(Azriel POV)
I sat back into my chair in silence looking at the three people at the table. Ashdeer's face was grim while Loius looked poker faced. Ilana, was drumming her fingers on the table impatiently. She obviously was keen to get the meeting moving.
She cleared her throat and said, "Azriel, I understand that you had a short betrothal to Ashmeer, and I also have been a young girl with dreams in my heart, but sometimes one has to digest hard truths about the people we care about."
The Book sniffed and said, "I can never imagine this crone to have been a young girl!"
I would have giggled in normal circumstances, but today I only felt bereft. Why was it that all those who loved me and whom I loved and cared for had slipped away from me in a matter of a few days itself. Father, my step mother, my step siblings, Ashmeer, all of them were gone and here I was sitting with three strangers in a strange land figuring out the rest of my life.
Ashdeer said, "Azriel, I know this is a lot for you to digest, but we don't have the luxury of time and grief. I am assigning Wole and Ewol as your official protectors and Tara will also be staying with you in your room. We foresee attacks happening anytime and anywhere, though for them to get to Fortress Irismus is next to impossible. We will need to be very careful for the next few weeks."
I nodded feeling an incredible weight on my shoulders. I felt very disturbed by the way things were unfolding. My mind was whirling as I took the impact of everything Ashdeer said. Ashdeer looked at me and said, "I think Azriel you need to understand that you are a very special and unique and this makes many forces and people want to get to you. I do feel that you will need to learn how to harness your powers better so you can defend yourself and stay away from those who wish to harm you. Ilana, Louis and myself can help you do that."
I nodded, but I had the faintest idea on how I was going to go about it. Ashdeer had a plan in mind already.
"Azriel, the first thing you need to know is that there is a long history to Irismus and you are definitely a part of this history. I wish for you to understand exactly what you are getting into."
Ilana and Louis got up and took a bow saying, "We will skip the history lesson. Too much to do."
A shadow crossed Ilana's face as she said, "I'll go and meet Layla as well. If she is upto meeting me today."
Ashdeer nodded and said, "I am not sure Ilana, but I suggest you try your luck."
As they both left, Ashdeer said to me, "Don't mind Ilana and Loius. I know they are a little eccentric, specially Ilana."
The Book snorted, "Little?"
"However, they are very loyal to Irismus, to me and to our duty. So you don't need to worry about anything, Azriel."
I sat silently, waiting for him to continue.
"Irismus was once a normal Kingdom, full of mages and witches. It had the largest university in all the Land where many people came to study the ancient arts. Unfortunately, there was one mage who wanted more and more power, so he began to seed in doubts into the minds of the others till he was able to break away a small group of mages and witches on his side. Their aim was to take control of all the land and they launched a great offensive on the rest to achieve this. Thankfully, they were pushed back by the rest of the mages and witches, but something terrible happened in the battle. There was a tear and rent in the fabric of space time itself, and The Blight came about. It grew and grew around the land north of the Kush mountains, where the battle had take place till it swallowed away whole villages and cities. Half of Irismus was taken away by the Blight. The mage and his band of followers went with him into the Blight. Their magic was powerful enough for them to change it to their land and rule over it."
I looked at him in shock and asked, "How long ago was this?"
"Almost 200-250 years ago Azriel."
"Around the time of the ruin..., " I whispered
"Thank God, she gets it now, I had almost given up on this one!" The Book sighed.
Ashdeer however, had no idea about the Book's thoughts and continued, "But, strangely enough, as the Blight grew, Irismus changed as well. The land changed, the people changed. The magic of Irismus grew stronger than ever. There were as we call it mutations on both sides due to the fallout of the Ruin. Everyone changed, the mages and witches who went to the Blight, as well those that stayed on here in Irismus. Slowly all creatures changed and moulded themselves to the proximity of the Blight. Strange and wonderous creatures came about, phoenixes," he looked pointedly at me, "Dragons, all sorts of beasts, fowls, mer people, unicorns etc.....it all changed. Maybe as a way to keep the balance between the Blight and the rest of the land. It seems to be some sort of balance between the two Azriel. Which means there will be a mirror to yourself there, as well as myself, there in the Blight."
I looked at him in shock and said, "Oh!"
The Book snorted, "It's time to maybe ask some intelligent questions."
And so we went on back and forth, talking for a long while, Ashdeer and myself as I tried hard to understand the history of this strange and magical land I would now call home.