The Samurai: Eru's Origin

Read Part 1 of this Story Here

The bolt of lightning that exploded through the roof of the barn had rocketed her of her feet and thrown her mind into the past. Into the memories that brought her to this moment…

The land that stretched out before Eiramus was barren, the air pungent with war and poverty, she could feel the despair of the land just as vividly as the wind blowing through her viridescent hair. She lightly brushes her cheek, setting the trapped stand of hair free from her damp face. 

“How did it come to this?” she mumbles into nothingness while slowly crouching down. She marks her territory with her village’s symbol, a snake wrapped around an olive branch. How ironic, she thought that this would be their symbol. A snake, everlasting symbol of evil and despair and the olive branch signifying hope. Which one is she? The snake or the olive branch. The questions never plagued her when in training, believing she would be fighting for a better cause, but looking out at the dying land, she started thinking that she might be the snake. 

“Eiramus, get up, the others have departed to the Thasues mountains already. You know well you cannot let your soldiers travel that path alone, the gods will frown upon your actions child” 

Eiramus turned around while still crouching, looking up into her father’s eyes “Teacher, tell me, how can you still call me a child when I’ve taken the lives of hundreds? When I’ve conquered almost half the kingdom in our gods names and helped you push back the enemies you’ve feared for years.” She could see her father’s anger rise in his stance, the way his lip slightly twitched in the right corner, the way his knuckles turned white around his trumpet, Eiramus could not care less. She stood up and faced her father “They call you the mighty conqueror, but I lead your battles and slaughter your enemies before you. Can you not feel the ground mourning for the lives lost, can you not see the three suns hiding behind the darkness we’ve cast upon the land.” 

With that Chikura flung his trumped to the ground and wrapped his hand around Eiramus’ neck “Don’t you ever mention what you feel, do you hear me, girl? Your feelings are a fiction of your imagination and don’t you dare ever defy me again” He slung Eiramus to the ground and stood over her.

“Child”
With that Eiramus watched her father whom she once loved dearly walk away from her for the last time…

DevantArt Cred: fearn

At that moment Eiramus knew what she had to do, she picked up her father’s trumpet and once again looked out to the landscape she had ruined. Slowly making her way the mountain, she knew this was the path she was meant to follow. Her heartbeat was in tune with her steps, and in turn her steps were in tune with the heartbeat of the land beneath her feet. It was as if she could already smell life returning to the lands, even though it laid, destroyed before her. 

She knew she had to escape her father’s wrath, he would stop at nothing to force her into her destiny to become the leader of this land by becoming the executioner to anyone who would defy her. No, she did not want her followers to fear her, but to love her. Harmony was key, and she knew it. She would return to her father, this time fighting against him, instead of for him. 

By the time Eiramus came to this conclusion the ledge on which she stood with her father was a speckle in the horizons behind her. She turned around and swore in her mother tongue 

“Heishbag kvosiera au hijden” – {I will return to claim my land} 

With that parting promise, Eiramus picked up the pace, she felt the wind in her lungs, cleaner somehow. The air around her was no longer weighed down by the despair of past and future conquers. She was no longer the snake, but the olive branch. She was free and she was freedom entwined into one magnificent being. She knew what she had to do, she'd head for a realm far from hers, where magic was in abundance and you aren’t imprisoned for wielding with the forces of the universe. 

She had heard whispers of a woman opening portals to another realm, she’d heard villages call out her name in despair as she slaughtered them to claim her father’s victory. The name was Nezebeth, and she lived where no man or woman would dare wander. 

Eiramus made her decision, she would find this sorcerer, and she would find an army powerful enough that her father would not dare stand against her. 

The moment she decided,  the land beneath her feet started to move. Changing, laying out a path that she has yet to walk. Walking she became certain that she’d made the right decision, jogging and eventually running towards her destiny. Before she knew it, she found herself in the middle of the bog. A place she’d only heard of in stories to scare toddlers and adults alike. 

“Why are you here, child?” a mysterious voice filled the air around her. 

“Don’t call me child, I am Eiramus, samurai trained by the great Conqueror Chikura, king of these lands. You will address me with respect or live to regret it.” Eiramus suddenly felt the ground starting to suck her in and her breathing became frantic, like she wasn’t getting enough air. 

“Oh child, how do you fight an enemy you can’t see? An enemy you can’t hear, unless it wishes to be heard. An enemy you can’t feel unless it wants to be felt? But you already know you can’t fight such an enemy. That is why you are here, isn’t it young samurai?”

Eiramus fell to the ground, whatever was holding her released. She closed her eyes and thought about her father. The days he spent training her, the nights he spent tucking her into bed and the men he fought and killed to stay in power and for her, a woman, to become the leader of his army. Suddenly she wanted to turn back, wanted to look for the quickest path out of the bog “It’s too late child, you already made your decision. You can’t turn back now.” 

Eiramus felt herself rising involuntarily, she clutched her trumpet and katana. Before she knew it, darkness engulfed her. She begged for unconsciousness to replace the nothingness. She did not know how long or how far she traveled. All she knew was that she was on her way to another realm. And the sorceress in the bog somehow knew what she felt, she knew her past and her future. While on the journey, Eiramus held fast to two vows: 

First, she will return to claim her land and second, she would find the sorcerer that sent her away, and confront her about the kingdom’s past, present and future.

the_seven_virtues__hope_by_sijeney

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Authors Note

While joking with some great friends, the basis for this story was formed. Part 1 of this story can be found here.

Last week I featured The Unicorn Queen: Ari's Origin

We got to talking & the girls started writing their own versions of the how the characters came to be.
This awesome Origin/Background story on the Character Eiramus, was brought to you by unbelievably amazing Sumarie Steenkamp

She was born to write fantasy and I cannot wait for more.

Part 2 of "The Unicorn Queen, The Samurai & The Wizard" will be posted next week, which continues where the storyline left off.

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

The Unicorn Queen: Ari's Origin

Art Cred: Cassarica Nadas

Read Part 1 of this Story Here

The bolt of lightning that exploded through the roof of the barn had rocketed her of her feet and thrown her mind into the past. Into the memories that brought her to this moment…

Acirassac, the fifth of her name, was the only blooded daughter of king and queen Neris. A descendant of Asoscia, the prodigious warrior queen who battled the 5 High demons during the Iron Wars to bring peace to the land of Unakite. As a princess she lived her days in the castle above the city that hung in the salmon clouds over the highest mountain.

Living in a castle may sound like a pleasant life but Ari's life seemed to be controlled by one thing only, her destiny to become queen. From dusk till dawn she studied hard to become a great leader like her father and her ancestors before him. She felt trapped behind the stone castle walls and whenever she looked over at the city she longed for the unknown beyond the horizon.

When Ari's parents mysteriously disappeared within the Ivy forests of Nantak, she was in despair but she quickly had to pull herself together and accept her responsibilities to one day be queen. Her dreams of adventure slowly faded away as she upheld her royal duties to make her parents proud in their absence.

Everything she had to do was either written in the ancient scrolls or decided upon by the royal counsel. Until her parents were found she had to do what she was told by the 6 old men who sat around a table and discussed politics and read scrolls all day. The head of this counsel was Zopar, the toad. He was further appointed guardian of Unakite until Ari fully claimed her throne. Zopar towered over the elderly men, with crooked and bushy eyebrows that seemed to always emphasize his disdain. He reeked of the lake that birthed him.

She wasn't fond of Zopar, he was awful. He was sly and cunning in nature and whenever she questioned him about her parent’s disappearance and what was being done to find them, all he said was "A princess does not concern herself with such things, the counsel takes care of it." Ari couldn't just stand back and do nothing, but what could she do?

She would often look at the tapestry which hung in the throne room depicting the epic battle between Asoscia and the 5 High demons. She wanted to be like her, strong and brave. She wanted to find her parents, she wanted to be a hero. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt helpless, she looked at the tapestry and shouted "I'll never be like you, the great Asoscia, Queen of Unakite!" Suddenly she heard a rumble like thunder, the air started to swirl lifting objects as it blew across the room while the tapestry started to glow.

The light was bright and blinded Ari for a few seconds. She was petrified as she saw a shadow come towards her from the tapestry. She didn't know what was going on but her instincts took over as she summoned the power within. The incantation spilled from her lips "Zezora Entarantis" and the shadow was lifted off the ground, immobilized and placed in front of her.

"Who are you?!" She demand as she looked at the being that lay before her. The shadow wore a long grey hooded robe and half its face was covered by cloth, that is when she noticed the creature’s eyes. They were striking yet calm, a pool of grey and green with specs of hazel stared back at her. Again she asked "Who are you?"

The creature spoke, in a deep voice "I am Hterag, son of Lien. I reign from the Five Pointed Kingdoms."

The Mortal Realm, Ari thought, she had heard stories of the realm, whispers in the village. She never thought it was real. "What are you? What do you want? Why are you here?" she probed.

Hterag squinted his eyes to get a better look at her, " Do you mind letting me down? It's not very welcoming of you, do you always do this to your guests? "

Ari grimaced at him "You are no guest, I did not invite you."

"Well you sure look like her, the one in the picture. Why don't you let me down so we can talk, I'm starting to get a stitch in my side which is rather uncomfortable."

"Asoscia?" Ari could only stare in the face of his bold statement. She hesitated yet there was something about this creature that made her feel safe. "I will let you down, as long as you give me the answers I require."

With a nod of her head Ari loosened her hold on Hterag. "That's much better," Hterag said as he stood up, stretching his back "What a trip! I'm starving." He lifted the hood off his head revealing long ginger hair tied into a pony tail. As he stepped forward he pulled the cloth from his mouth and spoke "I am Hterag. A human mage dedicated to opening portal through the Gaelic tapestry in my library."

Ari had never seen or heard of such a creature, yes there were stories of them but nothing like what she was witnessing right in front of her eyes. His skin was soft and pale and his bones seemed fragile.

Hterag waved his hands pointing to the tapestry on the wall "You really do bare a striking resemblance to her!"

"That is Asoscia, my ancestor, she walked this land many centuries ago and brought peace to the people. I am not who you seek."

Hterag moved closer "So you mean to tell me that the woman there summoned me from beyond the grave?" Suddenly he was thrown to the floor and felt excruciating pain.

Ari was above him, fire in her eyes, "You do not speak of the Great Asoscia with such vulgarity, human."

"Okay, Okay, relax, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry."

"Tell me exactly why you are here, human!" Ari demanded.

"While I was working on my gateway spells, I managed to tear an entryway to another realm. Through the tear came a female voice. I was told to walk through it and offer assistance to the one beyond the portal. When I asked the voice who it was, it told me that she would be the only salvation for all the know realms. Being the dashing & courageous man that I am I took on the quest. That is how & when I landed up here. She didn't tell me I was going to be met with some pugnacious tart."

Ari picked Hterag up his legs dangling in the air she thought for a moment, "Could this be true did the Great Asoscia send this creature to help me save my parents?" Ari looked at him and into his eyes once again, she saw the pool of green and grey with hazel specs that glittered in the candle light, she felt something inside her, something different, a calming and a longing to know more about this stranger. She gently placed him down and introduced herself. "I am princess Acirassac, of Ukanite."

"My parents have been missing in the Ivy forests of Nantak for the past year, no one knows what have become of them. Their guards watched as the ground opened up and swallowed them, there was nothing they could do as a force field surrounded my parents" Ari held back her tears, careful not show any weakness in the face of this mortal. “The royal counsel believes they have been trapped but no one has been able to find out where and no one seems to care. I need to find them but unfortunately I don't know how-

Hterag suddenly collapsed to the silkwood floor, convulsing in agony. Without caution, Ari fell to her knees in worry. She gently rubbed rhythmic circles over his back in an attempt to ease his suffering. When he calmed enough, he looked at her in alarm.

“What in the seven gypsies was that about?”

Ari offered a sad smile, her senses already picking up on the truth of the matter. “Your mortal body cannot survive this realm. Too soon, your magic will wane and you will pass to great beyond.”

She expected the human to return to his lands that very moment, what she did not expect was his taking of her hand and the impossible sincerity within in his eyes as he spoke, “I am beholden to thee.” Her breath caught, he smiled broadly. “Until we find your parents that is.”

***

Art Cred: Cassarica Nadas

In the days that followed, Ari’s fascination with the mage only grew in magnitude. Sure at times he drove her to all manner of madness but there was something about his determination that, that touched her. He worked long hours through night & day to find a way to track her parents. The trouble was that Unakite’s apothecary stocked very different materials than he was accustomed to. Yet even in this adversity Hterag, in all his wonder, had still found a way to make it all work.

The spell led them to the Orc lands of Drunkden, a most heinous of places that breathed a poisonous bog from its many swamps. Poor Hterag’s lungs burned in agony, it was all Ari could do to shield his glorious body from the harmful toxins. She could not stilt the terrible stench, though. Not long, they happened upon a cave that seemed to have been carved out by the very Rock Giants themselves. Ari silently admonished herself for bringing only a mortal guide on this journey. The cave opened in expected darkness, she breathed into a fist and released her hold whispering the ancient incantation for ‘light’. Resplendent wisps of fire floated in the air around them, illuminating the cavern within.

Ari gasped for what she saw before her. Zopar! Resting on a rock at the far end as if on a throne. His smirk casting sinister shadows upon his face. Hterag stepped in front of Ari in a protective stance. How she admired this mortal’s resolve, standing between her & the toad who once laid waste to an entire army with only the snap of his greasy green fingers.

“My, my little unicorn. How far you have strayed from your chosen path. Prancing around with this human filth & leaving the castle without any guard. Tsk Tsk Tsk.”

“What are you doing here Zopar? Where are my parents?” Ari could feel the energy waves radiate from her now, she was ready to do whatever it took to get answers from this devious toad.

Zopar’s face flashed in anger, in one motion he leaped of the rock in an arch through the air. He landed not two inches from Hterag’s face. Completely ignoring the mage, his bushy eyebrows squinted at her. “Do not demand from me you infidel. I tortured those traitors and when they no longer had any information of use to me, they were silenced.”

Ari’s already fragile heart, broke right then. Her knees gave way and she crumpled to the damp earth of the cave.

Hterag bellowed and launched a fireball right at the toad’s face, an explosion rang out in the cave. But when the smoke cleared Zopar’s face remained unblemished. Two massive blue skinned Orcs stepped out from the darkness, seizing Hterag by his arms. He grunted from the force of their brutish hands.

Zopar looked down at Ari in glee, “Come now child, surely you realize this by now. My plan all along. It was not your precious Asoscia that summoned this filth to our lands but I. I alone knew of your secret longings of a life filled with adventure. It was more than I could have hoped for that you fall in love with this whelp along the way.”

His words rang true within her core, she could not deny it. She had hopelessly fallen in love with the human mage but he didn’t need to know that right at this very moment. Surely he would tease her endlessly. First, she had to get them out of here.

As if reading her thoughts, Zopar snapped his greasy fingers and the entirety of the cave shook from the force of his spell. The air crackled with sparks of energy and a tear in space appeared right behind her.

The last thing she saw was Hterag’s face as he shouted for her.

The last thing she felt was a pull at her mid-section and then…falling…endless falling into parts unknown.

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Authors Note

While joking with some great friends, the basis for this story was formed. Part 1 of this story can be found here. 

We got to talking & the girls started writing their own versions of the how the characters came to be. 

This awesome Origin/Background story on the Character Acirassac, was brought to you by Cassarica Nadas of the Amazeblog

Such amazing talent here, I couldn't wait to share it with you all.
Thank you Cass for sharing your writing with us!

Stay tuned, as this weekend I'll be featuring "The Samurai: Eru's Origin"

Part 2 of "The Unicorn Queen, The Samurai & The Wizard" will be posted next week, which continues where the storyline left off.

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

The Unicorn Queen, The Samurai & The Wizard

A lone samurai is perched upon the rafters of the tavern, resting her body after a long days trek through the Marshlands. She had volunteered to escort a couple & their newborn through the treacherous swamp to the new city of Thorumdawn. They were reluctant at first, no doubt hearing the stories of the “Green-Haired Gaijin”. Urgh, “Gaijin”, the foreigner. She hated that word with all her being, yet the whisperers and busy-bodies insisted on calling her that all her life. The samurai watched in boredom as the locals meandered about the tavern, in drunken banter & flushed cheeks. Until a new arrival, caught her attention. By the looks of it, a woman, covered from head to toe in an obsidian cloak. Clearly she wanted to avoid attention at all cost, little did she know that it was exactly the thing that would attract attention.

The samurai frowned in concern, the men at this tavern were notoriously filthy beasts around women. One of those beasts had cleared through the crowd, fumbling along the way in her direction. He was flanked by three other putrid males, no doubt delighted to be following the beast. The new arrival sensed their approach and straightened her posture. Words were spoken and before the samurai knew it, the beast had flashed out a backhand. The woman went sprawling to the ground, her hood flopped behind her, revealing… The samurai’s heart thudded with glorious purpose as she leaped off the rafters, arriving on the group in no time. She lashed out an open palm and took out the first male face first, into the ground. While still crouched, she released a swash-buckling lower round house kick that knocked out the other two males’ legs right from under them. On the turn, she rotated her open palm into a sky-ward rocket that slammed into the beast’s chin. His body left the earth and landed noisily into a wooden table, splinters and broken wood, crashing all around his hefty weight. No, she would not dare tarnish her beloved katana on the likes of them.

Without missing a step, she held out her hand to the new arrival. Looking down, her heart beat quickened yet again. The new arrival had luscious, long locks of pink hair!

Is she like me? Have I finally found my clan? The samurai thought, so loudly, it was a roar within her mind.

“I am not what you seek warrior.” The new arrival said as if reading her very thoughts.

The samurai’s chest deflated, her face visibly strewn by the news. She quickly recovered as was her custom & bowed deeply. “Forgive my assumption, I am named as Eiramus. Eru, in fast-tongue.”

The new arrival regarded her apprehensively as if this greeting had been lost on her. She reached out a delicate hand and touched at her forehead. “Allocante, I am named as Acirassa-“ She frowned at something. “I do not have a name in fast-tongue.”

Eru smiled broadly, “That would be Ari, yes, Ari & Eru. What a pair we shall be to behold. What brings you to this fair dump of a place?”

Ari gestured for Eru to follow her outside the tavern, away from prying ears. “I apologize for the secrecy, I have just not received the best of treatment since arriving to this strange, strange land.”

Ari’s gait seemed awkward as she walked, as if uncomfortable in her own shoes. “Oh? Where do you reign from then? Surely you must be from one of the kingdoms.” Eru said regarding Ari’s regal cadence.

Ari’s expression darkened then, she paced in that awkward way for a bit. Eru touched her arm to halt her steps. It was a gentle touch, to convey sincerity. Ari studied Eru’s eyes before saying, “I am not of any of your known kingdoms. I have been banished to this accursed land for breaking the ultimate taboo.” She paused to look out into the orange set sky, probably recounting the troubling memories. She sighed deeply. “I fell in love with a human male and for my punishment, the Toad King in all his cruelty devised a most horrid exchange. I would be forced to live out my days here while my beloved would be locked away in his dungeon, to perish away. For he cannot survive in my land & I cannot in his.” She clutched at her face, now filled with anguish. “Oh my poor Hterag, this is all my fault.”

Eru snatched the woman up in her arms, gently patting the pink locks of hair. The gesture seemed so natural, as if they had been accustomed to it for years. “Shhh, it’s not your fault. Loving someone cannot and will not ever be a death sentence. Not so long as I have breath in my breast.”

Ari sniffled and caught herself, she straightened out and titled her chin up. “You’re right, a queen does not falter. She fights for freedom, equality & peace. I must get my Hterag back from that monster. At any cost. I must.”

“You’re a queen?” Eru’s jaw dropped. She had never been in the presence of a queen before but did have the common sense to bow, deeply, yet again. Ari made a “tsk” sound.

“No need for such formalities, not after all the kindness you have afforded me. But how ever shall we get to my land and save Hterag?”

“Oh! I know!” Eru exclaimed in delight. Seeing Ari’s confusion, she explained “We shall visit the most powerful Wizard in all the pointed kingdoms.”

A time later, they were on the horses, leaving a trail of dusted wind in their wake as they galloped on towards the isolated farm atop the jagged cliff line that Eru had heard about in passing. The sky dimmed as the sun began it’s descent into the horizon.

****

Art Supplied by Amsnorth

“Hocirne! Hocirne! Have you finished your chores?” His mother fumed, hands on hip, as she entered the barn. Hocirne couldn’t be bothered. He was in the middle of a riveting adventure between a silver knight and his golden dragon.

His mother huffed to get his attention, “Last meal is upon us you stupid boy, get a move on!” Her tangled tawny hair fell over her face as she shook it out and spun around to march out of the barn.

Hocirne sighed deeply, he longed for an adventure away from this miserable place. So secluded was his life, that he hardly ever met anyone nor got to see all the wonders of the world. All he had was these tattered books that the monk, Orisies would gift him upon his rare visits.

The door to the barn creaked open and he tapped at his head, not ready to deal with his mother a second time this night. He got up and peered around the corner of the stable, his breath caught and his heart fluttered. Lo and behold before him were two of the most outrageously beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. He blinked several times to make sure this wasn’t a trick of the mind or a result of his own growing body. What a sight they were! Did all women in their land have such vivid and strange hair colors?

The pinked-haired one stepped forward and regarded him from head to toe. She laughed quick and hard, gesturing out a hand while looking to her green-haired companion. “This? This is the so called, ‘most powerful wizard in all the pointed kingdoms? Surely you mean this as some cruel, twisted joke.”

The green-haired beauty stepped forward, the sword at her hip glinting off the dying light of the sun set. No wait, it was shaped like a sword, he’d read about this. It was a katana! His eyes flared in recognition and awe. She laughed at his musings, such a delicious sound. “Oh yes my new friend, he most certainly is the wizard we seek. Can you not see it?”

A word brought him out of his reverie and into startling awareness. He frowned, “Wizard? I’m sorry, you must be mistaken. Maybe you refer to my friend Osiries. Yet he is a monk not a wizard.” Hocirne scratched at his head, had there even been such a thing as a wizard in these parts?

She bowed deeply before him, making him feel seven kinds of uncomfortable. “I am named as Eirumas. Eru, in fast-tongue. This is my companion. Named as Acirassa. Fast-tongued as Ari. I apologize for the abruptness but we haven’t much time. You must come into your own immediately and without explanation.”

Ari backed away as Eru drew out a decaying parchment. She held three fingers upwards, then closed them to form a fist and place it against her chest, where her heart would be.

“In the words of mortal men, I call upon the ancient power. Wizard of the North, we call upon thee. Slumber no more, slumber no less. The time has come for you to be born anew.

In the words of the old, I beseech thee! Kys mytrail felitaze arumtalla, Kys waye felitaze arumtalla!”

At first, nothing happened and Hocirne let out a quick exhale. Only to suck in all the air when they heard it, when they felt it. Like a deep rumbling within a giant’s belly. The earth began to tremble and then quack ever so violently. Ari grabbed on to one of the stable’s support beams. Hocirne cursed himself for not maintaining the barn, what if it broke under strain and hurt her? Such a beautiful, elegant angel. He would never forgive himself. A shiver shot down his spine and—BOOOOOOM!!!!!!

In a flash, the barn roof exploded and lightning surge through it, hitting Hocirne head on. All his world turned white and bright hot. He was consumed by it.

Unicorn Queen Cred: iluvfaeries

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Authors Note

While joking with some great friends, the basis for this story was formed. I wrote out Part 1 as a test version to see how it would all play out. In all honesty, It would have probably been too long for any one blog post haha. 

• So Feelings? Thoughts? Does the storyline work?
• Should I write Part 2 i.e> finish the story?

Feedback will be highly appreciated!

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres