Mikhail Shelkov - Elinor. The Deserted Valley. Book 1

As the days dragged on and the Ulutau descended even lower, it became chilly and damp as they walked in the thick, cloudy darkness. The disciples’ wet bodies trembled with cold, and the journey was hard even for Master Kuno and Master Ean. And only calmness, composure, and the iron will of Master Nao gave them the strength and power to move forward – more precisely, to move down!

Three days later, the cloudy veil dissipated and the rising sun quickly warmed the children of the mountains. A majestic landscape stretched across the bright green blanket below with thin, threadlike patterns wriggling along the river. After passing two stone gorges, the Ulutau finally found themselves at the straight, smooth, and perfectly peeled Celestial Staircase. It was worth traveling the dangerous foothills just to see the wide mountain rivers merging into one infinitely long stream with no end in sight.

Only the First Race could have created this! Truly, these people were powerful and skillful! For none of the present masters would not have been able to do this.

Perfect coordination and fighting skills were no help here, and at first, walking down the staircase was very hard. It seemed like one wrong step would have you at the foot of the Staircase before you would have wanted to be there. Hanging over the abyss to indulge in meditation was one thing, balancing the abyss was something entirely different. Ulari quickly adjusted and was able to help the others, as Master Nao caught two slow-moving children who were about to lose their balance. Again, the steadfastness of the leader helped his people feel confident.

Eventually the trek became easier for everyone, as they managed to sleep on small spaces throughout their journey. It was unknown whether people of that era could walk without stopping or sleep in unimaginable positions. But they took care of each other and the spaces really helped, giving the travelers the rest, they so needed.

By the end of the fifth day, the roar of the waterfall could be heard, as mighty streams of water slipped through the crevices that were under the last step of the Staircase.

The staircase was ending and the abyss, just beginning – a bottomless pit, into which the waterfall disappeared.

“Should we go straight there?” Inao asked his father in an alarmed voice.

“Remember, my pupil and son, that doubts give rise to fear!” Master Nao replied. “Listen to me all! Conquer your doubt! And if you do not believe me, know that this way was suggested to me by Ino-to, our brightest sage. Believe in yourself!”

After uttering these words, the Master was the first to step into the seething water and disappear downstream. Masters Kuno and Ean stayed back to step into the waterfall last. Ulari, no longer having any doubts, followed their example to help others with a kind word and support. First, with timidity, and then with increasingly greater confidence, the pupils of the School of the North Slope began to make their descent into the unknown. It now was time for Ulari to go. He knew there was no return!

As powerful waves picked him up and rushed him downstream, Ulari thought the water would cover his head and flatten him with its weight. But on the contrary, it carried him smoothly and easily as though it were taking care of him. He did not fly or fall down, but slid.

The stream carried his body into the warm waters of the river Kawa where Ulari dipped his head for the first time. After emerging, he saw his detachment, led by Master Nao, on the shore. All were safe and sound. They had to only wait for Master Kuno and Master Ean.

“So, we have descended from the skies to the ground!” declared Nao.

Henceforth, the School of the North Slope was divided into two parts.

And then the Ulutau met the Vedichs. Judging by the conversations, many mountaineers still feared these strange forest inhabitants. Quite explanatory! After all, the redheaded Vedich girl showed that they really could turn into wild animals. However, Ulari fully trusted the words of his master. Moreover, before them there were no warriors or men, but just children.

But this incredible skill continued to intrigue the Ulutau. Simple and understandable was the power of Master Nao, allowing you to immobilize the enemy. This was incredibly difficult to achieve such a skill, as the other forces available to the Tau masters, such as levitation, could be easily explained.

But to turn into an animal so easily! To change your appearance… how was it possible? After all, the bones must break, the flesh must change.

Ulari was convinced that even his master could not unravel such a secret, but for now the most important thing was that he called the Vedichian people harmless.

Together they all walked along the shore of Kawa for several days. Master Nao announced that the Vedichs were free to go. However, Wey-Leya asked to travel together; at least to the city of Kawa.

At first, it looked very strange. For sure, the forest dwellers should have been harboring an ulterior grievance for such an unpleasant first meeting. The offense was brought to Wey-Leya, but Master Nao was wise, quickly found a Common Language with the Vedich girl, and apologized. She accepted and judging by her behavior, no longer held a grudge.

As a result, both nations regarded the collision on the coast as a misunderstanding.

Ulari himself became acquainted with Fao and Ina, rather grown-up and cheerful girls. They told him that they could turn into squirrels, martens, raccoons, and ferrets. Curious, Ulari asked for a demonstration, but they laughed loudly.

The young Vedich with greenish hair looked at his communication with the girls with obvious indignation. If he remembered right the boy’s comrades abbreviated his name to Nome, but Ulari would never be able to utter the full name.

Strange names these Vedichs have! Although they themselves say these names were prompted by the forest; nature prompted them. What a nature they have, that whispers such names!

When the city of Kawa appeared on the horizon, Ulari became a little sad. He managed to make friends with the forest people and he very much hoped that his path would one day again intersect with Fao and Ina in the Valley.

Masters Kuno and Ean also left the squad, entrusting their schools to Nao. They returned to the waterfall of the Celestial Staircase to await new envoys from the mountain people.

As Kawa was getting closer and closer, Ulari began to see the differences. Tokana was made of huge stones and built on majestic peaks, whereas Kawa was small and compact like a toy and stood on the river. The Kawa houses were made of wood and the city was surrounded by a high hedge of tall pine trunks, pointed upward. Master Nao called this hedge a fence. He explained that it protected against wild forest animals and robbers.

Nao, like everyone else, was seeing the Valley for the first time, but had already read almost everything about it in the information about the remaining nations brought to the Tokana by Rogue Azir. Having learned the local language, Rogue Azir translated many books about his people for them, and also wrote several of his own in the Ulutau language. The Ulutau were taught the Common Language using his books.

Ulari never understood why they needed to learn the Common Language until he met the Vedichs. And it turned out to be very convenient! How would the Vedichs know the language of the Ulutau, and vice versa if not for the Common Language? The Vedichian people spoke it terribly, as if they had just learned, and it was Wey-Leya who spoke the most. Fao and Ina had to be asked to repeat what they said several times to understand what they meant.