Reverie of the Fallen Deity

Chapter 1 - The Ramparts

Book 1

The warm rays of sunlight had just broken over the horizon, spattering the sullen white stone. The worn ramparts had stood as part of the Maiyaris Ascendancy for over a millennium, weathering even the harshest of storms. Alistaria ran her slender fingers along the rough stucco of one particular edge. It was chipped, small chunks of rock forcing outwards towards the city. She touched the chipped edge, gingerly rubbing it to avoid cutting herself on what had become a knife blade.

She planted both of her hands on the edge of the rampart, leaning her lithe body over to peer down the massive structure. The Ascendance had spanned several thousand feet, a fortress practically suspended from the ground by a large cushion of mana. Below spanned a myriad of colors and sounds, lights and humanity. That was Ashh Dorei, a name that meant Touched by Green.

Ashh Dorei obtained its name from the Fae language because of its connection to the Fae land of Illidorei. It meant Land of Green. Ashh Dorei was the north eastern kingdom. The city she stood in was also formally known as Prism City because of the way the streets shimmered in the sunlight. From where she stood, she could see  the towns and structures that spanned beyond the city's edges.

The clicking of harsh boot heels on stone roused her from her thoughts, a figure casting a shadow over her pale features. Alistaria was almost ghastly in appearance, albeit still quite attractive. Her skin was snow white, with freckles spattered across her soft cheeks.

Her long black hair hung down to her collarbone, tied back into a ponytail with a metal brooch. Her nose crooked up just slightly at the tip, highlighting its small composure. She had an almost regal face, with high cheekbones and a heart shaped face. Her most notable feature was her ears, which had a notch taken from them. The V shape they formed at their tips marked her as a Kyosei.

"Lady Alistaria, as much as I would love to watch your fine posterior perched over the rampart, we do have greater tasks to be done today."  The harsh voice of the Lord Commander sounded out behind her. She grimaced softly, swiveling her head to get a gaze of the steel grey eyes that were currently staring down at her.

Oseus Tiberian was a uncomfortably large man. Broad shouldered with arms that could bend steel, he perpetually looked like he had taken a bite of a rotten peach. His chiseled features were crossed by a jagged scar, a puckered mark that very nearly missed his right eye. The legend was that he was the only survivor in a large platoon against a beast twice his size. Given his size, Alistaria didn't want to know what exactly it was. His salt and pepper beard showed his advanced age, nearing a few centuries in a millennia long life.

Oseus was a Maiyaris, the angelic warriors that had kept Ashh Dorei safe for multiple eras. Their presence was bolstered by the grand light of the god Kaien. They tended to live over 1000 years, but the strongest had been known to live longer lives. Alongside the Kyosei, they composed the greatest military Alaris had seen.

"Sorry, boss." Was all she could murmur out, pushing the palms of her hands against the cold weight of the stone. With a wince, the jittery woman rose to face her commander. "What are my orders for today?" She looked at him, crossing her arms behind her back in a respectful way. "Your presence is required by the Ascendant and Lady Umbra, they have a task for you. You will meet me in the Central Core. Do not dawdle."

With that, the Lord Commander turned to leave. His wide wings unfurled, golden light glancing off the silvery feathers. The quivering wing tips were once downy soft, though worn down from years of harsh conditions. There were noticeable contortions in the man's wings, injuries that Alistaria could not identify the source of. Oseus had 4 of them, a trait that only occurred in Maiyaris with a large concentrations of the god Kaien's light.