Episode 4: Embers

13th of Matrinalis, Tuesday

There was no celebration when the teenagers reached the end of the tunnel. They did not revel in their escape. They mourned for the dead, for the missing, and except for Aelita, their lost home. It was daybreak by the time they reached the Scarwood Forest, and they didn't stop to rest until the column of smoke was just a streak on the horizon. By then, it was midday.

"So, I've been thinking if we're going to be Heroes together and everything that we should get to know one another a little better." Odd suggested. "Yumi, Ulrich and I know each other pretty well, and Yumi claims to know you and William, Your Highness, but I think we should all get better acquainted." No one responded. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Okay, I guess I'll go first."

As they walked, Odd spoke of his history. He spoke of being the only boy in a litter of girls, and of being a half-elf in a racist city like Capital Lyoko. His father, an elf named Robert, had been a Ranger before deciding to pursue the career of a minstrel. He met Odd's mother, a human named Marguerite, on his travels, and they married. They settled in Capital Lyoko shortly before Elizabeth was born, followed by Marie, Adele, Louise and Pauline. Odd was the youngest, and due to his parents being constantly busy, was primarily raised by his sisters. They liked to tease him, but he knew that they had his best interest at heart.

Odd admitted that while he more related to his human heritage, he was fascinated by his father's work as a Ranger, an occupation primarily left to elves. Laura explained that it was out of respect that elves were assigned to guard nature, though Aelita insisted it was because the humans did not want them in the cities. In any case, Odd had asked his father to give him pointers, and due to his parents' constant positive reinforcement, Robert gave him his old bow, which Odd kept with him.

"He said I was a natural born hunter," Odd proclaimed, digging around in the bag of his belongings. "And not to brag, but he was right! I killed my first clan of vampires at only thirteen." He commented proudly before returning to his bag.

Jeremie rolled his eyes. "No offense, Odd, but I doubt that you could take on an entire clan of vampires by yourself." He commented.

"No, look," Odd said, pulling out a blood red brooch from his bag. It was engraved with a simplified bat in front of the moon. "Their leader was wearing this. They looked pretty young, though. I can't imagine they were very experienced."

Jeremie held the brooch. "Perhaps they were newly turned vampires, or an offshoot of a larger more experienced clan." He mused.

The Scout shrugged. "I don't know. That could be true." He looked up at Ulrich. "I volunteer you as the next storyteller!"

He scoffed. "There isn't much to tell." Ulrich was the son of a wealthy merchant, virtually a noblewoman in terms of finances, connections and lifestyle, and a former mariner. His mother's parents disapproved of the match at first, but then his father proved he was of economic benefit when he connected Stern Mercantile to Zhongguo, a country in the east known for its high quality and exclusive goods. Even Ishiyama Imports hadn't been able to set up long-term trade with Zhongguo.

Unlike Odd, Ulrich's father was very strict. He did not approve of his obsession with foreign cultures or his dealings in combat, despite his history with the mariners. A big issue with his family was his friendship with Yumi. The Sterns and the Ishiyamas were economic rivals, so their friendship was ill-advised. Yumi confirmed this, and Odd made a comedic jibe at the two, causing an awkward situation for all. A lot of was Ulrich had learned about Nippon had been learned from Yumi, and his combat training had come from private tutors he'd paid for on his own.

Ulrich nudged Yumi as the sun started to hide itself behind the trees. "I think that it is your turn, Yumi." He teased.

She thought for a moment. "I was born in Kitosu, a port city in Nippon." She began. Her parents were part of the colonization process that ended shortly after Hiroki was born, and Yumi had lived in Lyoko since she was two. Every summer she visited Kitosu, until Lyoko fought against its Nihonjin occupiers. Due to their wealth, the Ishiyama family was permitted to stay, though they kept their connections in Nippon.

But as was so often the case with colonization, Yumi wasn't sure where she belonged. She had been born in Nippon, and she loved her Mother Country, but she didn't feel like she belonged there. Furthermore, she has a basic grasp of telekinesis, a skill more often applied in lands Lyoko controlled. It was disgraceful in Nippon at best, and at worse it was seen as being marked by a demon.

Despite her parents wanting her to be a lady, Yumi was fascinated with her people's martial arts. She studied tessenjutsu, bojutsu and various forms of ninjutsu. She had also combined her Ninja training with stealth she'd acquired in Lyoko, making her an ideal assassin, should she desire. Her parents thought she was weird, Hiroki thought nothing of it and her friends were impressed she was a weapons master at only seventeen.

Jeremie seemed the most impressed. "You've killed people before?" He asked.

Yumi seemed confused. "Of course I have. I've killed thieves, assassins, spies and most recently drow soldiers. Why are you so surprised? Haven't you killed people before?"

He shook his head. "I'm not a real fighter. I know basic swordplay, but that's about it. I killed some of the drow constructs yesterday. Does that count?"

Ulrich laughed. "Jeremie, saying that you aren't a real fighter is like saying bunnies aren't real monsters—a colossal understatement."

William comforted the Wise Man. "Don't worry. I expect that you'll get a lot more experience in days to come."

The sun had gone down now, though the moon had barely risen and the teens finally stopped to make camp. William and Aelita gathered firewood, and then Laura started the fire using her magic. Then they pitched their tents. They gathered around the fire, and Aelita suggested, "Jeremie, why don't you tell us about your life?"

Jeremie seemed flustered, but he agreed. Jeremie had been born in Capital Lyoko, and his parents had taught him everything they knew about the world they lived in, though admittedly most of this knowledge was old and no longer relevant. However, he knew a lot about the gods, though how much of this he believed was in dispute, and he knew a bit about the nature of orcs and dwarves too. Aelita asked if he knew much about the elves, to which he offhandedly said that the only people who truly understood the elves were the elves themselves. She, surprisingly, laughed.

He also admitted that despite his fascination with swordplay, he had little skill in it, as he was not born with a sword in his hand, like Ulrich, Yumi and Odd had been. He also admitted that his skills were better used outside of combat, in tactics and conversation.

He left out the part about his mother's death. It had been three years ago now, and she'd died at the hands of the orcs. Of course the culprits were executed, but it was painful to think about. Yumi and William knew from word of mouth, and they would later tell the others.

Laura volunteered to go next. She'd discovered an affinity for magic at the age of eight, and her parents enrolled her in the Grimoire Academy, the most prestigious school for magic in Lyoko. She especially excelled at healing magic, and due to her deep understanding of life magic, was also rather adept at using fire. Despite the fact she excelled in her studies, no healer, no matter how skilled, was able to save her mother, who died of the Miasma Wasting epidemic six years prior. Even Aelita remembered the ceremonies that were held in the Queen Mother's honor all across Lyoko.

Laura sat up straighter as she continued. "But my mother is gone now and nothing can bring her back." She spoke about her graduation at the top of her class, and her discovery of her gift in the field of divination. "William, maybe you should go next?" Laura suggested.

William rolled his eyes. "My family has lived in Lyoko since the fall Baetheri in 3:98 Codex. Since then, we've been considered practically nobility, despite the elf-blood." He explained the role of House Dendar in the Great Colony War, and how William himself had been put into the King's service.

Apparently William was more in-tune with his elf-blood than his family, and while he wanted to endear the dark elves to the people of Lyoko like his family, he also struggled with the mischievous urge all elves felt. Dark elves usually had a lighter sense of humor, which was ironic, and often their idea of pranks involved jealousy. William had almost caused the death of a nobleman during one such prank, though the King pardoned him when he learned of William's skills in combat. He now served as Laura's bodyguard, and as a non-servile manservant.

Aelita bitterly muttered he was a slave. William disagreed politely, and it was Laura who took offense to the comment. "Oh, and I suppose you know firsthand what slavery is like, knife ear?" She demanded.

The Outcast sat up. "I do, in fact. I've spent time in Arak-Muna!" There was a pause, the only sound to be heard coming from the crickets serenading the half-moon. Arak-Muna was a settlement in the south of Lyoko, near the Sea of Cobalt. It was one of the only places left in the Lyoko where slavery was still practiced openly. None of the teenagers were so foolish to believe that slavery didn't exist in more modern areas—the Delmas family was rumored to keep slaves, and the Headmistress of the Grimoire Academy was known to purchase slaves as test subjects in classes dealing with destruction-oriented spells and for vivisection. But it wasn't a practice that was looked upon kindly.

Slavery in Lyoko dated back to the founding of the kingdom in 1:13 Origin, before Nippon invaded and colonized in 4:22 East. The land had been called Elvehnan, and it had expanded over most of Lyoko's four main regions. The elves had called it home then, and the humans overpowered and subjugated them. Many of Lyoko's major cities, such as Capital Lyoko, Carthage and Kadic were built primarily on slave labor. Slavery in those cities had been abolished under Nihonjin rule, but there was never a lot done to force the issue, so the practice had continued into the fifth age. Arak-Muna, Carda, Bastium and Marsy were slave ports, with many small towns and farms depending on the slaves they provided to survive.

Many elves lived in peace within Lyoko's cities now but some had rejected human rule after freed by the Nihonjin invasion. Most of these 'wild elves' were nomadic, rarely venturing near human cities and only then to trade. Arlathan resided in the south, a hundred miles north of Arak-Muna, and was the only surviving elven city. Their king lived there, and they frequently attacked by slave caravans. For Aelita to say she had spent time in Arak-Muna, it meant she had probably been captured during a raid.

Laura apologized quietly, and Aelita said nothing in return. The moon was high over the teenagers now, and they quietly went to bed, with Ulrich volunteering to be the first to keep watch.

Xana stepped carefully over the fallen statues and studied the faces of the dead, both allies and citizens alike. But there was one person who was missing in the debris—the King. She cursed in her native tongue, and Sinae approached with a line of prisoners behind her. "Our plan failed. The King still lives," Xana complained.

Sinae did not seem worried. "We have captured Capital Lyoko. We have dealt a blow to his confidence already, Matron Mother. The Destructor smiles upon us tonight," She said confidently. "And we have found many new human slaves, some who would make excellent blood sacrifices to increase your power, Matron Mother."

The Matron nodded in agreement. One hundred years in a deep sleep had given her magic a much needed boost, but she was still not as powerful as she wanted to be, or as powerful as she needed to be to take over Lyoko, and then the known world. "Take the slaves to the cages, and we will begin our descent to Maera to restock and create more constructs."

Sinae agreed, but before she could drag the slaves outside of the walls, a small voice raised in protest. "My older sister will stop you! You'll never get away with this! Unhand me, you ashen-skinned heathen!"

Xana turned slowly to see a small Nihonjin boy struggling against the chains. She smirked and got on eye-level with the young boy. "And who is your older sister, da'len?" She asked. When he didn't respond, she slapped his ear hard. "Speak, da'len, or I will force the words from you."

"Yumi Ishiyama. Her name is Yumi Ishiyama and she will rescue me!" The boy shouted.

Xana tilted her head, and using her dagger, she cut a clump of hair from the boy's head. She summoned a demon and demanded that it find the sister to the owner of the hair. The demon showed her a Nihonjin girl, about seventeen, walking with six others—four other humans, a Halfling, a drow and a wilder elf—through the forest. They were a motley crew no doubt, and Xana suddenly knew who they were. "She'va dahl, he is related to one of the Warrior's prophesized Heroes!"

But her shock was not long lived. She laughed, throwing her head back and laughing from her gut. "By the Destruction Mother, fate sends children to combat my purpose? These da'vhen have no chance to oppose my rule!" She cackled.

When they reached Maera at moonrise, Xana bought supplies and began creating her constructs. She gave them the hair of the sibling, and ordered them to find the Hero who shared the parents. Xana slept that night, confident her plan would succeed.

A/N: I will begin from now on trying my best to ONLY update on Mondays and Friday, maybe Wednesdays if I feel ambitious. If I mess up and forget, I'll either update on Wednesdays (should the slip happen on Monday) or two chapters on the next update day. Not sure how well this will work, but that's my goal. Also, if you want a translation of any of the Elvish words, shot me a PM and I'll be sure to translate it for you. Excluding she'va dahl. Because as far as I know, she'va dahl has no translation.