The Day the Dragon Came Again

For the past several months, I have been in love with a Twitch show called Critical Role. And of course it wasn't going to be long before I couldn't stop myself from writing some fan fiction. If you have not gotten to Episode 40, then be warned that this has some light spoilers. Hope you enjoy. And check out Critical Role live on Twitch on Thursday nights 7pm PST.

It was late. The only remaining light was the ominous orange burn coming from the distance, clawing at the stained glass along the temple walls. Exhaustion sank itself into every one. Every man, woman and child. And yet, all anyone of them could manage were fitful and restless bouts of sleep, plagued by horror and nightmares. And even that evaded some, forcing them to lie awake and relive the horror over and over again.

He stood there silently, tucked away in the shadows. He looked at the disheveled group who now called Greyskull Keep their refuge. The few who had escaped the wrath of the Chroma Conclave. Unlike the others outside the gates, whose terror stricken visages were on display. A cruel menagerie of tormenting reminders. Here they were, huddled heaps of dismay, desperation and loss, wrapped up in whatever blankets could be found. But it wasn’t them, the few of them, who drew his attention. It was only one. One person lying in the midst of that misery.

Vax wanted to step forward, step out of the shadows, move towards him. But he couldn’t. His feet, which normally flew ever so quickly, were now leaden and kept him staunchly in place. Kept him there, in the dark, hiding from what was in front of him.  A mere handful of hours ago, Gilmore had been a sight to behold. As he always was. Best of robes, crushed blue velvet in color. Curly raven black hair held neatly in place. And that ever present wide smile that decorated a beautifully handsome face. With him, it was always about presentation. But not now, not any more. The dragons had come. Just like before, with fire, terror and destruction.

Vax simply watched from his dark corner. Watched and thought. He had been no more of a help tonight as he would have been to his mother on the night her home had faced the same fate. The robes now slashed, burned and stained with blood. The curly hair now stuck to a feverish and pale face. Someone else who Vax cared deeply for was almost torn from him by the same monster who had taken from him before. What had Vax been doing all of this time? Yes, he had grown. Yes, he had learned. Yes, he was a man now, a powerful man. A powerful man with powerful friends. But what had that done for Emon? What had that done for Gilmore?

Gilmore’s head shifted on the pillow underneath it. With eyes still closed, his lips parted.

“Someone is brooding very loudly over there.”

Though weak, the deepness of Gilmore’s voice still sounded solid. And calming. Vax’s first instinct was to quietly walk away. To not face this lump building in his throat. Not here. Not with Gilmore. However, walking away after tonight, after what had almost happened, felt worse.

“I thought you would be asleep,” Vax replied in a low voice.

Gilmore slowly opened his eyes and turned his head as the half-elf approached. Even though Vax was now standing where Gilmore could see him, he might as well have brought the shadows with him as somber as his face appeared.

“Oh my, such sad eyes and heavy shoulders.”

Vax didn’t answer.  Vax didn’t want to speak. Being this close, imagining what could have happened if Pike had not been there. The ache in his chest crushed his lungs with every breath. The growing hollow in his stomach was swallowing him piece by piece. It was another day the dragon had came. What had he been doing all this time?

“Nothing has changed, Gilmore,” Vax finally sputtered out, doing everything he could to keep his voice even, “Nothing at all. The most important people in my life and I can’t…”

Vax stopped, clenching his jaw before he continued on, “You were right in front me and all I could do was sit there…”

“My dear Vax’ildan,” Gilmore whispered, “Come. Sit with me now.”

Vax sat on the edge of the bed, head falling forward as he stared at the stone tiles of the temple floor, “How much will this Cinder King take, Gil? How much more is it going to rip away from me?”

There was silence. A silence weighed down by everything that wanted to be said, but there were no words for them. Vax felt a gentle warmth as Gilmore’s hand slowly slid over his own. The corners of Vax’s eyes burned as he blinked back the watery blur that was beginning to distort his vision.

 “This is where I am supposed to tell you everything is going to be fine. That we will find a way out of this. But honestly, I don’t know that to be true. Even I have doubts at this point. But what I do know is that you have always survived. Beyond all odds, you, Vax, always survive. This is no different.”

Vax shifted his gaze and peered at the ruggedly handsome face that weakly grinned back at him. Still grinning, because it was always about presentation. Vax shifted his hand so that Gilmore’s fingers fell between his. This close, Vax could smell the familiar scent of incense that usually permeated Gilmore’s clothing intertwined with smoke, sweat and blood.

“I hope you don’t believe that. That all I care about is simply my survival.”

“Then obviously something has changed then.”

Vax slowly leaned down and gently laid his forehead against Gilmore’s.

“I’m going to protect you,” Vax whispered earnestly, “I swear it on my life.”

“Good,” Gilmore whispered back.

The Nightfall Saga: Secrets Revealed (Part 6)

Lord Jaias watched as the carriage that had brought his sister and estranged niece to his doorstep finally pulled away. Tobias stood a step behind him. There was an icy silence. Jaias’ normal countenance was marked with agitation, his brow furrowed and forehead wrinkled. But, he only stood there, hands folded behind him.

“What will you have done now, sir?” Tobias asked, watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
 
“For now, we simply sit and wait. Have Matthias watch Cixithara. I’m sure that she will be returning to House Silvacce."

The elven lord turned to head back up the stairs and into the house again, "My niece will come back, Tobias. She knows that she is one of us now.”
 
“The Heads of Council?” Tobias asked, "What will they be told?"
 
“I will do my duty as the head of this House and tell them what I found. Cixithara Daybreaker is a candidate to be the next Vessel and should be treated as such.”
 




The  inside of the carriage was silent. The only sound was the rolling of the wheels against the dirt roads that left Silvermoon City. Both Cixi and Alara had taken off the fancy clothes and make up they had been decorated in for the past several days. It was back to simple clothes and plain faces, but everything between the mother and daughter seemed changed somehow. Cixi didn’t speak to her mother. She didn’t even look at her. She simply stared out the window, pretending to pay attention to the passing scenery outside.
 
“You were never supposed to know,” Lady Alara said in a low voice.
 
“Know what? That I was forced to be something else that I was never any good at in the first place?” Cixi spat out, a tinge of bitterness edging her words.
 
“You are were chosen as Guardian for First Hunt. The Elders recognize you, just like they recognize your brothers and recognized your father. Do not let Lord Jaias’ words poison everything you know about yourself.”
 
“What about Zendier and Taulithran? Are my brothers the same as me?”
 
Lady Alara ran her hand over her mouth before she spoke. The words slowly came past her lips, obvious that she was measuring the weight of every word coming out of her mouth.
 
“They are gifted, but not like you. You were different. Even when you were little, there was something about you and magic that your brothers just didn’t have.”
 
“Why didn’t you give me a choice?” Cixi asked, finally turning her face away from the window, “If you knew what I could do with magic, why did you not give me the choice of being a mage?”
 
“Because I was afraid that you would chose to be one of them,”  Lady Alara answered back, "And you  have no idea what they would have made you become."

"At least they were honest."

Cixi didn’t bother going back home.  She wanted to be by herself for a while, Just to  at least straighten things out in her head. The carriage dropped her off at the front gates of the Silvacce Estate. Cixi didn't smile and wave as the carriage left. Instead, she shoved her hands in pockets and watched as the brightly colored hawkstriders pull the carriage away.

Cixi's mind raced with a thousand thoughts as she slowly walked down the dirt paths that laced the Silvacce estate. Most of them starting with “what if”. Then, it came suddenly. A sharp pain behind Cixi’s eyes. Unlike any headache she had ever experienced before, in a matter of moments, the pain became excruciating. Cixi’s head throbbed, like someone was shoving a spike between her eyes and into her skull. She grabbed the sides of her head and crumpled her to knees. Bright blinding lights streaked across her vision. The only thing she could hear was the thumping of her own racing heart beat in her ears. 

Moments later, Cixi fell over in the grass, writhing, her screams of pain caught in her throat, the piercing pain only going deeper into her skull. The last thing she remembered before passing out was seeing an outline of a woman’s face in the blinding flash of light.

The Nightfall Saga: Secrets Revealed (Part 5)

“Lord Jaias has instructed that he not be disturbed at this time, milady. He should be done very soon. If you would come back at that time, I am sure he will take an audience with you.”
 
The servants were not allowed to put their hands on Lady Alara. She knew that and they knew that. But it didn’t keep the servants from trying anything else they could in order to get her to stop. However, all of their efforts were for not. Lady Alara still pushed her way through, towards her brother’s study. As she entered the outer room, she heard something. Something very familiar. What was that? Was it music? Alara hoped that it was just her frazzled nerves, creating the noise in her own head, playing on her worst fears. She remembered that song, quite well. What felt like a lifetime ago, her father had handed her a toy and told her to open it. She remembered the way he looked at her as those pieces slid across the sides.
 
She grasped the handle of her brother’s study and yanked it, barreling through the door as she did so. There was only quiet afterwards. Quiet that was fringed with a soft melody playing, the music that Alara had hoped she was only hearing inside of her own head. That dreaded song. That terrible song.
 
Cixi stared at her mother’s wide eyes with a startled stare of her own. She dropped the small box on the desk, music still continuing to play. Lord Jaias stood up from his chair and took several steps toward his sister.
 
“What…what have you done?” Alara replied, her stomach sinking with every second.
 
“It’s just a puzzle box…” Cixi started to explain.
 
“How long have you known?”
 
Cixi stopped talking. Lord Jaias had walked around his desk and was facing his sister. There were no pleasantries passed or civility faked. There was nothing but raw reality between the two of them now. It felt as if her mother and uncle had forgotten that she was even in that room. The conversation was now just them.
 
“You had absolutely no right! You had no right!”
 
Lady Alara’s shouting had no effect on her brother. His voice only became colder and deeper.
 
“How long have you known?” he repeated,”How long did you keep this from the rest of us? How long did you keep it away from Father? From the Heads of the Houses?”
 
“Cixithara is a trained hunter, just like her father and his father before him…”
 
“…with Ebonlynx blood running through her veins! Something you can’t erase no matter how badly you want to! There is a reason that your daughter was never able to fit into that excuse for a House that you married into.”
 
“My daughter will never be one of you! Not as long as I have breath in my body!”
 
“Stop shouting!”
 
Alara and Jaias turned from each other. Cixi stood there, opened puzzle box in hand. Alara half stomped, half marched her way over, reached for the toy and hurled it across the room. The box crashed into the wall. The music stopped, the glowing stopped. The box closed and relocked itself. As Cixi stared at the small toy that was now on the ground, Lady Alara grabbed Cixi by the wrist.
 
“We are leaving.”
 
Cixi yanked back.
 
“No we aren’t," Cixi replied, "Not until someone tells me what is going on.”

Story Finale: Secrets Revealed (Part 6)

Daily Write - Balance on Windmill Hills - Part 5

The early morning sun was starting to rise, pushing away the dark blues and greys of the night; making the sky a brilliant shade of pink that spilled onto the ocean. The view from Windmill Hills was quite spectacular during these early hours. The only sounds were the striking of water on the sand and the sea birds gliding through the gentle breeze coming off the water. Coming up the winding path to the hills, Ariya rubbed her eyes and let out a rather large and noisy yawn that she didn't try to stifle. Ariya didn't mind mornings, but this was just too early to be awake and outside. She had not even bothered to do her hair. Instead, she had lazily put it up in a messy bun and covered her head with a dark green colored scarf. Next to her, the tubby Professor Cohen walked alongside, staff in hand, as she puffed her way up the hill. As she always did, Professor Cohen wore her light colored air wizard robes and her blonde bob was neatly combed.

“After walking up this hill for the third week in a row, you would think that this little hike would get easier. You either need to read your books a little faster, Ariya or I need to lay off of the sweet cakes from the pastry shop.”

“Why did we have to come up here so early?”

Professor Cohen could hear the unpleasant demeanor that tinged the words coming from Ariya’s mouth.

“If you had been attending your Earth magic classes like you are supposed to, you would be used to waking up this early. It has come to my attention that you haven’t been going for quite some time now.”

Ariya’s violet orbs slid sideways at the air wizard. “I doubt that Earth class starts this early. Most people are only rolling out of bed this time of morning. Am I to guess that this is punishment for me skipping? It’s not like I don't know what’s happening in class. I get my notes from people who were there that day and I study them. That class is one big history course anyway. I really don't have to be there to hear what the professor has to say. Just remember all the important dates for the exam, pass the class and move on to next.”

“Ariya, did you ever think that perhaps there is a reason that we want you to know all those things about Earth magic before you use it?” Professor Cohen asked. The sound of her staff made a very distant thunking noise against the path they were traveling.

Ariya took a deep, noisy breath. If there was anything more agitating than being asked these aggravating questions, it was being asked these aggravating questions early in the morning. 

“Magic is dangerous. Some elements are dangerous just by nature, fire being the prime example. Other elements are dangerous when not used correctly, earth being the prime example. By looking at where others got it wrong, we can see what went wrong and how not to do it again. I’m not as thick as everyone makes me out to be.”

The large windmills began to come into view as the two continued on the path in silence. They stood like mammoth old giants that had gone dormant along the hillside. Now nothing but fixtures worn by time and the elements, these ‘giants’ still stood as imposing as ever, dominating the landscape. As they came close to the windmills, Professor Cohen began to speak again.

 “Ariya, why do you make it so difficult for professors to get close to you? To try and understand you? To teach you?”

“Because all the professors are the same," Ariya replied, "They think the same thing about me when I walk into their classrooms. I am the one that will not bend to them. I am the one who will not believe their theory unless they have proof what they are saying is right. To question the doctrine of the Collegium is to be branded a troublemaker. So why should I try and prove them wrong? I am going to use my energy in order to become a good elementalist and in the end become an air wizard. In the end, it doesn't matter if the professors are close to me or not. They can think that I'm trouble, thick skulled, or just too stupid to understand the complexity of magic if they wish. It won’t change anything about me or what I'm going to do.”

“You think the professors in the Collegium are judging you?”

By now, the two had reached the top of the hills. The ocean breeze buffeted against Professor Cohen’s blonde bob and caused Ariya’s scarf to flap against her head. Her eyes had gone cold as she stared out at the ocean in front of her. What was Professor Cohen after with these questions?

“Isn't that why we have been doing this, Professor? You brought me out here because the other  professors are talking about me. They believe that I am a problem that needs to be fixed and you are here to do the job. Yes, I believe that they all judge me.”

“Do you believe that I judge you?”

Ariya loosely folded her arms over her chest. How could Ariya possibly answer that?

“It is a fair question,” Professor Cohen replied, “I may not be one of the higher, more prestigious professors but I am a professor. So, do you think that I judge you?”

“You aren’t like the others. It’s different with you.”

“I believe that you are the one that is doing all the judging, Ariya.” Professor Cohen replied in a soft yet stern tone, “You assume that every single professor in the enter institution is out gunning for you when really you are walking in class and putting a large target on your back. You set yourself up for confrontation.”

Ariya pursed her lips slightly. She just wasn’t in the mood to hear any of what Professor Cohen was trying to say to her. “So are we going to finish talk about Tempest wizards or not?”

Professor Cohen decided to go ahead and drop the subject for now.

“Well did you finish the book you were reading before?”

“Yes, I did. It just stopped. No ending, no stating how things went. It was just over. I went to see if maybe Milstein had written something else, but I didn't find anything. So now that I know what a Tempest wizard is. I don't know why you had me research it in the first place.”

Professor Cohen tossed her staff between her two hands as she turned to her lanky, pale skinned student. “Did you find out why there aren't hundreds of Tempest wizards wandering about today?”

“Something went wrong. The country’s military heads were ordering increases in the number of Tempests wizards left and right and then one day they started to be decommissioned. The training ended, the whole fighting style came to a grinding halt in the middle of the night. But no matter what book I looked at there were never any specifics on what happened. I would think with how powerful the Tempest wizards were that they would have been around for years.”

A strong gust of wind blue, making Ariya’s scarf flutter as Professor spoke,“That which is not respected is bound to be abused.”

Ariya looked at Professor Cohen quizzically as the professor uttered that statement into the air. “I am guessing that you know what happened?”

“When a person says ‘magic’ it gives the feeling that a wizard can do anything. That we operate outside the rules of the universe and wield an infinite amount of power that has no consequential strings attached to it. However, nothing can be farther from the truth. As elementalists, we don’t tell the elements to do anything. We only bend them temporarily. Milstein had a profound and deep respect for the elements he wielded. Those he worked for however did not.”

Ariya started play with the strands from her scarf,” I read that those trained in magic were no longer picking the wizard candidates. How did they know who was able to balance the two elements well and who wasn’t?”

“Balance at that time was not a big issue. The issue was, could the person do it. And if you could, could you learn to do it better, bigger, and faster than the person standing next to you. It was Varro’s trump card and the military was going to play it to the fullest. However, things went terribly wrong. Have you studied the Crimson Plague yet?”

Ariya nodded, “The Crimson Plague was first seen in a desert city in the lands of the South. A number of nomadic gypsies brought in their sick with a strange illness that they could not cure. It affected a number of similar nomadic tribes. It was traced back to their cultural uses of fire magic during rituals. The misuse of magic was making their tribesman ill.”

“Very good. Now, imagine the Crimson Plague, increase the symptoms by a hundred fold and multiply that by the number Tempest troops Varro had at the height of their fame.”

Ariya’s eyes widened as she stared at Professor Cohen, “A hundred fold?! How is that even possible? That could kill a person.”

Professor Cohen’s eyes met Ariya’s as she continued, “Soldiers talked about how the tortured screams of the wizards echoed through the hulls of the ships that carried them. Pain of the likes that none had ever been seen before. Those who did not die within hours prayed to the fates that they would die. The more reckless the wizard had been, the worse the sickness was. The Tempest wizard fleets were renamed Blood ships for the number of wizards that died on them. Those who lived were never the same, in constant pain; their contorted bodies lost the ability to use magic.  At first it was a rare case here and there. But as the numbers began to increase, it became quite obvious that Varro had made a huge mistake.”

Ariya just stared in disbelief. Was this what Milstein had been talking about in the last part of his journals? Was this the mistake he had wished to avoid? The smear that was going to stain his legacy?

“But certainly Milstein knew that could happen.”

Professor Cohen nodded, “Of course he knew. And he trained his battalion well so that none of them would succumb to the Crimson Plague. However others did not listen to him. Balance to them was not as important as power and cunning. It was nothing more than an after thought.”

Another gust of sea breeze wound its way around the Professor and Ariya. Silence fell around the two as both stared out at the ocean in front of them.

“So that is why you wanted me to find out what a Tempest was? So that I know how important the Balance is?”

Professor Cohen nodded, “No, you already know how important the Balance is to elemental magic. I want to show you why you must learn Balance first before you learn how to use your own element. Your thought of “learning your own element first and then learning how to the Balance incorporates your element with the others” is not a bad thought. There have been many who have thought just like that. How can you fully understand the Balance if you don't fully understand you own element, right?”

Ariya nodded her head at the professor.

“It is just that elements are not linear and magic isn't simple. So when your professor answer “Because you have to” it is the right answer. It is just not a very well explained right answer. Bending one element will affect the rest, even if we can't see the effects with our own eyes. Logically that doesn't make any sense of course, but you just have to know that it does. For many students, it probably wouldn’t matter which way they learned it. But for students like you, it is going to make a world of difference.”

Ariya shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “What do you mean by that?”

“I can already see it in you, Ariya Vant. You are the type of person who isn’t going to settle for what is simply in front of you. The air magic that you are going to learn within the walls of the Collegium is not going to be enough for you. Columns of air, shields of air, missiles of air, one day it is all going to become too simple. You are going to  want to push the limits even farther. You are going to want to see how far you can bend the elements to your will. You don't see magic as having walls, just hurdles that you have to climb over.”

“I don’t understand why you think that I…”

Professor Cohen chuckled.

“You are only sixteen and already you question the philosophy of the professors. Not because you think they are wrong, but because you want to know why they are right. You are hunting for answers on a higher level than the majority. You are the type of student who is going to leave this place and find there is more to elemental magic that what we are teaching you. You are going to bend rules and find that there are very few absolutes in what we do. For someone like you, learning the Balance first is absolutely essential.”

Again there was silence. The morning sun had finally come all the way up. Its pale yellow rays gently crept over the white capped waves that pounded along the sand of the coast line. The gentle breeze embraced both the professor and Ariya, buffeting the robes that they were clad in. Both stared out into the distance, gazes fixed on the climbing orange orb of the sun. The pinks were giving way to the light morning blue of the sky.

Ariya stood there, pondering what she had just heard. Her pale skin made her look statuesque amid the tall grasses of the hillside. Her tall, thin frame covered in the dark colors of her robe. Staring out at the landscape, Ariya was totally lost in her own thoughts. Would she really push the limits? Would she actually seek things that were beyond what was in front of her? It all sounded daunting and mysterious, as if Professor Cohen believed that there was something special about her. Or perhaps something beyond special.

“What do you mean bend the rules, Professor?”

Professor Cohen wagged her finger at Ariya with a large grin on her round face, “Learn the rules first, Ms. Vant. Make the Circle of Elements your foundation, learn how each coexists. Then we can talk about bending the rules of elemental magic.”

Ariya’s eyes shimmered slightly as a playful smile slowly made its way across her lips. It was the first sincere grin that she had ever seen Ariya make towards her.

“Oh c’mon, Professor. What would be the fun in that?”


                                                                                   - The End-

Daily Write - Balance on Windmill Hills - Part 4

The afternoon air was chilled and the omnious clouds in the grey-blue sky threatened rain. Ariya looked up at the sky before decided to move. Up until now, she had been sitting on one of the stone benches in the college gardens. The gardens were a beautiful place, especially during the spring and summer months. The different types of flowers and greenery, the vibrant and lush colors, the perfumed foliage light and refreshing. Ariya liked coming here to read and study. It was a more relaxing, happier atmosphere. A definite switch from the stuffy walls of the library. Today she only had one book and a small satchel where she kept her flute and music Ariya had decided that she would practice her flute today, seeing how her orchestra class was just as annoying difficult as her magic studies. The gardens seem to be the best place to hone musical talent. It breathed creativity.

Before the rain began, Ariya packed up her things and headed for a small gazebo near one of the many garden fountains. Made of jade colored marble, the fountain sat in the middle of several stone benches, like centerpiece for all to gather around. As the drops began to ping against the gazebo's roof, Ariya pulled her flute out once again and started playing her orchestra music. Her fingers slowly moved along the instrument as she studied the notes on the paper in front of her. It was another one of those difficult pieces that Professor Ickman seemed to love so much. This time, the orchestra planned to play for the Festival of Wine; a large festival held annually in the Noble Quarter of Cynosure, celebrating one of the country’s major exports. Ariya herself was quite familiar with this festival, but it would be the first time she would be there to actually do something aside from smile and watch wine tasting. She wondered what her colleagues would say if they saw her standing with her family as they marketed their vintage. That’s if they even noticed.

The drops fell a bit harder as Ariya tried to concentrate on the notes, but soon she became frustrated with the piece and gave up trying to play it.

“Why does Professor Ickman always choose these outrageous pieces of us to play? I’m sure there has to be something just as nice sounding and not so astoundingly difficult.”

Ariya sat under the gazebo, watching the rain spatter against the sidewalks. In the peaceful silence of the falling rain, Ariya took out her book and opened it to where she had left off.

I woke up this morning pretty worn out. It seems to be the only side effect from the long battle we had against the Vann-Lyse navy. They fought as hard as I had expected them to and they made all the mistakes that I had expected them to as well. It seems that the use of our water magic against theirs was almost as strong and by mixing in the air magic with it, we took them on easier than I had anticipated.

Ariya stopped for a second. Had she read that correctly? Mixing of magic? Could someone really do that?

By using air and water together, we obscured the vision of the enemy with a heavy fog. We concentrated the mist to use in the initial attack. Each team created their own storm cells, using the air around them and water of the ocean. Our projectiles were faster, sharper, and more accurate. Our attacks were better directed, more dangerous and even caused fire to break out on one of the enemy ships. Though they tried to fight against us, their mages were not able to counter me and my team and ending up retreating.

Once the fight was over, I shortly collapsed from exhaustion and found that many had done the same. While being tired is not a bad side effect, it still concerns me. I will be speaking with the rest of my group about this and hear their thoughts about our recent battle. I am also preparing a letter to send to the head of the Navy once we return to Varro.

Ariya couldn’t believe it. So this is what Professor Cohen meant by a Tempest Wizard. A person who was able to use air and water magic at the same time?! Ariya had no idea that something like that was actually possible. She had never heard of anyone attempting such a feat, much less actually succeeding at it. It took years to master just one element, but this group of people had seemed to be able to master two! And wield them simultaneously!

As Ariya continued to flip through the pages of the book, she read about battle after battle that the Varro navy had against the navy of Vann-Lyse. As the victories began to increase in number, the popularity of the Tempest wizards grew. Milstein became a commanding general over the growing number of Tempest wizards that were to be trained to accompany the soldiers on the battleships. His initial group also became commanding officers. As the years of fighting went on, the numbers of those being trained as Tempest wizards exploded exponentially.

It has been almost five years since my first battle. The soldiers they send me to train keep getting younger and younger. And it is no longer trained mages that are choosing these new trainees. They are being sent to me by military heads, heads of state affairs. Even over zealous diplomats who have no magic training or a head for magic strategy are coming to be trained as Tempest wizards. I have gone to those who have the ability to make this training more exclusive. But, my suggestions on how to do things have been rejected time and time again. Tempest wizards seem to be the only thing that sets our navy apart from everyone else’s. But how long will that last? How long before other countries see what I have done and start to do the same?  For all the good I have tried to do for the sake of protecting my home, I fear that bad things will come on the horizon.

Ariya sat in the gazebo, staring at the yellowed pages of the book on her knees. The sound of the rain spattering against the gazebo roof, the cobblestone sidewalks and the stone benches were the only sounds heard. What could Milstein have been thinking when he talked about bad things coming on the horizon? Did he mean more fighting? The fighting becoming more dangerous? The methods of his magic use becoming more dangerous? Ariya found it quite odd that Varro was letting anyone become a Tempest Wizard. Being allowed entrance into the Collegium was quite a feat. There were so many tests to take and interviews to go through. How could anyone just walk up and be allowed to train as a Tempest Wizard?

What if something happened to make it that way? The rules for magic probably weren’t always like this. I’m sure there were things that were allowed back in Milstein’s time that aren’t allowed now. Perhaps that is why I have never heard of a Tempest wizard before.

Ariya resumed reading her book. The wars raged on, and just as Milstein had feared, bad things did happen. Even for all his expertise and excellence with magic, Milstein’s suggestions, advice, and warnings were all pushed aside. If Tempest wizards could strengthen the navy, then certainly other types of hybrid battle mages could make Varro an unstoppable force. Soon Milstein was looked at as being over cautious and unable to see the big picture. He would continue on training Tempest wizards for the Varro navy, but he was never again asked to consult when it came to uses of magic in war.

The military does not believe that I am forward thinker. And I do not believe the military has thought forward enough. The majority of those in charge are those whose only wish is to grab for more and not think of the cost of what they are doing. I have tried my best to show them that they must be careful with magic. To be a Tempest or anything that uses rules similar to being a Tempest, the wielder must understand the balance of magic. I have been a Tempest for almost ten years now and even I do not call myself a master. And yet they continue to bring in the unskilled to act as commanders. I see the legacy that I am to leave behind shrouded in the darkness of things to come. I only hope that my name is remembered for the good I tried to do, the honor for which I fought, and let it always be said that I never wanted things to end the way they are going to.

Ariya’s mouth fell open slightly with shock as she flipped the next page of the book. That was the last thing that John S. Milstein wrote in this journal. While Milstein kept extensive memoirs, nothing else was ever found during his time as a commanding general for the Varro navy. He never mentioned it again in any of his writings. And his writings were quite extensive. Ariya kept flipping through the pages of the book, but all the rest was nothing but descriptions of more battles that Varro fought. There was little else mentioned about Milstein, except that his battalion of Tempests were the most successful in the entire navy. However, a woman by the name of Cameron Mosby led a battalion that was a very close second.

Ariya frowned slightly as she closed the book. Just when things were getting exciting, the entire story ended. The book went back to being a history text. Ariya stared up at the grey skies as the drops of rain fell down in fine mist that obscured objects in the distance. Ariya wondered what it was the Professor Cohen was trying to get her to see.

The Collegium teaches that we must learn each element and balance between them before focusing on our own element. Professor Cohen wants me learn about Tempest wizards, mages who wield two elements at once. I don’t see what Professor Cohen wants me to see.

Ariya sighed and crossed her legs underneath her. Nothing was coming to her. She just wasn't able to make the connection. She would have to ask Professor Cohen when they saw each other next.

Daily Write- Balance on Windmill Hills - Part 3

Ariya sat on the grassy hill, watching the windmills spin. The gentle breeze blew her powder colored hair across her fair skinned face. Pulling the strands out of her eyes, Ariya watched some of the older students off in the distance, practicing air techniques. They had more power behind their techniques and while most spells  relied on hand motions, others were done with just a subtle head turn or a single large breath. Ariya envied them. She had gotten better, but she wasn't as good as the students she was watching. Yes, they had been at the Collegium longer than her, but Ariya really didn’t care. She was never satisfied with where she was. She always wanted to be better, further along, stronger somehow. And she wasn't going to be satisfied until she was the best.

It would be some time before Professor Cohen showed up, so Ariya pulled out her book and started reading again. She had become very intrigued by this Jonathan S. Milstein and she wanted to learn as much about him as she possibly could. Born during the Wars, Milstein was like many others who served in the military as a battle wizard. He had been decorated numerous times for his abilities in strategy. It was quite obvious that he was a very powerful and very knowledgeable element wielder, even during his start in the military. But he was very soon set apart from his peers.

The Van-Lyse water wizards are more dangerous than stories give them credit. Using water for destructive magics was something that had been foreign to me until a couple of years ago. Yet the Northlanders have mastered it quite well. The Crimson Hawk met up with the rest of the Varro fleet at our rendezvous point. My group was split so that there were three of us per ship. The formations of the ships were gone over with each captain to ensure the positions of my wizards. Placement is crucial if this is to work. I am counting on the over confidence of the Van-Lyse captains to work in my favor.

Each group knows what they are to do. They have been practicing for weeks. I can only hope to the elements that my plan actually works and we will win our next encounter with the Northlanders. I do not underestimate their strength. I just don’t believe it will be strong enough to endure what they are about to face.

Ariya looked up as she felt the winds shift. Professor Cohen looked down at Ariya, a wide grin playing across her round, ruddy face.

“I see that you found the book on Milstein. I was hoping that was the one you would read first. So have you figured out what a Tempest is yet?”

Ariya shook her head, her white hair swinging gently against her shoulders, “No, not yet, but I’m guessing that Milstein was the first one.”

“Well technically he wasn't the first, but he was the first who was ever seen in a documented battle. And because of that, he will probably always be considered the best. He was known as the Varro Mastermind. A man who  became legend.”

Ariya stared up at Professor Cohen and gave her a confused look,“I don’t understand how this has anything to do with me and balance. You are telling me that Tempests are war heroes. The wars were over before my grandparents were alive. I like the information and all, but I don’t see the connection.”

Professor Cohen let a small grin play across her face and looked out at the sea.

“Once you have read more, you will understand. Unfortunately, these are one of those things that you have to figure out for yourself in order for it to mean anything.”

Ariya grimaced and groaned inwardly. That was one of the things that she hated about magic. Just about everything you had to figure out on your own. No one could just tell you and that be end of it. Professor Cohen’s grinned spread even wider as she looked at her white haired student. She could tell that this assignment had intrigued Ariya and there weren't many things that Ariya showed interest in. It was quite promising. She only hoped that her idea would work and that Ariya would finally grasp what it was that the other professors were trying to teach her.

“Well,” Professor Cohen replied, placing her walking staff on the ground, “There is no need to waste a perfectly good day on Windmill Hills. Let’s get some practice in. I heard from the two Tobias brothers that you have become quite the elementalist these past few weeks.”

Ariya stood and pulled the long strands of her hair back into a ponytail, smiling at Professor Cohen, “Those two go easy on me and then say I’m doing a good job. I’m surprised they even mention our little practice sessions at all. They are nothing really. Just something to keep us creative, keep us thinking.”

Ariya took her place next to Professor Cohen, facing towards the billowing waves of the sea. Ariya took her stance and waited for the Professor. Ariya’s technique started out with more movement and breathing, seeing how she was not yet capable of moving air with her mind. So she moved it physically and let the magic do the rest. As she got better, Ariya would be able to move air just by envisioning the movement.

“I have been told that you have become quite good with controlling one “whip” of air with each of your hands, Ariya.  Today we are going to practice how you can control  up to eight. And then once you have the hang of that, you will be able to split them into sixteen. Very good offensively and quite strong, defensively.”

Ariya turned and stared at her professor, “Sixteen whips at one time? How is that even possible?”

Professor Cohen grinned, “Take your stance and I will show you. Instead of focusing on your hands, you are going to focus the air around your feet. Think of yourself as being the center of a compass and your whips of air pointing out the directions. This takes a lot of concentration, because you not only controlling just the air that you see in front of you, but the air you can’t see behind you as well. You have to see it with your mind’s eye and feel it within yourself. For today, we will see if you can get up to four.”

Daily Write - Balance on Windmill Hills - Part 2

Ariya sat in her room, perched on the window sill. Whenever she got bored from reading her numerous texts, she would simply turn and look out the window. Collegium Arcanum was expansive, almost a city on its own merit. Places to eat, places to buy supplies, even small shops where one could buy items not associated with school. There was never a need for anyone to exit the walls of the college. Perhaps it had been built that way to keep the students focused. Or maybe it was to aid the faculty in keeping an eye on the students.

From Ariya’s window, she had a clear view of the “Fire” building. It had a more formal name, probably dedicated to a notable fire wizard. But, it had been termed the “fire” building just for ease when giving direction. Each elemental building had its own unique architecture to them and yet they all somehow resembled each other. In the setting of the afternoon sun, red and orange glows fell on the Fire building. Ariya leaned her head back against the wall and just stared aimlessly at the it. She watches as the students filed in and out of the main doors, talking and laughing amongst themselves. Probably getting in some practice before heading home or to the library.

Thinking of the library, Ariya shifted her focus to the stack of books that were sitting on her desk. She had gone and checked out just about every book she could get on her hands on that mentioned Tempest wizards. From what she had gathered from the librarian who had helped her, there weren’t many of them left. Very few had trained to be Tempests after the wars had ended. But their legends were still etched deep in history, never to be forgotten. Ariya slid from off the window sill and sat at her desk. She picked up one of the old books and opened its yellowed pages. After flipping through the first few pages, Ariya sighed and ran her fingers through her white hair. This book mainly just chronicled battles during the wars 100 years ago. No mention of tempest wizards.

Just as Ariya was about to close the book, she came across a page that looked like it was copied from a manuscript.

I am Jonathan S. Milstein, first mate to Ferdinand D. Davidson, captain of the Crimson Hawk. We sail under the flag of Varro, part of the royal fleet. We have been sent in as aid for the eminent battle against the Vann-Lyse navy. We have read reports that many of our battles at sea have gone badly. Mainly due to the fact that the North has such powerful water wizards that man their ships. This has proved crippling to Varro’s navy for quite some time. Hopefully, the Crimson Hawk will be able to evenly match the destruction magic of Vann-Lyse. Under the orders of the ruler of Varro, I have assembled several talented wizards and myself to use a new tactic during battle. If it proves successful, then Varro will definitely have a new weapon in their arsenal.

Ariya was very much intrigued now. It looked like more pages had been copied out of Milstein’s journal and put in this book, along with pictures of the Varro navy pitted against the Vann-Lyse navy.  Smoke curled from the cannons on deck as ropes were being tossed from either side to make a way for sailors to cross to the other ship to fight hand to hand. Large geysers of water were erupting from sea and lightning shot down from the ominous clouds. Ariya had never really paid attention when people talked about the wars from so long ago. But seeing these pictures made everything much more real. For some reason the name Milstein seemed to strike Ariya as familiar, but she wasn’t entirely sure why. Ariya continued to thumb through the pages of the old book late into the night.

Daily Write - Balance on Windmill Hills - Part 1

The rolling hills seemed to serve as a border between the coastline of the western seaboard and the city of Cynosure, as if protecting the city from the white capped waves that crashed the sands of the beaches. The strong ocean breeze buffeted against the hills, turning the numerous windmills that dotted the landscape. They resembled manmade wooden flowers that spun in the gusty breeze. The sun had just risen; a pale disc in the azure horizon. The clouds were thin cottony wisps, floating lazily in the early morning sky.

On the cobblestone road that led from Cynosure to the hills, traveled two women. One was much older with dark blonde hair cut in a bob, holding a dark colored walking stick. She resembled a ball with legs due to being short and quite rotund. Her cheeks were flushed and small beads of sweat were starting to form on her forehead. Her robes were white with light blue trimming. On the back of her robes was the marking of a senior air wizard of the Collegium Arcanum. Next to her was a woman who was much younger. More of a girl than woman. She was tall and lean, much like the walking stick that the first woman held in her hand. Her robes were a dark chocolate brown, a stark contrast to the robes of white. There were no markings on the younger woman’s robes. Her long white hair fell down her back like a fountain of newly fallen powdered snow, further accenting how dark her robes were.

When the two finally reached the hills, the older woman took a deep breath, pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed her damp forehead. A broad smile crossed her face as raised her arms outwards, the air catching the sleeves of her robes and waving them like ship sails.

“Can you feel that, Ariya,” the older woman said with her eyes closed, “Isn’t that the most wonderful feeling ever? Almost makes you want to be a bird, doesn’t it?”

Ariya stood next to the woman and closed her eyes as well. The strong breeze flowed over her, ruffling her robes against her body. It was a very freeing feeling. Aside from the Collegium, itself, the “Windmill Hills” was the favored spot of most air wizards to practice. Everything felt natural and serene here on most days. Ariya opened her eyes and turned to the chubby woman next to her.

“Well Professor Cohen. I’m sure that you didn’t bring me out here just to enjoy the scenery. What is it that you wish to talk to me about?”

The professor brought her arms down and rested both hands on her walking stick, planting it firmly in the ground in front of her. She slowly opened her golden yellow eyes, turning them toward Ariya.

“Some of the professors are concerned about you, Ariya," Professor Cohen started, “They say that you show a lack of interest in learning the basics of being a wizard. And yet the marks you receive during examinations prove that you are quite capable of learning how to be a very strong wizard. Especially in your air magic classes. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that you are one of my most outstanding students.”

Ariya pursed her lips and folded her arms loosely across her chest, “If I am making high marks and doing what is required of me, then what does it matter if I show interest or not? I obviously understand what is being taught in class and I’m learning how to use that material in a practice now. I don’t see why any of the professors should be concerned.”

Professor Cohen shifted the focus of her eyes back out to the ocean, watching the waves continue to crash on the shore, “You show a blatant disregard for The Balance and every professor you have ever had has struggled with you over it. It is a great concern to the Collegium when they are training a wizard who is as flippant about it as you are.”

Ariya rolled her violet hued eyes and pulled a few strands of her white hair out of her face. She knew it was going to come to this. It always came back to this. 

“I don’t feel like I’m disregarding it, per say," Ariya replied, "I just believe differently than the teachings at the Collegium. The Balance has its place. I just don’t think it is the place where the college puts it. But if I so much as breathe disagreement with the professors, then I’m some type of danger or threat or concern.”

Ariya shrugged her shoulders, “I’m done trying to explain my thought or have others try to answer my question of why my thinking is wrong. It only causes problems in the end. The Collegium wants strong students to become strong wizards and I will do just that. What does it matter if I daydream or fall asleep in class from time to time? If I receive the same marks as the student next to me, then they have to pass me, lack of interest or not.”

Professor Cohen nodded her head, her countenance falling slightly. Ariya’s head was thicker than rock. She had taken the label of deviant and delinquent and made it her personality. It was almost as if Ariya was now purposefully trying to obstinate about her beliefs about the place The Balance should have because of the all professors judging her. Professor Cohen turned to look at the pale skinned girl standing next to her. Ariya showed such potential. If put in the right situation, Professor Cohen knew that Ariya could excel. But right now, her stubbornness and obstinacy were getting in the way.
 
Ariya was causing a situation that the college wished to avoid. It was problem the Collegium Arcanium had seen before. A wizard that ignored The Balance would only cause harm and would become a danger. And that danger only increased exponentially when that wizard showed any type of talent for his or her craft. The last thing anyone from the college wanted was a rogue wizard on their hands. Professor Cohen tapped the end of her snub nose with her pointer finger several times. Ariya wanted the answer why things were taught the way they were. And answer “because they are” wasn’t going to be good enough. Not for someone like Ariya.

“Ariya, have you ever heard of a Tempest?”

Ariya shook her head, “No, I have never heard of that before. Is it a type of wizard?”

Professor Cohen’s grin returned to her face, “It is and there aren’t very many of them any more. What I want you to do is go and research them. I will give you one week and we will meet in this very spot to discuss it.”

Ariya turned and looked in the professor’s face. She was obviously up to something. Ariya could hear it her voice. It was the same tone Professor Cohen had in class when she was about to give a pop quiz. However, Ariya couldn’t figure out what the professor could possibly be planning.  Ariya nodded her agreement on this new assignment. Yes, Professor Cohen was like all the rest of the professors, but she was an air wizard. She was what Ariya aspired to be once she finished at the Collegium. So if Professor Cohen wanted her to research Tempest wizards, then that was exactly what she was going to do.

NaNoWriMo 2011 Day 1

And we're off! Okay, have to admit, I had no idea how this whole story was going to start off. Definitely not the feeling you want to have when you are about to start a 50k word work. But the moment I opened up Word and wrote the first line, the story just took off and I decided to follow it. I have no idea what the title of this story is going to be called yet. I'm hoping that will come to me when I have gotten some more of this story written.

I am actually amazed at what started tumbling out on the paper. I really had no idea all of that was in my head. Seems like I have subconsciously put together a lot of story and it didn't come out until I started typing. Things like were people lived, the look of the place they lived in, the dynamics between characters, etc. I love this part of writing, when you are discovering your characters and their world. Sometimes what I write comes as surprise me, even though I have sat down and plotted out so much. And I can't wait to have more of those moments.

So what is my story about? I guess I should at least give you that if you are reading this blog. It's fantasy, because that seems to be my love when it comes to writing. Basically it's going to be a story about a boy who is found to be somewhat of a magic prodigy. He has to leave his comfort zone and slowly excel as a mage/wizard/sorcerer/whatever I'm going to call it when I get there. I want to play around with the idea of how being the best and being leader means that you are alone. And how does one deal with being set apart, especially if it was not a voluntary choice. I want to look how Hawke (main character) interacts with others when he is beyond them, thinking 5 steps ahead of everyone else. And I want to look at how others react to him.

I also want to play around with the rules and perceptions of magic. I am hoping that this will be fun little experiment and see where it goes. I do have more plans for Hawke as he gets older. Plans that will probably not be able to fit into one book. (Because I can never plan one book. I always to have to shoot for the sagas)

So that is it for tonight. I am super sleepy. I am hoping to at least do one blog a week and keep them interesting. Until then, let's keep those noveling machines going!