Illya: Begining

Ruby sat in the library, reading a book titled "The Fall of Grandomina.", which spoke of how Grandomina had been destroyed by an undead horde and how Black Marsh had been created.

"The Bloodriver clan of vampires were unmatched in power and skill in necromancy. They waged a long and bloody war against King Alexander and the people of Illya.

Using their powers, the Bloodrivers raised an army of the dead and spread through the county, slaughtering countless and using them to swell their army. The main bulk of the army was focused at Grandomina, where the King and his army marched to meet them. Initially, Grandomina had stood firm. A beacon of hope for the cowering citizens of Illya. The undead had been stopped in their tracks, with the Bloodriver Generals Garrus and Aqua falling to King Alexander's blade.

The King pushed further into what is now named Black Marsh, driving the undead back to Castle Bloodriver.

They were decimated by Lord Bloodriver, who slaughtered thousands of the soldiers who had marched to defeat him.

The King was forced back to Grandomina, where he made a final stand with his men. Bloodriver and Alexander faced each other in single combat. The King fell with Grandomina.

Three days later, the final 40 of the King's men gave their lives to protect a group of mages who destroyed everything in Grandomina, including themselves, with magical power."


Ruby closed the book and stroked her familiar's head with one finger.

"And then mages were blamed for that whole thing, even though mages were the ones who killed Bloodriver."

"Not everything is so black and white, Ruby. They were fearful of the mage's power."

Ruby sighed, standing.

"You're right, Casper." she said as her familiar hopped onto her shoulder, "They fear what they can't control, and so they control us."

Acelin sat outside in the courtyard of the school, eating her lunch. She laid out a blanket and flopped down in the sun while chewing on a sandwich. Her familiar, a red fox she named Cherry, laid beside her as well. She had to give a laugh at the whole situation. Her parents had raised her with almost no freedom and taught her all her manners, yet her she was laying on the grass instead at a table using proper ware. A group of students walk by and call out to her. She looks over and gives a wave, yelling out some hello's.

"You going to feed me anyting?"

Aceline looked down and shrugged.

"This should be animal abuse.."

She gives a laugh and flicks Cherry's tail.

"You picked me.. Now you're stuck."

Ruby walked to the library doors and pushed them open, walking out into the bright grounds of the college.

As she crossed the grounds, an older mage pushed her, causing her to drop the book.

She turned, feeling anger rush through her while the air around cooled slightly as she prepared her spell.

Acelin heard the clatter of a book hitting the ground and turned to look at the Library doors. A girl was charging a spell at an other mage. Acelin tilted her head, she had never seen two mages fight before. Cherry also looked up.


"Should I..?"

"No, don't get involved, you'll get in trouble."

"Say sorry." Ruby said, almost shaking, "Now."

The mage turned, half laughing as he did.
"Make me."

Ruby cast her spell, half-freezing the mage.
She stepped forward and picked up the book, glaring at the frozen mage, before continuing back to her room.

"You should be careful, you can't freeze everyone who annoys you."

"It's worked so far. Most of them leave me alone."

Nathan quietly sat on a bench on the college grounds, rolling his eyes at the mage who had taunted the girl.

"Don't even try it Nathan..."

"Anyone tell you you're scary when you're like that, Vectes?"

"Occasionally, but then most of those fools aren't alive."

Nathan rolls his eyes again. This was one of Vectes' more annoying habits.

"By the way...do you have any food left?"

Nathan tosses Vectes a cooked rabbit.

"Here you go Vectes...go crazy."

Vectes immediately pounces on the meal, Nathan trying hard not to chuckle at the spectacle.

Ruby walked into her room, closing the door gently behind her.

The bloody caretaker had the fire lit again...

She quickly cooled the room to a more comfortable temperature for her, usually a few degrees lower than others' rooms, and put the book she had in her arms on the table.

"Ready to try again?"

"Only if you are."

Ruby sighed and closed her eyes, trying to see through Casper's. They hadn't mastered familiar magic, despite their effort.

Vectes finished with the meal, clearly feeling pleased with himself, despite nearly making himself look like a complete idiot.

"Were you laughing at me the whole time?"

Nathan shook his head, despite him wanting to do the exact opposite

"Good...willing to try that little spell of yours again?"

"You must be mad if you think I'm going to do it publicly"

"Goodness, no. Let's head back to the room and do it."

Nathan stroked the top of Vectes' head. "Alright. Sensible as always."

Nathan lets Vectes hop on his shoulder as he heads back to the room, Vectes looking somewhat pleased after the meal that Nathan had just given him.

Ruby focused on the spell, clearing her mind. There was nothing, then she began to see a very faint light, which somewhat resembled her room, but from another angle.

The light expanded and-


She could see the room.

She opened her eyes, and blinked, the angle of view she had of the room changing back to her own.

"We... actually did it."