Chapter 3 - Torn
- Orthorbbae
- Sarghress Fortress
- Northeast Chel'el'Sussoloth
Chapter 3 of Moonless Age continues the story of Ariel's experiences and struggles in the male section of Orthorbbae. Despite the hardships she faces, she forms a strong friendship with Faen'arae and is ultimately forced to choose between life with her only friend and the duty she has to her clan.
Contents
Summary
Faen & Ariel
The chapter begins with Ariel being escorted by Faen into the female section of the school, following the assassination attempt on her the previous chapter. Faen asked Ariel if she remembered the faces of the girls who caused her fall, unaware of Ariel's secret admission into the male section of the school. Ariel hesitated before answering simply that she did, deciding not to correct Faen's assumptions on the matter.
Seeking to move away from the topic, Ariel asked if Faen was there when she fell, or if she heard her screams for help. Faen freely admitted she was just there, seeking solitude away from those who would harass her, though Faen noting that Chrys'tel kept the bullies from following her. Ariel asked if Chrys'tel was Faen's friend, though Faen believed Chrys'tel was only protecting her on the orders of her family, seeking to retain good political relations with the Val'Sullisin'rune clan.
The pair then entered the Crescent's main hall, with Ariel reacting with awe to the grandeur of the architecture. Faen merely assumed Ariel to be a recent arrival with the first-year students. The sight of a wolf statue among the center fountain reminded Ariel of her clan, and her own weakness in the eyes of Quain'tana Val'Sarghress. As Ariel began sinking into a despairing shame, Faen's emapthy allowed her to sense the younger girl's troubled state. Seeking to comfort Ariel, Faen took hold of Ariel's hand and reassured her that everything would turn out fine. It was the first time anyone had done such a thing in Ariel's life[2], and she wished to herself than Faen, not Syphile had been her sister.
Still injured, Ariel was then taken to Faen's room, where Chrys'tel sat waiting. The Sharen student quickly objected to Ariel's presence, insisting she should have been left to die, as rescuing her posed a serious risk. As Faen ignored Chrys'tel's continued protests to tend to Ariel, Chrys'tel angrily stormed off claiming Faen's gentle attitude would get her killed one day. After she left, Faen turned to Ariel and asked if there was anyone should should fetch for help. Ariel directed her to seek Kel'noz, Headmaster of Davya tower. Faen then left to send for him, while Ariel began to pass out from pain and exhaustion as Chrys'tel looked on.
Kel'noz's Concerns
A month later, Ariel has returned to her studies at Davya tower. However, Kel'noz noted that, while her physical wounds had recovered, the experience had left her timid and traumatized. Though Kel'noz wished he could expel the boys involved, their remaining at Orthorbbae was the only thing ensuring they could not spread word of Ariel's presence to the world at large. Furthermore, Ariel had developed the habit of sneaking off to the lower levels to meet with Faen. While Kel'noz appreciated the benefits it had in allowing Ariel to relax, it would inevitably draw suspicion towards the young girl.
Kel'noz grimly bemoaned that he could not be too strict with the child, as well as the fact that Ariel was far too aware of it. However difficult the task with Ariel might be, he resolved to see it through; viewing the opportunity as a second chance to succeed where he had failed with Mel'arnach. Summoning Ariel to his office, Kel'noz informed her that he wished to train her personally to understand and master her mysterious affinity. Though he warned her that it might prove difficult and painful, she agreed so that she might be able to properly defend herself from the boys of her class.
Faen's Nightmares
The Orthorbbae Towers Tournament
Ariel's Return Home
Finding Allies
Characters
Main Characters
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Ariel is a young Val'Sarghress girl in hiding as a male student at Orthorbbae.
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Faen is Ariel's best friend. She is slightly older than Ariel, and she is a student in the female section of the school.
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Kel'noz is the headmaster of Davya Tower and the older brother of Ariel Val'Sarghress.
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Yafein is the only member of Ariel's class that is friendly to her, but he is much more afraid of the other boys than he is of breaking their friendship.
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Orthorbbae Students
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Chrys'tel is Faen's harsh roommate. She does not like Ariel, and she thinks that Faen is a soft weakling.
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Dra'jyal is another student in Ariel's class.
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Faren is a boy in Devya tower. Ariel encounters him in the tournament arena.
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Gailen is another student in Ariel's class.
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Khal is a young boy in Ariel's class that encouraged Mir'kiin to kill her.
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Kiel'ndia is a tainted student in Faen's class.
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Mir'kiin is a bully in Ariel's tower. He discovered Ariel's gender, told the rest of the class, and has even tried to kill Ariel.
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Naal'suul is a girl in Faen's class. She was the victim of an accidental demon release that killed all of the other Beldrobbaen girls of her generation.
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Nau'kheol is a student in Ariel's class that hates Ariel for being both female and of the Val'Sarghress clan.
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Sar'nel is Ariel's cousin. She first meets him during the boys' school tournament.
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Shinae is Chrys'tel's protector twin. She is one of the girls in Faen's class.
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Sorane is another student in Ariel's class.
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Suya is a boy in Devya tower. Ariel encounters him in the tournament arena.
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Orthorbbae Faculty
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Ashu'athama is the lead headmaster of the male section of Orthorbbae. He is the announcer during the tower tournament.
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Khaless is Snadhya'rune's demonic protector twin. She feeds Snadhya the school's gossip.
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Sate'ja is one of Faen's teachers.
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Snadhya'rune is the headmistress of Orthorbbae.
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Other Secondary Characters
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Jer'kol is a Sarghress soldier that claims to be Ariel's father.
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Liriel is a strange slave that Ariel, Faen, and Yafein encounter in the marketplace.
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Maya is a light elf slave for sale.
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Mel'arnach is Ariel's eccentric older sister. She is picture by Ariel as an evil monster.
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Quain'tana is Ariel's mother and the Ill'haress of the Val'Sarghress clan.
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Syphile was Ariel's abusive caretaker when she lived at home.
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Waer is in charge of the wolves in the pen Ariel and Faen visit.
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This article reflects events up to Chapter 3.
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