The Hero of Strife

The world of Ank Oray is a world with two large continents each filled with trials and tribulations that the people of the vast land masses must overcome on a daily basis. Be they rich or poor, Human or other. There are many cultures, religions, and even governments to explore in this world, but for now we will focus on the continent of Lanelton, the Western Continent. Let us also focus on a single person, whose life will be the catalyst for events for thousands of years to come. Deep in the Aucari Wildlands in the southwestern portion of the continent as the sun falls to night, a mother cries out in pain as she attempts to give birth to the life she has protected this last grueling year. A nurse attends to the woman as she throws her head back in the make-shift bed. A face of exertion and pain is covered slightly by shoulder length and messy blonde hair.

Otherwise the inside of the tent is dark and barely stocked with a chamber pot. Sitting at the lone table watching in disgust is some sort of soldier. His grey metal armor covers most of the dark skin on his body, but does little to hide the large bat-like wings on his back. Her screams however still cause him unrest as he fights the urge to worry for the wingless woman. Outside the tent a man in black and red armor paces. His forest green hair flows under the forehead protector and he pauses every few moments to stroke his beard. His large feathered wings are covered by some sort of special black scale armor. The light of the newly lit campfire bounces off his armor and his gold yellow eyes. An obvious worry etched onto his face as he peers over the camp one more time. Multiple soldiers all covered with the grey metal armor except for different styles of wings all protruding from their backs. Some like dragonfly wings, others like butterflies, or dragon-like wings.

A young man with slick backed green hair and one red eye walks into the camp calmly. His right eye was covered by an eye patch. His body was also covered with the black and red armor like the pacing man. His wings looked much like a Dragon’s scaled wings as he approached the man who made eye contact, yet continued to pace. Stopping and waiting with his head lowered the pacing man approached and waved a hand into the young mans vision.

The young man lifts his head and speaks with concern and passion, “Elder Gravis… Father, it is folly to remain stationary in the Aucari Wilds when we are so close to the mountains. The Gomxyn forces are already searching for us, at this rate they will catch us and force us into more battle.”

The older man nods and rubs his chin once more contemplating what to do when the woman cries out once more causing him to look back at the tent entrance. “We must give her more time. Grave, if we are discovered you must take the woman and her child. Flee to Aluranhafu and protect them.”

The young man turns impatient with his father, clenching his teeth. He can not believe how much danger he is willing to put everyone into for this human woman, this Gomxyn as their people call them. “I understand that you feel responsible for this woman… Yet, it’s hard enough to travel by land with a pregnant woman, let alone some weak Gomxyn whore.”

Out of pure sudden anger Gravis snatches Grave by the shoulder and turns him harshly to face him. “You… Will never speak of her in that manner again, do I make myself clear?”

Grave casts his gaze down and lowers his head. Feeling the shame of it all is sometimes too much, the sudden news about this Gomxyn woman having an affair with his father which was about to bare a horrifying fruit. A half blood of their races combined. What even would that be like? What abomination would that release onto the world? “I apologize… I forgot myself for a moment.”

Gravis would release him and pat him with a smile. “Please… For me you must understand. She is to be the mother of your soon to be sibling. As shameful as it is, this is the truth we must accept. Besides if we ever wish true peace between our people, I’m sure this child will have a hand in it.”

Grave thought it over and would finally let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, relaxing his face enough to give his father a real smile. “Very well… I… I will try to treat them as family, as I will always treat them.”

That's when the flap to the tent would be thrown open nearly ripping the thick hide like material as the nurse seemed to be gripping it for dear life, “Elder… The woman, she-” interrupted by a sudden chilling scream Gravis would rush into the tent fearing the worst. Brushing past the nurse he would move to the bedside of the slowly breathing woman in the bed, gripping her hand as she lazily opened her eyes and labored out a deep breath. “Azelia… You have done it.” He speaks in a hushed tone as he looks to her in hopes of her turning to look at him. She simply smiles staring into the ceiling into some unseen abyss.

“Yes… My son… Our son… He is beautiful.” She labors at each grouping of words, sultry and silent, her body drenched in sweat, with blood covering the bed sheets. Gravis looks to the foot of the bed where in a basket fidgets the newborn child under blankets. The nurse is there attending the cleaning of the child, and he asks. “Will she make it?” To which the nurse freezes in place. She nervously finishes her work and places the child back in the basket. “That is not certain. We do not have efficient medicines nor are there powerful enough healers on this expedition. The rest will simply be up to her.”

A faint squeeze pulls his attention back to Azelia who has turned her head to look in his direction with a smile on her face. The smile is content her eyes didn’t seem capable of focusing as they seemed to have gone dark, but the tears that began to fall were as full of hope and desperation as any could express. Her chin trembling as she opened her mouth to speak. “I want… I wish I could see our son grow… Be there for him in the coming years, he will need… Someone to cry to as he is met with the hate and vitriol of being a half breed… Gravis, I wish to be there… But, I won't.”

Gravis takes her hand in both his hands now placing it to his face and lowering his gaze. “Do not speak of this… We are so close to Aluranhafu. The healing magic our people possess will easily save you I’m sure of it. Just hang on.” He would plead with her and whatever Guardian Deities were listening to his begging. Azalea would slowly shake her head. Reaching passed his hands to touch his face with her palm and brush his cheek to calm him.

“Can I make a… Selfish request… Can I name him Leon? To my people… The name represents a great warrior and beast…” Azalea asks through long pauses and deep breaths. Only audibly to Gravis at this point. He places a hand on hers to hold it in place as it shook from the struggle of holding it up. A single tear falling from the eye on the opposite side of his face. “Yes, his name will be Leon.” For a moment light returns to her eyes and she makes true eye contact and see’s the grief on the face of the Elder. “It is enough for me to know your love was true.”

Gravis is seen exiting the tent by those around holding a baby with green hair wrapped in a bundle of black and red cloth. An honor only for those of his house to be wrapped in a cloth bearing the symbol of his family. He looks to Grave with a face of stone and nods before waving his free hand and speaking with a mighty booming voice. “Pack up this camp, we fly with the night to Aluranhafu!” And like that the soldiers spring into action as Grave makes his way to his father to look at the newborn child. Gravis holds him out to Grave for a better look and he shakes his head.

“I do not think holding a baby is among my current strengths. However, he looks healthy.” He says before smiling and peering at the eyes of his little brother. “His name is Leon, that was her last request.” He says as stoic as an ancient tree who does not bend to the whims of nature. Grave would look at his father for a moment before back at the babe who decided to open his sapphire blue eyes. Unusual among their people, probably an effect of the half breed in him. “Hello Leon, I’m Grave. I’m your older brother, and no one will make you cry while I’m around, alright?”

Leon’s eyes would dart around a little bit and he would yawn before he seemed to struggle for a moment and then began to cry. Grave would stand straight and scratch the back of his head with a sound of discontent. “Maybe I’ll have to work on not making him cry myself first.” With that interaction Gravis’ stone like face would crack with the smallest smile before he spoke once more. “He will need your protection most of all.” With that they would separate for a little while, Gravis tended to the bindings and covering of Azalea's body while Grave oversaw the camp being pulled down and packed up. Before long the winged people were in the air and only a few hours from their home in the mountains, Aluranhafu. The name means ‘Land of Origin’ to the winged people who call themselves Strife.

After safely landing in the village Gravis makes his way home with the babe. To explain to his wife why he has returned with a baby, even before calling a meeting of the Elder Counsel he was ready to take the emotions and punishment deemed by his wife. Beyond rage there was enough understanding in those moments that the child would not bare the blame of the father. With a nurse maid found Gravis had the duty to apprise the other Elders of what his expedition discovered of the Gomxyn this time and thus left for these meetings.

Grave returned home to his mother, angry staring into the fireplace in the common living area of the large house. He would approach and sit down nearby. “Mom… I know what you must think of all this, can only be negative… Please do not put Father through too much more hardship. Including myself only five returned.” With that she looked to Grave with almost fearful worry on her face. “Were the Gomxyn really that dangerous?” She asked, shocked. Grave would nod and lean forward to place his hands together folded in front of him. “They have some new Warlord they call The Lord of Blades. He is apparently a young Noble among their people, while joining with another unit he ambushed us and killed many. We were on the run for months trying to shake the Gomxyn enough that we could return without giving away where we were from. We seemed to lose even more troops with every step it was like they were in our heads and knew every move we would make.”

The conversation would not continue as Grave kissed his mother on the head and went to bathe and sleep. It would be the next morning when Gravis would return home to rest himself, however he would once more return to his wife. “Jeea. My love, once again, I beg your forgiveness. The child's mother saved our lives on multiple occasions and was powerful even for a Gomxyn. None of us actually believed we would return home and in a moment of weakness we found comfort in each other's company. I was weak and it is entirely my fault.” Jeea would look to the man who would be her husband and could not continue to remain angry and moved into his arms to hold onto the man she almost lost. “Our marriage has lasted almost a thousand years, Gravis… This will not be it’s end, but promise me you will not go on these missions anymore.”

With his promise in place it would fall on this family to weather the shame and stand firm to raise the bastard half breed child. For 10 years Leon is raised to the best of the ability of the family, but disgust with his half breed origins is a common point of malice towards the child from other villagers of Aluranhafu. Sometimes it’s sneers or people avoiding him, but other times it’s people throwing things at him, or chasing him away from area’s. Other kids are just as mean, and for a while he cries to his mother, who still sees him as a symbol of her husband's one and only betrayal. After no longer receiving supportive sympathy from her he starts to rely heavily on his older brother Grave.

When Grave is not off on some mission or training new recruits for those who wish to defend The People he sits and listens to Leon’s issues, being supportive and teaching him stuff he learns about the world and even tells Leon stories to distract him. Though he is a lonely child since his father is an Elder and does not spend much time at home even though he never leaves the city, Leon does have friends. He has made two friends in the last 10 years attending the Village school. Vir is a loyal and poor child whose family is mostly foragers and farmers, and a fellow child of an Elder, Yumi. Vir’s dark blue hair can sometimes almost pass off as black, and his deep blue eyes can sometimes reveal the color of his hair as they match so well. Yumi on the other hand has sky blue long hair and a slightly deeper crystal blue eye color. She is a bit self centered, but not so much that she weighs herself as more important than anyone else she just has a fierce self image.

However, today is a ceremony for a young Strife and Leon’s father had to fight with the other Elders to allow him to attend. A Strife on the tenth to thirteenth year of life will sprout their wings and be allowed to enter a cave where sacred crystals are kept. These crystals are rather large, about the size of a large bear. Each Crystal represents an element that is found in nature and life as well as physical and mental power. When a Strife enters the cave and meets the crystal they were born attuned with they are then awakened to a magic only the Strife possess and only one crystal will attune to a Strife. Most are elemental and some devote themselves to this magical energy and research it to the point they are sure there are no more secrets left. Others accept this power as just a part of who they are and move on to do other things.

As the morning comes where they are to meet for the ceremony, Vir, Yumi, and Leon have agreed to wake before dawn and meet up just outside of the village Leon enters the small meadow chosen for the meeting with a yawn carrying a large sack with him. He finds Yumi and Vir standing around talking already, of course they were awake and ready. He hated how easy it was for them to wake up and be ready to go. They spot him and wave.

“Hey, Leon. Hurry up will ya?” Yumi hollered speaking like the lower class Strife like she liked. She would never in front of her family, but when it was just the group she liked to relax and it seemed to help Vir fit in with them, or maybe she was super conscious that out of the three she was treated like she was better than them. A bastard and a farmers child. “Yeah, yeah… Geez it’s so early.” Leon responded as he got closer. “Of course you look like you just woke up.” Yumi chuckles out. Leon’s eye brow would bounce with a small twitch before he responded. “Yeah, so? You could use a little beauty sleep yourself.”

Yumi doesn’t take too kindly to that comment and steps toward Leon raising a clenched fist a bit. “You tryin to start somethin, veggie head?” Leon momentarily reaches up and touches his dark green hair realising what she meant he would also step closer nearly forehead to forehead. “I would, but I’m afraid you’d hit me with that huge forehead of yours!” That's when their heads would clash a bit before Vir stepped over to put a hand on his friends and pull them apart.

“Guys, this is supposed to be a celebration, can we stop fighting?” He would plead with them before they broke apart and took a breath. “Yeah, sorry I’m just tired and cranky I guess.” Leon said, Yumi would follow up with her own apology before Leon would drop the bag he was carrying and reach into it. “So, this is my idea for our meeting today. I snuck into my brothers Training Hall last night and grabbed a few training weapons.” The duo look at him surprised. “Wow, really? That’s kind of cool, but won’t we get in trouble?” Vir asks, still very interested in the things Leon was pulling from the bag. A few wooden swords and shields and he would pass them out while answering. “No way. They are just wooden practice gear, no one will care. Besides, the real problem they are going to have is when we go to the ceremony cave before the ceremony and scope it out. Maybe even get to fight a beast before the ceremony priests clear the cave for us.”

Yumi would shake her head and sigh accepting the statements made as just some pipe dream of Leon’s. “Of course your idea of a last adventure for us together is to go fight something. Why am I not surprised.” Vir begins to laugh and Leon nervously scratches the back of his head. Leon is considered oddly aggressive for a Strife and it is usually blamed on his Gomxyn half, since even Strife soldiers are usually more of a defense mechanism than an army for war. Leon’s tendency to want to be a soldier and fight is seen as very against the way a Strife should act. Vir and Yumi have come to find it slightly endearing and accept it, so they make light of something that may disturb the more adult Strife.

Now fully equipped the trio take a few practice swings and blocks before sneaking off into the mountains. Since they knew where they were going and the usual paths the Strife use to get there they were able to get around everything and anyone they might run into that would stop them. They still had an hour before dawn which was plenty of time to make it back and ditch the gear before anyone got suspicious. “Hehehehe, imagine the look on their faces when I show up to the ceremony and already have my Strife magic. Those Elders are going to flip!”

Yumi would click her tongue. “And your grand scheme is revealed at last! You want to prove something to the Elders again. Leon, you’re just different and that's okay. Even if they don’t think so now, when your brother and I take our seats on the Elder Counsel we will make it okay.” Vir likes the sound of that of course, but Leon being bull headed and stubborn looks back at her as they enter the cave. “That’s not the point, Yumi. I don’t want them to have to recognize me as one of them. They don’t even want me at the ceremony.”

Vir looks confused at that statement and gets closer, their eyes able to see pretty well in the dark of the cave. “What do you mean they don’t want you at the ceremony?” Leon looks down for a moment before holding up his wooden shield and making his way deeper into the cave before telling them, “I snuck into the counsel chamber so I could use a stasis rune I bought by working all week at the farms and stick the counsel to their seats. I didn’t end up being able to do it because the counsel rushed into the chamber before I could get into position so I had to stay hidden. That's when I heard my father arguing with all the other Elders about letting me participate and get my magic. They don’t even think my wings will sprout.”

Vir and Yumi exchanged looks, unable to believe the counsel would do or say something so outrageous and just outright mean about Leon. They continued on however cautiously enough to keep an eye out until they found a tunnel from the main cave. Checking around they found a tablet that labeled the tunnel for the ceremony as ‘Room of Growth’, Yumi would exclaim to the other two, “This is it! No sweat.” The duo would roll their eyes while Leon clicked his tongue. “No monsters yet… Boring.” The green haired Strife would lead the way down the new tunnel for about a hundred yards before it opened into a large cavern. Spread out through the cavern was a bunch of misty white crystals, there must have been hundreds of them. Vir was the most in awe out of the group.

“Are there really so many elements in the world? Our studies only identify twelve elements.” Vir said just above a whisper, but the group could easily hear him. Yumi decided to answer. “There may be variations and different possible magic abilities to each element… Wait, do you guys see that?” Yumi points when she is finished explaining her idea to a crystal. It looked exactly like the others, but she rushed towards it anyways. Leon couldn’t see what she was seeing. “Yeah it’s just like the others.” Yumi shakes her head, “No this one is glowing… And it’s blue.” Yumi stared into the crystal with a face of pure joy and excitement while Vir and Leon raised their brows and gave Yumi an odd look. “If you say so… Hey what’s that noise?” Vir said before turning around and an odd sound rushed past them, like harsh wind and a loud crunch. A looming dark mass was suddenly right there with them. The cry of pain caught the attention of Yumi and Leon who looked from the mass to the location of the sound. Vir was on the ground in a heap. It looked like there was blood, and Vir’s arm that held the shield was twisted and laying strange. That’s when the dark mass let out a huge roar that shook the cavern and the crystals, causing a chill of fear the trio will never forget as they focused now at the creature standing before them.

Called a Bear Knight, the creature is well over a thousand pounds of muscle mass covered in bone like armor that has grown over its body making it look like an armored knight, there are also some with protrusions that can extend or retract on the animals fore legs that act as extra bladed weapons. Something clicked in Leon who darted towards Yumi, grabbing her and running to Vir. Yumi and Leon brandished their weapons and shields imitating what they had seen some of the soldiers do. The Bear Knight approached breathing big and sniffing the air in large sharp inhales. Leon looked back at Vir who was silently sobbing in pain, he made eye contact with his friend and the utter fear in Vir’s eyes… He wasn’t sure he could take it, Leon looked back at the Bear Knight. “Yumi… No matter what we have to get Vir out of here.”

Yumi didn’t turn to look away from the bear instead nodded like Leon could see her, saying. “I don’t know if we can move him, but I also don’t think we have much of a choice.” Leon understood this as the Bear Knight was almost on them. “Get him out of here now!” He would charge the Bear Knight who fully did not expect these small creatures to be aggressive, so the green haired child got a clean hit with his wooden sword on the snout of the Bear Knight who reared back to a stand letting out a grown and pushing air out of its nose quickly as if it were sneezing. Leon smirked and struck the Bear Knight a few more times in the knee’s of its hind legs that it was now standing on. Yumi was caught off guard but once she saw Leon take action and it registered what was going on she turned and grabbed Vir dropping her wooden equipment and picking him up best she could. She started slowly rushing to the exit not looking back too many times.

Leon hadn’t looked up from his part, he struck the knee’s and turned to run, the Bear Knight dropped down on its forelegs and struck the cavern floor with such force it shook and Leon lost his footing. As he fell he noticed a crack splitting on the ground from the impact and in that moment of falling as everything seemed to move slower he knew. ‘There is a room under us!’ he thought before landing and seeing the Bear Knight rearing back up. Leon scrambled to get away but it was far too late for that as the Bear Knight broke the floor under him, Leon and multiple large crystals fell into utter darkness. The sound was terrible, the loudest constant rush of deep cracking that he had ever heard, like an earthquake and a landslide amplified into his ears. Beyond a striking amount of pain in his entire body the first thing Leon noticed was that the Bear Knight was at the edge of the hole he had just fallen into.

“No… Yumi…” He croaked out through the pain before he tried to move. The Bear Knight huffed and the thudding sound of it trotting away shot fear back into the young Strife. He was able to move his right arm and right leg. His left arm and left leg were badly broken and he couldn’t open his left eye. The left side of his head felt hot, a searing and pulsing pain as he rolled onto his stomach. ‘I have to stop it, it’s going to catch them!’ was all he could think as he crawled trying to find a wall he could maybe climb back up to the mouth of the hole. That's when he heard it, a crash and another scream. His right eye darted around looking for anything he could use to climb, when light caught his attention. It was a crystal embedded in the ground like the ones above, it was alone and glowing an odd shade of dark blue with swirls of dark grey.

It was like it was beckoning him to it, crawling with everything he had, as fast as he could. Tears streamed down his face from the pain, clenched teeth shot groans and cries of pain into the cavern before he slammed his hand onto the crystal. “I want to save them!” He cried out with so much willpower he could not contain it with simple thoughts or actions. An intense energy shot through his arm and the cave he had fallen into filled with light. A voice in his head spoke to him, it was his voice and it spoke the language of his people. The sound of flesh ripping and bones breaking and cracking would replace the sounds coming from above as blue electric arcs shot from the child's back before exploding through his shirt into the shape of wings. Bone’s blood, muscle, flesh, and then feathers would all manifest quickly over the lightning bolts as his wings grew in an instant.

Rising out of the light Yumi could see Leon being carried by magnificent white wings, his eyes open and glowing blue with electricity shooting from them. The Bear Knight had cornered Yumi and Vir and was about to finish them off when it sniffed the air and turned towards the light source. Leon lifted his right hand and straightened his arm to point it at the Bear Knight, palm out and fingers spread blue bolts arced across his arm as it moved as if the friction of it moving in the air caused the sparks. Leon spoke the words in his head only understanding that it would somehow save his friends. “Rah-Ken!”

A ball of lightning appeared in his palm before it streaked out towards the Bear Knight like a bolt of constant plasma striking it in the chest, ripping straight through its bone armor, tearing the bone in the area it struck right from its flesh, burrowing through the bear as it roared in pain. Finally the bolt ripped through it completely blasing out it’s back and into the wall next to Yumi and Vir, hot rock was blasted off the walls as the wall was damaged and struck Yumi and Vir who were thrown a bit to the side. The Bear Knight let out a last huff before falling backwards into the wall, a hole where it’s chest used to be. Leon’s eyes slowly stopped glowing and he fell to the ground, his eyes closing. He didn’t remember hitting the ground, just that he knew he saved his friends.

It wouldn’t be until the next day that Leon woke up. Covered in bandages and such dry mouth he choked and coughed upon trying to breath or speak. Someone handed him a bowl with water in it and he grabbed it with his right arm and drank greedily. He choked and gagged, but still took it down before breathing heavy, looking at who it was, it was his older brother! Grave smiled when they made eye contact. “You gave us all a pretty nasty scare there, kid.” He would say light heartedly. Leon would look at his left arm and it was bandaged and in a splint. Same with his left leg, reaching up and touching his head and the left side of his face he felt the bandages there, must’ve been why he couldn’t open his left eye. “A-are Vir and-” Leon started, but would be cut off by Grave. “Your friends are alive if that's what you are asking. What kind of idiot move is stealing training weapons and trying to find monsters to fight?” Leon closed his eye and nodded a bit, just completely relieved they were alive.

“Sorry, Grave. I wanted to prove the Counsel wrong. I am a Strife! I have magic, and wings!” Leon was now angry instead of being disciplined or scolded he was yelling at Grave, who was not expecting that kind of reaction. “What are you- of course you’re a Strife. What brought that on?” Leon turned with tears in his eye and looked at Grave, “Dad had to beg the Counsel… He had to plead with them to let me participate in the ceremony and even then they said it was a waste of time for a bastard Gomxyn weakling.” Grave’s eye shot as wide as it could before it narrowed and his brow furrowed menacingly. He would clench his fists and teeth hard enough one could hear his teeth grind.

“Listen to me Leon. I understand where you are coming from, I really do… I can’t say I would have acted differently. Yumi filled us in on your plan to do the ceremony on your own to throw in the faces of the counsel, but not the reason why… How do you know about what happened with the counsel?” Grave wanted to make sure he had his facts straight, but as if on cue Gravis walked in saying, “Because he was hiding in the Counsel Chamber when we had the discussion. What Leon said is true, they used those words and I did beg them to let my son participate.” Grave stood up and turned to their father with anger in his red eye. “How could you let them talk that way about Leon?” Gravis looked down to the ground before responding. “I am on the Counsel, fighting among ourselves, even over family will cause more problems in the future. We have to be united and strong for what's to come. Which is also why I begged them to let Leon participate in the ceremony. He will grow up and be very powerful I am sure of it. Because he is my son. We can not let the insignificant opinion of others get to us, as long as we support each other, we will know about how important each of us are.”

Leon hearing this would chuckle a bit. “I won’t grow to be powerful, I am powerful. I have my magic and my wings.” He bragged, but Gravis looked at him with a stern expression. “Leon… The dangers you faced were not just stealing and going off into a cave… You and Yumi are both Counsel children. Your families are important to The People. Your caste is to be anything you want to gain experience to one day sit on the counsel and Grave will once I abdicate.” Leon sighed and nodded. “Yeah, so? I had to at least prove I’m capable en-.” Leon would be cut off by Gravis shouting. “Enough!” Grave and Leon flinched. Gravis did not raise his voice like that. With the tension at its peak Gravis closed his eyes and let out a breath. “Vir, is a working caste. His family is considered to be of low birth and the Counsel has decided to lay the blame on him so as to save the reputation of two Counsel Family members.”

Grave left the room after that and Leon was still trying to process. “But, it wasn’t his fau-... I was the one who dragged them along… What's going to happen to Vir?” Leon asked, looking at Gravis. Leon’s father could not keep eye contact, but would explain moving to a small table and chair situated in the room for visitors. “He will be given the option of having his family’s caste lowered to labor, or to become a Blood Edge.” Leon’s mouth hung open. “W-w-why? His whole family lowered to labor? Why can’t they punish me? I’m the bastard, isn’t that what they like saying?! Dad, please… Tell them to blame me! I can take it! Tell them it was because my Gomxyn greed wanted the magic and they tried to stop me!” Leon cried as begged for a while before his voice became hoarse and began to hurt. He simply sobbed, Gravis would speak once more before getting up to walk over and put a hand on Leon’s chest.

“They will not blame you, because you are my son, and we can not take the blame without it also affecting Yumi’s family. They will give you the time to heal fully and explain the mess to Vir and his family. Then, he will have to choose.” Leon would spend the day asking Gravis questions about what was going to happen, learning as much as he could, paying attention and scheming. The reason being a Labor caste among the Strife is so bad is because it is the same as being slaves. You build and repair everything for everyone, but you also have to live on the lowest part of the mountain, the closest to the other races, and the most vulnerable to monsters and bandits. Being a Blood Edge is probably the most dangerous job any Strife could do, usually a Strife may choose this path on their own. A Blood Edge is a servant of The People, other cultures would call them slaves, but it is a highly respected position among the Strife. Treated exceptionally well a Blood Edge must answer the order of the Elder Counsel, and any Strife who needs aid. Though there are some who work only for the Counsel, and Counsel Families have special privileges.

It wouldn’t be until Leon was good enough to get up out of bed and walk around that he would seek out his father once more, heading for the Counsel Chambers he would wait for the opportunity to speak with him. The Counsel went into recess and Leon limped his way to the talk to Gravis. Now he only had some visible bruising from his wounds, the healing magic and medicines were potent for sure, which is why Leon was in a rush. Gravis would look kind of shocked to see the young boy walk in with his head held high, and focused. Regularly he would only see the boy with a mischievous grin and his eyes cast low. “Leon, what’s wrong?” He would ask, but Leon would shake his head. “I need to make sure I was right about something, before I make any choices.” Gravis would adjust himself to give his son the undivided attention he felt this sudden streak of seriousness needed. “Right, I will help the best I can.”

“The Counsel will lay the blame on Vir because in this one instance they consider me a member of an Elder Counsel Family, correct?” Gravis would stare for a few moments but nod, unsure where he was going with this line of questioning suddenly. “So, that would mean, in this matter I would hold Elder Counsel Family Privileges?” Gravis raised a brow and had to ask a question himself. “What are you plotting?” Leon would grin the smile he was used to. “I can’t force the Counsel not to punish Vir and his family, so instead… I wish to convince Vir to take the Blood Edge punishment, in doing so the honor will raise his family to a Caste above their current. I will then invoke my rights as an Elder Counsel Family member to bestow our family Sigil and claim Vir for our family so as to make the punishment as ineffective as possible, and make it more like a reward for his bravery, trust, and loyalty.”

Gravis was stunned, his mouth even hung open slightly as he realized the implications, he would outplay the Counsel right to their faces, by making Vir volunteer ahead of the punishment and claiming Vir for service with his family only he would be exempt from the regular slave labor of the position, beyond that Vir’s family would advance from the immense honor of Vir becoming a Blood Edge and they would no longer have to farm. Within the Strife changing your Caste is one of the hardest things in their society. Beyond great deeds that change Strife society forever, the only way is to have someone volunteer to become a Slave for the people. Blood Edge are not allowed to have a family of their own, own a home, or take a job. They live in a special district together in mas, they have their wings removed and they are used to spy and investigate the other races since they will fit in without wings. They hunt Demons and fight to keep dangerous monsters away from Aluranhafu. It’s a dangerous life and they generally do not live very long because of it.

Gravis gave Leon his blessing for the plan, this move was political and would go to show Leon knew how things worked and that he was not to be trifled with anymore. With that out of the way he would take a token from his family home a blue cloth with his family’s banner on it. The black double doors being opened inward to let in beams of light. With that he would make his way quickly to Vir’s home on a mission to beat the Counsel’s messengers to his friend. Once there he would knock on the door and would be surprised to have the door answered by Yumi. “Leon? What are you doing here?” Leon was shocked to silence for a moment before shaking it away. “I have to talk to Vir. It’s important.” The sky blue haired girl would lead Leon inside to Vir’s room where his parents were feeding him. He was still in bad shape and seeing him like that again truly hurt Leon in ways he wasn’t aware of. He had to push it down, he could deal with those emotions later, but for now there were more important things to deal with.

“Vir, I’m so sorry I dragged you into that mess. This is all my fault and the Counsel is going to punish you.” Vir and his parents were silent, but Virs dad would respond. “Yes, we heard the details from Yumi already. We just don’t know what to do at this point. I feel like either choice will ruin us.” Leon pulled out the cloth he had in his hand and held it out. Vir and everyone in the room would stare, they knew the sigil. “Vir, volunteer right now to become a Blood Edge. Take this symbol of my family and serve us. Raise your family's caste and by taking this you will only serve us. Do it before the Counsel gives you the ultimatum and they will have no choice in the matter.” With that said, Vir would be quiet for a long time looking at the sigil and Leon, then his parents. Tears would fall from time to time, but eventually he would speak. “Leon… It was my choice to go with you, because I’m your friend… I wanted to hate you for a little bit, and when Yumi told us what was going on I went numb… I wanted to hate you again, because even though you are a bastard, the Counsel still held you in higher regard than me and my entire family. I then realized… Maybe I hate the Counsel, maybe I hate the way or people work... “ Leon’s free hand would clench because he felt the same way, this whole society was built on such ancient traditions that it was liable to self-destruct. Maybe that's why his father wanted to make sure the unity of the Strife people could not be shaken.

“Please take it. It’s the only way out of this I can find because as I am… I’m too weak to do anything else, but I want to get stronger, become greater, gain influence and change our people.” Leon said to Vir, declaring the motivation he will carry from now on. “So, please… Take this one opportunity and be patient enough for me to take over my father's position on the Elder Counsel.” Laying into it once more he walked closer to Vir and held the sigil out to him. One more moment of hesitation and Vir would reach out and take it. Yumi would jump up from her seat. “As a witnessing member of a family on the Elder Counsel I hereby approve of Vir’s volunteer choice to become a Blood Edge, as well as recognize the claim of Leon’s family with the passing of the Sigil of his Family.” And like that the following weeks were a storm of activity. The Counsel debated on how to overturn this decision without abandoning thousands of years of tradition.

As an eventuality they had to concede the facts and raise Vir’s family to a Caste befitting the honor they had gained as well as approve the claims for Vir to work only for Gravis’ family as was their right. Life went on normally after that, a new ceremony was held for Yumi and Vir to enter the cave officially and this time obtain their attunements. Leon found out his magic was a magic of destruction using ancient words for Lightning. It was not a commonly recorded magic, but not unheard of, he would really give in to his studies on the subject. As for Yumi she was attuned to water magics and Vir had found himself somewhat ironically attuned to blood elements. They had an awkward laugh about the twist of fate and coincidences.

“You know I asked Grave about his magic once.” Leon began and caught the attention of his friends. “He has a physical magic which is based on momentum. His spells make him insanely fast, or really he can make anything fast or slow as long as he can see it apparently. He said to become stronger with your magic you have to use it like a muscle.” Leon raised his hand to inspect it, slightly red in the palm from using his magic in secret on his own. “But, I don’t see how I’m going to be able to do that. I use the one spell I know once and I’m drained and tired all day.” Vir would laugh. “Are you sure it’s not just because you're usually tired?” The group would chuckle at this, but they all knew that was odd. But with school ending for the day they decided to all go home.

Leon went to the training grounds and found his older brother dismissing a new militia unit being trained. Since he was free now Leon figured there wouldn’t be any issue with approaching him. The red eyed Strife would smile wide when he saw his little brother and would also walk over. “Hey Sparky, came to see what it’s like for the militia? You know you will have to choose a job in a few years.” Leon glared at his brother when he used a stupid nickname based on his magic. “Actually I wanted to ask for some pointers on my magic.” Leon said annoyed, and Grave could tell now he was bothered by this. “Alright little brother… Tell me what’s wrong.” Grave said dropping to a knee to give the impression of how serious he was taking this. “Well, when I cast the spell I know it drains me… Alot, and I feel like I can only use it once a day.” Leon explained to Grave who would think it over, sucking air through his teeth for a moment he would raise a hand to his chin.

“Well that is strange… Could you show me the spell or have you used it today?” The request was made and Leon checked himself over mentally. “Well I used it really early this morning, but I’m not too tired right now, so maybe I can show you.” Leon affirmed and Grave smirked. “Alright uh… Oh!” Grave would get up and point to a training dummy nearby. “There you go, hit that thing. Don’t worry it shouldn’t be as potent as when you hit the Bear Knight so really lay into it.” The older brother encouraged his little brother while stepping to the side. Leon took a breath and began channeling the energy, a glow seemed to exude from his body as his right arm went rigid at his side. Obviously straining and giving out the sound of a grunt between clenched teeth Leon began to raise his stiff arm, sparks of electricity lashing out from his body and arm as if it were magnetically held there and was being forced apart. After struggling with what seemed to be a great weight Leon got his arm up and pointed at the training dummy. Opening his fist to point the palm at the Dummy with his fingers and thumb seeming to act as a funnel the ball of blue electric energy seemed to spawn from the sparks created from opening his hand. Witnessing this suddenly Grave realized the magnitude of the spell. “N-no, wait Leon!” Grave began but it was too late as Leon spoke the incantation. “Rah-Ken!”

Zipping in at speed beyond sight the older green haired Strife would grab Leon’s wrist and yank up pointing the spells release into the sky as a bolt of lightning headed by a large ball of blue electricity arc’d harmlessly into the sky before dispersing through some cloud coverage. From the force of the spells firing would throw Grave to the ground on his rear end. Leon breathed heavily and dropped his arm to his side, struggling to remain standing he fell to his hands and knees, sweating profusely. Grave got up rubbing his rump a bit and knelt next to his little brother. “Just, wow. Thats a powerful spell, that's why it drains you so much.” He’d explain to Leon who nodded trying to catch his breath. “I’m glad… It’s not because… I’m half Gomxyn.” The young man would pass out from the exertion of using it twice in a day.

He would wake the next day with a bit of a headache, but none the worse. Rolling out of bed with a scoff and groan he would hold his head a bit as he left his room. His father was home today, and his brother was eating at the dining table. Joining him he would sit and wait for a bit, Grave would give him a thumbs up and Leon would smile wide. That’s when Jeea would walk over to the table and put down a water jug and cup along with a bit of food for Leon. She would stand up straight and clear her throat. “Since everyone is here, your father and I have an announcement to make.” Gravis took this que and walked over to the table. “Jeea is pregnant. You both will have a younger sibling.” Gravis put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest, proud of the accomplishment. Leon got excited and gasped while giving a small applause. Grave clapped with a wide smile before it faded and his eyebrows furrowed a bit. “Not to kill the mood, but isn’t that abnormal?” Grave asked.

“Well, yes. Most Strife families have one child and are lucky to have a second. We will have three, with the expansion of our family we will become more prominent and therefore unquestionably more important. However, this is not our goal. We simply will have a larger family than your average Counsel Family.” Gravis explained with a smile, however he would wave at the food. “Now eat, there is much to do.” The patriarch of the family said and the meal went as usual from there.

About eight months later the third brother would be added to the family and named Kentler. His golden eyes were striking even as a baby, but it would take a year or two for his personality to really shine. Now with Leon’s thirteenth birthday passing, it was time for him to graduate Basic Lessons. The school of the Strife people and choose his job, today Vir would also be taken away to be trained as a Blood Edge and go through the ceremony of cutting off his own wings. They met up once more in class and talked to each other for a while, just like a regular day that would be no different from any other. They didn’t want to admit that it was possible they wouldn’t be able to regularly see each other again, and what's worse they wouldn’t see Vir until his training was complete. No contact with their friend, possibly for years. It was not something they could easily accept or really give much thought without becoming distraught.

As the day continued with instruction they went over each job within the caste of each individual Strife graduating that day. It was time to say their goodbyes to Vir, but he was snatched away by a Strife in odd looking clothes. Seemed he was wearing some animal skins for some reason, but he dragged Vir away to stand at the position of Blood Edge volunteers. Leon and Yumi were singled out for being Counsel Family high caste. They got to look at every job as the other kids had their picks. There were diplomate and scholar jobs that looked promising to Leon, but it wasn;t really something he felt he could commit his life to. For some reason he kept coming back to the Soldier job, with his caste he could enter the officer training program and lead Strife in combat and training… Like his brother. Being even somewhat like his brother was appealing, if theri caste could improve many people said that Grave’s accomplishments would have been enough to raise their family in rank.

“Officer program?” Yumi’s voice broke out through his thoughts and he looked at her and nodded a bit still kind of swirling in thought. “If I become a great general and defend Aluranhafu or even claim any kind of victory, I might gain enough prestige to change the system, even slightly.” Leon explained some of his thoughts, and Yumi hummed while listening. “Yeah, I had a similar thought… I realized after the Bear Knight incident that being just a normal Strife wouldn’t cut it. If some wild animal was powerful enough I can only imagine what kind of strong people must exist among the races of conquerors.” Yumi shared her own thoughts, and seemed she had other ideas beyond helping Vir or holding a grudge.

Leon would laugh and scratch the back of his head before speaking. “I guess we’ll be rivals then.” Yumi would nod. “Of course.” Leon stopped scratching his head and looked a bit surprised. “What? I was joking.” Yumi would chuckle this time, “Well maybe you should be more mindful of your words. Because now you are going to have to work extra hard to be better than me.” The green haired boy would grumble and shake his fist as he walked over and slammed his hand down on the table. “Alright, I’m signing up for the officer program. Let’s get going!” Yumi would calmly wait behind Leon to do the same and the following week Leon and Yumi were to start their training as Strife soldiers.

The training was grueling and for them it involved more than just physical work. Strategy and tactics classes, as well as magic theory. After a year they were given leadership positions in teams that worked against each other and some times with each other. They were marked on victories and failures, testing how they used terrain and strategy to win. How they utilized their allies abilities and magic. When Yumi and Leon fought even in training duels it was intense, and Yumi’s extremely versatile magic forced Leon to develop new spells that didn’t fully drain him whenever he used it instead saving it for a trump card or surprise opening. They used old abandoned fortresses of the Strife for conquests. One in particular was a flying fortress which the trainee’s stayed at and used for siege assault and defense. It was stuck on a set path over the oceans producing magical clouds and fog to keep it hidden from onlookers possibly sailing the waters.

In their third year Yumi and Leon had distinguished themselves enough to be afforded actual military rank. They were given assistant instructor positions for new recruits, which meant for the first time ever they were split up and not working together. Yumi went to assist their instructor with the next batch while Leon was dispatched back to Aluranhafu to assist his older brother. The duo are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to training the new recruits and going out on scouting and research missions. For an entire year the Strife suffer no casualties due to skirmishes with the other races when things inevitably go south.

However, peace can never last. As dusk sets in Leon’s patrol with some rookie recruits spots some odd animal movements. It isn’t long following the trail before they come across a slain beast with multiple arrows and javelins sticking out of the Razor Deer. A seven foot tall deer with huge razor sharp antlers. Extremely territorial and it’s common to find them dead from territory disputes… But this one was killed, not hunted. Leon checked the javelins and arrows before surmising that it wasn’t Strife built weaponry. “This isn’t good… You, fly as fast as you can back to Commander Grave and tell him we might have intruders entering Aluranhafu.” Leon pointed an order at one of the rookie’s who took off quickly. The young officer turned to the rest of the group. “As we have practiced, we will be operating silently from here, no flying. We are tracking possible intruders.” The group nodded and they took up positions to follow the trail once more.

Night fully engulfed the land before Leon’s group saw lights in the forest surrounding the mountain home of Aluranhafu. They spread out quietly and took up positions exchanging hand signals and nods they approached a campsite. It was massive, there had to be well over fifty people in this camp. Leon became nervous as he noticed Gomxyn Warlord Banners, particularly one. ‘The Lord of Blades…’ A name he knew well from their expeditions, as well his father had told him when he was older that his mother died escaping land owned by this particular Warlord. Leon’s temper was getting the better of him in this instance as he held up a hand for a preparatory command. Everyone drew their weapons silently as Leon pulled a spear from a strap on his back.

He then lowered his arm quickly to have the assault begin. Leon’s patrol was barely five Strife including himself. However, they did catch the Gomxyn off guard. They barreled through tents and a couple of patrol Knights, but the camp seemed to be empty, full of mostly chamber maids and workers. “Leon! The mountain!” He wasn’t sure whose voice said it, as his eyes darted to look at Aluranhafu he saw the orange light of fire burning the horizon over the mountain. “Retreat! We must return now!” Leon remembered giving the order and turning to go with them, but then his world fell dark.