Fantasy Chivalry: Academy for Future Knights

[Nozzivix]

The dragon closed the trunk, hiding the painting from the world. "Glacier... You're early." He rose slowly, his legs wobbly. He knew his skin looked pallid, and his mind felt slightly scattered. "I take it you've been enjoying the Little Soul's hospitality?"

 

[Killigrew]

Nozz's words fell behind his face. Mahl'Iss stared in surprise at his pallid, woozy countenance. His shaking hands and unsteady stance furrowed her brow in worry despite herself.


She had come to reason him into leaving, but now she approached him in concern.


"Wildfire, what has happened? You are unwell..."

 

[Nozzivix]

"I'm fine. I just... Needed to visit with family. I just wasn't prepared for this body's weakness." He waved away her concerns. "I had something I wanted to show you, but I think it might have to wa-"





He was cut off as the bile rose in his throat. The Dragon turned away from his trunk, and vomited up what may as well have been molten rock, melting the flagstones where it fell.


Then his legs gave out.

 

[Taqhart]

Rowan looked back to Mal as she said her farewells to the younger dragon, who was siting in the grass. Rowan gave Mal a quick bow and watched her start circling the field. Rowan turned and looked at the Airesh priest who was still watching him and Mal. Rowan started marching towards the skinny man, his eye locked onto the priest of Airesh who spied him.


The priest noticed Rowan glaring at him as he advanced. The priest smirked, giving Rowan a glare dripping with the poison of a new enemy. The priest in green lifted his nose again and slowly turned around; with a single step the priest was covered by the protection of the temple and out of Rowan's sight. For the first time the young priest in training noticed the temple can be used by both the good and evil.


Small raindrops had started to fall from the clouds. Rowan stopped walking and glanced upwards to the grey weeping sky. Many of the knights started to rush back inside to avoid the coming rain, a few determined students stayed in the fields not letting the rain get in the way of their training. Rowan looked back at the temple and thought about going after the Airesh priest, but under this new light of forgiveness he decided to let him run and hide like a rat.


Rowan stood under the sky and felt the cold moist air chill his robe, another reminder of Eesna and master Gaol. Rowan wondered where his master was, probably praying inside the temple. The acolyte continued his walk towards the holy building with a completely different purpose.


Rowan rushed through the main area, as he headed for the stairs down to the chambers of Eesna. A few of the green robed priests whispered as he walked by. Rowan thought he heard quiet voices mutter toxic words like dragon lover, devil worshiper, demon courter and worse of all traitor. Rowan stopped before the stairs and looked at the priests, he understood how the dragons felt at that moment. The many of the priests looked away cowardly as Rowan scanned the room, if he saw the pointy nosed one he would have confronted him, but he was nowhere to be seen.


The underground chambers were cold as always. The priests of Eesna greeted him as he walked through the area looking for his master. Gaol was nowhere to be found, Rowan even asked a few of the other master shaman. Defeated and sure that he would see his master tomorrow Rowan decided to pray. The acolyte found the silver circlet and and lit one of the candles beside the alter.


Rowan knelt before the relic and prayed for strength from his God. A moment passed and Rowan remembered to pray something else; the illumination of his brothers and sisters. The priest knew Eesna, and if they did not change their ways, a harsh judgement will be upon them.

 

[Killigrew]

"Wildfire!"


As he fell, she caught him, a dead lump against her, and far more weighty than she could have imagined. Her knees bent at the impact, but with a grunt, and practically falling over, she found she could not only support, but drag his body.


He showed no signs of waking, so drag she did, half-falling down the precarious winding stairs, pushing back up against Nozz's prone form, bearing his weight even in her weakness as she moved.


The prospect of a transformation, even partial (though she knew she had no such control over the movement between forms), was tantalizing. Even so, she shoved it down deep in her heart, and kept on. At the end of the descent, she fell forward onto the stone ground, panting, straw beds before her awaiting her coming.


She lowered Noz'Onn down on the closest, the hay sighing as his head sank in to the cushion-y surface, and Mal caught her breath, staring down at him.


His face was more tranquil than she had ever seen it. There was an innocence in it, one that had been long hindered by his rebellious and calculating expressions and actions.


Mal sighed, moving his hair from his face and testing the heat of his forehead.


The fire still burned.


Whatever had happened, he would live. Mahl'Iss found solace in this. Despite her misgivings in his character, she knew it would be a loss to dragon-kind if this bright light burned out so soon.


===============================================================


===============================================================





At this time....





A good portion of servants have begun moving throughout the Academy, bearing a message to every priest and acolyte to meet in the Grand Temple a half hour before supper time. When the third bell rings, they must all be present, for the doors will close, and none more will be allowed entrance. This order comes from the Abbas herself. Obedience is mandatory.

 

[Nozzivix]

Nozz awoke with a pounding headache on the disgusting hay bedding. He noted that someone had brought in his sword and trunk and left it in the corner, for which he was thankful.


I really need to be in my proper form before I try that again. Dosages with humans are a pain in my arse.

 

[Killigrew]

The second bell tolls. Supper shall begin in thirty minutes.

 

[Taqhart]

Rowan was pulled out of his deep concentration by a tap on the shoulder. One of the other priests of Eesna stood over him with a warm smile. Rowan Recognized him as Brun, a man with a mane of grey hair and a full beard. Brun was the biggest of the priests in blue, but also the nicest.


"Rowan, sorry to break you from prayer." Brun said, his tone was polite under his deep and raspy voice. "the Abbas has called all priests to the main chamber of the grande chamber, many of us are walking up now to join our brothers." with a nod Rowan stood up and followed Brun up the stairs.


Many men in robes fell into line walking up the stone stairs up into the main chamber. When Rowan walked into the light filled temple area he was swimming in a sea of priests and acolytes. The priests were greeting and smiling to each other as they ordered themselves in the same customary way they had done a thousand times. Just like for praise, masters stood up front, then priests and finally acolytes in the back. Rowan recognized many of them from his and their comings and goings. Rowan also saw the pointy noised Airesh priest in the patch of light green men moving into position.


The acolyte scanned the room looking for his master. Finally Rowan spotted Gaol enter through the main doors of the temple, his face stern and grim once again. Master and apprentice met each other's gaze for a short moment before Gaol started to walk to the front of the temple, to join those of the same rank. Gaol walked by Rowan and gave him a wary smile as they past each other. What could this meeting be about? Rowan thought to himself.


Once at his position among the other acolytes of Eesna, at the very back of the temple. Rowan looked ahead at the raised stage and podium, waiting curiously for the Abbas to enter.

 

[JessicaAlbert13]

Naralyn rubbed the back of her neck. She was still sore from her bout in the training field. The young woman had spent five hours practicing shield blocks. With a practice sword in her dominant hand and a shield held in her left she had gone through several drills. She had taken several whacks to her left side, but she had left her instructor with some bruises of his own. Her offense was acceptable. Her defense had holes.


Dinner time was approaching and Naralyn was heading towards the dining hall. She had been at the Academy for only a few weeks and had spent most of her time in the Lionhart training arena, even eating most meals there. She had only conversed with a few teachers and fellow fledglings. There was a boy, only fourteen, she had grown fond of and often spent her time practicing with him.


"I should get to know some more people," she thought. She loosened her black hair from the bun on her head. Her hair fell across her face, hiding the gruesome scar where her left ear had been. Naralyn had lost her left ear when she was only ten. It was a story she wasn't keen on sharing.


Naralyn anxiously rubbed her hands together. The aroma of the dinner hall was making her stomach growl. Time to eat!

 

[Killigrew]

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The pews of the Grand temple were sprinkled with the faithful. Every ranking member that worshipped the three gods had taken their seats with a silence that told of trepidation and interest. The roar against the windows, the fierce wind that foretold the coming storm, was more than enough to set the entire group on edge. There was no mistaking this sign from the Goddess.


It was a confirmation to many, and a contradiction to others.


The Abbas came forward from her office, walking at a slow steady pace as two servants hastened ahead of her with her ceremonial cloth in hand, held above their bowed heads. Each step to the top of the altar was slow and purposeful, her head was high with dignity, and she only stared straight ahead, betraying no shiftiness in her movements. Reaching the altar, she turned towards the crowd, arms outstretched as the cloth was laid over her open shoulders, shining as a symbol of holiness as a soft, caressing breeze blew through the room.


Cassia Orfus stood in power before them.


She smiled.


"My fellow Faithful," The Abbas began. "Welcome."


"I do not think any need wonder why they have been called here at such an abnormal time, pulled from prayer and worship to meet as fallible humans before the eyes of the gods."


"You know that we meet because, though these shells be fallible, our mission is infallible, and our loyalty to our gods perfected as we seek them. We know the Books, we know the writings, and yet our voice has been silenced and disregarded by the men and the children of this time."


"But why has it been thrown aside to be trampled underfoot? When these words are widely claimed as the most precious, most valuable things in this world? More valuable than gold, which rust and time destroy. These words are eternal, and gift us with eternity. So why are they rejected?"


"We know why. It is written in the Book of Airesh. The devils come and cast a cloud of delusion, testing the faithful, and those that are found wanting are devoured, and pulled down to the lower Black."


"So what are we to do? We, who know the truth?"


Her voice boomed out, cutting above the silence.


"What are we to do?"

 

[Nozzivix]

Nozz pulled himself up off of the smelly hay as a voice was heard booming from the floors below. "Glacier. What in Yl's Grace are those stupid Little Souls doing down there?" He rubbed his temples. "Ah... Damn this hurts."

 

[Killigrew]

The ice dragon watched Noz'Onn carefully as he moved. She considered telling him to rest, to lay back, but the voices booming from below concerned her as well.


"I do not know." Mahl'Iss answered honestly. "But I think we should leave. Should we be seen while they hold their ceremony, I doubt it will end in our favor."


"Besides.. I believe that bell was the last before our presence is required in their eating area. Though here, we take a risk, there, we will be missed."





Mal went for the window, swinging one leg over it and staring at the ground, that seemed so far below. She looked back at Nozz, seeking affirmation. "Can you manage the jump?"

 

[JellyFish]

Cordelia was jolted from her sleep with a start at the strain of the bell clanging. It echoed brutally, causing her to place her hands over her ears to block out the noise. She had fallen asleep on the dirty ground, her head leaning to the side. Dried tears stained her cheeks and her hair was ruffled in a wild craze, stands tangled and stinking in the most queer of ways. She rubbed her cheeks, now seeing that she was freezing. Her fingers were icles on her skin, causing her to shudder at the sensation. Blowing out a breath, she rubbed her arms in attempt to warm herself.


She stood, leaning against the stone wall to keep her steady. Dust covered her pants, the black garment now colored in gray. “Disgusting..” She had the need to brush off the offending particles, but she knew she was too tired to even bother. Instead she searched for the door to her room. Sadly, she was just going to every place other than her room. In no time, she was surrounded by the carnious shadows of an seemingly cursed hallway. Her caramel colored eyes, scanning her newest quest for answers. She wasn’t lost here before.


“Strange. Anyone here?” She shouted, her voice bouncing off the murkiness before her. Straining to see, her golden orbs stung. But more particularly her right eye. The white curved slash went straight her pupil. She would find it better to hide her face behind her hair in public events. Not so many people would gasp and mutter prayers when they saw the discolored half. Gray and lifeless, with dim tints of golden flecks. Her uncle use to tell her, it made her unique and special. But negative attention usually turns one’s idea of something beautiful to ugly very quickly.


She covered the right side of her face, her left focusing. She then saw that the passageway was not as dark as she thought.Windows were placed, the sunset sky teaching it’s ablazed light to dance through the darkened corners and spaces. She thought for a moment it was a charming sight. But Cordelia knew that she needed to get back to familiar ground.


“Okay. So just walk around a bit until you find a stairway. Simple plan, that will obviously work.”


So onward she went, curiously looking for a way to ..well, somewhere.

 

[Nozzivix]

The dragon felt like vomiting again, but he held it down. He cast one last look back to his equipment and shouldered it on. "Depends, can you keep watch? Warn me if any Little Souls look up? That window doesn't face anything important, but you can never be too careful."

 

[Killigrew]

Mal nodded and popped her head out the open window, gazing around the darkened field and seeing no one.


"It's clear." She confirmed, glancing back. "I'll await you below." She planned to catch him, too. It didn't seem like he was in any condition for a hard fall.


The ice-haired woman slipped out her other leg, her abdomen scraping against the stone as her hands, and the strength of her arms, lowered her closer. Then she let go, wind overcoming her senses as her heart jumped to her throat.


The ground impacted suddenly, and harshly, the bed of grass feeling like a mass of rock. Lighting up her body was a mix of dull and sharp sensations, particularly in the ankles. Mal swallowed the pain with a blink, and moved, unsteady, to her feet. She stared straight above, awaiting a glimpse of red for her to catch.

 

[King Of Imagination]

Aristaeus smiled sadly. "I do not mean to be brave, but I cannot miss training. The wound looks far more severe than it really is, I promise you. I will be walking fine in the morning." He watched as the medic wrapped his foot up with cloth to soak up any excess blood and keep it from moving too much overnight, or dislodging the stitches. He looked at Lureana, an idea forming.


"How about you come practice your archery with me tomorrow. I could help you learn to not shoot handsome young men in the foot," he remarked, inwardly eager for a reply. He found this girl intriguing, though, in a similar way one might watch a housepet play with it's toys. Underneath, he had a other things that drew him, but on the surface that was what he felt.

 

[Nozzivix]

The Dragon took in a deep breath. His arms were heavy, and his knees weak, but he'd done what he was about to do hundreds of times. There was no reason for it not to work now. Shifting his trunk lower on his back, he took a running (well, a stumbling) leap out of the window, clearing his mind, and forcing two 6ft wings to sprout from his shoulderblades. Using hot air currents of his own creation, he slowly guided his way down to Mal, retracting the wings and trying his damnedest not to fall over as he hit the ground.


"Where now?" He asked.

 

[JessicaAlbert13]

Naralyn was ravenous. She loaded her plate with four slices of salted pork and generously lathered it in gravy. A pipping, fresh loaf of bread and a shiny red apple were added to the side. Balancing her full plate with one hand she quickly snatched a slice of peach pie.


The dining hall was rather empty. Only a few students and servants were taking their meals. Naralyn remembered that there had been some sort of important meeting in the temple.


The dark-skinned teenager did not feel comfortable in temples. Perhaps it was her gypsy blood. Sometimes priests looked at her with disdain. Naralyn had no homeland, no people, no family. She only had Lady Marie Chardonnay, the Lionhart noblewoman who had pushed for her acceptance into the Academy.


A servant girl training to be a knight? Preposterous! But Naralyn had been training with a sword since she was thirteen. Lady Chardonnay saw Naralyn's potential and watching the girl trained entertained the widowed, lonely noblewoman. When bandits had raided the Chardonnay estate it had been Naralyn's heroic efforts that slayed the bandit leader and saved Lady Chardonnay's life and those of her household.


In the Academy, Naralyn studied history and religious doctrines, but she had no faith. She could recite prayers and stories, but she did not believe the gods existed. Religion was simply a way for scared, foolish people to name the things that went bump in the night. Naralyn had seen the evils of the world and they all wore faces that were all too human.


Taking a seat at an empty table, Naralyn sighed to herself. Her first time in the dining hall and the place was nearly empty. She had hoped to meet a dragon. She had never met one before and her reason for coming to the dinning hall was to see one in the flesh.

 

[Killigrew]

Mal's face turned sour when she saw him transform partially, but she stayed her tongue. She could see the reason, or at least Noz'Onn's justification, in it, careless and foolish though it remained to be.


"I believe we were asked to the dining hall before the bell's third toll." Mahl'Iss replied. "But before that... no, as we walk, I have some words for you."





As they walked, Mal reiterated to Noz'Onn what the half-mad priest Lifrus Orfus had said to her, that the humans were testing the Dragons, and that if, by the end of the first Tournament, Dragons proved themselves well enough, there would be a home for them amongst at least one of the Orders. But should they fail... it seemed what would follow would be disastrous.


"I do not know what you think of this." She said, finishing the iteration. "But I hope it instills a fearful resolution in you, as it has with me. I want us to be united, as one, in this mission. And if we cannot be... one of us must leave."

 

[JessicaAlbert13]

A kitchen maid approached Naralyn and spoke hesitantly, "Um, excuse me?"


"Hmm?" Naralyn's head shot up, her mouth stuffed with pie. The maid was a small, skinny girl, probably in her early teens. Naralyn swallowed her food and smiled at the young girl. "Yes, what can I do for you?" Naralyn asked pleasantly, wiping crumbs from her mouth.


"Um, dinner doesn't start until a few minutes, ma'am. You're early. Only servants are eating now," informed the maid.


"So that's it!" shouted Naralyn. She smiled, embarrassed at her poor sense of time. "I was wonderin' why the place looked so empty." She looked at her plates of food. "I can still keep my food though, right?"


"Y-yes," answered the maid. She eyed Naralyn suspiciously. "You missed temple time."


"Ah, temple time didn't miss me, no worries," said Naralyn nonchalantly. The maid backed away from the young woman and returned to the kitchen. The kitchen crew shook their heads at the strange dark-skinned girl clad in leather armor completely oblivious to the Academy's scheduled worship hours.

 

[JellyFish]

As she stepped further down the passageway, she saw that the blocks of stones were looking older and ancient with the pressure of water that trickled in from rain storms and other stones that eroded away the granite as they fell from place. She watched in amazement, taking her protective hand away from her eye. She placed it against the wintery surface, the small bumps and sharp sides scratching against her soft palm. But as she moved down the hall, the wall became smooth. She furrowed her brows in befuddlement, wondering why it felt as if something was inscribed..?


She glanced to what supported her and gasped in shock. Pictures! Words, of a langage she couldn’t understand! But if anyone could have seen the smirk that drew itself on her lips, you would know she had a new idea. Inscribed and painted, she followed the masterpiece. Green, rolling hills, smoky mists that snuck through towering forests, and ...dragons? Scowling, she memorized the picture. Beasts of all colors and sizes, flew through the skies or walked the land. Cordelia searched for a reason as to why, there were barely any people in the drawing. Well, more or less why there weren’t any people for the matter.


“Why the hell is this here?”


Looking to one of the dragon she glared at the lifeless picture, frozen for all eternity to stare aimlessly into space. But Cordelia could have sworn she saw the beast blink…


She rubbed her eye, mumbling curses of her delusions. But a pained hiss filled the darkness. She could feel the coolness of her gem burn into her chest. She fell forward, grasping the metal away from her though her satin shirt. The skin still burned, alite in a nameless fire. She groaned, unbuttoning the cloth. It was was a bothersome contraption, whose golden clasp button refused to open. She struggled, her hands fumbling but finally she had the shirt rolled past her shoulders and slipping along her arms.


She placed her hand on where her necklace had burned her. She flinched when the flamed fire of pain race through her hands and nerves. Brushing her hand over her chest, she squinted to see a pale mark. Panic began to build and she didn’t understand what was happening. Cordelia closed her shirt, wrapping her arms around her waist.


What’s happening? This isn’t normal, this --


She heard the third bell ring. Eyes wide, she ran blindly through the hall stumbling out of the dark halls into a huge clearing. A meadow more or less, surrounded in a mass of trees. She groaned. “Perfect. Not only am I late, I also have to run.” She paused, turning to where she had just came from.


A hollow cave that was in the forest and it led into the academy.


This can be useful later. I’ll have to come back here again soon.


Without a second thought, she took off. Her silvery blonde hair flipping through the wind. She tore down through the rustling leaves and singing droplets of water that flowed from plants.


Drip. Drip. Drip.


She panted, a smile gracing her expressions. She loved this feeling. Running madly as if not a single person in the world existed. But while she was not paying attention, she tumbled down a grassy hill. Rolling and rolling, down she laughed hysterically. A insane race to not get into trouble on her first day here and there she was, grass and twigs entangled in her hair. Dirt was splotched onto her clothing, but thankfully she was wearing completely black. Excluding the brown boots.


She pushed herself up, giggling softly. Blowing some hair from her face, she jogged her way back to a ridden down path. She could see the academy standing tall and proud in the distance. She was so close… Her jog quickened just wanting to find someone who could help her around. As the building came into complete view, she broke out into a run again.


In the process of running, she nearly ran into two students who were minding their own business not expecting a wild forest sprite to attack them.


Thankfully, she was quick enough to dodge the accident that stood in her way. She glanced over her shoulder, ready to call out her apologies. But she found speaking impossibly. The students had such weird coloring, it was amusing to a point that she wanted to run back to them and pull on their hair just to see if it was real.


But she caught herself.


“Sorry about that!”


She dove into the entrance, heading down to the temples. Or..to where the smell of food was coming from. It didn’t matter at that point. Cordelia could only think that she just almost ran over…dragons.

 

[Nozzivix]

"Huh? So that's it." He replied, his strength, and his wit, slowly returning. "Assimilate or die. They see us as no more than a nuisance then, beasts to be tamed, or killed. Listen to me Glacier, I will play their game, but if they seek to put a saddle on me like some kind of crude stallion, not a single home will remain unburned in Gallace. I've said it before, I bear no ill will to the Little Souls, but I've seen this before, on the borders of the Griffon Kingdom. It did not end well. I... Lost someone, someone close to me. And I won't let it happen again. I won't let my family be slaves to the hubris of creatures tampering with powers they can't even control properly."

 

[Killigrew]

Mahl'Iss could only nod distantly at what Nozz said. She could not agree with his pride, but she could excuse it. He had not lived in the Death Lands as she had. He did not see how this was an opportunity for salvation, that all of dragonkind could be saved by the work of three mere dragons. More than a chance, Mal knew that all the wrong she had done would be wiped clean if she could manage this.


"But it's still peace, Wildfire. Our species is dying. If we prove our worth now, and show them what we're capable of, then we will have peace and safety. But if we turn upon them, and prove treacherous in their eyes, only death and slavery remain."


"So we must be more than perfect." She hoped he understood what she meant. Were Noz'Onn to continue to transform with such recklessness, whatever his reasons, whoever he'd seen die, Mal would have to stand against him. If he would not listen to her.... Mal clenched her fist tight, feeling the fingers dig deep.


I will sever his soul.


A wind heralded the coming, and a human girl twisted past them, just skimming the surface of her skin. Mal saw the surprise in the silver-haired girl's eyes as she apologized, and kept on running.


"Strange colors for a human." Mal mused, glancing at Noz'Onn.


They neared the Academy's entrance. It would be a short walk to the Dining Hall from there. Mal slowed to allow Nozz to tarry on ahead. She would be more comfortable in his shadow when humans surrounded them.


"Can we trust each other?" She asked before they walked through the arching, open doorway.

 

[Nozzivix]

"I don't know, Glacier. I know life in the Dead Lands was terrible, have you ever ventured out into the wide world? Beyond the Griffon Mountains? Into the lands of our ancient rivals? There are humans there too, and they know their place. They live in peace with the Griffon Council, they know not to mess with powers beyond them. But here?" He found himself laughing. He wasn't sure if he was hysterical, or if the venom still in his blood was affecting his mind. "Slowly dying in the desert is preferable than life as a slave. Listen to yourself. 'We must be more than perfect'. 'prove our worth'. Do you forget who created the humans? My soul will return to the ancestors, before I see everyone I love bound in chains. The Eldest, the wisest dragon of ANY generation, made into a simple pet for the humans that see themselves gods. Zo'Rath, the greatest warrior of the last generation, made a battle mount for a clumsy human knight. That's not survival. That's death. There are a few humans with honour here, and I respect them all the more for retaining what their elders have lost, but It is us OR them. If you want, I can SHOW you what humanity is like. I can show you in one night what it took me decades to learn. All it takes is knowing where to look."

 

[Killigrew]

"You fool. Life is more than pride." Mal said coldly. She felt the air around her freezing again as a fury claimed her. It seemed Noz'Onn was content to throw the entirety of dragonkind into Yl rather than bend his knee. It was foolishness; he understood nothing.


Mal hissed out slowly, the sound ending with a low growl that vibrated up her throat. Without another word she stormed into the Academy, not sparing a backward glance.


The Elder was mistaken in sending Noz'Onn.


Mal would end this.