AA: CAE Group 005

Entomon, Araneae, Petraergo (c) Tenor

Zolgen, Kaosmen (c) GiaZeries

Symbols (c) KingRefi

Hello, I am Lyk Ras! I was born to two Speed Entomon and of my five siblings I am the only Power type.  As you can imagine, this meant that I was frequently charged with tedious manual tasks, such as moving furniture around (my existence meant my parents could change the layout of the living room as much as they saw fit) and carrying about the lazier of my siblings (the most common excuse being “Lyk, I'm too small to use my legs, show us your big strong arms again”). I didn't mind it, but once I started joking that I would throw my wingless siblings out the window, most of them stopped demanding my transportation services. My parents also went a bit easier on me when they came home to find the furniture piled into a fairly accurate effigy of myself, especially as I was the only one who could safely deconstruct it.

Still, I was raised fine; no injuries or anything. School was a lot of fun and I seemed to make friends easily, possibly because I was something of a clown. Not enough to be a proper miscreant, but enough to garner many disapproving looks from the teachers (spraying subtle imported perfume at the front of the room before class didn't go down too well, let's say). I was still in school when we all had to relocate to Cruix. Hyla-Hyra's a good place to live, no doubt about it, and it's fun to see the planet's locals, I just hope we will be able to see Hyra again some day.

After school, I took the Life Career Tests to get a good idea for my future. I had a few thoughts of my own, but knew the test would be wise. As such, after the utterly exhausting experience, I was left with a quite appealing answer: workshop technician. A few years of lounging around helping my parents and preparing for work down the line, I was struck with the hungry signs of metamorphosis. My parents didn't much care for my “see you on the other side” imminent death-like speech, but they were certainly pleased to see me a month later, all toughened up and ready to start my life.

Greetings my friend, please take a seat, I will tell you my tale for it is quite neat. My parents were sweethearts who courted so well; on the Matur Ritual was not something to dwell. After the success of the ritual came twelve little eggs, and one of them bore me, with all eight of my legs. Of all of my siblings I was the most meek, at least until I learnt to properly speak.

You could say that I became a handful at best, always telling a story to the inquisitive rest. But my intentions were good and soon I chilled out; life is not something to get worked up about. You see I am different to my sisters and brothers, as I cannot make silk unlike all the others. So whilst I missed out on silk training at school, instead my body was honed into a tool. I can dash, I can leap, I was top of the class; you could say that it beats shooting web out your arse. Please forgive me, that was rude, my mother would be ashamed;  good manners – and our religion – were things she proclaimed.

So my schooling went well, at least until one day, when news came to us that we must move away. Our new home was Cruix, a land largely unknown, thankfully Hyla-Hyra was soon made our own. A few years later my primary schooling was done, but what to do next that would be helpful and fun? I was clever, I was tough, but with no silk to provide, so I became a contract builder and a novelist on the side. It would take some training, of that I did know, but it would be worth it or my name's not Masro.

As is typical, I know almost nothing of my birth parents. I am aware that I can research my genetic tree if I wish, but I have no desire to do so whatsoever. My earliest memories are of my first years at school, being reprimanded for talking during class. I quickly learnt to obey, and spoke harsh, hushed words after classes.

I had no desire to make friends, so instead hung around with a group of talkative children simply for the background noise. Some of them spoke of earlier times, stories from Zair of how schools used to be, and what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was from these stolen conversations that I was inspired to become a chemist as well as to study Arerol, having overheard the dangerous potential of the power.

Due to my lack of interest in social frivolities, I was able to study consistently hard. When the day of my magic exam came, I was confident. A few jeers from a cocky student beforehand shook my nerves slightly, though swearing loudly and threatening to poison her made me feel better. The written exam was simple enough and the physical one fairly straightforward; I was presented with a freshly slaughtered frost buck carcass and told to poison its blood then strip its entire body of oxygen. “Hiss, rip, shred, sip” was my chant - good words, satisfying to say - as I felt the power form in my mind and spread out of my body.

I was informed shortly afterwards that I had passed. I was happy, yes, but not smug; I knew I could still be better, so set about getting an apprenticeship as well as continuing my magic studies. As the Nation of Zolhom was still young, it was easy enough to begin my career as an atmospheric chemist. With any luck, my career will help my magic and my magic will help my career. All that's left is for me to become the best I can be.

H-hi, Ace Rally here! Oh, you want to know about me? I'm the one usually doing the interviewing, so I might not be any good, b-but I'll try! I'm Ace Rally, a sports journalist for the Daily Tidings. I have a little column there, and I'm kinda well-known in some parts, I think? Uh, I mean, I'm not sure, but...

Anyway, th-there's not much to say about my early life. My mum's a Kaosto and my dad's a human. I don't know if they actually meant to have kids, but uh, here I am. I'm fairly certain they don't resent me at all, so that's good, though they have expressed frustration concerning my existence before. But that was just when I was a handful at school! You see, school wasn't hard at all, not really, I just sometimes got beat up a lot. I guess people thought I was weird at times? I don't know.

Still, it didn't deter me! Despite being no good at any of them, I was very interested in sports. It's so great to see what people can achieve via their own strength and perseverance; it's a real testament to the capability of living beings. Maybe it was my incessant following and questioning of the school football players that got me in trouble... B-but yeah, after college, I was lucky enough to start working for a little sports magazine, and eventually moved up to where I am today. I just need to learn to be less starstruck all the time.

Hello! I'm Chattri, born and raised on Cruix, just like my parents. No brothers or sisters, which is a shame, but I've got loads of friends. I met a lot of them through my time at SWIA, and most of the others through work. Oh, right, I draw stupid stuff for money. It's kinda awesome.

Out of my friends, I'm usually described as the funny one. I've always loved making people smile, whether it's at my expense or not. I've also always loved drawing stuff, so put those two together and... Bam! Professional cartoonist. Not the easiest business to get into, but a few friends with good connections helped me out, so I owe them a lot.

What else... Ah, my magic came in on my sixth birthday. I like to blame my birthday candles for that, and I'm sure my parents blame me for the unexpected combustion of the cake. I took basic training for it in school, but that's about it; sadly, I can't impress any girls by raining lava from the sky. Guess I gotta rely on my own charm for that! Hey, what's that weird look for?

What? Look, if this isn't about work, I don't care. Ugh, fine. I'm Nikanor Ramsey, sous-chef – and eventual head chef, thanks – at 'Vahkron's Catering Cadavers'. I've got a good sense of taste and I'm imaginative, so of course I'm perfect for the job. I'm the best, okay, and don't believe anyone who says otherwise.

I guess my parents are responsible for my passion for food – they ran a little restaurant together, after all. My sister and I were the frequent testers for my mum's sometimes strange concoctions. Some of it was pretty gross, yeah, but it was always fun. As such, home economics was my favourite subject at school. I made a few friends through it, though I could never stand it if they got higher marks than me. Probably why I don't see them so much any more.

After school I got a part-time job in my parents' restaurant whilst doing a culinary arts degree alongside it. As ever, I needed to prove I was capable to my tutors, so I frequently used ingredients and methods that other people turned their noses up at. By the time I started asking around for magic-infused animals, I'd made something of a name for myself. So when Vahkron – this top chef, human or something, I'm not too sure – came around head-hunting, I was picked.

I didn't get a chance to finish my degree, as I was swiftly dragged away to Vahkron's restaurant. It's a space station near Kispria, floating close enough to a sun that I don't need to worry about sunlight. We make unconventional food, for the most part, expensive and often pretentious. But it's always interesting, the money's good, and my parents are proud.

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