Qiyana

Qiyana was the youngest child of the ruling family. She grew up thinking she would never acquire the high seat of the Yon Tal. Assumed to rule before her, her nine older sisters received the most attention, and she often longed to find her valuable place in the family.

The place she had been longing for became apparent when the young Qiyana started to learn the ancient elemental magic of lxtal. After taking up lessons on ancient elemental magic, she realized that she was blessed with exceptional talent. As young as seven years old, she mastered the advanced ways in just a few weeks. She was so fast compared to some of her older sisters, who were yet to understand the basics after years of studying and learning.

One by one, Qiyana exceeded her sisters in terms of elemental arts, and as she progressed, she became more discontented. She wondered why her parents would waste a lot of effort in grooming her inferior and incompetent siblings. Each event where her sister was chosen to preside over a grand ritual that shrouded lxtal from the outside world, Qiyana splurged into frustration, picking fights to prove her importance and worth. Soon, the eldest among sisters Inessa, who was also the immediate successor, became the target of her aggression.

Instead of relieving the conflict, Inessa bristled because of her disrespect from Qiyana, who was twelve years younger than her. Their words against each other became more intense as they grew older. The built-up physical threats from Inessa and a provocation from Qiyana resulted in a challenge to decide who was the strongest in ritual combat and had the power to replace their parents. Her sister accepted the dare, which would happen in front of all lxaocan to witness.

When the contest was over, Inessa was not able to walk again, but Qiyana stood unharmed. She was eager to take her place as the rightful heir; however, her parents were enraged at her actions. The prize was not awarded to her as per tradition decreed that she would be the tenth in line to succeed the high seat of the Yun Tal. Although her parents’ decision was bitter news, Qiyana learned that the duel between her and Inessa had made her elemental prowess acknowledged all over lxaocan. Finally, she had found what she had been longing for, respect.

The respect had become an addiction, where she felt a burning need to be recognized for her exceptional skill. All of lxaocan should be with her standing, proud to put the world in its proper place with her powerful elemental magic. Instead, they hid from foreign explorers and miners who were pulling out the jungle on their borders.

Qiyana set out her ambitions in her parents’ court, which is to drive off miners and revive the lands. However, her parents denied the plan since the association with the outlanders would cause war, hatred, disease and jeopardize what they have been protecting for centuries. Qiyana fretted and became impatient to show the world her strength, and she was determined to prove her parents wrong.

Taking a move against their order, Qiyana invaded the mining site. She killed all the miners except one. As she saw the fear in his eyes, she decided to let him spread her message. She let him live so he would tell everyone in his Pilt-over about the grand Elementalist who ruined their mine. In lxaocan, Qiyana reaped credit for the killing, which had her mother and father infuriated. Her parents told her that the Piltovan merchants were sending their troops of fresh miners and armed men into the jungle. Because her parents would not want to risk their disobedient daughter drawing more outlanders toward their lands, they regretfully ordered her imprisoned for her crime.

While she was arrested, some elementalists of the court came to her defense. The unheard elemental talent displayed in the jungle convinced her parents that she should help them to power and defend their city. Qiyana was then released after she swore renewed fealty to her elders and promised never to cross paths with an outlander again.

A growing number of supporters and admirers threw their support behind Qiyana, wherein she finally felt her important place in the world. Holding a power stronger than tradition, she would climb the ladder of success in any way necessary. She was the greatest elementalist the world has ever known. She was the inevitable ruler of lxaocan, and the future empress of all lxtal.