Cinderevin

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Finally, after all these years, Cinder writes down his memoirs. Where do I even begin? Let's just start out with introductions, shall we? I'm Cinderevin Rikan, and, truth be told, I know surprisingly little about my life for someone who's supposed to set it all down in writing. You see, I suffer from a fairly annoying affliction called cytosomnum. It basically means that I slip into what some would call a temporary death every few months. This isn't terribly debilitating, but it does leave a few holes in my memory. Turns out, being dead for several months isn't too good for your brain's functions. Because of this condition, I've started organizing my life into what I call 'lapses'. A lapse begins whenever I awaken and ends whenever a temporary death begins. This is easier, because I'm dead for a good bit sometimes. As far as I know, I've had 5 lapses; although, some of the earlier ones have definitely been lost to my memory. So, I think I'm going to present you with a couple entries from throughout my known lapses. These entries are fairly odd, because I did some complicated magic that seems to have transferred my thoughts and experiences into written words. I am currently trying to figure out how this works, but no luck so far. And, just so you're aware, my personality doesn't distort too much throughout lapses. That's all thanks to cold hard life, my friend.

### 13/8/21 - As'Der Lapse

A swirl of bitter wind sliced through my coat. I jolted to my feet and took in my surroundings. Ice marched on to the horizon in every direction, a thick, silvery, mirror reflecting my terrified face back at me. I twirled one of my ears as I tried piecing my life back together. I couldn't bring anything back to me at the moment. What had I been doing out here? I was sure I had a life, it was just out of reach. Lowering my arm with a sigh, I wrapped them around around myself, shivering, as another gust cut into my bones. Right on cue, big flakes of snow started drifting down, gathering in a thin carpet on the ice. Abruptly, I started off in an easterly direction, head down against the wind. I had come to the fairly obvious conclusion that I was basically dead if I couldn't get out of the cold. The snow stuck in minute drifts on my hair, and in my thin fur. My fur was doing an excellent job at not doing its job. Having a relatively thin coat was likely some clue to my origins, but that could wait until I wasn't due a visit from hypothermia.

Eventually, I came to an edge. The infinite sheet of ice was actually a fairly thin sheet of ice floating on the ice gray waters of an ocean. Fantastic! I squinted out into the snowy horizon, but I couldn't see anything. Just as well, the frigid ocean would probably kill me in minutes. Glancing to the left, I thought I made out a light. Well, there weren't any better options, now were there? I ran full-tilt at that light, and came across something quite strange. A purple gateway glinted warmly in the light, rimmed in a dark stone. I could only make out small glimpses of the world beyond through the translucent veil, but I had to try at this point.

Throwing myself through the veil, I landed in a world completely alien to the icy visage I had just left. I appeared to be in a massive cavern, red rock making up the floors, walls, and ceiling. Open rivers of lava sloshed through the cave, occasionally tumbling down short drops into lower channels. Most prominent of all though, was the heat. It hit me like a wave as I came through, gently pulling my mind and body down into its sluggish stupor.

I heard a small noise to my right and whirled, my teeth were bared, the posture was exact, everything was perfect, until I invariably slipped. I let out a hiss of pain as I fell onto my tail. Coughing from the fumes I had just sucked into my lungs, I got a very good look at the figure looming over me.

"You ok?" he asked, offering his hand.

He seemed a bit taken aback my my antics. I made a dismissive noise, but let him help me to my feet. The person looked a mite more 'prepared' then I did. There were enough weapons and tools strapped to him to give him the look of a particularly dangerous hedgehog. He also seemed dressed for the occasion, reminding me to look at what I was wearing. I wasn't sure what it was, but it looked fancy. That coupled with my instinctive disdain of this newcomer's clothing and general demeanor, made me feel quite comfortable guessing that, whatever I had been before, I had likely been a part of some sort of higher socioeconomic class.

The man flicked a bit of rust red dust off my coat, "You're a lucky one mate. We only come out here once a week or so."

I shook myself out of my thoughts, "Thanks. You wouldn't happen to know anywhere a bit... milder?"

"Oh right. It's just over here a ways. Let's get over there before you boil, shall we?" he said, abruptly starting off.

### 18/8/22 - As'Der Lapse

Stepping up to the sapling, Cinder pulled a sheet of paper out of their coat. Tearing it to shreds, a pale glow started working its way through their fingers and up to their pupils. They wrapped their hands around the slim trunk, and set about creating a species. The tree buried its roots in the Arrusan ice sheet, tunneling down to the ocean below the thick cover. In a frenzy, the roots pushed down into the water, changing as they went. They grew thick coverings to protect them and regulate the flow of water into the new tree. Organs grew on the roots, designed to snap up nutrients from the ocean and its many inhabitants. When they were done growing, the roots trailed down in the water. They never touched the bottom, giving the entire ensemble an ethereal quality as the tangled roots waved about in the currents and rushes sweeping below the ice. Up on the surface, the trunk thickened, turning a beautiful slate grey, and pushed itself several meters into the air. It threw out branches and leaves to bathe in the pale, cold, mid-morning light. Tiny orange flowers popped up, adding vibrant dashes to the muted greys and greens. When Cinder was finished, a scraggly tree stopped in the wind. Standing proud, with wide flower-speckled branches, it was ready to endure the harsh pains of the icy archipelago.

Cinder stepped back, blowing into their hands for warmth as they stumbled.

"Cinder!" Bonk came over as they tripped, "Everything good?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," one of Cinder's eyes rolled back into its socket, "I had to use some of my cognitive energy to make that tree."

They turned to the tree with an accusing finger raised, "You better enjoy your new life!" they slurred, "It's causing me momentary discomfort."

Cinder fainted in a fluffy drift of snow.

### 5/9/21 - As'Der Lapse

Snow fell, ice cracked, steel rang on steel, and Swen Altag, King of Atlechia, fell before the Arrusan swords. The ratty militia formed up, encircling the humbled band of Atlechian soldiers and loyalists. A figment approached the king, eyes writhing as the energy animating its surreal movements begged for release. Roughly, the ancient knight hoisted Swen up and turned him towards three approaching figures. Even defeated, Swen held himself proudly, towering over all but the figment dutifully watching over him. A swirl of wind caught on the jagged stub of the broken war axe he held, glinting in the Arrusan sun.

The procession approached, the three leaders of the rebel Ministry of Arrus. The three who had led the stand against King Chafeau, and then the Atlechian crown when he had petitioned them for aid. Cinder wrinkled their snout at a small pool of blood on the ice, deliberately stepped across it, and began tapping one of their feet in jerky movements. Kotsos strode, tapping the sword strapped to his waist and casting glances over the crowd.

"Swen Altag," the man in the middle of the procession folded his arms and looked him over, "Seen better days, 'my lord'?"

"Dream," Swen spat the name, a fevered glint coming into his eyes.

Swen took a wild swing at the Ministers, barely nicking Cinder's arm before the figment parried the axe into the ground with supernatural force. It shattered, embedding chunks of steel in the packed ice.

Cinder stiffened, eyes glinting, "Bit uncalled for, wouldn't you say?" they pulled a fold of their thick coat tight over the scratch.

Dream took a sword from one of the soldiers, "Well, now we have the honor of figuring out what to do with you."

Swen drew himself up, causing the Arrusans to step back, "I have powerful friends. Kill me, and I swear to you, they'll make your little country learn war a thousand times over before you fall."

"Better we were dead then your peasants," Kotsos chimed in.

Both men readied their weapons. The sound echoed out as the figments drew their blades, readying for battle once more.

"If I may," Cinder stepped forward, "As much as I would like dying in the ice a thousand times over, maybe we should..," they trailed off.

"We should what, Cinder?" the other two asked.

"Um, well," Cinder spun to address Swen, their perked ears barely level with his eyes, "If we were to enter your kingdom, would you remove Chafeau?"

"I would consider it."

"Hey!" they all whirled as a small shout went up in the circle before a small thud silenced it.

"Anyway," Cinder looked back, "Who would govern Arrus?"

At a small wink from Cinder, Swen relaxed a bit, "I suppose could be one of you."

"So," Cinder turned back to the Ministers, "Which of us would it be?"

Kotsos bowed, sheathing his sword, "Thank you, but I don't wish to rule. I will continue to oversee our defense."

Dream gazed at Cinder, drumming his fingers against his sleeve, "In the interests of compromise, I will leave the office to you."

Cinder extended his hand to Swen, "So, is it a deal then?"

Swen shook it. Nearly snapping Cinder's fingers in the process. He crushed them against his chest, laughing.

As the others began picking up the island, Cinder slumped down against one of the trees embedded into the ice, sighing.

"Well, I hope you feel good about this," one of the figments stalked up to them.

"Of course I don't, Nobi," Cinder focused on Swen in the distance, "But what's done is done. I did what was best for Arrus."

"By getting yourself a fancy new title?" Nobi smirked.

"Ah, get off of it."