Legacy of The Ancestors' Choices

Time frame: war time

Adeline breathed a sigh of relief at the mention of the armored dragons. At least, they had some form of protection against the enemy's weapons. But her worries only shifted to the riders, who now seemed to be more vulnerable without proper armor.

She knew that the enemy would not hesitate to take advantage of any weak spots in their defenses, and this realization only heightened her sense of urgency as she continued to scan for any signs of their attackers.

Adeline let out a frustrated sigh. She wished that Ragnar and Sophia were here; their words would carry more weight with the others.

As a healer girl, her own words were often dismissed as unimportant. She clenched her fist in frustration, feeling powerless in the face of such a dire situation.

As Uzana and his dragon riders' troops finally came into view, the healer girls breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that their brave defenders had returned unscathed from yet another perilous mission.

As they arrived, Ragnar and Sophia could be seen breaking into a run, racing towards Adeline and the group of healer girls.

Ragnar, with his larger strides, reached them first, while Sophia lagged a few steps behind. As they approached, Adeline felt a sense of relief knowing that their leaders had returned.

Ragnar, with his commanding presence and tactical mind, could bring a sense of order to the otherwise chaotic situation.

Sophia, quick with her wit and sharp senses, would no doubt have insights into how to strengthen their defenses. The girls gathered around, eager to hear the wisdom that their leaders would bestow.

"My Lady!" Adeline approached Sophia. "The Queen has ordered the troops to begin moving in your absence," she explained.

Sophia nodded, listening intently to Adeline's report. She had prepared for such a scenario and wasn't surprised that the Queen had decided to act without their input.

However, she also knew that without proper planning or reconnaissance, the troops were at risk of falling prey to enemy ambushes.

"Yes, I understand the most important thing is that we make sure everyone returns safely."

The four dragons landed one by one on the edge of the cliff. As Uzana dismounted, Adeline ran towards him, noticing with alarm that Uzana was not wearing any armor.

"Why aren't you wearing armor?!" Adeline exclaimed, her tone sharp with concern.

Uzana gave a nonchalant response, as if the question hadn't even crossed his mind. "Oh, right. I forgot," he said.

Adeline couldn't believe her ears; how could Uzana forget to wear armor, especially after what had happened to Ragnar and Qedren? Uzana's carelessness could have disastrous consequences.

Adeline gritted her teeth in frustration and immediately performed a quick examination of Uzana's body. "Are you injured anywhere?" she asked.

"No, everything's fine," Uzana replied. "But I do like it when you touch me like this, so feel free to continue," he added, grinning.

Adeline rolled her eyes at Uzana's lighthearted reply but could not help but feel relieved that all the other dragon riders came out unscathed. While continuing to check on the condition of Uzana and the others, Ragnar walked over to them.

"Is he hurt?" Ragnar asked Adeline.

"It seems there are none, my lord," Adeline replied with a report.

"Good, because I'm going to kick his ass." Ragnar said as he threw a punch at Uzana.

Uzana's back hit the ground with a sickening thud as Ragnar's fist connected with his jaw. Pain exploded through his face, and he felt the warm trickle of blood flowing down his cheek.

"Hei! What was that for?" Uzana shouted, struggling to deflect Ragnar's next hit but failing as another blow landed hard on his forehead.

"You know exactly what that was for," Ragnar shot back, his voice low and menacing. "The battlefield is no place to play games, Uzana. You cannot act as recklessly as you please and act like a hero!"

"Ragnar, listen to me," Sophia said. "I know you're angry, but this isn't the way. Uzana made a mistake, but that doesn't mean he deserves to be beaten to a pulp."

Ragnar snorted in contempt. "Mistake? That was more than a mistake. He endangered his life and the lives of the entire battalion with his recklessness. He needs to learn that actions have consequences."

"Who told you to dismount without my permission?" he thundered. "We have rules here, and you know them well. All decisions must go through my approval."

The tension was palpable as Ragnar interrogated his younger brother once again. The younger brother stood with his head bowed, knowing full well what Ragnar would say next. And sure enough, Ragnar's voice boomed out.

The younger brother hesitated, then muttered, "Queen Mother-"

"Mother Queen of Fuck!" Ragnar barked back. "She's none of ours! On what basis do you listen to her orders?!"

Instantly everyone fell silent, stunned at Ragnar's words.

"Just because there were no casualties this time does not mean your actions were not fatal, Uzana!" he thundered. "You must remember we are not here to be Cescil's slaves! In fact, we should be able to trample Cescil under our feet if we want to! Don't act stupidly like the healer clan and let them trample you!"

Sophia and all healer girls shuffled his feet uncomfortably, feeling the weight of Ragnar's words like a physical blow, as they too had been shaped by the legacy of their ancestors' choices.

As mutan, they had always felt like outsiders, struggling to find their place in a world that often seemed hostile to their existence.

For the healers, that had meant finding a way to coexist with the humans, using their gifts to help others and make a positive impact on the world.

For the Gamaaloth, however, it had meant retreating into isolation, hiding away from the rest of humanity and building their own kingdom.

A hazy red sun sets over the open water under desolate cliff that stretches out behind Ragnar as he stands before Sophia and the group of healer girls. They stare back at him, their expressions a mix of shock and disapproval.

Ragnar feels no guilt for his words - to him, the clan of healers' stubborn decision to remain in Cescil is foolish, and he has no desire to sugarcoat his opinions.

The wind picks up, whipping his tattered headdress and cloak wildly around him, as if echoing the fervor of his convictions.

*

Dense fog hangs low as the healers huddle together in their makeshift camp, each lost in their thoughts.

They've dedicated their lives to serving the kingdom, using their gifts of healing to ease the suffering of others, but now, they're faced with a harsh reality: they're never seen as valuable members of society, but as outcasts to be feared and controlled.

Despite their valiant efforts to defend the last remaining borders of the kingdom of Cescil during times of war, the healer clan's dedication goes unacknowledged and unappreciated.

Their selfless actions have been taken for granted by the very people they seek to protect, not even sparing them from the horrors of being captured and killed by

  the Ostrill Kingdom.

Despite emerging victorious in the battles against the Kingdom of Ostrill, the healer clan is forced to endure yet another brutal fate.

Even though they win the war, they must suffer the consequences of becoming mere servants and concubines to their protector, Gamaaloths. This degrading treatment serves as a cruel reminder of the political power systems that exist, and the lack of compassion shown towards those who possess unique and invaluable gifts.

This cruel irony leaves a bitter taste in the healers' mouths as they continue to question whether their sacrifice was worth the risk.

The words of Ragnar echo in their minds, a constant reminder of their tenuous position in a world that seems determined to reject them.

As they try to fall asleep, they feel a sense of unease creeping over them, a deep fear that they'll never truly be safe or accepted. It's a harsh reality to confront, one that leaves them feeling powerless and alone in the dark of the night.

Adeline stepped out of her tent and made her way towards Lady Sophia's tent. The sky was a deep, rich blue, and the stars shone like diamonds. As she walked, she felt a soft, pleasant breeze caressing her skin.

When she reached Lady Sophia's tent, Adeline noticed that it was enveloped in a shimmering, ethereal light that seemed to emanate from within.

The interior of the tent was ablaze with soft, golden light, emanating from a multitude of candles placed strategically around the space. The air was heavy with the sweet, heady scent of jasmine.

Lady Sophia was seated at a low table, her back straight and her gaze steady. The sound of her voice filled the tent, her soft chanting an invocation to the spirits that resided in the forest.

Adeline felt a sense of reverent awe in the presence of Lady Sophia's quiet power, a magic so old and deep that it seemed to flow through the very air. The sorceress seemed to be in perfect communion with the spirits.

Adeline's breathing became more rapid as she realized the significance of what Lady Sophia was doing. The power Lady Sophia was wielding was beyond anything she had ever seen before, and it filled her with a sense of awe and fear.

Adeline knew that when a sorcerer's power was awakened, they could become overwhelmed by the spirits that sought to communicate with them. This was not something to be taken lightly, and the consequences of losing control were dire.

Adeline felt a chill run down her spine as she watched Lady Sophia continue her incantation, her eyes still closed in deep meditation. The energy in the room was palpable, and Adeline could sense the spirits gathering around, eager to be heard.

She wondered if Lady Sophia was truly in control of the situation or if the spirits had already taken hold of her. As the incantation reached its crescendo, Adeline held her breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

"Oh, shit! Shit! Shit!" Adeline's voice trembled as she whispered her curses under her breath. Fear gripped her heart as she huddled under the safety of the white mosquito net.

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