A Wraithbone alarm clock rings as the young half Eldar half Human failed to rise herself from her bed.
It was the early morning cycle on the Craftworld. Eldar begin their days early, "Make full use of every day, avoid laziness" Lofn's mother Taldeer had always told her. The young halfling couldn't seem to wake herself this morning, the exertion from yesterday was just to much. Just five more minutes .
*Knock knock knock*
"Lofn dear wake up, your mother is waiting on you to get up". Lofn recognized the strong yet quiet voice of her father through the door, but could only let out a groan of exhaustion.
LIIVI reminded his daughter one more time of her mothers wrath at idleness and that was enough to rouse the young halfling. Living with a Farseer is tough, being the daughter of one is even tougher. Reassuring her father that she was up the dreary eyed girl went through the motions of the morning cycle without much thought.
Coming out of her room dressed and a more awake than before. She met her mother and father in the dining room. The table had already been set and Breakfast waiting. After a through tongue lashing by her mother for making them wait they all say down the eat.
"You cannot be going out at night if you cannot wake up in the mornings"
"Yes mother "
"And understand you are still living in my house you live by my rules"
"Yes mother..."
Her mother continued to drone on and on about this and that as Lofn tuned her out. She thought back to the night before it was all kind of hazy except for the memory of the boy in gold and how mysterious his disappearance. The thought of him made her blush. She tried to hid her face from her mom and dad. She thought about his appearance, human? That wasn't possible, she was tired, she must have just been seeing things in the young boy that just weren't there.
Her mother having finished her scolding and gone off to eating was interrupted by a knock on the families door. LIIVI made a move to stand up and get it but Taldeer motioned him to stay and with a sigh got up from her breakfast and answered the door.
Lofn finished her meal and excused herself moving to her pet's food bowl for his morning meal. The little ripper bounded with great energy over to its masters side. The creature was psychically bonded to the young girl as a drone is to its queen. The little tyranid's mood seem to change at the whim of the young halfling and it seemed at times her's to it's. As he bounded merrily towards his food his excitement seemed to draw her out of her confusion and melancholy.
Returning to the table to clean up she she spies her mothers guests have made themselves at home in their living room. She recognized the group as Farseers from the council that worked with her mother. They sat motionlessly as Taldeer joined them in the room an began a discussion of the future of the Craftworld as written in the fabric of time. All to much for Lofn she continued on and helped her father clean the table and set something aside for her mother.
She considered going outside to play, looking at the clock and seeing she still had some time before her Tutor arrived for today's lessons. Outside the beams of artificial light emitted from the massive ceiling of the Craftworld's Wraithbone Spires and Stalactites illuminating the Craftworld till night cycle would dim them into darkness.
Lofn ran around the yard chasing and being chased by her friend. It was a great way to spend the morning. Lofn running from her pet when she heard snickering off in the distance. Her mood immediately fell as the local gang of boys from the neighborhood were approaching. They had never been welcoming or the least bit nice to her. They had thrown stones at her before. She hoped they wouldn't be so bold as to try again in front of her own home.
Look guys its the bastard of the Mon'keigh Fucker and her pet . The Ripper had taken an aggressive stance between her and the boys. Don't you have anything better to do with your time, Hundrec? she asks knowing, but praying all the while they would just leave. Nah we have a few minutes to hang out don't we guy? The rest of the boys shook their head in agreement with malicious glee on their faces.
Lofn opened her mouth to speak, but she choked on her own breath, their abuse was endless and she had no way to stop them. He picked up her pet and his toys from the yard all the while the boys cruelly mocked the poor girl on anything and everything that came to their minds, you are all so cruel she managed to mutter before she returned inside. With a sunken face she went back to her room, and stayed there.
All Eldar children walk the Path of the Student. A pseudo-path for the developing Eldar minds to develop future Eldar to Craftworld's high standards. It is an informal path with no strict structure for tutelage however all pupils must be trained by those Eldar who walk the Path of the Mentor. Most Eldar children serve under one Mentor with large groups of other pupils as their peers for many years. Some for special reasons or none at all study individually with a tutor. Lofn was no Eldar child, she didn't blend into the rigid Eldar culture. Taldeer had hired a private tutor for Lofn keeping her away from other children. The tutor was an associate of Taldeer's. One who walked the Path of the Seer under Taldeer before he had moved on as Eldar do and found a new task to practice to perfection.
Her Mentor Monsieur Gjabreil was a strict tutor, but the halfling enjoyed his presence, the only other being apart from her parents, a modified Ripper, and; the golden boy. That cared for her and treated her like anyone else. Lofn wished she could just be like everyone else and treated like a normal girl. At the thought Lofn started to tear up but stopped when she heard Monsieur Gjabreil talking to her mother in the other room.
Lofn's lessons were focused to her underdeveloped psychic potential. Monsieur Gjabreil believed the energies were there, but locked behind her partial human anatomy. And again no success in her studies. While her Mentor never lost his ambition on conquering such a unique challenge she could sense the disappointment behind her mothers eyes, and again she remembered she was different.
It was growing dark now. She thought of the boy at the Awakened Path. "It's not even worth it. Why would anyone want to be with me?"She with filled with self loathing. "Come here boy" she beckoned her little pet to her. "We are going to our quiet place tonight".
Leaving home before anyone had thought to look for her she went to a large field of Wraithbone trees and fountains of crystal glass. Synthetic grass covered the field from tip to tip, without an imperfection, perfect height on every blade. She walked to the tallest tree. Said to be as old as the Craftworld itself, silently humming its own song, growing ever larger without the songs of the Bonesingers. Late at night the park was empty and was the only place she could avoid all the Eldar on the Craftworld.
The humming of the tree resonates deep to the core of one's soul, synchronizing Eldar's thoughts together when they got close to the giant construct. The melding of souls was a popular attraction for young Eldar couples, for Lofn however the shift in her psychic presence made her invisible even to her mother who had grown adept at finding her unique soul. The the worst of times when see wanted to be alone the most the Ancient Wraithbone tree was her Quiet Place. Only her thoughts, they small noises of her pet, and the almost inaudible hum of the tree.
As the day cycle began to fade and the Craftworld began shifting its Wraithbone surface to a darkened hue, Lofn climb the tree to a thick branch and stairs at the last embers of the day cycle faded into the night.
Time passed and Lofn continued to stare out into the darkness, lost in her thoughts, occasionally brought back to reality by the rustling of her companion. "Oh dear, I don't know what I am supposed to do with myself I'm so pathetic." She picked up the ripper and brought it closer feeling tears well up in her eyes, "I'm a mistake, Mom, Dad, Aunty would all be better off without me." Her isolation was interrupted suddenly by another presence entering the harmony of the Ancient Wraithbone. It's appearance was sudden and intense. It's overwhelming presence forced the Ancient Wraithbone Tree harmony to shift and match its own. Stunned by the explosion of psionic energy, Lofn lost her balance and started falling, terrified she let out a scream, "HELP ME!"
Her arm is caught by a grip equally firm as it was soft and as strong as it was gentle. Pushing back the tears she looks at what had saved her, trying to fix her eyes on her savior however was akin to trying to stare into the heart of a star. The light blinded her and she could not stare at it. The golden light began to dim and a form began to appear in the center of the light. No, the light emanated from the form itself."Is this even possible. Can this be possible or am I dead?"
"You are not dead child" the voice projected out with such wonder and awe.
Looking back the light had dimmed enough for her to make out the source of the voice, the male voice. Long flowing hair, strong cheek and chin, flowing golden robes and a shining circlet around his head. It was the boy from the Awakened Path. Behind him what remained of the blinding light continued to flow in a faint outline of a throne.
"Who are you!?"
"Dear Child I am the Anathema"