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Keygemin

Chapter 1 - Part 1

Chapter 1 - Part 1

Oct 18, 2024

She had been awake for some time now, lying in bed staring out of her bedroom window into the darkness outside. In the distance, only the lanterns hung on the decks of a few aeroships gave any indication of life outside; at least from the view this particular window had. On those decks far in the distance, a few crewmen were finishing their night's work. All the while daydreaming what it would be like to be on that deck herself. Every action she took over the last few years brought her closer to that goal. She would have her chance today.

Around her, some courteous church bells sounded. Unlike the nightfall's harsh sirens, these were always pleasant to her ears. They signaled the brightset and the coming of the light of day. With it, the warmth provided by the everpresent orb in the sky. In the distance as the bells rang, the men in the distance on the decks of their ships sat down. Some of them extinguished their lanterns, making their activities invisible to her curious eyes. The radiant light of the town below her view began to bleed into total darkness, as early risers extinguished their lanterns as well.

A thought crossed her mind of closing her eyes to doze off, back to sleep. “A few more beads of sleep. Then I'll be good for today.” Her heavy eyelids got halfway down before being assaulted by the instantaneous sourcelight. She knew it was coming, as everyone else did. It never worked for her, there was no napping or snooze after brightset.

She sat off of the edge of her bed. It had always been high off the floor. Yet, since grade four she was able to jump up on it unassisted. Her sense of time was tied to her schooling, at least since she got an idea of what she wanted to do in life. Each grade was two short years, and she was leaving grade twelve this week. Here in the nation of Argentis, she was not old enough to legally drink, but old enough to fight a war.

“We have brightfeast on the table hun!” echoing up the stairs, her mother's distorted high-pitched voice. The house was hardwood wattle and daub. The only way to get a message across the house was to yell. “I'll be down mom, I'm getting dressed!” The young woman stressed through her floatcotton undershirt. Her uniform had many pieces, and the college expected a student don all of them. This was especially important today, as she would be speaking to one of the prodeans of admission. Getting accepted was not the difficult part, as military service for the colleges was compulsory. Permission to go on tour for someone just finishing grade 12 was rare.

She adjusted the uniform's belt and hat in the bedroom's poorly maintained standing mirror. The military's colors of blue and silver, with the occasional red and gold accents, were clear enough to tint the room from the window's sourcelight. In her arms was the overcoat which she opted out of putting on, for fear of the brightfeast staining it. “It'a get cold hun!” chirped from below the staircase. “Yes Mom, I'm coming down!”, the lass trotted down the staircase hugging the overcoat, ignoring the rails.

The young girl turned quickly, to see her mother calmly eating at their table. It was one large solid piece of redart wood, beautiful and still barked on the edges. The table was coated with a thick layer of preserving wax oil making it soft to the touch. They had it since before even her mother was born. It could easily seat twelve people and often did during communal meals at least twice a grad. Her mother was a bit of a socialite and had some kind of person in the house for the majority of the day. Though, her day had just begun.

She ran her fingers across the table as she always did before sitting down. Before her a plate of hot warbird egg and chipped meat, sourdough toast now lukewarm, fried green tomatoes, and a short glass of pomme juice. She started with the chipped meat and egg for energy. The pomme juice was a little suspicious, it might be starting to ferment.

Her mother across the table just sat with her chin resting on her hands. Clearly, she wanted to say something, but her daughter failed to address it. To be honest, she already knew what the problem was long before she came downstairs. “Today's the day isn't it?” her mother quipped with brackish disdain. “We've been over this mom, I don't really have a choice.” her wooden utensil clattered against the ceramic plate as she dropped it.

“You can serve your country without leaving the city. That was true for your father as well. I've heard stories from people around, it's dangerous out that way Temora. You don't have to go on tour just to prove yourself to those---” her mother had lost any sense of reasonability to her; as these conversations always devolved into. “Mom, if I'm going to be serving four years I don't want to stay in town. What would I even do, how would that help?” barely audible from her mouthful of chipped meat.

“I don't know if it would, but at least you would be safe. With those radicals at Fraction, the Opals, or forbid that you be captured by pirates; who knows what they would with a---”

“It isn't going to be like that.”

“How do you know hun? I've heard incredible stories from so many people and from the merchants... who come by the lumberyard. Every one of them has met up with pirates before. Ruthless savages the whole lot.”

“If they are alive enough to tell you stories, they can't be that ruthless. Besides, unlike them, I'll be on a warship with two dozen other soldiers, a couple of them lecturers; maybe even professors.”

Her mother gave up, as it was clear that her daughter was just as stubborn as her husband. “We haven't seen your father for 16 years hun. I'll be alone here without you.” The guilt-tripping began. “Mom, again I'm telling you it's not going to be like that. Tours for novices aren't permanent stations like Dad's. I'll be gone for maybe a grad or two, tops. Then, I'll visit for a few weeks. It isn't like I'll disappear for years.” she pleaded for her mom to understand the situation, but this had not worked for the last year.

“I still don't understand why you can't stay home.” her mother squeaked with her head looking at an empty umber plate. “Most soldiers don't. Even if I asked to stay here, they'd put me on a ship anyway and I'd be gone training somewhere for a year or more. At least this way I can come see you after a trip.” doing her darn best to spin this situation into a good thing for her mother's sake. “You are right about that. Amel's daughter is still at the Driften Base and it's been almost twelve grads.” She looked up at her daughter feigning a smile. Her mother knew that fake smile and chortled to herself just a little.

“You promise you'll visit?” with a tone vague with repercussions should she fail to keep that promise. “Of course mom.” Temora empathized in as calm a voice as she could muster. “Even if you have to leave the tour?” she looked her girl directly in the eyes, making the whole conversation more awkward to continue. Temora glanced to the side before returning her mother's eye contact. “If I left the tour, you'd still have to wait for them to take me back here. It's not like they will turn the whole aeroship around just because I want to go home. It's a military exercise not a scenic expedition.” her sternness keyed back to her father's military background, embodying him for a few seconds. She was her father's girl.
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SoaringMoon
SoaringMoon

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mvgrimm71
mvgrimm71

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The synopsis of your story sounds very interesting. Good job :)

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Keygemin
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In Una, a world where skylands drift and gemstones power magic and machines, a grand conflict rages in its skies. Temora, raised under the strict rule of the Argentian Regime, dreams of rising through its ranks and exploring its endless expanse... but her ambitions were shattered when this war takes the life of her father, a revered military leader.

Driven by vengeance, Temora vows to master the gemin stones to use their power to destroy those responsible for her father's death. As she trains, she crosses paths with a mysterious mentor with unknown ties to both sides of the war. Under his guidance, Temora, drawn by forbidden magic and secrets of the unknown, reveals truths questioning her understanding of the enemy she swore to destroy.

Torn between loyalty to the regime that raised her, and this new information; Temora must decide what her true allegiance is. Will she continue to fight for a regime seeking conquest and destruction, or join the enemy's desperate struggle to end the bloodshed?
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18 episodes

Chapter 1 - Part 1

Chapter 1 - Part 1

187 views 9 likes 4 comments


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