Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)
A Warning

Aveyon woke at some point in the evening, her eyes fluttering open. She started to panic as the unfamiliar surroundings loomed down around her, trapping her and frightening her.

She jolted upright as her heart began to race. Was she trapped in a cage again? Her eyes searched the dark room until she found Vincent’s sleeping form on the floor.

Everything came flooding back and she was able to relax a little, all tension flowing out of her muscles. He hadn’t left the room and had stayed here with her. A small smile tried to escape her parched lips.

She pushed herself out of bed pulling the blanket down with her. She curled up next to him, her back ever so slightly resting up against his as she drifted off to sleep again. She hadn’t realized just how tired she had been from the long journey until she managed to fall asleep so quickly.

But she felt safe.

The next morning, Vincent didn’t even ask why she was on the floor with him. They got up, changed their clothes, backs turned to each other, and headed out for the day.

They were to get a tour of the city, meet many of the trainers, and then figure out a training schedule for the coming weeks.

Vincent stopped on their way out of the inn, he quickly spoke to the elf behind the counter. Aveyon caught the odd look she gave him, but the elf nodded.

“What was that about?” she asked as he jogged a few steps back to catch up with her.

“I told her we only need one room, no point in two. It’s better if we stick to each other’s side.” he concurred.

Funny how he made it sound like it was for her protection, but she also knew it was for her sanity. Being inside away from the open air and wilderness had been harder for her to sleep without having him close.

As they entered the busy streets of the city, Aveyon was not prepared. She stiffened, her steps rigid and forced.

Vincent moved to walk slightly in front of her, shielding her from bumping into people as they moved through the crowd.

She pulled her hood up and over her head as onlookers began to stare. She gently took hold of the back of Vincent’s shirt as they moved through the mass of people.

“So many elves...” She commented.

“Kirra did say yesterday that all the clans were currently gathering here,” Vincent responded paying no mind to his shirt as it slowly began to tighten around his neck, she held the material firmly to keep up with his pace. “It was early hours of the day when we arrived, so we didn’t see the numbers that had gathered.”

They made their way deeper into the city, and the crowds thankfully thinned out to almost nothing.

A grey elf came running down the path calling to her. “Princess Aveyon, Princess!”

Aveyon turned, there was no point in telling the elves not to call her Princess. She had already tried and was met with an appalled look as though she had offended them.

“Hello?” She responded not sure what else to say.

“My lady...” The elf with blonde hair and blue eyes tried to catch her breath. “So sorry to disturb you...” The elf leaned against a nearby pillar and gasped for air. “My chieftain wishes to speak with you.”

“We have a pre-ordained meeting with Kirra,” Aveyon responded.

“It’s quite alright, we have let Kirra know of the request and it is of the utmost importance.” The elf insisted.

Aveyon looked to Vincent for guidance. He frowned and shrugged. “No harm can come of it.” He added.

Aveyon nodded and allowed the elf to lead them. It wasn’t far thankfully, they walked along a peddled path into a small, paved area with a fountain in the centre. Sitting off to the side on a stone bench was what she assumed was an elf. They appeared to be dressed in all black and wore a veil covering their face. The elf that had led them to the figure bowed and excused herself, running off back the way they had come.

“Princess, it is but an honour. Welcome to Elendor.” The veiled figure stood and greeted them.

“Do forgive me for the veil, it is due to a long and unnecessary fraud between the clans. Given the current circumstances I’m sure you would agree, but still, the other elves fear us.”

Aveyon raised a brow. “You could not possibly be, could you?” She questioned wondering if her suspicions were correct.

The elf removed her veil, revealing her features. She had dark, almost blackened skin with long braided ash-coloured hair. Her skin bore rune-like markings in a beautiful white that contrasted her skin tone. Her hands had long claw-like nails and when she smiled, fang-like teeth filled her mouth. The only thing that looked elfish about her was her long-pointed ears, far longer than the normal elves. She nodded confirming what the Princess thought to be true.

“Indeed, we are of the Guyrician.” She bowed politely. “I am Erisena, chieftain of the clan. We originally came from the third realm as you may have guessed. A type of demon crossed with an elf.”

“I had believed that all third realm creatures were loyal to Ashera...” Aveyon trailed off, clearly surprised.

“I wanted to be the one to explain. High priestess Kirra had wanted to after our meeting last night, but I insisted I be the one. After hearing Ashera’s name again, it needed to be this way. You see, it is my clan and our ways that aid the Demon Lord.” She spoke the last words with disgust.

Erisena motioned for them to sit beside her. “Our clan is well known for runic practices. When Ashera invaded and took control of Terramore, he stole those practices out from under us. He then used these abilities to his advantage, securing his place as the Lord and ruler.”

Aveyon and Vincent sat down as she continued to explain.

“We are not proud of our roots, our ancestors used to carve runes into creatures and channel essence through them, as a means to control them. Ashera has adopted this practice, I very much doubt that anyone under his rule is willingly following his orders. Unless... They have no souls.”

Aveyon cringed, her fallen brethren would have no souls. Letting the information sink in, her eyes widened in realization. “The demon from before, he had seemed so odd. This could explain his actions.” She looked sharply in Vincent’s direction as a few things clicked into place.

“There is a way to undo the control, which is why I asked to see you.” The elf continued. “Princess, your abilities, once strengthened, will be able to undo the runes and free the beings from his control. Ultimately making your fight easier and less likely to cause the deaths of innocents.” She added. “There are still many of my kin under his control, who knows how many others have fallen prey to his will-”

Cutting Erisena off from her explanation, a siren sounded and all three shot to their feet surprised.

“What is it?” Aveyon asked.

“A warning, one of the guard towers is calling for aid,” Erisena informed them. “I will go, the high priestess will surely need help.” She added before pulling her veil over her face again and darting off.

Aveyon looked to Vincent as his eyes appeared to be locked on the horizon. “I have a bad feeling about this.” He commented concerned.

They made their way to the front gates where a crowd of elves stood blocking the exit. Some were crying while others looked on in shock. Vincent pushed his way through to the front, and Aveyon followed close behind. She wasn’t ready for his sudden stop and slammed straight into his back.

“Shit...” She heard him mutter.

She pushed past him and wished she hadn’t. Kirra was trying her best to keep everyone back, but it was a failing battle.

As Aveyon approached everyone stopped to stare at her. She paid them no mind as she made her way to the disturbing display.

Lined out the front, only meters from the entrance of the city, something was put on view for all to see.

Six huge wooden stakes stood tall, a site she was all too familiar with. Six elves, each seeming to be from a different clan, each death put on display as if in an exhibit.

Their bodies had been impaled on stakes; the heads tired back so they didn’t dangle loosely. Their eyes were sewn open, and a black substance oozed from all openings. Below their hanging feet written on the ground in their blood was a message:

‘Death to all those that help the Alarian’s’.

It was a threat. And one that was starting to make her blood boil. If Ashera wanted to hurt her, fine. But hurting and killing other people, just to get to her? That didn’t sit right.

“How did this happen?” she muttered. Had Ashera’s followers gotten into the city?

She laid her hand on the leg of the closest victim. “I am so sorry; this should not have happened.”

“Help me get them down,” Vincent spoke to the guards, who were still standing wide eyes and open mouted, frozen with shock.

Aveyon also helped as they pulled the stakes to the ground and regrettably slid the bodies off the wood.

It wasn’t until Kirra had cleared most of the crowd that she noticed something off to the side, in the forest’s tree line.

A man was kneeling his hand limply by his sides as he looked on from a distance. His face was stained with tears; she recognized him at once.

“Erisena, I may need your help,” Aveyon called before she ran into the woods, the veiled elf close on her heels.

Aveyon coarsely approached the demon. He was sitting so still, staring at nothing as tears ran down his face. He looked broken. His arms were coated in blood, clearly, he was the one to blame for the current horrors.

“Princess?” Erisena was right behind her.

“Damon, can you hear me? We can help remove the rune that controls you.” She knelt next to the bloodied demon. His head jerked to the side, but his eyes remained lifeless. “What is wrong with him?” She asked the elf.

“If I were to hazard a guess, he’s in a state that goes against his orders. It looks to me like he is fighting his orders, or he disagrees with them.” Erisena cringed as she looked the creature over. “He is most likely waiting on new orders or waiting for an opportunity to fulfil them.” She added.

“This seems... odd, why would the demon not have orders to return after his... task?” Aveyon questioned.

“It could be a trap. Wanting us to take him into the city...” Erisena trailed off. “But honestly it is too good an opportunity for your training to not take him.”

Vincent and Kirra weren’t far behind. The moment Kirra saw the blood-covered demon she lunged attacking. It was Erisena who swiftly detained the elf. Her movements were elegant and precise, her hands moving in a blur with a speed that had Aveyon in awe. Kirra struggled against the elf’s hold glaring daggers at Damon.

“That THING deserves to die.” Kirra spat.

“I don’t disagree... please kill me,” Damon spoke in a harsh whisper, his eyes so far away.

Aveyon saw herself reflected in him at that moment, the want to stop all the world around her. To just be put to rest. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to not have control over your life. No, that wasn’t true, of anyone she could. “Damon, we are going to set you free.” She promised.

His head slowly snaked around to face her, his eyes flashing red. “You need to run, now.” He whispered.

It happened so fast, his hand a blur as he retrieved something from his pant pocket and plunged it into her leg. She fell backwards, letting out a shocked cry. She clamped her hands over her leg, expecting something more to happen.

The other three, moving swiftly, tying Damon’s limbs together, stopping him from attacking again.

Vincent was by her side in a second. “Let me see.”

She removed her hands to see a small crystal shard embedded rather deeply in her leg. She hissed as the swirling black substance within took the opportunity to escape it’s small cell and dive into her body.

“Was that?”

She nodded. “My guess is his orders were to drive me mad.”

“But you already have Ichor...” Vincent very gently pulled the shard from her leg, blood pulled but she healed quickly. “Is all Ichor the same? We know Damon is linked to Asheria... so the shard would be...His?”

Standing she tilted her head, waiting for something to happen. She sighed as a thought crossed her mind. “I think I need to ask Lady Vexous who my father is...” Though she felt she already knew the answer, given this Ichor had no effect and there were only two so-called gods.

“You don’t think?” Vincent raised a brow at her.

“Either all ichor is the same, or...”

“Or you’re related.” Kirra’s shocked voice joined the conversation. “Interesting development.”

Vincent, having seen that she was okay, turned his attention back to the demon. Damon was thrashing and fighting blindly against his binds. Erisena instructed him to bring the demon with her, as he would be useful. Aveyon would free him as a part of her training. Vincent was ordered to drag him, unwillingly, back toward the city.

“Look! They found the culprit!” Someone called as they made their way out of the tree line.

“Death to demons!” Another called. Erisena visually flinched.

Cheers arose as the elves thought they were about to get justice.

“ENOUGH!” Aveyon yelled. Her voice was loud and dominating, a part of her she never knew she had.

The entire crowd fell silent. She stared at a few of them in turn. “You all have no idea what is going on, or who this demon is. Yes, he was the one who was forced to murder your people. Yes, he has blood on his hands. But is he the true culprit? No! It is easy to jump to conclusions when you know nothing.”

Some muttering could be heard, and the crowd clearly became confused with her words.

“The real enemy is a man called Ashera.” Why she felt the need to speak at this moment, to defend the demon puzzled her but she didn’t stop, she couldn’t. “You all may see me as a death sentence, but this world is already dying, falling to his will. His end game, I do not know. But calling for death or condemning an entire race is not the way to achieve peace, to bring back balance. No one is born evil, no one is born bad, they are moulded into what they are, as you and I have been. I bid you to open your eyes and see the bigger picture.”

The crowd stood in silence, looking at her with puzzled expressions. A single elf, a male dressed in battle leathers walked forward. He had not been a part of the crowd, but a guard who helped pull the bodies down from the stakes. He stood in front of her, her body slightly tensing up. But her mouth dropped open as he dropped to one knee and placed his arm over his chest locking eyes with her. It was an Alarian salute, a show of great respect.

“I pledge my loyalty and my skills to Princess Aveyon of Alarious.” He stated.

Many others did the same until the entire city was on their knees and the pledge echoed through the streets.

Kirra smiled at her from behind, the Princess had just proven to the elves that she was no pushover. This was war, and now it was a war that they were willing to fight for.

Kirra clapped her hands together catching everyone’s attention. “Come now everyone, we have much to prepare for, Lady Aveyon is in need of dire training, and it is time to begin.” She motioned for the guards to bring the cart with the dead.

Being the high priestess, she had her own duties to attend to. “Erisena, I will leave her in your capable hands for now. Vincent, you must not use essence until we have purified you.” She added before darting off after the cart.

Vincent nodded and followed along behind Aveyon and the elf, dragging the thrashing Damon by the ankles into the city.

The dead took priory over him at this very minute, he dared not follow Kirra, choosing to wait with Aveyon until it was his turn to receive aid from the priestess.