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7 yrs ago
Current Going to a festival fellas! So for the coming week I won't be able to post.
7 yrs ago
When you marathon Rick & Morty S2 and expected laughs but the ending just slaps you in the face...
7 yrs ago
School's in full "consume all his time"-mode so no posts for just a lil longer. Sorry folks! I promise I'll make up for it in the weekend!
7 yrs ago
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8 yrs ago
Not near an actual keyboard until 21/06

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Nalla

He had screamed for much longer than Auriëlle expected. The chieftain chosen in her tent had to be put down and restrained. Something frantic happens when a man is condemned to death. Civility is stripped away with every pleading word. Until he was nothing but a yelling, frothing animal that had to be carried by four guards. He was kept away from everywhere until the night fell. Auriëlle made sure the bonfire would be massive enough to burn him. When he was pulled towards the heap of wood, the man was screaming, pleading and kicking again. It all fell on deaf ears. Not even the chieftains who were forced to attend the ‘ceremony’ didn’t say anything as he was bound around the central pole. Then, with a snap of Auriëlle’s fingers, the first fires lit up.

The flames kept roaring until dawn. Even then they were still burning high. Auriëlle had her men pull open the bonfire with spears and sticks. The flames quickly faded into embers. Auriëlle crawled up the pile to the burned corpse with a bowl. She just had to grip the carbonized flesh tight for it to crumble into the bowl. It didn’t take long until her promise of ash was fulfilled. The chieftains, meanwhile, looked hollow eyed and shocked. None said a word as they were lifted off the ground. A day later the camp was broken down and the march back to Nallan began. With Auriëlle at its head. Behind her Hyl marched with the head of Olwar on a spike, acting like her bannerman.

In Nallan, she was received with cheers and glory. Olwar’s head was marched behind her and then came the three remaining chieftains with their hands bound. The street was lined with people to see the soldiers return. The warriors were embraced by parents, wives and children alike. One woman came rushing from the street and handed Auriëlle some flowers. Which she graciously accepted. But atop her highland stag she did not wave or smile. She was single handedly focused on the palace on the far off distance. “Tell the queen I’m coming.” She told one of the guards who had remained. He quickly ran off.

Nalla and her retinue awaited her outside the Palace’s walls. The Queen sat underneath a cloth palanquin, wearing a red dress that covered every part of her skin except her face and head. Her retinue mostly consisted of white clothed servants, but for once, the two Blood Sylphi children sat beside her. One rested it’s head upon her lap, eyes shut in peaceful sleep. The other child played with a toy quietly.

When Auriëlle approached, Nalla smiled as she gazed upon the pike. “Very well done.” she mused. “I knew you would be capable, and you have proven my suspicions correct, Auriëlle. We shall have a feast in your honor tonight.”

She smiled as she dismounted. It was a confident smile. “A feast.” She said dryly. Just more dancing in a court. One night she’d have to go through it. Then she could go out again. At least she hoped. For everyone’s sake. “But right now I have something else.” With a hand signal the three remaining chieftains were pulled up until they appeared before Nalla. “I bring ash-” She said, dropping a small, opened bag next to the other chieftains. A soft wind let some of the ash rise up. Then she walked up behind the three chieftains. Kicking each in the back of their knee. Dropping them. “-and kneeling men.” Then she turned her attention towards the men. “Swear it. Now.”

The three men spoke in perfect unison: “Queen Nalla. Our eternal gratitude for your mercy. We hereby swear loyalty to you. Forever.” Auriëlle had forced them to repeat the words over and over again. Until they could say it both at the same time with their eyes closed. It had to be done. In sight of everyone in Nallan.

“Let this be a lesson,” Nalla began, “That disobedience, rejection and rebellion will cause needless pain and suffering. My trust in your leadership of the villages of Telegar, Moirjun, Balinol, Valigar and that fledgling city of Salavar, has been destroyed. As such, I am gifting you a regional ruler, who answers to only my authority.” Her eyes fell upon Hyl and his son. “Hyl, you are familiar with the southern reaches are you not? I give you this position, ensure that your son and his sons after, keep the peace. Take these men back with you and pray that they do not rebel again, or the consequences shall be much worse.”

The two men bowed deeply, with Hyl saying, “Yes your grace.” and no more. Nalla then looked upon Auriëlle again and said, “You must be exhausted and in need of a bath no doubt, come, come.” she said, clapping her hands. Four burly guards grabbed the palanquin and began walking up the path, her retinue behind her.

As the dutiful commander Auriëlle pretended to be, she remained quiet as the queen spoke. Though she smirked when Nalla mentioned consequences. She silently begged the region to revolt again now. Despite her years with Carn, she never actually had the chance to raze a village. It would send a very clear message though. She’d have to tell Hyl that he could always count on her support should it ever be required.

She just gave the queen a small nod when she was invited to a bath. More dancing. She thought. Of course Nalla didn’t tire of it. There was no doubt, she loved the exchanges, the diplomacy and the stewardship of her lands. It almost felt as if she did it effortlessly. As effortlessly as Auriëlle waged war. In truth Auriëlle just wanted to go on the warpath again. Instead she quietly followed the queen’s palanquin inside.




In the twilight of day did they finally eat. The dining hall was lit dimly, as always. The table was littered with foods and drinks, from honeyed duck, to cooked stag, there was anything and everything. Far off in the corner, there was also a group of three people using instruments to create a strange tune, one that accompanied the atmosphere.

Nalla sat in her usual spot, this time however, Hyl sat next to her on the right, and his son sat to the left of her. All along down the table, most of the spots were filled with regal looking people, or at least, people trying to look regal. Even the Slyphi had joined them, sitting across from one another right next to where Auriëlle sat. Aurinia and Chio were their names, and they hardly took their eyes off from each other.

Nall rose suddenly, holding her cup high as she looked to Auriëlle. “Here’s to you, Auriëlle. For putting down that rebellion and ushering in a new age of peace within my lands. You have my thanks.” She drank, the rest of the table followed and Nalla sat back down.

Auriêlle raised her cup as well. She offered the queen a small nod and a smile in response. Inside, just below her skin, she winced when she heard Nalla talk about peace. ‘Whatever god of war is real, I truly hope you won’t let it happen.’ She thought on her prayer, hoping it would be enough. Unlike most, Auriëlle didn’t make an attempt to dress regal. Or even as a woman. She was clothed in a comfortable tunic and trousers. It clashed terribly with the form fitting, silver and gold embroidered dresses many of the other women wore. The women leered at her with sharp eyes. It was the one small delight she got from the evening: watching the others squirm and feel uncomfortable simply by her presence. They preferred the impeccably dressed queen no doubt. Much to Auriëlle’s surprise, not that many men had any attention spare for her. All of them either had their eyes either on their plate, battling their inner demons, or had resigned themselves and were openly admiring the queen.

Auriëlle tried to keep her eyes off Nalla for now and focused on a piece of honeyed duck. Which she devoured in such a fashion that betrayed a decent upbringing. Once the piece of meat was eaten, she turned next to her, to one of the Slyphi. “Where did you two come from?” She asked, blunt but clearly interested in the strange beings.

Chio, the male turned his gaze towards her. “We came from a land down south. Ever heard of Arborea?”

“The world tree!” chimed Aurinia. “I haven’t seen a single tree to compare.” she leaned on her hand as she stared at Auriêlle with large eyes.

“Arborea? never heard of it.” Auriëlle said. “So it’s a big tree then?” There were big trees everywhere. Some druids revered big trees. As if trees were ever more useful for anything else but wood.

“The biggest tree!” Aurinia smiled.

“Well, yes and no. Aborea is the place that surrounds the tree. The Tree of Genesis. The first tree, or so they say. The Sylphi have a thriving community there, with humans that live alongside us.” Chio said.

The sorceress took it all in as she took another sip from her wine. “You must’ve travelled a long way to reach Nallan then. Or not?” She couldn’t know, the furthest she had ever gone south was Salavar.
Aurinia nodded her head quickly. “Yep! We travelled through the forests of Yandor, then the Gardens, then the gap, then we saw those elk riders and then Nalla took us in!”

A big smile formed on her lips. “So many places.” She droned as Aurinia summed them up. “Tell me everything. And I do mean everything. Where is this gap? What are the gardens? Who lives there? Where’s the forest of Yandor? How big is it?”

Aurinia giggled and took a bite of some stag meat. Chio took a drink before saying, “Well… The Gap is in the Mountains. Where the great boar lived. You have to be careful though, for there are creatures in the night. The dwarves are friendly enough though, they protect travelers.”

“Before that is the Gardens, lands so fertile that anything can grow. The people that live there are kind and happy.” Aurinia chattered excitedly.

“But before the gardens exists the forest of Yandor.” Chio lowered his voice, “Endless trees as old as Genesis. Things walk there that no one even knows about. It is eerie as it is beautiful.”

“It all sounds wonderful. Truly wonderful.” She said. Hoping one day she could travel to those places as well. Perhaps Nalla’s ambitions truly would be limitless. She cast a sideway glance towards the queen. Yes, someday she would march her armies through the gap for sure. Just not when Auriëlle was still alive. Her attention returned to the Sylphi. “So what brought you to the shithole that is the highlands?”

The two Sylphi shared a look with each other before they shrugged. “Can’t remember really. Something about… Umm…” Aurinia’s voice became lost in thought.

“It wasn’t important. Nalla takes care of us now. We both like it here, after all.” Chio smiled.

“Well yes… Nallan is perhaps the least terrible place.” Auriëlle mused. “But honestly, anything beyond these walls? I’d burn it in a heartbeat if I could. Really there’s nothing out there but dumb farmers, creeps on thrones and zealots most call druids. You did well sticking with Nalla.” She leaned back in her chair, taking a big gulp of her wine to swallow down the memories of most of the high lands. Only Nalla could make it tolerable. Nalla and Carn. Gods she was starting to miss him. “So you two. In love?” She asked, bluntly with a big smirk before taking another sip of her cup and realizing it was empty.

Aurinia blushed, if you could call it that. Her leaves seemed to twitch faintly as she looked at Chio. “We are mated for life.” Chio said, never moving his gaze from her. “We will have many children together, for it is what the Queen wants. Her simply wish for us to stay prim and proper. Besides… I do love my Auri.”

“Oh stop you.” She giggled.

“Hey! More wine here!” Auriëlle yelled at one of the servants as she raised her cup and shook it. Then she set it down again, not caring who would look with what kind of scowls. If they had a problem with her, they could come tell her that in her face. She wasn’t about to start reading faces. Then she turned back to the Sylphi with complete focus. “So… how does that feel? You know, being in love?”

Aurinia tilted her head at Auriëlle. “Have you never…? It’s like… It’s like… A really wonderful feeling. You would do anything for them, knowing they would love you no matter what. And you can be anyone, because they’ll always accept you. Your dreams, desires, motivations- shared with your best friend. Who could ask for more?” She said, turning her head back to Chio.

“So you’re always together then? No matter what?” She asked, a slight tone of regret in her voice. Maybe she should’ve taken time to say goodbye. At the time it had seemed obvious. They weren’t serious. Nothing was serious. Right? No, leaving so suddenly was clean. It was quick. No lengthy farewells or pleas to stay. It was the best thing she could’ve done. Yet, then why did her heart begin to ache now?

"Of course! We share our chambers with the kids but sometimes I go to the market while he stays, or he leaves to go out." Aurinia cooed.

"But," Chio began, "We always come back to each other."

“Always back…” She droned as a servant filled her cup again. She drank half of it in one gulp. “You think, if you left for like… five years. And then you came back” She said, pointing at Aurinia. Then she moved her finger to Chio. “Would you take her back?”

He squinted at her. "Oddly specific date but yeah, depending on the circumstances. I would."

Aurinia giggled. "Five years! He'd probably think I died or left him. That'd be terrible. I'd never do that to you Chioooo." She said with a soft smile.

Auriëlle fell back into her chair again as she uttered something obscene. Suddenly the sight before her disgusted and hurt her. Like it was a knife being jammed in her heart. Without saying anything she shoved her chair back and got up to march away. On her way to one of the side doors she took a pitcher of wine from one of the servants. Who was wise enough to immediately let go of it. Even still in the hall, in sight of all, she put the pitcher to her lips for all to see and drank. After which she finally left the hall.



“So they see me hunched over this grave. With spade in hand. Well, I suppose I cannot fault them.” Iben el-Qahhar, or simply, was hands deep in a corpse. Delicately feeling his way up the intestines. “None the less they attack me! I had to run for my life then. Pleading for wisdom wouldn’t have worked then. And that is the story of how I was banished from the fair city of Hayik. Ah, such a wonderful city it is! Almost as beautiful as Karay they say. I hope I can go back some day. When they see the light. My light. They will, of course. When they see what my magic can bring to them. Oh imagine the prosperity and freedom I could offer if only they let me study a little bit longer! Then again, I will admit that some parts of my study are a bit unorthodox.” He said with a smile as he pulled one of his bloodied hands free to show. Before he plunged it in again. “I’m happy to have found this ruined place though. I wonder who build it. It looks old. Very old. Do you think the gods made it? Maybe this was their throne room. Oh, in that case I should give a sacrifice. Wouldn’t want to offend the gods, oh no! Anyway, be a dear and hand me that knife.” He outstretched his hand out towards the skull he was talking to. Which remained unmoving for a moment.

“Oh right, silly me. You can’t speak yet.” He said, as he leaned over and grabbed the knife himself. “You know, you do spout a lot of silent wisdom despite being an unliving, unmoving skull.” He said to his boney assistant while he cut the intestine and pull it out. “I wonder who you were when you were alive. Maybe you were like me. Oh, what would that say about me? Do you think I’ll die here too? I hope not. I’ve got a lot of things to do. Oh this poor fellow?” He pulled out the stomach and observed it. The organ had some strange coloration on it. “Probably a toxin from the berries. There were no scratch marks on him so it wasn’t wild animals. Ah, a sad fate but it happens. I’m just happy he decided to donate his body to my research.” The second he lost interest in the stomach he tossed it in the big bin behind him.

“Flesh can be so annoying to work with sometimes. I mean look at this fellow.” He pulled up the arm. It was stiff as wood. “Unbendable! Arms are supposed to bend! The maggots will fix you right up though friend. Don’t you worry.” There was still a great deal of work to be done and Iben diligently continued to remove all the organs in the body. None of them were any use for him though. He even managed to scrape away almost all the skin and flesh. It wasn’t enough though. It wasn’t clean. That had been his first mistake. He hadn’t worked with a clean skeleton. So he just threw the bones in a large box with some other human flesh and a lot of maggots inside it. “See you in about a week sweeties!” He said, before he closed the lid and then walked over to the next stone table.

Upon it laid the skeleton in humanoid formation. Spread out so he could observe each bone. He pulled up a few clay tablets with runes of his own design. They were a relic from a previous life. The part of his study that transcended the metaphorical death he had experienced. None the less they were a testament to his own ingenuity and creativity. Or so he liked to brag. It was perhaps his only vice. Well no, it was just his greatest vice. “Right.” He said as he traced his fingers over the lines he had made in the clay so long ago. “Ah, here it is.” He said as he picked up one tablet of clay and set it in some sort of lectern facing towards the body. He crawled on top and lowered his hammer and chisel to the skull. But before he began, he saw his skull assistant sit there, watching him. “Ah, apologies good friend. I didn’t mean for you to see this. Here, let me help you.” He said as he got up and turned the skull around. So it would face away from the skull that was about to be carved.

It took an obsessive few hours before Iben had finalized the first rune. After that he chose to eat and sleep. What was, after all, a genius if he was exhausted? Dangerous. So after a good nights sleep and a wonderful dawn, for which he praised Mâh and Cyru respectively, he went about to carve the rest of the skeleton. All around the joints and the connection points. Only by midday did he finalize the carvings upon the skeleton.

The second he was done he grabbed his gold-tipped staff, another relic of his previous life. He raised his arms to cast the spell and spoke the words he had made up himself. For a second the runes glowed with soft, blue light. When the glow vanished, the bones began to move. Joints bend. The ribs remained attached. “Yes! Yes, rise! Rise my dear! Rise!” Iben yelled in his excitement. The skeleton managed to sit upright without crumbling. Which had been more of a success than He had managed before.

Then it tried to stand up. The second it got up, the weight of the bone shifted. It lacked the human ability to quickly move its feet or shift its weight. Instead the imbalance only got worse. In a second, the entire body came tumbling down. The crash broke the connections between the joints. Making the skeleton fall apart.

Iben just crouched down. “Hmmm.” He said as he was rubbing his chin. Others his age would’ve had a respectable black beard going but not him. he couldn’t grow a beard to save his life. “Balance still seems to be an issue. But we’ve made progress, dear old friend. Lots of progress. The laws and guidelines seem to hold though. It stood up on its own. Yes, yes I think we are making good progress.” He gathered the bones again. Luckily none of them were broken or fractured. Carefully he rearranged them on the slab of stone. How much longer could it take until he figured it out?

How much time had passed now? A year? More than a year? Perhaps. Maybe. Iben’s research had hit a ceiling with making a skeleton walk. It would appear that bipedal walking was a far more delicate and precise act than he had previously assumed. Sadly it only left him with a new appreciation for his own ability to move around.

“Okay. Okay, come on now. Just one… step… at a time.” He carefully said as he held the moving skeleton up like a lover trying to walk again. “Yes, yes, just- wait no! No no no no!” After three steps the skeleton once more fell apart. “Gods damn it!” He yelled out into the morning sky. “Damn you all! Damn you! I have worked for weeks! Tirelessly! I have prayed to all of you! All of you! Not one came here to help me! Not one! Here I am, trying to help the world and there you are doing nothing to help me!” In his rage he even threw a femur away with a frustrated shouted. Suddenly the warmth of the sun was muddled. He looked up and saw a myriad of colors.

“Wha-“

When Iben woke up, night had already fallen. Had he slept through the day? No, no not slept. Something had hit him. Not a rock. Something else. He scrambled up. The moon hung high in the sky. “Again…I suppose.” He let out a resigned sigh as he gathered the bones. The femur was broken so he had to loan one from another cleaned skeleton. Once more he arrayed the skeleton upon the slab of stone. The carved skull was useless now. He would have to tweak the runes again.

The next morning he continued his work. But as he began to carve the runes into the skull, he found something else in his mind as well. After so many years of carving the same sort of runes he could do them with his eyes closed. Yet now the runes came out tweaked. Thinking nothing of it, he continued the work, cast the spell and slowly guided the skeleton to stand up. “Yes. Careful now. First step. Yes, good. Good. Second step. Excellent! Third step… Good! Wonderful! Do you think we can go for a fourth step?” He carefully guided the skeleton forward. The fourth step worked out as well. In fact, as he watched the hips of the skeleton, its movement seemed less stiff and more fluid. Still it was nothing like a human but it was much, much closer. “Do you think I could… release you?” The skeleton didn’t answer. So Iben, slowly, released it and bid it to continue on. When the skeleton took its first step alone, he held his breath. Then the next step came. Something crept up Iben but cautiousness refused to make him believe. Not until the next step. He watched as it took its next step. Its foot came down and… nothing happened. It didn’t crumble or fall. “Oh heavens be praised! Heavens be praised! What a blessing!”



Soleira

“So…I think they just don’t understand what love really is, you know.” Soleira ended her long, and rather winded explanation to a squirrel eating a nut she had cracked open for him. Squirrels, however, had no concept of lying. So he told the truth: he didn’t understand a word of what she had been saying. With a small smile, she dropped her head and pulled her knees up to her chin. “I know, I barely understand what I’m talking about myself.” She had gone over what the Neiyari, especially the saint, had said. How the land was sick, decaying, and chaotic. The four-winged angel couldn’t see it though. Before her stretched the Luminant in its wonderful, vibrant light. She looked at the squirrel beside her. “Do you think you’re blind to Neiyara?” She asked.

The squirrel looked up as if she just said an insulting word. It turned its head a bit sideways. He was confused. “What is a Neiyara?” It simply asked.

“Well... She’s like Oraeliara. But not. She’s…mean. I think.” Was she? She never met her. Yet somehow she knew she was mean. Dangerous. “She’s a goddess, you know. Like you have a goddess of light and then you have Gibboura, who is the goddess of the moon. They help us.”

The squirrel took another moment to process it all. Then asked: “What’s a goddess?”

“Right.” Soleira realized there was just no point in discussing divinity with an animal like a squirrel. She gently petted her friend as she crushed another walnut with her hands and offered it to him. The tiny animal quickly continued eating. “It’s not important. Not to you at least.” She gently said. And it wasn’t. An animal had other worries: to eat and survive. “You’re not blind. Nobody made you to see in the first place.” She mused. Knowing full well the squirrel wouldn’t understand.

The only problem with all of that was that it meant that everything about what the Neiyari said was wrong. Which she found impossible. There had to be a side to them. A side that was right. A point that was just reality. Something that was undeniable to them. She laid down on her back and closed her eyes. Her mind wandered to the black, corrupting mass she has felt within the Saint. Her body shuddered in response but she closed her eyes, willing herself to delve deeper into it. It wasn’t wrath or anger. It was an obsessive thing. Claws that would take and never let go. Something so tight and so binding that it left room for nothing else. There was only the possessive grip.

She shot up. Gasping for air like she had been underwater too long. Her fingers were still shivering. A coldness ran through her spine as she gripped her own arms. She wasn’t fond of the memory. No, no she hated it. Her own natural urge to survive wanted her to forget it all. To just forget the entire day. That would never happen though. She would never let it happen. It was the only thing close to an answer she had. The closest she had ever been to Neiyara and her reasons. None the less it all made her feel pale.

It took a moment in the sun to recuperate her strength. No matter what, Oraeliara’s sun managed to make her smile again. But she had wasted enough time in the morning. She should be tending to the land! So once more she began to gather some berries from the nearby bushes. She helped squirrels break open nuts to eat and offered some roots to a handful of deer passing through. Both were grateful, in their own ways.

As she was digging some holes to plant some roots in again, she suddenly heard something move in the bushes. She turned around and a tiny wingless one came running at her, giggling and laughing and looking behind her until she bumped into Soleira and fell back. For a moment she looked up with a face Soleira knew meant either awe or fear. Depending on what would happen next, she’d know which one it was.

Instead of crying though, the child giggled continued on giggling. Soleira, with her own smile, squatted down in an attempt to be face to face with the child that was getting up now. However, she was still a bit larger than her. “Hello, little one.” She said as she held out her finger. The child took it with her entire hand. It said something that sounded like gibberish. Then Soleira realized she was speaking another language.

She pointed at herself and said. “Soleira.” Then she pointed at the child.

It didn’t understand what Soleira expected. So the four-winged angel repeated the exercise. The child said only: “Mahaka.”

“Mahaka.” Soleira repeated with a bright smile. Which only made the child jump a little and laugh as full as only a child could. Though then she heard “Mahaka.” Being yelled from somewhere else. Soleira looked up. From the bushes the child had come, a wingless woman had come now as well. Yelling: “Mahaka!” The moment she saw her child with Soleira she pulled her knife and yelled something.

Soleira held her hands up. “No! No! I’m good. I’m good. Soleira.” She said, pointing at herself. Trying to explain it. The women kept yelling something in a language she didn’t understand. She held out her hand at Mahaka, the girl. Who quickly realized things were wrong and ran to her mother. Soleira, meanwhile, slowly backed away. The woman kept getting closer until Mahaka held her hand. She then looked at her girl. She didn’t seem hurt.

Soleira, afraid but still trying to talk, just kept repeating her name. The woman pointed her knife at herself and said: “Tenerifé.” Soleira, realizing she was introducing herself, pointed at her and said: “Tenerifé!” and then she pointed at the child and said: “Mahaka!”

The woman seemed to relax a bit. Soleira took a few steps forward. Though she kept her distance from the woman named “Tenerifé.” She held her hand out, willing to transfer her own intentions of peace and aid. Tenerifé, for her part, seemed brave enough to get closer and touch Soleira’s hand. The four-winged angel didn’t overwhelm the human. Instead, she slowly radiated her intentions. The more Tenerifé felt, the more she dropped her guard.

For half a day Soleira was busy learning words from Mahaka, who herself was still learning many new words, and Tenerifé. She learned her own kind were called ‘Lasa Whei.’ Which apparently meant wingless ones with wings. The little Mahaka was a playful child though. She constantly ran around and sniffed the flowers. Soleira managed to stop her from eating a berry that would make her tummy ache. She herself had been laying in her cave for half a day before she had to heal herself. Instead she offered the little one several roots and berries she could eat without getting sick.
~

“You mustn’t help us so much, Soleira. You are Lahoha’s daughter. We are blessed even with your presence.” The old lady of the tribe said to Soleira, who was sitting in front of a heap of clay she had desperately tried to shape like a pot. Sadly the result was an uneven blow with a hole in the middle. Yet she was still trying her hardest to push the clay into the right shape. Stains of clay covered her upper body. Even her cheeks and forehead. Eventually, she let go.

“I’m sorry Opaka.” She said to the man sitting beside her, who was comfortably coiling one layer of clay over the next one.

“Not a problem.” He said, as he got up and took her clay and threw it back on the pile. It probably wasn’t worth salvaging but Soleira had hoped that at least some part of it could be kept. Alas, if the master decided it should return to the pile, she wasn’t about to question it.

“I’ll gather berries then.” Soleira said to the elder of the tribe. Before the old lady could tell her it wasn’t necessary, Soleira had already grabbed her basket and ran into the forest. There was simply no stopping her these days. She had grown happy around the wingless ones. Though she still chose to return to her cave from time to time. Spending a week or so to help the animals. She made sure nobody felt abandoned. It was daunting at first but she managed it. Now she even managed to convince the predators in the forest not to attack the wingless ones. While she convinced the wingless ones not to hurt any of the predators or their younglings. It was a tentative peace but it held. And it made Soleira happy.

In the forest she was in her element again. Clay wouldn’t bend or be formed by her fingers but she knew which berries were the most tasteful. During her stroll through the forest she said hi to just about every animal she met. Some stopped for a chat. Others were too busy. It wasn’t a problem to her. Not until a bird, slightly in distress, came at her and told her to follow him. The bird led her to a small clearing the forest. Where a man and a woman were yelling at each other.

“I love you!” The man yelled. He was enraged. How was he in love when he was so angry?

“But I don’t love you!” The woman looked like she was pleading with him. “I’m sorry Leihoha but I don’t! I like you but I don’t love you.”

“I can’t just let you go!” Soleira recognized the sudden forcefulness in his voice. She had heard it before. He took a step forward. Soleira reached out with her hand. The crystalline barrier formed in front of the woman, who took a step back and looked at the man with wide eyes. The man slammed his fist into the barrier. Soleira winced for a moment.

“What’s going on?” She asked carefully. Was the wingless one secretly one of her siblings? Maybe he was one of their followers? What if he was? What would she do? She didn’t want to fight him but she also didn’t want anyone to get hurt.

“It’s nothing.” The woman sheepishly said. Soleira didn’t believe her but she looked a lot more clear of mind and heart right now than the man.

“I will show you my love!” The man called Leihoha said.

Which prompted Soleira to turn towards him. “Move away from the girl.” Memories of her darker siblings flooded in. She sounded more forceful than she wanted to. Still, the man did so. “Thank you. Walk away now. There’s nothing more left to say.” Her voice was calmer now. He huffed but then walked away. The moment he was out of sight, Soleira dropped the barrier. The girl began to sob in her own hands.

“Hey no, everything is okay.” Soleira moved in and hugged the girl. Who return the hug.

“I’m sorry. He’s a good person but sometimes he’s just…” The girl said.

Soleira patted her on the back. “It’s okay. It’s okay. He doesn’t love you. That wasn’t love.” That wasn’t love. Not to Soleira. It was anger and possessiveness. The same things she had seen in the eyes of her brother a year ago. They were vile and evil and mean. Love was none of those things. Love didn’t hurt.

“No I- He does love me. He just…wants me to return that love and I can’t.” The girl released her and rubbed a tear off her cheek. “I’m sorry. Really, he means well. He just wants me so badly and… I love someone else.”

It was wrong. It felt wrong. Did this wingless one also not understand love? If Leihoha loved her, he should be letting her go. Let her be with the one she herself loves. Instead of hoping and forcing her to be with him. Yet she couldn’t shake the thought. Like it was somehow lodged inside of the back of her brain. She tried to shake it away but it wouldn’t go. For now though, she stepped next to the girl and took her by the shoulders. The two wings on her side wrapped around the girl for extra protection. “Let’s get you back to the village, shall we?”




The sun was bright and warm. The green vale stretched out before Auriëlle. It’s slope down was gentle. In the distance she saw all sorts of tiny life run around. Behind her the camp was being raised. They had just entered the land of the southern village alliance. It would take at least a day before any scout would find them and report back. Then it would take another three days for them to properly gather their armies and finally one more day to march here. The moment she realized that, the peaceful image before her became eerie and wrong. Auriëlle could swear that there was a smell of storm on the winds. Even though she knew well enough that it was her imagination. Still, in five days the green, tranquil vale would be drenched in blood and ash.

She turned away from the sight and made her way towards the central tent. Where her advisors had gathered for the first time. As she walked, she wondered what sorts of men they would be. Because they would be men. Always. That would be the first challenge: to be taken seriously as a woman. Then they would try to tell her how to wage her war. What positions to take. What preparations to make. Some of it would make sense. Some of it would be condescending. None of it would fully account for who, or what, she actually was. Still, she would listen.

So with a gentle, endearing smile she walked into the tent and approached the table. “Talk to me.”

The men who had been chatting amongst themselves and laughing lightly all gazed upon Auriëlle. Some with disdain, others with hardened looks, as if to intimidate her. No one said anything for a few moments and then a man with grey in his beard and sharp blue eyes spoke up in a gruff voice. "Our Queen spoke highly of you… Auriëlle, was it? But some words never really proved much behind the cleverness of the tongue, if you catch my meaning. We have bled with the Queen, but not you. You, we know only stories of. So tell me girl, when you look a man in the eyes upon the field of battle, what do you see?"

She turned towards whoever spoke. Good, the strongest of the group revealed himself. A small smile formed on her lips. “Nothing important.” She let the answer hang in the air for a moment. “Now I’m betting you, with your clever tongue, wanted some poetic answer like ‘fire’ or ‘hatred’ or ‘desperation’.” Because that was the man she knew he was. A man of glory and long marches. A man of loyalty who suffered for his queen and had to frame that. That’s the only reason someone his age still wielded a sword. “The fact is I see nothing that matters in their eyes. That probably offends you and whatever old warrior tradition you believe in. I don’t care. We’re not in Nallan and we don’t need to dance.”

Her attention shifted towards those behind the veteran now. Time to swallow her pride. “Now someone tell me about our army. How many spears. How many shields. How many arrows.” She began to walk around the tent. Locking eyes with every veteran around. “I also need to know who I’m going up against. How many men they have. Who are these chieftains who banded together.” She ended up in front of the table, where she had first arrived as she had entered the tent. “Help me understand this war so we may win it.” Her voice had softened now.

The grey bearded man said nothing but gave a grim nod. A short cropped man then spoke up next, "We've several dozen fighting men, carrying a spear and shield each, a handful of arrow men and a capable force of full time guardsmen. Warriors as we say."

A younger man with wavy brown hair and hazel eyes spoke next, "We know not how many men they have, only that we should assume they have more than us. They've banded together you see, to fight against our Queen's authority. She tried a peaceful negotiation to bring them into the fold first, but now she will rule them through right of conquest. Olwar is the one behind all of this, he blames Queen Nalla for the death of his father. Foolish accusations and he will be killed for his defiance."

“He will.” Auriëlle said resolutely. “First I need to know more about Olwar. What sort of a man, or boy, is he?”

The grey haired man who first spoke, looked at Auriëlle and said, "Forgive my son. He speaks without knowing." He said at first. "Olwar the Hammer Spring. They say he killed a winged demon in his youth, that he raised a Leon cub to be his mount, that he never gets wounded and that he eats the hearts of those he fells… All rumors of course, but the man is a local legend and should not be underestimated." He said, looking to his son. The boy as it were, glanced away angrily.

Slain a demon? Raised a Leon cub? Eats the hearts of those he kills? Some were exaggerations, no doubt. Still, he sounded very formidable. The sort of person she shouldn’t allow to get close. “We won’t.” She said towards the grizzled veteran. He will think he has the upper hand. A greater army. The home advantage. With a stroke of luck he wouldn’t know about Auriëlle until he was on the battlefield.

“So what’s the plan?”

"Olwar won't stand for an army on his doorstep. He sounds more warrior then chief. I've a feeling they'll come to us." The gray bearded man said. "The Queen does not want a prolonged battle, but a quick and decisive victory. I suggest we fortify this location before they arrive." Many around the table mumbled in agreement.

Auriëlle joined in that agreement with a single nod. Looking around the tent she wondered whether or not Carn did these things as well. Probably. And he had been a smart man to keep her out of it. Back then, she would’ve hated everyone who even opened their mouth. Now, to her own surprise, she found herself enjoying the wise council. When she’d return, maybe she could ask him if she could join any future councils. Her eyes fell down to the table for a moment. She took a deep breath. Just a year and then she could go back to him. Gods she was starting to miss him.

“Alright.” She said, gathering her thoughts again. “We reinforce our position. I don’t want to be caught unaware so keep the scouts patrolling. Get to your tasks, men.” The old man would’ve said the same things as she had. The problem was that, even though they were allies, she couldn’t let him. She was the commander now.

Most of the council exited the tent in brisk jogs, calling for others and barking orders. In the quiet of the tent however the old man and his son remained. "Auriëlle." He said looking at her, "My name is Hyl and this is my son, Daert." Who gave her a nod if nothing more. "You'll do well, least I hope." He grunted, before exiting the tent. Daert stayed for a moment longer, before he hastily left as well. There was much to do after all.



The sun stood high again. It hadn’t rained. For the entire day, Auriëlle had been sitting away from the camp. Watching the horizon while sunken in thoughts. She bathed in the sun’s warmth. How ironic it was, that Oraelia’s sun shone so bright right now. For a minute she wanted to taunt the sun goddess again with a mock prayer. She would laugh at her and ask her why she won’t make a choice for once, on this day. Though that want quickly vanished. There was ill luck in taunting any god on the eve of battle.

Then, somewhere around mid-afternoon, one of the scouts approached her. “Olwar has been spotted on the other side of the valley. He’ll be here in an hour.” He said. She nodded in response and marched back to the camp. Where she donned her clothes and armor. She kept her lonethrone vambrace hidden under a sleeve. Her bronze plate felt heavy and clunky. The first time she wore the chest plate she quickly realized it would hamper her movement. She preferred to be fast and agile. If the enemy got close enough that a bronze plate would come in useful, she had already failed. Still, she put it on now. Keeping the straps loose so she could toss it off in a moment's notice. So far, it would seem Olwar marched thinking he would encounter a mere army. Not sorcery.

Soon she joined her troops on the line of battle. Stakes had been dug into the ground and barricades of simple wooden logs and stones were raised as well for the archers to seek shelter in. The last of the arrows were planted in the dirt before their feet. An uneasy silence reigned upon the soon to be battlefield. Hyl was beside her, scanning the horizon with his grim eyes, spear in hand and a sword at his hip. He wore a bronze plate as well, a trophy from battle she thought.

All was quiet before the sounds of singing became louder and louder. War chants and battle songs, meant to drive morale down and strike fear into hearts. From the sound of such voices, the enemy was many. They came from the other side of the vale, men brandishing all sorts of weapons and farming tools. Axes, spears, hoes and all sorts of other things. Most wore normal clothing but a few had leathers and shields as well. All together, it was a very rag tag army of common folk and farmers.

They did not march in a line but rather came to a stopping point down the slope. There was no sign of Olwar but then again she had no idea what he actually looked like. That was until the army before them parted, letting through a tight formation of spearmon wearing fine leather armor and tall shields. Behind them, riding upon Stag came a dozen or so more men who came to a stop at the center of the formation. Yet no one came forth and the singing had stopped.

"Look!" Someone cried out, pointing up into the clouds. A hushed whisper came up through the ranks, turning to fear and excitement. There coming down from the heavens was an actual Leon, carrying a man wearing black furs and a helmet of antlers. He landed before his army, Leon roaring in their direction. The man then shouted in a loud voice, "Nallan! You piss poor lads! Why have you come to die so far from home!"

Auriëlle was impressed. Though unafraid. She walked through her lines. Carefully putting her hand on every shoulder of the men she passed. “Steady men.” She said as she reached the front line. Where she stood amongst some spearmen of her own. There would be no big speech coming from her though.

Olwar looked fierce but he was a fool. He was showing her his entire army in an effort to intimidate them. Now she needed to lure him close. “I’ve come for your mother!” She shouted back. “At least she’ll have the guts to face me while you sit on your overgrown cat!”

There came some snickering from her own lines and quiet from the others. Olwar then boomed, "Look men! It seems the Queen has sent a bitch in her place! Come on then, pup, if you want to die then so be it! Archers!" A row of men rushed forward holding bows, they knocked arrows and then loosed.

“Shields!” Auriëlle responded. At her order, those with shields raised them. Some brave sap even held his shield in front of her. Lucky for her, perhaps. As one arrow did land with a hollow thud. She kept her steely demeanor. Though inside she once again came to the realization that she had almost died. Around her, one or two had some ill fortune. They fell back with blood pouring from their wounds. Others grabbed them and dragged them away. When the arrows had fallen, the shields moved out of the way again. She wondered if she could strike him with a lightning bolt. Not yet. He had to get closer. “I’m not here to dance.” She said. He wouldn’t hear it.

“At least have the fucking honor to come do the job yourself!” She spat back at him as she took a step forward. Breaking from her own front line. She now stood in front of her own men. “C’mon! I’m right here you big oaf!” She slammed her fist on her bronze chest plate. Letting the hollow metal sound echo across her line. There was pure fire in her voice. A familiar hatred boiled up in her. A hatred that brought power.

There seemed to be a heated discussion going on between Olwar and a stag rider before Olwar struck the man and then took a horn from his belt and blew. It was loud and deep and before her eyes, the enemy began to advance in rank. Shields were brought forth and a line was made, with several of the more regal looking spearmen, leading. Another volley of arrows fired as Olwar himself took to the sky upon his Leon, while the stag riders seemingly pulled back to retreat.

A faint smile appeared on Auriëlle’s lips. “Tell Hyl to keep an eye out for those stags.” She said. One of the lighter troops was dispatched to the back line. The shields were put up again. One arrow came just short of its target and fell before her feet in the ground. This time, no arrow hit the shield that was protecting her. Meanwhile she slowly loosened the leather straps of her bronze plate. When the shields were lifted again, the chest plate was off and Olwar’s army had gotten closer.

She pointed two right hand fingers at Olwar. Arcs of lightning traveled across her arm. Burning and cutting her sleeve to wisps of smoldering cloth. Then, at the last minute, she turned away from the flying menace, pointed at the frontline of spearmen and released the bolt of lightning.

Lighting arced towards them with a tremendous clap of thunder- No, the sound of an explosion, following. Men screamed in agony, others dropped dead and most immediately halted. The blow took everyone by surprise it seemed. The smell of charred skin and smoke blew back into them. Some of her men gagged as the grim reality of death set in. The enemy in the meantime, wanted no part of it and most of the farmers began to retreat, shouting as they went, "Run! Magician! The gods are against us!"

Up above, Olwar had vanished but his more stalwart men still pressed on with angrier war cries.

“You should’ve knelt when you had the chance!” Auriëlle screamed. “Now I’ll bring you back as ash.” She pointed again, not at the front line this time. Instead she unleashed her power at the fleeing farmers. They were spread out, so one bolt wouldn’t kill as many. That wasn’t the point. Then she turned to the front line again. She lobbed a small orb of fire, which began to fall apart in a wave of flames mid-air that fell upon the enemy. “Come and march to your death!” She shouted at the army. Almost forgetting Olwar and his stag riders in her rage.

It was someone in the back who sounded the alarm. The stag riders were on a collision course on their right flank and Olwar himself led the charge. More arrows began to rain down on her position as the riders approached, brandishing hammers and clubs. Olwar wielded a bronze hammer in one hand and a staff in the other.

Auriëlle knew those damned stags would cause trouble. She stepped back into the frontline. They’d have to hold for now. Arrows kept falling like a drizzle. It didn’t matter. She grabbed one of the lighter troops by the shoulder. “Tell Hyl to take out those stags!” She shouted her order. Right then one of the arrows struck the man in the chest. She threw his corpse forward. “Do I have to win this whole goddamn battle myself?”

She pushed her way towards the right flank. Meanwhile the lines clashed. Shields were pushed against shields as both sides tried to make an opening. The right flank was already unraveling. “The first who runs I’ll kill myself!” She shouted to her own troops. Then, one stag rider noticed her and started to charge her. Auriëlle had spotted it. The rider had gotten close. Just not close enough when suddenly the earth opened up underneath him. His stag tripped. Sending the rider tumbling from his steed. “Kill him.” Auriëlle gave the order and three warriors jumped the dazed rider in an instant. Smashing his face and body with their clubs, axes and even stones found around. There would be nothing left but a bloody pulp. His steed wasn’t spared either.

Then she turned to Olwar whose Leon was wreaking havoc amongst her troops. Without hesitation she raised her arm. Arcs of lightning traveled over her arm. With a clap of thunder she unleashed the bolt at the Leon.

The Leon was hit in the center of it’s chest, it howled in pain as the lightning arced and blew Olwar off its back. He went flying in the air and landed out of sight. The Leon then took a few steps before collapsing on it’s side. It was hard to be sure if it was dead or not.

As the strag riders ran amok, the enemies on the frontline crossed the threshold of no return. They were on their doorstep now, riddled with arrows in their shields and hatred in their eyes. They came upon the defenses and broke free, running with mad fervor at the enemies before them- Her own troops.

The right flank would collapse under the pressure. Auriëlle knew it. “Hold your ground!” She shouted as she trapped another stag rider in the ground. The Leon was at least down. Either the enemy’s moral would take a hit or it would whip them into a frenzy. Several archers were turning their attention at the stag riders. Another fell, though it took three arrows to get his stag low as well. Inside, Auriëlle knew Olwar wasn’t dead yet. “C’mon you pompous bastard. Get here so I can mount your head on a spear.” She mumbled under her breath as she prepared a bolt of fire to take out another rider.

The two forces upon the hill collided together, fighting neck in neck and blood for blood. The enemy was relentless in their charge. Fighting for home and country brought them together, made them fight strong.

Strong.

Olwar returned, looking as if he had barely been hurt by her blast. He waded through her troops like an unstoppable force. Each man who came to him, was battered down with his hammer until he arrived at the Leon. He howled in rage, and did something strange. He touched his Leon with the staff, and before her eyes, the creature rebounded. It lashed out at her forces and before she could get a clear shot at Olwar, he began to traverse the field, touching the staff to his broken comrades. Some rose, others did not and the fight continued on.

Nobody had told her about the staff. Nobody told her he could heal things. If she ever found Hyl, she would tear his eyes out. That was for sure. Punishment was for after a battle though. Right now, she had an incredible nuisance to kill. He had gotten close to her now as he healed his own troops. One man received the healing touch and was getting up before Olwar. He smiled, happy to be alive and fight for his tribe again. Then he turned pale. His veins became visible under his skin. He grasped at his throat as blood began to drip from his lips. He dropped down to the ground and curled up, spitting out blood as it filled his lungs up. A few meters behind him stood Auriëlle with her fist clenched and pointed at her victim. Her eyes were trained on Olwar. Fire burned in her left hand. Ready to be thrown at the hero.

Olwar grabbed the man, lifting him up as a shield. He then ran towards Auriëlle with a war cry.

He was getting closer. She threw the fire. It hit the first man. Not Olwar behind him. Auriëlle felt the panic creeping up. With every step, control slipped. She threw more fire. The back of the corpse was ablaze. Olwar didn’t stop. When he was close enough, he pushed the corpse of the man at her. Then the power came. Like an unholy savior. Uncontrolled. A wave of pure annihilation ripped from her hands. The translucent surge reduced the corpse to ash.

Olwar rolled to the right in the nick of time, but his furs caught fire and another unfortunate soul died. This did not stop him however, from hefting his hammer and throwing it at her as he used his momentum to jump back up. It hit her on the left arm. There was a nasty crack. She fell back. Her arm went limp entirely. For a second, the pain was overwhelming. It forced her to scream. Then she pushed back at it. Pain, fear, she would use it. With her right hand she reached out at Olwar, forming a half-closed fist. She poured all her vitriol, malice and pain into the hex. Slowly she clenched down. Attacking the very innards of her enemy.

His mouth twisted and his eyes went wide as he clutched his neck. Blood began to pour from his mouth and his breathing ceased. There was a panic in his eyes but acute awareness. He dropped to his knees, clutching the staff with one hand and slowly touching the tip to his chest. The change was immediate and he gasped for breath as his face curled into fury. He rose again and shambled closer to her with villainous intent.

“Dirty… Fucking… Mage…” he breathed.

It all vanished from her hex. The malice, the hatred. It went up in smoke. How!? She released her grip. The magic vanished. As he got up, she crawled backwards over the ground. He loomed over her, and fell to his knees on top of her, throwing the staff away. “Now… You’ll die.” he said, placing his hands on her throat and squeezing. She let it happen. There was no fighting. No kicking. She just waited, with a defiant gaze, as he got close and put his fingers around her neck. But with her right hand, she tapped the ground three times.

From Olwar’s right, a beast with black fur and burning red eyes lunged at Olwar’s throat. Blood sprayed across Auriëlle’s face. Olwar screamed as the demon dog dragged him down. Auriëlle managed to get from under him. Gasping for air as the pain of her arm was growing stronger. She bit down on her teeth as she crawled at the stick. When she finally grabbed it she put the tip of it on her chest, just like Olwar had done.

In an instant the pain in her neck and arm was gone. She could even flex her fingers again! Exhausted, but happy, she managed to get up with some help of the stick. In front of her, her demon was still biting down on Olwar throat. Bone cracked. “Release him.” She said. The demon did as commanded. The hero let out a ragged gasp for air. He wasn’t dead yet. Auriëlle turned towards one of the nearby soldiers. “Axe, now!”

It took a few hits, but after the fourth Olwar’s head was removed from his shoulders. She tossed it at one of the spearmen. Who gladly put the trophy on his spear to parade with. Meanwhile she tossed the staff at another soldier. “Heal everyone you can find.” She said, out of breath but still walking towards where she heard the Leon roaring.

It took another bolt of lightning to fell the great beast. Though any of the troops around weren’t taking chances this time. The sight of their leader’s head on a spear sent most of the troops routing. Half the stag riders managed to flee as well. Auriëlle gave the order to kill as many as they could but hold position. Meanwhile behind the front line more and more of her own men she had deemed dead were up and about again. The battle was won.

The great fire roared in the night. Her soldiers were drinking and feasting. Hyl would face her rage in the morning. Tonight she allowed everyone to party. Everyone but those who pulled guard duty that night. Her bronze armor was recovered and cleaned. Though it had suffered a few dents. Scraps and pieces of the Leon’s fur hung from various posts around the camp. Ready to be tanned and used. Auriëlle remained in her tent. Inside she kept cutting her own arm and then healing it with the branch. She never felt magic. Only something more powerful. No matter how many wounds she inflicted upon herself, they always closed the moment the tip touched her. “You’re a useful tool to have in war.” She remarked with a small smirk. Though she was contemplating on keeping it herself or giving it to Nallan.

Her pondering was interrupted by a guard entering her tent. “The village chieftains are here, my lady.” The guard said. She allowed them to enter with a motion of her hand. From the dried blood and wounds, she figured some had fought in the battle. Others hadn’t. Four of the six chieftains sat down on chairs spread out on the first half of the tent.

“My lady. We – “ One chieftain said as he motioned to the others. “ – have come to offer our surrender. You must understand. Olwar was so distraught about his father’s untimely death. Such a great tragedy. He shouldn’t have taken it out on Nallan. We should have stopped him when he called in the ancient oaths but Tekret would have taken great offense. Surely someone as ascended and powerful as you understand, don’t you?” The whimpering desperation was palpable. This was their version of begging.

Auriëlle felt strange. She felt as if she was on the battlefield again. Lobbing fire and releasing lighting while she remained untouchable. Was this how Nalla felt? Her thoughts returned to the chieftains standing in her tents. For some time she went over his words in her own head. Making sure she fully understood all of them. She thought back to what she had said in the throne room in Nallan. ‘Kneeling men or ash.’ For all intent and purposes, she was now an extension of Nalla’s will. Was the queen merciful or just?

“I accept your gracious surrender.” Auriëlle said with a small smile. “Rejoice! Queen Nalla is just. You can gather your dead to be buried and we will not come and raze your villages.” Even though she so thoroughly wanted to burn at least one of them. As a message. Still, Nalla needs people to reign over. Not ash.

The chieftains looked delighted as they released the tension they had felt. Some of them threw small praises to the gods. Auriëlle let them enjoy themselves for a minute. Until she raised her hand to silence them. “One of you will be burned at the stake here tonight until there is nothing left but ash.” The murmur dropped. “Then the rest will be brought to kneel before Nalla.”

The four sitting chieftains shot up. Ready to shout in protest. Auriëlle was a split second ahead of them as she rose from her seat. “Sit. Down!” She yelled at them. The candles in the tent flared up. Slowly, but surely, the chieftains took their seats again. Then she continued, with a softer voice but with the same intensity in her eyes: “You think you can defy us, insult us, bleed us and then come in here expecting nothing but mercy? I’ll let you choose amongst yourselves who dies tonight.”



Dawn of Anghebad

The night was bright. Both the white and purple moon were full and visible. With not a cloud in the sky. It was truly a night for artists and lovers alike. Commander Xelleth wished it would’ve been cloudy. He had even begged the gods for it. Alas, to no avail. So as he walked through the streets of the city of Anghebad with a hooded cloak on. He at least hoped none would recognize him tonight. Luckily it was a night for artists and lovers, not soldiers. Few, if any tonight, would recognize his face. And so he managed to reach the small, inconspicuous house in the middle of nowhere.

As per instructions he knocked three times, then waited for three counts and knocked twice more. The door opened. Inside a fire was coating everything in a warm, yellow glow. People were talking, but not many. The man who opened the door was elderly and wore a cloak just like Xelleth but with the hood off. “Commander.” He greeted with a warm, welcoming voice. “We’re so happy you could make it. Please, come in.” He allowed the commander to enter and led him to what could pass for a kitchen. There the old man filled two fired but simple clay cups with wine and offered one to Xelleth.

Who refused. With a smile, of course. The elder man took no offense. Commander Xelleth took a moment to observe the scene. The house was small. Three rooms, with a ladder leading up to a bed. It was the sort of house lower citizens would live in. Yet the denizens at the moment were far from lower citizens.

“With everyone present, I propose we commence the deliberations.” The old man – a high priest – said. Both him and commander Xelleth took their seat at the round, simple table. Joining the three other people that had been in casual conversation. Though when the high priest took his seat, the murmur died. “Once again this shadow council must decide over the fate of this great city. The charge I lay down tonight is against our own king, once more. I hereby charge King Hamurai with negligence, blasphemy, and weakness. He has become an ambitious menace that forsook his duties of the crown. He blasphemes against the gods and is unable to raise his own sword effectively.”

Xelleth felt a need to interject: “When has he blasphemed? Every night I see him pray to Ibbon. At dawn he prays to Rea. How many sacrifices has he given to the temples? I can see his ambition but not the blasphemy. He might be the most faithful man I’ve ever met.” This earned a scoff from the woman next to him.

The high priest, still friendly, turned to him. “Commander. You’re new so I will forgive your…indiscretion. The way this works is that the charges are not put to doubt. We have faith in each other that we do not deliver these charges baselessly. But as you insist, I will explain my position: he claims he desires to bind the slaves to their masters forever. Take away any possibility of freedom. That is an act only the gods may perform. In his pursuit he has shirked the duties of the throne. Thus he must be removed.” The words were spoken softly, yet commander Xelleth felt like a boy lectured by his father again. He sat back into his chair. “Now this council must take its decision: exile or death. As he has blasphemed against the gods and his sacred duty, I declare that he must die for his sins.”

The woman next to the commander spoke next: “My late husband was wise in many things but legitimizing that bastard was a mistake. He is a vile boy who will not rest until I and my baby, the rightful king, are dead.” Commander Xelleth couldn’t shake the feeling of doubt. The king had done nothing but welcome the former queen Beddeneth and her baby. A contender for the throne. “For the humiliation and suffering he caused me, there can only be death.”

“The king has been good to me.” The older man, opposite of the former queen, said. Commander Xelleth recognized the chain around his neck. Marking him as a slave master. The fact that it was made of silver made him one the slave masters in the city. “It pains my heart that these charges are laid before us.” His voice was morose. “Exile.” There was no venom, no edge, not even hatred in his voice. Only resignation as he sat back in his chair.

Then the younger man, with a full black beard, sitting next to the slave master spoke up. “The nobles see no fault with how he holds his court. He listens and gives direction. Though he might not be the most involved king. As you well know, he attended only a few celebrations this last year. Still, his levies are fair and well used. Exile.”

All faces turned towards the commander now. He wished he could’ve bought more time. He needed more time. So he got up and went towards the kitchen. “I cannot make such a judgment without a drink.” Slowly he poured the wine and raised the cup. The wine tasted disgusting on his tongue, to he forced himself to swallow a sip. To keep up appearances. What was taking them so long?

Then, from the door, everyone heard the three knocks. The shadow council members all looked at each other in confusion. None expected a sixth member. None but Xelleth, who praised the gods under his breath when the next two knocks came. He put the cup down and went for the door. “Commander, wait!” the high priest said as he got up from his chair and made a mad dash towards the door to block it.

Too late. Xelleth had opened it. In marched ten guards. Making the whole house far too small. They were dressed in hard leather and copper. The whole house was drowned in a cacophony of chaos and screaming. People shouted and spat around. One was pushed with his face into the table. Others were literally lifted out of the house. Insults were thrown around. Though most were directed to Xelleth. He found the ‘traitor’ accusation most ironic. Though when the guards had gotten the conspirators out, Xelleth remained in the house.

He brushed his fingers against the simple wooden table. There was something great and frightening about the piece of wood. Here, kings had died. Battles won or lost. Poisonous herbs had laid in the middle of it. As well as gold, silver, and slave tokens. He took the mace from his belt and began beating it. When he was done, the table was nothing but pieces of tinder. Scattered around. If he had the time, he would’ve burned it. But the night had only just begun.
~

King Hamurai’s study was well lit. Candles, torches, and the hearth made the place hotter than it ought to be. Hotter than it was at day. Three of the four walls were covered with shelves holding an endless amount of tablets. Two slaves were diligently pulling or putting away the hardened clay tablets. The fourth wall was open. Pillars upheld the roof there. It offered a stunning view of the night sky. One the king hadn’t paid attention to in years as he sat hunched over his oversized desk. Which was covered with piles of tablets on both sides. He slowly repeated the words written on it.

When he heard the knock, he looked up. Commander Xelleth entered his study. “My king.” He said, with a deeper bow. The slaves continued their work.

“Commander! What a sight for sore eyes. Sit down. Sit down.” He said motioning at the chair before the desk. “Wine?” He asked.

The king knew the answer, though Xelleth chose to humor him. Again. “None, thank you.”

“Someday I’ll find a wine you enjoy, Xelleth.” The king said with a gentle smile. Then it vanished again. “So the shadow council is no more?”

There was a moment of hesitation as Xelleth tried to choose the right words. “My king…we managed to capture the conspirators but one got away. The former qu- I mean, your stepmother. She ran away. Though we managed to hold her babe as a hostage.”

The king pondered upon the words for a moment. “Unfortunate.” Was all he said about it. “Alas, you did good my friend. With this city and the crown unshackled from the council, I can finally spread its wings. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“I’ve only done as you commanded.” Xelleth said.

“Ah, humility. A noble man’s shield against the trappings of glory.” The king said with a challenging smile. He snapped his fingers and a slave entered the study as well. Holding a bundle of simple cloth. “For you.”

Commander Xelleth got up and began to unwrap the cloth in the slave’s arms. A sword was revealed. It was simple, unadorned. Yet the commander couldn’t believe it. He didn’t even dare to touch it. “Is this…” He didn’t even dare say it.

“Bronze. Yes. Taken by my father from some rival tribe. They say its name is Ravegg. Render.” The king said with an unfittingly casual tone.

“This is a king’s weapon.” The commander said.

“Ha! And what am I going to do with it!?” Hamurai said as he laughed. “My arm is not for wielding swords. It never will be. That sword would be useless in my hands. I’d rather give it to someone who will have great use for it.”

Slowly the commander picked up the hilt of the sword and lifted it. Whoever made it, had gone the extra mile. It was well balanced but laid firm in his hand. The edge was without a chip even. “Thank you, my king. I will not forget your generosity.”

“Good.” The king said as he too got up from his chair. “Now go and hunt my stepmother. I want her alive. I’ve got other business to attend to now.”
~

They put him in a cage. Like an animal. Worse, like a slave! Salomeh had railed and raged against his captors at first. Using everything from his noble family name to the promise of vast wealth if only they released him. Nothing worked. Despair began to work. For two years being on the shadow council had helped him and his family rise to the top. He guessed this was the price.

From the shadowy darkness a black, hooded silhouette appeared. Holding nothing but a stool. As he got closer, the guards gave him a quick nod and walked away. Leaving Salomeh alone with the stranger. Who sat far enough from the cage so he wouldn’t be recognized.

“What do you want?” Salomeh asked. He could feel his youthful defiance rise up.

The main said nothing.

“Well!? Speak.”

Still nothing.

“Do you know who I am?”

“A friend. Once.” The man said. Salomeh turned pale. “Hamurai! Blessed be the gods, there has been a mistake. I swear to you, I’m innocent. I’ve done nothing wrong. Let me out of this! Your guards, the beasts! They put me in here like I’m just some common slave!”

“You wanted to exile me.” The king said unnaturally calm.

Salomeh swallowed deeply. “W-We had no other choice. The council’s rules. They force us… If I had a choice I would’ve… You have to understand.”

“Right now I don’t have to do anything.” The king got up and pulled something from his belt. He tossed into the moonlight, towards the cage. It fell on the ground with a heavy clang. Salomeh grabbed it. “Tell me, how much does your family know?”

Salomeh looked up. There was fear in his eyes. Real fear. “They know nothing! I swear to you, my parents, my wife. They’re just happy! We’ve become rich! Please don’t hurt them.” Tears welled up in his eyes.

“That entirely depends on you. My old friend. You know what to do.” The king said as he got up and took the stool with him. Leaving Salomeh alone in the moonlight.
~

“King Harumai!” high priest Kalemeth said with a snide voice as he saw the shadow approach him. “Here to gloat? To make an old man suffer?” he too was locked in a cage. Standing alone. With only the light of the moons. Still he had recognized the king enter. “Do what you believe you must! I have already won. The gods will welcome me with open arms in their halls. Where I shall feast for all of eternity! Not even you can take that from me.”

“I cannot.” The king said as he took place on his stool.

Which garnered a vile, confident grin on the high priest face. “So when will you finish me.”

The question hung in the air for a moment. Until the priest began to realize what would happen. “You cannot! You have to kill me!”

This time it was the king’s turn to smile. “Your tongue will be cut out, your hair cut and I’ll remove your right thumb and index finger. Writing will be most difficult I’d imagine. You’ll be starved here, for about a month. Then I’ll hand you over to a slave master. I’d figure, as a house slave, you won’t be very useful. But you will live. For many, many more years. You might be destined for a heavenly paradise, Kalemeth, but I don’t have to be the one to send you there.”
~

Qalem was calm as he waited in his cage. He hadn’t prayed. No god in their right mind would save a vile man like him. There was blood on his hands. Not just that of slaves. Seven years ago, when he had stared down the edge of a knife, he had accepted death. All the time since then was just a bonus. Qalem had no heir. No blood. No wife or family to say goodbye to. All he had was a legacy. One formed by slaves.

When the door opened, he did not look up. If it was his executioner, then all would be over soon. If it wasn’t, well what did it matter?

“Not an honorable way to greet your king.”

Qalem did look up, surprised to look up to the king standing near the cage. Close enough to be touched. He smiled, then looked down again. “You don’t deal in death.”

“Indeed I don’t. Rise up, Qalem. I’ve got a proposition for you.” The king said.

Qaelm rose, if only to entertain the king for just a bit. There was no reason why he couldn’t hear him out. If there was one thing he had now, it was time.

“Good.” The king said and then sat down on the stool he brought with him. “You know I want to change this city?”

“More magic. More slaves.” Qalem answered with a smile. “It’s making my people very wealthy.”

“Indeed it is.” Hamurai said. “Though some would say we are getting too many slaves. Not enough die and too many flow in. They risk a revolt we cannot win this time.”

“So I’ve heard.” Qalem said.

“You don’t believe it?”

Qalem let the question ruminate for a minute. The king let him. Silence reigned. There was no reason to lie now. “Oh I do.” Qalem answered. “Two slaves for each free man? Issues are bound to happen. Slaves are making this city rich and one day they’ll rip us apart.”

“You’re quite right.” Harumai said.

The king’s words shocked Qalem. “You were the one to get more slaves in the first place? You knew how many were dragged over the floors of the markets. Why did you let it happen?”

“Anghebad needs to grow. It needs to overthrow its opposition. We need money and soldiers for that. Slaves are making us rich. I intend to use that wealth. But I’m in a race against the sands of time here. If I cannot find a way to control the slaves, they will destroy us.” The king said.

“You have put the city on borrowed time.” Qalem said, realizing what was happening. It was so clear now. How did they not see it before. “It’s you finding a way to chain the slaves forever against the inevitability of a revolt that would destroy you us.” He laughed. It was a desperate, terrible laugh. One uttered when you saw doom coming and you know it will never get to you. “And Kalemeth called you ambitions! You sire, are stark raving mad!”

“Perhaps.” King Hamurai said. Unphased by the sudden bout of insane laughter. “But that means I can ill afford to kill a slave master. You now know the truth. There are three paths from here. Either you help me and keep the slaves subdued for as long as you can, you swear not to breathe a word about this and carry one with your life or you die here.”

“I will help you.” There was no hesitation in Qalem’s voice. None.

On that cue, a guard entered and whispered something in Hamurai’s ear. The king just nodded and said: “Hand his body over to the family. Along with my condolences for his sudden suicide.”
~

Rea’s first light was just visible on the horizon. Fighting against Ibbon’s darkness. It would still take an hour before dawn would fully start as King Hamurai stumbled into his study. “No rest for the wicked.” He mumbled to himself. He felt exhausted, but as Qalem had said: he was on borrowed time. Time which was rapidly running out. He needed a way to bind a slave to his master. The tablets of his ancestors about magic were at best incomplete and at the worst completely useless. Magic would be the key though. He knew that. Once again he took his seat behind his desk to read over a tablet. To he could only fight off sleep for a little while.

When he woke up, a stone orb was laying on his table. He looked around. The slaves hadn’t come in yet. Nor had anyone else. Not a single tablet was touched. How did the stone get here? Natural curiosity made him touch it. Instantly lines and strange figures on the orb began to glow. He jumped up in his chair and dropped the stone. Which began to float low over the table.

“Good day sir. I am Orb and I was specifically created to teach one how to use magic. Shall we start your first lesson?”



The four-winged angel was up and about again. After a good night of sleep she ran into the forest with berries in her arms. Every bird she encountered, she talked to while she gave them a few berries. Most of them talked fast and chipper. The boars talked slower and harder. Though when she pulled up a few vegetables, even they came inching closer. Though she left them in peace to eat. If they didn’t want to talk to her, she wouldn’t force them. But now even a wolf had come to approach her. He was the leader of the pack and had called the Luminant home for much longer than Soleira had. They had an honest exchange of words on both of their places in the world. The wolf’s view was simple but clear: survive and thrive. Hunt when you must eat and feed the pack. Meanwhile the angel had a tougher time explaining her place. She eventually settled on the idea that she was just a helper. For everyone. Even the wolves. It would seem that the pack leader was content with that answer and left.

For the rest of the day Soleira was hard at work to gather more berries and roots. Though she promised the bushes she would replant some of the berries far around. Just like nature would have done with them. After a long, exhausting but fulfilling day she decided she needed to get the dirt cleaned off of her. Flying made places feel closer. She arrived at the lake in just a few minutes. On foot it would’ve taken a few hours. With child-like glee she folded her wings and let her splash head first into the water. Deep underwater she came face to face with a fish she nearly hit. She opened her mouth, trying to apologize. Instead water flooded into her. Quickly she swam up again. When she caught her breath and the surface, she looked down and yelled: “Sorry Mr. Fish! I didn’t see you! I’ll pay more attention next time!” The fish just swam away. “I hope I didn’t make him mad.” Soleira said out loud for a moment. She would hate it if someone was actually mad at her.

After a good half an hour of floating in the refreshing waters, she made her way towards the shore and dry on the ground in the late afternoon sun. In the distance she saw some of the wingless ones. Not just the men this time. She saw long haired women with tiny babes in their arms and even a few children. Something inside of her wanted to rush over and say hello. Though sadly Oraelia she would only be able to talk to animals. Right now she felt a closer kinship with the creatures of the Luminant than with the wingless ones. It didn’t matter. From the distance she just waved and laid down. None of them approach her but at least they didn’t run away either. It was a start.

After about half an hour of relaxing in the bright sun, clouds began to cast their shadows upon the colorful land. Even they were colorful though! Nonetheless, she didn’t want to get wet again. And it was close to evening. Soleira retreated to her cave. Content to sit by a small fire to keep her warm while she watched, enthralled, as the heavy rain poured from the heavens.

The rain seemed determined never to let up, and even with the inherent glow of the landscape, the world seemed to gently dim and mute in the rainfall. The smattering of water striking leaves, dirt and water filled the world and the cave with an echoing melody. That rapturous orchestra went unbroken until she was certain Oraeliara’s light had set beyond the clouds, and looked set to continue all night. That is, until another sound broke through the veil of water - a voice. It was joined by another, barely audible over the patter of rain. Still, there was only one conclusion; someone was out there in the rainstorm. The cluster of voices grew closer with each passing moment. Someone shouted a short phrase, the rain drowning out any chance of making a reasoned guess.

That’s when the first silhouette appeared in the darkness, beaten down into a hunch by the rain - the shape of wings half-lifted to shield them from the rain as much as possible. The glow of nearby trees illuminated the shape enough; the flash of dark hair and mottled wings striding past the light source straight towards her cave as other shapes appeared behind the first silhouette. Their strides were quick - almost a sprint - and the first silhouette broke through the sheet of rain into the sanctuary of Soleira’s cave, allowing the first good look at the figure in firelight. A frowning youthful brother, winged and drenched, with no more than a simple sheet of cloth to cover his lower body. Strapped around his chest was a simple harness of animal hairs and furs, barely more than a sling to carry tools. A set of gently glowing basic tools - a knife, a club - hung from the straps, seeming to have been shaped out of light itself. His dark, almost black hair was the first true hint as to his heritage, and his wings were speckled with brown and beige in patterns Soleira had never seen in her Oraeliari brethren. Looking at him was enough to stand the hairs on her arms, just like that first chaos. Neiyari.

“Oh-“ She said when she realized what, no who, stood before her. Her heart sank in her chest. She couldn’t fight it. Instinct made her take a step back. Just a moment earlier she had been waving at the silhouette to come and take shelter here. Now her arms dropped to her side. She took another step back. Behind her there was only rock and stone though. The only escape she had was in front of her. Passed the Neiyari. Fleeing wasn’t an option. Fighting was always impossible.

To her own horror, she only now noticed the animal furs strapped around his chest. It made her whimper. Why would anyone want to kill an animal for its fur!? Then her eyes fell to the tools of light hanging from the harness. Blood drained from her face.

“I-It’s alright.” She managed to say. Wishing she had swallowed every word she spoke. “W-We can share. The cave is big. T-There’s food.” She motioned at a corner in the cave filled with berries and roots.

The man stared at her with a frozen look of surprise, his wings unfurling to cease their shielding. Uncertainty flashed across his face, traded for a deep frown within moments. Whatever he intended next, the veil of rain broke behind him again as another rushed into the warmth and shelter of the cave. And a third. They shoved him aside and stepped aside themselves, as a final shape entered the cave. The last entrant was deathly pale, white like bone, with black hair and wings that seemed to suck what life there was left out of the cave. His features were like stone, carved to present a hostile and imposing visage of eternal contempt. Even his comrades seemed to shy away from his gaze and touch. None of the others were dressed any better than the first, though each had their own sets of the tools - nay, weapons. The situation repeated itself, as four sets of eyes fell on Soleira on the far side of the cave. “Oraeliari!” one of the new arrivals, a black-haired woman, called out, and drew her glowing cutter.

Her cave suddenly grew cold. Despite the warm summer and the fire. With the four shapes standing in it, there were more shadows than light. “We don’t have to fight!” Soleira said as she took a few steps back. Until she felt her wings touch the stone wall behind her. She even sank down as tears welled up in her eyes. “I don’t want to die. Please, I don’t want to die.” She held her arms in front of her face. All four wings wrapped around her. Then, as if summoned by her despair, a crystalline shield formed in front of her. Meanwhile memories flashed through her head. Memories of Oraelia. Of the animals. The first chaos. “Why are we even fighting?” She sobbed with her eyes hidden and closed.

The pale Neiyari held out his hand and the woman immediately backed down, almost tumbling back as though the thought of his touch sent her reeling. "My, my," he began with a soft tone that conveyed nothing but mocking malice. "It seems you managed to find quite the treasure out here, Aziri. I've never seen one like her." He laid a hand on the shoulder of the first Neiyari who entered, who stiffened in response. The pale one continued inwards, pacing around the fire. "You are right to worry, sister, but the night is long," he offered on approach, a hand stretching out gingerly to nearly touch the crystalline surface. "Perhaps we can start anew. Can all of you do this? It is marvelous."

She looked up, her upper wings relaxed a bit. The streaks of tears were visible on her cheeks. Her eyes looked beyond the one standing before her. They all looked afraid. Not of her. Of him. What a tortured existence that must be, to be scared of the one leading you. He terrified her as well. Yet she also pitied him. Just a little. He spoke every word with a cold malevolence that made her heart crack. She kept the barrier up, even though it drained of her strength even now.

“I don’t know.” She answered with not a hint of bitterness in her voice. Though there was a little bit of compassion. “Are you going to kill me if I drop my shield?” She asked without hiding the fear in her voice.

"Would you feel better if I lied?" he questioned back at her with implied intent, features creasing to suggest he found her directness funny. "But as I said. The night is long. As long as you stay useful, I'd be remiss in my duties if I killed you. So. Sister. How useful are you?" He leaned forwards towards the shield with a smirk.

Behind him the three Neiyari spread out in the cave, looking through what means Soleira had assembled for herself. The first arrival among them, the one named Aziri, had made his way to the corner of food.

She knew what useful to him meant. Weapons. In all her fear a single courageous thought boiled up. Soleira refused to be a weapon. The day she laid a hand on anyone, even the Neiyari in her cave, would be the day she’d beg any god to strike her down. The crystalline shield began to crumble, though she remained seated. “I’m not useful to you.” There was real sadness in her voice. He was going to kill her no doubt. Who was going to care for the animals and the people in the Luminant? Maybe she had planted enough berries. Maybe she had spread enough berry bushes. She hoped the grey wolf wouldn’t kill too many of the rabbits and that the wingless ones didn’t kill too many deer. She hadn’t been able to talk to them yet. Her wings unfurled themselves from around her and spread out. She didn’t want to die. No, if there was a choice, she would want to survive.

“Just…Just tell me one thing.” She sniffed and rubbed the last of her tears away. “Why do you do it? The killing and the hate and the pain? I want to understand before I…” The word hung heavy in her throat. She tried to accept it but she couldn’t.

A pale hand extended between unfurling wings, craning forwards to touch her chin and force her head up to face his. Dark eyes loomed over her with malice and spite. "Were you not touched by our War Mother? I assumed all had seen at least a glimmer of truth before your false idol twisted your minds." He responded with something akin to pity in his voice. "This land is sick. Decaying, chaotic, and full of lowly creatures blind to the Goddess' love. It is our divine mission to improve it. All shall feel her love. Love cannot exist when false idols and bonds persist," he offered with a smile. "But don't worry. All who live shall accept the Goddess in their hearts. With our help. The world will burn, but a better one will rise. An ordered, loving world."

“But that’s not love.” She said with a meek voice. It was all wrong. Everything he said, it was wrong. The land wasn’t sick or decaying. War wasn’t love. Those lowly creatures he spoke of, they were more capable of love than him. Birds sang for each other. Squirrels snuggled up. Wingless ones kissed and embraced each other. There was no love in burning a world. He was so wrong. So blind. She couldn’t bear it.

She would die anyway. That realization made her eerily calm now. Everything told her that she should be scared. If she was going to die, by him or anyone in the cave, the least thing she could do was try and help them. Even a little bit. In a sudden move she took the man’s hand from under her chin and held it in between her two hands. The instant she touched him, she tried to channel her own understanding of love into him. It was warmth and safety. A smile, a shy glance and a bright laugh. It was conditionless devotion to something other than yourself. At the same time she tried to understand him. Why did he think so wrongly about love? What’s at the core of his misinterpretation?

His eyes widened, an almost instantaneous reaction to her grip and the resulting sensations sent coursing through his system. She could feel something gnaw deep within him. A tumultuous thought, beating out others. A roiling dark mass, spreading to everything else like a cancerous growth, tainting all it touched. It wasn’t malice, or anger, or hatred. It was a need. An obsession. A primal, base urge. Something that sent a rippling shiver through her spine, a sensation as though she was being hunted. Nothing impeded her vision, yet she saw shadowy talons reach and grip for her. Felt that same drive bubble angrily deep within herself. An impulse that lurked in him, and called to her. For just a moment, the world was flipped, and all within it was not enough. The animals were not loyal. The short ones did not respect her. Everyone had to understand. They must be made to love. Whether they like it or not. Then, just as swiftly, the sensation ended - the pale man ripped his hand free of Soleira’s grip, breaking the connection and severing the strange impulse as swiftly as it had arisen.

The pale Neiyari wasted no time; his palm swung freely towards her face and cheek, as he growled a furious “Insolent wretch!”. In his eyes was a mad panic, a fury borne of desperation and confusion.

The slap connected. It threw her face back. The pain, it stung. The courage she had gathered just a second ago vanished as she crawled away as fast as she could and as far as she could. Which was barely a meter away from the pale Neiyari. Her wings wrapped around her. The entire experience left her shivering. She was going to die now and she didn’t want to die. The cancerous growth had made her afraid. The fact that such dreadful feelings could not only exist but take root. Her cheek was still glowing from the pain. There was nothing else to do for her now than to wait and fear the end.

“You scum!” he shouted at her, and through small glimpses between her feathers she saw him move. Tense up next to her. “How dare you poison me with your wicked ways?! Ailura, give me your knife,” he continued, fuming beside her. There was shuffling about her.

“Saint Yurari,” came another voice, uncertain and hesitant. “There are a lot of different foodstuffs here. I-If she knows which berries and plants are edible, she can still be of use.”

Silence followed for a time, beyond the sound of awkward shuffling and the constant onslaught of rain. “Is that true, sun-sister?” the pale Neiyari finally asked, his fury abated for just a moment. “Can you identify the poisonous plants?”

“I-I can.” She said from behind her wings. For the past weeks and months she had eaten more than a few berries and roots that had made her violently ill. Though she never would’ve guessed recognizing those plants could ever come in handy. She replanted the poisonous and the edible alike. Would she survive?

“Interesting,” the pale Neiyari - Saint Yurari - concluded. She heard his wet feet hit the dirt as he paced away from her. “Guard her, Ailura. As long as it rains, she won’t get far. We’ll burn her wings if it stops.” he continued, and another Neiyari drew close. Some of the fear creeped away, as though it was attached to the pale man, giving her some chance at rational thought again.

“What are you thinking, Saint Yurari?” asked the hitherto quiet Neiyari, a third man.

“We can use the short ones to infiltrate and sabotage food storages. After a few get sick, they will be unable to trust their gatherers, and will have to throw out their food. Aziri, you are in charge of learning this. The more they resemble edible foodstuffs, the better.” the saint mused, further away but still perfectly audible. Even now, even with Soleira’s interference, his intent could be summarized with what he said next; “This could be an excellent method to progress the war effort.”

More movement, and the one that had first entered the cave came to mutter something to the woman, and they swapped places before Soleira. The Saint meanwhile spoke about what he had experienced. “Watch out for her hands,” he reasoned, before relating the emotional experience to the two by the fire.

Soleira swallowed deeply. Not because they wanted to burn her wings. Even though that alone was terrifying enough. It was the idea that they still managed to find a way to abuse her knowledge for war. She looked around. Attention was diverted away from her, for the most part. “I’m not a weapon.” She quietly muttered. If they forced her to talk, far more than herself could suffer and even die. “Not a weapon.” She repeated, almost as a whisper. It gave her strength though. She then turned towards the Neiyari that was guarding her. He was so young.

“I’m really sorry.” She said with no small measure of genuine regret. Before her captor could even ask why, she shot up. Her four wings spread out. With eyes closed she pushed forward. An unnatural amount of wind blew into the cave. With the crystalline shield formed in front of her to push anyone out of her path she flew out. “Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” She kept repeating, hating herself for hurting them. Though her wings couldn’t carry her far in the rain. Exhausted she dropped down into the mud. Though she tried to crawl away. If anything, they would have to kill her now. No-one would get poisoned because of her. Her life, for a lot of others. It was fair. Was it enough? “Oh Oraelia forgive me.” She said, fearing she would have displeased the goddess.

Then she heard something chitter and chirp. Despite the wind and rain, some birds and squirrels had come from their nests. “Nothing! It’s nothing!” She said, looking back at the cave and expecting her darker siblings to flood out in a moment. They didn’t believe her though. They began to chirp and chitter louder. More animals popped out from their hiding places.

The pale Neiyari drew closer. She didn’t hear him at first, but the chill that rose up through her spine could only mean one thing. A few of the animals, those most skittish among her friends, vanished back into the wet darkness as his voice caught through the rain. “Look at this wretch! Too weak to stand. Too cowardly to fight.”

He was right. She looked weak. She felt weak. “I’m not weak.” She grabbed the bark of a tree and pulled herself up. Bit by bit she managed to get back on her feet. Everything hurt. She was drenched in mud. The chirping from a distance grew louder though. A ruckus was brewing in the trees. Next to her, a crow landed on a low hanging branch. It cawed a few times. Soleira offered it a gentle smile. Or at least as gentle as she could manage in her state. “I’ll be okay. Really-“ She coughed violently. So violently, in fact, that she nearly fell to her knees again. The crow cawed a few times. Despite the rain. Despite the winds, it took off again. A second later, more caws could be heard in the distance. They were growing louder. Then the howling began. It echoed from far away. The second howl was much louder though. Tears ran over Soleira’s cheeks again. What they were saying, cawing, howling. She could hear it. “Please don’t hurt them.” She said.

“Saint Yurari,” she could hear the woman among the corrupted kin say in the rain. “Something is wrong.” Still she heard wet steps slap through the mud quickly, grunting as they drew closer, talking amongst themselves; almost lost in the cacophony of animal sounds and rain.

“Aziri, go with Ailura. We’ll fan out and surround her.” the pale one said in the rain. She felt a creeping dread, his very existence seeming to chill her to the bone the longer he remained.

A harrowing bellow echoed through the forest. It was a low, deep rumble. Something that pierced through all other sounds save the howling that got louder. As did the cawing. A crow landed on the nearby branch. Then another and another. They all looked at one of the Neiyari. Some chose to fly up again. They didn’t flee though. The first flash of lightning momentarily illuminated the night sky. A vortex of birds was growing over Soleira. Behind her, the black silhouette of three bucks appeared.

“Please just go.” Soleira now pleaded with the supposed saint. Even though in her heart, she wanted to run. Inside she felt torn between a dark feeling pushing her to run far far away while bravery bloomed in equal measure, strengthened by the growing presence of the animals and what they were saying. The thunder then roared through the air. “They’re not happy.” There was an intense sadness in her eyes.

The sight seemed to instill shock in at least his followers. Aziri and Ailura could be seen staring her way from the edges of the underbrush, but as the next flash came, they were nowhere to be seen. The pale Neiyari seemed undeterred, though his comrade tried to verbally continue what Ailura had begun. Finally, the Saint shouted above the din. “What a majestic weapon you could be, sun-sister! It is not too late to cast aside your folly. Return to the fold, or perish like the rest!” Despite his words, his comrade built up the courage to grab his arm, and pursued by the sound of thunder, their silhouettes began to shrink into the rainy darkness.

She wanted to return his own words. To beg him to turn to the light. She couldn’t though. The moment they were far enough, she dropped to her knees. One of the buck gently nudged her. She patted its side. “Thank you. Really, thank you.” Exhausted but relieved she was still alive, she managed to get up. Supported by the buck walking next to her. “Thank all of you.” She kept repeating. In the distance she saw the tiny glow of wolf’s eyes in the darkness. They never appeared from the darkness though. But Soleira smiled at them none the less. Near the cave she managed to find her way to her bed where she curled up and sobbed herself to sleep. Some of the birds had come inside the cave and kept their vigil.

It was late in the morning when a morose Soleira woke up. She offered every animal a faint smile. She even waved at the deer off into the distance. They let out a bellow in acknowledgement before they continued on. She didn’t say a word though. The most the birds could get out of her were some nods or shaken heads. Normally she would’ve begun the day by gathering berries. Today she didn’t. She was just looking around her cave and flew higher up the hills. It was mid-day when she came back down. Carrying two rocks in her arms. They were heavy. So heavy that even with her four wings she barely managed to get them down safely. Despite her exhaustion, she never stopped to rest. Instead she took another rock and began to very crudely fashion the faces of her two vanished siblings in them. The figures were too crude to ever really recognize but Soleira would remember. She placed the stones in the ground near her cave. “I won’t forget you. Aziri and Ailura. I promise you I won’t forget your names.” She said a quiet prayer with her eyes closed to them. Hoping they were in a better place right now.

Then she smiled again. It was a small smile. A fragile one. But a smile nonetheless.



Soleira had watched, from a distance, at her golden kin. A giant made of light stood as a sentinel amongst them. Could he see her from so far away? She could barely see him. It was better this way. The only thing she could do there, amongst the others, was feeling ashamed. That she could do here, on her own, as well. Though in her heart something yearned to go to talk with the giant. She ignored it though. His watchful vigil was vastly more important than talking with little Soleira.

Then, from behind her, she heard something upon the winds. She dove down instantly into a copse of trees and shrubbery. The local birds loudly chirped and flew away in protest. She tried to gently sush them but as they were animals, they just continued to object. Her heart was pounding in her chest as her muscles tightened. For a second she was afraid she would get caught but then the wings had flown over her. They hadn’t seen her. From the multi-colored bushes she looked at the light giant again. Something was happening around him. The light coming from him seemed brighter. Or were there more light sources now? It was impossible to tell. Once again her curiosity won from her fear as she remained in the bushes. Trying to see what was happening. Meanwhile the birds returned to their branches around her.

Some time later, the others came. The dark ones. They clashed with the Oraeliari in the distance. Shouts and hate traveled through the air. Soleira didn’t hate her darker siblings. Even though they had spilled so much blood already. She just didn’t understand them. Why were they so angry? Why did they want to fight so hard? The land, the animals, everything else, it was so beautiful! They could share it! Though neither sides seemed interested in that. “No… No you don’t have to fight.” She whispered, mostly to herself. As if it would make a difference. Her heart shrank. When she saw the first of her darker siblings die, she shed a tear as well. Even though she hadn’t known him. It was all so horrible, and it was scarring the land as well.

“Please just stop.” She said again, just hoping they would stop. Maybe she could go there and put a stop to it herself. Yet when her wings beat even only once she dropped to her knees. Clutching the ground with her hands. Her entire body was shaking with fear.. No, no she would be useless and get in the way. That’s what she told herself. Slowly she gathered herself and got up again. Only to see the battle to be over. “Thank the gods.” She whispered with a small but very unhappy smile. There was still something happening though. From so far away, she couldn’t make out what exactly. Though it had to be big. Then the giant left. Why was he leaving them?

It didn’t matter. He would never talk to the likes of her. Clearly he was a warrior. Someone who fought. She was just a weakling. With a few wing beats she got up and flew away. Beyond the horizon. To the familiar cave and forest she resided in. Near the big lake. Some of the local animals had taken a liking of her. They didn’t instantly run away at the merest sight of her.

She did understand why they were so afraid of her. After all, take away her wings and she would look just like one of the wingless ones. Who used sharp sticks and pits to wound and kill animals. At first she didn’t understand why they did it. Then one night she managed to watch a group of them hold bits of the dead animals over a fire and then eat it. Then it clicked. They were carnivores who liked warm meat. Carnivores in general had been a strange sight for her. The first time she encountered wolves she only felt horror when the animals bit down on the helpless deer. But when the whelps appeared, she realized why they hunted. Food meant life. It wasn’t their fault that they only ate meat.

The terrain around her cave was not marked with carvings or other decoration. Instead you knew you were near when you started finding pieces of bark with berries, fruit and nuts on them. For whatever animal wanted to eat them. Right now, after having witnessed so much death and pain, Soleira had an intense need to nurture life. She prepared even more pieces of bark with food on it, to put in the trees for the little critters to find. From the lake she carried a bowl with water to feed the roots she had replanted, hoping they would grow. Only when the sun got low did she sit down. Her body felt sore and ached, though that would be over after a good night's sleep. From her cave she watched the land she was tending to. Nobody had assigned it to her but she felt like it was her duty to care for it. The memories of the morning boiled up again. She tried to smile, to banish those thoughts. Those memories shouldn’t feel so painful but they did. Still, she had to keep it together. For the sake of all the animals in the bit of land she was tending for.

In the distance the sun was getting low now. Touching the horizon. Her own pain probably paled compared with that of the sun-mother. There wasn’t much Soleira could do, but there was at least something. She kneeled down at the entrance of the cave, letting the dusk light wash over her as she closed her eyes and laced her fingers together. “Dear Oraeliara. Sun-mother.” She prayed. Knowing she would at least be heard but not really expecting a response. “I just wanted to ask if you’re alright? I hope it doesn’t hurt too much to see all your children fight so much. I-I wish I could do more to make you happy but I’m just little Soleira. A few days ago I saved a little piglet and a bird. Today I’ve put up some more food for the animals and watered some plants. It’s not much but I’ll try to do more tomorrow. Still, I hope it makes you just a little bit happier.”

She suddenly felt a warm embrace all around her, like a blanket smothering gently or a rather nice hug. A trickle of warmth then entered her mind and a voice spoke softly. ”Aren’t you just precious?” it gushed. ”Hardly any mortals ever ask if I’m okay, you know. Hearing it from you, my lovely Soleira, makes it all the better in my heart.”

Soleira’s first instinct was to break her prayer and open her eyes. She fought that instinct with all she had and remained on her knees with her fingers entwined and her eyes closed. “Sun-mother!” She exclaimed out loud but also in her thoughts. She tried to repress her own excitement. “I-I… You heard me…the prayer, it worked? I’m so sorry, goddess. You must have so much to do. I shouldn’t be taking up any of your time!” Despite her words, her heart was overflowing with gratitude to even have traded a few words with the goddess of life. It would be a memory that remained with her forever.

”Nonsense. My time is my own and I wish to use it speaking to you, Soleira.” Oraeliara said in a motherly tone. ”Now,” she said softer, ”It seems you have been touched by… A familiar presence but one unknown to me still. Hmm, no matter, this does not change who you are in your heart Soleira. You are caring, my daughter, helping those when they cannot even ask or know what it is you wish to do. So, I shall help you bridge that gap.”

She didn’t understand most of what the goddess said. “Touched by…a familiar presence?” For a second she feared she had offended the goddess. Or some other deity. Then it clicked. The colorful, violently moving lights! Had that been a god as well? No, she would not burden the goddess with those questions. Not when more important questions had to be asked: “Bridge that gap? I am grateful, sun-mother. Eternally grateful. But forgive me, I don’t understand which gap you meant.”

”Go and speak to the first animal you see.” the Goddess said simply.

Soleira was not about to displease her goddess by disobeying. No matter how strange the order was. Though before she headed out, she grabbed a handful of berries with her. Just outside the cave she opened her palm. One small bird came flying down towards her and landed on her palm. It wasn’t afraid at all, as it began to eat the berries. “Hello little one.” She greeted the bird with a warm smile. “I hope you and your family have enough food with this.”

“Yes! Yes! Enough food. Food, food, food. Wait-“ The bird looked up at Soleira. “You’re not bird!”

For a second the four-winged angel stood stunned. “I-I can hear you?” She barely believed it.

The Goddess giggled. ”You can speak to animals now!” she said excitedly. ”It’s the least I can give for you Soleira, in fact…” the Goddess paused and she felt a tingle in her head. ”There! You can speak to animals and convey meaning through touch now.”

“Oh thank you so much goddess! This is wonderful! A miracle! I can care for them so much better now.” Soleira said as she kept smiling at the bird. Slowly and carefully she let her finger run over its back. “It’s okay. You’re safe here. With me. Safe.” She tried to convey the meaning to the bird. Who happily continued eating. “Oh sun-mother how can I ever repay you for this wonderful gift?”

”There is no need to repay me, Soleria. Simply continue helping those that cannot do so themselves. This is what the Aiviri were supposed to be, all along. And remember Soleira, you are loved.” Oraeliara said, before the presence vanished, but not before ruffling her hair.

She didn’t think she could ever stop believing she was loved. At least not after what had just happened. It would be etched in her mind forever. The bird flew up from her hand. Probably back to its family. Soleira rushed into the forest and began to talk with every animal she found. The birds were the most forthcoming. Though from the branches they talked so fast and repeated so many words that she had a hard time fully understanding them. In the night she also found a small cat on the hunt. It talked as if it was angry until Soleira stroked its back a few times. Then the cat began to purr loudly and brush up against Soleira. Before it vanished into the underbrush again for food.

The moon was already high up when Soleira returned to her cave. Exhausted of a full day’s work and the excitement of her new gift. Though before she went to sleep on her bed of dried weeds she turned around to face the exit of the cave. Again she knelt down with her eyes closed and her fingers laced together. “Sorry, Gibboura. I know I shouldn’t have stayed up so late. Though I hope you can forgive me. Goodnight and sweet dreams.” With those words said she got up, walked over to her bed and nearly collapsed in a deep slumber.



The Panther

He had woken with a ravenous hunger. His head felt heavy and somehow bigger. Its back was also weighing it down. As if a stone was resting on it. Slowly he opened its eyes. It was night. Good. The night was always good. Things didn’t see him at night. He craned his neck backward, to see what was weighing down its back so much. When he saw what it was, he jumped up in surprise. Those two, big, folding…things on its back. Like some of his prey had. The feathers had the same pitch-black color as his fur. They used it to go up in the air. Away from him. Could he go up too? The things, as a response to the thought, unfurled themselves from their folded state. The wingspan was large. With a few beats, he could feel himself become lighter already. Yes! With this, he could hunt even when the other things fled to!

He was nowhere near its home territory though. Home was a place of large trees and strong branches where he could sleep on during the day. It was a place where he found his prey. Big ones and small ones alike. Where he also found his mates. Here there was nothing. It was big and open. Only grass grew. How did he get here? Memories were spotty. There was a light. No, not a light. Many lights. Many lights flowing around him. Before that? What happened before? He was resting. On a branch. He had eaten a little. Yes. Then the lights came. It picked him up. He tried to fight it. He growled and slashed. Hitting nothing but air. He got weak and tired. Weaker and more tired than he had even been. Breath was escaping him. Eventually, his lids had grown heavy and he fell. Was he sleeping? He looked around. No, everything seemed real.

Then he heard something. His predatory senses made sure it could detect its prey far before they ever saw him. Yet he lowered his body into the tall grasses none the less. The wings folded back over his back. Barely making him larger. The night was good. Night was always good. The bald monkey things never saw him in the night. Not until it was too late. Though he never hunted one of them. Now though, he didn’t just feel a need to hunt. He felt a need to find things. Like one would find a good branch to sleep on. He stalked across the plains towards the voice. It was high pitched, which meant young. Yes, younglings were weak. Though they didn’t have a lot of meat on them.

Another voice joined the first. Lower pitched. Female. Her smell was on the air. She was larger. More meat. She too wouldn’t see him in the dark of night either. He got closer. They were running. The little one was careless. The older one filled with fear. He could smell it coming from her. His legs moved slower now. The purple moon gave just enough light so he could see all other things clearly. The larger one had turned towards him thrice now. Every time he froze. She never reacted. Even when he thought he would smell her. He pushed closer, and closer. They were being stupid. When he got close enough he had to make a decision. Once he would go after one, the other would run. The largest one would be harder to kill but better to eat. More meat. The little one would be easy but without a lot of food on it.

To his own surprise, as he prowled closer, two shadowy figures appeared from his own fur. Exact mimics, with the same folded wings on their back. They were not his mates or blood. They were here to steal his prey! The other two turned towards him. They suddenly gnarled and roared at each other and he snarled back. Daring them to steal his prey and threatening to wound the other one.

The bald monkey things had heard them. The larger one was already running with the small one in its higher paws. It was crying and screaming. Fear oozed from both of them now. He and his two rivals turned their heads immediately. Forgetting their feud. The chase was on. In the distance, they saw the bright lights. The larger thing kept screaming something.

Him and his two rivals were closing in fast though. They had to catch them before they reached the bright lights. The bright lights would betray him. He needed meat. He wanted them both! He was getting close. One of his rivals was on his left, getting close to her side as well. He snarled. It snarled back at the same time. Which cost them both precious moments. Something came whizzing through the air. It pierced through his rival but… it just kept on running. The straight branch was behind him. Embedded into the ground. How?

It elicited whimpers of the larger prey. She kept screaming the same sounds over and over again. When he got close he could hear it clearly now: “Iltralla!” It was gibberish and stupidity. Another straight branch came whistling from the wind. It came for him! He was not invulnerable like his rival was. He jumped aside but it had cost him his prey. For another of the bald monkey-things came charging at him. With a sharp, straight branch in hand the big monkey yelled as he passed the female thing with her youngling. The thing was coming straight for him. He got ready to pounce upon the thing and tear it to shreds. He even counter-charged at it to knock it down. One of his rivals seemed to have the same idea. The rival charged and managed to stay ahead of him. It jumped at the bald monkey and passed straight through it. Surprising everyone. Though he wouldn’t give up a chance. He jumped up. It was aided by the flapping of the wings. Allowing him nearly jump over the bald monkey but he reached down with his jaw. Biting down on its shoulder. The bald monkey was pulled down to the ground as he landed on all four of his paws. His jaw clenches down. Blood oozed from the deep wounds. The bald monkey dropped his straight branch and screamed in pain. It tried to fight. To no avail.

It grew weaker. He could feel it in his jaw. His rivals were not close so he would have this prey for himself. Finally, the bald monkey thing dropped down, unmoving. He started to tear off shreds of meat to still its hunger. Keeping an eye on the not so distant evil lights with all the other bald monkeys standing in it. There was a mixture of rage and fear in the air. He knew the smell well. His rivals sat down beside him. Making no attempt to take the bald monkey from him. When he had enough, he dropped the half-eaten thing on the ground and turned to look at the evil lights. He snarled at them, angry that he lost his first prey. They were threatening him now too. His two rivals joined the snarling. Moving each to another side of the caves-above-ground and the evil lights. Yet when they got too close to the lights, they seemed to be vanishing. Smoke rose from their backs. Though it did not seem to hurt them. They just snarled, as he did. The naked things shouted things but that one word kept returning: “Iltralla! Iltralla! Iltralla!”

Then something else caught his hearing. It was a soft thing. Like the wind that blew just right. Yet sustained instead of fleeting. He stepped back, getting further away from the stupid loud noises. Hoping he would hear the soft winds better. It came from in front of him though. From the yelling and the caves-above-ground. One of the things appeared before the straight branch holders. He had something in his hand. A white branch, with holes in it. No, not a branch. A bone. He was blowing into it and covered some of the holes with his fingers.

He let out a low grumble. His rivals turned around and head back to him. though before they could reach them, they suddenly vanished into nothingness. As if they had never existed in the first place. After a moment of surprise, he turned back to the wind speaking thing. He sat down, calmly. The soft sounds it made, it felt soothing. The loud noises stopped now. Letting him hear the thing-made winds better. It let out a low rumble of enjoyment. The sounds were good. The sounds were nice! From the darkness, he looked into the evil lights. The man was sitting down now.

He didn’t know why but he felt that the sounds would soon stop. They were coming faster now. Less like soft flowing water and more like waves crashing upon stone. Yet he did not mind it. The song was good. The thing that made the song…he was good.

The winds stopped as he had expected. Then silence raged. The song had been good. Good enough to live. It would seem that fear and hatred had subsided somewhat. Together with the loud noises. He let out a low grumble as if to say he did not desire to fight or eat anymore tonight and turned around. He walked back into the tall grass. Away from the things.

Leaving them with a story of the Iltralla that liked a song.



There was a disturbance in the mana.

The venerable Eloxochitli of Sancta Civitas could feel it upon their refined senses. The mana had waxed and waned, not in an natural way. Something had caused the movement. It was too methodical, too predictable. The pattern was easy to discern. Unlike the usual movement of the mana. Which required one to delve far deeper to find its patterns. No, this was a deliberate disruption. A disruption that would require investigation. Their lord had already given them the task. He too had felt it.

High the skies, the Qael’Naath had peered upon the world through the magical sense of the Winds and already discerned the cause of the strange phenomena upon his streams. A singular act caused ripples across the mana in no way he had seen before. It warranted further investigation, for it had made him curious.

Sancta Civitas was the perfect place to observe it. So the task was given. The ever growing influence of The Library within Sancta Civitas began to move it’s lumbering reaching. The inner circle of the Curators requested a meeting with the city’s bureaucrats. Meanwhile the stockpiled gold was being gathered near The Library. Perhaps most importantly was the beseechment of the Builder-Priests to lend their hand to the construction. They were, after all, Artifex’s chosen.

The right words were spoken, permission was granted.

Yet this would not be like the main hall where The Vessels resided. Nor would it be like the Vault of Ink, which had already pushed the city’s architectural minds to their limits. The Eloxochitli of the Curators desired something that would do nothing short but inspire awe. Something so ingenious and beautiful that it would cement The Library as magic’s most prominent site. A place worthy of their still mysterious lord. The Builder-Priests, seemed to relish the challenge. Plans were drawn, scrapped, re-drawn, turned upside down, consulted upon, torn to shreds, burned and then pieced together again. It took a year for all parties to become satisfied. In that time vast quantities of rock had been moved from the nearby quarry and were already turning into Sancta Civitas’ distinct white stone.

The second the bulbous toads shook the builder-priests’ hands on the design, construction began. Even the younger Itztli, spawned within Sancta Civitas itself, were helping. Even though they were but children still. Stone was raised in a pyramid shape. The inside remained hollow and was supported by great pillars carved with various runes of illumination. Offering a soft glow when mana was channeled through them. The last stone of the pyramid encased the room below. Allowing for only one small hole above. A beam of light fell through into the dark, cavernous hall below. The building wasn’t finished though.

Above the pyramid the most daring, audacious and difficult part of the construction began. Large, square blocks were lifted up the pyramid and raised upon eachother. Forming a tall obelisk atop the structure. Below in the cavernous hall, Vespain Curators were constantly flying around the roof. Looking for cracks of weaknesses. There was a consant, faint, silent prayer to Artifex going on as the stones above were raised. They prayed that the whole construction wouldn’t collapse.

When the capstone of the obelisk was finally put into place, the whole construction crew held its breath. Waiting for the Vespians below to should in alarm. Nothing came. When enough time passed, people cheered and laughed. A small feast was held, with a promise that tomorrow would be a free day for both Curators and builders. They had earned it, for they had moved the line of what was architecturally possible.

The task was not done yet though. For a week later the Eloxochitli and their Itztli breathren hauled the gold they had saved up across nearly two decades from its vault. The inside of the obelisk had been slightly hollow. A channel ran from its tip down to the base of pyramid. Connecting it with the opening in the ceiling of the chamber below. The gold was forged and thinned into plates. Which were attached to the cap of the obelisk. Each plate was intricately carved with runes as per design. Below, in the chamber, a well was constructed in the middle of it. With four curved, golden claws held over the well. The Library had been a loyal and constant customer to the furniture makers of the city and now too did they put in their request for even more tables and bookcases.

When the construction was done, a magical energy flowed from The Library’s main hall into the Omen-Spire. Followed by a singular Vessel, which placed itself upon the four claws. Right on cue, the ripples of an omen travelled across the spire’s top. The magic imbued in the gold condensed a single drop from the air. Which fell down along the inside of the obelisk, through the vessel and into the well. The vessel itself began to shift and change. Until it took the shape of a bowl with carvings on its bottom. The first omen’s ripples was recorded!



Soleira was in her cave. Outside she heard her siblings fight. She didn’t know why they fought but it had been going on for days now. Ever since they all opened their eyes. First she smiled, and then she saw her darker siblings charging at them with malice on their faces. When a sister fell beside her, Soleira could only think of fleeing. Her wings carried her far away from everything. They eventually carried her to this cave, where she had remained ever since. Afraid to go out and find one of her siblings.

After some time, the sound of fighting vanished again. Soleira came outside, hoping to catch some sunlight and gather some plants to eat on. As she foraged she found a few wild vegetables. Enough to keep her going. “Sorry.” She said every time she pulled out a plant. The reason they often had such big, fat tubers was because they had to feed themselves and here she was, selfishly stealing that food for herself. Though she always tried to replant a bit of the root. Hoping it would grow again. Suddenly she heard the sound of faint chirping.

She rushed over to whatever made the sound. It was a small bird. One of its wings looked strange. Soleira looked at her own wings for reference. No, a wing should not be bending that way. Slowly she picked up the bird and stroked its small head. Though it went entirely silent and stopped moving. “Don’t be afraid.” She whispered. Even though she knew the bird couldn’t understand her. “I’m not going to eat you.” She had seen some who would eat the bird from outside her cave. Well she had heard them first. Yelling and shrieking as they ran across the forest below the cave. Pursuing some deer. To her horror, she had watched how something that looked like herself, but wingless and with less hair on their head, stabbed the poor animal until it let out the last defiant grunt and collapsed. She had to cover her mouth and looked away. The wingless things walked away with the deer tied to a branch.

Why anyone would ever kill such a majestic beast was beyond her. With the bird safely in her hands, she walked back into the cave. Where she had made a soft spot with long, dried grasses. It wasn’t perfect but it was her place. Gently she placed the bird down. It began to chirp again, which in turn made Soleira smile. “Yes, I’m going to help you!” She said as she slowly brushed its little head with her finger. Her other hand hoovered higher over the bird. A soft, golden light flowed from her palm. After quite some time she lifted her hand up again. The wing looked normal again and the little bird began to chirp happily. “All good again!” Soleira exclaimed with seemingly the same gleefulness. The bird tried to flap its wings slowly. When it was certain everything was alright, it offered a final few chirps before it flew out of the cave. Soleira watched as it flew back, waving as if the bird would know what that meant.

Night was falling now. On the horizon she could see the moon rise. Making the colors of The Luminant a bit softer. Soleira loved the sun, but there was just something magical about watching the dusk grow a little darker. Oftentimes she laid down on her bed, watching the world first darken, and then come alive with various luminescent glows. This time too, she began to feel drowsy and fell asleep.

She jolted up. Something bright hung in the skies. It wasn’t as muted as the normal colors in the sky. These colors were softly glowing and constantly moving. Unlike the clouds. What could it be? She got up and looked out of her cave. None of her darker siblings seemed to be around. Nor any of her lighter brothers and sisters. Not that she was mortally afraid of the latter. She just couldn't face them now. Later she would. With everything safe she opened her wings and flew up towards the colors. The closer she got, the stranger they looked. Like waves waxing in the open air. It enthralled her. Until she was in the middle of the colors. Where there were none.

She then also realized there was no air there. She folded her wings immediately. So she’d drop back down. Yet she didn’t. Some invisible force held her up. She unfurled her wings again and began to beat with panic. With her hands she reached higher, to the mute-colored clouds. She couldn’t go up though. The air escaped her lungs. It felt like she was drowning! Then the burning started. All across her body. Like something was invading it. Blackness grew on the edges of her vision. She gasped for air. Nothing came in. Her lungs were empty. Like she was in water she tried to grasp for something. Manically she pushed herself around. The force still held her still, in the middle of those beautiful colors. When her vision turned black entirely, she fell numb.

She woke up laying on the ground. On the horizon the sun was rising already. Her body was in pain, though nothing looked or felt broken. She flexed her hands, and then her wings. To her surprise she suddenly felt not two but four wings move on her back. She yelped. What happened!? Slowly she moved the wings to wrap around her, so she could see them. With her hands she brushed against the second pair. It felt the same as her first pair. Though on her back they felt…lighter? Ever so slightly.

It was a strange feeling. One that was quickly interrupted by a loud grunt. A boar appeared from beyond the bushes. “Oh hey, mister boar. I’m sorry I’m probably in your territory. I’ll be going in a second, I just need to stretch real quick.” She said with a smile.

The boar didn’t seem to get the message. It grunted and scrapped its hoof across the ground.

Soleira realized she was in danger. She held out her hands. “No no no. I’m not here to harm you. I’m gone in a second, okay? Just calm down.” She said.

It didn’t calm down and then she realized why. Not too far from her she saw a piglet with one of its legs trapped in a snare. It was groinking with a very high pitch. Then she turned back to the boar. Which was probably a parent. “Oh no no. I’ll help you!” She said as she took a step closer to the snared piglet. Which began to trash with panic. The boar let out another grunt. “No, I’m going to help you!” She exclaimed again. Wishing she could talk to animals. She had to help the little piglet though. So she crept a little closer. Close enough to catch it.

That was enough for the boar. It charged head first at Soleira, who held out her arms as if she could even slow down the boar. Then she heard a hollow thump and opened her eyes. The boar was on its back. A strange, transparent but fractured layer of…something hung between her and boar. She lowered her arms again and the barrier vanished.

The boar was already getting up. Ready to go for a second charge. But it bought her time. She jumped for the piglet, which was now squealing under her as it believed it would get killed any second now. The little thing was struggling underneath her, while she was struggling to release it from the snare.

Eventually she got it free, rolled over and lifted the piglet. It was squealing above her but it did stop the boar from charging. Slowly she then got up to sit on her knees. For a moment she looked the piglet all over. Making sure there were no wounds or anything on its little body. When she was sure it was healthy she put it back down.

“See?” She said, half her face coated in multi-colored mud but with a bright smile on her face. “All good.” The piglet ran past the boar for safety of the vibrant shrubbery. The boar slowly walked backwards, making space. It kept grunting, as to make sure Soleira wouldn’t try anything. Then, when there was enough space, it turned around and ran into the bushes as well.

With the boar gone, Soleira got up herself and began to brush the dirt off of her. Her wings felt dirty as well. Even after a few flaps. Something rustled in the bushes again. She looked up, expecting the boar to be back. Well, she could fly away immediately so it wouldn’t be a problem.

Except out of the bushes the wingless things came. They held sharp sticks pointed at her and began to yell in some gibberish at her. One, the biggest one, came closer and yelled even more. Pointing with his stick at her and then down on the ground.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand you.” Soleira said, as she held out her hands again. Hoping everyone would calm down. She slowly walked backwards. Until she hit a tree with the wingtips. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why you’re so angry. I can’t understand you.” She pointed at her own ears and then shook her head. They didn’t seem to get the message. The wingless things just upped their intensity with the stick-pointing and yelling.

They were getting too close now. “I’m Sorry! I don’t understand but please don’t get any closer! You’re scaring me!” She said as her eyes began to water. “Please just-just not here. Just let me go!” Out of instinct she jumped up, hoping to be able to fly high up and away from them. Right as she shot up and was about to beat with her wings to go higher, she heard a sharp thump next to her. A spear had lodged itself next to her, missing her by an inch.

Instead of beating upwards, all four of her wings beat forward. Sending her flying into a tree. Before her, the others were flying further. A strong gust of wind knocked them all back.

When Soleira got up, the wingless things before her were all on the ground. One, notable, was squirming heavily. His shoulder didn’t look right. The others flocked around him.

“Oh no.” Soleira said, as she observed what she did. Even though she had no idea how she had done it. All she knew was that she could help. She took a step forward. Some of the wingless things got up as well, pointing their sharp sticks at her. “I help.” She said. As she channeled her healing powers through her hands. Soft light shone from her palms. They looked at each other, and then began to slowly back away. Letting Soleira closer to the wounded one.

As she knelt beside him, there were four spears pointing close at her back. So close that if she suddenly moved backwards, she’d be impaled. Her heart was racing. Tears ran down her cheeks. But she tried to keep it together as she held her hands over the wound. The man squirmed a little bit more and then seemed to relax on the ground. Slowly Soleira lifted her hands again and let the light from them dim. The wingless things behind her let her move away, before they turned to see their friend. His shoulder was healed again. They turned back to Soleira, gave her a small nod and then lowered her spears.

The second the butts of their sharp sticks hit the ground, Soleira was up in the air. Getting away from it all.


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