How did that get there?” a male with a thick accent asks and stands up, only to trip over his own feet. The moment Adelbert uses his mage hand to catch the male is apparent in his shout of surprise.
Absolute chaos descends as everyone checks their tied shoelaces and searches their bags, all while shouting over each other for answers. Adelbert imperturbably stands back with his hands in his pockets and that cute little smile still curving his lips.
He’s having fun, making up for the mischief he missed out on when he was at school.
Nithard’s voice booms across the others’, “That’s enough.”
Silence descends on them again, and they take their seats.
“Explain,” Nithard demands and brushes lint off his shoulder, even though he never moved a muscle during the chaos.
“After reading about mage hands, I had to find a way to connect to it,” Adelbert says and I almost squeak as his mage hand comes to rest on the back of my neck. “Discovering the way was purely accidental on my part. I got so frustrated one daythat I swiped a hand through the air and a book moved on the opposite side of my desk.”
One of the haughty males with the judgy eyes scoffs, “That does not make any sense. How do you expect us to master this? That behavior is hardly becoming of an elf.” He rolls his eyes for extra effect and my blood boils.
My patient mate—grin in place—looks patiently at him and says, “Finding that my emotions are tied to my magic was a good start.”
“Emotions?” asks one female elf, utter disbelief in the single word.
“Emotions, yes,” Adelbert affirms. “That’s the tip of the iceberg. It only gets better.”
I note two of the elves who have stayed reserved throughout Adelbert’s speech sit up a bit straighter in their seats. Perhaps they’re open to learning and could be in Adelbert’s corner when he makes his request later.
“You see, I spent years practicing my mage hand, only able to manage small experiments. However, this summer, my abilities strengthened.” Adelbert pauses and makes sure he has every elf’s attention.
There is absolute silence and it’s like even the forest is holding its breath, waiting to see how they’ll take the news.
“This summer, I fell in love,” Adelbert states matter-of-factly while gently massaging my nape.
A stout elf on the right side of the semicircle shakes his head and waves a dismissive hand through the air.
“What would that help? You got your dick wet and suddenly your magic is stronger? No, boy, it doesn’t work like that,” he sneers. “You’ve cast wards. It takes concentration, discipline, and many hours between the books to get the enchantments memorized. It’s not puppy love helping you. You sound absolutely delusional.”
I stiffen at the remark and Adelbert senses it. He cards his phantom fingers into my hair then glides them down the full length, similar to how I’d normally comfort myself. I relax into Adelbert’s touch and decide to ignore the stout elf’s crude comments.
Two seats to the left of Nithard, a female elf inclines her head, attention riveted on my mate.
“Did love strengthen your magic? Is that what you are saying?” she asks with narrowed, calculating eyes the color of moss.
Adelbert nods. “In short, Monika, it did. Opening my heart up and letting my emotions to the fore has aided my magic.”
Nithard crosses his arms over his chest. “What are you not saying, Adelbert?”
“There is much more I have to tell you. What I have found can change the course of our future as woodland elves, possibly other kinds of elves too.”
The stout elf scowls at Adelbert and leans back in his chair, spreading his legs wide and resting his arms on his stomach. “Spit it out, boy. You got our attention with your little party trick. Now, let’s see if you can impress us with the theory behind it.”
The leaves of the trees around the semicircle stir with irritation and I send them calming energy, because I know what Adelbert is going to say will shut that rude male up.
Nithard side-eyes the elf and his lips press into a thin line before he raises his brows at Adelbert, indicating that my mate should proceed.
Adelbert’s voice comes out steady as he starts his speech he practiced. “When I discovered my magic, it was in anger at first. Accidental. I tried to learn it, control it, and my skills grew over time. Yet, I was only able to pick up small objects and move them around my study, turn them upside down, or spin them around.
“I was ready to present on mage hands alone today. To reveal this magic that has been lost to us for hundreds of years. Thetheory behind it, originally, was that elvish magic is limited to warding and our empathic abilities, but we have forgotten the deeper well within us.
“We have spent far too much time sitting behind desks, pouring over texts and gaining knowledge that way, instead of practicing magic and pushing our abilities.
“When I fell in love, a part of my soul was unlocked and my magic flowed freely through me. I was able to do more intricate movements, lift heavier objects, and feel things as if I were using a physical hand.
