Azura instantly knew something was wrong when the trio returned. The friendly atmosphere of Azure’s Rest was gone. Where before kin of all types intermingled chatting lazily while cultivating, now they stuck to their respective kinds. A flock of crow-kin watched a pack of dog-kin with mistrust from high atop their tree top home. A pack of hyena-kin, usually the most boisterous of all kin, were silent as they huddle close together as they went about their duties. Something had broken in the short time they’d been away. If the change in attitude wasn’t enough evidence of this, then Hamal’s somber expression was. He waited for them just inside the gates with Trisva, whose head hung low.
“What happened?” Fatania asked looking around. “Where’s Tallous? I left him in charge.”
“Alive,” Hamal said shortly. “Although he lost an eye. Coralline is seeing to him.”
Azura gasped. “Was it the mists or an attack from Deepmere?” Tallous was a few months away from his own advancement. If he was hurt then the foe must’ve been powerful.
“I wish it was,” Hamal answered.
“Huh?” Azura said. That didn’t make any sense. Who else could it be?
Fatania seemed to grasp at something Azura was clearly missing. Her expression darkened.
“Not here. Gather the mothers any who have information. Let’s meet in the council chambers in two hours.”
Hamal nodded as he left. Azura turned toward Trisva and saw the tears fall. She took a single step toward the kin when Trisva threw herself at Azura. She caught the girl as she wept. Azura might have been immovable as a tree, but she wasn’t unfeeling like one. She hugged the girl tightly as she wept.
“It’s okay. I’ll make whoever did this pay.” For some reason that only made her cry harder. Three hours later Azura understood why.
Tallous, supported by her mother, had just finished retelling events as Azura’s world shattered around her. Betrayed. Kin killing kin. This… this wasn’t supposed to happen. Since when did kin do that to each other? This was something she expected from humans. Not kin.
“Why?” Azura asked. She couldn’t wrap her mind around it.
“Why not, is the better question,” Fatania said darkly. Azura looked at the kin utterly lost.
“Things have changed,” Hamal said. “Azura how much do you think you could sell your services for?”
“Uh…” She never even thought of it. “I don’t know a gold a month…” That seemed like a hefty price to her. Her mother only made a few silver back before everything went to hell.
“A gold a month...” Fatania shook her head sadly. “Try more like a thousand a month. Two thousand. Gods below you could probably get that much in an hour for awakening some rich man’s mana pool.”
Azura gapped at her. She couldn’t be serious.
“I’m serious,” Fatania said accurately reading her expression. “You could be the richest kin on the continent. Well I guess Hamal or any other liquid cultivator could do the same now. I was foolish thinking that it wouldn’t tempt any kin.”
“Is it too late then?” Coralline asked. “I mean we all know how to cultivate. It’s only a matter of time before we all become liquid cultivators. Do we have to worry about kin running off and becoming warlords? Or joining our enemy? Who is our enemy? We’ve only been worrying about surviving so far. What do we want to accomplish? I know we talked about EXODUS, but how about after that?”
The group was silent for several long minutes. Eventually they all turned toward her. Azura didn’t reply. For an instant she wanted to run off. She didn’t want to make the decision. The child in her wanted to leave the hard choices to the adults. Her adult side however knew that this was exactly what Fatania had been trying to teach her. She could leave it up to them... but they wanted to know what she thought. So, she closed her eyes and did something she rarely ever did. She gave the future some serious thought.
First there was EXODUS. It wasn’t a complex plan. Gods below, the plan was nothing more than loot Deepmere and rescue all the kin. Then run away from the mists. Simplistic as it was practical. However, it had been a plan without any meaningful impact to her. Now, she really gave it some thought. Loot Deepmere and rescue the kin… It would be a war. Was she okay with that? Deep down, she already knew the truth. She was. Her path was blood. That wasn’t a path of peace. With all that the bastards at Deepmere had taken, she had no problem bring it back tenfold to them.
Then there was the kin… Her people. Once absolutely united were now fracturing, because they had power. Something they had lacked since she could remember. Not only did they have power, but they could be greater than the greatest mage. How could she keep them united?
Azura sighed. This was so much bigger than she could’ve imagined.
“I don’t know the answer to those questions mother. I will tell you what I think. I’ve been awakening almost every kin we’ve rescued. I guess the other liquid cultivators can do it now too. I don’t like not giving them the chance at power, if they want to take it. But that doesn’t mean it will be free. Not anymore. Oaths of loyalty will be required if they want to become a cultivator, although I don’t know if it will matter soon anyways. Right now there are just a few, but soon we will have a hundred liquid cultivators. Even if I don’t show them how to advance they can figure it out like I did.”
“I don’t know about that,” Hamal said drawing her attention. “I don’t think you understand how extraordinary your control over mana was back then. I nearly gave up when I was trying to advance. That was by far the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. The only reason I kept trying was that you proved it was possible. It’ll be difficult for them to advance without you.”
“I’ll make sure of that,” Fatania said. “I’ll have my family start making rumors about how to advance using herbs or other such nonsense. That way any who leave us will have false information to work on.”
Alenina shook her head, her rabbit ears flapping about. “That deer-kin joined Dageth. If Hamal’s guess is right he knows how to advance. He’ll just tell them. Then they’ll let the knowledge spread.”
“I doubt it for several reasons,” Fatania said. “I think the deer-kin will wait until any student is ready before giving up his secret. He will be paranoid of betrayal.” Fatania face twisted slightly, her ratty nose twitching in annoyance. Azura knew how she felt. They were feeling that paranoia right now.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“The other reason is Dageth won’t want the knowledge to spread either,” Fatania concluded.
“Why not? They’re a school. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do?” Coralline asked.
“They are a magic combat academy,” Hamal said catching on to his mother’s reasoning. “They wouldn’t like sharing such a powerful secret with everyone. Not if they could monopolize the learning. Eventually the knowledge would spread, but I think mother’s right. Their own greed will slow the progress.”
“I guess that leaves the biggest questions unanswered,” Alenina said. “What do we want? Who is our enemy? Do we have one? What about the mists?”
Again all eyes turned to her. Azura knew on this front they needed her leadership. She stood up looking each of them in the eyes before speaking.
“What do we want? It’s a good question. I want the kin to be safe. To be treated as equals. Nicola wanted to achieve the same thing deep down, I think. He went to the mages for it. I… I refuse to do that!” Azura slammed her hands down on the table starting everyone. “They took too much from us! So we’ll take it back! We’ll found our own… sect of cultivators, where all kin are welcome. We’ll become a power on the continent to rival Dageth. Those who wish to join will have to take oaths of loyalty both when joining and again after receiving the training to become liquid cultivators and beyond.”
Azura turned toward Alenina regarding her. Azura’s ki had subconsciously overflowed causing her hair to rise slightly as she gave off a heavy aura that weighed everyone else down. Only Hamal seemed unaffected by her aura. He was however moved by her words standing taller. Azura continued drawing on determination she didn’t know she had.
“Who is our enemy? Anyone that would stand in our way! We will take what we are owed! Peacefully if we can, with force if we can’t!”
Azura half expected the rabbit-kin to flinch. Instead she saw the viscous smile form on her lips. “About damn time.” Azura nodded to her. She should’ve expected as much. She had lost more than most.
A slow clap started with her mother whose proud expression was one that Azura would remember till the sun burned out. Soon all the others around the room clapped. Tallous gave a loud cheer his one eye burning with vigor.
Once the excitement died down Fatania spoke.
“Well said. We need to decide what to tell everyone. An official statement perhaps. We could hide what Nicola done so they don’t panic…”
“No,” Azura said flatly. “Trust has been broken. Only honesty can fix it. Gather everyone and I’ll address them in two hours.”
Fatania paused as if she wanted to argue then stopped. She surprised Azura by bowing. “As you command Magebane.”
Azura blinked, shocked at the response as the others filed out of the chamber till only her mother was left. As soon as the last kin left she ran to her sweeping Azura up in a large hug.
“I’m so proud of you!” She squealed.
“I…I…” There were no right words. So she chose simple ones instead. “Thanks mom.” The pair embraced chatting softly as the kin gathered.
Elise stood next to Gerald in midst of the gathered kin. They were all told to rally at the large clearing next to the river. It was apparently the same site they fought at to claim this place when the kin had first arrived. There was even a sign, 'extra fertilizer here.' Elise didn't get the reference although Gerald chuckled when she mentioned it.
She wish there was chuckling now. Instead nervous mutterings were heard instead of excited whisper that such an event would normally elicit. Elise wasn’t sure what was going on. No one was. Things had been tense and no one had wanted to tell her anything. Gerald was unsure as well, since he was busy training at the forge all day. Something had happened that was all anyone knew for certain. Some said creatures from the mist raided Azure’s Rest killing a large numbers of cultivators. Others said mists had consumed Deepmere. Even worse others said traitors were in their midst. She didn’t know what to think. That doubt was tripled when Azura appeared on the stump of a large tree so she could overlook the crowd. She slapped her hands together and the resulting shockwave nearly knocked Elise on her ass. The crowd was instantly quieted by the show of force. An intense presence radiated from Azura falling over them like a blanket. Elise trembled at the show of power. This wasn’t her sister. This was the Azure Magebane. She recalled seeing her sister’s full power before. Most vividly she recalled at the battle of Fortunia where she slaughtered dozens of elite elves with a single attack. She trembled as Gerald put a comforting arm around her. The oppressive aura was immediately lifted. Elise blinked. The weight was gone. She looked around and saw kin still under the effect. She looked up at Gerald who only nodded at her before returning his gaze to Azura.
“Today we have suffered a loss. A loss not only of kin, but of something fundamental to whom we are.” Azura paused looking over the crowd. The power she radiated made many of the kin tremble. “We were betrayed. A herd of deer-kin has left Azure’s Rest. Left, us.” Mutterings came from the gather kin. Azura’s next words silenced them. “They didn’t just abandon us after all we did for them. Left to join the mages of Dageth, selling our secrets for personal gain.” Angry shouts and cries of betrayer were echoing through the crowd. Elise could feel their hate at what happened. Azura let them continue on for nearly a minute before she spoke. Again the crowd went instantly silent. “Not only did they betrayed us, but two kin fell to their treachery. Fawn and Gabe. Two of the bravest rat-kin I knew. They worked tirelessly to protect us from outside threats… ONLY TO HAVE A KNIFE PLUNGED INTO THEIR BACKS WHILE THEIR EYES WERE LOOKING OUTWARD! THIS CRIME IS UNFORGIVABLE! By my authority as Head Mother of Azure’s Rest I hereby declare that the kin known as Nicola shall henceforth be known as KINSLAYER!”
Screams of outrage shook the very trees as Elise covered her ears. Azura angry expression encompassed them all. There was no mercy that she could see. Elise forgot how terrifying her sister could be when serious.
“Unbelievable as the Kinslayer’s crimes are, there is one even worse… One that infects us here. Trust. He has broken the trust that the kin had in one another. You’ve all felt it. I shall miss Fawn and Gabe dearly and plan to spend the rest of the day with Fatania and her family grieving. Yet, it is the loss of this ‘trust’ that truly threatens us all. Some of this is the leadership fault. My, fault. I gave you power, but no purpose. That changes now!” Azura stamped her foot which shook the very ground.
“Trust must go both ways, so I will trust all of you right now. I’ll trust you with my vision of the future. One that I’ve been putting off thinking about. The burden is heavy and I didn’t want to carry it. No longer! We have discovered that Dageth have fled Deepmere and that most of the elves are already gone. By unanimous decision of the Council of Mothers, we’ll attack Deepmere in two weeks. We will free all the kin in the city, take all the supplies and goods we can, then get as far away from the mists as possible. We’ll find someplace new where we can grow strong enough that no one can stop us!”
The cheer that erupted threatened to explode Elise’s ear drums, but she hardly noticed. She stared at her sister in shock. They we’re going to do what…
“That’s not all! No longer will I be awakening mana pools of kin who join us. They’ll have to take oaths of loyalty if they want my patronage. We’ll still save all the kin, but they can only become cultivators if they fully pledge themselves to our cause. To the freedom and restoration of the kin as a race of power! As for the rest of you…” Azura hard eyes looked over the crowd, which went eerily silent.
“When I awoke each of your mana pools, I told you I would give you power. I have done that. Any who wish to leave may do so. Do not flee like the cowardly deer-kin did shoving a blade in our back as you run away, but tell me to my face that you want to leave. I’ll not stop you. The path of the cultivator is one of hardships. It’s not for everyone. If you wish to continue we’ll need each other. Of that, I’m certain. For those of you who want to leave, go. Even go to Deepmere and tell them what I said today. I do not fear the mages of Deepmere. Even if they have a year to prepare for our coming, THEY, WILL, FALL! For we are greater than mages. We… ARE CUTLIVATORS!!!” Azura bellowed the last two words so loudly that several trees broke from her ki infused shout. The intensity of the volume was matched by the gathered kin’s response.
Elise looked on and knew that everything was spiraling out of control. Her peaceful little life here was gone. It had only ever been an illusion. She knew that. But, how she wanted it to stay. She looked up to Azura’s hard face as she raised her hand to sky, which was mirrored by the kin. There was no doubt, Deepmere was finished. She would have to make plans to ensure her mother and grandfather escaped the coming storm. Right now, she wasn’t sure the cultivator’s would leave a single stone standing when they were done.