GLD side-story: First journal of a rewritten history

Late winter, year 683 Age of the ascended. 

Iris was flying over the capital with a clouded look in her eyes. She knew the situation with the war was not good and the sudden summons from the king only made her even more worried.

Walking through the grand halls of the royal palace, she ignored the bowing servants and the stiffening aura all around as she stepped in front of the throne room.

The servant there bowed as well as he said: “High Ascended, Iris Golden, the King will receive you now.”

Iris nodded as one of her eyebrows arched upwards in puzzlement. That was her official title, but no one ever addressed her that way.

Stepping past the servant, she pushed open the doors with her air energy and walked down the path to the throne. She could see all the nobles looking at her with excitement and hope, which only made her even more confused.

When she arrived in front of the throne, she bowed as it was customary and said: “Iris Golden greets His Majesty, King Oath.”

“Stand up, Iris. This time, I summoned you here to request a favor.”, said the king with a long sigh. The dark circles under his eyes told a long story about the situation of the war.

Iris lifted her head and waited for his words without making a single comment.

“The enemy alliance has arrived at our last stronghold, slaughtering everything in their path. The last source of defense we have left is The Academy. I would like you and the other teachers left to join the fight as well.”

Iris’s heart shook at the news, and tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. Looking up at the king, she asked with a trembling voice: “What happened?”

The king sighed and said: “As you know, the alliance broke the pact and hired two fifth shell destruction users from the far north before mounting a quick assault. No one could stop…”

“What about Maya?” asked Iris, not willing to hear more pointless battle reports.

The king shook his head and said: “There is no news of any survivors.”

Iris’s tears broke away from her control and started rolling down her cheeks, her last conversation with Maya playing in her head.

‘Hey, Iris, that useless king is sending me into war next, now that the alliance broke the pact. If I don’t come back, get rid of that virginity you’ve been saving for hundreds of years. It would be a shame if you come after me as a virgin.’

‘Maya, be careful. You know destruction energy is powerful. Seth could already fight one tier above after just breaking through.’

‘That lucky brat. Don’t even mention him in front of me. Running away without a single word of thanks.’

‘Maya, I’m serious… Why not hide and wait here so we can fight them together? You know I can’t leave.’

‘Haha. That’s the closest thing to treason I ever heard from your mouth. Are you that worried about me?’

‘Maya, you…’

‘I’ve already lived my life in full, Iris, and I don’t even know if I’ll ever break through this shell. If I die, it will be without regrets. It’s you I’m more worried about.’

‘….’

A sudden horn broke Iris from her thoughts. The king’s expression also turned panicky as he asked: “They are already here?”

Iris ignored the commotion and quickly flew out of the throne room. High in the air, she could see thousands of troops on the horizon.

“They reached so close with no one spotting them? The late news and everything… it looks like the last spy cleansing was unsuccessful…” sighed Iris before flying towards the academy.

Hovering in the air right above, she said: “Teacher and students of The Academy, this is your headmistress speaking.”

“The enemy alliance is already on our walls and the chances of victory are slim, if any. I want you all to try to escape toward the south. Good luck.” She said nothing more before flying in front of the academy pillar.

A sad smile forced its way through her tear-stained face and she flew up to caress Maya’s name on the pillar.

“You were always such a troublemaker, but also my oldest and only friend.”

“Why didn’t you ever listen to me?”

“Why did you have to die before me?”

A slow sigh escaped her lips as she stopped. She knew there was no one left to answer her questions.

“Don’t worry, we’ll all be joining you soon.”

Iris caressed her name once more before flying on top of the pillar and watching the students and teachers rushing out of the Academy.

An orange-haired teacher flew towards her and asked: “Aren’t you leaving, Iris?”

Iris looked at Hollie and smiled wryly. “Why would I? This place is all I got… all I know. Be careful, and good luck on your path, Hollie.”

Hollie nodded and said: “You too, Iris.”, before flying away towards the south. It wasn’t long before Iris was left completely alone.

She could see smoke rising from all around as well as hear sounds of constant destruction, but she remained atop the academy pillar, staring at the empty academy grounds beneath. The screams of death resounding in her ears because of her increased hearing only made her feel more at peace.

A large army led by three men soon surrounded her. Two of them were wearing clothes she had never seen before, easily allowing her to recognize them as the destruction ascended from the far north.

As for the last man, she had also heard reports about him. General Rowan of the Sorrow Kingdom and the leading officer of the alliance.

Rowan also looked at Iris and said: “It’s over, Ascended Iris. Surrender peacefully and we shall spare your life. Your king has already forfeited. The kingdom, together with the academy, belongs to the alliance now.”

Iris surprised the general by lifting her head and smiling at him.

“The king might have the authority to surrender the kingdom, but the academy is not his to give away as he pleases. The academy belongs to me.”

General Rowan frowned and the two men took a step forward, dark-red energy covering their bodies completely.

Iris’s smile grew even larger as a trace of blood started flowing down the corner of her lips. Looking up at the general and the two ascended, she said weakly: “You know, I hated this kingdom and what the royal family had become, but I made an oath to one of the former kings. That I would protect his family or either die with them.”

“I was young, so I didn’t understand what I would mean for an ascended that could live for centuries to make such an oath. I regretted it many times, but I never broke my oath. Now that his family is in your custody and there’s no way I can fight you, I can only fulfill the second part of my oath.”

As her words ended, small fluctuations of air and fire energy started expanding outwards from her body. The two destruction ascended knew what was happening and panic appeared on both of their faces as an even stronger layer of energy covered their bodies.

They didn’t even get to open their mouths to speak when a fire shockwave extended outwards, wiping out all the alliance troops, the academy, and the capital altogether.

The only thing left was a mighty pillar extending in the center of the now barren land and a whisper drifting by with the wind.

“I’m sorry, Maya. I…”