Areallya C3.1

Happy March! 🍀🌼 Slowly but surely, it's starting to warm up and Areallya is back to bring in Spring. I've also got a lot of irons in the fire. I got the old family PC to boot up, and I'll be taking advantage of anything it can handle lol. Right now, I've got my 3D programs to load and, surprisingly, at least one game. I'm pretty excited to see what all I can accomplish in the next few months. -03/06/26

Winter held its grip on the great city of Calpheon. Its grand buildings remained decorated in delicate icicles.

Crews continually cleared snow from the main walkways and streets while businesses shoveled their entrances. Areallya had a week off before she began her career as a registered mage. Her thoughts swung from excitement to unease. Endless opportunity awaited her, but also great dangers. The high mage Illiana also insisted on directing her first quest. Areallya could feel the pressures beginning to build. Her parents, however, remained supportive through it all.

“You have a great gift, dear. Right now, you’re just learning how to shape it,” her mother said at breakfast one morning. She sent her daughter on her way with enough money to visit her favorite bakery; something guaranteed to put her in a better mood.

Areallya gleefully arrived at the pastry shop on the corner. The roaring oven kept the entire space warm as it produced every baked good imaginable. She greeted the familiar staff, who readily prepared her usual order. No one could convince her better croissants existed in Calpheon. Within minutes Areallya had a small bag of goodies and a small steamy cup of coffee. A clear sunny day attempted to thaw the frozen city, and she made her way to the gardens hoping to enjoy the small rise in temperature. She followed the cobblestone path into the mostly bare beds of soil. A few bushes and hardy flowers dotted the branches. Torches burned and offered more marginal warmth. Areallya sat on one of the few stone carved benches and unfolded her bag. She immediately went for her croissant. The buttery baked-good melted in her mouth like always. A few bites in, and she could hear the flutter of wings and chirps above her. Looking up, she could see chickadees and robins joining her. Areallya smiled to herself, knowing why they gathered above her.

“ Good morning everyone,”  she said quietly among the gentle noise. The birds, chipmunks, and squirrels had been her friends these past months. She pulled the bag of breadcrumbs from the to-go bag. Wings fluttered as Areallya began to throw small pieces of bread. The small woodland creatures scampered back and forth. A sigh came as she watched them. Her thoughts wandered to life before the curse. She thought of her old friends and past classes. The once familiar routine began to fade into memory. Areallya still couldn’t contact anyone outside her family. Fear of the unknown kept everyone at a distance. Her previous peers would stare from a distance and whisper among themselves before swiftly going on their way.

I wonder what crazy stories were made up about what happened… She thought to herself.

The gentle ambience came to a sudden end with a loud obnoxious caw. Animals

A work in progress for Areallya and the crows

and birds scattered as a large crow landed in front of the girl. Areallya jumped, dropping the bit of croissant in her hand and almost spilling her coffee. A frown crumpled the girl’s face while the black bird helped himself to the fallen pastry and crumbs. Tears turned to anger and she stood. Areallya stomped, then kicked at the crow.

“Get away! Go away!” she yelled. Eventually the bird relented and took refuge in the higher branches. 

Leave me alone! Leave me alone! She screamed in her thoughts, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head. The gravity of the curse began to weigh on her again. Although the crow king remained sealed away, she could feel him watching her. Even in silence, he tortured the poor girl. Areallya kept her eyes shut while the moments passed. The crow kept its distance, and quietly watched. Slowly, the other birds returned and the tranquil atmosphere began to settle into the garden again. The panic began to dissolve, and Areallya blinked a couple times, and calmed herself further with a few deep breaths. She resumed her spot on the bench. Branches above her clacked together. Having caught her attention, the black bird made a few jumps to close the distance between them. They studied each other in the stillness. A lighter, much less intimidating caw came from above. The more Areallya thought, a theory started to arise; the king’s crows were just as much prisoners as her. And suddenly, she began to feel sympathy for the birds. Again, she looked up at the crow who continued to examine her. Areallya reached into the bag. Initially, she wanted to save the other croissant for later in the day, but she broke a piece off. 

“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” she apologized aloud and set the piece of bread next to her on the bench. Seemingly accepting the apology, wings fluttered and the crow landed on the stone and gobbled the pastry down. Now up close, Areallya could see the tiny magical chain around one of the creature’s feet. The sadness in her chest grew, but so did her determination. Right then and there, she promised to break this curse for any other living being afflicted by the crow king’s destruction.