The sun's rays were coming down harder than the summer heat in the Empire. As far as the eye could see, all she saw was an endless sea of sands and dunes. She let out a groan as she fixed her hood to protect herself from the sun but what was more annoying was the invisible companion that floated next to her. Of course, only she could see the spirit but well, it was better than being alone. The spirit that floated next to them let out a long sigh as she crossed her legs. Long dark green colored hair, blue and gold regalia with golden ornaments she wore on her head and dress. Pink and white ribbons were woven into her braids, jade-colored eyes, and pointy ears. The spirit looked at her with a tried expression but spoke as she uncrossed her legs.
"How long again has it been since we have arrived here?"
"From what we learned from one of the villages we stayed at, it's the year 1185, The Wyvern Moon. Sigh..." the girl sighed as she stopped for a bit, "We should be arriving at the temple of The Windcaller in two months. I knew Sreng was a desert but I didn't think it was this bad." The girl said to her companion who gave her a ghost pat on the head.
"If I remember correctly, we should be reaching the next village in a few days." Her campaign said and the girl nodded as she drank from her canteen.
"I almost forgot. I never got your name." The girl said, "I'm Elysia. What about you?"
Her campaign smiled and did a happy spin.
"You may call me Sothis!"
[-]
The village was somewhat lively as she looked around. She thanked her father for teaching her the Sreng language or else she would have been a lost kitten in the sea of sands. She let go of a sigh as she fixed her hood again as she made her way to a stall selling some grilled fish sticks. Yet, she suddenly felt a shiver go down her spine as she was taking out a coin from her purse.
"Elysia. Do not turn back. Continue what you are doing." Sothis said as she watched two hooded figures were making their way towards them.
"Is it them...? Is it Agarthans?" She whispered as she waited for the lady to wrap up her food, "Do you think it's possible they after..." she glanced a bit to the weapon wrapped in bandages strapped onto her back.
"Yes. They most likely detected unknown magic and now are hunting down those who have traces of it. I sense...four of them. Looks like we may have to fight." Sothis grumbled and Elysia began to whisper.
"(Miss, start ringing the bell.)" She said and the woman froze.
Start ringing the bell was a phrase used in Sreng to say that the people are in danger. The woman nodded and smiled as she went or the back of her tent. A few seconds later the sound of a bell rang all over the village. People began to quickly scatter and run into their homes or the nearest building yet Elysia remained where she was
"Sothis, your mind starting counting the minutes?"
The spirit chuckled as the four individuals charged at the girl but all she did was remove her hood. She grabbed the handle, the bandages glowing as they unwrapped themselves. Roars could be headed as the assassins lunged at her but she did was a smirk.
"This one for Rhea!" The girl roared and spun, the bandages flew off revealing a bone-like ax with a pulsing stone at its center. The spikes had some form of acid on them and the assassin's eyes went wide seeing...
"How does she have Ay—-!" The poor soul didn't even have a chance to finish when his head was lopped off like a tree branch.
It fell onto the sand, the skin sizzling as the acid produced from the weapon melted it away. The girl grinned as the remaining three took a step back. Wavy brown colored hair that faded to tips of black, the right side of her face covered by her bangs, a single streak of mint-colored hair, only showing one purple eye. She wore a ripped-up black cloak with the symbol of the Crest that looked similar to a peacock feather, fading way. Under the cloak, she wore a red button-up shirt, black baggy pants, and a belt with multiple potion bottles and mini tomes. The girl winked as she spun the relic in her hands like a baton.
"Come at me Agarthans!"
The remaining three charged at her with the full intent to capture her but that would be no fun. She jumped and disappeared, making them frantically search before she appeared behind one and snapped his neck.
"Two down, two more to go." She said as Sothis continued to count.
"You are at almost at four minutes. Might want to hurry it up." Sothis said and Elysia nodded.
"No problem, Baba!"
Sothis screamed up a storm of curses as Elysia ran in circles around the enemy. She made sure to study their movements before finally, she found the opening she needed. One step. Two steps. Three steps and...
"I win." And cut in half the bodies fell to the ground with a loud spat.
"And four minutes exactly." Sothis snapped her fingers as she floated to the woman, "Not bad for a new record."
"Please." Elysia sighed as she knelt and began to pick-pocket the corpse, "No matter how many times I kill...I will never enjoy it. Still, some of these devices will be useful to me. Especially this." She held up a pocket watch, "Professor Hanneman called it an electric pocket watch. I'm pretty sure if Marcus was here, he would be over the roof." She said and put it into her purse.
She made a quick check with the other bodies and took their possessions before she went to the first door in her sight.
She knocked and spoke the code, "The sun has set three times." She said loudly and smiled as the people began to pour out in relief and celebrate.
"Thank you, young lady!" The elder woman walked up along with her son, "Those men have been terrorizing this village for the past few months. Thank you so much." She bowed her head and Elysia smiled softly as she made the bandages wrap around her relic again before she strapped it onto her back.
"It's no trouble at all. I'm just a merchant passing by." She smiled softly.
"Is there anything you need? If it's within our power, I'm sure we can do it." The elder's son said and Elysia thought for a moment but nodded.
"Other than some dried fruits, meat, vegetables, herbs, water, and matches, I'm looking for information regarding The Windcaller." She explained and the old woman frowned, "I am researching information on the legend. It's...very important."
"Sigh..." the old woman sighed and nodded, "Why don't we sit and talk over a meal?"
[—]
It had been a long time since she had such delicious foods and drinks. She couldn't help but squeal at the delicious, spicy, tender, juicy, meat along with the sweet wine made from dates and figs. The old woman chuckled along with her son and the villagers. They had all thrown a feast that night to celebrate that they were now free and safe. Sothis looked around, amazed by the sights, music, and activities she had never seen.
"This food is gooooodd!" Elysia squealed, "I've never had anything like this!"
"Hahaha! Slow down, child!" The elder laughed, "Allow me to intrude myself. My name is Bara, I am the elder of this village and this young man here is my eldest son, Atem. Once more, thank you for helping us." She sis and the girl nodded.
"So, what exactly do you want to know about the Legend of the Windcaller?" Atem asked as the girl took another spoonful of soup, "There are many different versions."
"Well..." Elysia wiped her mouth with her sleeve, "I heard there was a version that supposedly The Windcaller was once a human." She said as the old woman nodded, "I would like to hear that version."
"Hmmm...I'm surprised to learn that some people have heard of the original. These days young folks all listen to the other versions of the story." Elder Bara muttered, "But I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
Many eons ago, during The Age of The Gods, an ancient war had come to an end. The violent ones and the raging storms stopped their forces and came to a still halt. From the mountains came a man who held great knowledge of all. He held a cold demeanor towards humans but as his last favor to the children of the earth, he bestowed his knowledge.
He taught them to make fire. He taught them how to read and write. He showed them how to weave and cook and most of all, he showed them the wisdom of the gods. But before he set his sights to the horizon once more, he warned the humans.
"Should mankind use this knowledge to go against the law of cycles, destruction shall befall on you all."
"That was the man's last words before he took on the form of a winged dragon and left to never be seen again. Some say that he chose to enter an eternal sleep in the ancient temple. Others say he flew back his home over the mountains. And others well...that he passed away." Atem said softly and picked up a date from a bowl.
"Hmmm...That sounds like Maciul alright. He never had been a fan of humans." Sothis muttered as the girl nodded to the elder.
"Thank you for telling me this." Elysia let out a shuttered breath as she intertwined her hands together and rest her forehead on them, "Will Macuil believe me...? Will he turn me away for even possibly trying to kill me? I'm...their daughter." She thought and felt Sothis pat her head.
"Should the worst-case scenario happen, allow to take over for a bit." Sothis smiled softly and the girl nodded softly.
[—-]
Many were still awake from the celebration but Elysia was already fast asleep. Yet, she rolled around and withered in pain as the nightmares of scorching flames devoured everything and everyone she loved. She could hear screaming and crying as she watched the flames turn everything to ashes. The faces of those she loved reached out to her with bloodied, burnt, hands. She wanted to scream. It felt like if someone had wrapped their hands around her neck and screamed curses at her. She wanted to punch and pull but a hard shake made her eyes snap open. She gasped, panting for air, and looked around, seeing Elder Bara looking at her worried.
"Are you alright, child? You looked to be having a horrible nightmare." The old woman said and Elysia sighed.
"I did..." The woman carefully sat up and ran her fingers through her hair, "I dreamed of seeing my family engulfed in flames...truthfully it happened a few months ago." She sighed as the old woman looked at her worried, "Do you have any sleeping herbs?"
"I'll pack some up for you."
Early that morning she ate and drank a bit before she said her goodbyes to the people. They wished her good luck and hoped she would find what she was looking for.
[—-]
The deserts of Sreng were just as she read in the books. Thankful she would run into the occasional edible cactus with fruits and she would cut them up to eat to have energy. The magic tent that was gifted to her by her father was super helpful. It kept her warm at night when the temperatures would drop, it also hid her from the giant sandworms. Rattlesnakes and scorpions she would scream at the sight of them, but once she recovered from the scare, they would either become food or be added to her collection of materials for her magic experiments.
Using magic to create water had been a lifesaver but she hoped it wouldn't take too long to reach The Windcaller's temple. She wondered how the others were. Were they also brought to Sreng or somewhere else? If they all were separated they all knew where they need to meet up. Garreg Mach in this time would be ruined. She let go of a sigh as she looked up to the sky, the sun's rays only seemed to become stronger by the hour.
"Sothis, how long has it been again?"
"Two months. We should be arriving at the Wind Temple in just about...now!" The girl quickly perked up and ran to the highest dune.
It didn't matter how much sand got in her shoes. Once she reached the top and saw the silhouette of the temple she began jumping and screaming in joy. She fell to her knees thanking the gods they had finally made it. The girl waved her hand and summoned a board of wood, quickly using it to slide down the dune. Elysia had always loved adventure and dangers, especially fighting. So when the first shadow warrior popped up, she had summoned her relic. She jumped in the air, spinning as she roared out the words...
"RAGING STORM!"
[—-]
It had been nearly one thousand years since he had human contact and already he was angry that someone dared cause an explosion so powerful that his old temple shook. He snarled as he slowly began to crawl out of the door and unleashed a roar. He immediately sensed the human was terrified but that didn't stop them from fighting their way.
"WHO DARES ENTER MY DOMAIN?!" He roared and with a flap of his wings, the winds became as powerful as hurricanes.
"Aaayyyeeeee!" Elysia screamed as she slammed the relic into the ground to hold her down, "ME! MY NAME IS ELYSIA! I COME IN SEARCH OF SAINT MACUIL!" The girl cried out and the creature froze.
"To search for me...?" He hissed and with a flap of his wings, the winds immediately calmed down, his shadow warriors turned to dust, and the sand storm went away.
Before the girl was an ancient temple of towers, pillars, crumbled buildings, and more. But that was not what made her breath be taken away. What took her breath away was the giant creature before her. Gaint feather green wings, dark green scales that were mixed with the shades gold, brown, green, and black. The head of griffin yet the body of a dragon. But their gold eyes looked at her furiously.
"A single woman took down seventeen of my shadow soldiers. Who are you...? How dare you speak my name?!" The winds again nearly blew her away yet she looked at him with a determined gaze.
"My name is Elysia! I am a traveler from afar! I was told to seek you by my father and Lady Rhea! You knew them as Saint Indech and Saint Serios!" She yelled up to the dragon.
Macuil saw her trembling in fear yet she still held her ground. The scent she had was similar to his little sister but also the scent of an emperor from 1,000 years ago.
But hearing that Indech was her father...
Macuil narrowed his eyes as he lowered his head. Upon closer look, Elysia saw he head the beak of an eagle, golden slit eyes, scales, and feathers that shimmered in the sunlight. Yet, those golden eyes looked at her like if she was a cockroach waiting to be crushed. Elysia could feel Sothis hugging her protectively. They waited, watched as he studied her. He sniffed the air, not sensing any malic from her. She still had the wretched scent of the one his sister married thousands of years ago. He raised his head and spoke.
"What is your name?" He said again and the girl was about to speak but he cut her off, "Your full name. Especially what house you come from." He hissed and the girl nodded as she stood up.
"My...My name is Elysia Shulia von Hersvelg!" She yelled and Macuil's nose flared.
"Hersvelg...so you are descendent of Whilliam." He hissed and the girl nodded, "Who did you say your father was again?"
The smile that came on the girl was like the sun but Macuil felt annoyed because it reminded him too much of one of his elder brothers.
"My father is Indech. Well, it's more like he is my adopted father because he adopted me when he entered The Empire Castle to steal some coin! But then again I'm his adopted daughter and had to hide who I was till I was fourteen because Rhea would have killed me if she found—!"
"GET TO THE POINT!" He roared, making the girl screech and hang onto the nearest object to keep herself from being blown away.
"Ayyyyeeeeee! I'm sorry!" She quickly began to fix her hair, "Father and Rhea said to find you! I was born in the year 1185, I am 22 years old! I was born with a Blood Rune!" She screeched as Macuil flinched.
"1185...That is impossible." Macuil lowered his head towards her, "This month is The Ethereal Moon of 1185."
"Oh!" Elysia's eyes widened, "What day is it then? Father said I was born on the 20th of the Ethereal moon which is ironic because my uncle was born that day. But then again I'm always unl—" one glare from Macuil shut her up.
"Sorry...it's a bad habit. I didn't have many interactions with humans till I was fourteen. I tend to ramble a lot." She muttered softly.
"It seems you have picked up that fool's bad habits." Macuil sighed and flapped his wings twice.
A bright green light engulfed his body and soon turned to dust. In the place of the dragonic griffon was a tall man with dark green hair tried in a ponytail with a goatee, dark green colored eyes, pointy eyes, and wore a dark blue tunic with gold. He walked up to her, making the girl freeze. Carefully he moved her bangs that covered the right side of her face and sighed once he saw her eye. He turned back to his temple and began to walk but stopped.
"It's best you come in." He said and Elysia quickly followed behind him.
"Good job." Sothis beamed as she hugged the girl from behind, "Looks like he believes you."
"More like he wants to know my story." Elysia stopped and screeched when she bumped into Macuil's back, "Ow."
"Before we continue," Macuil turned to her with a serious expression, "Are there any others that also came with you?"
"Yes..." Elysia let out a shuttered breath, "there are others. We were sent to stop the rise of The King and his warriors."
Macuil's hands balled into a fist because he knew who she was talking about.
"I won't ask you anymore but answer me this..." she looked up to him and was surprised to see the look on his face, "Is my mother...here with us?"
"Yes. Yes, she is."
Hello! How are you all? Welcome to my story and sorry I haven't updated the others! Look forward to this month and next month with major/multiple updates!
(chapter 2 will be up in 6-10 hours)