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A Hero Tale: Interest Check

@Iatos Have you any ideas you'd like to share regarding the premise? Or a character concept, just yet?

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

~ Chapter 1 ~

_{Behind Broken Walls, From Whence Magic Writhes}

Ceremonies. Lillian hated Ceremonies. This entire process was a joke, and served only to cover up the world's disrepair.

From the ripped banners lazily hanging along fortress walls, to the statuettes lining the queen's halls. It was all scavenged from a culture that died with its creators long ago, shortly after the Ultimate Tear swept across the world and threw it into chaos. But without it, could there be order? Who knew. Maybe the veil was necessary, but it wasn't fooling Lillian one bit.

Lillian sighed and looked up through a staggering hole in the roof, towards the darkened sky. Today she would be fitted with the knight's crest, and granted status that held more weight than the magical energies that she commanded. A knight's true title. It felt forced. No matter how much effort the Queen's knights put into refurbishing their archaic castle, it still felt like a relic. A trophy stolen from its rightful owner. Cracks and cobwebs littered every corner of the main hall, and the crude nature of the environment, clearly visible through what was left of the northern wall, made the castle feel less like a stronghold, and more like a dinner plate for the monsters that lurked on the village borders. Lillian blinked and scanned the patch of sky anxiously as the Queen looked down at her from above, hoisted by a throne, just as unkempt as the castle it sat within.

Lillian kept her eyes fixated on the sky above despite the heavy glares from her peers, and the Queen herself. The crimson gash above her was no comfort though. It never was. She always looked up to the Tear when she was worried, desperately seeking some reassurance that might've been hidden within its gaping maw. But it was apathetic. Unfeeling. Just like the monsters it spawned, the Ultimate Tear knew nothing of compassion, and seemed to seek only destruction as it flooded their world chaotic energy.

"Lillian," The Queen said sternly, raising her voice to something just below a shout, "Lillian look at me, dear" Lillian looked to her peers in a last ditch effort to muster some level of confidence from their glares, but few moved from their restrictive posture. Lucas Stood firm within his silvered armor, like a construct of magic. A golem, just as the knights addressed her, Ser Lucas, the golem of Kale. "Lillian..." Henry stood like a scarecrow, clutching his spear, almost comically. He was just as nervous as she was, but for different reasons. And then there was Mikhael. The Queens little pet. Lillian always despised that little orphan boy. Most of the knights were orphaned, and torn from a life of cruelty. They were easy to shape into soldiers that followed orders without a second thought. But he was the worst. Not even a full knight, and yet- "Lillian!"

"Yes, My Queen!" Lillian blurted, straightening her posture and gripping placing her open hands on her stomach. The traditional salute, to signify honor. Or obedience, depending on who you asked. "I apologize!" Her voice was strong, but soft. A maiden of battle, unlike any other. The olive-skinned girl stood out like a sore thumb among the lighter-skinned Knights that surrounded her, not only because of her racial traits, but because she was a woman. Albeit a woman with a muscular, toned figure, a woman nonetheless. The Queen sighed and nodded.

"It's quite alright." The Queen immediately cleared her throat and began reciting the Knight's oath, word for word. Lillian ignored her and periodically glanced up at the sky. As the Queen warbled on, she made little effort to keep her attention fixated. But once she heard the phrase '..away from corruption..' her mind snapped back into place and she nodded.

"Yes, my Queen!" Lillian blurted. The Queen nodded, and one of her two guardian knights stepped forward to present Lillian with a small crest, pinning it near the top of his ragged, dark green shirt. The pin pressed into her modest bosom for a split second, but she only reacted with a subtle wince. "That's fine, Richard," Lillian whispered to the massive light skinned knight that approached her. He finished fitting her with her crest, and backed away. She smiled proudly. Her thin lips curved upwards in a farce, not easily seen through by most. She bowed before the Queen, and rejoined Mikhael, Lucas, and Henry, only to direct her attention back to the sky the moment she had a chance. Her short auburn hair was barely enough to cover the blank expression painted across her face. She stood taller than most, but even so, her presence was underwhelming.

"Congratulations," Lucas whispered with his usual, raspy tone, "Knighthood at 17. It's quite the achievement."

"Thanks," Lillian gasped, shifting her weight and fiddling with the crest that bounced on her chest. Lucas grunted in agreement and nudged Henry. Henry turned to Mikhael and nodded in agreement. The Queen called forward another man by the name of Theodore, and within moments, a short, dark-skinned boy stepped out of the group to Mikhael's right. Lucas breathed heavily. Today there were to be several knighting ceremonies, but even now, at the Age of 23, Lucas was unsure that his skills would be acknowledged. Henry nudged Lucas and shot a smile in the direction of the man's pointed-face plate. Lucas didn't turn to accept it. His eyes were locked onto Theodore. yet another kid that reached knighthood before him.

"I know him," Lucas whispered to Henry and Mikhael, "He's 20."

Henry looked to Mikhael with a defeated expression and rolled his eyes. "Yup, he's 20," he sighed.

A Hero Tale: Mikhael

~ Chapter Log ~

Prologue
Chapter 1 - Behind Broken Walls, From Whence Magic Writhes
Chapter 2 - A Masked Challenger
Chapter 3 - Historical Lies, The Price Of A Limb
Chapter 4 - A Crass Caravan

Crimson Woods Arc
Chapter 5 - Velvet Horizon
Chapter 6 - Leaves Bathed In Blood
Chapter 7 - Critters
Chapter 8 - Demonization, Repeated Issues

A Hero Tale {Complete}

As Jenso came down to smash Pharie's core, a sudden burst of extreme winds pushed him away. It felt too powerful to be true, but it wasn't just a cold burst of energy. This was sheer wind. Suddenly, a tornado-like figured dropped from a dark alcove in the ceiling and landed near Pharie. Another figure, made entirely of flames, dropped to her opposite side and reached into his body with one of his hands. The wind spirit did the same, and simultaneously, they pulled out their cores and smashed them into Pharie's ice body, fading an instant later.

Wings Askew

Gaius Stronurr

_{The Forest Floor}

Gaius was taken aback by the sudden onslaught of questions. Blin had always been like that, Gaius had grown used to it, but down here on the forest floor? No, nothing was the same. Not even Gaius' relentless patience could brave this series of events. "Oi, oi! One question at a time, lad!" Gaius paused and looked around, conveniently shoving the existence of the dream wisps aside. He wasn't particularly interested in addressing any of the shenanigans that occurred on the forest floor. Hell, he wasn't even sure that any of this was real yet! "I uh.. May have misjudged the capabilities of the Gaius Glider just a wee bit," Gaius said softly, trying to pull as little attention as he could towards his blunder, "Lee an' I ended up crashing- But thanks to my quick footing, we didn't end up in pieces! Can't say the same for the ole' glider, though.. Rahna was with us and... Rahna!" Gaius' neck flicked up and his entire body emitted a loud clink as he searched the forest behind him for any traces of the girl. But she was gone. "Blast it all! Rahna is missing, and Lee.. Well, to be perfectly honest, aye... I'm not too clear on anything right now! One minute I'm writhin' on the ground like a fish outta water with a spike in my lung, the next, there's a wee dragon creature givin' me the courage of a god!" Gaius motioned his arms about as he spoke, but froze up when his little familiar began digging into his head with its little talons. Gaius glared at Kal and shuddered at the though of naming his little dragon friend.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Jenso weaved past the icicles, but there was really no need. The flames surrounding him melted Pharie's projectiles before they could even reach him, and made walking across the ice more of a jog through a series of shallow puddles. As he neared his target, his fist struck true and knocked the Ice elemental off her balance. She crashed down towards the ground and landed on her chest. She seemed weak, almost like her energy was dedicated elsewhere. It was strange. The seemingly legendary elementals were falling one after another. Even though Orobo got the better of Jenso for a split moment, he didn't seem to abuse the full extent of what an elemental might be capable of. And now Pharie?

A Hero Tale: Interest Check

@RyuShura I can certainly work with this, yea. I like 'im. I'll create a thread and Tag you once it's all in order.

@Iatos I'm open to steampunk, just be aware that despite the setting, magic will always play a role in the story.

@Quinntessential I shall respond to you once I get a chance via pm!

A Hero Tale: Interest Check

@RyuShura Looking forward to it.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

~ Chapter 43 ~

_{The Ice Elemental, Pharie Of The Frost}

The entire floor was covered in thick ice that continued to climb Jenso's legs. Pharie aimed her rigid hands at Jenso and launched several shards at him from afar. She stood rather tall, almost as tall as the massive ice golem back in Pharie's village, but she was slender and jagged, and icy energy whipped around her body like little tornadoes.

A Hero Tale {Complete}

Jenso's feet were suddenly stuck in the ground, halting him. Looking down, he might notice a sheet of ice covering the entire room's floor. Tiger began to dash forward, but the doors slammed shut in front him and Dacer, trapping them out of the room. Dacer's voice echoed quietly...

"I can't open it? what the hell!!"

Pharie turned towards Jenso and glared at him through a pair of hollow eyes.

---

~ End Of Chapter 42 ~