Ayuen
Marlight, Capital of The Dusk of Life
Ayuen’s sweaty, delicate hands grasped her prize. Running as fast as she dared, she rounded the corner of the street she was in. Her wings flapped behind her, the collar of long soft fur around her neck getting clammy as drops of sweat fell into it. Behind her, she could hear a yell of surprise, likely from a guard that discovered her theft, or perhaps he found the open door to the late Baros’ chambers. She felt sorry for the deceased headman of her tribe, but her task was more important than the burglary.
Despite the severity of her situation, Ayuen thought of this whole situation as rather poetic, in a twisted sense. Every shadowy street corner seemed to have eyes, the lights cast by the street’s lanterns silently watching and judging her. The capital seemed hostile, almost furious. It was as if it knew what had just transpired. And like in the multitude of stories and fables she read, she was on the run, holding in her hands the one thing that could keep her people from total destruction. Through her panic, a single inappropriate thought surfaced.
‘I really should incorporate this sensation into my poetry.’
Her left hand wandered to her backpack’s pocket, which held one of her most prized possessions: a booklet in which she wrote down all her findings and her inspirations, to be used later in books and poems. She could see the minute handwriting in it flashing before her eyes, imprinted across hours and hours of work. She stored the idea for a later, more appropriate time.
Keeping up the pace, Ayuen shrugged to adjust her cloak over her slender body rustling her wings to hide them better. She pulled the cloak a bit further over her head, so that her long red hair wouldn’t be as visible.
After ten minutes, she slowed her pace. The running was exhausting, and she needed a moment to recuperate. She lowered her hood to better take in her surroundings. After running in what she perceived to be the right direction for so long, she would be far enough away to avoid suspicion now. Or at least she hoped so. Maybe she was too paranoid. But one should be after breaking the law. Even if it was for her people’s own good, she still betrayed their trust. Taking a brief look at her catch, she allowed a small smile to creep to her lips. It was a small medallion, inscribed with the language of her people, the Pyrn. This small trinket would be the beginning of her people’s salvation. She carefully put the amulet around her neck. Finally, she could advance her plans.
Just as she sped around a corner, she collided heavily with someone walking in the opposite direction. Recoiled back, Ayuen dropped down hard on the cobblestones, her head spinning from the impact. She could make out a huge shadow looming over her. Enormous waves of dread washed over her, threatening to break through her outer calm façade as she was sure she was about to get caught. Everything would be for naught, everything wo-...
“Ayuen! Rather nice to meet you here this early in the mornin’! Although you really ought to look carefully where you are going.”
The ominious silluette chuckled softly. Startled, Ayuen quickly hid the medallion in one of her cloak’s pockets. She looked up to see it was Bris looming over her. Solidly built, he was clad in a leather apron which left his well-muscled and scarred arms bare. Underneath he wore sturdy soft leather pants. His brown feathered wings made him look more like a harbinger of doom and failure than the aloof friendly person he actually was. A wave of relief washed over her.
“Greetings, dear Bris. I see you are acting quite the hard labourer, like always. I would almost say you’re acting even more fanatical this time around.” Ayuen answered, trying hard to hide the uneasiness in her voice.
“Well, you know me. I like ‘em midnight walks and ‘em ores ain’t going to drag themselves to my smithy. Although that might be a handy sorcery to have. Maybe I can make ‘em smelt themselves too!”
Laughing with his loud booming voice, Bris held up a basket filled with copper shucks, although it looked more like coal in the darkness. Silently, Ayuen cursed her luck and ineptitude. Being a blacksmith, Bris had the habit of getting his copper and tin very early in the morning from the merchants at the edge of the city. Bumping into him on his way back to the smithy was a big coincidence, but one that could’ve been avoided. It also could’ve been a guard though, so that was lucky at the least.
Ayuen managed to put up a semblance of a smile, Bris not seeming to notice the insincerity of the gesture. Her mind was racing, and she quickly formed an excuse. Bris was a simple and carefree man, so that should be easy enough.
“Well, maybe you could try and convince our dear elders to let you come up with a spell to do just that. It certainly befits your personality and skills. But if you could excuse me, dear Bris. I need to get home. I haven’t gotten much sleep tonight. I told my parents I would be sleeping at their home and I want to catch them before they go to work.”
She got up, determined to get to her parent’s house as soon as possible. However, Bris walked up with her, which made her rather anxious.
“What’s the rush? Ya still haven’t told me what you’re up to yerself, y’know. Is it a girl thing? You’re not the only young woman that is up late at night. Hyra is running about too, and looking for you. I sent her to your place, so maybe you should pick her up and see what she has to say. Might be important.”
At the mention of Hyra’s name, Ayuen’s chest grew cold, the fur around her neck standing up. Ever since their Gaoler screening long ago, Hyra had acted cold and hostile towards her. Even though they were friends before that whole debacle. Rather ironic that the exam to become a practitioner of Destruction magic also destroyed their friendship.
Ayuen interrupted the thought and fought back the tears that threatened to blur her eyesight. What she was doing wouldn’t benefit from her getting emotional. She answered Bris with a cold tone.
“A starry night like this gives me inspiration for my poems and books, Bris. And if Hyra has something important to let me partake in, she can come and visit me tomorrow at noon, when I can spare the time and effort to have a meaningful conversation with her.”
Bris raised his left hand in surrender.
“I’m just the messenger, Ayuen. It isn’t nice though to see that you two are still acting… mean towards each other. Enough is enough, I’d say. Want me to walk up with you a bit? I don’t really mind the detour.”
Bris nodded towards the general vicinity of Ayuen’s parents’ house. Ayuen grew somewhat impatient and angry with the blacksmith and replied harshly.
“I am not in the mood to be walked anywhere. Especially after mentioning Hyra. Have a pleasant night, Bris.”
Ayuen turned away from her friend, walking briskly into a side alley. She didn’t look back to him, but he didn’t follow her. She felt sorry for the blacksmith for acting so cold and blunt to him, but it couldn’t be helped. She needed everything to go as she so hastily planned.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
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After what felt like an eternity, Ayuen finally reached her parent’s house. It was a reasonably big house, although her parents couldn’tbe called upper class citizens. The windows on the first two stories of the house were unlit, which led Ayuen to assume both her father and mother were still asleep. She silently unlocked the door, trying to imitate the actions of the thieves and spies of her stories. Fortunately, her parents gave her the key to their house when she left to live on her own a couple of years ago, for convenience. Sneaking the best she could, Ayuen made her way to the bedroom.
Ayuen found Ayon and his wife Arae sleeping soundly in their room, where Ayuen had hoped they would be. Ayuen took a short moment to look at her beloved parents, sleeping peacefully in their bed. Both being middle aged people, the pair still looked young, although lines could be seen on their faces, indicative of their age. Her mother was well muscled and well versed in the way of the blade, as a captain of the city guard should be. Her father, meanwhile, was a lean man, and he was an important member of the local ores and metals trade council. Their wings overlapped to allow them to snuggle up to each other a bit in the chilly nights.
She gently shook her father to wake him up.
“Paps dearest, wake up, I need your assistance. It’s extremely urgent.”
Ayon opened an eye, looked at Ayuen for a second, then closed it again.
“Will help with poetry stuff tomorrow, dear, it’s early.” He murmured.
“This is not about “poetry stuff”.” Ayuen said, clearly annoyed. She took the wooden cup beside her father’s bed. It was still half filled with water.
“Have you ever heard of the Medallion of Dawn, paps?”
“Hhmm, maybe. I’m heading to bed now though, too sleepy. Tomorrow dear.”
“That won’t do at all, paps.” She emptied the cup on her father's face, causing him to yell and sat up, instantly awake. Beside him, Arae woke up as well, sitting upright.
“What was that good for, child!?” He exclaimed, wiping the water from his face.
Ayuen didn’t waste any time, and instead of arguing with her father, she got right to the heart of the matter.
“I stole the Medallion of Dawn.”
Ayon blinked a couple of times, his anger seemingly vanishing almost instantly. It was Arae though that acted first, stepping out of bed and closing all the windows. Ayon looked Ayuen in the eye, rubbing the black fur around his neck while he pondered.
“So it is true then. I heard rumours that the elders gave you the assignment to seek a solution for Baros’ death in the books. An impossible assignment. Your mother wasn’t happy about this, but even she can’t go against the wishes of the council.”
“Not impossible, paps! I found the key to finding the fabled Dawn of Life. The key to setting this whole predicament right!”
“The Dawn of Life is a bloody myth, Ayuen. The elders just want you out of the way for the upcoming conflict.”
“No, the Dawn of Life is not a myth! All information leads to the same direction, and I know where to commence my search. I am required to travel to the Grasping Isle. As timely as possible.”
At her words, her father went silent, his eyes unfocused in deep thought. After a minute of silent contemplation, he finally spoke up.
“Are you sure you are up for this task, Ayuen? Your information might be faulty or your directions might be too vague. I am willing to do this for you, child, but I need you to be one hundred percent convinced that your judgement is correct.”
“I am absolutely convinced my information is correct, paps.” Ayuen immediately replied. “I’m as convinced about this as I am that water does not flow upwards and rocks do not fall sideways.”
Ayon nodded. “Very well then. I’ll begin the preparations. I should be ready to transport you to the Grasping Isle in about…” He mumbled some incantations, letting soft blue waves flow between his hands. “About 15 minutes. Take some provisions and such from the cellar and prepare yourself the best you can.” The blue waves disappeared with a wave of his hands.
Ayuen embraced her father, relief washing over her.
“Thank you, paps! I will not let you, mams or the rest of our people down.”
She felt her father answering the embrace.
“You are my daughter, Ayuen. The elders might not trust you to be of any use, but I’ve known you for your entire life. To me, you’re the best historical chronicler in the entire city, and thorough to boot. I’m sure your information and intuition is sound. Now skitter away and get packing. I’ve got some preparations to make.”
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Ayuen was gathering supplies, packing everything that she might need in a good sized travel pack. Picking some dried rations from the family provisions cabinet, her mother came walking in, bringing in a small bundle of items.
“I’ve checked your bow and waxed up a bowstring, just in case. I hope you still remember how to shoot?” Arae handed Ayuen an unstrung bow with a string attached at one side, still wet with wax. Setting aside the dried foods she was packing, Ayuen swiftly and handily incorporated the bow into her travel-pack, after which she packed the food and some arrows in the side pockets.
“Yes, mams. You drilled it into me with such determination and meticulousness that I will probably remember shooting a bow even after I die. “
“Good. Now hurry up dear, your father is almost done with the ritual.”
Three hard knocks came down hard at the front door, making both women jump. Putting a finger against her lips, Arae pointed to the attic, where Ayuen’s father was making preparations.
Stuffing the last of her provisions into her pack, Ayuen quickly went up to the room, finding her father still entranced. Judging from the glowing symbols on the ground, he could be done any moment. The strong glow coloured the room in an eerie, ghostly blue.
She heard the front door open, with her mother speaking shortly after.
“Yes, guardsman? What do you need at this hour of night? You better have an extremely good reason for waking me up like this.” Anger and irritation could be heard in her mother’s voice.
“Ma’am, I am very sorry. We are looking for your daughter, due to somebody witnessing her stealing an important artefact, a medallion. Could you provide us with her current whereabouts?” The soldier seemed to be caught a bit off guard by his superior’s brisk answer.
The conversation went on, with her mother refusing to cooperate, relying on her superior rank to try and buy time. She heard Arae trying to set up a search, only for the other guard to stubbornly persist to enter and search the house. Ayuen just hoped that her parents wouldn’t be arrested and jailed after they whisked her away. It all depended on how fast her father was done and how long her mother could stall. No evidence couldn’t lead to an arrest, or so she hoped.
Her father seemed to relax, and the glow diminished slightly.
“Get inside the circle, Ayuen. Don’t worry about the return trip, I’ve put a little something in your luggage for that. Quickly now!”
Dragging her travel pack into the circle, she heard another voice talk to her mother. A voice she dreaded. Hyra’s voice. It was cold and emotionless.
“Captain Arae, I advise you to put a halt to your stalling. Multiple witnesses, myself included, saw Ayuen walking in this direction shortly after the incident. You will let us in right this instant and bring her to us. We have the authority of the elder council behind us.”
Her slender bat-like ears twitched as she heard her mother loudly object and she heard the city guard entering the house. Glad that her people had an extraordinary sense of hearing, her heart was beating in her throat like a smith’s hammer on his anvil. If she was caught here, she would be exiled at best. The small pleasures she so painstakingly built up in her life, gone. Looking at her father, she saw panic flashing over his face. The guards had already made their way to the second floor, kicking open every door, getting ever closer to the attic hatch. However, just as they had kicked the majority of the door below them, her father's fearful expression was replaced by a victorious grin. He whispered:
“Done. Now go. Good luck, dear. Just remember that we love you.”
Tears of fright, pride and love blurred Ayuen’s sight.
“Love you too, paps. Take care.”
Before she could finish her goodbye, a fierce blue light consumed her vision, forcing her to close her eyes. Strange sensations coursed through her body like mosquitos flying through her veins and the only thing she could hear was a deep, creaking roaring, like a giant metal gate opening. The final thought racing through her head was about her parents, and the hope that Hyra wouldn’t have found out their involvement in her plans. After a couple of seconds, the stress of the night together with the alien sensations took their toll on her mind, and everything went a blissful black.
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