Akashma and Tlandar stepped into the Sanctum
of Orchids village, where life thrived in a harmonious blend
of commerce, scholarship, and tradition. Traders, merchants, and
scholars moved with purpose, while artisans and farmers tended to
their crafts. Along the main thoroughfare, vendor
stalls overflowed with goods, leading toward the grand gates
of the Sanctum itself.
As they approached, two Salgaran guards
stood at attention. The moment they recognized Akashma, they stepped
aside, nodding in acknowledgment as they opened the gates.
"Welcome home, Akashma,"
one of the guards greeted her.
Without a word, Akashma led Tlandar forward.
Beyond the gates, a majestic palace rose before
them, its vast halls upheld by hundreds of towering pillars,
each intricately carved with the history of the Salgaran people. They
walked in measured steps toward the final gate,
leading into Chieftain Salgar’s palace. With a
firm push, Akashma opened it.
<hr>
Inside Chieftain Salgar’s Palace
The chamber they entered was vast, with a broad
staircase ascending to an upper floor, where
Chieftain Salgar stood, waiting.
Akashma saluted in the traditional Salgaran
Crimson Order manner—crossing her arms into an X
over her chest and bowing her head.
"Your Majesty, I bring before you
Tlandar, the Starborn. I have completed my mission,"
Akashma declared.
"You have done well. You will be
richly rewarded for your efforts," Chieftain Salgar
replied before dismissing her. As Akashma departed, the great doors
opened and sealed shut behind her.
Now, alone with the towering ruler of Salgar,
Tlandar faced his fate.
"Tlandar, did you know that you are
the Starborn of the Oasis Prophecy?" Chieftain Salgar
asked.
"I… I don’t know,"
Tlandar admitted.
"That is why you have been brought
here. You are the Starborn," she said.
Towering ten feet tall, Chieftain
Salgar was a commanding figure, draped in a dark red royal
cloak over intricately designed kuprix armor.
Her golden tiara crowned her elegantly
styled hair, and the scent of dark red roses
surrounded her—a fragrance both regal and intoxicating.
Tlandar inhaled deeply, gathering his resolve.
"Astashica spoke to me. She needs my help. I must
protect her. I must save this planet from the wicked Asemeri
overlords who are destroying it. I will help. Tell me what I must
do."
Chieftain Salgar’s gaze sharpened. "Then
I will make you strong. For four years, you will train. Are you
prepared for that, Tlandar?"
"I am," Tlandar
declared. "Prepare me to defeat Cosmus and his
confederation of doom. I will bring my blade upon them. Astashica
will live."
Salgar smiled, pleased by his determination.
"Good. You have the right spirit. But know this—your
homeland, Val’katl, is under siege. The Ixtielan marauders have
pillaged and ravaged it for years. You, a humble rancher from the
outlying regions of New Asemeri, may not have known the extent of the
destruction. But had you stayed, you and your family would already be
dead. They will reach those lands soon, leaving nothing but ruin in
their wake."
Her voice carried the weight of prophecy. "You
will grow strong with my guidance, for I, too, am a protector of
Astashica. When the time comes, you will stand as its shield. You
will be the Protector of Astashica. But first—you must prepare.
Your true mission begins now."
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
At her command, several Salgaran eunuch
servants arrived to escort Tlandar to his royal
living quarters. As the chamber doors opened, he stepped
inside, the gates sealing behind him.
<hr>
Tlandar Begins His Apprenticeship
For the next four years, Tlandar
lived within the palace of Chieftain Salgar,
undergoing intense training in combat, philosophy,
engineering, and strategy. He was no longer a simple
farmer—he was being forged into a warrior.
His mentor, a Salgaran
eunuch named Xelvath, was among the great sages of
Chieftain Salgar’s court. His name, meaning "Life"
in the Asemeri language, symbolized the wisdom he carried. Xelvath
was six feet tall, with light hazel eyes,
tanned skin, and short black hair. Though of medium
build, he was agile, cunning, and relentless.
He wore the dark red cloak of the Crimson Order, as
did all who lived within the Sanctum of Orchids.
Tlandar’s training began in the lowest
levels of the Sanctum, where a vast, colossal space
had been constructed for training Salgaran pilots in
the operation of Formicron mechas. The floors
stretched endlessly, allowing hundreds of Xothek Formicron
units to maneuver freely. Here, the future defenders
of the Salgaran Dominion honed their skills.
Under Xelvath’s guidance, Tlandar learned every
facet of Formicron warfare:
<ul>
<li>Piloting
techniques in battle scenarios.
</li>
<li>Tactical
strategies used by the Salgaran vanguard.
</li>
<li>Engineering
and repair, learning to disassemble and reassemble
a Formicron under strict time constraints.
</li>
<li>The
metallurgy and forges used to craft Formicron parts.
</li>
<li>The trade
routes for acquiring vital components across Astashica.
</li>
<li>Designing and building his
own Formicron from raw materials.
</li>
</ul>
The standard Xothek Formicron,
standing 30 feet tall, was a bipedal war
machine, with rotating cylindrical joints at the
arms and legs. Its cockpit, integrated into the
torso, was protected by an armored shield,
displaying a tactical HUD, real-time sensor
data, encrypted communications, and
holographic mission maps.
The Salgaran Formicrons, painted
in dark crimson with black weaponry, were symbols of
power and precision.
To master these machines, Tlandar underwent
grueling training missions, including:
<ul>
<li>Navigating
labyrinthine environments to locate hidden
artifacts.
</li>
<li>Combat
simulations, testing his ability to control the mecha’s
full range of motion.
</li>
<li>Advanced
weapons training, perfecting the use of ranged and melee
armaments.
</li>
<li>Piloting under high-pressure
conditions, including simulated ambushes
and hostile battlefield environments.
</li>
</ul>
His training was unforgiving. He
learned not just to fight, but to think like
a warrior, to understand the mind of an enemy,
and to wield his machine like an extension of his own body.
<hr>
The Warrior’s Attire
Upon proving himself, Tlandar was granted
the dark red cloak of the Crimson Order of Salgar. Its
fabric, woven with advanced optical fibers, could
render the wearer completely invisible at will.
He also received a Salgaran combat
uniform, crafted from cloth and leather,
designed for both mobility and durability.
Beyond mecha warfare, Tlandar was trained in
traditional combat arts, mastering:
<ul>
<li>Fencing &
polearm combat.
</li>
<li>Hand-to-hand
techniques, including boxing.
</li>
<li>Survival skills for extreme
conditions.
</li>
</ul>
Like Akashma before him, he was now a warrior of
the Crimson Order.
<hr>
The Starborn Awakens
The farmer from Verdantis Nexus
was gone.
In his place stood a warrior—a warrior who would
one day rise against Cosmus.
Tlandar was no longer just a pilot or a
student.
He was the future Protector of Astashica.
And his real battle… had only just begun.