ALoW Chp 1: Shipwrecked

Alexandra woke the next morning to the sound of knocking. She got up, dressed and opened the door. Jantril stood there, her eyes downcast. She glanced about the room. It had already been sparse before, but now it had an empty, hollow feel to it.

"You're really leaving..." she sighed.

Alexandra gave her a smile. "I heard you passed. You were even chosen by one of the prestigious masters. I congratulate you. You deserve this after all that work you put in."

"But what about you? You put so much effort into this! This was your dream! Maybe we could..." Alexandra cut her off.

"Enough, Jantril. There is no point. The majority of the Elders is against me. The High Elder himself wouldn't be able to overthrow them." she sighed, as she picked up her packs.

"But you're a Warrior! Not a scholar! What do you plan to do once you reach Sanctuary? Join the Academy?!"

"Jantril." Alexandra turned. "The Academy is not the only thing at Sanctuary. Many masters gather there, not to mention the headquarters for the Hunters."

Jantril's eyes widened. "The Hunters? You would be satisfied being some random mercenary?!"

Alexandra laughed, much to her friend's amazement. "I obviously will not be able to train under a master, so I will just have to teach myself."

Jantril burst into laughter. "Of course. i should have known. Only you would be that stubborn." She frowned. "You know, there are times where I wonder if you should have been born a draigon."

"Perhaps I'll meet one?" Alexandra smiled.

"You very well might. Other races are allowed into Sanctuary, after all. Just...stay clear of wolves." Jantril said. She stopped by a window. "I had one of my dreams last night."

"And what happens?"

"I...I do not really know. It was all jumbled together. But I saw a wolf and....a dragon." Jantril whispered.

"A dragon? Highly unlikely. Humans have all but slaughtered them. Still, I would have loved to meet one." Alexandra laughed and began walking down the hall again.

Jantril hesitated before following her. "You will, Alexandra Elarya. You will. And the two of you may be our only hope."

Alexandra paused at the doorway. Outside, a land glider waited to take her to the harbor. Before it stood a crowd of her friends. Hesitantly, she stepped out. Ardus stepped forward, a package in his arms.

"We all wanted to give you a going away gift. This seemed like the practical choice." He smiled.

Alexandra set her packs down, took the package, and ripped off the brown paper wrapping. She gasped at the sword in her hands. "I...I do not know what to say."

"Just promise us one thing." Ardus replied. She looked up at him. "Always remember the code, for you will always be one of us."

Alexandra belted the sword about her waist and drew it from its sheath. She flipped her head to her left, grabbed her hair, then cut it. She looked at her friends, her friends, her hair now falling only to her shoulders. "I swear that I shall always remain true to the Warriors' Code. I shall seek justice. I shall grant mercy. And i shall punish the darkest evils." She handed her hair to Ardus, and he wrapped a cord about the middle to keep it together.

"Now go, Alexandra Elarya." Ardus nodded. Again, her friends saluted her, as she sheathed her new blade and picked up her packs.

She paused at the lg and looked back. Her friends still saluted her. Silently, she swore another oath to them, 'I will become the Warrior you believe me to be.' She turned and entered the lg. Immediately, her packs were taken by a Guard and placed into the storage compartment. Another Guard sat by the door that led to the pilot's den, staring disinterestedly out the small window next to him. A few other passengers were already on board.

Alexandra chose a seat not far from the door.She felt the eyes of the other passengers on her. She was not surprised. In the Aldinairri culture, cutting one's hair had two meanings. The first one was making an oath. The second was fulfilling one.

With a slight shudder, the lg hummed to life. The first Guard sealed the door and sat down. As the lg rose from the ground, Alexandra closed her eyes. A single tear coursed down her cheek, and she immediately felt all eyes leave her. Briefly, she wondered what other races would do in a situation like this. Her thoughts were brightened by these thoughts. Living in the training facility, she had only had personal interaction. with fellow Aldinairri. But now...she was free. Once she reached Sanctuary, she would be free to go where she pleased.

She couldn't help but wonder if everything she had heard of the other races was true. Humans truly fascinated her. They were said to look remarkably like Aldinairri, yet they were....different. None of her instructors had deemed the difference worthy of discussing. Of course, it had been irrelevant to her training. Now she had a chance to learn answers to at least some of the questions she had.

Alexandra looked out the window next to her. They were over a forested area now, the tops of the trees just a few feet below them. She frowned and began searching the skies. For a brief moment, she thought she saw something, but a cloud passed in front of it. 'Or did it dive behind the cloud?' She quickly put it from her mind. Off in the distance, she could just make out the seashore. She had only been here once. It had been for a training exercise. It had been what could be called fun, though most Elder Aldinairri seemed to frown on such things, deeming them "too human-like".

She had had clashes with their teachings before. That was why the High Elder had been so surprised when she had withdrawn. He had been expecting her to challenge them. But she knew the Elders. With them, there was no point in arguing; you had to prove them wrong. And she couldn't. They had been right, had known they were right, and she had known it. So instead of disgracing herself, she had kept her honor and withdrawn. Which in a way was an act of defiance.

The lg touched down in a special landing field, the hum of its power crystals fading. Alexandra stood and took her packs from the Guard, and she stepped out of the vehicle. Her nose was immediately assaulted by a strong scent of fish. She took a deep breath, adjusting to it. The harbor was a very small village with a single dock, the only thing in the area being the Aldinairri training facility. The craft at the end of the pier was like everything else of Aldinairr make. Beautiful and elegant, but not extravagant. It was bigger than she expected, but then, thee were several other passengers.

As she stepped aboard, the captain gave her a slight bow. "Welcome aboard, please, if you will give your packs to a deckhand, they will be taken to your room."

Alexandra gave her packs to the deckhand and followed him. The room was small, consisting of just a bed and a nightstand. The deckhand set her packs on the bed and turned to her. "Feel free to move about the ship. Meals are served on the deck below this one at the three points of the day: dawn, midday, and sunset. You miss one, and you will have to wait for the next one." She nodded and stepped aside; the deckhand hurried off. After stowing her packs beneath her bed, she returned up to the top deck, stepping aside again as the other passengers went below to their rooms.

She frowned and glanced up. High up, a bird was soaring in slow circles. Her frowned deepened. She had always been known for her sharp eyes and quick intellect. Whatever it was, it was too high up. It turned, and for a brief moment, she saw its entire shape. The creature turned and flew northward.

The ship jolted slightly as it was untied from the pier. With a flapping sound, the sails were unfurled, quickly catching the wind. The shore quickly fell away from them as they headed out into deeper water. If the wind kept up like this, and nothing went wrong, they should be able to reach Sanctuary in a couple of weeks.

Fortunately, their first week went smoothly. At the beginning of the second week, the wind began picking up. Massive storm clouds could be seen in the distance, lightning flashing within the inky black mass.

The sailors rushed about, tying everything not secure down. The captain stood at the tiller, his face grim. Low, rumbling thunder could be heard in the distance, as the storm towered over them like a dread fortress.

The ship shuddered violently as it was assaulted by the wind, rain, and the churning sea. The wind howled and roared; the sea tossed the ship around as though it were a child's toy. Below, in the dimly lit eating area, the passengers sat in silence. None of them could remember the last time such a violent storm had struck.

Two days passed and still the storm raged on, with no end in sight. That night, those able to sleep were awoken by a loud creaking and snapping sound. the ship shuddered and rocked.

Not an hour earlier, one of the masts had been struck by lightning about a third of the way up from the base. It had snapped off now, weakened from the lightning and pounded ceaselessly from the sea. The storm was worsening.

A sailor came rushing into the dining area, completely drenched. "We are going to have to lose some of the cargo. With the loss of a mast, we're too unbalanced."

Alexander hurried with some of the others. Grabbing what she could, she ran with the others up to top deck, throwing what she had overboard. Looking up, her heart froze in terror at the sight before her. A massive wave loomed over them. Alexandra closed her eyes as the very breath was knocked out of her. Her world was spinning, twisting, swirling. Her head struck something solid, and she lost all senses...
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With a groan, she felt herself stirring. Beneath her, she felt sand, while gentle waves ran over her lower body.

Her eyelids were crusted over with salt, but she managed to open them. She squinted as her eyes tried to adjust to the bright light of the sun. With another groan, she managed to push herself up enough to survey her surroundings. She was on a beach on what she knew was the mainland. Wreckage from the ship littered the beach. She tried to stand up, but she fell back down with a cry. She had landed on her sword, which was still belted around her waist. Painstakingly, she managed to crawl out of the shallows, and the tide, and up onto the grassy bank. She stopped in the shade of a tree, managing to push herself into a sitting position. with her back against it. Exhausted, her eyes closed and she sank back into unconsciousness.

She stirred at the sound of voices. "Blast it all! Look at this! Looks like a ship got caught in that storm!" a gruff voice said.

"Hey, I found a girl!" a younger voice called out.

There were several sharp intakes of breath. "An Aldinairr!" "Is she alive?" "Yeah, I can see her breathing." "How do you know she's an Aldinairr?" "Hair so silver it's almost white, greyblue skin, and you smell her blood? They smell slightly stronger than humans."

"Step aside!" A new voice said. "What have we got here?"

"An Aldinairr, female. Washed up on shore when her ship went down. No other survivors, it looks."

"She's alive?"

"Yes."

The newest voice, their leader evidently, spoke again. "How bad is she?"

"If we took her back to camp, she'd make a full recovery." Immediately, a quarrel broke out. They all fell silent as they heard a raspy sound.

"W.....at....er...." Alexandra managed to croak. Her voice was rough and scratchy. She managed to open her eyes. It was dark, but her race had excellent night vision.

"What?" the man next to her asked.

"Wa...ter...." she winced at the dryness of her throat. The man caught what she was saying and uncorked his canteen. Very carefully, he tilted her head back and trickled water into her mouth, forcing her to drink slow.

The leader pointed to the wreckage. "Was that yours?"

She nodded weakly. "We...were headed...to Sanctuary." She managed to say.

The leader frowned. "Sanctuary? But you're a Warrior."

Alexandra laughed, which turned into a cough, causing her to wince. After drinking some more water, she answered. "I was forced to withdraw from my Trial." She looked u pat the leader. "If you don't want me in your camp, just leave the canteen and some food. I know wolves prefer to keep to themselves."

The leader sighed and shook his head. "You can barely move, let alone manage. No. I cannot just leave you here like this." He pointed to the wolf next to her. "Lytarus, you found her, she's your charge. Take her to Mera when we get to camp."

Lytarus nodded and carefully lifted Alexandra up. He gave her a wry smile and took off with the rest of his pack. She was amazed that he was able to stay with them; she hadn't realized just how strong wolves were. She was truly honored; wolves may have been honorable, but many Aldinairri saw them as a barbaric race, living in the southern edge of the continent. Nomadic from what she had heard.

Through the trees ahead, she could see firelight. Her ears picked up the sound of voices, music, and laughter. There were children's voices mingled with the adults. The pack slowed down as they stepped into the small settlement.

Silence fell as Alexandra was spotted. The hostility in their eyes died as they saw how weak she was. The leader, clearly the Alpha of this pack, explained how they found her.

A wizened old woman stepped forward. "Let me see the wounded one." The crowd respectfully fell back. The old woman took a long look at her. "Hmm, it is fortunate indeed that your race is close to humans. Tell me, child, how old are you?"

"I just turned forty-three years of age." Alexandra answered.

There were several gasps from the people gathered, but old Mera simply nodded. "Still so young? You look slightly older. Something about your eyes." She looked at Lytarus. "Come. Bring her to my tent, then you may go eat with the rest." Lytarus followed her through the crowd to the old woman's tent. He felt the girl in his arms go limp. Mera watched as he laid Alexandra carefully on a cot. "The poor dear. Who knows how long she was adrift out there, at the mercy of the sea."

"Days, I'd say. No fewer than two?" Lytarus replied.

Mera nodded. "At the least. Now, go on. Off with you!" She smiled, playfully shoving him out. Once he was gone, Mera's face grew grim. She sighed as she inspected the girl: her whole body was covered in bruises, and Mera was certain of at least two cracked ribs. Not to mention the gash on her head. Mera shook her head; the girl was lucky to be alive. In fact, it was an outright miracle. The old wise woman had her work cut out for her.

A Legacy of Warriors

Ok, so, this is not Once Forgotten. But it is a part of the Realm. A couple of posts ago, I introduced Alexandra Elarya, one of the eldest Aldinairri left in the Realm during the events of Once Forgotten. This is her story: her beginning. As well as a history of how the War for Magyck began.
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"In the end, we were all that remained. The rest of the far western edge was all but destroyed. I am not sure how many of those remaining survived, if, indeed, any did. But that no longer matters; only Thyrin and I remain here, now. The rest of the Aldinairri set sail. They are now headed to Sanctuary. But I cannot go back there. Not now. Not after all that has happened. The Golden Age is long over. At least the Elders see that now. Yet, Thyrin is troubled. According to the Drax, war has broken out everywhere. I fear that all of this shall only lead to a greater tragedy. For that is the ultimate outcome of war. Sorrow. Pain. And death.

"It's hard to believe how much has changed. I do not regret my choice, though. I stand by it. Taking the Warrior's Oath was the wisest path to take. Thyrin has helped me see this. For ones so young in the eyes of our elders, both dragon and Aldinairr, we have been forced to open our eyes. In a sense, wisdom was forced upon us. As terrible as war is, it is sometimes a necessary evil. It's odd, really. It feels like an eon, yet all has happened so quickly. To think that all this could happen. All because I kept my Oath. All because I dared to save a life. Because I dared to bind my own life to that of a dragon's..."
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"Alexandra Elarya." A stern voiced called out. A young girl, who appeared to be no older than twelve, stepped forward and bowed before standing straight. The High Elder smiled down at her. "What is it you wish to be, child?"

The girl was silent for a long while. Finally, she raised her eyes to those of the Elders'. "I wish to be a Warrior." She said, her voice strong and clear.

The High Elder frowned as whispering broke out amongst the others. "Why do you make such a wish? As the daughter of a well-standing merchant, you are offered the chance of entering the Academy at Sanctuary. Such a thing is generally not available to just anyone. Perhaps, you haven't considered all your options fully."

"With all due respect, my mind is made up. i have pondered over my choices fully, not evading a single one." Alexandra raised her head high. "I wish to be a Warrior."

The High Elder nodded. "If that is truly what you wish, then it shall be granted."

~30 years later~

"Alexandra! Alexandra! Oh by the Eleven Above!" Alexandra jolted awake as she was drenched with cold water. She shivered and glared at her friend. Her friend,Jantril, merely chuckled and returned the pitcher to its place on the dresser. "Surely you haven't forgotten what today is?"

The Aldinairri threw her blanket off and leapt up. Muttering curses under her breath, she quickly dressed into her uniform (A tan tunic, leggings, and a pair of simple leather shoes). Without a word, she raced out of her room, her friend hurrying to keep up. After a few twists and turns, she stopped. Judging by the sun, she only had five minutes, but it would take ten to get down the stairs and outside. The training field was just below. She took a deep breath and cracked her knuckles. Jantril sighed. "Oh not again!"

Alexandra stepped onto the windowsill then leapt up and out. For a brief moment (approximately five seconds), she closed her eyes, allowing herself to completely enjoy the sensation, the freedom. She opened her eyes, twisted slightly, and landed lightly on her feet. In her exact place in the lineup. Her head instructor nodded to her, yet his face remained emotionless. A few of her peers gave her smiles for her performance, yet most kept their eyes forward, their backs straight.

"Today is an important day." Their instructor began. "Today is the where most of you will be taken under the tutelage of masters for advanced training. Now, most of you have been preparing for this day your whole life. While others," he glanced at Alexandra, "believe that training is not necessary." Alexandra clenched her teeth. She did train. She hated training with the others, so she had begun training at night. What no one knew, however, was the fact that a master had been helping her. She knew she was ready for this; it was time to convince everyone else. The head instructor continued. "Now, you all know what will happen today." It was then that a land glider landed in the field, its crystals still humming. "Everybody into the lg."

Alexandra sat down across from her friend. "How did you make it down?"

Jantril smiled and flicked a strand of her hair over her shoulder. "I slid down the banister on the spiral staircase then ran all out." Alexandra blinked. Out of the twenty in this group, Jantril was nu far the fastest. "I just can't wait to see you fight." She said, lowering her voice. "After all the hours of sleep you've given up, you're going to do wonders!"

"As if." A boy scoffed. "If anything, she'll fall asleep before she even gets the chance."

"Shut up, Nilus." Jantril said, glaring at him.

"Why should I? So she doesn't sleep? Pah! That just makes her perfect for the Night Guard."

One of their peers intervened."Save it for the Trial. The two of you are both in the same category. You're bound to fight one another at some point."

Nilus ' eyes widened. "You're training to be an Ultear?"

Alexandra scoffed. "Of course. It made the most sense. The perfect balance between a weapons mast and an archmage. The art of spell-weaving combined with the might and ferocity of advanced fighting techniques, ranging from hand to hand combat to the skill of wielding a good weapon. In fact, the Ultear class Warrior was inspired by the draigons." She smiled in satisfaction at the slight pale color of Nilus' face. In all truth, she had the perfect build for an Ultear. Her figure was slim, but not thin. She was not particularly well muscled, but she gave off an air of strength. Her chest was not overly developed, but neither could she be called flat. She certainly was no giant, but at six feet, she was well balanced. And with the look of determination in her eyes, Nilus had every reason to be worried. She smirked as she heard him whispering to the other candidates. There were currently only three available Ultear masters.

The lg came to a stop, shuddering slightly as it touched down. Jantril gave her friend a nervous smile before exiting the vehicle. Alexandra followed. Remembering her training, she took a slow breath and exhaled. Next, she began to mentally size up her oponents. Nilus tended to favor a blade, generally using the weapon to channel his magyck. Jara preferred an enchanted halberd, which had been made by her father, who was a master smith and spell-weaver. She generally used magyck to distract her oponents, while going in for the attack. Ardus was potentially the greatest challenge. Although he appeared to be a hand to hand fighter, his specialty was using magyck to create his own weapons by bending one of the elements. Not to mention that he was an expert unarmed fighter. Then there was Calin. calin was a tre definition of an Ultear. It didn't matter what weapon he used. When it came to magyck, he was a master at spell-weaving. what did matter was the level of his conviction. He often came off as more a philosopher and scholar than Ultear material. no. Ardus would definitely be her greatest challenge. And seeing as he was marked highest, she would have to beat everyone else twice before she'd be able to fight him.

The stands for the spectators were all packed, and many more still sat around the farthest edges of the field. Alexandra briefly wondered if that was a wise move.

She stiffened when a hand landed on her shoulder. "I'm looking forward to our match." She turned to Ardus. He chuckled at her confusion. "I'm not jesting. Nor am I mocking. out of all the candidates, you are the only one who will be able to give me a fight worthy of the Trial."

Alexandra frowned. "What makes you say that?"

He gestured at the other three. "None of them have the conviction necessary to win. You are the only one that I see as an equal." He smiled and headed for the lineup.

Alexandra followed. Her eyes were narrowed. She needed to focus now. Silently, she hoped she got Nilus' name first.

The High Elder stood and raised his hands. The spectators (which was made up of other races as well as Aldinairri) fell quiet. "Today, we gather in anticipation of the rising of a new generation. As you are all aware of, each year we hold a Trial to see who is worthy of furthering their training in the wars of the Warrior. The Trial consists of three tournaments. Would the candidates please form into their proper classes?"

Alexandra joined the other four candidates of the Ultear class. The res formed into two groups of ten: one for the Ulter class, weapon mastery; the other for Ultar, the archmage class. For several, this would be their second attempt. If they didn't pass this time, they would be sworn in as Soldiers, or would be transferred to the Academy at Sanctuary. For her, this would be her first and only attempt. She gad worked too hard to get where she was. Failure was not an option she could afford.

She half listened as the High Elder went into a small history of the Trial. How honor needed to be preserved, and how fortunate they were that peace had lasted for so many years.

"Yet even within this Golden Age, we must be ever vigilant. Our Warriors ensure that justice is sought. That mercy is bestowed. And the darkest evils punished." The High Elder finished. HE raised his hands again. "And now, let the Trial begin!" The spectators exploded into applause and cheers.

Alexandra took her seat in the candidate stands as the first pair entered into the fighting field. She watched disinterestedly; there would be ten matches, since it took two beatings for defeat. The longest matches would be the Ultar tournament, since archmages solely used magyck alone. Most would argue that the Ultear tournament would be, but Alexandra knew otherwise. With only three masters available, there were only three opportunities available. Which meant two would have to either wait, or go to Sanctuary. With stakes like this, achieving victory as quickly as possible was the logical choice. However, the opposite could be just as true. She frowned. She was confident she could beat the lesser three. Apparently, Ardus was too. No, he would be the true challenge. At that point, she would already be assured of an apprenticeship.

For most of the morning, the Ulter tournament went on, finishing two hours before midday. Alexandra could barely stand it. A sense of dread filled her; the Elders were all frowning and earnestly discussing something. Her confidence shattered when she saw Artel, the master who had helped her, approach them. The spectators all began to mumble amongst themselves. The crowd grew quiet as the High Elder stood and faced them. "Alexandra Elarya, come forth and stand before you're Elders."

With a face of stone, the Aldinairr stood. All eyes were upon her as she steadily walked to the Elders' stand. She stood before them, her head held high.

The High Elder sighed. Beside him, Artel looked at her in sorrow. The High Elder spoke, his voice somber. "Alexandra Elarya, you have been accused of gaining unfair advantage over your peers. What have you to say to this?"

'I wish to know my accuser." She replied, her voice devoid of all emotion. The High Elder motioned and a boy from the Ultar candidates stood. Alexandra lowered her head. "I withdraw." She said quietly.

"What?" The High Elder asked.

She raised her head and voice. "I withdraw from the Trial." The crowd and candidates gasped.

"You know the consequences of withdrawing. Do you really wish to forfeit all chance of joining the Ultear?" The Elder asked.

"I wish to keep my honor intact. The accusation is true. Master Artel met with me several times while I was training. Though she gave only vague instruction, the Elders would still find that as grounds for disqualification, and by law, I would be banned from the Trial. And as I have no wish to be sworn in as a simple minded Soldier, blindly following orders, I withdraw and request safe passage to Sanctuary." She answered.

The High Elder nodded, slightly shocked. Artel hung her head, her eyes downcast. The High Elder spoke. "The Elders shall respect your wish. Passage to Sanctuary shall be arranged for you as soon as possible. For now, you will be escorted back to the training facility."

Two Guards came forward and walked behind her. She walked steadily and with her head held high. To her surprise, her peers saluted as she walked past them, their right hands clenched in fists over their hearts. Her honor remained intact.

Once Forgotten 3.9

“Alexandria Elarya.” The robed man said reverently. “It has been far too long.”

“It is good to see you as well, Alduwan Sidonra.” She replied.

He turned his gaze fell on her three children, inspecting them as they stood at attention, showing respect for one far older than they. “Ah, Algard, Karanie, Jintus. You three have grown much since I last saw you.”

The three clasped their clenched fists and bowed their heads in respect. “May the Light of The Mother shine forever.”

Alduwan gave Alexandria a smile. “Still teaching the Old Ways, are you?”

“As long as I shall live, I shall see that they are not forgotten.” She answered.

Alduwan’s smile deepened. “I wish the rest were like you. In fact, I wish you had stayed at Sanctuary.”

Alexandra gave a sigh and looked out over the sea with a sad gaze. Her dwelling was up on a high hill that overlooked the ocean and surrounding forest. “You know I couldn’t stay. You also know why I had to leave.”

“Is he even still alive?” Alduwan asked.

The Elder gave a shrug. Though she looked no older than thirty, the very way she moved spoke of untold ages. “I don’t know. Thyrin was never one to stay in one place. He is not dead. I would know if he was. My guess would be that he is somewhere in the Mountains of the Drax.”

Alduwan frowned. “Hiding in plain sight?”

“Guiding, not hiding. If anything, he would be the Queen’s Adviser.” She smiled. “You know how he always manages to get himself involved with politics.” A frown crossed her face. “Enough evasion. Why have you come here?”

“The M’rachtkenta are entering into Thyninairinn. No doubt you have had problems with minor demons? I saw those three performing a cleansing ritual. We need you to return.” Alduwan said.

“The Northern Continent is where things are happening, and soon, the rest of our world will feel the effects. Darkness is spreading. A shadow is being cast on our world. It will not be long now before the Fallen Gods break free of their prison.”

“Which is why we need you to return. Ardis has called a conclave of Elders.” Alduwan replied.

Alexandra turned to him, her eyes wide. “A conclave? There hasn’t been a conclave in…”

“Five millennia, yes. And he says that we should’ve met long ago. That we should have continued to watch over the other races. He said that you were right.”

Alexandra said nothing, but turned to her three wards. “Go pack your things. We must be off within one hour.” The three siblings saluted and hurried off. She turned to Alduwan. “I hope we still have time. War is upon Thyninairinn.”

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“Where in Alphairria is he taking us?” Brint muttered for the nth time. Rya glanced at him. They were sitting on a log on the bank of a stream. Nadar had been guiding them through a dense section of forest for the past three hours, with no signs of stopping except for the occasional break. Even now, he was pacing several feet away, obviously eager to move on.

“I’m not sure. All I know is that he’s on our side, and he wants us to see something. Or something. I’m not sure. He doesn’t read like you or anyone else. In fact, he reads like….” She was cut off by Nadar.

“Let’s move! You’ve had your rest, and you both are far stronger than normal folk! In fact, there’s hardly anything normal about you. Or me, come to think of it.” Nadar said as he began to walk off. The two fell in step behind him. The forest grew dense around them, would grow sparse, then dense again. Shadows fell as the sun sank behind the Mountains of the Drax.

Rya stopped in a clearing and gazed off at them. They were several leagues from the mountain range, but already they rose high above all else. Natural towers formed at the creation of Thyninairinn. “I grew up hearing stories of those mountains. I never…” She broke off. Nadar smiled at her as he came back to where she stood. Brint stood on her other side.

“You never thought they’d be this majestic, this magnificent. You’d heard the stories all your life, yet you never thought that anything could be grander than you imagine. It’s a common misconception. Everyone thinks that what they imagine could never be as it truly is, but the truth is that some things are far grander than they could ever imagine.” Nadar spoke, his voice sounding far away. “But come. If we stay too long, those mountains may crumble while we dawdle.” And he marched off. Brint frowned again.

“He may be on our side, but he sure is odd.” He whispered.

“And I’ll only get odder as we totter. Which is exactly what we’ll be doing once darkness falls and we aren’t where we need to be. So, let’s move!” Rya laughed as Brint tried to figure out how their guide could’ve heard him. Rya hurried to catch up. “So, where exactly are you taking us?”

“We are in the Shadow of the Drax.” Nadar replied, a smirk on his face. Rya stopped dead cold so suddenly Brint walked into her. He grabbed her shoulders to keep her from falling over.

“What’d he say?” Brint asked.

“The Shadow of the Drax.” Rya whispered. “We are in the Shadow of the Drax.” Nadar had stopped a few feet away.

Brint’s face paled. “The Shadow of the Drax?! Don’t you know the stories about this place?!”

“Indeed I do. In fact, I know them very well indeed. But the two of you must see.” Nadar replied casually.

“See what? The horrors of this place?!” Brint asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“The horrors died long ago. It is the memory that haunts this place. Nothing more.” Nadar answered. He frowned. “At least, they should have, yet you never know. Best be on your guard.” As he said this, he suddenly stopped, dead still. His eyes widened as he stared ahead of him, the blood draining from his face. “It can’t be….”

Rya and Brint came up next to him, trying to see what he was upset about. Before them, there were only trees, shrubs, and…..a very odd statue. It stood about twenty feet from them, and it almost appeared to be that of a man in a cloak. The two frowned. Something wasn’t right.

Rya whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “What is it? What is that thing?”

Nadar swallowed hard and whispered back, his voice barely audible. “That would be a gargoyle.”

Once Forgotten 3.8

Across a barren wasteland of sand and heat, Nadarin tread. He walked at a normal pace, not noticing the scorching of the sun’s rays, nor the biting of the savage wind that blew the sand like razor blades. Across his face, he wore his mask, now remade, without a blemish to betray that it was ever broken. He paused in his trek and looked up. Satisfied with his direction, he turned his gaze downward. With a wave of his hand, the wind shifted the sand away, creating a narrow shaft that sloped down, going deep into the earth. With another glance at the sky, he began his descent. The sand closed in behind him, obliterating all signs of an entrance. The darkness began to press in about him, thickening into an inky substance. Nadarin raised a hand, light pooling and spilling forth. Before him, stair spiraled down into the darkness, but still sloped downward. He sighed and shuddered as he felt himself relax at the touch of his lingering G’yckma.

The descent downwards went by quickly, the only sound was the echoing of his footsteps. Now near the bottom, the area began to grow lighter. Dousing the no longer necessary light in his hand, he continued on, moving slowly now. An opening lay ahead of him, and beyond that, open space could be seen. That open space was a massive cavern that spread out before him. The gigantic space was at least ten leagues across and five leagues high. The ceiling, high above, was perfectly visible, due to massive holes that had opened up. Huge piles of rubble scattered about the cavern floor beneath these massive skylights. In the distance, almost dead center, stood the remains of an enormous structure. At one point in the distant past, it would’ve pierced the clouds, almost as high as a mountain, yet all that remained now was the base and two other tiers.

“I wondered when you would come again, brother.” A male voice said. Unlike the others, Calaridin appeared as he always had, not bothering to hide himself. “Come to linger on past regrets?”

“No. To ponder the mysteries of an impending future.” Nadarin replied.

Calaridin stood next to him, also gazing at the ruin. “A shame that our sister was not as you were. Perhaps then this could have been avoided.”

“You know as well as I that there was no avoiding this. Not without releasing the destruction of all we have built.” Nadarin said, walking slowly towards the Tower.

“For them to have built something so…marvelous, yet so terrible. Despite the circumstance of their creation, they were still blessed with great power. And added to them your power, your Will…it is a wonder we all survived.”

Nadarin glanced at him, his mask gone. “Is it? Mother played a huge part in it. If not for her intervention, the Balance certainly would have shattered.”

“And then you going against Ariadni, your equal. Still, it is good that she now treads the same path as you.”

“She does not tread my exact path, but all the same, it is good to see her finally coming into who she is. Finally doing what she was born to do.”

Calaridin frowned. “And what is that?”

“Shine. She and I were born to shine with the Light of ourselves. Ariadni and I were to be the Lights whom you would follow. You’re guides. Leaving our Mother and Father free to rest. And then the dream was shattered, and reality came crashing down upon us. The rest is now nothing more than an old wound.”

“Yet are you sure that this is what must be done? I mean, I fully realize that your G’yckma is needed, but…is there no other way?”

The Firstborn sighed. “The Fallen Ones shall rise, whether or not the Tower is lit. It was inevitable. Perhaps, even, one day will come when the Great Demon himself shall be free.”

Calaridin walked in silence for a while, then “Will you be able stop him?”

“Not in my current state. If the G’yckma is not freed by the time Gainatharin breaks into Thyninairin, I will barely stand a chance against him. It’s inevitable, Calaridin; you cannot prevent the impossible from happening.”

His brother was silent again. His wings, one feathered and the other scaled, rose up and flared behind him. “I shall be ready to answer your call should you sound it, my brother. I am with you to the end.”

Nadarin smiled, his mask reforming, covering his scar. “You always were, my brother. Now go, you have work to do.”

******************************************************************

The LG began to slow, and Brint gently shook the angel sleeping next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up with a yawn. “We’re there?”

Brint smiled and nodded. “Yeah, we’re just coming into a small town in Quinland.”

Rya frowned. “I thought we were on direct route to Calrin?”

“We were intercepted sometime in the night. Apparently, Nadar wants us to pick him up here. The Eleven Above knows what he’s up to.” Brint shrugged.

“I might.” Rya muttered, watching as they came to a stop. Brint raised an eyebrow, but she ignored his look. She watched as the man stepped into the vehicle, its core still whirring with power.

Nadar looked her way and smirked, glimpsing the feathers of her wings, which she had hidden beneath a cloak. “When one has power like that, I wonder if it is more a sin to hide it, or to let the world see it and be amazed by the glory of Those Above?”

“You’re one to talk. The way you walk boasts of strength, and yet you remain a mystery to all.” Rya returned.

The man nodded in satisfaction. “Touché. Yet I suppose we all have our reasons? If we walked the world as we truly were, beings of power, the peoples would bow out of terror and fear.” He fell silent. “And what a hideous world that would be.”

A soldier scoffed. “Why? If one has power, they should use it. The world would be better. Like the draigons. They have such strong morals and strength, yet all they do is squander their power by policing the Seven Nations.”

Nadar turned to him, his eyes glinting darkly. “Pah! You’re nothing but a fool with his head buried in the sand, searching for scards! It’s because of such corrupted thinking that the world is even as it is today!”

“What does that mean?” Brint frowned.

“Think, boy! You’ve awakened to magyck, and yet you don’t think! True magyck was sealed away because of thinking like that! The Great Sages, those who built the Wretched Tower, thought as this soldier did. They were the most powerful of men, and while their intentions were good, they caused the most damage and harm. Because of them, much of this world was lost, and yet, perhaps out of all of this, the Light of the Mother shines brightest.”

“When we first met, I certainly didn’t take you as a religious man, Nadar.” Brint chuckled.

“Religious?! RELIGIOUS?! Religion has nothing to do with it. There is what there is, and nothing more.” Nadar growled. “Listen up, whelp, when you’ve seen and known as much as I have, you quickly realize that religion is often mistaken as ‘truth’. Religions are nothing but a clutch for those who are faint of heart, world weary, despairing in the lives that fate has given them. But when you strip away the clutch, you find a glowing ember, just waiting to ignite your heart. When that happens, The Great Mother sings, and her song brings healing to your soul. All is laid bare, yet nothing can touch you. Religion: pah!”

“That sounds so…wonderful. And yet…” Rya fell silent as memories began to surface.

Nadar’s face softened. “You know of what I speak, don’t you? Not just know of it, but to truly know it. You’ve experienced it.”

“Yes. I know it.” Her voice was barely a whisper. Her eyes hardened. “However, we have more important matters to attend to. Do you know if Gartrand and Lirand were successful?”

“Ah, they were very successful. Thanks to them, our enemy is down another soldier. And the Mauler now has another soul to feed on.” Nadar said.

“Nostraeli!” Alda hissed.

Nadar nodded grimly. “It would seem so. However, where the three of us are going, we shouldn’t have to worry about him.”

Rya frowned. “The three of us?”

“I need your help with….a project.” Nadar answered. “And the two of you are the only two available out those I can trust.”

“What type of project?” Brint asked.

“Come with me, and I shall show you. Or stay and be forever tormented at the prospect of what you could have learned.” Nadar smiled.

Once Forgotten 3.7

AU: Ok, I know I haven't posted in forever, and the truth is, well, I just haven't felt much like writing. However, that so changed. Over the weekend, I watched all of the Harry Potter movies. All of the six that are currently out. They are verrry well done. What's the point of this? Inspiration! They awoke my dormant mind; my sleeping imagination. They awoke the dreams from which I write, stories beginning to form. And no, I did not write this post all in one sitting, but I did just finish it today. Thanks to the HP storyline, I'm going to be writing for quite some time, I believe. Enjoy!
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The sun shone brightly down upon a forested area. The area was calm, peaceful. Yet beneath the calm lurked a quiet surreal feeling. A small herd of gazelle-like creatures, sniks, were grazing. One of them shifted uneasily. It had caught movement not far off. One by one, the other creatures stopped their grazing, trying to sense the unknown entity. The herd began to wheeze, a sign that they were becoming increasingly agitated.
A shadow towards them. The small creatures shrieked with fright, moving as one as they bolted from their spot. Feral snarls pursued them as the unearthly creature pursued them; its breath polluting the air with a stench of decay. It raced after the sniks, a strange, unholy light glinting in its pale eyes. It gradually came closer and closer, finally leaping at the last one in the herd….
An arrow pierced its head. Immediately, three figures ran to it, examining the foul thing. “Ugh…it stinks!” a girl said. Her brothers rolled their eyes.
“Of course it does! It was created through necromancy!” Her elder brother said.
The other one, the youngest, spoke up. “It was already dead for a month before that too.”
“I don’t care! Let’s just burn it and go!” Their sister said, holding her sleeve to her nose in disgust. Her brother’s rolled their eyes at her.
“Karanie, go get wood, then, if you’re so impatient.” Her older brother said. He turned to his younger brother. “Jintus, hand me the fire stone.”
“So, it really was an act of necromancy? Kadrin dealt with all of them though!” Jintus said in a hushed tone.
“I’m afraid so. Mother showed me one of the corpses that had been brought back with the use of necromancy. She wanted me to be prepared, in case they rose again. Now, I’m going to show you what to look for.” He took a knife and pulled back the creature’s lips, revealing sharp, canine teeth. “You can tell that it was an idic. Male, approximately nine years when it first died. How long it’s been like this is impossible to know.” Moving carefully, he took the knife and cut open the chest area. “Now, what you must do is cut the heart out. The heart must be burned separately.”
Jintus frowned. “Why?”
His brother nodded. “An excellent question. It’s a purification ritual. We burn away the impure heart and fill the chest cavity with myrdis. When burned, its aroma purifies the corpse.”
Karanie returned, her arms full with several logs and twigs. “Will this do?”
Algard smiled. “That’s perfect. Do you remember how to set them up?”
His sister nodded. She waited as he carefully removed a silk bundle from his pack. “Now, you must always, always remember to treat myrdis with the uttermost respect. Legends tell us that long ago, when Amari cried when she looked upon the war her brethren waged, her tears fell to the ground, and wherever they fell, myrdis appeared. As the Tears of Amari, you must treat every leaf with reverence and respect.” He unwrapped the bundle to reveal a satin pouch, which he gently pulled open. He pulled a few leaves that shone with a light of their own, a pure, gentle light, and he very carefully pushed them into the hole where the creature’s heart had been. Karanie then knelt and built a small teepee with some of the logs, piling the rest around the carcass. Jintus filled in the gaps with the twigs, then stood to the side with Karanie. Together, they watched as their older brother took the fire stone, an orange stone that shimmered and produced heat, from its protective pouch and very gently touched it to the wood.
Flames erupted and spread out from where the stone touched the wood. Smoke rose as the carcass vanished beneath the fire. The two younger siblings gasped as the smoke turned from a thick, opaque, black, to grey, to a translucent white. Algard nodded with satisfaction. “The myrdis is burning. The smoke it produces cures much, anything from a common cold, to the deadliest of illnesses.”
Karanie frowned. “Then why don’t the human doctors use it?” She asked, brushing back a strand of her white hair. Her emerald eyes sparkled with confusion.
Algard frowned, his turning to a dark sapphire. “Because humans don’t know how to properly respect things. They would only see the medicinal value of the plant and tear it all up, pollute it with their experiments. It’s what they do. It’s what they always do.”
“But what of the other races? Surely the draigons aren’t as bad?” Jintus asked.
“What would they care? They live far to the north. They care for nothing…”
“That’s enough, Algard.” A strong, stern voice said. The siblings quickly turned to face the newcomer. She was taller than them, with a scar running below her left ear and down her neck. Her hair was the color of autumn leaves, a pure mixture of reds, golds, and oranges to give the appearance of fire. Her stern eyes of deepest silver glanced over them with concern. She nodded with satisfaction. “Well done. I see none of you were injured.”
“No, Mother.” Algard said, standing straight.
Alexandra smiled. “Really, there is no need for such formality, Algard. You aren’t in a regiment, though the Eleven Above knows I’ve trained you as such.” Her smile faded as she looked at the burning pile. “This isn’t good. The necromancers are returning. And much more.”
“Mother?” Karanie asked.
Alexandra turned to the three of them. “From the moment I took the three of you in, I knew. I knew what would come of it. It was inevitable. We may not be the last, but our people are few. The time of the Aldinairr has long since been gone. And I fear that we may never see a new dawn for our people. The world has changed much, in so little time, though to the humans, it has been ages.”
“Just how old are you, Mother? How old would the humans call you?” Jintus couldn’t help but ask, earning glares from his brother and sister.
Their mother smiled. “I fear you aren’t quite ready to hear that answer. Just keep in mind that I am old, even among our people. I have seen and learned much during my life. I have met with Gods and traveled with dragons. I’ve fought in countless battles, and even started several wars, though none knew I was even involved. Now, I’m afraid that that shall have to satisfy you for now, Jintus.” She waved a hand, and the pile of smolder ash scattered. “The ritual was well done. Very nice work, but come now. We have a guest.”
A peaceful silence prevailed as the four made their way home. The four walked quietly behind Alexandra, enjoying and listening to the sounds around them, yet they were cautious, always on the alert to any foreign sound.

Once Forgotten 3.6

Amaryll was all smiles as she made her way through the City of Saixus. It was quite possibly one of the oldest cities on the Northern Continent, having been in use for countless millennia. Saixus was said to have been the first human to share the blood of a dragon.
Above her, the sky was filled with many of her race in dragon form, hauling goods to and from the rest of their nation. Flying was the primary type of transportation, considering that most of the cities and villages could only be reached from the sky.
“Ryllie!” A dragonesse shrieked, almost tackling her to the ground. Two other girls and a couple of burly, young men came running up behind her. Another boy hurried up, smaller than the other two, not as strong looking. His eyes, however, shone with an uncanny intelligence.
“Allarah! Emriea! Marinea! Ocnius! Trandus!” Amaryll gasped as each of them embraced her. She came to the last boy and hung back slightly. “Hello, Jaspric.”
Jaspric gave her a roguish wink and swung her in the air, showing off the strength his small frame hid. “Where in all Alphairria have you been?? We were about to prepare our own peregrination just to search for you!”
“Well, I don’t know about the rest of you lot, but I’m starving!” Ocnius grumbled. His sister, Emriea, punched him in the gut, causing him to stumble a bit.
“Our princess has just returned and all you can think about is your stomach?!” She hissed.
Amaryll came to his rescue. “Actually, I’m rather famished myself. I haven’t had the chance to get a decent meal in nearly a week.”
Emriea did a complete turn about. “Well, why didn’t you say so?! We could all use a bite or two to eat, really.”
Ocnius rolled his eyes. “I swear one o’ these days, I will lose my patience, you overfed windbag!”
Emriea, having heard him mumble something, shot him a nasty glare. “I’m sorry, what was that?!”
“What was what? I didn’t hear anything.” Trandus answered for his friend.
Marinea stepped between them then, her emerald eyes shining with concern. She brushed back her silk like brown hair. “Really, would you please stop this? I have enough wounds to deal with at the Infirmary!”
Ocnius shrugged apologetically, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry, Nea. I keep forgetting.”
Allarah, who was taller than the other girls, and definitely a Warrior, shrugged. “Huh, I’d actually love to see those two deck it out. Wouldn’t you, Ryllie?”
She thought for a moment, seriously pondering it over. Marinea gasped. “Oh, Amaryll, you can’t be serious?!”
Her friend turned to her. “You know the Arena is the best place to get disputes, grudges, and what not settled. Why not let them just have at it?”
“Simple, really.” Jaspric spoke up. The others turned to him. “We can’t afford to have a good Warrior down on what could be the eve of battle.”
“What?!” Ocnius roared. His sister and the others burst into laughter.
Jaspric held out a palm, using his power to keep the giant at bay. “Now, now, we’ve both seen that sister of yours fight. Do you honestly think you could best her?”
Ocnius sighed and backed down, grumbling to himself. Trandus spoke up. “Right, can we go grab something to eat, now?”
Amaryll laughed and began leading the way, but she was floored by a ball of green fur. “Amryl! Amryl! Good see! Good see!”
“Leopold! You cheeky little monster, get off me!” Amaryll cried out in laughter, as she flung the clingy creature away. He stood no higher than a foot and a half tall, yet was as long as three feet, from the tip of his snout to the tip of his furred tail. Green leathery wings circled him as he perched on a barrel, a little horn protruded from the center of his forehead. An imp. The cheeky little miscreant bobbed his head in excitement at having caught his mistress unawares.
“Mistress no see me! Mistress no see Leopold!” He shrieked, twirling in the air before landing on her shoulder and rubbing his head against her cheek.
“Alright, you. I may have missed you slightly.” She laughed. The others had watched in fascination. Imps were creatures of pure mischief. To see any of them domesticated was astounding, although draigons had much better chances of taming them than any other race.
They continued on, with Leopold perched on Amaryll’s shoulder like a large bird. Amaryll gave a faint sigh. She had missed this, the hustle and bustle of the streets, the calls of vendors, and the gossiping of the elders. There weren’t many elders left, due to the Civil War, yet those that remained gladly passed on their knowledge into the Collective that bound them all together.

Marinea dove into a shop that sold herbs and potions, eager to restock her supply, as well as place orders for the clinic she worked in. Jaspric eyed a stand that was full of charms with disdain. The owner, seeing his glance, glared at him, until they began arguing over the authenticity of the charms’ magic. Trandus, Ocnius, and Emriea were off inspecting a vendor selling knives, testing the blades and haggling over the prices. Allarah stood against a column for one of the shops, a smile playing at her lips as she surveyed the people she fought so hard to protect.
Amaryll sighed, causing a raised eyebrow from Allarah. Amaryll smiled. “It’s good to be back.”

Once Forgotten 3.5

AU: Ok, so here I am, and I'm back! I wasn't going to post this just yet, but let's just say that a certain someone managed to persuade me to go ahead and post. So, here it is!
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A girl tread purposefully through the Nether forest. Behind her, two great wings were furled slightly, wings of a dragon. Beside her strode the Maladorn, his massive paws making no sound upon the ground.

“You’re sure that this is where he’ll be?” The girl asked, her voice quivering slightly.

“Of course I’m sure! Unlike you lot, I always trusted him!” The Great Creature answered, taking the lead slightly.

The girl flinched at the harshness of his words. “How were we supposed to know? He rarely paid any of us attention!”

The Maladorn whirled on her with a menacing growl. “Is that what you think? Don’t you remember anything? Don’t you remember what he did for all of our sake?!”

Arayinda hung her head, hiding her sapphire eyes that glinted with silver. “I try not to remember that time.”

“If he hadn’t done what he did, we wouldn’t be here, my sister.” Mandar said softly.

She looked up at him. “Yes, I realize that now. But I don’t understand one thing.” Mandar cocked his head. “Why can’t he rescue Helix?”

“There are several reasons for that. Which ones would you like to know?” Nadarin asked, stepping from behind a tree, caressing the trunk fondly.

His brother and sister bowed their heads to him, a gesture he returned. Arayinda brushed her hair over her shoulder. “All of them.” She said with narrow eyes and a clenched jaw.

“First, when Ariadni sealed Helix, I was nowhere near full strength. Second, it would have destroyed what little Balance was left. Thirdly, I had no other choice but to flee Alphairria.” Nadarin replied.

Her eyes widened. “You…you…dispersed yourself?!”

Nadarin thought it over for a moment before giving her an answer. “I suppose that’s the only real way of explaining it. I remember feeling myself shattering, and the pain that was almost too unbearable. Yet I had to; Ariadni was…lost.”

His sister shook her head. “And I suppose Amari forgave you?”

“Amari has always had an uncanny understanding of things, despite being the youngest. I didn’t even bother apologizing, because I knew what she would say. ‘There is nothing to forgive’.” Nadarin couldn’t help but smile.

Arayinda pushed her long, dark hair over her shoulder. “Our sister always was a pacifist.” She glanced at Mandar, who gave her a perceptible nod. She glanced around, seemingly on edge. “My own role has become strained, Nadarin.”

Her brother sighed and turned away for a moment. “I was wondering if you could feel it yet. Despite all that I’m doing, the Balance is still shifting.”

Her eyes lit up with hope. “So you can sense it again?” He gave a nod. “Yet I believe I can shed some light onto this. You’re facing a Nostraeli…”

“Yes, I know. The Mauler has begun to feed off of the lingering essences of defeated M’rachtkenta, as well as anything else. Men, demons, creatures, it all doesn’t matter. Anything to satiate his all consuming hunger. I thought we had seen the last two long ago.” Nadarin said.

“No, Nadarin, no! The Mauler…he has become worse than any Nostraeli we’ve ever seen! The stench of him is the same stench as our Father himself! And we have another problem. I’m sure that you are aware of Flarris?” She asked.

Nadarin gave another nod. “Flamian’s other self. A creature born from a shattered soul.”

“Flarris holds more hatred than Zxypher. Zxypher, at least, only bears hatred to us, the Alphairrians. The Children of The Mother. Her hatred for us is why she seeks to destroy Thyninairinn. But Flarris…he hates all life. Everything. Alphairrian, M’rachtkentan, M’rachtkenta.” Arayinda said, her voice filled with worry.

“Flamian nearly killed himself to contain that monster; if he is released again, I fear we will have no choice but to interfere.” Mandar added.

“Flamian is growing weaker. He is getting more and more strained, and soon, he will break. A draigon he may be, but he is still a mortal.” Arayinda said.

“The Balance is far too delicate for us to take any unnecessary risks. Flamian has yet to draw upon the strength I gave him. The same strength I gave to each of those I chose. But it may not be enough.” Nadarin said, his eyes surveying his two brethren. “Regardless, I must proceed forward. I have worked too long now to turn back.”

Mandar nodded. “Indeed. If we turn back now, the Great Demon will be released.”

Nadarin frowned. “You know it’s best not to speak of him. I imagine he’s managed to regain some strength from the Imbalance.”

His sister nodded. “What do you want us to do?”

“What you always have done. Listen to the Song of Our Mother. Try to keep the Balance as much as possible.” Nadarin replied.

Arayinda hesitated, a question on her lips. “Ariadni…she’s like you, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is. And she is finally beginning to awaken to it. Just as I am most like Our Father, as he should be, as he once was, Ariadni is most like Our Mother.” Nadarin answered.

Mandar turned to leave, but he paused. “The boy, he has Awakened, hasn’t he?”

Nadarin smiled. “Indeed he has. Our Mother’s prophecy is at last coming about. Though how it will all end, even I do not know. But I believe that Mother knows best.”

The Maladorn looked down then back up. “What part will he play in all this?”

“He will take my place in this world.” Nadarin said, his face going neutral. “It is a road none dare to travel, but he will not be alone. He will always have a companion.” He turned around, and found himself alone. Nodding, he glanced up into the canopy of trees above him. Sunlight was still filtering through.
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Kaylandra paced about her hall, a scout bowed before the dais. The throne room was extravagant, but not luxurious. Its extravagance was only to acknowledge the royalty of the queen. Beyond that, it was little different from any other room. She turned to him. “You are sure of this?”

“Upon my honor, My Queen. Not only has Calima declared war upon Salcar, a very ancient ally of ours, but Dalgra has also shown signs of military action. Except, they have not made any movements outside their border. But I fear that they are preparing for something.” The scout answered.

“That will be all. You are dismissed.” The scout stood and saluted, a fist to his heart with spread wings, and left.

“It would appear that things are indeed far graver than we thought.” A young draigonesse said, entering from a side door.

Kaylandra turned to her with affection. “Amaryll! I did not realize that you had returned!” She embraced the girl warmly. “How was your peregrination?”

“It was so much fun! It’s no wonder Flamian always wanted to wander off. The Southern Continents are incredibly well cultured. And they are very accepting. Of course, I tried my best to keep a low profile, but there are criminals in every city.” She answered with a wry smile.

Kaylandra chuckled. “You are so much like our brother. I hope there wasn’t too much bloodshed.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Oh please! Do you have any idea how difficult it is to remove bloodstains? And besides, the Cleaners’s potions always make the cloth weaker. So I used fire.” She smiled.

The Queen shook her head. “I’m beginning to realize just how right Flamian is. Fire does run in our family.”

Amaryll laughed. “How else do you think we rose to the monarchy?”

“True.” She sighed. “And now there is talk of more war. Haven’t we had enough of it? We finally manage to put down that Traitor, reestablish our ties with the wolves, and now this!”

“The end is in sight. It may seem like Darkness is seeping in more and more, and it is. But so is Light.” Amaryll said. The Queen turned to her, her eyes wide.

“You’ve had another vision!” She exclaimed.

Her sister nodded. “Yes, but it is a most puzzling one. There is a war coming.”

Kaylandra scoffed. “I know that. Calima attacking Salcar, our long-standing allies. Dalgra making military preparations. War is inevitable it seems.”

“No, Kaylandra, no. I am not speaking of a war amongst mortal races.” Amaryll said softly. She turned away and stared out one of the windows. “The war I saw is far worse than any war that has been fought within this Realm. The Demons will break into our Realm. There is no stopping it.”

The young queen stumbled and sunk into her throne. The blood drained from her face, her wings drooping. “So Kadrin was right.”

“More right than any of us knew. Gainatharinisidious will lead the rest of the M’rachtkenta and the demons into our Realm. They seek the door to Alphairria. The door that Nadarin made.” Amaryll continued, her eyes focused on things she could not see. “Yet they will also come to wreak havoc and vengeance upon us. We who were born Impure yet rose to fight for The Mother. They will come in great numbers, and with a weapon unlike anything ever seen before. However…”

“What is it?” Kaylandra asked, coming up beside her. “What else do you see?”

“We have but one hope. To restore Balance and ensure the Demons’ defeat, the Great Tower must once again be lit. What once was done for the good of all must now be undone. The Mistake of the Aldinairri must be corrected; The Great Wrong Righted….” Her eyes clouded over.

“A Fledgling young shall fly beyond; a Warrior shall live to Life.
An Old Soul shall bar the Darke; the Tower be uncovered.
The Fallen Ancients shall soon break free, their vengeance to unleash;
An angel tortured hinders their way.
The Gyckma shall be freed once more, to shine again unhindered,
And the War shall be renewed...”

She shook her head, and her eyes cleared. She turned back to her sister. “Goodness! It seems like I’m always going on about something.” Her smiled faltered at the look on the queen’s face. “What did I say? Was it important?”

Kaylandra quickly hid her worry and smiled. “Oh, don’t go fretting yourself. Go on, off with you! I shall you again at supper. You must be tired after your trip. Go on, off with you!” Her sister left with a smile. The queen paced about her throne, before slowly sinking onto it. “The War shall be renewed…”