A New World

[Mira Nightingale]

Breath coming out in ragged gasps, clothes torn, and her ankle broken, Mira vanished as her right hand touched the pedestal of Heaven’s Altar. The trembling hand detached itself from the pedestal as the young woman it belonged too reappeared someplace she had never seen before. The pedestal had been the only way to escape the murderous world below, below being a relative word, since she had no idea where she really was.

Slowly, her mind connected with her body once again, returning out of the thoughts it had secured itself inside to hide and shelter its fragile state. The first thing Mira realized was that she was kneeling on a slab of cold rock, presumably granite. Her eyes picked up the vague dark shapes and shadows of the surrounding area, as it was very late at night. The moon was only a waning crescent, and didn’t provide much light to the blue-gray eyes of the fiery red head.

One thing she could see, however; one thing that the moon’s faint glow did light was a single, solitary cloud. That cloud was so much closer than she had ever before seen a cloud, and reaching up a tremulous hand she almost could see herself snatch it. Rising slowly and rather unsteadily to her feet, trying not to put much weight on her broken ankle, Mira couldn’t help but smile painfully. She was finally safe. She was in Aesir.

[Tyanno Dynam, Allaine mage]

Tyanno was about, thinking to himself and getting some fresh air when he spotted Mira appear, bruised and beaten. He dashed over and helped her up, quickly noticing her favoring of an obviously injured ankle. "Hang on, let me help you Mira. You're not not gonna get far on that leg, now are you?" He said as he came up under her injured side. he took an arm around and took her weight onto his shoulder.

"What happened to you? Who attacked you?." He asked as he began to lead her to the residential part of the city to his temporary home. There She could rest while he splinted her ankle. He had the materials, Alezand had left his aid bag in the living room the other day so that Tyanno had it during his trips to the forest. He had a slight inclination as to the the perpetrators, but he did not want to jump to conclusions...

[Mira Nightingale]

Things after that happened rather quickly. Out of no where, someone dashed toward her to assist her somewhat obvious plight. Stepping quickly away after a moment of fear, she relaxed as she saw the familiar face. It was Tyanno. At least now she wouldn’t be completely alone. But she didn’t know many mages. Shadow, Evee Natalia, Tyanno, and the now deceased Verdan were the only ones she had met and spoken with. Trying to stifle tears at the thought of Verdan, lying dead and broken at the very least, she reached out to Tyanno now for the support she needed.

Shaking her head as she winced slowly, she let Tyanno help her up and start to walk again. After a long pause in which she hesitated to answer his question, she finally sighed. “I’m… a heathen.” she whispered slowly, brokenly. There was much, much more to the story, of course, but she was so exhausted and low on energy that she didn’t want to think about speaking for long. Her throat hurt, from over an hour of running on adrenaline alone in the cold night air; her ankle hurt for obvious reasons, it was broken and swelling; and to top off her injuries, her whole body hurt.

“Thank you.” she managed to say, her voice soft although she tried to speak louder. “Is this Aesir?” If it was, like she assumed and so hoped, then she was safe. Safe until her fledgling powers came and murdered someone else and she was wanted. Because of that wanted criminal status, she would have to speak to whomever was in charge of the floating city. She needed to beg for amnesty.

[Tyanno Dynam, Allaine mage]

Tyanno smiled grimly, "Yep, this is Aesir. Unfortunately, with all that has been going on, this place has no sense of awe or beauty. I imagine I'll rediscover these when the darkness ends. Come, I'll see to that ankle and get you some food. Word around here is I'm the best unhired cook around. You need rest."

He slowed for a second and reached down and swept her legs up, carrying her in a perfect cradled position. He was well built and tall, so it was not much trouble. "We'll travel faster this way and attract less attention this way." He explained as he strode down the lane. They very soon approached the rented place for which he was staying for the week until Alezand had made arrangements in the new village for Adrianne, he and Tyanno...

[Mira Nightingale]

“What has been going on?” Mira asked, slightly curious. She knew that Avaren had been affected by the witch hunts and recent cries of heathen, but she hadn’t known that these things had reached Aesir. The darkness and loss of awe and beauty Tyanno was talking about could only be the disease that had affected Avaren and thrust her into a fray of lies and deceit, and ultimately here.

Suddenly jerked out of her thoughts as Tyanno lifted her up and started carrying her, she yelped softly in surprise. She had been picked up too many times today, it seemed, and the notion was starting to get a little uncomfortable. Still, she couldn’t help but be grateful for Tyanno. Without him she’d be back at the pedestal this very moment, lost. It was hard to believe that just this morning she had been getting ready for her wedding, and now she was a wanted criminal just escaped into a foreign land.

Trying not to despair completely, she tuned back into what Tyanno was saying, just in time to hear him mention food and tending her ankle. Cracking open an eye that she hadn’t realized had fallen shut; she forced a smile to her face. “Food sounds absolutely amazing.” she admitted with a tired yawn. “Where exactly are we going?”

[Tyanno Dynam, Allaine mage]

"Those who side with Vidar in the hopes for a bit of a taste of power have been luring mages out of safety with false messages and capturing or slaughtering them. As well as those who have been harboring mages to safety. They too have been targeted relentlessly. It has come to civil war pretty much. A neutral village has been forged out in the outer lands and Alezand has called for at least a militia force to protect the new town from Vidars forces. But other soldiers within Avaren have voiced their distaste in Vidar's actions, but are looking for a leader whom has already gone against Vidar to lead them and give them support. Alezand was their choice, and he has answered, and I with him. He wants to know if he has the backing to take back Avaren and make it free again for mages and soldiers alike. He will not commit war if the people do not wish it. He will at least protect our new sanctuary. He is Rapaere's new captain of the guard. I am trying to get support from Cain to learn and form the ability to become a mage knight, an elemental arcane archer to be exact. Shadow is lending his support, and we only wish for the King's help." He explained

They crossed the busy streets of Aesir and towards the building where Tyanno was renting a room. "We're there already." he answered and he very carefully reached out with a hand and turned the knob. The door swung open they entered the place and went up a steady flight of stairs. Tyanno again fiddled with the door of his room and at last it admitted them in. He brought Mira over to the couch and laid her gently and started a fire a moment later. He then ran into the other room and fetched Alezand's aid bag and pried it open. bringing it back and setting it by the couch, he took a look at her ankle amid the fire light. "Yep, you definitely busted that one. No worries, though, I have it wrapped up and secured in a second. You'll have to be off your feet for about a week minimum, though." he chuckled...

[Mira Nightingale]

“Avaren is losing what made it strong,” Mira replied, not really understand what she was saying. It just seemed so right and accurate, so truthful. “They are so afraid of what they cannot understand and accomplish themselves. The old wives tale of magic and sorcery is just that to them, a tale. I didn’t even know that mages existed until a little over three months ago, when I met Verdan. Before that, magic was just as scary as it seems to them now. The people and citizens don’t need to be harmed. Just the one that is brainwashing them and keeping them uninformed of the real happenings of the world. I guess that would be Vidar.” Trying to suppress a sigh, she shook her head wearily. “He was such a nice priest before he became king. I guess power gets to everyone’s head.”

Even as she finished speaking, they were at Tyanno’s home, or the place where he was renting. It didn’t really matter in the end, she guessed, as it was an indoor place where she could let go of the current problems in her life and sleep. Tyanno set her down on the couch, and she pushed herself up into a sitting position. If she was lying down for even a second, she would be fast asleep before Tyanno could even blink. When he came back, she had composed herself a little more, although she was still wearing Verdan’s cloak. The knuckles of her right hand were white from clutching the fabric the whole time, but she didn’t even notice.

“Off my feet for a week?” she replied, startled. She hadn’t expected that. But, then again, now that she was thinking about her ankle it had started to hurt again. All the running on it had bruised it and made it swell even more than normal. She cringed thinking about how mangled the bone must be. “But, I need to speak to your King!” she added, the list of things she had to do suddenly popping up in her mind. “And I need to… to find my family’s history.” she added after a pause. She hadn’t really thought about that, but now that she was here, she might as well search for her roots. The only way a person can do magic is if it is in their blood, after all. And Shadow had said that she had a great potential.

[Tyanno Dynam, Allaine mage]

"Then you will be pleased to hear that I have growing business with him, regarding certain training. I could bring you along the next time we meet. But for now, food and rest, and maybe you could tell me what has been going on that has left you in this state that have found you in. It has been awhile and many things have happened since our last meeting, and I am very interested to hear what you have been up to." He said calmly as he assessed the break and wrapped the ankle up. Half way through the roll of bandage, he reached into the bag again and pulled out a small dowel rod and laid it along the ankle parallel to her lower leg and resumed wrapping the injury, bonding the stick to the dressing. "I am seeing the King about aiding becoming a arcane elemental archer like the old Allaine Mage knights. Casting my powers with my bow would be so awesome. But I need guidance as to enchanting my ammo with my elemental spells. Shadow has suggested that we see the King about it, and I agreed and then I ran into a new young mage in the woods who desired to join me in the same quest, so I will speak on her behalf for now." He smiled and stood up and entered the tiny kitchen and began concocting a soup and some other scrumptious meal bits for his guest and him. Soon the smell wafted through the small abode and ensnared the senses of anyone with a nose...

[Mira Nightingale]

Mira sighed softly and fidgeted a little bit, trying to get more comfortable as Tyanno wrapped her ankle. half way through the roll of bandage he placed a small rod inside, and then continued wrapping it. Trying to postpone the inevitable story of how she got here, she casually, and quite innocently, asked Tyanno, “Where did you learn to do this? And what is that rod for?”

“An elemental archer?” she asked, impressed. “I’ve never heard of a mage who could use weapons as well. That must be quite an achievement.” Shortly after she spoke, Tyanno got up and went into another room, which she assumed to be the kitchen. She sat there for a few long minutes just immersed in her thoughts and trying to figure out what to say to Tyanno about how she got here, when a small wafted though the open doorway.

The food Tyanno was cooking smelled absolutely amazing. She was also absolutely starving, so that probably influenced her senses; but at the moment she didn’t even care. Deciding that she couldn’t wait any longer without seeing what was being made, she shifted her weight to her good foot and slowly hobbled into the kitchen.

[Tyanno Dynam, Allaine mage]

OCC: Leave it to the medic to put trauma and medicine into a fantasy post, lol.

IC: "Well, its a splint, meant to stabilize the joint and the break so that the fragments do not shift out of place while they heal. Alezand's many years of life on the battlefield and on the run have taught him a thing or two about medicine. So he passed on simple techniques to me. And he left his bag here the other day." He answered, taking note in her incessant need to change the subject. She was avoiding his concern. Either from the memory of what had transpired or that she wasn't ready to trust him with what was obviously a traumatic experience, she was not ready to talk yet. But there would be a time. He would not pursue her further. She was safe for now and that was what mattered.

"Yeah, a piece of Alezand and my history. I think it would do more for his spirit than mine to see a part of the old Order return. These past months have started to get to him. It's a juggling act now, with the evils outside the walls creeping closer and the civil war ready to break between the two cities and now a new village to protect as a step towards freedom and taking back the city we all used to call home. He is at the center of it all, and not by choice, but because no one else will stand up and help. People just stood by in the executions, and even now with new attacks and raiding parties, the common person just wanders blindly until it's themselves that end up in the cross hairs." Tyanno sighed as he entered the kitchen to stir some of the soup and turn the meat over in the pan. He added some wine to the pan and it flamed for a moment until it reduced. He smiled at the memory of Shadow's curiosity in Tyanno's cooking traits. He heard a grunt and a thump and turned to see Mira standing up. "Oh no you don't, when I say off your feet, that means both, plural dear." He pointed a spoon at her. He eased her back and scooped up a bit of the soup in the utensil and brought it to her to taste. "Nothin' special, just home made..."

[Mira Nightingale]

OOC: Finally! I managed to find time to post! I swear I’m not going inactive, cause I love this site to death. Replies may take a while, but they’ll come no matter what.

Mira nodded along to Tyanno’s words about her ankle and the split, and where he learned such things. “I’m glad Alezand taught you.” she replied softly, not sure of what else to say. “And I’m glad you were here.” There, she’d said something that expressed her current predicament. She’d be lost, if not dead, by now without the help of her friends. And Verdan… her eyes glazed over slightly with tears she refused to shed, and to make them leave she blinked several times in quick succession.

“Alezand has a lot to worry about.” she added after a moment, then shook her head with a small frown as he pointed a spoon at her to usher her back into a sitting position. Shaking her head stubbornly, since she hadn’t eaten anything for quite a long time, she only gave in once he scooped up a spoonful of the soup and brought it to her.

“Home made soup never smelled so good.” she said, her earlier frown melting back into the familiar smile so often seen on her face. “Hurry up with that spoon, will you?” A short laugh followed that statement, and she eased herself back onto the couch so she was sitting down once again.