(This is the start of Lei's story. I will post the next part soon. It's also my first RP story for RIFT. I hope you enjoy it. This also is the start of her sisters', Ryleiah and Caellei, stories. Thanks for reading! *leaves a flower for the readers*)
Three Kelari girls sat in a meadow of flowers. One with hair as blue as the ocean sat running her fingers through the mane of a dusty brown wolf. Another, whom had hair the color of the clear blue sky and eyes as silver as the moon, giggle to herself as a small pile of dirt on the ground bent to her will. The third girl, one with maroon hair, smiled at her younger sisters, twins. Writing down the details of their day in her journal, the oldest plucked one of the wild flowers nearby and pressed it in between the pages as she tied it closed. She held the leather journal to her chest as she stood up. The day had been peaceful and quiet. The snap of a bow string pierced the stillness from the edge of the meadow.
The silver eyed girl was hit in the shoulder by the arrow. The wolf jumped as his owner sprang into action, drawing her own bow, aiming an arrow towards the shadows. Dropping her journal, the oldest whispered soft words and part of her life passed to her wounded sister, sealing the arrow wound. “Make yourself known, now!” she shouted. The sisters closed rank, tightening up. The wolf disappeared into the darkness of the trees. Only a painful yelp followed. It’s owner winced.
The strong smell of the sea invaded the meadow. Being too far inland for that to be natural, the oldest yelled, “Abyssals!” Before the two youngest could react, waves of water poured into the meadow. Rain fell from over ahead as an Abyssal commander stepped into view. She held her hand up to the sky. The ground shook. The Kelari archer sent an arrow towards the Commander, but it didn’t faze her. Magical whispers flowed from the mouths of the two Kelari mages, but their words had no affect as well.
“We’ve been looking for you three!” The Commander hissed. Almost any signs of her former Kelari life were hidden under barnacles, seaweed, and a bluish green glow.
“Haven’t you taken enough from us?” The oldest shouted in reply.
“No. Not yet.” The Commander said with a grinned. That’s when the rift opened. Akylios’ world spilled into the meadow and onto the girls.
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The twins were consumed in a shoot of water. Abyssal dirges held them in as they fought to get out with all their might. The oldest screamed. She cursed the Commander. Mutterings of ancient magic and rituals spilled forth from the mouth of the Kelari. Her sister’s were drowning before her eyes. The Commander just laughed, “Your family was always powerful. We cannot have you growing any more powerful unless you are on our side!”
“Never!” the oldest shouted, biting back tears, trying to stay focused. “I will die as my parents did to protect Telara.” Both of her sisters looked at her. The twins looked at her, as they held hands. All three knew they would not make it out of this meadow alive.
“So be it,” The Command sneered. She turned her gaze to the twins, who kept their eyes on their sister.
“Love you,” The twins mouthed as the dirges sliced their throats.
The water shoot collapsed, dropping the twins’ lifeless bodies to the ground. The rift still raged around the oldest as she held her sisters. “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed.
“So touching, yet so weak. You are nowhere near as strong as your family before you, Silverwing…” The Commander stood over her now. “Such a disgrace. You are not worth my time.” Looking at one of the dirges, “Kill her.”
The oldest snapped her head up. Her blue eyes flared ice cold. She grabbed the dirge’s hand before their blade could connect with her throat. The dirge’s skin started to blister and puss drained. A purple glow radiated from the Kelari’s hand as it connected to the dirge’s chest. The dirge dropped dead.
The Kelari screamed. A scream of pain, terror, heart break, and anger. Dark waves of magic flowed from her. The Commander turned around and gasped. The Kelari ran towards the Commander, “If I am going to die, I will take as many of you with me as I can.” She held the Commander by her throat as the magic flowed through her, changing her from a Kelari into a lich. “You will die. Now. For my sisters. For my parents. For my people.”
The world went black. An Abyssal archer had pierced Leiella’s heart with an arrow. Her body changed back to it’s Kelari form as it fell near her sisters. The Commander’s body dropped lifeless to the ground.
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Death was almost peaceful. Home. Family. Warm, almost tropical air. Laughter from her sisters. Savory smells coming from her mother’s kitchen. Her father’s spell books. Her flowers. Peaceful. She forgot the pain of their deaths. She held tightly onto the fading memories of the soulstream. Her body held no more marks of that fatal day. Was this real or a dream?
The humid air began to tingle as if a storm was rolling in. Leiella’s body began to ache. Muscles quivered as if they had forgotten how to work. She screamed as she collapsed to the ground. The grainy sand was as cold as metal on her bare skin. The tropical peace faded into darkness.
Leiella opened her eyes to find herself in a dark room. Her heart raced as panic set in. “Where am I?” she whispered.
An older Kelari man approached her. “You are okay, child. We’ve brought you back to life. You are ascended, and we need your help.”
Leiella stared at the man. “Where are my sisters? My parents? Where?”
“I have no idea.” He looked annoyed at the questions, “I wish I had time or more answers to give, but I must see to the other Ascended. If you speak with the Eth lady over there, she will help you about your way.”
Leiella just sat still for a moment. Her mind rushed with so many questions and foggy memories. This darkened room full of Eth technology was not like her tropical peace. It was cold and lifeless. Yet, this lifeless machinery seems to have brought her back to life. The Kelari mage tried to stand as her legs protested the weight of her body, but she managed.
The Eth woman smiled when she saw Leiella moving about. “We found this buried with you,” handing Leiella’s journal to her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, clutching it tightly. “Do you know where my family is?”
“We have been trying to find your sisters. They were both strong souls, with lots of potential. We need people like you in a time like this.” Her eyes showed the wear of years of battles. “The ward nears its end. We are sending what Ascended we can back to a certain spot in time. A spot where we think this future can be prevented. I promise we will try to find your sisters. Your parents are lost to us, but there is hope still for your sisters.”
“Why me?” Leiella asked without thinking.
“Not many lone Kelari women would stand toe to toe with an Abyssal commander without back up. You have a fierce heart and powerful magic, Leiella.”
“But my magic is that of death. Of Regulos. Black and dark.” Leiella said as she leaned against the stone wall next to the Eth woman’s work station.
