Was peace a reality of this world? Relaxing away from the caravan of performers, Kian strummed a finger against a string. While he had been locked away in Zena so much had happened, so much had changed. The Great Oban Invasion had only been a rumor in the hallways of his mother’s home among the servants, while the battle with the Extremists had occurred while he was just leaving Zena. Even then he doubted he would have fought…fighting openly seemed a strange concept. He was so used to hiding his powers after all. And to fight before he was ready…that was not right. He wanted no one to know of his abilities, not until it was too late for the others to even dare try to control them.
Only Nerio knew the true extent of his powers, all the others he encountered only considered him a rather gifted bard.
If only they knew. Kian smirked at the thought. Still he was rather thankful that these wars had occurred. Without them he may have never had such a chance to travel this world. Being a hybrid in such a place had offered its challenges already, but now it seemed that with the countries more open to others new ideas were spreading. Who could stop love or lust for that matter? Many found attraction in a race not theirs. Little ones with obvious mixed heritages were being born and he had noticed their increase in the crowds at the performances.
Soon he could imagine hybrids of all races living freely. But even then the mage’s expression flickered. This was not a happy world. There would always be shadows to go with the lights of hope. Someone would be waiting to trigger yet another fight. And it was almost as if people had moved on and forgotten the extremists. Wasn’t it odd that they were so silent? For such a proud and strong race, Kian doubted that they would stay still and meekly accept their banishment. If not this generation then another would remember their mothers’ stories and come back with a vengeance.
Or what about the Obans? Such a proud people would all of them easily accept the weakening of their empire? “Having slaves must have been a nice luxury.” The memories of the Obans domination over the Matori was still fresh in even this generation. Kian doubted that such power was to be easily given up. If any were like him then they would stay to the shadows. The shadows, after all, were a prime place to rest and to calculate your next moves.
Something was surely bound to happen. He moved his fingers and made sharper notes in his melody as his thoughts continued. Could this world ever be a truly safe place? Unity had been proven by the reaction to the Alkidike battle, but that was because of a threat. Anything would be willing to fight together if they felt like soon their own homes would be threatened as well. In a way it wasn’t about Tale, but rather about each country’s own survival. If the Extremists hadn’t been stopped then who was next? Kian sighed as his fingers missed a note in the song.
“When everything becomes still then what next? Who will want to ruin the stillness of this life?” Even his own personal life felt too peaceful, too quiet lately. Something was bound to happen to stir the tides. That’s what he lived for and bargained on. After all what was the use of gaining more power if he had no need to defend himself or anyone? He wished to dominate others before they could even dare dominate him. In the end he would be the one to come out strong while others allowed themselves to become soft by this peaceful façade.
Perhaps that was even what one was waiting for. Out there something may be waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. It would just take a few years of peace to make certain that their enemies were weak, lulled by the quiet. He for one would not sleep. He had made that mistake once and he would never do it again. The scar that ran along his neck and chest attested to that.
Already the sun was starting to set low in the sky, “I suppose then that means my time alone is over.” He had training to do after all and his mentor waited for no one. Sure, he had to wait on him constantly but the older ice sorcerer was surprisingly not one to trifle with.
Kian smirked. And eventually he as well would become someone even more powerful than that.
(780 WC)
Only Nerio knew the true extent of his powers, all the others he encountered only considered him a rather gifted bard.
If only they knew. Kian smirked at the thought. Still he was rather thankful that these wars had occurred. Without them he may have never had such a chance to travel this world. Being a hybrid in such a place had offered its challenges already, but now it seemed that with the countries more open to others new ideas were spreading. Who could stop love or lust for that matter? Many found attraction in a race not theirs. Little ones with obvious mixed heritages were being born and he had noticed their increase in the crowds at the performances.
Soon he could imagine hybrids of all races living freely. But even then the mage’s expression flickered. This was not a happy world. There would always be shadows to go with the lights of hope. Someone would be waiting to trigger yet another fight. And it was almost as if people had moved on and forgotten the extremists. Wasn’t it odd that they were so silent? For such a proud and strong race, Kian doubted that they would stay still and meekly accept their banishment. If not this generation then another would remember their mothers’ stories and come back with a vengeance.
Or what about the Obans? Such a proud people would all of them easily accept the weakening of their empire? “Having slaves must have been a nice luxury.” The memories of the Obans domination over the Matori was still fresh in even this generation. Kian doubted that such power was to be easily given up. If any were like him then they would stay to the shadows. The shadows, after all, were a prime place to rest and to calculate your next moves.
Something was surely bound to happen. He moved his fingers and made sharper notes in his melody as his thoughts continued. Could this world ever be a truly safe place? Unity had been proven by the reaction to the Alkidike battle, but that was because of a threat. Anything would be willing to fight together if they felt like soon their own homes would be threatened as well. In a way it wasn’t about Tale, but rather about each country’s own survival. If the Extremists hadn’t been stopped then who was next? Kian sighed as his fingers missed a note in the song.
“When everything becomes still then what next? Who will want to ruin the stillness of this life?” Even his own personal life felt too peaceful, too quiet lately. Something was bound to happen to stir the tides. That’s what he lived for and bargained on. After all what was the use of gaining more power if he had no need to defend himself or anyone? He wished to dominate others before they could even dare dominate him. In the end he would be the one to come out strong while others allowed themselves to become soft by this peaceful façade.
Perhaps that was even what one was waiting for. Out there something may be waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. It would just take a few years of peace to make certain that their enemies were weak, lulled by the quiet. He for one would not sleep. He had made that mistake once and he would never do it again. The scar that ran along his neck and chest attested to that.
Already the sun was starting to set low in the sky, “I suppose then that means my time alone is over.” He had training to do after all and his mentor waited for no one. Sure, he had to wait on him constantly but the older ice sorcerer was surprisingly not one to trifle with.
Kian smirked. And eventually he as well would become someone even more powerful than that.
(780 WC)
