pure gold

[pecan]

♫

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[pecan]

Ｘ Ｏ Ｓ Ｅ Ｎ Ｊ Ｉ

map

ｂｒｉｅｆ ｄｅｓｃｒｉｐｔｉｏｎ ; ;
a country humming with magic from portals scattered throughout its kingdoms. each portal takes the form of a silvery, almost opaque mist that clings to vertical structures and can be found anywhere - from urban cities to the freezing artic in the north. because of the strong presence of magic, creatures from myths and legends have slowly crept into the country, taking up residence in the wide range of wild, untouched habitats.

Xosenji's magic, however, does not affect its kalon inhabitants much - they have no powers whatsoever, and live alongside the magic as if it never manifested and strange sightings and occurrences (take trees with strangely coloured bark and leaves and the occasional pink powdery snow during winters) are taken in stride. however, kalons birthed in Xosenji with a coloured sclera and other minor mutations are known to happen, although extremely rare.





ｇｏｖｅｒｎｍｅｎｔ；；
Xosenji is under a monarchy government, and is currently ruled by King Ornos Faye* and Queen Jacqueline*, who have an only daughter: crown princess Ayana Faye. they rule from the capital city of Io in Cedannon.




ｓｔａｔｅｓ；；

✽ gwylith
the smallest state in Xosenji, but its capital city, Rai, is the busiest. this bustling state has an equatorial climate, which means that it is sunny all year round, with regular rain during monsoon seasons. Gwylith's flat, rolling plains, coupled with the strong sunshine and occasional rainy days, are rich with vegetable plantations and tropical fruit orchards. Rai's markets are overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables, and the cries of food peddlers can be heard all day long.


❀ eraleth
a land peppered with beautiful mountains, Eraleth is famous for its fresh and flavourful tea, which is both delicious and nourishing. the constant cool air high up in the mountains form the perfect climate for tea plantations. many kalons flock to Eraleth to admire the breathtaking sight of neat rows of tea shrubs, or have a nice hot drink of tea at one of Aseac's many cafés.


✽ roahan
Roahan consists of a large expanse of arid deserts; the air is hot and dry during the day, but temperatures plummet during the harsh nights. Roahan is populated by tribes who live near the few oasises. little is known about the tribes as they tend to keep to themselves during their occasional trips to Rai to trade goods such as sweet cactus fruit and small potted succulents.


❀ the arctics
as its name suggests, the arctics are completely made of ice and snow. its temperatures constantly remain sub-zero. little to almost none is known about this barren, forbidden place, as expansion works are always halted or cancelled due to the merciless blizzards that roar across the arctics.


✽ cedannon and the rhea islands
Cedannon - the pride of Xosenji. Cedannon is famous for its vibrant wildflower fields that bloom during the cool summers, and the monarchy's beautiful castle residence sitting on the outskirts of the capital city, Io. kalons throng the outside of the castle during specific times, each hoping the catch the royal family out on a stroll and grab a picture with or of them. Cedannon is also known for its bakeries' delicate pastries, each soft and buttery. the rhea islands are where multiple seaside resorts and the royal family's summer home are situated, and are frequented by kalons interested in giving watersports a go.

* - fake kalons, made for the purpose of the story


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[pecan]

ＴＨＥ ＦＩＲＥ ＴＨＡＴ ＦＯＲＧＥＤ ＴＨＥ ＧＯＬＤ

full of spirit and constantly on the move, Ayana is certainly a force to reckon with. her time in the castle, with no one to tame the wildfire in her heart and little to no guidance from her parents, has now shaped her into a strong-willed young woman with cunning, capable of getting what she wants by hook or by crook. her brash impatience has gotten her into trouble countless of times, although her straightforwardness is a quality to be admired indeed. her time as such a beloved figure had given her much self-confidence, and although slightly spoilt and used to getting her own way, one could say Ayana is a natural-born leader with drive, who strongly dislikes others telling her what to do.

used to the luxurious life and treatment she had in her time in the castle, Ayana can be slightly arrogant and pushy, and she is still learning how to be more sensitive to others' feelings. it can get quite difficult, as oftentimes kalons would get upset with her and she'd have no idea why. she gets a little uncomfortable discussing feelings and things like that, as she is almost clueless on the subject. Ayana can be selfish at times, reserving only the best for herself and no one else.

overall, Ayana has a volatile spirit, lashing out whenever she is displeased or angered, but deep inside she has a heart of gold, and only means well to all she meets.

ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ s

• thrillseeking
• soda
• chocolate pastries
• exercise
• exploring

ᴅ ɪ s ʟ ɪ ᴋ ᴇ s

• enclosed spaces
• not getting her own way
• seafood
• disrespect
• staying still

F A C T S

• Ayana is pansexual.
• she has a fear of being ignored.
• she does not take her gold jewelry off as they are the only things left of her status.
• her name means 'beautiful flower.'
• her last name, 'faye', means faerie.
  

[pecan]

note - Ayana is to be imagined in her anthro form for this portion ^w^


8 July, 1991 ; The Cedannon Castle

"it's a little golden girl, Your Majesty," the midwife beamed, passing the newborn into the queen's arms.

a little golden girl, was what the people of Cedannon whispered after the princess' birth. a little golden girl. the treasure of Xosenji, the sun-god's daughter.

thousands and thousands more flocked the castle gates, hoping to catch a lucky glimpse of the baby. in a time where gold was scarce and precious but wanted by all, they saw what they lacked in the newborn and her lustrous fur.

public sightings, however, were few, but the people were kept up-to-date by beautiful photography of the baby kalon and her life in the castle. newspapers and tabloids were flooded with expertly shot pictures of the princess, and there wasn't a day that passed without a gaggle of journalists begging the castle guards to allow them in for an interview.

for her safety, said the King as he commanded the baby's servants to never let her out of sight. our people have too much faith in fool's gold.



28 September, 1999 ; The Royal Library

Ayana was bored and distracted. as she looked away from her tutor's monotonous droning and at the bay window's breathtaking view of rooftops and little winding streets, she thought of a question.

"Sadir," she said, and the tutor stopped his monologue, glad that his student finally seemed to have some interest. "do you think i will be allowed out the castle gates soon?"

now that wasn't the question Sadir was looking for, and he said as much to the young princess, adding with a sniff, "for all your fancy, impossible fantasies, this is the most impossible of them all." Princess Ayana drew herself up to her full height (which was still far from reaching Sadir's shoulders) and hissed, "it's Your Highness, Sadir, and how would you know for sure, anyway? are you some sort of fortune-teller?"

"why, you insolent - " the tutor stopped himself, remembering that he was talking to the crown princess of Xosenji, the beloved of the people. "an apology letter is due by tomorrow morning, Your Highness."

as her tutor swept from the room, muttering under his breath, Ayana emptied the ink pot onto the parchments they had used, then ripped the paper up, snarling and blinking back hot tears of disappointment. her tutor's answer, phrased rudely as it was, had just confirmed her greatest fear.

she was to be trapped forever, until -

"but i don't want to be queen," she whispered to herself.

4 April 2006 ; The Royal Hunting Park

a peregrine falcon perched on a leather-gloved hand, Ayana rode her pony through the packed dirt paths winding through the park, flanked by the Royal Falconer and a few royal guards trailing close behind. looking at her bird, head concealed by a bejeweled hood, she couldn't help thinking of their similarities - blinded from the outside world to keep them oblivious, from taking flight.

the spring air was cool and crisp, the pale sunlight filtering in through the lush canopy of leaves and dappling the grass with gold. "not long now until we reach the meadow, Your Highness," said the Falconer, and Ayana supposed that was to be some sort of comfort, for the Falconer knew she would soon grow uncomfortable in the enclosed space of the woods.

Ayana nudged her pony into a trot when she saw the first glimpse of golden sunlight appear at the end of the dirt path. the falcon shifted its weight at the sudden change of pace, digging its talons further into the glove, but Ayana ignored the pressure, urging her mount on until they burst into the meadow, bright with blooming wildflowers. the falcon fidgeted, sensing the open air and itching to fly. the Falconer soon caught up, and motioned for Ayana to start.

"hunt, Cassius," she commanded, slipping off the leather hood. the bird shook itself, taking a few seconds to acclimate to the sunlight. with a powerful flap of his wings, he took flight, a deadly silhouette cutting across the sun.

as Ayana watched her falcon soar, she wondered why he always came back to her, even with freedom constantly singing in the winds that brought him far, far away.


8 July 2007 ; Io Square

her sixteenth birthday. gleaming with gold, Ayana was finally allowed into the capital, where she was seated on a golden throne atop a dais in the middle of Io Square and surrounded by royal guards. she was dripping with riches - golden bangles emphasized her slim wrists and ankles, delicate silver chains fell around her body and rubies glowed fire-red. the people of Cedannon, breathless at the glorious sight of their beloved princess, bathed her in gifts and praises and pleas for blessings. she acknowledged each of them with a dignified nod and a smile stretched tight across her lips.

a chance at long last.

they would all be distracted later, when they released the fireworks to celebrate her birthday. they would all forget for a moment, forget her in her shining golden gown. and when they turned away, she would slip off, sleek and silent as a cat.

she had already spotted a few portals when she was on her way to the square earlier that evening: unearthly silver mist that clung to a wall or a thick oak trunk. she noticed how every kalon made a wide circle around them should they have to pass by; she remembered how the portals seemed to suck all light and warmth around it.

the legends say you are of danger, but today fear will be my friend.

the sky turned dark a few hours later, and the ceremonial drums and trumpets sounded, loud and clear in the silent night. the first firework was let loose, and as it bloomed into millions of sparks, the crowd gasped and even her guards turned to watch.

what a fatal mistake that was, Ayana thought, and ran.

she had snuck past the guard standing at the back corner of the dais as he shifted to the left a little to get a better view of the fireworks display, and then she had burst into a dead sprint, a golden streak on the grey cobblestone streets. far, far behind her, she heard screams and shouts and the thudding of many boots as the guards gave chase.

"stop the princess!"

on she ran, exalted, past surprised stallholders and more city guards, all stunned with shock. good, good - that would give her a few seconds. Ayana was headed straight to a portal she had seen shimmering on an alley wall, but now as her muscles burned and ached, she began to doubt that she would even reach the alley. no. she had to make it, for it was either escape or execution now: the traitorous princess, blind to the good fortune she had for being born into a royal household..

a sharp turn right, a raspy catch of breath, and there was the portal in that alley, a churning silver mass on the faded brick wall. Ayana skidded to a stop, shuddering at that strange, otherworldly coldness emanating from it. little girl, an old and slow voice echoed, and Ayana stiffened. are you sure?

the guards were nearing now; Ayana could hear their loud footsteps and frantic shouts. no time now, said the voice. are you sure?

"do not question the princess," she hissed, a final act of defiance, and leapt into the portal.

glorious child, what reckoning do you seek?

[pecan]

ＳＫＹＦＡＬＬ

Ayana was falling.

a shrieking wind ripped at her fur as she tumbled down and down; frantic voices whispered in her ears in a language so old she had never heard anything like it before. she tried to scream, to find some release for the fear that snaked into her mind, cold and unforgiving, but the endless wind stole her voice away.

perhaps i am dead, and falling into Hell, she thought, for in the encompassing darkness, she had lost track of all time and space. how long had she been here? seconds, minutes, days or weeks? she was stuck in this void, solidly trapped, her sanity slowly being eaten by the urgent whispers, some pleading, some angry, others emotionless. there had been a sharp pain prickling over her face ever since she entered the portal, and it was driving her mad as well.

let me out, let me out, end this, i beg of you, she pleaded to the voices, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

they did not answer - but Ayana felt an iciness numbing her mind to blackness, and she welcomed it with open arms.

ＥＡＲＴＨ

the grey-and-purple kalon found her beside a pond turned silver by the moonlight, lifeless. she had a strange beauty even in her stillness, like that of a fallen angel. he cautiously approached her, taking note of her tangled curls and fur markings that gleamed gold even in the weak starlight, and her dated jewelry, scratched and dull. where are you from?

he pulled her canteen out of his satchel and gently pried her mouth open to trickle some water in, surprised at the sight of her forked tongue. help first. questions later. she groaned and her dark lashes fluttered then closed again, revealing eyes of burnt gold and a pitch-black sclera.

"what are you?" he said aloud, to this golden enigma locked in unconsciousness.

--

Ayana awoke on a soft mattress with the sheets snugly tucked around her, the first thing she noticed being the morning sun shining from a window and pooling on the lacquered wooden floor in a golden puddle. where was she? what had happened? she tried to remember how she ended up here, but her head hurt too much so she gave up fighting her own mind. May the gods help me if i've been kidnapped.

her ears swung to the creak of the bedroom door opening, and a kalon stepped into the room with wary amethyst eyes. she surveyed the kalon with narrowed eyes, noting his well-groomed warm grey fur and his purple mane and tail that shifted colours in the light like a crystal. a peasant? "ah, you're awake," he said, holding out a piece of bread to her with a strange, squarish slice of meat on it. Ayana stared at it until he lowered his paw and shifted uncomfortably. "um, never mind - there're more food options in the fridge, and ah, if you don't mind, i'd like to ask you a few questions." he had a strange accent - all his words were spoken smoothly together, like honeyed milk.

"you speak to your higher-born too rudely," she sniffed. "where is your address of my royal title? and who do you think you are to question your princess?"

he shut up, and Ayana was smugly triumphant until he said, "are you okay? we don't have royal families here, unless you're from the royal family of Britain...? but then again, you don't sound British."

"what are you going on about?" said Ayana, annoyed. "of course i'm fine! i'm the one making sense, not you." he gaped at her, confusion clear on his face, and then it turned into bewilderment when she ordered him to tell her where she was and who he was. "you mean, you don't know where you are?" he asked, shocked. "what do you think?" Ayana snapped - by gosh, how irritating - "if i knew, i wouldn't be asking you that. and you're still not addressing me properly."

he raised a brow, but answered anyway. "it's nice to meet you, uh, Your Highness. i'm Airell Kennedy, but you can call me Miles - " "what kind of a name is that?" interruped Ayana, wrinkling her nose, but motioned for him to continue. Airell sighed and shook his head, but indulged her patiently, "right now we're in Ren-ai Township, Taiwan, and if you must know, i'm here to do research on the Formosan Sika Deer. now are you back in the real world?"

but no - Ayana was lost again. real world, real world. there was something she did that brought her to this, and try as she might, she could not remember it for her life. frustrated, she snarled: at herself, at the sharp pains in her head, at this stranger who spoke words she'd never heard of in her entire life. "leave me alone," she growled at Airell. "i've heard enough for now."

the warning tone in her voice was clear, and so Airell slipped silently from the room and left her with her own thoughts, fighting the war within.

ＩＮＶＡＳＩＯＮ

it had been weeks since the golden kalon awoke, and in that period of time, all Airell had found out about her was her name. now he watched as Ayana skipped ahead of him, her paws crunching the fallen leaves underfoot. "Ayana, stop it! you'll scare all the deer away," he hissed, but couldn't help smiling at her feisty antics. she stopped, but turned around and stuck her tongue out at him. "you're going to be the one scaring them away instead," she pouted. "look at you - your frown is enough to curdle milk." he rolled his eyes as she slowed for him to catch up, and the pair walked on in a comfortable silence.

Airell didn't doubt her when she had said she wasn't from around here - many things that were normal to him were foreign to her, like the first time she took a huge gulp of soda against his caution. her eyes had widened and she had started coughing madly at the fizz, much to his amusement. he liked her more than he would admit, in these weeks of living with her and adjusting to her fiery energy.

"what?" she suddenly faced him with those brilliant golden eyes of hers, and he flushed. he didn't realise he had been staring. "sorry, just spacing out." she was about to reply, probably with a snarky remark, when both of them tensed at the sound of hooves on grass. Airell flicked his ears to the left to signal the direction of the noise, and they lowered themselves into the shrubbery, pawsteps silent and soft.

peering through the roots of the shrubs, Ayana not far beside him, Airell inhaled sharply at the sight of the elusive deer, their pale coats dappled white, long legs fleet of foot. months and months of searching, and now he had a whole herd to examine. now for taking notes. quietly, he pulled out his camcorder, started it and placed it beside him, gleeful at the day's luck. he turned to Ayana, a grin on his face. "i can't believe we - "

a strange ripple in the air. an electrifying crackle in the atmosphere, a fanfare of distant trumpets.

the deer herd tensed, then fled as one, swift and graceful. beside him, Ayana had gone very, very pale.

"what even - " he stopped, as two very regal kalons stepped out from thin air, followed by a large group of...soldiers? guards? the two kalons were draped in finery, coloured silks and gleaming gold chains that caught the sunlight, and both wore elaborate crowns, all dripping in precious gems. they looked like they just stepped out of an old movie about emperors and kings from an era long lost. Airell gaped. "i'm dreaming, i'm dreaming," he muttered to himself. "must have been that grilled squid from yesterday."

"m-mum? d-d-dad? how?" Ayana had scrambled out from beneath the bush, the shock clear as day on her face. she was trembling from head to toe, the colour drained from her face, all fire extinguished. they only gazed into her eyes, and all of a sudden, Ayana's fur stood on end. to Airell's horror, he could see smoke drifting from her paws. "what did you do to her?" he demanded, struggling out of the bushes to face the newcomers. they all ignored him; it was as if they were locked in their own little world. "hey! what is going on? i demand an expla - "

he hit an invisible wall that felt hard as concrete. this can't be happening.

"AYANA!" Airell screamed, but they didn't turn.

ＲＥＣＯＬＬＥＣＴＩＯＮ

"i remember now," Ayana whispered, her eyes full of fear. "come home with us, precious Ayana," said the queen in a trembling voice, stepping forward with a paw raised as if to caress her daughter's cheek. "come home, and we shall put this all behind us, and live life as it is again." her father said nothing and only stared at her with his sharp black eyes, waiting for the whole scene to play out.

little Ayana, her nursemaid had said while brushing her golden locks one day. remember, you got your cunning from your father.

and in all the time she had to think away from the castle, she had realised things she should have known much earlier.

"lies," she spat, anger burning her eyes. "you lie to me, Mother. i am no fool. i know i am to return to only my public execution, for how can such a powerful family endure such humiliation?" she laughed a bitter laugh. "so much for keeping me in the castle for safety. i bowed to no one; you were only afraid of what i can do with the knowledge i could get of the outside world."

"if you are to think of your own parents like this, then very well. have it your way." her mother's eyes had hardened, and with a set jaw, she turned to leave. her father said nothing, only gave her an amused look and turned to follow his wife.

Ayana blinked with shock as her parents stepped back into the portal they had opened with whatever sorcery they had discovered. the royal guards stood stoic and silent, heads bowed as they waited for their king and queen to enter the portal completely. are they really letting this go so easily?

then she finally noticed Airell standing nearby, fighting and pounding on an invisible barrier, desperately screaming and pointing, but she couldn't hear him. what? she mouthed.

a swift blow across the back of her head. blood spilled, and as she sank to the ground, she realised too late what Airell had been trying to tell her.

the royal guards hadn't been waiting for her parents. they had been waiting for her.

the hunter becomes the hunted.

ＳＩＧＨＴ

it had been a month or two since he last saw the golden kalon, and now with his reports and notes on the sika deer wrapped up, Airell waited for his flight back to America at the Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. he wondered what became of her, and foolish as it was, he worried about her night and day. his camcorder had captured the whole ordeal that fateful day, and Airell often found himself rewinding the footage just to see her face.

besotten fool, he snarled silently at himself. for all you know, she might be just a figment of your imagination. he checked the time, and realising that it was time to head to the boarding lounge, stood, taking a while to stretch his stiff legs. slowly, he wheeled his luggage to check-in -

the air rippled in that all-too-familiar way. good gosh, i must be going mad again. this can't be happening - "

he froze as a hooded figure slipped out of nothingness, seemingly unnoticed by the rest of the kalons in the airport. he caught the gleam of gold as the hood shifted, heard the strong, feminine voice as she turned to ask a kalon which boarding lounge would a flight to America be at.

"Ayana," he breathed, and she turned, the hood falling from her head.

her gold eyes burned in the stark lighting of the airport; a smile brightened her elegant features. "told you it wouldn't be easy to get rid of me."

he laughed and embraced her, giddy with relief. "i never doubted that for a second."