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theultimatesandwich · 6 months ago

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DnD OC Fic: Part Two

Trying to really work through a bunch of my WIPs, so finally returning to this series of short stories. Been really fun trying to write out this character's backstory in story format, so hope y'all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. If not, I at least enjoyed the writing process :)

Part one here

Tagging friends who might be interested: @jgvfhl @bazingabacca @bookwyrm-of-the-trees @professorgallifrey @charlie-omniscient

Part Two: Teenager

The cool mountain air filled Annahael’s lungs as she gazed out over her family’s estate. From atop her draconic companion, Azula, it was easy to forget what life on the ground felt like. The horizon seemed to beckon her, calling out from behind the mountains that protected the property. She rested her head on the sapphire dragon, thoughts and emotions flowing across their telepathic bond.

I know, Azula thought back. Maybe someday.

Annahael smiled, content to have someone whom she could talk with; or, think with. It had only been a few years, but she could no longer remember life without Azula being part of it.

A spear whizzed by her head, taking her out of the tranquil moment. Right. Training.

“Dammit,” Elyan cursed, the spear returning magically to his hand. “You couldn’t have moved two inches to the right?”

“You couldn’t have aimed two inches to the left?” Annahael retorted. She and Azula flew towards Elyan and the obsidian dragon he was seated upon. Just as Annahael had bonded with Azula, her cousins had bonded with their companions, as well. Each dragon seemed to reflect or complement their rider. In Elyan’s case, his companion, Meliodas, shared his eagerness and rage for battle, as well as his hot-headedness from time to time.

Annahael reached behind her back and withdrew a sleek metal pole. With a flick of her wrist, it doubled in length, topped with an elaborate curved blade. Balancing on Azula, she took both hands and swung the fully extended scythe out towards her cousin. It clanged against his spear, and she used the momentum to push off from him.

“Not bad,” she smirked. Her cockiness was short lived, as an arrow came flying out from beneath them and lodged itself in her leg. She caught a quick blur of Damien atop an emerald green dragon, Yagura. She groaned, more out of annoyance than actual pain, pulling the arrow out and snapping it. Damien was as stealthy as ever, and his contempt towards her hadn’t seemed to wane, either.

Elyan looked to be enjoying himself, but only for a moment, as a sword came and tore holes in his sleeves and trousers.

“FAEDRON!!!” Elyan bellowed, starting to go red with rage. The half-elf appeared behind him, innocently holding a cloth-stained sword.

“Yes, brother?” He allowed himself a small smile, the opal dragon beneath him committed to pure, silent, innocence.

Elyan didn’t respond so much as he screamed, thrusting his spear out towards Faedron. It would have struck him, if not for Faedron’s companion, Ren, moving to take the hit.

Annahael took the opening to shove Elyan with the blunt end of her scythe, pushing him out of his saddle. She wasn’t too concerned about the fall, however. A short burst of magic came from Kiana, barely looking up from her book as she drifted over atop her ruby dragon. Annahael wasn’t about to complain about her lack of participation, though. With Kiana’s power and Filo’s ambitious pyromaniac tendencies, they proved a formidable foe in battle, and a near deadly pair to try and train against. So naturally, they were restricted to intense training three days a week instead of the usual seven, providing support as needed the rest of the time.

As the magic enveloped him, Elyan drifted safely to the ground, Meliodas following close behind. The rest of the Kroxas also landed, still tense with adrenaline.

“You did that on purpose!” Elyan shouted toward Faedron.

“And?” Faedron shrugged. “It’s a simple mend; even a child could do it.”

Elyan swore in Draconic, holding up his trousers and his middle finger as he wandered towards the stables.

“I’m… going to get a bit more practice in,” Faedron said, adjusting the saddle on Ren. “I still feel like I could do better on my maneuvers.”

“You just don’t want to head to the stables while Elyan is there,” Damien remarked, already climbing back into the saddle.

Faedron let out a laugh, and the two of them took off, leaving Annahael with Kiana. Normally the two of them exchanged curt nods, or a word or two if the situation demanded it. But today, surprisingly, Kiana said a full sentence.

“Were you trying to kill him?”

Annahael stared, shocked, both at Kiana acknowledging her presence and at the question itself.

“Of course not,” she said. Kiana raised an eyebrow.

“I mean it. He may be an ass, but I don’t want him dead. Look, even if you hadn’t done your…”Annahael waved her hands in the air, causing Kiana to roll her eyes. “The fall wouldn’t have been enough to kill him. Bruise his ego? Absolutely. Break a few bones? Which one of us hasn’t. But kill him?” She shook her head.

“You still made the decision.” Kiana responded pointedly.

“I saw an opening and I took it.” Annahael began to busy herself with Azula’s saddle, starting to get annoyed. “Surely you of all people can understand that. Don’t be upset because I actually succeeded.”

Kiana stiffened as Filo growled, steam escaping from the dragon’s nostrils. She gave a trademark curt nod, then flew off towards one of the towers of the manor.

Are we sure Kiana and Elyan aren’t siblings? Annahael thought towards Azula. Because I’m starting to think having punchable faces is a family trait.

She’s just concerned, Azula replied calmly. Although I will admit, you do have a very punchable face sometimes.

Annahael stifled a laugh as she headed towards the stables. Scouts and attendants bustled by, doing their part to aid the family, but Annahael still felt their eyes upon her. It was no secret that she was the Tzel Mavet Atidah, the next in line to head the family. It was a huge honor, of course, but that honor came with drawbacks. True, the extra lessons she’d grown accustomed to, and distance between her and others of the family felt like a blessing at times. Why should it bother her that everyone else was jealous? But then again, extra pairs of eyes made it impossible to sneak around.

She’d tried once. Her and Azula, newly bonded, attempted to sneak out one night, just to test their limits without the pressure of others around them. She knew her cousins had done it countless times, yet she was the one to get caught. The Tzel Mavet was too busy to handle such a matter, but Annahael’s parents made sure to pick up any slack.

Do you even know how reckless your actions were?

It’s like you don’t even care that you’re next in line

Stupid, idiotic child. Are you even worth all of this trouble?

Needless to say she never made an attempt to sneak out after that.

Annahael straightened her posture as the eyes darted away from her once more. She tried to give off the same aura as her grandmother: powerful, elegant, and deadly. Well, she could at least fake it until they reached the privacy of the stables. She exhaled, shutting the door behind her.

Considering how pissed off Elyan had been, the damage could be worse. Doors were kicked in with noticeably more stab wounds than she remembered. Equipment appeared to be thrown and haphazardly put back, still covered in hay. Even Meliodas had joined in the destruction, corners of the room still sizzling with acid.

A whistle came from behind her, causing Annahael to jump. Her posture straightened again as she turned to find the youngest of her cousins, Brynn, fanning herself with a decorative wooden and cloth fan. She was just barely seven, but acted like she was the next in line to head the family, not Annahael. Close cropped dark hair, electric blue eyes, and an aura of pure innocence. Between the hot-headed Elyan and the quiet trickster Faedron, Brynn was heralded as the golden child of her older siblings.

Annahael hated her.

“Wow,” said Brynn, surveying the damage. “What did you do to piss my brother off this time?”

“What makes you assume I had anything to do with this?” Annahael shot back. “And for the record, it was a sibling affair.”

“Faedron.” Brynn shook her head. “I’m assuming he took off to delay the consequences of his actions?” She took Annahael’s silence as confirmation.

She sidled up to Azula as Annahael began taking off the saddle. “I don’t suppose I could trouble you for a ride to my dear brother?”

“No.” Annahael said sternly.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed about your tracking abilities,” Brynn replied sweetly. “I’m sure I could find him easily; I just need a lift, that's all.”

“No,” she said. “If it matters that much to you, go ask Kiana”

Brynn wasn’t one to concede easily. “And have to climb up all those stairs?”

“Have someone send her a message. Or have someone send Faedron a message.”

“I don’t suppose you could do that, right?” Brynn’s voice slipped from sweet to nearly sadistic. Annahael had never mastered the arcane to any degree, and Brynn always loved to ‘helpfully’ remind her of that fact.

“Why did you come in here again?”

“What, I can’t spend time with my favorite older cousin?”

Most favorite to torment, Annahael grumbled to herself.

“I just thought you’d want to follow him.” Brynn rocked back and forth on her heels, twirling the fan in her hands. “You know, spend some time away from the manor?”

Annahael paused, causing Brynn to smirk, knowing she’d hit a nerve. “What makes you think that?”

“I was watching you during training today,” Brynn shrugged. “It seemed to me like you weren’t as focused as you could’ve been.”

“And what, you’re an expert on dragon riding now?” Brynn stiffened as it was Annahael’s turn to take the upper hand, dropping a friendly reminder that Brynn didn’t have a draconic companion. Two could play at this game.

“Of course not. You’ve all had more practice than me, clearly. I just thought some fresh air would do you good, considering it’s been… how long since they’ve sent you on a mission?”

Annahael glowered. Her cousins had occasionally been sent on training missions: small fetch quests, diplomatic relations, and the like. But never her. She knew better than to question it outright, though. Of course there was a reason.

“I guess I’m just too valuable,” she shrugged, trying to hide how much that last comment had stung.

“I doubt it.” Brynn didn’t even have the decency to mutter it to herself.

“You know what–” Annahael turned, silver eyes beginning to darken as the power of her bloodline took over. But Brynn was unfazed.

“You think you’re the only one born with that power?” Her blue eyes also began to darken, reflecting Annahael’s power back towards her. Fear began to take root in Annahael, holding her in place.

“You’re not as special as they think you are.”

Brynn’s voice seemed to echo around the room, the perfect sounding board for all of Annahael’s fears.

You’re not that special

Last time was a fluke

No one really respects you

You’d be so easy to replace

They’re all just waiting for an opportunity to strike

A sharp pain struck Annahael’s leg, pulling her out of her stupor. She looked down to see Azula’s tail returning to the floor, concern flooding in from across their bond. The room returned to normal, but a chill still hung in the air.

Brynn folded up her fan and tucked it away, seemingly content with her torment for the day. “Well, I better leave you to it. Always a pleasure, cousin.” She gave a curtsey that made Annahael’s blood boil, then left her and Azula to their own devices.

Annahael tried to control her breathing. While she was telling the truth about not wanting Elyan dead, Brynn tested her will like never before. If the little brat wound up at the bottom of a ravine somewhere, Annahael would give whoever did it a stack of platinum.

She finished taking the saddle off Azula, cleaning up the stables as much as she could, entertaining herself with thoughts of pedicide as she worked. Soon enough, the two of them made their way to Annahael’s room to settle into the rest of their routine.

Apart from daily training with her cousins, Annahael spent most of her time alone, pouring over history books until the words began to swim across her eyes. Learning the names of the sects of the organization, where they were from, who was in charge, what gods they worshiped. Names and places and places and names.

When she got sick of books, she practiced training with Azula. It wasn’t as ideal as private training outside, but imagining the practice dummies with Brynn’s face was at least mildly entertaining.

And of course, she had to make time to give an offering to their family’s goddess. Hela, goddess of death; a fitting mistress for the death sect. Privately, Annahael thought she was kind of a bitch. It wasn’t like she had done anything lately to help in their goals. But of course, those thoughts could never be spoken aloud. At least she could share them with Azula.

As days would draw to a close, Annahael would prepare for bed. And on one of those nights, she couldn’t help the tears that would come to her eyes. She threw one of her pillows across the room, scattering various objects on her dresser.

“I know I can be useful out there!” She screamed, her voice choked by tears and anger. “Why won’t they just let me prove myself?!”

Patience, child. A voice rang in her head. Your time will come. And when it does, you will grow more powerful than all of them.

An immense wolf, eyes black as night, fur darker still, flashed in Annahael’s mind. And beside that wolf, a woman, draped in black and purple, the colors of the death sect.

Annahael jolted awake from the vision, limbs trembling. Apparently the gods did care after all, even if they were cryptic in their delivery. She had been patient all her life, waiting for her moment. And if this vision was anything to go off of, her patience would soon be rewarded.

#my writing #sandwich writes stuff #dnd #dnd fic #dnd oc fic #annahael #please tumblr don't eat my tags again #will prob also double upload these on AO3 cause why not

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