#icarcus

Anionetta sits silently as she heard the prayers of the priest,watching a trembling prisoner and Caelestra staring blankly on that fancy dress. She was nothing but Anionetta’s new pet to show off to the world. Caelestra bit her tongue slightly “Your most holy Queen.”Anionetta turned her glided eyes towards Caelestra “Yes my child..” Caelestra has to remain careful in these times,Anionetta is like that vengeful ,evil and dark Aqua vitae empress hungering for young blood. Her tongue held only in letters between Drago and someone else. “I am exhausted.” There is that slight tremble as she saw the blood spilling on the ground. It reminded of that chest wound that Caelestra stabbed on Viven,bloody and rotten,just like herself. She stood steadily “Do you need some chocolate or the waters..”

She is about to say the truth.her mind is haunted by that feast that she went alone. In that mere moment courage hid fear,for it was said by Bjorn in one of the legends that it was the darkness like the rot in the corpse that will consume you. How she wished for that but Blair intruded slightly,noticing the paleness of Caelestra. He bowed silently unto her “Excuse me your Holy Queen..” as he cued Lunetta to bring Caelestra along to the nearest shady area. It will surely distract Anionetta from their plans of spying. “For once I agreed with you,someone her age,should see the grimness of people who could betray you."

“You,Blair one of my most loyal subjects think I’M crazy?!”Anionetta hissed angrily,her slender fingers digging through her gorgeous gown “I am not,it shows fear.” Blair clasped his sword tightly,he must follow Lady Caelestra’s orders “but is it a little much my queen?”Anionetta froze slightly,that thought sunk in her head. Perhaps it was much for Lady Caelestra,maybe in her sheltered life, she never saw blood split before. Anionetta bowed slightly “Lord Blair,if she rules the country she must evoke justice like the Mother we worshipped.”

Blair nodded slightly “True. True.” However Anionetta slowly fell into that cloaked lie that Caelestra stole her thunder. She will choke her. “But fear can be turned over by someone kinder and gentler, don’t we want that my queen?”

“Yes…”

Prompt: Re-create your earliest childhood memory. (Followed-Shiro finding her guardian spirit) 

Shiro shivered a little in the forest,as she held Aka's hand tightly. The little bell rang and rang. Dark forces must envelop the forests. The bear spirit seems to lost its way. So did they. One cannot stop that aspect that they will be bandits camouflaged in the dark forest. The sound of the howling winds made her uneasy with fear. Aka’s eyes grew weary over the winding forests. There she could hear a little twitching of a rabbit. Shiro smiled slightly to see her little spirit pouncing by “Lady Shiro-ko do not be afraid”. It brought a small smile on her face. Her eyes widened with fear as she glanced upon that little rabbit again. It was the same one that gave her the bell in her wrist. “Are you lost little one.” as Shiro crouched down quietly. There she slowly pets the rabbit. “Yes I am,we lost our way." However it came into her heart. A memory flashed through her mind when she clasped her hands to the makeshift grave of the rabbit. Her eyes widened again. Who is that rabbit? “I am here to protect you. I am your guardian spirit.” Shiro-ko keeps stroking the rabbit and snuggling it gently. It brought her some comfort amidst the dark woods. “My name shall bring great power,if you think it.”

Shiro pondered it so carefully. And that word came in her mind. The rabbit’s eyes widened slightly and soon a trail of light came “Follow me.”Aka-ko’s eyes widened to see the forest slowly falling apart. It warm both of the hearts of the girls.

For she named the spirit Uta. And she learns that day, names could bring power to anywhere.

Prompt: The most recent time you were betrayed (Icarcus-Caelestra coping with Valentia's betrayal)

I watched over the tides cascade back and forth. I became the relentless ocean. The world all thrown into chaos. Valencia smirked slightly. The moon of my life all gone. She fell into the other side. She watched Viven ever so closely like the old tales. She hungered for my fall. I am the flow that never died. However things will end ever so strangely  Viven glanced at her as she blew kisses to her own champion as he raised his rapier unto me into his throat. A small scar dribbled in blood. He pressed it on his fingers and allowed her to savor his blood. I withheld that dagger. My mind must be still waters under rain. My mind gripped with that betrayal. my eyes focusing on killing the target. Let Untris be the champion of my heart. Blair is trembling at the corner,after all he watched Viven as a boy growing up in the hard ships. He has already pledged his heart to me. Viven raised a wild eyebrow “My own crew member fighting the Santa Maria. She is no easy feat to defeat her. I have killed men for less” and slowly he placed the blade near to my heart “And soon you will be the count of men." Prompt: The way things should have been. (Drago attending a wedding ceremony with Eulalia who was then disguised as Adil and he laments on not being married)

"Help me spruce up that collar." Drago glanced at Adil. "Gods I hate weddings so much." Eulalia withstand her tongue to speak hearty congratulations to the couple. "Then master why you must go." Drago rubbed his ring finger slightly,hiding it with the snake ring. Drago swallowed slightly "Common courtesy Adil. I am unfortunately the one who conducted the ceremony." as he examined the reflection of the basin. He preened himself slightly "Mind you I need you to be on your best behaviour. Just say your prayers to the Holy Queen and give them your blessings is the best for me.

As he watched one of the Nine,he was a young and fresh face. He smiled gently to his Wife. It could have been him as he read the promises and bind his wrist to hers. He wonders if he becomes Cecily's ghost at the ceremony. She could be anywhere. He would drop anything to be with his love. and he could imagine her being happier with that cousin of hers. She dared not even mentioned his name. Maybe fate diverted them to different pathways. His grief for her become his cloak. He would recall many nights how he would withheld himself from making a connection. The wound becomes the infection. How he vowed himself to stay celibate for the rest of his days forgoing his Cecily. Even at the talks with Caelestra,she was that daughter he could not have. She would have been a good mother,as she tenderlly kissed most of her nieces and nephews. Of course she yearn to settle down with him.

Euilala saw him slumping down carefully after he finished the vows. "Are you alright master." Drago replied little. He watched the couple kissed so tenderly and danced the night away. It could have been him and Cecily. "Do not comment on that,I find it difficult to even watch it." Drago whispers slightly to her ear "In fact, the worse part is we have to watch the consummation. I suggest you move off after the party. I do not want to see the first thing in the morning is a drunk young man slobbering over melancholy. Understood."

Drago bowed ever so silently "My apologies." as he glared coldly at me. I am the wound, a ghost in the past that he must forsake as I have that wistfulness of my father "I will take care of that woman. I intend not to invite her.",he placed his coarse hands across my slender shoulders, he hid all embarrassment with calmness. At one moment he seems to rub his ring back and forth.

"Lady Caelestra, it is not that simple as lifting a finger unto a woman's body-", he seems reluctant to take aid of me, woman. "I know men who did that, thinking they could rule the realms by just lunging their bodies into women for the sake of pleasure and mirth, your father in that case. Gods protect us"  He is indeed the most powerful man in all of the realms, overall trembled before that man with just a glare and perhaps some choice words. No surprise he brought so many empires down based on the silent murmurs of his trusted Nine. However, there is that wistfulness in his voice in that phrase "Your father" as he tried to avert his gaze to the many portraits that are hung on the walls, all hallowed in somberness of velvets and brocade, forgetting the past he has with him like an old wound. "You are in a company of wolves and you cannot just act all prim. They are merciless to anyone. Did you read your histories my dear."

I gulped slightly on that thought,m y history lesson is somehow faded. I read only about Nino's explorations and how many saliors can never find his body. It was perhaps the most vivid account I ever read given how intense the inklings are on the day of his death, him celebrated as the martyr to all. "They always lose their gazes to the ghosts around them. A lover. A bitter family member. A rival. They all fall like bloody Icarcus and so will you. And as such I wish to leave you out of that misery and embrassment-",as he escorted me out coldly from the halls "Praise that blasted Midva that I am merciful my dear after all a girl like you must never ever tread to the company of wolves." My mind filled with rage,I am not that little girl that he seen in his mind. He trembled slightly at my conviction. I seen his fear,his vulnerability-he may have hardened himself from years of pain.  Seems the rumours of his mercilessness are true as forewarned by Valentia. I am perhaps too naive,I am that ghost. "Perhaps you are right,a little girl must not tread with wolves."I tried to hold back the tears, However as I walked to the next room,his words were ever to be his last. I thought bitterly.  I do notice that he no longer flex his fingers like the claws,but instead there is a slight tremor which he managed to withheld with him bunching his trembling fingers to his fist.  "A little thank you will be appreciated.", Drago simpered dryly as he swallowed his fear with that crack in his neck "Now tell your associates that they will never,by the mother to ever enter in that room again as long as I breathe.” 

By the word of her majesty Queen Caelestra, Solas III’s heir and the Girl who slayed a dragon - from what I recorded is simply from word of mouth and libraries held by other realms, as most official records were embraced by the sea. There are few historians that do survive the fall however minds slowly dulled by age, but they tried their hardest to build what we missed off after the fall. It may not be a story told in our mouths but nevertheless, it is a great one to keep. 

The three golden droplets, a rather poetic feeling I per say- sired by Solas III. They are still regarded fondly to the point of veneration which alas Queen Caelestra forbade us to do, given it was mixed in our mythologies, it seems difficult to pen it down factually but I will try to recount it whilst detaching itself from the mythos. I guess she learns very well from her dear mentor, Drago whom by now living on a small island once held by Queen Anionetta, that facts can hold us for eternity. From here on, I will narrate our history with the best of my abilities, unless otherwise if I am mistaken or otherwise. It was simply land on sky, a miracle which I cannot fathom in the human comprehension but it was innovation that birthed this land into what it was in its glory. Solas III And Lazarus, two lone persons both with hungering powers, to bring that land to fruition. In fact, these two came from a country, unknown fleeing to the sky (We have to find where we originate from, but again for another tale). They see eye to eye at most things, though it may vein itself to tragedy at most. (And I , as the historian documenting weighting all factors including the outside world)- Solas III is a game changer in heightening Icarcus' state as a cultural venue, boasting its majestic artists, glass-blowers and playwrights, all seeking higher grounds for inspiration. He said to boast himself with the most glorious armour of gold, as he walked around the town, akin to a certain mythical figure The Golden handed Icarcus. In fact, one of the most well-known operas, Midva's laments was in fact commissioned by him. He took the hands of rule, in taking Melissa, the daughter of the formidable ruler of The Stands Giovanni the First, as his wife (This as we speak is before the infamous War starting with The Rose and the Dagger, which then they are on friendly terms). She, in contrary to the charisma of Solas III. She was a quiet woman, and it is said that she will simply look over the lands, and at times have to take his place whilst her husband search for connections. She, refusing to marry all the other traders sailed back home to take her place in The Stands. Lazarus on the other hand, hold a much quieter persona, akin to the moon- he saw that this realm needed to connect to the rest of Ptolemaeus' lands- henceforth he took the risk to weave himself the ropes that connect them gently to the lands below and created wondrous transportation beyond all comprehension. However he was not seen in favour by Solas as he believed that diplomacy is of little value. People will just remember him that one of the days, he fell off to the sea, where he was embraced by the sea of drowned maidens. It is said that Lazarus became the drowned soul, as Solas III battled his fever that he saw him lingering at his bedside cursing him. For Solas III, it was a crumbling disease of the lungs that ended his life, which today it is speculated how he caught, one source that it was a curse from a Dalontenese princess who dabbled with magic unknown which he rejected her hand in marriage (That is still speculated by many historians), or per say as traditionally told as he travelled to the lands of Unas that he caught a chill of the winds. Nevertheless that disease, now curable with some medicine and early rest.

Akin to Lazarus, being without heir- Solas III took himself to rule over Icarcus and sired three children, Auberon Solas, taking up his father’s glimmer blossomed Lazarus' plans and build boats carved with sea creatures to float across the realms in consequences lead to many wars which again, we have little record but nevertheless important. His life is recalled to be marked with tragedy, with the passing of his wife before the marriage to the seas, another a tragic affair with a princess from another realm which we do not have records, because it was considered a scandal then. Whilst Auberon was on the sea, he was swept away by the sea which we are unable to find his body.

Lucius, who took his brother’s place always lingering in his father’s shadow was a somber ruler, ironically his marriage with a Dalontense princess proves to be a successful one despite many in Dalontea including Armado used the abuse of his niece to put him in blame. And it was his line and many more that hold us until that tragic day where our city fell.

And Celeste, as she followed her mother's path to accompany her to the Stands which eventually she made herself as an ambassador to her brother's usage. She settled herself to a Stands man- which she gave birth to Delilah who changed the scope of Stands history forever more. 

And one that remained came from the unlikely of persons, a daughter of a former trader which I have the honour to chronicle, Her Majesty Queen Caelestra. Through many trials, she built our kingdom to its glory and formed alliances with many. I do not know how she built that resilience but I am sure it will be the glowing light that holds us all.