Tirnanog

A young Sequana played outside a small wooden cabin nestled in a quiet forest. Her laughter echoed as she twirled in the grass, carefree and full of wonder. Nearby, her mother, a skilled mage, practiced spells, the glowing symbols swirling around her hands. Her father chopped wood, his steady rhythm blending with the sounds of the forest.

Sequana paused in her play, gazing up at the vast blue sky. Her emerald eyes sparkled with admiration as she whispered,

"One day, I want to see Ketergia. It's so beautiful up there. I want to be just like the mages in the stories."

Her mother smiled warmly, her spellcasting momentarily paused.

"Dream big, Sequana. One day, you'll find your place among the stars."

The dream faded, the soft glow of her childhood giving way to the dark reality around her. Sequana grew up in a small wooden cabin nestled in the forest. Her father, a strong and hardworking man, spent his days chopping wood to provide for the family. Her mother, a skilled mage, was her source of inspiration and the anchor of her magical journey. The family lived humbly, scraping by but holding onto each other.

One fateful day, everything changed. A group of local thugs stormed their village, demanding money and supplies. When her father refused to comply, the confrontation turned violent. Sequana's father was killed, his body left lifeless in the dirt.

Her mother, consumed by rage and grief, sought revenge. She hunted down the thugs and killed them with her magic. Though her vengeance was swift, the loss of her husband left a permanent scar. From that moment, she became determined to teach Sequana magic, wanting her to grow strong enough to protect herself. 

Years passed, and Sequana flourished under her mother's guidance. She progressed rapidly, eventually achieving the rank of Grade 1. She beamed with pride, her eyes shimmering with hope.

"Mom, one day we'll live in the sky city, away from all this dirt and pain," she said with childlike wonder.

Her mother's expression darkened.

"Sequana, the people of Ketergia are not what you think. They look down on us. They're selfish and cruel."

Sequana frowned.

"That's not true. I'll prove it to you one day."

One evening, Sequana decided to take a walk to clear her mind. When she returned, her world was shattered. Smoke billowed from their home, flames consuming everything. Panic surged as she ran inside, calling for her mother. She found her lying on the floor, bleeding from a deep stab wound. With trembling hands, Sequana dragged her mother outside, away from the inferno.

"Mom! Wake up, please!"

she cried, tears streaming down her face. But it was too late. Her mother's lifeblood had spilled onto the ground, her strength fading with every passing second. Sequana sobbed, clutching her mother's lifeless body, the promise they had made now broken.

Grief turned into rage. Sequana tracked down the thugs responsible for her mother's death and burned them alive with her magic. Though she avenged her mother, the emptiness remained. She would never hear her laugh again or feel her gentle touch. She would never get to say goodbye.

Determined to honor her mother's dream, Sequana sought to prove herself to the Ketergian knights. She guided them during their expeditions, acting as a helpful hand and guide. At first, they welcomed her assistance, but this changed after a series of rebel attacks. The rebels, identifiable by their red cloth tied to their limbs, ambushed the knights during one of these expeditions. The knights, paranoid and angry, accused Sequana of leading them into a trap. They branded her a traitor, turning on her despite her protests.

From that moment, Sequana's faith in Ketergia began to crumble. Her encounters with Youth only deepened her bitterness. He represented everything she had come to hate about the knights. But as time passed, she saw the same cruelty she despised in the knights reflected in their actions toward innocent people. Youth's genuine care and desire to change the system forced her to confront the harsh reality of the Ketergia's hierarchy.

Though she eventually joined Youth's cause, she remained conflicted. Her heart was heavy with doubt, torn between her childhood dreams of a better life in Ketergia and the harsh truths she had witnessed. As the present-day battle raged, Sequana lay unconscious, her mind haunted by the ghosts of her past. She was a woman caught between worlds, struggling to find her place and understand what she truly wanted.