Oreon's eyes flickered briefly as they slowly opened. As his vision cleared, he found himself on a plain bed, covered by a white sheet. Slowly sitting up, he scanned the room. The room was simply furnished; brown walls displayed a few simple pictures. There are nightstands on either side of the bed, each topped with a lamp.
"What...Happened?" He asks himself as he places his hand on the side of his head. He looked up to see Celestia sitting elegantly in a chair, her sleeping form slumped slightly beside his bed. "Celestia..." Mumbling, he noticed a slight movement against his leg. Looking down, he saw Sylvanie asleep in a chair beside him, her head resting on her arms.
"Sylvanie..." Oreon whispered.
"You gave us quite the scare back there." Oreon looked up sharply as he spotted Aura in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "Glad to see you awake, little dragon. You've been out for four days."
"Four days!" The abrupt movement of Oreon caused Celestia and Sylvanie to awaken at once. "Aura, what happened? Where are we? How did..."
"Who? What? Where?..."Sylvanie looked around, alarmed, before her eyes landed on Oreon.
'What happened? Is the kitchen on fire again?" Celestia looked around, confused as well, before both their eyes landed on Oreon in awkward silence.
A roar of laughter erupted from Aura, prompting a quizzical look from Oreon. "Hahaha, that was priceless!" Bent over, clutching her stomach, she continued to laugh.
A blank, comical stare came over Oreon's face as he looked at Aura. "Can you take anything seriously?" Oreon looked questioningly as Aura calmed her laughter, dabbing at a tear, but while doing so, earned the same questionable expression from both Celestia and Sylvanie.
"Oh, lighten up. You've only been out for about a day." She straightened herself up as she calmly walked into the room. "We're in the heart of the Eastern Sanctuary, so you can relax—we're all perfectly safe. However, you did have everyone worried about you, especially the Elven sisters here.
Celestia's sapphire eyes looked over at Oreon. "You burned yourself out when you used that enhancement technique and kept the gateway open. Not to mention the battle you had before that. You exhausted yourself." She finished.
Sylvanie quickly turned her head towards Oreon. "Next time, how about you don't decide to do something stupid. Some of us had better things to do than sit around watching you sleep for a day.
Aura smirks, aware of Sylvanie's unconvincing attempt to appear nonchalant. "Better things to do? Is that why you refused to leave his side even when I offered to take your watch? Or why you threatened to—what was it? — Eviscerate anyone who disturbed his rest?"
"I did NOT say that! I merely suggested that quiet was necessary for recovery. Stop twisting my words!" A blush of embarrassment colored Sylvanie's cheeks as she shouted at Aura.
Celestia's lips curve into a gentle smile as she reaches out, placing a cool hand against Oreon's forehead. "It's alright, sister. I believe your exact words were I'll personally introduce their intestines to daylight if they make so much as a whisper."
Sylvanie's blush deepened to a crimson hue, nearly identical to her eyes, as she observed Celestia lifting her hand from Oreon's forehead. "I was merely ensuring optimal recovery conditions! The last thing we need is him having a relapse because some fool couldn't keep quiet.
"Hmm, that would have been possible." Oreon placed a hand under his chin as he nodded his head comically.
Aura leans against the doorframe, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle. "And what about the part where you kept checking his forehead for a fever every twenty minutes?"
"That was... clinical observation! Someone had to monitor his condition properly!" As Oreon watched, increasingly amused, Sylvanie's argument made her increasingly defensive, causing him to forget his discomfort.
"She does have a point; my forehead does get fevers." Oreon nodded comically again.
"Shut up, human!" Sylvanie whirled around towards Oreon. "You're not helping!"
"And what about the protective spells you were muttering in your sleep? Ancient dark elf protection spells aren't typically used for people you don't..." Aura was cut off.
"I swear by the void, Eastern witch, one more word and I'll show you exactly what other dark elf rituals I know!" The room erupted in laughter at Sylvanie's outburst.
"Come now, sister. There's no shame in showing concern for someone you consider an ally." Celestia's laughter died down as Sylvanie turned her attention towards her older sister.
"Oh? And what about you? You were the one whispering healing incantations all night long! I saw you channeling your light magic into him every few hours!" Sylvanie shot back.
Celestia's pale cheeks flush a delicate pink as she straightens her posture, attempting to maintain her dignified demeanor.
"That was purely medicinal. I was just checking to make sure that the power inside him remained calm." She defended herself.
Sylvanie smirked at her. "Is that why you were holding his hand while doing it? For better energy transfer?"
Oreon's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he glanced between the two bickering sisters, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
His gentle laughter erupted, silencing the sisters' childish bickering as they turned to look at him. "Sounds like you guys were worried about me." He began as he stopped laughing. "I don't know what happened. I thought I was fine for a moment, but once everything settled down," Oreon's face grew serious as he began to recall the events before he passed out. "My body just gave out on me."
The room regained its composure as Aura continued leaning against the door frame.
"Enhance..." Aura spoke softly, her eyes fixated on the ground, but talking to everyone who could hear her. "It's an ability that goes far beyond any enhancement magic when used by someone with dragon blood. Specifically, the dragonborns themselves." Aura pushed herself off the doorframe as she turned to face Oreon and the two Elven sisters. "It's an ability that your mother had perfected, and your sister had tapped into on the day that they died." Her face was serious, and her eyes held a depth of determination. "Oreon," Aura, calling him by his real name. "It's time you learned the truth about what you are and the power that was passed down to you by your mother." She turned her gaze towards the Elven sisters. "And the truth about Vel-Andria."
[BACK AT THE ABANDONED VILLAGE]
Xylara, Vexes, and Desirae appeared at the entrance to the deserted village, the silence amplifying the creak of their boots on the dusty path as they passed empty houses, the only sounds the wind whistling through broken windows.
"Looks like everyone left in a hurry," Desirae spoke, her crimson eyes darting from left to right as she continued to scan the village. "I don't even smell the wretched Elven sisters."
Vexes took his time as he walked back to the tavern where they last encountered their prey. "Hmm," He sniffed a bit and walked towards the town square, where most of the damage was done to the small town. "They couldn't have gone on foot, and to evacuate an entire village in such a short amount of time." He placed a hand on his chin as he pondered the concept.
"Well, it's not like they could have packed up and left, and by the looks of it." Desirae narrowed her eyes at the empty houses around them. "The humans living here left most of their belongings; it's like they just…Vanished.
Xylara's cold blue eyes narrowed as she surveyed the abandoned square, her fingers tracing patterns in the air that left faint luminescent trails. Her expression slightly darkened as the magic revealed what her eyes could not see.
"No," She simply said. "They didn't just leave," she murmured, crouching to examine scorch marks on the cobblestone. "These are residual energy signatures. Eastern Magic. A powerful transportation circle."
Desirae cursed under her breath, kicking at a fallen market stall. "That damn Eastern Witch." She spat. "She must have evacuated them all at once. No wonder there's no trail."
Vexes slammed his fist against a nearby wall, causing the entire structure to shudder dangerously. "If it's transportation magic, then it must be somewhere the Eastern Witch knows we cannot reach."
"The Sanctuary…" Desirae gritted her teeth. "The Eastern Guardian had this planned from the very beginning." Vexes' hand shot out, a dark energy crackling around his fingers as shadow lightning erupted towards the buildings. She hissed as the structures vanished in a blinding flash.
"She's hiding the boy, the elves, and now she even has the dragon shard!" Vexes let out a growl at the sight of the destruction he had created. "If only the witch hadn't interfered, we'd…"
"It doesn't matter," Xylara said as she eyed the Town Square. "It's a fruitless effort." She made a simple statement on her slow walk to the village's center.
Desirae and Vexes exchange a look of surprise at Xylara's dismissive tone. The white-haired woman moves with eerie calm toward the village center, her pale fingers trailing over remnants of magic that still linger in the air.
"The Eastern Sanctuary is merely a temporary setback. They've simply just bought themselves time, nothing more." Xylara continued to speak as she closed her eyes for a moment. "The Inquisitor has given us multiple orders; the time for the cleansing is close." Xylara's eyes snapped open, her cold blue gaze instantly freezing and shattering the surrounding village.
Desirae and Vexes instinctively step back as the wave of freezing magic radiates outward from Xylara. The buildings crack and splinter, ice crystals forming in impossible patterns before shattering into dust. Within moments, what was once a village is now a field of glittering ice shards.
"The cleansing…This soon…" Desirae asked.
"We don't have the dragon shard or the powers needed for the…" Vexes was cut off.
"For now." A cruel smile curved Xylara's lips as she walked past them. "The Eastern Sanctuary may be protected now, but even the strongest barriers fall eventually. We have other targets to pursue. Afterall…" Xylara slowly turned her gaze towards the two elves. "There are other races to purge."
"Races?" Vexes questioned. "You mean…"
"Come," Xylara instructed. "There is work to do." The air crackled with energy as she snapped her fingers, and from the void, a dark, ominous portal materialized, its depths unknown, and the three entered.
[BACK IN THE EASTERN SANCTUARY]
Aura led the three into a mid-size dining room, where the scent of freshly baked bread hung in the air; Mira and Lena set plates on a large wooden table, where Usha and Gerhard sat patiently awaiting their meal.
As Oreon descended the stairs, the rhythmic creak of the old wood echoed behind him, followed by the lighter steps of Celestia and Sylvanie. His gaze fell upon the dining room. Pictures hung on the white walls, which were lined with simple yet elegant furniture. He saw Usha and Gerhard comfortably seated in sturdy wooden chairs as Lena carefully placed a plate of crusty, golden-brown bread, still warm from the oven, on the rustic wooden table.
"Well, look who decided to wake up." Mira's voice spoke from the doorway of the kitchen, causing Oreon to turn his attention to her. "You had us worried there, boy, thought that you'd spend a few more fallen moons in that bed." She smirked at him.
"Mira," Oreon smiled at her as Lena walked up towards him, stuffing a piece of bread in his mouth.
"Eat." She looked up at him sternly as Oreon looked down at her and saw a serious look on her face.
"Lena, what are you..." Oreon tried to talk, but half a piece of bread was sticking out of his mouth.
"I said eat."Lena crosses her arms, her small frame somehow commanding the room despite her size. "You need strength," She began. "After what you did, it's a miracle you're even standing, so no arguments. Sit down and eat. "The small girl commanded, and a small laughter came from behind him as Mira set a pot of stew on the table.
"No need to be forceful, Lena," Mira snickered as she turned to Oreon, who took his place at the table. "If you keep shoving food down his throat like that, he's going to choke and need more healing." She said, placing a pot of stew on the table.
Sylvanie couldn't help but snort at the predicament Oreon was in as she took a seat on the right side of him. "If you think that was forceful, you should've seen how she tried to feed you while you were unconscious. Nearly drowned you in broth." She snickered.
"What?!" Oreon exclaimed, finally chewing and swallowing the piece of bread he was forcefully given. "You tried to drown me in broth!" Oreon looked at Lena.
"I did no such thing!" Lena protested comically. "It was broth mixed with the herbs Mom and I gathered to help you feel better. And I was very careful!" She continued before she sent a slight glare towards Sylvanie. "Besides, you were the one who kept saying he needed more nourishment!"
With a graceful movement, Celestia seated herself to Oreon's left, a slight smile playing on her lips as she observed the interaction.
"Lena was quite determined to make sure you didn't go the rest of the day without food. She kept saying that she was going to help you, whether you were awake or not." Celestia finished as Lena nodded vigorously, her small hands on her hips.
"Exactly! And I would've succeeded if someone—" She shot a pointed look at Sylvanie. "—Hadn't knocked the bowl out of my hands, claiming I was 'suffocating him with sustenance."
"Well, you were!" Sylvanie stood up as she and the child faced off. "His face was turning blue!"
"To be fair," Celestia interjects softly, "You did tilt his head back rather…enthusiastically, Lena. Poor Oreon nearly choked twice."
Oreon's eyes widen as he looks between Lena and Sylvanie, then to Celestia for confirmation.
"I was being gentle!" Lena fought back, her small face scrunched in determination. "And I had everything under control until she interfered!"
Sylvanie rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. "Under control? Is that what you call pouring liquid down an unconscious man's throat while pinching his nose? I saved his life!"
"Yeah, considering at one point you were trying to take it," Oreon whispered to Celestia, who quickly placed her hand towards her mouth to stifle a giggle.
"I heard that!" Sylvanie quickly pointed a fork at him threateningly. "Don't think I won't put you back in that bed."
Aura chuckles as she takes her seat between Usha and Gerhard. "Now, now, children. The important thing is that he is awake and can feed himself now."
"Agreed." Gerhard acknowledged. "Although I can't say I'm not jealous of the attention he's getting. "He lightly joked.
"Perhaps if you were to collapse dramatically, Gerhard, you might receive similar attention," Aura smirked at him.
"Don't give him any ideas," Usha interjects as she rolls her eyes. "He's theatrical enough without encouragement."
Gerhard places a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "Me? Theatrical? I'm wounded by such accusations."
"Don't be." Usha started as she carefully sipped her tea. "The accusations are accurate, almost too accurate." She sips again.
Gerhard clutches his chest dramatically, wobbling in his seat. "Such cruelty from my comrades! I feel faint…" He pretends to swoon, earning laughter from around the table.
"If you're going to faint," Usha spoke again, both hands carefully holding her cup. "At least make sure you do it away from the table, we don't want you knocking over the food." She sipped her tea again.
Gerhard straightened up with a grin. "Always the practical one, aren't you, Usha? Very well, I shall save my fainting spell for after dinner."
Celestia smiles softly as she watches the banter, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "This reminds me of meals in the royal court…though with considerably less political maneuvering and far more genuine laughter.
Sylvanie snorts. "And fewer assassination attempts disguised as dinner conversation.
"How about we dig in before Mira here swats us all like common house flies for letting her food get cold. "Aura suggested as she slowly began eating the stew and bread that Mira and Lena had prepared for them.
Everyone nods in agreement, turning their attention to the steaming food. Mira gives an approving nod as they begin to eat.
"Smart decision," she says with a playful threat in her voice. "I didn't slave over this stew for it to be ignored while you all bicker. Now eat your fill." She turned her attention to Oreon and the Elven sisters. "Especially, you three. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday morning when Vexes and his hounds attacked."
Oreon, not needing to be told twice, eagerly filled his bowl with the fragrant stew. "Mira, this smells amazing, as always, your cooking is the best out there."
Celestia delicately serves herself. "Indeed, this is even better than the breakfast you served us.
Mira couldn't help but smirk as she crossed her arms at the compliments, the apron swaying gently from her waist. "You don't have to butter me up just to get seconds, you know, you can have us much as you want."
Sylvanie, still being herself, eyes the food suspiciously before taking a tentative bite. Her eyes widen slightly as she tastes it. "Hmm, it's okay…Not bad…For human cooking." She mutters, already reaching for more bread.
Aura eyes Sylvanie as she takes chomps down a chunk of bread before attacking her bowl of stew. "I see even the Velyrian can discard their table manners when they're hungry," Aura smirked as her eyes bounced from Sylvanie to Celestia, who was trying her best not to follow in her little sister's footsteps.
Oreon looks over at her. "Devouring through your food like a Werebeast." He playfully shook his head. "I thought royalty decorum was much more…Profound than this. "He joked, as Sylvanie quickly took a piece of bread and jammed it in his mouth while he tried to take another bite of his stew.
"Profound enough for you?" She quips, watching him struggle with the unexpected mouthful. "Choke on it." She ended, as Oreon nearly chokes on the sudden bread assault, his eyes widening in surprise as Sylvanie smirks triumphantly.
Celestia sighs at her sister's antics, though a small smile plays on her lips. "Sister, please, we're guests here."
Sylvanie shrugs unapologetically, returning to her meal with renewed vigor. "He started it. Besides, royal decorum hardly matters when you're no longer royalty, does it?"
A brief shadow crosses Celestia's face at the reminder, but she quickly masks it with practiced grace. "Perhaps not. But basic manners still do." She returned as Aura watched the scene play out and placed both her elbows on the table, her fingers intertwined with one another as her green eyes narrowed.
"Royalty, huh? Perhaps that's a good place to start." She started, as the room fell silent, all eyes turning to Aura. The playful atmosphere evaporates instantly.
"Start what exactly?" Sylvanie asks, her voice dropping to a dangerous tone as her hand subtly shifts closer to the knife beside her plate.
"You said you wanted to talk about everything that's happened so far, right?" Oreon steps in, calmly placing a hand on Sylvanie's shoulder. "About their kingdom, my mother, the Order." Oreon looked at the green-haired elf sitting across from him. "Aura, what is going on?" He simply asked her.
"I believe we should start with proper introductions first." Aura breathed calmly. "I know I've already given my name, but let me introduce myself properly." She stood up from her chair. "My name is Aura, the Guardian of the Eastern Grove. One, who Mira is one of the few last remaining members of."
Celestia's eyes widen slightly at the revelation, her gaze sharpening as she studies Aura, but then draws her attention to Mira. "You mentioned in that battle with Vexes that you are the Keeper. Does that mean you're the keeper of the..."
"That is correct, child, A Keeper who always held strong to the pact we humans made with the elves." Mira closed her eyes for a moment. "Even now, as I age, I train my daughter to take my place." She looked down at Lena, who held a serious expression of her own on the topic at hand. "When the time comes, she will be the new Keeper of the Eastern Grove."
Sylvanie's eyes flickered between Mira and Lena before resting on Mira again. "If you're one of the Human keepers who forged a pact with the elves, then…"
"Aye, yes, I also know about the reason Vel-Andria fell. We keepers, at least those who survived, always know what happens in the dark." Mira closed her eyes again. "It's our job after all, we are instructed to maintain the balance between the races. Just as the pact we forged requested."
"Before we get into that." Aura halted the conversation before gesturing with her hand towards Usha. "Introduce yourself."
Usha sets down her teacup with deliberate care, her smooth, fair hands steady and precise. Her amber eyes scan the faces around the table before she speaks. "My name is Usha Toyotomi, or you can call me what I am known as. Usha of the Seven Blades." She bowed her head. "As you can see, I am a human who was raised in a settlement full of Ninja and Samurai, who combined their efforts once the Order came to purge us."
Usha's amber eyes hold a quiet intensity as she speaks, her posture perfectly straight. "I serve as both warrior and scholar in our resistance. The Order destroyed my homeland, but they failed to erase our ways." She inclines her head respectfully toward the Elven sisters. "But thanks to Aura…" She turned her head towards the Eastern Guardian. "My family was still saved, along with those who didn't fall in battle. We all now reside here, in the Eastern Sanctuary, helping those who have lost, build a new, and find a sentiment of peace ourselves."
Usha's calm demeanor carries a subtle undercurrent of steel as she finishes speaking. Her gaze shifts to Gerhard, signaling it's his turn to introduce himself.
"I suppose I'm next." He spoke as he stood up, while Usha took her seat. "Gerhard von Eisenberg, formerly a knight of the Order's Templar Division before I…Saw the truth of their ways." He lowered his head. A grave expression appeared on his face as if he was remembering something from the past.
"We were on an expedition, a simple recon mission, or at least— "Gerhard's face hardened. –That's what it was supposed to be." He finished as he recalled the horrific tragedy that had happened to him within the Order. "We found a small village of mixed races—Human, Elves, Dwarves, A mixture of Beastkin, Werebeasts, Saberfangs, you know…" He paused again as he let out a deep breath. "The village was nothing special, just…a place they called home. Kids were playing a game of tag, and a human kid accidentally bumped into one of the guards, nothing major…It was just an accident." Gerhard's voice cracked as his fist slowly began to ball his hands, starting to shake as the occupants in the room looked on.
"There was no warning, no correction." He gritted his teeth, his brown eyes narrowing in guilt and anger. "The guard just struck the kid down, dead; the boy couldn't have been no older than 7 in human years, and without…a…single…word…Snuffed out his life like it didn't mean a damn thing—" He tried to calm himself a bit as he continued his story. "—When I protested…When I dared question why an innocent child had to die…my commander told me that they were going to 'cleanse the impure.' That the boy had 'tainted blood' from living among non-humans."
He looks up, meeting the eyes of those around the table.
"I saw them…I saw them 'Cleanse' every child, every husband and wife, no matter the race, and I watched their homes…All of them burned to the ground. That's when I knew. Everything they'd taught us—about protecting humanity, about divine purpose-it was all lies. They weren't protecting anything. They were just…Killing because they could." Gerhard ended as a few tears silently streamed down his cheeks.
A heavy silence blankets the room as Gerhard's words sink in. Celestia's hands tremble slightly before she steadies them, memories of her own kingdom's fall reflected in her eyes. Meanwhile, Sylvanie's jaw clenches so tightly that a muscle twitches in her cheek.
Oreon's expression mimicked that of Sylvanie's, but was more controlled. His fist curled tightly under the table as his eyes narrowed at the empty stew bowl sitting in front of him.
"That's enough, Gerhard," Aura spoke softly as she closed her eyes for a moment, almost trying to keep herself composed. "You don't need to say anything more, I know it hurts." She added as Gerhard nodded his head, slowly using his right forearm to wipe his tears away.
"Forgive me. Even after all this time…." He stopped himself from speaking further as Aura's expression softened momentarily before turning serious again.
Aura sighs and then directs her eyes towards Celestia, before glancing at Sylvanie. "I guess the time has come to find out what you wanted to know. I suppose when both Desirae and Vexes attacked, that the shapeshifting elf had a lot to say…" Aura began as she slowly crossed her arms.
Celestia lowered her gaze to the empty bowl in front of her as she flashed back to the battle she had with Desirae.
[Flashback]
"The Order has poisoned your mind, Desirae," *she said, her voice steady despite her pain. "This isn't who you are."
"As if you know who I am!" Desirae's response was a feral roar as she launched herself at Celestia again, her monstrous form blurring with speed. This time, when her claws struck Celestia's barrier, the golden shield shattered completely. The impact sent Celestia flying backward, crashing into the remnants of a wooden table. Splinters dug into her skin as she tried to rise, but Desirae was already upon her, pinning her to the ground with inhuman strength. "You never knew me! None of you did!" She grabbed Celestia by the neck and tossed her to the other side of the Tavern. Her back collided with the wall with a hard thud, causing Celestia to gasp out in pain as she hit the ground.
"Me! A prominent figure who sat at the round table of Elves! A high accolade for a Dark Elf like myself, but did your father see it that way? No! "She stomped forward as Celestia managed to barely lift her head.
Desirae's distorted face contorted with rage as she loomed over Celestia, her claws flexing with anticipation.
"Your father looked at me with contempt! A dark elf at his precious table—what a joke! I served loyally for decades while he whispered with his advisors about my 'questionable heritage.' And you?" She grabbed Celestia by the throat, lifting her off the ground with unnatural strength. "You with your perfect light magic and your perfect bloodline—you never once spoke against him!"
Celestia struggled for breath, her hands clutching at Desirae's grotesquely transformed arm.
"I... didn't... know," she gasps, golden light flickering weakly around her fingers.
"LIAR!" Desirae slammed her against the wall again, wood splintering from the impact. "You knew! You all knew! But the Order saw my worth. They gave me power when your kind only gave me scraps!"
[Flashback Ended]
Celestia's eyes remain downcast, her voice barely above a whisper. "Desirae claimed my father…that he despised her for being a dark elf. That he only tolerated her presence at the council table while speaking ill of her heritage behind closed doors." She finally looks up, meeting Aura's gaze.
"Is it true? Did my father harbor such prejudice even while preaching unity?" she asked.
Sylvanie's expression darkens. "That shapeshifting traitor conveniently forgot to mention how she was feeding information to the Order for years before the attack, just like that slithering snake, Vexes.
Aura lightly closed her eyes at the question, but this time it was Sylvanie who flashed back to a particular scene from the fight they had against the shapeshifter.
[2nd Flashback]
"You know nothing about my sister or me," she replies, her voice dangerously soft. "Celestia never treated me as a pet. She was the only one who saw me as an equal when others whispered, 'dark elf' behind my back."
"Then we're the same," Desirae states. "How her father looked at you for being different, YOUR father." She pointed at Sylvanie with a sick smirk. "The kingdom that you both speak so proudly of was nothing but lies under pretty promises. The feeling of disgust hidden under the pretense of being loved." Desirae spats. "You two don't know anything about why your kingdom fell, how weak it was from the very beginning.
Desirae began to circle the room again, her eyes never leaving the two Elven sisters. "You don't know about the discord your father has caused, but I bet he lied to you and said that we should stick to the old traditions, the old ways; do you know why that is, Your Highnesses?
Sylvanie stepped forward, her eyes narrowed, dark energy sparking between her fingers. "Our kingdom fell because it was betrayed." She hisses, her voice cutting like a blade. "Betrayed by those like you who sold their souls for scraps under the Order's tables!" She pointed her Scythe at Desirae.
"Those like me?" Desirae snickers, pointing an accusing finger towards Sylvanie. "That Elven mother of yours protected you from the truth. Do you have any idea of how she fell, the last good thing that the kingdom had before she died? Are you two so blind and naïve that you aren't aware of what actually happened?"
A heavy silence fell over the tavern as Desirae's words hung in the air. Celestia, still on her knees, looked up sharply, her sapphire eyes widening with confusion and alarm. Sylvanie's grip on her scythe tightened until her knuckles turned white, the dark energy around her blade pulsing with her heartbeat.
"What are you talking about?" Celestia asks, her voice is stronger now despite her injuries. She struggled to her feet; one hand pressed against the wall for support. "Our mother died of the wasting sickness. Everyone in the kingdom knew—"
"Everyone knew what they were told!" Desirae snaps. "The noble Queen Xalith, taken by illness before her time. Such a convenient tale for your father to spread."
[End of 2nd Flashback]
Recalling the memory caused Sylvanie's crimson eyes to flash with barely suppressed anger.
"That shapeshifter claimed our mother didn't die of the wasting sickness. She implied our father…" Her voice breaks slightly before hardening again. "She said it was all lies."
"We need to know the truth, Aura. About our mother, our kingdom…Everything." Celestia leaned forward.
Leaning back in her chair, arms crossed, Aura solemnly exchanged a meaningful glance with Mira.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. "It's true." She simply said as her emerald green eyes reopened. "Everything that the shapeshifter said is true." The Elven sisters stared in horror as Aura continued to speak. "What I'm about to tell you, you may find hard to believe, but I swear on my life and my status as the guardian of the Eastern Grove, that everything Desirae said…Is true." Aura sighed heavily as she leaned forward on the table, keeping her eyes locked with both Celestia and Sylvanie.
"Let's start from the beginning, shall we?" Aura started, settling back in her chair with one leg crossed over the other. The silence crept into the room as they all turned their attention to Aura as she began to speak. "As you know, the Kingdom of Vel-Andria has quite the history under its belt." She closed her eyes for a moment. "This story begins before the Order was created, where every race had its territory. The humans stayed in their villages. The dragonborns in the mountains, the elves in the forest, and the rest were happy with what land they could acquire." Aura's voice becomes rhythmic, almost like she's reciting an ancient tale passed down through generations.
"In those days, boundaries were respected, though not without occasional conflicts. No single race sought dominance over all others. The balance was imperfect but functional." She gestures with her hands as she speaks, creating small illusions that dance above the table-miniature forests and mountains, tiny figures representing different races.
"Trade flourished between races. Each one had something the other did not, all equally prosperous. Strengths, weaknesses, neither side was without fault, but they all lived their way of life." She continued as the small illusions continued to dance at her words, displaying each race doing something that only that race could do. "However, unlike today, there was no unified kingdom of elves-just scattered settlements of high elves, dark elves, wood elves, and others, each with their customs and leaders. The same could be said for the beastkin." She continued.
"Werebeast, Saberfangs, Panthera, Leonin, Harpyre, all lived unbothered, but not without the cycle of nature.
The illusory figures above the table shift, showing the scattered settlements across the forest and mountains. "It was your grandfather, Thaelon Velyrian, who first united the elven clans." Aura continues, her voice still taking on a storyteller's cadence.
"A visionary who believed that together, the elven peoples could create something greater than their separate parts. He understood that unity didn't mean uniformity. Each Elven clan retained its customs while contributing to the great whole. Dark elves were valued for their shadow magic and night vision. High elves for their light magic and diplomatic skills. Wood elves for their connection to nature."
Captivated by the history, Sylvanie found herself leaning forward.
"Soon Thaelon's vision became tainted." Aura continued as the illusory figures shifted, showing Elven armies advancing across landscapes, other races retreating before them.
"What began as unification became conquest," Aura continues, her voice grave. "Thaelon's ambition grew. Why stop at uniting elves when he could create a kingdom where all races lived under Elven guidance? Some joined willingly, seeing the benefits alliance. Others…" The illusions show battles, tiny figures falling as Elven forces advance. "Others were given no choice. Resistance was met with overwhelming force. Your grandfather was not cruel by nature, but he believed absolutely in Elven superiority—that other races needed Elven wisdom to thrive."
Celestia watches with growing horror, her hands trembling slightly, as Sylvanie's eyes narrow. "Our history books claimed grandfather was a peacemaker who united warring clans," Sylvanie gritted her teeth.
Aura's expression hardens. "Victors are the only ones who write history, Shadow Princess. The truth is, many races and Elven clans resisted, particularly the dark elves, who valued their independence. They were…subjugated."
Sylvanie's eyes flash dangerously at the revelation, her fingers curling into fists.
"So that's why dark elves were always treated with suspicion, even those born in Vel-Andria. We weren't just different—we were conquered."
Celestia looks stricken, her worldview crumbling before her eyes.
"But…I don't understand. How did this lead to our mother's death? To the Kingdoms fall?" Aura's illusions shift again, showing a regal elven woman with features resembling Celestia- Xalith.
"Your mother was remarkable," Aura says softly. "A High elf who would rise in the ranks despite the turmoil. She worked tirelessly to heal the divisions your grandfather had created. She built bridges with other races, established fair trade, and began dismantling the systems that kept non-high elves as second-class citizens…However," Her voice grows solemn. "This is when your grandfather made the grave mistake in approaching the Dragonborn."
The illusions shift to show massive, scaled humanoid figures towering over Elven diplomats.
"The dragonborn were ancient and proud." Aura continues, her voice dropping lower. "They possessed power and wisdom dating back to when dragons still ruled the skies. Your grandfather saw them as the ultimate prize—their strength would cement Elven dominance for generations." The illusion shows a terrible battle, tiny figures engulfed in magical fire. "But the dragonborn refused to bow. The resulting war was devastating. When your grandfather finally died and your father took the throne, he inherited a kingdom weakened by conflict and a bitter hatred of the Dragonborn."
The illusion shifts to show a younger version of King Eldrin, his face hardening into something cold and calculating.
"Your father blamed the dragonborn for his father's death," Aura continued. "So as time went by, your father thought of a different approach. His father sought conquest through force, while Eldrin preferred manipulation. He maintained the appearance of your mother's progressive policies while secretly undermining them…Meanwhile, the dragonborns were well aware of your father's personality and knew he couldn't be trusted, so in preparation for another war, they created what they called the draconic orb, an orb so powerful that it could wipe out the entire planet and erase everything in it….But unknown to them, another race had come into power through false proverbs and dealings with demons, the humans…"
The illusions shift to show humans in religious garb, their hands raised in prayer, while shadowy figures lurk behind them.
"The Order," Aura continues, her voice grave. "They began as a small cult, claiming divine purpose to 'purify' the world. They made pacts with entities beyond our realm, gaining unnatural powers. Powers that rivaled even the dragonborn. Your father saw an opportunity in that."
Celestia's voice trembles. "He allied with them? With the Order?
Aura nods grimly.
"First in secret. He provided information about other races, weaknesses, locations…While maintaining the facade of the unified kingdom." Aura sighed as her illusions grew darker, as they quickly showed Order soldiers marching on the dragonborns. "Then once they got powerful enough, they invaded the dragonborns, blind siding them completely. Killing out with mercy, obliterating everything with their new demonic powers." Aura's shadows showed dragonborns being slain by the Order soldiers with dark demonic powers, one by one. "The dragonborns didn't stand a chance," Aura spoke quietly. "Once the Dragonborns had been defeated, they tried to seize control of the Draconic Orb, but the power ended up being too much for them to handle. As history goes, they are the ones who destroyed the orb to control it, breaking it into shards, but the truth is that the elder of the dragonborns sacrificed himself in the end and gave up his life to destroy the orb himself, scattering it across the lands into shards…One of the very shards you have now, Oreon."
Aura turned her attention to him as Oreon's eyes widened for a moment as he quickly took the shard out of his pocket. "
"The same shard that you stole from your father when you freed these two," Aura stated as she looked at him holding the orb.
"And my father needs it to put the orb back together." Oreon narrowed his brown eyes at the orb."
Celestia looks at the shard with new understanding. "And my father…he wanted this power?"
Aura nods solemnly. "Centuries passed, and your mother gave birth to you, Celestia, a purebred high elf, and a few years following, she found you crying alone in the woods as a baby Sylvanie. Adopted you at first glance, and loved you like her own." Aura explained.
Sylvanie's eyes widen at this revelation, as she quickly looks down at the table, confusion in her voice. "Mother…Found me?" She whispers, voice uncharacteristically vulnerable.
Celestia looked over at her sister with worry, but as she turned back to glance at Aura, she could see that Aura wore a sweet smile on her face.
Aura nods, her illusions showing Queen Xalith playing with two children-one fair-haired, the other with violet locks.
"One of the proudest moments of her life, aside from having her the light princess over here," Aura stated. "Your mother could never stop talking about you," She said to Sylvanie. "She always said you're the little fireball that Celestia needed," Aura assured her.
"Aye, I second that." Mira stepped in. "I've only had the opportunity to speak with your mother a few times, but she never failed to bring you two up."
"That explains why Father always treated us differently. But mother never did—she loved us both equally." Celestia added as she glanced over at her sister.
Sylvanie blinks rapidly, fighting back unexpected tears as she looks at illusions play out in front of her. The image of her mother matched perfectly with the illusions, as Sylvanie could recall the moments when her mother would play with her. The times when she would scold her for causing the Elven guards trouble, the times when she did her hair, bathed together in the large royal tub that they had.
"Sounds like a truly loving mother indeed." Usha lowered her eyes, trying not to look at the illusion herself, while Gerhard cried like a baby beside her."
Gerhard wipes his eyes unashamedly with snot running down his nose. "A mother's love…It's beautiful."
Aura turned her eyes to Oreon. "Oreon, during this time, your mother had come into the picture. A half-breed: A human mixed with dragonborn blood. One of the few remaining in the world at the time. She was also there with me and Queen Xalith. The two couldn't stop having a debate about which kids were better.
"The two squabble like sisters themselves, always trying to one-up each other every chance they get." Mira crossed her arms, smiling. "One of the few memories I'll never forget is watching both your mothers compete against each other in who could climb the mountain the fastest." Mira gave a hearty laugh.
"I remember the cook-off they had." Aura's illusions changed to mimic her thoughts.
Oreon's eyes widen at this revelation, his expression a mix of shock and longing. "My mother…knew Queen Xalith? They were friends?"
Aura nods, her illusions shifting to show two women laughing together-one with Oreon's features, the other the elven queen. "More than friends, the three of us." Aura continues. "We were all allies, all working together to stop the tragedy that was coming. Your mother was gathering information on the Order from within, while Queen Xalith worked to undo your father's secret dealings and corruption. I was in charge of making sure everyone who couldn't protect themselves was protected."
Celestia leans forward, her voice barely above a whisper. "And that's why she died, isn't it? Not from illness…"
Aura's illusion changed to Queen Xalith lying motionless in bed. "I'm afraid so, one of the darkest days in history transpired the day the Queen was announced dead," Aura said grimly. "Tales of the wasting sickness, but in truth, slowly poisoned by the man she married."
As the illusion unfolded, Mira squeezed her eyes shut, a tear threatening to fall, prompting Lena to look up and take her hand.
"Leona and I…" Aura paused. "Were heartbroken to say the least. Leona took it hard." Aura stated as the vision changed, showing Aura hugging a crying Leona, Oreon's mother.
The room falls silent as the weight of revelation settles over everyone. Celestia's face has gone completely pale, her hands trembling visibly. Sylvanie's expression transforms from shock to pure, undiluted rage, her teeth gritted.
"He murdered her," Sylvanie whispers, her voice deadly quiet, tears of anger slowly forming in her eyes.
Celestia lowered her gaze to the table. "All those nights by her bedside…He was there too, pretending to grieve while he was the one…"
Aura sighs as the illusion continues to show that King Eldrin was speaking with the Order as several high-ranking officers, including the purifier, the inquisitor, and a few others, were standing in the King's throne room. The scene looked as if Eldrin was upset and tried to use his soldiers to quickly attack the high-ranking Order members, only to be slain quickly.
The illusions show King Eldrin's final moments-his betrayal by the very Order he had allied with. His face contorts with shock and rage as Order blades pierce his body.
"Your father thought he could control the Order," Aura explains softly. "But they had no intention of sharing power. With your mother's assassination a success, information on all races, weaknesses of every kingdom—they disposed of him and leveled Vel-Andria without a second thought.
The sister's face grows grim as the illusions show their kingdom on fire, as they were dragged away in chains with the rest of the surviving elves who were captured.
Celestia watches the illusion with haunted eyes, reliving the horror of that day—the screams, the flames, the chains. Her voice comes out hollow. "We were taught to honor him…to continue his legacy…"
Sylvanie's fury has turned cold, her crimson eyes reflecting the illusory flames. "Everything was a lie. Our entire lives built on deception."
Suddenly, the illusion changes, the shapes form and shift to the night. Oreon's sister and mother were murdered, but this scene was shown in extreme detail. "This was the second worst day of my life," Aura spoke quietly.
[SCENE STARTED]
"Think of it as a gift from the Order," Alaric remarked as he calmly swiped his sword left, aiming towards the hiding spot Oreon was in.
"NO!" Alice screamed. "Oreon!"
A massive wave of corrupt magic clashed with the magic firewall that Alice created to protect Oreon as they battled, shattering it completely.
Alaric looked over at the bushes that Oreon was hiding in, before slowly turning his head back towards the two women. "Bring him to me." He said simply, the rhythmic thud of boots on earth a steady counterpoint to the soldiers' almost mechanical march toward the bushes.
"No! I won't let you!" Alice charged forward, attacking the large group.
"Alice, wait!" Leona reached out but was quickly forced to defend herself as Alaric appeared in front of her and swung his blade downward, causing Leona to block his attack, the sheer pain from the task causing her arms to shake. "What kind of…Power is this." She gritted her teeth.
While that was happening. Alice charged towards the bushes, the leaves brushing against her as she reached Oreon's hiding spot, where she stood ready to defend him. Flames shot out towards the Holy Order soldiers with a flick of her wrist, but the intensity felt diminished, the crackle and roar noticeably muted. Surrounded by a swirling red aura, matching the one Alaric possessed, they walked through her flames, unharmed.
"What the hell is happening here!" Alice exclaimed as she kept trying to burn her opposition to the ground, but with no such luck.
As she tried to fight them off, the soldiers closed in, their heavy boots thudding on the ground, their faces grim. She kicked and punched, a flurry of desperate blows, but the blades still found their mark, slicing through her defenses. Despite her weakening body, her fierce will kept her fighting, the clash of steel ringing in his ears as he hid among the bushes, heartbroken as he saw his sister's strength wane until she kneeled before the opening, the ground stained with blood.
"Alice…." He whimpered as she caught his gaze with her own.
"Hey kiddo," Alice said, a sad smile on her face as her golden eyes slowly began to fade back into their natural color. "You know you can't stay there forever; get away from here, ok?" She barely managed to speak.
"But…But you have to come with me?" Oreon choked, seeing blood trickle down her cheek. "You and Mom have to come with me. I can't go alone." He was about to step out of the bushes when a sword plunged into Alice's back, making Oreon's eyes bulge with terror and a deafening scream escaping his lips.
"ALICE!" Oreon shot out of the bushes, running up to the first soldier he saw as he tried to attack him with his small hands, but was kicked to the ground with little effort.
"Oreon…." The Color in Alice's eyes began to fade away. "You have…" Another sword pierced her. "To…. Run." Gasping, she managed to get her last word out as the third sword pierced through her back, sending her sprawling to the ground, the impact muffled by the soft earth.
"ALICE!" Oreon screamed. He crawled toward his sister, calling out "ALICE!", his voice choked with sobs as he watched her blood seep into the earth, soaking his clothes and hands.
"No!' Leona pushed Alaric away from her. "Alice!" She saw her daughter's lifeless body lying in front of her crying son. "No…Oreon run!" A scream ripped from Leona's lips, abruptly silenced as Alaric's sword found its mark. The sickening crunch of steel meeting flesh echoed as Leona raised high on the sword, dropped her weapon with a clatter. Oreon's eyes, wide with disbelief, found Alaric, his sword dripping with blood, Leona's lifeless body impaled upon it.
[SCENE ENDED]
The room remains deathly silent as the illusion fades, leaving only the haunted expressions of those who witnessed it. Oreon sits frozen, teeth gritted as he clenches his fist tightly against his leg, his body shaking, tears streaming down his face, reliving the nightmare that has defined his life.
"Oreon," Aura spoke softly. "I'm…So sorry, I didn't get there in time." Aura apologized, her voice cracking as a few tears streamed down her face, as she eyed the table. "There's not a moment where that day doesn't play in my head. By the time I got there, your father was already advancing towards you, but he saw me at the last minute and retreated." The illusions morphed into Alaric's horrified face, staring up at an Aura whose furious expression was etched into his features. Before Oreon could process the shock of what he'd just seen, she appeared before him. The image showed Alaric, Oreon's father, weighing his options, the grim determination etched onto his face as he signaled his soldiers to retreat rather than face Aura in battle.
Oreon's hands continued to tremble as he stared at nothing, lost in the memory. When he finally speaks, his voice is barely audible.
"I always wondered…If I had been stronger…Like them…"
Celestia places a hand on Oreon's shoulder. "We were all pawns in their scheme." Her tear-strained eyes were visible to him. "So don't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault."
Sylvanie's expression transformed from rage to something harder, more resolved. "So what do we do now?" She demands, looking directly at Aura. "How do we change this! How do we make them pay?" Her questions rang in the air as Aura closed her eyes for a moment, composing herself as she reopened them.
Her emerald green eyes looked more determined than ever. "I didn't show you this just to relieve old memories. I wanted you to know what we are up against and how the past led us to where we are now. That being said, are you three ready to join in this fight? You can't defeat the order by yourself. And you're not ready to fight anyone on a higher level than who you've faced now." She leaned back, crossing her arms once again. "You're going to need to get stronger, tougher, smarter." She turned her gaze towards Oreon. "Especially if you want to face your father."
Celestia straightens her posture, wiping away her tears with quiet dignity. When she speaks, her voice carries a new resolve.
"I've spent my life believing in a lie. If there's any chance to right the wrongs committed in my family's name…I'm with you."
Sylvanie's crimson eyes flash dangerously. "The order took everything from us. I've been ready to fight since the day they put chains on me."
Oreon looks down at the shard in his hand, then his eyes slightly widen as he remembers the pendant Mira gave him from his mother. Slowly pulling it out as he stared at it. "For my mother, For Alice. I'll do whatever it takes."
Aura couldn't help but smirk as she sat at the other end of the table. "Good." Her eyes gleamed as the scene shifted to Usha and Gerhard, who wore a smirk on their faces, signaling that they were on board as well. Then on the other side of the table, Mira and Lena wore the same smirk. "That's just what I wanted to hear," Aura added as the scene pans out to show a new resolve on all their faces, determination in their eyes for the uphill battle that awaited them.