Chronicles of the Exalted Sun Child Book 5-18.2: Aerule Garden

“After Founding 2999

90th Day of Water

Ms. Krystal Farrow Zorin

The Golden Willow,

Rumiga City, Rumiga

Dear Krystal,

It’s been several Seasons, nearly two years since we’ve last seen each other, or even talked. The last ti I saw you was still back in the Golden Willow and I was on my way to Fort Aegermonth. No doubt you’ve heard of my disappearance. Rest assured that I am quite safe, and completely unhard in body, though perhaps not so much in the mind.

What to tell you, Krys? So many things happened that I could barely keep it in my head. So many painful days in the wilderness that I half thought would rob of my sanity. So many days without bread, and worse, no cakes or sweets of any kind, except so wild honey that I luckily found once during my entire foray in the plane of Kogasi.

That’s where I wound up after falling through a Chaos spring and got swept up in a Storm. I arrived sore in Anima and body and it took nearly two Seasons before I found civilisation. Only to find that most of the people I t weren’t even completely human.

I’ve fought in wars, Krys, my hands are stained. I don’t know how I could sleep at night, but I do. It seems that as ti passes, it becos easier and easier to sleep. I don’t dream of it. I thought I would, but I don’t.

Forgive my rambling, I sotis need to think of what happened, to assure myself that I’m still , and not a bloodthirsty monster.

Well, enough about moping. My relatives found , actually, and we’re returning ho. Well, to Realmheart first, but Mum promised that she would allow to return to Rumiga after the end of the second term this year.

How are you and Mikel? Heron, Braden and Orrin? I’ve missed all of your company. Well, while writing this I’m on board the Silver Tiger, of my Mum’s clan. Well, my clan now apparently. She says that since I didn’t inherit the Davar Heritage, that makes part of the Mishala Clan and ultimately under their authority. Honestly, only Da could contest it since I’m pretty sure my Heritage isn’t the Mishala’s per se. I think it’s an offshoot of one that’s older than either lineage. But anyway, Mum says that she’ll use the Fateweaver Loom to trace Da’s Thread of Fate.

It’s not that simple though and I don’t really understand all the fine details or even the bigger particulars. Well, I hope to see you before the start of term on the Season of Fire!

I hope things aren’t too difficult there. Mum didn’t say what news in Rumiga so when you write back (please write back!) tell what happened. I only know that the war between the Empire and the Northern Barbarians isn’t over and that the Confederation has also made so aggressive moves.

In the anti, I hope this letter finds you and your family well and when Mum finds out where our fathers are, I hope we can bring them back ho.

Yours truly,

Yuriko Mishala Davar”

________

“Marron Mishala Davar

Fort Aegermonth

Rumiga

Dear Maru,

How’re you doing? Mum found and is taking to Realmheart. I heard she told you that I was fine and you’d assud that I had been captured by the barbarians. I understand why you’d think that but you know, those brutes were barely worth fighting. I know that now after fighting in a real war.

Yes, war. The planes I ended up with had been a piece of work just waiting for the right spark to light everything up. I wound up fighting on one side while waiting for a rchant ship that would allow to get back ho.

I didn’t want to participate in it. I just wanted to return to Rumiga but the people there told that it would cost upwards of twenty-five thousand Sovereigns in local currency to get to the nearest plane through a ship. No, I didn’t fight for coins. There were creatures there, like the Wyldlings but local to the plane, that have a special bone within them that also advances their Animus techniques. I planned to gather those until I earned enough.

Circumstances changed and I found myself at the site of a massacre. The other side killed off an entire village, including children. My blood ran hot and I found myself part of the war.

…

Ah! I t so of our cousins, on the Davar side! I mistook one of them for you, for a mont, but I knew imdiately afterwards that it couldn’t have been. For one thing, Aidan looks a bit more handso than you, and certainly easier to get along with! Hehehe. I think I’ll be able to return to Rumiga after the term ends. Hope to see you soon! Please write back, I miss you and the others horribly.

Love,

Yuriko Mishala Davar”

___________

“Rami Mishala Davar

21 West Avenue, Central District

Faron’s Crossing, Rumiga

Dear Rami,

I am alive and well, and I miss you. When I get back to Rumiga I’ll spend several weeks with you in the garden. In my travels, I’ve seen quite a number of trees, more than I’d like. I’ve even fought trees, hehe. Seriously though, there are people who, for so reason or another, take into their selves the Anima of trees and other plants. Mum told it’s more prevalent in the Belrath Xylarchy, or rather, only they and their allies use it. They’re also the only ones to possess the technique to do it successfully…

… I am to finish the supposed fourth term in Sharom Academy’s Imperial City campus, and hopefully will be able to return to Rumiga during the Season of Fire. Mum says she’s got a lot to teach first, but I don’t see why she doesn’t just teach the basics and let explore on my own afterwards….

I love and miss you deeply little bro, and I really would like to hug and squeeze you soon.

Your loving sis,

Yuriko Mishala Davar”

______

“Heron Synka Murryh

The Wild Oak

Rumiga City, Rumiga

Hey Heron, I’m alive and well, in case you’ve heard otherwise…

…I’ve been on quite the adventure and I must say I miss the days when we spar. I’ve fought seeking to take life, but I think I prefer fighting other n without needing that intention.

I hope to return to Rumiga by the ti the Season of Fire cos around and I hope you and the others are doing well…

Your friend,

Yuriko Mishala Davar”

________

“Braden and Orrin Cael Foster

The Wild Oak

Rumiga City, Rumiga

Hello! I hope this letter finds the both of you well. If you haven’t heard from my brothers or Krystal, I’ve been thrown out of the plane through a Chaos Spring and swept up in a Chaos Storm before ending up in a wild, uninhabited plane. I’ve only recently been found and rescued by my Mum and am currently on the way to Realmheart.

I hope to return to Rumiga before the Season of Air’s term starts, though I’ve a lot to catch up on…

…I’ve heard that the Federation has restarted hostilities? I hope your family’s business hasn’t been affected by it. Stay safe until we et again!

Your friend,

Yuriko Mishala Davar”

____________

Yuriko’s letters were completed over the next couple of weeks, which was how long it took for the Silver Tiger to arrive in Realmheart.

“But didn’t you say that it would have taken the Ebon Horizon seven to eight weeks?” she asked Layla the next ti they saw each other in the ss hall. Unlike the practically unpalatable food back in the Watchtower’s ss, the food here in the Chaos Ship was divine.

Today’s breakfast was a stack of pancakes served with a creamy dab of butter and honey, served with a rasher of bacon, and a mug of tea. She found Layla eating by a corner table and sat with her.

“Well, this Chaos ship is distinctly more advanced,” Layla shrugged, “and we’re not going through other planes.”

“It’s not. But…isn’t that a longer distance, what with the ship having to go around the planes?”

Layla smirked. “That would have been right if we’re inside a plane, where the rules of reality are stable. The theory and application isn’t really sothing easy to explain, but suffice to say, the Tiger creates a passageway through the Chaos Sea. But doing so takes much more energy than what the Ebon Horizon’s Runescript Engine is capable of. Chaos, this engine’s so powerful that it could power a hundred Horizons.”

“Oh.”

“Yes,” Layla grunted. “I wish they’d let see it, but it’s only for Mishala personnel.” Layla ate in quick, efficient bites, and when she was done, Yuriko was only on her third plate. Her aunt eyed her for a mont, then pursed her lips. “Aren’t you worried all of that will go straight to your hips?”

Yuriko couldn’t help but follow her gaze. Her hips had beco a bit wider and it was accompanied by so soreness. “Is it? It seems wider…”

“Not that.” Layla sighed, then poked Yuriko’s side. “Urgh, teenagers.” She stomped away while muttering under her breath.

Yuriko gazed at her back with so confusion, then shrugged and finished her al. She had a full day ahead, though she wasn’t really looking forward to it.

As she had expected, Mum and Kiyo gave her a pile of books to read. She complained, of course. Reading that much would leave her with a headache and nausea.

“Ah, yes,” Mum murmured. “You really don’t like to read, don’t you?”

“I get dizzy after a few minutes,” Yuriko admitted.

“Since when did this start?” Mum asked curiously.

“Uhm, all my life?”

“You’ve never ntioned it before.”

“I…it hardly mattered.” Yuriko grumbled. She hadn’t expected to have to read so many books in the academy, honestly.

“Well, do what you can then,” Mum said. “Take frequent breaks and don’t push on when you start feeling uncomfortable. The Tiger doesn't have the right instrunts to find out what can be done about it, so we’ll leave that for when we get to Aerule Garden. Ah, perhaps Body Sculpting could help with it.”

Yuriko just shrugged. Even if she managed to avoid headaches, she still had no love for books. She’d rather train her body or ditate instead. Still, she had to finish her coursework if she wanted to enter the Legion Vagaris.

Though… Now that she’s had an adventure out in the wider Chaos Sea, she wondered if she needed to be in Vagaris to do so. After all, Aidan, Riley, and Aunt Layla visited different planes on a regular basis while being part of a rchant ship.

“Why would you want to go to Vagaris?” Mum asked when Yuriko brought it up later that day. “There are far better careers in the Capital than going off to a legion.”

“But didn’t you et Da in Vagaris?”

“Haah, yes, I did.” Mum shifted her eyes and wouldn’t look at her.

“Did you…regret it?” Yuriko asked with a catch in her voice.

“No, of course not,” Mum hastened to say, catching her in a tight embrace. “I don’t regret eting your father there, or having you and the boys.” Mum smiled, “It's just that I left ho because I didn’t like what my own mother wanted to do.”

Yuriko t Sadeen’s eye with a sly look. “Aren’t you doing the sa?”

For a mont, she thought Mum would explode in anger. Her face certainly reddened to match a sunset, but after she took a calming breath, she said, “That’s different.”

Yuriko sniffed. “No it isn’t. I want to join Vagaris and follow in Da’s footsteps.”

“What, are you looking to find a lover there?” Sadeen asked humorously, “From what Kiyo said, you’ve had no lack of suitors. Why, you even brought a boy back with you.”

“Eh, no, not at all.” Yuriko muttered while feeling so heat suffuse her face.

“Ohohohoho! Looks like there’s sothing going on?”

“No, Mum. I’ve no feelings like that.” Yuriko insisted.

“Hmmm, well, it often cos late to our family. Not until you can properly control your Mien, anyway.”

“...what do you an, Mum?”

She shrugged. “Sothing about our Mien, when it’s not controlled properly, inhibits forming strong connections with others. Most of us, those with the Mien, don’t fall in love until much later.”

“You think that ability stops …”

“From forming infatuations, crushes, and love. Though, honestly, you’re too young for the last one.” Sadeen smiled. “It’s only conjecture, but most Mishalas throughout history either married late or only ford consortships throughout their lives.”

Yuriko shook her head. “I don’t really want to talk about this.”

“Alright, my baby,” Sadeen smiled. “But I’d really like to have grandkids,” she continued under her breath, but was nonetheless, completely audible to Yuriko.

“I’ve two older brothers,” Yuriko said dryly.

“That’s not the sa at all,” Sadeen sighed, “and either the Progenitor or the Prima might protest if you enlist, so unless you want to do what I did, you’d best prepare yourself first.”

Yuriko felt herself stiffen, and worse, she could feel Damien’s fury rousing.

I will not let myself be bound.

His sentint reverberated across the entirety of Yuriko’s Anima and it flared in response. Sadeen watched her curiously as the golden flas erupted from her skin, rolling with agitation.

“Curious,” she murmured while her eyes glowed green with Animus. With so effort, Yuriko controlled her Anima and put it back under her skin. Sadeen let her eyes return to normal. “Well, you’ve a lot to cover so I’ll leave you be.”

With that, Mum left the room. Yuriko didn’t know where she spent most of the day, but at night, Sadeen refused to sleep in a different bed.

She spent all night hugging Yuriko as if she was a body pillow and while she hadn’t been uncomfortable at the start, she didn’t have much say in the matter.

Her days were spent reading, practicing her swordsmanship in the training room, and ditating. She followed Damien’s instructions and flooded her Anima with as much distilled Chaos as she could. Fri’Avgi held quite a bit of it and by the ti two weeks passed, her Anima had expanded to thirty seven inches. Just three away from the threshold.

At the dawn of the fifteenth day, the Silver Tiger entered into the Frostwind Gate, the Chaos Channel at the northern edge of Realmheart.