Silvermoon Mage's Tower
Shoshannah Daratranzanoff Morningstorme made her way through the grand halls and up extravagant stairways of the Tower. The Building itself was located in the complex grounds of Silvermoon Keep. Even from the outside it was a very tall, gray stone building. Inside was even larger and grander. There were magical porters to help get from floor to floor, but only groups of floors and some places were restricted to certain people. For example, acolytes could only access libraries and facilities on the first dozen floors. Novices could access others. Mage Tiers were also part of the restrictions.
Only their mentors or the First or Deputy Mage could grant special access to some areas. Shoshannah, better known as ZsaZsa, was only a mid Third Tier Mage Apprentice. She should only have access to the first fifty or so floors, but her mentor is her aunt Raven Darovan, the Deputy Mage, or Second Mage, of the Silvermoon Mage's Tower. So she had access to more places granted to her by her mentor.
ZsaZsa was an existence that was recent in Emphyralis. She was the child of a Dragon and an Earthborne. Earthborne were new to Emphyralis. They more accurately called Daoine Sidhe. They are a type of fae, born of nature. Their homeworld, Cruinog, was becoming more and more inhospitable to them. It was to the point that fewer and fewer women were being born, or even if they were born, died shortly after. In desperation, the Earthborne sought a new hope for themselves.
About a century before coming to Emphyralis, their oldest and most powerful Seers, the few elderly women left of the Earthborne, sacrificed themselves in seeking the answers. The answer was Emphyralis.
They spent the next century seeking out the help of other magic users on Cruinog in order to find a way to send them over. Finally, a group made it. In the last few years of the Dragon Wars, when the Earthborne came, the Dragons welcomed them and gave them a new home in the Eternal Mountains called New Bienskurr. In gratitude, the Earthborne helped the war effort since their men were powerful.
Not long after, a few male Earthborne found mates from among Dragons. ZsaZsa's father was one of these males. In general, the children of Dragons and other races rarely reflected the other race except, perhaps in their humanoid forms. The children of Earthborne and Dragons were unique in several small ways, but one major way.
Earthborne had several abilities, the ability to shapeshift into animals was one of them. Dragons could only naturally shift from their humanoid and Dragon forms. Children of Earthborne were able to shift into Drakes, with the ability of Drakes to cut through time and space on a singular plane in order to travel almost instantaneously. To date, every single child of Earthborne and Dragons had this ability. ZsaZsa was no exception. She was an Amethyst Dragon, and thus, her Drake form was also a miniature Amethyst Dragon. However, unlike having to go through her Changing Age, her ability to shift into a Drake manifest at the usual time an Earthborne gained their own ability, around twelve or thirteen.
Her aunt Raven was fully Earthborne. She was actually her grandmother's younger sister, but her grandmother died in childbirth, barely giving life to her father. As for her grandfather. After losing his mate, he became one of the Laghdaithe, or the Fallen and was eventually hunted down and killed. Aunt Raven was born much later.
The Fallen were what the Earthborne men could become after a long time without a mate and the earth no longer able to sustain them.
This is where the Earthborne get their namesakes. They are earthborn fae. They were born of the earth and the earth is supposed to nourish them. They would bury themselves in the soil to sleep and replenish their energies. Otherwise, they lived on the blood of animals. They were hunters by nature. They existed this way for thousands of years but at some point in their long history, the earth could no longer sustain them and the blood of animals could no longer feed them.
They had to start feeding on the blood of humans, but their gifts allowed them to do so without harming humans. However, as the energy of their homeland became less and less, the weaker of their race, the women, began to be born less and less.
Earthborne were not meant to be solitary creatures and they mated for life. Hundreds or thousands of years of loneliness made many of them either kill themselves or sleep for long periods of time.
Some became the Fallen.
Since feeding on humans was already wrong in their opinions, killin while feeding was even worse. However, the fallen would become addicted to it. Humans started to call the Fallen vampires. Earthborne eventually adopted this moniker as well. They would take it upon themselves to hunt and kill the Fallen. Yet, because they were also creatures who fed on human blood, humans would see no difference between the two and would often hunt the Earthborne as well.
ZsaZsa's grandfather...no one knew what to think. To voluntarily become the Fallen was almost unheard of. He also attempted to kill the newly born child but he was stopped in time. Similar tragedies are what drove the Earthborne to seek a solution outside of their own world.
However, the very existence of children like ZsaZsa created what some among the Earthborne refugees see as a new problem. The eventual extinction of their race because the children of Dragons are always Dragons. Some among the new leadership want to forbid marriages between Earthborne and Dragons.
Others argue that that was why they came to Emphyralis, to give themselves a new start. Even if it's not the same as before, their race would still live on in bloodlines and memories.
But these things were not something ZsaZsa was concerned with at the moment. She already existed. Her parents were already married and expecting a new little brother.
She was in a hurry to get to her aunt's office. She knocked perfunctory before entering. Her aunt's office was more like a small library with many books on shelves, tables, chairs, and a desk. Raven was at the desk writing something down.
ZsaZsa didn't look like an Earthborne. She resembled her mother and had somewhat typical Amethyst humanoid features. Slightly deep wheat colored skin, purple eyes, long dark brown hair, and long elfin ears. Her aunt, however, was typical of an Earthborne with her pale skin, light gray eyes, and long black hair with rounded ears. She looked up when her niece came in. They both wore the typical silver-gray and pale purple robes of the Silvermoon Mage's Tower. "ZsaZsa," she greeted.
--(faux break for tapas)--
ZsaZsa smiled. "Aunt Raven. I brought you bloodwyne. Papa sent it over this morning," she said and pulled a bottle out of her storage.
Raven brightened slightly. Since coming to Emphyralis, Earthborne didn't need to feed on blood at all. The Draconite rich earth could sustain them for days or even weeks after resting for just a few hours.
But, they didn't want to lose their natural instincts to hunt, so many of the men often hunted in the Eternal Mountains around New Bienskurr and other places, using the blood to make bloodwyne. They would sell the meat and bones and either keep or sell the furs and hides. They discovered many dangerous but nutrient rich species.
"What kind?" Raven asked. "Why didn't he send any to me? Just a dry letter letting know who would be going back to Cruinog with us," she complained lightly.
ZsaZsa shrugged. She didn't need blood or the earth. She ate and slept like any other Dragon, but she could, which was part of what set differentiated Earthborne hybrids from other non-Dragon hybrids. She even had retractable fangs. "Who made me his favorite daughter?" she asked. She sniffed the wine in the bottle. "Seems like a vraekharn," she said with some surprise. Vraekharn were huge, horned, hyena-like beasts found in the forest near the Eternal Mountains. They were a menace to towns and villages nearby and like to steal children.
Raven harrumphed lightly but poured the wine into two glasses. "It must have taken some energy to take down a vraekharn. Let's not let it go to waste," she said and handed her niece a glass.
ZsaZsa smiled and took it. She sat in a chair opposite her aunt's desk. She took a sip and the flavor instantly danced on her tongue. She squinted in delight.
Raven also sighed in delight at the taste. "I'll have a wrangle a few bottles from your father when we go to New Bienskurr later," she declared in satisfaction.
ZsaZsa fiddled with her glass. "Are you sure it's all right for me to go? Papa doesn't seem very happy with the prospect. He and Mama have been arguing about it," she said unsurely.
Raven sighed. "Lady Britiana invited you to go. You not only have experience going off world, but you're a gifted Mage, even at a young age," she said. "Your mother is right to chew him out," she declared.
Because of the changes in their natural habitat and women dying off, the men of the Earthborne became overprotective of the women to an unnatural degree. Women were rarely given a voice in decision making. They were no longer allowed to hunt. If it weren't for the fact that incompatible mates were almost as disastrous as no mates at all, they would likely have adapted arranged marriages as soon as a female was of childbearing age.
Raven was one of the few single women her age among her kind. It's not that her male elders didn't stick every single man they could find in front of her, but because she knew none of them were right. Among the Earthborne, no matter how protective and controlling, marriage decisions always rested with the women. She was also among the most powerful mages of her people. Because of the environment, Earthborne barely reached mid-third tier even as Elders, but from a young age, Raven was already upper third tier. She was instrumental in the spell that led her people to Emphyralis.
Since coming to Emphyralis, it took less than a decade to break through to the fourth tier. She was the most powerful mage among her kind. She was still young and she was sure she'd see fifth tier in her lifetime. ZsaZsa also had such potential. But that wasn't unusual. Women were always the most powerful mages among the Earthborne. It was another reason they couldn't fully be forcibly controlled. Mages had a voice that had to be listened to.
She suspected what some among her group objected to with Dragon marriages was not "eventual extinction" but loss of control over women and their lives. Although the Dragons and the government wouldn't interfere with Earthborne culture, it was impossible not to be influenced. Many women saw the freedom allotted not only to Dragon women, but most other races as well and they wanted it.
She frowned thoughtfully. Even going back to Cruinog to establish two-way travel caused a divide among their people. Some wanted to wait until their leader woke up to decide. Others didn't want to go at all. Others wanted to go back and never return. In the end, their elders agreed that no matter what, they needed to establish travel. They needed to know what was happening on Cruinog and they needed those left behind to have the opportunity to come to Emphyralis.
"Aunt Raven?" ZsaZsa called out, noticing her aunt's frown.
Raven sighed through her nose. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about Hendrik," she said. Hendrik Corven was the son of their leader. Though the leader called himself king, and his sons were called princes, they didn't have any other noble distinctions. They were mostly governed by Elders advising the leader. Hendrik was the youngest son of the King, and was chosen to lead their group. He was badly injured in the final skirmish between Emphyralis and the Dragon Hunters.
He'd been sleeping underground for a hundred years in order to heal. Hendrik was the person her elders always hoped she'd marry, but whenever she looked at Hendrik, she always knew that they would be unhappy together. She had nothing against him, she even liked him. When she was young she even fancied him a bit. When she grew up, she was disappointed with the feeling that they were incompatible.
How does one know? It's an elusive ominous feeling that Earthborne women have. She didn't know what it felt like to find the person she'd be with, but she knew what it felt like not to.
ZsaZsa heard people speak of their nominal leader, but he was injured long before she was born. "Would he not agree?" she asked unsurely.
"On the contrary. He'd be the first one to lead us back. He was always frustrated that the king stayed behind and sent him instead," Raven answered with a slight smile.
ZsaZsa understood, so she didn't ask more, still thinking about the upcoming trip apprehensively. She wanted to go, but she didn't like that her parents were arguing over it.
Raven looked at her niece for a bit. She wondered if her niece had the same kind of feelings as other Earthborne women. "ZsaZsa, what do you think of marrying Lord Darius," she suddenly asked.
"Wouldn't work," ZsaZsa said automatically without even having to think about it. Surprised, she looked at her aunt in confusion.
"Really? He's handsome, capable at a young age, kind, courteous, and he has a bright future. Anyone would think him a catch," Raven said.
ZsaZsa frowned. "All that's true, but aside from him being my best friend's brother, I still feel like it wouldn't work," she said. Even if they've only known each other a couple months, she and Britiana already decided they were best friends.
Raven was slightly surprised. "What about Brannoc? In Earthborne terms, he's not that much older than you. He's steady and mature and also a Mage," she said, naming one of their young men born to Earthborne parents after they moved to Emphyralis.
ZsaZsa scrunched her nose and shook her head. "Just don't feel it," she said. "Unless I meet someone on Cruinog I feel like my future partner will be a Dragon," she stated. "But not Lord Darius," she added quickly.
Raven chuckled. She felt that way as well, but she didn't know why she hadn't met that person yet. Perhaps it's simply not time. She suddenly grinned mischievously. "What about Lazarus Darkfrost?" she said.
ZsaZsa suddenly stood up. "Why are you playing matchmaker? I'm still young. I have plenty of time. I'm going to double check my belongings. I don't want to leave anything behind when we go to Cruinog and regret later," she said and fled her aunt's office with a flurry of silver fabric.
Raven laughed slightly at her niece's over reaction. She poured herself another glass of the bloodwyne. "Maybe the children of Earthborne and Dragons are more like the Earthborne than given credit for," she murmured to herself as she savored the wine she successfully stole from her family.
--
In the First Knight's Residence training ground, three people were looking at a sleek dark metallic blue sports car direct from Terranthea. It was one of the popular models there. It has two doors but four seats. The ones in the back were absurdly small. It also didn't have wheels, so the body had been modified to reflect that aspect.
Amadeus pursed his lips a few times as he struggled to find words. "This...? You...?" he still failed.
Darius on the other hand was studying it carefully. "Wilson modified it for you?" he asked. Wilson Redstorme was one of the Ruby Dragons in charge of learning the technology of Terranthea. He and his wife and baby son were staying on Terranthea for several months. "We don't have infrastructure or governing laws for these types of vehicles," he finally said.
Lazarus still beamed. "That's right. The car only cost a few jewels, but the modifications were pricey. Wilson was eager to try but I couldn't let him do it for free. As for infrastructure, it hovers about the same height as a carriage and is about the same width. Our roads and streets are big enough for Dragons to come and go. A little hot rod zooming down the street won't be a big disturbance as long as I don't go too fast," he declared. "I asked my mother. There are no laws prohibiting it," he said proudly, with his chin up.
"Can you even drive it?" Amadeus finally asked in defeat.
Lazarus looked at him like he was an idiot. "We all learned while we were Terranthea," he reminded.
Amadeus put his hands on his hips in exasperation. "But that was a regular vehicle with rubber wheels on asphalt for traction. This is a magical artifact that floats in the air. The feeling will be completely different," he said.
Lazaurus frowned. "It should work the same. It has a steering wheel, accelerator and a break. They just rely on magic instead of friction," he argued.
Darius finally halted their argument. "The training ground is big enough. He can practice before anyone else gets in," he stated.
Amadeus then looked at him suspiciously. "My lord, I highly suspect you're eager to try it yourself," he said and bowed politely.
Darius began to walk to a safe space away from the center of the training ground. "Nonsense. I would have gotten a truck," he declared.
Amadeus just shook his head and quickly followed Darius to the safe space while Lazarus beamed. He excitedly entered the cabin of the sporty vehicle and used a key to start the new Draconite powered engine. Immediately lights lit up and he felt slightly weightless as the vehicle began to float.
Brimming with excitement, he put the car in gear, took the wheel and pressed the accelerator.
Darius and Amadeus nearly had the first ever car crash on Emphyralis as the vehicle suddenly shot forward, barreling toward a stone fence before the driver overcorrected by jerking the wheel. The vehicle then wildly spun a few circles before stopping.
"I said the feeling would be completely different," Amadeus said with a long-suffering sigh.
Darius frowned slightly. "It'll just take some getting used to," he said optimistically.
"We'll starve to death by then," Amadeus keenly predicted.
He wasn't completely wrong. It took Lazarus nearly an hour to get the hang on maneuvering the floating vehicle. By then, the three really were very hungry. They caused a bit of stir as they drove it down the streets of Silvermoon to Crowley. Maybe it would set off a wave of people wanting their very own Terranthean hover car.
--