Fantasy Lightbringer: Embers of Finality

[Arkangel]

Embers of Finality

"Live well, and don't forget our promise... You'll do just fine. I know of it."

The war ended 20 years ago. The last blood was spilled on these very grounds, on the 12th of March when the bells of peace rang throughout the known world. Most people merely took this as downtime for another conflict in the decades to come. For war had painted the history books red since the days of the Age of Ascension, the signed peace treaty between the three great powers was once believed to have been a facade meant to restock gear. After all, there was no reason to stop. Each race believed that the other must be obliterated for their survival.

No soul twenty years ago would have predicted that the treaty would bring forth an age of understanding between countries. All thanks to a man named Khaerul, the legendary figure known as the Hero King, who formed the first alliance between the Solterians and Drakenbloods to defeat the Imperialist Faction - the key group behind the Grand War’s instigation. He believed that no man sharing the same ancestry should fight one another, and through his countless speeches and gallantry in the battle enlightened many to follow in his footsteps. No longer wanting future generations to die young in battles, the alliance helped facilitate the peace treaty to be signed. It was only after the peace treaty was signed did the Hero King continue his journey by establishing the first multi-cultural academy.

An academy called Flamith. Built and staffed by those who stood by his side since the days of the alliance, and funded by families who wished their children would not have to risk their lives fighting a meaningless war between brothers and sisters.

Today is March 12 of the year 1000, a historical milestone achieved under the Lachesis Calendar. The world has moderately healed, and traveling between nations was opened this year on the first of January. Two months had passed since the celebration, and Flamith was now on the world stage. The news guilds had flooded the cities with papers about the academy’s grand opening. Proud parents of accepted students celebrated their child’s admittance. The nations of the respective students honored their young minds with a certificate to congratulate them for assisting with the peace efforts. And some violently protested against the academy’s foundation, especially those who had lost a loved one in the previous war.

But regardless of the duality present in the world, and countless mouths berating the students for attempting to befriend those of the same race that had slaughtered thousands in the past, Flamith Academy had opened its gates on this fateful day, welcoming everyone.

After hours of traveling through the desolate mountains via the newly manufactured locomotives that were introduced to the world the month before, hundreds of students between the ages of 16 and 17 arrived at the academy grounds early in the morning, just a mile away from the front gates of Flamith. Shortly after the luggage were distributed and given to their appropriate owners, students began to make their way towards the road that connected the transit to the academy grounds.

There was only one sign that directed the students.

'Beware of the waterfall.'

A massive chasm of river sat just between the transit and the Academy, spanning miles that made the trip between the two places somewhat inconvenient. But none were displeased with the long walk. After all, everyone present was looking forward to this day since the time they had received their letter of admittance. Upon the realization that there were only two hours left until the orientation, students in proper uniform marched toward campus where the journey awaited.

November Witch Pilgrim59 Random Panda

End of Post

 

[November Witch]

Asphira Cyclone

~{Weaker Than First Thought}~​

Status: Stressed & Excited
Location: Road To Flamith
Mention(s): Arkangel Random Panda Pilgrim59

Gazing out over the earth, many feelings coalesced into a whirlpool within her. Some lapped at her mind like the gentle shores of a pond. But others crashed into her thoughts and being with the force of a roaring sea. Some excitement, apprehension, relief and fear. But most of all, Asphira felt stressed. She would be moving somewhere completely foreign to her. She would be away from her family, her friends, her culture. But uprooted and planted somewhere alien to her felt so isolating. Even as she rode atop the back of the winged beast familiar to her, with family members. The thought alone made her feel isolated, even in this moment. Perhaps Asphira had felt too highly of herself. When she’d first received her acceptance letter, she’d assumed living somewhere else wouldn’t be hard at all. But with the moment of truth fast approaching…

Her father sat in front of her, guiding the dragon down from their fortress in the heavens. Originally, she’d held him to keep herself steady. But now, she hugged him tighter and leaned into his back. She closed her eyes, resting her head against his back, and felt her mother’s comforting hand land on her back, rubbing her in a comforting way. She’d miss this. Asphira let out a sigh, trying to keep herself calm as the earth steadily approached.

__

She’d bid her family goodbye hours ago at a building she’d never seen before and entered a machine she’d never seen before. It had roared to life when it started to move, billowing smoke. It was almost like a metallic dragon. Though the sound became less relevant as she became used to the sound and was left to her own devices. She paid little attention to those on the train around her. Preoccupied with her worries, and mounting emotions. What would it be like when she arrived? What would her room be like? Would she share it? What would the classes be? Should she try to find friends in the first few weeks, or focus on her schoolwork and pleasing the teachers? Thoughts like these and more plagued her mind. Once tired of them, she’d return to the moment she’d waved her parents off and how her emotions had almost overtaken her then. But why? She’d never been sad or scared like this in the past. Was she really that much weaker than she thought?

Asphira would push the self-doubt away, knowing it would only make things worse. Her mind would wander to the questions again and begin yet another cycle of thought. This mental and emotional stress did nothing but tire her out, and for the last hour, she’d sleep lightly.

__

It was safe to say, that didn’t help anything. Not only was she embarrassed to be awoken by a student at their stop, but she’d almost forgotten one of her bags on the way off the train. For now, she strode along with a backpack containing her toiletries and school supplies, one duffel bag in her left hand containing all her clothes, and a second duffel bag in her right hand where her weapon poked out from. It contained all her combat things and the miscellaneous items she couldn’t fit anywhere else. Her mind and body were still groggy from her stress induced nap, and her left arm ached from falling asleep on it wrong. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant walk for this Drakenblood. Couldn’t they have used carriages to transport them from the train to the academy? Or, even better, couldn’t the dragon have dropped her off at the front of the academy?

Actually, maybe she’d enjoy it if she wasn’t so stressed and anxious about it all. Asphira wished she could be as happy or excited as those around her. Granted, she was a little giddy and excited for it. But the negative emotions outweighed those for now.

For the time being, the Drakenblood simply trudged forward, hands full. The weight of her items and the length of the walk were simply tedious. She could certainly handle the physical excretion, as that’s what most of her training had been comprised of up until this moment. But Asphira still seemed slightly annoyed and tired as she continued forward, almost dead last in the group…

 

[Pilgrim59]

Alias Sheridan
Location: Flamith Entrance
Interaction: November Witch
​

Hearth and home - concept most foreign to the young Solterian in his wake. The idle chatters of acquaintances about him brought life to the quiet breeze in March. His heavy steps carried him forward, burdened only by his simple attire. Dark robes of a weary traveller complemented his uniform, one that he refused to forsake as it brought him a certain sense of familiar comfort. At the same time, it was the instrument that robbed of him of his youth and perhaps the courtesy of the generally-accepted social cues. He had a slightly slanted look about him, from the years he had spent traversing old mines and chasms. Callouses were apparent on his fingertips, weathered by the toils of his crafts. Jaded blue eyes glowing with dormant determination that was well disguised behind his dark unkempt bangs. The only thing he carried with him was a rucksack that he had fashioned for himself not so long ago, laden with some parchments tied together by hemp and spent leather to make a notebook. Next to it, was some charcoal wrapped up in dried resin and linen. Far from an accomplished writer, it served him well for the last two years for written notes that was far too complex for his mental capacity to remember. Lastly, a waterskin that was his only keepsake of Armitage from a certain friend that he had made in the past.

Even now, it surprised him as to how fortunate he was to be admitted in a such a prestigious school - rumored to be commanded by the survivors of the last war. The same conflict that was the source of his blight. Yet, such was the common fate of those who resided on the borderlands. He had made his aspirations clear the moment he decided to follow through with his own admission - the end of all wars. As for how, only time would tell, for the instruments of his capabilities have yet to awaken from its dormant state.

The untapped forestry around him was teeming with wildlife, akin to that of a preservation not only for the ambiant kingdom of nature but that of the students' as well. He wondered if the implication was symbolic in itself when such an institution was erected by its heralded founder. An ironic sentiment crept up to him, as he found himself estranged from the confined environment despite his travels. Perhaps he had never familiarized himself with a place to take respite. Pondering upon the geopolitical atmosphere of those that had given purpose and life to such a grand institution, the young man was disinclined to take the opportunity for granted. After all, he himself had wielded a purpose that he sought to materialize in time.

Glancing past these thoughts, he found himself grinding to a halt in his steps, permitting those that were still arriving to catch up to the winding road beyond the chasm. Beyond the shrouded shrubs and constantly-flowing creek, there was a certain presence that catered to his mindful eyes. He felt as if he was being watched. While he could not make out their presence or intentions, he was sure of the assailant's colors. An amalgamation of amethyst and onyx, as far as he could tell. Yet, he did not feel the need to act - given the promises of the academy's security details. Some patrollers for the school, he reasoned before taking a sip from his waterskin.

Fleeting past him was a Drakenblood that was sapped of their strength long before the imminent orientation. Wary as he was of those around him, he knew better than to break the silence. But in this new environment, he needed information above all else - even the finer virtues of silent observation. Swallowing his own pride, he waited until they came to pass and finally lifted his hoarse voice, arming his remark with a southern Eurythian dialect.

"You'll find yourself a salted fish when the instructors press a march on you." He said to the Drakenblood, reaching out to offer the waterskin in his hand. "Best hydrate yourself, lass."

 

[Random Panda]

Zelle Astrais

New Beginnings


The world above had always been a peculiar, distant one for Zelle. It was a realm of bright colors, bizarre stories, and people she’d only heard about in passing—simple rumors her family’s servants whispered about in hushed tones. The surface might as well have been a bedtime story for her, no more real than the stories of the War her father read to her. But now? Now she was here. And it was all so… overwhelming. In the best—but also most terrifying—way possible. When she tried to close her eyes, the vividness of it all practically burned into her eyelids. She couldn’t even blink without feeling like she was missing something crucial. She had no idea there could be so much green in the trees and so much brown in the dirt. And the sky— it just kept... going. And going. Where did it end?
Did it even end?

Suffice to say, since leaving the Underworld, Zelle’s days had been an endless repetition of asking and asking questions. Her world had expanded faster than she could keep up. The surface wasn’t just real, it was too different from what she thought it may be. Even the air was different up here—fresh and sharp, like it was trying to remind her lungs they weren’t in the Underworld anymore, while the ground felt weird under her boots, as if it wasn’t sure whether to bounce her up or pull her down. But right now, amongst the crowd, Zelle practically skipped along the path, her pink hair done in a ponytail swishing behind her, her excitement coming over in a way that made her stand out from the more composed boys and girls around her. After all, after some grueling months of waiting and waiting, they were all headed to the same place today:

Flamith Academy.

Just thinking about it made her heart do little flips; the letter of acceptance feeling heavy in her pocket. She found herself walking faster along the path with a beaming smile, her legs somehow forgetting that they were supposed to be hurting from the most traveling she had ever done in her life. Her uniform was already wrinkled beyond salvation, stuffed under her oversized, traditional Nyxian cloak she’d grabbed at the last minute leaving her parent’s home. It hung off her like a cloak two sizes too big, but that was fine. It just made her look… well, Zelle didn't know how it made her look, but it was certainly comfortable. Far, far more than most of the things her mother and father had helped her pack in her luggage.

Her luggage... that was still... somewhere.

Zelle’s steps faltered as she felt the weight of something press down on her mind, pulling her back from the clouds she had been floating on. There was something she was forgetting, wasn’t there? Her beaming smile wavered, her brow furrowing as she slowed her pace. What was it? She had her letter, her uniform—well, most of it—and she was here, wasn’t she? Then, like a bolt from the blue, it hit her. Her feet came to a complete stop, the crowd moving around her like a stream parting around a rock. Zelle's eyes widened.

Her luggage.

Her heart dropped into her stomach. The luggage! She had left it on the locomotive. Her clothes, her personal belongings, everything, still sitting all the way back there, still on the locomotive! "Oh. Oh no. Oh—oh no no no!" She suddenly clutched her head in panic, her voice rising with every syllable. Without thinking, Zelle immediately spun on her heel. "I have to go back!" she exclaimed to no one in particular, already sprinting down the path, her oversized cloak flapping wildly behind her like a cape. The other students stared at her as she went, confused and slightly alarmed by the pink-haired girl now running in the opposite direction. And as she ran, her path became increasingly erratic. She went left, then right, barely avoiding other students, but her momentum was building. And then she saw them: a short girl with a sour expression and white hair standing on the path, her horns almost gleaming under the day, and next to her, a taller boy with black hair, his expression as serious as hers was heavy, and a waterskin in hand, which he seemed to be offering to the girl.

Zelle’s eyes widened when she spotted them. She tried to slow down, to stop herself before she crashed into them, but her boots skidded against the dirt. Her arms flailed, her oversized cloak billowing out. “Watch out—!”

But it was too late. In her frenzy to brake, her foot caught awkwardly on something—was that someone’s leg? A rock?—and she tripped. Zelle tumbled forward, her arms flapping uselessly as she careened toward the ground. For a brief, weightless moment, she thought she might recover, but then— Thud.

She simply hit the ground with all the elegance of a loaf of bread, her face planting into the dirt with a dull, simple thud. Her entire face was pressed against the ground after her fall, while those who passed them along looked down at her from the sides with varying degrees of surprised expressions. One even stopped to ask if she was dead, before a muffled word escaped from her sprawled form on the path, and they carried along with a shrug.

"Ugh," Zelle groaned painfully, coughing up some dirt before pushing her face and upper body away from the road. She sat back on her legs, rubbing her forehead with a soft "ouch." And for another moment, she just sat there, eyes closed, until she slowly opened them, revealing abnormally shiny irises squinting up at both the boy and the girl. Oddly enough, there wasn't a trace of embarrassment on her dust-covered face as she asked them, "Is... is the locomothing... still back there?"

Pilgrim59 November Witch Arkangel

 

[Arkangel]

Karizella Castelieu

The vernal breeze was something Karizella was all too familiar with, having walked the academy grounds for years before the official opening of the institution. She had walked this road alone over the azure waterfalls many times before, accompanied solely by the soothing resonance of the rushing waters. Now in quiet reflection, she had missed the silent tranquil. But such sorrows would swiftly dissipate at the sight of sharing this brilliant scene with the students. Watching the jovial faces flooding the bridge, she remained at the station at the back to finalize the process before being interrupted by one of the conductors for a brief moment.

“You seem more excited than usual, Ms. Castelieu,” An elderly man in proper uniform approached her from a distance, his age had reached the point of weakening his physical capabilities. It was apparent that he had some trouble maneuvering the luggage around. “Does the prospect of developing the next generation excite you? You bear the same smile as any other first-time educators I’ve met.”

“Ah- Good morning, Mr. Conductor. I apologize for not making my presence known while on the train.” Karizella bowed before the elder, showing respect to the man who helped develop the first locomotive. “I’m… terrified more than anything. I never imagined myself taking on the role of educator for a bunch of children. Especially of this caliber.”

The elder laughed, “Oh I am aware of how rambunctious the young wolves can be this time around. Always seeking the thrill of adventure and trouble. My sons and daughters were all identical in that regard. They only ever listened to those they truly admired.”

The mention of his children brought to Karizella's mind the conversation they had shared several years prior, during the early stages of the academy's construction when the station and the train associated with transportation were first announced. Having helped the elderly conductor for many months, she knew that this man had loved the bright smiles of children more than anyone. Particularly after his own sons had been victims of the bloodshed of the war many years ago.

“You can leave it to us.”

…

The conversation was short-lived as Karizella had to quickly abandon the station grounds to meet with the other faculty staff before the orientation. But before she would mark her absence and dash ahead of the students, she had noticed the untagged baggage that had been left behind by some of the students and took it upon herself to lessen the elder’s load. After exchanging farewells, she was now left with two pieces of luggage and one knapsack.

The station was relatively quiet now that the students had left the area. Following closely behind those at the rear, it would not be long before she experienced her very first interaction with the students in a chaotic manner. A volatile young girl abruptly made her presence known, sprinting in the opposite direction of the academy entrance, leaving Karizella perplexed. However, her confusion swiftly turned to deep concern as she watched the girl stumble and fall. Wasting no time, Karizella hurried toward the potentially injured young miss.

She was carrying with her possibly the young girl’s cause for concern, without knowing the reason for her erratic behavior. “A-Are you alright, my child? That was a reckless decision to disrupt the flow of traffic in such a manner…”

Pilgrim59 Random Panda November Witch

 

[November Witch]

Asphira Cyclone

~{Hydration Check}~​

Status: Embarrassed & Surprised
Location: Road To Flamith
Mention(s): Arkangel Pilgrim59 Random Panda

Asphira would continue on her march. The mixing of emotions still slowly sapped away at her strength. She was all alone in her own little world until she heard a voice. That in itself wasn’t uncommon, but it sounded like it was directed at her. The volume and direction from which it came conveyed this to the Drakenblood. She’d been watching someone in front of her start to turn around, but that wasn’t her main concern at the moment. She stopped walking and turned her head to the right slowly. Not for any reason besides not wishing to whack anyone with her large horns.

It had happened more times than she cared to admit.

There, she saw a man holding out a waterskin to her. With that, he made her realize she was so caught up in her head, she had been ignoring her body. She was certainly thirsty and hungry too. How could she forget to take care of herself? With a sigh, her gaze moved to the ground, embarrassed she could neglect something so important to her health. While it was just one time, and it wasn’t serious like dehydration, it was getting complacent with these situations that led one to neglecting themselves to a point where it would affect them. Her eyes would move back up slightly, looking to both of her hands which were full, then back up at him. He could clearly see the embarrassment and fatigue.

“Thank you for the offer-”

She started, only to hear someone screaming a warning to her left. She would take a step back and watch as a girl slid to a stop between both her and the boy before her. Pink hair and pale skin. Well, for the most part. Now hair and skin were blemished with gravel and dirt from the path they followed. She sincerely hoped horses weren’t allowed on this path, or it was incredibly likely that wasn’t just dirt on the poor pinkette’s face. She looked back to the boy before her.

“But she likely needs it more than I do. However, I thank you for the reminder.”

Asphira definitely thought the girl could use some water to the face to rub some of that dirt away and possibly wake her up. Surely someone fully alive and awake couldn’t trip on what seemed to be nothing, right? Even she was tired, but she hadn’t made such a mistake.

Not yet…

She told herself with an inward sigh. She set both duffel bags down and went searching through the one on the right. First, her water. She took a long drink while searching for something else. Fast approaching footsteps caught her attention once more, and she saw an adult here. Well, the way she spoke and looked made it seem that way. She was checking up on the girl as Asphira’s hand found what it was looking for. A satchel neatly tucked into the upper right corner of the duffel bag. She didn’t think the fall this girl had was serious, but she removed the bag just in case.

Gauzes, bandages, fabrics drenched in medicinal oils and potions, small glass vials full of herbs, leaves, roots, and other plants that could only be grown at the height of the Drakenblood fortresses. Things she’d brought for herself in the off chance the academy didn’t have what she needed or wanted. All this and more were in the satchel, but she didn’t open it. For the moment, there was no need to.

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

Asphira took another long drink of water while she waited for a response, and as her eyes searched the other for injuries. But she didn’t touch the other or get too close. They were still strangers after all. She was still slightly nervous there would be prejudice and discrimination harbored by some here. While this girl didn’t really seem like the type, she didn’t want to risk upsetting her or something.

 

[Random Panda]

Zelle Astrais

New Beginnings


With dazed, starry eyes fluttering open, Zelle blinked rapidly, her vision still swimming as she remained seated on the ground, recovering from her less-than-graceful fall. The boy and the horned girl were still standing before her—the ones she’d desperately tried to avoid colliding with, only to meet the unyielding embrace of the earth instead. Better bruised knees than bruised egos, she supposed. As her focus sharpened, however, she realized there was now a new face in the mix, a stranger's outline coming into soft focus through her haze: an older woman with flaxen hair and warm, carmine eyes, her expression gentle but brimming with concern. Zelle blinked again, trying to make sense of the scene. Was—was she talking to her?


Her cheeks still tinged with red from her failed sprint, Zelle’s shoulders shot up like a startled cat, back snapping straighter as she looked left and right in a quick panic, as if trying to confirm the woman wasn’t talking to someone else. Nope. Definitely her. She whipped her head back to focus on the woman, slapping her palms onto her lap and nodding so vigorously it was a wonder her head didn’t pop off. “Ah! I—I’m fine! Really! Sorry, I didn’t mean to—uh—but my…” She flailed a hand in the direction behind the woman, breathless. “My things. I left them in the… uh… locomothing—and I need to get them before it—uh—leaves.”

She barely had time to catch her breath before her attention was yanked away by the girl with the horns, who had spoken next. Zelle’s response was almost automatic, her chin dipping slightly as her hands shot up in a placating gesture. “I’m fine!” she insisted, with a quick smile, palms turned out like she was surrendering to someone with a weapon. “Really, it’s just a little dust. No big deal.” She flicked a glance between the horned girl and the boy, her fingers knitting together as she flashed another bright smile. Sure, her knees stung a bit, and her palms and face were powdered with dirt, but nothing serious. Certainly not enough to become a bother.


Zelle’s gaze flicked downward for a moment, as if to further prove her point, and with a sudden burst of energy, she popped up from the ground. Well, mostly popped—there was a slight wobble in her legs, but she steadied herself, her boots planted firmly in the dirt. Without missing a beat, she began dusting off the hem of her uniform and purple-ish cloak, her expression happily resolute; all perfectly normal. She cleared her throat once more, clasping her hands in front of her as she looked back at the trio with that same smile. “See? I’m totally fine. Oh—!” But then, it faltered for a split second, as if remembering something crucial. Her lips thinned with sudden concern, and she hastily bowed at the waist, one palm pressed against her forehead in a classic Nyxian gesture of apology, eyes squeezing shut in concentration.

“I’m so sorry I almost ran into you both,” she blurted, the words spilling out faster than was probably necessary. “That was entirely my fault. I really shouldn’t have done that.”

She paused, finally opening her eyes. Was she apologizing too much? Possibly. But her mother had always told her better to be overly-sorry than not sorry at all.