Super Fantabulous Story of Mass Epicness/ESA-ness, Warning: Contains lots of words

[The Almighty Cookie God]

~Prologue~



The full moon shone brightly in the clear night sky, impassively watching the dismal scene below its gaze. It's pallid beams blanketed the dying embers of the splintered wreckage that had one been a palace and the bodies among the wreckage. The moon was merely an observer, an impartial witness to the slaughter that had occurred beneath its gaze. The moon had seen it all. It had watched the pale man with the embers of insanity blazing in his coal-black eyes approach the palace. The moon had seen the sinister man draw from the Stream, the essence of life; it had watched the emerald fireball issue from the man's palm and smash into the sturdy oak door. The man bolted through the splintered through the remains of the door, stepping over the shrieking bodies of guards clutching stumps of their arms or legs where the fireball had ripped through. Alarm swept through the palace and the moon observed as, after a short skirmish, the man was brought down and dragged by the Royal Guard to a tall, regal man wrapped in silks.
"Greetings, majesty Solaron," the man breathed. His voice was rough, like sand paper dragged across gravel.
"Hold your tongue, cur!" the soldier on the man's right clapped the man on his shoulder with the pommel of his sword. The man stumbled and giggled manically.
"Who are you?" the king demanded. The man's giggling broke out into mad laughter. His insane howls filled the palace and overwhelmed all else. It sent chills down any who could hear it.
At last, his laughter died to a cackle, though the man still shook with mirth, "Majesty," the man began through his giggling, "You won't even be alive long enough to remember my name." And once again, the man laughed, tilting his head upward to the heavens, to the moon's gaze.
Solaron stood abruptly once he gleaned the man's face.
"Black hair, dark eyes, you...!" he gasped. The man continued to laugh as an emerald aura snaked around his body. Alarm surged through the room.
"He's drawing on the Stream!"
"Kill him!"
It was too late. The green aura around the man surrounded him. The moon watched from above as the palace was swallowed by the green light; the man's insane laughter was engulfed by the explosion that tore through the palace. None survived. The moon's glow of blue now burned a scarlet hue as the ground ran red with blood.
The moon would continue to watch as panic engulfed the people. The king was dead! The daughter-heir was missing! There was no one to rule. Anarchy reigned.

It was not until three years later that order was finally established by the Church of Yegel.

It is here our story begins, three years after that fateful night. Beginning with a girl called Terra Aurelion.


~1~


Terra Aurelion observed the brilliant beauty of the sunset as the molten orb began to slide down the horizon, setting the sky ablaze in yellows, oranges, and reds. She tucked her knees to her chest and sighed. Another boring day. She had wandered the grand streets of Archadia all day in the hope of finding something interesting. Her hopes had been let down. The blacksmith was still making a set of cups for one of the church members. The apothecary was still muttering his usual nonsense about raven eyes being used in some cure or another. The merchants still blushed when they saw her. Her guardian, Seig, was still wary about letting her wander alone. Yes. Life was very boring, indeed.
Yet, Seig's behavior, at least, could be understood. After all, Terra Aurelion was the daughter-heir to the throne that was lost after her father, Solaron's, demise. The Stream. That had been the cause. The Stream was the driving force of Gaia; a pulsing, roaring torrent of life that gave birth to Gaia's inhabitants. It was also the source of magic. Every person was capable of utilizing magic because all humans were connected to the Stream. However, most people chose not to use magic because the Church of Yegel frowned on the practice. "The sacred power of life is not something for mortals to utilize for their own wants," it was said. Ridiculous when further research into the Stream and magic could help so many! It was theorized by some scholars that all creatures of Gaia could use magic, but it was impossible to tell for sure as very few creatures exhibited signs of magic. Another sigh.
Terra dipped her head into her knees, allowing her long, dark brown hair to fall in light waves into her face, curtaining her golden eyes. Since that night three years ago, Seig, the captain of the royal guards had acted as her father to the public eye. It was strange how little people actually knew of the royal family and its close advisers. When she made her claim to the throne, she would have to remedy that...that and so many other problems. Research on the Stream. The poverty prevalent in a majority of Gaia. It would be a lot of work. That was assuming she ever made her claim to the throne. Seig had always stopped her from doing so, urging her to wait until the proper moment. When ever that was. She wished her foster father would tell her more...

"What are you up to?"
Terra turned, feeling herself smile at the young man approaching her. The youngest son of one of the church high priests. Rith Soromer. Most considered him to be handsome. He stood roughly 5'9, above average in Archadia, with broad shoulders and dirty-blond hair tied back with a leather strip. He wore a fancy red coat embroidered with the symbols of his house, a falcon, on the sleeves in gold as well as a pair of brown pants and boots. At his belt hung a simple dagger.
She was fond of him, perhaps more than that, but she never put herself out that far nor he toward her. They were just friends.
The mischievous grin and the twinkle in his blue eyes was all she needed to know that the day would not be boring much longer.
"It's about time. What kept you?" Terra asked, getting to her feet and smoothing her plain green skirt.
"Father," Rith responded with a small shrug, "Going on and on about how I shouldn't shirk my duties and set an example. Then something about how I don't listen to a word he says half the time."
Terra laughed, "You don't even listen half the time. You're always day-dreaming about some grand scheme or another."
Rith chuckled, "Yes, yes. Father insists I must have Imp blood in me for all the trouble I get into."
Terra laughed, "So what's the agenda for what remains of today?"
Rith shrugged, "I need to go by your father's house eventually. But I was never told when I had to do it..." Rith's face split into a grin again, "Come on. I hear Haden plans on letting a ferret out in the Widow Tucker's house."
Terra giggled. Widow Tucker was a mean old woman who had recently paddled Rith for stealing one of her cakes. She claimed no one was too old or too noble to be paddled. It had been a very amusing day.
"Alright," she responded, "Race you!" And with that, she plunged down the hill, skirt flying in the breeze with Rith right behind her.

The pair hurtled down the cobbled streets of Archadia. It was about the hour when the local shops would be closing down and the merchants would be packing away their wares; the foreigners would be gradually emptying into one of the many inns in the city, and the children would be scooped up by their mothers. It would be the hustle and bustle of the capital of Gaia. So it was a shock when Terra and Rith came to the market street and found it nearly deserted.
"Is there something going on?" Terra asked, frowning.
"Dunno," Rith replied, "It's about the time when the streets should be emptying, but this is too empty."
"The city's gathered to watch the procession."
Terra jumped at the voice behind her and Rith.
"Father! Where did you come from?" Terra asked, turning to face the tall man who had spoken out. The man was tall, as tall as Rith, and muscular with long legs and broad shoulders. Short, copper hair complimented his sharp, equally brown eyes. The man was Seig, Terra's foster father and ex-captain of the royal guard. When there had been one. The man had also been her father's best friend and trusted adviser. Now he worked whatever jobs needed done in Archadia.
Seig wore a plain red coat and black breeches. His sword, familiar and ever present, hung at his waist.
"I just finished work at Widow Tucker's house. She needed work done on her door," Seig replied with a small, knowing smile as Terra and Rith exchanged glances, "At any rate, the Church has caught a Shade it seems. They're marching him through the streets to show him off."
Rith looked surprised, "I didn't hear anything about that during my father's speech to me."
"That would be because you don't hear anything your father says to you," Seig retorted, nodding at the young man who had the courtesy to flush through his grin.
"Come on! We're wasting time!" Terra broke in, darting off once more.
Seig shook his head, "Chasing after her will be the end of me one of these days. Can't you keep her in check?"
Rith laughed, "Me? You must be joking, sir. I get in more trouble than she does." Still laughing, Rith broke into a run after Terra.
Seig sighed to himself, "Children, children. He's not going anywhere." the man muttered to himself and set off at a brisk walk toward the procession.

As Terra neared the street leading to the High Church, the low buzz of chatter reached her ears and steadily grew to a dull roar as she reached the location of the procession. The daughter-heir stood on the tips of her toes to view the crowded street. Thousands of people littered either side of the road leading to the church, crammed tightly with young and old, male and female.
"This is terrible," Terra thought, "They're like mobs waiting to see a strange and exotic specimen. An extremely dangerous specimen, but a safe one when under control. Shades...how does a Radiant become a Shade?"
It was something Terra had thought on often. Shades and Radiants were both sub-species of humans. At first, there were only humans. Good humans and bad humans. But then the event of three years ago occurred then the Church of Yegel had segregated the human race. Radiants, humans of light, were the norms. A human taken by the plague, by the Lostness, was a Shade, one of the darkness. Extremely unstable and just as dangerous. That was what the Church said.
"Believe what we say. Do what we say. Everything will be fine if you follow the Church." Terra thought bitterly.
"Hey, have I missed anything?" Rith's voice dragged Terra out of her reverie and threw her crashing into the present.
"No, he hasn't appeared yet," Terra replied.
"It's odd that there wasn't any word of this," Rith said with a frown.
"'None can fathom the ways of the Church'," Terra quoted dully, "'The Church of Yegel deigns to tell what is necessary. All else is kept from you for the safety of Gaia.'" It was the Church's favorite saying and the most popular response to nearly any question that did not pertain to the teachings.
"It's not as though I wrote that," Rith replied with a shrug, "but it does have some credence. Too much information could lead back to the Black Years." The Black Years was the title given to the three years between King Solaron's death and the current time when anarchy had ruled Gaia.
"It isn't right to keep people in ignorance," Terra retorted hotly, "Blindly pledging our allegiance to an organization that refuses to inform the people of the situation of Gaia is folly."
"Perhaps," Rith admitted, "but let us drop this subject. I'd forgotten that the Church is a touchy subject with you."
"Thank you," Terra inclined her head in a nod.
"Shhh!" the two were hushed by a woman standing next to them. Terra blinked as she realized the entire crowd was silent. Infants were not crying, children were not laughing, and adults were not grumbling. It had started.
Nobody seemed to breath as the first white-clothed man turned down the street and walked toward the church. An ornate, bright yellow sun decorated the breast of his cloak and a larger image was sewn into the back of the cloak. The hand on either side of the man wore simple, black gauntlets. A sword hung in its scabbard at the man's side. It was the uniform of the Church warrior-priests. Behind the first warrior-priest walked several more. Those who had horses rode them, stiff-backed and staring at the crowds regally as though expecting every last person to bow down in reverence and respect.
Terra's breath caught when the Shade appeared, guarded heavily by eight warrior-priests and hands clasped in irons. It was a man. Like every Shade, his complexion was extremely pale, almost snow white and his hair, the blackest of blacks. His clothing, as black as his hair, was tattered and torn in many places. A result of the harsh treatment the warrior-priests had undoubtedly imposed on him. The runes on his cuffs would stop him from drawing on the Stream, supposedly, but there had been accidents in the past where a captured Shade had broken the irons and leveled the town he or she was in before escaping.
Terra barely spared a glance for the just then arriving Seig who took his place between Terra and Rith and watched silently.
It was then the Shade looked at Terra and she could see his most striking feature. The Shade's eyes were a dark green with stormy black swirls circling seemingly endlessly through the natural green color. It made Terra shiver. His gaze was unnerving. Was he staring at her...?
Terra let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding when the Shade moved his gaze elsewhere. Terra watched with apprehension as the last of the warrior-priests passed by. It took her a moment to realize the sun had set completely and the full moon was beginning it's journey across the sky, just in time to observe the event occurring beneath it.
"Chilling, isn't it?" Seig remarked quietly as the Shade passed through the doors of the Church.
"Yeah," a trickle of sweat rolled down Rith's face, "I got the feeling he could literally tear me apart with just the look he gave me." The crowd was beginning to disperse and hushed conversations like Terra, Rith, and Seig's were beginning to crop up.
Seig contemplated Rith for a moment, brown eyes fixed on Rith's blue, before he said, "Terra, it's time we headed home."
"Yeah," Terra responded automatically, "I'll see you as soon as I can, Rith." The Church of Yegel. Yes. That was another thing Terra would remedy when she became queen. No, not remedy. Destroy.
"Take care, Terra" Rith said, "You as well, Master Seig."
"Give my regards to your father," Seig nodded in reply before he and Terra set off into the night.




ooc: Ohai gize. =o

[The Almighty Cookie God]

~2~


Seig shut the door behind him as he and Terra returned home. It was a simple abode. Potsa and kettles hung suspended from the wall opposite of the door the two came in from. Below was a series of small cabinets filled with various utensils and food. Near the left adjacent wall was a small wooden table with four chairs, one on either side. To the left was a doorway that led into the sitting room, a larger, more spacious room decorated with a very simple rug and two armchairs near the fireplace. On either adjacent wall was a doorway leading into either Terra or Seig’s rooms, which were just barely large enough for beds.
In a corner of the sitting room stood a cramped bookshelf that held not only books, but loose paper, manuscripts, essays, and reports as well. The exact subjects varied, but the contents generally dealt with Gaian politics, law, census records, and actions of the Church. The sole storybook was Terra’s favorite book: The Tragedy of Caterine Ristaavi. It started off with the stereotypical story of a beautiful woman being pursued by an evil man the woman could not, or would not, marry because she loved someone else. However, the book quickly expanded into something more unique. The woman’s lover became a Shade and went insane. The story ended in the woman trying to fight the man she loved and ended in her death. The Shade was victorious. That was why Terra liked the book. The villain won. It made things more realistic for her. It wasn’t a happy ending. Maybe it was an odd reason to like the book, given that it mirrored Gaia in many ways, but it reminded Terra that there wasn’t always a happy ending at the end of life.

It into the sitting room that Seig and Terra went. A golden ball of light flared to life in the center of the room. Terra grinned at Seig who was regarding the light carefully. In another moment, the ball of light exploded into small orbs that whizzed around the room briefly before coming to a halt around the perimeter of the room, illuminating every last detail.“This will do,” Seig nodded. The older man relaxed into his arm chair as he channeled fire into the wood in the fire place. Bright, orange flames roared to life. Terra didn’t move.
“This cannot be allowed to go on, Seig.”
“It must, Terra. For now.”
“You always say that, but you’re wrong. They are killing people without trial! My people!”
Seig didn’t even glance at her, “They are killing Shades without trial, Terra. They are killing monsters; monsters that destroyed your life and threw Gaia into chaos.”
“The actions of one do not speak for all!” Terra replied heatedly before dropping her tone, “…The Shade that killed my father is dead.”
Seig stared into the flames without answering. The silence stretched on for agonizing minutes until, “…You’ve grown, Terra.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Seig smiled, “Nothing. It was merely a comment on your maturity. Now sit down, you look silly standing there in the doorway. I’ve something that I need to tell you.”
Terra blinked and looked momentarily startled before she sank into her chair. She looked at Seig. He was staring into the flames again with a distant look in his eyes. The girl felt a twinge of impatience, but suppressed it.

Seig left his reverie abruptly and stared at Terra, “My apologies, Terra. It is sometimes easy to get lost in more pleasant times,” Seig sighed, “The flames were like this three years ago…bodies disfigured, burned, ripped apart…a terrible scene to behold. It’s still so clear in my head. I left you in the care of my mother while I went back to…” the ex-captain trailed off, becoming lost in thought again.
“You’ve told me all of this already, Seig…” Terra said quietly. She didn’t tremble as much as she used to. The tears that would fall unrestrained were now far-off memories and a burning in her eyes.
“Forgive me, there is just no simple way to tell what I must,” Seig replied, forcing a smile that lost any effect it might have had in the deep sadness in his eyes, ‘Terra. You must never claim the throne. It will only bring further chaos to Gaia.” Of all the things Terra had expected, that was not among them. Shock swirled together with confusion, creating an ugly mixture of outrage.
“What…what are you saying, Seig? I have to! The people are suffering and the Church does nothing! I will NOT abandon my people!”
“Calm down, Terra, and listen to me,” Seig spoke quietly but sternly, “It is prophecy.”
“Prophecy!?” Terra spluttered, barely aware of herself standing, “You’re putting store in such meaningless-“
“TERRA AURELION, SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO ME!” Seig roared. Terra stopped in shock. Seig never yelled. At least not at her.
“Terra, this prophecy was made for your father. I was in his presence. It predicted everything!’ Seig’s voice leveled, “Naturally, neither your father nor I nor anyone with sense believed it. But things began to happen. First, the star that fell out of the sky, then the Great Plague, then the earthquake on the southern coast, and finally…three years ago. Your father ordered me to take you out of the palace, far away. In case...the last of the prophecy proved true as well.”
“Seig...what exactly did this prophecy say?” Terra was frowning through silent tears.
Seig stared at her a moment before reciting:

All will come to pass.
From the North, a red star will descend from the heavens.
From the West, a wave of walking death will ravage the people.
From the South, Gaia will be ripped and torn.
From the East, a midnight ghost bearing the sword of destruction and the eyes of madness will destroy the Sun.
Never again will the Sun rise. Never again, must it rise.
The Moon replaces the fallen Sun.

“I'm sure I don’t have to explain it to you. Your surname, Aurelion, is a name for light, or the sun. Your father expected he would die, but you could be saved. If you remain off the throne, the Sun will never rise again. That is why you will never rule...why I was ordered to stop you from making your claim if I must. Please don’t force me, Terra.” A dull numbness settled over Terra. It was all so ridiculous and yet...she had to believe it. Her father had been a very rational man, and Seig as much so, and yet they had both believed...what more could she do...?


Rith winced at his father's cutting words.
"What are you thinking!? WHAT!?" the broad man shouted. Gray streaked his blonde hair and beard, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is to make excuses for your behavior!?"
The two were in a secluded hallway of the church reserved for the family's of high priests like Rith's father and, of course, servants, but none were there now. Lining either side of the hall were a series of doors leading into identically sized rooms. The residence of Rith and his brothers and sisters. The stone floor was carpeted with an ornate, red and gold rug spanning the length of the hall. At the end of the Soromer living quarters was another door leading into the room of Rith's father, which was a good size larger than the others and much more luxurious.
"So don't make excuses, then. Let people think what they want," Rith retorted.
"I can't, Rith! Because your reputation reflects on the rest of us!"
"You've got three other sons and two daughters already in relatively high positions in the Church. Doesn't that reflect on the family more than my schemes?" Rith asked.
Rith's father shook his head and sighed, "Just please...tomorrow, promise me you'll be here and be good. Please."
"Why?" Rith asked, "What's tomorrow?"
"We have found the daughter-heir. Princess Aurelion is arriving here tomorrow."
Rith cocked an eyebrow and grinned, "Is she good-looking?"
"That is exactly what I'm talking about!" Rith's father said with exasperation, "Please, don't act like that!"
"Alright, alright, Rith responded dully, "I'll act the good little boy. As long as she doesn't come on to me."
Rith left for his living quarters before his father, red with outrage, could get another word out.


Deep within the lower confines of the Church, in front of a dark, dingy cell, a man cloaked in the crimson red of blood stared down at the sleeping Shade in the cell. Around the man were four warrior-priests and a high priest, eying the Shade with contempt and disgust.
"As you can see, the Church has managed to capture a Shade. He will be executed within the hour, however. Rest assured. The Church will be made safe for Lady Aurelion's ascension," the high priest was saying to the hooded man.
"...Keep him alive," the hooded man ordered, "Lady Aurelion has need of him."
"W-What? Need a Shade?" one guard spluttered, but he was quickly silenced as a thick, black tendril shot out from somewhere within the hooded man's cloak and snaked into the man's open mouth. The other three warrior-priests managed to unsheathe their weapons and a cry escaped from the high priest before four more tendrils snaked out of the crimson-cloaked man and forced their way into the priests' mouths. There was a pause as the men were lifted off their feet by the tendrils, their eyes popping, before they were blown apart from the inside. Blood spattered the walls and oozed down toward the pools already coagulating on the floor.
"The Lady Aurelion is always in need of more puppets..." the man spoke to the puddles before turning on heel and beginning to walk out of the prison, "...As am I."

[The Almighty Cookie God]

~3~

Terra’s eyes creaked open as dawn cast its final rays on her. She sat up and gazed out her window, squinting through the dawn’s light at the flow of people on the street preparing to set up shop. A sigh escaped her lips. She would miss Archadia, but she had made her decision. After the revelations of the night before, Terra had cried at first. For the first time since she could remember, she had wept openly. She had wept for her people, for her kingdom, and for herself.
“No more,” she had told herself then, “Queens do not cry. My people need me.” That was when she had come to her decision. She would leave Archadia and travel the world. There had to be something she could still do. She needed something, anything, to keep her going. She had lived to be queen and that was gone now, so now she chose a new reason to live: she would find a way to stop Radiants from turning into Shades.
Terra nodded to herself, “I’ll leave tomorrow.”

That said, Terra moved her bed sheets aside and began to wash her face in a nearby basin. She would explain her idea to Seig and then they could leave. Plans flew through her mind as she brushed her long, dark brown hair. They were simple plans; Terra did not delude herself with ideas of grand escapes from dungeons or epic monster-slaying or of heroic deeds that somehow turned her life around. It was merely a journey to find a way to help her people, help cure the Shades of their madness. When Terra entered the kitchen, however, Seig was not there. Terra sighed. Her guardian had probably left with the dawn and there was no telling when he would be back. It was natural, Seig did it often, but the thought did little to lift her fallen spirits. Terra’s breakfast was a subdued meal of bread and cheese. She was simply too anxious about leaving to eat.

After her meal, Terra roamed through the small house aimlessly, waiting for Seig’s return. Eventually, she settled to sifting through her clothes and possessions for things she may need on her journey. A small bundle of clothes was quickly assembled on Terra’s bed, followed by a precious bracelet her mother had given to her for her sixteenth birthday, a recent map of Gaia, and her research on Shades. It was a small compilation and most of it was mere conjecture, but Terra felt that it was important to take. Maybe some of the Shades would share some of her thoughts and ideas. If she could find them.
After she placed her bracelet, map, and research in the bundle of clothes, Terra settled into a chair and began to read the Tragedy of Caterine Ristaavi. She became lost in the world of lust and loss until the sun’s golden rays set the sky ablaze as it always did when it set. Terra blinked at the darkening sky. How long had she been reading?

“More importantly,” Terra thought as she looked around, “Seig still hasn’t come back yet. Where is he?” Terra stared at the sky for a moment and then shook her head, “You’re being impatient,” she told herself, “Now go on. You haven’t been outside all day and you should say good-bye to some people.” Terra slipped into a pair of shoes and stepped onto the streets of Archadia and frowned almost immediately. Like the day before, the streets were empty.
“Where is everyone now? Surely the Church hasn’t captured another Shade...” Terra wondered just as a loud crack resounded through the air. Terra turned in the direction the crack came from in time to see a beautiful cascade of colorful sparks rain down from the sky. “Fireworks?” Terra thought, “What is going on?” Fireworks were rare on Gaia and as a result, were used only to celebrate the most joyous of occasions. Terra’s frown deepened. Surely she would have heard of such a momentous event long before it occurred. What was happening? Another rain of fireworks exploded in the sky. Terra didn’t hesitate. She raced in the direction of the fireworks, in the direction of the Church...

~~~~~~~~~~~

Rith stared at the procession glumly, head resting in his hand. Boredom glazed his eyes. The parade in honor of her majesty, the Lady Aurelion, had started almost two hours ago and there was still no sight of the soon-to-be queen of Gaia. The young noble tugged at the silk coat his father had forced him into. Vile thing. Rith couldn’t stand it. It made him itch all over. He made a wide sweep of the gathering. The church clergy were arranged in chairs outside the Church, staring down the steps at the commoners gathered below. There were perhaps one hundred high-ranking officials like Rith’s father, and then the lower ranks of the Church stood further down the steps of the Church. Behind Rith was the Grand Church of Yegel. It stood tall and sleek, made out of pearly-white marble. With its grand towers and wide, sweeping roofs, it resembled a palace more than it did a church.
Rith turned his gaze along the rows of church members on either side of him. His father and siblings sat straight-backed and rigid, exact clones of every other person seated there. Even the annoying sneer of superiority directed at the commoners below was copied down to the last twist of the lips. Rith followed their gazes. A low roar pounded outward constantly from the masses crowded in the streets below. Most likely about Princess Aurelion. “Where had they found her?” “What did she look like?” “Would she bring a return to prosperity on Gaia?” Typical questions.
“But ones I would like answered as well,” Rith thought to himself as he glanced back at the clergymen.
“So, this Lady Aurelion, she will be easy to manipulate?” one clergyman asked Rith’s father.
“I don’t know. I have not yet laid eyes on her majesty,” Rith’s father responded, “But we have finally taken control of Gaia and restored some degree of order. She will surely need our guidance. As long as she has need of it, then we will always have some weight in which laws are passed and which are not.”
“Ah, Terra would have a fit if she heard that,” Rith thought with a frown. It was sickening. They hadn’t even seen the princess and they were already thinking about how to manipulate her.
“One reason I can’t stand being a part of this church,” Rith thought bitterly. He approved of the Church of Yegel’s teachings and held them in the highest regard, but his dislike for those running the church, like his father, reached the point of loathing. He scanned the crowd and spotted a few friends who grinned and waved at him. Rith acknowledged them with a smile and a discreet nod. They understood. They knew Rith was under pressure from his father to behave right now. Rith’s smile faded as they turned to chat amongst themselves. What he wouldn’t give to be out there with them...

And then all at once, sound died as it had the night before when the Shade appeared. The last of the parade had finally passed. It was finally time to meet Princess Aurelion. Rith strained his eyes against the rapidly darkening sky. And then he saw her amid a small detachment of white-cloaked warrior-priests. He could have spotted her in a crowd of ten thousand. She was absolutely gorgeous. Beyond that. There was a celestial quality to her beauty. Her ivory skin seemed to glow in the night and seemed brighter still alongside her long, raven-black hair. She seemed to glide, rather than walk, in her silky, midnight-blue dress. Rith could feel his pulse quickening. She was radiant. Beside him, he was vaguely aware of his brothers and a large number of other clergy members straightening even further in their seats and trying to look twice as important as they really were. A blind man could have seen the fervent hunger in their eyes as they stared at Princess Aurelion.
“None of them have a chance with her. The standards of a woman like have got to be as high as the heavens, not beneath a cave,” Rith thought, returning his gaze to the princess. She was gliding up the steps. Now that she was closer, Rith could see her face. It was as radiant as the rest of her. Large, bottle green eyes surveyed the clergymen and her full, ruby red lips twisted into a smile. Her gaze lingered on Rith and he found himself smiling back. As Princess Aurelion reached the top of the steps and began moving down the row of clergymen, the church members dropped as one, kneeling before the new ruler of Gaia. She stopped occasionally to speak with one of them. Always, she asked what he or she thought of her and always it was something along the lines of, “I believe that you will become a wise and powerful leader, may the Sun see it so, my Lady.” A wise and powerful leader with the Church pulling the strings, of course.
“Welcome back, Lady Aurelion,” Rith murmured when the gorgeous woman stood in front of him.
“Your name?” Rith blinked. She had stopped in front of him!
“Rith Soromer. I am honored that you speak with me.”
“What do you think of me?” Rith blinked again. She wanted his opinion? His heart began to pound even faster than before. What if he gave the wrong opinion? She was the soon-to-be queen, after all. He glanced at his family. They were all staring at him with dumbstruck horror. No doubt they were cursing whatever gods there were for the Lady Aurelion deciding to speak with him of all people. They thought Rith would give an answer that would forever shame the entire family. It almost made Rith smile again. It would be fun to keep them sweating, but...
“Lady Aurelion,” Rith began, “with all due respect, I have only just met you and I don’t believe I can rightfully form a good political opinion based on our brief exchange. However, my thoughts on you are that you are by and far the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and if you are as wise as you are beautiful, then your wisdom surpasses the heavens and Gaia is destined to an era of prosperity under your rule. My only hope is that you will not allow your wisdom to be corrupted and manipulated into something it is not meant to be.”
The daughter-heir regarded Rith silently for a moment and then smiled. “I thank you for your thoughts. I will bear your hope and concern in mind.” She moved on, but her place was quickly taken by a man in a blood-red cloak with the hood pulled over his eyes.
“Rith Soromer,” he said, “I am glad that there is someone in the Church my Lady and I can trust.” The man followed after the daughter-heir without another word. Rith gaped at him and Princess Aurelion. He could feel the knives of the other high priests' glares on his back.

Before he could face them, however, matters changed. A warrior-priest coated in blood rather than the white of the traditional cloak burst through the Church doors and staggered his way toward the gathered high priests. A murmur of uneasiness shuddered through the gathered commoners.
"What's happened?" Rith's father demanded.
"I suggest," the crimson-cloaked man spoke up, "that you look there."
Rith followed the man's finger and felt terror grip his heart. In the doorway to the High Church of Yegel stood a man with jet black hair, piercing green eyes, and a very pale complexion. The Shade had escaped.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Terra could have screamed. How could it be? Seig had told her no one could claim the Sun throne! The prophecy had been nothing but a stupid series of coincidences after all! For the second time in less than a day, Terra wanted to cry. But she couldn't. She had promised herself: no more crying. Instead, she glared heatedly at the faux Princess Aurelion as though Terra intended to set the heiress on fire with her gaze. She might have done it had he not appeared. Terra felt her breath catch the moment she caught sight of him: the Shade. He stood silhouetted in the door of the Church, but she recognized him instantly. Terra would never forget the aura of fear and raw power that surrounded that man. It was different now, however. There was something more.
"Malice?" Terra thought with a frown, but she didn't have long to think on it. She didn't even have time to blink. An emerald-green fireball blazed into existence and hurtled toward Princess Aurelion. The Shade had bad aim, however. The fireball veered toward the crimson-cloaked man instead. Terra squeezed her eyes shut, awaiting the inevitable crack and explosion. But it never happened. When Terra opened her eyes the guardian was facing the Shade unscathed and if his posture was anything to judge by, the guardian was bored.
The Shade didn't wait. Another green fireball crackled in the air before it was hurled toward 'Princess Aurelion'
Terra didn't shut her eyes this time. She saw condensed air wrap itself around the flame and snuff it out before it ever reached its target. There was a brief pause in the Shade's attack. By this time, most of the commoners had realized that the man in the church doors was the Shade they had all stared at with reverence the day before. Panic was beginning to rear its ugly head among the commoners and the warrior-priests brought to guard the high-priests and the Lday Aurelion were edging toward the Shade, but the Shade didn't seem to care. He was staring into the crowd; near Terra's direction; at Terra. She shivered as she felt the focus of his eyes and the black storms swirling in each iris. The Shade looked away.
Then the battle resumed. The Shade again conjured a ball of flame, but this he sent high into the air. The fireball shimmered briefly before exploding into hundreds of smaller fireballs that whizzed outward in every direction. Pandemonium broke loose. Any restraint the commoners might have had disappeared instantly when the first miniature fireball smashed into the pavement. Radiants trampled over other Radiants in their instinctive urge to get as far away from danger as possible no matter the cost. Terra found herself pushed and shoved into the sea of panicked people. She cast one last look at the Shade in time to see him grabbed by something...a multitude of strange, dark tendrils that reminded Terra of the swirls in his eyes. Then he was gone and then Terra ran with the masses. Not that she had any choice.
"I hope Seig is alright..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rith could feel his body tensing. He fingered the long dagger in his coat, though he doubted it would harm the Shade much.
"It's better than nothing, though," Rith thought, noting how some of the younger priests in training seemed ready to fight the Shade alone and bare-handed to protect the Lady Aurelion.
"Your orders, Lady Aurelion?" one warrior-priest asked.
"Accompany me to my quarters," the princess responded.
"B-but the Shade!" the warrior-priest started, but Aurelion held up a hand.
"The Shade is gone. He will be back, of course, as long as I am on the throne. But as the one sitting on the throne, it is my duty to protect the people of Gaia, not throw them at a foe they cannot beat head-on," the daughter-heir responded, "Now come. There are not enough of you to stem the tides of commoners panicking. We will gather what reinforcements are still alive and then we will search for him. Am I understood?"
The warrior-priest saluted smartly, "Yes, M'Lady, right the way. You two, rouse the alarm."
Rith listened as orders were given out, but none it mattered. He could see Terra.
"I don't see Seig anywhere. Weird. Well. The duty falls on me, then," the young noble thought to himself. He glanced at the church clergy. They weren't paying attention. Rith grinned and slipped into the crowds of commoners fighting to get to their homes.

~~~~~~~~~

Terra's mind was in shambles. Much like the gathered masses fleeing from the Shade, it seemed to be running in every direction. There was so much to think about. How had the Shade escaped? How could the Church allow a false princess to claim the throne? Who were the faux princess and her guardian? Why did the Shade seem to have an interest in her? And where was Seig...? That question lay on her most heavily.
"He should have been around here somewhere," Terra thought, "but I haven't seen him anywhere."
The night sky was ablaze with fire now; the stars were drowned in the same green glow that came from the Shade's magic as the flurry of fireballs continued to rain down on Archadia. The chaotic crowd continued to jostle and push through Terra in their desperate flee.
"I can't think here!" Terra thought at last, "I need to get out of here." The princess of Gaia slipped into an empty street where one of the fireballs had crashed into a house and sent it tumbling into the street, effectively blocking anyone from running down it. It granted Terra the freedom she wanted. There were still the panicked screams and the roar of the fireballs, but at least she didn't feel as though she was being tossed in every direction with the tenderness and care of an angry bear. Here she could set her mind straight.

Before she could do so, however, she was approached by five men of the Church: four warrior-priests and a man Terra knew, High Priest Dorl.
"What is it, Father?" Terra asked. The High Priest did not answer. In fact, now that Terra got a good look at him, his face looked blank and his eyes seemed hollow and empty. The four warrior-priests advanced wordlessly.
"Father Dorl...?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rith cursed under his breath. He'd lost sight of Terra as he'd just managed to get out of the Church's main courtyard.
"She must've gone onto one of the side roads to avoid the panic." Rith thought to himself. He turned down the nearest road and ran alone into the darkness. The street was untouched by the destruction and chaos reverberating through the rest of the grand capital, making it much more likely that Terra had turned down this street. As Rith continued down it, however, he began to have his doubts. There was something eerie about the place. He could sense the residue of something odd in the air. He turned a corner and almost fell on his face in surprise. Seig lay in a crumpled heap at his feet, bleeding heavily.
"Sir, are you alright!?" Rith asked, kneeling beside the fallen man. "Stupid question. Of course he isn't alright. But what else am I supposed to say?" Rith thought. Seig's jacket was ripped and torn. Warm blood flowed down the man's right arm which still gripped his sword tightly.
Seig grabbed Rith's collar and pulled a sword to Rith's throat with surprising swiftness.
"Are you really Rith Soromer?" he growled.
"Er...yeah..." Rith responded uncertainly, "Sir, if you'll give me a moment, I can get you to a medical house and-"
"There's no time!" Seig gasped, "Terra! The Church is after Terra...have to get to her..."
"The Church?" Rith repeated, "Why?"
"I don't know," Seig staggered to his feet, "But I have to find her."
"Uh...I was running after her just now," Rith responded, "The Shade attacked and the people are panicking. I didn't see you with Terra, so..."
"Help me, Rith. We have to find her quickly," Seig began to walk, a bit unsteadily, back toward the open streets. Rith followed, mind racing to think of an explanation as to why the Church was after Terra and why they had tried to kill Seig.
"First the Lady Aurelion is found. Then the Shade escapes. And now this! What is going on!?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Terra instinctively dove into the Stream. The four-warrior priests approaching her withdrew swords from beneath their cloaks. The blades were stained with blood. She thought of Seig and his absence throughout the day and it filled her with fear for her guardian's life. But now was not the time. Terra brought her hand upward in an arc, creating a blade of air that she sent slicing into one of the warrior-priests, slicing his hand off cleanly. The hand gesture wasn't necessary, but it helped Terra focus. She rounded on the other three and drew water from cracks in the ground below her and wrapped it tightly around the remaining three-warrior priests, solidifying the water into icy bonds.
Of the four elements of the Stream, Terra was most proficient with Air and Water. The other two, Fire and Earth, she had had little experience with. Neither were necessary and they were considered to be more for fighting than for practical use. Still, Terra had learned how to defend herself with her magic and it had served her well in the past. Terra was about to round on the other three when she saw a strange black...thing come out of the warrior-priest's stump and plunge into his severed hand, drawing the two back together. The sound of ice cracking and breaking came from behind Terra. Eyes wide with fear, Terra backed away from the four. She turned her gaze to High Priest Dorl.
"Why, Father?" Terra pleaded, "Why are you doing this?" The man did not answer. The warrior-priests raised their blades as one. Terra squeezed her eyes shut and readied a blade of air that would slice all five of the men in half, but she never had to use it.
When Terra opened her eyes, she immediately recoiled. A sword jutted from within the mouth of one of the warrior-priests. Behind him stood the Shade. The Shade grabbed another of the white-cloaked warriors by the face and sent him careening through the air with a fireball directly to the face. The remaining two-warrior priests seemed puzzled by the Shade's appearance, but it didn't last long. They rounded on him, but they were met with a volley of green fireballs until there was little left of them beyond a few severed limbs and ravaged torsos. Terra couldn't help retching at the sight.
"There's no time to waste. Let's go," the Shade spoke. Contrary to his rough appearance, the Shade's voice was smooth, controlled, and almost musical. Almost. In fact, now that she could see him closely, the Shade was very young. Not more than a year older than herself. It surprised Terra so much that she didn't hear him at first.
"What?" she asked blankly.
"Come on. Hurry! They won't stay like that for long. You must escape, Princess Aurelion."
Terra gasped, "How do you know?" she demanded.
"I'll explain later. Come on!" The Shade grabbed her wrist and half-dragged her away from the alley. Terra glanced back and saw the same strange blackness coming out of the men and pulling them back together again. She felt like sicking up again, but she had more immediate problems to deal with. She was with the Shade! A madman who would kill without the slightest notice. Odd. Now that she thought about it, he didn't seem particularly insane.
"Why are you helping me?" she voiced her thought, but it came out as barely a whisper.
"I told you, I'll explain once we get out of here. Archadia is not safe. Not while He is here," the Shade responded.
"My things!" Terra stopped the Shade as they passed her house, "I need to get something."
"We don't have time!" the Shade insisted, "Soon, He will be here himself."
Terra ignored the Shade and wrenched her hand free of his grip and tore into her house. She ran to where she had left her packed belongings and seized the bundle. When she was back outside, the Shade was waiting impatiently.
"Don't ever do that again," he said, "If you want to get out of here alive, then listen to me and do what I tell you." It was odd. The Shade kept his voice smooth so that he didn't sound angry, and yet it made his anger more pronounced. Terra felt ashamed.
"Ridiculous." She told herself and shook her head to clear it.
The Shade was already leading her toward the gates out of Archadia.
"Stop," Terra tore her hand free of the Shade's grip once more, "I don't know why you helped me, but I thank you. However, I am not leaving without my father and I am most certainly not going anywhere with you."
"You mean your guardian? I found him near death, attacked by those same priests. I healed what I could, but I am not good with healing elements. As for your not following me, I have given you the opportunity to come of your own will, but I can force you if need be. I will not allow you to be captured by them," the Shade responded.
Terra drew herself up indignantly, "Now listen! Since you know what I am, you should obey my orders and right now, I am ordering you to release me!"
"Terra!" Terra whipped around and felt her heart jump with joy. Seig and Rith were approaching her. Seig had to be supported by Rith, but he would be alright. Seig was alive. Not safe, perhaps, but alive. She actually smiled. But then the Shade stepped in front of her.
"I am taking her out of here. If you are not with the Crimson-cloaked man, then know this: Archadia is no longer safe and the Church is dangerous."
"Terra!" Seig managed, lifting his sword in front of him while Rith withdrew his dagger.
The Shade raised an eyebrow and looked amused.
"A wounded man and a pampered priest's son..." he took a step forward. Just as the Shade seemed on the verge of attacking, another of his rampant fireballs exploded into the stone arch overhead and sent it crashing down between them.
"Terra!" Rith shouted as the Shade turned and took Terra's wrist.
"The Western gates! Quickly, Rith!" Seig shouted.
Terra could only look on with tears in her eyes. The Shade had bound her somehow and she could not move. "Seig, Rith! Don't die!" she screamed as the Shade took her out of Archadia and into the fields outside it.

[The Almighty Cookie God]

~4~

Terra glared at the Shade as he set about forming a small campfire. After they had left Archadia, the Shade had run
nearly a league carrying Terra on his back. He stopped when he reached the relative safety of a hilly outcropping with a small stream of water nearby. That was where they were now.
"I apologize for binding you so roughly, but you weren't coming," the Shade spoke while he toiled with starting a fire. He did not use the Stream.
"Oh yes, it isn't as though you took me from my home, family, and best friend," Terra responded sarcastically.
"Such a tone is not very becoming of neither a princess nor a beautiful woman such as yourself," the Shade remarked idly. Terra blushed faintly. Who was this Shade?
The man got the fire started at last; a large, roaring flame of orange and yellow came to life before Terra. It reminded her of the burning ruin she had left behind and it only made her sad. Were Seig and Rith alright? What had the Shade meant about Archadia no longer being safe? Terra was sure that if Rith and Seig had survived the fires that they were on her trail right now. The thought gave her a small amount of comfort.
"So," the Shade said as he sat down on the ground, "I am sure you have questions. I will answer what I can." Terra felt whatever was binding her lift. She immediately stretched. It felt nice after being restricted to one position for nearly an hour now.
"Well," Terra began, "To start, who are you?"
The Shade inclined his head in a small bow, "I am Severein."
"Severein, then. Why have you kidnapped me?" Terra asked. Anxiety pumped through her as much as life itself. She kept her posture and expression calm and smooth, but her heart hammered and she could only think of how she might escape from the Shade in one piece.
"I have not kidnapped you," Severein responded, "I have rescued you. You are free to go where you please as long as it is not Archadia and a few obscure regions you would never have heard of."
Terra blinked. Well that was certainly a surprise. So she could go anywhere as long as it was not Archadia? Perhaps he really had only meant to rescue her.
"I will follow you, of course," Severein continued, "saving you from Archadia won't be enough. He will send pursuit."
"Who is 'He'?" Terra demanded, "And why is he after me?"
"The Crimson-cloaked man," Severein said simply, "Remius. The false Princess Aurelion is but another of his pawns, created by him to serve as a facade for him to hide behind while he sends Gaia spiraling into further chaos. Why he is after you, I don't know. It may have something to do with your royal blood."
"I see..." Terra fell silent. She had so many questions that she forgot her desperate desire to escape. But she wasn't sure she wanted answers to some of them. So the Princess Aurelion sitting on HER throne wasn't even really the mastermind of it all. That stung. It also brought to surface the question she'd had earlier: How could the Church allow any individual claiming royal blood onto the throne? There were certain birthmarks on all of the royal family and nobles that marked them for what they were.
"It's simple: The Church wants a pawn," Severein explained when Terra voiced her question, "They would rather have accepted anyone BUT the real Princess Aurelion. The less experience, the easier they are to manipulate. Remius exploited this weakness to gain control of the Church."
"I see..." Terra said. It made sense. Perfect sense. Still...Terra hated the Church and she knew it was corrupt, but she didn't want to think of them becoming a mere tool for someone more sinister like this Remius, whoever he was.
Another question surfaced, "That woman with Remius, the fake Aurelion, she's a Shade, isn't she?"
"Yes and no," Severein responded. For the first time he looked sad and...angry? "She is like me: a person who has resisted the corruption that comes with being a Shade. Unlike me, however, she has chosen Remius' side. Why, I do not know. It may be that Remius is manipulating her. She would not choose him, otherwise..." Severein broke off and stared beyond Terra; beyond the hill; beyond anything and everything. He looked toward Archadia.

Terra realized she had touched on a something sensitive to the Shade and fell silent. The moments dragged on and neither said anything. Only the soft crackle of the fire made any noise.
At last, the Shade spoke, "Get some rest. I will watch the camp."
Terra shook her head, "No, you rest. You've escaped from the Church, fought who knows how many guards, and ran all the way out here. You need it more than I."
"I thank you for your kind thoughts," Severein spoke, "but I-"
"Don't worry. I won't go anywhere. Just rest." It was true, Terra realized. She really had no intention of leaving.
"He just seems to know so much," Terra thought, "If I stay with him, maybe I can learn how to stop Radiants from becoming Shades. He did mention resisting the madness, after all..." Terra yearned to ask about that, but it had come up on the topic of the false Princess Aurelion and Terra did not want to disturb the Shade again.
Severein stared at Terra for a moment before nodding, "Perhaps I will sleep a bit," he spoke through a yawn as he curled up under his tattered cloak and went to sleep.
"Does he really trust me?" Terra wondered as she watched him, "Or did he set some trap to alert him if I try to leave...?" She wanted to think Severein trusted her, but if she were him..."I would have warded the place a thousand times."
Terra sighed and settled into a more comfortable position and stared into the flames. All of her old anxiety was returning and mixing with her new fears. Where were Rith and Seig? What were they doing? Were they coming after her or had they been stopped in Archadia? How had those warrior-priests and High Priest Dorl emerge unscathed from her and Severein's attacks? Why was Remius after her? What did he plan to do? What was Severein's connection with the false Princess Aurelion?
Severein had answered many of her questions, but she seemed to have twice as many as before.
Another important question: Severein had said she was free to go where ever she pleased. Where would she go? Terra was certain Severein would not want to remain where they were for long. A part of her longed to go and find Seig. Rith had probably returned to Archadia, not knowing the danger he was in, but Seig would have kept on going after her. He was out there somewhere. Terra knew, however, that the chances of finding her guardian were slim. The other option she weighed was asking Severein more about the Shades. Perhaps there was a settlement for them somewhere that he knew of where she could study them and research their madness? Then again, that would also mean throwing herself amid a pack of wolves that might decide to rend her asunder without warning. Terra reached into her bundle and produced the map of Gaia. She bent over it, looking over cities, both abandoned and prospering, trying to find a place she could go until she had thought of a real destination. Carac was too close to Archadia; it was probably the first place Remius would look for her if he was indeed after her. Instead, she decided on the small, and recent, settlement of Rakar to the southwest of Archadia.

With her plan settled for the time being, Terra began to shift her gaze from the fire to the Shade and then to the outlying area. Terra felt her eyelids grow heavy. So much had happened that day...she was more exhausted than she had thought...her last thought was that she had to remain awake, but sleep was inexorable. Terra fell asleep with the hope that the next day would somehow see things turned around.

ooc: If you read this entire thing, congratulations: You've done more than most people. Comments are welcome. :D

[Masqued Serenity]

And to think you still have an RP going.

[The Almighty Cookie God]

Well, if enough people are still interested, I suppose I could give it another shot.

But the RP was based off of this, not the other way around. <<>>

[FE Freak]

tl;dr