Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira
A Story of our Ancient Past

It shined with the light of a thousand stars, glowing brighter than anything I had ever seen before. The light of the amulet lit the entire room with the color of its crest, the orange found of fire. The slightly transparent stone clashed like fire against the black background, as such a creation such as this should never be stuck in a room as it was, it was made to be worn. “Alright,” Akuma said, looking closely at the black granite column it sat on. “Big glowy necklace which can destroy worlds, check. Now, to get it out.”

I peeled my eyes from the necklace, “it’s probably some sort of trap. It could set off an alarm, send some sort of animal at us, the options are limitless and probably painful.”

Akuma nodded, “so we have to do this right,” he said, continuing to study the column. There was a carefully designed carving of an army of shadows, commanded by a small figure. She pointed up towards the top of the column.

“This design probably has something to do with it,” I murmured, running my finger along the girl’s arm. I noticed a fairly large groove just above the tip of where she pointed. I looked inside. A piece of papyrus was held flat inside. I carefully worked it out with the tip of my smallest finger, moving it just a little bit farther each time, until I could grab it and pull the piece out. It was folded, so the actual words were still a secret. “Akuma,” I whispered, watching him poke his head up from across the platform at the sound of his name. “I found something.” He walked over, curious.

I waited for him, then unfolded and read, a clue you have found, a journey you have been on, a necklace which awaits you, a world in ruins.

A story I will tell, so hold tight and listen to these words, for they hold within a secret:

A story I will tell, so hold tight and listen to these words, for they hold within a secret:

Once there lived a girl, beautiful and kind, yet naive and young. She loved her world and her world loved her. She was a chosen one and ruled fairly for years with her little sister by her side.

Eventually, she fell in love with her guard. One day, the creatures of the shadows attacked her island. Everyone fell into a neverending slumber, including her beloved, who was about to leave her, as he was wounded in battle. After losing so much, she was set on saving him.

No matter the cost. She made a deal with the creatures of the shadows, to trade her soul to save him, but by the time she reached them, it was too later and her soul was no longer her own, and after a century, the darkness had consumed her. Now, a weapon of destruction, she is no longer human. Written words may tell a story, but stories unfold through action.

Remember these ancient words, fire burns, water drowns, ice freezes, ash falls, wind stings, earth rises, and balance seeks it all. The five, the heroes of this broken world. Each with weapons of their own, chosen by the gods they will free us from this never-ending torture.