We interrupt the beginning of this thread to bring you...arts.

Before I post them, though, I'd like to thank Lei14 - very much - for drawing Terra and Remius. <3 you Lei. Cuz I have no artistic talent whatsoever.

Terra
Remius

Bearing in mind these were drawn nearly a year ago, I still think they're fantastic.
Obviously as time has gone on and I've continued the story, my imagined Terra and Remius aren't quite like this (I remember telling Lei that Terra was going to be emo. xD), but it still amazingly accurate indeed. Thank you again, Lei. =D

...Yeah, that's it.
I don't want to bug Lei too much since she's so busy.
You should all go find her art page here on neo and tell her how awesome she is.

Also, something I patched together in paint.
The Void Symbol (as seen in chapter 10).

Because I wanted to. That's why. >=[


And now the story:





The full moon shone brightly in the clear night sky, impassively watching the dismal scene below its gaze. It's pallid beams blanketed the dying embers of the splintered wreckage that had one been a palace and the bodies among the wreckage. The moon was merely an observer, an impartial witness to the slaughter that had occurred beneath its gaze. The moon had seen it all. It had watched the pale man with the embers of insanity blazing in his coal-black eyes approach the palace. The moon had seen the sinister man draw from the Stream, the essence of life; it had watched the emerald fireball issue from the man's palm and smash into the sturdy oak door. The man bolted through the splintered through the remains of the door, stepping over the shrieking bodies of guards clutching stumps of their arms or legs where the fireball had ripped through. Alarm swept through the palace and the moon observed as, after a short skirmish, the man was brought down and dragged by the Royal Guard to a tall, regal man wrapped in silks.
"Greetings, majesty Solaron," the man breathed. His voice was rough, like sand paper dragged across gravel.
"Hold your tongue, cur!" the soldier on the man's right clapped the man on his shoulder with the pommel of his sword. The man stumbled and giggled manically.
"Who are you?" the king demanded. The man's giggling broke out into mad laughter. His insane howls filled the palace and overwhelmed all else. It sent chills down any who could hear it.
At last, his laughter died to a cackle, though the man still shook with mirth, "Majesty," the man began through his giggling, "You won't even be alive long enough to remember my name." And once again, the man laughed, tilting his head upward to the heavens, to the moon's gaze.
Solaron stood abruptly once he gleaned the man's face.
"Black hair, dark eyes, you...!" he gasped. The man continued to laugh as an emerald aura snaked around his body. Alarm surged through the room.
"He's drawing on the Stream!"
"Kill him!"
It was too late. The green aura around the man surrounded him. The moon watched from above as the palace was swallowed by the green light; the man's insane laughter was engulfed by the explosion that tore through the palace. None survived. The moon's glow of blue now burned a scarlet hue as the ground ran red with blood.
The moon would continue to watch as panic engulfed the people. The king was dead! The daughter-heir was missing! There was no one to rule. Anarchy reigned.

It was not until three years later that order was finally established by the Church of Yegel.

It is here our story begins, three years after that fateful night. Beginning with a girl called Terra Aurelion.




Terra Aurelion observed the brilliant beauty of the sunset as the molten orb began to slide down the horizon, setting the sky ablaze in yellows, oranges, and reds. She tucked her knees to her chest and sighed. Another boring day. She had wandered the grand streets of Archadia all day in the hope of finding something interesting. Her hopes had been let down. The blacksmith was still making a set of cups for one of the church members. The apothecary was still muttering his usual nonsense about raven eyes being used in some cure or another. The merchants still blushed when they saw her. Her guardian, Seig, was still wary about letting her wander alone. Yes. Life was very boring, indeed.
Yet, Seig's behavior, at least, could be understood. After all, Terra Aurelion was the daughter-heir to the throne that was lost after her father, Solaron's, demise. The Stream. That had been the cause. The Stream was the driving force of Gaia; a pulsing, roaring torrent of life that gave birth to Gaia's inhabitants. It was also the source of magic. Every person was capable of utilizing magic because all humans were connected to the Stream. However, most people chose not to use magic because the Church of Yegel frowned on the practice. "The sacred power of life is not something for mortals to utilize for their own wants," it was said. Ridiculous when further research into the Stream and magic could help so many! It was theorized by some scholars that all creatures of Gaia could use magic, but it was impossible to tell for sure as very few creatures exhibited signs of magic. Another sigh.
Terra dipped her head into her knees, allowing her long, dark brown hair to fall in light waves into her face, curtaining her golden eyes. Since that night three years ago, Seig, the captain of the royal guards had acted as her father to the public eye. It was strange how little people actually knew of the royal family and its close advisers. When she made her claim to the throne, she would have to remedy that...that and so many other problems. Research on the Stream. The poverty prevalent in a majority of Gaia. It would be a lot of work. That was assuming she ever made her claim to the throne. Seig had always stopped her from doing so, urging her to wait until the proper moment. When ever that was. She wished her foster father would tell her more...

"What are you up to?"
Terra turned, feeling herself smile at the young man approaching her. The youngest son of one of the church high priests. Rith Soromer. Most considered him to be handsome. He stood roughly 5'9, above average in Archadia, with broad shoulders and dirty-blond hair tied back with a leather strip. He wore a fancy red coat embroidered with the symbols of his house, a falcon, on the sleeves in gold as well as a pair of brown pants and boots. At his belt hung a simple dagger.
She was fond of him, perhaps more than that, but she never put herself out that far nor he toward her. They were just friends.
The mischievous grin and the twinkle in his blue eyes was all she needed to know that the day would not be boring much longer.
"It's about time. What kept you?" Terra asked, getting to her feet and smoothing her plain green skirt.
"Father," Rith responded with a small shrug, "Going on and on about how I shouldn't shirk my duties and set an example. Then something about how I don't listen to a word he says half the time."
Terra laughed, "You don't even listen half the time. You're always day-dreaming about some grand scheme or another."
Rith chuckled, "Yes, yes. Father insists I must have Imp blood in me for all the trouble I get into."
Terra laughed, "So what's the agenda for what remains of today?"
Rith shrugged, "I need to go by your father's house eventually. But I was never told when I had to do it..." Rith's face split into a grin again, "Come on. I hear Haden plans on letting a ferret out in the Widow Tucker's house."
Terra giggled. Widow Tucker was a mean old woman who had recently paddled Rith for stealing one of her cakes. She claimed no one was too old or too noble to be paddled. It had been a very amusing day.
"Alright," she responded, "Race you!" And with that, she plunged down the hill, skirt flying in the breeze with Rith right behind her.

The pair hurtled down the cobbled streets of Archadia. It was about the hour when the local shops would be closing down and the merchants would be packing away their wares; the foreigners would be gradually emptying into one of the many inns in the city, and the children would be scooped up by their mothers. It would be the hustle and bustle of the capital of Gaia. So it was a shock when Terra and Rith came to the market street and found it nearly deserted.
"Is there something going on?" Terra asked, frowning.
"Dunno," Rith replied, "It's about the time when the streets should be emptying, but this is too empty."
"The city's gathered to watch the procession."
Terra jumped at the voice behind her and Rith.
"Father! Where did you come from?" Terra asked, turning to face the tall man who had spoken out. The man was tall, as tall as Rith, and muscular with long legs and broad shoulders. Short, copper hair complimented his sharp, equally brown eyes. The man was Seig, Terra's foster father and ex-captain of the royal guard. When there had been one. The man had also been her father's best friend and trusted adviser. Now he worked whatever jobs needed done in Archadia.
Seig wore a plain red coat and black breeches. His sword, familiar and ever present, hung at his waist.
"I just finished work at Widow Tucker's house. She needed work done on her door," Seig replied with a small, knowing smile as Terra and Rith exchanged glances, "At any rate, the Church has caught a Shade it seems. They're marching him through the streets to show him off."
Rith looked surprised, "I didn't hear anything about that during my father's speech to me."
"That would be because you don't hear anything your father says to you," Seig retorted, nodding at the young man who had the courtesy to flush through his grin.
"Come on! We're wasting time!" Terra broke in, darting off once more.
Seig shook his head, "Chasing after her will be the end of me one of these days. Can't you keep her in check?"
Rith laughed, "Me? You must be joking, sir. I get in more trouble than she does." Still laughing, Rith broke into a run after Terra.
Seig sighed to himself, "Children, children. He's not going anywhere." the man muttered to himself and set off at a brisk walk toward the procession.

As Terra neared the street leading to the High Church, the low buzz of chatter reached her ears and steadily grew to a dull roar as she reached the location of the procession. The daughter-heir stood on the tips of her toes to view the crowded street. Thousands of people littered either side of the road leading to the church, crammed tightly with young and old, male and female.
"This is terrible," Terra thought, "They're like mobs waiting to see a strange and exotic specimen. An extremely dangerous specimen, but a safe one when under control. Shades...how does a Radiant become a Shade?"
It was something Terra had thought on often. Shades and Radiants were both sub-species of humans. At first, there were only humans. Good humans and bad humans. But then the event of three years ago occurred then the Church of Yegel had segregated the human race. Radiants, humans of light, were the norms. A human taken by the plague, by the Lostness, was a Shade, one of the darkness. Extremely unstable and just as dangerous. That was what the Church said.
"Believe what we say. Do what we say. Everything will be fine if you follow the Church." Terra thought bitterly.
"Hey, have I missed anything?" Rith's voice dragged Terra out of her reverie and threw her crashing into the present.
"No, he hasn't appeared yet," Terra replied.
"It's odd that there wasn't any word of this," Rith said with a frown.
"'None can fathom the ways of the Church'," Terra quoted dully, "'The Church of Yegel deigns to tell what is necessary. All else is kept from you for the safety of Gaia.'" It was the Church's favorite saying and the most popular response to nearly any question that did not pertain to the teachings.
"It's not as though I wrote that," Rith replied with a shrug, "but it does have some credence. Too much information could lead back to the Black Years." The Black Years was the title given to the three years between King Solaron's death and the current time when anarchy had ruled Gaia.
"It isn't right to keep people in ignorance," Terra retorted hotly, "Blindly pledging our allegiance to an organization that refuses to inform the people of the situation of Gaia is folly."
"Perhaps," Rith admitted, "but let us drop this subject. I'd forgotten that the Church is a touchy subject with you."
"Thank you," Terra inclined her head in a nod.
"Shhh!" the two were hushed by a woman standing next to them. Terra blinked as she realized the entire crowd was silent. Infants were not crying, children were not laughing, and adults were not grumbling. It had started.
Nobody seemed to breath as the first white-clothed man turned down the street and walked toward the church. An ornate, bright yellow sun decorated the breast of his cloak and a larger image was sewn into the back of the cloak. The hand on either side of the man wore simple, black gauntlets. A sword hung in its scabbard at the man's side. It was the uniform of the Church warrior-priests. Behind the first warrior-priest walked several more. Those who had horses rode them, stiff-backed and staring at the crowds regally as though expecting every last person to bow down in reverence and respect.
Terra's breath caught when the Shade appeared, guarded heavily by eight warrior-priests and hands clasped in irons. It was a man. Like every Shade, his complexion was extremely pale, almost snow white and his hair, the blackest of blacks. His clothing, as black as his hair, was tattered and torn in many places. A result of the harsh treatment the warrior-priests had undoubtedly imposed on him. The runes on his cuffs would stop him from drawing on the Stream, supposedly, but there had been accidents in the past where a captured Shade had broken the irons and leveled the town he or she was in before escaping.
Terra barely spared a glance for the just then arriving Seig who took his place between Terra and Rith and watched silently.
It was then the Shade looked at Terra and she could see his most striking feature. The Shade's eyes were a dark green with stormy black swirls circling seemingly endlessly through the natural green color. It made Terra shiver. His gaze was unnerving. Was he staring at her...?
Terra let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding when the Shade moved his gaze elsewhere. Terra watched with apprehension as the last of the warrior-priests passed by. It took her a moment to realize the sun had set completely and the full moon was beginning it's journey across the sky, just in time to observe the event occurring beneath it.
"Chilling, isn't it?" Seig remarked quietly as the Shade passed through the doors of the Church.
"Yeah," a trickle of sweat rolled down Rith's face, "I got the feeling he could literally tear me apart with just the look he gave me." The crowd was beginning to disperse and hushed conversations like Terra, Rith, and Seig's were beginning to crop up.
Seig contemplated Rith for a moment, brown eyes fixed on Rith's blue, before he said, "Terra, it's time we headed home."
"Yeah," Terra responded automatically, "I'll see you as soon as I can, Rith." The Church of Yegel. Yes. That was another thing Terra would remedy when she became queen. No, not remedy. Destroy.
"Take care, Terra" Rith said, "You as well, Master Seig."
"Give my regards to your father," Seig nodded in reply before he and Terra set off into the night.












OOC: Wow...this story has actually been in the works since about January, but I've never got around to putting it up here. (yes. 3 months working on this and I'm only done with Chapter 1. Shush, I'm in 3 RPs. [which I coincidentally really need to write posts for.])

Hm...I squeezed a whole lot into chapter 1 and it still seems too short. x_x
Some of it was originally slated to appear in chapter 2, but...since I'm not putting up chapter 2 today, I figured that some of the necessary explanations (like the Stream) would lead to unneeded questions if left out, however. I am going to try really hard to update this every Friday with at least one chapter, but...I make no promises (anyone who's RPed with me knows that when I say one day, I mean sometime in the next month or so. So when I say once every Friday, I really mean once every two months or so...on a Friday. )

So...there you have it. Opinions plz.

This message was edited by Ishilar on Apr 25 2009.

This message was edited by Ishilar on Oct 05 2009.

*keeps flashing back to previous writing projects* You and your silly names confuse me, Ish.

But it's an awesome start. Sort of an attention grabber.

I will say that it seems just a tad disjointed at some points, but I use the expression lightly. XD
Overall, the flow was very good, so no worries. Don't feel rushed to complete a scene.
Your (rabid) fans can wait patiently for your work. (Does Lei fall under this category? D= )

Terra seems weird. >=D (You know Lei loves that kind of stuff) I dunno why... so I'm hoping to read a lot more about her in the future. HINT. HINT. (cough) Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing your characters blossom. So you have my full support! I only hope that after reading this, I wont let you down. XD (what with the character art and such. )

Hmmmm.... I sense a possible romance between Rith and Terra.

I'll give a super in-depth and long-winded opinion post... when I have time. <=D
And... and.... yeah. I'll be awaiting the next entry with sugar-induced anticipation. >=P Good luck~!

quote Ishilar

2 minute edit! A title for the thread suddenly hit me. And it hurt

Yeah, is this story going to get added onto soon?

I like the ending. It made me think, "What are Terra and Seig going to do?"

Heh, nice writing.

Of course, most of the names you used are familiar, but that's the only bad thing I have to say for now.

And take your time, there's no point in hurrying this, it's better to have quality than to have it on time.

quote Lei14

*keeps flashing back to previous writing projects* You and your silly names confuse me, Ish.

Sorry, Lei.

I plan on changing them once I come up with better ones.
Should have done that before I posted the first chapter, but...

quote

But it's an awesome start. Sort of an attention grabber.

Good. xD
Too often, I find the beginning of books to be boring, so...I'm trying not to do that.

quote

I will say that it seems just a tad disjointed at some points, but I use the expression lightly. XD

It is disjointed. Mostly in places were I added details that weren't supposed to come in until chapter 2.
When I send this story in for publishing (omg plot twist!?), I'll be taking your guys' comments in mind when I write the final copy. Plus changing a few names and fixing the disjointedness.
Yes, I do plan on publishing this work. So maybe it isn't a good idea to post it here for everyone to read for free.
Should probably get a copyright for it, too...not that I don't trust everyone here to not steal my work.

quote

Overall, the flow was very good, so no worries.

Thank you.

quote

Don't feel rushed to complete a scene.
Your (rabid) fans can wait patiently for your work. (Does Lei fall under this category? D= )

Yes, they can.
And yes, you do.

quote

Terra seems weird. >=D (You know Lei loves that kind of stuff) I dunno why... so I'm hoping to read a lot more about her in the future. HINT. HINT.

Well, she IS the main character, so...I'm glad you're hoping to read a lot more about her.
I don't think Terra is weird, though. But maybe I should stop comparing her to Raynoratsu.
When did weird and blatantly psychotic become the same!? xD

quote

(cough) Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing your characters blossom. So you have my full support! I only hope that after reading this, I wont let you down. XD (what with the character art and such. )

Don't worry, I have complete faith in you and your ability to portray my characters. ^^

I really liked Remius and his super silky hair of femininity.

quote

Hmmmm.... I sense a possible romance between Rith and Terra.

quote

WHERE ARE MAH SPOILERS!?

Not in here.

Honestly, though. As of right now, I have given some thought to Terra's romance life, but there's nothing solid at this point.

quote Snowball28

Yeah, is this story going to get added onto soon?

I plan on adding at least one chapter every Friday.

Thank you for reading and letting your interest known, however. Maybe if I get enough fans, I'll post sooner.

quote Aulis Vaara

Of course, most of the names you used are familiar, but that's the only bad thing I have to say for now.

Yeah...I felt especially uncomfortable using Shades and Radiants. But the names fit the two races so well... I really have been meaning to come up with different names for the two sub-species, but every time I try, my brain performs an error and shuts down.

Thank you for your comments.

Seig shut the door behind him as he and Terra returned home. It was a simple abode. Pots and kettles hung suspended from the wall opposite of the door the two came in from. Below was a series of small cabinets filled with various utensils and food. Near the left adjacent wall was a small wooden table with four chairs, one on either side. To the left was a doorway that led into the sitting room, a larger, more spacious room decorated with a very simple rug and two armchairs near the fireplace. On either adjacent wall was a doorway leading into either Terra or Seig's rooms, which were just barely large enough for beds.
In a corner of the sitting room stood a cramped bookshelf that held not only books, but loose paper, manuscripts, essays, and reports as well. The exact subjects varied, but the contents generally dealt with Gaian politics, law, census records, and actions of the Church. The sole storybook was Terra's favorite book: The Tragedy of Caterine Ristaavi. It started off with the stereotypical story of a beautiful woman being pursued by an evil man the woman could not, or would not, marry because she loved someone else. However, the book quickly expanded into something more unique. The woman's lover became a Shade and went insane. The story ended in the woman trying to fight the man she loved and ended in her death. The Shade was victorious. That was why Terra liked the book. The villain won. It made things more realistic for her. It wasn't a happy ending. Maybe it was an odd reason to like the book, given that it mirrored Gaia in many ways, but it reminded Terra that there wasn't always a happy ending at the end of life.

It into the sitting room that Seig and Terra went. A golden ball of light flared to life in the center of the room. Terra grinned at Seig who was regarding the light carefully. In another moment, the ball of light exploded into small orbs that whizzed around the room briefly before coming to a halt around the perimeter of the room, illuminating every last detail."This will do," Seig nodded. The older man relaxed into his arm chair as he channeled fire into the wood in the fire place. Bright, orange flames roared to life. Terra didn't move.
"This cannot be allowed to go on, Seig."
"It must, Terra. For now."
"You always say that, but you're wrong. They are killing people without trial! My people!"
Seig didn't even glance at her, "They are killing Shades without trial, Terra. They are killing monsters; monsters that destroyed your life and threw Gaia into chaos."
"The actions of one do not speak for all!" Terra replied heatedly before dropping her tone, "…The Shade that killed my father is dead."
Seig stared into the flames without answering. The silence stretched on for agonizing minutes until, "…You've grown, Terra."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Seig smiled, "Nothing. It was merely a comment on your maturity. Now sit down, you look silly standing there in the doorway. I've something that I need to tell you."
Terra blinked and looked momentarily startled before she sank into her chair. She looked at Seig. He was staring into the flames again with a distant look in his eyes. The girl felt a twinge of impatience, but suppressed it.

Seig left his reverie abruptly and stared at Terra, "My apologies, Terra. It is sometimes easy to get lost in more pleasant times," Seig sighed, "The flames were like this three years ago…bodies disfigured, burned, ripped apart…a terrible scene to behold. It's still so clear in my head. I left you in the care of my mother while I went back to…" the ex-captain trailed off, becoming lost in thought again.
"You've told me all of this already, Seig…" Terra said quietly. She didn't tremble as much as she used to. The tears that would fall unrestrained were now far-off memories and a burning in her eyes.
"Forgive me, there is just no simple way to tell what I must," Seig replied, forcing a smile that lost any effect it might have had in the deep sadness in his eyes, 'Terra. You must never claim the throne. It will only bring further chaos to Gaia." Of all the things Terra had expected, that was not among them. Shock swirled together with confusion, creating an ugly mixture of outrage.
"What…what are you saying, Seig? I have to! The people are suffering and the Church does nothing! I will NOT abandon my people!"
"Calm down, Terra, and listen to me," Seig spoke quietly but sternly, "It is prophecy."
"Prophecy!?" Terra spluttered, barely aware of herself standing, "You're putting store in such meaningless-"
"TERRA AURELION, SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME!" Seig roared. Terra stopped in shock. Seig never yelled. At least not at her.
"Terra, this prophecy was made for your father. I was in his presence. It predicted everything!' Seig's voice leveled, "Naturally, neither your father nor I nor anyone with sense believed it. But things began to happen. First, the star that fell out of the sky, then the Great Plague, then the earthquake on the southern coast, and finally…three years ago. Your father ordered me to take you out of the palace, far away. In case...the last of the prophecy proved true as well."
"Seig...what exactly did this prophecy say?" Terra was frowning through silent tears.
Seig stared at her a moment before reciting:



"I'm sure I don't have to explain it to you. Your surname, Aurelion, is a name for light, or the sun. Your father expected he would die, but you could be saved. If you remain off the throne, the Sun will never rise again. That is why you will never rule...why I was ordered to stop you from making your claim if I must. Please don't force me, Terra." A dull numbness settled over Terra. It was all so ridiculous and yet...she had to believe it. Her father had been a very rational man, and Seig as much so, and yet they had both believed...what more could she do...?


Rith winced at his father's cutting words.
"What are you thinking!? WHAT!?" the broad man shouted. Gray streaked his blonde hair and beard, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to make excuses for your behavior!?"
The two were in a secluded hallway of the church reserved for the family's of high priests like Rith's father and, of course, servants, but none were there now. Lining either side of the hall were a series of doors leading into identically sized rooms. The residence of Rith and his brothers and sisters. The stone floor was carpeted with an ornate, red and gold rug spanning the length of the hall. At the end of the Soromer living quarters was another door leading into the room of Rith's father, which was a good size larger than the others and much more luxurious.
"So don't make excuses, then. Let people think what they want," Rith retorted.
"I can't, Rith! Because your reputation reflects on the rest of us!"
"You've got three other sons and two daughters already in relatively high positions in the Church. Doesn't that reflect on the family more than my schemes?" Rith asked.
Rith's father shook his head and sighed, "Just please...tomorrow, promise me you'll be here and be good. Please."
"Why?" Rith asked, "What's tomorrow?"
"We have found the daughter-heir. Princess Aurelion is arriving here tomorrow."
Rith cocked an eyebrow and grinned, "Is she good-looking?"
"That is exactly what I'm talking about!" Rith's father said with exasperation, "Please, don't act like that!"
"Alright, alright, Rith responded dully, "I'll act the good little boy. As long as she doesn't come on to me."
Rith left for his living quarters before his father, red with outrage, could get another word out.


Deep within the lower confines of the Church, in front of a dark, dingy cell, a man cloaked in the crimson red of blood stared down at the sleeping Shade in the cell. Around the man were four warrior-priests and a high priest, eying the Shade with contempt and disgust.
"As you can see, the Church has managed to capture a Shade. He will be executed within the hour, however. Rest assured. The Church will be made safe for Lady Aurelion's ascension," the high priest was saying to the hooded man.
"...Keep him alive," the hooded man ordered, "Lady Aurelion has need of him."
"W-What? Need a Shade?" one guard spluttered, but he was quickly silenced as a thick, black tendril shot out from somewhere within the hooded man's cloak and snaked into the man's open mouth. The other three warrior-priests managed to unsheathe their weapons and a cry escaped from the high priest before four more tendrils snaked out of the crimson-cloaked man and forced their way into the priests' mouths. There was a pause as the men were lifted off their feet by the tendrils, their eyes popping, before they were blown apart from the inside. Blood spattered the walls and oozed down toward the pools already coagulating on the floor.
"The Lady Aurelion is always in need of more puppets..." the man spoke to the puddles before turning on heel and beginning to walk out of the prison, "...As am I."







OOC: Surprise post!
...Yeah...I was more or less done with this chapter and I figured there was no sense in waiting until Friday if I was already finished. So there you have it. Enjoy, guys.
Comments on the massive amounts of exposition layed out in this chapter are appreciated.

This message was edited by Ishilar on Sep 11 2008.

Hooray! More fantasy stories!

I'll read it when I have time. ^^

Terra's eyes creaked open as dawn cast its final rays on her. She sat up and gazed out her window, squinting through the dawn's light at the flow of people on the street preparing to set up shop. A sigh escaped her lips. She would miss Archadia, but she had made her decision. After the revelations of the night before, Terra had cried at first. For the first time since she could remember, she had wept openly. She had wept for her people, for her kingdom, and for herself.
"No more," she had told herself then, "Queens do not cry. My people need me." That was when she had come to her decision. She would leave Archadia and travel the world. There had to be something she could still do. She needed something, anything, to keep her going. She had lived to be queen and that was gone now, so now she chose a new reason to live: she would find a way to stop Radiants from turning into Shades.
Terra nodded to herself, "I'll leave tomorrow."

That said, Terra moved her bed sheets aside and began to wash her face in a nearby basin. She would explain her idea to Seig and then they could leave. Plans flew through her mind as she brushed her long, dark brown hair. They were simple plans; Terra did not delude herself with ideas of grand escapes from dungeons or epic monster-slaying or of heroic deeds that somehow turned her life around. It was merely a journey to find a way to help her people, help cure the Shades of their madness. When Terra entered the kitchen, however, Seig was not there. Terra sighed. Her guardian had probably left with the dawn and there was no telling when he would be back. It was natural, Seig did it often, but the thought did little to lift her fallen spirits. Terra's breakfast was a subdued meal of bread and cheese. She was simply too anxious about leaving to eat.

After her meal, Terra roamed through the small house aimlessly, waiting for Seig's return. Eventually, she settled to sifting through her clothes and possessions for things she may need on her journey. A small bundle of clothes was quickly assembled on Terra's bed, followed by a precious bracelet her mother had given to her for her sixteenth birthday, a recent map of Gaia, and her research on Shades. It was a small compilation and most of it was mere conjecture, but Terra felt that it was important to take. Maybe some of the Shades would share some of her thoughts and ideas. If she could find them.
After she placed her bracelet, map, and research in the bundle of clothes, Terra settled into a chair and began to read the Tragedy of Caterine Ristaavi. She became lost in the world of lust and loss until the sun's golden rays set the sky ablaze as it always did when it set. Terra blinked at the darkening sky. How long had she been reading?

"More importantly," Terra thought as she looked around, "Seig still hasn't come back yet. Where is he?" Terra stared at the sky for a moment and then shook her head, "You're being impatient," she told herself, "Now go on. You haven't been outside all day and you should say good-bye to some people." Terra slipped into a pair of shoes and stepped onto the streets of Archadia and frowned almost immediately. Like the day before, the streets were empty.
"Where is everyone now? Surely the Church hasn't captured another Shade..." Terra wondered just as a loud crack resounded through the air. Terra turned in the direction the crack came from in time to see a beautiful cascade of colorful sparks rain down from the sky. "Fireworks?" Terra thought, "What is going on?" Fireworks were rare on Gaia and as a result, were used only to celebrate the most joyous of occasions. Terra's frown deepened. Surely she would have heard of such a momentous event long before it occurred. What was happening? Another rain of fireworks exploded in the sky. Terra didn't hesitate. She raced in the direction of the fireworks, in the direction of the Church...



Rith stared at the procession glumly, head resting in his hand. Boredom glazed his eyes. The parade in honor of her majesty, the Lady Aurelion, had started almost two hours ago and there was still no sight of the soon-to-be queen of Gaia. The young noble tugged at the silk coat his father had forced him into. Vile thing. Rith couldn't stand it. It made him itch all over. He made a wide sweep of the gathering. The church clergy were arranged in chairs outside the Church, staring down the steps at the commoners gathered below. There were perhaps one hundred high-ranking officials like Rith's father, and then the lower ranks of the Church stood further down the steps of the Church. Behind Rith was the Grand Church of Yegel. It stood tall and sleek, made out of pearly-white marble. With its grand towers and wide, sweeping roofs, it resembled a palace more than it did a church.
Rith turned his gaze along the rows of church members on either side of him. His father and siblings sat straight-backed and rigid, exact clones of every other person seated there. Even the annoying sneer of superiority directed at the commoners below was copied down to the last twist of the lips. Rith followed their gazes. A low roar pounded outward constantly from the masses crowded in the streets below. Most likely about Princess Aurelion. "Where had they found her?" "What did she look like?" "Would she bring a return to prosperity on Gaia?" Typical questions.
"But ones I would like answered as well," Rith thought to himself as he glanced back at the clergymen.
"So, this Lady Aurelion, she will be easy to manipulate?" one clergyman asked Rith's father.
"I don't know. I have not yet laid eyes on her majesty," Rith's father responded, "But we have finally taken control of Gaia and restored some degree of order. She will surely need our guidance. As long as she has need of it, then we will always have some weight in which laws are passed and which are not."
"Ah, Terra would have a fit if she heard that," Rith thought with a frown. It was sickening. They hadn't even seen the princess and they were already thinking about how to manipulate her.
"One reason I can't stand being a part of this church," Rith thought bitterly. He approved of the Church of Yegel's teachings and held them in the highest regard, but his dislike for those running the church, like his father, reached the point of loathing. He scanned the crowd and spotted a few friends who grinned and waved at him. Rith acknowledged them with a smile and a discreet nod. They understood. They knew Rith was under pressure from his father to behave right now. Rith's smile faded as they turned to chat amongst themselves. What he wouldn't give to be out there with them...

And then all at once, sound died as it had the night before when the Shade appeared. The last of the parade had finally passed. It was finally time to meet Princess Aurelion. Rith strained his eyes against the rapidly darkening sky. And then he saw her amid a small detachment of white-cloaked warrior-priests. He could have spotted her in a crowd of ten thousand. She was absolutely gorgeous. Beyond that. There was a celestial quality to her beauty. Her ivory skin seemed to glow in the night and seemed brighter still alongside her long, raven-black hair. She seemed to glide, rather than walk, in her silky, midnight-blue dress. Rith could feel his pulse quickening. She was radiant. Beside him, he was vaguely aware of his brothers and a large number of other clergy members straightening even further in their seats and trying to look twice as important as they really were. A blind man could have seen the fervent hunger in their eyes as they stared at Princess Aurelion.
"None of them have a chance with her. The standards of a woman like have got to be as high as the heavens, not beneath a cave," Rith thought, returning his gaze to the princess. She was gliding up the steps. Now that she was closer, Rith could see her face. It was as radiant as the rest of her. Large, bottle green eyes surveyed the clergymen and her full, ruby red lips twisted into a smile. Her gaze lingered on Rith and he found himself smiling back. As Princess Aurelion reached the top of the steps and began moving down the row of clergymen, the church members dropped as one, kneeling before the new ruler of Gaia. She stopped occasionally to speak with one of them. Always, she asked what he or she thought of her and always it was something along the lines of, "I believe that you will become a wise and powerful leader, may the Sun see it so, my Lady." A wise and powerful leader with the Church pulling the strings, of course.
"Welcome back, Lady Aurelion," Rith murmured when the gorgeous woman stood in front of him.
"Your name?" Rith blinked. She had stopped in front of him!
"Rith Soromer. I am honored that you speak with me."
"What do you think of me?" Rith blinked again. She wanted his opinion? His heart began to pound even faster than before. What if he gave the wrong opinion? She was the soon-to-be queen, after all. He glanced at his family. They were all staring at him with dumbstruck horror. No doubt they were cursing whatever gods there were for the Lady Aurelion deciding to speak with him of all people. They thought Rith would give an answer that would forever shame the entire family. It almost made Rith smile again. It would be fun to keep them sweating, but...
"Lady Aurelion," Rith began, "with all due respect, I have only just met you and I don't believe I can rightfully form a good political opinion based on our brief exchange. However, my thoughts on you are that you are by and far the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and if you are as wise as you are beautiful, then your wisdom surpasses the heavens and Gaia is destined to an era of prosperity under your rule. My only hope is that you will not allow your wisdom to be corrupted and manipulated into something it is not meant to be."
The daughter-heir regarded Rith silently for a moment and then smiled. "I thank you for your thoughts. I will bear your hope and concern in mind." She moved on, but her place was quickly taken by a man in a blood-red cloak with the hood pulled over his eyes.
"Rith Soromer," he said, "I am glad that there is someone in the Church my Lady and I can trust." The man followed after the daughter-heir without another word. Rith gaped at him and Princess Aurelion. He could feel the knives of the other high priests' glares on his back.

Before he could face them, however, matters changed. A warrior-priest coated in blood rather than the white of the traditional cloak burst through the Church doors and staggered his way toward the gathered high priests. A murmur of uneasiness shuddered through the gathered commoners.
"What's happened?" Rith's father demanded.
"I suggest," the crimson-cloaked man spoke up, "that you look there."
Rith followed the man's finger and felt terror grip his heart. In the doorway to the High Church of Yegel stood a man with jet black hair, piercing green eyes, and a very pale complexion. The Shade had escaped.



Terra could have screamed. How could it be? Seig had told her no one could claim the Sun throne! The prophecy had been nothing but a stupid series of coincidences after all! For the second time in less than a day, Terra wanted to cry. But she couldn't. She had promised herself: no more crying. Instead, she glared heatedly at the faux Princess Aurelion as though Terra intended to set the heiress on fire with her gaze. She might have done it had he not appeared. Terra felt her breath catch the moment she caught sight of him: the Shade. He stood silhouetted in the door of the Church, but she recognized him instantly. Terra would never forget the aura of fear and raw power that surrounded that man. It was different now, however. There was something more.
"Malice?" Terra thought with a frown, but she didn't have long to think on it. She didn't even have time to blink. An emerald-green fireball blazed into existence and hurtled toward Princess Aurelion. The Shade had bad aim, however. The fireball veered toward the crimson-cloaked man instead. Terra squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting the inevitable crack and explosion. But it never happened. When Terra opened her eyes the guardian was facing the Shade unscathed and if his posture was anything to judge by, the guardian was bored.
The Shade didn't wait. Another green fireball crackled in the air before it was hurled toward 'Princess Aurelion'
Terra didn't shut her eyes this time. She saw condensed air wrap itself around the flame and snuff it out before it ever reached its target. There was a brief pause in the Shade's attack. By this time, most of the commoners had realized that the man in the church doors was the Shade they had all stared at with reverence the day before. Panic was beginning to rear its ugly head among the commoners and the warrior-priests brought to guard the high-priests and the Lday Aurelion were edging toward the Shade, but the Shade didn't seem to care. He was staring into the crowd; near Terra's direction; at Terra. She shivered as she felt the focus of his eyes and the black storms swirling in each iris. The Shade looked away.
Then the battle resumed. The Shade again conjured a ball of flame, but this he sent high into the air. The fireball shimmered briefly before exploding into hundreds of smaller fireballs that whizzed outward in every direction. Pandemonium broke loose. Any restraint the commoners might have had disappeared instantly when the first miniature fireball smashed into the pavement. Radiants trampled over other Radiants in their instinctive urge to get as far away from danger as possible no matter the cost. Terra found herself pushed and shoved into the sea of panicked people. She cast one last look at the Shade in time to see him grabbed by something...a multitude of strange, dark tendrils that reminded Terra of the swirls in his eyes. Then he was gone and then Terra ran with the masses. Not that she had any choice.
"I hope Seig is alright..."



Rith could feel his body tensing. He fingered the long dagger in his coat, though he doubted it would harm the Shade much.
"It's better than nothing, though," Rith thought, noting how some of the younger priests in training seemed ready to fight the Shade alone and bare-handed to protect the Lady Aurelion.
"Your orders, Lady Aurelion?" one warrior-priest asked.
"Accompany me to my quarters," the princess responded.
"B-but the Shade!" the warrior-priest started, but Aurelion held up a hand.
"The Shade is gone. He will be back, of course, as long as I am on the throne. But as the one sitting on the throne, it is my duty to protect the people of Gaia, not throw them at a foe they cannot beat head-on," the daughter-heir responded, "Now come. There are not enough of you to stem the tides of commoners panicking. We will gather what reinforcements are still alive and then we will search for him. Am I understood?"
The warrior-priest saluted smartly, "Yes, M'Lady, right the way. You two, rouse the alarm."
Rith listened as orders were given out, but none it mattered. He could see Terra.
"I don't see Seig anywhere. Weird. Well. The duty falls on me, then," the young noble thought to himself. He glanced at the church clergy. They weren't paying attention. Rith grinned and slipped into the crowds of commoners fighting to get to their homes.



Terra's mind was in shambles. Much like the gathered masses fleeing from the Shade, it seemed to be running in every direction. There was so much to think about. How had the Shade escaped? How could the Church allow a false princess to claim the throne? Who were the faux princess and her guardian? Why did the Shade seem to have an interest in her? And where was Seig...? That question lay on her most heavily.
"He should have been around here somewhere," Terra thought, "but I haven't seen him anywhere."
The night sky was ablaze with fire now; the stars were drowned in the same green glow that came from the Shade's magic as the flurry of fireballs continued to rain down on Archadia. The chaotic crowd continued to jostle and push through Terra in their desperate flee.
"I can't think here!" Terra thought at last, "I need to get out of here." The princess of Gaia slipped into an empty street where one of the fireballs had crashed into a house and sent it tumbling into the street, effectively blocking anyone from running down it. It granted Terra the freedom she wanted. There were still the panicked screams and the roar of the fireballs, but at least she didn't feel as though she was being tossed in every direction with the tenderness and care of an angry bear. Here she could set her mind straight.

Before she could do so, however, she was approached by five men of the Church: four warrior-priests and a man Terra knew, High Priest Dorl.
"What is it, Father?" Terra asked. The High Priest did not answer. In fact, now that Terra got a good look at him, his face looked blank and his eyes seemed hollow and empty. The four warrior-priests advanced wordlessly.
"Father Dorl...?"



Rith cursed under his breath. He'd lost sight of Terra as he'd just managed to get out of the Church's main courtyard.
"She must've gone onto one of the side roads to avoid the panic." Rith thought to himself. He turned down the nearest road and ran alone into the darkness. The street was untouched by the destruction and chaos reverberating through the rest of the grand capital, making it much more likely that Terra had turned down this street. As Rith continued down it, however, he began to have his doubts. There was something eerie about the place. He could sense the residue of something odd in the air. He turned a corner and almost fell on his face in surprise. Seig lay in a crumpled heap at his feet, bleeding heavily.
"Sir, are you alright!?" Rith asked, kneeling beside the fallen man. "Stupid question. Of course he isn't alright. But what else am I supposed to say?" Rith thought. Seig's jacket was ripped and torn. Warm blood flowed down the man's right arm which still gripped his sword tightly.
Seig grabbed Rith's collar and pulled a sword to Rith's throat with surprising swiftness.
"Are you really Rith Soromer?" he growled.
"Er...yeah..." Rith responded uncertainly, "Sir, if you'll give me a moment, I can get you to a medical house and-"
"There's no time!" Seig gasped, "Terra! The Church is after Terra...have to get to her..."
"The Church?" Rith repeated, "Why?"
"I don't know," Seig staggered to his feet, "But I have to find her."
"Uh...I was running after her just now," Rith responded, "The Shade attacked and the people are panicking. I didn't see you with Terra, so..."
"Help me, Rith. We have to find her quickly," Seig began to walk, a bit unsteadily, back toward the open streets. Rith followed, mind racing to think of an explanation as to why the Church was after Terra and why they had tried to kill Seig.
"First the Lady Aurelion is found. Then the Shade escapes. And now this! What is going on!?"



Terra instinctively dove into the Stream. The four-warrior priests approaching her withdrew swords from beneath their cloaks. The blades were stained with blood. She thought of Seig and his absence throughout the day and it filled her with fear for her guardian's life. But now was not the time. Terra brought her hand upward in an arc, creating a blade of air that she sent slicing into one of the warrior-priests, slicing his hand off cleanly. The hand gesture wasn't necessary, but it helped Terra focus. She rounded on the other three and drew water from cracks in the ground below her and wrapped it tightly around the remaining three-warrior priests, solidifying the water into icy bonds.
Of the four elements of the Stream, Terra was most proficient with Air and Water. The other two, Fire and Earth, she had had little experience with. Neither were necessary and they were considered to be more for fighting than for practical use. Still, Terra had learned how to defend herself with her magic and it had served her well in the past. Terra was about to round on the other three when she saw a strange black...thing come out of the warrior-priest's stump and plunge into his severed hand, drawing the two back together. The sound of ice cracking and breaking came from behind Terra. Eyes wide with fear, Terra backed away from the four. She turned her gaze to High Priest Dorl.
"Why, Father?" Terra pleaded, "Why are you doing this?" The man did not answer. The warrior-priests raised their blades as one. Terra squeezed her eyes shut and readied a blade of air that would slice all five of the men in half, but she never had to use it.
When Terra opened her eyes, she immediately recoiled. A sword jutted from within the mouth of one of the warrior-priests. Behind him stood the Shade. The Shade grabbed another of the white-cloaked warriors by the face and sent him careening through the air with a fireball directly to the face. The remaining two-warrior priests seemed puzzled by the Shade's appearance, but it didn't last long. They rounded on him, but they were met with a volley of green fireballs until there was little left of them beyond a few severed limbs and ravaged torsos. Terra couldn't help retching at the sight.
"There's no time to waste. Let's go," the Shade spoke. Contrary to his rough appearance, the Shade's voice was smooth, controlled, and almost musical. Almost. In fact, now that she could see him closely, the Shade was very young. Not more than a year older than herself. It surprised Terra so much that she didn't hear him at first.
"What?" she asked blankly.
"Come on. Hurry! They won't stay like that for long. You must escape, Princess Aurelion."
Terra gasped, "How do you know?" she demanded.
"I'll explain later. Come on!" The Shade grabbed her wrist and half-dragged her away from the alley. Terra glanced back and saw the same strange blackness coming out of the men and pulling them back together again. She felt like sicking up again, but she had more immediate problems to deal with. She was with the Shade! A madman who would kill without the slightest notice. Odd. Now that she thought about it, he didn't seem particularly insane.
"Why are you helping me?" she voiced her thought, but it came out as barely a whisper.
"I told you, I'll explain once we get out of here. Archadia is not safe. Not while He is here," the Shade responded.
"My things!" Terra stopped the Shade as they passed her house, "I need to get something."
"We don't have time!" the Shade insisted, "Soon, He will be here himself."
Terra ignored the Shade and wrenched her hand free of his grip and tore into her house. She ran to where she had left her packed belongings and seized the bundle. When she was back outside, the Shade was waiting impatiently.
"Don't ever do that again," he said, "If you want to get out of here alive, then listen to me and do what I tell you." It was odd. The Shade kept his voice smooth so that he didn't sound angry, and yet it made his anger more pronounced. Terra felt ashamed.
"Ridiculous." She told herself and shook her head to clear it.
The Shade was already leading her toward the gates out of Archadia.
"Stop," Terra tore her hand free of the Shade's grip once more, "I don't know why you helped me, but I thank you. However, I am not leaving without my father and I am most certainly not going anywhere with you."
"You mean your guardian? I found him near death, attacked by those same priests. I healed what I could, but I am not good with healing elements. As for your not following me, I have given you the opportunity to come of your own will, but I can force you if need be. I will not allow you to be captured by them," the Shade responded.
Terra drew herself up indignantly, "Now listen! Since you know what I am, you should obey my orders and right now, I am ordering you to release me!"
"Terra!" Terra whipped around and felt her heart jump with joy. Seig and Rith were approaching her. Seig had to be supported by Rith, but he would be alright. Seig was alive. Not safe, perhaps, but alive. She actually smiled. But then the Shade stepped in front of her.
"I am taking her out of here. If you are not with the Crimson-cloaked man, then know this: Archadia is no longer safe and the Church is dangerous."
"Terra!" Seig managed, lifting his sword in front of him while Rith withdrew his dagger.
The Shade raised an eyebrow and looked amused.
"A wounded man and a pampered priest's son..." he took a step forward. Just as the Shade seemed on the verge of attacking, another of his rampant fireballs exploded into the stone arch overhead and sent it crashing down between them.
"Terra!" Rith shouted as the Shade turned and took Terra's wrist.
"The Western gates! Quickly, Rith!" Seig shouted.
Terra could only look on with tears in her eyes. The Shade had bound her somehow and she could not move. "Seig, Rith! Don't die!" she screamed as the Shade took her out of Archadia and into the fields outside it.

OOC: Okay, okay. So I'm almost two months late on Chapter 3. BUT YES! I AM STILL WRITING THIS THING! xD

Chapter 3 was originally finished, but as I was typing it, I kept adding things and changing bits here and there, and it basically resulted in me re-writing the last half of it (you can probably spot the place where I started changing things in this post. xp)

At any rate. When I finish revising Chapter 3, I will put the rest of it up as well as Chapter 4 (assuming I keep things as I wrote them. xD)

In the mean time: enjoy. ^^
Edit: 131 views and only 4 comments!? Blasphemy!
Don't be shy, guys. I want comments whether they are good or bad (provided they're constructive. xp) I could always use the extra critique.
Edit2: Chapter 3 is now complete and good lord, did it take forever to write. x_x
Anyway. Now working on Chapter 4. Hope you all stick with it (those of you that are.) ^^

This message was edited by Ishilar on Jun 04 2008.

Terra glared at the Shade as he set about forming a small campfire. After they had left Archadia, the Shade had run
nearly a league carrying Terra on his back. He stopped when he reached the relative safety of a hilly outcropping with a small stream of water nearby. That was where they were now.
"I apologize for binding you so roughly, but you weren't coming," the Shade spoke while he toiled with starting a fire. He did not use the Stream.
"Oh yes, it isn't as though you took me from my home, family, and best friend," Terra responded sarcastically.
"Such a tone is not very becoming of neither a princess nor a beautiful woman such as yourself," the Shade remarked idly. Terra blushed faintly. Who was this Shade?
The man got the fire started at last; a large, roaring flame of orange and yellow came to life before Terra. It reminded her of the burning ruin she had left behind and it only made her sad. Were Seig and Rith alright? What had the Shade meant about Archadia no longer being safe? Terra was sure that if Rith and Seig had survived the fires that they were on her trail right now. The thought gave her a small amount of comfort.
"So," the Shade said as he sat down on the ground, "I am sure you have questions. I will answer what I can." Terra felt whatever was binding her lift. She immediately stretched. It felt nice after being restricted to one position for nearly an hour now.
"Well," Terra began, "To start, who are you?"
The Shade inclined his head in a small bow, "I am Severein."
"Severein, then. Why have you kidnapped me?" Terra asked. Anxiety pumped through her as much as life itself. She kept her posture and expression calm and smooth, but her heart hammered and she could only think of how she might escape from the Shade in one piece.
"I have not kidnapped you," Severein responded, "I have rescued you. You are free to go where you please as long as it is not Archadia and a few obscure regions you would never have heard of."
Terra blinked. Well that was certainly a surprise. So she could go anywhere as long as it was not Archadia? Perhaps he really had only meant to rescue her.
"I will follow you, of course," Severein continued, "saving you from Archadia won't be enough. He will send pursuit."
"Who is 'He'?" Terra demanded, "And why is he after me?"
"The Crimson-cloaked man," Severein said simply, "Remius. The false Princess Aurelion is but another of his pawns, created by him to serve as a facade for him to hide behind while he sends Gaia spiraling into further chaos. Why he is after you, I don't know. It may have something to do with your royal blood."
"I see..." Terra fell silent. She had so many questions that she forgot her desperate desire to escape. But she wasn't sure she wanted answers to some of them. So the Princess Aurelion sitting on HER throne wasn't even really the mastermind of it all. That stung. It also brought to surface the question she'd had earlier: How could the Church allow any individual claiming royal blood onto the throne? There were certain birthmarks on all of the royal family and nobles that marked them for what they were.
"It's simple: The Church wants a pawn," Severein explained when Terra voiced her question, "They would rather have accepted anyone BUT the real Princess Aurelion. The less experience, the easier they are to manipulate. Remius exploited this weakness to gain control of the Church."
"I see..." Terra said. It made sense. Perfect sense. Still...Terra hated the Church and she knew it was corrupt, but she didn't want to think of them becoming a mere tool for someone more sinister like this Remius, whoever he was.
Another question surfaced, "That woman with Remius, the fake Aurelion, she's a Shade, isn't she?"
"Yes and no," Severein responded. For the first time he looked sad and...angry? "She is like me: a person who has resisted the corruption that comes with being a Shade. Unlike me, however, she has chosen Remius' side. Why, I do not know. It may be that Remius is manipulating her. She would not choose him, otherwise..." Severein broke off and stared beyond Terra; beyond the hill; beyond anything and everything. He looked toward Archadia.

Terra realized she had touched on a something sensitive to the Shade and fell silent. The moments dragged on and neither said anything. Only the soft crackle of the fire made any noise.
At last, the Shade spoke, "Get some rest. I will watch the camp."
Terra shook her head, "No, you rest. You've escaped from the Church, fought who knows how many guards, and ran all the way out here. You need it more than I."
"I thank you for your kind thoughts," Severein spoke, "but I-"
"Don't worry. I won't go anywhere. Just rest." It was true, Terra realized. She really had no intention of leaving.
"He just seems to know so much," Terra thought, "If I stay with him, maybe I can learn how to stop Radiants from becoming Shades. He did mention resisting the madness, after all..." Terra yearned to ask about that, but it had come up on the topic of the false Princess Aurelion and Terra did not want to disturb the Shade again.
Severein stared at Terra for a moment before nodding, "Perhaps I will sleep a bit," he spoke through a yawn as he curled up under his tattered cloak and went to sleep.
"Does he really trust me?" Terra wondered as she watched him, "Or did he set some trap to alert him if I try to leave...?" She wanted to think Severein trusted her, but if she were him..."I would have warded the place a thousand times."
Terra sighed and settled into a more comfortable position and stared into the flames. All of her old anxiety was returning and mixing with her new fears. Where were Rith and Seig? What were they doing? Were they coming after her or had they been stopped in Archadia? How had those warrior-priests and High Priest Dorl emerge unscathed from her and Severein's attacks? Why was Remius after her? What did he plan to do? What was Severein's connection with the false Princess Aurelion?
Severein had answered many of her questions, but she seemed to have twice as many as before.
Another important question: Severein had said she was free to go where ever she pleased. Where would she go? Terra was certain Severein would not want to remain where they were for long. A part of her longed to go and find Seig. Rith had probably returned to Archadia, not knowing the danger he was in, but Seig would have kept on going after her. He was out there somewhere. Terra knew, however, that the chances of finding her guardian were slim. The other option she weighed was asking Severein more about the Shades. Perhaps there was a settlement for them somewhere that he knew of where she could study them and research their madness? Then again, that would also mean throwing herself amid a pack of wolves that might decide to rend her asunder without warning. Terra reached into her bundle and produced the map of Gaia. She bent over it, looking over cities, both abandoned and prospering, trying to find a place she could go until she had thought of a real destination. Carac was too close to Archadia; it was probably the first place Remius would look for her if he was indeed after her. Instead, she decided on the small, and recent, settlement of Rakar to the southwest of Archadia.

With her plan settled for the time being, Terra began to shift her gaze from the fire to the Shade and then to the outlying area. Terra felt her eyelids grow heavy. So much had happened that day...she was more exhausted than she had thought...her last thought was that she had to remain awake, but sleep was inexorable. Terra fell asleep with the hope that the next day would somehow see things turned around.

ooc: Short chapter, boring chapter, but you have those from time to time. I ran into writer's block here, as you can see, and everything looks rather helter-skelter. It will probably be edited later on into something less like Q and A.

Until the next chapter, my readers.

Terra glared at the back of her self-assigned 'guardian' as he led her through the thick wilderness toward Rakar. She had insisted that the road was shorter. She had warned of the dangers of the woods, and she had tried to buy horses. The Shade would have none of it.
"Remius will have people scouting the roads. The woods will be much safer. There is nothing in there that I cannot protect you from. As for horses, we cannot risk anyone remembering our faces. Remius has ways of getting information where you think he will find none." Terra mimicked Severein's words in her head as her glare sharpened. AND THEN! The man had told her to follow him! That he should lead her! The heir of Gaia!
"Hey, hurry up! You're falling behind!" The air chilled a little at the look Terra gave Severein's back. The audacity of the man! He was infuriating!
Normally, she would pay it no heed; she dealt with it all the time because nobody else knew she was a princess, but this man did! Had he no respect?
She sped up nonetheless; to her further disgruntlement, she really was falling behind. She could barely see his figure far in the distance of the trees, waiting patiently for her to catch up.
"Do you find the woods to be too difficult a terrain for you?" the Shade asked as a small smile played across his face.
"Silence," Terra retorted icily, "I'm just preoccupied."
The Shade's face became serious, "Of course," he said, "I apologize for the quick pace. I will go slower from now on, but first, I will take us to a place to rest. It should be close by." Without waiting for her answer, Severein turned from his path and walked deeper into the wilderness. Terra huffed and took off after him; the pure, simple, audacity of him! Terra glowered at his back. Why was she still with him? His back was turned...she could probably kill him, or at the very least stun him while she escaped. So why hadn't she?
"Answers," she thought grimly in response to her own question. The morning after her watch had provided no opportunities for questions. Severein had angered her too quickly. Though he said nothing of it, she knew in his tone and by the way he greeted her that he knew she had fallen asleep and he had taken up the watch. That small, knowing smile of his irked her terribly and she had refused to talk to the Shade all morning. She would ask her questions when they got to where ever Severein was leading her. She would get answers.

Terra had been so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed that Severein had disappeared from her vision. She looked around wildly, fighting the urge to call his name. She would not give him the satisfaction of coming back for her from where ever he had gone, facing her with that cocky smile of his!
"In here," Severein's voice beckoned Terra from a short distance ahead of her.
Terra's face reddened in anger. So much for not giving him that satisfaction. She stomped toward where his voice had come from...

...and let out an audible gasp. Severein had taken her to a small grove amid the tangled mess of trees. An absolutely breathtaking grove. The Shade had kept such a quick pace that Terra had little time to stop and appreciate the beauty of the woods. Tall, powerful trees shot out of the ground everywhere, blotting out much of the sun; a mighty testament to the power of nature. Behind the strength of the trees was a regal gentleness and beauty. Long willows provided a beautiful curtain of green that cascaded around the grove. Where the willows allowed space, other trees Terra could not put a name to shot high into the sky, their branches grasped at the air all around, providing a deep, cool shade in the grove. A single, solitary ray of sunlight managed to sneak through a crack in the canopy's defense and shone with a golden hue in the center of the grove. No man had ever felled a tree from these woods - no one had dared destroy the majestic strength and beauty of the ancient trees. Many believed the trees had been around ever since time had begun.
Terra drank in the beauty of the scenery for what seemed like an eternity before she noticed Severein sitting on the grass, watching her.
She felt herself redden, "It's nice," she said after a moment.
"You have not seen something like this before."
It was not a question.
"Well, my guardian never let me go out of Archadia. For good reason, too," Terra responded defensively, "There is no beauty like this in Archadia."
"It is a shame to hear you think so. This is a special place. There are special places all over the world, even Archadia. To find something, anything not just a place, that is special or magical, you must stray away from the beaten path and go into the wilderness. Only there will anyone ever find anything magical or special. Special places like this are hidden so that only those who will truly appreciate the magic and beauty of it can find it. Perhaps you never stopped to look," Severein responded quietly.
Terra shook herself and sat down beside him, paying little mind to the skirt she wore. It was good advice, but she couldn't afford to dwell on it.
"I have questions for you."
"Yes, I imagine you do." Severein did not meet her gaze.
"Will you answer them?" Terra asked. He was going to answer regardless, but she was going to maintain politeness no matter how the Shade treated her.
"It depends on the question."
"What is the person pretending to be the princess to you? I know there's a connection."
Pain crossed the Shade's features, "Next question."
She hadn't expected him to answer that one. Terra moved on.
"How does one become a Shade? Is there any cure for the madness? Is there a place where Shades live together?" Terra blasted her questions out one right after another.
Severein turned and looked at her, an eyebrow raised, "Interesting questions. Why do you ask?"
"If I cannot be of help to my people by becoming queen, then I will help them in another way. I will find a way to help the Shades," Terra replied resolutely.
Severein regarded her for a moment before lowering his gaze.

"You are familiar with the four elements?" Severein asked at last.
Terra nodded and quoted what every child in Gaia was taught when they first learned to use the Stream for magical purposes, "The four elements: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water make up the Stream which gives life to our world. Every living thing, every object on our planet is made out of a combination of these four essential elements."
Severein nodded, "The Stream...a roaring, never-ceasing torrent of life that carries these elements all around the world. It spreads them. It is like the blood in a body. The Stream is the blood, carrying what it must to the world, the body. But if infection occurs in the blood, disease festers, and a human becomes ill. The same can be said of the Stream. When it is corrupted by another force, it carries that force through the world, infecting it. The Stream is collected in trace amounts every time a child is born and when a man dies, the Stream is released and becomes one with the primary flow. When this corruption touches humans, they become Shades."
Terra was ashen-faced. Corrupt the Stream? How? And who? Well...she could guess who.
"It was Remius who corrupted the Stream," Severein read the question on her face. She'd thought so. It was all so unbelievable though. The sort of power Remius would have to possess to corrupt the very essence of life...
"Can't you or someone else clean the Stream?" Terra asked after she'd found her voice.
Severein barked a laugh and dug a wide, but shallow cut into the ground beneath them spanning from one end of the grove to the other. Severein fell into the Stream and called forth water from the ground to fill the simplified canal he'd created. He stood and flung a handful of dirt into the water.
"Remove every single speck," Severein told her.
Terra shook her head and used her own abilities with the Stream to close the gap back up and force the water back into the ground. The grass was less even than it had once been; Terra wasn't any where near proficient with Earth, but she could get the job done.

"The corruption alone does not bring about the madness, however," Severein continued once Terra had settled. She gaped at him. There was more to it?
"The corruption only creates a Shade. It is Remius himself that forces a Shade to go mad. I don't know precisely what it is that Remius corrupted the Stream with; I only know that whatever it was, it was a part of Remius himself. Every single Shade alive shares a bond with Remius and it is through this bond that he controls them. He batters away at a Shade's mind until there is nothing left. The human behind the Shade is destroyed completely and becomes a slave of Remius."
"So then...if Remius is killed..." Terra began.
"Then the Shades would no longer go mad," Severein finished for her.
Terra didn't say anything. She had found her solution. It seemed too easy.
"Why haven't you gone mad, then?" she asked after a moment.
Severein gave her his trademark smile, "I am not so easily taken by him. I used to be a highly regarded practitioner of 'magic' and other uses of the Stream," his smile faded, "But it has more to do with my own uncanny strength with the Stream. I cannot teach it to just anyone."
Terra nodded. That didn't help much. It wasn't something that could help others.
She reflected on all that Severein had told her and then realization hit her.

She cupped her hands over her mouth, "Those men we fought in Archadia..."
Severein's face darkened significantly, "No. Those...things, for they are men no longer, are much worse. As you must have realized by now, Remius has corrupted the Stream. Through the corruption, through this touch of his, Remius controls the Stream to a very small degree. Not on any grand scale; if he did, we would be dead right now, but it is enough. Occasionally, when Remius kills, he will rip men open. Wide open. Cut them into pieces. Blow them apart from the inside out, whatever suits his purpose. From there, he captures the small, miniscule portions of the Stream that congealed in those people, and he taints it. He reforms those that he just killed and he brings them back from the dead. Not back to life, do not make that mistake. Those men are very much dead, but they are under Remius' direct control. They cannot feel pain. They are immensely difficult to kill as you saw because Remius simply reconstructs them with the bit of the Stream inside them that he controls. They have no thoughts of their own. They are mere puppets. A mockery of human life," Severein spat. Blood ran in thin, spidery rivulets down his hands where the fingernails of his clenched fists had dug into the skin. Terra swallowed past the lump in her throat.
"Why..." she choked, "Why is Remius doing this?"
"I don't know," Severein answered, "Truly, I do not. I can only speculate."
A second wave of realization crashed into Terra and this one brought a trickle of tears and a terrifying rage.
"Severein..." Terra breathed through the tears rolling down her cheeks, "The Shade...that killed my father and mother..."
"Was controlled by Remius," Severein answered slowly, almost reluctantly, "Indirectly, Remius is your family's murderer."
Terra's face hardened, "I'll kill him for all that he's done."
Her family. Her country. Her people. Remius had destroyed them all. He would pay. She would make him.

She stood and glared fiercely in the direction of Archadia and took a step toward it before she felt a hand on her shoulder. She whipped around to face Severein, her anger seething through every fiber of her being.
"Let go of me," she commanded coldly, the warning readily evident in her tone.
"Facing Remius now is futile, Terra," Severein told her, "Calm down and think. You know very well that I am stronger than you, both physically as well as in use of the Stream. I could not defeat Remius. What makes you believe you can?"
"He has destroyed my family and my kingdom. He has harmed my people and he continues to do so with impunity! I will not allow this to pass any longer!"
"What will you do, then?" Severein asked skeptically with an icy chill of his own lacing his tone.
"I'll tell the people what he's been doing. How Shades are forced to go mad. He cannot protect himself from everyone."
Severein barked a laugh, "You would throw the people that you would 'protect' - that's your word - at a man who could break every last one of them without breaking a sweat. Furthermore, in the event he did not, he could just as easily turn them against you. Think, your majesty. If you were Remius and he were you, what would you do?"
Terra thought about it a moment and resisted the strong urge to retort with a sharp quip, and instead chose to take a deep breath to calm herself.
"He would call me a liar," she said softly, "If he eventually controls Shades, he could have one brought before him and pretend to cure the Shade's madness. My arguments would fall apart."
Severein nodded, "You're right. And then you would be dead."
"So what am I supposed to do!?" Terra shouted, "WHAT!?"
"Hard, I know," Severein spoke gently, "To stay hidden and do nothing when you burn with desire to act. To end it. But you must. I must."
Terra collapsed on the ground, finding that her legs no longer supported her. She remembered the mysterious woman with Remius and the reaction she brought about in Severein. He must want to strike Remius down too. Right then. She felt the tears roll on again...
"Until a way can be found to destroy Remius, you, at least, must remain hidden. He needs you for something. For what, I don't know. Perhaps he fears you. There may be something about you that can harm him. Or he may need you for some twisted ritual to do with the Stream. Right now, the best way to oppose him is to stay out of his clutches."
Terra buried her face in her arms and cried, saying nothing. She had never felt so utterly helpless than right then. She had finally found a way to help her people, and she could do nothing.
It hurt so much.



AH MAH GAWD! HE UPDATED!
Yes, yes. I did finally find the time for my dear little Succession. <3
Anyway. Longer chapter this time. Hope you all enjoyed it. Although...

quote

Until the next chapter, my readers.

I'm beginning to think I don't have any readers what with the lack of comments and all.
Or maybe I've just lost you all what with my sporadic and rare updates.
-glances at number of views- Or maybe you're all just stalking my writing and not saying anything at all.
Anyway. 6 will be up...err...whenever. xD

quote Bitter Sweet

I can't wait to read more! ~____~

Thy wish is granted.
Thank you very much for your comment. It's nice to finally get a bit of feedback for my writing past Chapter 2. xD
I'm glad you like it so far and hope you will continue to do so.



"Seig...sir?" Rith asked cautiously.
"Not now, Rith," Seig responded, "We are getting closer." The older man was bent over the ground examining it thoroughly for Terra's tracks. The sky was clear and the sun cast its golden rays over the hilltop Rith and Seig were on. Noon had not yet passed, but it was approaching quickly.
At first, there had been only one set of tracks leading out of Archadia, but here, on this hilltop far away from Archadia with a small stream running nearby, there were suddenly two.

Rith fell silent at Seig's request and his mind went unwillingly to the night before. He wanted to vomit just thinking about it. When the Shade had left with Terra, he and Seig had left the southern gate and rushed to the west. On the way, they encountered members of the church slaughtering the townspeople. Rith had blanched then. Men, women, children...the Church members were slaughtering indiscriminately. Mothers were impaled through their heads with lances that killed the children the mothers had hunched over to protect as well. And they were people Rith knew! He had tried to call out to them, tried to stop them. When he had finally caught their attention, they eyed him blankly. There was no recognition from his friends or the men he had known since his birth. They had attacked him! Rith swallowed as the memory flashed through his mind. Garth, his best friend besides Terra, stared at him with unseeing eyes and raised his bloodied sword. Rith yelped and dodged.
"Garth, what are you doing!? It's me, Rith! Why are you killing these people!? Stop it!" Rith shouted as Garth twisted and brought his sword crashing down again. Rith rolled to his feet and drew his dagger.
"Garth, stop! What's wrong!?" Rith tried to reason as he barely deflected his best friend's blows, "Look, if it's about that chicken I let loose in your room after I'd covered it with feed, I'm sorry!" There was no reaction. Rith had known then that he was going to die. It was only luck that another of the Shade's fireballs had smashed into Garth from above just then. Rith had blanched again at the sight of his friend's body falling in front of him, headless and the rest of him badly burned. But no blood had come. The red mist in the air was blood of the townspeople, not Rith's friend's. Rith stood shakily and then watched as a collection of black tendrils erupted from his friend's exposed necked and began to pile on top of one another, writhing. Rith stood rooted to the spot in fascination and horror as the black tentacles began to shape themselves to form Garth's head and face...
Rith had been shaken from his stupor and pulled away at that moment by Seig and half-dragged toward west gate. Rith vaguely remembered thinking that for a man who was terribly wounded at that moment, Seig had a surprising amount of strength left.

"They stayed the night here..." Seig murmured as his eyes fell on the ashes of the campfire Severein had made the night before. Rith blinked as his thoughts came back to the present with Seig's voice.
"A fire was built and the grass has been smashed down in two places. This Shade, whoever he is, is making it very easy to follow him. Granted, however, it is very hard not to leave tracks in these plains. The tracks head west toward the road." Seig frowned, "An odd move. There will be patrols from Archadia swarming the roads which one would think the Shade would want to avoid..."
"What about the Ancient Wood?" Rith asked quietly, not wanting to interrupt the warrior's thinking, but still wanting to voice his ideas.
Seig's gaze hardened, "If he takes Terra there...we may be able to catch them. The going will be slower there." Seig straightened, "What did you want to ask before, Rith?"
"Oh, I was only wondering about your wounds..."
Seig grimaced, "They are not healing as well as I would like, but they are manageable," he turned and faced Rith, "Your expression is troubled..."
"I just don't understand it," Rith sighed, "Why is the Church after Terra? The things that Shade said, about Archadia not being safe anymore, what is that all about? And you and Terra. I never guessed at it before, but...I see it now. You two are keeping secrets, and it just...I don't know. I thought I knew everything about you and Terra."
Seig placed a hand on Rith's shoulder, "My secrets and Terra's are hers to tell and only hers. Rest assured, though, you will get a chance to ask her. We will find her. As for Archadia and the Church..." Seig grimaced once more, "I would assume it would have to do with the recent change in leadership."
"We've already gone over this, Seig. That's impossible," Rith retorted angrily, "the Lady Aurelion would never order something so callous and cruel! I met her, Seig, and trust me, she is not one to do that."
Seig regarded Rith for a moment before shaking his head, "I did not get a chance to see her before I was attacked. You must not judge based solely on appearance alone, Rith. Every person in the world keeps secrets, not just Terra and myself."

Seig left Rith to ponder his words as he began his trek back down the hill, following Terra's tracks. Rith followed, lost in thought. What Seig had told him was true, and yet...he hadn't seen her. Seig hadn't seen how sincere she was, how...unmistakably honest she'd been with her words. A woman like her couldn't possibly be in on any of the Church's dealings. It was impossible. She was just an angel trapped in the maw of a demon. Rith scowled as he remembered the previous night after he and Seig had escaped the chaos of Archadia.

"We have to go back for Princess Aurelion! She's in danger!" Rith demanded. The two were standing outside the west gate as the panicked screams inside Archadia continued and the city blazed with the Shade's emerald fire. The Church members were still killing, but Rith had recovered somewhat from the shock and could feel his body again. The numbness provided by the shock was wearing off.
"Don't be a fool, Rith. There is a large chance that woman orchestrated this whole thing."
"What!?" Rith spluttered, "That's ridiculous, Seig! You can't just go around accusing the royal heir of Gaia of treachery! Not without a good amount of proof! And she would never be in on something like this!" Rith visibly calmed himself while Seig stood by, saying nothing, "If you do have proof, at least let me hear it."
Seig turned away, "I cannot. You will have to ask Terra."
Rith frowned, "What does Terra know about this?"
"Nothing, else she would have told me. She does, however, know the grounds for my suspicions."
"You're basing this on suspicions? Seig, the Church is SLAUGHTERING people. She's in danger! We have to get her out of there!"
"And leave Terra in the clutches of a Shade?" Seig demanded with a glare, "Disperse the clouds in your mind, Rith, and think! Who is in more immediate danger? The most heavily guarded person on the continent or Terra, who is alone save for the Shade?"
Rith reddened in shame, "Terra, of course," he mumbled. Seig was right. Lady Aurelion had that man with the red cloak. The man who had gone head to head with the Shade...he would not be defeated easily. He could protect the princess from the Church until Rith could return and rescue her. He trusted that man.
Seig's gaze softened, "I will not ask you to come, Rith. I will go alone if I must and you can try to rescue that woman and her guardian, but I will not leave Terra with that Shade for any longer than is necessary."

Seig still suspected the Lady Aurelion. It was ludicrous! He had no proof at all and only groundless suspicions!
Rith was still wrapped in thought and anger with Seig that he almost bumped into the man his anger was directed at.
"The tracks change direction here," Seig told Rith, eyebrows knit into a deep frown.
"Are you sure? It seems rather abrupt, don't you think?" Rith asked.
Seig nodded, "I'm sure the tracks are theirs. For them to change direction like this..." Seig grinned suddenly, "We can gain some ground on them. The Shade is trying to shake off pursuers by changing course suddenly, but these tracks lead back to Archadia, the very last place he would want to go. They are definitely headed toward the Ancient Wood."
Rith looked toward the horizon. He could see the edge of the massive, old forest just at the end of it. It looked foreboding, even from a distance.
"What if he really did change direction?" Rith asked, "What if Terra escaped and is going back to Archadia for us?"
Seig raised an eyebrow, "You think Terra could escape from the Shade by herself?"
Rith opened his mouth to say that he thought she could, then closed it. Seig was right, of course, but..."I just don't like the idea of assuming they're going in a direction that deviates from their tracks. I mean...the Shade's not exactly stupid, is he? He managed to escape from the dungeon and Archadia itself, neither of which are easy feats. What if he expects pursuit and wants us to think that?"
"Rith, if I spent every moment second-guessing my conclusions, we wouldn't get anywhere. The woods are not that far from here. If we don't find any tracks at the edge, then it will have only cost us two hours at the worst."
"Two more hours for Terra with the Shade," Rith retorted stubbornly. He respected Seig as a woodsman. The man had the experience and skill Rith did not, but Rith did not want to take any risks. He didn't want Terra to spend any more time with the Shade than she had to. His dreams during the previous night had been horrific and had alternated between the destruction and slaughter in Archadia and Terra and what the Shade was doing to her. His nightmares had conjured brutal scenes of torture, rape, and death that had left Rith crying for the fate of his best friend each and every time he had woken up.

"If we go straight to the woods from here, then we shave those two hours off of the time Terra would have to spend with the Shade," Seig replied easily. Rith's face contorted with pain. That was true, painfully true, but...if they missed a vital track...
Seig looked at Rith with understanding and pity and sighed, "Alright, Rith. We'll follow the tracks. We'll go on the Shade's false trail."
Rith breathed with relief, "Thank you, Seig. Before we go on, though, there's something I want to ask."
Seig's eyes narrowed, "What is it?"
Rith took a deep breath. He'd been thinking about during the times when his mind had not been troubled with his nightmares or worry over Princess Aurelion. He had never seen Seig with a sword before, and yet it looked right on the man. It fit him as though Seig and his sword were made for one another. Rith remembered his terror in Archadia. He remembered the helplessness he'd felt fighting Garth.
"Teach me how to fight."
Seig raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"I want to learn how to fight," Rith repeated, "And not with this," Rith took out his dagger, "With something I can actually defend myself with." He eyed Seig's sword.
Seig said nothing for the longest moment as he regarded Rith, but there was understanding in his eyes. "Alright," the older man spoke at last, "The next time we stop to rest, I will show you what I can. You're too thin and lanky for a sword, however. I beg your pardon if you are offended, but you don't look like you have the strength to wield a sword properly. A staff would suit you more. And don't belittle the strength of a dagger. It may be small, but it can save your life."
Rith nodded, "I thank you again, Seig. For everything. But first we have to find Terra."
"Of course. Now come, they're gaining ground on us as we stand here talking," Seig turned and followed the tracks leading back toward Archadia and Rith followed, casting glances toward the Ancient Wood as it disappeared under the horizon. He would find Terra and he'd rescue her from the Shade no matter what.

OOC: Still waiting for that criticism, Nat Smiley.



"Here it is," Terra spoke out loud, "Rakar."
Severein nodded silently. The two had emerged from the Ancient Wood just as the sun had begun to set. After crossing a hill, the little settlement had finally come into sight.
The quaint little village was dark and silent when Terra and Severein passed through its gates. The village was empty; doors and windows were shut.
Terra shivered; the uncanny resemblance to her last days in Archadia was unnerving to say the least. She glanced at Severein. The Shade wore the hood on his cloak now; the pair was too close to Archadia where too many people would recognize a Shade almost instantly. Terra had to admit the that the man did stand out. He was taller than anyone she'd ever met and the stormy swirls in his eyes were a giveaway. Despite that, she didn't see how hiding his face was any less suspicious. People were naturally curious and would want to see the face beneath the hood.
"Where are the people?" Terra whispered.
Severein didn't answer. He eased his sword out of its scabbard and proceeded slowly.
"Stay near me," Severein whispered at last. Terra swallowed hard and followed.
The Shade didn't seem worried, just...wary. Yes, that was the word; he was wary. He was sure he could easily fight off anything that attacked them, but wasn't sure if he could protect her from harm at the same time. Had he forgotten that she could fight too? Not anywhere near as well as Severein could, granted, but she could still use magic.
The two proceeded to the center of the settlement before Severein turned to one of the small houses and gave the door three sharp raps and called out, "Whomever is inside this inn, we are two travelers fresh from the hard life on the road. My Lady and I would like to stay here if you have room. "
Terra shot Severein a glance. Lady? What did he expect to gain from having her play a noble?
A thin slat in the door slid open and a pair of eyes peered out at the two. The eyes looked them over thoroughly before the door was opened slowly to reveal a small, balding man whose sweat-sodden shirt fit his wide girth very tightly.
"You not be with the Turned?" the man whispered.
Severein shook his head inside his cloak, "No. We have no affiliation with any group. "
Relief was evident on the man's face, "Come in, come in Quickly, now," he whispered urgently, beckoning them inside.
Terra shot Severein a confused look, but the Shade merely stepped inside for answer. Terra sighed and followed him. She really wished Severein would consult her before he made decisions. She was supposed to be the one leading, wasn't she?

Once she and Severein were inside, the innkeeper shut the door hurriedly and latched it. Terra looked around. Contrary to the quiet in Rakar, there were nearly thirty people inside the inn. Terra found herself frowning. None of the people looked like travelers. In fact, unless she was terribly mistaken, the people crammed into the inn were the townspeople of Rakar.
The innkeeper nodded when she asked. "Aye," he spoke, "the townspeople don't dare stay in their own houses anymore. Too dangerous with the Turned about. Name's Wycot, by the way."
"You keep mentioning these Turned people. Who are they?" Terra asked.
The innkeeper looked at her incredulously, then shook his head fervently, "Not people, young lady," he told her softly, "monsters. They have legs and arms like humans, but they have the wings of birds or the claws and teeth of beasts." the man swallowed, "They have before and taken some people. Not just men, though. Women, children. They are as honor-less as Shades.
"Hasn't Archadia sent aid?" Terra asked incredulously.
Wycot barked a laugh, "Archadia sent us aid at first, but the Turned took down the warrior-priests and claimed their corpses to feed themselves. Archadia has since deigned to withdraw its aid because it could no longer afford to protect us. They had 'more important issues.'" the man spoke darkly.
"You say that Archadia gave aid at first. How long has this been going on?" Severein spoke up.
"Three weeks, maybe?" Wycot shrugged.
"And where are the captured taken?"
The innkeeper shook his head, "We don't know. Otherwise, we'd go after them. We have armed search parties out right now, searching for our young, our loved ones, and our friends, but..." Wycot sighed, "Always, they return empty-handed if they return at all. "
Terra shivered. Men with the wings of birds and the claws and teeth of beasts? It sounded so...unreal. Like something out of an old myth used to scare children.
She kept her facial expression and tone calm as she told Wycot, "If I am correct in assuming that what remains of Rakar is gathered here, then I would guess you have no rooms for us?"
"No, no. There is room. I shall make it if I must," Wycot responded hurriedly, "None of us here would send two people outside alone to face the Turned. I shall get you both a room to yourselves. It shouldn't be too difficult. Already, most people here are sleeping four to a room."
"Four!?" Terra lost her calm and was close to shouting, "That's inhumane!"
"People are afraid to sleep in their own houses. In numbers, there is protection," Wycot didn't seem to bat an eye at Terra's sudden outrage.
"I will not force such conditions on others simply so that I can be comfortable!" Terra retorted stubbornly, "If you must force people out, then empty only one room. My servant and I will sleep together."
Wycot looked at her doubtingly, but after a moment, was off to inform those who would have to move. While they had a bit of privacy, Severein took Terra aside.
"Servant?" he asked, amused. That small smile was on his face again.
"It was the best I could think of," Terra returned, reddening, "But you are in a way."
"In a way," Severein repeated with a small nod, "but if I am your servant, then you should act the mistress. A Lady would never request to be roomed with her servant, no matter how generous she is. Not if she can avoid that situation."
"Oh...that's true, I suppose," Terra mumbled, reddening again.
"Don't fret over it, it's not an error that will cost us much."
"But it is an error, Severein," Terra protested, "You didn't want us to be remembered. You didn't want us to stand out. Now we will."
"It's fine," Severein told her firmly, "I will handle whatever danger comes our way when it comes our way. The worst people will think is that you and I are...committed."
"What!?" Terra squeaked, turning bright red. THAT sort of thing had never crossed her mind. It made her uncomfortable to think about it. Thoughts were erupting unbidden in her mind.
She had never put herself forward so far as to become involved with someone. It was something a queen could not afford to do. Her marriage would always have been a political one, not one of love. Now, however, she would never be queen. Now...if she wanted...
"No. Stop thinking right now." Terra thought to herself firmly. She had always been attracted to Rith and still was if she was to be honest with herself, but Severein? Stop it! He was so...reserved around her. And yet...

"Terra?"
Severein's voice pulled Terra from her reverie and saved her from her own thoughts.
"Sorry, I was just distracted..."
Severein gave her an odd look, but said nothing of it, "The innkeeper is approaching. It's time you acted the mistress."
Terra turned in time to see Wycot approach them with a key.
"Here you are Miss..."
"Celes will do," Terra told the squat little innkeeper.
Wycot nodded, "Miss Celes, your room is on the top floor at the end of the hall."
"My thanks, Wycot, for all you have done. Come, Seldonis," Terra beckoned Severein shortly and trod up the inn's creaky wooden stairs to the second floor. The Shade complied, somehow feigning meekness. Terra didn't understand how he could manage that. It simply wasn't a part of him.

The room they arrived at was a very small square, completely barren of any object save for a single bed placed awkwardly in the center of the room. Terra was willing to bet that it hadn't been there before the room had been given to her and Severein. A single solitary window overlooking the entrance to the inn was to the right of the bed.
"How in the name of Gaia are they managing to fit four people into these tiny rooms?" Terra wondered.
"They have no belongings," Severein responded quietly, "When people are thrust into a situation where their options are assured death or a chance at life, no matter how barren that life is, they will always choose life. Their lives are the only things of value to them. Their lives and the lives of their loved ones. When people are thrust into that sort of situation, they don't need anything else."
Terra nodded. She understood.
"They didn't have to bring a bed in for me, though..."
"You forget. You are a Lady, a noble. You are different from them. They see you in a different light no matter how much you sympathize with them, which is why I chose to introduce you as a Lady. They will avoid us, because they think you are above them. At the same time, they think that you will be able to use your influence to gain more aid from Archadia to help them, so they tell you of their troubles the way they would to a commoner whom they sympathize with."
"So you're manipulating them?" Terra asked quietly. She could feel her anger rising.
"It's necessary. We need to know what we're up against." Severein explained.
"So the end justifies the means!?" Terra was coming close to shouting, "These are my people, Severein! You can't just give them a false hope and then take it away from them! We have to help them if we're going to give them hope!"
"You must stop thinking of every person in this land as one of your 'people'. You are not the queen. You do not rule this land. Remius does. If you want to help Gaia, then you have my aid for as long as I can give it, but you must stop thinking of yourself as responsible for every single person on Gaia. Their problems are their own and you must ignore them if you want to help the whole of Gaia and ease its suffering. Sacrifices must be made for the greater good. It is folly to believe you can help everyone."
Severein's words struck Terra to her core and sent a tremor of pain through her. The pain had turned to rage by the time she could find words, "How dare you!?" she shouted, "You don't know anything about me or my people! I have trained for this all my life! I will not abandon them! You talk about the greater good, but you don't care about that The only thing you care about is that woman sitting on the throne right now! I know it's true! If you thought it would help her, you'd slaughter every one here, people who really need our help!"
The Shade's face had contorted in pain and a flash of anger during Terra's tirade.
"Good!" Terra thought angrily, waiting for the Shade to retort. But he did not. The pain still evident on his face, Severein turned and strode silently out the door, taking care to shut it behind him. Terra wished he'd have slammed it.

It wasn't until she tasted her own salty tears that Terra realized she'd been crying. Her legs managed to carry her back to her bed before they gave out and she collapsed onto the musty white sheets, her mind a muddled mess of anger, helplessness, and sorrow.
Her promise to herself not to cry echoed faintly in her mind, but Terra paid it no mind. Surely even queens were allowed to cry every once and a while.
The young princess eventually drifted into a fitful and restless sleep...

...And awoke to sounds of savage celebration. Still groggy, Terra staggered to her feet and opened her window, allowing light to squeeze her eyes shut for a moment while she adjusted. When her world was no longer a burning sheet of white light, Terra saw the people who, the night before, had looked so desolate and lifeless, were now fierce and jeering at something. Frowning, Terra hurried out of her room and out of the inn. She found Wycot standing just outside the door, smirking with cold satisfaction at whatever the people were gathered around.
"What's going on?" Terra asked.
"Our search parties finally found one!" he informed her ferociously, "One of the Turned. Well, actually, your serving man, he's the one who caught the murderous bastard and brought him to our men.
"Severein found him!?" Terra asked incredulously.
"I thought you called him Seldonis..." Wycot was scrutinizing her curiously.
Terra mentally kicked herself, but recovered quickly, "In these troubled times, discretion is more advisable than trumpeting our names everywhere."
"Aye, true, that," Wycot agreed grimly.
Terra waited for the balding man to say more, but when he did not, she went on, "So where is my servant now?"
"He told our men that he was going to the lair of the Turned to rout them all," Wycot's expression had a savage pleasure on it.
Terra suppressed a shudder. The only other time she had seen people possessed of this much blind rage was when a Shade was marched through Archadia. In fact, it was eerily similar to that day she had first laid eyes on Severein. The jeering, the insults, the stones being thrown...
Terra shook Severein from her mind; she was still angry with him no matter what he did, and made her way through the wall of blind hatred and aggression that emanated from the villagers of Rakar.

Terra thought her heart might stop when she saw what the people were throwing stones at. Scrunched into a small, rusting cage was a boy, who could not have seen more than ten naming days. A boy with dark fur covering most of his body, complimented by his feral yellow eyes and sharp, canine teeth. The boy looked as though he had been birthed by a wolf.
"Mama," the wolf-child cried as he struggled to reach through the bars of his cage toward a woman staring back at him with cold disdain while the villagers around her continued to throw stone and insult at the boy.
Terra felt numb and cold. "Mama?" she thought, "Then the villagers that are kidnaped...are turned into this somehow?" Terra thought she might sick up as she watched in petrified horror as a man stepped forward and stopped the child's frantic reaching for his mother by breaking the boy's arms with a hammer. Terra wanted nothing more than to turn away from the sick sight and to shut her ears from the boy's screams for his father as the man with the hammer stepped next to the boy's mother, but she couldn't move her gaze from the child and the spell she might use to cover her ears refused to come to mind.
"Mama, papa please! Help me!" The boy begged.
"Don't you dare speak to us, monster!" the boy's father roared, "How dare you take the form our son to try to catch us off guard while you kill us in our pity!"
Terra was roused from her stupor as anger pushed aside horror. Were these people really so blinded? She remembered her vow to help all of her people. If that included these 'Turned', then she would do whatever she could. There wasn't much difference between the Turned and Shades anyway. Steeling herself for what was to come, Terra opened herself to the Stream. Once Terra was bathing in the magic, she let it loose in the form of a powerful burst of wind that pushed the villages of Rakar away from the wolf-boy.
"Enough!" she shouted as she stepped forward and stood in front of the cage, shielding the child from the stones being thrown.
"Step away, outsider or you shall receive his punishment as well," the boy's father jeered.
"I will not," Terra responded coldly and sent a withering glare at the man that made him shrink back. Others in the barbaric mob stepped forward with their protests, but Wycot made himself heard over all others.
"Quiet, all of you. Let's at least hear the Lady Celes out," the innkeeper spoke, but by his expression, Terra judged that he wasn't especially eager to listen to her either.
Terra didn't waste what Wycot had given her, however.
"Think, all of you!" Terra shouted, "Is this all the satisfaction you need!? One child? For what price have you paid to capture this boy? What have you lost? Is this one beast enough to satisfy your retribution?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd, many nodding their heads in fierce agreement.
"Well then think! At the rate you're going, you will kill him before we can get information out of him! He can lead us to your families!"
Understanding was beginning to cross the features of the more intelligent among the mob.
"We can have him take us to the rest of these monsters where we can flush them out once and for all and save your families!"
Fearsome cheers of approval roared from the crowds.
"But!" Terra continued, "You must allow me to take this beast alone. I will find my servant who is still searching for the lair as we speak while the rest of you arm yourselves. We cannot go into this battle ill-prepared. The lives of your friends and children are on the line. I will return to you all and lead you to purge your lands of these monsters."
A mixture of approval and protest met her words, but Terra had known from the beginning that not everyone would be swayed.
Wycot again spoke for the mob once it had settled, "You speak wisdom to us, Lady Celes. Forgive us for speaking so rudely to you before. The majority of us have agreed to your plan," he shot a dirty glance at those who had protested, "And urge you on your way so that you may return quicker and with news of our loved ones."
Terra relaxed her pose, feeling some of the tension in her drain away.
"Come along, then," Terra told the boy as two of the villagers scrambled to free him.
The wolf-child merely looked at her with tears in his golden eyes as the men behind him booted him from the cage onto the ground. That gaze tore Terra's heart apart, but she forced herself to continue her act for a moment longer.
"Use this as a leash, my lady," the boy's father handed Terra a thick rope that looked as though it had been used to haul him into Rakar.
Terra nodded, not trusting herself to speak as she wound the rope around the boy. She gave the rope a sharp tug to put on a show of force and no pity for the villagers, but once they were out of sight in the dense forest outside Rakar, Terra burned the rope with a simplistic use of Fire.
The boy stopped and stared up at her quizzically. Terra realized that even standing, the boy's head barely reached her waist, so she knelt down.
"Don't be alarmed," she told him gently, 'I am going to heal you. Then will you take me to where ever the rest are?"
The boy said nothing as Terra combined Water and Earth from the Stream to form a mixture of the two elements that would heal the boy's bones and his more severe injuries and ease his pain.
"My name is Terra," she told him as she worked, "What is yours?"
"...Raelin."
"Raelin, then," Terra nodded when she'd finished, "Can you take me to where the others are? I want to help them if I can."
"Do you really think you can?" Raelin asked, his tone dark. He suddenly sounded very mature, "Can you undo what the man in red did to me and my friends?"
"I won't know if you don't take me there to see, will I?" Terra asked a little breathlessly; healing took a lot more than using fire or the four basic elements. Those four could be found in nature and didn't require as much energy to harness, but healing had to be created and that proved to be infinitely more difficult and taxing on the body. And now a man in red could possibly be at the lair! There could only be one man in red Raelin was referring to and Wycot had told her that Severein had gone to the lair. What if he...
Terra stopped thinking about Severein. He was the one who had captured Raelin in the first place! He had to have known what was going on and yet...! She would have words with him again when she found him.
"...I hope you can, Miss Terra. I hope you can." Without waiting for a response, Raelin darted into the foliage, beckoning for Terra to follow.

This message was edited by Ishilar on Oct 08 2008.