A high Fantasy epic in short story form
“Tomorrow is a big day; I have dreamed about the mainland all my life. To finally see grass, and animals running free…”
“And trees!”
“Yes, even trees. But it feels like I will never see this place again, or my parents and sister. When we step onto the mainland, there’s no turning back. It will be ten years before I could have an opportunity to return. My life as I knew it, is ending tomorrow and it’s scary.”
“When your father is King, and he commands you to go… Well… Here I am.”
“A man willing to sacrifice his own son for a weapon is no father. He is not even a man.” Yorba comments.
“That’s treason. Be careful who hears those words.” Aero warns.
“The truth shouldn’t be treason, that is why we must abolish the monarchy. The crown has failed the people for centuries. It’s the last relic of the old age.”
In the morning the group is awoken to the sound of thunder. A rain day.
Matthew wakes up long enough to hear the rain, but quickly crashes. These rare rain days allow him to catch up on sleeping.
Most of the group remain in their tents.
“Yes, the magic I knew was always for the betterment of the people. Blood magic was healing magic. Healers did what was called miracle work. Everything from healing broken bones, to insuring safe births but never genocide!” Crimson exclaims in grief. “Bellum was the home of the Red Circle, the Elders who protected the sanctity of blood magic… how could they allow this to happen?”
“Our people do not owe you any allegiance, you will not be king.”
Relics of the Old Age