Chaos Chronicles

The Lofty Range was like a very symmetric graphing grid. From the viewpoint of the bottom of the continent, the vertical lines were deep ravines while the horizontal lines were smaller scale crevasses. The land that rose up and down in tsunami waves of mountains was therefore sectioned into square "enclaves". The elves lived at the bottom of the seemingly endless rows and columns of gully and chasms. They lived on the banks, traveling by boat or surfing, mining the minerals and gemstones that self-renewed every 400 years through Shab-Nigurrath's natural tectonic plate movements.

Apart from these rare materials, the Lofty Range also sold medicinal herbs. These were mainly grown as underwater plants. It was just like how the Plateau and the Misty Haven exported spices and bamboo used for scaffolding along with roofing materials---reed, straw, palm leaves etc. respectively. They all had something special tying them to one another. 

It was like a pot of boiling broth at a campfire; you needed a combination of various meats, vegetables and salt and pepper and other natural garnishments or else it just would not taste the same.

Coming to this metaphorical analysis, Leif arched his neck towards the peaks of Everdawn Lumora before him. The mountains here were the highest in the country, hence, Liv had chosen to built the Attic here. It was quite ironic to call the ancient eleven royal residence the Attic---for there was plenty of sun. Too much sun sometimes.

When it was summer, the rays could some days reflect off the polished, shiny mountains and literally burn the rubber soles off of the elves' shoes. As a result, sunglasses and umbrellas and face visors were all the fashion rage.

Leif stood at the foot and wandered if he should just shout up. Probably not. The elves could close their ear canals voluntarily by flexing a piece of skin and stiffening the micro bones and muscles there. Even so, yelling was considered rude. It was particularly socially unacceptable to scream around children who had not yet mastered this quirk.

IF he really did announced himself in such a method, they would probably throw him of the peaks in a barrel. Not fun. Not appealing. At all. Still, Leif was puzzled at what they wanted him to do.

Surely? Surely? Surely, they did not expect him to hike the mountains with spiked boots and cams and nuts right? Right?! He could not even operate a belay device. God. Or maybe they wanted him to explore the tunnels and try to fumble his way to the finish? Leif felt his shoulder and knee muscles contract uncomfortably with weariness. A tree was still excusable but entire mountains?! Truly, he wanted to curse the cruel spindle of fate. 

That was when he noticed a dark spot on the aquamarine sky. As he squinted his irises against the blurring sun, he finally realized that it was a woven basket being lowered on ropes. He blinked. There was a figure waving enthusiastically above.

He backed up tenderly and climbed unsteadily into the basket before it began its ascent. For the first time in his life, Leif felt at ease with heights. He trusted the basket, squatting there and taking care to admire the views below. The ascent was unhurried, as if whoever was pulling the winches on the other end wanted him to be wide eyed tourist.

Below, elves buzzed around and the cities hummed with fervent activity. Some of the mountains had big chunks carved out of them, making them look like starving hunchbacks. Others were being slowly nibbled away at by chisels and pickaxes. Still others had winding roads, pulley systems and minecarts chugging along stainless steel tracks wobbling with a full load of ore. The merciless rays bounced off and reflected between mountains like ballet dancers skipping on stage.

There was beauty in harmony. There was wonderment in simplicity. There was relaxation in coexistence. Leif really wanted to take a dive into the tranquil rivers. The Misty Haven's waters bred ordinary fish for food but the Lofty Range's water bodies held more......sophisticated species. He had never seen a dolphin.

Even from such breathless altitudes, Leif could see the mega structures obnoxiously intruding upon the landscape like pimples during puberty. He mused over whether the elves appreciated the dams their predecessors had meticulously constructed. Some of them had been intentionally demolished. Some had been renewed or rebuilt. It was probable that even Liv had forgotten what the Lofty Range looked like before all the "rearranging".

"Having fun? I know it doesn't hurt because of the enchanted contact lenses you are wearing but you should still take our sunglasses. Don't worry, you won't lose vision." A pretty, dark skinned elf with a bob cut advised. Leif took her hand and climbed onto solid land.

The Everdawn Lumora was the deepest valley on the Lofty Ranges. And appropriately, its tallest mountain was called the Observatory. It had the shape of a frustum; a truncated cone. Each decade, the layers of tectonic plate movements had to be monitored so that old layers were stripped away to reveal new ones, maintaining the same height. This was unlike the other mountains, which were instead gradually shaved off from top to bottom until the planet replenished its "stock".

"No thanks. I am fine. Wearing them hurts my nose bridge and ear lopes anyway." Leif replied, graciously giving a short bow. He could not tell if she was just naturally dark skinned or if she was actually sun tanned. Did the elves have ritualistic skincare routines?

As if reading his mind, the elf answered: "No, haha. We are not affected by skin cancer or prone to being stricken with illness. Despite our relative isolation, we have tough immune systems. I merely find the texture of sunscreen icky. That's why I get these." She laughed airily, rolling down her neck collar and socks to reveal tan lines.

Leif could not help himself but visibly cringe in shock. The difference in palette was like comparing coffee to vanilla ice cream.