Drew Vandervest

Aelar Apotheosis Drew Vandervest

On the planet of D'ion, Aelix wakes in his family's tree home to the sound of violent explosions. The long, catastrophic war between his people, the aelars, and the humans is drawing ever-closer to his village. After nearly getting killed in an ambush near his village, Aelix's village begins an emergency evacuation. During the evacuation, Aelix runs into a group of soldiers on their way to boot camp where Aelix learns about military training and warfare. The Guardians band together and do the unthinkable: they plot a coup against the king they swore to guard. Aelix volunteers to seize the royal gems from the palace while the rest of the unit overtakes the king and prepares to defend against the follow-on attack that the humans will surely bring. Aelix hears of clans backing Lavis (former king) and is warned that a civil war might break out. The humans are certainly eager to encourage a civil war, so that they can split the aelars apart and conquer them separately. Unable to get in contact with the Guardians at the frontline because of the massive storm, Aelix calls for a volunteer army, insisting in an incredible and well received speech that this will not be a war of extermination.