Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

(SCENARIO: Edge of the Forest of Noxi. Dense, cold air that smells of wet earth and ancient darkness. Then the dark interior of the forest.) · The air at the edge of the Forest of Noxi was dense and cold, smelling of damp earth and ancient darkness. Eli Cari and Yana mixed into the horde of competitors. The moment the signal sounded, chaos erupted. Screams of panic and pain echoed deep in the woods — it was already impossible to tell whether the wounds came from a beast or from a ruthless competitor taking advantage of the new rule. · Eli Cari has short dark-brown hair. Eli Cari has golden/amber eyes. Eli Cari wears a grey training suit with light armor details. · Yana has dark hair of medium length. Yana has green or light-brown eyes. Yana wears modest clothes. · Eli Cari and Yana stayed close, senses sharp. Their first encounter was not with a competitor, but with history. · From the shadows between the trees emerged a Schulon: a dead Noxian soldier whose body still moved with empty life, trapped between Erebus and the world. Its skeletal body, covered in mist, advanced toward them with threatening slowness. · “Schulon,” Eli Cari whispered. “Yana, remember the training.” · The Schulon moved forward. At the right moment, Yana raised her hands and shouted “Groien!” Strong roots and thorny green vines burst from the ground with surprising speed, wrapping around the Schulon’s body. · Eli Cari did not hesitate. His hand channeled the Sharp Light — the thin golden blade he had trained to be fast and focused. With a clean cut, he sliced the Schulon in half. The body collapsed, finally finding rest. · The smell of combat and Light attracted unwanted attention. Three competitors, led by a burly young man with a cruel smile, stepped out of the trees. They were human, but dressed like mercenaries, clearly looking for easy prey. · The leader looked at Eli Cari and Yana with contempt. “Well, well, well. A duo. A girl who waters plants and a guy with a glowing kitchen knife.” · Eli Cari clenched his teeth. The Mixed-blood and the Éteris were the perfect targets for Aethelos arrogance. · “You’d better leave for your own good,” Eli Cari warned, Sharp Light vibrating at his fingers, but keeping his composure. · The thug laughed. “Now this I want to see. Boys, let’s get them!” · The three advanced. “Yana! Just like we trained!” Eli Cari shouted. · “Yes, let’s go! Aaaah, Multi Groien!” · Yana extended both hands. It was not just roots — multiple thin, fast green vines shot out and bound the leader’s two followers, wrapping around their arms and legs. · Eli Cari activated the Sharp Light blade (thin and golden) and charged toward the two trapped opponents. · But the leader was smarter and more dangerous. He stopped and shouted a power word: “EMBEEER!” · The leader burst into flames. It was not uncontrolled fire, but a fire aura that instantly burned the vines holding him. Free, he charged straight at Yana, fire crackling around him. · “Starting with you, little rose girl!” · Eli Cari felt desperation. The plan had failed at the first obstacle. The Sharp Light could finish the two trapped opponents, but the leader was threatening Yana. Eli Cari hesitated. Should he turn back to help Yana, or finish the two quickly to eliminate the numerical threat? · He saw the fire approaching Yana. Running away was an option, but he could not break the promise. Indecision froze him for a second. · In that brief moment, a flashback came to his mind. The intense training of the last five days, when they had finished exhausted. · Yana saying: “Next time someone attacks me, I won’t need you or Lygar to help me.” · Eli Cari answering: “I believe in you and your abilities. You’re really strong.” · Eli Cari took a deep breath. He believed in her. He turned and focused on his mission. · With the speed he had trained to match the thief and Lygar, Eli Cari threw himself at the two trapped opponents, using the Sharp Light blade in a fast and brutal series of cuts. The opponents, already bound and unable to project their powers, fell. · When Eli Cari turned to help Yana, he stopped. · The fire leader was motionless, eyes half-closed. Yana was calm. She had used her most subtle power: from her hands she had released a fine silver pollen. The leader, inhaling the pollen as he advanced, now slept on the ground. · Yana, the Seed of Groien, smiled triumphantly.