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 Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 1:52 pm
Youngling Solo 1 (Contest Entry)
“Oh great, it’s eely Ilsa’s turn. Make sure you stay away! You’ll slip on her slime.” A round of laughter bubbled up around the group of younglings as they gathered around the target of their bullying. It was hard to ignore the darker skinned Aishan in the group, especially when she stood alone around so many of her lighter sisters. This was far from the first insult they’d ever hurled her way, or the most creative for that matter, but it still hurt nevertheless.
For a long time she’d wanted nothing more than to be a part of their group. Looking out among their numbers she could see the way the girls casually touched one another ( a hand on a shoulder, tugging on a wrist, leaning on one another to laugh…) and dreamed of having a friend she could be that casual with. When her eyes caught that of her ‘best friend’, an alkidike named Evi, and saw the girl quickly avert her gaze to avoid detection her heart ached. As close as they were she knew that Evi’s friendship came at a cost. She wasn’t allowed to talk to her in public, was never allowed to sit beside of her during lessons or so much as say her name where others could hear. Evi didn’t want to be bullied like Ilsa was and had said on multiple occasions that if Ilsa was as good a friend as she said she was then she would understand. She did, of course she did, but still…maybe one day she could have what they had with Evi.
That day they were doing a foot race to see which of the girls showed the most promise. Each group consisted of four trainees, and they were tasked with running toward a large stone, circling it and making their way back to the instructor as quickly as possible. The biggest issue for Ilsa? Her ribs. Only a day prior she’d gotten into an altercation with some of the other girls and now she sported several very large, very deep bruises. The child had even walked to her classes with a limp that none of her instructors seemed to care about. Her mothers were furious, but there was only so much angry words could do when the instructors set to teach her were keen on looking the other way. Ayona had forbade Ilsa on going that day, but she was determined.
If she could make it, if she could really do it, then maybe Evi would be proud enough to openly be her friend! She had to show them that she wouldn’t be beaten no matter how much it hurt.
So, when the race started Ilsa tried her best to push through the pain. Every time her feet hit the ground her body screamed and the little one felt tears pulling at her dark eyes. Still, she never once thought of stopping! She ran harder, and harder still until she reached the stone at the same time as her biggest bully; Mako.
The proud Alkidike’s eyes widened with surprise that quickly faded into rage. “Go back to the swamp where you belong!” With a hard shove, she pushed Ilsa down onto the ground before taking off at a sprint. The other two racers reached the stone as Mako took off, barely passing a glance at Ilsa as she cried before running off on their own.
You have to get up…you just have to! Ilsa’s body protested when she started to get up and the girl found herself wheezing. Her breathing was much worse than it had been before, but she just…she just knew that if she stopped now that Evi would never want to play with her like she did the other girls. She was scared, scared of them and Ilsa was too. Mama Kanai wanted her to show them how strong she was, how amazing her background made her, but it was so hard…Sometimes she just wanted to curl up and forget it all.
But then she would remember how sad it made Mama Ayona and she just couldn’t.
So, pushing through it, Ilsa rose up into a flat sprint. Adrenaline made her pain second only to the burning desire to show Mako exactly what she was made of! Quickly enough she surpassed the other two runners and was closing in on Mako. The alkidike had slowed her pace to a jog out of sheer over confidence; a pride that made her easy to overtake. It may have been only by a few feet, but Ilsa passed the finish line before Mako could even comprehend what had happened!
And once her victory had been secured the child promptly fell on her face with a loud cry. Her entire body was alive with the most pain she had ever felt in her life. Rolling onto her back was beyond difficult, but when she looked up at the faces surrounding her, blurry as they might be, she could see Evi. And for once her friend was smiling when she looked at her, momentarily proud despite the situation, which made it all worth it.
The grown ups super vising them were screaming about something or another, possibly scared over the blood coming out of her mouth, something about broken ribs, but Ilsa didn’t care. Her friend was smiling; in front of others! And Mako….Oh, Ilsa could see just enough of the other alkidike to see rage mottling her beautiful skin a variety of ugly colors, just like her soul.
She knew she was going to be in so much trouble when her mothers found out, but Ilsa couldn’t have been happier in that moment if she’d tried. If this is what it took to beat them, to finally get what she wanted, then she could do it. She had to be better than that at everything, so she would! And when they finally liked her then she could breathe…
[991]
[3]
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Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 12:55 pm
Youngling Solo 2
When Ilsa returned from her folly in the pit Ayona was there waiting for her. Kanai had gone off on a training expedition and although she’d offered to stay home her partner had insisted she go. Someone needed to stay with Ilsa and it wouldn’t do for Kanai’s skills to wane just because she was a mother. That being said she’d almost thought the house was empty as she snuck back in, but her Elarian caregiver was simply sipping on some tea in the sitting room. As soon as she saw her little one banged up and bruised, absolutely soaked in mud, she panicked. She quickly helped gather enough warm water to get a bath together for Ilsa and had the girl soaking in the warm tub before Ilsa could even adjust.
“Was it Mako again?” Ayona carefully dipped a rag into the water. Her hands were gentle as they went over her daughter’s skin as if cautious of bruising she couldn’t yet see.
Ilsa remained silent. Instead of answering, she looked down at her knees in the water and winced as her mother’s fingers went over a tender spot. The only thing that jolted her out of her mental reverie was the bucket of water that was dumped over her head.
“I’m talking with her mother. Kanai said she had it handled, but obviously she doesn’t…” The elarian groused. When Ilsa turned to look at Ayona her mother’s features were pulled into a vengeful sneer. If asked outright Ilsa would have said that Kanai was the scarier of the two, but in that moment she could understand why others might fear Ayona. When she wanted to – which was rare – she could be intimidating.
When she asked Ilsa exactly what happened she explained the situation. She talked about how the other girls had pushed her down, how she’d tried to climb out, and about the nice Elarian who helped her out.
“An Elarian?” That seemed to peak Ayona’s curiosity. There weren’t many of her kind on Chibale and while numbers grew every year the sight was still so rare that she would have known them if they stayed. “Which one?”
“She said she was passing through with her daughter.” A few gentle taps on her head let Ilsa know she needed to lean back and a little sigh slipped out as her mother started cleansing her dreads. The oils that Ayona used were making the entire room smell like flowers, but none Ilsa had ever smelled before. When she’d asked about them all Ayona had ever said was that they were from home. “Her daughter is an elidae.”
Ayona’s fingers stilled. “…Is that so?”
“Mm’hmm.” With her eyes closed it was hard to tell exactly what her mother was thinking. Her fingers picked the rhythm back up, but there was a hesitancy there, as if the older woman was too lost in thought to care.
“So they were from Kiros?”
“Yeah! That’s what she said.” When she peeped open an eye Ilsa caught sight of Ayona tucking a few blood red dreads behind her ear and when she saw her daughter looking at her she smiled. “Do you…do you think we could go one day?”
“Perhaps.” She said at length. Ilsa wasn’t so sure what to make of it. She knew they would have to wait until Mama Kanai came home to ask again, but she thought that maybe, just maybe, when she got big enough she’d like to go. That lady had made it sound so nice and as fulfilling as it would be to see Zinris a part of her was also intimidated by going. What if they treated her like the alkidike did? At least Kiros was different and maybe someplace with so many different Aishans would be good for her.
[634]
[2]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:04 pm
Prentice Solo 1
Ilsa settled down atop the sand and watched as wave after wave came crashing along the shore. Just yesterday she’d been in this very same spot with an entirely different group of people and as awkward as it had been at first, she found herself smiling just thinking of it.
“Someone’s happy.” Kanai walked up to her daughter and lowered down beside her with a sigh. The older Alkidike held a skewer of roasted meat out to Ilsa who happily took it. By smell alone she could tell it was slathered in her favorite Matorian herbs and the first bite made her soul sing.
On her other side Ayona came to rest, but instead of dinner she held a wineskin. After she’d taken a few sips she raised up just enough to pass it over Ilsa’s head to Kanai, who was all too happy to have a drink with her dinner.
“Did you make some friends?” Ayona moved so that her body was at a half turn and the Elarian was better able to see her family. The question was asked innocently enough, but the intent was clear. You weren’t getting picked on, were you?
“I think so.” Ilsa stated with a small smile. “I was training, and they were going to have a picnic. I offered to leave, but they invited me to join.” She still couldn’t believe it had happened. Ilsa’s ‘friends’ back in Chibale were friends in name only. When it came down to it she knew they didn’t really have her back, but the ones she’d made here seemed genuine. “I had a good day.”
The two older Aishan’s exchanged smiles behind their daughter’s back and even without seeing Ilsa knew they were pleased. That was the best feeling out of everything; knowing she could take some of the weight from their shoulders. As much as her mothers cared for one another they couldn’t shield their daughter from the cruelties tossed into her path. Kanai had grown angrier over the years, Ayona was more withdrawn, and Ilsa endeared.
In moments like these she could remember who they really were and be grateful that such people still existed.
“Maybe you’re more like your mothers’ than we thought.” Kanai murmured around her meal. “Spending all that time flirting with Elidae; you’re attracted to Aishans just not your own kind.”
And at that Ayona reached behind Ilsa to smack her partner. Kanai gave out a cry, choking on some of the seasoned meat while Ayona huffed. “What she meant to say was we’re glad you’re able to spend more time around Aishans, no matter what kind.” That was obviously pointed toward Kanai. “Vetra and Enya seem like perfectly nice girls.”
“…Kyllha was there too.” Just what were they getting at?
“Yes, a child, Ilsa.” Ayona’s smiled softened. “But the other two are closer to your age and single as far as I know. It’s such a nice thing to know you’re spending time making all kinds of friends and not…earthling friends.”
And there it was. The subject of her date hadn’t been brought up in quite some time, though Ilsa knew her mothers wouldn’t let it go so easily. They hadn’t been happy when she told them where she’d gone off to, less so when she said it was an enjoyable experience and one she wouldn’t mind repeating.
“Is it bad to have earthling friends?” Friends, of course, being loose in this sense. She doubted they would care if she had a cordial relationship with a baker, but if she decided to marry said baker…”I thought you always taught me to be open minded, and accept who the goddesses put before me?”
“We did and we do.” Ayona quickly amended. “…I just worry that you wouldn’t be happy with an earthling, Ilsa. You’ve already struggled so much and they wouldn’t understand. Finding someone who shares your culture can be a great gift.” Her eyes drifted from her daughter toward her lover. “Even if it is a little different.”
“You’re a strong girl, Ilsa.” Kanai reached out to put her arm around Ilsa’s shoulder and pull her into a half hug. “Stronger than either of us! Aisha and Elzira put their differences aside to make you. Don’t waste their gifts.”
That night, as the sun started to set and the moon took residence over the water Ilsa thought on those words. If she found herself getting closer to an earthling would she really be throwing away their gifts? It wouldn’t change the warrior she was becoming nor would it make her weaker. Or would it? Would an earthlings way of the world taint her mind and make her less focused? She tried thinking on families she knew with hybrids, but Ilsa’s own family had never spent much time with any. Those she’d seen had been in passing only so she was left without an answer.
For the moment she didn’t have to worry about it. She didn’t have anyone to call her own and no purpose beyond becoming a great fighter. Until such a day that the goddesses felt she was worthy she would just keep working toward that goal and enjoy each moment as it came. Life had been strange thus far, but she wasn’t mad about it. If anything it was starting to get exciting which was a far cry from the darker spaces she’d retreated to as a child.
[902]
[3]
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Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:25 pm
Class Choice - Amazon
Deciding what she was going to train with was far easier than deciding where. Even though she’d spent a fair amount of time in Zinris there was no family to keep her there so the three had inevitably ended up back in Chibale. None of Ayona’s kin wanted to speak with her, in fact Ilsa still didn’t know if any still lived, but Kanai’s family was happy to have them home. They weren’t without their issues and certainly the same hugs that welcomed Kanai weren’t spread to Ayona, but it was family nevertheless.
And now that she was getting older Ilsa needed to help that family. She thought about Kanai with her bow and then Ayona with her swords. The blade had always called to Ilsa because of its brutality. There was a rush in those up-close moments that nothing else could compete with and Ilsa didn’t know what she’d do if she were forced into long-range combat. If needed she had no qualms with tossing up her hands, but goddess, the feel of swinging a sword…
So, she trained. Day in and day out Ilsa took up her studies with swordplay. She’d already done a fair amount of basic training with them so it wasn’t hard to adjust and yet, it still didn’t feel right. Ayona was swifter, more calculated, and could pinpoint her daughter’s weak spots in a flash. Each day she trained and each day she came home with more bruises.
Kanai was the first to suggest a bigger sword. She was a bigger Aishan, after all, so maybe the added weight would help? So, Ilsa had gone after two heavier swords and all it did was make her unbalanced. Frustrated beyond belief, she stopped for a few days until coming across something in an earthling market no less. There was a man (an ugly little creature, to be sure) with a sword nearly the same size as himself. At first she wasn’t sure what to make of it, but when he got into a fight and she saw the way he slung that blade….Oh, she had to have one!
Ilsa came back to the armory as fast as she could and explained the blade to the forgemaster. A massive sword, equal in size to her own form, and with all the glory of Aishan craft. At first it was treated as nothing more than a teenage fantasy, but when Ilsa persisted the forgemaster gave in. Why not try it? Once the girl saw how unbalanced the blade was, how inelegant compared to twin swords, she would give up.
And yet, instead of hating it, Ilsa adored her sword. Even if she could never wield it properly this was the first blade she’d ever had constructed for herself. It’s handle fit in her hands as if it had been made for that purpose alone and when she brought it to training a fire was lit inside of her. Ayona now had to parry instead of focus solely on offense, and while Ilsa was slower her strikes were far more powerful.
“You’re not getting out of proper training!” Ayona dodged another strike and hissed when Ilsa came away with one of her severed dreads. “ILSA!”
That…was going to get her in major trouble, but at least she was having fun with it. She knew she would still need proper work with dual blades, even if she preferred just one. Still, with Ayona fuming at her, all she could do was laugh. This was, without a doubt, the best day ever and she hoped it would last for a lifetime!
[601]
[2]
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