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Post by Razgat on Aug 29, 2010 20:36:46 GMT -5
The night air felt chilly on the old man's bones. Though he had been covered with many blankets, and the servants had lit the fire, they did not keep the cold away. Every minute seemed t get colder and colder, causing him to shake. The servants hung over him more because of this, rushing to find warmth. But it wasn't the night air that caused the old man to feel cold. It was death. Death had finally come to take him away. He had come to terms with this years ago, and he was ready to die, but not now. Not yet. He had to see the boy first. Where was the boy? He must have been thinking out loud because one of the serants answered him. "We sent for him a while ago. He should be here soon, sire." The servant set a candle on his nightstand. It was barely an inch all, for the wax had already created a pool beneath it. The wick was a corse black and shriveled with every minute, but the flame held on, swaying with each breeze. The old man was suddenly overcome with a harsh coughing fit. He wheezed and hacked, causing the servants to rush and flutter over him like moths. They rubbed his back and offered him water, and he excepted it gladly. The water, if anything, only calmed his throat for the meantime, but he didn't let it show. He didn't want to worry the servants anymore than they already were. The old man fell back into his bed, eagerly waiting for the boy. "The boy..the boy..." His weezy voice could barely be heard, but one of the servants happened to notice. "He'll be here soon, sire. I promise." Her face was grim. Suddenly, a harsh gust of wind blew in through the window. The servants scampered to hold down the curtains, but before they could a young man came in through them. The servants peeked outside to see a golden dragon hovering just outside, waiting for the boy. The boy, upon seeing the old man, immediately rushed to the bedside. "I came as quickly as possible, sire." He knelt down and grabbed the old man's hand, holding it tightly. "Boy...you came." He sat up slightly, feeling another coughing fit approaching. "I have...something to tell you...the egg." "Sire, we can't destroy it. It's impossible. What do we do with it?" The boy leaned closer to the old man, struggling to hear him. "You must guard it. No one can touch it...no one, or.." The old man began coughing again, this time falling back onto the bed. The servants rushed to grab a pail of water and began dabbing the old man's face with cold water. The boy ignored them. "What, sire? Or what?" "A touch from a foe....beast's low...the world will be taken...the dragon awaken..." The coughs came harder than before, causing the old man's face to turn a deathly white. He held on to the boy's hand until the fit quieted. He turned his head towards him with a grim expression. "I have told you what I can...I can do no more...." The old man's grip loosened on the boy's hand as he turned away. The candle that had been resting on the night stand began to flicker with the night air until finally the wick ran out and the flame died.
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Post by Razgat on Aug 29, 2010 20:46:19 GMT -5
Dracina Farley marveled at the ocean. She always thought it was so beautiful, and though she had lived on a peninsula, she rarely got to see it. Now that she would be living on an island she could see it whenever she wanted. She smiled at this thought.
"Land ho!"
Dracina looked ahead towards where the ship she was on had been aiming. Indeed, there was an island approaching quickly. She felt butterflies swell up in her stomach with excitement. Conscientia was just minutes away. Without thinking, she grabbed her amulet. It was a habit for her to play with it when she was excited or nervous, but for this situation it was a little of both.
Dracina's parents had shipped her here to attend the academy there. It was her dream to become a scholar and to study all the dragons and creatures of the world, and now she was approaching the start of it all. "A trip like this is a dream come true..."
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Post by Myrdraxxis on Aug 30, 2010 23:05:34 GMT -5
The air hissed as steel flashed in the sunlight. Keiv swung his blades forward into a strng slash, then back into a circular guard. He froze for a moment, holding the pose, letting the sweat drip down his face as he panted.
The sin was high in the sky now, nearly noon. Keiv had been training for nearly three hours now. A bit further on, Zahariel watched his partner train with an air of bored disinterest. It was the same routine every morning it seemed. Ever since the youth had discovered those blades years ago, he trained practically nonstop.
"Are you done yet?" Zahariel rumbled, "It's hot and we need to look for food." he complained. Keiv nodded, sliding the blades into their sheathes at his side and turned, regarding the horizon.
"I reckon we'll reach the coast by evening. We can fly across to the ocean to Conscienta by tomorrow morning."
Zahariel snorted, the massive blue dragon shaking his head. "Oh you do, do you?"
"...maybe."
Zahariel sighed. "Well, I suppose that will do. But what do we do for food?"
"We still have a bit of supplies left from Perrin, yes?"
"A bit, for you maybe. But I'm a dragon! There's no way that such a small amount of food will satisfy me, let alone both of us." Zahahariel said with a massive sigh. Keiv hummed thoughtfully.
"Well, I suppose we'll have to try and find a town between here and the coast now won't we?"
not waiting for a reply, Keiv turned and began walking east. Zaharile gave a massive sigh, but followed.
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Post by Mizagium on Aug 30, 2010 23:17:49 GMT -5
Nahdren cast his head about nervously. Conscienta was an entirely different world than his home of Eloi Astrum, far away in the Penna Desert. There were so many people packed into such a small area, more than Eloi Astrum and the surrounding town combined. And nobody gave each other more than a passing glance.
Such rudeness he decided at once. Back home, if he failed to greet another on the street, the entire village would know within the hour, and he would be shunned for a week. No, not here. People were too busy to notice one another. He didn't like it.
Then he noticed the heat. It wasn't significantly different from the Penna, but it was humid, which made it arguably worse. Nahdren wiped a handful of sweat from his brow and slicked back his dark hair with it.
Now which way is the Academy?
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Post by Razgat on Sept 23, 2010 15:14:44 GMT -5
"Here's your luggage, miss." The sailor handed Dracina's large trunk to her.
She held out her arms, ready to carry it, but it instantly fell in her arms to the floor. Luckily, she had managed to slip her arms out from under it before it slammed onto the dock. She sighed, scolding herself for packing so much, and grabbed hold of the handle on the side. "Well, if I can't lift it, I can at least try to drag it." She thought to herself.
She gave a pull, but the trunk didn't budge. She tried again, pulling harder, trying to use her feet as leverage. They slid on the docks, and the trunk didn't move an inch. She tugged one last time, twirling to face the direction she wanted to go, hoping that leaning that way would help. When she did, she noticed a boy coming off of a ship.
--------------------
"Disgusting." Nolan scrunched his nose as he walked down the ramp towards the dock. "How can the people here stand such a smell?" He glanced at the men unloading the cargo. "Its the smell of the sailors, no doubt."
One of them called out to Nolan. "Sir, your luggage!"
Nolan waved nonchalantly. He had arranged for his luggage to be taken to the academy for him, and the sailor would figure that out sooner or later. He ignored him and continued down the docks towards the entrance to the market.
"Hey! Hello! Yoohoo! Boy over there!"
Nolan paused for a moment, glancing towards the squawking he had heard. A young girl was waving frantically at him with one arm while the other was attached to the handle of a large trunk. Nolan took a step forward, pretending not to see her.
"Yoohoo! Boy there! Hey!"
Nolan rolled his eyes. He couldn't make it to the entrance without passing the girl, and she would most likely grab him when he did. He walked over to the girl.
She smiled brightly when he approached her. "Oh, finally! I thought that you didn't hear me. Are you a student at the academy?"
Nolan raised an eyebrow and glanced the girl over. She looked like a common farmer aside from the large piece of jewelry hanging from her neck. How could she afford to send herself to such a school? "Yes, I am."
The girl lit up immediately. "Oh, good! Would you mind helping me with my trunk? I can't seem to lift it. You see?" She gave the trunk another pull. "Wait! I think I might have it this time!" She grunted and gave it her all. She could feel that the trunk would slide any moment now.
*SNAP*
The handle suddenly broke and caused Dracina to slam onto the dock. Nolan covered his mouth to hide his amusement. Dracina sat up, still holding the handle in her hand. "Oh...I thought I had it. How will I do this now?"
Nolan seized the opportunity. "Well, it seems like you're in quite the predicament. Thought I would love to assist you, I must make it to the academy before my delivery does. You see, if no one is there to accept it, who knows what they'll do with it? Well, it was a pleasure meeting you." Without a reply from Dracina, he turned on his heels and continued down the docks.
Dracina stared, disheartened, at Nolan. "Oh...well, then..."
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Post by Mizagium on Oct 5, 2010 20:11:54 GMT -5
Nahdren watched the young man march away from the girl struggling with her luggage. He shot a scowl his way, but he didn't think the other saw him. Or cared. Alas. Still, he would would not be party to the death of chivalry.
"Excuse me, miss?" In his home, it was considered common courtesy to help women with anything - or at least to ask. De facto chivalry if not de jure. "Do you need help with that?"
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Post by Razgat on Oct 5, 2010 22:08:35 GMT -5
Dracina glanced up from her spot on the dock's floor and brightened up immediately. "Yes! You look like a student. Would you by any chance happen to go to the academy? Because I could really use the help with my luggage..." She held up the broken handle she had snapped off of her trunk.
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Post by Myrdraxxis on Oct 5, 2010 22:17:34 GMT -5
"Zahariel...."
"Yes?"
"One day you will have to tell me how you were able to fly us half way across the world in a matter of hours." Kiev said as the two of them landed softly on the docks.
"Hmmm....maybe." THe dragon chuckled as Kiev whacked him on the head.
"My line." The human muttered as he slid down off the top of his friend's back. He glanced around and saw a ship full of passengers unloading into the city. A pair caught his eye; a young woman and man, the man apparently helping the girl with her luggage.
"Where are you going?" Zahariel asked as Kiev walked towards them.
"We have no idea where anything in this town is. I'm asking for directions." Kiev responded. Zahariel snorted loudly but followed. "Excuse me!" Kiev called out to the two.
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Post by Mizagium on Nov 7, 2010 21:44:02 GMT -5
Nahdren heard the call just as he was about to heft the young girl's luggage onto his shoulder when he heard the call. "Yes, sir?"
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Post by Myrdraxxis on Nov 9, 2010 0:13:24 GMT -5
"Ah yes, I, that is, my friend and I," He nodded back to Zahariel, "Are looking for this "Academy" as well as some lodgings and food. We've just arrived you see. Would you happen to know anything around here?"
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Post by Razgat on Nov 9, 2010 16:50:18 GMT -5
Dracina glanced upwards, for she was still sitting on the boards of the docks, when she noticed shadows up in the sky. Her eyes were drawn there immediately, focusing on them. Based on the silhouettes she had seen in books, she was able to identify them immediately, and she knew exactly where they were headed. "Follow the dragons..." She said quietly as she gazed upwards, seemingly in a trance. The amulet around her neck reflected the rays of the sun, glimmering as she spoke.
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Post by Myrdraxxis on Nov 9, 2010 19:52:44 GMT -5
"err...excuse me?" Keiv blinked, giving a confused look to Dracina. "Miss...are you alright? Hey, Zahariel, is something wrong with her?"
"Be silent, Keiv." Zahariel rumbled, watching he girl with interest. He caught sight of the amulet and his eyes narrowed.
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Post by Razgat on Nov 9, 2010 19:55:05 GMT -5
The girl looked away from the sky and straight at Keiv. She smiled. "The dragons are flying to the Academy. We can follow them there. Look!" She looked back up at the sky.
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Post by Mizagium on Nov 15, 2010 21:53:47 GMT -5
Nahdren let the luggage fall gently to the ground as he followed the Azure Dragons with his eyes. His family had a long history of partnership with the Azure clans of the Pena. He had dreamed of meeting one and becoming a Judicator since he was a boy. To think that it was almost a reality was almost too much to bear.
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Post by Myrdraxxis on Nov 15, 2010 22:20:10 GMT -5
"Ah...right." Keiv said, glancing at the dragons. "Shall we?" He asked Zahariel and following the other two.
"So tell me," He said, as they walked. "Why do you want to go to the academy?" Behind him, Zahariel snorted, but said nothing.
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Post by Razgat on Nov 16, 2010 17:51:07 GMT -5
Dracina smiled. Keiv's question reminded her of her days on her farm where she used to find any book depicting the world's creatures that she could get her hands on. The area she lived in had no dragons, and she only saw one rarely when she went to port, and she would often beg her father to take her so she could see them. Still, there were only two types she ever saw. All the others had only been from pictures and descriptions. The dragons flying above her were the first she had ever seen of them.
"I've studied creatures ever since my father first took me to port when I was seven. I've studied every book I could find ever since them, and I hope to continue those studies here."
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Post by Mizagium on Nov 16, 2010 22:52:16 GMT -5
"Are you hoping for a dragon?" Nahdren asked.
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Post by Razgat on Nov 17, 2010 16:32:42 GMT -5
Dracina nodded. "Yes, one that will help me learn, like a bronze dragon maybe...." She trailed off, obviously distracted.
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Post by Mizagium on Nov 19, 2010 14:27:23 GMT -5
"My family is all paired with Azure Dragons. So that's want I want. Judicators, we are. That's why I'm here." He watched the dragons vanish from sight. "Come on. We should get going."
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Post by Myrdraxxis on Nov 19, 2010 19:05:13 GMT -5
"huh, lemme tell ya, you don't want an Azure dragon. Buncha prats the lot of them." Keiv shook his head, then yelped as Zahariel whacked him across the back of the head with his tail. Keiv rubbed his head, glaring ruefully at the dragon. "See what i mean?"
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