send the last one way up high!

Nuke's writing blog.

[forest-maze]

EIYA

It took me seven days to open my left eye. Before that time, I could only watch what was below me, all of the darkness floating in its infinity. I began to have thoughts, and could feel my entire being spread over everything. After a bit of thinking, something called a question came to me.

What is my name?

And I gave it to myself, that name. When it began to flow through my mind, it went on and on, never ending on its own. Soon I had to stop it, but even then, it was much too long. How will I call myself to others?

Eiya.

I am Eiya. On the seventh day, I opened my left eye, and my children were born. They spread from my center, what I called my heart. I watched their lights fly off into infinity, all sizes and colors. I knew every name, all the billions of lights that came from me.

My children came to be known as the stars. I sent them to light up the worlds that existed within my void, the seven realms that had always existed in darkness. My children would put light into the eyes of those living, and infuse life into the worlds.

Though they stopped being born, my children continued to move away from me. As I watched from the absolute center of my being, the little lights from my heart only turned their backs to me, disappearing into the dark.

Much later on, I learned that this was the fate of every being blessed enough to be called Mother.

The first one to call me that was the tiniest of the lights. For a while, from me, there had been a great silence. Just as I was about to close my left eye, feeling crushed by the loneliness, that little light appeared. Gently with my great hands,

I lowered him to my heart below. In that place lived my oldest children, those who had not yet learned how to leave.

I placed the Little One with them, begging them to watch over him. Spreading my great wings over the whole realm we resided in, I breathed life into the light below me.

He is very special. Give him my name.

Just before his light went too far for me to see, he took a final look at me, which none of my children had ever done. I saw his eyes with my own, and he uttered the word - “Mother”.

I wanted to keep him. He was the first to look at me, to think of me, the first to have a heart that knew of me. I reached toward him as he looked back, but I knew I could not have him. My hand came so close, I could nearly touch him, but-

He was gone. To where, I couldn’t be sure. My view of him was blocked, though I could still feel him somewhere near. I felt an ache in the center of what could be my soul as I retracted my hands, placing them over my heart. My left eye came so close to closing, then, but I kept it open despite the strange burning. It had been only a moment with my Little One, but oh, how I wanted so many more…

Clearing my thoughts and pulling back my wings, I retreated to my own realm, trying to let the sorrow pass. I kept my eyes on the darkness where I had last seen that small light.

For so long I kept my gaze on that spot, the place where my first true happiness had left me. Existence whirled around me for ages, passing by without any fuss.

I ignored it all, my hands still over my heart.

I began to feel my first despair when the darkness would not break. And yet I continued to watch, diligently, for any sign of my Little One. Seven cycles passed by me, though I couldn’t be sure how long it truly was…

Until the day my heart broke. It came so suddenly, from somewhere above me. I felt my first pain as it split through me, shattering my being into seven shards. I watched helplessly as the pieces of my heart fell below, with the dark shape that had broken them apart. They all fell in unison and, I thought with my first fear, they were headed in the same direction as my Little One.

I could not act. Closing my left eye only a little, I let a little breath of blessing follow the shards of my heart.

Please, I begged, feeling myself slowly fade into the darkness. Please…

Save me.

[forest-maze]

Mythras

The fire in his green eyes faded away so suddenly. I saw my father raise his arm, and it was all over. That's how he will always remember it, with nothing in between my father's action and his eternal punishment.

Strayer, the king of Scarlets…

“Tell me about him some more, about the color of his skin.” Her voice was light and airy as usual, her bicolor eyes shining up at me. “Tell me about Strayer.”

“Lucia,” I started, looking at her, but couldn't finish. Her beauty always struck me as it did on the day we met. “I've just about talked him back to life.”

She laughed, her eyes closing. “You're so funny! You liked him though, right? I want to hear it.”

I leaned back against the ornate couch we were perched on, glancing out the high window. It was a quiet day as it usually was. My new Queen and I were able to spend our days relaxing, enjoying each others' company. It usually kept the weights off my heart, until Lucia brought them crashing back down.

Tell me about Strayer.

It bothered me only a little.

He stayed in the dungeon for nearly a month before my father could store the power to kill them all. His fellow Scarlets were rounded up in the hundreds, and kept wherever they could be watched. Chained, beaten, maimed, I later learned.

Strayer, however, was kept alone. Very alone. He remained in solitary confinement at the deepest cell of the palace, and all were forbidden to interact with him. His mandatory food and drink were dropped unceremoniously from the ceiling.

I always liked him. I saw him at the gate of my kingdom that dark morning, and I liked the look in his eyes. Being a mischievous little thing at that age, I naturally snuck down into the dungeon to find him.

“Hello.” I gripped the bars and stared in at him.

Silence, but his eyes seemed to glow in the dark as they watched me.

“If I let you out, will you hurt me?”

Slowly, he shook his head.

I couldn't keep him out too often, but we made a wonderful game of it. For a couple of weeks we managed to sneak around the palace undetected, climbing the pillars and perching behind statues. We tried to hush our laughter, though it still echoed throughout the hallways.

I let him touch my hair.

“It's always in your face.” He said from behind me as I sat with him in his cell one day. “Lemme fix it.”

He braided it. He put my hair into two braids, and tied them up into loops. When I saw it later, I thought it looked beautiful.

My mother was the first to notice. “Your hair looks very nice, Mythras.” She smiled very knowingly. “You seem so happy lately.” I was certain she knew of my antics, but saw them as harmless.

I probably went mad the day he was taken. I clung to my father's leg, shrieking and begging for him to not take Strayer away. I frantically confessed that I had gotten to know him, I had been letting him out of the cell. I always very solemnly recount to Lucia that I will never forget yelling, over a sudden silence, “Kill me instead!”

Lucia loved to dance. She always pulled me through the hallways, spinning in circles and laughing, begging me to spin along with her. For so long, I would. I kept hold of her hand and spun her around, smiling and feeling full of the sky.

Our wings of light phased through each other over and over, bursting into rainbow sparkles each time. The light from the windows caught in our dissipated wings was one of my favorite things to see.

But one day, I felt odd. Lucia pulled me down the hallway toward our room rather urgently.

“I need to show you something amazing,” she chirped.

I sensed something in the room as we entered it. Off in the corner, where I rarely looked. The feeling stopped my feet, and even Lucia couldn't move me.

She stopped, too. “...What's wrong?” Her pink cheeks complimented her cascading white hair so well. In the dim light of the room, it shone one color, rather than all of them.

“I don't feel well.” I said suddenly, stepping backwards. “I feel sick.”

“No, please,” she clung to my hand. “I felt that way too. He's strong. You get used to it. Please come see him.”

Her words swam in my head like a turning bowl of stagnant water. He? Who? Is someone in our room? I felt myself moving, but everything had gone dark.

“His name is Asher.” I heard her say. “He appeared to me today. That's why I was in the room. Look, Mythras, it's our son! The Light finally granted us our son...”

I could barely see him through the haze that plagued me. I saw eyes just like his mother's – one blue, one green. His hair was short, but shone in every color.

Just like hers.

“Can you feel that power? It's radiating from him.”

My head gave me very sudden images of my father. My father as he loomed over me, his hands glowing with red light that reflected on his enraged face. I heard him say my name, but he spoke in Lucia's voice. I felt the sickness in my stomach from the sheer amount of energy. I recalled memories of laying in bed for days, writhing and ill, near death.

Light poisoning, in my mother's voice.

“You wanted me to kill you.” Finally, the sound of my father. “Perhaps now I will.

Go be with your Scarlet.”

You two were good friends, huh? Lucia.

I didn't feel my hand strike out, nor the blade of light pouring from it, aimed at that corner. I heard a voice, though I could not tell whose. The words were muddled, but drowned in sorrow.

Kill me instead.

She lay on the floor, her wings flashing weakly. Her eyes stared up at me, nearly blank.

Our son cried from his small cradle. The room had become entirely dark aside from the faint glow of that infant.

“Don't be angry with him.” Lucia breathed, trying to turn her body back toward the child. “He didn't mean it.”

I started to shake as my mind came to a stop. Everything within me froze. Perhaps even my heart stopped beating. I hadn't the energy to speak or cry.

I could never look at him without pain. He grew, always looking up at me with her eyes. He spoke to me in a soft voice with the timbre of hers, always asking,

“Did I do something wrong?”

I finally shut him away one day. The library seemed to be the best choice – it had always been her favorite room and thus, had been locked and abandoned for years. He could stay there, kept out of my sight, out of my mind. I would never have to feel my stomach fill with aching, feel my head whirling, my eyes rolling back. I never had to hear his voice again.

And yet, as my days passed, I sat at my throne thinking of him. My young knights on either side of me stood at attention, not noticing my wandering gaze. I thought not only of his eyes peering up at me, but of…

Your Scarlet.

It hurt to think of him. I started feeling anger every time. I wouldn't think of him at all if it hadn't been for Lucia's incessant pleading for the stories. Her eyes begged to hear of him.

What was so great about a Scarlet?

I gritted my teeth and tapped the sheath of my sword loudly on the marble floor. Kleitos and Melaina both jumped, turning their heads to me in worry.

“Your Majesty?” Kleitos whined as he always did.

“Nothing.” I exhaled, feeling every bit of light leave my chest. “I hope you two are keeping up on your training.”

“Yes, sir!” Melaina chimed. “Kleitos is even improving. We're fit to battle for you.”

“Good.” I closed my eyes and tried to clear my head. Instead, it filled with images of swirling sand, a sinking castle, and endless cries of agony. “If our enemies come here, we should… be ready for them.”

“Yes, sir, the Scarlets.” Kleitos parroted the tone I always used when speaking the word. “We'll destroy whatever happens to be left of them.”

I smiled at the thought. All of them truly gone… It would be a blessing. I would never have to see his eyes, hear his voice, have him plague my thoughts…

Out of sight, out of mind, I began to say.

[forest-maze]

Strayer

My world is broken. I watched it all fall apart in front of me.

I grew up wanting change. From the moment I realized I lived alone on the streets, I wanted everything to be different. When I was little, no one listened to me. Sometimes they'd throw me food scraps, which were rare on their own, or sometimes someone would carry me. We were on the move so often, none of us really had shelter.

Everywhere we went, the world died. Anywhere we placed our feet, in the vast Scarlet territory, the grass wilted and rivers dried within weeks. The sick and dead had to be left behind.

But I kept on. I survived and stayed strong for years. I got to the age where people stopped giving me handouts, and I found ways to get my own food. I returned the kindness so many had brought to me over the years. “Please don't lose hope,” I told them. “Things will change.”

I became more than the stray boy hiding in the shadows. Just walking by people, they would reach for my hand and thank me. If I asked for what, they would say “Everything. The hope you bring us. The light in your eyes.”

I finally had a bit of power behind my desire for change. I tried to convince my people that we were not killing the land. I told them not to despair. The world seemed sick, but we were not the virus.

“That's not what the king thinks.” A young woman said to me in response to my new common catchphrase one day. “I've been to that white city. I've heard his preaching. He calls us green-eyed demons that poison our world. Can't you see how they're killing it?” She put her hands out in a mocking fashion, her eyes flashing with rage.

Of course I'd heard. Many of us tried to travel to the Prism kingdom, begging the man who called himself our king for some kind of aid… But none of us were ever allowed inside the city walls.

“Maybe if we all went together.” I met her eyes without trying to look down on her.

Her hair unkempt and her once bright clothes torn, her face wore the rage we all held within us. Some of us had kept our flames burning for so long, they were nearly running out of fuel.

“Fire does not have to harm.” I turned to the gathering behind me, which had grown a bit since I last looked. “If the Prisms will not respect us, maybe we should make them. We should show them that the flames that come from our bodies are as necessary to the planet as any other element!”

Weak from our turmoil, the people simply murmured in agreement.

- - -

Within days we found ourselves marching to the east, toward the white castle town of the Prisms. The beings of light, holed up in their enormous city, were very secretive. Visitors were allowed very rarely, and they were shuffled immediately to the palace for whatever business they'd come for. Despite them having dominion over the beautiful light of the world, there was a darkness in the palace spires…

Our large presence must have frightened them. Within moments the king himself had descended to the gates.

I found myself face to face with him.

...Or rather, face to chin. I needed to take a step back and crane my neck to meet his eyes.

“Scarlet.” He spoke with a snarl, his pale yellow eyes glaring down at me. His hair was blue like the sky and long, pulled into several ornamented ponytails. “You dare threaten us?”

My heart skipped. “No, sir, no threats.” I strained to not put up my hands by reflex – don't look dangerous, I thought. Still, I felt blue sparks tickling my fingertips. “Please.” Despite my confidence when speaking to my own people, my voice quivered in the great presence of the king. “My people ask only for help. Drought plagues our land. We cannot survive there any longer. Please reconsider your restrictions...”

“Silence.” He said it sternly, not raising his voice, but I was certainly silenced.

“The restrictions of territory were not put in place by me, fool, but by the gods themselves. You defy the source of your own flames?” His eyes left mine for a brief second to examine my hands. “...Blue.” He said simply.

I hid my hands behind my back quickly. “It's… um,” I felt my composure slipping rapidly. “A nervous habit. My flames. I mean no harm, I-”

A commotion behind the king made me trail off, and a youth suddenly appeared beside the king, roughly shoving him. His long, dark blue hair whirled about him, untamed.

“Father!” The boy shouted, his golden eyes irritated with tears. This was the oft-mentioned prince Mythras, I thought to myself. He looked much like a darker version of his father, though they shared their pale skin.

“How dare you leave the palace.” Again, stern and stable.

“Please listen to them! Look at him!” Mythras turned to me and met my eyes – we were about the same height. “He's scared for his people. He's hungry. We've never had anyone as thin as him in our city!”

The king heard his son's ranting, but didn't seem to be listening. “You two would get along.” He said finally, looking at us both. I smiled a little at the caring prince, and he gave me a weak smile back. I wondered for a moment if he'd had a childhood like mine, full of mischief despite misery.

“Disappointments and rebels.” The king lifted his hand.

All the terror welling up in me finally burst and I jumped back, shielding myself with my hands and tufts of blue flames.

But nothing came.

“You see how quick he is to use his fire?” The king's voice finally raised and boomed. He was addressing my frightened, exhausted people, as well as the crowd of his own behind him. “At the slightest threat he uses his blue demon flames against me. How is fire of that color benevolent?!”

I only stuttered a response, my head whirling as I tried to quiet my hands. Somewhere in there was a mumbled apology.

“Strayer is our king!” Came a voice from behind me somewhere. “He protects us and cares for us, when you will not!”

“I am the only king!” His son clinging to his cloak, the hulking figure lurched forward. “First you poison our world with your ungodly heat, and now you have false idols?!”

A riot seemed to erupt. All of a sudden my people were chanting my adapted name, calling me their only true king, and their leader. I could barely see straight. I only half noticed when prince Mythras stepped between his father and I. “Please, father, don't hurt them,” he pleaded to deaf ears.

“If only you could have lived long enough to kill all of your land and yourselves.” His voice returned to the calm level as he closed his eyes. “Unfortunately, Scarlets have a terrible habit of staying alive.” Gritting his teeth he looked at us all again. I knew he saw us only as a mob, a hivemind knowing only hate and rage. He couldn't see the sorrow and suffering behind any of it – only the end result. “No,  you rats,” shaking his head, he continued, “Your so-called king's hubris shall be your demise.”

The last thing I saw was his hand being raised, and a whirl of Mythras' hair.

Everything else was sound.

It all started with a roar. It took me a moment to realize that it was in fact dozens, maybe hundreds of voices all crying out. I felt the ground beneath me move despite my stolen vision.

“Hear your people, rat with watery fire.” The king's voice again. “Hear them scream their hate for you, as you've killed them.”

Everything sank beneath the sand. I couldn't see, but I felt. Somehow, all at once, we were back in our territory, our ruined home. People scrambled for their lives, but the earth swallowed them.

I realized then that I was seeing it all in my head – in my mind's eye.

I saw the terror on their faces as they were pulled under, sand pouring into what seemed like an endless hole, perhaps to the center of the earth.

I let myself fall with them. The last thing I heard was my name, screamed by a young prince's cracking, terrified voice.

- - -

Watery fire were the first words to go through my mind when I awoke.

I was alone. The room was dark, with small torches faintly lighting around me. It was large, with rows of columns on either side of me. It looked like a palace hall, but where…?

Oh, god.

I recognized it. I knew where I was. I had been in this very room before, over a decade ago. In this room I had sat happily with the last people to feed me. We were all sharing what little food we had, and we were joined in a circle, laughing and talking…

It was our palace. The Hall of Flame, the Scarlet place of worship and joining.

So long ago now we would gather here, enjoying company and fun in spite of everything.

The earth was still alive, then.

Now it was abandoned and cold, but the torches--

I scrambled to my feet, struggling with oddly heavy clothing. Rushing to where I thought a window should be, I saw only a dark impression. No windows…?

Enjoy your prison.

I knew the voice. That awful king, of course. But I didn't quite hear it, it was-

This is the last time you will hear me speak, and it is only to your wretched mind. This is where you belong. In your fallen temple of demons, beneath the sand that was once healthy earth. This will be your prison and your grave, Scarlet.

I shouted into the darkness, whirling around, trying to find the source of the voice. Maybe it really was in my mind…

But you will never die. Not while you reside here. Not until there is, say, another like you. With your fire of water. Or water of fire, whichever you seem to wield. You will see everything, and they must see nothing. Not until then will you be allowed free of your new hell, and be allowed to perish.

See everything?

I regretted asking as soon as I did.

My people were dead, and I saw it. I watched them sucked down into the sand, over and over. I started to recognize faces. I saw the defiant girl who told me of the king's viciousness. I watched the light fade from her eyes as she disappeared beneath burning hot waves.

I had killed them all.

- - -

How long had it been?

I paraded my palace, running my hands along the sandstone walls, humming to myself.

The images didn't really bother me anymore. It had been long enough, I could push them out. Who cares, right? I'd ask myself, laughing as I kicked at a loose stone.

“Finally, something interesting!” I called out one day, my blank eyes staring at the ceiling. A boy with green eyes. “Beautiful eyes, kid!” I yelled to him, up through the miles of sand above me. I hoped he could hear me.

I could see them again. I smiled. Little ones with fires burning in them. Their golden and green eyes shone through any darkness.

Maybe only a few, but they were there.

“You're alive.” I'd spent my infinite years laughing at nothing, but finally, there was something to truly smile about. “I can see you. All of you. You're all alive and breathing with fire, right?”

Well, just the one.

I laughed again.

“I hope one of you has blue flames!” I spun in circles, admiring my clothes for the millionth time. A beautiful red coat, fine jewelry on my head and around my neck. “He gave me the clothes of a real king, how nice of him, right!?” Though I'd been living in them forever by now, they still dazzled me.

Grinning up at the ceiling again, I closed my eyes and saw the beautiful children of my dreams. It really was true – the world can't exist without balance.

You can't simply kill a Scarlet, I told myself for so long. And certainly, you can't simply kill them all at once.

“As long as I live, We do.” I sat down roughly in the middle of the room, my eyes still closed, staring at the ceiling. “I hope I can meet you all someday.”

Sighing, I opened my eyes.

“...I'm sick of this place.”

[forest-maze]

Melaina

The King had suspected for quite a while that my brother was getting too attached to that boy, but he never said anything until it was too late. It wasn’t my place, but I had brought it up a few times. They were always together, doing who knows what in that library. I heard them sometimes, reading, I think.

One day, Kleitos had yet to report to his post after being summoned. It had become a common thing, which the King had so graciously let slide more than enough times. I could hear him tapping the tip of his sword’s sheath impatiently upon the chamber floor. His legs were crossed in his throne, a sure sign of his annoyance.

“Melaina. Go fetch my knight, would you?” His voice was dull and lacked its usual power.

“Of course, Your Highness.” I bowed and made my way down the stairs quickly, taking a sharp left turn to the south hallway.

That Kleitos, I thought to myself. Ever since we were young he always allowed his head to get lost in the clouds. He had this dreamy look about him, as if he didn’t care about this important position we held. We’re the King’s right-hand knights, I’d tell him! He shows no respect for his position, speaks out of turn, and even uses a casual tone with His Majesty Mythras. Even more infuriating, the King sometimes returns the tone…

Gossip goes around about yours truly being favored by our ruler. Some even say things suggesting I may be a candidate for the new Queen someday! Oh of course, it’s flattering, but I can’t help but notice the King’s favoritism toward my brother. He gives him a certain look, like our white elks will eye a particularly delicious patch of grass. It makes me uncomfortable, though I can’t quite put my finger on how.

I shook myself into my usual stature as I reached the library door, and leaned my shoulder against it lightly. “Kleitos, can you hear me? Could you possibly tear yourself away from a prisoner to obey direct orders from His Highness? Your antics are getting old.”

I waited.

“Are you serious, brother?” Pushing against the door, I was surprised to feel it give way immediately; it was open.

I stood up straight again and gazed into the library. Normally, Kleitos and that boy - I think he named him Procne? - were sitting somewhere near the middle, reading. Even if they couldn’t be seen, they could usually be heard somewhere close by.

After a second of silence, I concluded that the library was empty. Well, it wasn’t quite a conclusion. More like a start.

My pounding feet were the only sound down the quiet halls as I returned to the King’s chamber in a flurry. I slammed my hands against the large door and it swung open, smashing against the wall behind it.

“Your Majesty!” I shouted, my voice full of uncharacteristic panic. I hated letting my guard down like that.

“Melaina?” He turned to me, a bored look on his face, his legs still crossed.

“What is it?”

“Kleitos and the prisoner are gone!”

When I found Kleitos, he didn’t look as guilty as I’d wanted him to. In fact, he was almost smiling. His wings were gone from the great amount of magic he had consumed, creating a barrier for that boy before sending him down to the world below. He was looking at me calmly, his back to the dangerous edge of our kingdom.

I was stunned. I wanted to hit him, but I couldn’t move. A chill settled into my chest as I ran over the gravity of the situation in my head.

Kleitos had defied our King. He took a prisoner, who he was supposed to be watching only temporarily, and bonded with him. He gave the boy a name, taught him to read, allowed the tailor to give him new clothes. And now, on the day of the boy’s planned public execution, he smuggled him out of the palace.

Not only that, but he helped him flee to the lower world.

I can’t believe you, I wanted to say. I stared, struck completely dumb, at his almost confident face. This betrayal was the worst I had ever seen, and it shamed me to share a bloodline with the perpetrator.

Neither of us said anything for quite a while, but I started to slowly shake my head.

That made Kleitos frown.

“You’re a fool,” I muttered, my voice hoarse. “You’re a disgusting fool, Kleitos. What have you done? How dare you turn your back on our King and our world?”

He started to say my name, but I stopped him.

“Mythras will kill you.” I would never say the King’s name without a title before it, but it slipped out of me. The four words brought a wonderful comfort to me, easing the cold that had settled in my heart. “He’ll kill you,” I repeated, and found myself smiling. It horrified me that anyone could commit such a terrible act such as treason, especially my own brother.

Oh, but what a comfort it was to know that justice would be served. It didn’t matter that the prisoner got away, I thought comfortably. The King will get the blood he wants. The people will cheer, and everyone will feel better. The boy’s as good as dead, down in that dark world. Considering no one had ever come back from it, it was hailed as an evil and ugly place, void of life. Our world was the only one, now, and our King was the only reason for our continued survival.

Kleitos and I were silent, with each other for only another moment before the guards came. I watched them apprehend my former brother and, though he went quietly, he tried to look back at me.

His golden eyes looked full of fear and despair, but I couldn’t stop smiling.

[forest-maze]

Procne

I read about a beautiful woman who turned into a bird and fled from someone who wanted to hurt her. It was the first thing that Kleitos let me read, after he spent so much time teaching me the letters and how they work together to make words. We read the story together, with me stumbling over the words, but with him encouraging me. It was so much fun. I couldn’t believe that language could be put on paper like that…

After that day, he started calling me by the name from the story. Procne, the one who prayed to the gods and became a bird. When I got the name, I started praying every day. I didn’t know what to pray to, I didn’t know anything about gods, much less their names, but I still prayed. I sat on top of the tallest bookshelf in the library, as close to the window as I could. I sat and I prayed, please, whoever is out there, please turn me into a bird. Turn me into a bird called a swallow, whatever that may be, and let me fly out this window away from this place.

After a couple nights, my desperate words changed. I started praying for Kleitos, too. Please, whoever is listening, turn me into a swallow, and my friend Kleitos into a nightingale. We both want to fly away from this place, far off into the sky, far away from anyone that would hurt us…

We didn’t become birds in time.

Kleitos ran into the library that day, his hair disheveled, with panic in his eyes. I’ll never forget how he stared down at me with that golden gaze and said, so solemnly, “You need to run.”

I had been running all my life. For as long as I could remember, the men in armor were after me. When they caught me, I thought my life was at its end, but

Kleitos became my angel. He convinced the king to spare my life for just a little longer. It was long enough for him to teach me to read, to give me a name, and to make me believe that everything would be okay. I didn’t even know what I had done wrong.

My feet had grown sensitive again after spending so long locked in the library. It hurt to run as fast as I could beside Kleitos, down the great white hallway, toward some place I couldn’t know.

I hadn’t been outside in so long that it was a shock to me. Everything was a blur and I could barely hear what he was saying to me, but I felt Kleitos shove me toward the cliffs I knew no one was supposed to approach. They dropped off into darkness, as dark as the sky always was. There was a story about a woman who fell off the cliffs once, and no one ever saw her again. The king blamed it on her pride in the rare color of her hair, and claimed it was a sort of divine punishment, but no one really knows for sure.

Kleitos’ wings disappeared in a flash of light, and I was suddenly trapped. A sphere of light surrounded me, and when I put my hands up to it, it felt solid. His eyes looked sad and terrified at the same time as he put his hands up. “You need to learn to fly, okay?”

It was the last thing I heard before a powerful rush hit me, and everything went dark.

- - -

I woke up to the most wonderful sound. It sounded like the birds I heard out the window of the library sometimes, but different. There were so many different voices chirping and singing.

It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the strange light. Wherever I was, it was nothing like my home kingdom. The sky was bright, with a harsh heat beaming down on me.

The fact that I was covered in strange birds was an afterthought, but a startling one.

I jumped and yelled, and they all flew away in a rainbow flourish. I watched the strange sky long after they had all gone.

“Oh my gosh, it’s an angel!!”

I looked over at the source of the shrill voice. There was a boy about my age, I’d say, in clothes much more tattered than mine, which I didn’t think was possible.

He ran over to me and kneeled down, almost sliding into me. His face was almost touching mine. “Are you an angel? Did you fall from the sky? There were birds all over you. You must be an angel.”

That was the first time I heard the word. Angel. I learned the meaning much later, along with realizing that Kleitos was mine. But at that moment, I accepted it as just a nice-sounding compliment. “Maybe.” I tried to smile, but my body ached all over.

“I know!” He sprang up and brought me to his feet with him, sending my head spinning. “You must be my guardian angel. I’m sure of it. Look at your wings!”

Only then did I notice that he didn’t have wings. It was the strangest thing I’d ever seen, someone without wings.

“Um, I’m Procne.” I steadied myself on my shaking feet and winced from the harsh sky light. That was going to take some getting used to.

“I’m Tylari!” The boy slammed his fist against his chest proudly. “And you’re my angel, Procne! I know it! So we’re gonna be best friends now, okay? Come on!” He grabbed my hand and started tugging me, and I had no choice but to follow him. “I promise, we’re gonna have a lot of fun!”

I noticed that we were on the outskirts of a forest, where all of the bird songs were coming from. As we ran along the edge of the trees, I kept my eyes up, watching the small winged creatures dart and dive above us. I could only see their undersides, which looked dark from the huge sky light, but one in particular stood out. It dove at our heads, its wings held close to its body, which ended in a long tail that was split in two. It looked so beautiful.

Tylari didn’t seem bothered by it, so I kept running after him. He had been talking the whole time, but I couldn’t catch any of the words. Suddenly he turned his head back to me with a wide grin on his face, and all I heard was the word again -

“Angel!”

[forest-maze]

Kleitos

I feel honored to hold this position. No, much more than that. I feel very honored. No, that's not quite right either... Oh, I'm so bad with words!      

Several years ago, I was appointed as a knight in this palace. That, in itself, was a supreme honor. Of course I had been training all my life for such a thing, but I was still rather surprised. I didn't see myself as very worthy. Surely, there were others much better suited to be a high knight, yes?      

But there I was. People  began to spread rumors about me almost immediately. They said that I had only gotten the job because of my sister... Which, honestly, I think is completely true.      

My sister, the sorceress. The Opal Sorceress. She even has a title! So favored by the king and everyone in the palace - so beautiful and perfect. To be honest, I find her to be quite cold. Though I'm older than her, I never got a bit of respect from her. Her bossy nature led to plenty of "Kleitos, do this for me", and "Kleitos, can you handle this? I'm busy." But I would obey, nodding my head, afraid to even attempt any sort of rebellion. With her light pastel dress and matching teal hair and eyes, my dear sister Melaina probably has the least threatening appearance of anyone in the kingdom, but only the severely foolish would try to cross her.      

I probably should not try my luck, writing these things about her. If she were to read this, I would never be heard from again.      

Despite her bad mood, my sister and I make quite the team. The king himself told me that he chose us together because of that. I'm not very confident in my fighting skills, but I suppose I had to agree with him. Thank you, Your Majesty.      

My fellow knights have sort of a running joke among them. They say that I was also put to my position because of my appearance... They say I look very much like the king. Though my hair is much more of a turquoise than the king's sapphire locks, and we only share our golden eye color. My friends often say that I could be the next king, though I try to keep them quiet. Of course I couldn't be a king, I'm not even a prince!      

Melaina may secretly aspire to be Queen, though. She seems to spend a lot of time around--      

"Kleitos!"      

I jumped and dropped my pen, ink scattering across the pages of my journal.

"Um, y-yes?" I tried to stuff it away quickly into my desk, before the door opened.      

"What are you doing in here? The king has been looking for you for over two minutes!"      

I stood, facing my sister rigidly. "Yes, of course. I'm very sorry to have kept him waiting. I'll go immedi-"      

"Well, hurry yourself already!" Melaina turned on her heels and marched out to the hall.      

I followed quickly, scrambling beside her. I almost apologized again, but her stern expression urged me to stay silent.      

When we entered the spacious throne room, we were greeted by a single nod from His Majesty. We took our places on either side of his throne and stood stiffly. Aside from us, the room was empty. The whole room was gilded - everything from the ceiling to the floor tiles shone a magnificent gold. It was uncommon for the room to be so empty. Usually, a large crowd of people helped ease the brightness.      

I rolled my shoulders and closed my eyes, focusing on my wings. I sometimes forget that they exist. They were only made out of light, after all, even if they appeared to belong to a large, turquoise bird. I took a breath and they burst into two clouds of sparkles which, after hovering for a moment, came back together in my left hand in the form of a large claymore.      

Melaina did the same, though her weapon of choice was a rapier. Both our weapons shone in every color of the rainbow, much like white opals. Mel's favorite gemstone, of course. The golden light of the room caught in the transparency of the weapons, refracting around the three of us like an aura.       The main doors flew open. The usual crowd of armored knights marched in, though something was different this time. In the middle of the knights was a child.      

"Your Majesty." The knights all boomed in unison, before an individual spoke,

"We have brought him."      

The king tilted his head slightly upward. "Let me see him."      

After a bit of shoving and complaining, a young boy emerged from the group and fell to his knees. He did not try to get up. I saw that he was wearing ragged dark gray robes, and his feet were bare. His hair was also colorless and dark, and looked very unkempt. He had wings, though they looked a bit more solid than all the others', and were a light lavender.      

"Hm, alright." The king folded his hands, his golden eyes locked on the boy. "He looks like nothing more than a street rat. Keep him in the south wing." He waved his hand, as if to sweep the boy out of his sight.      

I swallowed. The south wing was my patrol area. I could hear Melaina snickering from the other side of the throne.      

"You certainly do not mind looking after the street rat for me, do you, Kleitos?" The king, his hands folded under his chin, looked up at me with the smallest bit of interest. "It will only be for a short while. I've scheduled to have him dealt with once the moon is out of view."      

I nodded shakily, and bowed my head. "Y-yes sir, of course. I will... make sure he does not get into trouble." My heart pounded in my chest. Had the king really spoken to me so casually?      

"Yes, thank you. Off with you both then, Kleitos, Melaina." He waved his hand again, we thanked him, and descended the small staircase.      

Melaina continued at her usual pace, but I had gained the young boy's company on my way. By the time we reached the entrance of the throne room, she was gone. I was still shaken, so acting stoic was hard, but I tried. I gripped the boy's sleeve with my right hand.      

"You still need that sword out?" He asked suddenly.      

I huffed and sent the blade away, the light bursting into countless small diamonds and reforming into the wings on my back. "Is your tongue always that sharp?"      

"S-sorry!" He recoiled, as if I were about to hit him.      

I felt a bit bad, but didn't dare show it.      

We had reached the south wing. It was a wide and long hallway, the walls a pearly white, trimmed in gold. Rooms were scarce, as there were only a few doors besides the entrances on each end.      

I shut the gate-like doors behind us, and released him. "Well, here we are. Your new home. Don't get into trouble."      

I had expected him to run off like the wild child he appeared to be, but he suddenly latched himself onto my leg instead. "Don't leave me alone."      

I sighed. This was turning out to be quite a mess. But I was ordered to watch him, and all orders must be obeyed. "I won't." I absently stared at the walls for a moment before speaking again. "So, do you have a name?"      

"No. Do you?"      

"Yeah, I'm Kleitos. Nice to meet you, kid." I patted him on the head and started to walk. Luckily my leg was released, but I found my hand trapped within seconds.      

"I won't be any trouble. I promise. They say I'm gonna die, anyways." He shocked me with the casual way he spoke. Death, especially for a young child, isn't usually something to be taken lightly.      

I already felt quite a bit of sympathy for him. Years ago, when I was about his age, I was taken in by the castle. My whole family, besides Melaina of course, had died. We were alone, but our father, who had been a knight, told us to go to the palace if we ever needed help. The king agreed to take us in, but only if we agreed to be trained as warriors. The way King Mythras had spoken of this child, I had figured he was some sort of thief or troublemaker. He  seemed to be anything but. His eyes were a very soft medium blue, without a fleck of malice.

His gaze was almost always aimed downward. I hadn't seen him look anyone in the eye.      

"So, no name, huh?" I returned the pressure to his hand. "Well, the library is in this wing. Why don't we go read some books, and find you a name?"      

"Books? You really have books here?" His eyes lit up with amazement for only a moment, before fading again. "But I can't read..."      

"It's alright." I started walking, leading him along. "I'll read to you, and find you a name that you'll like. I promise."      

He shuffled beside me silently for most of the walk, before he spoke again. "But I'm just going to die, aren't I?"      

"...We'll see."

[forest-maze]

Eldin

Her small, bright eyes stared up at me the way none had before. With her uniform torn and dirty, cuts and scrapes checkering her olive skin, I knew she'd just been in another fight. She wasn't pleased with being put in this class to deal with her behavioral issues, but I could tell she had a good heart. To ease her rebellious pout, I placed my hand on her tiny shoulder.

“Don't worry,” I smiled as sweetly as I could. “I promise it will be fun.”

Though she struggled at first to lift the training staff I'd given her, within a week she could swing it at me with confidence. Her strikes were, of course, undignified and without form of any kind. She scowled when I corrected her, and would even throw the staff to the ground in frustration.

But I kept with her. I gave her enough chances to prove herself, and soon, she wanted to improve. She started bounding to the training field after her classes were done, her uniform jacket already over her shoulder. Though it was a slow process, it wasn't impossible – she learned differently, and I wanted to be the first person to show her that.

After several months of her training, I saw the fire in her eyes shift. It became focused instead of wild, and her movements gained a bit of grace. When her brother joined us on the field for his own instruction, her actions always overpowered his.

“Maria, Gale-!” I called to them one day, seeing the later fall to the ground with a whine. “Work with each other, not against each other! You're not actually trying to kill him, Maria.”

She huffed and whirled the (new, heavier) staff above her head. “Not my fault he's slower than me. All he does is move backwards.”

I noticed Gale's defeated gaze and helped him to his feet. “You're both very talented, but in different ways. Maria, does your brother not learn more quickly in academics than you?”

Her cheeks puffed out in disdain.

“Try to focus, Maria. Don't let the fact that he's your brother throw off your balance.” We shared a nod, and I turned to Gale. “And while defense is good, always look for an opening in which to strike.”

He whimpered again, wiping dust from his now wrinkled pant leg. “I can try.”

The training field was empty the day that he left the city. It had been years since I'd started seeing them both, but all of a sudden, it was over.

On the third day Maria skipped practice, I visited her. She had gotten through all of her primary classes, but had decided not to attend the University. I was glad she continued to accept my instruction, but absences were rare.

“She's barely left her room,” her frantically worried mother followed me up the staircase, whispering. “We're all just so worried about him. He didn't say anything about leaving...”

Gently, I knocked on the door. “...Maria? Would you want to talk?”

A pause, but the door opened. I was the only one let inside.

She returned to her bed and pulled her knees against her chest. Seeing her in only a plain shirt and short slacks was so different from her normal, extravagant style. Her black hair was unkempt, and her shadowed eyes peered at me with the weight of a thousand worlds.

“Do you know where he's gone?”

She stared and took a long breath, and as she let it out, “The city.”

“How did he act before he left?”

“It's his stupid friend's fault.” She bit her lip and huddled more into herself.

“That stupid guy with the white hair. He said all those weird things then left, and now Gale's gone after him.”

Oh, the Levia from the north--

“And what will you do about it?” I leaned against the door frame, glancing around her room. Simple, but a mess. “Are you just going to let him disappear?”

She stared as I walked up to her.

My hand lowered to her trembling shoulder. “People have tried to control you for your whole life.  But I think it's time for you to break your leash.”

“...From who?”

I removed my hand. “From all of us.”

She released her legs and threw them over the side of the bed.

“It's called The Queen Mary.” I lifted the weapon out of its case and unceremoniously handed it to her. “It's said the original Viole Amethyst is at its very center, but I guess no one will ever know that.

She cradled it in her hands nervously, looking from end to end in near awe.

The weapon was much like a glaive, but with another blade on the opposite end. Maria's people called it a “swallow”, after the split tail of the bird.

“I think you can put it to good use. Gale stole the Magicantus before he left.”

Her hands immediately gripped the weapon's handle. “What!?” Her voice cracked and she barred her teeth. “I'll kick his ass for that! Doesn't he know how important that thing is!?”

I just smiled. “It's alright. I'll make this an assignment. Can you get the Magicantus back for me? Your weapon isn't nearly as impressive without its sister beside it in the case.”

Stepping back, Maria closed her eyes and spun her blade over her head, pinning it behind her back. When she opened them, I saw that familiar fuchsia fire. “I will.”

Only days later I grew restless. Classes had finished for the summer, but there I was, still stuck in my office with paperwork. I was very much like dear Maria in that sense – when kept inside, I pined only for the dirt beneath my feet and a swallow in my hands. However, I did love my other responsibilities as a professor.

I stood as my supervisor entered the office, but he spoke before me.

“Please, go with her. She'll wind up destroying the whole world if you're not there to look after her.”

Smiling, I discreetly folded my resignation letter and slid it to my pocket.

With only my swallow and a small pack thrown over my shoulder, I left for that city, the winds of my home at my back.

[forest-maze]

nobody looks at this blog or probably even follows it anymore but i’ll post stuff from my subeta

[forest-maze]

It's been almost exactly two years since I wrote these, apparently. It doesn't feel that long. February 11th, 2013.

Dear ___, I’m alone. I don’t know where I am or how I got here. I won’t be writing much, because I’m scared and don’t know what to do. This world is strange and full of strange people. They don’t look at me with anger and they don’t notice me walking in the streets. I was looked at weirdly once. I saw someone casting magic and yelled. No one else responded. It was normal to them. This is a strange world indeed.

--- I hate to admit that my father was right, but I think he was. A boy started following me. I don’t know how old he is but he’s about my height. He has blonde hair and he won’t stop talking to me. He jumps all over buildings and things that are in his way, just to get to me. I managed to get away from him but I’m terrified of him finding me tomorrow. My father told me that people outside are thieves that will steal everything I own before killing me. The boy is a thief and I’m very afraid of him.

--- Zidane. That’s his name. He won’t leave me alone and now I’m going with him, I guess. He has a tail.

--- He’s very kind. I misjudged him and no amount of apology will ever make up for it, but he keeps asking me to stop. He wasn’t offended when I asked him about his tail at all. I have just never seen someone like him. He said it’s just a part of him and that he would never be offended. I told him my name and he said he would protect me and take care of me. I shouldn’t trust him but I do. I can tell just by looking in his eyes that he’s not a bad person. “You don’t need a reason to help people”, is what he told me. He’s very nice, and he told me he’s only 16. I can’t believe it. There really are good people in the world, and so young.

--- Zidane and I are traveling. I find myself completely trusting him. I feel like he would be confused by these entries because I do not write the way I speak. I don’t know if he can even read. Anyways, we’re traveling. This world is very large and very beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I don’t miss my home at all. I hadn’t seen any of it to miss, anyways.

--- There are so many towns, I can’t believe it. We’ve already been to three others. Three! I never knew that there was more than one in the world.

--- I got lost today! Looking back, it was a lot of fun. Zidane and I became separated in a large crowd and he didn’t find me for hours. I was okay though, because Locke found me. He’s a lot like Zidane. I asked if he was a thief, and he got very offended. He said he is a treasure hunter, and he vowed to protect every pretty lady he comes across. I’m not a pretty lady, but Locke said he would protect me anyways. He didn’t listen to me when I told him I already had a bodyguard, but he did help me find him. He won’t leave me now. He says he doesn’t think Zidane can take care of me. So I guess now, I’ve made 2 friends. Zidane and Locke are a lot alike, but they fight a lot. I can tell they’ll be friends eventually, though.

--- The boys have calmed down. They’ve stopped trying to impress me because they’ve learned it doesn’t work. It’s been a while and we’ve all become good friends. They know how to fight, so they protect me from monsters. I accidentally used some of my powers and it upset me a lot, but they were confused. Apparently, my powers are normal in this world. The boys don’t have any, but they said they knew people in their old worlds who did. They’re looking for their friends, here. I’m glad I’m not the only one who is in this situation. I’ve felt alone all my life, but now I can’t even remember what that feels like.

--- They’re helping me learn how to defend myself. I’m not good at magic or with my sword, but I’m trying very hard. I’m exhausted.

--- A couple of weeks of training. I could barely move at first but I have energy today. But none for writing, it’s late.

--- They’re sending me somewhere alone. To the next town. It’s a few miles, they said. These boys are giving me such trouble! They want to test me and see if I can handle myself. I told them, of course I can! Maybe it was a bad idea. I’m spending the night alone in the wilderness and I can barely see enough to write. I can hear some monsters in the grass, but I have my magic and I know how to use it, a little bit. I’ll be okay.

--- I don’t know who he is but he’s hurt and I’m trying so hard to help him but he won’t wake up. I thought he was a monster.

--- I thought he was a monster in his armor. I thought he was a dragon, like the ones I had read about in books. And I thought he was dead. I was going to bring him to Zidane and Locke as a trophy. But when I grabbed his head, it fell off. It was just a helmet. It took me a minute to gather myself. I was so confused. He has a fair face and long, blonde hair. He’s breathing more evenly now than he was. I tried some healing magic on him. I don’t know if it worked. He won’t wake up.

--- I’m tending to him a lot. I’ll write when he’s better.

--- He’s looking over my shoulder while I’m writing. He told me his name is Kain and that he’s from another world, too. He was hurt very bad and I couldn’t get to his wounds. I don’t know how his armor worked so I tried my best to get it off. I might have broken his helmet when I threw it in surprise yesterday. He’s doing better now, I got him some water and he’s awake. He’s really only told me his name and that he’s from another place. I don’t want to know much else though, it doesn’t matter. I just need to make sure he gets better.

--- It’s been a couple of days. I’ve given Kain all of the food I had in my pack, and he’s had plenty of water. I’ve used as much of my magic as I could. I used it up and ran out of items to make it come back, but he told me not to panic. I haven’t slept much, because I’ve been protecting him from monsters at night. He doesn’t have his armor on anymore, thanks to me.

--- He can stand but he can’t really walk. I got him down to the river and I washed his wounds and his hair. His hair is very nice and I hope he doesn’t ever read this entry. I never thought someone who was a warrior would have hair like that. He keeps thanking me and told me that I’m an angel. I’m not but I thanked him for it anyways.

--- Zidane and Locke found us!! I was supposed to send word when I got to the next village, which I completely forgot about, so they were worried and came after me. They brought a chocobo-pulled cart and everything, because they thought I had been hurt. Zidane said he’s very proud of me for taking care of Kain, but Locke is a little suspicious. I told him not to be and since he’s a bit scared of my temper and my magic, he said alright. We’re on our way to the next town. The cart isn’t as unstable as I thought it would be. Kain is resting and I’m next to him. Zidane gave me potions to restore my magic, so I’ve been healing Kain as much as possible.

--- This town is wonderful. The innkeeper said we can stay as long as we want for free, since Kain is hurt, but we have to work around the inn. I’m used to doing housework so I love to sweep and clean. Zidane and Locke joined me, but they complain. Boys are so bothersome. Kain doesn’t complain, though. Kain is actually younger than Locke, but he’s much more of a man, I think. I love Locke to death but he acts so much like a child, sometimes. Zidane, I forgive, because he really is still a child.

--- Kain’s recovery is slow. I didn’t know he was poisoned. I’m taking care of him every day and washing his wounds and giving him medicine. I don’t know any magic spells that can take the poison away, so we just have to hope that he’ll recover with the medicine that Zidane and Locke bought (Probably stole?).

--- He’s growing stronger every day and he can walk now. He apologized for inconveniencing us, but Zidane tries to assure him that we really don’t have anything to do. I just want to see him get better. I’ve been spending a lot of time with him and he talks to me more than he does to the others. He says he owes me his life but I try to tell him that he doesn’t owe me anything. I never want anyone to owe me anything, I just want to help people. Like Zidane says, you don’t need a reason for it.

--- Kain has been searching for his friends. Especially his best friend, Cecil, he said. He described him to us, so if we see him, we’ll let him know. Zidane and Locke spend a lot of time working around the inn, but they go out into the town sometimes to get supplies, so they look for him then. Sometimes I go with them. So far, we haven’t seen anyone named Cecil, but I really hope we can find him. Kain always looks so sad when he talks about him. He must miss him a lot.

--- Kain is trying to help work to earn his keep, but we all try to stop him. He won’t listen to Zidane or Locke, but he backs right down when I scold him. The boys act like that too, I wonder if they’re afraid of women? Or of my magic. I’m used to people being afraid of me, so it doesn’t bother me. They say it’s not fear but they can’t put a name to it. I don’t really understand boys.

--- Kain says I’m a Red Mage. I don’t know what it means, but he smiled when he said it. He told me it’s a good idea to practice fighting and to use my magic more. He said it’s a part of me, like Zidane’s tail. It’s something about me that makes me special, and I should embrace it and make it strong. That’s what Kain told me. No one has ever said anything like that to me before. I don’t really know what to think of it.

--- Kain is healed but he’s still very weak. We’ve been training together. He’s always had his large spear with him. He still isn’t strong enough to wear all of his armor, so we just spar lightly. His shoulders are particularly sore and he has trouble reaching behind his head, so I always pull his hair back for him, and brush it every day. I don’t know what happened to him that hurt him so badly, but he says he’s a bit glad he can’t remember. He asks me if I mind taking care of him so much, but I tell him that I don’t. The truth is that I really love it. I love to help and feel like I truly have a purpose, even if it’s just taking care of one person. He appreciates me and that’s something very new to me. Zidane and Locke have of course given me that feeling, but I haven’t really felt like I’ve done anything for them. But from Kain, I feel such a…………….. I’m not sure. But he smiles more. I think he cares about me like Zidane and Locke do. I’d be so happy to have another friend.

--- We’re on the road! Kain’s strong enough to walk. He didn’t want to go with us, but Locke threatened him until he did. He said that Kain should listen because he’s younger. Kain rolled his eyes but agreed when I nudged him. Like I said, Locke is older than all of us but he can be such a child. I know he really does care, though. We all care about Kain, very much. Locke still likes to stand between us, though. Zidane just laughs at it all. They’re becoming my friends, I think. I still can’t believe that they want me around and care about me.

--- Kain and I spar a lot. Zidane and Locke join sometimes too. It’s fun. I even fought off a monster the other day! Life on the road isn’t as scary as I thought, since I have my friends with me. That’s right. I asked them, and they said that yes, they are my friends. They thought it was funny that I needed to even ask. But they really are my friends. I can’t believe it. I really can’t. Best friends, even, Zidane said. Best friends.

--- I can’t believe how happy I am now.

[forest-maze]

I had a really interesting dream last night, but instead of just writing about it, I decided to write it as the semi-coherent story it was. Ommitted some parts that weren't really interesting, like when I turned a bunch of classmates into Paragon characters somehow, and a guy made fun of Ayare's hair.

[forest-maze]

I enjoy writing Richard's adventures in Link's Awakening prequel land.

[forest-maze]

My subjects and I. Not really finished.

[forest-maze]

smrpg sequel AU thing prologue