Chapter 1: Winter Comes to Adenna


July 30, 2011

The first snowflake of the year had landed upon the steeple of Adenna's great castle of Solucun Keep. The islands that buried so much of the city produced a very different appearance of winter this upcoming August, one the likes of which the people had never seen before. So much un-blanketed by snow that normally would have been, and few locations opened to new fame, recognition and significance they had not had prior to such heavenly bestowing as precipitation.
It was with a cold wind that Adenna's winter came, and during the ordinarily summer months of Rhydin, Earth and other places. Adenna's seasons were also set times, but they were regulated by the deity-like occupancy of the six island guardians, now so more than ever with their perching directly upon the kingdom. The cold have been coming, but now, the snow had finally begun.


?Father! It's snowing at the market! And at the castle!? Dawn, a young Adennian girl no older than thirteen, and reaching so desperately for five feet and six inches. Dawn's father, a middle-aged family man and owner of one of Adenna's finest blacksmith's, was breaking apart a head of lettuce with his bare hands over their kitchen sink when his daughter came bursting in with the news.

?Dawn, my dear. Truly?? he asked. Though he suspected the snow any day now, it was more his daughter's lively answer and continuation of this excitement she brought he sought out prolonging more than anything.

?Yes, Father! It is beginning to stick. Can I go play in it if it does?? Dawn asked, eyes full of worry.

?Dawn, you would not ask a question with such concern if you were not already aware of how close to dinnertime it was.? Dawn's mother, Angela, asked from their modest fire-lit living room.

?No, Mother. I know it is dinnertime.? Dawn said in a most depressed manner, though she was understanding of how rules operated in her household. This agreeableness was noted, and garnered her plans of a spot of fun before dinner reconsideration.

?Keith, what do you think of our daughter's ambitions?? Angela asked him with the most cryptic and unnoticeable of message-carrying looks.

?Oh? It will take me nearly half an hour before I am done. I would say there is time to play, ? but for a girl who dressed appropriately for the weather!? Keith warned, but by then the young girl was already reaming with excitement. Few things in Adenna still carried genuine innocence with them, and nothing had ever been wronged by the winter season before. It was a precious time.

?I'm going to get my coat!? the young thing ran to her bedroom, eliciting a laugh from Angela nearer by the fire.

?We may regret delaying dinner when she stays out too late, you realize.? sweetly over to her husband.

?We may, yes.? was his response, raising his voice then to reach his daughter's room on down the hall, ?Dawn! You will remember to come back before the city guards light the street lights, understand??

?Yes, Father!?

? ? And you will remember to stay out of trouble! Stay away from the renovating of the opera house. It is very dangerous.? Keith had stopped what he was doing to make sure that was answered, and little did Dawn know by not paying attention, how important the issue had been to her father. ?Dawn!?

?Yes! Father??

A soft sigh, ?You will stay away from the opera house while it is going through construction.?

?Yep. I will, Father. They have been working on that place for a very long time. I do not think it will ever be finished.? Dawn spoke, coming out from her room with her tiny red mittens draping from her aquamarine-colored coat she had on, hanging by yarn cords made onto them. She was nearly ready to investigate the new weather.

?Have you not noticed the improvements that are being made as each week goes by? Adenna's opera house is a great landmark of our city that people use to identify our architecture and culture with. That, and ?il temperato? is one of our most precious stories that has been passed down.?

?I know, I know, Father. You tell me about this all the time! ? How you and Mother took me there when I was a baby.? a this-ing and that-ing of her head while Dawn went through the motions with her Father, who did not look amused.

?If you recall so well, how many acts are there in the operatic, and what do they tell?? a serious question, and looking to her mother did not create the escape Dawn had anticipated.

?Answer your Father.? hands flat over-top of one another as she stared at her daughter, only the crackling fire moving behind her.

?Umm...? Dawn drew the longest blank and showed one of the instances where effort alone could not summon what was necessary to complete a task.

?This saddens me, Dawn! This is one of our most important histories! ?Il temperato? is a story about an Adennian man and his sword, told through the first and fourth acts. The second and third tell a love story of a woman who will become a Siovanui, but will never see her love again. It is about what we do as a people to build the muscles to carry the things we care about.? Keith began.

?Listen to your Father, dear.? a soft yet disciplinary nod came from Angela while she observed on. Young Dawn's eyes followed from one parent to the next, along for the lecture though no agreement was made where she had to hide her dislike for this speech.

?You will remember it soon enough. Along with the winter months also comes the performance of the opera, and I think it is high time you have a refresher hearing of the story. Now go on. Catch some flakes on your tongue so you can be back for dinner.? a nod of Keith's head, flipping a switch, turning Dawn's excitement just as full blast as it had been when she run in the first time.

?I'll be back, Father! I won't stay long, Mother!? and out the door she went.

The parents exchanged one more look, happily, though unsure of how long their meal might truly become delayed.

Outside their home, young Dawn was not in the company of the snow she attested to there being. But that was fine, she ?knew? where the snow was. She hummed a Christmasy tune and skipped along, far better dressed for the weather that approached than the other pedestrians. 'They are going to catch cold,' Dawn thought, proudly. SHE would not be catching cold.
She ran along the taped-off perimeter of the opera house under construction, and could see a few workers inside hard at it. If her father was right, and the opera would be shown during winter, then they had a great deal of work to do. The opera house: not on the greatest terms with Dawn at the moment, being the basis of a trivia round that could have very well prohibited her from coming back out. But somewhere deep down, she did look to the structure, and the stories that were meant to be told in it, and give it that reverence, even in the unknowing of whether or not it deserved it.

?Umph! Sorry, Ma'am!? Dawn apologized immediately after colliding into an armor-clad knight.

?Hey! Watch where you're going!? the knight stumbled back, accentuating her womanly curves when those legs got to moving. ?Young kid like you ? you're far too strong to have your head in the clouds. You could really hurt someone!? she exclaimed, her face hidden behind one of Adenna's finer and more elaborate helms, ?What are you doing out this late? You do know it is almost time to light the streets? Do I need to escort you home?? she crouched before the young girl and examined her face.

?No. I know that it is late. But I will not be out long. My Mother and Father have given me permission to be out. I am going to get a better look at the snow.? Dawn explained, but her mysterious guardsman crouched before her, placed her fingerless-gloved hand on her shoulder, and drew her in closer.

?...So you have seen the snow as well?? she whispered.

?Yes!? Dawn again exclaimed.

?What is your name, child?? the knight asked.

?My name is Dawn. I am the daughter of Angela, and my father is the best blacksmith in Adenna.? radiating pride.

An indicative head cant showed nearly the risen brow of surprise that was likely underneath that unique head of armor, ?You are Keith's daughter?? completely surprised that it was her who she was talking to.

?I am.?

She seemed to be appraised long and seriously then, ?Dawn is a strong name. A Siovanui name. I think you are more than capable of protecting yourself out at this hour. But do try and set an example for the other girls that it is not an ideal hour. See to your business, and then see yourself home. Okay?? that hand tightened ever so softly on the girl's shoulder.

?I promise. I know that even if I do get into trouble, that Adenna's Siovanui Seirichi patrols these streets whenever there is danger and would not let anything happen to me.? Dawn gave her nod of understanding, and a firm backing to her beliefs.

?You're right, Dawn. She would not.? the woman removed her helmet, and though a disrespectful comb of brown hair over to one side, she was definitely Adenna's second Siovanui herself, Seirichi. Dawn gasped.

?You're ? you're??

? ? On my way, now. A warrior's word is her pride, Dawn. Do get home like you originally aspired.? she rose, helmet under her arm and showing to Dawn her cape as she did so.

?I will! Your secret is safe with me. You don't have to worry. Have a, have a good night!? Dawn's final words, rushed out! ? else they would have been much more personal. But she had to say them then, or not at all, because they would never be heard as Seiri was walking away. It may have seemed rude in the slightest sense, but what Dawn could not see, was Seiri's close-eyed grinning face as she headed back to where her silent patrol would lead her.

Dawn held her hands together at her heart. She had seen Seirichi at public events, and even across the street once when she was unable to summon the courage to even look up to her father whose hand held hers and ask him for permission to go over and greet her, though she did notify him of her presence; gods, did she ever notify him of her presence.

'I am not so young, anymore.' a precious moment of realization in young Dawn. Back then, she hadn't the courage. Today? She spoke to one of her heroes with calm and manners. Not to reiterate, but she spoke to one of her heroes, today. With spirits lifted, she continued on her journey, unwanting to waste the precious time until ?advisory curfew? to locate the truly bountiful collections of snow.
Unlike anyone else in the city who had only noticed it falling, Dawn knew where to go. The castle had been collecting a nice, thin layer, clinging onto the grass. But it was at the tunnels, the soccer field, and Adenna's largest inn, The Slipkey Resort. It is one of Adenna's first buildings to be renovated after the incident of Chains, empowering the people by its beauty and showing them that they will build back up just as strong whatever their enemies tear down. And it just so happened to be Dawn's destination.

A brief break in the dimly lit streets as she crossed the darkness over the stone circle court and made over to The Slipkey, completely furnished in its own lights; eerily, with the moon beating down upon it did its own pole lights further illuminate the area. But with the moonlight came the open sky, and the snow along with it, like so many other rare openings in Adenna's encapsulation.

?Woooow.? Dawn softly moaned. The amount of snow that had initially excited her had multiplied exponentially, and crowds of citizens were gathered around. Many of them she recognized, some she did not; all of them she felt comfortable around. Some kicked about the snow, wandered around it and observed it, some people congregated into groups and coolly shot the breeze and started up simple conversation while slapping their coated arms idly. Dawn was never happier to enter this group that would become so ?elite? because of this phenomenon known as snowing.

?The snow does not fall on Adenna soil very often. No, it does not.? a mustachioed Adennian man conversed with his fellow men.

?No, it is a rarer thing than ever before with the surrounding isles. I am sure they are very well covered above us. Perhaps two to three inches already.? was the retort made by another man. Dawn, having come up to them, looked up to their large jacketed bodies and listened attentively.

?Adenna has gone years without the snow. We have not had a true snow like this in, going on four years...? the first man spoke up again.

?Do you think that they will have the Spirit Cup now?? a third man enters the conversation, rubbing his mittened hands together.

?It's very likely. I know Rahea and Eizou are going to come evaluate the snowfall. If we're going to get enough, they'll announce the Spirit Cup.?

?Well, they ought to. It's cold enough.? a man shoved his hands into his coat pockets and kicked at the snow down at his feet.

The Spirit Cup, Adenna's winter soccer game. Though it had only gone through four incarnations, it was spoken tremendously high of, going so far as to construct for its first and subsequent games, the Spirit Stadium, capable of hosting Adenna's full hundred thousand populace. Dawn did not remember attending any of its games in her lifetime, but she had been old enough to remember seeing it lit up at night for one her and her family had not attended. Suddenly, curiosity had roused her.

That enormous stadium, so well maintained, so subtly used by the dance class to have scrimmage games and other unnoticeable things that go audience-less. But to fill those seats, all of them, was something Dawn could not imagine. Then the snowflakes became known to her, landing safely upon the highs of her cheeks, and dancing in a glittery veil before her blue eyes.

It was so fun to play in the snow. To leave footprints, and handprints, and catch the flakes on your tongue, and throw a handful into the air and watch it join the snow all over again in its magical dance to the land. But there was a game of snow Dawn had not yet discovered, and curiously following the noise of a fun-sounding commotion coming from just across the Slipkey lobby entrance on the other side of its enormous shelter, she was about to find out.

Dawn briefly stood under its protection, noted the protection from the sprinkling winter, and then was out in it again standing beside the men and women still engaging in conversation though sparing a laugh or two at the two men throwing ?packed? balls of snow.

?Ooh! You almost got it.? Dyarhk wiped his reddening nose with the wrist of his black sweater sleeve.

?Wait, wait...? the man beside him began, focused eyes up over the top of the Slipkey's shelter and a big class clown's smile handsomely on his face. He was Aurast Dagger Sasc, famous Adennian warrior, brother of the King: Havelast Dagger Sasc, and presently, precision snowball thrower. Pitched out like a major league baller, it soared out and collided at long last with the figurehead atop the iron pole that served to identify and beautify the Slipkey's front entrance. ?YEAH!?

A few claps played for the man's ?score,? or ?point?. There was snow on the ground, and the people loved it. But it was Dyarhk and Aurast making the fun out of it; and Dawn knew them both. She stood there pondering how to approach the duo. Maybe she could join them.

?Aurast. You've just come back from an ongoing campaign outside the territory. Does this mean you're planning on participating in the Spirit Cup if the snow continues?? a citizen asked the tall man, but he was only politely ignored (as polite as one can be ignored).

?Are you glad to be back home?? a citizen reaped the experience from the previous questioner and asked a less intrusive question. This one yielded an answer from the snowballer continuing to try and snowball that decorative steel atop the pole.

?Absolutely... absolutely, it's not even a question.? happily back to the citizen, though he did not look at him. His snow-spattered toboggan showing as he spun from pitching another fastball up to the pole. It was easy to see he was regularly questioned and ?interrogated? whenever he was in the public eye, but he kept a friendly face on understanding the people's wanting to know. But he was trying to catch up with an old friend.

?Alright. Here it comes.? Dyarhk setup his next pitch, slipping it through a very narrow opening between branches but not the tighter knit branches behind it and unleashing an uneasy blanket of snow down and sending the crowd back in terror and laughter; the latter being majorly by Dyarhk and Aurast as they marveled at the amount that had fallen.

?Duuuuude!?

?Dude.? Dyarhk pointed back to him, returning that pointer finger to assist packing his next snowball.

?Excuse me. But just what do you guys think you're doing?? Dawn spoke up. One moment of bravery; one moment of regret.

?Hi.?
?Hello!? Both men spoke up at the same time, alternating still on their snowball throwing.

Dawn saw appropriate to walk up to them. It was the only option in her mind. But she hadn't accounted for this bashfulness. But it was either this or retreat.

?I know you. You're Aurast.? Dawn went with the short-worded method. Short-wordedness was golden, or, it was more golden than long-windedness.

Dyarhk and Havelast listened to her, brief as it was, and it was just as quickly they summoned their inner jokesters and smiled at each other.

?Yes. The infamous Aurast Dagger Sasc.? Aurast said in bravado, combating smile, and much to the Palliator's loud laughter.

?Aren't you cold?? Dyarhk asked.

A long pause from Dawn, and when she answered she answered laughing, ?Yes!? men wanted to see a woman's smile, didn't they? ? well, maybe they did. But it was something Dawn was conscious of when they somehow got her laughing. ?And you're Dyarhk.?

?That's right!? A sweet smile from the man. He wasn't always identified by children, and it was surely a surprise to him, even going so far as to interrupt his latest pitch. ?And you are??

?I'm Dawn.?


?Nice to meet you.?
?It's a pleasure.? they again answered simultaneously. But it was Aurast who spoke back up.

?What can I do for you?? Aurast spoke with the return of bravado, like he were the ultimate handyman (which he was surely not). The joke had been subtly made and the smiles put on by both men.

Dawn stared rather seriously at the two men, the kind of stare that was about to beckon a serious question, and likewise a serious answer. ?Actually, I was going to ask you about the Spirit Cup.? Sobering the two men rather quickly.