13: Of Shattering

Ahn shuddered. The world was in darkness, a pressing weight, a sickness in his belly. Why were his thoughts swirling mud? Why did his heart try to beat against the current, and why did his limbs refuse his commands? And why did ice tear through his veins instead of blood? Voices sounded in his awareness—muted, […]

12: Of Preparation

“How can we assist you, Ahndras Frost?” Seshka asked, gazing up at Ahn with the first light of hope in her eyes. “I’ll need a large quantity of stinkwort for binding, salt for a grounding circle, some candles, and a bowl of pure leywater, preferably bottled and unopened. Oh, and feverbane bandages, in case of […]

11: Of Pathos

“Who are you?” Ahn brandished his staff, aethermagic flaring in the near darkness. “Stop it.” The chill, flat voice of the young woman standing between him and his guardian and the atrium’s exit echoed into the unnatural silence. “Magic will only call the darkness. Listen to me, or we will all perish. Put out the […]

10: Of Nightstar

Moya coaxed herself back to the here and now, counting her breaths and feeling her feet on the soil. How had things gotten so bad? All of Moya’s distrust of Ahn melted in an instant—the instant where she realized he was just as hurt as she had been. “We can’t stay here,” Moya said, looking […]

9: Of Scars

“Moya. Moya, wake up. We must go now.” Ahn clutched her shoulder, giving his guardian a firm shake. When she didn’t respond, he sank down onto one knee and looked into her eyes. Eyes that were glassy, staring at something further down the path. Moya shook so hard that her teeth rattled in her head. […]

8: Of Awakened

* Content warning: quick dagger cut, undead They set off through Duskmere’s west gate towards Nightstar Temple. The evening weather was exceptionally fine. A cool breeze with scents of late spring in the air dried the raindrops from the day’s squall, leaving no trace of the unseasonal heat and humidity from earlier. Moya listened as […]

7: Of Explosions

“The world looks a lot different when I’m not boiling mad, hungry and covered in mud after wrestling an ornery river stallion,” Moya said, shading her eyes from the lowering sun as she surveyed the area. She kept stride with the others, dodging merchants laden with packs and townsfolk out and about on their afternoon […]

6: Of Meetings

Ahn leaned back in his chair and watched as his friends and new guardian sat eating, planning, and getting along famously. It had taken no time for Moya to fall into easy conversation with the others, a skill he had never really learned himself. “So you are from Empyrea?” Moya asked Zander. “Indeed. And I’ll […]

5: Of the Rite

Ahn laughed until his stomach hurt, and Moya slumped against a tree, wiping her eyes. He inhaled, ignoring the stitch in his side, and surveyed the clearing. Now that it was over, his head pounded, and every muscle in his body cried out for rest. What in all the hells had just happened here? “You […]

4: Of Corruption

Moya sat back on her heels as the potion’s refreshing energy washed over her. She could not look away from Ahndras, who was now recovering his energy, leaning against mossy stone. Ahn, the aethermage who she would spend days, weeks of her life guarding, although she had prayed to the Source never again to suffer […]