Yeraman Nor Ketal.
Marked by Destiny. The last of the Claw. Cursed Child.

The Claw of Ketal is a family with a glorious but now forgotten past. All they have is an ancient
name and a great history that dates back to the first Claws of the Empire. Almost all references to
this Claw are scattered and contradictory. They are more akin to legends and myths than reliable
chronicles of other families. This may be the result of the conflagration of the Civil War and the
subsequent Exodus, which affected many Claws of the Old Empire. Or maybe a deliberate
distortion and censorship of those dark times. But whatever the reason, Ketal's Claw had always
had close ties to the Academy, and was one of the few families that could confidently call it
home.
The members of the Claw had always been small in number, like the other native families of the
Academy. They never enjoyed the status of their name, and led modest, measured lives. Only
Yera's mother, Morian Nor Ketal, was truly ambitious and overbearing. She rose to the status of
Master and quickly gained fame as a determined, but very proud magician.
Her husband, Esmer Ketal, never shared his wife's ambitions and settled for a very ancient and
honourable, but extremely unpromising position. Senior Archivist of the Great Library -
although it sounds quite impressive, it represents a dead-end branch in the Academy's hierarchy.
One wonders what exactly Morian found in Esmer, and what moved her to make such an
unfavourable alliance. Few of their acquaintances claimed that only such a quiet and calm
draconid could tolerate her hot-tempered and feisty nature. And in spite of her selfishness and
pride, Morian truly loved her husband, who loved her dearly.
She, Asterion, and a few others were part of Supreme Master Maliek's inner circle. Although
Asterion was the Supreme Master's apprentice, the dragon was most often seen in public with
Morian. Thanks to his unspoken patronage, Morian Nor Ketal became the most powerful mage
in the Academy, gaining a fraction of the power of the Supreme Master himself. Only Lord
Solaris openly condemned her, but the others preferred not to mess with the Supreme Master's
favourite. Proud and fiery, Morian did not tolerate weakness or timidity on the part of others. In
this she was like Lord Maliek, which apparently brought them together. And they both shared the
same fate on that fateful night.
Although there were many dead that day, only a few were found and identified. The Black
Guardians sent the Speakers of the Dead to clarify the fate of those whose bodies were never
found. These dark sorcerers, peering beyond the veil of death, brought comfort to many families
by delivering their parting words to the spirits of the dead. But even the Speakers of the Dead do
not know what happened to those who were at the very centre of the disaster. Lord Maliek, a few
mages close to him, and Yera's parents are the ones about whom the Kingdom of the Dead
remains silent. This might be hopeful, but the few surviving witnesses are certain that nothing of
flesh and blood could have survived that terrible magical recoil. Their souls were most likely
scattered by magic so devastating that not even the death echo had time to travel beyond the
Veil.
So the newly born Yeraman was left alone. She became the Eldest Daughter of her Claw very
early on, and when she was old enough, she entered the Academy as an applicant. At first her
training was on par with the rest of the students, but soon her interest was completely captured
by magical practices. And in them Yera had no equal. Her magical potential could not be
measured or limited in any way. She easily learnt the basics and overtook her classmates and
even older boys. At one point she even doubted her teachers, and they had nothing to say. It was
obvious that despite her young age, Yeraman Nor Ketal was a genius of sorts with an innate
understanding of the art of sorcery. Not to say that it was rare, but usually such powers manifest
themselves at the threshold of maturity, and Yera was still a teenager. Her wings, a rare vestige
found in those who were destined for an incredible fate in the legends of the world, were also
striking.
Draconids have rich spiritual practices, and their society is steeped in mysticism and belief in
omens. Even the most pragmatic and sceptical of Mages and Academy professors acknowledge
the fact that Yeroman Nor Ketal bears the stamp of great accomplishments. Except that her
potential and capabilities raise more questions and wariness. After one unpleasant incident in
which Yeroman Nor Ketal got into a magical duel with an older female student of the Academy,
the question of supervision and control over the young mage came to a head. Her talent, though
immense, was completely unrestrained. Moreover, Yera had inherited her mother's obnoxious
temper and immense arrogance, which led to even more conflicts. She was forbidden to attend
the magical arts classes. This order was dictated by the irritation and fears of the Undercity
Council and the Academy. No one was willing to take responsibility for such an unruly mage.
The easiest solution would have been to kick Yera out of the Academy and turn her over to the
Order of the Black Guardians, but she was protected by the «Founding Law» and some of the
Academy's top board members. It became obvious that a decision on her issue simply could not
be made.
Her origins and the halo of mystery surrounding the catastrophe suggest a variety of thoughts.
The events of that night give many people no peace, and Yera, though not a direct participant in
those events, has become a hostage of intrigue and secrets. She is eager to prove her power to
everyone and to gain the knowledge that is due to her. Yeraman is desperate to succeed and will
do anything to be recognised. The only question is how far she is willing to go and where is the
line that defines unreasonable doubt and reasonable apprehension...

mythology https://www.furaffinity.net/view/47285478/

prologue https://www.furaffinity.net/view/47317984/

chapt. 1.1 https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53903216


help in correcting the text will be gratefully received