A Colt's Journey [RP story]

[ApetheticOrange96 93]

Spoiler

Forgot to add a song to this,  it's not an instrumental but I think it fits!

 

https://youtu.be/qVSh3z5Bfng?si=aKBtVN4VmwsmZUJF

A Colts Journey

 

Splash!

 

Veyric was floating in a void of something that felt like water, but he could still breathe so it can't be… He struggles for a good few moments, at least what felt like moments to Veyric. He can't seem to recall what happened immediately before he entered whatever void this is…

 

“Ah, this dream again…joy…” Veyric mutters to himself as he settles down from the panic of entering whatever this place is. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a cigarette and a match, a stress habit he picked up at some time or another, he can't really remember. He stares up, or down, or whatever direction it is; he can't tell, all he can tell is it's in front of him.

 

Memories of Veyric's youth and recent experiences flash over the surface, like moving pictures of his life. Fighting the voidal tear in Kazan, oh how he fought in that one, but he was too weak, too green to really contribute to the fight properly, and he quickly found himself surrounded by undead… how he managed to escape that mess he can never quite recall. All he remembers, all he feels in this void, is the cuts, on every side of him, deep, painful cuts.

 

Pain…

 

It hurts!

 

Make it stop…

 

Just make it stop!

 

Then as the memory advances to another more important memory, the pain ebbs away as if the phantom cuts were never there.

 

The next memory to appear on the surface was the battle in Kazan keep… Veyric could see himself through his own eyes, fighting the necromancer from the trees, thanking Azruphel for the archery lessons, when he hears the shout that still instills fear into his heart,

 

“The High Chancellor is missing!!! Find her!!” 

 

Veyric remembers fighting harder than he ever did before… to no luck… Athaenis, his mother, was taken by evil doers… DAMNIT! He remembers the desperate searching, riding every day just for a clue… but to no avail… whoever took her did a really good job of covering their tracks… He remembers the RAGE, how dare they! He was too weak to do anything about it, too afraid to get hurt by jumping into the fray. The FEAR of not knowing if before the battle began was the last time he would see his mother… Then one day, after coming back to Ardrossil from another fruitless search, he was given a letter by a servant: Mother had been rescued! He rushed as fast as he could after stopping at her office to grab the dusty papers. He ran harder than he ever did before to Angrenost! There, in the tower's infirmary, his mother, Alive! Missing an eye but alive! As Veyric feels the joy and happiness from that memory, the scene shifts to more happy memories.

 

The next memory that shows on the surface is his Zahmung, oh how he was nervous in the lead up to it! Chasing Uncle Viago around the mountain, through the trees, across roads, and embankments… the wind in his hair and the freedom of just existing on horseback still gifts him with relaxation that few other things in his short life have done… then the Joust, Aunt Safiyaa was never a jouster… his mother, the Lance of Idunia, made sure he was well versed in jousting, long hours spent at the tiltyard just being knocked off his horse for hours just to get somewhat decent at it… Then finally the spar, now this is where Safiyaa really gave him a run for his money… three hits and he would pass, that's all he needed… after a long spar, he got his final hit on her just as she hit him!! Finally!! A major goal is complete! Joy!

 

Veyric remembers the joy and accomplishment he felt taking the Oath of Tar-Numenetar as that memory takes center stage. The discussion with Tari-Ashael, the trial up the mountain to Caravas, and finally taking the oath itself in front of Caladhril. How it felt to see all his friends and family there supporting him, how it was the first event Athaenis attended after getting rescued, he could still remember the proud smile on her face when he stood from the tree. The PRIDE of everyone hailing him as one of their own, and how he felt that Rónahón, the rising heart, was a perfect name. As the next memory begins, this one being about his meeting a close friend, he remembers the feeling he had when he met Severine. How Severine suggested whittling and carving to pass the time and clear his mind…oh, how the months passed as he worked on statues for family and friends, and finally, a special gift for his mother… the joy he felt gifting them each their statue. Athaenis, receiving a second cane, one with a horse-headed handle with red stones set into it, and a message of appreciation for everything, mutters to Veyric, “It's perfect…” 

 

The next gift was for Lady Azruphel of Angrenost, famous for her iron temperament. He gave her a carving of the Iron Tower of Angrenost, next to the iconic chocolate tree of Angrenost, and surrounded by trees. As Azruphel received Veyric's gift, her features softening just enough that you could see, for just a moment, if you look close enough, her thoughts and feelings,  she told him, “This is Beautiful, Veyric. This will go right beside the Numenost model in the Foyer.”

 

Suddenly, as if he has been pulled by a rope, Veyric is pulled through the surface of the void.

 

GASP

 

Veyric lets out as he is shocked awake, and bolts up into a sitting position on the gurney he was rested upon, in a room. A room he doesn't recognize in his frazzled state, but there are a lot of people here, so there must have been something important happening. Veyric looks around, and he realizes where he is, The hospital in Alduun… Veyric begins to cough, breathing HURTS, and he remembers the events leading up to him passing out in the first place… 

 

The fog that tricked so many others, Barathan rushed to the gatehouse to save Sofia, whom he thought was in danger outside the walls. Veyric and Finch struggled to force him away from the controls, getting him to snap out of whatever delusional thought had gripped him. Then moving to guard the citizen doors, he held back the onrushing group of people, then there was a change in the fog, subtle at first then it felt like every breath was like fire.

 

Veyric doubles over with body-racking coughs, but he pulls through before getting knocked down the stairs into the door by someone, whom he forgot; it's hard to tell who is who when you're coughing your lungs out. Then, appearing through the fog, Maeve, wearing a respirator, tries to help him out of the fog but is stopped by his stubborn remarks that he is FINE. Being stubborn when he feels like it, Veyric doesn't allow anyone to help him, no matter how much he clearly needs help. Veyric is knocked to the ground beside the door by someone rushing through before Veyric could recover from coughing. Then, like an avalanche, many guards and knights rushed over him, slamming the door into the crown of his head each time until finally, finally, sweet mercy was granted by Azruphel seeing him before she stepped through the door. Finally, Wyllm carried his limp frame to the hospital once Veyric was in such a state that he couldn't refuse …

 

“....stupid dreams…” Veyric mutters to himself as he exits the hospital, stumbling as he goes, nursing a massive headache, burning lungs, and a bottle of fruit juice in his hand…

 

FIN

 

Spoiler

OOC:

First, I want to thank Petsch for running the events that inspired this story
Second, I want to give a massive shout-out to Tainga, without whom I probably wouldn't be here or misremember the RP featured in this story, Your Amazing Tai, and I can't ever thank you enough for convincing me to try LOTC

Finally, I want to thank everyone with whom I RPd as Veyric to be able to draw from such a wide catalogue of RP, a few that deserve a callout, and are amazing people in general: 

Jihsoo

Rayalia

TomFunks

Thevulgatecycle

RatfromtheTrash

EndRealms

Dopamined

Suji

Xayshi

Cally (gotta thank Cally, RIP Maeril!)

Elmersglueio

UserInvalid

WhimsyRain

Stovestoat

Squidy

And so many more I wish I had space to name individually. Y'all have made this journey so far amazing! 

Here's to more fun in the future with Veyric!