32 Prologue (1/2)

The sun rose over the city of Nova, bathing it in an iridescent beauty. A few roosters began to crow, the elderly who one would expect to be awake so early opened their houses' windows. Just a day like any other, for the tenured citizens of the city, that was.

For one particular member of it's populace, it was anything but. In the ancient Elven District, lounging in one of several similar-looking dorms was a half-elf boy, who had seen more by now, at sixteen years of age, than most other people would in their entire lives.

A brown-haired, tan skinned boy with a body riddled with scars, some new, some old. His name was Jin, the adventurer who, along with his friends, safeguarded the queen of Nova herself, all the way from Nova's outskirts, to its capital.

Their adventures had become the stuff of legends in the short time between his arrival and this special day. Word spread about how he had discovered what was thought to be a long lost legend, in the Yargoth. How the Red Knight had emerged from her exile, and single-handedly fought off one of these monsters, earning herself a pardon.

How the Elven woman known as the Flame of House Varys had reclaimed a bit of her old glory along the way, or how the beastman Ker'Tallen had betrayed his own people, and was now in service of the royal family at this moment!Mariana, a little girl from Corona held her own with battle-hardened veterans, but most surprising of all to Nova's people, was how Cerena allowed her daughter, princess Eliara to shine out of her shadow. Together, they were now known as the new version of the Order of Black Flowers. The queens personal guard.

But, alas, today, Jin would be known by a different title. That of ”student”. Today was his first day at Nova's Grand Academy. Heralded as the seat of high education in Azeria, even the demons of Farrah Valor made an effort to join if they could. Jin had earned this right on his journey, he'd staked his entire life on making it here.

However, now, looking at the brown coat and black pants that Theresa had instructed him to wear, he wondered if he was ready. It hadn't been too long since he arrived, merely a month. He'd still not gotten used to this place. Especially without his allies to guide him.

They were living in the city like he was, but different duties kept them away. They made an effort to see each other at least once a week, but even then, at least one of them would always be absent. Decena was getting to know her mother again, Ker'Tallen had joined Nova's army, Theresa was preparing for the next semester at the academy, Eliara often stayed at the palace, and Mariana was too busy training with the Shadowhand.

Deciding it was too early to fret like this, Jin forced a smile, and donned his clothes. Instincts told him to find some hare to cook, but the stone walls reminded him he could simply visit the twenty-four-hour restaurant across the street for breakfast. He still hadn't spent the money he gained from his earlier adventures.

At times, he thought about Viscerin. He wondered if she had healed, if she was still an adventurer, or if the Yargoth scared that notion out of her. Shaking his head, Jin began to walk out of the dorm.

The Elven District was a part of the city that was peculiarly painted, sporting the kind of gold and red mixtures, flowing between the stone that one would normally only see at the palace. According to Theresa, it was the oldest part of the now-cosmopolitan capital. A souvenir from an era long past.

Jin didn't have to look hard. Within a few minutes he found a small, black building with one red-skinned demon acting as a waitress.