Novella November: 5
World Building One Shot
Hi friends! This is a one shot I just did for some world building. This was supposed to be a super small easy light hearted project but somehow I got carried away and it turned into this. 💙
World Building for Faelin and Manu:
This is in a magical world where some people posses the ability to feel and control Rakka, a magical essence similar to Mako in Final Fantasy. This magical essence can be seen and controlled by some individuals who either:
- Come from a bloodline descending from a people whose blood was filled with more Rakka than other humans. (Vaali)
- Are individuals that Rakka seemingly manifested in randomly. (Kariku)
- Had it gifted by the earth itself, usually through a strong act in service to the earth, balance, or harmony. (Vakkerin)
Vaali: This is a people who are said to have descended from the first people of the earth. They were born from the oceans, spreading out across the land. Their paths across the region left many rivers, and their tenderness for the animals created rich forests. There’s many stories about how the Vaali could communicate, influence, and become one with the spirits of the forest and river. Pure Vaali are totally extinct, and are now (to some) considered a mere myth, despite Vaali bloodlines having Rakka every few generations.
Kariku: Around every century, a small group of Kariku emerge. No one really understands why or how they are born with Rakka, but it isn’t always apparent until adolescence. There has only been one rare instance where a Kariku was able to control and use the Rakka since birth.
Vakkerin: These are people who have done a great service to the forest, rivers, spirits, and earth. They have been given the ability to channel their devotion and love for the earth into understanding Rakka, and are trained by the spirits to learn how to use it. Being given Rakka is uncommon and considered one of the highest honors. A ritual is held when one has shown their love and proves their loyalty to receive this gift. This ritual and the act of gaining Rakka is considered a rebirth.
Juma (YOO-mah)
Juma is an ancient planet and is the closest planet to the moon in their solar system, Kuuhan. (KOO-ahn) Stories from the Vaali tell that Kuuhan was the heart of the Juma, ripped out of the planet by the sun.
Juma has been one of the lushest planets in the galaxy, until a small group of aliens settled long, long ago. Juma was welcoming, but the aliens did not find her hospitality enough. They took Juma as their own, as they sought out a new planet due to the destruction they have dealt on their own. They domesticated or ate the animals rather than befriending them, stripping down the forests for their greed, and disrespected the spirits, warding them off with their own curses. They became known among the Vaali as Rakksa.
The Vaali did their best to avoid war with the Rakksa, but this didn’t last long. The Vaali tried to speak with the Raaksa, to know them, their language, and their home. The Vaali thought maybe it was possible to befriend the Raaksa, and invite them to live with Juma and the blessings of this world. But the Raaksa didn’t want to live on Juma for love and harmony, their love and values still rested on those they had in their old home: Resources. Riches. Renown.
The Vaali held hope for a few more years that the Rakksa would grow homesick. The Vaali couldn’t imagine what life could ever be if it wasn’t Juma, it would be only natural that the Rakksa would return home as well; damaged as it was, it’s still home. But the Rakksa only grew in numbers. They would bring loud ships that exhumed stink, thick air, and crushed whatever laid beneath it. The Vaali’s hope were crushed when the Rakksa began dumping waste and toxins into the rivers, the soil, and burning the tree flesh. They stabbed the mountains, dismembered the earth, and cast dark fumes into the sky.
Juma couldn’t take this anymore. She ached, and her people could not stop the Raaksa. Juma began to cry. Water turned to fire, burning the Rakksa as they bathed and drank. Shards of crystals and space rock shot down from the sky, piercing the Rakksa’s heaviest ships and domes. Vines and stalks communed with ivy, and spat poison onto the Rakksa, entangling them with their arms. The earth crumbled beneath Rakksa settlements, creating caverns that filled with fire water.
The spirits retreated far into the earth to find safety from the slaughter, knowing they’d be protected and safe in Juma’s stomach, taking the Vaali with them.
Juma was still hurt. She was hurt from the destruction of the Rakksa, and the destruction she caused because of them. Juma felt betrayed, by the universe, and by herself. Juma cried again, but was no longer angry. Her tears filled the caverns, solidifying pools of her fire tears into solid black rock. Her tears washed the poison off the skin of the Rakksa’s corpses. Water fell from the cracks of the mountains, filling up the holes in the earth. Juma cried for days.
When Juma could cry no more, she finally looked at herself. The world was rid of the Raaksa’s dirt, but their presence and destruction was undoable. Juma tried to rid herself of their hate. If it were not for the spirits and the Vaali resting in her stomach, she may have destroyed herself. She released her children back into their world, but they could feel her grief and see her destruction all around them.
The Vaali got to work, picking up after Juma. They tried to call some of the spirits out of Juma’s stomach, but many did not want to return to see the remains of what was home. The Vaali and woken spirits worked hard every day to clean and heal Juma, as she loved and cared for them for all of their lives, and will continue to beyond what’s known.
Some Vaali found the remains of the Raaksa’s tools and knowledge, and were turned by their curious nature. This caused another conflict on Juma; the Vaali who were devoted to Juma, and the Vaali who now held ideas for a future like the Rakksa.
If you read this far, hello! Thanks! 💙
I didn’t finish it but I met 1k words for today and I started to get too hooked on small details. I’ll probably come back to it, since there’s a few details that I think need some changing. But let me know what you think!
Thank you! Happy writing! 💙🪼
