The Unbound Warrior
(The Cycle of Scars and Beauty)

by Jess Veronique Olofsson

Context:

The prologue consists of three short scenes set 30 years before the main story. Together, they establish the cultural identity of the northern kingdom of Svea, reveal tensions between its elemental bloodlines, and hint at the growing threat from the northern Iskin tribes. 

These scenes also show how the protagonist (Vessia), a child born with forbidden mixed bloodlines, is adopted by General Bjorn Vader and his wife Elise Vader, despite knowing that such mixed gifts lead to magical and mental instability: “fracturing”.

Silvana Tjorne appears briefly, who will become the book’s primary ‘hidden’ antagonist and the visible tip of a much deeper conspiracy at the heart of the series.

 

Elise Vader - Omin, Svean Kingdom

The temple of Dor, in Omin, was the largest in Svea, yet it held no grandeur beyond size. The building was outside the walls of the capital, a looming dark shape surrounded by the thick pine forest of Svea’s coast. The throng of faithful pressed through the trees in heavy winter garments.

The procession moved slowly, and Elise Vader felt winter nibble at her fingertips. The chill wind whipped strands of her white hair around in a flurry. She tucked them behind her ear as she looked upwards, pale blue eyes searching the sky for the sun. The light lasted mere hours this time of year and was often shrouded in ominous clouds. She had been in Svea since she was young, yet she still resented the winters in the capital, Omin. Elise pulled her blue cloak tighter around her against the chill, it marked her Vaaneer, blessed by the god of water.

Why bless me with dominion over ice, but not the cold?

Elise sighed as she stared at the temple ahead. The structure was hewn of dark stone quarried from the northern coast along the Norral ocean, built before Svea expanded eastward to the Star mountains. Her home in the south used light mountain stone, but that would have been an odd choice to honor the god of death.

“Elise, found you! Dor damn this chill.” A small, slender woman pressed through the sea of cloaks.

She’s really been glowing of late, Elise smiled at her friend Silvana Tjorne.

Silvana rolled her silver-specked eyes, nodding towards the crowd ahead. “I bet they’ve let the Jordeer all upfront?”

The entrance lay at the end of a downward slope. Elise observed the clusters of cloaks – each shade a declaration of bloodline. The first to enter were dark green, blessed by the earth goddess Jord and the bloodline of the royal family.

Before she could respond, Silvana took her hands and beamed at her. “How… are you?”

The question landed like a stone. Elise faltered. It’s been months.

The memory clung – her daughter born the shade of the deeps of the Norral sea. She’d begged to hold her. Now, she wished she hadn’t. It’s not fair. Her chest jerked angrily.

Silvana’s smile faded, she shook her head and squeezed Elise’s fingers. “Stupid question. I’m sorry. I’m… here.

Elise swallowed and whispered, “Thank you.”

They turned in silence towards the temple.

As the crowd made its way down towards the entrance, their voices hushed, replaced by a steady drumbeat. Elise spotted the dark figures approaching the other end of the temple. The offerees wore dark mantles with hoods pulled down low to conceal their faces ahead of the ceremony. Elise’s jaw tightened as Silvana squeezed her hand once more, whispering, “It’s necessary.”

The hall was a dark, long room lit by cast iron chandeliers. It was mostly an expanse of barren stone, but the area nearest the dais had wooden benches reserved for the nobles and high-ranked military. Elise and Silvana shuffled into the third row, surrounded by blue Vaaneer cloaks.

Ahead of them, the ceremonial platform was wrought of black stone polished to glint in the firelight. Water ran across carved channels, pooling around a lacquered chair then continuing down into a grand basin.

Elise felt a shiver watching the water in the dark pool. It trembled to the beat of the drums. Like a heartbeat.

She shook her head and turned her attention behind her. The hall was nearly filled, and the iron doors had been swung partially shut. She knew many Ungifted would gather outside in the cold, hoping that the words would be passed back.

Silvana gently elbowed her in the side. “Torn looks like he hasn’t slept in a fortnight.” She was looking towards another raised platform where a pair of intricately carved thrones held Torn and Ana Foldir, King and Queen of Svea. “And as usual Ana looks like she’s sat on a metal spike.”

Elise failed to hold back a snort at her friend’s brazenness as she looked at the royals. King Torn sat slouched, rubbing his temples, crown askew. Yet the manifestation of his Eir – a towering moose – stood regal by his side. Its Jordeer green gaze shone with intelligence. Next to them Queen Ana sat rigidly upright, pale, with sharp features that complemented her Eir-mate, the white fox in her lap.

They are too young to rule and the world is dark, Elise empathized.

She turned to Silvana, “Bjorn has been the same. The Iskin attacks along our coast…” she paused then leaned in closer to Silvana to whisper, “…they’re getting more organized.”

Silvana’s brows knit, as she exhaled slowly. “Dor damn these colder winters.” It was just like her to curse the death god in his own temple. “But the Morn pass won’t stay frozen forever.”

The Cycle of Scars and Beauty

Part One: The Unbound Warrior, The White Spy & The Painted Architect

by Jess Veronique Olofsson

Context: Part One of my two part series, consists of three interconnected novels designed to be read in any order or tandem. Set during the same year across different kingdoms, each book follows a protagonist grappling with internal battles as the world edges toward war (in Part Two).

In these assignments I will generally focus on one of the books in Part One, The Unbound Warrior, however, occasionally I will reference the broader context where relevant.

Assignment 1: Story Statement (The Cycle of Scars and Beauty)

The Unbound Warrior: In a world where women are unworthy and wielders with mixed magical bloodlines are destined to madness, Vessia believes that earning status is the only way to finally belong. As war brews with the southern Brossian empire, Vessia battles her way into Svea’s elite military force and gains power. To save herself and her nation, Vessia must confront her fear of her fracturing mind, learn to trust others, and realize that true belonging can’t be earned through recognition alone.

The White Spy: Julian is a devout life-wielder who rose through the ranks of The’glas—a radical religious order—through obsessive discipline and a rigid belief in moral purity. When he’s recruited into its militant arm and sent to infiltrate a rebel network in Brossia’s trade capital of Romer, he expects to root out heresy. But as he’s forced to navigate a world where faith and corruption coexist on all sides, Julian must confront the limits of control, question the truths he was raised to believe, and learn that morality isn’t always clear—and that feeling isn’t failure.

The Painted Architect: Dominik, a prince exiled from the once-sovereign kingdom of Mazar for his magic and love of men, hides in the desert kingdom of Tell as a royal architect. Seen as beautiful but disposable, he survives by staying in the background. But when the Shaan, Tell’s magnetic and manipulative ruler, draws him into a web of court politics and lovers, and the Mazar rebels reach out for aid, Dominik must stop hiding behind others’ desires, reclaim his voice, and learn to believe he can lead—not by being chosen but by choosing himself.

 

Assignment 2: Antagonist Sketch (The Unbound Warrior)

Overview of Antagonistic Forces

Internal:

Vessia’s greatest struggle is her own volatility. She is impulsive, aggressive, and defensive, she keeps others at a distance and fears the onset of the “fracturing” madness associated with mixed-blood wielders.

External:

·        Jon and Jaan Sten twins (known antagonists and direct threats within her cohort)

·        Aarik Foldir (an external authority figure, but primarily an antagonist in Vessia’s perception, fueling internal conflict and mistrust)

·        The Rogue Eireer (Healer) faction: Silvana Tjorne, Sigrid, and Ulrik Tyresson (unknown to Vessia, these conspirators orchestrate sabotage and political destabilization)

Systemic:

·        Societal: Vessia is marginalized as a mixed-blood female in a military that deems both traits as liabilities

·        Political: Internal factionalism and looming foreign threats (The Iskin, The Brossian Empire) create a backdrop of instability

Priority antagonists

These forces drive Vessia’s central internal and external arcs, presented individually (sorry, ~200 words each, feel free to ignore one!)

Antagonist 1 (int arc): Aarik Foldir

Aarik Foldir, heir to the Svean throne and a Jordeer (earth wielder), is a rising leader within the Blóðsgardr. Desperate to prove himself to his father and to the realm, Aarik sets out to build a flawless, elite squad—one that reflects his belief in strength, composure, and control. He sees Vessia, a volatile, female mixed-wielder, as a threat to that ideal and puts her under intense scrutiny. Though not personally cruel, his pressure is strategic, rooted in a belief that emotion and instability are dangerous liabilities.

To Vessia, still reeling from social rejection and terrified of fracturing, Aarik becomes a symbol of everything that deems her unworthy. Her mistrust drives her to reckless decisions, including lashing out at allies and misreading his motives. Their early clashes are not passive—they're explosive, physical, and often dangerous. But as sabotage escalates around them, Aarik begins to question whether Vessia’s power is exactly what the Blóðsveit needs. Forced into close contact, their antagonism evolves into respect, and eventually trust. Through him, Vessia learns not to see enemies everywhere. Through her, Aarik learns that leadership requires vulnerability, not just control. Their relationship is the emotional backbone of her arc—oppositional, painful, transformative.

Antagonist 2 (ext arc): The Rogue Eireer Faction – Silvana Tjorne, Sigrid & Ulrik Tyresson

Silvana Tjorne, once a powerful Eireer (life wielder), fled Svea after being impregnated by King Torn Foldir. In exile, she raised her children Ulrik and Sigrid within the Brossian Empire, where she was recruited into a radical faction of The’glas. Their shared vision: dismantle the current power structure and establish a new doctrine across the continent where mixed wielders and death wielders rule.

Silvana becomes the High Healer of the Blóðsveit, planting herself within the heart of the kingdom she plans to bring down. Her children enter as recruits (posing as a couple) while secretly orchestrating sabotage designed to pit the Jordeer and Vaaneer (water wielders) bloodlines against each other and weaken the kingdom ahead of an Iskin invasion. Feared and respected even by senior commanders, Silvana is a bully cloaked in medical authority, calculating and merciless.

This faction's actions fuel the central external plot conflict while also driving Vessia’s emotional unraveling. Sigrid, one of Vessia’s closest confidants, is eventually revealed to be her greatest betrayer, responsible for sabotaging the Blóðsveit and murdering Vessia’s lover. The betrayal forces Vessia to confront her fear that trust always leads to ruin and to decide whether she’ll let herself harden, or hold on to what she’s learned about connection.

Assignment 3: Breakout Title Options (The Cycle of Scars and Beauty)

Series Title: The Cycle of Scars and Beauty

Signals fantasy through the “X of Y” form, while capturing idea of cycles of ruin and rebirth – relevant for both my emotional and political arcs.

Book Titles (Part One, Three Books): The Unbound Warrior, The White Spy, The Painted Architect

Captures the duality of character:

·        Unbound Warrior: discipline vs freedom

·        White Spy: purity vs espionage

·        Painted Architect: facade vs creator

Assignment 4: Comparables

My Primary Genre: Epic Fantasy (War & Political Intrigue)
My Secondary Genre: Emotional / Dark Fantasy (psychological depth, interpersonal betrayal)
My Target Audience: Adult readers of complex, character-driven epic fantasy

Comp Title for The Cycle of Scars and Beauty (series)

Series: A Song of Ice and Fire
Author: George R. R. Martin
Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy with Political Intrigue and Brutal Realism

They fit my series because they are large-scale epic fantasy series with multiple POV characters across warring kingdoms, where power struggles, politics, and ideology shape both interpersonal dynamics and global stakes. Martin’s series is known for its morally gray characters, layered conspiracies, and the constant tension between personal loyalty and systemic ambition.

My story is similar because it spans multiple nations approaching war, features intersecting character arcs across a single year, and explores how ideology, identity, and legacy collide within systems of power. Like A Song of Ice and Fire, it treats war not just as a backdrop, but as the outcome of long-simmering personal, cultural, and political fractures.

My story stands apart because it centers three protagonists—a warrior, a spy, and a prince—each leading their own standalone novel that can be read in any order. While the series spans empires, wars, and conspiracies, it remains deeply intimate, offering a character-driven lens into mental health, identity, and resilience. Each protagonist wrestles with internal battles (rage, repression, self-worth) that mirror real emotional struggles faced by modern readers! Rather than relying on fate or prophecy, the series explores how trauma, power, and belonging shape who we become—and how we choose to fight back.

Comp Title for The Unbound Warrior (book)

Book: The Poppy War
Author: R. F. Kuang
Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy with Military and Emotional Depth

They fit my book because The Poppy War combines emotionally intense military training, escalating warfare, and a female protagonist navigating power, trauma, and personal volatility. The tone is unflinching and adult, with strong themes of identity, rage, and self-destruction. It’s also deeply grounded in character, even as the stakes expand to national conflict.

My story is similar because The Unbound Warrior follows a young woman’s rise through an elite military force while fighting societal prejudice and her fear of losing control Like Kuang’s novel, it explores what power really costs, especially for someone seen as an outsider in a world built around war. Both stories balance brutal external trials with psychological pressures and emotional betrayal.

My story stands apart because Vessia’s journey is shaped not by revenge or fate, but by a deep desire to belong in a world that’s constantly telling her she doesn’t fit. While The Poppy War leans toward historical allegory and divine magic, The Unbound Warrior is grounded in an original system where bloodline and emotional resonance shape both identity and power. Each wielder is bonded to an Eir-mate—a familiar-like companion with whom they share a mental connection—allowing readers to access Vessia’s thoughts and watch her beliefs be challenged in real time. These bonds offer a unique way to explore emotional growth, functioning almost like a therapist or inner voice. While Rin’s path darkens over time, Vessia slowly finds stability through her relationships, grappling with relatable struggles like emotional repression, impulsivity, and the social penalties of being a volatile woman in a rigid world.

Assignment 5: Hook Line / Logline (The Unbound Warrior)

Vessia has mixed magical bloodlines—volatile, and destined to madness. She joins the Blóðsveit, Svea’s elite military force, to prove her worth and finally belong. But as sabotage escalates, war creeps closer, and her mind begins to fracture, she must learn to trust others before she loses everything.

Assignment 6: Internal & Social Conflict (The Unbound Warrior)

Internal Conflict — Vessia Vader

Context

After a confrontation with Aarik, Vessia blacks out and wakes up disoriented, bruised, and unable to remember what happened. She’s hungover, heart racing, and overwhelmed by fragmented memories.

Trigger

For the first time, under the influence of alcohol, Vessia gives in to Ronan’s advances only to find out that they were part of a ‘bet’ with Aarik on ‘who could bed the mutt’. Ronan's revelation, combined with alcohol and an emotionally charged confrontation with Aarik, sends her into a "red-out" –an overflow of rage that transforms into a terrifying moment of lost time she can’t account for.

Reaction

She panics. At first she thinks she’s hurt Aarik –maybe even killed him. Then the shame hits: the sex with Ronan, the injuries, the public humiliation of the bet and Aarik flipping the script on her for being too sensitive. Too dramatic.

Then once Sigrid arrives and tells her she was carried back home by Aarik, the relief of him being alive is almost immediately replaced by the humiliation of being carried back unconscious. She vomits, breaks into sobs, dissociates. And then she gets overwhelmed and runs.

Why it matters

This is the moment Vessia’s fear of madness becomes real. For the first time, she’s not just afraid of being unstable – she believes it. It fractures her trust in herself and sets the tone for her downward spiral in middle build 2. If she can’t remember what she did, how can she protect herself? She has the bitter aftertaste of her red-out, pure fury boiling over, left in her mouth. This scene tackles the core fear at the heart of Vessia’s arc: that she is too unstable to be trusted – even by herself.

Scene Excerpt (unpolished first draft)

A drum pounded. It grew louder, faster and unbearable. Vessia’s eyes shot open and she gasped.

But there was no drum. It was her heart, beating for its life, trying to escape her chest.

Her eyes scanned her surroundings. Where am I?

The room took shape in her blurry gaze, and she exhaled in relief. I’m in the barrack.

Then confusion pervaded the thought. How did I get here?

She gasped again and her hand came to her chest as if she could grasp her heart, make it slow. She bit down on the pain as her hand pressed against her chest–she had forgotten about the deep bruise across it.

The fight with Jon. She remembered. I beat him. I made the cut.

Her thoughts were slow and foggy despite her heart galloping. She grimaced as she registered the familiar throb in her temple. She hadn’t been hungover for so long.

The pub. Ronan looking down at her.

"Yes, Vessia. I want your fucking permission."

Her mouth grew dry as the memories trickled in and settled like a blanket of grief. She whimpered, pulling the blanket over her head, trying to stay silent.

The night came back in snippets. Her back against Ronan’s door. Her complete capitulation. Naked, vulnerable, exposed as he settled between her legs–the pure yearning before he broke her dignity.

Vessia pulled her knees in close to her like she could close herself off, undo his fingers on her, inside her. She felt filthy.

I am pathetic. Why would I have thought he would ever want a mutt?

Tears rolled down her face. I am just a joke, to all of them.

“If he could bed the mutt,” the words twisted her gut. Vessia wanted to be sick. She rolled over the side of the bed and gagged as silently as she could.

The feeling felt familiar, recently so—and then she remembered gagging by the training grounds. Jaan and Aarik were there.

Her breath caught. Aarik. What have I done?

The last memory she could recall was Aarik’s confusion and fear as she charged, as she lost control.

Vessia sat up suddenly, looking around. Her world rocked with the movement, but she had had practice being hungover. She breathed through it as she tore off her blankets to look at herself. For any clues as to how her night ended.

The fabric felt painful against her palms.

She looked down at them, scraped up and filthy. A dull ache told her her knees would be in the same state.

Vessia, you idiot. What have you done?

She scrambled out of bed and swayed. She needed to get to the bathroom and look in a glass, then figure it all out before anyone else did.

Vessia’s clothes were filthy and torn. She stripped and turned, scanning her body in the looking glass. The large, ugly bruise spread over her breasts was expected, but smaller ones dotted the area around her nipples.

Vessia sobbed quietly. She had let Ronan do that to her.

She blinked through tears and looked at her knees and shins. They were bruised and bloody.

Nothing serious. I probably just fell.

Maybe that’s all that happened. I charged him drunk and fell.

She had never hoped for anything more. If she hurt the crown prince of Svea, being out of the Blóðsveit would be the least of her concerns.

She swallowed hard when she finally noticed her arms were speckled in dark marks. Both of them. Like someone had repeatedly grabbed her. Maybe shaken her.

Fuck. Fuck.

This time when she gagged, she threw up. It came up as dark bile and stung her throat, the inside of her nose.

Vessia had cleaned up, stuffed her filthy clothes into the bin, and was pulling on new ones from the chest by her bed. Her hands shook lightly as she adjusted her breast bandages and focused on the familiar motions rather than the creeping dread.

She was pulling on a clean shirt when–

"Not what I expected." Someone said quietly.

Vessia turned sharply and had to put a hand on her knee to steady herself. Sigrid sat up in her bed with a brow raised.

"What?" Vessia’s voice came out dry and hoarse.

Sigrid grinned at her, and Vessia’s fear and agitation doubled. "What?" she repeated a little more loudly.

Sigrid’s smile faded and she lifted a hand. "I just meant I didn’t think it would be Aarik bringing you back. You were out cold."

It took long moments for the words to penetrate. Then Vessia exhaled in relief.

You didn’t kill him.

But the image of herself, carried limp into the barracks by the man she attacked–for everyone to see—it burned in her mind. You are the definition of a liability.

"Who saw?" she whispered.

Sigrid finally registered her distress. "No one. It was just me." She sat up and put her legs over the side of the bed like she was considering coming over. "Hey, it’s no big deal. Happens to everyone."

"Nothing happened," Vessia gritted.

Sigrid tilted her head. "You and Aarik didn’t–”

"No!" Vessia pressed her palms against her eyes. "Vaan, I would never fucking go near that…" She cut off, breathing heavily. Her heart was racing again. It was all too much at once.

"Hey, it’s alright…"

Jon. The cut. Ronan. Aarik. Alcohol. Get me out of here.

Vessia turned and made for the stairs before Sigrid could stop her.

Social Conflict — Ronan Berg (love interest)

Core tension

Ronan makes Vessia feel seen and wanted despite her volatility, and she grows to rely on him for comfort (often physical) but his protectiveness carries an undercurrent of control. He doesn’t fully trust her judgment or stability, and she begins to sense that he doesn’t believe she can make it without him.

Scene context

Aarik Foldir, Vessia’s commanding officer, has been punishing her relentlessly since she was assigned to his squad. In a rare moment of defense, Ronan publicly challenges Aarik during a tense Blóðsveit dinner and leaves with Vessia. Later that night, Aarik privately apologizes to Vessia and reduces some of her punishments. The scene takes place when she returns to Ronan’s quarters, excited to reconnect, but his reaction is not what she expects.

Why it matters

This moment captures the emotional push and pull that defines their relationship. Vessia craves closeness but fears what it means to care too deeply. When she feels fragile, Ronan’s protectiveness offers comfort—but when she feels strong, that same protectiveness feels like control. In this scene, she returns from a rare moment of validation and emotional clarity, only to be met with Ronan’s suspicion and need for emotional definition. He pushes her toward a commitment she’s not ready to make; she responds by changing the subject and using physical intimacy to smooth over the rift. It’s the beginning of a pattern between them: avoiding the hard conversations by covering tension with sex. For Vessia, whose deepest fear is being unlovable if truly seen, this moment teaches her to hide, even from someone who says he cares. It’s an early fracture that they’ll pretend isn’t there.

Scene excerpt (unpolished first draft)

As soon as she knocked, the door was pulled open immediately. Ronan’s forehead was creased, and tension vibrated off him.

“Are you okay?”

Vessia paused at the intensity. “Yes.”

He was scanning her up and down as though to triple check.
“Yes!” she emphasized. “Can I come in?”

He seemed to relax a little and let her in, closing the door behind her. She turned to face him.
“So,” Vessia said.

“So?” he asked, staring at her intensely. She couldn’t help but note he had a shirt on for once. He moved in closer, impatience and concern marring his voice equally.
“What happened?”

“Well, actually. He apologised.”

Ronan’s face slackened in confusion, and there was a long pause before he tried to clarify. “You are telling me that… Aarik Foldir apologised to you?”

She put her hands on her hips. “Yes! Is that so hard to believe?”

His brows rose. “Yes!” At her glare, he clarified, “It’s not because it’s you, little fury. It’s hard to imagine him apologising to anyone.”

She pouted. “Maybe I’m special.”

She didn’t know why she said it, but there was a flash of shadow across Ronan’s face, and some deeper part of her enjoyed baiting him.

He seemed to let it go and instead raised her chin, “You are special.” He glanced at her lips.

Vaan, is he even listening to me? She pushed him back a step.

“He just… opened up. Explained the pressure he’s under, and I hadn’t thought about it that way before.” She looked away from Ronan as she recalled. “He was just really honest and… it was refreshing.”

“Right.” Ronan sounded frustrated.

She raised an eyebrow. “He also said I’m not his type.”

Ronan frowned. “Why would he even say that?”

“Well, because…” She pointed a finger at his broad and unfortunately clothed chest. “You called him jealous—in front of the entire Blóðsveit, I might add.”

Ronan flicked his hair out of his face and fought to hold back his smile, but his blue eyes twinkled. She placed both hands on his chest, feeling his warmth.
“Also, he canceled a bunch of my punishment duties! Though…” she frowned, “I still have to follow him around for his servant-not-servant tasks, or whatever.”

Ronan pulled her in by the waist, a little rougher than she had expected, and she looked at him, surprised.
“Can we not talk about Aarik?” His voice was low.

She pouted again. “I thought you would be happy. Without my late-night duties, I will have more free time...” She ran her hands down from his chest suggestively.

Ronan stepped away from her. “Is that what this is?” He pointed to the two of them.
“You come here to blow off some steam?”

“No!” she said, before thinking. Or is it? Shit. She paused as she considered the question.

Pain flashed across his face as she hesitated.
“It’s fine, just…” Ronan turned away and shaking his head and waved in the general direction of the door. “not tonight.”

“Wait, no,” she said, “It’s not just that.”

She took his hand and put it against her cheek, waiting for him to look at her again. “Ronan, I feel safe with you. Yesterday, it was the first time I slept in…” She trailed off as his finger stroked her cheek.

Please, can I stay? She stared up at him but couldn’t bring herself to ask out loud.

He ran one finger down her jaw. “What is this then, little fury?”

She sighed, mostly in relief. “Do we need to figure it all out today?”

Before he could respond she pressed herself against his chest and lifted up on her toes, whispering, “I don’t know if you know this, but I was a pretty big deal in the Blóðpit today.”

Ronan snorted and finally grabbed her around the waist, lifting her. She yelped, then laughed as he laid her down on the bed.
“You were a pretty big deal. I’m proud of you.”

She felt her cheeks flush at the warmth in his voice.

He pulled his shirt over his head, and the sight of him made her want to growl. Please behave, she thought at herself.
“Are you looking for some type of reward?” he asked.

Fuck. “Yes please.”

He lowered himself onto her. 

 

Assignment 7: Setting (The Unbound Warrior)

Magic System: Eir and Eir-Mates

Magic in this world flows from Eir, a divine life force drawn through nature. Those born with Eir become elemental wielders, each tied to one of the five bloodlines:

Vaaneer (water) | Jordeer (earth) | Aeldeer (fire) | Vayueer (air) | Eireer (life)

Each elemental wielder forms a bond with an Eir-mate — an external animal manifestation of their power and psyche. These sentient companions mirror their wielder’s emotional state and offer intimate, non-verbal communication. In The Unbound Warrior, Vessia’s Eir-mate, Thorn, a sharp-tongued wolf, is her anchor through loss, power, and transformation.

Mixing bloodlines is forbidden and leads to the mixed wielder eventually “fracturing” where their Eir becomes unstable, they manifest multiple Eir mates and tear themselves apart from within.

Overview: The Known World

The continent comprises distinct kingdoms, climates, and ideologies, with each book in the series unfolding in a different realm:

• The Kingdom of Svea — northern warrior kingdom (The Unbound Warrior)
• The Brossian Empire — conquering religious superpower (The White Spy) including annexed kingdoms of Romer, Demond, Miton and Mazar, and holy city of Glas’myr
• The Kingdom of Tell — mercenary desert kingdom (The Painted Architect)
• The Queendom of Elinea — erudite queendom with a lot of rare natural resources and clever political moves (Convergence of characters in Part Two, Book One)
• Other regions include: Perl, Forb and Graz Islands, Boor Desert, Toth Forest, Hon Kingdom, Is Cliffs, and the Uncharted North

Primary Setting for The Unbound Warrior: The Kingdom of Svea

Located in the continent’s northern reaches, Svea borders the Norral Ocean, Starr Mountains, and the Morn Pass, a frozen strait that connects to the Uncharted North, the historic invasion route of the monstrous Iskin, whose return looms silently throughout the book.

• Climate & Inspiration: Harsh, snowbound winters and long summer days. Culturally and architecturally inspired by Viking-era Scandinavia — honor-driven, elemental, and forged in hardship.
• Vittorn Towers: A set chain of magical communication towers along northern coast built for early warning from an Iskin invasion, who have been dormant for 15 years
• Cultural Divides: Svea is split between the two leading bloodlines:
  • Jordeer (earth): traditionalist, bureaucratic, based in the capital Omin
  • Vaaneer (water): passionate, militant, based in the southern port city of Hamner

Political tensions simmer as military and economic resources are stretched thin — tower maintenance, city expansion, and elemental favoritism all fuel the unrest.

City of Omin – Heart of the Conflict

Perched on black stone cliffs and ringed by concentric walls, Omin is both capital and fortress. At its heart lies the royal palace, split between military and royal wings.

Throughout The Unbound Warrior, Omin’s setting is not just backdrop it feels the way the reader feels. From its cold stone halls to its towering northern wall overlooking the ice, the city reflects the emotional isolation and cultural rigidity that Vessia must survive and reshape.

The Blóðsveit Compound

Within Omin lies the Blóðsveit: Svea’s elite military force. Historically male-only, it has now, controversially, opened its ranks to female recruits. The walled compound includes:

• Barracks and Mess hall
• Sparring, Styrke (strength training) and wielding grounds
• The Blóðpit, an arena where squads compete in simulated battles
• The Smithy, Healers Hall, and Command/Learning Hall

Tensions within the compound mirror the broader kingdom — divided by bloodline, gender, and ideology. For Vessia, a mixed-blood recruit, survival depends not just on skill but on navigating the growing political sabotage.

How the Setting Elevates the Story

The setting is not passive, it amplifies character arcs, themes, and tension in every scene:

• Environment: Cold winds on the Morn Wall echo Vessia’s despair. Sacred blackstone temples create a gothic atmosphere of dread. Water and fire are not just magic they reflect mood.
• Architecture: City infrastructure becomes battlefield — aqueducts weaponized, tower systems sabotaged, sacred temples desecrated. The city’s physical walls represent barriers Vessia must breach (in an early scene she is told to climb the Omin wall or fail).
• Nature as Mirror: Magic scenes like parting the sea or crossing wild rivers are shaped by the setting.
• Eir-Mates as Interior Setting (reflecting and amplifying inner selves):
  • Through her wolf, Thorn, Vessia’s mental state is externalized — he embodies her self-loathing, rage, resilience, and moments of clarity, acting as a living manifestation of setting-as-self
  • Vaarj Vader, her older brother, is bonded to Kaldr — a towering Akhlut (a fusion of orca and wolf, google it!), whose majesty and quiet power reflect Vaarj’s protective nature, steadfast honor, and the emotional depth he struggles to express
  • Jon Sten’s Eir-mate — a crazed, snarling boar that seems perpetually jolted by lightning — mirrors his barely-contained volatility and reckless ambition