But from the ashes of destruction, a glimmer of hope arose,
Five Acolytes born, gifted with my remaining power, their purpose I now chose.
-Thoubose
AMIKA
A blinding light pierced through the enclosed area, leaving the disoriented figure struggling to adjust to the sudden transformation. Despite the feeble early morning Krom light, the abrupt change proved disorienting, especially for someone in her weakened state.
“Wake up, Princess! First shift is ready to start a new pillar.”
A bucket of ice-cold seawater was unceremoniously dumped on the cowering figure whose cyan skin sparkled like a thousand diamonds as the light hit. It would be temporarily blinding to all the vicinity if they weren’t prepared for the spectacle at this point. Her tattered clothes, remnants of what was provided as the set for the year, were in a sorry state. On the bright side, she had learned that this was a decent indication of the approaching year’s end, as evidenced by the level of wear and tear on her garments. That being the only semblance of a way she could track her years, these days. The end of year solstice coming with a new set of garments and desperately needed week of rest, where the guards were too drunk in celebration to berate the slaves meaninglessly. It was a week of rest, heralding the arrival of the Norrænn's cherished day. This special occasion marked the end of the days of dwindling Krom light caused by Thoubose’s tilted axis of orbit, so say the scholars. This joyous occasion for them, signified the imminent planting season, and the Norrænns celebrated it with great fervor.
The second bucket followed suit along with the typical raucous laughter from many in the group of guards. Followed by the unnecessary third and fourth. Four soldiers entered the small cell, which was barely enough room for Amika to lay down fully in each direction, making these moments even more crammed and uncomfortable. The cell was a bare box with nothing in it other than the woman herself. Not even a seem for air was available when closed. In a different position, the water would be a boon.
As they entered, the cell rocked in motion. Its position affixed to a cart made it a mobile prison, suited perfectly for the need. The need being the less free movement of the asset the better. Two of the soldiers, when in the dimly lit cell, had a radiant glow beneath their runic armor. One emitted a gentle, pale blue hue, while the other emanated a brilliant white light. The other two soldiers had at least triple the number of runes embedded in their armor as the Gemini, most of them brightly lit with a dim blue coloring, in contrast to the guards that were roughly concealing gems. They grabbed at the woman and pulled her out of the cart jam-packed with iridescent milky-blue runes on its exterior and threw her down the steps. The steps that were attached haphazardly to the singular prison, wrought iron in composition.
She collapsed onto a cobblestone walkway after falling the entire rigid flight down, each step slamming against her as she cascaded down the flight. The walkway was part of a colossal bridge that stretched endlessly into the horizon when viewing to the east, from the cell's location. This bridge, unlike anything she had ever laid eyes on before, towered over every other structure she'd encountered. As she gazed in all directions outside where the bridge lay, there was nothing but the vast expanse of boundless blue ocean meeting her eyes. Each column supporting the immense bridge structure was easily several hundred meters in both length and width, disappearing into the depths beneath the bedrock.
Four additional elite runic guards with enchanted pikes surrounded the slumped figure. The runic-encased cell drained her internal well of power, so she felt essence rapidly filling her body like a bubble ready to burst at its peak in a matter of seconds as she was removed. Before the surge could fully empower her, the Gemini guard with the light blue stone swiftly fastened a collar around her neck using a fishing rod-like device. The device cinched tight, causing discomfort as it locked against her skin automatically on contact. The collar abruptly cut off most of the flow of essence from the environment, capping her power at a limited amount. It gave her a brief moment of euphoria, followed by the crushing sensation of most of her newfound strength being caste back away, leaving only a trickle behind – still preferable to the oppressive confines of the lightless cell.
A miserable crew of downtrodden slaves stood, looking even more deplorable in condition, at the ready. Their ranks organized into various groups along the bridge, an almost status amongst the slaves along with the varying dilapidated nature of their clothing. The constant crack of the slave master's whips served as a cruel and ever-present backdrop to the scene, echoing through the air as they forced the slaves into their respective roles.
The main working group consisted of laborers, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair as they typically toiled under the unforgiving Krom, with rarely any respite. These unfortunate souls endured the most brutal conditions imaginable. They were subjected to back-breaking labor, primarily involving the manual extraction of materials from the dig sites and their transportation to the shore. Afterward, they would laboriously haul back large, refined blocks. Their dedicated lanes on the bridge were a seemingly endless stream of bodies that flowed to and fro the dig sites.
Another group comprised skilled slaves who possessed valuable trades or were specific runic tradesmen by profession. They were treated the best of the three groups and saw the least turnover. Despite their talents, they were still bound by chains and subjugated to a life of servitude, their potential wasted in the relentless grind of slave labor. They performed the intricate tasks that required precision, harnessing the power of runes to streamline the process of shaping columns and fusing stones. What would have otherwise demanded the toil of thousands of slaves was accomplished with remarkable efficiency, requiring only a handful.
Lastly, there was a group of unfortunate essence users, their powers exploited to charge depleted runes. These individuals were forced to channel their abilities to recharge the depleted runes, enduring immense suffering as a result of being forced to push beyond their typical natural essence flow in order to keep up with the grueling demand. Their very life forces eventually drained, to serve their cruel masters. This group was easily distinguishable by the hallowed expressions on their faces, the sunken eyes, and the distant looks they often wore. They were kept in close proximity to the skilled group, ensuring that everything ran smoothly once operations were in full swing.
Within this grim and oppressive setting, the slaves toiled relentlessly, perpetually haunted by the specter of punishment. Their existence was characterized by ceaseless misery and subjected to the sadistic caprices of their ruthless overlords. Periodically, they were compelled to witness what were euphemistically referred to as "encouragement events," which amounted to nothing more than the public execution of fellow slaves. The “underperformers or troublemakers”. These gruesome spectacles were orchestrated with the sole purpose of instilling fear and maintaining the necessary productivity levels among the workforces. Sometimes, they were done solely to motivate Amika. Many times, the individuals were caste over the bridge. If the impact didn't claim their lives, hypothermia or sea creatures wouldn't be far behind, ready to finish the job if they managed to stay afloat. If they ever survived, they just resumed their duties, ever diligent in fear that could happen again.
The diamond Gemini guard cracked a whip against Amika’s back as she winced in pain, slowly making her way to her feet after her daily spill. Most of the guards’ features were hidden behind helmets and armor. Only their voices, height, and a few variations in runes or glows underneath their vests provided a means to distinguish them.
“Too bad. You got the suppression levels right on the first try today.” The pail blue gem Gemini said in response, sneering as he jabbed her in the ribs with his club causing her to lose her gasp for breath and stumble back to a knee before rising all the way.
“You don't have to do that Gary,” grumbled one of the stout halberd pikemen, his tone dripping with distaste.
“Colonel Kath to you, you little weasel. And, I absolutely do have to, Lieutenant! You will do better to remember your place you scab.” Gary gave the man a stern look, anger barely being held in check. “We were told to ensure our labor stays in line. Isn’t that right Val?”
“Absolutely! She needs constant reminders.” the diamond Gemini agreed as she sent her whip into Amika.
“I still don’t get why we have to let her sleep without any suppression devices.” Gary said with distaste.
“You beat her so bad, even the King, in a surprise visit, couldn't look past the damage. It takes a heart to be unmoved by that.” The same pikeman replied under his breath with distaste as he received a elbow from one of his fellows.
“Who’s talking back there? Soldiers keep to the letter!” Val scolded before directing back to Gary. “The appeal is in the examination phase. I will make sure the review on the matter is pushed to the next available hearing docket with the King. We just need to explain some situations about that day.”
“At least he still doesn’t want us to play nice after hearing of the attempts she’s made.” Gary gave a wicked smirk before slamming the end of his baton into her temple to accentuate the point, tunnel vision enveloping Amika as she stumbled again in place, eventually losing her balance.
…
AMIKA - NINE YEARS EARLIER
“Daddy! Daddy!!!” the wide eyed, blue skinned girl ran to greet her father in the typical way one would expect after being apart for so long. She barreled into the large-framed man, barely coming up to his naval.
A year had nearly passed since Erik had last seen his cherished acolyte blossom; an already rare occurrence given his usual absence from his children's early years. The ongoing war had demanded his full attention, diverting him from his concubines as was customary. Erik typically refrained from forming strong attachments to children or woman, and while he had initially ensured the presence of his most recent favorite, the mother of his promising acolyte daughter and daughter, remained close at the start of the campaign, time had caused her mother to fade into inevitable obscurity.
Her enthusiasm for his unconventional desires failed to match his unusual fervor. This led to the constant rotation of new faces in the concubine circle, her outlasting all others until finally fading into the background. Now, her sole focus rested on caring for the budding Acolyte, visiting only when summoned, bitterness lingering within her as she was cast aside in all but privileges.
In the occupied throne room, only the honor guard and the diligent servants remained with the King, Amika, and her mother. The servants were busily removing the previous owner's livery, meticulously replacing it with sapphire blue wherever possible. This recently acquired keep marked the latest expansion of the Norrænn domain to the west, a significant milestone in their ongoing war.
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With the colder months settling in, Erik and much of his army had opted for more relaxed attire, forgoing the cumbersome armor during this respite from the front lines. This strategic choice to halt incursions during the winter months allowed for troop consolidation and morale-boosting, while also streamlining logistics—an aspect that had posed constant challenges in the unfamiliar foreign domain, especially with the constant raids against them.
By minimizing the time spent in the wilderness, especially during harsh winters in the northern part of the continent, they aimed to reduce unnecessary casualties caused by the unforgiving elements and scarce provisions. Erik had become intimately acquainted with the harsh realities of northern winters. As it was in the northern tip, where his campaign began nine years ago.
“Ah! My favorite little jewel!” Erik hugged her with a long embrace, picking her up and twirling her about the throne room. “My my! You sure have grown!”
“You should see how fast I can swim now!” a gleam catching Amika’s eye as she looked challengingly.
“I might have to let you challenge your old man again.” Erik chuckled in amusement.
“I beat you the first time!” she smugly replied before her father continued.
“I won’t hold back again.” He smiled warmly. “Agatha as always, it looks like you are doing a fantastic job with our little flower. When did you two arrive?” He flashed a grin at the woman accompanying the youth, who beamed with pride from her position behind the guards stationed in the inner throne's circle, elevated on a platform above the rest of the opulent room.
“Yesterday evening my liege.” Agatha responded with the proper bow and courtesies.
“Yeah, you made us wait too long!” Amika interrupted, a courtesy the king rarely extended to anyone, yet his little flower often tried her luck with just about everything.
A fleeting annoyance flickered across the king’s face before he responded in his kindest. “My dearest, doesn’t your mother teach you about decorum?” He flashed her a stern look to the woman who reddened immediately. “Remember, try to speak when spoken to, when in the presence of your King or any gentlemen.”
“Yes Father.” Amika looked down at the chastisement, excitement dwindling.
“A king scarcely has time to spare for even the most basic of needs during the day.” He tried to soften his expression, noticing the deflation in his daughter’s demeanor. “There are myriad matters that demand my attention, though you remain the most cherished part of my life.”
“I felt a lot of power being used yesterday.” She looked at him suspiciously, yet slightly timid to make the remark.
“Yes, Reginald challenged Hector for Hector’s inheritance yesterday.” The king stated flatly.
“Where is Reginald! I haven’t seen him in ages!” she excitedly inflected his name, Reginald and Kellen being the only of the King’s children to treat Amika with any semblance of kindness. The rest were always callous and reserved, knowing her fate was more or less sealed in greatness, due to being daddy’s favorite. The future solo army, destined to bring all others under their rule.
“Dead.” The kings’ looked detached as he responded.
Amika gasped in horror, “What do you mean dead!” hand shooting up to cover her gaping mouth.
“I haven’t explained this to you before because you were too young to understand,” he began, gesturing for her to take a seat in a chair that formed for her next to the throne he himself took a seat on. Staff in the chamber reacting to the motion, hot tea and treats being rolled in from a side chamber. “You see, there’s only a limited amount of inheritance to distribute among my many male heirs, and even less now that I plan on living forever given what we have learned in my lifetime. Fortunately, this is something you won't have to concern yourself with. You have no need for gems, and you’re already immortal.” He met her gaze, noting her nod of understanding before continuing, “I reserve only two gems for my sons, just as every Norrænn king before me has done.”
“But you have more than two sons, and more than two gems?” Amika questioned out of turn, earning her an eye scolding before he continued.
“Our greatest ancestors feared our nation might become too weak because of nepotism, thus everything in our culture is earned through competition, only the strongest reign supreme in all facets of Norrænn culture.”
“But why did he have to die?” The horror subsided, leaving behind a look of despair-ridden confusion.
He continued, dismissing her interruption with an initial increase in volume, making it clear that he wouldn’t entertain further interruptions. “Throughout our family’s reign, we've learned that defeat breeds resentment and scheming. Lack of opportunity does like wise. Both weakens the family and casts shadows of darkness. It would be unfitting for an heir to fall victim to treachery, especially when they are the strongest candidate to lead our banner on Thoubose.”
Amika nodded slowly, not wanting to disappoint her father by disagreeing while he displayed such conviction.
“Due to past betrayals and coup attempts, our family tradition offers each individual only a single opportunity to become an heir, each being bestowed one of the prize two supporting gems.” he explained, his expression resolute as he glanced at her. “As my son, you can choose to serve the family, finding fulfillment in being a loyal vassal without any claim. Alternatively, you can aspire to become one of the two heirs to the throne. However, it’s an either-or situation. Loyalty must be unwavering; there's no middle ground. Challenging for the right of heir is not an act of family loyalty. But it’s a double-edged sword because we want only the strongest as a family and culture, so it is necessary. Unfortunately, leaving a loser behind creates uncertainty. Those who perceive no hope of achieving their goals often resort to any means necessary to achieve them, and such uncertainty isn't conducive to the prosperity of our kingdom.” He looked at her, inviting any questions she might have.
“But how would it be fair, if they are facing a Gemini?”
“Gems are stripped for the death match, although yes, there is an advantage on the Gemini’s side because the gems naturally enhance wielders over time. But I think it’s only fair to give the advantage to the defending heir.”
“Who decides who fights who?”
“Ah good question, in a way to avoid singling out a weaker perceived heir, when one is ready they must draw from two choices at random.”
“Why two heirs then, instead of just one?”
“Tradition. When a Norrænn King falls, the two heirs subsequently fight to the death in a single match to establish their own rule and heirs. The new king taking this.” He unveiled the grand sapphire monarch gem from a bag he typically kept it in while not in armor. Its stunning blue hue adorned with a mesmerizing array of shifting flecks inside, akin to a miniature, ever-evolving solar system with its beauty. “Our culture reminds all who look on that the strongest survive and thrive amongst everything else on Thoubose!”
Amika's gaze locked onto the enthralling monarch sapphire gem, her eyes tracing every flicker and shift within the captivating prism of power. It silenced her thoughts, her frown at the idea of mortal competition for her brothers lifting as she could feel the energy coursing off the magnificent item, a call enveloping her. This was her inaugural opportunity to witness the gem up close; her father had always kept it tucked away and had never been shown it before. Yet now, she couldn't pry her eyes away from the enchanting light buried within its depths.
The sapphire gem possessed a serene and profound beauty. Its depths mirrored the boundless expanse of a tranquil ocean, capturing the essence of calm and clarity within its crystalline core. The sapphire emanated a cool, azure radiance, reminiscent of a cloudless sky on a crisp morning.
Within the gem, subtle wisps of cobalt blue seemed to move like gentle waves, creating an illusion of fluidity frozen in time. The sphere holding secrets of depths unknown with flex of shimmering colors swirling around its core, inviting contemplation and meditation. It was as if a piece of the serene sea had been distilled and preserved, encapsulating the timeless tranquility of nature within the gem's exquisite structure. It pulsed, and before she knew it, she found herself grasping the object. Then, the world went blue as power erupted from Amika.
…
Amika’s eyes fluttered open, her body drenched and sprawled upon the ground. As her vision cleared, she surveyed the grim scene around her. The outer wall of the throne room, perched high in the tower of the keep, had been violently breached. Water cascaded in torrents from the gaping wound in the fortress's side, the edge pooling at her feet, as if it had carelessly discarded her through the fractured wall.
Amid the wreckage, the lifeless forms of servants and runic honor guards lay twisted and broken, their instant death evident in the grisly scene that surrounded her. Yet, the most heart-wrenching sight of all was her mother's lifeless body, her neck contorted at an unnatural angle. It was now clear they had all been forcibly expelled from the tower through the breach, their final moments a horrifying descent into chaos.
From above, the chamber resounded with furious shouts and accusations, the cacophony reaching Amika even at her distant vantage. Her father’s intense gaze bore into her as his body slowly repaired itself from what seemed like a point-blank detonation, with his pure white skull peeking out in places before fully knitting together. Meanwhile, her older brothers, Hector and Kellen, engaged in a heated argument, Hector's gestures pulsing with unrestrained rage as he pointed menacingly in her direction. Venom seemed to drip from his mouth as he launched into a tirade of anger and blame.
Yet, amid this tumultuous scene, a profound change had occurred within Amika—a transformation that eclipsed all the chaos around her. She felt a deep connection, an innate understanding of water as she had never felt before. It flowed through everything, a universal presence that enveloped her senses. Gazing towards her father, her attention drifted to their conversation, effortlessly tuning in thanks to her newfound connection with water within her domain even within the molecular level.
“You honestly think we ever are going to be able to control her!” Hector shouted at his father, something one rarely did and lived. Her father seemingly too calculative to care in the moment.
“We just need to groom her; it seems she connected to her power source finally. That must have been the trick, touching a sapphire gem. Maybe she won’t be so wild with her power now.” Kellen tried to reason.
“She almost killed father! She just turned the air into water in the entire chamber while simultaneously blasting father enough to pierce every one of his protections. If we weren’t so near and he wasn’t a water Gemini, he would surely have died like the rest of the people down there! The impact from her awakening, as Kellen seems to think of it, fortunately knocked him unconscious. Otherwise, he might have had to relive that horror every time he went near water from now on.” Hector’s face was a shade of red, his hulking frame was visibly shaking from her position.
“Don’t overreact Hector.” The calmer of the two brothers tried to defuse the situation. “His gems kept him safe while submerged.”
“Don’t underreact Kellen!” The older of the two heirs screamed.
“What would you have him do?” Kellen asked.
Erik, who had remained silent until this point, was now processing everything that had transpired. His mind and heart shifting and hardening as he went through various scenarios in his head. He spoke, cutting the two of them off abruptly. “She isn’t safe, and I fear we will never truly be able to control her. In fact, she may eventually control us if she disagrees with anything in our future plans, when she is old enough. She’s a liability, and she’ll always possess the power to strip everything from any of us in an instant. We wanted to rid ourselves of their rule, not harbor the chance that they return with a vengeance if she turns against us. Today may have been a mistake, but what will happen when she’s older, with her own ambitions?”
“She’s your daughter, she will listen to us. Blood runs deeper than past lives. She will be a valuable weapon.” Kellen tried to reassure.
“She will listen until she doesn’t. She is strong of spirit and will, which are qualities of a great leader, not follower.” Erik narrowed his eyes as he adjusted his perception. “She just turned the air into water, in that entire chamber, by accident. She is nine years old, not yet fully developed, and moldable. As much of a boon focusing that might will be, I don’t think we need her as much as you think, your brother is right; the negatives could be too dire.”
“She can be molded, you said it yourself.” Kellen argued.
“She’s moldable not controllable in an independent thinking level, the difference is immense.” Erik looked at his son with a serious inflection. “I don’t think I am willing to give up everything our family has built on the easy route backfiring, today being enough to show how quick that can happen. This war might just take longer, and we have to ensure the other acolyte is captured to avoid needing any more contingency.”
“What are you going to do with her? Lock her away with the others?” Kellen looked away from his father, hardening his expression for his father’s sake.
“She's young enough that she might be able to help our goals in other ways, but as of today, I no longer see her as my daughter,” he declared coldly. “We've come so far, and we almost lost everything because of a foolish, sentimental father-daughter visit. A treatment I have never given any of my other children in the past, obviously for good reason.” He looked down at her, his gaze devoid of any warmth or affection, as she cowered in fear at the edge of the pooling water. “My life is worth more than anything, it’s time we remember that and end our silly experiment.” He handed the two a few objects.
Kellen’s face dropped as he received the item, knowing fully well what the purpose was for, the always near contingency in case she needed to be contained. He was not happy, but obedient, like all good heirs. Horror gripped the eavesdropping girl's face as the three, blue runic pebbles in hand, activated their sapphire gems and leaped down from the makeshift opening, seizing her.