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 Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:36 am
T A B L E x O F x C O N T E N T S
ToC
Fire Melts Ice
Watered Down
First Dragon, First Kill
Not Another One!
I Don't Like This But...
Wet Ride
Darn Grass
Enough Is Enough
The Letter
This Is How Its Done
Opposites
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:39 am
F I R E x M E L T S x I C E Already on her first day of school, Esmeralda knew exactly what it was she wanted to do. There was no thinking about it, no one to influence her choices, she just knew.
Seristas, her mother was from the cold Aiskala clan, while her father Cephcer, was from the warm Firani clan. They certainly made an odd couple, but had never imposed their clan on Esmeralda knowing that the pressure was probably enough to make her cry. Indeed, she had listened every single night her parents had explained each clan in detail, only to cry about how hard the choice was when she was alone in the confines of her own bedroom. Truth be told, she liked dragons so why did she have to hurt them? It made no sense at all, and for a long time Esmeralda thought she would join the clan of Ayrala.
Even as Esmeralda began to write down her choice on the brown parchment paper, tears were already collecting at the corners of her eyes. This was going to be her final choice, no going back now. The woman who was helping her asked her what was wrong and the little Dovaa burst out into tears about picking. She wanted to be with both her parents, it felt like she was going to be leaving them forever. Eventually, her sobs turned to soft sniffs and she signed her name away beside her chosen clan. It was done, the woman who had been helping her sent her home, her tears still hadn’t stopped coming.
Seristas was home when Esmeralda pushed the door open; the elder Dovaa was in the kitchen and popped her head from one of the walls. “What’s wrong Esme?” Puting her washing cloth over her shoulder, she approached her daughter who held out her arms. “I’ve made my choice.” She answered sadly. Seristas had always wondered how someone with such a fiery personality and one who was so disciplined and calculating could create such a sensitive child. The mother Dovaa took her child to sit on the couch, cradling her in her arms to keep her close. “Will you tell me what you’ve picked so we can announce it to your father when he comes home?”
Esmeralda did not want to share her chosen clan with her parents, much less the rest of the world. As the night approached, and dinner was served her father did come home. Her mother prompted her daughter a few times during dinner so she could announce the news, but to no avail. Tired of waiting, Seristas took it into her own hands. “Our little Dovaa has chosen a clan today Cephcer.” Esmeralda shot her mother an accusatory glance, how could she! “Oh really? What did you pick Esmeralda?” Cephcer put down his utensils to look at his daughter; both he and his wife had been waiting a long time for this day because he too wondered how they could have created such a delicate child.
There was no hiding it now. “Well, you know how I’ve always wanted to be Ayrala because I wanted to fly with dragons.” Oh! So they had a wind child, well this came as no surprise. Esmeralda had always loved dragons, and she thought flying with them would bring her closer to them. “But, I’ve decided that I don’t want to hurt anyone, I know I will have to one day hurt dragons, and so I think the best clan for me is…” She took a shaky breath, would they be mad? “I am going with Peisio.” Seristas and Cephcer turned towards each other, they should have known… Ice melts with fire to make water. Their daughter was a perfect combination of her parents, they both smiled at her. “That’s a very good choice, Esmeralda. We’re very proud of you.”
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:51 am
W A T E R E D x D O W N There was only waiting now, waiting to be called to the office so that she could take up her new clan, Peisio. Her parents had been elated of her chosen clan, which had lifted a large burden from her shoulders. Esmeralda had seriously thought that they might have been angry that she wasn’t picking on of their clans, or that they may have fought if she had chosen one of her parents clans over the other. Everything was going so smoothly, it really was a nice change from before. Though one thing tugged at her mind, she barely had any knowledge on the Peisio clan. Esmeralda knew she would be called today; maybe she could make a quick getaway to seek out one of the elders of the clan?
It was lunch when Esmeralda went out to find an elder; she found one sitting by a fountain with his old legs in the water to cool off. She approached him quietly; shy to be asking any information, but she knew she had been spotted from the twitch of his tail. “Come along young one, join me on this beautiful day,” Quietly, Esme got on the fountain, took off her boots and detached her stockings to dip her feet into the cold water. “What’s your name?” He turned to her, wise blue eyes boring into her as if wanting to touch her soul. “Esmeralda.” She whispered the name, not sure she really wanted to do this anymore, so instead she turned her purple eyes to the water. “Still clanless Esmeralda?” He mused.
“Yes.” It wasn’t hard to tell, her purple eyes gave her away. The elder coughed once, hand moving over the water. Esmeralda watched as the water began to create waves that followed his hand, and he turned his palm up a bit of the water flew into a ball atop his hand. “Why would you like to join Peisio?” He moved his hands towards her, as if offering her the ball of water. “I… I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Slowly, Esmeralda stuck out her hand to touch the ball, it rippled under her touch. “That’s very noble of you, but you can’t always save everyone. Some must die, always remember that. You can’t save everyone you meet.” She didn’t want to save everyone, just not hurt them or dragons.
The elder closed his hands and the ball collapsed back into the fountain. “I think you’ll make a fine Peisio Dovaa.” Esmeralda wasn’t really sure how he knew such a thing, but decided it was probably better to shrug it off. “Better be off now before you’re late, I wouldn’t want to keep you from your destiny.” Oh! She was going to be late! Grabbing her stocking and boots, she began to hurry as she put them on, before she was able to leave however, the elder grabbed her. “Do not forget Esmeralda, you cannot save everyone.” Blue met purple eyes as they stared at each other. “What’s your name?” He offered her a smile. “Erisi.” He let go of her as she nodded. “I can’t save everyone, but I can get stronger.” She left then, running off to meet back for her clan choosing.
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:33 pm
F I R S T x D R A G O N x F I R S T x K I L L
Dear journal,
I am pleasantly surprised to see that I am still alive after running into not only that Ysali dragon but also that Oblivionite girl. I don’t know if she has walked away from the fight alive, and I hope so of course, but I’m just happy to be back home and away from the dragon. I should be much more careful from now on, but these are words I keep repeating to myself and I still get in trouble every time I come face to face with a dragon. I need to make friends and go out in a group and not by myself if I do plan on hunting.
Esmeralda
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:47 pm
N O T x A N O T H E R x O N E
Dear journal,
I’ve killed my first dragon by myself today… And I feel terrible about it. I don’t know how I feel about all this fighting with the dragons, as a Dovaa aren’t I half dragon myself? I don’t know maybe I just have more feels than everyone else but I feel like this is completely wrong to some degree. Most of the time I am the one going out and seeking the dragons for a fight, I disturb the peace and they react like anyone else would when an intruder steps into their territory. I don’t think this fighting business is for me, is it too late to change?
Esmeralda
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:50 pm
I x D O N T x L I K E x T H I S x B U T . . .
Dear journal,
I lost to a dragon; I didn’t have to kill it but it certainly as out to kill me. Luckily I got out alive, but still, I could have died! I cried all the way home and people were staring at me wondering what had happened. I swore to myself I would only use my powers for good, no killing for me. That old man was right, I can’t save everyone and I certainly can’t save all the dragons. I swear though, I will double my efforts, maybe accompanying someone on fights to support them. I don’t know what to do, so many conflicting emotions and thoughts to think about…
Esmeralda
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 7:13 am
W E T x R I D E “Concentrate Esmeralda! This is not a hard exercise!” Esme’s bottom lip trembled as her eyes shut quickly to stop the tears from coming, her instructor was so mean! He was constantly yelling at her in front of everyone in the class, and she knew people were giggling at her in the back. This was seriously hard for her, just managing to get water out of the vase before her was stressing her out. The yelling wasn’t helping her either, Esme just wanted to crawl under a rock and die. Surely if the instructor would simply stop yelling at her she’d be able to get something right!
“Why don’t you let Esmeralda come with me Victor.” Recognizing the voice, Esmeralda opened up one eye and looked at the old man she’d met once before. He smiled at her once he noticed her and motioned her towards him with his head.
“You shouldn’t bother with her Erisi, she’ll never make it past the first classes, much less the battle field.”
“I’ll be the judge of that, now come along Esmeralda.” Everyone had gone quiet, so Esme did what he asked of her and followed Erisi out of the courtyard. “That man will get nowhere by yelling, I can hear him from across the building.” The corners of her lips curved slightly, she wasn’t at all surprised the whole place had heard her instructor. “Thank you for saving me, but what are we doing? Where are we going?” The old Dovaa chuckled lightly, and continued to weave through the halls of the academy. “We’re going to continue teaching you how to use your powers, but in a way I think I’ll fit you better.” The happiness vanished from Esmeralda’s face; she didn’t want to continue this at all.
They arrived into a smaller courtyard with a water fountain in the middle, Erisi took a seat near the fountain and Esmeralda stood in front of him. “Alright, we’re going to work slowly so you get everything I am saying. Working with water is being able to change to its current, you must be able to move with it, shifting and weaving through life as it does. You must be fluid and strong so you can move the earth, creating your own path in the world. You need to be able to do all these things, and be strong Esmeralda! For water is strong, it can crumble a rock to nothing after years, it moves the earth to create paths for itself, it can sweep away even the mightiest of its enemies. As a Peisio however, we use water for its softer touches, healing is an art, but first you must understand the nature of water.”
Esmeralda stared the man down, quiet unsure of what to make of everything, he’d seemed so into his whole speech, she felt like he’d been empowering her in the process. “Come closer child, I will show you.” Esmeralda approached him, looking into the water of the fountain, each time the old man moved his hand over the water, it moved with him. “Do you see? Try it, close your eyes and simply think about moving with the water and not moving the water.” Sighing softly, Esme got closer and put her hand over the water. She stared it down while waving her hand but the water didn’t move. “Close your eyes move with the water.” Erisi prompted and all she could do was oblige.
The first thought that came to mind when she thought of water was a turbulent ocean, but she was the ocean. She imaged huge waves crashing together, fighting with the wind and winning! She was a force to reckon with, as she took out land, sunk ships and obliterated – “Oh!” Esmeralda snapped out of her dream and looked at Erisi, the poor old man was drenched from head to toe but was laughing so hard he was bent over. “That’s very good Esmeralda, maybe next time less hand waving and less storm thinking.” Esme blushed deeply, but she’d finally done it!
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 7:34 am
D A R N x G R A S S
Dear journal,
I’ve had enough of this fighting, I don’t care if I have to change, but I will not kill another dragon! I refuse to do so, and I don’t care anymore if I let my parents down and don’t follow the same path as them. They’ll understand if I decide to go for something else, they know me better than anyone else. I’ll make new friends, ones who won’t laugh behind my back because I returned home crying. They’ll be sensible people who’ll understand and won’t judge me for my decision. Diary, this is the best decision I could ever take for myself.
Esmeralda
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:18 am
E N O U G H x I S x E N O U G H
There comes a time in a Dovaa’s life when they have to know which fights to pick because you’ll probably want to win as many as you can. This is why Esmeralda believes the Dovaa stay neutral to the ongoing war and don’t pick a side, there is no clear winner which means there is not a clear outcome. This is why when Esmeralda had had enough of all the fighting; she decided to step back from all of it. Meaning, Esmeralda stepped back from the one thing that she thought would carve the path of her entire life… Fighting dragons.
No one knew except her, she hadn’t told any of her family, friends, or instructors. Esmeralda had simply gone to the profession master and said she wanted to study dragons. That’s what she wanted to do, killing would get her nowhere. Studies, observation and many long nights of note taking would be what would win this war. Esme was sure of it, convinced to the core that fighting would simply worsen the situation. Telling her family would come later; she’d send them a letter and be done with it, knowing full well that they would certainly want to see her back home immediately. They’d have to wait though, because studies were the focus of her life now.
For her love of dragons, Esmeralda was dedicating her whole life to each and every one of them. Ysali, Ayrala, Kiandri, Firani, Peisio, Aiskala, Gaili, Aedun, Diabi and Celestial. She wanted to study them all, and gather as much knowledge about them as she could. This was her passion, dragons. However, dedicating her life to dragons seemed slightly odd considering many spent their whole lives killing the dragons, including her family. Esmeralda found she was the odd one out, not wanting to hurt the dragons but study and learn from them. Maybe, she even had a bit more dragon inside of her than the other Dovaa.
Needless to say, Esmeralda knew she had made the right choice. The scholar master didn’t even ask her what her reasons were, didn’t ask her what she wanted to study, just accepted her and sent her off on her way. There would be no more yelling, fighting, pushing herself to be fit to battle with others as healer. This was possibly the best decision she’d made since she’d decided which clan she was going to pick. Esmeralda found herself also in a debate as to if she should find Erisi and tell him of her choice, he had been her mentor and helped her develop her powers, she felt like she was also letting him down.
So, now that this change was official. Esmeralda would find him, and she would explain her decision because she felt she owed him an explanation. Deep down, she somehow knew he would accept it better than everyone else, because he was the only one who had understood her wishes to save everyone around her. This was the right path to doing so, and Esmeralda was content with her final decision.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:10 am
T H E x L E T T E R
There would be no more fighting, Esmeralda refused to kill another dragon. Her parents would probably be in shock once she told them, but she knew this was not her path anymore. That old man she’d met once, he had been her sign. She was unable to kill, but she could neither let the dragons out of her mind. Esmeralda needed to know more about them, learning, researching and soaking up everything she could about them. Plus, if she researched them there was the possibility of not having to get too up close and personal with them to figure out how to give them a killing blow.
“Mom, Dad. I would like to tell you that I am switching professions; I’d like to be a scholar instead of having to fight dragons. I believe this is the better path for me, and I hope you understand.”
Esmeralda stared down at the paper before her, her tiny hand writing ever so neat and correct. She sighed heavy and crumpled up the paper, tossing it behind her like she had that other twelve times. There was no use, she didn’t know how to deliver this message, and right now she couldn’t afford to take time away from her studies to tell them in person. She was already late in everything, and people laughed at her behind her back. It was bad enough that people laughed because of how fragile she looked, but now she was in her element, this wasn’t scary so she had to do well. Surpass everyone else.
Taking another pen and quill, Esmeralda took a deep breath, she could do this.
“Dear Mother and Father,
I hope all is well with you; I am doing well on my end. I am writing this letter to you so you understand my new choice in a life path. After much consideration and I do hope you understand where I am coming from, I have decided that fighting dragons for the good of the people is not for me. Not only will I hurt myself, but I would surly hurt someone else in the process. As a dragon researcher I hope through studies to be able to shed some new light upon the dragons, and truly help from behind the scenes.
I am currently unable to visit you, as I know you would have liked me to, but I am already quite behind on everyone else and must catch up. I will try to visit you soon however, as I know you may or may not be happy with my new decision and will want to discuss it with me. However, while I am open to your suggestions, I would also like to remind you that soon I will be an Adept, and I am growing up and trying to find my own in this world.
I will see you soon.
Love, Esmeralda.”
Now this was a good letter, a bit more affirmative then Esmeralda thought she could write but it would do her parents some good to see that she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Now all she needed to do was find a courier and send it off.
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:45 am
T H I S x I S x H O W x I T S x D O N E With Esmeralda’s new change, came a whole lot more learning. Not only did she need to ask her parents for some gold for the extensive list of supplies she now needed, but she realized quickly that her parents could not help her if she needed and pointers. The only good thing about it was that she’d been given a tiny space to keep all her studies, books and whatever have you that she would be collecting over the years. The space was extremely tiny, Esme had an old school desk, a few shelves which were growing heavy with her books, a candle, and she’d even started stacking some of her research under her desk, there was barely any room left for her legs.
After her supplies of paper, ink, notebooks and quills had been bought, next came long hours of theory. It took Esmeralda a week before she could stay awake through all the talking and note taking, it had been really hard, but she really wanted to prevail. All her work did pay off however, because her marks reflected her learning. Her ultimate goal with her studies was getting at the top of her class, because if she couldn’t be a great warrior she sure as heck was going to make a great scholar. Plus, she really believed her studies of dragons would someday help others.
Note taking became an art for Esme, at first she wrote everything down to the T and soon realized that it was not only time consuming, but she wasn’t truly learning. So, Esmeralda found a system she could use that required less time while marking down her notes and observations. From that moment on, her speed increased and she was able to take in much more information than before. A breakthrough for her really, since she’d never excelled at anything in fighting.
Her first assignment was with a small group of students and a teacher, they went looking for Ysali dragons and the teacher taught them how to find good places to observe the dragons. Trees were always good, as were bushes, water was sort of a last resort if you could find a way to breath. Good thing the dragons were only hatchlings with parents gone to fetch food for them, because many of the students got caught, Esmeralda included. It took a few tries but finally, they were invisible and just in time because the parents were flying back to their nest.
That was their first outings, the next ones were with fewer students and each time the assignments got harder. All these teachings were good for her though, because it allowed her to go out and learn about the dragons in a way Esmeralda had never learning about them before. She also liked this much better, it came easily to her, and this would be a night where she didn’t return home to cry about killing another dragon. Oh yes, there would be no crying, hopefully, from now on. Only smiles and learning and becoming great.
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:32 am
O P P O S I T E S Participants: Akilae & EsmeLocation: Somewhere in SereniaType: PRP Status: Finished --- Summary --- Esmeralda meets a hybrid whom she thinks is interesting.
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