|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 2:05 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:34 pm
 |
|
|
|
ARCANE ACADEMY
  [/imgleft] Kogo || Age: 16|| Prince || OLDLANDS || Male || Straight || 3rd Year
Kogo, the only remaining member of the Immediate royal family of the OldLands. One of the first kingdoms every created, The OldLands gained political footing through agriculture. However after the creation of many more kingdoms, years of power struggles, and changing Eras, many of the original kingdoms faded away into time. Either Consolidated or Conquered. The OldLands have managed to remain a viable and protect themselves through trade however. And not just any trade- Magical arms is this kingdoms new cash crop. When some rice farmers stumbled across an old tomb sealed into a Triamid deep into the woods in the center of the kindgom. These woods that held many legends and many secrets for the people of OldLands were thought to be the cause of great fruition in the plains surrounding it. One day these aforementioned rice farmers on a whim decided to explore it. Greedy, reckless, and drunken bastards they were. Risking their lives simply to break the monotony of being a lowly rice farmer. However it proved worthwhile. As the discovery of the Triamid gave them new foothold in their kingdom. They became honored as explorers, and given title to the land as such. Since then that family of rice farmers has watched over the Triamid. And have supervised the trials every brave young man decides to go through to become a warlock.
"See there was magic discovered in this Triamid. In these woods." The Rice Farmers Wife talked spookily.
"Magic the likes of which none had ever seen. Runes and stones, and plants that dated back further than any kingdom could identify. It is because of this lucky discovery that we now have our success and safety as an independent Kingdom even today. Its why we have our Warlocks, our 'luckies'."
Kogo sat on the floor with the other small group of 10-12 year olds, although slightly to the side. No one would sit too close to him. Too much fear. Too much misunderstanding. For you see Kogo was royalty. Then again, what is royalty really when your country isnt known for anything but mysterious, unreliable, unknown magic and food crops. The Trial Guides wife definitely talked it up a bit. Our magic items and materials were powerful yes, but incredibly hard to use, much less master. Most of the magic trade was done with Scholars and researchers. Rarely anything actually lucrative. The crops barely kept the kingdom alive. And while Kogo lived the best out of the kingdom.... many other kingdoms would be hard pressed to call it 'living'. Hell, kogo had been scorned many times on his trips out of kingdom from fellow royalty to know. He was by all means poor. Unfortunately, being seen as spoiled rotten by ur own kingdom, and slime by outside the kingdom- kind of leaves you between a rock and a hard place socially. Kogo wasn't sure why his parents put up with it. Then again, he probably was sure. He could see it every time his father looked out from the window of their rather large cottage at the base of Lonely Mountain. The magnificent smile as his father held his mother and looked out on his home. They had the highest house in the kingdom. That was for sure. And his father had the highest heart.
At least he did.
The boys finally began their trial. The door to the magnificent Tomb slid open. The group rose from the floor of the main hall of the Triamid, some shaking in their boots.
"Now children." Said the Farmers Wife.
"Remember once you go through that door. U may not come back out. Anyone who has had a change of heart- feel no shame. Stay ur life"
many of the boys sat back down.
Kogo, and three others still stood. And the Farmer came down from stair way to the left of the tomb opening. He struggled to carry a large blue anvil. He walked towards the group of kids nearly pitching over once or twice.
The farmer set the Anvil down. Its heavy mass made no sound when it hit the ground. As if it weighed not a feather.
"Now." He bellowed. Even his voice was aged by work.
"Place ur hands on the anvil. U will feel a burn, but it will only last a moment. As you all know without pain there cant be gain-"
The group interjected the farmer to finish the saying, as though the response was drilled into them by many years of understanding. It was.
"Without penance, magic has no resonance!!" The students exclaimed slamming their hands on the Anvil. The anvil immediately turned from blue to a burning reddish gold around each hand. And the small group of four screamed again in unison. But this time without words.
After a moment they all began to slowly recoil from the anvil one by one. Kogo removing his hand last.
The farmer smiled. Being surrounded by the immense knowledge the Triamid has to offer left little space in his mind for bigotry or segregation. "Ah as expected of the Royal son!" He smiled proudly.
" Ahem, as you all know, the Opal Anvil reads ur magic. You all placed your itsy hands on this very anvil when u were born. Not that any of u remember. U were graded on ur potency, and the ones here are more than likely the same ones with extra ordinary readings... However! Only 4 of you have the bravery to become Luckies, and get to touch this anvil again! The second time the Anvil reads your magic, it blesses you with your own magical weapon. As you know the OldLands are famous for these weapons. Although only those born within the shadow of Lonely Mountain seem efficient at their use. The more you bare all-"
"The more the veil will fall!" The group chanted.
The room vibrated and the anvil glowed a white hot aura. Kogo's hand seared once again, a single sharp slicing stabbing pain.
A katana with a mighty tang sprang from the burning pink flesh of kogo's palm. Sheathed in obsidian trimmed with glowing silver and shimmering gold similar to the glowing anvil. Kogos hand returned to normal, and the katana found it place on Kogo's left side. Kogo's burning hand finally dissipated without a trace, leaving nothing but a long black cloth laced between his fingers dangling to the ground. The cloth whipped to life, wrapping around Kogos waist tightening the sword sheath to his belt.
He looked like a true warrior.
"a Sword fit for a king." The Farmer said.
Once the respective weapons had bonded to their owners, the Farmer gave the group a few last instructions before sending them on into the tomb. The group of 4 looked back as the door slowly slid closed on their friends and the Trial supervisors... their last light of safety.
The trial was over. The group was nearing an opening to the tomb. They were all injured, battered, broken, bruised- but they'd all managed to hold onto their weapons and each gained hold of a magical artifact. The key to completing the trial. Most of all they'd all managed to live.
"Lets get out of here!" Cried Baryu. A stocky bull of a boy whos family helped maintain boarder relations. He was just as rich as Kogo was as royalty, but yet somehow didnt get the flack or judgement that came with it. "The place is about to cave in!"
And it really felt like it was. The entire tomb was shaking.
The door opened at the end of the hall, but so did another. Kogo slid to a stop.
"Hey! Freak Geek! What are you doing!? Come on lets go!"
Kogo looked down at the fingerless gloves he had found in the alchemy chamber. He knew it was alchemy, he could tell by the hieroglyphs. They were mostly fingerless anyways, they cut off at the knuckle. But the very tips of his fingers were encased in emerald. It seemed to happen everytime he put the gloves back on, and it never hurt him. So He figured it must be a part of the gloves natural function. When he left the section of the tomb he noticed on the door the very simple instructions, he had very minimal time to absorb them all before the mace of a giant Homunculus Warrior came down on him. He had managed to dodge just in time and escape, and from what he'd read he could assume the gloves helped focus magic. Similar to a wand or staff, but also these specific gloves had an additional aid in alchemy.
"But still not good enough." Everyone else was leaving with amazing items. What would kogo look like if he came back out with something anyone could get from the local magic bazaar?
Kogo turned from the leaving group and ran head first deeper into the tomb......
Kogo awoke in the main chamber of the Triamid. his father laid in the center next to him, gripping his hand.
"Dad!!!! DAD!" Kogo sprung into a sitting position. His fathers rib cage was completely divided. blood pooled in his chest cavity like a bright red bird bath. But still his crazy father smiled up at him.
"Son... Please.." his voice escaped in ragged breaths.
"Let my last memories of you...... be of you.....glad to live....."
Kogo remembered. He'd floundered. H'ed made it all the way to the deepest part of the tomb. Further than anyone in their entire Kingdom had ever gone before. Further than even renowned explorers from out of country had even dared tread. He'd finally gotten his hand around the Chalice after fighting through a horde of undead. But the second his hand closed around it, the chalice began to fill with water til it over flowed. And kept flowing, til it filled the chamber. He thought he was going to drown....
His parents saved him. His father had jumped infront of a fire ball that had appeared from the blue outside the final chamber, blocking his family, but his mother had used her innate speed his father was always so proud of, to push him out of the way. She took the attack full on to herself. Saving them both. And then finally when they were almost free- the minotaur his father had failed to dispatch crushed his fathers chest with his mace as he once again attempted to shield his still very weak and close to unconscious son. The search party he had came with had dragged them both out. The door closed on the minotaur literally breaking its mace. The head of the massive mace stood blocking the door. Who knew if it would ever be moved again.
"I loved this kingdom" Kogo's father rasped. Kogo's head dropped. He'd failed. He'd lost everything that truly mattered to him desperately striving for recognition he didnt need. Tears began to well up in his eyes again... His father lifted his chin.
"But I only maintained it for you. my son."
Kogo locked eyes with his father, and what he saw there before it faded into glossy death, steeled his heart forever. It was an image of his father and mother, in the back of his fathers consciousness. displaying on the fringes of his eyeballs like a video. They stood in the window, over looking their beautiful kingdom.
"Do you think he'll like it?" His mother asked his father, looking up at him with worrying eyes.
"Of course. If not I'll burn it all down and start again."
His mother smiled. Her husband had always had a crude sense of humor. But touching none the less.
"I only hope they'll accept him."
"As do I." His father looked down at his son. Swaddled in his arms in a magic cloth.
"after all. its all for him."
Kogos father's head slumped, and one of the search party members leaned down to close the King's eye lids.
"May you be forever in spirit". The room spoke in unison.
Kogos heart burned. He clutched his chest. Tears stung at his eyes. Wait..... Kogo pulled the collar of his shirt out to look down at his chest. It wasn't his heart. It was his flesh. Just over his left breast was an insignia, seemingly carved into his skin. It was already scarred over. As if it had been there for his entire life.
The lines of a bold Chalice decorated his skin.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
