━━━━━━━━━━ i // control & sentiments // ━━━━━━━━━━is she in control of her powers? how does she feel about them?
[ mood music //.♫♪ ] x [ 1998 / 2000 words used ] 
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xxxxxx"I beg your pardon?"
xxIskierka blinked dumbly. She squinted at the question; After all this time she had yet been accustomed to the blinding light. A chortle
xxvibrated in her ears.
xxxxxx"I had inquired, perhaps, would you rather stay here, with me?" The voice was warm, comforting, she had oh-so wished to have fallen
xxasleep right then and there, nestled in the roots of the tree. For a split second, Iskierka imagined it was her mother who cradled her instead
xxof this odd tree. She imagined it was the calm, flickering of the fireplace instead of the glow of the crystals from the tree. For a moment,
xxIskierka imagined she was home. But she wasn't. It had been 14 years since the Great War against Kuzcov ended. 14 long years since she had
xxlived in these pitch black caves. They winded and twisted about, as if they were lines to a hidden painting. There were the creatures, black as
xxnight, they stalked every corner, every turn. For each step taken, they were two ahead. Then there were the crystals. With their
xxheavenly glow, they lit the insides of the caves. With their light, it seemed as if they had replaced the sun themselves. But Iskierka could not
xxspeak- she had not seen the sun for years. After fleeing from the ruins of her city, Iskierka and the remaining few-who dubbed themselves the
xInuri; fled to the caves. There, they made camp and learned to deal with the harshness inside. For years, they had wandered endlessly, their
xxnumbers decreasing with each day. And then there was Sylmae. With Her ever calming voice, Iskierka quickly took a liking to Her. That is, until
xxshe finally discovered who, or what exactly Sylmae was. She was a tree. She was what one could consider, a sentient being. When Kier had
xxdiscovered who She was, she had fled in fear of the unknown.
xxxxxx"My dear, I am not getting any younger waiting..." Her laugh echoed across the chamber.
xxxxxx"My apologies... I would be lying to you if I said I had not thought about staying here," She paused, stumbling with her words.
xxxxxx"But... While I am content here, I'm afraid the Inuri do not... See eye to eye with me. They are very hesitant about it..." That was not a lie.
xxWhen Iskierka had approached them with this idea of a new, safer home-it was shot down immediately; it was justified however, it could have
xxbeen a trap. The idea was too good to be true; magic, protection, food. When Iskierka had first met Sylmae, she had turned tail. But day after
xxday, her curiosity bubbled at the thought of visiting Sylmae once more. So she had, and she had stayed. at first, it seemed only mere minutes
xxhad passed in Her company, but it had been quite a few hours. With a promise to return, Iskierka had swiftly quitted the chamber, and returned
xxthe following day.
xxxxxx"My dear, you mustn't stress yourself for my sake. If they do not wish to stay, then they will not. If they do, they will. Do not force them, for
xxit will not end well." The kalon heaved a wistful sigh. Oh-how she wished the Inuri would listen to her. A thought twisted in the back of her mind
xxDespite the war being over, she still had the most authority over the kalons... She could lead the group wherever she desired and let those who
xxrefused do as they pleased. She banished those thoughts with an sigh. Iskierka was not one to abuse her power nor title, no matter her feelings
xxon a subject; it wasn't fair. Sylmae laughed.
xxxxxx"You may do as you please here in the caves of course, they are here for you... However, I only ask one thing." Iskierka had lifted her head,
xxcurious.
xxxxxx"Whatever you do, do not show them here. It is best to leave me where I am. I will not harm nor interact with you or the Inuri after your
xxdecision. It would be unfair if kalons came bustling in and out of my chamber endlessly-I am too old to entertain such a crowd." It was a teasing
xxtone, but Iskierka understood: Revealing Sylmae's location could be dangerous. She sat up stiffly and reached out, looking up fondly.
xxxxxx"I swear, upon my honor and name, that I will not let them find you."
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xxxxxx"Oh yes, certainly. I do not much care for your presence here in any case, Iskierka, and I will thank you to keep silent. I do not propose
xxto answer to such a loafer." The words were sharp and cutting, she had involuntarily flinched at them. The aura of the meeting had seemed to
xxfill with sarcasm; Iskierka flattened her ears at the remark.
xxxxxx"I would have just as lief been satisfied to remain back in my chamber, but 'twas you, sir, who insisted. Now you thin your mouth at my every
xxword. Whatever is your intention, Sir Luxian?" The kalon in question gave her only a snort in return and turned shoulder. The Inuri were currently
xxengaged in another heated argument.
xxxxxx"Oh spare the pleasantries, you act as if you know no less but all; Quite frankly I care naught." She huffed inwardly; Sir Luxian was more
xxstubborn than any mule she had the honor of meeting, which to say was plenty. The group had remained in one chamber, but food was scarce
xxnow. They resolved to another trip deeper into the caves, but wherever, they did not know. Upon her arrival, no matter how belated she was,
xxIskierka had once more proposed the idea of perhaps going to Sylmae-she avoided using the tree's name out of respect. Unfortunately for Kier,
xxLuxian was present. He quickly took that as an invitation to slander her about.
xxxxxx"... and if you think that I, Kyere Luxian of the-"
xxxxxx"Sir Luxian, I must beg you to imagine my own interest in either your feelings or your opinion of myself, when I myself have visited the
xxvery caves of dear Sylmae that lies just northwest of here-" Iskierka clamped her mouth shut, but it was too late; she had already said too
xxmuch. The group had silenced itself and now looked on her with curiosity. Who was Sylmae?
xxxxxx"I beg your pardon... I must leave." She ducked from the stares and swiftly took her leave. She had revealed Sylmae, the one promise
xxshe had made. She had gone and thrown it out the window like a fool.
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xxThere was a quiet murmuring.
xxxxxx"Perhaps... It is worth exploring?" A voice echoed through the chamber.
xxxxxx"No, we shall not risk it." Luxian's voice was sharp, but there was a sense of curiosity present.
xxxxxx"Although, I do wonder..." And so an agreement was reached: the Inuri were to explore the caves to find this, Sylmae, Iskierka had so
xxsuggested. Iskierka had spoken of a power; a presence. Something to protect them from the caves-magic? Whatever it was, if there truly
xxwas power there, it would be best for the Inuri to claim and control it, not a tree, right?
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xxxxxx"Sylmae! Sylmae!" Iskierka had dashed as soon as she was out of earshot. she was a fool.
xxxxxx"My dear? Whatever is the matter? Are you hurt?" And there Sylmae was, comforting as ever. Kier couldn't help a weak, fond smile at the tree.
xxxxxx"N-no... But I come with bad news- they are coming! The Inuri! Oh Sylmae, I have made a mistake..." She paced around Sylmae's trunk. The
xxtree merely swished her branches in the invisible wind.
xxxxxx"I see... I have no quarrel with that; they wish to come and I will welcome them." Iskierka held back a twinge of guilt.
xxxxxx"B-but Sylmae... If they come, they mean to do harm! I... I spoke of you, when they did not want to come! I had none other way, I beg for
xxyour pardon, I did not mean to!" Iskierka didn't want to lose Sylmae. Lose the new home she found. Sir Luxian was a ruthless soldier. He would
xxtry to steal the power. Sylmae was quiet after this confession.
xxxxxx"My dear..." But it was too late; the loud shouts echoed through the cave chambers. Iskierka looked on helplessly for she could do nothing.
xxHer powers were too dangerous to use, but she alone, too weak to bear the onslaught. Kier closed her eyes. Perhaps 'tis only a bad dream? She
xxpleaded it was only so.
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xxThe shouts, the yelling, the immense power that surged inside the cave was too much. Iskierka opened her eyes, squinting at the light. Sylmae
xxwas shaking with an unknown emotion, branches swinging violently as if stuck in an endless storm. The Inuri were there as well, jabbing and
xxslicing at Sylmae's roots and branches. The tree tried Her best to dodge the oncoming spears, but She was not invincible. Crystal after crystal,
xxbranch after branch fell; they were going to chop Her down to Her core. Oh! Her dear friend... Sylmae did not deserve any of this; neither
xxdid her home; neither did her people.
xxxxxx"Stop! End this madness! Sir Luxian-" Kier slipped down the cave mouth into the middle of the chamber, ripping a jabbing spear from the
xxhands of an angered kalon. She dodged another blindly swung sword.
xxxxxx"I will have none if it! Traitor! You've been keeping this power from us for too long! Now we shall claim it ourselves!" He snapped at her
xxfuriously. Power-hungry and afraid, the Inuri would not stop until Sylmae was destroyed. Something inside Iskierka emerged, jaws snapping
xxat her mind. Red uniforms sprinting full speed, the brown of peasant coats fluttering in the wind. The cold glares of enemies bore into her
xxpelt as a yowl pierced the air. It was cold, too cold. And for a moment, Iskierka registered the scream as her own. As for the cold? Ice lay
xxstrewn about in the chamber, the sharp icicles dangling from the roof of the cave, the flurries whipping back and forth, throwing kalons
xxabout. But all Iskierka could see was her home being torn apart once more by the Kuzcovian soldiers. The ice that formed in her heart was
xxas cold as the ice that flew from her body; Iskierka was tearing the chamber apart. And then, there was warmth. A comforting touch, a soft
xxwhisper.
xxxxxx"Rest, my dear." And there was Sylmae.
xxxxxx"Do not harm them my dear... They are merely afraid." Iskierka wanted to respond, to nod, to do anything to agree with her friend.
xxShe was dying, and the kalon was powerless to stop her own powers, let alone the Inuri. through the howling winds of the cold, she heard
xxa soft chortle. And something warm filled her heart, coursing through her veins. And the cold stopped, and the warmth set in.
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xxThe chamber was a melting mess. the Inuri had hastily attempted retreat, but instead laid down at the trunk of Sylmae, albeit hesitantly.
xxIskierka alone was sprawled in the middle of the cave.
xxxxxx"Iskierka." And there She was. Kier only responded with a small wave of flurries, the snow delicately falling from her hooves. Oh how it
xxwas strange! that 14 years later, she had finally gained control over her ice. But how?
xxxxxx"Snow... How wondrous... So small alone, but powerful together! Iskierka, do take care of it..." At this, the tree beamed.
xxxxxx"My dear Iskierka... With you, I have entrusted myself! Never again will you be alone... A part of me is always within you... I am old,
xxbut I still have some spark left in me..! Take this, a part of my energy, and protect your people and home..." And so Iskierka understood:
xxIn the last moments, Sylmae had given a part of her soul to Kier to end her icy explosion. With Sylmae, she was able to control her ice.
xxShe was able to control herself. Iskierka smiled up at her dear friend.
xxxxxx"I will protect you, and everyone else."
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━━━━━━━━ xx // decisions & consequences // xx ━━━━━━━━
