New fic (Tentai)

[Penybright]

~Okay... I've always found the history behind Van's race (the Draconians, etc.) to be interesting. Not much is know about them. Not much is known about Atlantis either, and most consider it a myth. I just wanted to try and piece something together... This little idea entered my brain, and it caught. Van and the rest of the crew will enter in later, but this starts with the destruction of Atlantis, etc. I'm interested to see what everyone's thoughts are on this idea. Let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: Er... nothing really at the moment to say here, it's all original so far -_-;;;;

Tentai

Chapter One: In which Secrets are Discovered

By: Penybright

Gaea smiled warmly as she watched her son. He had grown into a stunning young man at the age of seventeen. Almost every eligible female within a days walk was after his affections. Troy was around five feet, eight inches tall. He was lean and well muscled, with a lanky frame. Dark chocolate hair fell constantly over his reddish brown eyes, adding to his charm. Of course, Troy wanted nothing to do with most of the young women that pined after him. They were all to shallow, superficial. Gaea was gratified that her son saw more to people than just their looks.

Gaea lived with her son on an estate bordering the eastern forests. Their home was a lush, green paradise filled with exotic flora. Troy attended the university at the local teaching hall. He was one of the top students, and his future looked promising.

She was proud of her son and his accomplishments. His father had died only a few months ago, leaving Gaea on her own with Troy. At first, Gaea had been at her wits end. Her marriage had been arranged, and her husband had provided everything for them. When Aaron passed on, Gaea had feared of what would become of Troy and her. Luckily, Aaron had prepared things for when he died. The estate and its grounds were given to Gaea until Troy reached his eighteenth year.

Aaron had been one of the local senators on the council. Gaea wasn't sure, but she suspected her husband's death hadn't been an accident. He had said something about discovering a plot. Without any solid proof, Gaea could do nothing. Aaron had often confided in her, but he told her no details of what he'd discovered. She supposed he had done it for her own safety; her son's as well.

Gaea's smile turned melancholy at the memory of her late husband. Troy had inherited his charm and good looks. Troy's eyes, though, were definitely from his mother. They changed colors becoming a ruby color when happy, and darkening to a deep mahogany when worried or angered.

Gaea's smile brightened as she saw her son nearing. The carefree smile on his face warmed her heart. As he neared where she stood waiting, he flapped his wings gracefully, slowing his speed. The draft his wings created caused Gaea's long amber hair to billow around her. She beamed at her soon as he alighted on the ground serenely, folding his wings behind him.

Her smile vanished completely when she saw his bruised face and bloody arm.

"Troy, what happened?" His mother fussed as she looked him over. Troy grimaced when she touched his cracked and swollen lip.

"I was attacked," Troy replied truthfully. "I was lucky to get away alive."
He paused, looking into his mother's eyes.

"They wanted my blood Ma'ma."

Gaea gasped at her son's statement, her eyes clouding over with worry.

"Let's get you inside and cleaned up," Gaea intoned, tugging lightly on her son's arm. Troy followed her to the estate, more than happy to enter the safety of its walls. Once Gaea had tended to Troy's various scrapes and maladies, she allowed him to explain what had happened.

Apparently, on his way home from classes, Troy had been confronted by an unruly group of five men. Troy had asked them to let him pass, and that's when they jumped him. Luckily for Troy, he was more agile than his attackers, and was able to escape and wing his way home.

"They mentioned a man called Xuthus," Troy commented after a moment of pondering.

"Ma'ma?" he asked in concern as his mother's face became pale and stricken.

"D-did you say Xuthus?" she whispered. Troy nodded, watching her face carefully.

"When your father... left us," Gaea began, "I knew something was wrong. He'd been hiding something from me, and I knew it was killing him inside. I tried numerous times to get him to open up, but... he refused. I did get one thing from him though, and that was a name."

She took a deep breath, staring levelly into her son's eyes.

"That name was Xuthus."

Troy blanched at his mother's tone. It was as if the name itself were death.

"I... don't think I understand," Troy said, bemused. Gaea looked at her son, gauging the impact her next statement would have on him.

"Your father's death was no accident, Troy. He was murdered."

"But, how is that---"

"Truly, you don't believe the lies you've been fed. You're much to bright to be fooled so easily."

Troy sighed uneasily.

"You're right. I just didn't want to believe that father had been... Sometimes, it's easier to believe a lie, than to accept the truth."

"That's often true," Gaea conceded. "Accepting the truth proffers its own rewards as well, though."

"What should we do, Ma'ma? If this Xuthus person is the one who... Why is he after me?"

"Perhaps it's because of me," Gaea murmured. "Troy, I... How do I put this? My clan is one of ancient lineage, dating back to the first kings of Atlantis. We were sorcerers of a sort."

"You've already told me this, Ma'ma," Troy interrupted.

"Yes. Well, what I haven't told you, is that we still practice magic. Our ancestors guild, my guild, is... in harmony with Atlantis."

"I don't understand... What are you tying to tell me?"

"The easiest way to explain it, would be to say that I am part of Atlantis. In a sense, I feel what the land feels," Gaea said, willing her son to understand.

"Ma'ma... how is that possible? Are you linked somehow...? Or are you an Earth Creature?"

"In a way, we are linked," Gaea interrupted her son's rambling.

"What does that make me?" Troy whispered, almost fearfully.
Gaea smiled softly at her son, clasping his hand reassuringly.

"In time, soon as a matter of fact, your unique ability will be revealed to you. For each individual, it's different."

"Will I... change in any way?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not. As I said, for each individual it's different. What is important, though, is that you tell no one about this. If my suspicions are correct, Xuthus is out to kill all of our kind. He swiftly brings about Atlantis' death."

Troy gawked at his mother. Did she just say what he thought she had?

"Be prepared Troy, destruction whispers in the winds."

Troy shuddered at the finality of the statement. He could feel an odd chill to the air. It was as if death were hovering, waiting to swoop down on the land.

"What---"

"No more questions. You need to think over what I've told you. Go now," Gaea said gently, shushing her son outside to the gardens.

~Questions? Comments? All are welcome!

[Raspberry]

I'll be glad to read more. I really liked this fic. It's so... misterious Please continue