"The first, and most widely revered, of course, is Ataris the Anointed. Otherwise known as Ataris the King of Heroes or King of all Kings. The leader of the Seven Heroes of the Blade and the one who ended the Demi Wars by slaying Animus Sunscourge at the Second Battle of the Stormveil. Said to have summoned an entirely new Hero Blade made of pure light, though reports mainly come from his sworn captain, Davaryn, which makes the claim most dubious..."
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1000 Years Later
There was not a cloud to be seen in the wide Ocean of the Gods, or as others called it, the 'sky'. Nadahra-Elir couldn't fathom how the arrogant Rootless could pray to false deities like the King of the Sun Radiance, or the Seven 'Heroes' of the Blade. How did they even believe their prayers could reach them? With the vast Ocean of the Gods separating the heavens above from the lands of Aecia, only Demi-Gods, like the Sunborne or Lunarites, could cross the Ocean of the Gods. The Living Tree Mahyafus had told her himself. Nadahra felt equal amounts of pity and contempt for the Rootless beyond Theriyafus; she considered it a personal endeavor not hold the Rootless to the same standards she held herself. Afterall, she had the blessing of being a companion to the Most Holy Mahyafus, the greatest and largest tree in all of Aecia. Whose roots anchored the whole continent, from the Western Depths in Arabanthia, to the Eastern Depths in Azarathun.
Nadahra felt her stomach churn once again, the fluids inside her body flipping and turning as the ship, called the Red Thorn, voyaged through the Veneshan straits towards the Aecian Sea. The Red Thorn was a modest merchant schooner of Ataraxan make, a fine vessel, though paled in comparison to the Veneshan Navy. Its captain, Naka- Leandros, was an Ataraxan citizen. In his late twenties, with long hair tied back into a ponytail, and a garb of a wool shirt and standard brown breeches. Nadahra sat down against the mast of the ship, trying to steady her chaotic stomach and resist the urge to throw up once more.
"You alright there, Third Bloom?" Leandros called out to her, walking up to stand over her... composed lounge.
"Don't call me that out here, Nakai," Nadahra replied, realizing her mistake.
Nakai-Zanee laughed, "Oh come on Nad, all of these sailors are a part of the Rootgarden, there's no need to worry." He said, always so lax, though part of that is what drew Nadahra to him in the first place. Nakai was one of her oldest friends, a deep Root in the vast interconnected network of the Rootgarden, Theriyafus's greatest tool against the coming shadows. He might look Ataraxan, but his blood was as deep-rooted as hers, born in the Nayafus Forest.
"Still, it's good practice. I'm supposed to forget all about Theriyafus." Nadahra continued, struggling to keep her stomach inside her body.
Nakai made a dramatically grim face, "Now that's a nightmare I wouldn't even wish on... him.." He said, hesitating slightly.
Nadahra rolled her eyes. Why did everyone have to treat her... reassignment as a punishment? If her father wanted to survey the brewing shadows in Atarax, she would do her duty as Third Bloom. Though... it was a little... inconvenient to leave home, but it was necessary.
Nakai's expression changed from minor concern to a deep frown, "I'll be in Atarax for awhile, monitoring you, I won't leave you. Nobody will; everyone from the Highroot to the Forest's Edge will miss you."
Nadahra rolled her eyes once more, standing up suddenly despite her churning insides. She hated this, couldn't stand this.
"I am Nadahra-Elir, Daughter of the Rootfather, and Third Bloom of Theriyafus. I will do my duty, as the Great Mahyafus asks of me." Nadahra said, storming off into the lower deck of the Red Thorn, she heard Nakai faintly call out to her, but make no move to chase after her.
Good, Nadahra thought, wiping her eyes with the faint tears that had taken root inside them. Roots be damned, why did her body have to cry so much! She wasn't sad! She will do her duty.
Nadahra sat down on the little bed in her cramped quarters. Luckily, the Red Thorn had a few spare quarters for guests. So she didn't have to sleep and change with the rest of the sailors, and could tend to what remained of her once lush hair.
Mayhafus blight him! Why... her long flowing hair, her pride as Third Bloom, and she had to cut it all for this!
It's your duty! Stop crying!
Nadahra wiped yet more tears from her eyes, hopefully, the Red Thorn would reach the Aecian Sea soon, and then Ataraxis. The Capital of the Ataraxan Empire.