Chapter summary - The history of the Mergers and the Hunts. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Many centuries ago, Elementia began. A world, filled with magic, from the dirt to each and every creature that existed in it. Eventually, humanity settled in this wonderful paradise, though, eventually, they were divided. There were those who were Mergeless, ordinary. And there were the Mergers. Five groups who could merge with some sort of element, some thing in the universe. The Blazes, able to merge with fire, to become that brilliant flame, to dance in its embrace. The Aquas, able to merge with water, to follow that endless river. The Storms, able to merge with the sky, to fly and be weightless in it. The Grounds, able to merge with the earth, to be as motionless and calm as that cool rock. And the Smokes, able to merge with the smoke, to become one with that curling creature, to breathe it. And for a decade, peace was kept. Peace that could not last. As everyone does, the Mergers had their own weaknesses. Things that would make their Merged forms flicker out and become human once more. Blazes could not stand still. Aquas could not speak. Grounds could not allow their calm facade to end. Storms could not touch the ground. Smokes could not cough. It was easy enough to not cough, the other Mergers thought. And they became afraid. So began the tradition of the Trials. Smokes were forced into an arena to fight for their very lives. An arena designed to make them cough. When they coughed, which was called the Cough-Out, a team of Mergers who hunted them in the arena would destroy them. Not a single Smoke survived the Trials if they were discovered to have Smoke-Merging abilities. So they disappeared. Became rare. It was eventually considered a sporting event when a Trial happened. Tickets were sold. The crowds watched each Smoke meet their demise. And that is where this story truly begins. In a cruel world, where Smokes are hated, hunted, and ultimately killed. In a world where one must make a leap to survive. Our story begins with her. With one who is bent. Bent, never broken.
Next: Previous: First: Inspo: The Hunger Games, Fable for the End of the World, The Inheritance Cycle, TDP, a bit of She-Ra.
