Author's notes:
2021-12-02: Hey, I would like to share a short preview with you. Though as I have mentioned recently, I will try to take more time to finish each chapter, rereading it a couple of times. So, please do not be surprised if some parts of the preview do not make it through into the final release. Besides that, enjoy the text :)
2021-12-05: Hey, I have managed to finish the chapter in a somehow reasonable time. I am pretty happy that this is twice as long at least compared to the original one. I will try to maintain the same conversion rate whilst working on the further chapter, but I can not promise anything. Anyways, please do enjoy the chapter :)
So, as I have mentioned some time ago, it is high time for 'The war call' to be extracted as a separate story.
Please, if you want to get familiar with the earlier version of the text, you can find it within 'The story of one lost soul'. But, please keep in mind that the details will change. I feel like currently, I'm capable of enriching the story more than in the past. So, I will try to rewrite the chapters, make them longer and better than previous iterations.
Don't forget to comment. I really appreciate your feedback.
Note that the dialogues written in italic are thoughts.
As always, I would like to thank you for everything. See you soon :)
Changelog:
[2021-12-02]: A preview was released.
[2021-12-05]: The chapter was fully released.
Info: Overall, the current plan is for me to write 'My home is where my heart lies' and 'Family tree' alternatively. Between the updates of these stories, I will try to upload other texts. Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to finish some of the short stories. However, I truly doubt that. It seems that most if not all of the stories will be extended both in terms of the time and the number of chapters.
Bonuses' section:
A new story taking place in the Warhammer 40k universe.
Story of one lost soul: The war call: rewrite.
An entirely new story (possibly Akali x [Irelia, Syndra, Katarina]).
A new short story (Vi x Cait).
An entirely original story (possibly even 2 stories, one taking place in medieval times, the other in the far future)
References:
*bonuses will be worked on when I don't feel like writing the chapters pointed out in the schedule :D
End of author's notes section.
Who are the Asur? An enigma to men and Dwarfs who know them under the name of High Elves. Their origin lies at the very centre of the Great Ocean. There lies Ulthuan, a paradise created by the Old Ones. Though even paradise could not have evaded Chaos forever. Once the stellar gates collapsed, Daemons flooded the mortal plane. All seemed to be lost until the very first of the Phoenix Kings strode forth. Aenarion the Defender vanished the servants of the Four. Yet, he did not accomplish that all at his lonesome. Beside him, the Archmage Caledor Dragontamer stood firmly, lending his aid throughout the bloody conflict.
To keep Choas Gods at bay, a great sacrifice was needed. It was Caledor and his most-trusted mages who created The Great Vortex. The magical creation with no equal. A swirling maelstrom that siphoned the excess magic, withering Daemonkind. Thus such power can have never come without a price. The Archmage needed to cast away his mortal shell, sacrificing himself for the greater good. In the end, the goal was achieved. With the world purged of Chaos, the Elves felt responsible for it. So, they took it upon themselves to become its guardians and stewards.
The mysterious twin-tailed comet is oft-seen as an omen. Though it can also bring great peril.
Life was never meant to be a trail of successes and victories. Instead, it is more akin to a treacherous path with few opportunities for respite and comfort. As far as poetry goes, it can be described as a long, arduous pilgrimage. One that usually takes more than a lifetime to finish. The ultimate journey goal might vary, depending on the pilgrim. Some seek reconciliation with themselves, others, the meaning of that strife.
Though it is doubtful that the cycle breaks, so it must continue.
Our history begins with a relatively young High Elf girl named Akali. Despite her age, she had already been marked by the cruelty of life. As a result of some twisted turns of events, she had been orphaned. Both of her parents had been killed whilst serving under the Phoenix King's command.
For weeks, this piece of information had been hidden away from the young girl. However, it could not have been kept away forever. Akali still remembered that day as if it had happened yesterday. The king's messenger had found her in the garden, entirely preoccupied with some novel. Yet, the feeling of emptiness and regret that had overtaken her in the next moment had no equal. Within a moment, her entire life had been taken away from her, twisted, and shattered. All that had remained was a goal that her parents had planted inside her head years ago. The only thing saving Akali from breaking down mentally had been the ambitious goal to become the White Tower's student. With that sole thought in mind, the girl had quelled the grift, transforming it into motivation, the power that would have pushed her forward.
To say that Akali was satisfied with how her life had developed would have been a damned sarcastic joke. But, despite years of trying, the girl had found herself unable to join the White Tower. As a result of it, she had been forced to seek at least partial fulfilment somewhere else. As soon as she had been done with blaming herself, she had a rough idea of what to do next. From unstructured glimpses, a new plan had been drawn inside her mind.
Becoming a member of the renowned Shadow Warriors had taken the better part of the next 10 years. Still, despite numerous challenges thrown against her, she had emerged victorious from her final trial in the end. She should have been overflown with joy after the dust had settled, yet reality had been different. It was so easy to notice how distant was Akali toward her peers. For them, it was the most tremendous honour to serve within Shadow Warriors' ranks. But, for the girl, it was just a try to bury the blame partially. Though it was not the only detail that differentiated them. First of all, she had not been born in Nagarythe. Aside from herself, maybe 10 or so other members did not originate from here. Secondly, the young assassin was much paler than the others, resembling more of Druchii than Asur. To top it all off, joining the elite contingent was just a temporary solution. A backup plan of the sort. After all, she could learn a thing or two within the order that could be potentially beneficial in the future. Her goal remained unchanged, so no matter for long would it take her, she would have made her parents proud. It mattered little to nothing where their souls currently stayed. The girl was more than sure that they were still looking after her.
The years of intense training paid off significantly. The girl had been slim with slightly more than average muscularity in the past. But, the extremes had changed that. The results of these could be easily spotted currently. Akali's frame was defined, athletic, forged by the countless hours of hazardous training.
Frankly, she had been following such an exhausting routine that many would have already given up. But, thankfully, Akali was not one of them. Though it must have been admitted that her strife for perfection had made her a loner. The girl could not have made a single friend throughout these ten long years. So the vigil she had oh-so-willingly taken upon herself started to feel like a burden.
She felt as if everyone around her despised her or even openly hated her. It would not have been an overstatement to say that her peers were waiting for Akali's slightest mistake, misstep. Though it had been used to motivate the girl further.
Another couple of years had quietly passed before she had been promoted into captain rank. Then, finally, it seemed that all her hard work paid off with a significant profit. A moment of pure enjoyment surrounded by endless days of misery and hatred. It would have been an evident lie if she had stated that it had not brought her joy. When the council consisted of order's more renowned members had called, she had heeded the call. The jealousy could have been easily spotted in the eyes of her fellow comrades. As she had walked amongst them, it had felt so good. Frankly, the feeling would have been impossible to describe in proper words.
But, unfortunately, the moment of her – for the time - greatest success had been short-lived. The whole ceremony had taken less than a couple of minutes. After all, there had not been much to say. But, nevertheless, the veterans had acknowledged her promotion, handing her a master-crafted bow as the remainder of that very moment. As soon as it had been done, she had been debriefed regarding her next mission.
2 more years had come to pass. Nevertheless, Akali's account had been slowly filled with successfully accomplished missions throughout that period. However, even though there was no doubt about the girl's professionalism and dedication, she was still a loner.
"You're going to follow me," one of Akali's peers uttered as soon as she had entered the room. "Mirethill has a task for you," the dark-haired man added before she could have even asked.
"Very well, then," the white-haired girl responded stoically. "Let's go; we should not keep him waiting."
"It'd be for the best, yes," the man responded immediately. Then, he headed toward the stairs located at the end of the long common room. "Be warned, he's not a fan of yours."
"I would be surprised if you said that he was," the young woman countered. "I am fully aware regarding my infamous reputation amongst the rangers," she added in a whisper-like manner.
"Very well," the dark-haired agent said. "Follow me," he threw before turning around nearly instantly.
Akali read the current situation correctly. So, she decided to follow her comrade, keeping some distance between them. Such an approach gave such an advantage in the form of spare time. Considering her experience with Shadow Warriors, Akali opted to use the resource to gain further benefits. So, the woman began looking around, but she tried to do so with as few moves as possible. The eyes of clear blue skies seemed to be in a constant movement, inspecting every possible detail. Frankly, she was unfamiliar with the building cause she simply had even been there. She had asked to follow to this small settlement on her way back from her previous mission.
The room was quite massive, filled with tables, chairs, benches, and of course, soldiers. As far as she could see, the numerous agents were preoccupied with their own businesses. Some of them formed small groups, talking quietly whilst eating and drinking.
The dark-haired man led her up to the highest level of the building. Unfortunately, only a few details on their way there could be considered intriguing. The furnishing could be described as lacking, aside from the common room. Most if not all walls were not painted. Their greyness inspired emptiness and sadness.
After a more-or-less short walk, the woman had been led to a small room. It was dim inside as the only light sources were a few candles scattered all around. Their yellowish glow was casting away the darkness of the night, yet at the same time, casting shows on the walls. With a few quick looks, Akali managed to gain some pieces of information regarding her surrounding. In the whole room, there was only one piece of furniture. A decently-sized round table was located at the very centre of the compartment. On top of it, a worn-out map could be spotted.
"You're late!" a cold, annoyed man's voice sounded. "I expected you to arrive much sooner. But, it seems that fame isn't everything, isn't it Akali?" he added sarcastically.
"Mirethill," the white-haired woman greeted the other officer emotionlessly. "You have not hidden in tunnels this time. So, I must say, I am a bit surprised," she allowed herself to mock a little.
"I'd wage my words if I were you," the man threatened openly. "And regarding you, Fether. Get out of my face!" he added coldly, spitting the venom.
The dark-haired man that had led her here uttered nothing. Instead of it, he simply bowed slightly, then turned on his heel and exited the room. Afterwards, the white-haired woman was left alone against Mirethill. Against a man who had been actively trying to get rid of her from the very start.
"What is the reason behind this unpleasant meeting?" Akali asked after a few moments of silence. "If it is something trivial, give me a pass. I have a report to submit in the quarters," she spoke with the tone as cold as ice.
"Pff," the other officer scoffed. "It's up to me what your next assignment will be. I'd recommend knowing your place in the hierarchy."
"Well, I would not think so highly about myself if I were you," the woman decided to play the same game. "You might give me my next assignment, though it is precisely the point where your authority ends. So, I would recommend speeding up."
"You're insolent!" Mirethill raised his tone. "But… it matters little. Your next task will test you thoroughly."
"Can we stop wasting time, please?" Akali threw, annoyed with the man's behaviour. "Tell me the details, and then we can split. With some luck, we might never see each other again."
"As you wish," the male replied, hissing. "The Druchii were spotted near the Blighted Isle," he started, cooling down a little. "As far as we can suspect, they might be lurking around the damned Shrine of Khaine. Your next task will be verifying these pieces of information. I expect you to stay out of the enemy's sight. So, under any circumstance, don't try to engage against the Dark Elves. We've heard the news regarding small parties of these savages. But, as you know, they usually hunt in the packs. Any questions?"
"How much time do we have?" Akali asked a moment later. "And… am I supposed to deal with this assignment alone?"
"No, you'll be accompanied by 10 additional rangers," the other officer responded with a bored tone. "But, regarding the time frame. Hmm… you have 7 days to fulfil the task."
"I will not be able to reach the isle in that time. Not on foot," the white-haired ranger commented.
"But, of course," the man scoffed. "You'll be teleported into Tor Anlec. There, you'll meet your team," he provided a simple explanation. "So, you have a full week, but not a single day more. If you don't reach the city in time, we… I'll regard you as dead. Am I clear?" the senior officer asked.
"Consider me briefed," Akali replied emotionlessly. "I assume I am going to be teleported right away?"
"Yes, the quicker, the better," Mirethill replied. "The mage will be waiting for you at the teleportation zone. And… before I forget, don't fuck up this job, pale queen," he opted for some additional mockery at the end.
"Pff," the white-haired woman scoffed quietly. "I guess there is nothing more to add. So, I will be leaving," she informed the man.
"Yes. Indeed, there's nothing more to say," the other officer spoke quietly. "Follow me then. I'll walk you to the departure zone."
"If you say so, please, do proceed," Akali responded emotionlessly, already exhausted with this conversation.
A couple of minutes later, they reached the teleportation zone. The older of the officers had led them through the back of the building. First, they had exited the hideout through one of the many side entrances. Then, the ranger had trailed between narrowed alleys. Some of these passages were nearly hugging the outer layers of the walls. The dusk had been in full swing. As the last rays of the sunlight had been slowly fading away, they had continued their walk. Some of these beams could still be spotted through the canopies of the nearby buildings. However, it had been evident that this state would have changed soon.
As they were closing in the last couple of meters, a single hooded person was in their sight. The person stood right next to a waystone. Based on its height, it potentially could have been a woman.
"Lirithil, on time as always," Mirethill greeted the hooded person with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"The order was issued; thus, it must be fulfilled," the mage replied emotionlessly. "As I assume, she is the one you have mentioned before? If so, we should proceed immediately."
"Yes," the senior officer replied, not hiding his disgust toward the sorcerer. "Be quick and teleport her to Tor Anlec. Her team should be waiting for her there already. And… don't force me to remind you of the time of this mission. They have a full, but not a single day more."
"I must give you that, Mirethill," the hooded woman started in a plain tone. "You have the audacity to give me direct orders, ranger. I find it amusing that you regard yourself so highly. In fact, so high that you consider yourself superior to me," Lirithil raised her tone slightly. "You are but a scout, not even an assassin. Do not dare to compare yourself with the mages."
"Pff," the man scoffed. "Whatever you say, mage. Just do your damned job. That's all I'm currently asking of you."
"I would not worry about that minor detail if I were you," the mage replied coldly. "I am here; thus, the will of the council will be fulfilled."
"I hope so," Mirethill commented. "But, for the time being, forgive me, but I want to see the results."
The mage did not utter another word, yet her frame could be read easily. The overly proud man visibly annoyed Lirithil. So instead of arguing with the ranger, she pulled her hood off, revealing long, blonde, shiny hair surrounding a pretty and noble face. Frankly, it was difficult to estimate the elf's age, though Akali doubted that the mage was much older than herself. Still, cockiness was a trait related to young age. A trait that sooner or later would fall off with age. For a brief moment, the mage fixed her sapphire-like eyes on Akali. A lot of things could be said regarding these orbs. They were so pretty yet cold that the young woman got goosebumps only after a few moments of stare contest. It lasted maybe only a couple of seconds, but it felt like a much longer duration for Akali. Still, it finished in the end. Then, the blonde-haired woman began her incantation.
"I urge you to enter the circle as soon as it manifests," Lirithil uttered, taking a pause while casting the spell. "You might feel a bit of dizziness once the teleportation is finished. It is not unusual for people to act strangely after using spells like this one for the very first time," she informed.
The bluish arcane energy started to gather around the blonde. Its fluctuations could be described with many words, yet calling the process magnificent would do. Soon enough, the spirals, ellipses, squares, and countless other shapes appeared in the thin air. These creations made off of raw magical energy floated through the air freely. Then, as Lirithil had mentioned before, a small circle started to be drawn on the ground. Its boundaries were of purple colour, manifesting themselves slowly. As soon as Akali noticed it, she crossed them, entering the circle, full of doubts. Soon enough, the glyph formed entirely, overflowing with raw energy. It was only a matter of time before it exploded, spinning the world around instantly.
Everything that surrounded the white-haired woman just a moment ago vanished. The whole world seemed to fade away as if it had been sucked into oblivion. It was honestly a weird feeling to be wrapped by only magic essence with no sense capable of registering stimulus of any sort. Though that state lasted for about a couple of seconds. Or, at least the woman thought so. It would have been challenging to estimate the duration precisely.
Suddenly, the young ranger was blinded by the light. The white-haired woman needed at least a few moments before she could look around, identifying her surroundings. As soon as the blindness faded away, so noticed that she was standing next to the waystone. After a brief inspection, she concluded that it looked exactly like the one she had seen before. The light that had blinded her initially came from the street lamps placed nearby. The young woman wanted to say something. But, unfortunately, the moment she opened her mouth, she felt nauseous. As quickly as she could, she knelt down, putting down her backpack. Within the next few short-lived moments, she retrieved a vail filled with green liquid from the container. Focusing hard on her shaky hands, the ranger somehow unbuttoned the glass. Then, its content was carefully purred into Akali's throat. A couple of additional seconds needed to pass to feel the liquid's effect. Then, the scorching sensation arose as the substance came down her gullet. Without a doubt, it was a painful experience to behold, yet the cure had done its duty.
Nevertheless, the white-haired woman felt weak, exhausted, and sick. It was only a matter of a few seconds before she fainted. Her mind embraced the darkness unwillingly, putting her down into a dreamless slumber.
