HellsEmbrace

HellsEmbrace was a lowborn of the Arcane Flight, but being poor had never bothered him much.

The high lords and ladies and the Flight had countless duties, never-ending courtesies to keep up, and the lies. HellsEmbrace had no idea how they kept them straight in their heads. So he served them, but he never envied them.

Instead, he longed for the open road. Knights, merchants, traveling bards - they all brought incredible stories of the mysteries of the Starfall Isles, the technological wonder of the Shifting Expanse, even the far off lands of The Southern Icefield. They might as well have been imaginary, for all their remoteness.

He had resigned himself to a life of living through the fat bard's stories when a miracle happened.

Her name was Crystal, and she was a lady Pearlcatcher of the Ice Flight. She visited his lord as an old friend, and brought him stories of a university - no, the University.

HellsEmbrace lingered near their table longer than could be considered polite. His lord brought him forth.

"HellsEmbrace, why do you stare at our Lady Crystal so? You no doubt make her uncomfortable." he chided him. HellsEmbrace lowered his head. 'My apologies." he murmured.

"No, young one. Lift your head," a gentle voice said, "Answer your lord's question."

He met the Pearlcatcher's eye. "I only wanted to learn of the world beyond this flight, m'lady. There is only so much to see in the castle's wall, and I have seen my fill of it. I want to see it all." As soon as the words slipped out, he lowered his head, abashed at his honesty.

But the Lady's voice was tender. "My lord, let me take this child with me. He is curious, and he will excel at our place. He may return to you one day to be of great service to you. Or maybe," and she looked at him directly at this, "He will be a hero in his own right."

The lord waved his claw. "As you say, my friend, as you say. He will go with you. HellsEmbrace, go prepare your things. The lady leaves in two days time."

Those were the longest two days of HellsEmbrace's life. When they departed, he had no one to bid farewell to besides his lord. He faced the future with pride.

HellsEmbrace graduated with top honours in Ice Magics, the rough hewn young man who had entered the place a gentle scholar now. As he left the University, he had many farewells to say - including Lady Crystal, who smiled and called him "my child" as he left.

Now, with all the knowledge of a gentlemen and some, he turned his face again to the open road.






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