Terrianis sat in his chair which served not just him but even his grandfather who united most of the aevhen, humans, dwarves, merkin and many other races under a single banner when they arrived from their war ravaged plane to this plane where peace and prosperity was promised to them by the Deosos.
Scrolls of mundane nature took up most of the space of the oaken desk which spread wide, with most needing his signature to impose uncertain fate on those willing to fight for the endurance of his inherited Empire, to approve the usage of arkhaine scrolls inscribed with high grade inscriptions to grow the necessary vegetables, fruits that will feed not just the populace of colonial cities which one day will grow to great significance, but to build a pyramid of thriving.
He looked at all these with a bored expression and pumped his near infinite mana into the feathered pen which moved according to his will without the need of touching it, to press the thin metallic part between his clawed fingers. “Come in!” He said in a silken tone when two soft knocks resounded on the door, through which he watched with a smile as the maturing Aurelithae waited for Akaerith to open the door.
With a wide, relaxed smile he rose from his eons old chair and greeted his favored daughter who bent the light with her beauty alone as she gracefully bowed. Pride burned in his prismatic eyes as the first results of her seventy years of lectures showed itself in the way she carried herself, as he felt the power building within her. And even in her looks as time gently constructed what will one day become a beauty which even the Mother of Aevhen kin will envy.
Her voluminous ashen red hair fell onto her shoulders and spread beyond in curls akin to gentle waves hitting the shores, her cheeks gleaming with a soft glow while prismatic scales started to grow at the edges of her face, their surface clean like the surface of diamonds, combined with the luster of the finest silks.
“Good morning, Father. Excuse me for the interruptions, but I may have made a grave mistake.” Her voice now slightly deeper, yet still soft and melodious as it caressed his long, sharp contoured ears. Yet even as he drunkenly listened to her, he raised one, thin brow of his and felt his spine shivering ever so slightly. What could make her say such a thing he thought to himself.
Silence settled for a few moments, broken only by Akaerith whose soft steps seemingly echoed loudly in the office as she walked out. “We sincerely doubt the possibility of that our dearest!” His nostrils expanded as he took a deep breath and hushed away the cold worry then voiced out his thoughts.
“I feel it is. I was foolishly dishonest with you for many years as my pride led me to search for answers without at least disclosing of my dreams.” Terrianis slowly glided across the desk and like a wraith approached his dearest daughter from a marred marriage.
“Speak our dearest.” He wanted to speak more, wanted to tell her it was alright. Everyone makes mistakes, even the best of them, and the important thing was that she came to realization. Yet he spoke no words as he saw this revelation on Aurelithae’s calm face which contorted ever so slightly, yet she still gazed into his eyes.
“For the past few years, my dreams had been out of my control.” As she said those words, Terrianis twitched ever so mildly that she barely noticed it even as he glided in front of her. “It began two years ago, I closed my eyes and found myself wandering in a strange forest of ethereal dreams where I met young boy of half our kin’s blood in his veins.”
Terrianis turned at the windows and approached it with his wrists crossed. Disembodied whispers entered his mind, numbering three telling of three children of aevhen blood. Yet he remained silent as Aurelithae described the boy who perfectly matched the whispers’ description of one of the Almodo’s Chosen. Dark hair, damaged face, one eye taken, still seeing even more than before.
“You did well to report it to us.” After she finished recounting, leaving behind parts including the dream in which Sigiwaer saved them from an Umvraoth, he walked towards Aurelithae and placed his right hand on her delicate chin and lifted her head hunched down in shame and anxiety. She still knew he knew about her little ventures with the New Dawn, which sprouted the fear that he may also knew about her trip to the Lands of Oneiron. Yet he remained silent, smiling at her.
“Do you think he is…” She began speaking but stopped when he placed his thumbs’ claw over her soft, gleaming lips and answered with a single nod. “Most definitely. We’re also aware that he must be with the other two remaining.”
Terrianis turned around and crossed his arms as he pondered. “Other two remaining?” Aurelithae asked weakly as she felt dread, yet knew not why. “We’re afraid the enemy had reached at least two and eliminated them before they became threats to their plans.”
Now she shook as those words entered her ears, but slowly calmed down as she concluded that Sigiwaer may be able to protect himself with that dreadful spell, aspect of maghia. “Do you think there are two more near him?” Terrianis nodded once more.
“Most certainly. The Oracles told that three of the Chosen were of the same blood, carrying the gift of our kin to varying degrees even.” Aurelithae fell into her own thoughts, and now came to the belief that the Almodo connected them. Yet for what reason He did? Why her, and not his father? Maybe for their matching age? Those thought sprouted first and further would have followed but Terrianis turned at her with a simple question. “Do you have any idea where they might be?”
“Not an exact location, but I believe he is a northerner. Even in the dreams he wore thick, furred garments.” She said after deciding to ponder on these later, may even ask Rhenathorhia who was more versed in the ways of the Deosos and their almighty Father.
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“That will do for now. If you meet with this boy tonight, ask him which torn, region or village he lives. Tell him not of his status yet though.” Terrianis glided towards Aurelithae and stopped only when there was little distance between them. He hunched down and kissed her on the center of her forehead gently before he whispered. “You’ve done well. We’re proud of you.”
The corners of her lips curled up upon receiving praise, then the two embraced each other in a hug before she excused herself. “Finally.” He looked at his desk as he heaved a sigh when he felt his tense body loosen up a bit for the first time in years, then like fog disturbed by a blade, he disappeared from his office while his pen continued the same motion while the scrolls folded, unfolded and formed a pile on the left.
**
Aurelithae made small steps down the twisting stairs as she still felt dizzy from the meeting with Terrianis. Although it went better than she expected, her first thought was not necessary Terrianis being furious at her, but simply disappointed which stabbed at her like cold knives. She thanked the Deosos and the Almodo for whom she had many question, yet they all had to wait.
The closer they got towards the Greidor Gate, the quicker the dizziness dissipated and her mood elevated as she could not wait to visit her brother Albron. Akaerith followed behind her satisfied too even more as she noticed from one of the windows’ reflection as Aurelithae smiled just at the thought of finally visiting the headquarters of the Draennith Praetoriir.
For many years she had been told that a visit was not possible until at least she could defeat Prisceirith’s golem, and after many years of arduous training, she could finally step onto their plateaued towers sitting atop the western peak.
Not many remembers it anymore, but one of the primary reasons the draevhen tribe settled down in the shadowy womb of the mountains were the dragons of the Heavenly House themselves who nested atop the mountains even before the first of the folk stepped on the vast lands of Elhyrissian. Even the long forgotten cult of Septirrion came way after the first dragon soared above the clouds silently passing by.
Before they even grew the plateaus from the walls of the mountain, they nurtured the seventeen towers which now serve as the main headquarters as the Draennith Praetoriir under the golden shadow of the Radiant Keep which itself hovered high in the sky. The Draennith Praetoriir were the first Order of the Empire established, created by his grandfather who was said to be as hulking and menacing too look at as his dear Uncle – whom she saw very little off in her eighty years of life.
She still recalled the day when she first cried, when she could only communicate through animalistic sounds. She remembered how he looked at her with a wide smile, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. His lips moved, and he felt a nice scent coming from them, yet no word reached her ears to plant themselves into her mind. One time she asked Akaerith if she ever saw crying the famed blade of the Empire, yet she just shrugged and said only when Moirstyria died which she at that moment realized came a decade after her birth as she clearly remembered her dear sister’s haunting beauty shining down upon her like the silvery phase of the Illius.
This could wait thought she concluded to herself as the Greidor Gate lit up with arkhaine energy and she stepped through without hesitation as she masked her excitement in regal calmness. On the other side, the two were immediately were greeted by the subordinates of Albron, each straightened their posture in a moment’s notice, their fists curled, smashed onto their chests buried under the fine clothing, their wrists crossed.
The two silently marched between the columns of praetoriir and passed through the gate which slowly creaked open, filling the dimly lit hall with natural light and revealing the base of the main tower which were a collection of myriad bricks of a darker wine shade with at least six corners shimmering with a deep metallic golden shade as it sliced the wall into eight segments. Liquid like sculpted metallic dragon heads with empty open eyes bulged from the walls, each facing down towards the courtyard.
On the flattened top, a large dragon of the Heavenly House kept its watchful gaze on the two aevhen maidens entering the courtyard – the mild wind gently breezing their colorful togas, stroked their exposed skin between the bedecked ornaments. Its long, oval pupil followed Aurelithae who glared back at it with a calm expression, while excitement and wonder rampaged within her at the sight of the majestic beast of mixed reptilian and avian features.
Its scaled epidermis brimmed, painted in ever changing myriad shades, from its spine purposefully dampened bones rose and curved ever so slightly. Two large wings rested on its sides as it sat on the tower in an arrogant feline position, while its long claws unfolded, scooped into the railing. Its head long and narrow, decorated with prismatic feathers, slit noses and long eyes in which she saw signs of intelligence and recognition as the dragon placed its large head down onto its massive arm and closed them signaling, they can proceed further.
Akaerith tapped gently her right shoulder and as she turned at her, the young Head-Maiden nodded eastwards. Under the embrace of the soft shadows, Albron towered out from the ring of his subordinates who yelled his name in excitement as he stood with his bare chest, one arm stretched out clutching the hilt of his long blade, another holding a large rectangular shield with a dragon’s head spitting fire.
“Welcome ladies. Albron will be done in a minute.” Celsushar noticed the two and quickly intercepted them as they headed towards the ring and bowed before Aurelithae, and offered a sweet kiss on Akaerith’s right hand to which her pale white cheeks gained a frosty azure shade.
He led the two to the wall of draennith praetoriir who were still lost in the heat of the practice fight between Albron – whose beard gleamed in his sweet sweat – and a young plant-folk recruit who calmly stood in defense in the shadow of his superior. Yet this lack of boldness did not save him as Aurelithae watched as the muscle mountain moved weightlessly and with three movements, tackled down the recruit.
“Watch for the legs too. Planting them into the ground won’t be enough especially against a foe specializing in fire maghia.” He said as he caught the rouge silken handkerchief which swiftly sipped up his glistening sweat. “Sister!” He exclaimed loudly as his serious expression shifted to a joyous one as she wrapped his massive arms around her delicate body and lifted her up effortlessly. Similarly, she looped her arms around his thick neck while a wide smile adorned her reddened face as she became aware of the eyes staring at them with mixed expressions.
The other’s watched with some used to it, others who hadn’t yet set foot in the Radiant Keep with surprise at the sudden change in demeanor. “Come let me show you the trophy room.” He said as the two let go from their familial embrace. “You guys can rest for now.” As he too realized where they were, he turned back and gave an order. Before she followed after him, she bowed to them amidst her confusion then the four headed into the main tower with the dragon of Albron sleeping atop.