(Gotta go all out on the intro post, get the whole RP set up for everyone. So, I started working on it really early. :3 As a result, I added more and more over time, so I went overboard) (So, please keep in mind what kind of world this is, and make sure your character acts appropriately. No calling 911 anyone. And be ready to settle things with your fists on more then one occasion) (Also, please let me know in the OOC if you were even partially moved emotionally by this post. :3)
Emerin was just relaxing in the hot spring's soothing water. Next time, he would make sure that the ball was not so dangerous. The group of boys were happy that the owner was nice though and let them in on a discount. They might be orphans, but there was enough jobs to be done at the Market each day that they could earn some money. They all ranged around the same age, give or take a few years, but the bath was more then large enough for everyone and then some. As Emry rested on the side and looked up at the open sky, his Dragon Tattoo, which had been there since birth and grew with him, was fully visible since they were in the hot springs bath.
Emerin was busy dreaming about the world when one of the younger children, an eight year old orphan named Addicus, swam up next to him. "So, is it true that you have had that since birth, and it grows with you? Its gotta be magic right? Do you think it means something?"
Addicus was always asking about things, and wondering about things. He also showed quite a bit of magical potential himself. Emry joked that he was like a mini Alt. "Yeah, its all true. Yes, its magic. And probably, but no one, even Alt-Shu, knows that for certain".
Emry then felt his hand touch the part of it on his back. "Addicus, you shouldn't touch people like that without asking first, unless its some sort of emergency or something. That said, what do you think?"
"Scaley" he said as he retracted, learning his lesson. "And Kava (sorry), Emerin-Lovir, didn't mean to intrude".
Emry hid a small blush. Being naked in front of his friends, no problem they come to the hot springs together all the time, and its not like its that unnatural for a desert city, and they all swim naked anyways. What Emry found embarrassing was when people referred to him with the suffix Lovir, or as it means, the person being seen as a Superior, Parent, Teacher or Caretaker to the one using it. He just helped them out, the orphans, the Children of Azma, so they didn't feel so alone or abandoned. But he was the same age as them, so for them to use the suffix Lovir when addressing him just got him embarrassed. Plus, its not like he would be here forever. Emerin dreamed of becoming an adventurer, of seeing the world. He wanted to feel and experience everything first hand.
Emry looked over at Altian, who was one of his closest friends if not his closest out of all of them. "Alt-Shu, I swear, he might just be as curious as you are right now. One day, he is going to leave Azma on his own adventure. I keep wondering, when do you think we will start ours?" He turned his body a bit to face him better, as the sun rose overhead. "I am not sure how much longer I can wait".
Emry lowered his body so the water was up to his neck. "I wonder what its like, all those wonderful places out there. Sure, you can hear and read the stories, but that's through the account of someone else. I want to experience it close up. For one thing, living in this desert city, I have no idea what snow is like. Alt-Shu, wouldn't it be nice to know how it feels ourselves? When we start our adventure, we should run into a place with snow. And beaches. And the ocean. And unexplored temples and ruins and what not. I want to know what it feels like to walk through those places on my two feet. Stories, logs, even artificial magically created snow isn't enough for me".
He wrapped his arm around Alt-Shu's neck, and smiled. "Given all the training we have done, combined with my high magical power and your expansive research and knowledge, we could probably become great adventurers right now Alt-Shu! After all, there is no one I would trust more to have my back!"
After releasing Altian, he just floated there for a bit, taking in the peace and happiness of hanging out with friends while dreaming about adventures, Emerin suddenly got a feeling something was up. Before he could even leave the water, another orphan, Hawke, showed up. "Emerin, its Vale! Some strange foreign knight cornered him into an alley and attacked him after Vale just passed him near the Market close by, screaming something about how filthy trash should keep to themselves!"
Moving so quickly that anyone looking would only barely see, Emerin now stood behind Hawke, completely out of the water, dripping wet, with his dragon tattoo beginning to glow. "Hawke, don't worry, I will handle it. You ran here right? Store your stuff and rest in the hot springs for awhile. You should have already, its against the rules to be in the bathing room with clothes on. You have to respect rules when it matters, such as in the establishment of this kind man, got it?"
"Kava, yes sir" he said, getting Emry all embarrassed again as he quickly got dressed in his short pants and his cloak, before looking back at the others. Being a desert city, he never had to dress much. And he liked to be barefoot because he loved the feel of the ground underneath his feet and the wind between his toes, and he didn't wear a shirt all the time because of the heat as well as the ability to feel the wind against his chest as he ran.
"Lotota (Worries No/No Worries), it won't take long" he promised. "I will make sure Vale is safe. Alt-Shu, if you want, I might need your help if he is powerful. Don't want to risk anyone getting hurt".
He then moved at amazing speeds, thanks to his light body. He knew where the market was from there, and knew which alley he likely was cornered in. Emry had no intention of allowing anyone to get hurt for what seemed to be a knight with too much pride and stupid. Even then, he had to be a horrible man, to outright attack a child with a sword. Its why the dragon was glowing. His anger was bringing forth his magical power. "This knight....Bakata Gvel Vokima Vro Hashel!" (Idiot will learn his lesson!)
As he turned the corner, he found Vale cornered by the Knight near the market. "Hey, you. What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Fucking brats, I am a Knight, and you will show me your respect once I beat you within an inch of your life".
Given the way he sounded, Emry guessed he was either part of an order that did not teach modesty and respect, at least self respect, or he was a former knight who had been kicked out and disgraced and was taking his anger out on those who could not fight back, or who he thought could not fight back. Emerin planned to teach him what happens when you harm one of the Children of Azma. "Exactly who do you think you are, hitting a child like that?"
"A Knight with the Order of Truth, I am Sir Ramsly, and my order are those who hunt for the Truth and dispel the lies of darkness. And I will prove to my order that I am the right successor to lead the Order. This boy dare disgraced my by touching me without even apologizing in the street, someone of his filth doesn't even have the right to look at me directly".
Suddenly, Emery appeared on the other side of the night, and picked up the small boy, Vale, in his arms. "So, your just some disgraced anger filled knight who didn't get what he wanted right away and decided to take it out on others. How pitiful. I am betting you are a spoiled noble too, who knows nothing of hard work and got everything you have so far dropped into your lap. You clearly cannot be from our lands, because our King, Royal Knights, Knights, and even just regular guards and even nobles all work hard. This is Azma, in the land of Ashara, where everyone works hard to get where they are. This boy, Vale, is better then you by far already. He works hard for his dream, working every day to earn money to buy food, water, and clothes. In fact, he even sometimes buy books and helps teach other orphans to read. He works hard for his dream, and to help others achieve their dreams, while you just gave up because something did not go avira rais!" (your way!)
The Knight got irritated, and lunged at him, swinging his blade to slash Emerin's back to create a deep gash if not outright cut him in two, only Emerin was no longer there. "What the fuck? Stop running and fight me if you think you are so tough!"
He had moved to the entrance of the alley again, and put Vale down. "Listen, Vale. Once I am done, I will treat your wound or get you a doctor if needs be, unless Alt-Shu shows up first to use his healing magic on you and that's all you need. But, right now rest, I will deal with this Bakata".
"You dare turn your back on me twice?!" he shouted, slashing at Emerin....only for his blade to get stuck in seeming mid-air as the growing crowd oohed and ahhed. Emerin's cloak flew into the air, so now all he was wearing was his shorts, and most of the dragon was clearly visible to those behind him. "What the fuck is this!?!"
One of them stepped forward, a member of the guard who knew Emerin well. "No need to call the other guards. Emerin is more then capable of taking on this weakling".
Another onlooker however took interest in the Dragon Tattooed boy. He began muttering to himself. "I wonder....could he be the one we have been searching for?"
"This is part of my magical power, the first power I ever developed. Wind Barrier! It can stop any sword made of steel with ease, and even magical attacks can be blown away by it" Emerin explained as the Knight's sword was barely gripped by his hands. "Huh, your not as weak as I thought. Too bad its not at full power. And I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Emerin, Emry or Emery for short, and I am a Wizard and a Child of Azma, one of the luckier ones who got adopted".
The Knight tried to press further, but the barrier bounced him back. As he got to his feet, he realized just now what the real point of the wind barrier was. Thanks to it, he could not get to that boy, Vale, and use him against Emerin. In fact, he could not run at all. Emerin's wind barrier had blocked off the alley. But he had his own tricks. He slashed his sword, and suddenly a wave of energy erupted from it and slashed at Emerin. It nearly hit, but Emerin blocked in time with his dagger. "The fuck? What is that made of?"
"Good question" Emerin mentioned. He didn't actually know. "That said, while you cannot manifest your magic directly like a Wizard, Mage, or Sorcerer, you can clearly utilize your sword to help utilize the little magical power inside you, just like how at least some bit of magic exists inside us all. I guess you are more dangerous then I realized, maybe you actually did some work, though nowhere near as much in your whole lifetime as this boy has to do in one year. I better take you out quickly so no one gets hurt all the same though, many people here don't know how to fight properly and just want to live their average lives".
"What was that you brat?! You cannot defeat a Knight like myself!" he yelled, charging at Emerin with fury and vigor, his magical energy flowing into his blade which caused it to actually manage to start to break through Emerin's Wind Barrier. Still, Emerin did not show any sign of worry. He grabbed the blade with one hand, stopping it completely.
"This is another one of the magical powers I have acquired and trained. Physical Enhancement! It allows me to enhance my already well developed body to become unnaturally strong. A normal steel blade cannot penetrate my skin when I have Physical Enhancement enabled. And now for another one of my magical powers....Lightning Claw!"
He snapped his fingers, and lightning charged up into his other hand. He then jabbed it right into his armor protected stomach, and sent the disgraced knight sprawling backwards. As he struggled to get back up, Emerin had already moved up right in front of him, and kicked him square in the face, knocking him back further. Still, the knight got up, with even more anger. "I am a knight, clad in armor and wielding a sword in which I protect the good, just people! And a knight will not be beaten by some worthless trash!"
"Its a good thing you don't deserve to be called a Knight then" Emerin remarked with wit. Suddenly, powerful wind started to flow around his arm. While technically, he was personally attuned towards Spatial Magic, having lived in Azma for his whole life, he was also exceptional in Wind Magic. "Now, its time for the signature Wind Spell of Azma. Only those who lived in Azma for years, and who know the feel of the hot desert wind of the day, the cool desert wind of the night, and the power of the vicious sandstorm winds, can know how to use and cast this spell. Now, I use the Ultimate Spell, Windbreaker!"
Suddenly, as Emerin punched forward, a small but powerful tornado of wind charged forth at amazing speed from his fist and arm and rammed into the knight, shattering his sword and armor made of steel, and sending him flying backwards. Windbreaker, the power of Wind so great it could shatter stone and steel. It could only be learned by those who knew and experienced the winds of Azma for a long period of time. He looked at the unconscious knight, and turned away. "Weakest Knight I have ever met. No willpower, no strength. Incapable of understanding that things are rarely just served up to you so easily. Any number of orphans I know could have beaten you". He then looked down at Vale. "Like you Vale, who has worked hard for everything and is ready for setbacks. You are an example of why I care about you all. You Vale, will grow up to be much stronger then him".
This was why Emerin was well respected and well liked by the orphans, the Children of Azma as they are called, most store owners, quite a few guards, and every single honest hard working person in Azma. He respected hard work, and showed respect for hard work. Emerin had helped countless people throughout Azma who work hard. The farmers who struggle to grow their crops, Emerin helped provide water so they could grow and flourish during a dry spell. He was always there to help those who tried to pick on the tired who had finished a hard days work, or were faced against an enemy who was clearly too much for them. And they also respected Emerin's own hard work. He has worked so much to work on increasing his strength, speed, magical power, and combat abilities to become an adventurer. That is why a ten year old boy like him was able to shatter the armor and weapon of a knight. The knight believed he had been entitled to everything, and didn't understand hard work, while Emerin worked hard nearly every day of his life to get stronger, faster, better.
And he inspired others to do the same. A few years ago, the orphans of the street were alone, starving, and barely getting by. So one day, he worked extra hard at the Bakery, and did some extra work for others on the side to buy ingredients, and he made a ton of extra bread he and his father didn't need. He then went and distributed that bread to each and every orphan in the city. He helped them form a family, unite together, help each other out and support each other, and work together to do small jobs around the city to make money instead of just having to beg and steal. It was he who gave them the name Children of Azma, instead of just orphans, because it meant they were all part of one family. They might not know their birth parents, but they knew they were from Azma, so they were the Children of Azma, and everyone in Azma. They belonged to no one, but were taken care of by everyone and by each other.
To others who were not used to the traditions and way this world worked, Emerin might seem a little weird at first. Not caring about being seen naked by his friends, caring so much about people who were not even related to him, indulging Addicus' and Altian/Alt-Shu's curiosity, and the way he spoke to Hawke about respect. But for this world, it was not as weird. It was just Emerin, with his kind heart. He didn't coddle the Children of Azma, but he didn't let anyone push them around either. He only interefered when he needed to, and otherwise helped them stand on their own, so they would have the chance to grow up strong and loved, to have a chance at a future. A simple story of friendship, that was Emerin. Friendship, respect, and kindness. Emerin looked at Vale, with a half smile and half concern. He kneeled down to talk to Vale eye to eye. He always made himself eye level to those he spoke to when he could. A lot of people looked up to him, and he was a bit embarrassed by that. "Vale, never ever give up or let anyone push you around, got it?"
Vale, still weak, handed him a journal. "Emerin-Lovir, I overheard him...I am sorry for causing this trouble, but you have...you have to read it. Its all his discoveries, and when he had it open, I noticed a section...about a Dragon Tattoo, linked to some rare texts and some sort of ancient prophecy. I just....after all you had done for us, I thought you might want to find answers about what has always bothered you the most: Your origin...".
Emerin smiled. "You shouldn't steal, at least not without great thought and good hearted reasons, but thank you Vale...Vale-Shu. You truly are one of the greatest".
Vale smiled back, as Emerin caught his cloak which fell back down from the sky while the dragon's glow faded until it went away. Vale had this peaceful smile, though Emerin had already made sure he was not at risk of dying. He was just happy and tired. "You called me Vale-Shu..."
Meanwhile, a few onlookers watched with peaked curiosity. They had come here for something else, but now... "Yes, I am certain now....we have finally found him, the one that got away. The key to finding Mirror's Edge, the great power" one of them said to himself as he slipped away.
As Emerin stood back up, his bare feet pivoting on the sandy street as the wind pushed against his chest, he got a strange feeling he was being watched, and something would happen soon. But that second one he already knew. He smiled, and half spoke to himself. "Well Alt-Shu, looks like its beginning sooner then we thought. Because I trust you can find a clue inside this notebook combined with all your research into the tattoo already. I have no doubt in your abilities".
And once again, Emry had this smile on his face. A smile that radiated warmth, that let you know the world was not a dark place, a smile that showed how kind and wonderful of a person he was. It was a goofy smile granted, but all the same, there were some people in town who would pay money to help bring that smile back if it was ever lost. It was the smile of a kind but hot blooded adventurer.
(Welp, the fight wasn't that epic, but that Knight was kinda lame anyways. Still, a good way to open up) (And no, I don't expect everyone's post to be as long as this one all the time, but I had to do something to keep myself busy)