Archon Realm:
"Oi! You there, keep it going!", a towering figure encouraged his soldiers-in-training with a nod of approval."yes. just like that. Grip it tightly.", he instructed, his voice stern but encouraging.
Far off, that's Thaddeus, my mother's most loyal lieutenant and one of the strongest generals, training the newest cadets, typically Archonians have Two pairs of wings. But there are whispered tales of exceptions. Although I haven't seen anyone, some rumours suggest that Thaddeus possesses six. Towering above most Archonian, his long black hair falls backward, he looks a bit scary, wearing a pristine white armour, from the centre of chest golden runes enveloping his whole body, radiating a otherworldly aura. Despite his imposing presence he is one of the kindest people I know
Ah I am still weak compared to him, my mother and another dev-
'thwack'
"oww what's that for Mrs. Elsiya?",I exclaimed, rubbing the spot on my head where she had just smacked me.
"huh!? Lost in thought again dear?", Elsiya, my devil of a wife appeared with a teasing smile. Her head barely reaches my chest, with a fair complexion and piercing blue eyes shining with mischief. Her silky short white hair framed her mesmerising face, and wearing a light blue training robe smeared with hints of violet, she looked stunning, but her beauty bellied her devilish nature....
"Thinking about me, were you?", she said narrowing her eyes with a mischievous smirk. Sometimes I swear she can read my mind. "Focus Suwan. Faster, and don't forget to use your momentum" she added, swatting lightly on my head.
"Roger that ma'am", I replied playfully, giving her a wink.
"Oh dear, I almost forgot to mention, general Auriel and his squadron are currently away to the Asuran realm", Elsiya said casually, stretching her arms.
Our world is like closet of small bubbles. To understand it, let's Imagine a box of sweets from the lesser realm, if I remember right, they gives it to others in some special occasion. Ah coming back to the main topic- and so inside this it Include different kinds of sweets just like a bouquet of flower, and each of these sweets is placed inside a smaller box to avoid getting mixed.
Just like that, this world has different realms bordered by the fabric of space and time. Different race and species reside in each of these realms. Our realm which is called Archon is smaller as compared to others.
It's like an arena, where there are big houses instead of seats for the audience. The borders are surrounded by big pillars entirely made up of gold with crystals sprouting out of it, these huge pillars served as guard posts too, like scouting approaching enemies. In simple words Archon realm is full of rare resources that's why some races eye it with envy and greed.
But if you think it would be easy then you're gravely mistaken cause Archonian is considered one of the strongest even though our population is less and not to mention it's been protected by a strong barrier. At the centre there is a square-like platform and inside it another smaller square-shaped platform.
The biggest square is the citadel. The walls have been entirely curved out of obsidian crystals, each front has a big long tower-like structure specially made to served as guard post. It's the base of all the squadron and also the training ground for all Archonian's disciples. And at the foremost centre is the Royal palace. Crafted out by Morgrim the legendary being who can craft glamourous structures in seconds, he is the King of Eldritch Elder Realm, which is one of the mysterious realm, many believe it's a mere folk tale.
"Was it some kind of invitation ?" I inquired
"yep you guessed right, the king of Asura's Krynnor sent a letter yesterday, expressing his desire to discuss so called prosperous future.",
Asura realm is like our arch-rival. Krynnor is the newly established king of Asura realm. We don't have any information on him aside from the fact that he is now opening his hands to welcome us.
"hahaha it seems so full of craps, but his way of doing things is completely opposite of his ancestors that's certain" I said with a snort.
"yep darling!. And one more thing, Krynnor even sent five precious armour and ten weapon of high grade to our four generals excluding Aurie since he will receive it there."
Our Archon realm is protected by five generals, if I sort them by ranking it would be- Auriel, Celestia, Lucious, Caspian, Elara. And my mother Seraphine is the chief of generals. Our late queen was the strongest followed by my mother.
"And right now general Auriel is away too" I voiced with a hint of uneasiness
"hehe no need to worry dear, my mother-in-law Seraphine will handle it", Elsiya declared while puffing up her chest with pride. "and don't forget the lesser realm beings, are with us too so we can call them anytime. Even if the Asuras decide to attack us they won't be able to attack us unless someone form our side escorts them in and that won't happen" she added while balancing her sword in her palm.
"yea-yea you're right, humans, elves, dwarves they all are interesting species it was good decision we protected them," I said agreeing with her. "but let's complete our spar first shall we?" I suggested.
She nodded as she began to take her position with her sword drawn. okay let's first analyse the surroundings. she is standing in defence stance, holding her training sword with two hands, the ground covered in grass, behind her one a Yegsil tree which is known for strong trunks.
Planting my right foot forward bending a bit low and strengthening my legs with mana I dashed toward her.
She raised her sword to defend, with her left foot behind.
Quickly I tried to slash her in an arc.
She deflected it with ease.
But I anticipated that, as I quickly shifted my weight and kicked her abdomen
She blocked it with her legs and quickly retreated backwards with a flip.
"Fast as ever Elsiya," I remarked
"hehe i am right?", she replied with her chest puffed and a playful smirked on her lips.
I quickly dashed behind her, wind crashing to my body as I appeared behind her to slash her again but to no vail, as my sword passed through the air instead. Then from behind a kick struck my back, sending me flying, and crashing into the yegsil tree's big trunk.
With a flip I recovered my stance, picking up my sword which fell when I hit the tree. "Ha! Brace Yourself-I am going to use magic now," the corner of my lips curving upward.
"Sure Darling! Or else it would be too boring", Elsiya yawning raising her arm, with a flick of her finger, beckoning me forward. She is clearly taunting me as always. "But wait- which stage is your core right now?"
"You're asking of Mana core or Aether core?" I asked with a frown.
"Idiot! How can a Archonian have Mana core-"
"Yea! Yea! I know", interrupting her while hiding my embarrassment. "It's still on Aether first stage"
Every living being have a core, mostly it's mana core. But we Archonian have Aether core. Aether Core have three stages- Stage I, Stage II, Stage III. From what I have heard, Mana core have more stages than Aether core but its easy-to-understand Mana and train it, unlike Aether which required deep insight together with circulating it.
"Hehehe, while me, it's Aether second stage!", Elsiya boasted with a smug. " But I still can't find out what Aether path do I have....". I kept on noding not understanding anything she is saying.
"..Oh.... Everything went above your head right?" Elsiya questioned, raising her eyebrow, her ears turning red. She is annoyed for sure this time.
"So you do know that we have Mana and Aether all around us right?" Elsiya started explaining but not before smacking me again. Ah my head hurts. "..Are you listening?"
"Yes ma'am, Please continue"
"Ok so, Mana user can use the various elements that are present in nature. While we can manipulate pure mana and can influence Aether.."
"yea-yea I know this things"
"..Don't interrupt me Dear" Elsiya frowns in ire. "Aether is a mysterious element even for us too. After you get to second stage you will receive a path of Aether."
After a brief pause. "But-then you're in second stage and still no sign of path!?" not interrupting her this time.
"Yes that's strange." Elsiya raising her palm and closing her eye for a second, her brows pulled close.
"What if it's kind of hidden, and you're not able to sense it through normal logic?", Carefully prodding. "Maybe you have to understand it differently"
Elsiya joltting her eyes open, " Maybe!" her voice excited, and suddenly pulling me in a tight hug.
She seems bit happy. " Don't worry too much", returning her hug with a wide smile.
"Soo when is our baby coming", Elsiya said with an innocent smile, raising her eyebrows.
This completely caught me off guard, as I could feel my ears turning hot. "We just married cause of the custom but we are still 19" Turning around I somehow said without stuttering.
"Mother-in-law voiced it too…." I could feel her grin burning through my back.
"Ah the time will tell.." I walked a bit away from her, trying to hid my smile. " Oh! I actually was going to show you my spells today"
"Ok come at me" the boredom in her voice noticeable. To be honest this things makes more cuter her cuter, I nodded while chuckling as I took my position.
Actually Archonian can even manipulate mana with the help of aether, by influencing or guiding it. Guiding the aether from my core, channelling it to my back, the familiar warm sensation flooded through my vein, aether responding to the silent call of my will. With a deep breath I focused on that warm sensation while picturing of my wings.
Slowly, I felt the weight on my back shift, it felt like unfurling a tightly curled hot coil, the around me seemed to shimmer with energy, as my wing emerged with a gust of wind. Catching a glimpse of my wings through the corner of my eyes, hues of golden particles of light danced across each feather.
Stretching my wings, with one big flap I rocketed towards Elsiya, wind whips across my face and batters my eyes, as within a second I was a few meters above Elsiya, launching a rounded kick I sent her crashing backwards.
Ah, she defended it with her forearm. Even after using my wings she is still this fast. I began channelling aether, trying to influence it to make mana obey my command. I quickly reached out for fire element, conjuring it on the palm of my hand as a small globe of fire spawned. Putting more intent to it, the fire grew in size glowing in purplish hue.
With a spin I launched it towards her, the flaming ball began to get more big until it was almost near Elsiya. She effortlessly flew upward. With a 'boom' , the purplish flaming ball hit the ground, causing dust to cloud.
"Is that all??" Elsiya looked down on me from above with a smug.
Of course not, as a smile crept on my face. Within a flash of a second, I conjured dozens of purplish flaming balls, but this time making a layer of wind element to match her dodging speed.
With another flap of my wing strengthened with Aether, I burst above Elsiya, without wasting any more seconds I aimed the flaming balls towards her.
The first five balls grazed her as she dodged, then another three balls caught up to her, and with a 'boom' she fell to the ground sending clutter of dust flying, the remaining four balls found the target as it hit the ground clouding a big cluster of dust. Ah did I went a bit too far?.
Just when I was about to go down, I sensed a blow coming from behind, curving my wing, and with a gentle flap, I dodged it turning toward my attacker. It seems Elsiya has opened her wings too. She went for a straight punch aiming directly towards my face.
I somehow managed to block the fast punch in the nick of time, pushing the wind towards her I move backwards. Channelling aether again, making dozens of flaming purplish balls, but this time It will be a bit more special.
The spheres began to crackle with lightning, the air around it seems to buzz like miniature thunderstorm. "Here I come!", announced as I hurdled myself towards her, the spheres circling above me. Elsiya is still in her defence stance but this time with a serious look.
As I was almost near her, I launched two sphere, one aiming at her and another one aiming at the ground. She jumped upward dodging the first sphere. With a thunderous boom, the spheres hit the ground, creating rubbles of dust, the dust covering me entirely, and letting few of the spheres lay hidden in the dust
Without wasting any seconds, I flew up, appearing just above Elsiya, as she looked up towards me, with a downward swipe of my finger, I released my spheres.
Elsiya swept downward to dodge my spheres, and that is what I was hopping for, as the spheres from below hit her back creating another cloud of dust, and at the same time the spheres from above hit came to her. As nano-second later, the thunderous boom again resounded.
With my wings, I cleared off the cloud of dust. There she was standing tall even after all those hits, most of the time she dodged me, I think this time she underestimated me. Her face looked like she was cleaning a dirty old attic, her robes got tore from all those flaming spheres.
"Ah! let's call it a day", she said while looking up at me, rubbing off the dust from her robes.
"Sorry about that" I apologized while pointing toward her torn robes, that was her favourite training robes. "I went a bit overboard today"
"Don't worry about it dear, just buy me a new one from the lesser world", smiling warmly Elsiya beckoned me to follow. A gentle breeze followed us, cooling my body from the heated training. Walking beside her, I could feel my hair dancing in the wind. But nothing can compare to her hair.
Her short hair swaying in the wind as if it has its own life. The fresh grasses are now ruined from our so-called spar, the sky dyed in crimson hue with streaks of violets painting the sky, in the midst of this ethereal stood Elsiya, her face bathed in the amber rays of everlasting sun. But there is she my wife laughing like a crazy maniac. I hope this captivating moment lasts eternity.
"What are you staring at?", she asked in a shy tone pulling me out of my reverie, eyes reflecting her flustered heart.
"Just analysing our battle idiot", I lied. Just then an odd foreboding hit me, like something bad will happen, and soon my thought proved correct as I could hear screams of agony and loss followed by a loud explosion.
We both turned toward the source of the sound, as cloud of smoke began to spiral upwards.
"let's go dear", Elsyia commanded, her voice unwavering. We began sprinting toward the centre of the screams. I could smell the fire, it seemed the whole Archon realm was on blaze. The invader appears to be wearing red armour, with hints of black, in their chest there is a symbol of a dragon, the dragon looks ghostly painted with red more like blood. The invaders have horns that seems to spiral upwards. It can only mean one thing.
"Damn those Asuras", cursed Elsiya as she pierced the unfortunate soldier with her sword, killing him in a second.
"Krynnor, the king of Asura sent his Wraith Asura division", I said to Elsiya as we reached the centre of the chaos. Lifeless bodies of Archonian women, children, and elderly alike lying on the ground. The usual fresh grass and flowers are now coated in red.
"Those bloody Asurans", Elsiya cursed again, her anger palpable