(https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1873701 | Character Appearances)
Starring
- Greissmeistr Samaeil Aesma Larai
- Princepya Zera Serafinniya Nariatai
Location : Ederal Larai (A mansion of House Larai in the mountain-city of Edellarium)
Synopsis : Zera visits her PTSD-ridden superior Samaeil.
The decrepit granite walls of the Ederel Larai estate felt ever-so confining. Although built to be a gilded reflection of the mountain-city's aristocratic decadence, it served only one purpose:
a prison for the shell known as….
"Samaeil" a voice called from behind the entrance into the bedroom chambers. Ordinarily, such rooms were filled with exotic linens typical of the Ardenarai elite, jewelry curated by the famed artisans of Deschareis, and of course were enclosed by stained glass windows that reflected brilliant rays of light in by daybreak.
It was instead crowded with charred remains of furniture, both wood and metal, scattered around the cratered ceramic tiles. There were once panes that allowed sunlight during the morning, in their place were cold hard bricks that served to keep somebody in, rather than out. The visitor’s name was Zera Serafinniya Nariatai,a princepya of a holy Trinitarian order known as the Tayfarath, with a heavy sigh, she opened the door into the prisoner’s confines.
“Samaeil.” Zera once again called out to the woman in-front of her. It was yet another day of her beloved colleague’s psychosis. Samaeil is the Greissmeistr of the Tayfarath, effectively the highest-ranking officer that commanded the flow of battles; she too was once a greater, and more beautiful angel than what Zera could ever aspire to be, now reduced to a hollow being consumed by a never-ending thirst for murder.
“Ghgg….“ Samaeil glared in her direction, blood leaking out from beneath her skin, spontaneously igniting, and eyes red as hot-iron. Of all Rittermaetri of the Tayfarath that came to visit her, Zera was the sole exception to her rampage, normally a bloodbath would result from such interactions.
“A walk, let’s go out for a walk. “ Zera went behind Samaeil, pushing her gently across the door, with the almost-catatonic greissmeistr moving along. Once they reached pass the hallway, the princepya grabbed hold of Samaeil’s right hand and continued forth. No light reached from outside, it had already been nightfall since their arrival. Scars of Samaeil’s previous outbursts are carved in parts of the hallway’s walls, gradually fading away the further they walked from her personal quarters. Soon, Zera chatted about the news as usual. “Have you heard of your nephe- I mean the Kahrethaya's victory in the Festival of Twilight? He’s such a gifted individual, I remember holding little Clardai in my arms back then. “
“I need . . . blood . . I eat . . we are one . . . with peace. . .“ absent-mindedly babbled Samaeil, completely ignoring her companion’s attempts at conversation. “We must . . . become . . quench the thirst . . “
“Clardai has grown up to be such a beautiful person. “ Zera proudly flapped the wings behind her back as emphasis. “He's very much unlike his late-father. I think for once, Clardai might be able to change Ardenarai’s future. I myself couldn’t believe that he was able to defeat our family’s contender for the throne, my uncle that had victoriously triumphed in the war for Halvak’s pass, at such a young age. I sort of miss the days when we two would treat him with cute toys to play with as a kid. He's grown too old for that already. “
“Nghhhhaa… peace . . . for the . . . kill . . . we are . . . justice.” unrelatedly replied Samaeil, by this time, they had reached the court gardens of the Ederal Larai. It was a rather dainty balcony-like area providing a view of Edellarium’s night sky. Zera pulled Samaeil along to one of the benches and began sitting down.
She wasn’t always this way, Samaeil’s condition is a common occurrence for veteran members of the Rittermaetri. It started during one out of many raids the Tayfarath conducts on Kalestiyanai, the Greissmeistr then had violated the order of battle in the Medereian forests, rampaging across the countryside in pursuit of the Radiant Host’s routed forces after suffering heavy casualties to her retinue. While brought to her senses, eventually such behavior spread outside combat, and no longer discriminated between friend or foe. The former Samaeil was a kind and wise leader that cared for those under her command, her magic was the essence of life as force and being itself, capable of healing even those fatally wounded, giving people second chances in life. Rage has long since then morphed it into uncontrollable flames, scorching away the hands of the people she once loved. The Rittermaetri are in the constant process of dying, eventually transforming into corrupt shadows of their former selves, always darker reflections of their beings.
“The Dehauen (foreigners) are quite interesting to observe, do you think we could gain much more if we opened up to them? Or would it bring our ruin? Regardless, Clardai in this way is very unlike the previous Kahrethaya, I think we will be seeing more of the Dehauen soon, maybe you could even meet one of . . . them”
A tear welled down beneath Samaeil’s anger-filled eyes. Even in the midst of psychosis, occasionally, the Greissmeistr would have brief moments of lucidity, uttering pained words. “Kill . . . me . . Kill . . . me . . Kill .. . me . . . Kill . . . me.” Samaeil’s hand went for her chest, intending to rip out her own heart in an act of suicide, but a timely intervention of Zera’s panicked grasp froze her hand solid, although such feats would have killed a normal human being, RIttermaetri were able to recover from all sorts of injuries befalling them, especially those of their rank. Samaeil began thrashing around violently.
“With a piece of knowledge from the outside world, . . . maybe we would be able to change somethin-” Samaeil’s other hand went for Zera’s throat, although the Princepya simply swatted it away, and froze it as well. Eventually, Samaeil’s resistance left her own being. “-As always we will be following your guidance, Greissmeistr Samaeil. In the Purest’s Name. “
Zera saluted, it was once an irrational decision to keep a fallen Rittermaetri alive, much less allow one to stay as the head of their organization. In the modern-days, many of their sisters have devolved into vile warlords losing sight of their original purposes. It wasn’t them who used magical power as a tool for protecting Ardenarai, but power using them as a weapon to take control, dominate, and subjugate those beneath it. She was unsure whether she was already one of those aforementioned people.
The day ended with the Princepya sending back Samaeil back to her quarters, rendered unconscious lest the woman would go on rampage across the Ederel Larai estate. It was just one of the many days Zera visited her, in a flimsy hope of seeing their Greissmeistr recover from the sickness of her soul. It, too, is the start of the story of Ardenarai, and the many people that come under it.
(The Tayfarath are a holy order in Ardenarai dedicated to the worship of Trinitarianism and defending the Kingdom.
The Rittermaetri are a race of ascended female human beings.
Ardenarai is the kingdom, located on the east of the Regal See, it is ruled by a Kahrethaya, corresponding to a king.)
Kalestiyanai is a nation to the west, it is a republic and a long-time rival of Ardenarai.
Eleutheria is the name of the island.
The Festival of Twilight is a succession held after the death of a Kahrethaya, where all noble houses put forward a candidate to duel to death with everybody else.)