ARYSARNIA

ISLE-HIMETHRIL

Isle-Himethril was full of wide eyed apprentices seeking to become wizards and would do anything to be recognised by the members of the orders. The monastery did not want them unleashing any harzardous spells upon the kingdom and so kept them away from civilization.

"That's how I found myself in the Inferno " Genffaine recounted the tale of how he and his brother were discovered by the Owls in the Inferno and recruited to train as wizards given to Barsithe, the brilliant curly-haired senior he had come to befriend at the monastery. 

It had been ten years since they were brought to Isle-Himethrill.

Spiken Cynthalith did not abandon Tikan, he kept him by his side in all his activities, asking him for help when he wanted to undertake projects that needed a little technology. Tikan was a genius with gadgets and he designed a plan for the renovation of the Inferno, the dungeons, and even the throne room while at the monastery, to maximize security and prevent infiltration.  When he was appointed apprentice to the wizards to help in infrastructural development and defense of the city he effortlessly memorized the map of Crystalia in his head in other to make it easier for repairs of his underground installations of traps and alarms.

The wizards announced as the moons went by that it was time for the orders to choose their successors to protect the throne and to deal with the curse of the call.

The Order of Owls at the time were in charge of the defense of the city, serving as eyes for the kingdom while the Eagles swore allegiance to the service of throne and in the service of whomever was heir. But first, the apprentices had to prove themselves to be placed in either Orders. 

Tikan by virtue of his talents had made his choice of order easier to guess. Genffaine and Spikencynthalith on the other hand were still a mystery. The apprentices were made to rotate in training under the auspices of both orders, gaining equal knowledge in both magical arts.

"Man is acursed-inflicted by an ancient wound, you may not know it hatchlings but you are not here on this Ile just to learn how to cast spells and earn the honours to be called wizards. You are here as soldiers who are being fortified to defend our kingdom and throne. You are here to be prepared to make difficult choices to make or unmake us all. Leave the Ile before dawn if you feel inadequate for this responsibility. If you decide to stay-and I mean it...you shall be required to prove your worth" The Father Owl said in admonition, then he stepped aside for the queen; who by virtue of the throne was known as the Mother Eagle, leader by birth right of the Order of Eagles.
Her presence caused a sensation among the assemblage and murmuring surged in the darkness of the assembly of robes.

"Once upon a time, a great misfortune befell mankind- you all know this story very well, and as such whenever a new heir is conceived to the throne the fate of the old one is to die for the survival of the kingdom. Once a new heir is born  rulers have been forced to take their own lives or it is taken for them by poisoning, draining of blood, burying alive and the like to appease the blood lust of our cursed throne before it destroys the land. I am willing to give my life to save our land and our race from corruption"

The queen stood before them poised but somber, her congregation was silent. They marveled at how she could talk about her own fate with such calm.

"But I ask you today...Are you worthy to stand by our kingdom? Are you worthy to stand with me in life...and in death? I want you to make yourselves worthy if you feel inadequate"  she concluded.                                                    

The order of Eagles accompanied her away after her speech into the lofty corridors of the fortress towards the common room of the wizards.

The apprentices dispersed quietly to their various dormitories having a new sense of responsibility and burden laid on their hearts.