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CHAPTER TWO

EXTINCTION OF THE FIRE FAE

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A SOFTENED MOAN filled the quiet spacious home as Randvi twisted and turned in her bed. Her forehead drenched with sweat, and her skin; sticky and hot. A candle sat on the family table, the wax was still warm suggesting the flame had went out a few minutes before Randvi started to cry out in her sleep.

A young man filled her dreams. A man that held no remorse of any kind. A man that had markings, a red tinge under his eyes, streaming down his soft skin and over his cheeks like fallen tears. Randvi had been having these dreams more frequently now, and they have come almost every night, sometimes in the shape of a man with fire reflecting in his cold blue eyes. Sometimes, a blur of red flying across her line of sight. She could hear words that weren't her own, weren't of this world and of her language. They whispered her secrets — of what — she did not know.

Her mother would always explain that these dreams meant she was connected with the Hidden. That these dreams held so much power within them but every time Randvi would have these dreams, they seemed more like nightmares than her untold future.

While Randvi's breathing began to increase, her mother, Sora had woken up from her light slumber. She could hear her daughter's soft muffled cries from across the room, and began to walk towards her sleeping frame. Sora placed a hand onto her daughter's forehead, feeling her slight fever, her forehead slick with cold sweat.

"Randvi." Sora called out in the dark without any luck, and then started to rock the sleeping Randvi even more roughly as she repeated her name louder. Randvi quickly woke up with a start, body shaking and her lungs gasping for air. Her wild purple eyes roamed around the room until they met the calm yet worried eyes of her mother.

"When will these dreams end?" Randvi's words cut through her mother's heart like a sharp knife. The brokenness of her daughter's words, the sight of her small body shaking with freight from whatever the Hidden shown in her dreams. She wished she could take them away and experience them herself, maybe she could make sense of what her daughter couldn't.

Sora wanted to believe that her daughter was made for great things. She knew she was brought into this world with an unworldly situation. Sora had almost bled to death on the birthing bed, and she should have died but she somehow, someway, she had survived. Since that night, she had always told her daughter that the hidden was dreams were good, that they were telling her the destiny she was meant to fulfill. But Randi barely spoke about them, and most of her excuses of not explaining further would be that she had forgotten them once she woke. Sora knew better, but she never pushed her daughter further. She knew Randvi will speak about them when she was ready and Sora would be there when that time would come, and help her achieve the greatness she was always meant to get.

Sora guided her daughter's head towards her chest, embracing her while stroking her wet hair. "I don't know, my child." Sora told her soothingly, and then got off the bed to walk towards the stone table. She grabbed a small bowl then stirred her fingers until water began to appear, filling the empty space. Sora then walked back towards her daughter with small cloth in hand.

She dipped into the cold water and then placed it over Randvi's forehead. "Would you like to talk about your dreams?" she questioned her softly, but Randvi shook her head and Sora was left with a sad expression but she understood.

The room was silent expect for her father's small snores coming from the other side of the home. Randvi's father had always been a heavy sleeper, able to sleep through most storms and Randvi was sometimes envy about that fact. A simple stray of sunlight peeping through the window was enough to stir her out of bed. Randvi let her mother wipe away the sweat from her face, finding comfort in the slight hums coming from her mother's lips and then the birds coming alive outside of her window. The morning was approaching over the horizon, making the sky swirl with orange and pink hues as the sun kissed the earth before reaching the blue sky.

Sora's own purple gaze met the window and gazed outside in the darkness. A stray of orange and pink just touching the ground. She then kissed her daughter's warm skin and placed the damp wash cloth back into the bowl. Randvi looked upwards with a small appreciative smile and Sora leaned in towards her, placing a small chaste kiss against her forehead. "Happy birthday, my fire." she murmured softly against her skin then she put the bowl on the floor. 

 Sora took out of the nicer tunic dresses that she had sown earlier this week, in fact, for this very moment. Randvi watched her with curious eyes as she walked back over and placed the dress in front of her. Her violet eyes brightened as she touched the fabric, black and white stripes of dyed wool were sown together, and the top of the dress was left bare, tiny little holes letting the skin show through.

 "You must meet us at the tree before the sun touches the sky," Sora informed her while watching her daughter smooth the fabric over her fingers. "I have to help prepare the ceremony with the summoners." Randvi nods towards her mother without saying anything as her mother shakes her father's sleeping frame.

 Randvi's home fell silent once again as Sora stepped outside, only her father's stirring filling her ears. The home was dark without any windows present in the back of the house, only two windows were built into the home, beside the door. It barely let any light inside in the early mornings, but Randvi didn't mind. This is how she had always lived.

  Years ago, her ancestors that had first found this place had dug into the side of the mountain, and built their homes out of stone. In fear, that they would burn their homes that were made out of wood. Only the summoners, whom could suppress their magic going astray could live peacefully in a house made out of flammable wood.

 The homes were cold and mostly damp with almost no light but for Randvi; it was all she knew since she was brought into this world. Randvi tiptoed towards the wash bucket in a separate room to wash around her neck, and under her arms. Randvi pulled a pair of wool leggings over her legs, then pulled the tunic style dress over her body. 

 Her father, Myror, rose from the bed and before Randvi could move towards the coat holders, her father smiled at her and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I know you will make this family proud today." he spoke with hope in his eyes which made Randvi silently wince.

  "I really hope I can." Randvi spoke with uncertainty, which her father responded with a warm hand on her shoulder. 

 "I know you can." He told her. Myror then pulled his daughter's cloak from it's holder. With the assistance with her blue cloak, Randvi was out of the house, exiting the home and walking down to the bridges that connected to the pathways.

   Randvi noticed how peaceful it was in the early mornings. Not many other fey's were awake at this hour, and the only ones who were awake were the farmers and the woodcutters. Tending the fields took a good chunk of time, and it was better to start off in the early hours and be done by the time the sun reached its peak.

Randvi quickly noticed how quiet the forest was when she stepped onto solid ground, and the clouds coming from overhead. She couldn't feel rain but the aura surrounding the village was hard to not notice. Randvi rose her head to the sky, her violet orbs took in the darkening sky and then to the north, a group of ravens flying in a spiraling circle fashion. She scrunches her nose in confusion for a moment but then carries on with moving forward.

The Mystic Tree sat near the entrance of the Village of Rockwell. The tree was inhumanly large, with its gigantic branches reaching the clouds, the leaves making a canopy of a green roof where the altar laid on top of its flat trunk. Bright yellow light was illuminating from the very top where Randvi assumed the Summoners had gathered and made preparations for her ceremony. Younger Fey were not permitted to climb to the top of the Mystic Tree, only those reaching the age of eighteen were allowed for their own summoning, and if they did not pass: it would be the last time they would ever make the climb.

Randvi's small hand grabbed part of the trunk that branched off towards the ground, making an overhang with its large root as it disappeared beneath the dirt. Each limb had been decorated with a lamp, making the tree look even more mystical. A stretch of stairs circled around the massive trunk guiding the climber towards the top. Randvi climbed and climbed until her legs began to feel like jelly and her breathing started to get shallow, out of breath as she passed a few houses.

Everytime a summoner had been chosen by the Hidden, another home would be built into the tree. Summoner's would whisper around the village that the Tree built the home overnight, the branches of the tree weaving itself into a magical hut.

Randvi let her gaze drop from the leaves once she reached the top of the tree. The huge opening was a platform, boards of raw wood was placed under her feet as she walked into the space. Lanterns littered the top of the tree, illuminating the dark place with magical lighting. Her eyes danced around the raised platform towards the north end of the tree, where plenty of bowls filled with different herbs, berries, and other liquids that Randvi didn't recognize in color.

"Come child." One of the older summoners called towards the south end of the tree, and Randvi turned her head to gaze upon them. Eight Fire Faes bowed their heads before her, their emerald blue cloaks hiding their faces from her even more.

Randvi wished she could see more of the Mystic Tree fore this would possibly be the last time she would see the glorious and magical tree with her own eyes but she couldn't gaze upon it. The sun was rising in the sky and the ceremony had to be completed before it touched the blue.

The Arch Druid came into view, the man dressed in the finest of fabric. His tired and old face was pleasant and comfortable as he held out his hand for Randvi to take. Randvi gazed into the group of eight, until her eyes fell upon her mother's hopeful gleam. Sora nodded towards her daughter and with a hesitant step, Randvi walked forward.

"As Fire Faes we give thanks to the fire who brought us into this world. We are born in the dawn . . ." The man raised his head towards the sky, looking to call to the Hidden with his words. " . . to pass in the twilight on a bed of coals, for we are fire-born." the elders answered in unison.

The Arch Druid passes Randvi the sacrificial knife and then she walks towards the bed of shimmering coals placed into a small dip carved into the altar. Randvi looks to her mother once again while the Summoners all looked at her, waiting, and Sora gave her the nod once again. Randvi then looked down at her palms, one had already been cut from the summoning that was held yesterday, so she switched the knife to the other hand. Randvi placed the sharp blade against her palm and let the knife cut deep into her palm, making the fey wince in response.

Randvi then placed her hand above the hot coals, fisting her hand closed. The red liquid bled through the crevices of her palm and down her arm before letting a few drops of blood hit the coals. A sizzling noise filled everyone's ears and then everyone's eyes closed. After a moment, glowing marks of magic started to slither up the summoner's faces, sliding against the curve of their cheeks and up towards their closed eyes.

The markings appeared on Randvi's flesh, beneath her clothed body and then each finger started to glow. Over curve of her cheeks, then hiding beneath her raven colored hair to travel it's way down the bridge of her nose. Randvi's eyes glowed a milky white, and then her eyes shot towards the sky, open and wide.

"The Hidden flows through you, let it take control." The druid's wise words filled her ears and then his words faded into something she did not understand, something ancient. Randvi could feel the warmth overtaking her skin and the feeling of lightness in her belly, almost like the hidden could take her off her feet and make her fly.

A scream bellowed from down below, coming from the belly, raw and horrifying. Randvi collapsed onto her knees as the Hidden quickly made the escape from her senses, and left her with a clouded mind. She could hear the yelling of the summoners from atop as her eye sight returned to normal, and she glanced upon her mother's face.

"THEY'RE ATTACKING FROM THE SOUTH!" One of the Summoner's yelled out as he glanced down upon the scene, men on white horses galloping into the village with steel in their hands.

Randvi looked towards the man, who vanished from thin air and then appeared like a small dot at the bottom of the tree as she hurried to the edge to take a look herself. Randvi's violet eyes widened in horror as she saw the black smoke began to rise like a column, coming from the farmland.

"What is happening?!" Randvi called to her mother, her body shuttering in fear as the screams of her village roared throughout the forest.

Sora quickly grabbed onto her daughter's arms and dragged her from the edge of the trunk, and then quickly explained. "The Red Paladins have found us, you need to get to safety." Sora told her daughter but she wasn't listening, Randvi's gaze was frozen on the black smoke rising to the clouds. Sora shook her daughters shoulders, "Are you listening to me!"

Randvi shook her head frantically as the screams rang out around them, "No, I won't leave you to die here!" her voice was wobbly out of freight, not confident and high pitched.

Randvi's mother didn't wait to hear anything else from her daughter, her eyes glowing a white while the markings began to appear on her skin. "You must go, warn Dewdenn of what's happening here!" she yelled out before her mother disappeared and teleported to the bottom of the tree.

Randvi picked up her skirts and started running down the bridge, her mind racing and her heart drums its own panicked throb inside her chest, faster and faster until her mouth tastes metallic. Randvi makes a false step down the bridges circling around the tree and flies forwards, knees scraping against the wood and sending her flying down the stairs. Her hand reaches out, clawing at the wood which makes splinters cut into the tips of her fingers as her body hangs off the edge. Randvi doesn't dare take a look of how far off the ground she is, and instead she swings her left leg to the side, lifting her body upwards until her knee touches solid wood.

Randvi's hand reaches out, for something, anything to grab on to lift her up and onto the bridge. Her fingers twist into the holes between the wooden planks and she feels her fingers bend at an awkward angle which makes her cringe but she proceeds to lift her body, rolling onto the wood. Randvi cradles her left hand, her fingers red and her pinky twisted to the side.

Randvi takes her finger and yanks it to the side, making a loud cracking noise and a scream echo through her lips. She hurries down the rest of the way where the real chaos laid.

For most of her life, Randvi believed that real chaos came from the Fire Faes own finger tips but with what she was witnessing here today: that was the ultimate terror. Ashes littered the earth, and charred bodies had been tied to wooden crosses at the east of the village, where most of the screams were coming from. Red, hot, angry flames reflected inside of Randvi's violent eyes as she watches in horror, frozen in place from the true chaos. Men on silver steeds, wearing the color red stormed through the village, sword hands high in the sky as they cursed on those they called 'demon born.'

Randvi's eyes searched the ashes and soon, the realization of her current situation finally dawned on her. This was real and it was happening in front of her. "Astrid!" she called out through the screams of the tormented. "Astrid!!"

Hot tears streamed down her face as Randvi made her way through the village, dodging the men on horses. Then, someone had grabbed her dark curls from behind and Randvi reached her hands behind her, grabbing onto the wrists of her attacker, and her skin ignited with warmth and soon, his screams filled her ears. The Red Paladin grabbed his hands away but Randvi turned her body and grabbed onto his red coat, and he looked upon her beautiful face but her eyes were a glowing white as her skin burned like real fire. Randvi gripped onto the sides of his neck, and closed her fist as hard as she could as his flesh sizzled when she touched his skin and he screamed out in pain.

Randvi then let him slide down to his feet, his body shaking out in pain while third degree burns kissed the left side of his face, starting at his neck and ending at his lips. His skin was kissed purple and black from charred flesh and Randvi moved her neck to look around the village before seeing Astrid fighting them off, her own eyes glowing a white hue.

Randvi picked up her pace and ran towards the girl on the other side of the village. Randvi treaded through the ashes, and the ground squelched with each step she took through the blood mixed with the dirt. One of the woodworkers from her village, Biette, a sturdy block of a woman, fought against one of the Red Paladins, until he threw down his large club against her skull and Randvi covered her mouth in shock. Her skull split in two right in front of her eyes, and the blood, brain matter, and whatever else splattered onto her face as he turned to face her next.

 Randvi felt the liquid in her stomach start to travel up her throat as she blinked, feeling the brain matter slide down her face. The Fire Fae quickly turned and spilled nothing but bile from her stomach into a pile of hay. Randvi then looked towards the Red Paladin. Her violet eyes reached his own sinful ones, and she took a step back. The man grinned wickedly as he stalked after her. Randvi's heart sunk in her chest just when her back hit something solid, and right then and there, she knew this would be her end. 

 Tears streamed down her cheeks as she closed her eyes, letting her fate finally sink in. She thought that having a sword go through her body, was better than burning at the stake. She prepared for the blow of the sword, the ripping feeling of the blade embedding itself into her body but it didn't come. She heard the sword whistle against the wind, and then a noise in front of her. Her violet eyes opened, in front of her was the Red Paladin. He had taken her fate instead. In his abdomen, a sword was sticking out of his belly, and Randvi felt like she needed to throw up again.

 Randvi touched her cheek and then looked down at her hand, blood drenched her fingers as the man slumped to the ground in front of her. Her eyes followed the tall statue of Astrid standing behind him, her hand extended for the taking. "We have to go, Randvi. These people are going to slaughter us all." 

 Her fingers found Astrid's palm and the woman pulled her upwards and into her body. "Have you seen my mother and father?" Randvi questions her, looking around the village while trying to drown out the screams. Randvi reached for her friend's hand while running through the burning village.

Astrid shakes her head at the question. "Last time I saw your mother, she was fighting them off. I haven't seen your father." Randvi could feel the squeeze of reassurance from Astrid but she was not sure even that could help her right now.

In front of her eyes, her village was on fire. Men and Women were fighting to keep their children safe, no matter the cost. And the children were left defenseless. For a moment, they had stopped running to gain their breath for Astrid couldn't breathe with so much smoke in the air from the wheat fields burning. From the south, Randvi could see the stretch of fire feeding off of the forest, and burning towards where the Moonwings were resided. 

 Randvi turned her head back around to look at the brunette, but her gaze focused on the Red Paladin running towards them, his sword hand raised and ready to strike the both of them down. "Astrid, watch out!" Randvi grabs hold of Astrid, and then yanks the girl behind her. 

Randvi raises her hand in the air to somehow shield the blow, but instead of meeting her doom, magic crackles from her palm and the Paladin is sent flying backwards. 

SNAP.

 Both of their eyes widen in horror as the Red Paladin collides with a tree. The stump splits in half along with the body, and the roots rip from the ground from the force of collision. Randvi lets out a shaky breath as the exposed roots lay on the dirt, then her eyes travel down towards her hands. Magical white veins shimmer in the cloud of smoke, trailing from her finger tips, to the lines in her palm, and under her clothes. Ebony locks fly in the wind as Randvi turns her head to look at her friend, whom meets her gaze with a jealous expression.

"Your magic surprises me every time you use it." Astrid lets out a breathy laugh but her smile is wiped from her face when the noise of more screaming reaches her ears.

 Astrid always knew that the magic that ran through Randvi's soul was unlike anything she had ever seen in her lifetime. Her magic was powerful, and the Elder Druid told Sora, that she was blessed with the Hidden from birth, but the power in Randvi's hands always made her uneasy. Randvi wasn't afraid of using her magic for the lesser evil, but the things her magic could do when it spiraled out of control ― was something not of this world entirely.

 Astrid and Randvi made another run for it, sprinting across the village and towards the screams. The Red Paladins were everywhere now. Swarming like bees to a nest, their billowing robes dancing with the flames. Astrid abruptly stops in front of a white stallion, hoofs raised in the air as Astrid startled the large animal. Randvi hits Astrid's back with such force, that the girl is sent flying backwards in the mud below.

 Astrid crawls under the horses hooves as the large animal whines, while Randvi struggles to get herself out of the mud. Her ebony curls caked with blood as she lifts her body forwards and onto her knees. She looks up at the white stallion as it gallops forwards when boots are pressed into it's sides and Randvi crawls forwards.  Astrid's hand is extended towards her desperately as Randvi reaches after the horse clears the path between them.

 Their fingers brush slightly. Randvi glances up at Astrid's face and her expression changes immediately when she notices the pain flashing across the girl's face, and the widening of her eyes. The world felt like it slowed down as the sword was pushed further into Astrid's shoulder, and the blood splatters over the already stained earth.

  Randvi watches as Astrid staggered forward while a groan slips through her lips. Randvi's heart plunges into the pit of her stomach before her eyes leave Astrid's falling frame, and towards the Red Paladin who sheaths his sword from her body, his boot stamping on her back. 

 Randvi's chin wobbles as her noise twitches from the fury she feels in this moment. It consumes her, just like fire consumes the earth until it's left with nothing else to touch. Red, hot angry flames sputter out of her fingertips and it claws towards the Red Paladin, looking for something to consume with the fury of it's caster. The man screams as it licks his skin, sending a hot searing pain throughout his whole body. Randvi watches for a moment, as his eyes glance upon hers before Randvi flexes her fingers and sends the man flying out of sight. 

 Her magic settles into nothing after a moment, but the remains of the fire leaves a trail in the mud as it burns with on other bodies in it's path. Randvi doesn't care, she looks back towards her friend laying on the ground, and her heart shatters into a million pieces. 

 "Astrid . . no!" Randvi crawls towards her in the mud, her knees getting wet from the blood underneath her dress. The shriek that comes from Randvi's mouth is earth-moving, shaking the very core of the Hidden, the skies above, and the pits of death below. It's heart breaking, gut-wrenching and the sheer power it holds, shakes the world around her. 

  A strong wind comes from her body, lifting her hair with it as the people around her lose their footing and stumble to the ground from the blast. Astrid looks up at her face as Randvi cries, cradling her head in her lap while she tugs onto her tunic to drag her under the roof of the farm house. They weren't hidden by any means, but at least her flank was covered.

 "Randvi . . " Astrid's words are a whisper as Randvi looks down at her, watching as blood bubbles up from her mouth with each word she speaks next. "you. . must.. leave." Randvi's tears touch Astrid's cheeks as she shakes her head and a painful sob escapes from her lips. "..you.. must save . . yourself, go!"

 Randvi stares down as tears cloud her vision, "I can't leave you — i can't." she sobs while rocking her friend back and forth, her eyes rapidly going to Astrid's shinning eyes, the wound, and their hands interlocked. "You need to teleport out of here," Randvi tells her while placing her hands on Astrid's wound, feeling the blood pour out from the deep cut. "you must do it, no matter the cost."

"I will die." Astrid coughs while Randvi lifts her head to look upon the scorched village, red paladins running around her. The village is a ruin of its former self, burning with angry flames but the Mystic Tree stands tall throughout the chaos.

"You'll die if you don't try." Randvi knew the risks of unexperienced Fae using their unique teleportation ability. Most of them would die without proper training from the Druid, but in this moment - Astrid had nothing to lose. Randvi knew she was going to die whether she tried or not.

Randvi sets Astrid's head back onto the dirt, and she sees Astrid's eyes glow a white before she disappears in thin air. She doesn't know if she would make it and how far the teleport spell would take her but she hopes that it will at least take her away from the village. Randvi wants to cry over the loss of her best friend but she knows she cannot stay for she would perish like the rest of her village.

Randvi's quick feet move quickly under her until her eyes were glued onto a man on top of a horse, his black coat blended into the dark smoke in the air as he rode with confident into the burning village. Randvi felt the air leave her lungs when he strode towards an older man. Randvi didn't know this man, dressed in red, and she didn't want to. She knew that whenever he went, chaos followed, and she didn't want to be in his line of sight.

The Fire Faes might have lived in isolation but they heard the rumors of the man dressed in grey following the Red Paladins. The man dressed in red turned to gaze upon the incoming rider, with pride in his eyes as the grey rider stepped off his horse. Randvi didn't get to see him under his cloak, most of the hood covering his facial features, but he was tall and broad-shouldered. His cloak covered in dirt and soot. Randvi could not hear the words coming from the man's mouth, but the man in grey bowed before the man in red.

 Randvi decided that she couldn't stay here any longer. She was no longer safe now that the man in grey had arrived. She heard the tales of the cloaked warrior, fearsome and brave, calculated and merciless. If he was there, that meant the total annihilation to her village — there will be no survivors. 

 Randvi took a deep breath and grabbed her skirts, starting off with a sprint towards the prayer circle on the north end of the woods. She couldn't look back and she wouldn't, no matter how horrible the screams were. Upon arriving to the tree-line, Sora was sitting in the middle of what the element ruin would lie. 

 For a moment, she looked to be okay but once Randvi got closer, the soon realized the blood seeping through her white dress. "Mom!" Randvi called out, running as fast as her legs could possibly take her.

Randvi skidded against the earth below, her hands resting on her mother's shoulders as she inspects the wound on her mother's stomach. It was deep and the wound had bled all over the ground beneath her.

Is this what the Hidden had in store for her? Death and destruction?

Randvi shook her head and cried while placing her cold palms against her mother's cheeks, as Sora reached up with unsteady hands. "My fire, you cannot stay here." her voice was growing weak from the loss of blood but Randvi could tell she was holding on to whatever life line she had left.

"But mom, I cannot let you die." Sora's hands reached up to grab onto her daughter's cheeks, and then rested them there until Randvi placed her hands on top of her mothers, taking them off of her cheeks and placing them against her mother's chest.

"I'm already gone, child." Sora smiled weakly. She was not afraid of death, she prepared for it since she saw what the Hidden had in store for her future. This was the end of her story, but Randvi's had just begun. "Listen to me, you must find the Sword of Power and protect it."

"The Sword of Power?" Randvi shakes her head, her eyes holding confusion but Sora took hold of Randvi's arms. She had heard the stories of the sword but they were just that — mere stories told to children before there bedtime.

 Randvi studied her mother's face, her hair was wild and her cheeks began to pale. But her eyes, still shinning like they had so much life in them, and so calm. Randvi wondered if her mother knew the seriousness of her own injury, if she knew she was truly dying. "You must find Gawain, he will know where the sword resides. This is your history, my fire. Follow the Hidden's messages." 

Sora watched her daughter's face change with a million different expressions: confusion, anger, sadness, horror. Randvi looked upon her mother's face, watching her eyes close and she reached down. Tears escaped from her eyes as she didn't move from her touch, her body felt heavier against Randvi's legs, and then the realization began to sink in. Randvi bent down while sobs escaped her mouth, her mouth landing onto her mother's forehead. 

 Randvi slowly moves her mother's body off of her legs, and places her hands together on her chest. She dug her fingertips into the grass and soon, green began to grow around her mother. Flowers littered around her body, small and red sprouted as they devoured her mother into the ground below her.

 Once her mother's body is consumed by the magic of the Earth, Randvi picks herself off of the ground while tears ran down her cheeks. Randvi looks to the sky, the amount of smoke overhead and then towards the forest ahead of her. She had never left the village but she knew the forests had ruins carved into the trees, and images in the leaves if you looked closely enough. She didn't know the direction of the next village but with a careful eye, the forest would tell her. 

 Randvi pushed on, leaving the horror and chaos that had befallen to her village. Years of living in isolation, believing that no other living person could find their village, only for someone to find them and leave a painful memory of where the village once stood. Without looking back, Randvi left a trail of scorched footprints behind her, along with a tiny scroll with the magic of old left behind from her mother's grasp before the Earth consumed her whole. 

A/N: i'm sorry for this chapter getting so long but i just kept writing and writing, and couldn't find a way to end abruptly with it making sense. so here we are, 5800 words later. ANYWAYS, super excited to officially start the plot. I've read through this chapter 5 times, and edited but if there's any mistakes- just let me know!  alsooo, follow me on tumblr and Instagram if you want to get insight on future chapters, i usually post sneak peeks on there, and graphics on tumblr. ( lahnistersden )

i'm out, im also 22 today, so there's that. bye.