Important information:

Rie: respectful suffix of miss that can be used before or after either given or family name or on its own. Rie-name, but name-rie. Capital when before name, yet lower case when after name.

Prologue

The room smelt old and there was dust scattered everywhere. He reached up towards the highest shelf and grasped the box. The old man pulled it down and staggered backwards, sneezing as the dust got up his nose. He wanted to see the old maps, just to see if they were any different, to see if much had changed in six hundred years. In the box sat seven scrolls and a big, thick purple leather-bound book. His old hands pulled out the book and undid the clasp, and then he grabbed the largest scroll and laid it out on the table, smoothing it out. He grabbed his glasses and hastily perched them on the end of his nose, coughing slightly as another dose of the vile dust caught him off guard.

Old eyes scanned the map steadily, reading each word carefully. Then he turned to the book and opened it to the first page.

“There are eight known races of human form; however the human has died out,” he read out loud, peering through his glasses, “and each race takes after one type of animal. These beings may possess super-human qualities, but it is more likely that they have one or maybe two excelled senses, as a normal human should only have five senses of equal standard.

“It is known that the Limikkin race, the beings of the canines, the children of the wolf, have hearing more accurate than the fox. There are only three tribes of the Limikkin.

“I once met a Limikkin, and I noticed that his family and he looked most like a wolf, with that look of hunger, savage cruelty lingering in their eyes…”

He frowned at the description of his own race and scanned his eyes past this description onto the next.

“The Valkyries are a most wonderful race. Like the eagle they have excelled eyesight, sharp and precise. They are many in tribes as well, with six all together. However, like the eagle they are not trustworthy as they are cautious, sensitive and think only of themselves.

“The Fae are extraordinary creatures, and no race is more beautiful. They are not an ounce more or less delicate to lay eyes upon than a butterfly, with their slightly pointed ears and pale greyish skin. And their eyes are said to hypnotise in one glance, with the shades like flowers and the slow gradient darkening to black rimming the iris. However they may look like beautiful creatures, but they are cruel for no reason, and are known for their torture across their three tribes...”

He growled slightly, annoyed at how his wife’s race had been perceived. He had known many different people and not once had he met a Fae who was cruel, a Valkyries who was selfish, or a Limikkin who was savage.

“The Berserker is a race with abnormal strength in their bodies, like their ancestor, the bear. Their skin is dark like night, and they are protective of their own kind. They are gentle and the bear only stirs within them if they are provoked or if they must protect their own. They have three powerful tribes, who cause no wars or quarrels.”

It was clear to him now as he read this that the writer was a Berserker, not only was he so praising he had not a bad thing to say about this race.

“The Poloi are a loyal and strong race. They take after the horse strongly and well. They are quick like the wind and steady like the earth and are easily trusted, but hardly ever do they break it. They have only two tribes, but they are powerful and gentle tribes. I grew sick of the Poloi I have known, she was strong, ran quick, helped me, but she had the most childish fears, and was startled too easily, I found her tiresome.

“No race have I found more tiresome so, however, than the Naga, they are sly, unpredictable and are the hardest to read. Like the snakes they stole the souls from, they are a race of slippery mistrusting, not to be trusted either as they think and live only for themselves. They have two tribes and use this as a weapon against others, calling the races with as many as six tribes greedy and power-hungry.”

He rubbed his head, unsure whether he wished to read onwards. The door creaked open behind him and he turned to see a student walk in to speak to him.

“Sorry, but I was wondering Professor what you were doing?” she asked gently, pushing her light blonde hair from her face.

“Sit down Feng… actually my eyes are sore from reading, will you read those last two paragraphs for me, please?” he said, his voice cracking.

“Of course, professor,” she smiled, but secretly she was frowning at how old the professor indeed did look. “The Bast are a stealthy and agile race, with always dark hair and milky skin, and sharp, bright eyes that shine in the dark. Like the cat they have quick methods of escaping tight spots. They have only two tribes, and both are commendable until the end as rare gems of any world. The Bast have a talent of creeping up from behind and can move without a word, but if they trust you they will not try to do so, they will make tremendous noise, just so you know they are there.” The girl smiled and looked up at her professor. “Professor, why are we reading this?”

“Because I wanted to know if anything had changed over these past five hundred… or was it six hundred years…” he grinned, speaking slowly and warmly. “Read on my dear, Hisa, read on…”

“The final race is the Dagon, a race of beauty, not to match the Fae, but they are less evil as they fight against it constantly. There are calm, serene, like water and they cleave through the waters like their ancestors, the dolphin. They have metallic hair and eyes, and they have warm hearts…”

“Stop… stop Hisa-rei, I have heard enough… will you fetch me my wife? Wait!” he called, his breathing becoming short and quick. “Promise me you will become a professor, promise me you will carry on my research and you will read my journals and you will… pursue my dreams…”

“Oh! Professor, you know perfectly well that your dreams are my dreams! I have always admired you; you helped me too much… I promise you… I promise!” she smiled.

“Good, that’s my girl!” he smiled, watching as she ran to fetch him his wife.

Hisa woke up in a cold sweat; it had been a long, long time since she had had that dream. She missed her old professor and she hadn’t forgotten her promise, she was almost finished, but she was missing something and it seemed it was now haunting her. The man next to her stirred and lifted his scruffy brunette head.

“What’s wrong, Hisa? Are you okay?” he asked, sitting up.

“I just had that dream again, Ryo… you don’t think it’s trying to tell me something, do you?” she said, yawning slightly.

“No, I think it’s just that you want to fulfil your promise so much that your brain is telling you… no reminding you, to give you that boost. Come on, go back to sleep, I’m sure everything will be fine, you can talk to me about it in the morning… that’s if Lei doesn’t decide otherwise…” Ryo grinned, kissing her cheek.

“Okay…” she said, laying down and closing her eyes as he wrapped an arm around her.

“Good, now sleep…”