7 years may not seem like a long time to many. In the eyes of any ordinary person. Not a person born in Oronia wasn't born without the 'Orion Gene', giving everyone a equal potential to achieve greatness, so long as they knew where their path would take them. But also granting all those born the gift of extended life, most humans living up to three centuries. Other forms of Demi-humans ranged from five to seven centuries.
So seven years did not seem like a long time. But still a lot can change regardless when one stopped and took account. For Xylia she had made bounds and strides like she couldn't believe, she was more comfortable talking, but she was still very reserved usually keeping conversations with her family. A family, that was the biggest change in her life. She never imagined having a family.
Not that she was upset, it was just the kind of curve in her life she did not expect and felt blessed nonetheless to have her family. Her husband Rin, the one man who truly turned her life upside down when he stumbled into her little bakery. Learning he was a former dark guild mage, an ex convict, one who brought destruction to the fishing village to the south of her own, ordered to hunt the Half Dragon.
But she accepted him regardless, seeing him for the man he wanted to be. After spending months training her to control her incredible gift of magic. Saving his life from the threat of Krayt after he fought to keep her safe and could not continue. Taking in the girl Krayt had taken in himself, Juni.
Juni still was very mysterious about her own past. Though Xylia never pressed the matter, she could feel something about Juni, elusive, like a shadow looming over her, her green eyes often did not feel like her eyes. Like they belonged to someone else. But this girl regardless made her smile and truly feel like a mother. She got to see her moody teenage years, her desire to learn all she could about magic and constantly reading.
Though her choice of magic was still a sore subject. The day Xylia had come home from the market and found Rin had given her Krayt's journals. That was the first time Xylia and Rin had actually gotten into a shouting match. Xylia not wanting her study such a dangerous and untested magic. Rin argued that even they could not change her path, neither of them could change her affinity more than could stop her from growing up. Her affinity for magic would grow and change with her.
She never once blamed Juni nor had any animosity towards her, just a natural unease from her first encounter with sand magic. Though Juni always seemed like a natural with it, the sand seeming to come alive and was only ever friendly, as her imagination and emotions were tied to the sand.
Though the third biggest change in Xylia's life was her and Rin's son. Raiden, the first child of Rin's clan by birthright. Rin settling his clan's encampment at the base of the mountains with the blessing of the princess. Rin's clan mostly being those who were lost souls like him. He taught them the histories of his people. Teaching those compatible with light magic to use the light bow. While those who had the hands for a sword he would teach how to wield one and opened those with an affinity for any other type of magic and letting them discover the rest for themselves.
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Raiden was always following his father, wanting to learn and impress him with his own sphere made with ice. But for all he tried, Rin never seemed impressed, often a very harsh teacher, but as a clan leader he had to ensure those that were of his clan were strong.
Juni had since become a full fledged member of the Royal Mage Academy. An invitation from the Princess herself. She was now sixteen years old and well on her way to becoming an accomplished mage. Raiden had only turned six recently. Once again he was out in the mountains with the clan, working hard to copy his father's magic.
'Pull the air into the palm of my hand, let it flow in all directions. Condense the air, feel it sharpen and spin. Let where you are most in your element flow with you.'
Raiden recited this in his head, the method his father instructed him in. The rest was up to Raiden to discover.
His hand was outstretched, covered in old cuts and callous' from the last year of trying to make an ice sphere, along with a smattering of scars on his face from ice exploding in his face. Using his free hand to shape and form the wind. Focusing more he could see it slowly get colder and began to freeze. He was starting to do it. But once again it was too fragile and exploded sending him flying back.
He looked up at his father who was standing on a rocky ledge. To this he merely turned away, Raiden hung his head in defeat. With this he begrudgingly walked back home. His mother waiting and she was soon cleaning his wounds asking if he was alright.
"I'm alright, I'm alright. I just wanna hear him say something." Raiden said as he winced the sting of the alcohol on his hands
"Not everyone see's their magic as a blessing. But give it time, you're still growing up. Don't get in too much of a hurry." Xylia explains gently as she wrapped her son's hands in bandages "There. Now. I want I you to take it easy. Let them heal first." She added looking at him knowingly
"Oh alright." He admitted
But he was in truth excited to his big sister again. She was out of classes for holiday, and she would be back in time for the harvest festival. His Father's clan would finally be participating and having their own addition to the parade.
"I just hope your sister gets home safely and doesn't miss her carriage again." Xylia added sounding worried
"Have a little faith." Rin said making her jump as she playfully smacked him
"I told you to stop sneaking up on me." She joked as he chuckled
"Come, let's make her a welcome home feast." Rin added as Raiden hopped up ready at the prospect of food
"Who knows. Maybe she'll bring home a boy." Raiden joked as Xylia gave him a look of extreme doubt
Meanwhile...
Juni was just getting her last bag off the carriage. She had only just arrived home from the capital. The academy was a good place for her to grow and hone her skills. She'd even met a few other oddballs like her. The siblings Taiga and Eugene Ayanami. But that was until last year when they both lost their parents. Now both working for a small ice cream shop.
She could feel some connection to them both, a similarity deep down that she couldn't describe. But now she was once again alone. Even surrounded by the family who loved her, the town she called home. She still felt alone...
Like a sudden gust blowing past her. Her head instinctively turned to the other side seeing a a group of travelers. All four looked ragged and worn out. Like they'd gone through hell and back itself. The two behind the boy were mages, very powerful ones yet their aura was foreign. The third also seeming just as foreign, yet a striking similarity to her father's aura. Their leader his aura was even more foreign and completely different than his companions. But deep inside, she could feel a sense of familiarity. Like Taiga and Eugene...
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