Airon Sea
The Airon Sea is a major geographic and cultural landmark on the planet Valaralda. It is a vast, glittering ocean located south of the Valaraldan lands, bordering the eastern edge of the ancient elven city of Ilyrion. The sea plays a pivotal role in the culture and history of the Eldrim and serves as the backdrop for several critical journeys and battles in The Metalwood Saga.
Geography and Environment
The Airon Sea is a massive body of saltwater that stretches out to the horizon from the eastern piers of Ilyrion. The coastline is varied; just north of Ilyrion, the sea is bordered by beautiful, grassy cliffs. Further west and south, the sea meets the arid expanse of the Thesserin Desert at the Thesserin Cliffs.
Far to the south of the mainland lies Tanomar, a newly discovered tropical island located in the deep waters of the Airon Sea.
Culture and Trade
For the citizens of Ilyrion, the Airon Sea is a source of immense beauty, recreation, and commerce. From the high vantage points of the Ecological District, residents often admire the glittering waters, watching as sailboats and kestrels glide lazily in the wind.
The sea is famously home to the Airon Leafrace, a highly popular, televised competitive racing event. During the race, competitors pilot specialized boats made of a shimmering silver material, with tree trunks jutting from the decks. The sailors use leafrunning magic to propel the vessels across the water at high speeds.
Additionally, the Airon Sea facilitates vital trade routes. Ships from Tanomar cross the sea to bring valuable commodities—most notably sugar cane—to the mainland, completely revolutionizing the culinary landscape of Valaralda.
Key Events
The Weddings of Tarathiel and Alleria
The cliffs just north of Ilyrion, overlooking the Airon Sea, hold profound personal significance for Trey (Tarathiel) and Arra (Alleria). Twenty thousand years ago, before the fateful Sending, the couple was originally married on these cliffs, sharing a quiet moment as the sun set over the glittering ocean.
Following the final defeat of Orym and the deactivation of the god-machine Xyclami, the surviving characters return to these exact cliffs facing the Airon Sea. There, Kythaela officiates a poignant recommitment ceremony for Tarathiel and Alleria, seamlessly blending their wedding with a memorial service to honor all the friends and family who died during the long war.
The Rampage of the Twins
When the Twins (Nelenor and Velion) are released from their hundred-thousand-year imprisonment in Ambarhal, they immediately descend upon Ilyrion in their towering Anubis forms. Seeking the "Imprisoner," the Twins lay waste to the Ecological District, violently smashing buildings and Prime Trees as they march eastward directly toward the Airon Sea.
The Flight to Tanomar
Fleeing the Twins' apocalyptic destruction of Ilyrion, Rylan, Elanil, and Imra arrive at a pier on the edge of the Airon Sea. They commandeer a silver leafboat, using Elanil's leafrunning magic to speed across the ocean to the safety of Tanomar.
Later, the trio is joined by Phoenix and an army of resurrected Prime Mages. The massive group boards the leafboat to sail back across the Airon Sea to confront the Twins. During this return voyage, the Twins conjure a monstrous, magically-induced hurricane to destroy the ship, forcing the Prime Mages to use stormwarding and fallfoiling magic to lift the entire boat out of the water and fly it through the storm.
Lorelei's Voyage
Desperate to stop Orym from seizing control of Xyclami, Lorelei, Allain, Erodar, and Dill steal a leafboat and set out across the Airon Sea. During the tense journey, Lorelei reflects on her incredibly long, manipulated existence, comparing her hundred-thousand-year life to the ocean around her—an endless expanse of waves with no destination in sight. Upon realizing that Orym is already on Earth, the group abandons the vessel, gating away and leaving the boat to drift aimlessly on the Airon Sea.