Veiled Trust

Year 8

*Emma and Isabelle arrive on the fifth floor where a group of people surround Princess Ariella.*

Emma: What’s happening?

Isabelle: Well normally this is what happens when someone's Spirit is being born. Don’t talk to them, please.

Emma: Babies can’t talk, auntie. Wait... Ariella’s getting her spirit?! *Runs up ahead next to Valorin and Queen Seraphina.

Isabelle: Well I guess you would be the one to know.

Emma: Did I miss it?

Valorin: Nope, not yet.

Seraphina: Shh.

*A bright light forms around Ariella. The light covers the group before calming down to reveal a small feline creature with wings and a dolphin-like tail resting in Ariella’s arm, She smiles and calls out their name.*

Ariella: Celestra!

*. After everyone congratulates her, they go back to work, leaving the girls and Valorin.*

Emma: *Petting Celestra* Do you have a spirit trainer yet?

Ariella: They show up by next week.

Emma: I wonder what the earliest can a Spirit be born?

Valorin well given the situation I’ll give you a day off to study if you can finish a double routine before lunch.

Both: Deal!

*The two run off to start their routine, finishing just before lunch. Afterwards, the two go to the library where Darain is eager to greet them like always.*

Ariella: Darian could you bring me beginner spirit books?

Emma: Hey Dar. Do you have a book to learn the earliest a spirit can be born?

*Darain hesitates then shakes his head no*

Emma: Okay, anything about how to be ready for one to be born?

*Daraian flies off bringing two books. *

Emma: All this says it ten but Both Sister and you were a little early.

Ariella: Maybe because it was close enough to ten?

Emma: Darain is there a book on a spirit being born years early?

*Darain stiffens up Like something is off. He then shakes his head no*

Emma Thinking: It must be the Spirit-touched and he’s not allowed to talk. Guess I’ll stop asking before I get in trouble.

Seraphina: There is a legend. *She walks into the library.*

Ariella: A legend?

Seraphina: Are you trying to speed up Lily’s birth Emma?

Emma: If I can. I want to take Lily around and show her the world.

Seraphina: *Smiles and chuckles* Well, unfortunately. If it was gonna happen early, it would’ve already happened.

Emma: Spirits are adorable. I want to pet them all.*Nervous*

Seraphina: you know, I’m surprised most people immediately ask about a legend when they hear one.

Emma: Ummm

Seraphina: Or they’ll at least acknowledge the person who said it. Unless... they know something.

Emma (TL): Get Isabelle here now!

*Lily jumps onto Isabelle’s desk in front of Faelar and Isabelle.*

Isabelle: Lily!

Faelar: who’s this?

Isabelle: Oh Shit!

*Isabelle, aware Lily wouldn’t expose herself in case of an emergency, picks her up and starts running towards the fifth floor. Emma continues to stutter as Seraphina questions her.*

Seraphina: Or at least say they didn’t hear it. Emma, What do you know? Why are you getting so nervous?

Emma: I WON’T LET ANYONE HURT LILY!

*A bright light flashes around Lily and Emma then Lily appears around Emma’s neck and Hisses at Seraphina. Emma glares with one hand on Lily, Her eyes flicker with purple for a moment.*

Isabelle: Shit we gotta hurry to get Goren. Send him to the training floor.

Faelar: Is it Emma?

Isabelle: GO!

Seraphina: That explains everything.

Ariella: Emma? Mom? What’s going on?

Seraphina: She’s a Veil Seer.

Ariella: Veil Seer?

Seraphina: *sits down* Don't the seers have a way of checking if someone's good or evil?

Ariella: Emma? What’s wrong?

*Emma looks at their SoulLights.*

*Emma nods and Lily calms down*

Seraphina: Amazing. We heard rumors of a double moon but so far we haven’t tracked down any of you.

Ariella: TRACKED DOWN WHAT?!

Seraphina: *laughs* Sorry Arie, Veil Seers are a type of elf written in a hidden Legend. The reason for that is because some view them as something dangerous. They have the power to deem someone unworthy of a spirit. The legend goes.

—-----------------------------------------------------

Seraphina:

In times of peace, the convergence is a harbinger of great disaster and change. The elves are given a century from the birth of The seers to prove their purity and resilience through a series of trials. These six tests, spanning 600 years, will determine their fate.

The Six Tests

The Test of Spirit: Elves must demonstrate their worthiness to earn the companionship of spirits. Only those who show a deep connection and understanding of the ethereal realm will pass.

The Test of Heart: Elves must prove their capacity for love for oneself and others, even in the direst circumstances. This test challenges their empathy and emotional strength.

The Test of Courage: Facing a formidable enemy, elves must display immense bravery and determination. This trial assesses their ability to overcome fear and adversity.

The Test of Purity: Through a trial of disease, only the truly worthy will survive. This harsh test ensures that only those with pure souls and strong constitutions remain.

The Test of Will: Elves must exhibit unwavering determination and perseverance. This trial measures their resilience and inner strength to continue despite overwhelming odds.

The Test of Unity: Elves must prove their ability to Come together as one along with their spirit companions. This final test requires complete harmony and unity between elf and spirit.

Only those who pass all six tests will be granted the opportunity for true peace, their souls tempered and proven pure. The Veil Seers, with their unerring judgment, ensure that the elven tradition continues, preserving the integrity and honor of their people for generations to come.

—--------------------------------------------

*Isabelle bursts into the Library*

Isabelle: EMMA!

Emma: It’s okay auntie.

*Isabelle sees Seraphina and puts her hand on her head*

Isabelle: So how screwed are we?

Seraphina: We’ll wait for Goren.

Isabelle: He should be here soon. I sent Shrieker since you weren’t on the fifth floor.

*Goren and Faelar appear.*

Seraphina: Faelar what you’re about to hear. If you say anything outside this room Darain will personally gouge out your eyes understood?

*Darain looks over at Faelar and smiles*

Faelar: Yes your majesty!

*Seraphina explains the legend to the group*

Goren: So it’s worse than we thought.

Isabelle: Not necessarily, it’s Emma she wouldn’t do something like that.

Goren: So there are six Seers?

Seraphina: Exactly there are supposed to be five more or so we believe. We have our eyes on some potential people but all of the seers seem to have an understanding to stay hidden. I was suspicious of Emma for a while, but since she was Ariella’s first friend and she wasn’t showing any signs of hostility I decided not to worry. After all, how can someone so kind and caring be so dangerous?

Isabelle: Well, we don’t know which test is being led by who.

Seraphina: Emma, I don’t think of you as something evil. I see you as a savior. I’m willing to help you with anything in my power.

Emma: I just want to be me.

Seraphina: Starting next week, Emma I’d like you and. Lily was it? To start training with Arie. I’ll keep your secret. We’ll falsify your age when they get here to get you training.

Goren: What about those who know her already? Like Keya, her sister. She has friends who’ve met Emma and know her age.

Seraphina: if that becomes an issue then we will have a talk with them. *Smiles*

Everyone: Terrifying.

Emma: So I don’t have to hide Lily?

Seraphina: Nope. Goren and Isabelle though I’d love to discuss more of this in person. Faelar, stand guard for these two.

Isabelle and Goren thinking: Uh oh.

*Faelar stands outside the door So that Emma and Ariella are the only two left.*

Ariella: So is Lily your spirit?

Emma: Yeah, she’s been helping me learn magic.

Ariella: Spirits can teach you magic? *Looks at Celestra*Give me your wisdom.

Emma: *Laughs* No she would look at the book, we would use sightshareing and I would read through her eyes while practicing.

*Emma hugs Lily*

Emma: I’m just glad I don’t have to hide her anymore.

Ariella: Sightshareing? My head is starting to hurt.

Emma: I can help teach you how to talk to Celestra later.

Ariella: Spirits can talk?! *stares back into Celestra’s eyes* Say something.

*Celestra mews*

Ariella: I guess you were just born. *Looks at Emma* So what special powers do you have?

Emma: nothing special. I can see someone's soul and how good they are and I can speak to any spirit.

Ariella: What color is my soul?

Emma: *Focuses* It's white but dull, probably because you misbehave.

Ariella: *Laughs* yeah that makes sense. What about mom?

Emma: She was mostly white. Meaning she was trustworthy.

Ariella: How do you know what the colors mean?

Emma: *Pauses* I don’t know, I see the shades, and the darker they get the more uncomfortable I feel.

Ariella: Darain, can we look at books about veil seers?

*Darain looks at Emma*

Darain: If you’re really a veil seer prove it and I’ll bring it.

Emma: Okay how?

Ariella: How what?

Emma: Darain said I had to prove I was one.

*Darain flies off*

Emma: Did I pass?

Ariella: Well you answered which means you can hear him I guess.*Laughs.*

*Darain drops off an old scroll.*

Emma: It’s the legend as your mom said it but the bottom seems ripped like it’s missing something. Is there any more Darain?

*Darain shakes his head no*

Emma(TL): just means we have to find it before the 100 years.

Ariella: I wonder if we can start going on adventures earlier now.

Emma: Wait! Darain, get me a water spell book.

Ariella: But you’re a green elf.

Emma: yes but everyone growing up wondered if I could learn other magic because I was born under green and purple.

Ariella: What! That’s so cool!

*Emma reads the spell to create water, studies it for a moment then fills a cup with water.*

Emma: I did it!

Ariella: So you can learn any spell?

Emma: we'll have to find out. Darain!

*Emma has Darain flying all over for magic books to study different beginner spells.*

—-----------

*six months later Snow covers half the town. The snow on top of the tree causes a shadow making the city look like dusk most of the day. Emma and Ariella are in the training area with their spirits. In front of the group is a Male elf with brown silver hair and purple eyes.*

Both girls: Good morning Mr. Therion.

Therion: Morning girls, today, Ariella, we’re going to work on Spirit Control. The first step is to control your breathing. Emma, Today your goal is to find Valorin. He’s hidden somewhere on this floor. You can’t be seen and it must be using Lily.

*Therion goes over to Ariella to give her step by step on learning Spirit control.*

Emma(TL): Okay Lily, ready?

Lily: Always.

*Emma and Lily enter Spirit Control. Lily walks into a room looking for Valorin.*

Emma(TL): No signs, okay. I’ll cast stealth on you. Be Careful not to make any noise.

Lily: Got it.

*Emma casts stealth on Lily and looks for Valorin. They enter a storage room*

Lily: He’s in here. Oops. *Lily bumps a broom* Where’d he go?

Emma(TL): He’s running in front of me.

*Valorin runs right up to Emma, jumps over her, and runs into one of the three doors behind her. Emma enters spirit control again and recasts Stealth on Lily.*

Lily: How long can you hold this?

Emma (TL): Not long it’s mentally draining, just doing this is making me sick maybe another minute.

Lily: So we can’t guess the wrong door.

Emma(TL): Exactly.

Lily: his footprints go to the left.

*Emma controls Lily to go center*

Emma(TL): they’re fake, he made them so we’d spot them knowing I’d see them send you right. Meaning!

*Valorin walks out, holding Lily, over to Emma*

Valorin: Good job, what's the time, Frost tips?

Therion:*angrly* It’s Therion! You overcooked crustacean!

*Valorin laughs*

Therion: fifteen minutes.

Valorin: Get over here princess!

Ariella: Coming!

Valorin: You both know what next week is.

Both: Graduation.

Valorin: Exactly. So for you to test Tomorrow all of us, Therion included. Will clear out a Monster nest. I managed to convince your parents. Surprisingly Emma’s Dad was the difficult one.

Both: Really!

Emma: Do we know the monster?

Valorin: Zyrmin’s

*A smooth scaleless, warm-blooded, komodo dragon looking monster.*

Ariella: So we need to bring antidote and Flashers.

Emma: We can pick those up tomorrow morning. Remember back leg braces.

Ariella: That’s right they’re called ankle biters for a reason. *Laughs*

Therion: Since Emma finished her challenge already why doesn’t she get the supplies while you work on your training here?

Valorin: I’ll make sure she gets all the necessities.

Both girls: Good idea.

*Emma and Ariella quickly make a list and Emma heads out with Valorin.*

—------------------------

*In town Emma is bundled up in her winter attire while Valorin is wearing a scarf The girls gave him. In the adventurers' guild, Emma and Valorin walk in and go to a room off to the side where adventurers can go to buy quest supplies.*

Valorin: You start to get your supplies, I’ll get the Quest work finalized.

Emma: Yes Instructor.

*Emma walks up to the counter, A Dwarf about Emma’s Height with a short black beard and long black hair waits on the other side.*

Emma: I need Zyrmin Supplies for 4 people.

Dwarf: Zyrmin’s if I didn’t see you talking to Valorin I’d be kicking your butt for thinking about them. They're one of the few warm-blooded creatures around here.

*The Dwarf heads to the back where he grabs a four with antidotes and some other potions.*

Dwarf: Name’s Gorim By the way. *He walks out from behind the counter and to a shelf.

Gorim: For braces, you can pick out what you need here. We offer a decent return if you decide afterward if they’re in okay enough condition.

Emma: I need one for one other person my size and myself.

Gorim: So it’s time to graduate?

Emma: How’d you...

Gorim: He talks about you girls all the time.

Emma: Valorin? No way he would.

Gorim: before you two showed up he was thinking of retiring. Even after taking the job, he talked about it. Then he talked about getting a second student. “She’s a fast learner but a troublemaker.”

Emma: That sounds like him now.

Gorim: *Laughs* Now he talks about holding out for a few more years.

Emma: So under all that, he’s a big softy.*laughs*

*Emma and Gorim walk over and finish getting the order together.*

Gorim: He was drinking here the other night crying because of how proud he was. It was great. Just don’t let him catch you saying that. *Laughs*

*Emma looks over at Valorin and smiles, pays for the supplies then heads toward Valorin who’s walking in.*

Valorin: Did you make sure it’s all there?

Emma: Nope because Gorim and I got to talking.

*She sets the bags on the counters and looks through them. Per bag; two antidotes, one magic, and two health potions. Two wraps and one flasher.*

Emma: Got it all.

Gorim: Do you know why he has you do that?

*Emma shakes her head*

Valorin: In my first dungeon quest we lost someone because The person stocking the bags miscounted. We didn’t have enough antidotes so now I make sure to check before any and every quest.

Emma: Understood.

Gorim: Well Valorin, she’s well trained.

Emma: Hey! I’m not a pet.

*Gorim and Valorin laugh*

—-----------------------------------

*outside a cave the group hides behind some trees.*

Valorin: Okay Ladies this is both your final test and graduation gift from me. Show me what you’ve got, We will follow a bit behind so whenever you’re ready.

Ariella: You take the front. I’ll cover you.

Emma: Sounds good.

Emma: Well let’s have some fun.

*Emma lifts both her hands and uses magic to amplify her voice. She screams, causing the ground to shake and after a moment red eyes can be seen.*

Ariella: Emma?!

Emma: Relax, I have an idea.

*Five Zyrmin run toward the group right as they reach the light of the cave Emma casts an Earth pillar on the ceiling of the cave making the ground crush two out of the three. A blade of ice flashes past Emma striking one, leaving two left. Emma draws her sword.*

Emma(TL): Now

*Lily, a little larger than the Zyrmin, jumps on the back of one of the last two and quickly snaps its neck, and Emma catches the other with her blade as she runs past it.*

Emma: That should buy us three minutes before the rest get here.

Ariella: The report said 11-16 so I hope you have the magic to keep going.

*Emma makes a guilty smile *

Ariella: Celestra Help her.

*Celestra flies over Emma and Emma takes a magic potion from her side pouch. After a few seconds, the rock wall starts to crack.*

Emma: Looks like time's up!

*Ten Zyrmin come crawling out of the hole in the pillar wall Emma created. Lily covers Emma's back as they surround the two unaware of Ariella and the others.*

Emma: How long until you can cast Ice Blast?

Ariella: Thirty seconds.

Emma: *nervous* Okay. Okay.

*The Zyrmin strike at Emma Swiping their poison-filled claws. Emma uses her to catch the claws and then quickly crushes them from above with a second blade. The Zyrmin backs off, and two more jump in to take its place. Emma throws The knife killing one then jumps up above the other landing her sword in its skull.*

Emma: I can go all day.

*Roar!!!!*

Valorin: Looks like Mom’s awake, still doin' good!

Ariella: Emma!

*Emma jumps on Lily’s back and jumps up into the tree branches. Ariella cast a blast of Ice, freezing the group of Zyrmin, turning their bodies brittle. A Zyrmin queen bursts forth. It's three times the size of the males and barely fits coming out of the cave. It seems like it chokes for a moment before spewing poison gas. Emma pulls up her mask from around her neck. Ariella pulls out her bow and shoots the Queen in the eye, It screams in pain before charging at her. Lily slams into it causing it to lose balance, Emma Jumps off Lily at the impact and grabs hold of the chest of the Zyrmin with two Daggers, Then Pulls them down gutting the Zyrmin Queen.*

Valorin: *Claps* I couldn’t have asked for a better display. You didn’t even have to enter the cave. 9/10 Now let's get you two cleaned up. *He looks at Emma covered in blood*

Emma: *Laughs* Thank you.

Ariella: would’ve been a 10/10 if someone didn’t waste her magic in the beginning.

*Emma squeezes some of the blood out of her hair*

Emma: You try casting fifteen earth pillars then.

Therion: fifteen?!

*Ariella creates water and soaks Emma, Emma then wipes the water from her face.*

Emma: *sarcastically* Thanks.

Ariella: Well, don’t do stupid.

Emma: We had the potions for it.

Valorin: Emma, You need to learn to be more patient. Your need to rush things is going to get you and your party killed. You pass today but next time you might not be so lucky.

Emma: Understood. I'll do better.

*After the group gets back to town they all head to the Café for cake to celebrate graduating.*

Emma: I just wish I could’ve learned archery.

Ariella: I can teach you.

Valorin: *Pats both their heads* I’m sorry. Spending time with you two showed me I’ve still got some adventures to finish myself. We’ll meet again. I’m sure of it.

Therion: I also know some archery, maybe not up to Valorin's quality, but enough to get you started.

Emma: And in a week Ariella and I can have a competition on who can hit the bullseye the most.

Ariella: I know you learn fast but a week, I don’t think so.

Valorin: My last assignment for you two is don’t die.

Emma: That's the first reasonable assignment you’ve given.

*Ariella catches herself as she starts to laugh. She covers her mouth and looks over at Valorin.*

Valorin:*Laughs* Okay girls let’s get you both home.*Smiles*

Therion: I guess Valorin learned something as well.

Emma: *Nods nods*

*Valorin hits them both upside the head.*

Valorin: Keep it up and I’ll make sure you fail that assignment.

*Reaching the Capitol, The group walks into the fifth floor.*

Everyone: Surprise!

*Goren, Keya, Isabelle, Seraphina, Faelar, and many others have gathered to wish Valorin farewell. Valorin says his goodbyes to the Capital before heading out the next morning looking up at the Capitol one more time. Therion had Emma start archery while Ariella continued her Spirit training.*