I know, I'm late. Blame the fact that it's break for my siblings, and I needed the rest.
You know though, I think I like where I'm going with this chapter, as it just gets me "fired up." Get it?
Okay, no more jokes. But seriously, this ones focusing on the Fire elemented OCs sent in, since they're the ones left to introduce. And I'm going to keep repeating this (Cause If I don't it irks me.), if I write your OC wrong, please, please tell me. It's a pet peeve not knowing if I'm messing up on writing a character.
With that said, We're gonna finish up introducing OCs sent in this chapter, and hopefully next chapter things will start picking up in pace. This chapter though (as mentioned above), we're meeting up with the Paladin of Fire in Vivia, meeting another member of the Rogues of Chaos, and then heading to back to Cryos for more Wind and Ice action and a "cooldown", courtesy of Yukina and Lucas.
Okay, I promise that was the last joke. For this chapter (Can't promise that I won't include more in the future.)
Fact: Koji's weapon is actually based on a weapon I saw in a game. In the game Samurai Warriors 3, this character has a weapon that is a bladed Sundial, which he uses to attack and also travel around. Interesting, huh?
Okay, let's finish up this Author's note. I don't own MFB. All OCs belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 5 Turning up the heat
"Whoa, look at that tree in the one corner of town! The sun must really shine down on the leaves of that tree a lot! It's even amber and red colored like flames!"
Scarlet chuckled alongside her husband Scorch as two of their three young companions made hasty conversation over the scenary of the kingdom of Vivia, their kingdom's chosen admiring the multicolored trees that adorned the corner's of Vivia's largest city. Felipe Junçao was a young male teen about 16 in age, and was about 5'8" in height with a lean frame, standing a bit taller over Pyra's captain of the soldiers and their alchemist that accompanied them to the plant based kingdom of life. The male had tanned skin, most likely from living in Pyra all his life, with brown eyes and black hair. His outfit consisted of a dark blue shirt under a red waistcoat, loose black pants, and leather boots. at his side was an orange bladed sword with a red jewel encrested hilt.
"That's the Autumn tree, one of the four corner trees of Vivia! According to the mythology around it, The second Paladin of Vivia was a fan of the changing seasons, and so she created the trees at each corner of the city to symbolize the seasons! The Autumn tree is red in color, like the flames that can be seen at other kingdom's bonfire festivals in autumn."
"Wow, really Arturia? That's amazing! Which one is the summer tree?" Felipe asked.
The person who had spoken before, Arturia, was a younger teen about the age of 15, even younger than Felipe, with fiery orange hair and vivid green eyes. Noticeable freckles could be seen on the spectacled girl's tanned skin as she tugged a book out of a brown bag over her fiery gold and red colored dress, before flipping through the pages. "Let's see... Oh! That one over there!" Arturia paused to look up from the book and pointed towards a gold colored tree in the distance, "That's the summer tree over there. It's a distinguished gold color to reflect on the light of the summer sun! There's a lot more of Vivia's warm growing plants in that corner compared to others."
"That's amazing. We really gotta check it out while we're here." Felipe pointed out in a calm, cool voice before looking back to the fiery haired girl's book.
"Ugh..." The queen of Pyra stole an amused glance at Ryuga as the captain of their kingdom's soldiers and Felipe's bodyguard pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "We're supposed to be here on formal business you two. The Queen of Vivia and her daughter will be greeting us shortly."
"Oh relax Ryuga. We're just looking over the mythology of Vivia's past. Hey Arturia, do you think Yggsdraill is real like they think it is?"
"I'm not sure Felipe. We'll have to ask about when we meet the Queen of Vivia."
Ryuga groaned, and Scorch gave the young man a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "It'll be fine Ryuga. This meeting is more about figuring out allies and enemies than fighting. Allow yourself to easy a bit of tension from your bones. It does a person good to relax their bodies once in a while." The fiery haired king explained.
"Well, you're more laid back compared to how you were as a young adult, huh Scorch?"
All five members of Pyra's court looked up to see the queen of Vivia walking over to greet them along with her daughter. "Yuko, milady, you've grown more mature despite your spunky childhood!" Scorch laughed as he gave the queen a bow before turning to the princess next to her mother, "You must be the lovely Crown Princess Rosalina. It's an honor to meet Yuko's firstborn. I'm Scorch Evans, the King of Pyra. This is my wife Scarlett, our captain of the guards Ryuga, our top alchemist and niece of Aquos' king, Arturia Lycoris, and our Kingdom's chosen Felipe Junçao."
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. This is a real honor for me to meet you all," Rosalina stated as she gave a curt bow, "And it's an honor to fight alongside you Felipe."
"L-Likewise," Felipe stated as he took a weary step back.
"You have to excuse his behavior, Princess. Felipe's a bit hostile to those he meets at first." Scorch explained out loud, and Rosalina nodded.
"It's fine. I'm sorta the same way myself." Rosalina gave a gentle smile as she went to shake hands with Arturia, "It's nice to meet you, Lady Arturia. your cousin's told me about your accomplishments as an alchemist.
From where he was, Ryuga wasn't sure he had ever seen Arturia straighten up that fast as her shyness faded. "I-It's something I take great pride in actually! You see it's cause of my love of research and experimenting on combining magic and objects! By allowing myself a vast subject of ideas, I just build on more and more ideas! Which one has she mentioned the most?" The alchemist asked.
"Mainly the ones you did in Aquos, like the bubble incense chamber."
Arturia's eyes sparkled. "The one where if you allow the wind to hit it, bubbles form! That's one of my favorites to recall. Believe it or not I managed to modify it to create fire spheres with oil in Pyra!" The fiery haired teen paused as she took out what seemed to be an golden colored incense container that had steam escaping it, "By using a certain oil and Pyra's warm climate, a strong wind could create hundreds if not at least a thousand fire bubbles to create a counter shield, and-"
"As much as your getting excited Arturia, perhaps you could let Rosalina escort you to the castle first before you explaining your crazy inventions and how they work?" Ryuga suggested, and the alchemist slightly grew embarassed.
"Heh... Oopsies. I get carried away a lot when someone brings up my accomplishments."
Rosalina chuckled. "it's no big deal. Please, follow me."
Black Ice!"
"Angel Winds!"
Yukina felt her heart race with excitement as she sparred against Lucas on her Aunt's orders, the wind and ice flowing around them. She had to admit, for someone who was secretive, the Paladin had a lot of strength and stamina. Being used to training with her mentor in the heart of Stratos' largest forest, Stamina was something she had to gain at a fast pace. After all, flying into a a tree wasn't too uncommon in her kingdom when first starting out as a wind mage.
She had to be grateful for her Cryos blood though. Lucas had demonstrated an array of powerful ice attacks, some that were very intense and extremely cold to those who weren't used to Cryos' icy temperatures. The paladin of wind may have wind based attacks, but she had a few tricks up her sleeves, those being one of the styles that were harder to master as a mage.
"Humid Upburst!" Yukina called out, aiming a blast of wind towards the ground and propelling her into her previous attack. The wind circled around her, giving her a boost as she landed. One move down. And now to-
"I feel as if that is enough for now you two. Both of you are reaching your limits soon."
Yukina mentally groaned as her aunt interrupted the two paladin's fight, and even Lucas shared a glance of disappointment as they dissolved their attacks. "We can still continue Auntie. I haven't had a chance to break into some of my stronger attacks, and neither has Lucas." The wind mage complained.
"I can hear you, you know." Lucas stated in a deadpanned manner.
"Now, now, that's enough for now. It's nearly noon. I still have to make the noon rounds while your Uncle is out hunting. He's expected to return later tonight with the other members of his party. And speaking of party, your guard arrived from Stratos, Yukina." Glacia explained, and Yukina's eyes widened with realization.
"Uh oh. I thought I forgot something." Yukina's face turned bright read as she hid her face in her sleeve. Lucas gave a snort of amusement, and both Eirlys and Frost gave a laugh at the other's expense. "Is he mad at me for forgetting him?"
"Just a bit. He's more amused that you forgot about him. Wales is waiting for us at the castle. But how about something to eat from the street vendors first?"
A grumble escaped both Yukina and Lucas' stomach, and the former turned away in embarrassment. "I-I suppose I am a bit hungry. I don't each much when I'm training cause it's less sickening on the body when doing techniques in the air. The last thing someone needs to do in a battle is vomit in midair."
"Well, then I suppose we should get something to satisfy your hunger, before you start feeling the effects of it."
"These people look like they've never seen a fire mage before, Master. Their brains must be full of the ice that's around them."
Hiram gave his familiar an amused look as he sat on one of the many benches that allowed a person rest in the streets of Cryos, the salamander familiar nibbling on a piece of fruit next to him. Despite being a spirit animal and not needing nutrition outside of their partner's magic, a lot of familiars liked to materialize and even eat food that they spotted around them. It was a part of the curious instinct that a familiar had when they were first given form, though on occasion curiosity sometimes got the better of them.
"I suppose not many fire mages come through Cryos, Vexa. What would a fire mage want within the kingdom of ice?" Hiram asked as he took a bite of his soup, savoring the strong flavors of Cryos' specialty food, "I must say Cryos has a unique array of expensive foods. This stew they make is delicious."
"The smell along just perks up the appetite. This must be my third blackberry I've eaten so far!" Vexa exclaimed, and The fire mage gave a smile as the salamander looked up at him, "So why exactly are we in Cryos again?"
"Chrona and Caspian's orders. They want us to confirm what Noir heard, without making a scene."
"Well, from where the sun is, it's almost noon. Usually the king or queen of a kingdom make their daily rounds around that time."
"Exactly. And we're gonna use that to our advantage Vexa." And with that Hiram concluded the conversation as people in the streets gathered for the daily rounds, their faces lit with smiles.
"It's Queen Glacia! The king must still be on his hunting trip in the crystal woods."
"She's still so lovely as ever! Mitsu is lucky to have a kind woman like her as his Queen."
"I hear she used to be a paladin herself when she was younger."
From where Hiram sat, the fire mage watched as the queen of Cryos walked down the street, dressed in a long sleeved, blue dress with white fur trimmings and quartz crystals attached to the chest of the clothes. Her dark blue hair was tied in a braid around her neck, acting like a scarf to protect her from the cold winds that her kingdom was known for. If anyone had to describe her in that moment (Which most likely would be Vexa at this point in time), she would be a snow elf, guiding her subjects through the cold blizzards that kept them isolated in the mountains.
A pleased feeling escaped Hiram as he noticed the Paladins of Wind and Ice following alongside the Queen, the sight of Lucas confirming Noir's findings from the day before. The paladin of wind currently was shying behind the other, giving occasional waves to the crowds around the trio. After a what seemed like forever, the queen made her exit, and the two Paladins made their way to some of the food stalls around the fire mage, which made the task at hand a lot easier to do.
"How can you eat ice cream at this time of year Lucas? Isn't it a little cold for you?" Yukina's voice asked, and Hiram noticed the short shrug from Lucas as he replied.
"I just happen to like ice cream. I'm more of a winter person compared to a summer person."
"I'm gonna enjoy seeing your reaction to Pyra then. It can get scorching hot even when it's spring." From where he sat watching. Hiram had to agree with that. Being born in Pyra himself, the fire mage knew that it could get to deadly hot temperatures due to the volcanic activity around the kingdom. The warm winds made for a humid summer, or they made for a scorching drought if they were dry and unfavorable.
"Says the person who's eating a bowl of Cryos' famous noodle stew to warm up. You know, for someone with Cryos blood, you don't handle the icy weather here very well."
"Why you-"
Hiram sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Something told him this was gonna be a long day of spying for him.
"So, who exactly is Wales? His name sounds familiar, considering news of Stratos reaches Cryos quickly."
Yukina paused as she took another bite of her soup, the savory taste of broth lingering in her mouth as Lucas asked her the question. "W-Well, he's of Obscure blood like you are, but he came to Stratos maybe 8 years ago. He's a master of the tempest spells, the more powerful wind arts."
"So in other words, he's a prodigy of wind?" Lucas asked.
"Oh no, not at all. He's strong, but it took him six years to master tempest spells. He's one of the few I knew who completed the training, other than the former guard of wind. He left for Obscure maybe a little while after Wales arrived. But there is something that you need to know about him."
Lucas raised an eyebrow as they walked back to the castle, where Glacia and two other people stood waiting for them. One of the males, (Most likely the guard of wind), had messy ginger colored hair and teal colored eyes, and the resemblance to his own appearance was startling enough that the paladin of ice stopped in his tracks.
"It took me a minute after you and my aunt talk, but I realized the last name was more familiar to me than when I found out the king of Obscure was your father. Lucas, my guard is Wales Mckandless, your older brother." Yukina paused as she noticed the shock and anger in the other's eyes. "Lucas... Did you know you had a brother?"
Lucas barely offered her a glance, twirling his bracelets around his wrists in agitation, watching the knight of wind, his brother, with icy eyes.
"I'd.. heard rumors. About how my dad had another son... how he was out there somewhere in another kingdom, but I never thought much of them..." Luke swallowed, eyes narrowing, "Maybe I should have. If I know my father he probably had something to do with why we weren't raised together." He snorted, "And I'm not surprised he separated us. He's a jerk and a sick one at that."
Luke turned on his heel and walked off, but didn't get far as Eirlys flew in front of him wings spread wide as she buffeted wind into her mage's face, "Oh no you don't young man! You turn yourself around and walk over there to your brother and get to know him!"
"Eir-" Luke tried.
"No! I've already got to know his familiar and you'd be surprised to know that Wales knows about you and regrets the fact that he couldn't do anything to help you." She landed on his head, and leaned down to look Luke in the eye, "And if you don't get to know him, I will wake you up at all hours of the night and keep you from sleeping until you finally do."
Luke glared at his familiar, "FINE. I'm going, I'm going, keep your head on you crazy bird."
"That's WISE OWL to you."
Yukina giggled as she watched Lucas walk towards her Aunt and her guard before turning to the owl familiar. "He's lucky to have you there to keep him from making reckless decisions." The Paladin of wind pointed out.
"I try my best Princess Yukina. I was kinda the only family he's had since coming to Cryos years ago. Caspian isn't exactly what people in other kingdoms say he is." Eirlys admitted.
"I can tell from how Lucas reacts on news on his father that you're right. But I respect that he doesn't want to talk about it. Family issues are a serious thing."
"Speaking from experience?"
"A bit." Yukina paused to roll up the sleeve of her coat, revealing a deep scar on her arm. "My sister Nozomi isn't what a lot of people say either. She was rather bossy to me since she was the older sister, making her the crown princess. Or rather former crown princess."
"I had heard that you had become the crown princess in your sister's stead a while back when me and Lucas first came to Cryos. What exactly happened?"
"Well you see, there's two big rules that everyone has to follow in Stratos. Always go in a group to hunt and never leave a person behind, because the woods are always a little crazy and there's a dragon that is not a fan of being woken up. My sister purposely left me behind and I got lost. I'm not exactly the best at navigation without Frost."
"I see. Continue."
"Well, I ended up running into the cave where Strike, the storm dragon, lives. He's always a bit paranoid with strangers and ended up scratching me cause he didn't know who I was at first. He's a very wise dragon though, and has a peculiar ability to see a Stratos Native's past. So Strike brought me back to the kingdom and explained the situation. My mother was extremely furious with Nozomi and so I took her place as Crown Princess."
Yukina looked down sadly, before giving a small, sad smile. "Nozomi's always resented me for the incident, even though she caused it. And she wasn't too happy that I ended up becoming Stratos' chosen instead of her. She left Stratos before I came here to Cryos."
"Sounds like both you and Lucas have had your shares of rough times." Eirlys pointed out, and the paladin of wind nodded.
"But since then I've become a lot stronger. I began training that day to become a lot tougher, under Strike's watch. He's rather nice when you get to know him, and loves spring festivals. He's also the one who recommended me for the process of becoming the paladin of wind. Strike's over a thousand years old believe it or not."
"That's saying something considering there's not many dragons outside of a person's familiar that are still living."
Yukina nodded in agreement. "He mentioned that to me as well. Strike was the partner of the first paladin of wind when he was younger. Since then he's conducted trials to young wind mages and warriors as a debt to the first paladin's kindness of sparing him a painful end."
A smile escaped the young girl as she stood up and nodded to Eirlys. "Well, I suppose I should join them before Frost scolds me again. Thank you for the conversation, Eirlys."
"You're welcome." The familiar watched the paladin of wind leave, and what looked like a smile formed on the owl's beak.
"Those three are gonna make an interesting team, I'll say that."
From where he was watching in the distance, Hiram smirked.
"It looks like Caspian is gonna be very pleased with the report we give him tonight Vexa."
And with that, I think I've introduced every OC, but I'm gonna possibly go back in maybe chapters 8 or 9 to go more in depth with a few of the OCs, as there will be another Rogues of Chaos meeting in the future chapters. But as far as major introductions go, I think we're good to go. Felipe Junçao belongs to NebulousFlygon, and Hiram Slate Belongs to Luster Cross.
So, the whole thing with Familiars materialize, I kinda wanted explain a bit on the concept of them within this chapter. From a young age a familiar is sort of bonded to the person who materializes them through their magic. Over time the magic in a person gets strong enough to where the familiar can actually materialize into the real world, and the only food they eat is the essence that is left over from magic. Though on occasion, familiars do eat actual food to satisfy their curiosity.
Also, I wanna say thank you to Queen on the part that starts with Yukina asking Lucas about Wales to the part where his familiar threatens to keep him up until he talks to him. She wrote that when we were visualizing a scenario for this chapter, and I want to give her credit for this as she wrote the idea (I had to change a bit of the warning cause a few of my classmates who read that are a little sensitive to swearing though.) Go check out her stories as well please! :)
And bonus! Shiro didn't get messed with this chapter! That might change though come next week. Next week we go more into depth with people arriving in Vivia, learn a shocking revelation about two OC that the other paladins didn't know (but me and one other person did ^^), and see more MFB characters enter the fray. And if we're lucky, see some first glances of romance in the air.
So for this question on the chapter, I kinda wanted to reflect a bit on something. Since returning to the MFB fandom, would you guys say I've improved on my writing technique compared to when I was working on TSAT? Let me know in the chapters below
Anyways, that's it for this chapter. Until next chapter, this is Warrior signing out! Catch ya on the other side of the nexus!