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 Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 10:01 am
I N T R O D U C T I O N x S O L O
Fires in the Night He dusted the pads of his fingers along the tops of the smooth, silken fronds of bright green grass. All around him, there were flecks of white, yellow, red, and blue in the form of the tiny flowers that dotted the plain. Insects leaped from the greenery as he moved, then quickly disappeared back into its depths. Others fluttered nearby, their shimmering wings catching the light and reflecting it all around. Aldren's golden orbs were wide with wonder and delight. He'd never seen so much color on Zena, except in his picture books, of course.
He inhaled deeply, drawing in the scent of sweet pine and warm honey. At least, he supposed it smelled something like that. Having never come in contact with anything even remotely similar to this field, the specifics were left up to his imagination. He could only hope something so colorful and had a scent to match, right? And yes, his father had informed him that grass was itchy, but how could such a sleek looking sheet really cause any kind of discomfort?
Aldren grinned. Anyone with this much cover would surely make the most excellent hunter. Undoubtedly, all kinds of beasts lived here, just waiting to be sought out and preyed upon. The youngster crouched in the grass, tucking down until the inky splodge of his hair was concealed beneath the greenery. He was too young to join the hunting parties with his father and the rest of the tribe, but really, how hard could stalking be? Probably easier in this vivid landscape than in his dreary Zena home, where the snow crunched underfoot and left the most obvious of tracks.
There was a rustle in the grass. Aldren lowered himself close to the ground and dusted the strands to the side. The creature had a tongue that snaked out to pluck at the flowers. Black eyes, brown fur, hooves, huge ears. As the ice boy sucked in an excited breath, the beast tensed, its gaze shooting up to find him. It stared for only a moment, before it darted in the other direction with a low wail.
Aldren chased it without pause. His heart hammered, his chest burned, his muscles ached. It was hot. Within only moments, the beast had escaped him, leaping daintily across the plain and out of sight. Aldren panted softly, trying not to become too annoyed over the loss. Instead he tipped his golden gaze accusingly to the sky, where the sun blared with ferocious intensity down on him. It was different than overheating in a fur coat. This heat actually singed his skin and sent droplets of sweat skating over his icy flesh. And despite the fact that he was no longer chasing his prey, breathing didn't become any easier.
Why?
He'd chased after friends and neighborhood pets and never felt this before. His gaze tore around the prairie in confusion and fear. He had nowhere to run to. Wasn't even sure what he was running from. It was all he could do to stay on his feet and continue desperately trying to suck in air.
A cough tore from his throat, and suddenly someone was shaking him.
"Get up, son." His father's voice. Aldren's golden orbs popped open. "Get up." The older man ordered, as he shook the youngster more insistently. He was only vaguely aware of the dark haze in the room, of his twin sisters whimpering close by. It wasn't the smog clouding his room or the terrifyingly warm glow that spurred Aldren to scramble from his bed. It was the urgency in his father's voice. Someone so composed had no business sounding shaky at this hour of the night.
As soon as he was standing, one of the infant girls was shoved into his arms to free up one of his dad's hands. It could've been Sepharine or Chrystyne for all Aldren knew. The girl had been hastily bundled into a thick blanket and little else. One more moment and Aldren was also swathed in one of the thick blankets from his bed. His father grabbed his shoulder and pushed him toward the window. The ice youngster was still in a daze, and he stumbled forward on uncertain legs.
The window resisted opening for a second too long. With nothing else to do, Orin slammed his elbow into the smooth glass, tucking his daughter close in his other arm to keep any stray shards from hitting her. The glass shattered, and the older Ice man spared only a second to dust the largest pieces from the pane. "Go, be careful of your sister." Aldren's father ordered as he lifted his boy the two feet off the ground to get him through the window. "Careful." He said again as the small lad struggled to keep hold of his sister while still doing his best to scramble through the broken glass without letting any of the sharp shards near his bundle.
He'd hardly breached the threshold when he was suddenly tumbling toward the ground in a heap. There was a squeak of pain from the girl in his arms before she suddenly started wailing. But Aldren had no time to check on her. He scampered a few feet away from his home, his thick socks instantly soaking with water and his blankets dragging and tugging against the ground. He'd hardly made it two steps when a strong arm locked around his middle and plucked him (and consequently his younger sister) from the ground.
With his father carrying him now, he was free to spare a glance back at the home he'd known all his life, only to see it shrouded in thick black smoke and red hot fire.
~~~
In Aldren's mind, there was no way they should've made it through the two mile trek to his father's brother's home. Not just because they'd been so unprepared when they were thrust out into the cold, but because of the wind, the darkness of the night, and the fact that one stubborn man was carrying three children through it all. No, neither of his twin daughters were particularly heavy, and even his son was small enough to toss around without too much effort, but all three of them were swaddled in as many blankets as Orin could carry, making them bulky and hard to manage.
It could've been an hour. It could've been more, or it could've been less. Aldren was in no state to know or care. All that mattered was that he was now perched in Uncle Bastion's house before the hearth with his baby sister, Sepharine still in his arms. Auntie had dressed them in fresh, warm clothes and bundled them up in plush blankets.
Chrystyne had not been left with him. Minutes after arriving, the three adults had quickly departed into the adjoining room with the other infant girl. Their voices were hushed to spare him from their conversation, but Aldren would be lying if he said he wasn't interested in what they were saying. He had to strain to hear their voices over the crackling fire, but he could still make out the gist of the conversation.
"It was that stupid roati," Orin choked out. "The kids loved it, but it had no business being in the house." Aldren swallowed. Feathers was the fluffy young raoti they'd adopted. He was hyper and untrained, but he'd been very good at making his two little sisters shriek with delight and laughter. The young ice boy didn't even try and reason that the small creature had escaped the flames. His father continued on a ragged breath, "It must have kicked over a lamp in the girls' room. They get scared-" There was a pause as the man tried to control his emotions. "They get scared at night, with the wind like this."
The oil lamp in the twins' room. If Feathers had broken it, the oil would've spilled everywhere and easily caught the wood cabin on fire before Orin was roused enough to know what had happened. From what what Aldren understood, the excessive smoke had woken his father, and he'd rushed to save the two girls before yanking his son from sleep and thrusting them all out into the cold.
Aldren glanced down to the girl in his arms. She still had greyed, sooty cheeks and nappy hair. Every so often, she'd be seized by a coughing fit. Sleep wasn't coming easy to her, but she was too exhausted to do much more than whine pitifully. The young ice boy swallowed uncertainly and set her delicately on the floor, tucking the blankets securely around her to keep her from moving too far while he scouted out the other room. He was surprised by how shaky he still was when he stood, but he ambled toward the doorway, nonetheless.
He tamped down the fear he felt just at the scene. His father sitting at the table with his face buried in his hands, his aunt and uncle crowded around him, murmuring gentle words and apologetic touches. And Chrys? Still tucked in his lap, unmoving and silent.
Aldren swallowed down the knot in his throat. It was more terrifying than anything he'd witnessed that night. Worse than the smoke, the flames, or the frostbite on his feet. For some reason, he was certain it wouldn't be as bad if they knew he was there. Somehow that would make it better. "F-father?" He stammered out hesitantly.
All eyes turned to him, first Auntie and Uncle, then, more slowly, his father's. Orin stared back at him with red eyes and burning cheeks. Slowly, a hand reached out to Aldren. "Come here," the older man ordered. The youngster obeyed after only a moment, though his old man's expression still made him weary. Once he was within arm's reach, he was scooped up to stare directly into his Orin's eyes. Desperation, fear, uncertainty, sorrow... "Take care of her," his father pleaded. Aldren had only a moment to glance at the covered bundle in his father's lap. "Take care of Seph. It's too late for Chrys."
~~~
Years ticked away. Though he knew he'd be welcome at Uncle's house if he needed it, Aldren had no desire to be anyone's sob story. When he felt he was ready, he asked his uncle for assistance in rebuilding the home they'd once left behind. It was time he and Seph moved on their own. She was his sister- his responsibility, and he shouldn't weigh down the rest of the family with his problems. So the two of them were off on their own, living, or more accurately, existing.
"It's so humiliating being carried like some useless princess," Sepharine scoffed as she hooked her arms around Aldren's neck.
The older ice lad only sighed as he scooped her from her bed, lifting his frail baby sister close to his chest. "You wouldn't have to be if you'd practice with your crutches more often," he grumbled.
It had been nearly six years since the accident that had left them as little more than a broken family. In that regard, Seph was hardly his "baby" sister, anymore, even if she still needed to be looked after like one. The frigid cold and winds that had killed her sister had taken more than just an emotional toll on her. The frostbite had also claimed one of her legs straight up to her knee, as well as all the toes on her surviving foot. Sometimes she joked that it had gotten her nose as well, and that was why she had the most dainty upturned nose, but Aldren doubted the validity of her claim. Pug nose or not, the girl was hardly capable of standing on her own, let alone actually walking. She now hobbled from place to place on her crutches, teetering back and forth in the most pathetic of manners. She'd quickly learned that she hated trying to hobble about, so very rarely did she leave the house.
Their father, Orin had joined Bergchi several years ago, now, leaving behind little except the small shack he'd built. Aldren was pretty sure he'd lost the will to live as soon as his son was capable of fending for himself and Seph. He'd passed quietly in the night, leaving his two remaining children alone in the mountains.
Uncle Bastion and Auntie still lived close by, but they had a budding family of their own, and no time to care for two extra youngsters, let alone a girl who could hardly walk. And they especially did not have the amount of food required to satiate Seph's ravenous appetite. For such a scrawny girl, she sure could shovel it down...
In any event, that left Aldren to handle all the chores of the house. He scoped out the shallow caves nearby for the vibrant edible flowers that grew on the vines there. He'd learned to set traps for smaller animals, and was perfectly capable of cleaning and gutting the meat, as well as preserving the pelts all on his own. The older Ice Tribe members still forbid him from joining their hunting parties, under the excuse that he was still "too young." Aldren would've gladly thrown a slush ball at any of them.
Sepharine groaned in annoyance and rolled her eyes at him. "I'm tired of sitting and staying, Aldren. We'll be forever stuck in this loop unless you do something about it. I want to move forward," she insisted, giving the free curls at the nape of his neck a sharp tug.
The lad grunted in response as he set his sister down gently in her chair in front of the fire."Hn. When you can make it more than a few steps without getting tired and frustrated, then we'll talk. Until then, stoke the fire," he commanded, handing her a poker and nudging a few of the nearby logs into her reach with the toe of his boot. He doubted Sepharine would want to start practicing immediately, which meant it was time for him to get on with the days chores. There were still a few lingering house renovations that needed to be made, food supply needed to be restocked. He glanced to the wood pile. Looked like that was getting low too. Just another thing to add to the list…
For all Seph's whining, it would be a long and arduous day ahead. She'd have to dream without him for now.x
x
Results: Aldren recounts the fire that destroyed his home and decides it's time to move out on his own, with Seph in tow.
Word Count: 2411
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Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 12:34 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 9:52 am
W O R L D x E V E N T x R E F L E C T I O NRain Isn't the Only Problem ALDREN'S THOUGHTSResults: ???
PRP Posts: ???
JR Word Count: ???
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2015 10:32 am
C L A S S x A F F I N I T Y x S O L O
Dreams of Grandeur No one ever said small, adorable, harmless, crippled girls couldn't be sneaky. And if anyone had said it, they were clearly wrong. Of course, Sepharine had no desire to be malicious. Quite the contrary; her intentions were simply pure. But... Aldren would likely not take kindly to her method of helping ease his stresses. So, bluntly put, it was best if he remained unaware for the time being. He would find out in the morning, one way or another.
"Brother?" Seph called out as she heard the winds howling briefly through the opened front door before it crashed shut again. The sound of his boots was heavy against the wooden floorboards as he approached the partitioned 'kitchen' of their abode. And kitchen was probably the politest term for the little vestibule of a room, packed with dried herbs and meets and fire logs.
But Aldren poked his head through the entryway with a smile, clearly oblivious to their shoddy living conditions. "What's up, Seph?" He questioned as he paused to dust thick chunks of snow from his coat and flipped icy crystals off of his hood. It was already basically dragged through the entirety of the house, so a few extra puddles along the floor likely wouldn't hurt anything more than it already was.
Seph's lips quirked up in amusement. "Well, you're... working hard as always, so I thought... I'd... make you something."
Aldren's golden orbs widened a fraction in delighted surprise. After shedding his boots, he moved the few steps to stand before his chair-bound sister, crouching down in front of her with the hopeful stare of a mutt about to receive a treat. "I made you tea," she told him as she reached out to slide the heated kettle across the counter top and closer to her brother.
The older Ice boy'sbrows knit, and he rumbled out, "Seph... You know you aren't supposed to start fires alone... Especially while I'm out... If something went wrong I-"
"Well, it didn't," she interjected, waving the comment away as she produced a small tea cup to anoint with her creation. Unbeknownst to her brother, the fire was the least of her crimes. Because poured in the cup, hidden beneath countless bitter herbs and grasses was an even more bitter, fiery liquid. One that Aldren wouldn't be thrilled to know she'd purchased and even less pleased to not know he was drinking. It wasn't Sepharine's intention to go behind his back. She didn't want him to feel unwell or angry. She just... wanted him to loosen up a little. Of course Aldren was all smiles and daisies for her, but their life was hard, and she knew he felt the strain of it. He was just a sixteen-year-old boy, after all.
And here was hoping a few cups' worth of alcohol would ease the tension a little, for however short a time it may be. Seph handed the glass off to her brother with a sheepish smile, and he took it carelessly, giving her a smile and a soft murmur of thanks. Seph should've expected the puckering of his lips and the scrunching of his face as he took his first sip. She knew it likely tasted putrid, so she tried to keep herself from wincing in his stead. Must remain strong! Aldren pulled the cup from his lips, the muscles in his torso tending as he struggled not to choke on the burning bitter liquid. "What's wrong?" Seph asked as he scrutinized the cup. "Don't you like it?"
Aldren inconspicuously dusted away the water forming in the corners of his eyes. "It's, ah... You haven't tried it?" When she shook her head with an excuse of how it was for him, he grimaced. "It... would be rude of me not to share. It's your creation, so of course you should take part."
She insisted that she shouldn't. Even more vehemently, she insisted that Aldren shouldn't waste her efforts for him. If he suspected foul play, he didn't comment, and slowly, very slowly the kettle drained, with each sip (which turned to large gulps soon enough, in the hopes that the liquid would disappear more quickly) warranting a slightly less disgusted reaction. By night's fall, Aldren and Seph were back in the living room. Seph was seated in her chair, enjoying the glow of the fire, and the easy, careless (if not slightly slurred) chatter of her brother. Most of it was incoherent nonsense, of course, that achieved little more than to bring a smile to her face.
But as Aldren leaned back, resting against an under-stuffed pillow, he hummed, "Can't wait to git outta here." Sepharine's interest was peaked. She knew her brother had dreams of adventure, but he'd never phrased it quite like that. She gave him an encouraging nudge to continue. "Whin yer older, and more capable, wheel be free to do as we want. Go to the forest, go to the beach, the desert. And wheel do better th'n the oth'rs. Wer smarter, y'know." Questionable, but Seph didn't argue. "I decided a long time ago... not to be like them... Everything can be solved with magic. Mother would be here. No house fire. So Dad and Chrys too..."
Things were taking an unexpected turn for the sad, so with a tiny mewl, Seph clambered from her chair and crawled across the floor, peeking up over the edge of the couch to touch his face. "Aldren, that- Don't worry about them. The past is the past. They're happier now and-"
"They're dead now!" He snapped, and uncomfortable feeling quick to settle around him. He squirmed a bit, cheeks reddening and eyes watering. "And I can't. Do this. Anymore." And then he was sobbing, arms flailing out to tangle around Seph as she leaned over him, settling her head on his chest as whatever form of comfort she could offer.
"Magic?" She offered, hoping to pull the conversation away.
"I dunno where I have to go t'learn or how hard it'll be or what'll hafta do, but I will. We'll be happy. Away from here and th's mess..." He babbled for some time longer, while Seph held him and pet his hair. he spoke of his concerns (in an only slightly undiscernible language) that he would never have the true drive to leave, or that he'd forget, or that he'd be too weak when the time truly came.
Seph soothed him, murmuring softly. "No, no, I won't let you. It's alright. I'll remind you in the morning. It'll be okay..." In retrospect, she wondered how good an idea this had been. She didn't doubt Aldren needed to let the steam off, but... he seemed a little deeper into his stupor than she'd intended. Deep enough that she'd probably gone slightly beyond loosening the tension and more into will-be-vomiting-all-day-tomorrow. he likely wouldn't thank her for this. She wasn't all that enthused, herself, about how distraught he apparently was by the past.
But on the other hand, he at least had aspirations, which she hadn't been fully aware of before. Her brother had a goal too. One that would lead them away from here. And if it was up to her, it'd lead them sooner rather than later.x
x
Results: Aldren expresses an interest in magic.
Word Count: 1206
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Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2015 7:46 am
P R P x R E F L E C T I O NWelcome Home ALDREN'S THOUGHTSResults: ???
PRP Posts: ???
JR Word Count: ???
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Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:39 pm
P R P x R E F L E C T I O NCaught in the Cold Days in Zena are not often full of a great deal of surprises. The landscape is grey, the people all seem resigned, and there is a distinctly mundane routine to stick to, always.
Imagine my surprise when, right out of the snow, a beautiful golden-haired maiden emerges. I mean, she was laying in the snow and lucky to be found alive. And perhaps 'maiden' is too... feminine a word to attribute to Zumei. The point is, she clearly didn't know how to handle herself out in the elements and wouldn't have stood a chance if not for me. I'd wager this was her first trip to Zena. It certainly sounded like it.
Meeting her was peculiar, but not necessarily unwelcome. She is certainly the brightest that can be found out here. And a girl... I don't often meet foreign girls. Or any girls. Most of the people in my village are quite a bit older than me, with their children moved off to explore until they're ready to return home and settle. This... is about the time I'd be heading off too, if not for Seph. But this is fine. I was pleased to meet a new face, regardless, though of course there was no way she could stay. Even less of a way, since my little sister didn't seem to get on with her.
She was permitted to stay the night, and then I brought her to the nearest town the following morning.Results: Met Zumei.
PRP Posts: 14
JR Word Count: 244
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2016 3:53 pm
W O R L D x E V E N T x R E F L E C T I O NAt Large Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems like a lot of people have been finding themselves lost near our humble village. Lost, or otherwise misplaced. The thing is that most of them seemed to be young women, near my age. Untried in the world and clearly out to explore. Decidedly less middle-aged men roaming about, trying to pick fights with strange animals.
And really, what even was this guys deal? He should've known better than to be out this far from civilization, in my opinion. I get it, we're all familiar with the cold and must brave the snowstorms to travel, but where was he even going? And why? Was he hunting this weird stone monster specifically?
I'd say not, since he looked as surprised to see it as I felt.
Regardless, some random's dudes business is not mine, and I feel less inclined to help him than those pretty, helpless ladies, roaming about in this frosty wasteland. Hope he made it out alright, but if he's going to attack strange animals out of the blue, he probably got what was coming to him!Results: +1 Versatile Point; met Ruelash.
PRP Posts: 7
JR Word Count: 185
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 6:45 pm
ALDREN'S THOUGHTSResults: ???
PRP Posts: ???
JR Word Count: ???
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 6:50 pm
I had my reservations about this big shindig, aaaand, admittedly, they weren't entirely off base. As it turns out, the desert is hot and not really a place for people like me and my little sister. The temperature was unforgiving and the combatants even more so. The terrain was shifty and didn't do a great job of cooling anything down. I dreamed of grass. Oba is not full of grass, surprisingly. I'm fairly certain this is likely the worst sunburn I've ever had. The only sunburn? Regardless, it is not. Pretty. And it does not feel good.
So, desert travel and impromptu decisions to compete in combat against strangers aren't really my thing. But festivals are another thing entirely. I've never seen so many people! So, so many people, with peculiar colors and peculiar clothing and a great deal of skin showing.
Even the girls. So much skin.
Quite enjoyable, overall. And the travel and sunburn were probably worth the experience. Oh! And Zumei was there, of course, considering she made most of the venture with us. W shared some fair snacks and complained about our match failures together. I think she was disappointed in the turn of events, but she's such a plucky little lass. I think we did well, all things considered.Results: +1 RP/Battle credit; round one loser.
META Posts: 4
JR Word Count: 214
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Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2016 7:08 pm
I'm not sure I'm ready to return home.
I suppose I should be. We've spent many weeks traveling now, and I know the distance is hard on Seph. We've had many experiences I didn't think we ever would: an Oban competition, a Sautian fair, beautiful, beautiful foreign girls. The miles traveled must surely span in the hundreds. Maybe more. Thousands? Isthere even thousands of miles of world? I feel like I've seen as much of this great plane of existance as I ever will, and yet, it's not enough.
It pains me to say it because it's not enough, but it has to be. I've no business venturing as far from home again. Not in the ear future, or maybe ever. So I suppose I should be grateful for this time and be sure to treasure these memories forever. I am pleased my sister had the chance to experience these things and especially delighted that I was able to share the adventure with a friend. Quickly becoming a good friend, I think.
Though, after this, I don't know when or even where I will see Zumei again... She spoke of wanting to move on as well, though that was before this whole experience. She probably didn't mean anything by it. It was only said in passing. But still...Results: Aldren and Zumei play a game.
META Posts: 3
JR Word Count: 218
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Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:29 am
G R O W T H x S O L O
Lingering The days since his return from Oba trickled by in the most uninspired and mundane of ways. It was as Aldren expected and feared; having a taste of something better left him wanting. And he wanted badly. Everything was more beautiful than Zena. Everything was more exciting than Zena. The people were bizarre, the food had so much flavor, and some places even had grass. He loved grass, and he'd always known that, though he hadn't expected how much he'd love grass until he actually touched it. And smelled it! Grass even smelled wonderful.
Snow just smelled like bitter cold, if it wasn't stuffing up his nose and making it impossible to smell anything at all. All of Zena smelled like snow. There was no grass to be seen. Which was probably the most horrible torture anyone could ever endure, Aldren was sure. It made him regret maintaining composure during his trip and not rolling about in those pungent greens like an overexcited puppy while he could.
It was too late for any such thing now, because Aldren found himself back in the snow. In the ice. In the cold. Bundled from his toes to the tips of his ears in thick, heavy fabric. How could anyone even move like this? Yes, he'd managed it well enough before, but now it just seemed nigh impossible...
Still, he couldn't stand to stay in the house. If he did, Sepharine would ask him what was wrong, and he'd have to say, "Nothing, of course!" And smile. And be cheerful. And not let her see that he was dying inside. She was the only one there, now, what with Auntie and Uncle having returned to their lives as well. Even his golden-haired Wind maiden had stopped off right where the traveling family had picked her up originally. Aldren still couldn't say for sure if he'd ever see Zumei again. She had said she'd move on, and she probably would. Away from Zena. Away from the cold. Away from him.
Another torture.
Maybe he was being just a touch melodramatic, but it didn't feel like it now. He knew he'd be fine in the span of a few days, so best to spare his younger sister the trouble of worrying over him. He could already see how that conversation would go, and it wouldn't leave either of them feeling any better. It wouldn't solve either of their problems or do anyone any good. It was just best if he spent most of his time outside for now.
Unfortunately, the outside was doing as much harm as good.
After his abysmal showing in the Oban competition, Aldren had taken it upon himself to procure his own staff. In some hopeful corner of his mind, he'd thought he couldn't really be that bad at anything. Magic was new, yes, but it was a skill just like any other. And even if he wasn't great at much of anything, he wasn't exceptionally terrible, either. It must be because he'd used a loaner weapon. He hadn't had one that was his. Despite insistences that he didn't need any help and he could purchase one on his own, Uncle had pitched in the coin to provide him with one.
Against his best wishes, it wasn't going well. He could cast, sure, enough so that the spells would actually happen, as opposed to nothing at all, but that was essentially the only constant. Power, direction, and overall success were practically entirely random, with a tendency to not go quite the way Aldren planned.
If he was in a foul mood before, this didn't help. "Stupid," he hissed softly, abruptly flinging the staff with enough force that it was promptly entirely gone from his vision, beneath the snow. For a moment, he glowered at it, despite a nagging in the back of his mind that he needn't be so offended at something with no will of its own. Especially not something that was his, that had been purchased as a gift. He had no right to be upset, and even less of a right to treat it so poorly.
After a brief internal tantrum, Aldren let out a withered sigh and stalked to retrieve his weapon of choice. He still believed magic was the answer to all their struggles. Other people (not him) could do amazing things with it. Performers, fighters, healers... The possibilities seemed so endless, but it always looked so effortless and natural when someone else did it. When it came from him, it just looked like a bloody mess.
And it rubbed the young Iceling in all the wrong ways. He'd never had to practice to be able to accomplish anything. That wasn't to say things didn't get easier the more he did them, but even at the start, things were usually passable. And 'passable' suited Aldren just fine. The whole of his life seemed 'passable.' Workable. It was what he knew.
He was less familiar with outright failure. And outright failure was horrible.
The horrible torture of Zena and the horrible torture of loneliness, and the most brutal torture of failure. He was never leaving this place. He was sinking, and he knew it.
After a few more rounds of not-so-excellent spellcasting, Aldren decided it probably wasn't worth his time to remain outside. He trudged home, feeling an unsettling mix of dissatisfaction, need, and entrapment.
Sepharine was waiting for him when he walked through the door. And of course she was. She had nowhere else to be, couldn't move on her own, couldn't be useful to society- It was an awful thought the second he had it, and Aldren's lids pinched shut as he tried to force it away. She was a darling angel, his closest family, his sweet sister, and she probably felt at least as badly as he did. Neither could do anything about it. Such was their life.
Sepharine did not waste time with pleasantries or formalities. "You look unhappy, Big Bro," she commented as her gaze rose from the pages of her book to meet his. Her tone was neutral and her golden eyes unwavering.
Aldren tried to match it. "Oh, you know. This just- giving me more trouble than I thought," he replied with a half-baked choke of a laugh.
Silence fell. Aldren slipped from the living quarters to the kitchen area just behind. He could still see his younger sister in her chair from his vantage point, and though the direction of her attention had tipped back to the book, she very clearly was not reading. She thumbed the page, smearing her finger over tattered parchment and old, fading ink. She waited until he returned to the living room, mug of cider in hand, and plopped down onto the floor before speaking again. "You might find someone to teach you," Seph offered. "It isn't as if we have an extensive collection of books on the subject, and if you can't manage on your own, then-"
"I can manage on my own," Aldren hissed, irrationally hostile. It wasn't fair to speak to her that way. He knew it wasn't. So he settled and rolled his shoulders. "Besides, you know no one here practices it. No one here has ever practiced it. It is not the way. There isn't anyone who can teach me."
The girl across from him did not look convinced. She knew what their village was: a small group of hunters, satisfied enough to work with their hands and provide for themselves and their families without the added flourish of magic. It was a difficult but rewarding life, and one that would serve well the young adults who ventured out into the world on their own, until they were ready to return, start their own families, and begin the process again.
Sepharine inhaled a steady breath. "You are old enough to leave this place. Uncle said so. And there are teachers out there, in all the places you've dreamed of going."
"All the places we have dreamed of going, and you are not old enough. I can't leave you here by yourself, Seph. You know I can't..."
"My age doesn't have anything to do with it, so don't pretend it does. I am not strong enough. You can say it, you know. I am well aware of what I am."
"I didn't mean-"
The young Ice female straightened as much as she could beneath her great swatch of blankets. Being in her chair, she was perched higher than her older brother, and she glowered down at him with very thinly veiled impatience. "I do not want you to stay here on my behalf."
He hadn't been trying to be mean, truly, but deep frustrations were starting to bubble up, and Aldren snapped. "I don't care what you want. I'm giving you what you need. You need to be looked after and taken care of, and no one else is around to do it. Our father asked me to be there for you no matter what. He asked me to see to your safety and happiness, and-"
"Well, I'm not happy!" Seph shouted back. "How could I be? Watching you hurts me. Do you think I like needing you to give up your dreams to stay by my side? I will never leave here. I understand that. You can- you should find your own life out there. It will be better for both of us." She paused, adjusted her blankets, tucked a hair behind her ear and muttered more quietly. "You're unhappy. I'm unhappy. We don't both need to be this way."
What was he supposed to say? That she was wrong? That he wasn't unhappy? That it would get better? That as long as they had each other-? Instead, Aldren said nothing as he stood. He couldn't be made to leave. He wouldn't. So they were both upset right now, it would blow over. He stepped into the adjoining room, pinching the bridge of his nose as he did, and almost missed his sister's quiet warning.
"I will speak to Uncle, when next he visits."x
x
Results: For a long time, Aldren has resigned himself to living in Zena. While he had high hopes about exploration as a young boy, his sister's handicap has mostly put a stop to all that. Sepharine can't walk and so, can't adventure. Since he is her only remaining immediate relative, coupled with what was basically his father's dying wish, Aldren has felt all but obligated to stay by her side. Unfortunately, as the years progressed and after a brief taste of the journey he craves so badly, he's found himself hitting a hard depressive slump that not only affects his mood and demeanor, but also his magical capabilities.
Since she has known him her entire life, Seph watched this progression, from a peppy young lad to a slightly more reserved adolescent to a rapidly deteriorating teenager. While Aldren definitely doesn't agree to leave and would never admit to feeling depressed, the decision is about to be taken from his hands. If Seph doesn't need him, he'll no longer have a reason to stay. It will hurt him, of course, because being unneeded is one of Aldren's greatest fears, but it will also be good for him.
This is one of the last times he will see his sister for many months, maybe even years, to come.
Word Count: 1685
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2016 11:10 am
W O R L D x E V E N T x R E F L E C T I O NCreepy Crawlers ALDREN'S THOUGHTSResults: ???
PRP Posts: ???
JR Word Count: ???
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Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:49 pm
B A T T L E x R E F L E C T I O N[Zena] Akiyal vs Aldren ...
(N/A - NRP battle)Results: Won the battle.
Word Count: N/A
JR Word Count: N/A
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 8:17 am
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2016 8:18 am
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