The Rune of Strength

This is where the story itself goes.

The view from Eagle Rock was breathtaking. The ceremonial peak was older than anyone knew. Higher than the clouds, it protruded from MOUNTAIN. Before her was endless country to the south, past the Winter Woods which covered the mountain range MOUNTAIN stood upon. She could see in the far distance the Forest of Spirits, the ROAD road, and knew the town of Shalenor was beyond. The sun colored the peaks here so beautifully. She felt the world was before her.

Girl stepped forward once, out of the protection of the carven rock. The wind caught her hair and lifted it past her shoulders. The air was thinner up here and she felt it. A deep inhale. She closed her eyes and smiled. When she opened them, she looked behind her. A half-hundred others of her Order were watching, waiting for her to ready herself. This was her first FLIGHT. She had flown before, of course she had. She’d been soaring since nearly she could walk. But FLIGHT, this was something all members of her Order looked forward to.

The ceremony was an ancient one. One of the oldest traditions, she’d been told by MAN. 

A hand on her shoulder drew her attention.

“Stunning, isn’t it?” MALE said. He offered her a smile. “You’ll do just fine.” He took several steps back to give her the lead. The rest would only jump when she had gone first.

GIRL turned back toward the endless horizon. It was stunning indeed. A breeze blew her hair back, as if to urge her onward. Still, she hesitated.

“Go on then!” one of the boys in the crowd shouted at her. “Get on with it!”

A slap from one of the others quieted him.

GIRL adjusted her flight suit. Drawn from leather and knotted tight in the wrist and shins, there was extra cloth stitched between the armpits and groin to catch the wind and move it where the wearer wanted it. The suit wasn’t necessary for wielders of Flight Runes, but it helped them fly farther than without one. Most of the crowd behind her wore them. MALE, she noticed, wasn’t wearing one. He gave her a slight nod, and she felt ready.

She kicked off into a sprint and was at the beak of Eagle Rock in an instant. An instant later and granite gave way to empty space. The next sensation she felt was weightlessness. The wind caught her and her rune burned. She was in flight.

The laugh that burst forth from her was the deepest of her life. The ground was miles beneath her.