Tendrils of musky incense smoke curled lazily up towards the mud ceiling of the small chapel to the Creator. Rows of heavy oak pews with intricately carved patterns of ivy vines sat empty. At the altar kneeled one young woman, she was kneeling next to a small silver dish that held the burning incense stick. She was wearing dark sage green leather armor, her light blond hair pulled out of her face into a ponytail – she had been praying for so long and so fervently that sweat poured off her brow.

She heard someone walk in and she knew from the footfalls exactly who it was. She threw the incense plate without looking, hitting the man who had entered the chapel in the throat. He picked it up off the floor as he sputtered, trying to catch his breath and swore when she caught it by using her ability to manipulate earth – a small wall of dirt preventing it from hitting her.

[color=FF4500]”How do you [i]always[/i] have the upper hand, Iris?”[/color] The man complained as he got close enough to engage her in hand to hand combat.

She laughed as she dodged and blocked his attacks with practiced ease. [color=006400]”I rely on more than just my good looks to get me through life, Nathan.”[/color]

Iris was the most Senior Student at Aedis Academy, the school for Aedis or elemental warriors who were mandated by the Creator to protect others, that was their purpose in life. Iris was hoping to take her trials soon but kept being denied every time she requested a trial date. The Elders said she was not ready and until she could pass her trials she would remain a student.

Their fight continued, moving them from the chapel out into the training yard where younger students stopped to watch the two older students sparring. Iris had Nathan’s feet trapped in layers of rock but quickly stopped as the Head Elder, Master Gareth, approached.

Master Gareth was the head of the Elder Council and therefore the Head of Aedis Academy. He was a portly man with whispy silvered hair. He had a kind face and while he no longer looked physically imposing students learned quickly not to mess with him.

[color=006400]”Master Gareth,”[/color] Iris bowed. [color=006400]”To what do we owe this pleasure, Master?”[/color]

[color=00BFFF]”Come, I need my most senior student to help advise on an important matter affecting the Academy and it’s students.”[/color] Master Gareth offered no further explanation, simply expecting Iris to follow, which is what she did.

[hr]

In Head Master Gareth’s office was a young man, probably in his late twenties or early thirties, waiting for them. He was dressed in the royal armor of the kingdom of Ohen. Since he was not a royal, Iris assumed he was a commanding officer of some kind.

[color=C71585]”Hello Iris, Gareth has told me so much about you. I am General Lao, I was hoping you might persuade the old man to help Ohen with it’s cause. You see, we are in need of warriors.”[/color]

Iris did not like the way the man spoke to Master Gareth or how Master Gareth allowed it but it was not her place to say such things. [color=006400]”Aedis are not soldiers. We are protectors of the innocent and the weak. We do not fight for Kings.[/color]

Master Gareth smiled at his charge while it seemed the general very quickly became annoyed. [color=C71585] “Yes, Master Gareth was just telling me all about your ‘heavenly mandate.’ I can assure you that you would be defending the innocent and the weak by serving Ohen and her King. Together, we would be unstoppable. Do not forget who allows you to have your Academy here.”[/color]

Iris’s eyes flashed briefly with anger as she answered the man in kind. [color=006400]“We are [i]not[/i] soldiers and we do not get involved in the petty machinations of anyone even if they wear a crown.”[/color]

The general got up and headed out the door. [color=C71585]”I do hope you don’t live to regret this day.”[/color]

[hr]

Iris was fast asleep when she felt a frantic tug on her sleeve. A small child, new to the Academy had pulled on her sleeve. She woke just in time to witness the child be brutally murdered by a soldier wearing the crest of Ohen on their shield and armor.

With a yell she launched out of bed, using her ability to draw rock armor around herself, pummeling the solider to death quickly. She threw on her leather armor as she could not always keep the rock armor up and grabbed her war hammer, heading out into the training yard to find the place overrun with soldiers and the building set ablaze, countless students already dead.