Book One: Chapter 1

Miraea, a planet located within the Mid Realm of the galaxy, shimmered under the ethereal glow of its three moons, casting an otherworldly light on the Jade Temple courtyard. Here, young Terris, barely a teenager, practiced tirelessly with his iron sabre. Sweat beaded on his brow as he lunged and parried against his closest friend and fellow apprentice, Eodor.

Eodor, a year older and already possessing the grace of a seasoned student, expertly deflected Terris' blows with his own shimmering iron sabre. Eodor's sabre, hummed faintly with restrained power. Terris, his movements fueled by youthful determination, launched a flurry of attacks. Yet, Eodor's defense remained impenetrable.

"There, foresight, Terris!" Eodor called out, a playful glint in his eyes as he effortlessly disarmed his friend. The iron sabres clattered harmlessly across the polished marble floor.

Terris slumped to his knees, his chest heaving. "Blast it, Eodor," he grumbled, a hint of frustration coloring his voice. "One day, I'll get you one day, I promise."

Eodor chuckled, the sound echoing through the serene courtyard. He extended a hand to his friend, sheathing the sabre at his belt. "Don't be so glum, Terris. Being a templar isn't just about fancy moves," he said, helping Terris to his feet.

"Then what is it?" Terris asked, a flicker of hope rekindled in his eyes.

Eodor smiled enigmatically. "Patience, young grasshopper. Master Yuna will explain it all in time. But for now, how about a swim in the Moonlit Lake before evening prayers?"

Terris grinned, the earlier frustration forgotten. "Race you!" he shouted, dashing towards the shimmering expanse of water visible beyond the temple walls.

Eodor shook his head fondly, a warm feeling settling in his chest. Friendship, camaraderie, and the shared pursuit of mastering the ancient art of Qi - these were the true treasures of Miraea, more valuable than any legendary weapon. He followed Terris, their laughter echoing through the twilight.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the polished marble floor of Master Yuna's training hall on Miraea. Terris and Eodor, their robes damp with sweat and flushed with exertion, entered after their usual grueling practice session. Master Yuna, her silver hair catching the sunlight, stood at the dais with a serene smile. But their usual routine was disrupted by the presence of another figure behind him.

"Ah, you two," Master Yuna boomed, her voice tinged with amusement. "Come, I would like to introduce you to someone." She gestured towards the shadowy figure, revealing a young woman with an almost ethereal beauty. Her blonde hair, uncommon on Miraea, fell in waves around her shoulders, contrasting with her startling gray eyes.

Terris and Eodor bowed in unison, the formality momentarily breaking their playful sparring spirit. "Master Yuna," Eodor started, his voice polite, "who is our guest?"

"This is Sylva," Master Yuna declared, ushering the young woman forward. "She will be my new apprentice, and part of our team from now on."

Sylva stepped forward hesitantly, her gray eyes wide. "H-hi," she stammered, her voice a mere whisper. "I am Sylva."

Terris, ever the extrovert, couldn't contain his curiosity. A broad grin lit up his face as he bowed again, a deeper, more elaborate bow this time. "Hi Sylva," he boomed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I am Terris, and this is my brother, Eodor." He gestured towards Eodor, who offered a more reserved nod and a faint smile. "So," Terris continued, his gaze bouncing between Sylva and Eodor, "where are you from, Sylva?"

Sylva tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her cheeks tinged with a light pink. "I'm… from the Outer Realm," she mumbled, "to the western sphere of the galaxy, a system known as Vyskriegg."

Eodor, usually more taciturn than Terris, raised an eyebrow. "Vyskriegg? The Vyskriegg are known for their fierce warriors, not…" he trailed off, searching for the right word.

Sylva's shoulders slumped slightly. "Not bookworms, I get it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "My Clan sent me here to study the way of the Templar, as I like… books. Not very warrior-like where I come from."

Terris, ever the optimist, clapped his hands once. "Books are great, Sylva! We have a whole library here, filled with ancient texts on Qi and the ways of the Templar. You'll love it!" His enthusiasm was infectious, and a small smile flickered across Sylva's lips.

Master Yuna chuckled, the sound warm and inviting. "Terris is right, Sylva. Welcome to the Jade Order. We embrace all paths that lead to understanding the flow of Qi. There is much for you to learn, but also much to share."

Sylva, her apprehension easing slightly, looked from Master Yuna to Eodor, then back to Terris. "Thank you," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I… I'm looking forward to learning."

The training hall, once filled with the sounds of sparring, now buzzed with a different kind of energy. The arrival of a new student, so different from themselves, ignited a spark of curiosity and camaraderie in Terris and Eodor. 

Master Yuna's smile softened as she addressed the three apprentices. "Now, you two should clean up and meet us by the Temple's Canteen in half an hour. We can speak more there and you can help Sylva get acquainted."

Terris and Eodor exchanged a playful glance, then a burst of excited energy filled the room. "Race you!" Terris shouted before dashing out of the training hall, a trail of laughter echoing behind him. Eodor followed with a chuckle, shaking his head fondly.

In their respective rooms, the speed changed from a mad dash to a more relaxed pace as they swapped their sweaty training robes for more casual wear. Eodor, ever the strategist, used the time to plan his approach. Reaching the Canteen, he found Terris already animatedly showing Sylva the food options.

The Canteen buzzed with the vibrant energy of thousands of students. Tables overflowed with young people, their voices intermingling with the clatter of cutlery and the enticing aroma of exotic spices. Terris, ever the social butterfly, navigated the crowd with Sylva in tow, pointing out dishes and launching into detailed descriptions.

"This here," he declared, pointing with a flourish, "is Nori Noodles – a classic. Packed with energy and protein for those long training sessions!" He then moved on to a steaming platter of brightly colored vegetables, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Eodor made his way towards Master Yuna, who sat sipping a steaming cup of herbal tea. He lowered his voice slightly as he spoke. "Master Yuna, with all due respect, I am curious about Sylva's arrival. Vyskriegg themselves have been at war for decades. Why bring a Vyskrieggan here?"

Master Yuna met his gaze steadily. "Eodor, I understand your concern. However, Sylva's situation is different. Her parents and I are old friends. They fear for her safety given the current climate in Vyskriegg. Bringing her here is for her own good, to offer her the opportunity to learn and grow in a peaceful environment."

Eodor considered this for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "I see," he finally said, a hint of understanding settling in his voice. "Very well, Master Yuna. I trust your judgment."

Across the room, Terris was regaling Sylva with a story of a prank he and Eodor had pulled on a particularly grumpy senior student. As Terris' laughter reached Eodor and Master Yuna, the tension around the question of Sylva's origins seemed to dissipate. 

Balancing a stack of vibrantly colored plates, Terris weaved his way through the bustling canteen, Sylva trailing close behind. They reached the table where Eodor and Master Yuna sat, a comfortable silence already established between them.

"Alright, feast your eyes, Sylva!" Terris announced with a flourish, setting the plates down with a clatter. "We have Nori Noodles for energy, some spicy Glazed Sunroot for Eodor, these are the Jade Bloom Dumplings, Master Yuna's favorite, and of course..." he winked, "...the legendary Mystery Meat Skewers for the adventurous eater."

Sylva peered at the skewer with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. "Mystery meat, huh?" she chuckled.

Eodor, already digging into the Glazed Sunroot, finally spoke up. "Don't worry, Sylva," he assured her with a grin. "Terris just calls everything a 'legend' that isn't green vegetables."

Terris shot Eodor with a mock glare. "Says the one who drowns his food in that spicy sauce!"

As playful banter filled the air, Master Yuna watched them with a warm smile. Once the initial chatter subsided, Sylva, ever curious, turned to Terris.

"So," she began, "you mentioned Novembria? What's it like?"

Terris' bright smile dimmed slightly. He exchanged a hesitant glance with Eodor before replying. "Well, it was beautiful, Sylva," he started, his voice softening. "Lots of green fields and sparkling rivers… But the war…" his voice trailed off, a shadow crossing his face.

Sylva quickly sensed the shift in his mood. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she apologized softly. "I shouldn't have brought it up."

Terris shook his head reassuringly. "No, it's okay. It's just... I lost my parents to the fighting not long ago." He paused, fiddling with his chopsticks. "Actually," he confessed, his voice barely a whisper, "I stowed away on Master Yuna's ship when she was leaving Novembria. She found me hiding in the cargo hold when we arrived at Miraea."

Eodor, sensing Terris's discomfort, placed a hand on his shoulder in silent support. Master Yuna, her gaze filled with empathy, reached out and squeezed Terris's hand.

"You did what you had to do, Terris," she said gently. "And I'm glad you did. Miraea became your home, and you became one of ours."

Suddenly, Eodor cleared his throat, his voice breaking the somber mood. "Well, Terris may be a stowaway," he teased with a playful smirk, "but at least he's an entertaining one. It was pretty lonely here until he arrived."

Terris nudged him playfully. "Lonely? You mean you missed having someone to lose to in every training session?"

Eodor chuckled. "Maybe just a little, admit it Terris, you need me to push you to be your best!"

The conversation shifted back to lighthearted banter, the camaraderie between Eodor and Terris filling the space. Sylva, touched by their bond, looked from one to the other, a small smile gracing her lips. Perhaps, she thought, friendship could blossom even between those from warring worlds.

The clinking of dishes and chatter dwindled as the students around them finished their meals. Terris, his stomach pleasantly full, patted his belly with a satisfied sigh. "Whew! I'm stuffed!" he declared a little too loudly, garnering a few curious glances from nearby tables.

Eodor, the picture of an introvert mortified by the sudden attention, rubbed his forehead sheepishly. "Alright, alright, Terris," he said, his voice low. "Time for bed. We don't want you sluggish for Sylva's induction tomorrow, do we?"

Terris's eyes widened. "Oh, right, right!" he exclaimed, momentarily forgetting his discomfort. He turned to Sylva, a wide grin splitting his face. "Well, Sylva, Master Yuna," he bowed enthusiastically, "it was a pleasure getting to know you both better tonight. I'll see you all bright and early tomorrow!" With that, he took off in a flurry of motion, clearly eager to get to his room and sleep off his feast.

Eodor chuckled, shaking his head fondly. He offered Sylva a more reserved bow. "Welcome aboard once more, Sylva," he said kindly. "Tomorrow's a big day, but Terris and I will be here to show you the ropes."

Sylva returned the bow, a spark of excitement replacing her initial nervousness. "Thank you, Eodor," she replied. "I appreciate it."

Master Yuna, observing the exchange with a gentle smile, stepped forward. "Come, Sylva," she said, her voice warm and welcoming. "Let me show you to your room. It's close to Terris and Eodor's quarters, so you'll have no trouble finding them."

As Master Yuna led Sylva away, Eodor lingered for a moment. He watched them disappear around a corner, a sense of protectiveness stirring within him. He knew little about Vyskriegg beyond its reputation for war, but seeing Sylva's apprehension earlier, he couldn't help but empathize. Perhaps, he thought, tomorrow wouldn't just be about inducting a new student – it might be the start of an unexpected friendship, a bridge built not on shared history, but on the promise of a future where understanding could transcend conflict. With a determined nod, Eodor turned and followed Terris, leaving behind the bustling canteen and stepping into the cool, starlit night, his heart filled with a newfound sense of purpose.

The moonlight filtering through the window cast a silvery glow on the unpacked chaos that was Sylva's new room. Clothes lay scattered on the bed, a half-unpacked datapad glowed on the desk, and a pile of books teetered precariously on the nightstand. Sylva, however, was oblivious to the disarray. In her hands, she clutched a worn photograph, its edges frayed from countless times being held and tucked away.

The picture captured a scene of pure joy. A younger Sylva, barely taller than the waist of the woman with her arm slung around her, beamed brightly. Beside them stood a man, his face creased with laughter lines, holding aloft five rambunctious boys. Sylva's family.

A sob escaped her lips, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek as she whispered, "I miss you all…" Grief, a constant companion ever since her brothers had been taken, welled up within her. Each smiling face in the picture held the weight of a life cut short.

Five of her brothers, all conscripted into the Vyskriegg military, had become casualties in the seemingly endless civil war. None of them, she knew, had truly wanted to fight. War had been a cruel puppeteer, snatching away their dreams and leaving her family shattered.

Her parents, their hearts heavy with grief and a desperate need to protect their only remaining child, had made the agonizing decision to send her away. The Jade Temple, with its emphasis on peace and the flow of Qi, was their last hope for her survival.

Sylva clutched the picture tighter, her knuckles turning white. Tears streamed down her face now, unchecked and raw. But amidst the sorrow, a flicker of determination ignited. She had to survive, not just for herself, but for the memory of her family. Here, in this strange new world, she would learn the ways of the Jade Order. Perhaps, one day, she could use that knowledge to bridge the gap between Vyskriegg and the Commonwealth, to prevent others from suffering the same fate as her brothers.

With a newfound resolve, Sylva wiped away her tears. The path ahead would be challenging, but she wouldn't face it alone. Tomorrow, she will begin her training, surrounded by new friends and teachers. The picture remained clutched in her hand, a silent reminder of her past and the future she would fight to create. As exhaustion finally claimed her, Sylva drifted off to sleep, the moonlight casting a soft, hopeful glow on her tear-stained cheeks.