Chapter 1: Chapter I
I struggled to keep my eyes on the instructor while my head slowly fell off the hand I had it perched upon, as one does in the middle of class, a book resting between me and the hard wood. I was fighting the battle to stay awake, yet with just a glance you could tell my loss was closing in.
The teacher didn't seem to notice me laying my head down gently on my crossed arms to have just two good seconds of shut eye, is what I liked to think to myself anyway.
"Ms. Shay!" I heard from the front of the room, causing my body to shoot up straight from the anger it carried.
"Ms. Shay," it started, "all the students here are giving their maximum effort to learn about the complex planning of construction and labor." The voice walked in my direction with a straight, arrogant filled stater. I shrinked a bit more.
"If you really believe being in the direct Elysian family gives you the right to skip out on such knowledge, history class will be quiet the painful lesson," her white brows digging deeper into her old, wrinkly eyelids all while she stared me down coldly, now standing only a hairs length away from my nose. Dear gods, you could smell what she ate for dinner the day prior.
The laughs coming from every corner of the room made me want to just disintegrate on the spot. Maybe then I'll get some sleep, I sighed. Yet at the same time, I felt a bit of a sting from her lasting words.
"Don't you think I know that?" I muttered under my breath, my right arm covering my head in an effort to make myself seem smaller, turning away from the frowning bag of make-up and raw fish. You could say it wasn't the smartest idea I've ever had.
As you might have figured out by now, this isn't the first time I had been kicked out of class for falling asleep, but this has got to be, by far, the fastest. I have never seen Mrs. Yusra get so mad just from a simple student responding to her sarcastic comments.
"You could almost smell the hatred over the sushi…" I said out loud, a sigh following the remark. I dragged my already tired body all the way to the front school lobby.
There was a joke circling around at the time that went, 'The principal of a school filled with less than 20 children has more power than the Elysian household.' I can't correct this "joke" in any way, nor could I argue against it. Even if we are technically the true rulers of Elysia, we have practically no control over what happens to our civilians. From the very beginning, we have been small. So small in fact, that the only way for us to make enough yearly was to sell off as many workers to the other kingdoms as we could.
The Elysians were said to be created 'perfect'. We're known to be able to do any given task we learned. Teaching, cleaning, nursing, and most importantly, construction, the most well-known job we're bought up for. No physical task was impossible as long as it didn't require any use of practical magic.
All this being thrown out there did nothing but worsen my mood as I walked up to the front desk to obtain my detention card and free pass from the vice- principal, Ms. Warfields.
Being from the main bloodline does have one benefit: while I'm kicked out of class, I get the entire track to myself until my next period. After a lot of begging, of course.
The amount of joy the thought of being able to close my eyes for the 30 minutes or so almost brought a smile to my face. Almost.
I hope Ms. Warfields was having an amazing day until I came wobbling up to her desk, barely being able to stand from the amount of embarrassment my small figure had endured. Though it seemed as if the gods had other plans.
"Yes sir, your daughter will be accepted into"- Her eyes landed on me for a second and I could swear I saw a flicker of light reflecting off of them. This somewhat surprised me, seeing as she sometimes never showed any sort of happiness.
"Oh! I do deeply apologize for this, but could we pick up on this note another time?"
"It really won't take that long-" I start off before being cut off by her index finger swiftly touching her lips as she glares at me through her rectangular shaped glasses, which all the teachers seem to have these days.
"Thank you- yes, yes sir I'll make sure of it. Alright, you too, sir. Have a great day!" she was quick to hang up the call, as if wanting to from the start. I felt kind of bad for her before I remembered the detention slip literally seconds away from being handed to me. That's the third one this week.…
There were no words as a quick scribble of a pen, cutting of paper and pretty noticeable stench of cigarettes filled the otherwise quiet and lavender scented room. It didn't take long for her to- quit naturally- throw the two slips at me and kick me out. Though to be honest, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
The soul image of slumber brought a bit of a bounce to my steps as I seemed less dead inside while almost skipping to the back door of the school, which for some reason, was on the other side of the building.
I do realize I could've just gone around the outer side of the school seeing as it's not that big, but that would risk a chance of bumping into one of the physical construction teachers, and the gods forbid any more form of verbal interaction until I caught some rest.
Knowing my way around the inside well enough, I was able to avoid crowded hallways and classrooms, finding my way quickly to the field.
Once I had finally reached the doors, evening sunlight hit my skin like a slap to the face, burning a little. I shielded my eyes to lessen the pain a bit, stopping dead in my tracks. Just from the double doors, the bright red track and glowing green grass were more than just visible.
With the rush of newfound energy flowing through me, I breathed in the soft, spring air and took in the scenery before me like I have time and time again.
Past the steel white seats of the bleachers and bumpy red track glazed with the bright spring sunlight, past the bright green grass and gym equipment, the sea that bordered the rocky border waved and danced around in its glittered layer of light. The mountains in the distant islands looked as if they touched the clouds, even if it's just a slight brush. Gods, this never got old.
I took a seat near the bottom row just to admire the perfect picture of the seemingly endless sea and heavenly tall mountains, my drowsiness twiddling down to nothing. I do know for a fact, though, that it won't take long for it to resurface, so why not make the most of the time I have?
After a couple long-lasting seconds, I reminded myself of the soul purpose I begged to be able to come out here. And it's not for the view, no that's just a bonus. I finally lifted myself up, tied my shoulder length hair into a small ponytail, threw off my black shirt (which was over a gray tank top), tying it around my waist for more comfort and got to work.
During this time of day, no physical construction teacher or swim classes are out. All those teachers are chatting on the sides of the school or in the café. After the second pair of students are done with their instructional classes, their next classes are physical. Meaning, the PC teachers lay out their equipment on the grassy part of the track before leaving for their break between the two course periods.
I never skip class on purpose just to use the equipment, but luck seems to be on my side every time. Perks of being an Elysian, I guess.
I normally try cramming everything in the short twenty minutes: The weights, punching bags, wooden swords, combat dummies, I even lay out the mattress to practice combat skills, trying to stay just four minutes at each station. Never would I classify this as a good thing, though.
Since last year, every time I would get kicked out of a class, I would either sleep in the meadow or if the weights were out, I would work on my upper body stretch and combat skills, sometimes running the track for as long as this short break would allow (which was never enough). So I guess you could say I put on some muscle. Well, at least my arms and legs look fitter than any normal 15-year-old's.
17 minutes had passed, and I had been on the wooden swords when I heard teachers' voices getting closer. Just by their loud chatter I could tell who it was: the girl's PC and the swim coach walking this direction. Sigh
"Even with these two minutes left." I say mostly to myself (again) as I grab my shirt and a towel next to the weights, throw them in a bag and sprint towards the left of the school building.
Reaching my destination on the left side of the school, I stop and put my feet and hands together, dropping my bag, in some kind of military stance.
I bend my torso forward in a small bow, hands to my side tightly, and face frozen in concentration. After rising, I grabbed my bag, letting out a soft breath and took four dramatized steps forward, counting them out loud. "One, two, three, aaaaand four."
I took another swift, 75-degree bow, this time in front of a tree that looked as old as me, if not older. I squatted down, placing my hand firmly on the grass in front of the oak, and recited, "Shin'ainaru diakoku, shin'ainaru diakoku, itsukushima ni tsurete itte kudasai."
I personally have no idea what it means, but it gets the job done when it must. Don't get me wrong, I have looked up its meaning, but it doesn't seem to be in any language known by the Elysians.
A small rush of wind flies past me as the tree's trunk splits open, blue smoke spilling out the black abyss forming. Standing back up, I tightened my hold on my red bag, which was now dangling from my right hand, towel shoved in the open crack, and looked around to make sure no one had seen me. I stared at the opening just barely large enough to crawl in, feeling pretty good about myself. I had, once again, successfully opened the wavepoint.
I whipped my head around with perked eyes, scanning the surroundings for any sign of disturbance. Once I was sure no one saw, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I held. I straightened back up and reminded myself of the little time I had.
I, as softly as humanly possible, threw my bag into the opening and then crawled in myself.
The feeling I get whenever I go through this wavepoint will always be a foreign experience. In books, it's compared to a claustrophobic feeling of unbelievably strong energy trying to tear you to pieces and piece you back together all at once. Yet, every time I enter the dark abyss, I'm greeted with a bright light. The kind of light you would see at the end of a cave, or maybe a window down a hallway. It would always be there, waiting for me to reach it.
No crushing sensation of terrible energy ever appeared when I went through. The only issue I've ever had with it was the small space. I was skeptical at first if I would even fit, but that thought was found to be nothing but that, though.
Even though I had enough space to make it through on all fours, it was still a bit claustrophobic and hard to breathe. I never took long to catch the light, which I was always grateful for. Slightly pushing my bag forward gets a bit tiring, after all.
The light looked as bright as ever and I turned on my hands to sit down, my leg pressed against my bag.
"Move." I kick my bag out of the way, sending it flying out the hole, not caring what happens to it. A small splash followed.
Pulling my leg back in, I pushed myself up and out of the wavepoint. The second I stood up and my feet touched the hollow water, I felt a dreadful feeling sink in, just like I should have sunk when my legs left the wavepoint. The water has never been this hollow. It has only ever come down to my knees before.
I looked up, and the second I did my hand went flying to shield my face of the piercing heat that seemed to appear before me. And the sun had never shown that bright either I thought, ideas racing as I moved my arm to see the source of the light.
It took a second for my eyes to adjust, but once they did, they went wide with horror. The bright gate that always stood right in front of the wavepoint was no longer shining from its ocean coded red paint, but from flames. The once beautifully lush, green forest that stood behind it was reduced to nothing but rows upon rows of burned wood stumps.
My chaw shook and my eyes were still adjusting to the sight. I took a small, wet step towards the gate, then another, and another, until I found myself running. I ran to my bag, which was laying right under the blaze, grabbed it hurriedly and continued to run. My teeth clenched and my breath shortened. My mind was just as big of a mess as the picture in front of me, all around me, and the insane burst of fire behind me. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping my legs going as I passed the burned stumps where the most beautiful trees I'd ever seen used to flourish.
Even if I had known this place for a bit, it still felt like a second home. A little paradise no one knew about but me. It hurt to see it in flames. Even with all this, there was only one thought coursing through me.
It got harder to breathe and my eyes were starting to ache.
I'm almost there... The bottom of my feat burned.
Please be there… My right hand tightened on the handle of my bag.
I beg the gods, please still be there… My chest was starting to hurt from the bonding of my trembling heart.
I'm here! Stopping dead in my tracks, my head dropped to a small hole in the ground, the grass ripped from on top of it. There were burn marks around the entrance, the small metal door laying far from its holder.
I fell to my knees as my bag went limb at my side. In the small hole was only darkness, the outline of the book and pencil that were supposed to be there staring back at me. Through blurred vision, it was still clear the footprints circling the area.
Multiple people had been here, and since the floor was still warm, they hadn't left long ago. As far as I'm aware, there are two wavepoints leading to this place: one at the back of the school and another unknown. I've searched the entire library for any information on the second wavepoint, even though finding out about the first one was hard enough. Through all my efforts I could never find anything on the second wavepoint's location. If they left during the same moments that I entered, then they couldn't have used the same wavepoint I did. They must know where the second wavepoint is, or even might be the one hiding the information on it.
If they really are powerful enough to do such a thing, then I shouldn't even think about finding them, right? Of course, I shouldn't. Yet, this blind rage surging through me at the loss of my paradise subjected such thoughts straight to hell. Whoever did this came in here looking for my book.
I'm a bit well known across Arryn for being a tech nerd. It was me, after all, who suggested the use of small vehicles with only two wheels made of rubber, thin yet strong enough to hold up a person. I always keep my ideas for future tech in a notebook that very little is known about. It is rumored that the information in my notebook would be enough to rebuild an entire nation from the ground up with powerful technology enough to question the gods. That's why I kept it hidden from the public. They say I don't want people finding out ways to overthrow the royal families.
There is some truth to that. The information in that notebook is my life's work. I study tirelessly, day and night, to think of some way to outsmart the Emrys and get them to leave us alone. I've thought up war strategies, battle machines, mechanical weapons, and artifacts all in preparation of clawing my people's freedom out of the hands of the Emrys. If they left us be, then so will the rest of Arryn.
I jolted from my position on the ash- covered ground as I analyzed what just happened properly.
People, other than me, had been here and burned everything to the ground, stole my book, and left. If that book fell into the hands of the Emrys, then…
I shot up, pure terror painted on my face once more as I took off in the same direction I came from, throwing my bag over my shoulder.
I guess it is true what they say about time slowing when your adrenaline is high. Those 15 seconds back to the wavepoint where the longest I had ever endured. I was out of breath and panting by the time I reached the glowing hole in the air. Nonetheless, it didn't stop me from throwing my bag off my shoulders and into the entrance, then throwing myself in after it, ignoring the water splashing all over me.
Once again, there was only one thing on my mind as I crawled as fast as I could through the wavepoint: get home.
The light at the end was just as bright as the light that came from behind me, which urged me to hurry my pace. It felt like forever when I finally reached the end. I didn't just kick my bag out this time, I grabbed it close to my chest and threw myself out of the entrance without thinking. Quickly, I put my other hand out to soften my landing. I dropped, my head tucked close to my chest as my back rolled on the floor at an alarming rate, throwing me on my feet faster than I expected.
I tumbled a little but still ran, sliding to a stop at the sight of the track and field. Snapping my head back, I looked at the now red sky filled with thick, black smoke.
Through squinted eyes, I made it into the school, passing the classrooms that were now empty. Even though I knew what sight awaited me if I went to city square, it didn't stop me from hoping that I was wrong. It didn't stop me from having the smallest bit of hope in the fact that everyone was alright. It didn't stop the salty tears from threatening to fall from the mire thought of what they'd do to my parents.
No one was at the front office as I ran past it and threw the doors open. That was when I got a better view of the sky. You could see the fires from different neighborhoods. The smoke threatened to choke me even from here. I only stopped for a split second before taking off for the bike racks, practically ripping my bike out, throwing my bag into the gray basket and speeding off in the direction of the Town Square, where the biggest fire was emitting from.
It took a good 4 minutes to get there, and when I did, I drove my bike behind the book shop just across the road from the square garden we called Town Square. But, the sight in front of me was nowhere near green and colorful.
The grass that neatly grew there was trembled on, completely disregarding the sidewalk that now had greenery all over it. The flowers I had taken days to plant were all torn out of their beds and thrown everywhere. The most noticeable thing, however, was the huge oak tree that stood in the middle, marking the middle of the city, was now a huge blaze of roaring flames. The tree that had been planted there before the birth of my grandparents, the tree that stood there during my entire life, the tree that, as a kid, I would sit under, reading books and laughing to myself, that tree was now fully engulfed in flames from top to bottom.
I stood there for a second, fully taking in the view, before noticing the shiny gold and red armor that stood under the tree. I looked around more carefully, now noticing the armored soldiers standing all around the square. I instantly went back to hiding, my hand covering my mouth to stop any sort of unwanted sound from escaping.
I choked back the urge to cry. It wasn't until I heard a scream that I dared to look again. It didn't take long for me to notice the figure that had led out the plea for help. My mother was the one struggling behind the restraints of two large armored soldiers that resembled the ones swarming the square. My father by her side, held down by his neck, a blade to his head.
I watched in a panicked fit as they pushed my mother forward, closer to the burning tree. This seemed to send shivers down her neck and left her quiet.
"You finally stopped squirming." A stern voice that I recognized as a woman spoke out from the side of the tree that wasn't facing me, stopping me from seeing them clearly. The bodiless voice giggled darkly to herself, as if finding this amusing, before speaking again.
"I never thought that I would be given the honor to personally see off the trash of this honorable land." It said confidently, spitting out the words slowly, just to agonize and torment the shaking mess that was my mother. My father, however, had enough strength to stare daggers in its direction. This caused the speaker to close its mouth and finally walk into view.
I could see the golden, brown hair neatly tied on top of a gold robe, the blaze reflecting off the badges showing on her hot red shirt. Her piercing blue eyes shot right at my father and his gaze dropped hesitantly. You could see her wrinkled face twist into a wicked grin. I recognized her right away. She was the General of the Emrys royal army, Hemera Ramisay.
Her hands stayed behind her back as she walked closer to my father still. Holding out a gloved hand to his face, she forced his gaze up by his chin. I flinched.
"Look at me, Elysian!" she snarled. "Look at the person that will take great joy at destroying your pathetic town and everything in it." She smiled one last time and let go of my father's face. I breathed a sigh of relief as his face went back to facing the ground. My mother was the first to speak again.
"What is the meaning of this? We already told you that we paid and delivered our dues. We have done everything accordingly. So why, why are you doing this!" It broke me in pieces to see my mother in such a state, my father helplessly watching.
General Hemera strode her way back in front of my mother, spun on her heels and bent down to her level mockingly. She smiled in my mother's face before snapping her fingers in the direction of a soldier.
"Show her the book." She ordered. The called upon soldier moved forward with a small sketchbook. My notebook..
It stopped in a monotone sort of attitude in front of their general, turned to face the woman on the ground and shoved the now opened book in her face, right next to the general's.
My mother's face wasn't just filled with confusion, but with pure terror. It took her less than a second to realize whose book it was when she saw the page the soldier had randomly flipped to. I couldn't see what it was until it was moved away as the soldier went back to his post.
My heart sank when I saw the design for the steam engine I had been working on for the past week. The machine was supposed to be able to carry at least 20 people far distances on sea. I went back today to modify the design a little and sleep, but my plans were driven dramatically off course.
My eyes shot back up to my parents. My father was following the soldier with his gaze, his eyes wide with surprise and terror. The same expression was painted on my mother's face. This made General Hemera's face light up with joy. She raised her left hand to my mother, and I prepared myself for what was to come.
The slap echoed through the empty city square and made me flinch, even after closing my eyes. I opened them slightly and went back to staring at the scene unraveling before me.
My mother's face was red on her left cheek, the look of surprise from being hit was unmistakable. It sent a shiver down my spine. She lowered her gaze as she started shaking harder than ever. Her shoulders shook, proving her struggle to hold back tears. I knew what they were going to do, yet I stood there, cowardly staring, practically shaking in my shoes. But still, what could I do? I'd only meet my demise along with my parents. As much as I love them, if I were to die along with them, there'd be no future for my people.
That thought was the only thing keeping my feet planted into the ground, but even that was weak. I looked on as the general opened her mouth once more.
"The king has been informed of the fact that the Elysians are planning an assassination attempt on Princess Leora Emrys." She spit out the lies in such a way that anyone could hear the insincerity in her voice. Of course, this was an excuse to utterly destroy us. Yet, no one would ever believe us.
"Unfortunately for you, they sent my unit to take care of the traitors that broke the contract." She stood back up, her hands neatly placed behind her back and her smirk smacked back on her old face.
"So," she started drawing her sword. "isn't it fair that we carry out your prior plan on you?" My eyes widened as what I was expecting since I laid eyes on my parents being dragged in and played out. I thought up the event that was about to happen before my eyes again and again until it was too much for me to bear.
"WAIT!" I yelled, catching the general's glare and the attention of the dozen or so Emrys soldiers. They raised their swords in a defensive position, pointing them directly at me.
I immediately shot my hands up, showing them my palms harmlessly. I lowered my chin to gaze up at General Hemera, her sword now at my mother's throat, raising her head.
I quickly glanced at my father; his face was full of terror. It was written into his expression: What are you doing?! RUN!
I had no idea what I was doing. Everything that came out of my mouth was nothing more than desperation to take the general's attention off my mother.
General Hemera let out another dark, low laugh. The fire it alone carried made my heart scream in my throat.
"Well, isn't this quite the refreshing sight! What, you've come to save your sorry excuse for a queen and mother, is that it?" she cackled at her own stupid joke.
My eyes were now clear as ever. I could clearly see my mother's tears in the burning light of the blaze.
"I came to warn you, General." I slowly said, raising my chin a bit to speak confidently. This made Hemera stop to stare directly into my soul, her smile fading slightly as she lowered her sword. I let out a breath.
"Oh? And what is this 'warning' you so generally wanted to share in front of your dead parents?" she said through clenched teeth. I gulped. Here goes nothing…
"Murdering the entirety of the Elysian royal family would be breaking one of the Sacred Rules of the Original." I say in a matter-of-fact tone that seems to drive the general insane. "I imagine the gods wouldn't be too happy about that, now would they?"
We stood there for another minute or so before the general spoke first.
"Why, of course. How could I forget the 5th noted rule of the All Mighty? 'No family from the direct bloodline shall be harmed under the watch of the Gods.' I have to say, it's one that stuck out like a sore thumb. But," the general started with her wretched smile finding its spot back on her glowing face, making my stomach turn, the feeling of dread setting in.
"The Sacred Rules specifically state that as long as the Gods are watching over the royal families, no harm shall come to them. Each race has their own god, don't they? Now, I wonder," she raised her sword back on my mother's throat, and I could feel the fear rising in both my father and me. My father tried to break free of his restraints while I stood there, once again helpless.
"What god is protecting you?" My eyes went wide as the scream I let out was cut by the swinging of the general's sword, slicing my mother's neck clean
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone