The Unfortunates from Starlight Boulevard

[Ellie who has 0%]

Beware it's long. Originally I know I can't put it all in one post, and for 'easier' read I split them into three. I'm not in a rush since this was funsies.

Leila Brumfield - The Light Seeker

NameLeila Brumfield
Age16
SexFemale
SpeciesHume

Combative Skills
Leila is efficient in specifically using rods.

Lucifer Light Bearer

The rod is a long dual-handled weapon with round balled blunt ends. With a press of a tactfully blended in button, the top third of the rod can detach itself with wiring marveling a fishing pole making the weapon long-range.
With precise swings, it can be used like a mace for smashing. This weapon is quite favorable amongst black mages, but it’s more show-cased in theatrics and performers to have their element move gracefully with them. Leila’s rod was bestowed to her by an old Emulander, who advised her to take up dancing.

For a year, she was a part of the Dancing Mystics, the dancing team in her academy; shortly after the arrival of the Unfortunate, any extracurricular of the arts were cancelled to focus more on combative skills.

Magick Skills
In Leila’s world, magick is frequently used. In her early years, it was traditional to specialize in only one element; no one can truly overpower another unless one was more efficient and highly trained in their element.

After being denied on her Luz Rite, Leila picked up the closest element, Fire. In secret, she studied water magic in the swamps by Elmira the Emulander. She’s more highly familiarized with Pyro compared to Aqua.

Pyro class C-Fira
At her academy, the potency of their mystics is graded in a system.
Leila is ranked at Class C: the magic is visible and flexible, but it isn't controlled to not harm the caster.

She can manipulate it in different techniques, but their power level is the same throughout. While the mystics is rooted to mental health, being emotionally unstable can make the flames too passionate and untamed. Many students had received more self-inflicted burns by merely being frustrated with a spell. Also a spell can easily fizz out and short-circuit by lack of balance in stance and fluidity. A disturbance can cut a technique short or jolt at the caster before fading out.

Homing FiraA hexed ball of fire that tracks down the target; its tracked by the caster itself. Throwing them off can be enough to disturb the track.

AuraeA fouette en tournant technique learned under the Dancing Mystics to simultaneously cast a fire spell, while spinning.

Aqua classwater
The water element wasn't taught in school, because at the time the world focused on building specialists rather than general mystics. Versus a class setting, she learned in the swamps where she had a large supply of water for fuel.

Utilizing the water element is exerting and straining like earth. One can physically feel the weight they are manipulating. Using too much for so long can hinder their endurance. That's why old fashioned Aqua practioners study in body of water to work up the muscles.

Geysersa spell to eject a trail of water from the ground. Outside of water, she can conduct this 3 times consecutively. In water, her maximum doubles.

Watera visible spell to hold a water in a bubble form. She was able to split them into three separate spheres for attacking. In water, her maximum doubles.

Splasha spell to shoot a funnel of water at an enemy. Outside of water the funnel is short lived after a post, but in a body of water it can be continuous due to the supply for 3 posts. Disturbing her flow can easily shortened the attack.

Waterflowfinding the right flow, she can conjure and manipulate a stream of water. It's generally use as an extension of herself that she can bend to attack, deflect, and block. The manipulation of the flow lasts for 3 posts.

Exerting past her bare norms twice would cause exertion that requires a 6 post recovering before doing anything vigorous again. Fighting past for a third try would leave her weak, feeble, and unfit for fighting. She wouldn't be able to do anything physically taxing including using Lucifer.

Lucifer Techniques
Comet Strike- Jumping up, she can send a forceful flaming slam.

RegulusAn enchantment that leaves the mace end aflame for 4 posts.

LeoIgniting the Lucifer's balled end, Leila will spin around whipping it around like a mace hitting close-by enemies before slamming it on the floor, ejecting a wave of flames around her

LeonidsCasting a fira spell in the air, Leila jumps up to shatter it in an array of fireballs.

Meteor SpringTwirling her rod around, she can slam her mace to eject geyser of water.

Salve Making
The arts of potion brewing and salve making were taught by her mother, a local healer. Her mother made it mandatory for her daughter to pick up her craft ever since she started her Pyro academics. Alongside Ceranu (thunder), Pyro was one of the most back-lashing elements that can injure the conjurer.

Potions A brew that can heal minor wounds. (6x)

EtherA brew that can stimulate one’s mana. (4x)

Chi TonicA brew that causes a momentary buff for the recipient's 3 posts. (3x)

Her inventory restocks in new threads, so she stuck with her fixed amount per thread unless the threads are continuous.

Appearance

Growing up Leila was considered to be one of those exotic girls for her brown skin and long black hair that ends in loose wavy locks. Throughout the years, it used to drape down her back, but now she hacked it to rest at her shoulders. She has thick black brows, which her mother wished she would arch. Her nose is long and pointed. Her lineage appeals to root towards the tales of the first diviners, a down-to-earth and nomadic people who lived in the woods and spoke to stars and the earth when their world was a part of the Old Country.

Fortunately for her the culture of Diviners was watered down to silly magicians; it would’ve been an embarrassment now to be raised a Diviner. Even if her godmother figure was a Diviner, it wasn’t a livelihood she wanted thrusts upon her. Her mother on the other hand marveled the old ways by being a Healer, an overall common work for her family. Victoria would’ve been proud if her daughter was a Healer. It would make her slow down and probably stir a maternal and womanly side.

But no she had a little spitfire for a daughter. She may not have been a girl who wanted to be a flaunty as a Peahawk or be a lithe pretty dancer who won the hearts of many boys, but Victoria loved her little warrioress who dreamed to be like Lady Reiha. It came with the price of not having the little girl to primp.

Leila doesn’t think twice about her appearance. Personally she doesn’t find herself appealing, but typical. She was a tomboy all her life, and since beauty enhancements weren’t a priority, she never deemed herself pretty. The hard-edge girl her daughter was pursuing to be seemed to seal Victoria’s fate of being a grandmother someday. The main male she hung out with was a FALION! The only glimmer of a woman she saw was during Leila’s dance performances.

Leila is only 5 feet 6 with a small bust. Most of her weight is below her waist giving her an pair shape with hips and thighs. It always made her feel pudgy and squishy. When she ever complained about it, Tuli always teased it was perfect for motherhood and be a soft wife to hug. Her insecurity only became problematic in her dance costumes; most girls were stereotypically sleek, while she felt more grounded and weighted. She can move gracefully, but she never felt graceful for being what she called “a bulky creature”.

Clothing wise she wears the trendy clothes for people her age and current weather. For a world casted in night, it can be pretty warm when the clouds keep the heat in. Regardless the attire is generally a shoulder-less body suit. Some can have very short or non-existent sleeves. But one can always add a sleeve with their stylish shawls that are pinned in-front of the body with built in sleeves.

Personality

Leila is generally an up-beat goal-orientated individual; no one could tell her otherwise or deviate her mind when its already made. This can coincide with stubbornness and being narrow-minded to the goal at hand, since she tends to be blind to other options. Failure isn’t an option, and she’s known to crack and seclude herself when she does; it’s a heavy blunder to her ego, and depending on the task would dictate how long it would take her to crawl out of her hole.

That aside she’s an overall warm person with a friendly disposition. Her world was an endpoint for the Unfortunate, so she wasn’t a stranger to hearing misfortunes. This blossomed a heart of compassion and an eye for wonder. Curiosity was a norm when being babysat and watched over by an old mystic diviner. In her youth, they were just stories, fairytales, but the realism of other worlds was fantastical and scary.

She’d always wanted an adventure like the legendary Light Bearers, but knowing some with tragedy, losing a world to darkness, Leila began to have second thoughts. During the panic year, Leila's roaming heart focused on becoming a protector and stronger. It did felt like a long shot since she was a mere child, but the old fables said that the worlds now were built by the innocent, the heart of children, the light bearers. Regardless her world demanded everyone to be as multi-skilled and talented. Leila saw herself as a jack of all trades because she secretly had dual magical studies, while learning the passive art of healing. She’s quite diligent when it comes to learning something new, especially when her heart is in it.

Like the norm, Leila can bite off more than she can chew. Her heart may be in the right place, but her will could ignore the limitations of her own body. Over achieving can be just more poisonous than darkness at the probability of recovering from over-exertion. To put more odds against her, Leila can be bull-headed to tackle these implausible fleets solo just to prove something to herself. She knows she can ask help from others especially Gaudery, but at times when it boiled down to matters of her own strength, she would push others away.

For enough years of her life, Leila main incline was to prove she is worthy; unfortunately the road to light isn’t an easy ambition with the wrong mindset.

[Ellie who has 0%]

Gaudery - The Light Bearer

NameGaudery Falco
Age16
SexMale
SpeciesA Falion also known as a Griffon.

Like all Animals native to Starlight Boulevard unless one’s family came from a distant star, Gaudery is no exception to the chimera-like qualities of the Animals. As a Falion, he has the head of a bird; his torso is bulkier reflecting a big cat, but speckled with dark brown fur and feathers with a sandier underbelly. His forelegs lack the retractable clawed paws like his hind legs; instead he has the grabbing talons like hunting avian. He still carries some his youth spotting; some can glow a soft light. The spots won't fade until he's full grown.

Currently he’s 5 feet long including the length of his cat-like tail with a luminous white tuff of fur. His wingspan is 8 feet across.

Skills
With his wings, he’s capable of flight and can carry someone of Leila’s stature comfortably. Even though hunting for food isn’t a necessity for Falions in Starlight Boulevard, his mother, well immersed in traditions.

Although Animals are more sociable advanced than animals, many still give homage to their ancestors by living close to their natural wild lifestyle.His mother, Gwyndolynne, raised all of her cubs in tree tops after they took their first flight from first nesting in caverns.

From fledglings to cubs, they were taught to hunt from the skies, which was resourceful in hunting fish. Not only where their talons prove useful for fishing, but for typical grabbing and slashing prey during on-ground ambushes. For typical falions comfort, they're generally in flight when hunting and highly depend on their talons. Due to their muscle and girth, they can carry heavy loads and fight efficiently when grounded. They lack the wide jaws and canines to strangle prey's throat like typical big cats.

Magical Skills
As a Light Bearer, he can easily utilize the element of light. He’s been disciplining himself for 3 years in the arts; it would’ve been 5 if the world remained ignorant of the existence of others and upcoming darkness. The remaining 2 years been spent trying to be more versatile. Some Light supremacist, a majority of older Light Bearers, found this unnecessary.

When the Unfortunate came the world went to a close panic attack. Every student and even adults were now encouraged to take dual magic studies. Light wasn’t a required course, since only Light Bearers can take it. At times the panic became stressful for Light Bearers; they were burdened with responsibility for instilling hope. The weight was too heavy, and even some lost hold of their light completely.

During the year of the Advent, the arrival of the Unfortunate, Gaudery attempted to learn fire magic from Leila. That way he could stay close to her and won’t be overwhelmed in the academy with magical studies; he was able to take it at his own pace, since it wasn’t his forte by any means.

Techniques
BlindA technique learned in his basic studies as their first offensive spell. It’s quite primal and hardly sophisticated with its uncontrolled range. If anyone is near the target be friend or foe, the effect is unavoidable. Despite him being able to utilize light, he isn’t immune to it either.
Blind lasts for a post before vision is slowly returned.

GlowA technique to utilize his bioluminescence to see in the dark; he found this particular skill unnecessary, since he have an adequate night vision.

LightEjecting or controlling a single ball of light. He had passed his basic course, so he can display full control and kinesis of a single orb.

CuraA spell that heals medium sized flesh wounds; it hardly does anything for severe injury except erase the pain for only a moment.

BlindnaA light spell that can eradicate blindness.

ShellraA spell that encase up to three people in a protective light dome. It can withstand magical attacks of its level three times before breaking down in a ray of light. To use this spell, Gaudery has to be stationary to keep it up for at least 3 posts.

HolyThe only advance technique, in Gaudery’s opinion, learned. He hasn’t been as studious to adapt the technique outside of meditation, which requires at least a post to collect his inner light before dispelling it in a white radiation. In a way it’s a controlled version of blind, but goes further and actually causes damage.

Fire Class F
Class F is a classification of visible magic, but it's too unstable for usage.

He wouldn’t go far to call it a legit fire spell, since it’s only a little bloody fleeting bundle of flames. It can cause a singe or a burn, but nothing extravagant. Unfortunately it was a harder pill to digest because higher classes of black magick would now serve to physically harm rather than services and performing arts.

Divination
During the Panic year, the arrival of the Unfortunate, Gaudery had commenced looking into other arts to be diverse. Light Bearers were not required to take dual studies. It wasn't until Light Bearers started to lose their light were they all forbidden to take dual-studies. In secret, he tried to learn pyro magic through Leila, which wasn’t as successful as he’d hoped. It was Grandma Tuli, an old porcucrane, who advised him to learn a passive art that would be less straining on him, divination.

Divination at this time didn’t had many practitioners, because it was believed to be folly after years of ‘false’ claims; during the panic year everyone flocked to the arts, but the sages of divination were particular in future pupils after years of mockery.

From Tuli, he had learned to open his third eye and star gaze; by being a light bearer he was already ‘open’ to dive into the subconscious and link from one being to another by light. Reaching out to the stars wouldn’t be as hard of a task. From the stars he can feel soft whispers of emotions be it light-hearted or peril; unfortunately with this new connection, he can subconsciously feel a world fall; he just may not know it until star gazing again.

Personality

Gaudery is a lovable Falion as well as a great representation of the new generation of Light Bearers. He’s a just individual, who now strives for the protection, safety, and fairness of others. This wasn’t a high priority in the utopia like world he’s from until the Unfortunate arrived. From observing and hearing the suffering they shared, he became for the well-being of everything.

Overall he’s a friendly laid-back Animal; like any Animal, he does take offense of being called an animal. There’s a clear difference with the pronunciation; since scholars would deem that animals lack a soul hence they’re lack of consciousness. He wouldn’t get aggressive over such racial slur, but he does have preferences of being referred to as an Animal, a Falion, or just Gaudery.

He admires a good challenge to exercise himself and is pretty athletic with flight. Taking his Light studies seriously, he’s a borderline pacifist and doesn’t admire confrontations; even in school, he never had gotten into a fight. He only sees the necessity if it’s to protect another or standing for a right or just cause.

Being a Light Bearer he can connect to others on a primitive spiritual level of one’s heart and light; in that regards he can be rather empathetic and sympathetic to another if he can feel an inner turmoil or struggle. Being a Light Bearer had brought forth the responsibility of being a care-taker and guardian to guide others on a light path; he won’t impose or force it on another, because he knows that everyone have their own paths to take that they specifically need.

He’s generally protective of his friends, especially Leila, his best friend. They had always been partners in crime and if there’s one person he would put his claw down for is her. He knows she can be stubborn; they had fights before, and he was only persistent if he feels the need to protect her from herself. Only a few occasions had he ever given in.

[Ellie who has 0%]

Original WorldStarlight Boulevard

ACT 1

This is a world resting in the folds between the Realm of Light and Darkness. While Traverse Town is basked in Night and Twilight Town at Sunset, Starlight Boulevard is trapped in dusk. The sun is very low on the horizon line giving a little streak of orange, while the rest is a deep blue and purple. Downtown of the world is up north where there’s more natural light; further south into the suburbia and the Twinkle Woods, the sun is less visible. The lower region is dotted with streetlamps to pave the way.

The difference between Starlight Boulevard and neighboring worlds are the mix population of Humes, Animals, and magic.

Long ago, people lived in peace bathed in the warmth of light, but darkness later came from selfishness and greed causing the world to crumble and disappear. Our world has drifted so far from the mainland; instead of floating to the abyss, it grounded in the endless twilight. In the night, our world was lost, but in the heart of Children and Animals, light carried on making the very first light bearers. From their purity, darkness was washed away bringing a new era of peace and prosperity despite the destructive path our world was born from. By my decree all who bear the shine of the Light Bearer would be blessed with light to shine through the darkest darkness
- The Book of Simourgh

Both Humes and Animals presumed the world’s genesis to be real or at least a good tale of morals to live by and glorify. At the coming of age, one can go to the Temple of Simourgh. The Simourgh is a legendary pearly white bird, who legends said was one of the original Light Bearers to protect this world.

“Do you remember the tale of Simourgh?” An old voice from a crone porcucrane whispered mysteriously in a meek humble house. She was an old thing, a diviner and a mystic who was knees deep in superstition. Her neck was long and wrinkly causing her short black feathers to sag in odd ways. Her cheeks dragged the colorful red-orange and yellow blotch that reached up to the corner of her aged eyes. Her tuft of fuzzy yellow crown limped forward versus the straight tall crown of younger porcucrane. She wiggled in the wooden rocking chair near the fire place; her wings draped over the arms like an old shawl, while her sharp quills on her back stuck out from the chair’s back. One of her wing was then held out on a small table stand by gentle warm hands.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to start with that old story again, Gran Gran,” Victoria was her name, Leila’s mother and in the quiet small town, she was a local healer exhaling in potions and salves like many men and women in her trade. One of her frequent costumer is Grandma Tuli, an old friend of the family who joints kept on getting the worst of her; today it was her wing.

“Ooo oo tell the story Grandma Tuli,” a young little hume jumped and bounced about with a little falion cub bounding after her with constant chants for a story.

“See they like my stories, and EVERYONE enjoys the story of the Great Simourgh-“the bird started.

“And Lady Reiha!” The little ones howled, while only made Victoria groan even more.

“Rile them up this much and they’ll never tire for bed. Okay you two it’s just this ONE story, One! And when Grandma Tuli is done, you missy are going to bed and Gaudery must return to his nest.”

“Mama,” the little girl whined, “can he just spend the night…please?”

The pair pouted before embracing each other in a hug, and Gaudery gave a meek kaw.

“No, he’d already spent a night and I’m sure his MOTHER would like to see him once in a while. Now you two listen to Gran Gran, while I get her brew ready.” Victoria left them be, while grumbling in how she wished she wasn’t out of potions; if she did the old bird could be sent on her way rather than stimulating the jitterbugs.

“Now now you two settle down, settle down. And I’ll tell you about the old country.”

“The Old Country,” the falion peeped; his head innocently cocked to the side as he snuggled up to Leila who sat obediently.

“Yes, the Old Country. You see this world wasn’t always here. This here was once a part of the Mainland, or what we call The Old Country. Now you see looooong ago,” and that all it took for the pair to listen intently.
Legend has it that many moons ago there was the Mainland, a super continent, a world many times bigger than little old Starlight Boulevard. It was as peaceful as any world can be; it was the Paz, ever-peace in light. Light was a glorified peace of life, and everyone was a part of it. With light one had many powers and strength.

“Why I bet you can move a mountain-"

“Gran graan,” a chastised voice echoed from the kitchen; Victoria wasn’t going to have her daughter learn fallacies no matter how much she loved the Porcucrane. It was bad enough she was a diviner; the arts were deemed a load of hocus pocus and foolishness amongst the daft.

The crone chuckled before continuing. Now in the legend, everyone loved the light, but people became to fight over the bright flame and wanted it for themselves. And with that one selfish thought and greed, darkness entered the world. It was a poisonous thing, darkness; it took over all in its path, and those who fought against it can still bear a scar from the inner war. This began the Dark Ages, and a war broke out. There was so much sadness, hate, and greed that the world rotted with sorrow; there was no more joy and the Light flew away.

“When she flew away, she cried many tears, and these tears were the very power that would empower our heroes!” The old coot was getting more passionate, while she fed off the children’s undivided attention.

All that remained were her tears found in the pure hearts of young children and Animals. Together they opposed the darkness, yet they were too late. Some of the regions were heavily under attacked, and one of them was the home of Lady Reiha and the Great Simourgh.

“Yeah and Lady Reiha and Simourgh RUSHED back home to defend their families, but but when they got there this BIIIIIIG Darkness," Leila took over as she stood up hunching her back with her arms wide with curled fingers like a monster, “ came and ATTACKED THEM like RAAAAAAWR!”

Her growl stirred Gaudery’s feathers as he bounded on fours, while she mocked chase him.

“And theeeen their country broke of and was swallowed by the daaarkneeess,” Leila hissed out slowly, while slowly approaching the Falion cub with foreboding fingers.

“Now I thought I was the one who was telling this story, “ the crone interrupted highly humored, but chuckled nervously hearing Victoria’s snort.

“Aye, she’s taking after you now with the dramatics.”

“Now now settle down dears. Let me finish,” shaking her feathers, the crone started again.

It was true Black Monster was the straw on the camel’s back dislodging the country away; many Animals and Humes tried to fight the black demons off, but no light was brighter than Reiha and Simourgh. Legend has it that Reiha had a weapon.

“It was…a …a a KEY!” The bird chimed and didn’t lose her thunder when the children looked at her skeptically.

“Gran gran…a key…like for a door?” Even Leila wasn’t buying it at this point.

“Yes,” she dragged out with a shaky voice," she had the key to destroy the Black Monster, but when she charged in, she lost herself in the darkness. Almost went mad she did, but before she was completely lost, Simourgh found her, and together with their light they-"

“Wait a minute,” Victoria interrupted, while folding her arms over her chest with a curious tone, “I thought the story went that the key to her strength was her friendship with Simourgh NOT a literal KEY. With their friendship, they overtook the darkness, because any strong bonds between hearts have the power to overcome any wonders.”

“Bah! Same story different version,” the bird waved her off, “hmm and here I thought you didn’t pay attention to my stories.”

The mother giggle snorted after approaching the trio at the fireplace with a vial, “You’ve been telling me the same story when I was young, but I swear things were always changing: their friendship was the key, she had a key, she fell into darkness and never was the same, Simourgh cleansed her of darkness with his light and she was saved, etcetera etcetera.”

“You make it sound like as if I make it up every time,” the old eyes widened in mock surprised at the accusation, while Victoria wiggled the potion to her. Taking a gulp, the bird shuddered, but within seconds the swore tenderness of her wing was gone, “aah thank-you my sweet lark. That hit the spot just right.”

“Mmmhm, and I made sure to have more for you just in case you feel achy in the morning,” Victoria then handed over a pouch full of vials before turning her attention to the muttering children, “alright you two, bed now.”

“But do say goodbye to your good ole Gran Gran,” the bird spoke before rising out her seat and receiving hugs, “Now remember to keep those close to you in your hearts and may the light be with you.”

The Legend of Simourgh and Reiha became the heart of the world alongside the legend of the Light Bearers, the first defenders of this world. Culturally when one comes of age, they can go to the Temple of Simourgh and see if they will be blessed with the awakening of light. The process is a highly praised phenomenon of having a magical surge to awaken and bridge a swift access to one’s inner light. Everyone doesn’t have to participate, and not everyone is chosen; there was always the statement of “it’s not your time” or “you’re not ready”. Regardless there were other arts to learn and master potion brewing and salves, divinations (reading from the stars), and other elemental magicks also known as black magick.

Although their world felt so far from others, there was a general belief that there was life elsewhere. For who were they to be so obnoxious and be the only life in the entire universe; also if anyone truly believed in the fairytale, they presumed that more little worlds were crafted from the destruction of the mainland.

Some diviners would even say that the stars that out shined the others were indeed planets like their own, but in this magical dependent world with low technological advances, it was never proven. Still those diviners do predict from those stars and for a decade or so, they always bore troubling news; after a while without physical evidence instead of fading stars, the art of divination was looked at with mockery. Individuals like Grandma Tuli weren’t any exceptions; although they weren’t blacklisted, people don’t take them seriously. Since their arts only attract other superstitious, they had to subject to other works like midwifery or nursery if they were female.

Despite some being eccentric, it’s a sad notion that no one believed their claims; who would ever thought that the night Tuli was entertaining Leila and Gaudery several stars dimmed out, and a world that rained light was blackened and became hallow.

At the age of 11, Leila was finally of age alongside Gaudery. She has grown taller and more confident than ever. For years she has been waiting for this moment as well as all the other kids in her grade. On the Moon of the New Years, everyone of 11 can visit the Temple of Simourgh to see if they’ll be chosen, and if not they can finally be able to choose their craft. 11 seemed like the right age for the young can participate in magic; they wouldn’t be as reckless as they would when they were younger; by now they would know how to respect it, and 11 is the symbol of the twins or a duality pair like the relations of Lady Reiha and Simourgh.

New Years was called the Light festival. Everyone does a thorough cleaning of their houses and dress it in white lights and decorations. Neighbor’s doors are open to one another and share in the festivities like a large pot luck. It was one of the merriest and largest holiday, since they spend a week building up to a single day. Traditionally all participants wear white and all can come Downtown to be a part of the jubilee. White is everywhere: lanterns, sparklers and

pinwheels, and candles. The entire heart of the city seemed to glow. Here and there were vendors, and people can bring their products for common trade without need of currency. It was the time of giving, sharing, and keeping the light burning. If you spot someone with an unlit candle, while you carried your burning one, you go up to him or her and say, “may the light be with you.”

A flame is given to another, and the two lights are brighter than before.

One of the highlights of the day is the Luz Parade. It’s a parade where the best entertainers are invited; Terraphite dancers would twirl with their elements in a synchronized dances; the Flame Hounds acrobats performing a battle with flames; people in costumes pranced about throwing candy and confetti everywhere. The majestic parade was endless, and the best part was seeing the over-sized paper puppets lanterns. At the tail end of the parade were the children; they could all possibly be the next generation of Light Bearers. Once the parade met at the stairs of the Temple, they parted into two lanes to let the children though for their test.

All children were dressed in white carrying a small lean lit candle. Leila wore a simple white gown with a cord belt secured around her waist. All the little girls had their hairs made up; some of the Animal girls put on jewelry to display their femininity, but in unison they all wore a crown of braided white plumerias. The boys even the animals like Gaudery wore the braided plumerias as a necklace instead. After words of the high priest and priestess, keeper of the Temple and fellow Light Bearers, the children one by one entered and presented themselves to the large statue of Simourgh. Many scholar claimed the Simourgh was an albino Peahawk, a large majestic bird with sharp talons and beak, but ever so elegant with the slender neck and the lengthy plumage. Some passed and some did not; either way, they were able to choose a craft, and a gong rang to encourage a cheer for another member of the magical community.

Leila remembers that day too well. Gaudery was ahead of her; he’s grown tall to the point his head reached her hip. He was a lush golden falion with molten brown eyes. Slowly he padded in the temple, his claws clicked on the marble floor; the gong rang and he returned. In the center of his chest and forehead, a light shined and shimmered. One can even see that the tuft of his fur at the end of his tail was now white and glowing like a living flame; it was the mark of the Light Bearers as some gained their own personal bioluminescence. In Leila’s eyes, he looked beautiful and proud; he was a Light Bearer now like The Great Simourgh. He padded towards his mother, who nuzzled him affectionately.

Yes, It will all be alright.

Eight children later she was next. Stepping in the temple, a few lamps were lit, while orbs of lights danced in the ceiling like blue and white fireflies. Stopping at the foot of The Simourgh, she stared at it; this hunk of marble would test her. She was enthralled by its size wondering if the real thing was ever that big. Feeling a touch on her shoulder, she jumped; the high priestess chuckled and told her to kneel, so she did.

“May the Great Simourgh recognize Leila Brumfield. May she accept whichever judgment you pass," bowing down, the priestess stepped back and waited.
Closing her eyes, Leila waited and then after a few seconds she felt nothing. She looked around. Is this was how it went? She never asked other Light Bearers what it felt like to be chosen, so she had no idea if she was already. Still her heart rang and her eyes opened with a soft smile. Looking towards the priestess, she beamed. This was it.

Walking up to her the priestess look down, “I’m sorry my child, but you are not ready.”

With a pang of her heart, she felt as if it cracked, “Wh-what do you mean? I’m a Light Bearer I know it.”

The priestess hushed her cradling her cheeks; she heard the child’s voice crack and knew tears may follow, “In your heart you may see that, but it is not your time yet. Don’t fret dear because everyone has their time. I tried 5 times to be where I’m at.”

Leila pinched her eyes closed willing herself to not cry at her failure, but warm fingers whipped them away; she ignored the kindness that came with the kiss on her forehead. This was absolutely the worst day of her life; she prepared for this moment and talked of being a Light Bearer since she heard the story. She wanted to be nothing else but Lady Reiha. Now it was crushed and she was to walk out like an, “embarrassment.”

“Oh no no no you won’t be. Not everyone passed this year, but you can still choose another task,” waving her hands, others from the shadowed side of the temple stepped forward garbed in specific colors to their elements: crimson for fire, aquamarine for water, bronze for terra, fuchsia for flora, grey for wind...

“I want to go home." Leila turned her head not even noticing the others.
The Priestess eyes dropped feeling hurt as if she could feel the girl’s pain. Looking up towards one of them, she whispered for someone to exit her through the back, while they ring the gong and quickly brought in another child for no one can mummer to long about what happened. Regardless of her running away, Leila wouldn’t avoid the questioning for long. Her mother was quietly guided around to pick her up, while being told the misfortune; Leila refused to speak and didn’t care that she would miss the Grand Finale of the Fireworks. She’d rather hear it from her room wrapped in a blanket with the blinds shut to block out any lights, then hope to forget all that happened.

Her mother counted how long Leila would go without speaking; it had been over a week and she refused company even Gaudery, her best friend in the entire world. He would hover up at her window to get her attention, and she’ll promptly shut the blinds and ignore him. Their friendship felt strained, since they never been a part that long. After a while Grandma Tuli was sick of it and wasn’t having any of it; she grew tired of her concern tales from Victoria and was going to give the whelp a piece of her mind.

With her foot she’d opened the door, her head bobbed with her strut towards the bed and rolled her eyes when Leila turned her back to her, “You young lady have been in bed long enough. You’re no use to the world being as lazy as a Slothig.”

Her talons tugged the covers off and Leila (who was clinging to it) out of bed. She demanded the girl to get washed and dressed in less than 10 minutes because they were going on a trip. Outside Tuli waited for her with a familiar falion. Gaudery ducked behind the crone thinking that Leila would be in spite seeing him, but she said nothing. The trio walked to the Reiha’s shrine where they had lunch, and all it took was the bird to get comfy to tell another story.

“Do you recall what happened to Lady Reiha that day in the Dark Ages?”
“Yeah who doesn’t?” Leila replied, and the old bird clipped her beaks not liking the tone she was getting. She was becoming more like Victoria at her age. Leila’s hazel eyes looked down once feeling something brush against her; it was Gaudery. He gave a sad clicking purr in return wondering if she would push him away, but once not getting a clear rejection, he stayed sitting next to her.

“Well as legends said Lady Reiha charged against the Black Monster,” her wings gestured to the humble statue of a 30 yr old interpretation of the young girl who battled the darkness, “she lost the key, lost sight of her light. That’s the only way you can truly fall to the darkness. And sometimes it takes a friend to help guide you back. That’s the lesson of Lady Reiha. Now she may not be as glorified as the Simourgh, but she represents all Humes and Animals alike.”

Wise eyes looked at Leila who stared back; she watched the child glance at the Falion, then back towards the statue.

“You see we all may be at the top, so filled with light, or the cream of the crop, but we can just so easily fall. The descent isn’t what's important, but getting back up, and it can be very easy to just wash away rather than standing up again. Do you understand Leila? Don’t lose sight of what’s really important. After all that’s a part of your light,” the old bird ended.

“For you friendsss are your light and asss long assss they are near, may the light be with you,” a voice wavered. From behind a shrine a long serpentine body emerged with long six scaled like avian legs. The face of a lizard coated in furry and fluffy moss green feathers came to view, “May the Light be with you Missss Tuli.”

“Oh my well Ms. Elmira, May the light be with you too. Children this is Ms. Elmira, a fellow diviner and an old friend.”

Ms. Elmira, an Emulander, chuckled, “An old friend indeed, and mentioning friendsss Tuli you should visssit me. It’sss been a while ssssince you’ve been on my end of Twinkle Woodssss.”

Emulanders are long serpentine Animals; they have legs of a bird that can deliver a strong kick if angered. Their feathers are so soft and fine that it resembles fur; they marvel long furry dragons than anything.

“Yes yes I shall. Oh can you watch the children for a minute; I must have a world with Lady Jocelyn. This poor shrine deserves a good scrubbing. Good for nothing young ones always slacking on the job.”

“Jusssst do be nice and play nice you old Porcucrane,” the Emulander joked as the Fowl hobbled away, “Sssooo you hatchlingsss are here to learn about Lady Reiha?”

“Y-yes ma’am,” the Griffon nodded; his feathers ruffled. This Emulander gave him the chills.

“Aye, a wonderful girl she wasssss…made a better woman that’sss for sssure, and you,” her eyes narrowed at Leila as if to peer into her soul, “you’re the girl at the Temple, who didn’t emerge after the tesssst.”

It was more of a statement then a question, and Leila felt she couldn’t pass Elmira with a lie, so she merely nodded with a hum.

“I ssseeeee. Don’t take it persssonally. I wassn’t chosssen by the Sssssimough either, and look at me now.” Was that supposed to be a joke? The Emulander gave a hissing chuckle. She was off her rocker, which was typical for a diviner. Many assumed that had been staring at the stars for too long for their own health or inhaled too many herbs to enriched their insight, “But don’t fret little hatching. For I ssseee greatneessss in you.”

Her head craned in closer, and the young ones subconsciously leaned back. Her ominous hissing tone was unnerving as well as her eyes; they began to glow, “You sssseee we all have greatnessss in usss for we all have light. Who needsss blesssssing of ssssome old dead cold marble to ssseee that?”

“But,” Leila started, “The Great Simourgh is Light and fought the Great Darkness away. He should be able to see the Light and who’s worthy. And that talk is just just blasphemous and WRONG! I don’t know what happened that night, but I KNOW I’m a LIGHT BEARER, and he will SHOW ME!”

..Because if he doesn’t who can...

“Leila…you okay,” the Griffon spoke up and nudged her.

The Emulander cackled, which only made Leila more frustrated. Was this crazy Emulander mocking her, while she wasted her life with a useless craft, “Hehehe you gotsss fire in your child. Maybe it’sss all the passion you need to find your light. Unlessss you believe in thossss sssort of thingsss and wait for ssssome Great Bird to to show your own worth. No worriesss you’ll come visssit me one day.”

Hearing huffs of heavy breathing, Elmira craned her head to see Tuli return in exhaustion, “I swear I had to walk all over the place to find her. Mmm I may need another brew from your Mama, Leila. These old bones aren’t what they are used to be. And Ms. Elmira, are you done now? If I didn’t know you better, you were probably scaring my chicks with your visions.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way Mssss Tuli, and if you aren’t too prideful, I would offer you a ride,” bending down, the Emulander squatted for the bird and children to climb on board, “or do you think you can clink your old ssskeleton home?”

One the way home that day, Leila pondered on the Emulander’s word. Should she go into practicing fire? To her it was the closest thing to light as they both burn bright. She kept on talking about with Gaudery once hidden in her room. The Failion wasn’t too sure. He found the Emulander sketchy, but if it made Leila happy she should do it. The following morning, she went to her mother announcing she wanted to study Fire magic. Her mother was alarmed at the sudden change and enthusiasm; she hadn’t expected her child to bounce back and decide a new craft quickly. Her mother would permit it on one exception. She must pick up potions and salves, because she would be damned if the girl couldn’t mend wounds she may cause unto herself.

For the following four years, she studied the arts of Pyro; she sparred and practice with Gaudery, who continued to study Light to gain more control and efficiency. To her dismay, she had visited that old crazy Emulander, but not by will since she was tagged along with Grandma Tuli. To leaving a bitter taste in her mouth, she was learning a lot from the old Serpent.

“Oooh now my little hatching is becoming a spit fire dragon. Hmm now that’s quite nice, but why learn one craft if you can learn more?”

Leila arched a brow at the Emulander’s suggestion, “You know they won’t let me do multiple studies. I don’t even show that I'm advance enough to even consider it. I bet it would be too confusing to learn multiple philosophies since each element is different.”

“Well who said you have to learn it in school?”

From then on she visited the Twinkle Woods more often than before. Her mother didn’t mind it, since enough of her costumers are there so Leila could easily do delivery. The only person who was tense was Gaudery; despite the years, the Emulander still rubbed him the wrong way. In Twinkle Woods there was a lake that made it feel like a swamp, and there the Emulander let in Leila on a little secret; she knew of water magic, a skill she learned on her own in this wilderness.

“If you believe you have greatnessss, you can learn many things. All you have to do isss ssstop walking with blind eyes. Plusss you should take it asss an honor for you are my firssst pupil.”

Educational wise, she spent 3 years dedicated to the Black Arts of Fire, Potion and Salve Making, and Water magic. With her time with an Emulander, she required her to pick up arms. “You also need to learn dansse. You are far too heavy on your feet. If you can learn the rhythm of danssse in music; you can adapt the danssse of water, be more proficient in the danssse of fire, and learn the overall danssse of battle.”

“Why do you keep on hanging with that Emu!” Gaudery growled in annoyance as he flapped his wings harder. He was big enough to hold Leila’s weight and was now her friendly means of transportation.

“Because…because she knows things and she’s teaching me stuff.”

“But WHY? What is all of this for? You can barely keep awake in school let alone be focused on your Fire black art studies; she has you dueling her in the swamps, and now convinced you to join some dance club. AND she wants you TO LEARN HOW TO USE THAT”

He turned his head to glare at the rod she carried in her hands; she gripped tighter on to it as he growled, “It’s not THAT; its name is Lucifer. I’m going to join dance for I can be better with my black magic, and she says it will help me fight better. Hm, maybe I should join the Mages Duel for I don’t get rusty.”

“Rusty?! Are you even listening to me? You can barely do the studies you have now, and NOW all of a sudden you want to lately do these extracurricular for what? Does this make any sense? It’s not like you’re doing it for sport!” He looked away from her when he weaved the wrong way not paying attention to the wind current and muttered lowly, “No, it’s all because she says so. And why are you concerned of being a better fighter! Don't tell me that's your NEW career choice, a professional what BOXER?!”

“I swear I think you just don’t like her!”

“I don’t! Think about it. You are her first and thus far only student. Why? And now she have this spell casted on you, and you’re walking around like some exhausted puppet with no cause.”

“I’m not a puppet! Okay SHE thinks I’m special and thinks I can be SOMETHING!” If she wasn’t on his back, she would’ve just jumped off.

The Falion snorted, “Ssso the Sssserpent who told you not to sssseek out Simourgh to be something is the one you high tail behind.”

“Hey!”

“Sounds like a hypocrite to me.”

“It’s not like that at all!” She shouted. The pair landed on a silent hill, and she angrily climbed off her his back, “You were chosen for something! I wasn’t, and now someone SEES something in me. I thought you of all people would be supportive.”

“Supportive of what, you working yourself to death for some approval of some hag,” he fired back storming towards her. “Do you even know what you want?”

“NO I DON’T! I JUST WANT TO BE GREAT AT SOMETHING!”

“Well that’s your problem,” he hissed, “you don’t know what you want, and you’re looking for it in the wrong places with the wrong people like some batty old diviner. If you’re going to do it let it be because you want it not because you’re a damned follower.”

He couldn’t even look at her anymore; just the sight of what she became ruffled his feathers. She had so much passion, and over some ritual, she lost herself, or that’s how he saw it. What he hated about it the most…this was probably why she wasn’t chosen at all; her heart could be easily broken. The silence was thick until he heard Leila stutter his name.

“What now?” Annoyance was still in his voice.

“Look,” she whispered, and the frown melted from his face watching a falling star. A stream of light rocketed through the sky into the dark horizon. Leila’s eyes wondered in amazement, “woooow look at it go. Look another one.”

“And another one.”

The spectacle had stilled their argument for the time being. There they stood next to one another watching them before sitting in unison watching the comet shower.

“Hey,” Leila’s voice spoke out softly before turning to him, “I am doing it for me. I want to do something with myself than wallow in my failures. I need to move on, and this is it, okay.”

Gaudrey sighed; she wasn’t going to give this up no matter what, “fine, but only if it what you want. Just promise me to not overwhelm yourself.”

“Promise.”

Leaning over, she rested her head on his feather shoulder blades to watch the streaking night sky. It was the most beautiful catastrophe they ever watched.

A mile or so away, an Emulander stared up at the sky. She stood in the very waters she pushed Leila in. The lake made her legs strong as she fought against her. The girl was being conditioned.

“I see you’ve been taking a liking to Little Leila, Elmira.”

“Hmm my little dragon hasss become aquatic and now find her clawsss.” The Emulander turned her head to see the old Porcucrane approach her. Despite how much she complained about her bones, she walked graceful across the waters. She emitted only soft ripples with each step.

“I would tell you to cease this. She’s only a child and can barely handle her studies. What is it you want with her Elmira?”

The Emulander spoke nothing; she hushed the Fowl to silence and from above they both watched a stream of comets. In response, the Serpent eyes glowed a dark violet, and softly she spoke, “A storm shakes; the water rise in a year time. The Beast comes for the door; innocent isles no more.”

“What, what are you talking about?”

“In a year, strangers will come, and two cycles later, peril will follow after. We’re losing time.”

“Who, who do we tell?”

The Emulander snaked her way towards the fowl; her many legs stomped and smashed into the lake angrily. Even a growling hiss bubbled from her throat, “Why tell if no earsss will listen? You hear what they call usss. We’ve been ssspeaking of thisss for yearsss now, and weren’t thessse the falling lightsss we’d sssaw. Even then we foresassw more will come, and ssstill they do not heed. Prepare thossse you can; the ressst shall be birthed by sssleep. Maybe they will learn after waking up when all they know isss gone.”

“So,” Tuli stated shakingly, while her body remained calmly still, “Leila…”

“She wanted to gain it, and if she doesss right, she will,” the Emulander dropped her defensive stance and laxed in front of her old friend. Her neck craned up to look at the comet streaking sky, “her time…isss coming.”

ACT TWO

The premonition did come true. In a year, strangers emerged on the world; some could barely speak of how they got here. They assumed it was a nightmare, while believing and knowing that Starlight Boulevard was no dream. Some were trapped in sleep. Others spoke of Black Monster, yellow eyes, and falling before waking up. People of Starlight Boulevard began opening their doors to the Unfortunate, the unfortunate people who lost their worlds.

“What do you think of this Gaudery,” Leila looked up at him with worried eyes.

“The worlds do exist, and the legends,” his eyes wavered and flicked with thoughts; images of all that could’ve been flashed behind them.

“They may be true, and darkness is back again.”

The pair stared each other down when the truth was thrown out there; it was too much news to take.

“Let’s hope not.” The Falion was tense as he lay down on her bed. His feathery ears flattened in displeasure of the entire ordeal

“Why? As long as we have light, we're fine.”

“Yes, but how long would we live in fear until it comes? You know the council will go into panic, so what do we do now? We spent years just living so, so ignorantly and like THIS!”

“I guess they should give Diviners an apology; even now people flock to them for visions.”

“But what if it’s too late now? What if we waited too long..”

“I…don’t know. I don’t know.”

That year was the hardest. People walked around as if Ragnorak was near. The pressure on the Light Bearers was high, which brought enough nervousness on the next generation. Not many passed. It’s as if the fear crippled them all. Some already lost sight of the light before the Festival.

Gaudery was more accepting of Leila’s sessions with the Emulander; he assumed that the old crone knew it from all along and tried to prepare her. If it was to come to an end, he decided to be as versatile as he could. He tried to gain as much knowledge of Fire black magick from Leila, but he can only conduct small balls of fire at a time. He even tried to keep himself in shape by chasing kits of Raxes.

“I’m gonna get you NOW!” The Falion shouted before pouncing on a kit, but the little Rax bounded away; the raxes have naturally long rodent feet, good for hoping. They all have the characteristics of long bushy tail and long rounded ears. Opening his talons, Gaudery groaned missing her prey and sighed childishly once hearing fits of giggles.

“Gaudery you’re too slow. You can’t outrun the shadow bugs like that.” Peaking from underneath him, a young Rax hoped over bumping her nose to his beak, “you must be the slowest light bearer I know.”

Standing up, he looked down at her before giving a soft kick, “Well Roxlin let’s just hope the shadow bugs don’t eat you up when they come.”

“Nu uuuh,” the little Rax continuously jumped to be at his eye-level, “they’ll never catch me. I’m the fastest Rax the Twinkle Woods had ever seen, and wait til I’m a light bearer like you they’ll NEVER see it coming.”

Kids these days, they never were aware of their own mortality or the severity of the world. Still the Falion couldn’t help but admire the young Rax's spunk. Smelling someone, his head lifted before seeing a taller sleek Rax. She had a silver glowing dot on her head, while specs of light gracing her cheek bones. The speckled light continued down her sides and ribcage, while light illuminated the white fur on her paws.

“Roxlin it’s time to come home now,” her mother called out only to get a whine in return.

“But Mamaaaa I wasn’t done playing with-”

“You can play with Gaudery tomorrow, okay.”

The kit sighed before hopping towards her, “Yes mama.”

“Don’t worry I’ll come back tomorrow,” the Falion reassured, while the older Rax stepped forward, while her daughter hopped homeward.

“Thank-you for keeping watch of her today; it keeps her mind off of everything, the strangers, the anxiety. It’s starting to get to everyone Mr. Futz the Fertle near the swamp just flickered out today,” the Rax was deeply concerned; the sickness was spreading as the nervousness was shaking the very hearts of the world’s light bearers, “you take care of yourself alright, and don’t let all of this get to you. She looks up to you…you know.”

The Falion chuckled light-heartedly, “Don’t worry I’ll be fine. The light still burns strong.”

“As it should be,” replied an old voice as a familiar Porcucrane wobbled from the woods into the clearing.

“Oh Ms. Tuli, shouldn’t you be home. Do you want me to walk you?” The Rax tilted her head watching the crone walk with her wooden cane.

“Oh nonsense Roxy I’ll be fine with Gaudery as my guide that is. Plus I think you have a little kit to tuck in.”

“Well alright, may the light be with you,” with the bow of her red furry head the Rax departed as the pair responded ‘and also with you.’

“Now, come Gaudery I wouldn’t want to keep you long; I know your mother expects you to be in the nest soon.” The Animals walked for some time in silence passing other Animals; some were Light Bearers lighting the way for others to go home. It wasn’t long before the crone spoke again, “How are you doing with everything?”

His ears twitched and looked at her; he would’ve lied if it wasn’t for her inquisitive eyes; plus she had watched over him long enough to know when he's lying, “I’m…worried about everything. How did it all come to this?”

“People wouldn’t listen; not many can believe what they don’t see.”

“Yeah I know but,” he paused thinking of the right words, “I just wish we all accepted or knew this earlier, have more time. It just sneaked up on a lot of people and Animals, and their light is fading.”

“Do you really want to know such things?”

“Well, yes, wouldn’t knowing help protect this world? What about the other ones? Do they even know or would it sneak up on them too?”

The Porcucrane stopped before looking up at the visible starts out tonight, “I can’t speak what’s on those worlds, the people there, but I do feel what that world is feeling. You know it have a light of its own, a heart, like you and I. So we’re not all that entirely different, and that connection alone is enough to help me read them almost like how you can tell if a friend or Leila isn’t well.”

His brows lifted looking from between the crone and the stars somewhat bewildered, “You can tell all of that by just looking at it.”

The Falion wished he hadn’t said that; his ears flattened to block out her laughter, “No not by looking but by looking and seeing. It’s like the same way you look into your heart to forge and grasp your light. After all, is that’s what they teach you in class?”

From the feathers of her hand, a small ball of light glowed; her eyes crinkled in a smile watching the Falion’s disbelief, “You’re you’re a light bearer!”

“Ssh,” she shook her head and bopped his head with a crane,” anyone can wield light child; they just need to learn how. And nearly any diviner can wield light because acknowledging it and our relation to everything is how we connect to the stars to begin with. If you can speak the language of Light, you can speak the language of stars. Now go home and think it over; you can start tomorrow."

From then on, Gaudery would spend hours with the Porcucrane learning how to listen to the stars above. It was an easier process than trying to learn fire through Leila.

All the preparation the world attempted such as: making Light a mandatory class, which many failed, and permitting student to dual magical studies, felt like it was all for naught. Before the year ended, the Unfortunate all had vanished in a ray of light, and comets flew from the dark horizon over towards the lit end. It was a spectacle to watch, but it caused inner confusion in the world. What to do? All seemed fine or so they hoped and wished. With a following year of normality, everyone breezed on forgetting that strange year ever occurred and continued on living until the Night of the New Moon.

ACT THREE

The Moon was as black as night, and the black demons had finally found their world. Leila and Gaudery were in studies when they first emerged. Instantly school was canceled; they tried to herd their students but many bolted out the doors. The obnoxious and confident went to fight, while others went to find their families. It was hell and pandemonium. Leila was knocked and ran over a couple of times within the chaos. Guardery had to grab her in his talons and flew off; he first stopped at his nest. His mother informed him that his nestmates went to the Temple of Simourgh; she was going to Twinkle Woods to warn them all if darkness hadn’t struck there yet.

“You, Leila, better go home and find your mother too. We’ll meet back up at the Temple; now be fast and safe. Stay in the skies if you must sense these creature walk on land.” With a loud eagle cry, she soared away; it was the last time Gaudery saw her.

The pair quickly departed to Leila’s house. The neighborhood was a ghost town.

“I’m glad we stopped here. I need to grab my rod,” she opened the door quickly, “Mom! Mom! We need to get out of here.”

Quickly she ran up the stairs, while Gaudery searched the first floor. In less than a minute Leila was jumping downstairs, “She’s not here!”

“Leila she left a note,” he called from the kitchen, “She went to Ms. Fluffer’s house.”

“You mean…the Fertle?”

“Yeah the one in Twinkle Woods.”

Exasperated, Leila groaned, “we have to go there!”

“Come on get on my back,” he bent down for climbing could be easier, and with a few steps, Leila felt something scratch her ankle. Naturally she screamed. Running towards the Falion off balanced, she saw a black like bug flat on the floor with bulbous yellows eyes. With its arms it tried to full itself from the ground. With a twitch of antennas, more yellow eyes appeared on the carpeted floor.

“WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS!”

“THE HELL IF I KNOW GET ON!”

With her rod strapped to her back, she grabbed onto his furs. He galloped hard stomping on some of their heads. When he leaped out the door, the heartless bounded up like a wave and chased in pursuit of them.

“HOLY SIMOURGH THEY ARE RIGHT BEHIND US!”

“WOULD YOU STOP SCREAMING!”

“SHUT UP AND FLY ALREADY!” She shouted back before releasing a ball of flames at one of the black demons.

He ran for a block before opening his wing and taking off. Both of their hearts were hammering; as they flew like nervous wrecks towards Twinkle Woods. Flying over it, they heard nothing but screaming as Animals and Humes retreated. In horror they watched a Minxent get pounced on. She thrashed to fight the beast off; hissing at it, she unleashed a water cannon. Growling she returned on fours and bolted again, but she was quickly overcame by a mob. Once the darkness crawled away there were no signs of her.

“Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, did you see that?”

“Shut up! I was right here.”

“Sh-she’s gone!”

“We can’t stay here,” the Falion shuddered and continued flying. Looking down Leila peaked through some trees and noticed they were near a familiar clear, a lake. Down below she could see a lithe form attack a black creature with streams of water.

“It’s Elmira! She’s under attack! We must help her!”

“And then what!”

“Well she’s a diviner maybe she can helps us out!”

“Like what see that the world is falling apart!”

“JUST GO!”

With a growl, the Griffin dived down. Using his light he kawed a beacon. Flying low he took out a line of them, while Leila jumped off his back, “LEILA WHAT ARE YOU DOING!”

Unhooking her rod, she twirled it around before pressing a button. A ball end came a loose with a chain; chanting a single spell it ignited with fire. With a twirl she was whipping it at the heartless. Those she missed they were picked off by the Emulander’s water whip or Gaudery’s light.

They were gone for now, and Leila’s arms went slack.

“Sssso my little dragon came to ssssee me.”

“Elmira, th-there are…,” Leila’s voice went into a panic.

“I know. Darkness came to claim this world. They come in multitude like I predicted.”

“So what do we do now?” The annoyed and tired Griffon demanded. His head now reached to Leila’s chest. Before Elmira could answer darkness rippled in the lake making black holes. Water started to drain out into it as if the world was getting sucked in.

“Fall,” she hissed. Quickly she maneuvered past Gaudery and grabbed Leila by her talons, “Now my preciousssss, your time issss here.”

Lifting her up, she threw her towards the black holes. She screamed loudly, and Gaudery cried loudly before pouncing on the Emulander. Leila went under water as the black hole tried to drag in her foot. Sitting up she tried to crawl away against the current getting gulps of fresh air. Her eyes watered watching the Animals scuffle, claw, and snarl at one another.

“YOU INSOLENT PUP!” With a water cannon, Gaudery was thrust away. Gaining back on his legs, he looked towards Leila the same time as Elmira. He charged towards her trying to beat the Serpent. With more legs, she had speed.

“LEILAAA!” With a shout, he fired a light at the crone. He was proud to hear a hiss as she stumbled away. Rushing forward, he grabbed Leila with his talons trying to pull her away. His wings flapped to gain altitude.

The black hole grew wider and dragged more of her in. Looking at the impending doom, Leila stared back at the Griffin with wide eyes, “Don’t you dare let me go, or I will never forgive you.”

“I got you!” He flapped harder with every muscle in his back.

“Since you want her so bad, you can go with her. After all with two hearts the stronger the bond. May the light be WITH YOUUU!” The old crone pushed the Griffon over sending the pair hurtling into the black vortex, “may the light be with you.”

Another star fell through the sky.


Current World: I dunno.

Breath. Inhale. Live.
Eyes snapped once with a choking inhale as if a body was freed from underwater. Leila lifted up quick, but winced at the soreness in her back and reclined back down. Not wanting to feel that ache, she rolled over and propped herself on her knees and hands, “my head.”

The pain rushed from the back to the front in dizziness and headache; everything was spinning so fast she couldn’t dictate a landmark, “Gaudery, Gaudery are-are y-you there? You okay?”

“Leila, my wing,” he winced as his voice came out as a wheeze.

Turning around, she spotted him behind her; her hand reached out to pat his pawed hind legs, “Do you think you can move?”

His tail swayed, and he tried to stir, failing; his tail swayed whipping the girl, “I told you not deal with that she-devil.”

“Oh don’t start that now,” rolling her eyes she crawled towards him and assisted in rolling him over on his feet.

“You got some nerve cause I got every right.” His large round eyes blinked slowly with a groan feeling a sharp pain in his right shoulder blade, “Mm where are we anyway? This doesn’t smell like the Twinkle Woods let alone look like it.”

“I really don’t know, but come here,” digging into her pocket, she pulled a small vial, uncorked it, and poured it over the flesh wound on his wing, “we’re going to find our way out, and see what happened to everyone. Then give that Emulander a piece of my mind!”

Her anger was hushed by a bitter breeze. Her skin nearly yelped at the abuse. When did it get this bloody cold? The realization made her shiver; snow glitter the chilly cobblestoned floor. Quickly Leila cupped her hands calling a bundle of flames to keep them warm.

“Wh-what kind of ma-magic is this? It’s the warm seasons; it shouldn’t be snowing now,” her teeth chattered together, while her friend rose to his feet.

“Well wherever we are it isn’t the warm season here.”

“You mean,” she stopped before she can finished. Her heart and chest ached at the possibility.

“Yes,” he sigh curled against his feathers and furs in a puff of white steam, “our world is gone.”

The Falion tried to remain strong as Leila crumbled piece by piece; the flames in her hands spasm and sparked before fading away. They were the Unfortunate. Everyone they knew and loved were gone, missing, or worst. It didn’t help that Leila can repeat the fate of the Minxent behind her eyes. Before she can breakout in wails, a beak pressed against her cheek.

“Come on let’s find out where we are, then find a place to stay. We may not be the only ones here, so let’s go before we count our lost.”

The light from his furs had a warm glow on her face, but Leila was as stiff and cold as the snow. She’d already commenced to emotionally shut down.

To see the wonders of the worlds, one had to suffer first. Welcome to Traverse Town.

[Era]

Hiya Ellie!

I'm reviewing the biggest RP profile I've seen to date (seen, not just reviewed.. but seen on any RP site ever) - congratulations! You get a gold star for ginormousness.

Let's get to the breakdown:

Races, names, ages, species and all that jazz:
It checks out!

Gaudrey's Skills:
As for skills, I would like to see Gaudery's Skills detailed seperately, for instance:

Skills:
--Flight: (details about flight / how he can carry Leila-sized people comfortably),
--Predatorial Hunting: (Details about being taught to hunt.)

BlindnaA light spell that can eradicate blindness.
-- If Blindna removes Blindness, shouldn't the spell be called something like "Sightna?" Or something having to do with being able to see?  (I may be wrong, but why is it Blind- if it involves removing Blindness?)  


Story:
Over all, I want to say: nice story! I found myself enjoying the story as a whole regarding Leila and Gaudery. As far as story portrayal and sequence of events, I could really feel the flow of the story, and I really liked it. *Claps* Bravo on story conceptualization.

As for the actual layout of the story (the English part): there were points where I was struggling to find out what you meant. Many points. I don't remember if you said English was your native language or a second language, but these are things I noticed. I hope I do not sound harsh, I just want to help you be a better storyteller, so people reading your story can fully enjoy it without randomly getting confused.

Word Choice:
Some things were just words that have a different meaning than I think you intended:

"Tackle these implausible fleets" - I think you mean "feats". Fleets: groups of combat units. Feats : victories.

"Leila’s mother and in the quiet small town, she was a local healer exhaling in potions and salves like many men and women in her trade." --Exhale: to breathe out. Did you mean Excel: to advance in / do well in?


"thought that the night Tuli was entertaining Leila and Gaudery several stars dimmed out, and a world that rained light was blackened and became hallow" --Hallow: has to do with holy. Did you mean Hollow: empty?

"Their feathers are so soft and fine that it resembles fur; they marvel long furry dragons than anything." - ? "Marvel" throws this off. To Marvel: to be in awe of something. Did you mean Resemble: to look like?)

"or worst." - technically in English, it's : "or worse". (This one's not a big deal, I still understood what you meant.) ;]

I think some of the big trouble words in general are:
"Has" and "have" : he or she has (one person has), they have (two or more people have). Several times I saw the reverse of this rule, and I had to read the sentence a few times to understand what was actually meant.

"Hoped" and "Hopped" :
Hope : to trust and believe in something.
Hop : a type of jump.

I noticed when reading that there seems to be issue with the word "for". Sometimes I think "so" is what you actually mean to use:

"I’m going to join dance for I can be better with my black magic,"

Hm, maybe I should join the Mages Duel for I don’t get rusty."

Technically, "for" in both of those sentences should be either: "so" or "so that". Either is acceptable in English, but "for" is incorrect.

These aren't all of the examples, but these were just some I pulled so that I could try and make a clear point. Again, please don't think I'm attacking you. You're certainly good with your story ideas, I just want to help you help me understand what you mean to tell.


Tenses:
Nextly, it seems there's some trouble with present and past tenses. In the story it jumps between both and it's very hard to properly place the meaning of a sentence using both randomly.

For instance:

". . . she stopped before she can finished."

stopped - past tense, correct.
can - indicitive of present or future. Past tense would be: "could",
finished - incorrect in regard to how it's being used. This sentence should look like:

". . . she stopped before she could finish." -- This is so much easier to read.

And:
". . .yet they were too late. Some of the regions were heavily under attacked,"

Attacked -is- a past tense, yes. But in English we write "under attack" even if "They were heavily under attack" in the past.

Other areas that would be easier to read if corrected:

1)
"...and if not they can finally be able to choose their craft. 11 seemed like the right age for the young can participate in magic."

"…and if not they could finally be able to choose their craft. 11 seemed like the right age for the young to participate in magic."

2)
"
"brought in another child for no one can mummer to long about what happened"

"…brought in another child, so no one could (murmur?) too long about what happened." (One possible interpretation, although I'm not exactly sure what you meant to say.)

"It didn’t help that Leila can repeat the fate of the Minxent behind her eyes. Before she can breakout in wails, a beak pressed against her cheek." -Confusing

"It didn't help that Leila could repeat the fate of the Minxent behind her eyes. Before she could break out in wails, a beak pressed against her cheek." - Makes more sense.

Please review this with past tense in mind (as past tense is typically preferable on World Destiny), and make the necessary adjustments. If you need help understanding when to use past tense and when not to, I will go through this with you and help you adjust for proper English.

Plural versus Singular useage:
In general, please review plural versus singular useage within your story. Typically plural things have an "s" at the end, and singular things do not. So if I were referring to a multitude of creatures, I would say "creatures", if I were referring to one, I would use "creature". I noticed a few places in the story like the following with the improper reference:

"and the old bird clipped her beaks not liking the tone she was getting. . ." My thought when reading this was: The Porcucrane has two beaks? ( And she was cutting them? )


Other, English:
In general, please just review to make sure you're using the best English you know:
"These old bones aren’t what they are used to be." - Confusing
"These old bones aren’t what they used to be." - Easy to comprehend.

Sometimes I understand what you mean to say, like the above. Other times however, I really have trouble understanding your intentions. This one, for example:

“Yes,” he sigh curled against his feathers and furs in a puff of white steam, “our world is gone.” I can't understand what you are intending to tell me. I know it's something to do with the puff of smokey breath in the cold, but I can't clearly see what you are trying to tell me in this sentence: my understanding is foggy on this one.


Question marks:
Any time a question or inquiry is made in the English language, the sentence ends with a question mark. Without one, it's a little harder to understand if a character is telling someone something, or asking them something. Please ensure that your questions are… marked. =]

Quotation marks:
For most of the story, I understood your use of quotation marks. However, Gran Gran's story in particular gave me some trouble. It would help the readers to understand the story better if quotation marks were properly placed in the Porcucrane's story (at the beginning).

Verb endings:
Generally, a verb is something that you do: walk, run, jump, sleep. In the English language a verb ending is typically -ing. Sometimes I'm noticing random -ing endings which are incorrect in the English language, for instance:

"To leaving a bitter taste in her mouth, she was learning a lot from the old Serpent."
I think you mean this:
"To leave a bitter taste in her mouth, she was learning a lot from the old Serpent."

Last question:
"The difference between Starlight Boulevard and neighboring worlds are the mix population of Humes, Animals, and magic." -- Is the magic sentient, or did you intend to word it like:
"The difference between Starlight Boulevard and neighboring worlds is the mix of hume and animal population. Magic heavily influences the races present here."


In closing:
I had time to read your whole profile and type out a response while in the car today, so I figured I would send this your way all at once. With some reviews I take it in segments, but this one I had time and the computer battery life to do all at once. I know it's a wall of review, but it's all well intentioned.

I loved your story. When I really stopped and digested your story, I really liked it. I can see that you have some really good and very creative concepts and I loved to read into a creative mind. I know that I am asking a lot here, but I know you're capable of giving me more in regards to English alone.

Please let me know if you have any questions, frustrations, struggles or anything else and I will try and help you as best I can. I apologize if I seem like a Bear here. >.> I am only intending to send some kind review points your way.

Because this is so large, I'm going to give you an entire month and a half to adjust this. We're going to be looking into mid. August at least, and maybe even later depending on how much time you need to adjust everythingm I'm willing to be flexible and I'm not really worried if this takes awhile because this thing is a mini-novel to itself. I realize it'll take some time to execute what I've requested.

Let me know once you have or if you need more time than mid-August to adjust everything.

Kind regards,
~Era
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[Ellie who has 0%]

The only thing that can be taken offensively is bringing up ANY assumption that English is my 2nd language just because I didn't thoroughly proof-read 20+ pages of a story I know back and forwards. Do not do that again. I'll leave the opening of Pandora's Box to the imagination.

Fortunately, I loathe proof-reading my writing because I know what's there, and it bores me to re-read what I already know. The first write-up was in January, so I've been off and on with this and taken time to read through it multiple times. So I knew those problems would be present, and it was worst.

I'm not going to sit through and correct EVERY grammatical error within 24 pages JUST to rp. It will not make my writing exponentially better for replying to posts. Over time I'll re-read through it and fix as I go along, because it's a process for me specifically. I'm not going to keep a profile to August just to play Copy Editor when I'm going to make rough posts the next day.


Flight;;

I don't know what you're specifically looking for, but I'll write and ramble.

As a falion, his overall anatomy is a lion, which can easily outweigh human. Due to being an efficient flyer, he would have to be strong enough to carry his own bulk and weight easily. With that said, I don't see how it's hard to say, "He can carry Leila". If I think about him anatomically, I doubt he can carry more than one person on his back/spine.


Hunt;;
Although Animals are more sociable advanced than animals, many still give homage to their ancestors by living close to their natural wild lifestyle.His mother, Gwyndolynne, raised all of her cubs in tree tops after they took their first flight from first nesting in caverns.

From fledglings to cubs, they were taught to hunt from the skies, which was resourceful in hunting fish. Not only where their talons prove useful for fishing, but for typical grabbing and slashing prey during on-ground ambushes. For typical falions comfort, they're generally in flight when hunting and highly depend on their talons. Due to their muscle and girth, they can carry heavy loads and fight efficiently when grounded. They lack the wide jaws and canines to strangle prey's throat like typical big cats.

Blindna; Is a Final Fantasy spell that counteracts with Blind.

[Some WD member~]

*stays anonymous for reasons*

I would like to point out that she didn't say it to be rude, at all. She did not know that would bring up such an issue, and she has a valid point. Other profilers have to go through the same process of fixing their grammar in profiles. And she was kind enough to work this hard. There's really no need for conflict, right?

*flees*

[Ellie who has 0%]

One you're not supposed to be posting here, and you know that.

Two I know she wasn't trying to be rude: one of the many reasons why I did not flip out. I also brought it up as a staff member, since I do facilitate over interns. I didn't took it the wrong way, but someone else could. This is both a review and a learning process.

Have I made people fix their grammar issues? Yes, but it was mainly the run-on and fragments. I'm not an English major, and I'm not an English teacher. Either way I never jumped or presented that assumption, ever.

Thank your for your concern, but next time input your opinions in the appropriate manner not in a profile. Also if Era had a problema, she can inform herself. We do talk outside of the boards.

[Era]

Picking up after I've been out of state:

Blinda:
Thank you for the specification of Blindna - I'll leave that be.

Regarding Gaudery's other skills:
I was simply referring to categorization, so that seperate abilities are more easily distinguished than they would be by being lumped into one paragraph.

I apologize that I wasn'y more clear on what I was after. I was simply looking for this:

"Flight;;
As a falion, his overall anatomy is a lion, which can easily outweigh human. Due to being an efficient flyer, he would have to be strong enough to carry his own bulk and weight easily. He can carry up to one full grown human at a time.


Hunt;;
Although Animals are more sociable advanced than animals, many still give homage to their ancestors by living close to their natural wild lifestyle. His mother, Gwyndolynne, raised all of her cubs in tree tops after they took their first flight from first nesting in caverns.

From hatchlings to young Falions, they were taught to hunt from the skies, which was resourceful in hunting fish. Not only did their talons prove useful for fishing, but for typical grabbing and slashing prey during on-ground ambushes. Falions prefer to be in flight when hunting, and highly depend on their talons for snagging prey in flight. Due to their muscle and girth, they can carry heavy loads and fight efficiently when grounded. They lack the wide jaws and canines to strangle prey's throat like typical big cats."

Regarding everything else:

The circumstance:
I decided to shoulder this rather daunting profile myself while I could've been doing other things. I ran my computer battery from max all the way down just so that I would be able to read and respond. I didn't have to take the time out of my day to do this. And I even tried further to detail what I was looking for, what worked and what didn't. I even went so far as to try and find patterns that might help you see what I was looking for.

I put a tremendous effort into my review, much more than I do for most profiles.

As was previously stated twice, I did not mean to offend. I don't want to get your panties in a knot. I don't want my panties in a knot, but it's time both of us put on our big-girl panties and look at this platonically, with the checklist and guidelines set forth for everybody to abide by.

Step into a reader's shoes and try and see what they see: look at the evidence. If there's evidence to support my question, don't chastise me for bringing it up.

While it might consume a little of your time to proof read what you already know, proof reading makes it a lot easier for everyone else, the rest of the site who are not you, to understand. Even if you know how the story goes in your own head, odds are that 99% of the rest of your audience doesn't, and thus they only have the clarity you provide for them.

I understand you're busy - we are all growing and getting busier. I don't care if you correct -every single- grammatical error in the post. I'm not here to be a hardcore grammar-Nazi that won't let a minor mistake slide here and there. My scrutiny isn't that high, but it's reasonable to expect some improvement regarding English. Story can stay as it is, your story is fine.

Unfortunately, this is an Intermediate to Advanced Roleplaying community. You've mastered Story Comprehension, but the Intermediate to Advanced ruling also applies to English.

In addition, this is a profile application, so consistent and readable English is a requirement. This isn't an RP post. This profile will follow you with every post you make, linked by your signature, so while we might show a blind eye to inconsistencies in RP posts, applications are constantly referred to by other members. I am giving you the same expectation as I would any other profile. It doesn't matter to me the length. Two pages or twenty-four, all applications must be held to the same expectation. If you don't want to proofread and correct twenty-four pages of text, then it would be better you stick to more succinct profiles in the future.

I can aid you and I can contact Bluebird for a second pair of eyes, but I expect spelling, punctuation, and grammar to be worked on.