Starija

The royal palace within the Kold district, the wealthiest district in the Kingdom of Crystal, was bustling in overdrive with media camera crews, civilians and fanatics falling over each other in their attempts to catch sight of their favorite royal family members or noblemen, touring visitors, and permissible palace visitors that were hard at work. Visitors and guests with official access came and went through the splendorous crystalline gate, receiving stares from gawkers as they passed those on the public street. Stoic security guards behind the gates did not bat an eye in the face of such obvious awe, curiosity, and hostility. The princes and royal family did not enter through the front gate when they returned; their entrance and exit was via two side gates at the back of the palace, on a small private road next to a massive decrepit forest of ice trees, pillars, and peaceful temples that remained open for noble families and not-so-well-off civilians. Third Prince Caspian enjoyed

    Last minute cram reviews were not proven to be effective or successful, but many people still did it. As an instructor of several courses with lesson plans and student assignments intermixing his brain circuits every day, Captain Lance Foright needed them. Having reviewed his presentation notes for the third time that morning, he stretched by his office window. A view from five stories up overlooked a silent parking lot, enormous icicle walls behind that, and a teal-crested mountain looming in the distance. He admired the same view every work day for the past six years. The inside of the room was riddled with bookshelves full of textbooks, hardbacks, and paperwork. Nothing new. Nothing extraordinary. But he had earned the view and office through years of harsh work in the Special Armed Forces.     He did not go into the Armed Forces with the intention of becoming an instructor or trainer. That was how he ended up; instruction was a captain’s responsibility, and a complicated one

    201 Year    Flames and gray smoke suffused the once-bright towers and icy scaffolding blanketed in aquamarine sheen. The Kingdom of Crystal was literally being melted, though rather gradual, to the ground, leaving crystal-encrusted road surfaces to be flooded in moisture and water. Its citizens, once delightful and bright people, sheltered and huddled in their houses, miserable in their terror, pain, and weakness. The Crystal Military worked without rest to beat off the brutal heat that surrounded their numerous cities, but the roaring fires had engulfed too many acres for too many hours. It didn't seem to be abating, despite much power of crystallizing efforts by soldiers. More water-manipulation soldiers were needed, but they were spread thin in the Kingdom’s population. The power was overwhelmed by the number of other powers.“Soldier Caudry, come in! Report your status! You’re needed to form a def barrier at Tower 21! Spreading is happening rapidly, which will bring down the

    Dressed in his royal blue uniform with a black cape billowing from his shoulders, Dillon took a final look at the pinned schedule on his wall. Having memorized every room number for his general soldier courses, he put away his phone as he walked out of the room. His one lecture of the day, Barrier Strategies Intelligence, would begin at 2:30 in the afternoon in the Combat Intelligence building all the way across campus. It was also the main building for holding strategy meetings of all ranks and general soldier gatherings, if they needed to huddle up or to attend an event of any kind. He was anxious, but more than that, eager to learn a new field of combat and strategics. Lord knew he needed the instruction on how to lead and guide his combative, proud team members. Plus, he had heard great comments about their instructor—his simple lessons, digestible content, and affable personality. There was no lack of integrity either, according to a few of his past students. Cedric, for one,