Chapter Text
Swahili'Agana, that was their name. Their name means the word, LifeBlood, taken after the birthplace they were found in by their adopted guardian. ´Left behind,´ were the words their guardian thought as Swahili'Agana cried in their tiny, little, swaddled body. It was coincidental luck the unknown parents left them here under a lifeblood cocoon, which they drank the little droplets from before their adopted guardian found them. Their guardian took them under their wing, nurturing and caring for them at such a young age they thought their true parent was their guardian, who was everything they've wanted in a parent.
Swahili'Agana's species were quite a mystery; their arms looked similar to a mantis, yet their much shorter and slimmer abdomen was not identical to a mantis, their long, thin, hairy legs matched those of a nosk, but they stand on two legs and hold no sharpness to them other than quick speed and stickiness for climbing, their wings similar to moth's wings, yet thinner and delicate like a butterfly's, their long, tip-curling antennas on their round head matching just like a butterfly's, if the ending tip that glowed light blue like a lifeblood cocoon was ignored, and finally, their double mandibles quite closely to an ant's if you ignore how they can close their mandibles in and still talk with no trouble.
Over the years, Swahili'Agana looked up to their guardian, who was a Snail Shaman. Despite not knowing the true name or identity of their guardian (as it is against their religion to do so), they would give up almost anything to stay with them, for the Snail Shaman was their parent in their eyes. The Snail Shaman, while not having a real name, went by the name, Shaeman, to at least have others give them a name to use. Shaeman taught Swahili'Agana spells and how to cast them, as well as the sign language to speak easier.
Shaeman was a skilled Snail Shaman, so much so that they developed a spell to increase healing when focusing on the soul. "Overcasting Focus," is a stronger spell than, "Focus." A glowing blue erupts from the body just like the white particles of the soul when healing. The stronger spell was assisted by the study of lifeblood cocoons. To obtain, "Overcasting Focus," one must seek out Shaeman to cast the spell and give them it, however, they cannot wield it as of yet, for they'll need a lifeblood vessel, which is similar to a soul vessel, except using it to store lifeblood than soul. The LifeBlood Vessel will take twice the amount of time to store lifeblood than the soul would, and using it can restore 2 masks if half full (which is common, since it takes too long to fill it up completely), or 3 masks if full (if given patience and time). Overcasting Focus does not overcome the normal spell, Focus, unlike Abyss Shriek, Descending Dark, and Shade Soul do with Howling Wraiths, Desolate Dive, and Vengeful Spirit.
When they grew up to their teens, they took their staff and left the small forest of blue cocooned lifeblood, setting off on their journey. As they left their home, they came across a weaver, who blessed them with a woven cloak containing SOUL after assisting said weaver in a tight situation and returning the weaver home. Swahili'Agana cast a spell on the woven cloak to contain SOUL and replenish itself by absorbing the air of soul around them consistently. (The woven cloak is a soul vessel but a cloak.)
Along the way, they met a Nailmaster by the name of Xeroine, who taught them the Dash Slash, Great Slash, and Cyclone Slash. For their hard work, the Nailmaster ant gave them an old, pale ore [pure] nail, in honor of completing their training. After they've been trained to their highest peak, Swahili'Agana left and found the Crystal Peaks.
From there, Swahili'Agana challenged the 4 Dreamers, the Crystal Butterflies. One by one, Swahili'Agana fought them, from Herea to Hare, to Hera, and finally to the leader and mother of them all, Hartstrung. They did not fight Hartstrung physically, but they fought of proving themselves worthy to the Queen of the Crystals. However, they were proven worthy and were given the blessing of their symbolized masks, an honor that oh so few can achieve of, especially by all four dreamers.
Swahili'Agana continued their search, hoping that they can find out who they are, who their parents were, and what destiny beheld them. They continued, now with their trusty spell-casting staff, soul-contained woven cloak, old pure nail, and blessed-seal masks on their new hat and back, they were preparing for many things to come their way.