I've started a deviantart page. You can find the link to it on my profile. So far I have 18 character images there. While I can't get the color palette for outfits right they do fit how I envisioned them.

As a reminder, Poll #6 closes next week on 10/1. The results will be posted at the beginning of Chapter One: Part Nine so make sure to get your vote in. If you can't vote in the poll, feel free to leave a comment and I will count it towards the final.

Chapter One: Part Seven

"Yes."

With that simple word, the bird—the True Wind Rune—spread its wings and blinding light filled the cavern once more. Astraea didn't have the strength to shield her eyes so she squeezed them shut. Then she felt warmth around her and she gasped and opened her eyes once more. She saw that tendrils of light had expanded from the chest of the True Wind Rune and had wrapped around her. Her eyes widened as she was suddenly lifted out of the crevice and into the air. Her heart began to pound as she rose higher and higher, and closer and closer to the True Rune. She looked at the True Wind Rune, and she found that she could not look away.

"Princess Astraea Reiser," the bird said, its tone low. "From this moment onward…your life belongs to me."

Astraea was suddenly pulled forward and she was pressed against the bird's chest. Heat and light suddenly enveloped her body. All at once every ache and pain dissipated. The cuts closed over and healed. Her back straightened—her spine reset and suddenly she could feel her legs again. She felt a power beyond anything she could ever conceive.

The light grew brighter and she had to close her eyes again. She felt hot, searing heat on her right hand and she groaned in shock. The heat was almost painful. For a brief moment…she wondered if she made the right choice. But it was a choice she had made…and she would not regret it.

Then abruptly, the heat faded. Astraea opened her eyes but she found that she was still enveloped with light. And—And she was floating.

But she also realized that she was not alone, as she found herself face to face with a brown-haired man with thick bangs that fell into intense green eyes. He saw dressed in an elaborate green outfit, and his gaze was piercing. "So," he said, his tone blunt. "You're the new one."

Astraea blinked, words failing her. The man's face then softened, and his gaze softened. But…it was strange. She thought she saw pity in his eyes.

"I hope you don't live to regret this," the man said.

Then the man disappeared into a bright light, and darkness claimed Astraea.

Light had enveloped the island. A powerful force that caused the wind to pick up and the waves to churn. From the northern side of the island, there was a splash and a large tubular object broke the surface of the water. It was primarily made of metal, but the top had a glass casing. It was a sea carriage. An invention that had been lost to time by the Sindar, but newly discovered.

The sea carriage hiss as the lid pop open, and a young man and woman in their early twenties emerged. "W—What the hell?!" James shouted, pushing his goggles up his forehead as he stood up in his seat. "What the hell is that?!" he gestured frantically to the light reverberating from the island.

Xi An stood up with him. "M-Maybe it's a rune cannon?!" she exclaimed, her tone a little excited. "Why don't we try getting closer?"

"Are you nuts?!" James snapped, quickly sitting back down. "I played this game before and died! I'm NOT dying again! Especially when we don't know where Lord Daunte is!"

"Aww, you're no fun," Xi An pouted, but she sat back down. "So, what should we do?"

"We have clients waiting for us. Let's get going before we get blown up again."

"Right…"

They pulled the lid closed and waited for the second hiss. Then James pulled the right lever on his control and the sea carriage sank below the surface once more.

There was an ominous silence in the Onyx Chamber as everyone waited for King Franz to make his announcement. The chairs had been removed to accommodate the two hundred people that were standing in the chamber. The royal siblings stood at the front of the crowd, their assists standing behind them and a wall of palace guards separating them from the rest of the people.

Between the royal siblings and the dais was a row of twenty pictures on easels. Ten of the twenty were the youths who perished in the Massacre of Innocents, with Astraea's picture having the most prominent display front and center. The remaining ten pictures were classified as "crime scene" photographs. The burning ship. Splatters of blood on patches of grass and tree trunks. The rocks with a smear of blood where they all suspected Astraea had landed.

And behind the photographs, the white gauntlet found at the scene was propped on a table. It was clear to everyone what King Franz's announcement would be. A declaration of war on the country that was responsible for the massacre.

King Franz suddenly entered from his side door, followed by Albert and royal guards. He wore an expression of quiet dignity but also quiet rage. Everyone silently saluted as he stepped onto the dais. He stood before his throne but did not sit down. Albert took his usual spot at the king's right side.

"We are a nation grieving our children," King Franz began, his eyes sweeping over the Onyx Chamber. "We grieve our lost princess. My beloved daughter Astraea."

Denzel choked and covered his mouth with his hand. Philomena stroked his arm comfortingly.

"I also lost three other children," King Franz continued. "As did our most prominent families. Children who were setting out into the world to make something of themselves. Senselessly slaughtered by the Bianca Alliance."

Rumbles of anger filled the Onyx Chamber. The royal siblings however remained silent.

"The Bianca Alliance issued an official statement absolving themselves of any responsibility," King Franz said. "However, this gauntlet—" he motioned to the gauntlet in front of him. "Tells us all we need to know. It tells us who did this to our children. Who did this to our princess. I am here to announce that we will answer blood with blood. We will answer slaughter with slaughter.

"The Bianca Alliance will not get away with this," he continued. "And I am here to declare that the Kingdom of Zelant is prepare to—"

A sudden violent gust of wind swept through the Onyx Chamber. People shrieked and covered their faces. Some were even knocked over. The assists rushed forward to pull their charges away, and Albert raced onto the dais to pull King Franz back. Many drew their weapons, looking for an unseen enemy.

Then just as suddenly, the gust of wind stopped. Silence swept over the Chamber. As everyone slowly recovered, it was observed that every picture had been knocked over, and the table with the gauntlet had been overturned.

But lying on the floor, right on the spot where her picture had been…was Astraea.

No one said a word. There were no exclamations of shock or joy at seeing the lost princess. Everyone stood gaping with wide eyes. Even King Franz's darkly calm disposition had been shattered. He wore a look of absolute horror on his face. Not even Albert looked calm.

Denzel began breathing quickly, the only sound heard in the Onyx Chamber. Everyone remained frozen where they stood. It was Sigrun who finally moved; racing to her sister and collapsing to her knees at her sides. Her hands trembled violently as they hovered over the unconscious girl, her breathing shallow. Finally she let out a whimper and pressed her hand over Astraea's heart.

After a few moments, Sigrun's head snapped up. Fresh tears had filled her eyes as she stammered to speak. When she met the King's gaze, she finally found her words and she screamed, "SHE'S ALIVE!"

Astraea opened her eyes. It was…strange. She felt warm, comfortable, and safe. It felt strange to her to feel these after she had almost died.

"I took you where you would feel most safe."

The voice whispered across her mind and Astraea lifted a hand to her forehead in confusion. "W…What?" she whispered in confusion.

"So the True Wind Rune chose you."

Astraea started slightly at hearing a cold and unfamiliar woman's voice. She tried to sit up but her body felt weak. She could only lift her head partially. She noticed that was lying in bed. Her bed in Eisenblütig, and the room was slightly dark. And there was a pale-faced woman dressed in a black dress and black cloak standing at her bedside. Her dark eyes were narrow and they seemed to glare down at her.

"W—Who—" Astraea began.

"The last person who wielded that Rune did something very bad," the woman hissed, her nostrils flaring slightly. "If you are not respectful of the True Wind Rune's power…If you even think of doing a fraction of the things that he did…then I will kill you."

Astraea gaped in shock at the woman. She tried to sit up, but darkness swam through her vision and claimed her once more.

"Astraea?"

Astraea opened her eyes. She realized that she was still lying in her own bed, but the room was much brighter. Almost like the Sun was inside the room with her. She blinked and shook her head. What was that? Who was that woman? And the man—

"ASTRAEA!"

Astraea was suddenly pulled into a sitting position and crushed in a tight hug on her left side. Astraea quickly realized that it was Denzel who was hugging her and he was loudly crying, his face buried into her neck. She turned her head towards him. "Denzel?" she asked softly.

"Astraea!" Philomena suddenly jumped into bed with them and hugged Astraea on her right side. "I can't believe it! It's really you!"

Astraea looked up, and she realized her bedroom was filled with people. In addition to Denzel and Philomena Sigrun, Brendan, Kion, and Vahan were there along with Musashi, Aravine, Yasmine, Gwenette, and Kerime. Sigrun was smiling and had visible tears in her eyes as she stood at the foot of Astraea's bed. And Gwenette was wiping away tears with her handkerchief. Everyone else though looked stoic.

But Astraea didn't care. Never in her life had she felt so happy. I'm home. I'm here with my family. She looked around the room and her heart sank a little when she didn't see Dawa.

"His Majesty ordered Dawa to maintain her post in Potsfurt," Brendan said from the right side of her bed. Astraea glanced at him. "But rest assured that she has been informed about you."

Astraea looked herself over. Denzel and Philomena still clung to her but she reached down and pinched her thigh hard. She gasped in relief when she felt the sting of pain. "I-It's back!" she gasped.

"Back?" Denzel pulled away and looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Astraea, can you stand?" Sigrun said, motioning to her. "You should see this."

"See what?" Astraea asked. Her siblings moved away and she carefully swung her legs over the side of her bed. She took a moment to bend both of her knees and she noticed that she still had her boots on. She looked herself over fully and saw that she was still dressed the same as she was.

"We were too surprised to remove your boots or your gloves," Vahan told her. "It was…very surprising to have you back."

Astraea slowly stood up, and she was thrilled to be able to stand on her own two feet. Her knees shook though as she followed Sigrun to one of her windows. Her bedroom overlooked one of the gardens, but Sigrun reached for the window latched. "Listen," she said with a soft smile.

Sigrun opened the window, and Astraea jumped slightly when the faint sound of music and cheering filled the room. "W-What is that?" Astraea asked.

"That's Blutkrieger celebrating your survival," Sigrun told her. "The capital is happy that their princess is safe and sound."

Astraea felt tears sting her eyes as Sigrun clicked the window shut. "Y-You all thought I died, didn't you?"

"We—We saw your satchel," Philomena said. "And the rocks beneath the cliff."

"And Milo, Barrett, and Ritta," Denzel said quietly, shaking his head. "And…And all the other kids. We found them, but…but not you, Astraea."

"How did you survive?" Kion asked suddenly.

Astraea looked at her brother in shock. "…I…I…" she stammered.

"Tact is a better way to handle this, Kion," Brendan admonished him coldly.

Kion folded his arms over his chest and gave his older brother a long. "It's a reasonable question. We had your personal items which were covered in blood, and cliffside rocks that were covered in blood." He fixed his gaze on Astraea. "Was that your blood, Astraea?"

Astraea sucked in a sharp breath as she felt everyone's eyes on her once more. She knew she could remain silent, deny it, or confirm it. But she knew there was no benefit from lying and she nodded stiffly. "Ah…yes, Kion. That was…my blood."

"Kion, stop it," Denzel snarled, moving to position himself between Astraea and Kion. "You have no idea what she went through!"

"You're right, I don't," Kion said bluntly. "But I do know that if that blood was Astraea's then she shouldn't be standing here talking. So how is she standing here, completely unscathed, despite bleeding all over her bag, bleeding on grass, and impacting onto jagged rocks?"

"Kion—" Astraea tried to speak.

"And," Kion interjected sharply. "You suddenly appeared in the Onyx Chamber from God know's where. How did you do that, Astraea? And where the hell have you been?"

"Kion, stop," Sigrun snapped, advancing upon her brother and squaring up to him. He was taller than her but she wasn't intimidated by him. "Our little sister is back and she's alive! That's what counts!"

"While thirty-six other people are dead," Kion retorted. "So why is she alive when they are not?"

"Excellent and important questions, but ones that should be asked in a more gentle manner," a new voice spoke up. Everyone turned to see Albert moving into the bedchamber, his hands in the pockets of his white coat. "Forgive my intrusion, Princess Astraea," he said, bowing respectfully. "I knocked on your main door but no one answered."

"N-No, it's okay Sir Albert," Astraea said, stepping forward. "I'm glad to see you. Can I see my father?"

"His Majesty is currently occupied," Albert said. "I'm here to see you in his stead, Your Highness."

Astraea felt immense hurt that her father did not come to see, nor did he seem to be in a hurry to see her. She swallowed thickly and clasped her hands in front of her. "…I see," she said after a moment.

Albert looked at Kion. "Forgive my words, Prince Kion," he said. "I did not mean to overstep by making an admonishment towards you. However this is a delicate situation and we should all exercise care and patience."

Kion said nothing. Gwenette looked at her charge with sad eyes.

"But His Highness has made a tremendous point, Princess Astraea," Albert said, looking back at her. "As this nation has formally declared war on the Bianca Alliance for the Massacre of Innocents—"

"'Massacre of Innocents'?" Astraea questioned.

"That is…what they are calling what happened to you," Philomena said.

"And you are the only surviving eyewitness to what occurred," Albert said, lowering his tone. "I cannot imagine what you experience Your Highness, but I must ask you to recount what happened."

"Right now?!" Denzel exclaimed.

"We're about to deploy troops to engage the Alliance," Brendan said, narrowing his eyes at Denzel. "We need to know what we are facing."

"Do you feel ready to talk, Astraea?" Sigrun asked her.

Astraea wasn't entirely ready, but she knew that this was important. Everyone needed to know what had happened. So she swallowed and nodded stiffly, walking over to her bed and sitting on the edge. "Okay," she said, casting her eyes downward.

She told them everything she remembered; how the boat had an emergency and they had disembarked. How the prospective students had been lured to a spot by a lit torch and were then besieged by butchers—

"And you can confirm that these were soldiers of the Bianca Alliance?" Vahan asked.

Astraea nodded. "They…were dressed in white armor. It looked familiar to me."

She recounted how everyone had been killed except for Milo, Barrett, Ritta, and her and how all four of them had successfully defeated eighteen butchers. And when they took a moment to relax, Ritta had been struck down by a Furious Blow spell.

" Furious Blow," Gwenette said, her eyes wide. "That's the strongest spell of a Thunder Rune!"

"An extremely skilled rune user," Albert mused, rubbing his chin. "Did you get a good look at the rune caster, Princess Astraea?"

Astraea shook her head. "I only know that it was a woman."

From there she continued; recounting how Barrett sacrificed himself charging into more of the butchers, and how Milo had protected her from arrows. She did not tell them what Milo's last words were, as they were painful to recall. Then she remembered being swarmed by more butchers and her vision clouded and her breath caught in her throat.

"Astraea." Sigrun quickly sat at her side and took her hand. "Deep breaths. Deep breaths."

Astraea closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. It was a few moments before she could fully calm down and she kept talking. "I was hit with two arrows," she whispered. "And stabbed three times. I-I didn't know how to save myself so I—I threw myself from the cliff."

"You tried to flee instead of standing your ground," Kion said bluntly. The words hurt more than the physical injuries Astraea had sustained, and tears stung her eyes.

"You BASTARD!" Denzel shouted. He flung himself at Kion, but Gwenette quickly inserted herself between both princes. Denzel skidded to a stop, and Musashi pushed himself in front of Denzel. "Cancel your spell," he said in a dark tone.

Astraea realized that there was a ball of fire in Gwenette's right palm. She was expressionless but her brow was knitted. "P-Please stop!" she stammered.

Kion reached out and rested a hand on Gwenette's shoulder. He didn't say a word but the spell dissipated and she lowered her arm to her side.

"If neither of you is going to behave, then get out!" Brendan snapped, raising his voice. Yasmine was also glowering. Astraea jumped a little, as she wasn't used to hearing her oldest brother yell. "We're about to go to war! We need to stand together!"

Both Denzel and Kion slowly relaxed and Denzel retreated away from him. Gwenette still kept on her guard however, and Musashi watched her with narrowed eyes as he slowly backed up following the Prince.

"Princess Astraea, please continue," Albert said in a gentle tone.

Astraea looked between Denzel and Kion for a long moment before looking at Albert. "I—landed on the rocks," she confirmed. "And I broke my back—"

"WHAT?!" Philomena screamed.

"You broke your back?!" Vahan snapped.

"B-But Astraea, you were just walking!" Sigrun exclaimed.

"I-I know," Astraea said, looking around the room. "I…I almost died. Somehow I was able to crawl into a-a cavern behind the rocks. I found myself in this chamber room and…" she shook her head. "I…I met a bird."

An uncomfortable silence followed her words. "A bird?" Kion asked finally, his tone disbelieving.

Astraea nodded. "I'm telling the truth. It was—made of light," she continued. "This green light. And it had six wings—"

"Wait, WHAT?!" Albert suddenly screamed. His shout caused everyone in the room to jump. "Did you say a bird of light with six wings?!"

Astraea gaped at him stunned. She slowly nodded in confirmation.

Albert suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her right wrist. He pulled her arm vertical and pulled her black glove off. Astraea's eyes widened when she saw a rune symbol on the back of her hand. It was white with green tinges on the edges. Three sharp waves forming a circle. Is that…?

"W-What is that?" Denzel said, leaning over Astraea and Sigrun. "What rune is that?!"

Albert looked at the rune with wide eyes. His mouth opened and closed silent before he finally spoke. "The True Wind Rune."

As a heads up, the next chapter will be up on Monday instead of Sunday. I'm going to have limited internet access this weekend.