Armoury: An Apocalaptia Prequel

Chapter 3: Tranquility

Athylia was simply mediating and admiring the flowers in her hand she was resting on top nearby the waterfall the sea and waters unlike the known worlds were ethereal blue like topaz crystals and deeply clearer with no pollution the haze and drowsy mist subdued by the water by nature created an irridescent scene this place was like a fantasy land the flowers more vibrant than others in different variants of species known and unknown, unbeknowest to her this might be the last moment of peace she'd ever receive. The people of the Isles of the Blessed had heard horrifying tales of the vast, empty spaces beyond the lands of the second and third rings of ice. It was said that beyond those boundaries, there was nothing but vast bodies of water covering the entire Earth, devoid of any land or life.

The rumors spoke of deadly, monstrous creatures that roamed these desolate places, their hostility and ferocity having been honed by the harsh, unforgiving environments in which they lived. Even the custodians had apparently been unable to venture into these barren areas without suffering dire consequences.Those who had dared to explore these regions had reportedly never returned, their fates remaining a mystery. The stories of the desolate landscapes and the fearsome creatures that inhabited them only reinforced the sense of isolation and danger that surrounded the known lands, making them even more precious and worth protecting.

Athylia's thoughts lingered on the stories of the vast, empty spaces beyond the boundaries of their world, and a sense of curiosity mixed with trepidation flared within her. She couldn't shake the feeling that in order to truly understand the world she lived in, she might need to confront the unknown.

If such places were true it could be comparable to an abyss (perhaps the surface level of an abyss atleast.) Athylia thought why not just discard the custodians in such a boundless existence that'd teach them a lesson from colonising the entire Earth,leave her people alone aswell as others and the custodians who were spared would never forget such brutality and would most likely wont attempt to invade Alveria again it's a win win for everyone,but then again the custodians themsleves did venture of to the scourched wastes,the frozen waste,Titanic forest and the sunken waste before and were humbled yet they still continue this injustice undettered by theyre alms of tyrrany.

As Athylia sat meditating by the waterfall, admiring the colorful flowers in her hand and marveling at the natural beauty surrounding her, she was blissfully unaware of the plans brewing in the mind of the custodials.

The peace and tranquility of the moment were almost too perfect, a stark contrast to the danger that was slowly approaching her. Unbeknownst to her, this may be the last moment of tranquility she would ever experience.She heard about the kingdoms of Lemuria and Asguard beyond the Atlantic ocean and mountain rings that surrounded them wondering if they're of any help or even real,but then again who is she to doubt when some theorise there might be lands inside the ice that caged the known lands,the walls behind Alveria,Pitara,Geminia .As Athylia sat and pondered the mythical places that lay beyond the known lands, her mind wandered to the tales of Lemuria and Asgard beyond the Atlantic Ocean and mountain rings. She couldn't help but wonder if these places were real or simply figments of imagination.

The rumors of lands hidden within the ice that caged the known lands only added to the mystery and wonder. Athylia couldn't help but be intrigued by the possibilities of what might lay behind the walls of Alveria, Pitara, and Geminia. But unfortunatly Athylia didnt have the time to ponder about such things as she needs to protect her people and train other fighters in case she ceases to exist one day,in desperate times even leisurely thinking became a luxury if you're chances of survival are at risk only those who are confident and in authority have that freedom which unfortunatly were the custodians in this case,but then again control was an illusion in most times a fragile facade men wore, to distract themselves from the fact they'll burried in the same soil as those beneath them.Athylia knew all too well that in the world she lived in, time was a luxury she could hardly afford. With the weight of responsibility for her people's protection and the constant threat of danger, leisure was something that seemed like a distant dream.

But she also recognized that even those in positions of power, like the custodians, were not immune to the illusion of control. Ultimately, the world was an unpredictable and ever-changing place, and even the most powerful could find themselves powerless in the face of fate.

The rumors spoke of deadly, monstrous creatures that roamed these desolate places, their hostility and ferocity having been honed by the harsh, unforgiving environments in which they lived. Even the custodians had apparently been unable to venture into these barren areas without suffering dire consequences.Those who had dared to explore these regions had reportedly never returned, their fates remaining a mystery. The stories of the desolate landscapes and the fearsome creatures that inhabited them only reinforced the sense of isolation and danger that surrounded the known lands, making them even more precious and worth protecting.

She mused that if the rumors were true, these places would be akin to an abyss, and exposing the custodians to such an existence might teach them a lesson they would never forget.

But despite the tantalizing possibility, she also acknowledged the custodians' previous forays into the scorched wastes, frozen wasteland, titanic forest, and sunken waste. It seemed that even their encounters with those treacherous places had not deterred them from continuing their oppressive rule. As callous as Athylia's solution sounded it was the only way they didnt posses any source of humanity,conection empathy,or capacity for compassion nor traits for redemption and the custodians weren't biologically human which didnt help her feel any much guilty, harder to empathise with, it was like putting a cow to the s*******r house Athylia realized the ruthlessness of her proposition; the custodians seemed to lack any hint of compassion or humanity, making them difficult to sympathize with. She justified it to herself as if it were simply a matter of culling livestock, something that needed to be done for the greater good of preventing further harm and injustice to her people.

Despite her sense of righteous justification, a hint of discomfort tugged at the corner of her conscience, making her wonder if she was any better than the custodians themselves in considering such drastic measures.

But then again that plan would only be sufficient if such place really exists and if they had the technology,materials to travel there without any unintended consequences to befall on her and her brethren Athylia's plan relied heavily on the assumption that such a place truly existed and that they possessed the necessary technology and materials to travel to it safely. Without these crucial elements, the entire endeavor would be fraught with unforeseen consequences, risking not only her own life but also the safety of her people.Athylia than shook of her thoughts and refocused in unwinding her stress observing the hues created by the mountains abroad the view the sun peaked above the mountains painting the horizon ombre streaking the peace observing this exchange outstretched up the waterfall the endless barrages ,rocks and peaks of behemoth were far encircling around the Alverians,Geminia,Pitatia,Libris,Fresia ,The Ancestral Republic and the lands of those that were near the isles of the blessed. As Athylia shifted her attention away from her thoughts and refocused on her surroundings, she allowed herself to become fully immersed in the beauty of the landscape before her. The sun shone brightly, casting a stunning ombre hue across the horizon, the colours blending seamlessly in a breathtaking display.

The cascading waterfalls, massive rocks and towering peaks of the surrounding landscape created an impressive sight. The expanse of towering mountains seemed almost endless, encircling the lands like a protective barrier. The imposing mountains were known as the Mountain Rings, a natural structure that formed a second ring encircling the various lands.Athylia was exercising her body,her muscles strained by the pressure and fatigue putting efforts into movements which were akin to flexibility,gymnastics her hands were on the ground balancing her her lower limbs upwards on of her feet located on her knee the atmosphere adding to the serenity to the nature,blessed like a second ring known as the mountains rings enclosing the people.