[The Bronze Forest] Elements and Life

by **Annabel Erobern** on August 10th, 2015, 12:23 pm

72, Summer, Year 515

Smell of leafs, soil, water and sun itself filled the lungs of Annabel Erobern. With a bag on her back, boots in her left arm and a large branch in the right one the girl peacefully strolled through the forest, feeling the grass, dead leaf and multiple little insect carpet under her bare feet. The sun was gently caressing the females soft skin and the fresh wind from Copper Mountains was cooling down her burning face. It had been few bells from the moment Anna left the city and looked for a calm place to enjoy herself. The hot weather wasn't that bad between the trees and the moist air was almost cooling. Though even with it the many bells of walking had tired her and she felt all sticky and dirty.

This was a risk, the girl knew that. The forest was a dangerous place for those without any knowledge of how to act in it, but again, the best way to gain it was just to jump in the fire, get burned and then learn from these burns. In so she took the risk, packed her bag with some food, water and other stuff, and with a straight back headed in the unknown wild...Alright, maybe not the unknown. Saying the truth, Anna had been here few times with her parents, as one of the ways to improve their Reimancy is getting as close to the elements, as possible. This was also actually the main reason for her to now going here...As well, as it was quite dangerous to train in something while at home.

Anyhow, Annabel stopped for a moment to rest. Her feet were aching in pain from the long walking, but she took quite a pleasure in it. The girl would sit down at the base of a tree, press her head against its hard surface and look just right up in the sky. Not much of it could be actually seen, as the green mass of leafs blocked most of the view, though it didn't bother her much. The way sunlight intermixed and shone through them was calming in its own way and Anna could really relax. Just sitting like that, without moving and listening to the sounds of forest brought peace to her. She could almost fall asleep.

But no, the girl snapped herself out from this trans-like state and stood maybe a bit too fast. Blood rushed to her head and Anna became a bit dizzy. This dizziness, as she just stood there, went away in time and with it sounds and colors of her surrounding returned too. The girl looked up again. The sun was just above her and her stomach was growling, which probably meant it was dinner time...At least for her. Opening her bag and taking out a piece of bread she continued her walk.

Maybe a bell passed, maybe more, but for her it really didn't matter. The sun was still well seen between the trees, nothing had attacked her and the red haired female was enjoying herself as much, as possible. She tried to see everything, spot what happened around her and of course dramatically failed in it. Animals were around her, that much Annabel knew, but with that it also ended. The living life was so well adapted to their surrounding that it was almost impossible to spot anything. Few time she thought of spotting a bird, though probably it was just a falling leaf. There was those moments when she noticed something rushing in the bushes, but as well that could also been just her imagination. Anna started to feel really confused in this place, all her senses being overpowered by the living nature itself.

Then it happened. The trees completely parted, at first blinding the red hair. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the light and with it the female saw a big field. It seemed fire had spread here and had burned quite amount of woods. The ghosts of the smoke, smell of dying trees, still lingered, but while this clearing at the first moment seemed deserted from life, it surely wasn't. After all of the colors and shadows the thick forest held, it was easy in this clearing to spot a running squirrel, fleeing birds and in far, almost the other side, a deer. Her breath was taken away by the beauty of this majestic creature, but as her foot stepped in the sunlight filled field the animal ran without a second thought. A sting of disappointment touched her heart, as a sad smile formed on her lips.
"I have still a long way to go!" She muttered to herself.

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Annabel Erobern** on August 13th, 2015, 7:05 pm

72, Summer, Year 515

It was now that the girl stood in the center of the field. Centers were always a good thing, because in them the person felt a greater tension put on his/her actions. In such also the female felt like thousand eyes, big and small, where quietly watching her, following her every move, judging the girl. This feeling, even if without any real base, sent small ants across all her body making Anna shiver, clench her fists and feel tightening at her spine. It was a uneasy pressure, but needed for her to do the best she can today.

Her things lay a bit further away. Close enough for her to reach them, but far enough so they wouldn't be harmed by the girls actions accidentally. Annabel started to concentrate so she recollect certain memories. Memories of her childhood, how her mother used her Reimancy and the lessons the girls father gave to his daughter time to time. Anna knew that to do what she had planned required these memories as clear, as possible. But, as the time passed and she just stood there nothing came back. The memories were there, she knew it, but the tension played back to her making everything foggy in her head. She bit her bottom lip, thinking that this was the worst joke of Karma ever played on her.

Though it didn't mean the girl was about to give up. No, that completely wasn't in her plans. The youngest of Eroberns understood that it was probably better if she could calm down, reaching the state the red hair had when taking a break at the forest. Anna sighed, closed her eyes and sat down at the newly grown grass. The outer layer of the land was dry, but as her finger dug deeper into the soil, it became moist. This moister in a weird way calmed the girls nerves a bit down, though her mind was still overflowed with thousands of different thoughts. She pressed her back against the hard wood of the stomp behind her and closed her eyes to remember.

It was hard. Different fragments of the girls thoughts rushed pass her eyes, not letting Annabel to concentrate on what she needed. The fact that she was in a unusual didn't help at all and probably was the reason for her pent up mind. The colors and images of today's walk was mostly what Anna could recall the best and it was what stick in her memory for the longest, before flashing away. She hated it and her anger was no help now. The girl felt the sun burning her fair skin, knowing that if she will sit like that any longer her body will be red like a tomato after few bells. Anna concentrated even harder.

As chim after chim passed her thoughts started also to calm down. They became slower, not rushing like the wind in Autumn day. While listening to the sounds of birds, grass and her own heartbeats, these sounds became the center of her mind. Annabel used these sounds as a way to calm down and soon she managed to remember. Remember clearly the day her mother thought the young boy next door about the magical discipline.

These memories were fading because at that time the girl paid more attention to the handsome guy than what her mother was telling him. And why would Anna need those knowledge at that moment. She herself had only started tempering with Reimancy and those kind of lessons wasn't even meant for Annabels ears. Because of that reason, she had now hard time to remember what exactly her mother was telling to him. It was something about the ways how you can focus your Res, gather it in tighter consistence. The example her mother gave that time was how medicine became stronger and stronger when more ingredients were put in lesser amount. While not knowing actually anything about how medicine worked, the girl still could imagine what her mother was telling the boy that time.
"Lets give it a shoot, shall we?" Annabel muttered.

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Annabel Erobern** on August 21st, 2015, 3:01 pm

72, Summer, Year 515

Annabel got up, brushing dirt off her clothe. She had a bit stiff muscles and her butt hurt from sitting too long on the hard ground, but otherwise the female felt as good, as one could. A cloud cast a shadow on her, but disappeared got out of suns way as fast, as it got there. Anna looked around twice to see if anyone was around, but, without some rare birds, nothing. Pleased that there was no one who could interrupt or get hurt, the girl decided to start.

As Annabel stretched out her fingers to begin the stiffness in her muscles reminded themselves and she stopped in what the girl was doing. A irritated puff was let out of her mouth, as she let her hands fall at her sides.
"Probably it would be best to somehow loosen up a bit. Of course it would be good if I would know how to do it." This moment now made her a bit irritated, as she really wished to start already. Still, Anna understood there was no meaning in training if you couldn't give your all and in such she started to do something one could call a awkward warming up. All the girl knew about stretching out muscles and body parts was what she had seen some random people do before exercise. And even that wasn't much, as she paid more attention to the males physical appearance then what they were doing. Though these knowledge were the only ones Anna had and in so they needed to do.

The first thing she did was again stretch her hand and bent down, trying to touch the tips of her toes. The girl tried as hard as possible, but her legs were just too long. Anna didn't give up as she could remember the guys doing what she was now. In so the girl stretched and stretched until understood that her back bone was something Anna needed. Done with this, next she just raised her arms up in the air and again stretched. This was something the girl did every morning and Annabel could imagine this also counted. After this followed few other unsuccessful tries to copy what she had seen, but even in feeling so silly the stiffness had become almost unfeelable.

Done with this the next step was to do warm ups the young witch was more familiar. First, she extended her hand and opened her palm as if she would be holding something in it. Gas type Res was flowing out of it and formed into a simple bird shape. Afterwards the outer layer of this bird light up in orange, warm flames. Concentrating on this one bird, it started to awkwardly move its wings, like a puppet it was, and started to fly close around the girl. In time the birds movements became more fluent until it looked almost as good, as the real thing. Done with it the girl dispersed the bird and absorbed all of the Res that made it move.

Done with this little warm up, next was something a bit difficult. Anna pushed her Res in gas type out of her body and filled the space around her. Doing this she closed her eyes, inhaled and focused on the matter to make it gather in multiple places. Doing so the young Reimancer created five small Res balls in the air. These balls then shaped into a butterfly form and as the bird before, light up in flames. Still with eyes closed, as controlling multiple objects at once was quite harder, Annabel gave them a simple command to circle around her. With this thought still in mind she slowly opened her eyes, seeing if her control was enough to observe her surrounding and control the multiple Res objects in the same time. In the first moment it seemed all fine, as the girl turned her head to right and left and the flaming insects still floated around. Though a ray of sun shone directly into Anna's eyes, in so blinding her for a moment and disrupting her concentration. The Res manifestations fell apart and she needed to hurry in absorbing what was left.

Feeling more ready then before the girl bent down and attempted the most hardest part of her "warm up". Water element was something she only recently started to utilize and Annabel didn't have huge understanding how to mold it. Combining the two elements weren't even a thought Anna would have now. This was then the main reason why the girl thought this as being the hardest part. First, she bent down and put her hands on the ground. Slowly letting her Res out from her palms and into the soil in liquid form it went a bit down, but then again up a bit further from her. There at first something similar to bubble escaped the ground. Then it changed shape and went up, looking similar to a plant sprout. This seemed more like something a small kid could make from mud only maybe with more details. Seeing it as much, as she could do, the Reimancer ordered and the awkward sprout figured turned into something like solid water. A light smile danced across Annabels face.

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Annabel Erobern** on August 25th, 2015, 9:23 pm

72, Summer, Year 515

Finally Annabel felt as ready to actually do what she had intended today. When getting back up the girl straightened, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her arms were again stretched as before and palms opened as if she would be holding something in them. Her goal wasn't simple. Actually, Anna wasn't even sure will this work, but something must be done to hone her skills and at the moment she didn't have better ideas.

Res started to slowly pour out of her body and in the surrounding. The point was to gather as much Res as possible in one spot, tightly together. Because of that Annabel decided that gas form was the best for this kind of experiment, because it was the lightest and most dispersed from all Res kinds she could conjure. It could float in the air and was more or less under her control.

The unique matter was flowing out of the girls every pore, seeming as black smoke or crumbled pieces of coal in Autumns wind. Upon feeling that enough of this Res had left her, Anna didn't like the feeling of being completely empty, she ordered it to gather between her both hands in a ball. At start this ball was around the size of a marble. Then it grew as more and more of the Djed formation was absorbed in it. Chim after chim this sphere became larger and larger, until it reached the size of humans head. There was no more Res to gather, as everything Anna released had been put in this.

The girls heart was racing, blood boiling and she could feel that her head will pop a bit. Maybe this much exercise was a bit too tasking for her, but if the youngest of Eroberns had decided on something she usually see it through till the end. Letting her concentration a bit loose, but not enough to loose her focus on the Res ball, Anna tried to take a deep, calming breath. It didn't help as much, as made the female understand that her legs were a bit shaking. That made Annabel to realize that she needs to finish this as fast, as possible.

In so the girl again directed all her focus on the ball, trying to close out all distractions, though the playful wind and singing of birds didn't help much. Actually, it quite got in the way, as the Reimancers attention was a bit distracted. Another deep breath, count till ten and she focused. Focused as hard, as possible, attempting to mute once again all sounds of the world.

Slowly it succeeded. Everything seemed a bit more distant. With this short moment of clarity Anna pushed the Res ball to its center. At first this seemed as a easy task, but with time the task became harder and harder. It was something like shutting over-filled chest or like pushing back a bull. It created mental pain and made the young Erobern bit her bottom lip. Pounding in the girls mind became louder and louder, her breathing was unstable, but she just kept on.

Then Annabel felt it. The limit of her power. Slowly opening her eyes she saw a small, black ball between her palms. In appearance it seemed to be made of metal or solid rock. This object didn't reflect any light and just was there, still in the air. Anna knew it wasn't long before her mind would give in so, not wanting to waste the chance, the girl threw the ball in straight direction. Upon it reaching boundaries of her control the girl ordered it to transform in pure fire. The effect was much more then she imagined. Suddenly her mind let go as if she had dropped a anvil. In the same time the small sphere light up almost white and exploded in multiple waves of fire. The only thing Anna managed to do was put her arm in front of her face and good she did that, as the flames and shockwave pushed her down on the ground, created minor burns on her skin.

Birds had stopped singing, the temperature in the field was a bit higher then it should and Annabel was just lying on the ground like a dead body. Blood was coming out of her nose in small stream and fire marks on her arm skin were bright red. Only the light breathing showed that this person haven't left the world yet.

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Annabel Erobern** on August 27th, 2015, 8:55 pm

72, Summer, Year 515

It was dark. Dark and cold. Her head was pounding like mad and hands seemed as if they would be on fire. Fire! Suddenly this word summoned some weird, unpleasant feelings. Why would that be like that, Anna had no idea. Her eyes were still closed. The women wondered why it was so cold in her bed. And why was her bed so hard? With that she too felt quite odd, relating to her body. Somehow it felt like...She wouldn't have it. No, it was there, but in the same time it seemed as her flesh had become into unmovable clay. Strong wind brushed the girls slender figure and she shivered. She possibly needed to close the window. This was the moment Anna realized, she didn't have a window.

Her eyes poped open like two chestnuts that had been held in the fire way too long. The first thing in her view was the star light sky. It was obviously night, sky was in the color between dark blue and black, filled with millions of shining diamonds, stars. The moon resembled a silver platter, as well, as the few clouds in sky seemed as lost, as sheep in the woods. Anna as well. The girl slowly raised her upper part of her body. Her muscles were weak, arms shaking from her weight, head was pounding and back was stiff as lovers lower part in the middle of bed play. Annabel's eyes were scanning the surrounding, as her mind tried to recall what she was doing here.

A sudden jolt of pain in her arms made the girl almost scream and almost loose her balance. Thanks gods it didn't happen, though it shacked Annabel quite a bit. The youngest of Eroberns reverted her gaze to the source of her pain and gasped as shock and memories filled her being. Anna remembered the training, how hard it was and the result of launching the fire ball. The girl slowly raised one arm in the level of her eyes and stared at it with mix of awe and disgust. The outer layer of skin was cooked, while flesh under it seemed moist and a bit...Steaming? In the star light it was hard to tell.

Anyhow, regaining her memories and understanding in what situation she had gotten herself into, Anna carefully got up, being as slow, as possible to not cause unneeded pain. Now, when having a more clear head, it was hard, as her mind could now focus only on the pain she was feeling. It was the first time Annabel had such level injuries, though the fact that in her Reimancy training the girl did get burned countless times now helped endure.

When standing on two feet the first thing she thought was about her stuff. They were untouched in the place she had left them and this fact made her relieved. Bending down and opening her bag Annabel took out her cloak and covered herself, as the female was freezing in the night. Again looking at her burned hands the girl couldn't stop thinking that probably she should do something about them. Anna had no knowledge in treating a injury or illness, but the girl had been in these situation enough times to now put her mind to it and remember something useful. At first everything seemed hazy, as her head was still a bit in mess, but upon taking a deep breath and trying to concentrate the girl remembered some small details. What she could make out of it was that it would be for the best if her burns would be at least wrapped in something, rather then being exposed. Having some sort of plan, she happily nodded to herself, pulled out from her bag a knife and cut off both legs of her pants till the knee. It took some time, as the knife wasn't meant for it and The girl felt a little pity for doing this, though she in the same time understood that it was needed. Done her mutilating of clothing, the girl made few more cuts so that it would be possible to wrap the piece of clothing around her arms.

At first Anna felt pain which made her clench her fist, but after a time it turned into a dull throb and actually felt better then when they were exposed. Done with this, she took her bag and slowly went into the forest, seemingly in the direction from which she came...Hopefully!

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Annabel Erobern** on September 2nd, 2015, 7:30 pm

72, Summer, Year 515

As expected, between the thick branches of woods the moonlight could barely get through. Everything was pitch black, mass of shadows and nothing more. If the girls head wouldn't still be in pain she probably would be scared to her bones. To her everything now seemed a bit blurry and unfocused. Red spots danced across Anna's vision and from time to time jolts of almost unbearable pain went through her whole body. Cold shivers filled Annabels beings. This all distracted her from thinking the actual graveness of the situation.

After a chim, maybe a bell, she couldn't quite tell, the realization of being lost hit her hard. Anna had no idea where she was or even in which direction the girl was going. There was no landmarks she could think of now and the bare light was of no help too. Taking a deep breath, Annabel slowly stretched one of her injured arms, conjuring a small fire ball in it. This ball light up in a dim, but calming light, as it made more clearer the surrounding in which she was. It was a good thing now that the young Erobern didn't like to spend all her Res in one time. Now, while being really hard on the women's mind and body, it allowed for some minor Reimancy.

As she was about to sit down and rest a bit the sound of growling filled her ears. With her dulled senses the female couldn't say from where this sound came, but it sent new wave of shivers down her spine. This time it was fear. This emotion filled her heart, lungs, arms and legs. It made all her body tremble, as the realization of helplessness grew and grew. Suddenly something on her right stepped out from the bushes and shadows, still growling. The girls eyes widen as a black wolf with yellow, glowing eyes stepped out in the light of her fireball. The sight of this beast somehow terrified the girl, making her whole body freeze in fear. There was no more shaking.

Annabel Erobern had only seen wolfs, bears and such predators dead, skinned and harmless. Never had she encountered one so close. The beast was growling at her, what made the girl think for a moment what she had done to upset it so much? Did she anger the Goddess Of Nature somehow? It was a mystery for her, but then something coughed the girls attention. Somehow the fear of death had yet again sharpened the females senses and with them Anna noticed a simple wood arrow in the animals right back leg. It seemed that a careless hunter had shot this poor animal and left it with a arrow in the leg. This reminded her what once she heard from a hunter which was visiting her parents. It was something about wild animals becoming more feral upon being injured. On top of that, not only this wolf had a unique coat color, it was almost twice the size of any wolf she had seen before in her life. All that summed up in her feeling like a caged bird.

The only thing she could think of was running and in such the girl made a step back. It was a big mistake, as the wolf reacted on her movement by making one precise leap with its jaws opened. Anna screamed and raised her arms to protect herself. The fireball disappeared, covering everything once more in darkness. The huge mass of the animal pushed Annabel down on the ground, as immense amount of pain surged through her right arm. It seemed that instead of going for her throat it got her arm and was now creating bigger and bigger pressure on it. The girl could imagine how her arm was slowly being crushed and through the pain the hot breath of this wolf burned her face. The shock was so big Anna couldn't even cry.

Suddenly something started to boil inside her. It was something like a anger. Rage even. With all this, through her fear of dying, Annabel Erobern felt angered that something so simple could put her to end. This was the arrogance that surged through her blood from the moment the girl was alive and now, in this dire situation, this arrogance awakened all the power left in her body. Suddenly her remaning Res in form of wild fire escaped the girls body, causing extra pain, but also greatly damaging the beast which had her arm in its jaw. The wolf let out almost human-like cry and fell on the ground. The girl light up a moment more before going out. Annabel was gasping for air as she tried to get up from the ground. Her chest was heavy lifting and the feeling of the animal being on her still burdened Anna's body. Steam was coming out from every pour of her body and it felt as she had been a coal, taken out from the fireplace. Annabel was more then sure that it will pay back at her health later on.

Taking her time Anna finally looked again at the animal that attacked her. It was still on the ground, breathing heavily and from time to time letting out cries of a injured puppy. All the anger had disappeared from her body with the rest remains of Res in her body and such she could now only feel sadness and pity for the pour creature. It had gone through a lot because of the humans, feeling pain and suffering thanks to them. Tears gathered in her eyes and a heavy rock plunged deep down her chest. Guilt, regret, the feelings she now had for hurting this poor beast.

Anna crawled closer to it, still being a bit careful if it would decide to attack her. The wolf didn't. Up close she was able to see better in dark. It was obvious that her fire had burned its mouth, but also, seeing it just laying on the ground like that made her understand that it was more then that. With trembling hands she brushed the beasts side, feeling its hard and slow heart-beats. While not being completely sure, they seemed too unharmonized. Annabel let out a dead laugh remembering how some hunters bragged about humans being the crown of nature. The most powerful race. All that seemed so silly and stupid. She couldn't even help a poor, injured animal.

Finally getting up she decided to not give up till the end. The only thing now what the girl could come up was to hide the animal. Gathering the fallen leafs she could find around in the darkness Anna covered the wolfs body as good, as it was in her power. It seemed all hate had also ran out in the creature. A faint aura of demise lingered from it. With a last glance the lone Reimancer took a random direction, in her mind doing something she haven't in long time.
"Dear gods! Please help me save this poor creature! Please help me, I beg you! I-I'm ready to do...Anything in return...Anything..." Even moon wasn't witness for her request.

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Annabel Erobern** on September 2nd, 2015, 8:14 pm

73, Summer, Year 515

It have been a bell or even more since the encounter with the wolf. The pain in her arms returned ten folds, making it hard to keep from crying. Because of the fire she released there was no blood and the girl thought to herself that it was a thing to remember, fire somehow stops bleeding. The pain in her head though had seized and it was a good thing, as she needed everything to find her way out from the forest. The female tried to go as straight, as possible because of fearing to forget where she had left the wolf. And there wasn't a big reason for her to turn, as she had no idea where Syliras could be. There was only trees and rare moonlight.

It was till the moment when the green nature started to become more scarce. The trees became fewer, bushes too. More and more from the silver light came down to the land and finally she was out. It was almost the same place where Anna came in the morning. Syliras was in her sight, its lights being like a beacon of hope and safety. The reason why she had such a long time to get out was only because the girl was tired and the pain dragged time more then it was. There was no problem in her sense of direction.

Anyhow, as she went closer to the cities gates the girl put her cloak around the injured body. Her last obstacle, maybe the most hardest till now, was the two guards. She knew well enough how the Knights Of Syliras hated trouble which included magic casters. There was a big chance they wouldn't even let her in without a really good explanation. Because of that a bag of gold mizas was taken out, few were slipped in her palm and the small leather pouch then returned in her backpack. Her hair were quickly gathered in a awkward bun, as well, as the a bit burned face produced a seemingly tired, but calm smile. Would that be enough to fool the guards, who knows.

Finally reaching the well light gate Anna was a bit pleased, seeing it being guarded by a knight and a squire, both being people met in her parents home. On the further note, these two were the same people that saw her come out from the city in the morning and even gave a polite "Be safe!" then. This was one of those moments she was pleased her parents were as social, as they were.

One could imagined that the two guards were surprised seeing her arrive. While the cloak hid most of her body from the girls face it was obvious she had went through a lot. Annabels body sent out a strong stench of smoke and cheeks were brown from dirt. The Knight spoke first,
"Annabel...Greetings! Aren't you late! May I know the reason?" From the tone the man asked her it was obvious this was more a demand then a request and her refusal could very well end in big trouble. Pushing out her best fake smile, as she could, Anna replied. The narrowing of the males eyes very well showed the smile didn't convince him.
"I got lost! Tried to climb a tree near my camping site to try see the city, but fell of right in the coals in my fire pit. Silly of me~"

The squire met eyes with the knight, both looking suspicious. Anxiety with new batch of fear filled the girls body, just thinking of what could happen if they wouldn't believe her. The knight then again would face Annabel, starring in her eyes like a hawk. He was a old man, around his 50, with wrinkled face that showed many years of loyal duty to the cause. Another chim passed, before he finally exhaled, showing her to go forth.
"Move, but may this be the last time! You are a crappy liar lass!" She smiled, this time in joy, when moving in the city as fast, as possible. It was finally over.

Background by: Bnspyrd

by **Nivel** on November 9th, 2015, 10:33 pm

Annabel :

Additional Comments: If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to message me.

Solo [The Bronze Forest] Elements and Life