[IC] Kenja no Isan

[Zverda]

It’s been such a long time since the story has been told, the real reason why the Sages were chosen, what they had done to ensure that everyone was safe from a being who was so set on doing whatever it thought necessary to meet its goals. Many tell the tale of the original Sages defeating the being that had brought strife upon the world. Other’s insist that the landmass that was once in the center of the world was still there, unseen by normal people, that the being had been sealed away with its followers. No one knows which story is true, those that truly know are no longer of this world. That does not mean there are no stories as to what they did after the disappearance of the Threat. With the disappearance of the landmass, the ancient race that lived there, the secrets of the Spirit disappeared as well. With them gone, many lost their way while others simply found their own means of existing without the understanding of what they were capable of. Wars broke out. People constantly fought and battled over land that was never meant to be theirs. During this time of war and strife, the Sages continued to try their hardest to guide their people. Some were forced to fight those they considered friends, but they did so for the sake of their people, wanting to keep them as safe as possible.

Decades of war was all that faced the Sages. There seemed to be no end to any of them. It was pointless. In the eyes of the Sages the wars were all useless. They saw no reason to have disputes over lands that had boundaries that were already determined. After some time, they decided to sit out of all land disputes. They felt nothing was to be gained by such things after all. Instead, they only participated in the wars that they saw as necessary, which was never really clear. Some would participate in wars that had to do with succession, other’s over the issue of slavery, others simply wanted to end things no matter how small the dispute and often were able to do so by their presence alone.

Eventually, after the years of war, the Sages simply… disappeared. No one is sure why they suddenly left, but there has been much speculation. Some say they were tired of all the fighting and had simply left their people to deal with their own problems, rather than relying on the power of the Sages to fix everything. Other’s say that they were killed, though they have no explanation as to how they would have been killed. As a show of respect for those that saved them, each day of their week was named after the Sages that had saved them all from certain doom. Agniea, Sibek, Medeina, Hotoru, Theia, Than and Aether. Seven seemingly ordinary people with extraordinary capabilities who risked their lives to ensure that everyone was allowed the lives they wanted, only to be used as weapons for their people in the end.

[Zverda]

Calendar

• Months
  
  • 1) Month of Darkness
    
    • History obsessed month: the month is for reflecting on the mistakes of the past, this is the month when the Dark Lord became who he is
    • The birth of the Sage of Light is celebrated on the 36th day of this month
    • Write down their fears and pin them to a stone monument
  • 2) Month of Water
    
    • Celebration of Children and Youth, it is considered lucky to be born this month due to the Original water sage being born in this month while no other original sages were born in their Elemental Month
    • The birth of the Sage of Fire is celebrated on the 15th day of this month
    • The birth of the Sage of Water is celebrated on the 22nd day of this month
  • 3) Month of Earth:
    
    • The Month of rebirth: Fertility festivals are usually held during this time frame
    • Planting season for farmers
    • The birth of the Sage of Wind is celebrated on the 40th day of this month
  • 4) Month of Light
    
    • The month of the Arts, a variety of Festivals are held during this 49 day period dedicated to various forms of art
    • Start of the Military Campaign season
    • The birth of the Sage of Darkness is celebrated on the 2nd day of this month
  • 5) Month of Wind
    
    • The Month of Change
    • Many people decide to make small or large change to their lives throughout this 49 day period, those who succeed are believed to be blessed until the next Month of Wind while those who do not are believed to be cursed with bad luck for the next year
    • Middle of Campaign Season
    • The birth of the Sage of Earth is celebrated on the 11th day of this month
  • 6) Month of Fire
    
    • The month of cleansing
    • This month is riddled with festivals of people giving away objects they no longer need and purifying themselves of bad habits.
    • Middle of the Month signifies end of Campaign season
    • The birth of the Sage of Spirit is celebrated on the 7th day of this month
    • The stone monument with the fears written and pinned during the Month of darkness are burned during the Purifying Festival
    • Harvest Season/Harvest Festival
  • 7) Month of Spirit
    
    • Festivals held in memory for the Dead and Dying
    • The birth of the Dark Lord is known as the Day of Silence and is practiced on the 21st of the month. Because of this, 21 is considered and unlucky number and Grey is an unlucky color.
    • The number 777 is considered an unlucky number due to there having been 7 sages yet the total equals 21 and is associated with the Corrupted Sage of Spirit
    • Many people place wreaths within the water to signify respect to those who lost their lives on the Continent of Spiritus when the Dark Lord fell.

Days
Agniea’s Day - Wind Sage
Sibek’s Day - Earth Sage
Medeina’s Day - Water Sage
Hotoru’s Day - Fire Sage
Theia’s Day - Light Sage
Than’s Day - Dark Sage
Aether’s Day - Spirit Sage

Each month has 49 days, 7 weeks and each week has 7 days

[Zverda]

Swirling shadows in the middle of an ocean where something once stood, yet was lost long ago, shadows that seemed to begin to slowly take form into that very landmass that many thought was lost. At first it seemed to be nothing but barren wasteland, but then greenery began to form, rolling hills, fields of flowers, forests and finally villages, towns and cities. Of course, not all of this was seen thanks to the swirling mist of darkness that still surrounded the the sudden appearance. In fact, it almost seemed as if the shadows that twisted and curled were in a dome shape, as if it was meant to keep everything out… or maybe something in. You see, no one was around to see any of this happen, it was as if it had chosen the dead of night on calm seas to return to the dimension that it belonged. This choice, however, meant nothing when the return of such a thing could be felt by one of the very people who had helped seal it away so long ago. It seemed that it was time once more to take care of an age old problem, but maybe if they were lucky, they would be able to get rid of it forever. After all, who wanted to spend another millenia keeping something so large, hidden?
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“It seems that they have determined that it is time… we need to send them out, just six, but two of them are in one place so it should not be too hard to reach out to them.” ~Silence~ “No… no that doesn’t much matter, you can pass it on when you speak with them, they will be coming here in due haste.” ~tilt of a hooded head~ “Yes, those are the chosen six. Yes, they will all be there, I have no intention of letting any of them stay away even if I have to gather them myself.”

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
𝒜𝓂𝒶𝒽𝓁𝑒 𝐼𝓃𝓀𝓊𝓃𝓏𝒾𝓊𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓀𝒶 𝒞𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓊𝓈 𝒜𝓁𝒷𝒾𝓂𝒶𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓉𝓊𝓈 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒽, 𝐹𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝒞𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐸𝓂𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝒮𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒹 𝒟𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐻𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒯𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒜𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓏𝒾,
𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓌𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒲𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒹𝓊𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝒯𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒷𝓇𝒶 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈. 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓃𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒, 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝒸𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓃𝓋𝑜𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝑜𝒸𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝓂𝑒𝒶𝓃𝓈 𝓃𝑒𝒸𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓇𝓎. 𝐻𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇, 𝓌𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁𝒾𝑔𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑜𝓃 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓋𝑜𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃.
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓎,
𝒜𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝐼𝐼

𝒜𝓁𝒹𝒾𝓃 𝒮𝒶𝓁𝓋𝒶𝓇 𝒞𝒶𝓅𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝒹 𝒢𝑒𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓎,

𝒲𝒽𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓋𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃 𝒦𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓃 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉, 𝐼 𝒻𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒹𝓊𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝒻 𝒶 𝒽𝒾𝑔𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒. 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝑜𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝒶𝓁 𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒹, 𝓈𝓀𝒾𝓇𝓂𝒾𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝒶𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝒶𝓅𝒶𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓅𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓊𝓈𝑒. 𝒲𝒽𝓎 𝓌𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝑜𝓃 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶 𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓁𝑒 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒹𝑜𝓂 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝑒𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝓉𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒, 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝑜𝓃 𝐿𝓊𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓃𝒶, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁? 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓇𝑜𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝓉𝓊𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒷𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝒸𝓊𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓃 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶 𝓈𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓅𝒾𝒸𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒. 𝒲𝑒 𝓈𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓁𝓎 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝒯𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒷𝓇𝒶 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒲𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃'𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒲𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒽𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝑒? 𝐼𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝓇𝓎, 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓈𝑒, 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓋𝑜𝒾𝒹.

𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓎,
𝒜𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝐼𝐼

𝐿𝓎𝒹𝓇𝒾𝓂 𝒱𝒾𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃
𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓁𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁, 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒 𝓌𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽𝑒𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝑔𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝒶𝓅𝒶𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒. 𝒜𝓃 𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒸𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝓊𝓉𝒸𝒶𝓈𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓂𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐸𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒶𝑔𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓂𝑒𝓃𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒲𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒻𝒾𝓍 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝓆𝓊𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝒯𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒷𝓇𝒶 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈. 𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒥𝓊𝓃𝑔𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒯𝑒𝓁𝓁𝓊𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒷𝑒 𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓎𝒾𝓃 𝑀𝒶𝓇𝒹𝒾𝓀 𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝒸𝑜𝓃𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈, 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓊𝓅𝓈𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂𝓈𝑒𝓁𝓋𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓏𝑒 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒸𝒽𝑜𝓈𝑒𝓃, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌 𝒶𝓈 𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂? 𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒞𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒷𝑒.
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓎,
𝒜𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝐼𝐼

𝒵𝑒𝓅𝒽𝓎𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌
𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒹, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒻𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓌𝑒 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉. 𝒜𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓌 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝐹𝒾𝓇𝑒, 𝓌𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝒶𝓇 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑒, 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓈𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝓃𝒶𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓊𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝒾𝒻 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓃𝓃𝒾𝒶 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒜𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝑒𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎, 𝓌𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒯𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒷𝓇𝒶 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓇𝑒𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒶 𝓋𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓉𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓈 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓂𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒻𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝑜𝓃 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒶𝒷𝒾𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝐹𝒾𝓇𝑒.
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓎,
𝒜𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝐼𝐼
𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓇
𝐹𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓀𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁𝒾𝑔𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒶𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝐼 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓉𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓁𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑔𝓊𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒟𝑒𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒷𝑒, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝑒𝓍𝒸𝑒𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒶𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒽𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒶𝑔𝑒𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓇𝑒𝑔𝒶𝓇𝒹𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒽𝒾𝓈… 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓈𝒾𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃. 𝒜𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓌𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈, 𝓌𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝑒𝓍𝓉𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓃𝓋𝒾𝓉𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇’𝓈 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊, 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝓇𝒶𝒻𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓅𝒶𝓈𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝒽𝑜𝓁𝒹𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓉𝓇𝒾𝒷𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓇𝑜𝓃 𝒻𝒾𝓈𝓉. 𝐼𝒻 𝓃𝑒𝑒𝒹𝑒𝒹, 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓇𝑒𝓉𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒸𝓊𝓇𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓈𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝒶𝓎 𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝒶𝒸𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝒯𝑒𝓃𝑒𝒷𝓇𝒶 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝓎𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝒮𝒶𝑔𝑒𝓈, 𝒶 𝓈𝒶𝒻𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑔𝓁𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓉.
𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓁𝓎,
𝒜𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝐼𝐼

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

“Suspicion? No doubt, I would be surprised if they weren’t suspicious of such things, in fact I would call them far too trustworthy.” ~ stretch of silence ~ “She might be, yes… as would he. I don’t doubt those two will be trouble, but we will handle it as we need to. After all, the others had been a handful as well, there are always people who are a handful. Last time it was the Demon that nearly burned down the whole building. Amusing as it was, it wasn’t exactly great for the other students to have to deal with.” ~ A ghostly chuckle was the only response ~ “I fear I will have to tell them to keep what they are secret for now though, otherwise they simply won’t learn a thing.”

[SleepingSilence]

The visible miasma escaped through the window the furled wolf rested under, placing a paw on top of his nose to mitigate the surrounding stench, sunlight blocked by the blanket shielding his eyes. Hearing pacing footsteps, sounds of chopping crunchy vegetables, bubbling water, the crackling of flame. His ears twitched, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. Outside the wooden cabin, surrounded by luscious crops, foliage and towering trees. Soaring through skies slowly suppressed by grey clouds coming from the west, until catching the familiar scent coming from home, diving down to a soft fluffy landing. Abruptly, a cacophonous melody squawked in wolf’s ears.

“Wake up, wake up! Never a better moment to move your lazy bones out of bed. Come outside and enjoy this beautiful afternoon.” The raven proclaimed, perched on top of the wolf’s noggin. The wolf jolted upright from the blankets he slept on, swatting the empty space above of his head, growling at the raven, having already landed on Lydrim’s shoulder. Looking at the all the produce, spices and herbs spread across the table, while Lydrim was casually stirring some clear yellow liquid, with tree roots floating inside, smelling like vegetable stock.

“Dammit Vashti! I was sleeping.” The wolf snapped, the raven didn’t need acknowledge his words or his death glare. Lydrim chuckled and turned around, smiling at the wolf.

“Good morning to you too, Lyros.” Lydrim said. The wolf jumped off the bed, giving him a cold shoulder and walking past.

“I’m not responding to some stupid pet name, I’m nobody's pet.” The wolf muttered while leaning down and gulping down some water put inside a bowl. Lydrim grabbed a minced leafy herb from his counter, taking an observant look before walking over and stuck the plant near Lyros’s nose. Lyros reluctantly sniffed it, giving Lydrim a look of revulsion, turning away and letting out a loud retching sound. Lydrim smiled and let out a hearty laugh.

“Looks like I picked the right one after all.” Lydrim said sprinkling the herb into the bubbling pot, still being watched by Vashti.

“So, what are you making for me? Is this all for me?” Vashti asked. Lydrim chuckled, starting to clean up the counter.

“I’m afraid not, it's for a wealthy customer I’m expecting within the hour-” Lydrim replied, the raven flew off his shoulder and landed back on Lyros’s head.

“Good. I much prefer eating raw meats anyway.” Vashti said cheerfully, sitting down. “Something Lyros and I have in common, isn’t that right buddy?”

“Consider yourself lucky I don’t like my food obnoxious.” Lyros quickly retorted.

“Don’t worry you two, after I’ve served my customer. I’ll serve your dinner.” Lydrim assured. Finished preparing his meal, mixing everything into a single pot, grabbing a bowl to pour the steaming concoction inside the bowl and putting in under a platter. Closing the window to kept the draft from blowing in, cracking the nearest door open. Lyros lazily walked out, with Vashti getting in flight, beating him outside and promptly bragging about it. Lydrim shut the door behind them, picking up a sharp kitchen knife. Glancing at his own smirking reflection hearing simultaneous sounds of methodical knocking upon the front door, gently wiping and setting the knife down. “Speaking of the devil...”

Heading quickly toward and opening the front door, the slender noble dressed in noticeably expensive attire, noticing the ashen colors above coating the entire sky. He stepped inside, Lydrim closed the door behind him.

“Welcome, I just finished preparing your meal. So you won’t need to wait, you can eat and we can get into the business proposal you discussed with me.” Lydrim said watching the noble’s eyes scanning the surrounding room, changing his facial expression several times in a few seconds, before stepping inside from the scent coming from the platter set up on a table. The table had been meticulously set up, a perfectly clean white tablecloth, a silver plate with pleasant aroma of steam, with an array of colorful flowers inside a handcrafted vase and fresh fruit inside a basket used for set pieces that were fairly atypical for a noble. With a nearby standing torch, illuminating the entire area surrounding the table. The noble took a seat, Lydrim walked up beside him and picked up the bottle that was sitting on the table, pulling the cork open. The noble raised his hand in a stopping motion, covered with fingerless white gloves.

“I don’t wish to partake in any ch-wine. Just fetch me some clean and disinfected water, if you have that.” The noble remarked, clearing his throat and taking his gloves off. Lydrim put on a pleasant smile, before he could reply. “I’ll leave my coat on.” The noble added. Lydrim simply nodded and left the noble, heading back into the kitchen. The noble removed the top tray, and instantly scoffed looking at the food’s presentation. Seeing a vegetable medley, some hodgepodge stew and some bread, the noble nearly sat up until smelling the scent coming from the stew, instead only leaning back into his seat and picking up the spoon.

Unbeknownst to the noble, four eyes glared at him from behind. Lyros and Vashti stares from the window, ducking from sight when the noble glanced in their direction. The noble scooped the stew inside the spoon and lightly chewed and swallowed the first spoonful, his inner thought gasping, the experience his taste buds were submerged in, was practically orgasmic. The noble took several more spoonfuls of the stew, taking a bite of the bread to cut down the intense earthy sweetness.

“I cannot deny his cooking ability is above par, though he’s foolish if he thinks I’ll be hiring him into my business. I only came to dispose of the evidence that I know he has...” The noble thought with a smirk.

Lydrim casually walked inside, holding a glass of water. The noble glanced in his direction, giving him an perturbed glare, watching Lydrim raise the glass up to his mouth and chugging the water down and setting the glass with a loud clash on the table. The noble opened his mouth, being instantly greeted with a swift fist swung full force in his face. Lydrim knocking him over on his backside and toppling over the stool, causing the noble to sink his teeth into his tongue and ripping a chunk off.

“How dare!” The noble screamed with blood escaping his lips and leaking down of his nose, suddenly feeling his legs, arm and every muscle in his body constrict and freeze like the largest constrictor was wrapped around his body, suffocating him within its grasp. Lydrim quickly grabbing an apple from the table and shoved it into the noble’s mouth, keeping him silenced.

“‘Sylis-Parthexia’, a rare parasite killing herb that resembles a near identical look and texture to a medicinal herb, often used for stomach pain. But instead of the bitterness, it’s pleasantly sweet. However, instead of ailing someone that ingests it, it releases spores into the bloodstream and causes the brain to induce a chemical that absolutely shuts down all muscle function. Leaving anyone unfortunate enough to eat it, paralyzed. It can be identified by talented herbalists or just from the foul odor that only animals can detect.” Lydrim explained in a calm tone, walking over to the front door and cracking it open. Lyros and Vashti came inside out of the darkness. The noble gave Lydrim an enraged glare, lying motionless on the floor.

“Fortunately for you, it harmlessly passes through the digestive system within a couple hours. Unfortunately for you, the moment you decided to interfere in the communities trade routes and purposely raise taxes until families can no longer pay, making duplicitous deals with young women and make them into your concubines. You get enough people that pay me instead…” Lydrim said approaching the noble and kicking his face, subsequently taking the apple out of his mouth. “To kill you…”

The noble coughed out, spitting out a tooth and more blood that poured from his mouth. “You’ll regret this! My constituents know I’m here, they’ll find-” Interrupted by laughter coming from the wolf, shocking the noble unable to speak.

“I understand what you meant earlier, Lydrim. I guess you do love telling your jokes.” Lyros scoffed, pacing around the noble with Vashti sitting on Lydrim’s raised arm. Lydrim chuckled at the thought and walked up to the torch, gripping the stand. Vashti looked at Lydrim.

“Oh my, can we eat everything? I’m famished.” Vashti squawked. The noble's heart raced, his eyes widened looking at the wolf licking his lips and the raven flying up and landing directly on the noble’s upper chest.

“Dinner is served…” Lydrim said blowing the flame out and the room suddenly went pitch black. Walking away from the noble, gazing upon two pairs of glowing eyes.

“W-wait sto-” The noble stuttered out before letting out guttural scream, feeling his eye being penetrated and pulled out of his socket, abruptly cut silent by the wolf’s fangs sinking deep into his neck. Tuning out the sound of his friends getting their fill. Lydrim let out a yawn, laying on his bed with arms crossed behind his head, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep to have dreams about having rugged facial hair.

* * *

Waking abruptly to some squawking, with a letter literally dropping his lap from above. Vashti perched on the windowsill. Lydrim opened his eyes and sat upright, looking at the letter pleasantly surprised. Curiosity sparkling in his eye though it quickly disappeared when discovering the only thing inside, was just something written on parchment. Lydrim glanced at the letter, reading over it carefully, inaudibly mumbling the words aloud. Putting the letter aside before standing beside his bed, looking at Vashti, giving her a smile.

“Thank you. Lyros washing himself off at the pond again?” He asked getting a nod confirming his assumptions. Stretching his back until hearing a crack, noticing sounds of sprinkling coming from outside. Opening the window and sharply inhaling the scents coming from the outdoors, fresh air filling his lungs. Before exhaling longingly and rubbing the back of his neck. “I suppose it’s time to clean up the mess...” Lydrim started with scrubbing and cleaning his dishes.

“What did the letter say? You didn’t seem too interested.” Vashti said interrupting the silence.

“I’m not. It’s something trying to convince me to use my talents elsewhere. Likely for their own ends. People that send letters like that, are almost always duplicitous.” Lydrim replied looking around. “Oh-yes, the platter.” Lydrim uttered casually strolling into the room, the body was gone and only the blood splattered floors remained, signs of many footprints and the body being dragged toward the front door.

He grabbed the platter without hesitation and headed right back to doing the dishes, disposing of the contents of the stew while thoughts suddenly spilled from his head. Vashti was occupied ruffling her feathers, hearing the sounds of the side door getting scratched at. Lydrim set the platter down, grabbed a towel and let Lyros back inside. Lyros glared as a towel was lightly tossed over him, covering half his head. Lydrim dried him off thoroughly as possible.

“We’re leaving later this afternoon, after I pack my things and do some tidying up. We likely won’t be coming back ” Lydrim stated matter-of-factly before heading off, to scrub the blood off his floors. Lyros turned to Vashti.

“What the hell did I miss?” Lyros asked.

“Being wise doesn’t mean I know everything…” Vashti sheepishly replied before adding. “Just more than you-”

While Lydrim was occupied on his hands and knees, continuously scrubbing, hearing the habitual commotion coming from the other room. “Hey now, don’t ruin my bed!” Lydrim called out, staring the bloody floors being nowhere near clean yet. “In hindsight, I really need to train you both not to eat so messily…”

* * *

They hadn’t traveled in a while, but he had enough foregoing knowledge of routes to avoid being arrested and ideas of strangers arriving was the last thing he needed. Lydrim distracted his past memories through exchanging pleasantries with the horse he rode on. Eventually arriving at the docking stations, with nothing but a large brown sack being carried over his right shoulder. Lyros and Vashti staying beside him, paying no heed to the crowds of strangers leering, as they followed without anyone daring to pry. Getting abroad one of the airships, exchanging a ticket and finding a secluded place to drop his luggage and settle, waiting for takeoff.

Scarcely spotting passengers daring to stay nearby for any extended period, from either of his companions presence, watching themselves ascending up into the skies leaving Tellus behind for the very first time in thirty years. Lydrim held the mysterious letter he received, clenching his fist and exhaling. Approaching his destination, Tenebra, the Continent of Darkness. Anticipating more than just who sent that letter to be waiting inside the Courtyard of the Sages.

* * *

Underwhelmed was the first thing that crossed his mind and ghastly was the first word to escape his companions mouth when disembarking on the airship and going across Tenebra, wasn’t exactly aesthetically pleasing. Until Lydrim laid his eyes upon an ornate metal gate shaped like a dragon covered with thick thorny vines, stone walls and concealed what lied within. Vashti flapped over his shoulder and flew above the courtyard’s walls, peering into depths of obscurity before giving up and perching on Lyros’s head.

“Couldn't make out anything. Seems like you're the first to arrive.” Vashti said.

“Will you stop using my head to perch-” Lyros grumbled before just conceding his ineffectual protest. Lydrim stepped forward, noticing the gate silently opening on its own, before walking inside and viewing the luscious gardens and the giant fountain in the center. Barely passing the entrance, before turning himself around to focus on the gate shutting behind him.

“Try not getting lost, I’ll be waiting for the others to arrive.” Lydrim said giving permissions to Lyros and Vashti to explore the grounds of the Courtyard of the Sages, promptly taking off to observe their surroundings. Sitting down with crossed legs and leaning forward and resting his crossed arms on his sack, Lydrim stayed there, remaining calm, wondering exactly how many were about to come through those gates and questioning exactly what he got himself into...

[A Lowly Wretch]

The cool wind swept across the swaying palm trees, it's touch as smooth as silk to those it flowed across.

His hammock rocked gently to the ebbing of the winds. There Thessir laid, fast asleep under the noonday sun. He was fully dressed with the exception of his big brown boots which were two sizes larger than his feet at the least and his backpack which was really more of a sack cloth held together with wooden rods and cloth fastenings. His big brimmed hat was set pretty much over his face, the black headwear shielding him from the sun's annoyingly bright rays.

Over the sound of the trees and Thessir's snoring was the distance caw of a macaw. Approaching his site a brightly colored parrot carried what appeared to be a sort of note in it's claws. The bird flew down, landing on a sort of stick set out for it to land on. Dropping the note by what was essentially his mail box, though box is a misnomer since it really is just a stick that's appropriately shaped for parrots to land on, The bird sat on the makeshift perch and waited a short bit for him to come get his mail. When he didn't move from his resting spot it decided to announce itself.

"Craw! Mail Delivery! Craw!" It hollered with it's characteristically shrill yet croaky voice.

_
Thessir stirred from his rest only slightly. It wasn't until the bird continued to beak off at him that he roused from his slumber.

"Hhh... Who sendz mail at this ungodly hour of the day?" He complained as he shifted about in his attempt to rise from the hammock. Being a light fellow it was quite easy to slip off the sometimes treacherously balanced bed arrangement that was the hammock. He even managed to keep the hat up on his head which was good because there wasn't a cloud in the sky and he didn't have his blindfold on.

Staggering blearily across the sandy beach he gave a long straining yawn as he rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes. He managed to get to the mail post without tripping over his own feet, an accomplishment for someone who was definitely not a morning person even if it wasn't even morning. Stooping over he picked up the envelope and eyed it over, looking for any identifying print or insignia. As he looked the envelope over the bird took this as it's cue to skedaddle and left back for the village post master.

The envelope had no address and the seal was a symbol he did not recognize. In that short moment he went from sleepy to intrigued. With that he cracked the wax open and freed the letter from it's papery trappings. His eyes rolled over the words, scrutinizing each sentence upon the stationery.

_
It was not a welcoming message. An invitation that much was certain but he took no mirth from the words it contained. It spoke of events it shouldn't of known, COULDN'T of known. But how? Mystery was afoot.

"Guess it's time to solve a mystery." He confirmed out loud, speaking largely to himself. Heading back to his rudimentary shelter aka a few sticks and palm leaves arranged to keep things dry during a rainfall he picked up his meager few belongings and set forth towards the quaint fishing village he called neighbors.

"So you're sure he'll get the letter right? I cannot return empty handed you know."

A man dressed a darkly colored herald's uniform argued with the post master, a rather plainly dressed fellow. Behind them rows of birdcage's sat, the homes of the messengers he trained.

"Yeah. Don't stress out, I sent my best bird." The post master responded with his usual air of casualness. He just assumed the man was making big bones out of a small issue, not something unusual for folks from outside the village. The herald seemed to carry this task with the impression of utmost importance but that was pretty much always the case with these sorts.

There was a sudden tapping on the herald's right shoulder. He looked over to the right in mild surprise, only to see nothing. Turning back to face the post master there was now tapping on his left shoulder. He looked over his left shoulder, this time faster than the first, but still no sign of the culprit. Attempting to be clever the herald waited, feigning ignorance for the moment, before whipping right around.

"Aha! Got you- Wait, where?!" Before him was still nothing, not a sign of anyone. As he turned around however there was someone right in front between him and the post master, causing him to stumble back and briefly cry out in surprise.

"Hahahaha! You sure got'em!" The post master laughed heartily at the joke Thessir had pulled on the herald.

"W-who dares-"

"Szo, retuuurrrn to szzzenderrr hmm?" Thessir cut him off with his weird accented insertion, presenting the envelope he had recieved. The herald found his current train of thought halted by the new evidence presented.

"A- ah, you must be Thessir. Erm, yes we are to return to the sender. That is correct." He straightened himself out, resuming a finer posture. "At your earliest convenient opportunity we shall leave for the sky ports. Do take care to not linger too long, my employer seeks your audience before too long."

"Ooo, szkyzship huh? How fanzy." Thessir remarked, tucking the letter back into his coat. "Dizpell your worriez. I havez no intenshun of leavin' your employer szitting on hiz handz. Let uz move on for I am eager to meet thiz perzon." Thessir strode over to the door and gestured to the open aperture with his natural left hand. "Zshall we?"

Sparing little time the herald and Thessir both left the wooden shack and proceeded down the beach up the winding path towards the port town.

_
Through the streets of padded earth Thessir let the herald lead on, the two proceeding up to the docks and over to the only airship dock in town. After all, the island of Akilos did not lay in the path of any major airship trade routes and being water bound only helped to further remove it from notice by most. It largely subsisted on it's fishing supply and trade with poorer water bound vessels.

After some walking they reached the ladder up to the dock where the airship awaited. A large wooden vessel shaped not unlike a caravel was tethered to a post, anchoring it to the long wooden walkway. Instead of masts it possessed three large balloons, crew members assigned to specific torches & bellows which served to control the heat of the air therein. As the herald and his guest of honor approached the side of the ship the crew needed no signal to proceed, hoisting up a length of boards nailed together into a walkway, complete with hand rails for added safety. The hooks at the bottom of the board hooked onto the knee-high railing at the side of the dock, keeping the planks in place for those coming aboard.

Thessir chuckled a little, looking up at the ship with a bit of a smirk as the sea fresh wind tussled with his loose black hair.

"Something amuses you sir?" The herald questioned, quirking an eyebrow.

"Just the whimz of the zea." Thessir spoke distantly, focused more on the ship than the one talking. It was a small lie of course. Some years ago he wouldn't of been able to conjure up a clear image of the sky, let alone an air ship. Now here he was, looking upon one of the first air ships he's seen. It was a common sight for the crew but for him it was quite the wonder. Even though he had already read up on the principles behind how they operate it was still something else to witness such a large mechanical spectacle with his own eyes. It amused him that he was going to be riding one of these things now too, a Nyxian of all creatures taking to the skies. Not a common sight indeed.

_
Thessir was given his own cabin and rode with relative comfort on route to the destination of the letter's sender. Sailing over Tenebra was no pleasant sight as fields of twisted or decayed plant life were the only things to witness up to the horizon for many miles. Come the second day however they approached a dock. It was the strangest thing, a lone sky dock in the middle of nowhere in a blighted land. Nonetheless the ship eased down from the sky before anchoring themselves to the dock.

With the walkway down Thessir stepped off the ship, albeit pensively. Even if he knew the air was no longer unbreathable there were many stories of old down below which spoke the many dangers that riddled the surface. His breathing was slow just in case the air he was taking in was poisoning him.

"While caution is always recommended I think you should know that the way is safe. The path has been cleared to make way for you and your cohort's arrivals." The herald assured him. Thessir gave a simple nod, pressing forward with little desire to linger. Whoever said it's sometimes best to stop and smell the roses clearly has never tried to smell a Nosebiter Tulip.

It was not long before they arrived, their destination obvious as it was the only thing around not composed of ruin or rot. The gate was adorned with a metal relief of a dragon ornately fused to it. Around many of the bars and across the tops of the cold stone walls were long thorned vines, the stems of overgrown roses and briar. Thessir took in these sights with a scrutinizing eye before the herald opened the gate for him.

_
As Thessir stepped inside the herald began to close the gates behind him.

"Not going to join uz?" He turned, questioning the man without necessarily judging him for it.

"Afraid so. I musn't trespass any farther but please do enjoy your stay. As for I, I shall return to the ship." And with that the herald had bid his farewell, turning to leave the site once the gate was closed.

Thessir himself turned back to the interior of the walled location and observed an odd set up. It seemed these walls housed a lush and verdant garden, replete with many types of flowers along with stranger structures. In the center stood a fountain in the shape of a siren. Within it's hands it held what seemed to be a glass sphere, six gems housed within. In the corners of this hexagonal courtyard were six different decorative features, each indicating a different element for their space. There was a large crystal which contained a sort of light, a pillar of water which seemed to stand perfectly well on it's own, a large oak tree, a mound of volcanic soil, a standing cylinder of clouds which remain in place instead of dispersing as they typically do and lastly a strange building wrought of onyx. Lines of color themed flower bushes divided each of these decorations, the colors synced to the related element of their corner.

In the center of the out of place garden sat an elf in rough woods garb which quite clearly spoke of which caste he hailed from. Elsewhere within the walls he could observe a wolf and a crow roaming about. With those spotted he turned his attention back to the only other humanoid now in sight.

"Ahhh, a faze one morrre than none. Arrre youuu ahn Authorrr orrr ahnotherrr recieverrr?" Thessir approached, stopping within fifteen feet of the man. He stood with his hands in his pockets with a bit of a forward slouch. The brim of his hat cut off the image of his upper face, leaving only his pale awkward grin as the only facial feature to look upon. While the darkness covered his face down to the nose it also meant that the upper half of the person he was speaking to was also cut off for him.

Thessir stood and awaited some sort of indication or response of a sort, even if that response was in the form of an attack. He had not arrived unprepared for such an outcome as the shadows underneath could attest.

[Old Amsterdam]

---

It was evening, the sun just beginning to set on the mountains. The sky a brilliant mixture of blues, reds, orange, and pink. Zephyr sat on the top of her family home, meditating. Her wings flared out behind her, her balance such that the smallest change could topple her from the narrow point of the roof.

In with the flash of a flame, out with the embers... she repeated in her mind. Small flames extended from her mouth with each breath, disappearing as she breathed in.

"Zephyr of the Singing Arrow?" A voice below her called up. Male. Older than her, if she had to guess.

She ignored the voice, returning to her breathing. Her mourning.

"I come with a letter. Utmost importance."

Her jaw clenching, Zephyr opened her eyes by a fraction, looking down upon this strange man. Foreigner. She didn't recognize from where, just not from here.

"If you could just read this, I can get out of your hair."

"Very well," she relented, standing up and feeling the rush as the air whipped around her as she slowly lowered herself to the ground. Taking the sealed letter, which bore an insignia she didn't recognize.

"Mhmm. So you are to escort me to this place where I can obtain the honor my family deserves?"

"Yes. We will need to leave soon."

"Understood. I will return momentarily."

---

Hours later, Zephyr saw the scorched lands come beneath them in the airship. Her goodbyes had been difficult, but if it meant returning with honor and strength...

There had been no conversation, for she was far from forthcoming at the man's original attempts at small talk.

This machine is like a trap. Confining. Small. Closed... she thought in agitation.

---

At long last her feet touched ground, free sky above her. She left the man at the gate, secretly pleased that he didn't follow her into the inner sanctum.

Two were already there, and she looked at them with open curiosity as she inspected The garden.

"Greetings upon you two, on this gifted morning. I am Zephyr of the Singing Arrow," she said with a small bow. "I see someone has adorned this garden with symbolism of the Great Sages. The colors, the adornments... It truly is spectacular, is it not?"

[Zverda]

Summer was outside, enjoying what little freetime she got simply playing with an abnormally large black cat with startling blue eyes, throwing what looked like a balled up piece of parchment paper for the creature to chase after and bring back to her. It was small things like this that she allowed herself to enjoy, while the soldiers were rather welcoming of her, she knew what her place really was and did her best not to get too comfortable with their presence for fear of being reprimanded for being too familiar with them. As her mind lingered on this for a brief moment, any and all train of thought was interrupted by a voice being cleared behind her. Turning her head, she saw an unfamiliar face holding out what looked like a letter to her, which only proved confusing as the young woman couldn’t exactly read. Standing slowly, she took the sealed letter from the man and glanced down at it to see if she could read anything on the front. The only thing she recognized was her Master’s name, but before she had a chance to look up and say anything to the newcomer, they were gone.

With a frown on her face, she turned and rushed up to the walls of the fort they were currently stationed in, the midday sun casting long shadows across the courtyard she had been in. As she ran, the cat remained close on her heels, meowing incessantly at her, as if reprimanding her for stopping the little game they had been playing before the man had appeared. ”Shhhh, Cynder,” she said to the cat as she set up a rather long flight of stairs, ”You know letters for the Master take priority over play time, I’ll make it up to you by getting you something from dinner tonight.”

Her response was a huff and a very distinct ’Fine’ ringing through her mind in the voice she had become familiar with as Cynder’s. Understanding animals was a secret that she had kept from everyone, as was her ability to turn into them as well as she knew it made her distinctly different from other Elves and she did not want to end up doing something far more dangerous than she had already done. Once upon the wall, she asked the closest soldier where Aldin was and immediately set on her way the moment she was told. When the male was within her sight she went to call out for him, but his name only seemed to squeak out of her, as she still had a hard time calling out to him in any manner. Clearing her throat, she tried again, ”Master Aldin!” she managed, her words coming out in a half shout, half squeak.

Captain Salvar was standing by three of his grenadiers that had been stationed on the battlements of Fort Kruseg. The men universally desized guard duty, but, everyone had to pitch in when it was their time. In fact, there probably wasn’t a soldier alive who liked guard duty. Aldin was doing his best to keep morale up by doing some rounds himself and making sure to check in with his charges and even deliver a little ale to them when he could. There was currently no risk of attack as the border wasn’t under threat. Of course, it was still possible, but, all intelligence suggested the Bracel were not planning a surprise offensive.

“Y’think we are going to get outta this dungeon soon, sir?” the corporal he was meeting with asked him after taking a long drink from the bottle Aldin had brought for him and his two privates.

“I think command is worried there might be a surprise-” he was cut off by what sounded like someone being strangled and speaking his name at the same time. Aldin turned toward what he assumed was his slave, having to turn nearly all the way around so he could look at her with his one good eye. He favored her with a flat expression as she came trotting up to him trailed by that cat she had saved from a battlefield, nearly getting herself killed at the same time.

Aldin rested his right hand casually on the hilt of his hanger and turned his head slightly to the right automatically, letting him have a better look at her and also hear her better. “That was impressive,” he said without emotion, “I didn’t think someone could make such a choked noise while attempting to speak.” he tilted his head to her slightly, the brim of his wide hat covering his eyes for a second, “You continue to impress, Summer.” he smirked briefly. He was joking with her and riffing a bit. It was how he learned to joke around and show his affection. Too much time around soldiers probably. He had noticed her picking up on that philosophy as time went on but she seemed to be immune to knowing when he was joking with her.

Summer tilted her head to the side when he spoke to her, as if she were trying to determine something, though her tanned cheeks did very little to hide her blush. ”Um… a letter came for you, Sir,” she replied, holding out an unmarked envelope save his name scrawled across the front and an unrecognizable seal holding it closed. As always, her hands were a tad bit shaky, but what else could you do when the slave you ended up with had been severely tormented by their former owner. She had gotten much better over the years speaking to him, but it always seemed to take some hidden courage to do so as her Violet eyes never seemed to meet his at any time. If they ever seemed to, she always immediately looked at something else, her focus never truly on him, even when he was speaking to her. ”T-the deliverer said nothing and before I had a chance to ask anything he was already gone. I did not recognize him as any of your men, Sir.”

“Well, isn’t that odd,” Aldin mused as he took the letter from Summer’s shaking grasp. He held the letter in his left hand and drew out his field dagger with his right, using the tip to quickly break the seal of the letter with practiced efficiency. When you were the captain of a company you got a lot of sealed letters from nearly everyone and everywhere. The best part was half of them were all saying the exact same thing and the fact that different divisions and brigades just didn’t talk to each other became painfully obvious. He pulled out the contents of the envelope and started to read the letter. His brow furrowed as he read on.

The corporal looked from his captain to Summer, smiling, “Sir, look at’er.” he said gesturing with his bottle of ale, “She looks like a whipped dog. What do y’do t’her?” he asked smirking and getting a pelvic thrust and pantomimed spanking from one of the privates.

“Corporal,” Aldin said mildly not taking his eye off the letter he was reading,. “I think perhaps you are too interested in what I do in my free time.” he folded the letter back up and slid it into his envelope looking over at his men, “Is your private time a little too private? Find yourself spanking, well,” he glanced down at the man’s crotch, “Or perhaps it is only private in the sense that it involves your privates?” he pointedly looked back up to the two lower ranking soldiers before him. Each of them opened their mouths in surprise, shocked their Captain would turn his barb against all of them.

His men still cowed he looked back to Summer and sighed, “This concerns you as well.” he said simply and then turned to his men giving them a quick salute and command to carry on before turning and walking toward the stairs Summer had just climbed. He didn’t bother telling Summer to follow him, he knew she would no matter what. She liked to stick right by him whenever she could. “The letter is for both of us.” he explained simply, “They most likely addressed it to me because you could not read. However, the letter is making some very strange claims and demands from us. They want us to go to Tenebra. If what they claim is true, this is important,” he paused thinking about what he should or should not say, “If it isn’t true then we will need to deal with it regardless as it may indicate their are spies in our ranks.”

Summer nodded her head, wanting to express interest in what was in the letter, but figuring that now wasn’t the best time seeing as he said very little about it despite it apparently involving her. The claims that the Soldiers had made not too long ago had made her shrink back a bit, Aldin had ever even attempted such an advance on her, but then again, he knew exactly what his brother had done to her. Chewing on her bottom lip, sharp canines barely making a dent in the constantly worried skin, she looked around in a nervous manner, still avoiding any eye contact. Instead of speaking, she leaned down and scooped up Cynder, petting the cat as it snuggled into her arms, purring softly. ”Tenebra?” she finally asked softly, she did not know much about the countries or customs outside of Lucerna, ”Isn’t that where the…. Um… N-Nyxians are?”

While Summer did stumble over the word, it wasn’t because the idea scared her, it was because the word was very foreign to her and she had only read it a couple times in what simple books and scrolls Aldin had time to use to teach her to read. It was a very slow process, but she practiced when she could because she wanted to learn and he was kind enough to take the time to do so. ”Do we have to go underground?” she also inquired, not liking the idea in the least, she very much enjoyed being around living things and animals. She did not know what was in the darkest parts of the continent, but she did not want to find out, they were probably disgusting.

“Very good,” Aldin complimented when Summer mentioned that was where the Darklings lived. She had been taking to her infrequent lessons well. “That is exactly right, however, I don’t think we will be heading underground. At least, I certainly do not want to be. We are heading to The Courtyard of Sages. It is an ancient monument that holds idols to all of the Sages. It has quite a bit of religious significance.” he explained as they moved down the stairs and then across the inner yard and toward the offices and barracks. Aldin walked quickly, needing to request leave and pack all at the same time. He had really no time to waste at all if what was postured was actually true. His right leg gave a slight hitch to his walk as he powered through the courtyard. ”Antiquarians have been trying to get into that place for generation,” he scoffed, ”Greedy little grave robbers trying to pretend they care a damned sliver for The Sages. Good thing the magic of that place keeps everyone out.”

”If it keeps everyone out, how are we supposed to get in there?” she asked, clearly confused and wincing slightly as Cynder decided she wanted to perch on the young girl’s shoulders, ”And isn’t the air on Tenebra riddled with poisons? How are we supposed to be able to survive if this place isn’t underground?” It was clear she had many questions, her eyes darting to where he had placed the letter before she asked her last question so softly it was hard to hear, ”And what does this have to do with me?”

”The poisonous air business is hogwash Summer,” he said dismissively, waving his hand as if shooing the idea away like a pesky insect, “The Miasma theory states plainly that illness and poisonous gas come from centers of foul smelling rot. The land over Tenebra has never been foul smelling and many have been very near the land without any ill effects at all. Many even claim to have been on the land before. However, the Miasma Theory is the nail in the coffin.” he looked over at Summer with his good eye and flashed her an invincible smile, ”We will be just fine. Don’t worry so much. Make sure you keep your mind free of silly superstitions. Keep your mind sharp and ready for real science.” he returned his face to his far more neutral expression and stepped into the halls of the the fort proper, making a beeline for his office and room. He huffed slightly before he answered her final question, “Summer, if that letter is honest, you are going to very important and I would be doing the world a disservice by leaving you behind. I’ll explain more when we are on our way.”

She made a face when he mentioned her being very important, thinking it to be a very bad joke seeing as she had never been important since her birth. She had been wrenched away from her mother and sold at a high price thanks to her oddity, no elves had Violet eyes and White hair, let alone feline eyes. Instead of huffing like Aldrin did, she simply puffed up her cheeks and took on a pouting appearance since she didn’t think he was paying much attention to her at the moment. While it was clear she should probably be excited about leaving Lucerna, in her mind it was just another place to go to continue serving Aldrin as she had been for the past 4 years, only now they wouldn’t be around the soldiers. As that thought crossed her mind, her cheeks flushed heavily and her pout quickly turned into a look of shyness that hadn’t been seen since he had first told her that she would have to remain in his tent with him as she was his personal attendant.

“Stop puffing out your cheeks and-” he hadn’t bothered looking over at her before speaking. He could practically feel that little pouting face she made every time something was going on that she didn’t understand. However, when he looked over he saw her blushing. “Why are you blushing?” he asked pushing open the door to his office and walking directly over to his writing desk and pulling out sheets of paper as well as quill and ink. He sat down, waiting for her to answer his question and hoping she already would know exactly what to do now that they were in here and a trip was to be embarked on. It was no mystery they needed to pack and pack somewhat light. In the meantime, he needed to pen his letter to Major Grasretter, General Sinclair, and write up Summer’s emancipation papers. He wanted to have them ready before they left. He would burn them if it turned out this was all a trick, but, if it wasn’t he needed to have them ready to file with the nearest Agency of Servitude office.

Summer set to work packing his clothing, remaining silent as she did so for a few moments, “I won’t know anyone there like I do here,” she finally admitted, ”And at least here not everyone treats me like…” she trailed off. She was a slave and the fact that they didn’t completely treat her like was was an exception because she had ended up getting placed with the support group. She pulled her weight just like everyone else, she just had extra work to do when it came to running errands for Aldin, cleaning his room, making his bed and making she his food was prepared properly. The battlefield made no difference when it came to her station and she realized that she had started to forget about that. ”Please excuse my foolishness Master,” she amended quickly, ”It is nothing of importance.”

“You have nothing to be forgiven for.” Aldin said passively as he continued to write his letters. He had gotten very good at the mind bending task of writing while listening and speaking. He sometimes needed people to repeat things for him but he had become quite adept at the strange skill. “Let us cut to the bone here, yes?” he started, “The point is, you like it here. You like the feeling, the people, the work, all of it. You like it better than what you had before and you do not want to give that up and just go back to being treated like another meaningless piece of furniture.” he stopped writing and sat back in his chair, looking over at her with his one bright green eye, “How about I make you a promise, eh Summer? I will promise you that if what the letter said was true you will never be treated like a slave again, not by me or anyone else in my family or out of it. If the letter is false, well, we will come back to here as quickly as we can and everything goes back to normal.” he scanned her for a reaction as he reclined in his stiff back writing chair, “Does that set your mind at ease?”

There was quite a bit of apprehension in those feline violet eyes, as if she didn’t exactly believe the first part of what he had said to her despite him gaining nothing from lying to her. Still, it made no sense that she would be given her freedom based on what a letter had said to him, or the fact that they were to go somewhere she assumed was rather far from the Company she had grown to like over the years. While she would not admit it aloud, they had started to feel a bit like a family to her, though a rather brash and abrasive one. ”It only fills it with more questions,” she answered honestly, ”There is no point in me getting my hopes up about the first option, as the second feels like it is more likely to happen by your own… um…” Her brow scrunched together for a moment as she seemed to try to search for the right word, ”App...re...hen...sion….. Apprehension?”

Aldin nodded, both to her word usage as well as to what she had put forward. Summer might have been lacking in anything resembling proper education but the girl wasn’t stupid. She was clever enough to see what was going on around her and learned quickly. “You are right.” he admitted with no hint of negativity in his voice. He had not been trying to hide his feelings and saw no reason to, “That letter talks about the return of The Sages Summer. It is luring me in with an opportunity to bring peace and balance to the world. Even if it is a trap, I can’t afford to not take the risk. The letter calls for you to join me as well and that you will be very important.” he smiled at her. He wasn’t telling her the whole truth but he would eventually. For now he needed her to not try to run off or seek revenge. He wasn’t sure she had a vengeful bone in her body, but, best to be safe when it comes to freeing abused slaves. “You now know why I am apprehensive about this. It is outrageous but wonderful. Impossible but greatly needed. If it is false, nothing changes aside from both of us getting to see a few parts of the world. If it is true though…” he did not bother to elaborate. He would let her own imagination fill in those gaps. He would never be able to say something as wondrous as what she would come up with herself. The best person to convince anyone of anything is themselves.

”So I am meant to help you somehow?” she asked curiously, ”I am not sure what a sage could possibly need of a Slave, they have so much magic they don't much need anything if what I read is to be true. Unless…” The young girl trailed off as her mind mulled over everything Aldin had been telling her. She may not be stupid, but thanks to her severely stunted growth in things, it took her a little longer to piece things together than most as she had less information to work with. Finally, realization struck and those violet eyes turned hopeful, if only.for a fraction of a second. ”You mean? I could be…”

“Starting to figure it out then I see,” he said with just a hint of enthusiasm in his normally even tone. He gave Summer a small smile and then pulled his hand up to his lips and made the shush gesture. It wouldn’t be a good idea for people to know what might be true just yet. He could think of a few people that would go out of their way to make sure that a slave never became anything but a slave. Not only that but the Zephyr would likely be rather furious that a Lucernan half-breed slave became a Sage when they had plenty of impressive citizens that could fill that slot. “You are going to keep that quiet until we know for sure, yes? If you go letting anyone know what we are doing it could easily spell disaster for both of us. More you than me for sure and I don’t want to see you murdered for something that might not even be true. I don’t want you to get hurt.” he looked at her seriously, his remaining eye staring a hole through her, “You understand?”

Summer nodded her head in mellowed excitement, it was clear that even she had a doubt that such a thing could be true, but it couldn't be too far fetched right? Considering what she could do both with the wind and without, it couldn't hurt to share with him that the magic wasn't the only thing she got could it? Or maybe she too, should wait on that tidbit of information until it was just the two of them, a giant ocelot was not.something people willingly allowed to wander their camp, even if she could become other things. ”Not a word from me sir,” she told him with one last, sharp, nod.

“One last thing then, since we are being honest.” Aldin started, turning back to his papers and putting the finishing touches on his letter to his commander, “If this all turns out to be on the level I will be freeing you. Until then though you will still need to be my attendant, at least in name. If you think running around without me is a good idea think again. You would have a chain slapped back on you in a week or less and be sold off to who knows who. I would put in effort to find you, but, there is no guarantee I would be able to.” he signed his name on the bottom of the letter and set it off to the side to dry. His tone was even, scientific. There was no doubt or emotion in what he said. He was not trying to scare Summer or intimidate her, it was just a statement of fact as far as Aldin saw it.

Silence met his words, she wasn't exactly sure what to say to him with that knowledge hanging in the air as she finally felt hope for something for the first time in awhile. After all, it only made sense, a sage couldn't be a slave, it contradicted their position in society completely. ”I can shift,” she burted out, she was never any good with tact in these cases no matter how hard Aldin tried to make it so. Then again, she never had the chance to practice it, if a man was dying from a wound she just could not lie to them, her face was just too expressive.

Aldin stopped writing for a second and turned in his chair giving Summer a skeptical look. His one visible brow raised, “Shift?” he asked, still not convinced. It seemed like something impossible. He wasn’t exactly sure how the whole mixed breeding worked but the scholars of Lucerna had long since postured that anyone with half blood would only get the worst of all qualities and thus strongly supported the purity of humanity. It was why many elven concubines were sterilized with potions and treatments. If she could shift that flew right in the face of their previous assertions. “You know I am going to have to ask you to prove it.” he said simply, sweeping his hand across her as if to give her freedom to do exactly as she claimed. Deeds, not words, The Salvar motto.

There was a clear moment of nerves that crossed her features for the moment, her thumbnail going into her mouth before she let out a breath of air and stripped out of her uniform. If she kept on the cloth it would tear and become unusable and she already had a fixed amount, she didn't want to lose them. Folding them neatly, she set them in the floor at her feet and stood there, naked before Aldin and completely still until the sound of snapping bones filled the silence. What was once a straight-backed half breed was now a hunched over woman who appeared to be in some pain as bones broke and shifted within the body, whoever said it was a beautiful thing clearly had never seen a Zephyr shift before. Skin slid off the body in chunks as snow white fur pushed through, a humanoid face elongating slightly to resemble that of a feline as pointed ears turned round and furry, shifting atop her head. The minutes that it tool for her shift to roll over her felt like hours to the one who observed, even more so when it seemed that the more animalistic side of the shifter decided to clean up after itself, the Ocelot before him far larger than one would be in the wild.

Aldin closed his eye when he saw her starting to undress. He’d seen her naked before, it was actually how he had met her, but, there was a big difference between someone having no clothing to wear at all and leering at someone while they undressed. He always thought the no clothing provision of the slave charter was ridiculous. In many parts of Lucerna it got very cold in the winter, particularly in Korin. His eye snapped open though when he heard the shift begin. He stared, transfixed by the sheer horror of what he was seeing. He had met Zephyr before but never saw them shift. He supposed now he knew why they didn’t do it in public around outsiders. It was awful. He watched for what felt like forever as her body turned itself inside out and rearranged flipping through vaguely humanoid features mixed with animal ones. Finally however, it stopped. Aldin blinked for the first time in minutes. His eye was dry and painful. A few unintentional tears ran down the side of his cheek. “Well. I suppose I didn’t need to ever sleep again.” at least he had his proof.

They prepared and departed the camp shortly after. Aldin did not wait for his commanders to give him proper leave. Things like this happened. He didn’t expect he would get into much trouble given the front was rather mellow at the moment and the matter he was going to see about was of utmost importance. He did not bother with deception when it came to his commanders, letting them know exactly why he was leaving and in such haste. He did neglect to mention exactly why he was taking Summer with him, but, she was his property for the moment and no one would ask any serious questions. He couldn’t take his bed or much more than a hiking tent and provisions with him, but, he had his pistol and rifle so they likely would be able to catch some game on their way to the nearest port city to charter a ship

The journey took them nearly a month, but, in time they arrived on the cursed continent. It was much as he had expected. The place was nearly entirely depopulated on the surface and covered in lush landscape. That would make the path to their destination rough. When they departed their ship Aldin was far more grizzled than he would like. His clothing was not exactly as clean as it could be and his beard had grown from the thin and well trimmed thing he meticulously cared for to more of a vagabond’s face decoration. Regardless, they departed on his dappled mare and forged a path into the wilds of Tenebra. Soon enough, they arrived at their fateful destination. Road weary and ready for anything. Kept on their feet by anticipation and hope alone. The courtyard of Sages lay before them and it looked as if they were not alone.

[Big Dread]

"You are not thinking of going are you?" The older exiled prince asked, one sandy eye brow rising toward his thinning hair. He put his meaty hands on his hips and cocked his head looking at his young mistress. Valter might have led a doomed rebellion trying to free slaves, but, he wasn't a fool. Going to this cursed dead continent and specifically to a place that no one had been able to enter in generations just screamed stupid. The worst part of all was he knew Amahle was not stupid. He was actually pretty sure she was smarter than he was most of the time. Sure she had some bad habits and might act a little recklessly from time to time but she was at the very least smart enough not to walking head first into a damned trap.

Her continued silence as she reclined in her plush high backed arm chair, long legs almost entirely exposed from beneath her nearly transparent robe,crossed casually before her. She swirled the dark purple wine she liked to drink and just continued to smirk at him. He shook his head, growling under his breath, "No, no, no, your excellency, you can not be thinking about going to a damned abandoned courtyard in the middle of Night Cursed Tenebra." he flung his arms forward, pleading with that self assured gaze and smirking lips. His eyes widened slightly. He finally saw it. She was enjoying this. She liked seeing him all worked up and trying to talk sense into her. He took a step back and crossed his arms, frowning and settling a glare on his mistress. "No. Don't just sit there and stare at me like that. You know how much I hate it." her only response was to bounce both of her thin an well maintained brows suggestively and then drain the rest of her wine.

Valter ground his teeth together for a moment. Sharing the silence in the large study of the suit of rooms that Amahle occupied. He looked from her silver eyes to the glass in her hand. She was holding it out to him, expecting him to refill it. His gaze fell back on her. He felt his heart pump a little faster. Sages be damned that he wasn't two decades younger. She liked to tease him and flirt a bit but she was never serious. She knew he liked to look at her and was utterly smitten with her force of personality and intelligence. Night take her, she was still smirking at him. She knew he was going to not only refill that damned glass but he was going to agree with her about this suicidal idea she had gotten into her head. She thought that it was so obviously a trap that it couldn't be a trap, and, even if it was so obvious a trap that there was no way it could be a trap that would mean it must be a very well concealed trap. Of course, if it was such a well concealed triple bluff of a trap, then, well, it couldn't be a trap because that mean it was too obviously a trap. Her mind worked about as straightforwardly as a length of silken rope tossed onto the floor in the middle of a ballroom dance.

Valter's sour face finally broke into a gap toothed grin and he started to shake his head slowly, "We're gon'fuckin' die y'know?" he said, the stress making his more rural Lucernan accent poke through his normally practiced noble speech. Her smirk cracked wider into an excited gleam showing all of those slightly too sharp teeth she had in her head. Her glittering silver eyes caught the candle light just so and for a moment he though he was looking into the eyes of someone possessed. He supposed it was actually true. The soon to be heir, at least that was what she liked to call herself, was possessed. There was no evil spirit in her though. No. She was possessed by power and too much damned smarts. She was single minded when it came to getting more power and this whole Sage business was like the perfect bait. She couldn't ignore it. If she did and one of her siblings didn't? She'd be a dead woman for sure and Valter would be following her shortly. He took the cup from her quickly and refilled it. "I hope you know what you are doing," he said with a chuckle.

"Valter," her voice was like cool water, his name rolling along in her stream like a happy little boat, "You worry too much." her head her stand and take the few steps over to him. She laid one of her long fingered hands on his shoulder and looked into his eyes as he turned toward her. "If something goes wrong I'll have you right there beside me." her amused face took on a devious caste, "Well, and about a company and a half of personal guards and war mages." she slid her fingertips down the center of his chest and suddenly plucked the glass from his suddenly limp fingers. She took a sip, never breaking eye contact. She pulled the glass away from her lips and snickered, "What? You thought I was going to go unprepared?"

He grinned back at her, "Y'know, sometimes I wonder if yer half'a crazy er'so sane y'just seem crazy." he laughed shaking his head. She laughed right along with him. He had a deep sinking feeling that maybe Amahle was laughing because she wasn't sure of that herself. Either way, they needed to get prepared and move out soon. No need making a scene with her leaving, well, more of one than she intended to make. If those threats to come and collect her were serious it would be a situation out of their careful control. A situation like that would not do for the future Empress of Amanzi.

Their trip went smooth as it could be. There were few problems with brigands or wildlife on the Great Slipstreams. They soared along on chariots made for underwater travel pulled by massive sails that collected the stream of the ocean and turning it into movement. Honestly, this kind of travel never made Valter feel safe. Not only did he need to have to have a spell on him at all times so he wouldn't die, but, it was way too damned fast. He felt like his eyes were going to be smashed through his head. The blasted Siren and Sirener of the troop were having a good ole time while he hung on for dear life. He was glad as he could be when they finally made it to the shore of the place that would surly kill them all. Much to his surprise, the air was perfectly breathable. He was happy to see that he wasn't the only one astonished by that, but, of course, Amahle never had a doubt. She strode right out of the water and took a deep breath of the supposedly poisonous air much to her guards displeasure.

"Well?" their leader, still dripping with water from her thin robes and long hair asked, "Are we going to go make me a Sage or what?" she cocked her head inland and everyone joined right in. They were there in no time and not alone. Looks like it was a trap after all. Good thing he brought his trusty montante to sweep these pesky flies aside. He only hoped he'd get some play before the team of war mages and guards tore these interlopers to shreds.

As they were readying for an aggressive move though, Amahle raised her hand, staying all of their blades. Instead, she sauntered forward gracefully. Her robes now dry swirled and danced slightly on the light wind as she stepped forward, splaying her hands out to the sides in a gesture of peace. He couldn't see her face but he knew the look she was wearing. She would have that damned self assured little crooked smile with her eyes half closed as if none of this was even important. Her long strides took her forward and she stopped, casually popping one of her hips out to the side and raising one of her hands above her head, smoothly turning her wrist in a circle in something like a wave performed in perhaps the most artistic way possible. "Why hello there!" she called out putting a little music in her voice, "Would you happen to be my welcoming party? We have traveled far and find ourselves in need of refreshments and quarters for rest." she snapped the fingers of her raised hand, implying that it would best if it was done quickly. He couldn't help but grin. Even if they were here to kill her she'd probably at least get them served drinks and a good nights rest before they even realized they weren't supposed to be waiting on her hand and foot.

[SleepingSilence]

Lyros continued sauntering around the courtyard. Vashti flying overhead occasionally monitoring the gates while Lydrim remained seated. Lydrim passively inhaled fragrances from the gardens, letting out a single cough, clearing his throat while minutes passed. Vashti descended, landing near and starting to hop beside Lyros.

“How peculiar-everything appeared bereft of life on the outside. So how much longer do you think we’ll be here?” Vashti questioned. Lyros sat down.

“Until he decides to leave,” Lyros replied looking away, then toward the gate muttering. “Hopefully as little time as possible-it stinks here.” Vashti quickly fluttered up and perched on Lyros’s head.

“Well it’s getting tiresome. How about I practice singing a merry little song in the mean-” Vashti exclaimed raising her voice, despite being right next to his ears. Lyros stood up and resumed walking.

“Just keep your trap s-” Lyros abruptly interjected suddenly hearing a squawking serenade piercing his eardrums. But their wait was fleeting, the gates swung open. The first stranger arriving inside approached Lydrim, asking a question through slurred speech before stopping, leaving several yards of space between them. Lydrim stood up straight, posing in a serious but non-aggressive manner, quickly examining the stranger for visible and concealed weaponry before considering his appearance. Nyxians weren’t a race he had any prior life experience with, only knowing of their existence through books. Lydrim politely smiled back, hearing Vashti’s wings flapping behind him. Vashti landed on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, I don’t follow…the name’s Lydrim, how should I address you? ” Lydrim said feigning obliviousness, not exactly understanding what was transpiring, but able to surmise the Nyxian received a similar summons. Again, someone emerged from outside the opening gate and reacting in a comparable fashion and giving their greeting. Lyros started heading toward Lydrim and sitting in front while making his own comparisons, staring at the two.

“Lydrim, pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He replied. Lyros made a sound of disgust.

“I can’t decide which of two are uglier.” Lyros commented, though Lydrim purposely made their words unhearable beforehand. Lyros continued leering at them, watching another pair coming inside without saying a word. “Make that three ugly ones.” Lyros sneered. Lydrim locked eyes briefly with the young woman entering, noticing her ears.

“Another elf? Is that an elf?” Lydrim thought being interrupted by the sixth person making the most bombastic entrance possible, strutting through without discretion and making demands. Lydrim slowly reached his hand up, rubbing the back off his neck, still forcing a pleasant smile, observing everyone’s reactions. “She’s either really confident or a half-wit...this is about as many people as I can stand surrounding me at one time.” Before he could manage to respond, Vashti interrupted, which to everyone who didn’t understand heard a squawk.

“Can I introduce myself now? Come on, I promise to not mock them for their unsightly-” Lydrim promptly gave her a look in response. “I guess not...”

[A Lowly Wretch]

Thessir

When three was one, one became four, became two.

Two became three, became five. Five became many.

Yikes. Too many in Thessir's opinion. Who invited a school of fish to this tea party? He wondered. He looked all around him, his face shrouded as she scanned about. He could only see them all from the waist down due to the rim of his hat however most of what they could see was hat past the collar. Looking under would provide only a vague silhouette of his head thanks to the shroud of darkness such a big hat provided. Those who were looking for it would just barely be able to make out his cheshire grin.

His shoulders were relaxed. The wind playfully mingled with his dark mop of hair. His coat swayed with the breeze. The sunlight was anemic, hardly shining the cloud covered skies of this land. It was as if even the sun could see the scars of the corruption still fresh on the land just outside this little fenced off place. It was a dim day, the air cool against his skin. It was cooler than he liked, than what he was now used to.

He saw a lot of somebodies but the certain somebody who he was here to meet was sure nobody among the somebodies around, as far as he could see that is. At the very least the elfin bloke answered his query.

"I'm sorry, I don’t follow... the name’s Lydrim, how should I address you?"

Thessir leaned forward, more than he was anyways, and cocked his head slightly with an expression of mock confusion for what little of it they could see right then under his hat.

"Aa... Drezs? I um, I can, ah, drezs myzelfez juzt fine, thankz."

Thessir punctuated the end of his joke with a short uncertain chuckle. He then stuck his leg out straight and turned like a weathervane. Falling forward a bit he landed with an odd thunk from his big brown boot before dragging his other leg under him 'till he was standing straight once more. He was now facing the rest of them.

_
"Hyello."

He greeted them. "Hyolo" He greeted them again, differently this time. "He'll low."

"Hellohellohellohelohelohellhellhellhell!O!"

He flung his arms out to each side, greeting each and everyone at once. All the while he had not raised his head, not enough to see their chests and higher past his hat's rim. As suddenly as it happened he dropped his arms to his side and started over towards the onyx building, teetering from left to right and back with each step he took. He looked up at it, taking in the sight of this relatively short structure.

"Neat Ztuff." He remarked, followed by a pause.

"It'z almozt az eef thyiz garden eezn't completely empty!"

What followed could only really be described as maniacle cackling. He laughed way harder at his own joke than any joke warranted. Wrapping his arms around himself he held his sides, his chorus of laughter bordering on the absurd. While his sentiment was true it really wasn't THAT funny, even to him.

But he would laugh. The real joke was yet to be played. With his head forward as he cackled his hat was leaned so that while they could only see the back of his head he could look and see them in full. He cast what was both a brief and secretive glance behind him, gauging the reactions of the crowd at his back before turning back to resume his character. The laughter died down and there he simply stood, head down and arms hanging limply at his sides.

[Zverda]

When Aldin and Summer had entered the Courtyard, she looked around with mild interest, her eyes falling on each person who had been there before the two arrived, though what both the Wolf and the Crow said did not go unnoticed by the young girl. Settling Violet Cat eyes on the wolf, Summer couldn’t help but let her exhaustion show through in clear annoyance. ”You really should teach that wolf of yours to hold his tongue and learn some manners,” she bit out, clearly speaking to Lydrim while still looking at the wold, ”He isn’t the biggest predator in the pool anymore.”

Those words pulled a laugh from Aldin, ”I’m pretty sure he’s never been the biggest,” her companion said, ”There are bears.”

Summer glanced over at the Noble when he spoke, sure there were bears, she could be a bear. Then there was the last female to join them, her words showed the same type of arrogance that the Princes and Princesses of Lucerna seemed to have, which only placed that very label on Amahle. ”No, we are not a welcoming party,” she stated simply to the other woman before turning her attention back to Lydrim and the Wolf. She wasn’t particularly happy at the moment, she was surrounded by people she did not know, save one, and away from the soldiers that had made her feel relatively safe. It seemed though, that she would be able to gain her freedom finally, she was excited about it, she was also terrified.

With curiosity peaked, Lydrim and Vashti glanced in their direction upon hearing the young woman’s words. Lydrim genuinely smiled a bit, putting his hand down by Lyros who had an instant scowl on his face the moment he realized she was addressing him. Lyros could smell the scents of cat on her, letting out a brief growl upon the other’s comment.

“He’s just a little hungry from the trip, but I wouldn’t bet against him fighting a bear.” Lydrim said with Vashti letting out a laugh. Lyros shot them both a glare, but turned his attention to the strangers.

“I meant four ugly ones, I could rip out your throat-” Lyros sneered.

“Don’t mind him, he just hates everyone. I’m Vashti, nice to meet you.” Vashti said.

Summer listened to what they had to say, but couldn’t help but snicker a bit when it came to Lydrim telling her the wolf would be able to take on a bear. Some could, there was no doubt, but this one here seemed to need to be put into his place. ”Yes, well met Vashti,” she murmured to the Crow while her eyes staying on the wolf, ”Wanna test that theory wolf? I would only need a moment before I give you that option.” The idea of a wolf threatening her life amused her greatly, but it did not keep her calm enough to stave off the rolling anger that was pushing forward. She was tired, hungry and sore from having to share a saddle with Aldin.

Much like every shift before, snapping bones were the first to introduce what was happening, as well as the sound of tearing cloth. Well, there went one of the three outfits she had, maybe if she was lucky she would be able to get more. By the time the rather grotesque transformation was complete, a white wolf filled up far more space than the small Elven woman had. The wolf stood about an inch taller than Aldin’s 5’10 just at her shoulder, her body length settling at 10 ft while her size alone was clearly three times that of the wolf that had threatened her. She was not in the mood to play, either he would have to buck up, or he would have to shut up and accept the fact that he wasn’t as tough as he thought himself to be.

Lydrim and his companions watched the shifter changing her appearance into a large wolf, seemingly challenging him to a fight. Lyros stood forward and aggressively, growing in a low tone. Lydrim stepped forward and had already had his hands on his weapon, the last thing he imagined was getting into a fight, though questioning if somebody in this group or was watching somewhere else would intervene. The rest had received letters did they not? Someone had to monitoring the courtyard incase something went awry, but he could only make assumptions.

“I can’t allow blood to spill without good reason. Might I suggest standing down. I don’t want to intimidate those around us, or cause trouble to the one who summoned us here.” Lydrim replied in a calm tone, giving a sharp whistle, making Lyros let out a verbal sound of disgust but backing down.

Summer snorted and bared her teeth at the much smaller wolf, stepping forward for a brief moment before circling back around to Aldin and sitting down. There was no reason for her to shift back at the present time, it wasn’t like she didn’t need to worry about being naked in front of everyone, she was used to it. She just didn’t feel like letting everyone see her in all her glory even though they had gotten to see the more grotesque side of things. She let out one last growl before resting her head on the back of Aldin’s horse, watching everyone.

[Old Amsterdam]

---

Zephyr found that the small group was rapidly expanding into what could be called just shy of large in a matter of moments. The one with the oversized hat, who had been here when she had first arrived, seemed to find the group was much too big for their taste, spouting off a rapidfire series of what she could only assume where 'hello's in a funny accent at everyone before saying something she couldn't quite catch and bursting into a tirade of laughter. Perhaps it had been a particularly good joke. Not that she would know even if she could've made out his words. Such an odd individual, that one.

The other, Lydrim, was joined by a wolf and raven, presumably companions of sort, though of what kind was hard to determine. The wolf seemed rather disdainful of her, as well as those that followed after and made an exchange of noises with the black bird. The Zephyr seemed to take offense at that, practically sneering right back at the two animals. There was a bit of back and forth before the shifter in question seemed to have reached a decision and stepped forward, her body rippling, clothes tearing, until all that remained where she had been was a rather large snow colored wolf. Large for a wolf anyway, it was still nearly three feet shorter than Zephyr, though no less dangerous.

Zephyr herself was largely impressed, however.

For a moment it seemed as though the two wolves would go at it and she watched with avid interest before Lydrim called off his pet, and the other retreated and lay down, glaring at the lot of them. Zephyr spent a moment pondering what would be best to do in this scenario, it seemed there was a bit of tension in the air, which made sense with so many armed parties without clear intentions. After all, Zephyr herself was quite the imposing figure, towering over anyone here in height alone by several feet (let alone her wingspan) and fully clad in her traditional armor, the intimidating horns only adding to the effect. Furthermore the curved blade at her side matched by her bow and quiver at the other let no doubts as where her skills lay. Speaking of wings... A chirping noise was heard coming from Zephyr's folded wings. Soon it was followed by the appearance of a large black and white striped falcon carefully placing its claws on the her right pauldron. After making sure its new perch was steady it peered about with fierce black eyes, critically glancing over the assembly. It was clear that the bird was displeased with several of the gathered throng.

"Yes, yes. It's alright," she murmured quietly to the bird, stroking it's head and beak.

Zephyr's own wings flared forth to their full length for a moment with a whoosh and a snap of air being displaced, a mere stretch for her, but also a call for attention that was nigh impossible to ignore. Rather than focus on the individual peculiarities of the group, of which there were many, she addressed them as a whole. "I am Zephyr of the Singing Arrow, the new Sage of Fire, pleased to meet you all. I was summoned by Aether the Second to train for my new role. " She said confidently but politely, her voice effortless projecting through the courtyard as she preformed a general bow to those assembled. "We should all introduce ourselves and our intentions. And perhaps remember that not all customs exist outside of our homelands." Though it could have been said as a question, there was a commanding undertone to the her last sentence that would urge anyone to reflexively obey, at least for those not used to combatting authority. After all, if they knew each other's names and what they wanted, interactions should go much more smoothly. If things came to a battle then well, she would know what to put on their tombstones.

With a slight shuffle of her wings, Zephyr walked over towards the shifter, bowing low.

"I am honored to meet one of my namesake. I hope to know you better in the coming days."

The falcon cawed in agreement.

I've never seen her so tickled, you know, it said to Summer.

[Big Dread]

Well, it seemed that this rabble wasn't a welcoming party at all. Too bad. The troop she had with her were going to have to wait for refreshments and rest. Hopefully there would be something aside from a dry reliquary in the middle of nowhere for them to speak in. The air here wasn't poisonous or particularly dry but it was still air. Amahle sighed and rolled her silver eyes, stepping forward, closer to the mad Nyxian and irrelevant warlord, warlady? What exactly would she be called? Amahle supposed she would be the Daimyo of The Singing Arrow given that her father had died only a few years ago. Daimyo would be good. It normally was given to the eldest man in the family for the backward lava drinkers but if the Heir was informed correctly Zephyr had taken control of the clan. Amahle smiled to herself. At least this little trip wouldn't be totally fruitless. There was at least someone here of moderate importance. Well, someone aside from Aldin Salvar. She hadn't been sure at first because of his slightly rough appearance, but, with the missing eye, soldier's bearing, and silver hawk on a green field, it became rather obvious.

She beckoned for Valter with a curl of one of her long fingers as she moved into the courtyard more and heard his dutiful footsteps obeying her orders. He was a good boy. Her mercurial eyes narrowed slightly as they swept from one person to the next. It looked like a Nyxian playing up on the stereotypes of them being strange and mad; a Forester with a pension for animals, he looked like he hadn't seen civilization in his whole life; the Salvar heir; the new Daimyo; a Zephyr half-breed who was probably a slave since she had sat by the Salvar boy like a obedient little pup. Interesting little group. It seemed half of them were nobility, or what passed for it in other places, and, half were common folk. Amahle couldn't help but wonder if that was intentional. Whomever had organized had a good sense of balance at least.

Amahle looked down at the slight Nyxian and smirked at him before whispering in his native tongue, "You don't have to pretend. I know what real madness looks like. I'll introduce you to my older brother someday and you can take notes," she gave him a quick wink before looking to the others and took a breath, spreading her arm and nodding her head in greeting, a small respect for small folk, before introducing herself, "It seems like we are all Sages, eh? Well, you all have the pleasure of being in the presence of Amahle Inkunziushaka Carcharhinus Albimarginatus The Seventh, Fourth Child of the Empress of All Amanzi." she closed her eyes briefly and bobbed her knees and head slightly as if buoyed by an ocean wave. The move was graceful and practiced. It looked almost like the introduction step to a dance. Amahle lowered her arms to her hips and raised her thin brow waiting for the others. She didn't actually expect much of a reaction. She was pretty sure that probably all but the Lucernan Duke's son probably wouldn't even know just how close they were standing to real power. Common folk weren't expected to know anything about politics and the demon probably hadn't had any education farther than 'stab things and make them die. Honor, honor, honor.'

She made sure to make a mental note that not a single one of them addressed her properly when she arrived. Sure they weren't her welcoming party and she could forgive that, but, they saw she arrived with a group of guards and carried herself with authority. The fact they hadn't spared her even the logical reaction of fear didn't reflect well. She supposed the little Nyxian had greeted her and her enterage in his own strange little way. She supposed that put him a step above the rest of these scroungers. Ironic that the actual scrounger had the sense to properly greet an armed group of bodyguards and warmages while the rest just either were too stupid to recognize real danger or so consumed with their meaninglessness that they couldn't pay attention to anything but snapping wolves and shifting. Amahle had never liked seeing the Zephyr do their little trick, much less graceful than the transition her own people did, but, she supposed it would be rather shocking to anyone who had never been exposed to it before.

Aldin's eye was locked on someone who everyone else in the courtyard had completely overlooked. His eye was fixed on the traitor himself. His right arm suddenly ached and his hand twitched toward the grip of his pistol tucked into his belt. The Nightcursed Silver Prince was here. He was right here. Aldin could draw on the scum and put him on the ground with a hole the size of revenge in the bastard's head. No healing from that. No coming back from having your head split by a Shimmer Shot. His missing eye throbbed with impossible pain as he remembered all the friends he'd lost in the war against that son of a bitch. That bastard born whore's son. His right hand stiffly wrapped around the grip of his pistol, finger slid into the guard. That- Aldin's eye blinked rapidly as a large shadow fell over him.

He looked over, ready to draw and deliver round, but, he relaxed when he saw the towering winged demon woman bowing to Summer. His nerves misfired suddenly and he grinned letting out a hiss of laughter. His frayed nerves and the sheer silliness of what appeared to be a noble warrior from The Land of Fire bowing to a slave. He knew Summer wouldn't be a slave for long officially and wasn't really a slave right now either, in theory, but, she had been for her whole life until now. He turned his gaze up to the towering woman and let out an impressed whistle. He released his grip on the pistol and raised his hand to the brimmed hat on his head, tipping the brim back so he could get a better look at Zephyr of The Singing Arrow. He thought maybe he had heard of her clan before but was rather unfamiliar with Bastilluli politics. They had always seemed a little strange to him. They had something similar to what Lucerna did but their fixation with certain concepts and glory in war made them rather alien. All he knew for sure was she was enormous. The largest person he had ever seen really.

"Her name is Summer, Attendant to Clan Salvar," Aldin said with a smile and the extension of his hand to the bowing giantess, "I am Captain Aldin Salvar, heir to Clan Salvar, rulers of the Duchy of Korin in Lucerna." he inclined his head to her slightly, making sure to use terms she would be familiar with. He was pretty sure that his noble classes didn't exist in Bastillus so best to make it understandable, "It is a pleasure to meet you." he looked around to the rest of the gathering, "A pleasure to meet all of you." that last bit wasn't exactly true as he narrowed his remaining eye when he looked on Valter again. The fact that his mistress had been willing to harbor a know rebel didn't speak well for her either, but, sometimes politics could be a funny thing.

[Zverda]

Of course there would be trouble if no one was there to watch them, half of them were just too different from the other half and one seemed to think that their position of power actually mattered where they were going… laughable really. Then again, it was only to be expected, she was nothing if not a royal and most royals believed that people should acknowledge their station in life. She was about to be severely disappointed, because where they were going, station did not matter as much as they did outside of the University. Everyone was entitled to respect from their fellow “classmates”, no matter what their original station was, they were all mages now. The Queen to be probably wouldn’t be an issue when it came to that, but the other’s would have to realize that ignoring anyone wouldn’t end well. Duels were encouraged in the place they were going, there were even grounds made specially for it. Sometimes you just had to fight to make friends. A ghostly laugh filled the air.

”Our dear children,” came a voice from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, ”I am so happy to see that you all came willingly, some needing a guide, which was to be expected, it was why we provided them.”

It took a moment of looking around for them all to notice the cloaked figure that seemed to simply appear on the edge of the fountain just behind Lydrim, it’s body and face hidden by a hood. As ghostly as it was, the voice appeared to belong to a female, though it was impossible to tell for the time being. The figure made no move to pull down the large hood that covered it’s head and face, the only thing visible being the nearly glowing eyes that stared at them all. Those eyes showed a variety of different things, curiosity, wisdom, and a slight boredom were the most prominent.

”A Princess, noble, former slave, two outcasts and a warrior who has yet to realize that is not all she is,” the ghostly voice continued, the tone was a bit flat, but the interest was there, ”Interesting group this time around I must admit, should be fun. Now, I know all your names so I guess it is only proper for me to tell you my own. I am Aether, the Headmaster of the University you will be staying in. Keep in mind that this University is not a normal one, while we have teachers, you will be learning through doing rather than simply staring at books and sitting in a classroom.”

A pale hand peaked out of the sleeves of the robe to pull down the hood, revealing the individual they were speaking with. It was, indeed, a female. Her skin was white, nearly translucent, and she wore a veil on the lower half of her face, leaving only her eyes to show any signs of expression. The horns on her head seemed to label her as a demon, but that was the only thing that pointed towards such a thing for the time being. After all, nothing else could be seen under the black cloth.

[A Lowly Wretch]

Thessir

"You don't have to pretend. I know what real madness looks like. I'll introduce you to my older brother someday and you can take notes,"

Thessir looked up at what little of the strange fish lady who introduced herself in a name much too superfluous he could see past the rim of his hat. He'd just call her Miss Seventhfourth for short.

"I'm not pretending to be mad."

He answered back in what was servicable Sirenian, largely coming across as a series of whistles and clicks to those not versed in the aquatic language. While not a full polyglot Thessir's had plenty of run-ins with interesting folk from just about everywhere.

Meanwhile the one lady was trying to out-dog the dog while the big bird lady made a flap and spoke of arrows which sing. All of it mattered little as the true host arrived, at least that's what she sounded like. The strange hooded lady spoke to the lot of them, speaking of a university of sorts. What was interesting was that her voice seemingly surrounded them. Perhaps it wasn't around them at all but rather inside them? More interesting however were the implications of her words. She spoke of former sages, those figures of hype and legend.

Thessir strode over to the fountain, wind mingling with the tail of his coat, and set his left boot up upon the lip of the fountain.

"Alaz! Ourrr venerrrable hozt makez herrr appearanziz!"

He proclaimed, leaning on the fountain with his foot. With a wry grin he lifted the edge of his hat with the index finger of his right hand, lifting up enough to see her now revealed face, well, somewhat revealed. She wore a veil but it didn't really cover the more telling of features such as her horns or unearthly eyes.

"Zzzo," He opened, engaging the stranger stranger with talk. "Out weeth thee old, een weeth the new hm? I havel but a szimple queztion." He gestured to her with the hand not currently holding up his hat as he asked.

"Dead, Gone or zzimply tirrred of a dayz work are they?"

[SleepingSilence]

The dangerous moment subsided, relieving himself of building tension like thousands of knives being pulled from his back, through a brief sigh. Releasing the crossbow from his grip, arm sliding down back to his side. He remained still retaining a calm expression and sound mind. Despite the flowing fountain, flowers, ornate gate and mystical structures, the atmosphere became as unpleasant as the decayed blackness waiting outside.

Perfectly aware that no amount of studying would’ve prepared him for such unfamiliar circumstances, it was inevitable that he would experience culture shock. But he suddenly felt incredibly inferior to those in close proximity. All bound to have more powerful magic, even excluding their innate abilities that gave them further advantages. But the question of what everyone was gathered for and especially why he was included wasn't the only thing burning...

You could practically see the fire inside his eyes, fuming out infrequent snarls through clenched teeth. The wolf wasn't used to being excoriated, while simultaneously being uncertain of the strength difference of the obstacle taunting him to a battle that Lydrim refused partaking in. Lydrim noticed Lyros standing, mumbling something under his breath that was inaudible for even the sharpest ears. Leaving toward another corner of the courtyard, distancing himself from the crowd of strangers.

“Well that's disappointing. I wouldn't have minded having some new friends.” Vashti squawked softly, flying down to the ground beside Lyros, hopping behind him.

“Go away.” Lyros warned promptly, glaring like he'd sink his teeth into the next thing that approached. Vashti hurriedly flapped back into the air and perched herself back onto Lydrim's shoulder. Noticing the tension between others festering. “I'm growing uncertain of the benefits of staying here.” Vashti spoke softly to Lydrim, returning a slight nod before hearing an unfamiliar, ethereal sounding voice laughing. Turning around to witness the cloaked spirit revealing themselves, though after the previous scenario, it wasn't nearly as surprising to either of them.

Both glancing up at their shimmering eyes, proclaiming their name that mirrored the note. Mentioning the former slave and a University that was preparing to teach everyone present, albeit sounding uninterested in what she was saying. Lydrim stepped back seeing her face, showing off her achromatic skin and demonic horns. Lydrim folded his arms, also wanting the answer to the Nyxian's question, while patiently waiting to ask some of his own.

[Zverda]

Aether's eyes drifted over to Thessir as he asked his question, her look rather bored, as if she had heard that question many times before. To be fair, she had, far more than she cared to admit. When you had a new group you had to deal with every 500 years then you got used to that particular question. "Has the Nyxian language really degraded into Z's for S's?" the woman asked the male, the corners of her mouth twitching down, the action unseen behind the veil, "Hm... well, I guess it was bound to happen." With a shrug of her shoulders she turned her attention to the interaction between Summer and Zephyr. It was clear that the former slave did not know how to react to the giantess bowing to her, in fact, the discomfort was very clear on the wolf's face at the moment as she looked between the demon and the human. "It's been 3 million years, what do you think happened to them?" Not entirely true, it had been 3 million years since the original sages, but only 500 years since the last rather disappointing set of them.

"You don't have to do that," Summer said to the demon before her, her voice gently brushing against the individual's mind, "I am only half Zephyr and I was raised in Lucerna, so I'm rather far from anything that could resemble a shifter minus my ability to change I guess." She shifted rather uncomfortably and glanced off to the side again. Her voice could be heard by everyone as she spoke to the Demoness, the feel of her voice against their mind mildly strange but not dangerous. Some would probably even be used to such a thing if they had ever spoken to a shifter in animal form before.

Before the one who introduced herself as Aether appeared, she turned her attention away from Zephyr long enough to look back at the one that seemed to cause a change in Aldin's mood. Seeing him, she wasn't sure why her former Master hated the male, but she settled for letting out a low growl at the man, teeth bared, before she turned her attention away.

When the cloaked woman had appeared, Summer's attention was immediately grabbed by her, her nerves disappearing to make way for a curiosity. She looked like a demon, but she did not smell like fire like the one before her did, actually, she didn't much smell of anything at all. Strange really, usually individuals smelled like something, even if it was just their surroundings. Standing up, she hesitantly walked a bit closer to the woman and sniffed at her robes a bit before jumping back, the hackles on her back raised. There had been a strange scent when she got closer, but she couldn't place it, didn't understand it, and that made her even more uncomfortable than what was happening now.

[Old Amsterdam]

---

Zephyr cocked her head at the discussions and the voice in her head, the revelations... Interested her.

She turned towards their host, before looking back at the changling. "It matters little. Now... I wish to know what exactly you are, Aether. Form of a Kinsman, but yet you do not look entirely like one from my homelands."

The giantess moved to stand next to Summer, gently holding out a hand in a show of solidarity. She could not explain it, but she felt a connection the the girl. Perhaps it was just her pure heart.

"I would like proper explanations of... This."

Zephyr was...a mix of emotions. But she was honor bound to see this through, no matter how strange her fellows seemed to be.

[SleepingSilence]

Stretching his body up and raising his weapons. Bitter resentment thrashed against wood, only attacking a fabricated opponent to release seething anger, from what he saw as sheep refusing to be slaughtered. Claws carving, digging, dragging intensely through impenetrable oak. Tirelessly performing yet leaving no impact upon the large tree. Dropping his paws to the ground, scoffing behind that tree where he was secluded.

“I’m not going to just wait around here, with these detestable souls. Who do they think I am?” Lyros growled with nobody around to hear him, his ears and tail twitched about hearing the ghostly voice. Sauntering low to the ground, getting closer to the center of the courtyard and peering at the demonic figure appearing above the fountain, before hiding himself and listening in.

* * *

Lydrim had hardly budged an inch since the figure’s arrival, retaining a distant expression. Slightly tilting his head and glancing toward the others for their reactions, only waiting for the others to fall silent, before getting quickly interrupted by Vashti still perched on his shoulder fluttering her wings.

“Those answers are fairly nebulous-” Her squawk trailed off when Lydrim exhaled and rubbed the side of his nostril, before folding his arms and leaning slightly forward. The normal length of his patience seemed to be draining like a turned over and cracked hourglass.

“How exactly do I benefit becoming a Sage, subsequently associating myself with everyone here? Or-perhaps the better question, is how are you benefiting from an outcast, slave or anyone else here?” Lydrim questioned, his calm voice was antithetical to his presumptions. Before briefly shutting his eyes and stepping away from the fountain in the direction Lyros had stormed off. “Frankly, I’m getting sick of the smell coming from the flowers. I’m afraid we’ve both made a mistake. Mine was coming here.” His tone closely reflected his cold shoulder, looking around to find the direction of his wolf, noticing Lyros approaching him instead.

“I don’t want to leave until they answer your question.” Lyros stated, walking up to Lydrim. Lydrim slightly smiled, before turning to face the rest of the group. Lyros stared forward, not reacting to Vashti’s quick descent, landing on his head.

[A Lowly Wretch]

Thessir

"It's been 3 million years, what do you think happened to them?"

Thessir shrugged, putting his hands up in the air.

"I am but ah simple pehzzant. I doubt the, Mmeheheh, Zagezs care for th' wordz of ah loathzum critter like I."

Putting himself down he shrank from Aether, stepping aside to let the more *important people talk. The answer she gave was not satisfying but then again listening to what people said was the wrong way to learn anything. People often tell more in what they don't say over what they say when they talk. She seemed to have quite the story to tell just from the look of her.

_
“How exactly do I benefit becoming a Sage, subsequently associating myself with everyone here? Or-perhaps the better question, is how are you benefiting from an outcast, slave or anyone else here?”

Thessir looked out from the corner of his eye over at the elf fellow. The nyxian's smile was cheshire, his brow looking curious. His perhaps a better question was a better question indeed, much better than his first one in fact. Thessir immediately knew at least some of the potential benefits that would come with becoming a sage, the most immediately notable of which was the opportunity to score some more information dense spell books from this university she spoke of.

Yes, the real question was what were their hosts getting out of this arrangement? Thessir cradled his chin in the crook of his thumb and finger, taking a moment to mull it over as he really got to thinking about it.

"Why would zomebody need the zagez back, unlezz..."

He muttered to himself out loud, not going too far out of his way to be discrete about it.

"Aha!"

He took the hand he was just resting his chin in and gestured up, a single index finger raised.

"Eef the Zagezs are required then that muzt mean zome ancient evil eez rouzing!"

He cupped his hands over his mouth, stifling a giggle.

"-Oohoohoo~ Ewhat other threat of old could it be than the one and only? Iheheheheheh! A band of frezz meat to topple an unzurmountable enemy! Lucky are we indeed!"

It had to be the reason these unlucky few were chosen to become the sages. The only other reason that made sense to him was the possibility that she was going to reduce them all into mage goo for their sweet distilled essence.

Author's Note.

* Dumb.