Chapter 1. Birthday

(авторский перевод на английский язык; авторский оригинал на русском языке - http://proza.ru/2025/05/28/1438)

    Nean Mael... Once upon a time, in the distant days of the Second Era, the first settlers reached this uncharted territory to lay the foundations of a future colony. At that time, neither the Elven nor the Humans even suspected that their historical paths would one day cross. Having met the courageous Darmionians, the cunning Telsamians, or the devout Godemians, the Elven realized they were not the only Eldu [1] in this world and that it was far more complete and profound than all their encyclopedic and aesthetic notions of it. The settlers quickly felt the winds of change blow after the drastic mores and laws of the Aeldelian Empire [2], but such shifts still did not break their loyalty to the parent state, although they facilitated their desire to forge close ties with the inhabitants of Astergas [3]. The Elven, who possessed the knowledge of the mysterious ancient creators of Evdaria [4], understood that they would further comprehend the essence of their ancestors' great achievements for decades, even centuries to come. They had a sensation of being distantly akin to the Humans and believed they could build strong bonds and develop together on the way to Great Knowledge.

    However, the Elven soon unveiled the essence of human nature. That the Humans craved for constant expansion. The Elven, who practiced deepening, believed they strived for spirituality, while the Humans did for materialist purposes. The Humans were habitual of fueling disputes and making treaties, while the Elven tried to look at the world empathetically. Contrary to the Humans, they never pivoted on economics or industry and relied entirely on magic. The cultural exchange between the nations harmonized their historical paths. The Elves adopted humans' desire for wealth, while the Humans began resorting to magic.

    Magic helped the Elven dispense with disputes and money, politics and economics. They firmly believed in the Creator who was the Universal Spirit that united all aspects of the universe, and the Force that supported organic connection of the five primary elements [5]. Henceforth, they learned to listen to nature. The Creator endowed them with an ability to transform energy into matter and, vice versa, matter into energy. The Elven developed a strong skill of empathy, which liberated them from the need for constant expansion, resource extraction, trade, and warfare.

    Although Elvish society was based on hierarchy, the Emperor was granted his powers only upon his election and was respected judging by the merits of his actions during his rule. Thus, he held clout as long as his nation expressed confidence in his actions via the Great Senate. Contrary to that, power in Human society was based on the authority of clans and a pattern of constant expansion that resulted in originating the vast Human Realm.

***
    Today, on the 4th Nerlune of the month of Nalvir [6], 1721, the world was no longer the same. A young Neanvin, an offspring of a human and an elf, beheld it with a strong feeling of hope. Today he turned twenty-four. His name was Adrialis Malde.

    His family fled to the city of Nean Mael from the Vingard Isles after a devastating civil war that entangled not only his aunt, Diara Lintir, the island's consul [7], and his father, Ildem Malde, Diara's court mage, but also the entire Republic of Vingard. The Elven Union, a confederation of now-independent Elven states in West Astergas, had severed all ties with the Aeldelian Empire. The situation in the human states of Darmion, Telsamia, and Godemia was unstable, since disputes between their leaders could also disrupt extremely fragile political, diplomatic, military, and economic relations in West Astergas.

    Adrialis got out of bed, washed, and had breakfast. Today he was home alone. To be precise, the only person who was absent was his mother, the she-elf Alidea Lintir, Diara's younger sister. Today, she attended another session of the Elven Union Senate as an honored guest, but she hadn't forgotten why today was a special day. She left her son an envelope with a letter and a lovely decorated gift box. As usual, Adrialis looked at the letter without a hint of surprise. He had a rather reserved and calm attitude to everything in this world.

    'Everyone has a birthday, every year. What makes this day special? Countless congratulations and gifts? Of course, not. Each birthday is unique due to the fact that, despite all circumstances, people remember each other and get together on this occasion,' the young neanvin thought, looking at his mother's gift.

    Adrialis thought it would be better to read only the beginning and the end of Alidea's five-page letter. It was so characteristic of her to speak and write amply from the heart. But he grasped those words that were definitely the most precious today:

    'No matter what happens, my son, one thing remains forever: I love you!'

***
    By midday, Adrialis arrived at the appointed place. As usual, he didn't start to look around for Ulrim, but closed his eyes, supposing that if friends were to meet, they would definitely do. He sensed that his friend was in proximity and at the same time in a great hurry. They were like two peas in a pod, but there was something that made them unique. Ulrim naively believed he could kill two birds with one stone, while Adrialis opted for more systematic approach. But the moment they saw each other, they were overwhelmed by a feeling of unity. They had been friends since childhood, ever since they entered Vingard High School. Although sixteen years had passed, their friendship remained as strong and incredibly engaging as it had been during their school years. Although Adrialis had the ability to sense people and their intentions from a distance, Ulrim was not one to be so easily puzzled out.

    Almost twenty minutes passed. Adrialis was about to open his eyes and finish his meditation when someone's hands covered his face. He smiled and said:

    'Next time it is me who will definitely play hide-and-seek!'

    Adrialis turned and embraced his friend. Ulrim replied with laughter and a feeling of endless joy:

    'However, today I brought something that will surely interest you. I am sure you will abandon your hide-and-seek as soon as you have a glance at it!'

    'I guess you have got very tired from the journey, so I suggest we find a place to rest,' Adrialis said.

    'Thank you, brother, for a reminder. I am notorious for never noticing my own fatigue.'

    Adrialis invited his friend to his home. Previously, they often enjoyed long walks around and outside the city, but now they were interested in more calm and thoughtful pastimes. After the friends had thoroughly rested from the journey and had lunch, Ulrim returned to the original topic:

   'Dear Adrialis, now let me remind you what a special day it is today. I know it's special for you, but in its own way. You don't need noisy feasts, boxes of gifts... You just need your loved ones to gather around you and spend time together in a friendly family atmosphere. However, my friend, I've always loved breaking other people's rules and traditions, so I want to congratulate you on your birthday and wish you happiness, health, and success in all your future endeavors!'

    'Ulrim, thank you...' Adrialis was pleasantly touched.

    'Don't rush, don't rush, that's not all. Now let me show you something.'

    Ulrim opened the box, which contained a thick and dusty tome with a letter. Adrialis quickly determined that these findings were at least two hundred years old. Even the letter, written in Elvish, was in perfect condition. Ulrim continued:

    'As you understand, I found these troves during our way through the Enchanted Forests.'

    'How is the situation there now?' Adrialis inquired.

    'It is gradually deteriorating... Every day brings new Godemian raids, clashes on the border that may escalate into a full-scale war.'

    'Mother is attending a Senate session right now...'

    'I am afraid they have started too late...' Ulrim interrupted Adrialis with a heavy sigh.

    'Still, I think there is still a chance to turn the situation to our advantage,' Adrialis argued politely.

    'And how so? Who in this world will support us when we ourselves are unable to restore order from within?'

    'I understand that leaving Vingard and the horrific events of the civil war have saddened you. However, I believe that everything is in our hands!'

    'I believe you, Adrialis. Let it be so!'

***
    Adrialis's gaze fell on the mysterious tome. It once belonged to the elf Algar, who lived in the Enchanted Forest. Having read the brief letter, written in obvious haste but with high-quality waterproof ink, Adrialis found out that Algar was a wanderer mage [11]. He apparently left the letter before his possible death or disappearance. The mage voiced his anxiety, not for his life, but for the unique knowledge that could be lost with his passing. He lamented that he had not managed to finish his tome, but hoped that one day someone would come and be able to HEAR his call. The mage emphasized the word 'hear'. At the end of the letter, he left a postscript:

    'Only he who finishes my Path
    Will be able to open this tome'.

    Adrialis pondered deeply over the words 'hear' and 'Path'. Although Algar did not specify any details about who he was, the text of the short letter was sufficient to understand what the mage meant. Having finished his thoughts, Adrialis gestured to Ulrim and said:
 
    'Once I deeply studied the topic of ciphers and locks. Ellian Bartulios, one of the most prominent masters in this field, wrote in his work: "Every cipher or lock is merely a mental barrier. The key to a cipher is understanding the mindset of its creator..."'

    'I agree with you here,' Ulrim interrupted Adrialis. 'But, as you know, deciphering any code begins with determining the location of the sender and the recipient.'

    'Perhaps. I guess we will not need that. You remember the place where you found the tome with the letter, right?'

    'It seems to be by the thick roots of that tall tree in the Enchanted Forest, which reaches to the sky... Yes, to be honest, I have already forgotten the exact place. Can't remember for sure...'

    'Well, don't worry, what you have said may be quite enough, my friend,' Adrialis concluded with a smile.

    Adrialis closed his eyes and touched the tome with his hand. A minute later, he felt a tension in his palms, as if the tome's magical lock had begun to emit a gentle current. The charge continued to rapidly intensify. Adrialis felt a sharp pain in his head and cried out:

    'Semantic! Yes, it is a semantic...'

    Ulrim could barely understand what Adrialis meant, but asked anyway:

    'Semantic... What do you mean?'

    'Oh, you... a perfect semantic cipher,' Adrialis replied, trying to reel from such a sudden vision.

    Semantic ciphers were considered both the easiest to construct and the most sophisticated to decipher. Mages actively used them to protect their tomes, letters, chests, and other possessions from Eldu or other mages. In order to activate the code, the mage visualized in their mind a specific symbol which conveyed the wisdom embedded within it. Those who wished to decode these ciphers had to devote considerable time to studying the personalities and worldviews of the mages, that is why ciphers were often impossible to decode. While the most experienced mages could create semantic ciphers in no more than five minutes.
However, Adrialis recalled another important quote from Bartuolis: 'In fact, decoding a semantic cipher is simple if you dedicate your entire life to such activity'.

    At that moment, the meanings of the words 'hear' and 'Path' became more than evident to Adrialis. He began to feel that this mystery might be connected to his father, Ildem, who had disappeared a year ago in Vingard during the civil war.

    Ulrim suddenly interrupted his friend:

    'Your mother's back. I think we should take a break from the discovery for a while and meet her.'

    'Yes, of course, I'll be there soon!' Adrialis shouted, suddenly experiencing the sensation that the previously disjointed facts of his life were beginning to take on coherence. Perhaps this was the most important birthday present! Today is the birthday of a new meaning in Adrialis's life.

***
Notes:
[1] Intelligent beings.
[2] The name of the Elven Empire.
[3] The name of the human continent. The elven continent is called Mildion, and the third is Sardumos.
[4] The name of the world in which the main action takes place.
[5] Fire, water, air, earth, and aether.
[6] Nerlune is a day corresponding to Monday in the international Elven calendar. Since the Elven calendar has 360 days, each calendar date does not shift to a different day of the week each year. 4 Nerlune is the fourth Monday of the month of Nalvir. Nalvir is the third month of the calendar, corresponding to March.
[7] A consul is the head of a member state under the Elven Union (also known as Tilmiria), which was a confederation of the former colonies of the Aeldelian Empire that gained independence in 1685.
[8] The current flowing from South Mildion northeastwards to West Astergas.
[9] The sea washing Galmior, the Vingard Isles, and the Peninsula of Tilmiria.
[10] A river in West Astergas, originating from the Daltar mountain range, flows through the territory of the Elven Union, and falls into the Tilmirian Sea. The Daltar mountain range runs through Astergas from west to east, dividing the continent into northern and southern parts.
[11] There are three main specializations for mages in Evdaria: scholar mages, who create spells and write treatises, battle mages, who are engaged in combat, and wanderer mages, who search for the Eldu prone to magic, find artifacts, carry out special assignments for the Guild of Mages, and conduct diplomatic negotiations.