"HEAVE!" a male's voice echoed across the sweeping clouds, "HO!" chains rattled and moved upward.

The chains extended high above the clouds. Men pulled on the chains, attempting to pull whatever was attached. "Come on now! I've seen babies pull harder than you! MOVE IT!" a man shouted upon a floating island.

The sun began to rise, and the people in the nearby village rose from their beds. They opened their windows and doors, and curiosity flowed through them.

But a single child bolted out her door, flowing golden hair darting, barely able to keep up with the lasses' pace, hastily putting on her black boots.

She smiled, and her emerald eyes filled with wonder as she ran up to the men pulling on the chains.

The men made room for the young girl; weak as she was, their bounty was not to be won by tossing aside willing workers.

She wrapped her hands, which were covered in leather gloves, around the chains, pulling with all her might. "HEAVE!" she shouted in unison with the other men, "HO!"

One of the men giving the orders looked over the edge, and a smirk appeared on his face: "AYE! KEEP PULLING OUR BOUNTY PIERCES THE CLOUDS!"

Energy surged through the hundreds of men and women pulling on the chains. "HEAVE!" the young girl was practically bouncing in excitement. Her mother watched fondly from the window of her kitchen. "HO!" they shouted once more.

The man looked over the edge and held up a hand, "MAGES READY!" the men on the back of the chains nodded, letting go of the chains and holding up their hands. A gray glow surrounded their hands. "LOCK IT IN!"

The earth moved from the ground, wrapping around the holes of the chains and pinning them in place. All the other men fell to the ground.

As did the women, but that child didn't. She ran forward to the edge, excitement flashing in her eyes, and then she peered over the edge and saw what they achieved.

The man who looked over the edge howled with laughter. "Quite a sight, ain't she, Skylar?" he asked the young girl he had dubbed Skylar.

Skylar smiled, nodding. She was no more than twelve, but the spirit of adventure brushed her to life. "What is it?" she questioned, tilting her head to the side.

The man smirked, putting a hand on his side, "That. Is our bounty the largest crystal chunk found yet!"

Skylar looked over the edge once more. It was indeed a sizable mountain of crystal, but to her, it almost looked like a tower.

The man then chuckled, walking up to the young child and ruffling a hand in her hair. "Away from the edge, child. I wouldn't want the clouds to get in your lungs now, wouldja?" He removed his hand from her hair.

Skylar nodded before moving away from the edge. The man smiled lightly, "How's your training going, anyway?"

Skylar's eyes widened, and she smiled, holding out her hand, palm outstretched. The muscles in her hand tensed, and green energy surrounded it.

A pulse of wind shot out, blasting the man in the face, yet he didn't flinch. He smirked instead,

"Aye, you're getting better at that; it's incredible that you can even cast magic at your age. Speaking of... Not many kids wanna do manual labor on their birthdays." The man commented, pulling a cigar from his pocket.

Skylar perked up and fostered to the crystal tower, "But if I didn't come out, I wouldn't have been a part of something as incredible as this." she declared, smiling brightly.

The man chuckled at those words, "Aye, your help is always appreciated. Once the king sends his men in, I'm sure the energy in that hunk of crystal will provide energy for years to come."

Skylar nodded, turning around and hearing another set of footsteps. There, a woman approached. "Skylar, if you're done with your work, we should head to the markets."

Skylar perked up almost instantly upon hearing those words: "Alrighty, Mom! Sorry, I gotta go!"

The general chuckled warmly, ruffling Skylar's hair, much to her displeasure, "Aye, just make sure to stay safe out there, you two."

Before he could light his cigar, he began to cough, catching Skylar's attention. She raised her brow in worry, but the man simply waved a hand, brushing it off. "Dontcha worry bout a thing? Just a bit of a cold I've been having lately." Clearly, he was lying, but Skylar supposed she could let it slide for this moment.

She then ran up to her mother, hugging her legs tight. Skylar's mother smiled warmly, letting out a laugh that immediately turned into a frown as she looked to the right. There was a dock there.

A ship approached, propellers on its back and men running around the deck; on the side of the ship was the mark of a phoenix.

The general frowned, throwing his cigar off the island's edge, "They're early." he noted.

The mother nodded in agreement, much to Skylar's confusion, "What's going on?" she questioned.

The mother smiled softly, kneeling down. " There's Nothing to worry about. You can just head home for now and treat yourself to some cake. I'll be back soon."

Skylar just nodded, running along to the house.

The general watched as she entered the house. He then sighed, "You should have let her stick around. This is your last chance, after all. Who knows where she'll be heading after today?"

Skylar's mother closed her eyes, "She's a bright kid, and honestly, her joy is all I work for; I want to ensure the last thing I see is her smile." the mother explained.

The General frowned, nodding, "I suppose I understand that."

Both of them looked to the dock as the airship went into place, chains wrapped around the sides of the airship to ensure it wouldn't float off, and a man clad in golden armor walked forward.

"Quite the haul your people have here." The man commented. Even though his face was hidden, he held an aura of authority.

"Aye, that it is, just pulled a bit of it above the cloud sea today, but I digress; what can I do for ya, commander?" The general questioned.

The man in golden armor frowned. "The girl who went to the cabin is of age, isn't she?"

Skylar's mother winced, "Ah... I was worried that's what you came here for, so early in the morning too..."

The man in armor nodded. "Usually, we'd arrive later in the day, but we received reports of this large chunk of crystal and figured we may as well take down two birds with one stone," the man explained.

He then turned to face the general. "I'm sure you know the proper paperwork you need to fill out. I'll be expecting it on my desk in four days."

In annoyance, the General clicked his tongue, "Whatever you say, Leon."

Skylar's mother blinked, raising a brow, "Hold on, you two know each other?"

The general sighed, turning away, "I'd like to keep my life to what happens on this island if that is alright with you."

Leon nodded understandingly, "Forgive me, mam, but we are on a tight schedule. If at all possible, would you lead me to the child? The day won't last forever."

Skylar's mother let out a mild sigh, "Yes... Just give it a moment. I just sent her to the house to begin the procedures."

Leon raised a brow, hearing, "Is that so? Well, I suppose I can wait a few moments. Either way, I am still going to require a DNA test, procedure, and all that." Leon explained as a soldier walked up with a vial and a small knife.

Leon took both and walked up to Skylar's mother, "Would you prefer I do the deed?"

The mother reached out and grabbed the knife with her right hand; she then immediately pressed it into her left index finger, drawing blood from it.

Leon held out the vial, and the blood dropped into it with ease. He then handed the vial back to the other soldier, who walked up and nodded.

The soldier nodded before walking back to the ship. Leon frowned, "That should be time enough, I think."

***

The ship soared across the skies, the sun rising in the distance as it did so.

Skylar grasped the side, looking over the edge, eyes wide in wonder. Leon walked beside her with a hand on his hip, a sly smirk appearing on his face, "It's always invigorating the first time, isn't it."

Skylar turned her attention to Leon, smiling, "How does it fly?" She couldn't help but question the curiosity of a child was an innocent thing.

Leon leaned onto the edge, looking at the clouds. " Crystals. Wind-aspected crystals make the core of this ship. Without them, we'd be plummeting into the poisonous clouds below."

His attention turned to what lay ahead: a massive city street filled with people atop a floating island.

But Skylar's eyes focused on a singular building, a castle in the back of this fair city.

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The wind blew gently, rustling Skylar’s hair a bit as she spoke two words: "What's that?"

Leon smirked at the child's wide-eyed wonder before turning around and walking away, "Your new home." Skylar's eyes only widened in excitement, and she had a big grin on her face.

Unaware of the frown that was now plastered on Leon's.

Chapter 1: Rite Of Passage.

----------------------------------------

The airship docked on the far-right edge of the town, where several guards immediately rushed to the ship's side.

On the inside, a few men threw ropes over the side. The guards on the outside grabbed hold of those ropes, tying the ship down on a few notches to ensure that it wouldn't float off or fall into the sea of clouds.

This was a temporary measure in this case, as the ships here had to be ready to set off at any given moment.

While other men brought a massive wooden board to the side of the ship, ensuring a safe exit platform was made.

Skylar leaped onto that platform without hesitation, running ahead, eyes wide in wonder as she looked at the city.

She was practically bouncing in excitement.

Leon walked off the ship, smiling at the sight. "If you wish to explore the markets, you are free to do so, but when you're done, show this to a guard, and they'll take you where you need to go." Leon knelt, handing Skylar a small golden badge. The only words on it were 'Jr. Executioner.' Skylar took the badge, looking it over before smiling.

Nodding to Leon, she broke off into a sprint and headed towards the markets.

One of the many guards walked over to Leon, a frown plastered under his helmet. "Are you sure that's wise, sir? Criminal activity has been quite frequent lately, and the young lady could get hurt."

Leon's serious gaze returned as he turned to that guard, "...Skylar Shadewalker... She's barely 12, yet there is an unmistakable bloodlust in her gaze."

The guard raised a brow, "Is there? She seemed like any other girl to me."

Leon began to walk forward. "I suppose we'll see soon enough. The king may be fine making her an Executioner out of respect for her lineage, but I, for one, would have her undergo the same test everyone else does."

Leon frowned, "Of course, I suppose she is still a child. As such, I shall oversee her safety." Leon declared before walking forward, "I shall leave the preparations of the citizens to you."

***

Skylar blinked, tilting her head in confusion at the sight of the man performing parlor tricks. It was fascinating, for sure.

But she was more confused by the people throwing out coins to this man. She was aware of 'currency'; she had done her fair share of trades back in her village.

But the types of coins these people used were unfamiliar to her.

And yet, that wasn't her true focus; her focus was on the items those men were selling.

Crystals.

Crystals of varying colors, the seller raised a brow, noticing Skylar's gaze. " Are you going to keep staring, or are you going to buy something?"

Skylar blinked before shirking back somewhat shyly, "S-Sorry."

The man's gaze softened a little. He let out a sigh, turning back to his client and paying Skylar no more attention.

So, Skylar turned her attention to the rest of the city, only to raise a brow. The streets were filled with people just a moment ago, but now they were empty.

The sound of armored boots hitting the ground came from the distance. Skylar looked in the direction of the sound and there in the distance.

Someone clad in pure silver armor walked forward with a silver greatsword in this person's right hand.

This person stood at least 20 meters away.

The helmet of this armor looked right at Skylar before speaking, "...Skylar Shadewalker." They said this, stabbing the great sword into the ground and shattering the stone below it.

Skylar flinched at the display of this person's strength; for some reason, she felt she was in immense danger.

Yet this person held out their right hand, a second sword manifesting in her hand.

As Skylar backed up, she felt her back hit a wall. Moments later, the sword manifested in this armored stranger's hand hit the wall beside Skylar's face.

The person behind the helmet spoke, their voice distorted behind it, "Pick up the blade, your trial begins now."

"T-Trial... What are you talking about...?" Skylar questioned inching away from the blade eyes darting around; nobody was there.

Did they all run away?

What's going on?

The person in the armor frowned beneath the helmet before speaking up, drawing the blade from the stone, "The trial to see if you are allowed to live as we do, as Executioners."

Skylar raised a brow as the memory of the card she'd received from Leon entered her thoughts: "Executioner... I don't... What does that even mean?"

Within a few seconds, the armored person, now standing in front of Skylar's leg, pulled back and slammed its boot into Skylar's gut with enough force to send her through the wall, bricks flying into the air as she shot through the building exiting through a glass window back hitting yet another brick wall.

A mixture of blood and saliva flew out of her mouth as the glass shards cut her skin, and she fell to her knee, palms hitting the ground as her eyes remained wide; the person clad in armor scoffed, walking over the rubble, locking eyes with Skylar, "...Only a fool fails to pick up a weapon in defense. At this rate, you'll be dead before we can even get started."

The reality of the situation began to set upon Skylar as those words hit her ears.

She was about to die.

This person was going to kill her.

So, with those palms remaining on the ground, she ignored the pain coursing through her body looking up, the person in amour was almost upon Skylar now.

Yet Skylar's gaze darted around an exit to the left about five meters away.

They pointed that blade forward, "I am Icon. Your test begins now."

Icon then pulled back its blade, raising it high, and a green glow began to surround Skylar's palm.

Icon swung its blade down ready to cleave Skylar's head clean off only for a small pulse of wind to come forth sending the shards of glass on the floor upwards.

One of those shards slipped through the opening on Icon's helmet, and blood came from it.

Skylar got to her feet as Icon stumbled backward, scrambling to run to the exit.

Icon growled, reaching up and taking off its helmet, revealing raven black hair, this person reached up the glass shard within their eye.

Yet their face didn't show pain as they pulled out the shard blood flowing from it, "Well well... A calculated retreat, there may be more to this girl than I thought." within a matter of ten seconds the wound began to seal up.

"Now what will your next move be, Skylar?" Icon questioned, putting that helmet back on and walking to the exit.

As they turned the corner, they saw Skylar standing in the distance, sword in hand, gripping the hilt with both hands. The sword was right in front of her.

A sign of fear.

Icon frowned beneath its helmet, "You stand there afraid yet with a blade drawn. Why?"

Skylar looked at the sword in her hands. "I... don't want to die." She answered simply, "But... I don't want to kill anyone either."

The ideals of a child unaware of what it is they are getting into, Icon cocked their head to the side, "...You really don't know what it is to be an executioner do you?"

Skylar shook her head, confirming Icon's suspicions, so Icon pointed that blade forward. "We, as executioners, have a duty to this land and the people who walk it. Our duty is to slay false deities that would drown these lands into the sea of clouds below," Icon proclaimed.

A red glow radiated from underneath their helmet.

"I..." Skylar slowly lowered her blade, "I didn't want any of this, j-just let me leave! Let me go home!"

Icon clicked their tongue in annoyance, "Idiot. This isn't an offer you can turn down... Besides, your position is unique even amongst other Executioners. You have no home to return to anymore."

Skylar's eyes widened at those words, "What... What are you talking about...?"

Icon chuckled some, "You didn't know? The reason the royal army went to that island you lived on was to take anyone worthy to become Executioners. After all, that island was about to sink into the cloud sea, and all life on it was to be purged."

Skylar's eyes remained wide as she took a step backward. " Y-you're lying. Why would anyone do that?"

Icon shrugged, "Hell, if I know, I'm just here to see if you're worthy of the title of Executioner... If you want to see if I'm lying, then prove to me that you were not a mistake." Icon proclaimed. The blade in their hand never wavered.

Skylar's eyes remained fixated on her own blade; they seemed to tremble from the knowledge she had just obtained. "Get... Out..." she uttered those two words, closing her eyes before removing her right hand from the sword and using her left to pull it back behind her shoulder. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!"

She roared, and her eyes snapped open. Her eyes burning with emerald energy.

Yet Icon scoffed, tilting their head to the side as the sword flew past them, "Is that all you have?"

Skylar then blasted forward, a green glow shining brilliantly around her right hand. She reached forward, that hand forming a fist, as she pulled it back. Icon raised its blade once more.

Only for their eyes to widen as the sound of metal clashing upon metal came from behind them, and a sudden force hit the back of their helmet.

"Wha-"

At that moment, Skylar was in front of Icon with that fist pulled back, and green energy wrapped around that fist. Yet, instead of fear, a smirk appeared on Icon's face.

Suddenly Icon's hand wrapped around Skylar's face as she uttered her next words, "KNOW WHEN YOU'RE BEATEN!"

Icon swiftly planted Skylar's head into the stone in one swift movement, sending cracks throughout the area.

Icon then smirked beneath her helmet, removing her palm from Skylar's face and saying, "You've lost this battle... Young executioner."

Skylar felt her vision blur, and Skylar barely heard the following words that Icon spoke.

"When next you wake, you'll be one of us... Then you will have the answers you seek."

Unable to take anymore, Skylar let her eyes close once more.

***

(One Week ago.)

"What!?!" Leon shouted standing from his chair and slamming his hands down on the table, "You want to make a young girl, at the age of twelve an Executioner?!"

The table in question was made of stone, and four people, including Leon, were at it.

Icon sat in one of those chairs resting their head upon their fist, "I must agree with Leon... This is rather unusual. Sure, we've received reports of an unknown entity from that island, but wouldn't it be better to evacuate the whole island?"

The third person at the table smirked; he had black hair combed back. He leaned forward, putting his hands together, "...Now, now, you two, think for a moment. While it is true that this is most unusual...The king has yet to explain the matter in full." The man then turned his gaze to the king. Crimson eyes shining bright, "That said, if there is not a reasonable exclamation, you should be aware I'll be taking the lives of that island under my protection."

Thus, The King closed his eyes. A white beard was upon his face, yet his calm expression was unchanged. "What is it you three know of Stella?" the king questioned, catching the trio off guard.

Leon frowned, "Stella? Isn't that just a legend?" Leon questioned, looking at Icon.

Icon frowned, leaning forward, "I'm unfamiliar with such a thing... What of you, Draco?"

The third man, now named, pulled his hands back to his side, letting out a sigh and cupping his chin with his right hand. "Stella... Also known as 'Starlight.' Though as for the legend Leon is referring to... It's a folktale, really. But the general basis is that all life, evil or otherwise, came from Stella.."

The king opened his eyes, "Indeed... But what is not told in that legend? Is where Stella came from. . . But that is a topic for another time."

"All I can say is that the reason this must be done is related to that very same legend... I cannot divulge the details just yet, but I assure you. Given time, everything will be made clear."

Draco frowned deeply, "You're aware you are asking us to stand by idly as at least a thousand people die."

The King leaned forward and asked, " If you had to pick between saving a thousand lives or a million, which would you pick?"

Leon's eyes widened at the question, While Draco's frown deepened.

Those two were stunned into silence.

Yet it was Icon that spoke up, "...What are you implying." their voice rang out over the rest.

The king looked to the table at each of his subordinates before speaking, "...That is what we here must choose. Do we live our lives to protect a single island? Or do we serve the people we preside over?"

"Your answer doesn't matter, for there will be no forgiveness for the sins we are about to commit."