As storms rage and dangers arise, how does a protective water mage use her magic to safeguard her friends? Welcome back to another blog counting down to the release of Sovereign Soul: Embers of Orden! Today, we’ll dive into the adorable character of Kaya Oceyen, her magical prowess, and the enchanting world of elemental magic within Sovereign Soul.
Spoiler Alert: Be advised that reading on will give spoilers for Sovereign Soul: Akin Minds, the first book in this series, and offers teasers for Embers of Orden, the second book releasing this winter. If you have yet to read the first book, check it out here!
Kaya Oceyen is another face that avid readers may recognize from Akin Minds, first appearing in Act Five, Scene One as an accessory to Katiel Fereyen, fellow Defender and Ryoku’s best friend. Initially appearing as little more than a human cape to Katiel, Kaya presented her depth and charming cuteness when she gravitated to an agonized Ryoku, teaching him the first steps to imagery magic and offering him some sound advice.
Often seen accompanying Katiel, Kaya makes her Book Two debut in Act Six alongside Katiel’s other friends: Eckhardt Bright and Mayfield Summers. Following Ryoku’s arrival in the stormy world of Rune, we’ll learn that the trio is on a mission of a secretive nature in Katiel’s stead. Alongside her sister and water serpent, Reze, she’s making a grand return in Embers of Orden in a bigger role.
“Somebody’s gotta look after you sometimes, little storm,” she muttered into my back. “You’re prone to sometimes walking off cliffs or getting blown away in wild storms, if you’re not trying to throw yourself at a giant sea serpent.” – Kaya Oceyen, Embers of Orden Act 6, Scene 5
Kaya is another character of elven descent, with long, reddish-brown hair and pretty blue eyes. She likes to wear girly clothes like dresses and skirts, which sometimes clash with her love to play in or with the water. Since their first interaction, Kaya has dubbed Ryoku her ‘little storm’ and treats him as something like a little brother, though there may be romantic undertones to it. She can be serious, but offsets it often with her playful teasing and humor. With her chosen people, she’s highly affectionate and praises them to anyone who’ll listen.
Kaya treats Katiel and Ryoku similarly, desiring to stick as close to them as possible and tends to shun others around them, especially other females. Besides a select few, she seems to dislike a lot of people and ranges from being indifferent to outright rude, particularly to characters like Kai, Lusari, and Sira. The few characters she does respect are often of exemplary qualities. She often travels with Reze, a large water serpent that can float in certain worlds – and Reze is her sister. Kaya previously sought to fix her sister, but learned that she loved her life as an aquatic beast more than her limited life as a human.
Her aquatic magic involves speaking to water like a friend, much like Dawn’s druidic nature with plant life. She attempts to teach it to Ryoku in Akin Minds. While he can’t speak to water, he can emulate a bit of the magic she uses. Kaya can control water with little more than a thought. When near it, she rarely pays attention to the conversation and prefers to spend her time around or in the water.
Kaya follows an older school of magic in Sovereign Soul than some other characters. While many new-world magic users require a staff or other means to channel their magic, Kaya teaches Ryoku how to control it through visualization, sometimes called Imagery Magic. It’s an inherent talent that academic mages can’t often mimic. However, new magic does have its roots in the same style of magic. While more streamlined and a bit harder to muster, imagery and new-world magic both consume the same elemental energies to cast. Additionally, while this type of magic consumes a lot of ‘mana’ from Ryoku, Kaya requires much less to manipulate water and can do it almost unerringly.
Embers of Orden delves a little deeper into different mages and studies of magic, homing in on Ryoku’s scattered potential in it and attempting to balance it out. Kaya’s natural affinity with magic provides a good foil for Ryoku’s art as he and others work to rein it in.
Kaya returns to make a splash near the middle of Embers of Orden. What’s the nature of the mission she undertakes with Eckhardt and Mayfield? Why does she call Ryoku her little storm? As shadows culminate between Katiel and Ryoku, who will she side with, and how far will she go to protect Ryoku?
Get ready to dive back into the story and Kaya’s oceanic charm in Sovereign Soul: Embers of Orden! Who’s your favorite heroine breaking the waves in Embers of Orden? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s get ready for an unforgettable journey this Winter 2024!
Sovereign Soul 