The lids that merged to enclose her vision had now parted. In a matter of seconds Mikiela is on her feet preparing for the day. She wraps her sandal straps around and ties them at her lower shin. Her hair brushed and braided, mouth rinsed, face washed, a piece of rolled bread shoved in her mouth and a gongol fruit in one hand. Before marching out the door her mother, Z'dara, places a hand on Mikiela's shoulder and hands her a ball of cloth that holds a wedge of cheese.
Mikiela smiles, " Thank you momma. We're doing our run today, could you leave the bandages and ointment out for me?"
Her mother returns her smile and nods.
Z'dara is a mute. She does not speak and cannot speak, but her father had once told Mikiela that patience on the subject could stretch farther than the Empire. Either way Mikiela's way of life was built around this and therefore posed no real questions to her. Bonn comes through the front door of the house with his light armor equipped. Dropping a load of sacks he takes in the view of his two precious girls and says,
" I never imagined I'd find eyes as beautiful as my wife's in another woman."
"Oh, please!", Mikiela groans and grins as her father comes up and wraps the both of them within his muscular arms.
" Where to today?", he asks, releasing them from his protection.
Mikiela stands a little straighter and says, " Terrain versatility and physical conditioning is our main course today, Advisor."
Bonn gives her a pat on the shoulder and squeezes it with an immense amount of pressure. Mikiela does not flinch, she does not even blink.
" Very good. Be the first one there, my girl, and train hard.", Her father grins and steps aside to let her sprint off.
Z'dara taps her husband's shoulder. When Bonn turns around she is pointing at her mouth and then signs him a number.
Bonn presses his lips together and puts a hand under his wife's caramel cheek, " We mustn't change the course of a river. It will flood and lose sense of its self."
As Mikiela flys down the stone street she is one of the few who gets up and takes off as soon as the sun paints the sky in its morning reds. The colorful glow of rays wanting to overtake of the coal-like ridge of the mountains only caused a much more vibrant color scheme; where purple, fuschia, red,orange, and pink collided in the horizon. Palm sized drops of puddles dotted the subtle dips in the street making small portals of a mirrored world and few wives had unhooked their wooden latches on their windows to allow the fresh breeze of the morning sea to cast hints of salt through their houses.
Reaching the main road, Mikiela notices another student of Lucissirius, Thurmmond, running out of the opposite seventh-level street. When Thurmmond makes eye contact with her they both shot off as if black powder exploded off the bottom of their feet.
The capital's construction was kept quite simple. Within the valley a single large road was built in the middle and large enough that four giants could walk side by side down its path. On the end that met the mountains they built the castle, partially carved into the face of the mountain. A single gated wall separated the public's twenty-five levels that headed out of the valley from the castle's private four levels.
Mikiela and Thurmmond are headed towards this gate's staircase, reaching the ramparts and jumping off onto the mountain was the quickest way to the upper path that leads to the ridge.
Mikiela has taken a several yards lead when a horse carriage comes out of the the sea side seventeenth street. Quick on her feet, she leaps off a crate in front of a store, plants three strong steps on the clay patched wall, and thrusts with all her might towards the top. Arcing over the carriage she drops the gongol fruit from her grasp.
Just then,
WWHHOOOOOOSSSHHH!, " ANOOOTHER TIME YOU SLY CAT!!!", Thurmmond yells as he moves over the rooftops, soaring towards the gate. Having concentrated a blast of gale at the ground he launched himself much farther ahead than Mikiela has seen before.
Mikiela lets out a grunt of frustration as she nears the gated wall. She could see Thurmmond coming down yards shy of the first step and before he lands another strong blast of wind blows past her bringing up dust, pebbles, and shooting droplets of water. Thurmmond runs up the left set of steps past the guards who cheer him on.
"Like a falcon!"
"That is definitely Advisor Broncs' son! Haha! Watch him soar!", the Guards shouted encouragingly.
Thurmmond has ascended the top of the steps just has Mikiela was approaching. The soldiers also cheered her on, her father being a favored commander not only among his own six platoons, but many others for his contributions of aid. She launches herself over the first seven steps, same with the second set, she didn't bother with the last three steps leading to the top of the wall. Mikiela hops on the short sidewall and jumps over onto the walkway. Just as her sprint starts again she is passed by a blurry white figure, hair that blends with the snowy peaks of the Appa mountain range.
Sophie. Mikiela watches as the short, winter haired girl retracts long, red wires back into her arms as she comes down from the air.
Mikiela feels her urgency spike. Thurmmond is at the edge of the ramparts readying to launch himself and Sophie had swung her self second with a bit of distance to make up. Mikiela gains on Sophie and overtakes her after they both make the leap from the ramparts to the mountain side. By the time Mikiela reaches the upper path she had left Sophie a couple minutes behind, but Thurmmond was nowhere on the lower ridge top. The sea-side of the mountain had a wide cliff where the students met periodically for training. Their she spots two figures, one being the bulky shape of Thurmmond.
"That was a strong leap cat-girl", Thurmmond offers his forearm as Mikiela comes running from the path, " yet, I believe we can call this one - nell, since it is the new moon tonight."
She smacks the straps of his bracers and grips, "That last launch killed you, didn't it?"
Thurmmond smiles and shares that he may have come across a "revelation".
The rest of the students made their way in.
Thurmmond was the main attraction at the moment, his revelation being a reason for congratulations and insight. The conversation progressed, they all were wanting to know what he was focusing on or what special training he may have been doing.
The sly instructor, Trainer Innistrea, releases a cough from behind his group,
" A minute I've been here and my presence is not of importance."
They immediately line up, feet shoulder width, and hands behind their back clasping their wrists.
Trainer Straisus Innistrea notices he's short one student,though he is positive he counted eight by the sound of footsteps, " ...But he was by the cli-"
" I'm here, Trainer Innistrea.", Lokel announces himself behind the former member of the military's specialty branch of assassins.
"In place. Now.", The instructor replies with a stern tone.
Lokel of course did and so the trainer began the rigorous day.
They followed they're trainer as he leaped from the cliff into the sea. Each of them giving the previous jumper a few seconds before they themselves dive off. A long swim to the beach and now a run towards the flat lands forest where lumber is procured for the capital. The instructor questions them as they jog at a quick pace through unmarked paths. The ground morphed with the giant veins of trunks that came above ground from hundred year old trees scattered throughout.
"What poisons have no scent until grounded down?"
"Where did the rebellion of the Twin Lords take place?"
" What disadvantageous conditions did we overcome?"
"What land across the sea did our ancestors come from?"
On and on he would run the gears within their minds along with the ones in their bodies. Reaching the woods they helped workers lift logs, saw, and chopping in turns. Even Sophie, the smallest, swung the ten pound axe with ease, continuously, for half an hour. Mid-day comes and after a few breathes and water from their leather canteens they take off again.
" What is that bush with the orange berries?"
" Why shouldn't you chop that tree?"
" What two snakes are are common here?"
"Where does the Appa range extend to? From where to where?"
Trainer Innistrea and his group make it back to the Outer Wall encampment of capital soldiers. Though it is not actually an encampment, but an outfitting station for carriages carrying imperial goods to towns and villages, and of course a checkpoint for incoming goods or people across the vast land.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Mikiela rests her hands top of her head and inflated her chest with air. A few soldiers gawked and gave Mikiela and the other girls looks and smiles. A group of outgoing patrol braved a whistle at small Sophie, which she returned kindly by whipping out her veins and striking the soldier's calves. The other patrol members hoorayed and hollered as they made distance from the little, gorgeous terror and the man whipped would have to fix the tear in his trousers.
Afternoon training was the practice of forces, Mikiela headed towards the largest, circular arena which was in the center of a cluster of seven. These arenas were more like miniature coliseums and served as defenses incase of an attack on the capital. At least, that was how it was explained, and yet Trainer Innistrea never really spoke about what that entailed.
The eight trainees were split up;
Freila and Hal went with a past graduate of the House of Lucissirius who also manipulates flames, Lokel had left to train in his family home, Jyrea and Mikiela stayed with Trainer Innistrea, Sophie is taken by a tall soldier named Macey who's ability is to manipulate the threads of spiders, A group of sailors from the Hidden Port had came for Xavier on horseback to take him, and lastly Thurmmond was being trained by an older brother, Trenton, who's ability allows him to manipulate the dirt around him.
As the others left the larger coliseum, Jyrea taps Mikiela in the knee causing her to buckle.
She catches herself, "I see it is the element of suprise you need, not a numbing touch!", she says with a smile as she sweeps his legs from under him.
Trainer Innistrea catches him by his upper arm, "Up you two. Jyrea, we had a few soldiers who took armament training too seriously and injured themselves. Help the alchemists and doctors at the sea-side thirteenth street, alchemist Medlia has welcomed them into her home. Mikiela, grab the falcon AND a clay pot this time."
Neither asked questions, Jyrea nodded and sprinted out, Mikiela walked towards the small armory within the arena.
As she returns she opens the wooden cage that's holds Albert the falcon and he flys out and catches a draft that helps him circle around the open top of the coliseum. The jar she sets down on the ground with a tangible frustration, " Trainer Inn-"
"Mikiela, You will listen.", the instructor interrupts her.
She straightens and tilts her chin slightly up, a sign that she is listening for her next direction.
" Have you ever", Trainer Innistrea points at the clay pot, "lightened an objects weight instead of burdening it?"
Mikiela's face is scrunched into a question, " I do not believe I ever had trainer."
Trainer Innistrea nods his head as he contemplates his plans.
"Albert will stretch his feathers today, though it may seem silly, I'd like you to concentrate on making this pot weightless. Maybe you don't only make things heavier, maybe you can train to make them lighter as well. It is unlikely for one with a force like yours to manipulate both ways, but Freila is a prime example, in a way, and so is Master Yaezmein Sola, who said herself she trained vigorously to control water both in both states. Liquid or frozen."
Mikiela salutes the name of the Master.
The idea of being able to control weight by lightening it invigorated her curiosity. Then again, she's never had a revelation. She bends a knee and examines the pot almost as if trying to find a secret to her abilities.
Will focusing on the cracks help? What about if she imagines it is not there? Or if she believes that the pot is made of air, then her ability to make things weightless will come to her! She excited her self at the thought of making a big leap. The reality was that excelling in using abilities is for those with precedented abilities.
The sun swept through the sky, and nearing the horizon of the Whorf's Forest. The blue of the sky started its tint of dusk on one side and from the other a gleaming bronze came. The lower the sun fell the more colors would emerge and subsequently fade to black.
The rest of the students had came back. Lokel had changed into a lighter armor, Hal and Freila had scorch marks on their leather, Sophie had strings of spider webs amongst her that one would barely notice, and the others were just as dirty or beaten.
"It is a new moon so it is a new count! Last moons victor was Mikiela! This moon has yet to be decided, but as always, my children, you will leave serious injury for another day.", Trainer Innistrea walks down the line of students and then stands in front of Jyrea and Xavier who are standing side by side, " JYREA, XAVIER, COMBATANTS TAKE STANCE!"
Jyrea and Xavier take on opposing sides, Mikiela retrieves a wooden dagger and hands it to Jyrea.
Jyrea taps Mikiela shoulder and then taps his ankle.
"As long as it isn't obvious, Xavier and those sea-worthy legs are the epiphany of balance.", Mikiela tells him.
Jyrea lets out a sigh with a grin, " I'll try, then."
Lokel had retrieved Xavier's wooden harpoon.
Trainer Innistrea begins the sparring match and the fighters start circling. Matching step for step, not crossing one leg over the other.
Xavier holding his harpoon midway with the tip pointed at the dirt, and Jyrea with one arm partially extended and the other wielding his dagger in a fist under his chin.
Then, Xavier makes a sudden step inside and Jyrea mirrors.
Xavier thrusting his harpoon towards Jyrea's chest, but Jyrea perceived the clinching strain of muscles on Xavier's forearm and uses his dagger to parry and spin, trying a rib cage stab that would end the match for being a fatal blow.
Though, Xavier is not so slow. From the time of the parry he uses the force of Jyrea's blow to shove his harpoon into the ground and with both hands jump and hold himself in a handstand position above his harpoon.
Jryea strikes air and notices Xavier smiling like a pet on a tree. He kicks Xavier's harpoon which sends him to the ground, yet on the way down, Xavier twists his hips with strong force causing his upper body to turn as well. With this he brings his Harpoon over the top of Jyrea's head and onto his left pauldron.
The impact causes Jyrea much pain and forced him to his knees. Xavier scrambles back and onto his feet, or tries, finding it hard to keep his left foot planted.
"It's over, I touched your good leg.", Jyrea says with pain as he numbs his shoulder.
Xavier is scrunching his face in disbelief, he didn't think he'd let Jyrea numb his senses! He never even felt a prick from Jyrea.
Xavier was saying something, " wai- when did- ahh!", then his left leg gave and he has to hold himself on one foot.
Jryea looks at Trainer Innistrea, but Trainner Innistrea simply says, " He is vulnerable, is he not?"
Jyrea takes a few steps towards Xavier when Xavier hurriedly throws his harpoon in a last minute decision to try and strike Jyrea, but it misses of course.
Jyrea steps to one side as it flew by. Xavier knelt in the dirt with no weapons and when Jyrea flipped his dagger around for the final blow, Xavier pulls a knife with a dark red leather cover from his boot and holds it between Jyrea's groin.
"My life or your children's ?"
An unexpected move, Jyrea was stunned for a moment, gave a laugh, and offered his forearm.
"That was a good fight matey!", exclaims Xavier, " Is your shoulder alright?"
Xavier and Jyrea take a spot on the wall, Jryea checking for anything broken or worse. Trainner Innistrea chooses four more students for combat training. After finishing, Trainer Innistrea delivers good news, "...as of course it is the time of the year that the stars align themselves in our crest. Which means, my children, graduation. Yes, yes, be content! You passed training that other nations harbor as cruelty. You are strong, you are fast, and you run the Empire's lands like freed steeds from the pens. Though, you must remember, you graduate from training, not the real thing. We've kept peace internally for centuries, We've maintained relationships with other nations, kings, queens, and councils. That never means that there isn't a threat. Soon you will find out what it means to be apart of the Empire. Or you may go on your whole life contemplating what you understand. Most have the latter, I hope I've prepared you to find the former. As graduation rituals demand, each of you will be given a location to work in. In other words you'll be living in another part of the Empire for a years time. Unless of course you are urgently needed here, nevertheless a courier is coming from WarMaster Dracole Quopretor",
the students grabbed and held their own wrist in salute to the WarMasters name, a military symbol of respect for those whose names are spoken with title,
" to hand me your personally written orders. You will deliver them to the commander you are under named in said so letter. Theres the courier is now, Brayon, former scout in the Santic sea war when we fought off the Twin Lords of Yeldonić and Yelsonnia."
A tall, lanky man came jogging through the arch way into the coliseum. His skin was dark like the chocolate the tenth street cafe makes, and his strides took a man five or seven steps to accomplish. He truly was a man of of two and some more meters.
The courier Brayon loomed over Trainer Innistrea. His satchel opened and out of it he handed the instructor eight folded and sealed letters. They exchanged a few words, asking the health of the other and their wives. Mikiela could feel a sense of familiarity between them, something she's seen with her fathers soldiers when he calls the younger ones 'son' and the veterans 'brothers'.
Brayon left to carry on his other deliveries and the instructor read the names and handed out their orders.
After everyone received their orders, Trainer Innistrea congratulated his students on their last assignment as pupils of the House of Lucissirius. They saluted, he dismissed, and Mikiela made her way towards Jyrea.
"Think we'll get to see the snowy plains of Titania? Or the rugged highlands northeast whose coastal cliffs have said to hold off the Siege of Thousand from Eoña?", she smirks with a certain excitement.
Jyrea knows her to be an adventurous villain, wishing to slay the next challenge, to conquer the risky path, and he knows it's because her father. He smiles and peels his slightly open, " Well, I'd prefer a quiet village with clear skies, honestly. Your father's heroics give you a sturdy amor, don't they?", he tells her as she slides her thumb under the fold and unlatches her seal as well.
She chuckles and tells him about how she's jumped over a carriage again.
" You came from one of those other worlds that pass by in the night sky, I tell you that is a factual statement! That, or you're part feline, Saberjaw I'd suspect.", they had a good laugh and then read their letters. Their smiles froze, fading as they came upon names they found so unfamiliar.
"Empire Stati-", her sentence stopped before it could start by the instructor.
"I understand the ambiguity of this, but I didn't think the child of Bonn Noroko foolish.", Trainer Innistrea says to her as she realizes how foolish it is to announce orders out in the open.
Hal and Freila has come over, Freila spoke first, " It has us three on the same carriage, Jyrea. You've been pretty far that way haven't you?".
Jyrea and Mikiela shake forearms, if Mikiela's deployment time was the same as the others then time was of the essence. Two days time Mikiela would be away from the only thing she really knew. The Capital of the Empire.
She walked the wide dirt path that lead to the front stone gates reinforced with bronze. Only the lit torches shone the metal hidden by the cloudy night sky. The new moon gave only a small shade of milky luminescence through the smoke that veiled a dark mystery.
The guards at the gate welcomed her, "Hello, young Noroko and Congratulations.", they raised their shields towards her.
"Thank you men.", she said graciously while bumping her elbow into the crest of their shields.
Empire lane had the hustle and bustle of adults around this time, the children having a curfew at dusk and older children above fourteen allowed to accompany parents until the age of sixteen. By that time they are expected to have learned the proper etiquette and manners to be in public. Though, of course, the casual male rough housing was done from time to time.
Reaching the seventh sea-side street she turns the corner at Dailey's herb shop, catching in her nose the scent of boiling flower petals and cinnamon sticks. A freshening scent that customers enjoy when either coming in or passing by. Her father was also just a few meters down the the stone path with a few of his men. Bonn noticing his daughter dismisses them and she approaches. The soldiers wishing her a well night as they pass by.
"And?", her father asks, his blonde hair sweaty, swept back and few strands came over his face.
"Details in the kitchen? ", he nods and put his arm around her.
Entering their home, Bonn latches the bronze reinforced door to lock it and they continues through a stone archway leading out of the room with the fireplace burning a sweet bundle cherry branches from the small garden out back. Mikiela finds her mother serving silver grabbit stuffed in Imported colored peppers. She gives her mother a kiss and thanks her for the bandages and ointment she eyes on the marble counter. Mikiela sits and tends to the few cuts she has, though nothing seems to need bandages.
Her father is served next, " Where have they sent you?", Bonn questions his daughter.
"It's odd father, really.", speaking in sense of confusion, "My location is Empire station Forty-nine... but... I've never ever seen any 'Empire stations' anywhere on any maps ever?".
Mikiela's confusion was no surprise to Bonn.
" It is normal. Though, I will be honest, I understand why you've been sent there and I've heard not many good things of it." , her father looks her in her eyes, " My child... my dear, I have told you the stories of the Empire's rise?"
She nods. Her face questioning.
Bonn continues, setting his plate to the side, and clasping his hands on top of the wooden table, "You've heard the same thing as a student. The children in the other schools too. We came from across the ocean, past the sea that harbors our Hidden Port because of a tyrant that ran his people ragged and used the power of his ability to hold the crown. But, we left, we defeated him and found our home here. Mountains as protection, people led by people they trusted, no matter the person",
Mikiela has seen her father serious in a military manner, but this was different. He was concerned, worrying.
" Our people led our people. That is generally correct, though the details are left to those who climb the ranks and earn the right to this dark history of ours and why we do what we do at our borders. I'm going to tell you a great tale, young one".
Bonn tells his ignorant daughter the veiled story of The War of the People, about a tyrant, his citizens, his armies, his slaves, his children, and heroes of a rebellion that birthed the principles of the Empire.
" My young child. There are no good people in the Empire. Because we only do what's best for our own".