EPISODE 57: LONG DAYS, SHORT NIGHTS
— Az’Dawn Empire, Year 7291. Season: Central.
Allura meditated, Aunt Chine guiding her actions as she learned to better harness her energy and Wrath. Somedays they took considerable leaps and bounds forward, others they moved at a snail's pace. The magical weapon was a power too great for the young Allura, but it was all she held that remained of her mother.
It was all she held, and she would not let go .
The caravan trudged through the desert sand, large, black, vultures with a metallic shine flew above. They watched and waited. Waiting for scraps to be thrown out. They knew the clean bones of the prior meals were always dumped in the sand below. Not even these creatures allowed a spec of food to go to waste.
Light boots crunched the tiny, crystalized rocks. Allura studied the back of [Imperial Legionnaire – Ramus] as he walked ahead of the caravan. This was not out of a state of pride but necessity. Caravans have been known to disappear into the maw of a [Wyrmair – ★★★★ ]. Massive, dangerous creatures who held their maw open. Allowing the sands to cover it all until none was the wiser.
There were no roads in the deepest desert of Az’Dawn. The shifting sands took them too quickly. Just as nothing green grew here. Only the harshest of reds like Wrath, browns, and other dull colors allowed themselves to be known. Red, you’re dead. At least when it came to everything besides Allura’s favorite peppers.
The Legionnaire walked with a cautious gait. [Wyrmairs – ★★★★ ] were dangerous, but they could not easily move. Their young were a different story. A simple earth detection spell used by the Yoriman’s energy was enough. Ramus would send vibrations below like a bat's echolocation as he searched for danger. If any were found, the Legionnaire would simply have them detour around the dangerous area. For weeks this is how the Caravan of Death, as Allura began calling it, traveled.
That's what it was? Wasn’t it? A [Caravan of Death] leading to her doom. She snarled, her canines sharp and beast-like. Not a special trait of hers, but of the Yorimen as a race. Her greatest grandmother’s attempt at replicating a race like the Magi.
There was no race like the Magi.
Allura’s thoughts shifted like the endless dunes that hid numerous dangers beneath, her thoughts drew upon fonder memories. Of her mother, her first trip to Edryan, well, that one did not end as fond, but nevertheless, the journey was her first time leaving the capital. It was a shame she returned a failure and to her mother’s death. [Ambition’s Wrath] wrapped around her tighter. The sun began its descent, and thus the sky lost its blistering heat. A cold night was upon them.
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— Edryan Queendom, Year 7282. Season: Central.
Allura smiled happily, the sun shining through the narrow crevasse that opened a path between the two countries. Zolo’s pass was a dangerous, twisting, branching crack in the Luffer Mountain range that split the Edryan state from the rest of the world. It was one of the few ways to make it in, or out of the country.
Aunt Chine sat behind her, calmly brushing the young child’s hair as they traveled through the twisting paths. The thirteen-year-old hummed with relish, and her Aunt smiled behind her. A peaceful expression plastered upon their faces.
Their caravan was quick, moving through the pass with relative ease as they avoided the dangers to arrive in Laguu, Home of Warriors and the guardian city of the pass. They were watched, the moment they traversed over halfway into the pass, eyes were upon them. No action was taken. Zolo’s pass was the main trade route the goods of Edryan passed into the wider world. The seas were an option but a far more dangerous one. Krakens, and monsters who prey upon men, patrolled the seas. Hungry and waiting for the soft flesh prey above.
The first thing Allura did as she exited Zolo’s Pass was gasp. A land full of green as far as the eye could see extended into the distance. The path was above the elevation of the city, which gave Allura and the caravan, by extension, a perfect view of the structures within. A large, ocean blue, horned, skull-shaped palace sat within the center of the city.
“It’s beautiful,” Allura spoke aloud. The scarf covering her face lowered as she gazed upon the land and all its glory. “There’s so much…”
“Life,” Aunt Chine finished.
The pair took in the fresh air, the sun, which seemed to constantly be sweltering above Az’Dawn, was cool and calm. A breeze that brought the scent of summer blew into the noses of the caravan, quickening their pace with each passing second.
Allura grew up listening to tales of the outside, many told by the aunt next to her, others by her mother. Regardless, these tales always brought a great sense of wonder to the young princess. She always told herself, ‘One day, I’m going to travel the world. To see the blues, greens, and reds.’
Here she was, on a mission to surprise her father. She opened the bottle of sweet honey and scooped up a big chunk of the sticky goodness. A small squeal of pleasure escaped her mouth after she ingested the substance. It was wonderful.
“To think this all happened by chance,” Allura sighed. Her mind was at peace as she once again told her aunt about the discovery that triggered this expedition.
“It was the 7th day, and I’d just heard of this new magical-like good that traveled from the Edryan lands to the capital,” Allura began.
“Wasn’t I the one to take you to the market,” Aunt Chine interrupted.
“Shh! It's my story to tell!”
The older woman smiled, and she continued to comb through Allura’s hair, listening to the girl's tale with relish.
“As I purchased the product, the merchant, clearly a seasoned bard, spun me tales of fantastic kinds of honey from the Edryan lands. He told me of them all, until he told me of the greatest. A honey, no elixir , so powerful that it could level. Honey, that took you on a journey that was so realistic, it could level even my father, a demigod. He told me a story of Edryani Honey.”
The memory faded as quickly as it came. A startled Allura was jarred awake, the sensation of brush strokes still on her hair. Her aunt still sat next to her. A watchful guardian that stood by her side since the moment she was born. Allura’s mind felt peace as for the first time in weeks she controlled Wrath. It felt great .
This would most likely not last. At least she understood, peaceful memories were a source of strength in controlling the power. The weapon’s power as great for the young woman, but Allura was often told Stubborn instead of Grasci should have been her middle name. Allura wasn’t Stubborn , just Hard-headed. A product of her environment. All her life, she’d been taught one thing and one thing only.
Survival of the fittest.
At home, she’d be challenged and belittled by her siblings as they began the long struggle for one thing. The throne of Az’Dawn was not a small feat to achieve. It was the Az’Dawn family's truest way to become demigods and make themselves something more than just mortal. In their three thousand years of history, only three of the Az’Dawn rulers rose to demigod-hood. The first, naturally, was her greatest grandmother. The witch was still alive somewhere, Allura could feel it . They all could feel the connection to the progenitor of a new branch of the human race. A far less… vicious branch than the Magi.
The second was Ra Az’Dawn. A great uncle or something along those lines. Allura wasn’t certain, but he too rose to such a position. Leveling was not an easy task, and leveling to the position of a demigod was daunting. A task few could accomplish, not from the lack of trying, but from the scarcity of resources. Allura knew there was more to it, but she didn’t know the specifics. She was only the second princess, the fifth child of her father, and now the third in line for the throne. Through an investigation, her elder sister presented Allura with evidence of her second brother, the foremost third inline for the throne, behind the cause of Allura hearing those rumors. It was the same sister who gave her the opportunity to slay him. No scion of the Az’Dawn held love from one another. All held different clans which were beholden to different factions in the empire. Allura did not hesitate at the chance.
A feat her father would be proud of. After all, his path was much of the same in his rise to demigod hood. The third and new protector of their state. Her father was old enough to remember a time before. A time when Az’Dawn was still green with grass. A time when the country held large lakes and rivers. A time no more. Then Az became a little too greedy and did not abide by the rules the gods played by.
Allura rose from her seat as the cackling laughter of [Midnight Hyenas – ★★ ] echoed around the caravan. Az’Dawn was an empire of survival as her people the Yorimen learned to be.
Allura’s Ambition sparked from Wrath; the shapeshifting weapon crawled around her neck before it spread down to her arms. Two whips sparked to life, aflame red like a campfire. Only the red of their eyes showed the position the [Midnight Hyenas – ★★ ] stood. Creatures that emerged the moment midnight struck. Like the hour, they held an affinity for darkness. Able to cast magic as two-starred creatures, rather than three.
“( Examine ).”
[Midnight Hyena – ★★ ]
Base Atk: 105
Base Def: 90
HP: 870/870
SP: 900/900
MP: 780/780
HP Regen: 35/Hour
SP Regen: 36/Hour
MP Regen: 31/Hour
Power: 350
Endurance: 300
Vitality: 290
Mind: 260
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Self: 300
Description:
The Midnight Hyena is a dark-aligned beast that draws its source of strength from the darkness of the night. They travel in packs and a proficient at using darkness to their advantage.
It made them physically weaker, but deadlier as they grew. They possessed magic and grew more confident in their skills and abilities as they were raised in stars. It was why most new three-starred beasts were considered clumsy. They’d have to learn to wield brand-new powers.
Allura jumped from the carriage, activating a skill as she did so.
“(Ambitious Strikes).”
Like wriggling pythons, her whips lashed toward the [Midnight Hyenas – ★★ ]. Striking hard and fast before the targets of her abilities could move. The move doubled her base attack and struck twice for what only seemed like one strike.
Midnight Hyena -900 HP.
You have inflicted {Ember’s Desire} on Midnight Hyena.
Midnight Hyena -900 HP.
You have inflicted {Ember’s Desire} on Midnight Hyena.
Two separate hyenas were struck, dying instantly. The after-effects of her skill incinerated the beasts until none but their beast cores and ash remained. Embers desired to burn, and Allura was one who indulged in her pleasures. Two hundred EP was expended from Allura due to the activation of the skill. It would still be active for thirty seconds, thus Allura continued to strike, slaying some beast, mortally wounding others. Each of the creatures was built slightly differently. Some focused on defense, and others complete attack. Allura was at a comfortable level where these creatures posed little threat to her. Especially when she was in the company of others. Perhaps if she was a lone traveler or not a princess with a class and bloodline to match, this would be a different story. That was not the case here.
Her body received a bolt of darkness to the shoulder, but [Ambition’s Wrath] and the activation of [Ember Barrier] saved her from debilitating damage. The sound of shattering altered her that she no longer received her +60 defense as she was not saved from the second bolt.
Allura Az’Dawn -237 HP.
Allura knew she needed to mold [Ambition’s Wrath] into a shield to properly use her defensive skills, but she was not worried about the strength of the [Midnight Hyenas – ★★ ].
It was only when two [Pack Leader: Midnight Hyena – ★★★ ] showed themselves that Allura grew worried. Her Aunt stepped up to face one creature, and Ramus faced the other. His target was larger by a grade or so. What did it matter when the creatures were the size of large hills?
Allura drew back to a supporting role, ready to assist her aunt in killing the creature. Others did so as well, until a small group was ready to face both pack leaders. The remnants of their pack gathered around them as both groups faced off against one another.
“(Examine),” Allura activated her skill twice. Her voice seemed to act as a signal to both sides as the battle began.
[Pack Leader: Midnight Hyena – ★★★ ] – Male
Base Atk: 270
Base Def: 180
HP: 1800/1800
SP: 1200/1200
MP: 1500/1500
HP Regen: 36/Hour
SP Regen: 24/Hour
MP Regen: 30/Hour
Power: 900
Endurance: 400
Vitality: 600
Mind: 500
Self: 600
Description:
Pack Leaders of a Midnight Hyena pack come in pairs. A patriarch and a matriarch. Each with separate specialization in the darkness affinity. Without one, the other will not fight. Members of the pack are descendants of the Pack Leaders.
[Pack Leader: Midnight Hyena – ★★★ ] – Female
Base Atk: 210
Base Def: 135
HP: 1200/1200
SP: 1200/1200
MP: 1650/1650
HP Regen: 32/Hour
SP Regen: 32/Hour
MP Regen: 44/Hour
Power: 700
Endurance: 400
Vitality: 400
Mind: 550
Self: 450
Description:
Pack Leaders of a Midnight Hyena pack come in pairs. A patriarch and a matriarch. Each with separate specialization in the darkness affinity. Without one, the other will not fight. Members of the pack are descendants of the Pack Leaders.
“THE LARGER ONE IS THE PEAK MALE, THE SMALLER IS THE FEMALE, WHO IS FARTHER FROM PEAK THREE STAR,” Allura yelled out. Although useful, not everyone could waste a skill slot on training ( Examine ) or any other observing skill to a sufficient level to be useful. Allura could, more than that, she’d basically been forced to at the instruction of her mother.
The wives of her father were individually tasked with training the [Heavenly Father] progeny. Them, and the families behind them, used the resources they gathered in hopes of one day receiving the payout that their scion was the next [Emperor] or [Empress].
Az’Dawn was ruled by a single monarch, no other joined the leader in ruling the country as they gained absolute authority.
Gusts of wind picked up as the peaceful expression that was constantly plastered on Aunt Chine's face disappeared. The woman faced her opponent with seriousness and wariness that Allura hadn’t seen her aunt take in a long time.
Allura was certain that her Aunt could defeat their opponent, but it would not be without casualties on their side. The woman had been in the range of a Gold Legionnaire for over a decade. Allura was suspected on the higher end of that range and closer to level 200. This fight would be fast, that was just the way it went with high-level fights.
“( Gale’s Peace ),” Aunt Chine attacked.
Just as she spoke, a bark came from [Pack Leader: Midnight Hyena – ★★★ ] – Female, and the shadows beneath them elongated before fading as darkness overtook the area.
A domain type of ability! Shit!
Allura could barely see the legionnaires standing to guard her, let alone the fight against the creature. The red eyes that were the only indicator of a [Midnight Hyenas – ★★ ] were gone.
It seems she would not be helping Aunt Chine out after-
Her whip snaked out, lashing out at a [Midnight Hyenas – ★★ ]. Allura was too late, as the throat and head of one of the legionnaires disappeared. The man was dead before his body touched the ground. An attack that was deemed a critical hit took his life. Her whip landed and tore into the fur, then the flesh, of the attacking creature.
Midnight Hyena -135 HP.
Before she could strike again. The beast melted back into the shadows.
“This will be a long night,” Allura sighed as she removed a healing potion from her belt.