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Aziel
'You've definitely changed.'
Is what I imagined the lady in the mirror would say, a reflection copying my exact movements.
Yet here I was again after years. Fixing my auburn hair braids in the backstage for a Chronicle Order speech, feeling like an old retired princess as I recited my lines over and over. I mean, most of that feeling was probably accurate.
I was around twelve years old when I first quested. Slaying every beast there was barely left to slay. Retrieving ancient items of every kind until there was nothing else. Saved the lives of many for the greater good. Years upon years of exhausting training to learn any magic and combat skills.
I was fated, they said. And it was tiring. Still, I was cheered upon like a young royal.
'At least I look kind of the same.' I thought, still staring into the mirror, rotating my head for the perfect angle.
I wondered if it was possible to get rid of tiny scattered freckles in my almost mid-twenties.
I mean, I was going to speak in front of hundreds. More than ever before. For a mission more important than ever before. Totally no pressure.
"Aziel, ma'am!" Someone whispered loudly.
In the middle of my thoughts, playing out a grand speech scenario in my head, and checking my bright casual dress for dust, I was finally called up to the stage by one of the soldiers.
". . . now everybody welcome our returning hero to deliver a word for the revolution. . ." I overheard the last person say, as I walked over to stand in front of the largest audience yet. "Aziel Korr!"
This is for you, Calev.
I walked over to the stage slowly, and stood at the podium. There were surprisingly no Drownei to be seen. Usually there'd be Kyronian guards patrolling us. The Chronicle Order is still under them for now, after all. But currently it was clear we had to be hidden beneath our main base.
They knew about the riots, sure, but not about our quest plan.
Besides them, before me were people of different kinds.
Dwellvens of different shapes and sizes, with their pointy ears.
Flivians with their feathered wings, deciding to stand and listen.
Marines coming out from the waters, over to land to unify with the rest of us.
Humans like me. With families and stories alike.
Maybe what I scripted wouldn't be grand enough for this. Maybe it's been so long, that I'm out of my place.
But then I noticed in the back row of the audience, was my older brother Ander watching with his jutted smile, and in his arms my young five-year-old daughter Yuna. She held up the Chronicle Order flag of imprinted shining scripture, her bright scratchy voice cheering among the crowd just for me.
So I did it for them, too.
The speech became sort of a blur as it flowed from out of my mouth. My public speaker instincts kicked in.
I announced how the greatest questers in the world of Midkyron will all come together to revolt. To defeat the oppressive overlord, or more justifiably named, the Dark Lord. The prophecy states that we must, and we will.
The Drownei, as we were taught, were merely oppressors. As much as we fight for independent nations, all they want is to keep control. But if a battle is what we need to take back their power over us, then a war is what we will wage.
I ended those words by taking one last look at my family. The sudden loud rally cries from the audience was my cue to return a smile, yell out a few dedicated parting words, and head to the backstage again.
The cheers of many began to muffle as I went further back when I finished, handing over the podium. A troop of the Chronicle Order was seemingly waiting for me when I returned backstage. She stood with her straight cut hair, giving me a nod of recognition as I came to her curiously.
"That was some excellent motivation you gave to the people there, Aziel Korr. " The troop welcomed. "It's clear you were destined to return. Fate for all."
"Oh- thank you kindly." I responded with my manners still intact. Then quickly made sure to repeat. "Fate for all."
"I'm a messenger sent by Headmaster Chronisius the 7th." She continued. "The headmaster wanted to me inform you new details about the quest. About the squad you're joining."
"Oh. . . "
Huh. It guess it was quite strange how headmaster Chronisius didn't attend this event when he usually would. I assumed he was busy.
". . .I see. And what is this information?"
Her expression changed from friendly to pensive as she briefly thought about it. Either that or a look of concern. It only lasted for a second, anyway.
"Somebody new is joining the quest. There is a change of plans." The messenger simply stated. "The headmaster wishes you meet him at the Chronicle Order base of the village Thaussin. You may come with us outside-"
"Mama!" Someone else's voice caught my attention instead.
Two people were greeting and waving at me outside of the backstage entrance. My daughter and brother, of course.
I quickly excused myself to the messenger and said to the few soldiers guarding the entry. "It'll be alright, they're my family. Let them in."
They agreed, and little Yuna ran then jumped to me, as I wrapped my daughter and her matching bright dress around in a bear hug.
"You totally did better than the other speaking guys." The cheeky five year old remarked with a freckled smile.
"Shhh, you didn't tell them that, did you?" I whispered jokingly as I kissed her on the forehead.
My brother Ander didn't forget to give me a hug either, with his lightly stained tavern uniform and messy brown hair. "Well, thankfully your mother was able to hold back from advertising our inn this time." He said to Yuna.
"Hey, I never did that, for the record." I lightly punched him with a fist. "That was your idea, An."
I then noticed the messenger passing by us, approaching the entryway, towards the soldiers outside. Feeling quite rude, I called out to her.
"Hey. Er- ma'am." I promptly cleared my throat and continued, my interrupted family staring at me. "I'll be joining you all in just a few moments, if you don't mind."
"We'll be carrying more resources back to the Thaussin base, so have a bit, Aziel." She said straight but respectfully enough. "Meet us out there in about five."
"I sure will." I responded, as she went out with the rest of the golden-lined troops, leaving only us three in the room apart from the guards outside.
There was a short fleeting moment of pure, unfiltered, deafening silence.
And after what felt like forever, Ander said. "So, you're still doing it then?"
I looked at him with a bit of a sigh. We've talked about this beforehand. Honestly, quite more than I would've expected. "Look, it- it's for the better. If this succeeds, everyone is protected. No more riots or wars. Remember?"
He wiped his brow with his laboured hand. "Well, yeah, they say that for sure. A lot. But Az."
Then Ander pressed two fingers onto his forehead, and continued with a whisper, that was still louder than his normal talking voice.
"You even said it yourself. Imagine starting a whole world war against the most powerful sentient race in Midkyron. For the biggest, most dangerous 'quest' yet."
"I'm joining for the greater good." I managed to defend. "With the Drownei defeated, we can even solve world peace. "
"Well, what if it doesn't work? What if something messes up, or things don't go according to plan? What if something happens and you-" Ander noticed Yuna listening to our conversation, and stopped.
She was still hugging my waist, noticeably more silent than usual, watching us go back and forth. I took this moment to collect my thoughts and say one final thing.
"I've been given this rare opportunity to actually help defend us. I don't want to sit back and waste it." I focused my eyes at the two of them."That's enough of a reason. . . right?"
Yuna looked up at me a bit worried, but still wearing a halfhearted smile. "I don't know, mama." She then looked towards Ander in the same way. "I just want us all happy."
She latched onto me even tighter, and I put my arm around her again. Ander and I didn't look each other in the eyes briefly. He had his eyebrows scrunched, deep in thought. We exchanged a few glances, until we silently agreed to accept the other's view. At least for Yuna. So he broke the silence.
"Well, in that case." He said finally. "I guess you have a point, Az."
I glanced at my daughter once more, then decided to return the favor. "I mean, you do too, An."
"And let's be honest. . . I'd probably, maybe, perhaps, do the same thing."
"Don't coat it. I know you would."
With that little banter out of the way, I gave him another light punch, which he returned.
Maybe we're going to be just alright.
"Nowhere to go but up." I said to the both of them, slowly walking towards the backstage entryway. "Literally. I'm waited for up on the surface. Let's go together, shall we?"
We took off for the exit, walking past the prophets and marching soldiers under Niytri. Questers titled heroes of all kinds, training with elemental magic and combat in massive rooms. Men carrying out crates full of weaponry and supplies for war.
I held Yuna's hand in mine while Ander walked by her other side. With help from other Chronicle Order troops patrolling the area, we were escorted towards the stairs that would lead us back up to the main base.
As we followed them, my brother whispered, quietly this time, one final thing back to me. "Listen, I apologize if I got carried away back there. I just thought you were done with. . ." He looked about at the militaristic underground of the quester organization. ". . .all this."
"Me, too."
I mean, most would say I used to have it all. Fame. Fortune. The dignity of being a hero and idol to many at such a young age. But maybe I was living out a self image more than anything else.
Well, until that one special unordinary day after years of retreading the cycle. I met someone new.
Calev. Yuna's father.
He reminded me of a better, simpler life to be honest. And after so many thrilling quests and noble deeds while being praised to the god of fate and prophecy himself, all I wanted at that moment was to settle down and live with Calev. So eventually, married together at the age of twenty, we did.
But, then the humans revolted against Kyronia.
Then the Unity organization tried to take down that prophecy.
Then. . .
The village of Telkorn was burned down in the crossfire. Under Drownei control.
Our home was reduced to rubble and ash, and were barely any survivors.
I wasn't there to protect Calev.
Now, I stood out on the surface, greeted again by the blue morning skies. Where my journey all started. Following those next to me, still left to protect, we entered one of the shining chariots that would lead to other heralded heroes. I made sure to look at Yuna and Ander once again, trying to wear a grateful smile.
I can only hope now that destiny is still for us.