A Journey Worthy of the Blade

Chapter 1: Young Beginnings

Once upon a time, that of elderly times, a towering kingdom soaring the peaks of the mountains stood proudly under the name Terra Caelum, rather not standing on her earth but above in the sky. Citizens bustled through its very streets, merchants making themselves a bargain and children playing with an outcry in the plaza.

 In the far north of the island stood it's very castle, guarded with the best of Terra Caelum's knight class, dare say the earth's. Residing there would be their King Avem, father that of the princess. 

Lady Caviere was respectfully in her name to be that of a princess, taking full responsibility for her actions and knowing well she was to be queened soon. She knew of the bratty, disrespectful princesses and queens from the surface, and how they would start a war over a hairpin gone loose. 

"Such barbaric monsters, those surface dwellers!" She'd always comment upon them. But, not all were such monsters.

Aeris had been a smith for his life, since he was but a lad of 4 years when he'd sharpened his first dagger. His father stood proud of him in his craftsmanship, his sister Corus supportive of his work and around the house. He was a surface dweller, living behind the mountaintops at a small village by the name of Thorncreek. 

Stationed at the workshop, Aeris was forging a bastard sword for the family hearth in honor of his mother. Her fate wasn't of a pleasant tale, having passed giving life to Corus. But, today was to get even more surprising than this honorful day. He heard a voice from the front gate of Thorncreek. 

"Citizens! Citizens gather near! Knights from Terra Caelum have arrived!" The mayor called to his people, they running from their homes to honor the valiant armor clad men. Aeris and Corus stood in awe, having never seen such beautiful fine metals forged. Suddenly, they stopped at their workshop. He had no words for the sight, the designs etched into the armor showing off their heir sign, the sacred wings.

"You sir. Is the father steed of the home named Servis?" Their leader asked, noted by his thicker armor and red flag, donning the sacred wings in a golden cloth. 

"Y-Yes sir, my name is Aeris, son of Servis." Aeris gets down to a knee, his sister showing the same courtesy. The knight stepped down from his steed, lifting the boy's head up. 

"I need not this respect, but I do show gratitude. Under the King's request, he had requested that you sir, are to make a blade of this craft." He dug from a pouch a set of drawings and measurements drawn up by the Armorsmith, who hadn't gathered the materials needed and wanted someone else of a similar skillset to do the job. 

"If you are to accomplish this, he who is named the Armorsmith shall gift thou child a place as his apprentice, allowing you to forge more than mere blades, but armor that of this." His armored glove pointed to his breast plate, the metal showing the fullest of Aeris's young face, his blonde hair going down to his neck.

"I-I'm entirely honored sir. Really, I am. But.." Before he could finish his sentence, Servis exited their home. "Hensworth? By the gods, you finally made it." He spoke with a smirk, his beard christling in the sunlight. The captain smiled under his helmet, removing it to show his battle-worn face. His left eye was presumed marble, due to its loss. 

"Indeed I have. Finally to the Captain's Heir, as I said I would. I see you're the father of this lad here? He's a fine smith." Hensworth ruffled Aeris' hair, the teen smiling. "Mhm. He is indeed. Now what's this?" Aeris hands his father the scroll. He opens it, eyes wide. 

"Oh this isn't.." "Hm?" Hensworth was a little questionable of Servis' look. "The Armorsmith.. Why, I remember back when I lived back in Terra Caelum, he showed me something rather similar to this.. He went off about some old witch and how the materials needed would-" 

"-become the finest blade in all the land to slay the witch." They both ended the sentence at the same time. "By the gods.. My son was asked to make Elendor?" Servis questioned Hensworth, he scratching his neck with a chuckle. 

"Heh heh.. Aye." Servis smiles, but with a look of worry. He tightly hugs his son, Corus returning a hug to Aeris. "Please, dear brother. Stay safe in Terra Caelum." She begged of him, "For mother.."

"For mother, Corus." Aeris spoke, hugging his sister tightly. He was hoisted up to Captain Hensworth's pegasus, the guards with them taking off ahead. Aeris held tightly to Hensworth as the steed took off, Aeris looking down to his home. He'd hope for it not to be the last time he'd ever see it.