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MidReal Story
Ethereal War
Scenario:A story about Archons and aeons
Create my version of this story
Milo Vern
rogue Archon, ally to Elara and conflicted over Cassius, late 20s, rugged with dark curls and piercing green eyes, charismatic yet brooding.
Elara Voss
fledgling sorceress, friends with Milo and rivals with Cassius, mid20s, lean with pale skin and vibrant sapphire eyes, determined and quickwitted.
Cassius Thorne
powerful Aeon leader, rival to Elara and mentor to Milo, early 30s, imposing figure with sharp features and silver hair streaked black, strategic and ambitious.
Chapter 1
I was born in the shadows.
Hidden from the world, I grew up in a city that wasn’t supposed to exist.
A place of magic and myth, where the Archons reigned supreme and the aeons were nothing but a distant memory.
Or so we thought.
Until they came for me.
The night I discovered my power, an Aeon assassin tried to kill me.
He would have succeeded if not for Milo Vern—the rogue Archon who saved my life.
Now I’m his student, and he’s declared war on his own kind.
With his help, I might be able to find the truth about who I am and what happened to the world outside our city walls.
But this new life comes with a cost.
This city was my home.
I knew its every street and alleyway, every shop and marketplace.
I’d walked these paths for years, meandering through the city’s heart and soaking up everything it had to offer.
It was a place of peace and beauty, a sanctuary where I could be myself without fear of persecution or harm.
But it was also a prison.
For as long as I could remember, I’d been trapped within these walls—powerless to leave or explore the world beyond.
It wasn’t until I encountered the Aeon that everything changed.
For the first time in my life, I felt free—truly free.
And with that freedom came a power unlike anything I’d ever experienced before.
A power I didn’t know how to control.
"Aeons are nothing but legends," Milo said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Old wives’ tales told to scare children."
He flashed me a grin, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"You don’t honestly believe they exist, do you?"
I hesitated for a moment, glancing up at him through my lashes as I tried to read his expression.
"Of course not," I lied smoothly. "No one has seen an Aeon in centuries. They’re probably all dead by now."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he studied me for a long moment before finally nodding in agreement.
I sighed in relief and tried to push the matter from my mind.
He was right—the Aeon had to be some kind of imposter, or perhaps a madman who’d lost his mind after years of isolation.
There was no other explanation.
And yet…
The way he’d looked at me—like he could see straight through to my soul—the power that pulsed around him like an electric current… it was all too real.
So real that even now, weeks later, I could still feel the remnants of it clinging to my skin like an invisible shroud.
The Archon’s hand closed around my throat, cutting off my air supply as he lifted me off the ground.
I gasped and sputtered, clawing at his fingers and kicking wildly as I struggled to break free.
That stopped me cold.
My head snapped up, and I stared at him in shock.
"How… how do you know my father’s name?"
"I know many things about your father."
He spoke softly, gently prying my fingers away from his wrist.
"About your family. About what you are."
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.
Milo was right—losing control now would only make things worse.
But that didn’t mean I was going to let this go.
"What do you mean, ‘what we are?’"
I demanded.
"What aren’t you telling me?"
Milo hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Your father was an Aeon."
I blinked in surprise, taken aback by the claim.
"That’s not possible," I said after a moment.
"My father was an Archon. He died fighting against the Aeons."
"No," Milo said, shaking his head slightly.
"Leo Thorne was an Aeon. And one of the most powerful I’ve ever known."
I stared at him in stunned silence, trying to make sense of what he’d just told me.
Milo Vern—the rogue Archon who’d saved my life—had known my father was an Aeon all along?
How was that even possible?
I didn’t know whether to be angry or relieved—after all, if he despised the Aeons as much as he claimed, why had he bothered saving me in the first place?
But before I could even begin to process what this meant for our fragile friendship, Milo began speaking again.
"Your father was a leader among the Aeons," he explained gently.
"He led their armies in their war against the Archons. And when he disappeared…"
His voice trailed off, and he looked away for a moment, his expression pained.
"When he disappeared," I repeated, feeling a cold knot of dread forming in the pit of my stomach.
"What happened?"
"We don’t know," Milo admitted softly.
"The only thing we found were his weapons—and you."
Leo Thorne had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a wife and infant daughter.
I had only the faintest memories of him—just enough to hold onto the illusion that he’d been a great hero who’d fought and died to protect our people.
The truth was so much worse.
Milo gave me a moment to process this new information before speaking again.
"I know this is difficult…"
"Difficult?"
I repeated, my voice rising slightly.
"My father is dead—and you expect me to believe he was one of the monsters you’ve spent your entire life fighting against?"
I shook my head and clenched my fists tightly together as I tried to keep from lashing out at him in anger.
"How am I supposed to accept that?"
"Whether you want to believe it or not, it’s true."
Milo sighed and raked a hand through his hair wearily.
"The spellwork that Aeon used wasn’t like anything I’ve ever seen before. But it’s unmistakable—Aeons have a very distinctive style."
He paused for a moment, then added quietly, "If you’re going to survive out there, you need to learn more about them."
We both knew what he meant by ‘out there.’
My training with Milo couldn’t continue forever—and sooner or later, he would have no choice but to send me back into the world outside our city walls.
And an Archon.
The child of two worlds at war with each other.
Why had the gods seen fit to curse me with such a fate?
"Don’t stop now."
Milo’s voice jarred me back to reality, and I forced myself to focus on my training once more.
"The war will be upon us soon enough," he warned.
"You need to be ready."
I nodded silently and struggled to push my doubts aside as I raised my weapons and prepared for another round with my sparring partner.
I wasn’t ready—not by a long shot.
And until I could find some way to change that, I was as good as dead.
Faelan
"You’re not from around here, are you?"
My eyes flickered up to meet Elara’s, and I let the words hang between us for a moment before speaking again.
I had no idea what she’d been doing in that bar—or why she’d come alone—but something about her had set off all my warning bells the moment she’d walked through the door.
She had the look of an Aeon about her, though her power felt…different somehow.
But no Aeon in their right mind would wander into a den of Aeons alone.
Not unless they wanted to start a fight.
I leaned back in my chair and studied her more closely, taking note of the way her eyes narrowed as I spoke to her.
I was getting under her skin—and that fact should’ve been more satisfying than it was.
"What’s your name?" "Elara," she replied warily, and I couldn’t help but notice how her gaze flicked briefly over my own weapons as she spoke.
"Are you going to tell me yours?"
"Faelan," I said with a nod, watching for any hint of recognition on her face.
"But you didn’t answer my question."
Chapter 2
In the past, I would’ve met her question with a lie—or more likely, not answered her at all.
But as it was, I found myself in a rather delicate situation.
"You tell me," I replied evenly, watching the way her sapphire eyes flashed with annoyance and curiosity alike.
She didn’t answer right away, and I could see the wheels turning in her head as she searched for some sort of response that wouldn’t give her away—and came up empty-handed time and time again.
I’d finally managed to catch her off guard, and I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction at that fact. "Fine," she said at last, breaking the silence between us. "I’m looking for information."
"And what makes you think I’m the one who can give it to you?"
I asked, already suspecting the answer—or at least part of it.
"Because you’re smart," Elara said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"And because I think you know more than you’re letting on."
Her words sent a shiver down my spine, and I folded my hands behind my head as I leaned back in my chair and studied her more closely.
She looked so much like an Aeon that part of me wanted to believe she was one—though something about her power felt…different somehow. "You think I’m an idiot?" "I think she’s right."
I was so lost in my own thoughts that I almost didn’t notice the man who’d spoken—or the way his voice dripped with venom.
But when I finally tore my gaze away from Elara, I found myself face to face with an Aeon I knew all too well.
"Thorne," I said, doing my best to keep my voice neutral despite the anger that surged through me.
"What are you doing here?"
It was no secret that Cassius Thorne had no love for the Archons—or our city, for that matter.
The two of us had been at odds more times than I could count.
Just when I thought I’d managed to escape, fate had other plans.
I wasn’t sure why I was here—in Milo’s apartment—and not somewhere else.
But after everything that had happened, this was the only place that felt safe.
Milo was a rogue Archon—just like me—and he was the only one who truly understood what I’d been through.
He’d always been there for me when I needed him most. And right now, his arms were wrapped tight around me as we lay side by side on his bed.
"You’re safe," he said softly, pressing a kiss to my temple.
"Everything’s going to be okay."
The words should have reassured me.
But they only served as a painful reminder of just how dangerous my situation really was.
For a moment, I let myself believe his words—let myself forget about the Aeon who’d told me he knew who I was and that I couldn’t trust him.
Milo’s fingers tangled in my hair as he leaned down to press a kiss against my lips, and I melted into him, letting all of my fears and doubts slip away for just a little while longer.
I might not have known who I really was, but in that moment, I didn’t care.
All that mattered was the man lying beside me—and the way he made me feel like I was whole again.
"I love you," I whispered, knowing he felt the same way even if he never said it out loud.
"I love you too."
His voice was barely more than a whisper—but it felt like a promise, one that would keep me safe no matter what happened next.
The knock on the door came out of nowhere, followed by Milo’s soft curse as he pulled away from me and climbed out of bed to answer it.
"I’ll be right back," he said, pressing a kiss to my forehead before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
I listened to his footsteps as he made his way down the hall—and then I heard the voices on the other side of the door.
One in particular sent a chill down my spine, and I reached for the dagger that lay on the bedside table beside me—but Milo had taken it with him when he left.
"Elara Voss," Cassius Thorne said in a tone that brooked no argument.
"I know you’re in there. Open this door at once."
My heart stopped as panic gripped me, and for a moment I wondered if I could sneak out the window—but it wasn’t long before Milo’s voice joined Cassius’s on the other side of the door.
And at that point, I knew there was no escape.
"Not so fast," Cassius said when Milo finally opened the door for him.
"You’re not going anywhere—not until we have a little chat with our friend Elara here."
Friend?
All at once, everything seemed to happen in slow motion—Milo pushing me behind him so he could stand between me and Cassius, who glared at us both with undisguised contempt
"What do you want?" Milo said.
Cassius’s eyes flickered toward me—and then back to him again.
"I want to know what she’s doing here."
"Why don’t you ask her yourself?"
I tried to jump in before things went any further—but it was already too late.
"She’s a traitor," Milo spat out, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his dagger as his eyes blazed with hatred.
"She deserves nothing less than death."
My stomach lurched, and for a moment I thought I might be sick right there on Milo’s floor.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to be—not when we were so close to ending this ridiculous war and finally being together without having to hide from anyone, or anything… But as Cassius took a step forward, his eyes never leaving Milo’s, I knew that it was too late for us—that whatever we’d had was already over, long before it had even really begun.
And no matter how much it hurt to admit it, there was nothing I could do to stop what was about to happen next…
"Stop."
My voice came out in a whisper, barely more than a breath—but the shadows listened, rising up from the ground and circling around Cassius to bind his hands and feet so he couldn’t move.
Chapter 3
Cassius looked up at me in surprise.
"I thought you said—"
I could see the shock in his eyes, but I didn’t give him a chance to finish, turning my back on him as my chest heaved with every shaky breath I took in an effort to keep myself from falling apart right then and there.
"I’m sorry," I murmured, "but there’s no other way. You’ll just have to go through me."
For what felt like an eternity, neither of them said anything, not moving an inch as they stared each other down, their expressions guarded and unreadable as they waited for the other to make the first move.
But even though Cassius had been one step ahead of us since the very beginning, it was Milo who finally broke beneath the weight of all that history between them, looking away first as he spoke in a voice that was so quiet I almost couldn’t hear him over my own pounding heart.
"Fine. Take her."
It was over.
Everything I’d wanted—everything I’d dreamed of—was gone in an instant, leaving me standing there with tears streaming down my cheeks and a gaping hole in my chest where my heart used to be.
And while I knew that Milo had only done what he thought was best to keep me safe—while I knew that he’d never have been able to live with himself if something happened to me because of him—I still couldn’t help but feel betrayed.
Because he’d known how much being with him meant to me.
He’d seen how much I loved him.
And yet he’d given me up anyway…
Shaking my head in disbelief, I turned back to Cassius and wiped the tears from my eyes so I could glare at him through the shadows that still bound his limbs.
"You must think I’m a complete fool," I spat.
"Why should I trust you? After everything you’ve done…"
"Because I’m the only one who can protect you."
Cassius spoke calmly, as if he didn’t have a care in the world—as if he wasn’t still bound and helpless at my feet—and yet there was something in his voice that made me think he might actually be telling the truth.
"I’ll admit, when we first met, I didn’t know what to make of you. But now… Now I understand why your father risked everything to save you from death. And believe me when I say this: If you agree to help us end the Archons once and for all, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. From both sides." "And what makes you think I’d ever agree to help someone like you?"
His eyes narrowed at that last part, but he quickly masked any signs of weakness or frustration and did his best to look impassive despite his continuing inability to move.
"Let’s just say that there are some things about being an Aeon that your mentor hasn’t told you."
He gave Milo a pointed look, but then turned back to me before waiting for an answer.
"You’re special, Elara. And with my help—"
"I don’t need your help!"
I snapped before turning on my heel and stalking away.
"This is insane! And after everything you’ve done…"
Before he could stop me again, I cut him off with more questions than either of us had answers for.
I’d decided to trust him and go with him willingly because I needed answers—and he was the only one willing to give them.
My mentor would have some of his own people infiltrate the camp to gather as much information as they could before the rest of our forces arrived.
But for now, it was up to me to find out what I could about the Aeon’s plans.
And while I had no idea how far I would actually get—especially since Cassius had already promised not to let me anywhere near their leader—I knew that I had to try.
Steeling myself for whatever lay ahead, I pushed through the last few trees separating me from the camp and did my best to hide just how nervous I was.
Despite Cassius’s promises of protection and power, I couldn’t help but feel a little afraid of the man—and not just because he’d killed one of my cousins right in front of me.
No… it was something else entirely that made my blood run cold and set my teeth on edge whenever he got too close.
But I’d never been one to back down from a challenge—especially when so much was at stake—so I quickly pushed those thoughts away and stepped into the clearing with as much confidence as I could muster.
I didn’t make it more than a few yards into camp before someone called out to me by name.
"Elara!"
I froze the moment I heard it, and damn near stopped breathing when I finally realized who it was.
Deimos Lachlan may not have been a close friend—or even a fellow sorcerer—but he was one of the few people in this world that I actually trusted.
We’d grown up together in the same orphanage, and had remained close ever since we were each adopted by different Archon families and sent off to live with them.
It had been years since we’d last seen each other, but as soon as he stepped out of the nearest tent, any doubts or fears I might have had about being here disappeared in an instant.
And before either of us knew what was happening, I was running across the clearing to throw myself into his arms.
"Deimos!" "Elara," he murmured against my hair, holding me tight against his chest as if he never wanted to let go.
"I can’t believe it’s really you. They told me you were dead."
"I was," I said, pulling back so that I could look him in the eye.
"But Cassius saved me."
"He did?"
He narrowed his eyes at that, but quickly shook away whatever suspicions he might have had and pulled me into another hug instead.
"Well thank the gods for that. It’s good to see you again. But what are you doing here? In Aeon territory? Alone?"
"I…"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much I should tell him.
Deimos was not one to just blindly follow orders, but his eyes flashed with a dangerous light the moment I mentioned Milo’s name.
"You know we can’t be seen together," he said, stepping back to look me over.
"Your people and mine are enemies now. Cassius will kill you if he finds out what you’re doing here."
"I know," I said, swallowing hard against the sudden lump in my throat.
"But that’s why I need your help. You know this place better than anyone. If there’s anything going on around here, I need to find out what it is so I can relay that information back to Milo."
Deimos frowned at that, but after a minute or two of careful consideration, he finally gave me a small nod.
"Alright," he said. "But you’re going to have to be quick about it. We can’t afford to get caught."
"That’s not a problem," I assured him.
I may not have been an expert thief like Deimos—as far as I knew, there were only a handful of people in all of Aeon territory who could possibly match him in skill—but between the magic of the Archons and the latent abilities of my aeon sorcery, I felt more than capable of slipping in and out of this camp without being noticed.
But when Deimos heard that, he quickly shook his head and took a step back.
"No… that won’t be enough," he said.
"What do you mean?"
I asked.
"If you don’t think I’ll be able to get in, then how else am I supposed to…?"
"Because you won’t be going in alone," he said.
"If we’re going to have any chance of pulling this off, then we’re going to need to do it together. But in order for that to happen, you’re going to have to help me."
"How?"
"By getting us through the front gate. The only way Cassius will allow me back into camp is if someone vouches for me. And that means you."
"But…"
It took me a moment to realize what he was saying.
"You want me to bring you into camp and help you steal from Cassius Thorne?"
"It’s the only way," he said, his voice dropping low.
"But if we’re going to do this, then we need to move quickly. Cassius has been making plans against Milo for weeks now, and it’s only a matter of time before he launches his first attack. If we don’t hurry, then we might not make it out of here alive." "What happens if we get caught?" "Then our lives are forfeit."
He didn't even flinch when he said it—in fact, he didn't seem surprised by the idea at all—but I wasn't nearly as confident.
If Deimos and I were caught trying to steal from him—let alone trying to kill him—then Cassius would have every right to execute us on the spot.
I didn't like it—and I certainly didn't want to put my new abilities to the test—but I knew what was at stake if I failed.
And if there was even a chance that I could help Milo win this war, then I had to take it.
With a deep breath and a single nod of my head, I finally gave Deimos my answer.
"Alright," I said.
"I'll do it."
Deimos smiled at that—though he quickly sobered when he realized just how much I'd be risking for his plan to work—and after another few seconds of awkward silence, he finally reached into his coat pocket and pulled out something dark and heavy.
"What's this?" "It’s a disguise," he said.
"The uniform of one of Cassius’s soldiers. If you’re going to be able to move freely around camp without being noticed, then you’re going to need to look the part." "What?"
I stared down at it in shock. "You want me to wear that?" "It’s the only way," Deimos said, holding it out for me once again.
"But if you’d rather not…"
"No…"
I shook my head with a sigh.
"No… I can do it. Just… give me a second."
Chapter 4
I took the uniform from Deimos’s hands, feeling its weight and the gravity of what I was about to do.
As I slipped into the disguise, each buckle and strap seemed to tighten around my resolve.
Deimos watched, his eyes reflecting a mixture of hope and trepidation.
“There,” I said, adjusting the last piece. “How do I look?”
“Like one of them,” he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. “Now let’s move quickly. We don’t have much time.”
We approached the front gate, hearts pounding in unison.
The guards eyed us with suspicion, but Deimos’s presence seemed to quell their doubts.
“Who vouches for this one?” one of them barked, pointing to me.
“I do,” Deimos said firmly, stepping forward. “She’s new but loyal.”
With a reluctant nod, the guards allowed us passage.
Inside Cassius Thorne's camp, the atmosphere was tense, filled with an undercurrent of impending conflict.
Deimos led me through the maze-like pathways until we reached a tent at the far end where critical documents were kept.
“This is it,” he whispered. “You keep watch while I search.”
I nodded and stood guard outside, my senses heightened by the danger surrounding us.
Minutes felt like hours as Deimos rummaged through papers and maps inside the tent.
Suddenly, footsteps approached—heavy and purposeful.
I turned to see Cassius Thorne himself striding towards us, flanked by two of his elite soldiers.
My heart raced as I frantically signaled Deimos to hurry up.
Cassius halted before me, his gaze piercing through my disguise.
“And who are you?” he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
“Just a new recruit,” I managed to stammer. “Here to assist.”
Before he could press further, Deimos emerged from the tent with documents clutched tightly in his hands.
Cassius’s eyes narrowed as he took in the scene. “What’s going on here?”
Deimos didn’t hesitate. “Just conducting a routine check on supplies.”
But Cassius wasn’t fooled. “Hand over those papers,” he demanded.
Realizing we were out of options, I summoned every ounce of my newfound power.
With a surge of energy, I created a blinding flash of light that disoriented Cassius and his guards just long enough for Deimos and me to make our escape.
We ran through the camp with adrenaline fueling our every step until we reached the outskirts where Milo awaited with reinforcements.
Deimos handed over the stolen documents, which detailed Cassius’s battle plans against Milo’s forces.
In that moment, standing between two worlds—Archon and Aeon—I finally understood my purpose.
I would forge my own path, not swayed by manipulations or allurements but guided by a desire for peace and unity between our divided factions.
Milo looked at me with pride as we prepared for the final confrontation against Cassius Thorne.
“Let’s end this war,” he said.
And with newfound strength and unwavering resolve, I nodded in agreement.
Together we would face whatever challenges lay ahead—not as Archon or Aeon—but as allies fighting for a future where both could coexist in harmony.
