Ours is a southernmost land shrouded in mystery…
A peripheral land cut off from the rest of the world…
Where nature herself plays god…
And humans live under her rule…
Though our families before us sought to pursue trade, peace, and protect the ever growing world,
Sailing to the farthest corners of the world with ships the size of palaces,
Circumnavigating from the largest of archipelagos to the tiniest of islands…
They found themselves in a vast land with no way out…
Ours is a southernmost land shrouded in mystery…
Of moraines and crystals…
Where a generation have passed with no more hope of finding a way to their ancestral home…
Land claimed yet no monarch or republic to recognise…
Life moved on as usual…
Towns built, loyal and neutral…
Armies formed but no war was fought…
Despite borders, who were once rivals; French, British, and other nationalities that were washed ashore to this continent now friends…
Together, they explored and protected each other as they discovered the rest of the new continent...
Woodlands and forests with strong trees proudly pointing at the sky as large birds sing their songs of praise as they go about their day…
Long rivers that span across and around the entire continent, providing food and water for the surrounding wildlife…
Snow covering the sand of vast shorelines beside white gigantic rock cliffs overlooking the freezing ocean of what is assumed to be the Arctic…
Large snowy mountains that eclipses the sun, with crevasses forming all the way down a dark abyss…
When the night sky takes its turn to watch over the world it displays the majestic Aurora Australis…
Children from the colonies would watch over from the lush hills as the lights stretch with the constellations from afar…
Ours is a southernmost land of mystery…
It was believed to be appropriate to name after the continent after the large mass of land in the south that was never found by explorers,
Terra Australis
Yet, what was believed to be a new fresh start for mankind, was far from true…
"Ours is a southernmost land shrouded in mystery
Ours is the southernmost land of
Terra Australis."
-Gen. Matilda Foster
Thick cold air rushing between the passageways of the labyrinth of large crystalline rocks.'Iyala, Terra Australis.'-Gen. Matilda FosterA platoon of colonial soldiers surveyed the area for a mission they knew little about. The floor was rough and pointy and reflected light it could reach. The large glowing rocks displayed a text no one understood. Looking above, they saw the majestic Aurora Australis playing with the stars. And several comets that passed through a luminous ring; connecting massive planet-like stars organised like beads covering Terra Australis.The hidden continent displayed an ethereal prowess no man in the old continents could ever imagine. Still, the colonials had no time to address the natural formalities.Their general had sent them to look for a structure lurking deep in this place. The general had also sent one of her finest leaders and a good friend of hers, Col. Sonia Campbell.They were led by an Iyalaala. A floating crystal kite believed to have been the
A girl stood by herself in a cold and dark garden, its source of life coming two rows of dimmed candle lanterns sharing their rows with lush plants cut in the shape of a square. Between the rows stood a narrow and wide pond with the lanterns reflecting the ripples of the water. The girl stood in front of it all. She could see her breath merge with the cold air as she walked around the surrounding pavement of the pond. There were no stars above, clouds, nor even the moon or the beads of stars, on the other side of the garden; large, tall pine trees that were rustling heavily, giving the air a smoky scent of pine cones. She approached the pond to see the water clear, she saw her own reflection and realised she wore a long, white sundress, and the girl had short, black hair and brown eyes."Right... that's me..." She watched the water reflecting everything she does as the cold airbrushed her body. She noticed large flowers with the colour of blood settling on the bushes beside the pon
The town's eyes and ears were all about the arrival of South British colonial soldiers in their community. The platoon marched around the village with their red uniforms buttoned with bronze and white leather strapped around them with their haversack. They were led by a captain, a young girl named Iowa Campbell.She had blonde hair braided to the side and wore a blue shawl. Instead of a rifle, the captain carried around her a sabre and a Webley revolver. The captain ordered the platoon to stop as they marched to the town's centre."Spread out into groups", Iowa ordered as she raised her hand sideways, signalling dispersion. The soldiers immediately formed into groups of four, and each went on with their directions.A frail old man approached the captain. Upon first look, he does not look like he means to harm, reaching Iowa slowly and kindly with his wooden cane and curved back."Miss?" Asked the old man in a soft, weak voice."Yes, sir?"The people spectating the scene from their balc
A young Isuzu watched over a baby inside the nursery in the orphanage. The baby rested on a small wooden cradle complete with a small pillow and blanket. The baby was taken in a few weeks ago, and she had dark hair and dark skin.Isuzu was told by the nuns to watch her over as they cleaned the mess hall after dinner. The nursery had individual rooms for babies that were months old, and the younger ones were housed with other babies in a long bright place where the nuns would watch over them.Isuzu was all alone with the new baby. Not much was known about her parents. One night the head nun, sister Maya, left the orphanage to see a baby in a basket in front of the door in the middle of the night.She, of course, took her in and asked the town's night watch if they had seen anyone who left the baby there. The village was small, everyone knew everybody else, but they didn't know who the baby was or who her parents were.Isuzu leaned over the baby to see her fully awake, trying to maintain
An hour before the rising of the sun, Isuzu walked back to her room, unable to find Eleya. She sat down on her bed with so many thoughts lingering around her head.She then heard someone climbing quickly. She rushed to the window, but before she could even get close a person suddenly busted out of the window, it was Iowa."Shhh", Iowa said as she placed her finger on her lips. Isuzu nods and carefully opened the window. Iowa vaulted in, brushing the dust off her uniform."What is it?" whispered Isuzu.Iowa did not answer. Instead, she looked around the room, searching the drawers and corners."OK, we can talk now", Iowa whispered as she finished her inspection."What were you looking for?" Isuzu asked."Things that could hear or see us, insects or anything else", said Iowa. Sighing as she finished checking everything."So," said Iowa, "Have you made up your mind yet?""No, why?""I'm sorry, but it has to wait. I need you to come with me to the capital, and there we'll sort things out,
Venture forth lads for a new settlement awaitsCarry your luggage, let not tiredness delay usWe must build anew, mankind's first town in this barren continentLe
The carriage marched on with Isuzu and the colonials on board. The sun had finally risen, but there was a problem."Didn't I tell the scouts to regroup with us every thirty minutes?""It could be something worse ma'am." he answered."What do you mean?" asked Iowa. Then the soldier pointed at the road ahead,"Who goes there?!" shouted the driver upon seeing the running men."It's us, the scouts!" the men shouted back.The soldiers instantly recognised them, calling out their names as they asked what happened."Hop in, you two!" Iowa told them. The men on the back pulled them in as they scaled through the carriage."Our horses, ma'am! They mysteriously ran ahead of the path, we're sorry!" one of the scouts explained."It must be the enemy", Iowa muttered."Wait so they could control animals?!" one of the soldiers asked."From what I have observed, yes", Iowa answered."An angel?" the other scout asked."I think Isuzu here is a huge deal for us both South British and whoever they are. I s
"Where're our reinforcements?!" shouted one of Iowa's soldiers as they fought through the enemy onslaught."Just shut up and keep firing!" Iowa shouted back as she reloaded her weapon and went straight back to firing.The soldiers were well trained, managing to take down their enemies in only one or two shots, but due to the enemies' overwhelming numbers. It meant that they're the ones who'll be out of bullets first.The skirmish was at its peak. Bullets flew from all sides, and as the sun raged on with its heat, it started to exhaust both sides.Isuzu watched from the back. Hearing the echoes of gunshots and whistling bullets, sometimes she even had to hide behind a tree as stray bullets landed near her."You should keep your head down, lest they see you here." told one of the scouts to Isuzu."Oh, right, sorry!" apologised Isuzu."It's odd seeing the captain like that no?" said the other scout."Yeah, ever since she heard about the mission about Iyala. She had been pretty blue ever s
Somewhere in the heart of the mainland of Terra Australis a few hours ago, South British soldiers gathered around in a campfire as the sun slowly rose.They huddled up in their coats as the slow, cold fog of morning dew. A few days ago they had received word from their general to leave their post before Sanctum Day but not before her permission.Then, a soldier on horseback shouted, &ldq
In a quiet, dark room, a lady sat alone with no candle to light up.The lady had her eyes closed as she placed her cloak and staff besides.She sat quietly without saying a word, so quiet she could not even hear herself breathe.
The next day was another day to train for Isuzu. The three woke up before the sun rose so that Isuzu and Iowa could jog around the cold and foggy woodlands that surrounded them."Are you ready?" Iowa asked Isuzu as she tied her boots' laces. "Yeah." Said Isuzu.Iowa nodded, "You aren
Another week later – Two weeks before Sanctum Day, after the previous meeting of the colonies in New London, in Dutch Korji, Commander-in-Chief Van Rijn rode on a carriage headed to their parliament.He rushed to the building and quickly ran up the stairs. While outside, a hooded figure noticed the military carriage and walked away, only to see rows and rows of Spanish colonial soldiers marching in perfect formation, some of them eyed him down as he moved out of the way.
"Sonia!" Shouted Iowa as she ran to her sister in the academy halls. "Iowa!" Exclaimed Sonia as her little sister hugged her tightly. Sonia hugged her back.Unaware of the situation, Iowa hugged her sister in the middle of the halls, letting other cadets see. , "Iowa, not here, people could see." She whispered. "Right, sorry." Iowa giggled as she let go of Sonia. "Anyway what are you doing here, aren't you supposed to be with your cadets?" "Well, I wanted to see you off on your first mission!" Iowa answered. "Iowa!" Someone shouted in the distance. "Who's that?" Sonia asked. "Oh, that's my fellow cadet looking for me." She answered. "Wait, you should not leave them there you know? The two of you might get in trouble." Sonia whispered. "Yeah, you're right, I'm going to go now," Iowa looked back, getting ready to take off. "Wait." Sonia grabbed Iowa's wrist. She pulled her younger sister and gave her a small hug before letting her go. "I'll miss you," Sonia whispere
A week has passed, several serviteurs and priests have announced their most holy day, Sanctum Day to be held in four – now three weeks. Several members of the Divinity took to the streets and celebrated. The commanders and generals of every colony in the archipelago were gathered by General Matilda in South Britain to discuss the matter. Meanwhile,Isuzu ran to the deeper parts of the woodlands. Her mission was to be undetected by Iowa or Celeste before time runs out. "Right, I only have a few minutes left." Said Isuzu as she watched her small watch run out.She now wore a comfortable white shirt and a type of pants sewed together by Celeste to give her the best comfort as she ran around during training.She vaulted against small logs and scaled through small gaps and tried to avoid stepping on dead leaves because of the crunching it makes.Meanwhile, Iowa and Celeste ran beside each other and started to discuss their plan, "Let's split up, your vines should help," Iowa told Celes
Isuzu spent the rest of the day, practising getting in the world of pitch black and getting out of it. While Celeste and Iowa would support her from the outside, pulling her out if she could not. Isuzu entered that world over and over again. The structures inside started to develop even more.“Right, one last time before we eat dinner,” Celeste said as Iowa helped Isuzu settle down as she held her hand. “OK,” Isuzu answered as she held Iowa’s hand tighter. She closed her eyes as her brain started to visualise shapes and patterns in different colours. Isuzu relaxed her muscles but kept her chin up high, and as she opened her eyes,Everything was pitch black, all except for her.Isuzu walked confidently to the puddle where the other side was and gently dived into the large ray of light. She took deep breaths as she found herself on the surface of the pond and climbed out. She immediately dried up as soon as she walked around the pavement. The world around her, although still covered in
A thick fog covered the desolate woodlands outside the capital of South Britain, New London. As fireflies huddled around the tall grass and leaves, beneath the surface of the forest hid a small cottage made of ordinary wood and metal sheets.As the roosters sang their morning hymn, one of the people inside got up their bed and went outside the house. She yawned as she approached an open campfire where the flames of yesterday disintegrated the little twigs it had left. She spaced out for a few seconds before kneeling in front of the campfire. The ground beneath it covered in ashes which reflected the silver-coloured hair of the lady as she gently placed her hand on one of the twigs, burned to a crisp.After yawning one last time, her red eyes started to glow as the surrounding ground around her start to vibrate. As the chicken called once more, the twig began to take back its original shape and size, not only that but also with the other twigs inside the campfire. Slowly regenerating a
On the border of South Britain between French Arctica, inside a telegraph office, a team of decoders deciphered a message that was sent yesterday from General d’ Armee Chevrolet.They wrote the message on paper and sent it to a military postal office inside a brown envelope and a stamp that signalled its importance and urgency. Immediately they dispatched the letter, sending it to the capital, New London.A few hours later, General Matilda received a knock on the door as she was writing something. “Come in.” She said as she raised her head to see who it was. A soldier opened the door and saluted, “Ma’am, we’ve just received a telegram from General Chevrolet. Here it is on paper.” He said as he approached the General and placed a brown envelope on the table. He slightly bowed his head and saluted as he left the room and closed the door.She placed her notes aside and opened the envelope which wrote,“We found the two angels.I am planned to attack Divinity activity near the northern b