Lyse carefully sheathed his sword. He had not fully recovered from the battle yesterday, and he doubts he can take on ten more golems with a hyperborean who actually managed to get the drop on him. But he got the feeling he did not need to be afraid. The fact that this Frostlander actually stopped to talk to him tells Lyse a few things. They are not hostile to him, or likely the Empire for that matter. The fact they are hiding means that he is merely a protector. And the expression he wore tells him that he is wary of him but confident that if Lyse decided to show aggression, he could deal with him. But at the same time, that wariness was stillborn from fear. Lyse may not be alone; he may be waiting for reinforcements. Or he alone may be enough to break whatever facade they are hiding within. "Speak warmblood," the Frostlander said in his broken rekeg speech. "As I said, I am a knight of the empire," he said. "I did not mean to disturb you, and I mean no harm," he sai
Run. This is all they are allowed. They had to run and run fast, on the fleetest of foot and with the utmost haste. The darkness that crept upon the land cast their shadows ahead, and that is what Celia had to focus on. They had been running for only three minutes, but hours transpired in that time between each heavy pain. The pain she had to endure from her curse, oh the pain, like hot iron driven across her skin, made this effort ten times its actual cost. Her mind dull, the shadows of trees that surrounded them becoming enemies, and the land becoming an endless battlefield she traverses. Her eyes burned with sweat, and each breath becoming more and more of a strain upon herself. The only thing that kept her on her feet was what she held in her arms before her. Massua was still unconscious, murmuring nothing within herself. She had grown heavy in her grasp. She could feel the massive sums of power, the power of creation, her animal instincts, all of it outside her reach. She could o
20 years agoMany have forgotten the cause of the civil war. Many have simply memorialized it as simply a conflict of interest. The cohesion that the clan has endured could only exist for so long before something broke it. They've spent centuries as brothers under the banner of a united empire. But they also treated themselves as independent nations, with independent goals and prospects for the empire's future. Their success, especially after peace treaties with the Shi'Ased solidified, had turned their noble doctrines into a guide for personal growth. And the king of these seven nations: Arkouda, Koraki, Liontari, Nychterida, Lykos, Aetos, and Tigri, has turned bitter with the dynamic they have become rather acquainted with. Land rights, access to trade, access to water or farmland. These things, while minor, tolled in the minds of the soldier who went into battle. Their only concern was defending their people, their homes. So they took up their swords and spears and marched through
20 years agoMany have forgotten the cause of the civil war. Many have simply memorialized it as simply a conflict of interest. The cohesion that the clan has endured could only exist for so long before something broke it. They've spent centuries as brothers under the banner of a united empire. But they also treated themselves as independent nations, with independent goals and prospects for the empire's future. Their success, especially after peace treaties with the Shi'Ased solidified, had turned their noble doctrines into a guide for personal growth. And the king of these seven nations: Arkouda, Koraki, Liontari, Nychterida, Lykos, Aetos, and Tigri, has turned bitter with the dynamic they have become rather acquainted with. Land rights, access to trade, access to water or farmland. These things, while minor, tolled in the minds of the soldier who went into battle. Their only concern was defending their people, their homes. So they took up their swords and spears and marched through
The city was the heart of a small kingdom that ruled thousands of years ago. It was a place known for many crafts of luxury items and beautiful weapons. In fact, kings would often travel to this city to have heirlooms made from the precious metals and jewels brought up from the nearby mining quarries spilling with riches. It was a lively place, a major traveling destination on the trading network of old, and most definitely a center of many arts made popular at the time.With this in mind, it is no wonder why this city became the home of one of the volcanic gods' most prolific forges and why the people worshiped him as the protector of the city. Few other gods could appreciate the crafts as much as he does, so he relishes in the bed of inspiration that he made from the humans. He blessed them with knowledge, wishing to see what things the humans could make, how far they could come, and if they could if at all, surprise him. Sadly, they never did have this chance, as, at the very heigh
21 years ago"So this is it, eh?" spoke Maurice, godslayer of death. It was a sight, seeing all of the godslayers in one place. More often than not, these seven would be split into different areas of the world, dampening the efforts of the dastardly and mischievous motives of Umerius and his legion of dark warriors. And with the recent civil war. But for now, at least, they were united under the full moons for yet another meeting. But this time, it was not for some grand quest they must embark on. No, that was made clear from the expressions on Wilbur and James' faces. They had been deliberating for the past few days within this chamber, as Celia recalls. And she was just as interested as the other godslayers in knowing what these two were planning. They all sat around the table, waiting for the proclamation. They did not, however, expect what was happening. "Indeed," James's said. "We must return to Mount Taliburn to see our master, and complete our training. Wilbur thought it b
The cold wind stripped away the sounds of hundred of beaten breaths, still as intense as the days that came before. It was miraculous to Lyse that no man refused to move back, despite the display laid before them. But he got the feeling that their loyalty to this woman was obviously above such dread they could derive from the encounters forced upon them so far. Besides, their priority was to protect their captain, nothing else. And if she was going into battle, it will be backed by a hundred swords and a hundred guns. But also, they seem somewhatas amiable towards Lyse as well, almost sympathetic. Many were his seniors, veterans in this life he now treads filled with danger. They must have sensed the impact of his failures. And for that he is thankful. Because he has one last thing to ask for them, and he is afraid that their lives will be far more in danger than before.Once he had heard that there were metal creatures that roamed these lands, he knew it had some connection t
The forest was quite enchanting and terrifying. When they left the village, Massua actually had to take some time to compose herself. Not just emotionally but mentally. That awakening realization of who she was was a massive shake to her mind. Coupled with the intense emotions that bubbled beneath her, composure was hard to maintain then. She really felt like a child comforted by her mother in front of two knights, but the more she tried to hold it in, the more uncontrollable it became, as if her emotions were fighting her to be freed. By the time her sobbing stopped, they were already deep within the Forest of Silence, the very heart of their kingdom.She remembers far back into her childhood, as far as she could at least, being told not to wander off into the forest. That was one of the first things that she learned, really. Don't go out at night. Stay away from the monsters. Stay with an adult. Never venture outside the walls. Truth be told, she violated each of these doctrines at