Areallya S2.1

Happy New Year! 🎉🍾🌙 I hope everyone's safe after bringing in 2026. As promised, new things are underway! Season 2 of both OCs' stories are coming all January. Plus, new chibi stickers are now in the winter shop. Everything is here to explore on my website. May 2026 bless you! -01/01/26

Areallya squeezed her eyes against the late afternoon sun.

She rose to a sitting position, blinking everything into focus. Thankfully she remained in Igor’s study. The silence meant he was attending whatever tasks the church asked of him in the late day. After a few moments of silence, she let out the breath she held. That horrid feeling no longer scratched at her mind. The haunting voice did not come back. She touched the left side of her face fearing one day it wouldn’t feel the same. Doubt began to shroud her mind.

What’s the point… If this keeps happening? Areallya thought as tears began to gather in her eyes. Before long, the heavy doors heaved open. Igor strode through and had them shut behind him. He cast the outer ornamental robes aside casually. 

“It’s good to see you awake,” he commented, having noticed her upright. After adjusting his glasses, her dejection became apparent. He came and sat on a pile of books in front of her. 

“Now, I know you might feel like you can’t do this,” Igor started. Areallya blinked back her tears and swallowed the cry in her throat.

“The thing is, you don’t have to do it all right now. That’s why you have me,” Igor pointed to himself with a smile, hoping to raise the girl’s spirits. 

“He’s a nasty guy, no doubt, but he’s not all-powerful,” he scoffed thinking about the brief encounter. Areallya raised her head. Igor nodded at her awed expression.

“Just trust me. It will take time, but you will overcome him,” Igor placed a hand on her shoulder. Areallya tried her best to smile. To believe in his words. She wiped what tears remained and nodded.

“Thank you. For quieting him,” she bowed her head again. Areallya could hear herself think clearly for the first time since she stumbled outside the barrier. Igor chuckled lightly

“That? You don’t need to worry about it.” He stood.

“But, that little seal won’t last forever. We have to be diligent,” Igor strode back over to his desk.

“Since you’ve completed most of what I’ve given you, we’ll start here,” he started pulling books and notes.

This isn’t the time for pity, the teen told herself. Sifting through the books in front of her, she found her dropped notebook and dug around for a pen. If Igor believed in her, then she wanted to defeat the Crow King. 

Igor sketches. A basic design of his daily church outfit

Through the fall Areallya continued her dedication to obtaining knowledge. She worked hard, and by the autumn festival break, the regular courses she started were complete. With her instructors impressed, arrangements were made for her unique studies with Igor full time. Areallya welcomed the change. After her accident, regular school became a chore. She remained quiet about her situation, showing up, doing the work, and leaving for the library. Her desires to fit in vanished, only determination to free herself remained. For now though, Areallya enjoyed a week’s work of celebration. Even Igor insisted they take this break before beginning her next semester of work. All of Calpheon would feast and give thanks for the bountiful fall harvest before the harsh winter set in. 

~

The week went by faster than Areallya expected. She lay down the night before her new schedule full of anxious excitement. Many at this age begin using and training their magic. She’d barely cast a dozen spells, however, her brain overflowed with understanding of at least 50. Areallya closed her eyes in an attempt to quiet her busy mind. Eventually, the sound of her alarm meant sleep finally came. Like any other morning, she got ready for the day. All this time, the Crow King remained quiet. She no longer dreamt of anything. A small price to pay for silence in her head. Areallya gave one last look in the mirror before heading downstairs.

“I’m off, mom!” She called to the kitchen. A hand waved with a brief poke of similar dark blue hair from around the corner.

“Please be careful dear,” rang in the foyer as the door shut. While things would never go back to the way she remembered, some sense of normalcy slowly returned to Areallya and her family. 

 The teen shuffled down the stairs of their home and into the quiet street. Bundled in a heavy jacket, earmuffs, and boots, Areallya remained warm in the cold morning air. The sun barely touched the tip of the city’s tallest buildings. Even so, clouds from the west threatened to roll in. Areallya walked along her usual route into the Holy District. An eagerness flowed in her steps. One of the greatest mages in Calpheon agreed to train her personally. Soon, she crossed the arch into the section of churches and religious dwellings. A familiar figure came into view at the steps of a church.

“Punctual in the morning too I see,” Igor flashed a smile once Areallya came within sight. He too bundled himself against the cold weather. 

“Today, we’re going to get a baseline for your physical ability, so I can gauge where to start your instruction,” he continued after their brief greeting. Areallya nodded and they began to walk back  out of the Holy District. Igor began to ask a few simple questions about what she already can cast. By now, the city awakened with people starting their days. The pair weaved through the streets and opened store fronts. Areallya’s heart beat harder the closer they got to the edge of the city. The people thinned and one of Calpheon’s large gates stood before them. Nausea rose in her gut and her hands balled into fists at the memories.

“Areallya.” Igor’s voice cut through her anxiety. She looked up at her teacher.

“I know this will be unpleasant at first, but I promise no harm will come to you while you’re training with me,” he did his best to reassure her. While the feeling still churned, Areallya nodded and released the grip in her hands. Igor approached the guard post, and after a brief conversation, he waved for her to follow. She hesitated another moment, then forced herself over the threshold to follow.