I am not claiming to own these characters. Slight offensive language.

I can feel that this is going to be a long story. Thanks to those who had reviewed, I really appreciate it. It gives me much more will to continue on with this.

Please Review!! Let me know how I am doing, and be honest! Be like, "Hey, you really suck." Or "Stop right now, your work is giving my brain cancer." Or, "To be polite…If I were you, I would kill myself..."

( Any of these will do. )

Bringing more characters into the story...

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Vision of Division

Chapter Two: A New World Order

It was lovely, how the snow fell…gently, whisping throughout the air. Each flake on a journey…reaching great distances, like the young man's own body. He had always liked the snow, covering everything within eyesight, making all scenery one color- making everything harmonious.

How the snow reminded Markel of his old home in Flanoir. He had traveled quite a long distance by foot, following the cold, like birds following the warmth. In a world of change, he could always trust the elements to be by his side. He was grateful that even if the people around him changed or he himself changed, the weather would stick by him and give him a sense of normalcy. This was his rock, his mediator, his security.

Until recently. He had heard from the elders of the gradual climate change, now over the years, becoming quite fierce. Skeptics had challenged for as long as he could remember, that these 'climate changes' were false assumptions, and untrue. However, it was becoming quite apparent… Heck, it was even the reason he had moved away from Flanior.

His snow covered, harmonious, land of unity, had become much like a swamp. Last he had heard from Flanoir, from remaining friends and family, Markel's old house had dropped into a sinkhole. A sinkhole that had already encompassed most of the surrounding land.

Markel sighed, saddened by thinking about the matter. All the memories he had held in the town, for almost twenty years, were still residing in his head…but all the people and places, what had become of them? Had they been caught up in the falling land?

"Markel, please help me with the engine over here," Markel's grandfather's voice came to his ears, muffled by the hood of a small rheaird. It was his grandfather that had welcomed him into his new home, though this area was also facing drastic weather changes. This land, once green and lively, was now covered in Markel's favorite harmonious white.

Pushing those thoughts from his mind, he walked over to the older man, who was much more of a father to him then a grandfather. Though the man was in poor health, he devoted his life and what was left of his strength to knowledge, and to carrying on what his ancestors had left him. Markel watched as the elder's frail hands worked on the ancient machinery. Meticulously moving over pieces of metal, each movement of his was flawlessly calculated to accomplish the job.

The lack of mana in the world left technology, such as the rheairds, close to extinction. Along with the technology or Magitech, knowledge of such machines had also disappeared. Mana shortages had been apparent for the last hundred years or so, about the same time climate shifts began to occur. Along with the dying land, mana was being drained from the world.

The old man pointed Markel to a part of the engine that needed tightening and then looked up from his work briefly. "This machine has been in the family for generations. My grandfather gave it to me, before he passed…though he barely knew how to use it. My father studied for decades to catch up, to figure out a way to run this flyer…"

"And after all those decades he still couldn't figure it out?" Markel interrupted his grandfather's speech.

The older man smiled at the memory of his father, emitting a small chortle from his lips, "Let's just say he was a slow learner." The man's eyes were kind, crinkled at the corners from years of stress, and laughter. "It is a hard task however, with little mana to use. We had to figure out a way to run it -consuming minimal mana. After all these years, I know our ancestors would be proud to know that it is almost complete."

Markel smiled, he loved when his grandfather would talk about his ancestors. Markel's mother and father had passed away when he was a little child, leaving him with his aunts in the higher region of the world. Hearing anything about the nature of his family, gave him a sense of comfort.

Markel's grandfather continued, "With this Markel, when I pass away… you may be the only person in Aselia with the power of the rheaird."

Markel nodded, not fully aware of what his grandfather's intentions for the machine were. Sure, it would be useful and efficient to be able to fly from place to place, but how would this be functional for anything else? His eyes examined the machine; its wings perched like a bird, almost encompassing the entire room of his grandfather's workshop.

"Are you listening to me boy?"

Markel snapped out of his thoughts, his cheeks slightly reddened that he was caught daydreaming in his own diversion. "Yes, sorry sir."

The older man sighed audibly, a small hint of a smile still remaining on his face. How this child reminded him of himself at that age. "It's okay, when my father and grandfather were explaining this to me, I was even more careless than you." He paused for a moment to chuckle, his eyes hazing over with thoughts of the past. "Please just remember Markel, with this technology, you also hold great responsibility. If there is anything that seems direly wrong in this world…you may be but one of a few who can help. Remember Dwarven Vow number one…"

"Let's all work together for a peaceful world," Markel stated from memory, having grown up with these vows. These vows had been passed on throughout his family history for generations. It was slightly confusing to him however, since he had no Dwarven blood in him.

Markel nodded, not fully understanding the extent of his grandfather's concern. He could feel it however, as if these emotions were installed in his blood. It was almost as if a sense of urgency had been passed down throughout his family. Markel's hands slipped away from the metal he was working on, and clenched at his sides as he let this sensation course throughout his body.

If fate had lead him in the direction of helping the world and the people around him, he knew there would be no way he could deny it. It was simply just in his nature. Dwarven Vow number two, 'Never abandon someone in need.' He knew the time was coming he would have to leave his new home, here in Iselia.

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Genis Sage had been working incessantly for hours, studying anything and everything. He knew trying to figure out the reason for the current mana shortage was going to be a wearisome task, especially since transportation recently was at a halt. It was hard for him to come up with anything conclusive, when all he could research was past events written in books. He was trapped in Iselia.

He could tell easily, just from being aware of his senses, that mana was being depleted from the world. He had felt it coming on for years, decades really. He was one of the few in his town that had ever experienced a time where mana was flourishing. Due to his background as a half-elf, time could not be measured for Genis; He was unbound by the ties of time.

"This is absolutely marvelous!" Raine shouted to Genis, barging into the room they called their study. "What a great find!"

Her sudden entrance and ecstatic antics made Genis roll his eyes, "What is it now Raine?" This may have been the fifth time she had exclaimed such remarkable findings today.

Rained carefully placed a rolled up map on the desk in front of Genis, pushing to the side piles of books he had been reading. Bit by bit she unrolled the fragile paper, her smile growing wider with every inch that became visible. "Do you know what this is?"

Genis' eyebrow furrowed in question, "I would hope, it's the map of the world."

"Yes, exactly…notice how in specific regions the color is distorted?"

Genis' eyes quickly glanced over the map, uninterested in her findings. "Oh," Genis sighed, "So it's an old, faded map of the world."

Rained shook her head fervently, annoyed by her younger brother's lack of enthusiasm towards her find. "How do you not see the correlation between the faded areas, and the areas where the climate has changed?!" She sighed heavily, continuing on "This map pretty much predicted the climate change and the falling of land before it happened. Think about this, how could someone have known about this so far in advance!? This map encloses information far beyond its time!"

Genis' eyes had been closed for almost the entirety of her rambling. His head was resting on the palm of his hand, white hair escaping from every which angle, covering his face. Within moments he was on floor, pushed from his resting position by a quick jabbing movement from his sister.

"Ugh," Genis moaned, rubbed his elbow that had been caught between him and the wood of the floor. "Alright, alright. I'm listening."

Raine's eyes bore into his, "Great, now that I have your attention-"

"Only by brute force…" Genis inserted quickly.

Ignoring his comment, she continued, "If someone had the capability of finding out such activities…maybe they would know of a way to help in the matter."

Genis nodded, "That seems like a reasonable assumption. Just where did you get the map though?"

The expression on Raine's face changed promptly, mischievousness and caution now enveloping the features of her face. "I may have taken it from somewhere."

Genis' eyes widened, knowing his sister too well, "You stole an artifact?!"

For once Raine was silent. It was a rare time in history that the room resounded in anything but Raine's voice.

Genis shook his head, almost in disbelief…almost. If this had been the first time she had acted this way, maybe he would have been more shocked. Standing up from his position on the ground Genis urged, "Where did you get it?"

Raine knew the question was coming. However, she wasn't prepared. She wasn't even sure it was possible to be prepared. She didn't want to tell the younger half-elf the truth. Not because she didn't want to be considered a thief; because she didn't want to arise disheartening emotions in her brother. Starting off slowly, she responded. "Well… Markel's grandfather showed it to me. It was in the Temple of Martel." She knew mentioning the young man's name was to be done with carefulness around Genis.

"Oh," he replied, the volume of his voice lowering. "Markel's grandfather."

Genis' eyes drifted closed once again. His memories couldn't help but to be brought to another time…another place, with different people. After another long moment of silence, Genis' voice arose from inside the room, slightly cracking as emotion seeped into his tone. "Maybe we should meet with them."

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