Caldiria early acess story.

              Seuen looked out over the shimmering rivers and temples that were the Aensien homeland, the moonlight sparkling in the rivers and lakes. He was lost in thought. Tomorrow he was to be forced into a military training program by his father. It was meant so he could defend himself and one day lead his people. He was a prince after all, but it wasn’t what he wanted to do with is life managing a kingdom sure wasn’t it.

He wiped the excess water from his azure skinned brow. His people, the Aensiens, had a special relationship with water. It made up most of his body and he could even command it to do wondrous things like write, create and shape things or even defend himself. It was Seuen’s very lifeblood.

              He pulled at his long silver hair as he looked down from his lofty balcony adorned in memorizing gold and sapphires. Seuen was near the top of a massive temple staring out at his family’s kingdom in the middle of a massive forest, crisscrossed by multiple rivers and lakes. The country was beautiful, and he wished he had more time to explore it all before his father forced his idea of life upon him.

Life. 

I wish I had more time to figure out what that meant to me.

Just a few years ago he still had the freedom to explore and figure things out for himself. But things had changed recently. His parents didn’t discuss with him what had occurred, only that something had shifted in the balance of Caldiria. That had happened about a year ago and since then Seuen’s father had started to dictate that he follow his footsteps to the letter, become both a monarch and a general for some ensuing conflict. Apparently, he was now seventeen and of age as his father said but Seuen felt like there was more to it than he wasn’t being told.

              Thankfully they had yet to treat his younger sister Ien in such a way. She was still about eight years old and at most an annoying pain in his watery end. 

He did care for her though even if she would never give him so much as a moment to himself.

              “Seuen!”

Speak of the devil.

He turned around to see his sister, who was dressed in her pink evening gown. She was staring up at him with her azure hair and eyes with admiration. “Guess what?”

              He rolled his eyes. He didn’t exactly want to be bothered at this particular moment. 

“Does mother know you are up this late?”

              She stamped her barefoot on the ground, silver liquid splashing onto the floor around her. “Answer me!”

              He sighed. “What?”

              She showed him a strange multi-colored rock that looked like it came from one of the lake beds in the surrounding countryside. 

“I found a new place with these things. 

Aren’t they pretty?”

              He picked up the rock to humor her. He had too much on his mind to really care. “Yes, nice looking rock Ien.”

              Her face soured. “You hate it.”

              “No, I don’t.”

              She turned from him. “I can tell by your voice. You do.”

              “Ien I just. Ugh.” He didn’t want her to be mad at him. “Can you show me where you found this?”

              She brightened up, her features turning a bright shade of blue. 

“Of course. But don’t you have a ceremony or something tomorrow? I overheard dad-“

              “What about you and having to sleep?”

              She put her hands on her hips. “You aren’t dad.”

              “You are missing the point sis.”

              She thought about it for a moment. “Oh… What is the point?”

              He rolled his eyes. “Never mind. Why don’t you show me where you found this?” He would rather waste his time out in the middle of nowhere then be forced into the military ranks come morning.

              Ien skipped off in the other direction. 

“This way.”

              Seuen took a few steps and in a hushed tone said, “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

              She turned around and said, “What?”

              Seuen pointed at her night skirt. “Do you want to go outside in that?”

              She looked down. “I have been outside in worse.”

              He shook his head. “Go and change.”

              She walked away, her starting at him in narrow slits. “Fine. 

Meet you in the gardens.”

              Seuen nodded. “In ten minutes.”

              Ien was already gone. Seuen sighed, partly happy to have her gone for the moment and wondering how she managed to function at times. He then turned back to take one final look out over the countryside.  I do hope I am not making a mistake by sneaking out tonight. Why do I get the feeling that I am just going to make things worse between me and my father?

After a moment he then turned and headed into the dark corridors, lit only by a few torch lights. The walls were made out of thick dark wood and the floors polished white stone. He followed the hallway until he came to a huge spiral stairway, silently making his way down so as not to alert the dozing guards that were supposed to be patrolling the area. He didn’t want the guard to know where he was going.

              He then slipped out into the gardens, which was more a series of massive pools teeming with plant life and small aquatic species. 

From here he and Ien could scale down one of the waterfalls and out into the marketplace.

              Seuen walked until he was waist-deep into the nearest pool of water, breaking the shimmering moonlight that had been reflected upon the surface. There he waited for his little sister relaxing in the rejuvenating waters. 

These pools were the purest in all of Caldiria, and it felt like all the toxins in his blood were just washing away. 

Many had coveted the waters that lie here. The area was heavily guarded and he could spot at least seven of his father’s guards right now. But he did know of a way to escape the area unnoticed.

              After a few minutes, Ien joined him, trading her night skirt for a blue leather tunic and pants. She looked down and spoke to him in a hushed tone. “If you are done taking a bath in the crystal pools can we get going?”

              Seuen stood up. “Keep it down, we aren’t alone right now.”

              She walked over to him, the water up to her neck, yet she didn’t seem to mind effortlessly moving through the still waters to him. 

“Don’t shshh me. Now let’s go.”

              He rolled his eyes.  What am I getting myself into?

He turned around and slowly waded through the various pools of water, keeping an eye on the guards. They no longer seemed to be watching him.  Good, I don’t want them to be looking at us when we slip away. Last thing I need is them knowing how we sneak out of the estate.  He took Ien through a dense patch of blue and red vines that hid a waterfall, cascading over the walls of their family’s temple grounds.

              Seuen took his sister's arm and slid inside the rampaging waters. Together they fell into the dark abyss below, relatively unharmed. Ien emerged at the small lake at the bottom, a joyous look in her eyes. “I love doing that.”

              Seuen shook his head. He had mixed feelings about it himself. “Let’s just get going. Show me where this place is will you?”

              She swam to the edge of the lake. “This way.”

              He joined her, water dripping from his body. 

Once on dry land, he watched Ien dash off into the forest. “Wait for me.” Picking up his pace he hurried after his sister.

              They made their way through a grove of tall oaks before coming into the quiet hollow of the Aensien marketplace. During the day the place would be bustling with people and merchants selling goods from all of Caldiria but now only a few patrolling guards could be found. The buildings were built right into the very trees and on the small lakes carved out of oak with streams of water to help support the foundations. It amazed Seuen just how aquatic properties could be harnessed and reviled the strongest steels when made by the right aqua smith.

              Seuen pulled Ien into a corner between a two-story building with vines and a column of silver water in the center of its oaken frame and a small river as a patrol walked by. She tried to protest so he held his hand over her mouth. The guards stopped for a moment in the center of the cobblestone street, looked around before moving on.

              When he removed his hand from her mouth she spat, “Don’t’ do that again.”

              “Be more careful then. You almost ran into a patrol.”

              “They wouldn’t dare hurt me.”

              “Oh ya when you look like some common girl?”

              She crossed her arms. “Well, I would have you to explain for me then. Let’s stop wasting time. I want to show you what I found already.”

              “Fine.” He was starting to regret his decision.

              They made their way out of the capital into the Barrier Forest. It was massive, spanning for almost seven hundred miles in any direction and split much of Caldiria apart from each other. It split the Veleren lands and their capital of Anchorhead to the west and the Lunastate castle to the east along with the Reldishin snowy wastes. 

And of course the Perdition desert regions to the north. Technically the Barrier forest wasn’t at the center of Caldiria but Seuen liked to think of it as such. It was the center of the world he knew.

              The trees that now surrounded them were massive, keeping the moon and stars hidden from view. Seuen kept a constant eye on his surroundings. Dangerous predators were known to lurk in these woods, born of the same strange aquatic life as he was. They didn’t have any means to protect themselves if they were attacked so if anything did present itself he would have to take his sister and run immediately.

              But the predators of the Barrier Forest were not the only things for him to worry about. As of late rumors of people dispersing in the forest have reached his ears. 

People had come to his father demanding an investigation, search parties to find their loved ones. Some even said they had seen who had done it, bands of armored Velrens and Perditions.

              But his father didn’t seem to want to take action fearing he mind start a war with both Anchorhead homeland of the Velrens, and the Citadel, the capital of the Perditions. He thought it a bit stupid not to want to look into why his own people were disappearing but were still unable to do anything about it.

              “We are almost there!” Ien’s voice boomed through the forest. Seuen cringed, knowing that they needed to be quiet, but followed along wordlessly anyways. At this point, it was too late to say anything. Ien was going to be Ien.

              They eventually came to a section of the forest that was thick with foliage and thorns. Ien was able to duck under most of the sharp foliage but Seuen wasn’t so lucky, his tunic getting caught on some of the sharp needles. Carefully he pulled himself free, getting a slight scratch on his left arm. 

Thankfully it wasn’t that deep and didn’t cause himself to bleed.

              They then came into a moonlit glade. He could see Ien standing at the edge of a small pool of pristine water with multiple gems pebbles resting at the bottom. 

“Look. Isn’t it beautiful?”

              He walked up. At first glance, the rocks looked like real gems but on closer exanimation, it was just a trick of the moonlight. He reached down into the water and found them to just be rocks if a bit rare and exquisite looking ones.

              “It is a cool and hidden place is it not?”

              He thought about it for a moment. 

“Cool. I am not sure about how hidden it is. We are but only a few minutes away from town. I am sure someone else knows about this place.” He threw the rocks back into the pool.

              “Ya right. I have never seen anything like this.”

              Seuen had. In fact, there was a shop in the market place that used rocks very similar to this to help enhance their aqua smiting techniques. He wasn’t going to burst Ien’s world just yet though. Besides, it was a nice and tranquil spot.  Maybe I can stay here for the day and forget about being forced to partake in the military exercise after all. Oh, who am I kidding? Father will just send the whole dam guard out searching for me and make things worse than it is.

Their surroundings had become eerily quiet. Seuen looked around him a bit worried. He couldn’t even hear the incent insects anymore. “Ien, maybe we should start heading back.”

              “But I want to collect a few more of these rocks to show to mom.”

              He looked around him, the silence starting to gnaw at his sanity. “I mean it Ien, we should go home.”

              “You are no fun.” She started making her way towards him, dropping the collection of rocks she had gathered. When she reached him she saw the look on his face. “Is something wrong?”

              “I don’t know. I just don’t like how quiet everything is.”

              She looked around. “There is no one here. Who cares how quiet it is?”

              “Let’s just go.”

              She let out a long-drawn sigh. “Fine.”

              They started walking back when suddenly there was a flurry of movement ahead of them and a dark shape appeared out of the brush. 

Seuen instinctually put his arm in front of Ien as he tried to see what this being was as it stepped out into the moonlight.

              Clad in rough chain armor he recognized it as an ugly looking Veleren with dark black hair and two blue pits for eyes. In one hand the man held a curved blade and in the other chains. He raised his weapon at Seuen and Ien and said, “Looky and what I found. Come on over here I won’t hurt you.”

              Seuen whispered to Ien, “Back away slowly and then run for it.” They took a few steps back but when they turned around three beings were standing behind them, all of them Perditions covered in black armor and carrying chains. 

Seuen looked back and there were now more Velrens surrounding them as well.

              Ien gripped his side. “Seuen I am scared.”

              “It will be ok.” He was lying but he wanted to keep her calm. He tried to shield her as they advanced upon them.

              “Now don’t squirm and we promise not to hurt you.”

              Before they could reach Seuen and Ien a new group of figures emerged from the forest, these clad in azure suits of plate armor. 

It was his royal guard. “Step away from the prince now!”

              The Veleren who had been speaking looked around hastily. 

“Prince? What prince. I didn’t know.” He started to back away.” Suddenly his voice went dark. “But if this brat really is then I am going to get paid a ransom for this job.”

              Even more, brigades appeared, outnumbering the guards ten to one. But they raised their aquatic steel weapons ready to fight against the odds anyways, creating a protective barrier around Seuen and Ien.

              The slavers fell upon them all at once. 

Seuen held Ien as dark steel and flaming blades meet aquatic weaponry. Even outnumbered the royal guard gracefully outmaneuvered the Velrens and four-armed Perditions, cutting down saves in mere moments. As they fought Seuen looked for an opening he might escape with Ien to safety. Even though his personal guard was holding they were still woefully outnumbered.

              As two more Velrens fell down to his protectors’ blades Seuen saw his chance. An opening appeared between some of the bodies of the burly red-colored Perditions. 

He pulled on Ien, “This way.” It felt like he was pulling on lead. He turned to look in her terrified eyes. 

“Ien, we may not have another chance we have to go now!”

              She nodded sheepishly. They then ran for the hole that Seuen had found, crawling underneath the bodies. He held his breath, the smell almost unbearable. It didn’t help that every so often the bodies would jostle from those fighting around him. It felt like an eternity trying to sneak under the dead weight, but when they emerged on the other side, he pulled on his sister’s arm and didn’t look back.

              “You are hurting me Seuen.”

              “Just keep running.” He could hear the sounds of clanging steel start to drift off in the distance, but he was afraid to look back. He knew that he had to get Ien as far away as he could.

              Ien’s foot caught itself on an extended root and they both feel into the soft earth. Seuen pushed himself up, spitting out dirt before looking back. “Are you ok?” Ien looked to be shaken but alright as she nodded.

              “Ok, we need to get going before-“He heard footsteps coming from the direction they had just fled. He looked to Ien. “Hide in that brush now!”

              “But-“

              He wasn’t in the mood for an argument and pushed her into the nearest overgrowth and out of sight. “Don’t’ make a sound. If this is those who attacked us wait until I leave them away and then go get help.”

              He didn’t hear a response but didn’t have time to know if Ien was listening. As he turned around three Predations came through the forest, covered in azure blood. 

They smiled when the saw him. 

“Well, at least this won’t be a total loss. Come here you little brat.”

              Seuen ran, determined to lead them away from his sister. He could hear the giant brutes giving chase. He tried to lead them further into the Barrier forest in an attempt to lose them, but they were surprisingly fast. No matter how fast he went or quickly he maneuver they were always right behind him. He was starting to lose his steam fast. If he didn’t stop to catch his breath soon he would fall down exhausted. Looking over his shoulder he could see that his pursuers didn’t even look like they had broken a sweat.  This isn’t going to end well. I just hope Ien is ok.

His knee suddenly gave out and he collapsed. As he struggled to get up the Perditions slowly came upon him from behind, laughing. “Thought you could get away?”

              Another voice said, “Wasn’t there another smaller runt?”

              “Who cares? We wouldn’t get paid much for something that young.”

              They walked over, one of them putting their grubby feet onto my back. “Get him into chains and let’s get back with the others. We are behind schedule as it is.”

              Seuen was dragged onto his feet. He had no idea what lay ahead but at least Ien was safe. 

I will find a way back to you. I promise.