AN: You know, I hadn't realized up until now that interracial relationships may not work out in the setting. Y'know, due to possible biological differences making it impossible? Sorry about this, lorebros, I'm gonna have to wave this off with word of God that it is possible in this story.
"I was a young man once, you know? Oh yes, a boy born of an interracial marriage, and one that was able to get a fairly extensive education for the time, earning a bachelor's in History. Shocked? Indeed, this muscle-bound brute was once a burgeoning scholar! As for what happened… Well, let's just say that war tends to throw a wrench into people's plans, be they for the day or for their life."
I was born of two parents, a Wendigo named Kitchi Tessay and a Vouivre named Aemilia of Ashbury. As you may have remembered, Columbia was once a colony of Victoria. Well, it turns out that my mother's family was one of disgraced Victorian nobility, and they came to Columbia as Colonists after losing their prestige. Why that was the case, I would never find out, but I like to believe that the aristocratic nature of my mother was the cause for my odd speech, mixing both Columbian and Victorian dialects.
My father was part of an earlier settlement group that moved to the west hundreds of years ago sometime before The Westward Migration, now known as the Sarkaz Tribes. Of course, as humanity loves to do so, the Victorian and the Tribal factions oft descended into violent disputes ending in bloodshed. Thankfully, my father's tribe - the Aupches - had good relations with the faction of my Mother's, known as the Fullers, hence why they could even marry each other legally. As for why they married, Mother often told the tale of the Checomans tribe, an enemy tribe to the west of the Aupches and the Fullers, and how they once committed a large-scale raid on their two neighbors. In the raid, many men were slain and many women were captured, my Mother included.
In response, the Fullers and the Aupches organized a united military campaign against the Checomans, and my father, champion of the Aupches, was the first man to reach the last stronghold of the Checomans, where the women of most value were kept. Mother always spoke of how she fell head-over-heels for the champion afterwards, and my father, despite his stoic demeanor, would always flush red when she would declare that. They were a kind pair, and they never failed to make me feel loved when I was around them, just like the Doctor when he is with you.
My grandparents were an odd bunch, but loveable all the same. My paternal grandfather, Machk, was a giant of a man, even for full-blooded Wendigos, and always had a love for combat, a trait that my father did not inherit. What he did inherit, instead, was his size, as Father was always a tall man. For reference, I am considered gigantic among Babel, but beside my father I looked quite runtish. I suspect that Grandpa passed that love of anything related to weapons down to me instead, for we always bonded over feats of arms and combat, and I loved him dearly.
My paternal grandmother, on the other hand, was a banshee, and by God did she love to flaunt their inherent traits. She was always beautiful, even in her advanced age, and her singing enchanted the entire town. My father and grandfather were born similar in appearance, with warm brown eyes and black hair, but my grandmother had herself a mane of silver and eyes of bronze. Oh, but don't draw her ire, for her melodious voice could just as quickly turn into ear-rupturing screeches in her wrath, and Grandma Wawetseka was not known for her saintly patience.
Mother's parents, on the other hand, were more of a genteel kind.
Grandfather Edward, though no less martially capable than Grandpa Machk, was more inclined to administrative duties. Even so, his men called him "The Stone Wyvern" due to him being a Vouivre and his preference for defensive tactics, along with his notable stone-colored hair and eyes. And best of all, he would be the one to sit me upon his knee and regale me with the tales of myths, legends, history, and his own adventures. The one he'd love to tell me was about Richard of Ashbury, founder of the House of Ashbury, but I ended up favoring the writings of Derfel Cadarn and his telling of the tragic tale of Arthur ap Neb the most. Grandfather was a writing man, one that dabbled in poetry so often that his speech reflected it. Honestly, his speech was eloquent to the point that even Theresa sounds rough and common… Please don't tell her I said that.
Oh, and Grandmother Alexandra, who could forget her? She was a strict and stern woman, though she had a gentleness to her that few would be privy to, just like her countrymen. Right, I forgot to mention, but she herself was an Ursian in both nationality and race. The Ursus people are a hardy bunch, and when news came that Mother was captured by the Checomans, she personally led a raid alongside Grandfather Edward. I've only spoken to few veterans of the Checoma conflict, but each one always said that after that day, the unwavering devils of the Checoma would turn tail and run at the sight of blonde bear ears, with one captured devil biting off his tongue to avoid facing, quote: "The Golden Scourge." Even then, she was regal in her demeanor, and had a mesmerizing grace in how she held herself. Mother favored the looks of Grandmother, with long golden locks and field-green eyes, but had more of Grandfather's height and demeanor.
Hmm? My own hair and eye color? Oh, I've yet to remove my helmet with you around, eh? Alright, let me just… There. See? I got the dark gray hair from Grandma Wawetseka and Grandfather Edward, but the hazel eyes from a combination of Mother's and Father's eye colors. …Eh, I just enjoy having my hair cropped close to my skull, but Mother, Father, Grandma Wawetseka, and Grandfather Edward enjoyed long hair. Grandpa Machk wore short hair, said it was due to a foe yanking his hair in a duel when he was younger, while Grandmother Alexandra kept her hair no longer than neck-length. As for the beard, it's a result of both wanting to look my age and being too lazy to remove it all in a timely fashion. I believe only Grandpa Machk also had one, and a bigger one that he left braided around his chest at that, but Grandfather Edward did have himself an elegant handlebar mustache. No, Father preferred to be clean shaven.
Lord, have I been prattling on about my family history all this time? Oh, how old age affects thee… Do you still want to hear me go on for today, or do you prefer doing something else? … Keep going? Very well, but I will get on to more relevant information.
Now, I am not the most knowledgeable on how I was as a boy, but my parents always said that I was a lazy glutton back then. Right? How could a lazy glutton become adept at melee combat? Well, it was just my luck that some of those traits did not survive my childhood. I also was infatuated with anything related to combat and adored watching Grandpa Machk spar with my father. My love for anything martial saw me demand my father to train me, and my poor gluttony was never the same again… I do still have a love of food, though, so some of it survived that terrible purge.
As for academics, I was always considered a bit of a bright boy, as the material taught wasn't the most challenging. No, it was when I would visit Grandfather Edward that my intelligence would be challenged, and that love for writing and stories my grandfather had would end up imprinted onto myself. Indeed, it was by studying with Grandfather that I was able to enter a proper University through merit, as opposed to the wealth that many other pupils offered to earn a place among the erudite. Of course, the family still had to support me financially, but they only offered the bare minimum for both paying tuition and a spartan lifestyle. Oh, how relieved I am to never have to fish for dinner while peers splurge wealth on worthless items such as velvet gloves or silk socks. Seriously, silk socks? All you need are cotton or wool socks, you fools!
Gah, how frustrating those times could get. Luckily, I was able to keep my grades afloat, and the spartan lifestyle kept me from gaining weight like many of my peers, though it did leave me a bit too gaunt for comfort. Turns out, Grandmother handled my allowance, and she feared that I would become a spoiled layabout should I be given everything while studying, so she skimmed money from the total allowance and stored it in a safe as a sort of start-up fund for once I graduated. I only found out after I completed my education. I didn't hold it against her, and even still view it as a valuable lesson for enduring harsh conditions and searching for solutions, but Mother disagreed. She had a private chat with Grandmother, and, for the first and only time in my life, I saw Grandmother Alexandra apologize for her actions.
Ah, probably a bit late to say this, but I never had the best ability to befriend people. I see that look, and I agree, I never was able to completely change that bit of me. The difference is that I accept it now and sometimes stumble into a fruitful friendship, whereas the younger me instead turned to my family for human connection and to Grandfather's library to escape. It was truly worthy of being called a library, with hundreds of books of all sorts. Of course, the works of literature were my favorite pastime, with The Earl of Cross' Mount being my favorite. Eh… The book is old, and was translated from an older Gaulish, so it may be a bit of a confusing read, but it is worth it. Tell you what, how about I get you a copy when you get older?... Sounds like a plan, then.
Sadly, I would not get the chance to further my educational journey. You see, while Taysha - my home and the territory in westernmost mainland Columbia - was at the very edge of civilization and thus was free of the more restrictive societal norms, the rest of Columbia could not boast the same. The far southeast holds Victoria, the overlord of the Border Dukes in Columbia.
In these times, study of the Reman Empire, a precursor of the Empire of Gaul and holder of most of central Terra, became popular once more, and the ideas and thoughts of the Remans followed the academics. In short, the Reman empire started off as a kingdom, ruled over by a king, but the cruel nature of their last king saw the entire kingdom revolt and had him removed. In the king's place, the people formed a Republic, a form of government where anyone can vote - a concept originating from Minos - for a man to represent them and influence the government in their interest. This radical idea, paired with the great success of the Remans as a nation and the treatment of Columbians by the Victorians, made the idea of a Republic all too appealing for my budding homeland.
There was also the relations between the Colonists and the Victorians. You see, just like with my mother's family, many of the Colonists were people that Victoria saw as useful but… problematic. As a way to keep us in check, Border Dukes had absolute authority under the crown while they were in the Colonies, and were encouraged to stamp out any hint of dissent when found. Well, this made more Columbians desperate or willing to believe in the idea of a Republic, and violent suppression loves to stoke rebellious attitudes among a furious populace.
This, Amiya, is where the start of the Columbian Dream comes from. It came from the downtrodden people that dared to hope for a better world. For a heaven on Terra. When you dream, remember that many would dare to degrade you for it, but do not falter. Columbia dreamed, and now people dream of it.
Where was I?…Ah, yes. I was readying myself for the possibility of a revolution. I was a college student, of course, so rousing rhetoric and patriotic speeches lit a flame of idealism in my young self, urging me to take up arms for my fellow countrymen… There was also a more selfish desire, I suppose. The desire to finally partake in battle, to be one amongst untold thousands, in a trial of mortal combat. The morbid curiosity of killing a man in mortal combat…
I hid this from my family, of course. I saw their expressed opinions on the growing tensions. Mother looked worried, talking about the possibility that Taysha could get involved. Father looked grim, as though he knew conflict was coming. Grandmother and Grandfather avoided speaking of it, with Grandfather looking pained whenever headlines of the topic came in the newspaper. Grandpa and Grandma, on the other hand, couldn't care less about it. 'Youths often act like fools. It, like the movement, is nothing new,' Grandpa Machk would always say.
Since I only had my family to speak with, I began to have doubts on my newfound conviction with regards to independence. A handful of times, I'd grow to resent them in my head, but those brief thoughts brought revulsion from the rest of my being. If you ever find your mind wandering to such thoughts, think of the good times you've had with them and don't let those memories go. It is a wretched feeling, loathing your adoring family, one that will rot you from the inside out.
Unfortunately, all of my family's worst fears came to be. On July 4, 1012, the Victorian Royal Army would march on Harmony and Lawton, seeking to crush a possible rebellion in its infancy and to arrest the plot's ringleaders. In response to this violation of her citizens and of their right to own property, the Columbian Colonies would sign the Ordinance of Secession, and mobilize to fight the Victorians. Yes, it was the start of the Columbian Revolutionary War.
Hmm? You were taught differently? Well, that's no surprise. Columbia is a young nation that only recently became important. Why learn the small details of the history of a nation that has only existed for less than a century as opposed to the larger scope of a nation with hundreds of years of history? But you needn't worry. After all, I fought there myself.
… Man, time sure flew by, eh? But that's enough of my story for now, one of the others ought to come here any minute now.
… Speak of the Devil.
AN: Yes, there are real world influences in this. The Sarkaz of Columbia are being roughly influenced by Native Americans, the colonists are obviously influenced by European settlers, and our main boy is supposed to be born and raised in Arknight's Texas. The state, not the wolfgirl. Again, I'm a shit editor, so any inconsistency might come about due to my shoddy revisions and retroactive changes. Or, as is the case with famous mangaka Mr. Araki, I just forgot.