I

-L'Slvre-

 

I awoke to the sounds of burning - yet that had always been the last sound I would hear before I was claimed by sleep, and the first sound that would greet me in the morn. 
 
We lived perilously close to the barrier, yet this was a strategic move placed by my ancestors. Our family would always be the bravest, the strongest, the most powerful bloodline in all of O' Rflew. The land that I had awoken on was our ancestral claim in this world, the most dangerous part of an already dangerous existence. My father had proudly carried on that tradition, leading our tribe with as much conviction and strength as my grandfather had done before him, and the generation before that. 
 
It was distilled into me from the moment I could remember: I was part of the greatest. The best. The strongest. I was an Alpha living in a Beta land, and we could have anything we so desired. 
 
But what I desire lies beyond the barrier our gods placed around us. 
 
Knowing that father would grow impatient should I rest much longer, I removed myself from the linen covering me, fetching what clothing I could and marching outside my tent to the plains that greeted me. Outside, my tribe stood as a proud sight - acres of similar dwellings, painted in each families' colors, stretching themselves as far as the eye could see. I could see pillars of smoke rush into the air as the first meal of the day was being prepared. Smiling at the thought of a beautiful day, I marched past a collection of families, waving hello as the children played their games, their mouths opened in awe as I strode past. I had always found it disturbing that people would treat me like I was higher than them, simply because of my bloodline. It proved flattering to an extent, but I had grown accustomed to having few friends, most of them intimidated by my social ranking. Father was the chieftain of our land, the latest in a long line of powerful men and women who unified all tribes under a respective banner. Our family saga featured defeats and victories - the most engraving being my great-grandfather's victorious ascension to power and removing the tyrant I'Klow's influence. The gods had watched over our family with a smile since then, guiding them to rule for three generations with peace and kindness. Each tribe wielded power to rule over their territorial claims, but they all answered to my family line.

And someday, every tribe will answer...to me.

For now, however, I retrieved a stick which had been thrown by a careless youth, handing it back to him as his cheeks flushed in excitement and joy, watching the rest of his friends surround him as I left their presence. 
 
"Prosperity to you this morn, dear L' Slvre!" An elderly woman proclaimed as I past, catching her radiant smile behind well-worn lines of age and survival. I stopped for a few moments to wish her the same, gladdened when her smile seemed to grow when she returned to her duties. 
 
Now, free from the immediate threat of greeting my fellow people, I allowed myself to frown, to concentrate, and to gaze at the eternal inferno which poured from the heavens above, catching the ground below in a fiery wall of flame. Then, far off into the distance, I could see the waterfall which extended further than my eyes could ever see. It was a regular sight for me and my fellow people - the walls our gods created to protect our perfect land from the disease and the monsters which roamed outside it. It proved no use to try and discern the source above our heads, father had simply stated that there was no beginning, and that both elements of fire and water flowed freely since the dawn of our land. My family lived but a few leagues from the fire-barrier, providing a constant source of light for both me and my family. I knew of a girl who lived at the opposite end of our plains, who enjoyed watching the foam of the water crash into the abyss below her family encampment. It was such a beautiful sight, and I watched alongside her many a time, appreciating the water pouring down a great chasm, admiring the bands of color which always seemed to reflect against the droplets whenever the sun was prevalent in the sky. 
 
But you cannot rule with beauty. You rule with danger. Fire is danger. 
 
Such silly words my father used to tell me, but his word was law. 
 
I moved quickly without breaking out into a run, and I eventually made it into the forests which our boys would call their training ground: The perfect place to hone their skills and hunt. It was such a shame that my father had forced me into such nonsense, but mother had not yet borne a son, and she had no intention of providing me with a sibling. Of course father obeyed her wish to control the family - which was every woman's right - and he loved her so much that if she commanded him to tear apart the fiery barrier between us he would gladly die trying to do so. Oh how I smiled when she brushed my hair as a child, listening to him spout commands to his servants, yet having whispers in my ear telling me who the real leader in our family was. 
 
I wished I had my mother's bravery. I had not the nerve to tell him that I did not wish to be treated as a boy and made to play their silly games, even if he did want a son more than anything else in the world. 
 
I found him, though he was not particularly difficult to miss - his enormous arms holding a wooden sword so effortlessly. I had real fears that the wood would simply snap under his grip, and the boy who was facing him cowered as his own weapon shook inside his hand. 
 
"Strike me, and I will call you leader for a day." Father mocked, watching the volunteer suddenly snap alert at such a lucrative prize, charging with his weapon drawn. He swiped - far too sluggishly to be taken seriously, and father parried the blow with plenty of time to spare. The challenger's friends - all around the same age as I, were simply engrossed in the bout, catching every move and parry their friend unleashed, only for it to be blocked and dodged by the warrior that was facing him. The boy tried and tried again, and there was no doubt of his determination and sheer will, but I knew father's ruse. He was holding back, allowing his opponent to tire himself out before lunging for what would have been a kill under different circumstances. Sensing that his opponent had lost most of the fight left in him, he simply swiped his own weapon, sending the boy's sword crashing to the ground. Instantaneously, he then lightly tapped the sword against both of his opponent's knees, shoulders and head.
 
"A clean kill." He simply stated, the same wrinkled smile I had seen many a time making itself known by the time the boy raised his hands in surrender, suffering the jeers and chants of his companions in the background. I took this as the perfect opportunity to march right up to father as the rest of the boys simply looked at me with a mixture of emotions I knew all too well. Mother had taught me much about boys and their needs. 
 
"Enjoy the bout?" He asked simply as I kissed his cheek, reaching for where the wooden swords were situated, and wresting my example from its resting place.
 
"You were at an advantage." I responded sweetly, inspecting the tool in my hands in the same loving care that a mother cradled her child. "And you have yet to tell your unfortunate foe of the lesson you were trying to teach."
 
"I was distracted by the arrival of my powerful and beautiful daughter."
 
"Don't you mean son?"
 
I enjoyed teasing him, and he winked in my direction before turning his attention towards the group he was teaching. 
 
"My daughter has told me that I had not yet instructed you of today's lesson, and she is right. The reason why I have brought you here today, is to prove to you that women can be just as deadly as men on the battlefield, and L' Slvre will prove this right now!"
 
I sighed, realizing my weapon would perhaps be shattered this morn. It was such a shame - I had grown to tolerate it at some level. 
 
Another boy took his place before me without ever being summoned by father - his brown hair threatening to cover his eyes, his jawline small and innocent, yet removed of all the fat that marked you as a child. He seemed tall for his age, towering over me by a full head, yet his impish smile gave the lack of maturity away. I had seen him regularly, and I had to admit there was a certain...charm in the way he spoke. 
 
"If I can make a bargain in this fight?" He asked, catching my father nod in approval of his request. "If I win, I receive one kiss from my opponent as a reward." 
 
It was a bold claim to make, and I admitted shock and surprise at such a maneuver. I could tell that even Father was taken slightly aback from it, the primal need to protect his daughter evident across his face. Despite this, he composed himself. 
 
"It is up to my daughter to accept or to deny that request. L' Slvre?"
 
"I accept." I retaliated, refusing to allow such a boisterous claim bring down my nerve. "But only if I can make a wager of my own?"
 
"Of course."
 
"If I win - you will kiss K' Vloer instead!"
 
Father laughed, a great bellow which seemed to shake the entire forest line, and the group of boys which surrounded me laughed and pointed at the boy I had selected for this rather humorous wager, shaking his head in fear of suffering the most humiliating of fates to him. My challenger seemed shaken by my latest stipulation - and I could now understand the very real fear of this outcome which played through his head, but to his credit his feet remained precisely where they were, refusing to back down. 
 
"I...I accept, but this does not leave the forest!"
 
"I promise." I responded with a laugh, and had almost missed his immediate advance, intending to win early so he can remove the possibility of such a humiliating fate. 
 
Unfortunate, he simply overreacted.
 
I allowed him to charge towards me, side-stepping just as he intended to carry out his winning strike, and allowed him to sail past me. His momentum had doomed him, and I instantly dug my wooden blade deep into his side, sending him crashing to the ground in agony. His own sword had run free from his hand, trailing behind a tree as its owner grabbed his ribs in pain. Father nodded his head in approval, but I could almost hear his words echoing from his thoughts to mine. 
 
You should not have struck him so wildly, dear L' Slvre. He is but a beginner in the craft of swordsmanship. 
 
I know. I'm sorry Father.
 
"We have a victor!" Father exclaimed in his real voice, resting his arm on my right shoulder and squeezing it lightly in a moment of pride. I smiled, before walking towards my fallen opponent and extending my hand in a display of generosity. He accepted it, and I helped him onto his feet. I began to feel a sense of guilt for injuring him so, something which could be seen in the way I stoked his hand with my thumb in an effort to reassure him, and the need to meet his worried stare with my own.
 
"Do not worry, I will not make you meet your end of the bargain." I offered as respite for the injury I had inflicted. "But you must learn not to make such bold wagers if you are not willing to accept a wager of equal stature."
 
He nodded, too winded to formulate a response out of words, and a part of me reached out to him in an effort to console him. However, I held myself back, forcing myself to my father's side as his companions helped him stand upright. I had humiliated him enough in his defeat, I would have only added insult by helping him. This was the code of a fine warrior - but I could not help but feel that it was simply pride that had restrained me. No matter, as he grinned mischievously towards the boy he would have had to kiss, overjoyed by my mercy. 
 
Hours more had passed, and father had taught his pupils more on the art of defense, to bide your time and exploit an individual's weakness. We learned more about the animals which roamed our plains, which ones to hunt and which ones which would hunt us. We began practice with bow and arrows, although all of us failed considerably to strike our targets down. Patience was never my strong suit, and my impatience reached a fever pitch when my fifth arrow failed to slice through the straw of a simple rag doll - positioned many meters away. At the end of our lesson - and when the sun basked the sky in bursts of red and orange - my energy was spent, as where the group I had practiced alongside. My earlier opponent seemed to recover from his injury rather handsomely, and more than once I had managed to catch his glare towards me before he could look away and pretend that it never happened. 
 
I found his naivety quite...attractive, although I resisted my feelings whenever they surfaced. Better to bide your time and see if your feelings changed - love and lust were almost one and the same. It was how Mother was sure that she had found her perfect match, after all. 
 
*
 
Night brought along with it an air of festivity, and our little corner of O' Rflew celebrated in an avalanche of color - men, women and children dressed in vivid creations while the fire barrier provided the light to glow our festival. The gods had blessed our warriors with a bountiful feast, and lanterns peppered the air itself as we celebrated the anniversary of the creation of our walls. Our elders recited the age-old proclamation, captivating both child and adult alike, father and son and mother and daughter. An enormous campfire was set ablaze with the very flame from the barrier itself, carried by our strongest men in the form of one hundred torches. An enormous honor, to be sure. 
 
"H'ghikl â€‹provided us with his protection, and on the eve of this monumental decision, we celebrate his wise and noble power with a feast in his honor!" P'asylie announced to the masses, resulting in rounds of applause and cheers, The elder - my grandfather - began the tale of how our land came into being. Our land had been larger still, encompassing many different creatures and tribes much like ours, yet throughout millennia our kind would declare war time and time again, until the gods above made the wise decision to separate us by elemental barriers. P'asylie continued the fable with an intensity no other individual could match, and the young of this tribe shuffled ever closer both to him, and the blaze of the fire behind him, transported back in time with his powerful words. It was a rare treat to see his stories come to life as they had in my youth - he was failing in health, a sickness that even our finest healers could not remove. To see him fighting, to make it to such an important occasion, made my chest swell with pride. 
 
A firm yet delicate hand on my shoulder broke through my concentration. 
 
"Your father has told of your impressive swordsmanship." Mother announced into my ear, leaning in to kiss the side of my head as we continued to stare into the campfire. 
 
"Had he not told you of my prowess with a bow?"
 
"Proficiency takes time, dear. To master the sword at all is a skill very few daughters can claim here."
 
"I assure you, Mother, they are not missing much."
 
No matter what I was going through in my own life - good or bad - mother's laugh suddenly made things seem a whole lot better, and she embraced me as grandfather concluded his fable, and the crowd dispersed to various different stalls, enjoying the food each selected family had prepared and partaking in silly games. The children would sleep very late into the morning indeed. 
 
"Do you believe all of this?" I asked absentmindedly, knowing mother would listen. "That there are other lands beyond our own? I find it...difficult to wrap my head around.."
 
"Dear daughter, you never found it easy to believe what you could not see. Sometimes that is all you can do: Believe."
 
The woman was built around the concept of faith, but she held a powerful influence within our tribe - preaching the compassion and love that only our creator could provide for us. It was not for us to understand why the towers of lava and water were constructed around us, we were to believe that they were created for our protection. 
 
I was never one to believe in fairytales.
 
Father soon emerged, and cradled mother away like children in the first flurry of love. It was a blissful sight, but in the midst of their disappearance I found myself...alone. 
 
And that was when I found my two feet moving towards where I hoped he would be. 
 
He stood with his friends, too old to partake in childish things, but too young to mingle with the adults. I found myself in the same transition of life, and I found it strange that after all this time, I never discovered his name. 
 
But that can all change tonight. All you need to do is walk to him, and say hello.
 
My nerves, however, stifled my ambitions, and for an uncomfortable period of time I found myself simply...watching. Watching his laugh as he talked among friends. Watching his auburn hair glisten in the fiery backdrop the festival provided. Watching him when he watched me right back. 
 
Was I in love? Am I mature enough to handle such a powerful emotion? Is he the one?
 
"H...Hello." I sounded eventually, finding my earlier courage from our previous bout melt away in my hands like grains of sand. I was no longer the confident warrior I knew I could be - here I was the daughter of a chieftain who had endured fifteen oscillations of the seasons in her lifetime.
 
"Hello." He replied, and I noticed his voice crack around the word. His cheeks flushed red - visible even in the diminished light. 
 
"Sorry!"
 
"Do not worry, puberty affects us all in different ways. You should not feel embarrassed."
 
He remained embarrassed anyway, and I moved closer with a teasing smile. 
 
"Believe me, you have not suffered a great deal. I have heard tales of my father when he was but a boy. His skin was afflicted with all sorts of imperfections, and his eyebrows grew thick and unified - he ensures to shave them regularly now. What I'm trying to say is, mighty men can grow from where you are now."
 
It was not like me at all, to provide such wisdom when I could barely comprehend the words I was speaking. I prayed that this boy would not have the idiocy to repeat my message to father. Word travels fast among the different clans here. 
 
"Is what you say...true?" He finally replied, his mouth open in awe. I should have anticipated this, outside of teaching the young the way of the sword, he was a heroic warrior himself, surrounded by fables and tales. 
 
"I can assure you." 
 
"Thank you again for...earlier."
 
"I apologize for hurting you! I should not have swung so mightily!" I exclaimed, watching as the boy lifted up his clothing, revealing a bruise where wood struck skin. I was horrified at the speed in which his skin had already changed color. 
 
"I consider it a badge of honor - the way every warrior should." He replied, before staring at the ground as if he had just muttered something childish.
 
"My father distilled that in you, I see. I disagree with him. Boys should not go searching for injuries."
 
"It's how we prove ourselves as warriors." He countered. 
 
"It's how you prove yourselves as foolish."
 
"Not as foolish as a girl wielding a blade!"
 
It just took one sentence, and all of my infatuation disappeared. So quickly.
 
"I should have forced you to uphold your end of the bargain." I spat, and turned towards the lava barrier as I stormed towards my tent. 
 
"Wait, I'm sorry, what I said was childish!" I could hear in the background behind me, but I was now delighted that I had not discovered the boy's name. It was better not to find a word that could humanize my anger. He was just a boy who liked to play warrior when he would never claim to be one in real life. It took but moments for me to find the sheets wrapped around me, safe in the still air of an empty tent, and listening to the sound of burning before I was claimed by sleep, ready to hear it come the morn. 

2: II
II

-Ira-

The great hall was in silence as the people prayed. They were on their knees before me, as two Obispos fashioned me in the ceremonial garments. My father stood at my side, watching closely for any potential mistakes, as was his duty as appointed Cardinal. I briefly wondered where the other Cardenales were. This ceremony was crucial; a sort of initiation ritual. If all went well, I would follow my father's footsteps and be a potential candidate to claim the title of Vicario de Dios- leader of our land, and closest person to our God. 
The hall was large and dome shaped- the ceiling absent so that our great God may watch and bless the next in line for the title. The ceremonial hall was built on a hill raised high beneath the towering wall of flowing liquid fire. Because of this, all was painted red from the flames light. 
The Vicario de Dios- highest of all Obispos came behind me, bringing his arms around my neck so that he could fashion a crimson cloak upon my shoulders. I could smell the anointing oils he wore on his wrists, and the incense that infused within his robes. The cloak was made of hard large scales that were said to be made of one the guardians that watched the wall of fire. In the legends our Obispos recanted, it was said that my ancestors had once sought to break free from this land we lived on, and were only successful in slaying one dragon. I often wondered why they wanted to leave, and my father would tell me one thing and one thing only: 
'We are not people to be held in a prison,' he spoke with tightened fists, 'We are deserving of more, and anything that stands in our way shall incur our ire.' I never understood why most of our people held this view, but they did. And with burdened hearts they raised me to believe the same. Though I loved our homeland, I hated being barred. But as far as I knew, we weren't much stronger than our ancestors. And so breaking free would only ever be a dream- a dream never acted upon. 
Finally, the Vicario placed a small crown of my own upon my head- the same given to all Cardenales, and with a raised chin I stared down at those who prayed. I felt myself brimming with strength. 
My father gave an approving nod, before bending his head in prayer as well. I looked up to the skies where the dual moons and sun lived in harmony, free to roam the vastness that was opened to them. I wished to bring the same freedom to my people one day. A world where they could roam freely and without restrictions. This would only be a dream achieved if I became the next Vicario, or if my father did. My people's suffering was my anger, and my anger was my fuel. 
Pray, O' Lord, hear my boon: Grant me the strength to free my people.. 
After the ceremonies the feast began. As our people danced and played music on their flutes, my family and I sat at our table with the solemn gazes that would bring approval to a house with two representatives of the church. We were now considered high-standing members of the community- more so than before. As such, we were then burdened with looking the part.
I had stolen a moment to ask my father where the other Cardenales had been, he simply gave me a look that I had become accustomed to. Ever since the Vicario de Dios had announced me as another candidate, many people began to scorn me, in their eyes I was unworthy. There were already five Cardenales in total, adding another would just prolong the decision of appointing a successor.
'I wished I could have seen it,' Rabia spoke, 'But they wouldn't let me go in!' My little sister was an excitable person, she wouldn't have been able to sit still if she came. 
'You're still too young, that's why. You'd have ruined it.' I turned to look at my mother for support on the matter. Even if she was a year younger than I, she still had a bit of growing up to do. 'Isn't that right, mother?' 
'Ira is right, Rabia.' She always spoke in a soft voice that made people listen to her all the harder. I think she was good at making people believe she was more important than she actually was. And so no one ever disrespected mother. 'Once you come of age, you too, will one day witness what the ceremony entails.' 
'Yes, mother.' Rabia relented with a pout of her doll-like lips. I shook my head, feeling a strain upon my neck as I did so. The weight of the crown was finally sinking in. To my people, I was their potential future. All the choices I would make would be for them. The thought of it made me ill. Without an appetite I felt no need to linger at the feast, and with my father's permission I excused myself- not before wishing the Vicario a goodnight.  
He smiled kindly and took my hand in both of his, and shook it. 
'Goodnight, Ira,' he said, and walked me to the door.
My feet led me away from the wall of fire, and the farther I travelled the cooler I became. Soon enough I stumbled upon the barrier of water, how gentle it fell. It sparkled in the distant red of its contrasting wall, and the moons above could be seen reflecting in it. When my eyes settled lower to its base, I could see myself wearing the crown; a crown made of a thick iron band, with strategically place agate stones. It was too large on me, a clear indicator that I was still in need of growing some. Suddenly feeling stupid, I tossed it off to the side in a fit.
'I knew you would come here at some point,' came a familiar voice. Without needing to see who it was I responded. 
'What are you doing here, Paz?' 
'I could ask the same, Ira.' He came to stand at my side as we both watched the water fall peacefully. Paz was a childhood friend, sharing similar views as mine. When we were young, we often ran away from the village and found solace near the waterfront. Though as of late that had changed. Once it was announced that my initiation would take place, we grew distant towards one another. The problem was that Paz was also a Cardinal, and in some ways that made us rivals.
'Are you too good to attend holy rituals now?' With a teasing smirk I nodded towards the water barrier, 'Or is watching this much more interesting?' It really wasn't a question worth answering, we both knew it. With a light chuckle, a tranquility settled as we stood in one another's company found only in times when we were alone. I longed for the past, where we could be ourselves and laugh freely. But we both had duties; both had roles to play. 
'How did it feel to be crowned?' Paz asked after a while of simply watching the water flow. The fallen crown rested at my feet, it seemed so redundant then. How did it give me such a feeling of power when first placed on my head?  
'Where's yours?' I countered, praying that I avoided answering the question. I didn't want Paz to see me as more of a rival than he already did. He shrugged, turning his back on the water. His copper hair looked more black in the shadow of the barrier. 
'I didn't feel like wearing it today, and I didn't feel like attending any stupid masses.' 
'It wasn't a mass-' 
'Ira,' he looked me straight in the eyes, wearing a stern expression. It wasn't something I was accustomed to seeing on him. Usually Paz was kind, and talkative. He could make anyone feel like they'd been best friends since the dawn of time with nothing but a crooked smile. 'Even if it's against you, I'll win that title.' He studied me for a time, hoping to gauge my reaction.  I did my best to remain impassive, though what I really wanted to do was punch him square in the jaw. He knew that by spewing those stupid words, he would cut the remaining string that stitched our friendship together. Was that what he wanted? 
'Why?' I managed to ask through gritted teeth, 'Why does being Vicario mean so much to you?' I spun on my heel to look at him through furrowed brows and squinted eyes, only to be silenced by his own disdainful glare. He looked at me as though I was a hypocrite- it was true, I wanted that title, too.. But it was for the good of our people, that included him. I knew if the title fell to me, I could be a good leader. What was his reason? My question still stood, he owed me that much and he knew it, too. 
With a sigh he tilted his head upwards, where we could see the forms of dragons dancing in and out of the water that barred us in. They were free. There was a rumour that spread, if you ever got too close to the wall, a great dragon- much larger than the ones that roamed the sky, would shoot out and swallow you whole. This dragon was said to be our greatest jailor. The teachings of our people suddenly ran through my head: 
We are not people to be held in a prison..
'For so long, I've asked God to answer my prayers.' Paz spoke as we watched the Guardians, they called out to one another, it sounded like a song. 'When that didn't work, I asked for answers to my questions instead of miracles.' 
'Your faith is fickle,' I responded. 
'That may be,' Paz shrugged again, 'Even so, I'd like to find out.' 
'Find what out, exactly?' 
'If God is real.' We locked eyes again, and I briefly wondered when Paz became such a hopeless person. His eyes were hollow, but behind that they were filled with a feeling I could identify with well.. With no words left to exchange, he made his way back to town. 
With his departure, all tension in the air dissipated. I let out a breath, feeling a bit shaken by the conversation. But because of it, a new conviction rested in my heart. I knew that I could not allow a faithless person like him claim the title Vicario de Dios. God would not be pleased with someone like Paz being our chosen.
I plucked the crown from the ground, wiping away any dirt clinging to it with my sleeve. And with a gentle and firm hand I placed it back on my head. 
I will never forgive this, Paz..
*
The days passed quickly, and come the morning I dressed in my robes. They were of a light material, coloured with black and red, with golden hemlines, and cinch. These robes were given to all Obispos. 
That morning I attended mass, playing a small role in handing out blessings to the people along with my fellow Cardenales. Neither Paz nor I made mention of our conversation the night prior, his cold shoulder was the only indication it had taken place at all. If I was honest, I preferred the sneering faces of the others in line for the title than what he was doing. I only repaid his courtesy in kind, and acted oblivious to his presence. 
'I would now ask you all to rise,' the Vicario announced after the blessings. The attendants all did so without hesitation, keeping their heads bowed and their hands locked in front of them. 'Pray with me brothers, pray with me sisters.' He rose his arms, keeping them bent at the elbow and his palms faced the ceiling. 'Lord, fill us with fire.' He began to lead the prayer, and all of us responded with:
'So that we may burn away our burdens.' 
'Lord, give us light.' 
'So that we may never fear the darkness.' 
'And when faced with foes, O' Lord, let us become the flame.' 
'So that our enemies burn with our burdens.' At that, Paz and I had locked eyes, and the choir began to chant. Neither of us looked away before the other, if we did it would be a show of backing down. I would never allow myself to be beaten by Paz, I decided that the night we concluded our friendship was no longer worth saving. 
By the time mass ended, Rabia had pulled me aside along with her friend. She was around my age, nearly fully grown. Rabia was only a year behind us, though you wouldn't know that by the way she acted at times. She was all pouts and whiny voices, I didn't know how she made any friends if I was honest.
'What do you want?' I began to pull off my robes. Beneath them I was wearing my usual attire. 
'Furia and I were wondering,' Rabia began as she and her friend shared a glance. 
'What?' They were acting oddly suspicious. 
'Well, you've been acting all serious lately.' Rabia began, 'You're no fun anymore, Ira!'
'I'm a member of the church now, I'm not supposed to be fun.' 
'Says who?' Rabia tugged on my sleeve, leading me outside, 'I promise to leave you alone after this, lets just have fun a bit longer before you completely throw yourself into your duties. Okay?' I looked to Furia, hoping to find some sort of support. There was none, instead she smiled softly and took hold of my other sleeve. 'Please, Ira?' Rabia begged. I was taken back to when we were younger then, and how she would follow me around everywhere, clinging to my shirt. One more day being a child wouldn't be so terrible, would it? 
With a sigh and a slight smile, I nodded. Both of them cheered, dragging me away from the church.
Lord forgive me, I just need one more day before I completely devote myself.. 
Rabia clung to Furia's hand as they ran ahead, leading me forward. I chased after them, feeling a child once more. They would constantly look back towards me, laughing with a giddy eagerness every time I drew closer to catching up. We ran through town, ignoring the disapproving looks the people would give us. We were part of a respectable family, and yet there we were not living up to their standards. We didn't care, they were a fleeting thing in that moment. We found our way to the centre of the town, a great fountain stood erect to act as a landmark. We ran through the market, weaving through the people who would stop and check out each stand. The various voices of the merchants who tried their best to attract customers to view their wears were drowned out by the the many other noises that filled the air. Street performers danced, and sung for coin. Children ran rampant, laughing at the thrill of their games. Stray animals scoured the floor for scraps of food, women walked together, holding tight to weaved baskets as they conversed about which fruit was best to buy for the next season. 
'This way, Ira!' We soon found ourselves breaking free from the bustling life of the town. A vast open plateau was laid before us, throughout the land the great stone pines were sparsely placed, not thick enough to be a forest. It was no less beautiful, not to me at least.  Their hair flapped wildly behind them as the sun shone down warming to the bone. Their bunched up dresses held in their free hand, as they did their best to navigate over the rugged hills we passed. 
'Where are we going?' I called out, beginning to feel tired. These girls never seemed to lose the air in their lungs as they continued to laugh gaily. 
'To the waterfront!' Furia replied, 'We found the loveliest stone there last time!' 
'Perhaps we might find more treasure,' Rabia exclaimed in her excitement. I grinned as I shot passed them, no longer needed to be guided.
'Then I'll race you two there!' 
'Ira!' Rabia picked up her pace stringing Furia along, 'That's not fair!' We sped passed a path, lined with a sea of blue bells. It was such a usual sight for us, that we never stopped to take in the beauty of our land. It saddened me really, bringing my thoughts back to our teachings. Our people wanted out- beyond the walls. They wanted new lands and larger pastures, didn't they know they had that here?
Finally, we had come to the waterfront.
'Whoever finds the shiniest, prettiest stone wins.' Rabia announced.
'Wins what?' Furia asked, matching her excitement with my sister's own. 
'They just win, okay?' She looked around, eager to start. She wanted to win for the sake of winning, she truly was my sister. We all scoured the floor, looking for the shiniest stone. We were at it for some time before we were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. We turned to see who had joined us, and my face quickly fell to see Paz.
'Hello, Paz! It's nice to see you,' Rabia eagerly welcomed him. No one in my family knew that he and I had fallen out, and so it was only natural. He had been a close friend to me, and in turn he became close to my family. 
'Hello, Rabia. You're looking lovely today.' She blushed at his compliment, turning her head to share a smile with Furia.
'What do you want?' I gripped the hem of my tunic as I used it to carry a handful of stones, nearly spitting out my words. He ignored my question, walking down the grassy slope towards us until he stood right in front of me. He gave me a once over, his eyes landed on the collection of rocks that dirtied my tunic. 
'Aren't you a little old to be searching for treasure?' He mocked with a smirk. I let the stones fall to the ground, no longer wanting to be subjected to his japes, mockery, or any form of harassment he'd been throwing my way for the past few days. Without thinking about it, my fist collided against his jaw. He was sent tumbling backwards, before he glared up at me. Rabia and Furia both gasped and looked on in shock. I looked down my nose at him, finally gaining back a sliver of my dignity. It was only for a split second, as Paz stood up and rammed into me. We both fell to the floor, wrestling and struggling to gain control. Before I knew it he had pinned me down, sitting on my stomach as he wailed on me. He was all fists, and I didn't have enough arms to cover me from the painful blows he dealt. It wasn't long until I began to taste iron, even if I tried to swing back, by then I had already come to look the fool. 
'Get off of him!' I heard Rabia yell. She launched herself into Paz, throwing him off of me. She clawed at his face. She was my little sister, and the same blood flowed through our veins. No one disrespected us, or our families. And If they did, our retribution was swift and unrelenting. Unfortunately, Rabia was still only a girl. She would never have the strength men were blessed with, and through an attempt to get away from Rabia's wrath, Paz pushed her down the slope where she rolled straight towards the wall of water. 
'Rabia!' I cried, and with all the strength I still had I struggled to get to my feet. She stopped only centimetres away from touching the water, looking a bit shaken but fine none the less. And to show she was fine, she waved and gave a light laugh. 
Time seemed to slow then; the wall of water parted as a great snout began to peek through, releasing a gust of air through its gaping nostrils. I yelled something, though I can't remember what. A warning perhaps, a plea for Rabia to run as fast as she could. She only turned around as she noticed a shadow begin to loom over her. It's large mouth opened, revealing thick large fangs- they were bigger than any fully grown tree I had seen. It came crashing down on Rabia, swallowing her full form. She didn't scream, I think she was too frightened to. 
As quick as it came, it disappeared back into the wall, leaving us all stunned into silence. 
3: III
III

-L'Slvre-

I did not know why I had awoken in the middle of the night, watching the pale glow of the fire barrier emanate through the fabric of my tent and casting its contents in orange. I also did not know why I found myself peering outside and gazing at the dead of night. The stars twinkled far above my head, as high as the heavens themselves. I could see the last remaining pillars of smoke from an ignored campfire - the result of the festival's end - and the quiet atmosphere at present. I moved quickly and quietly - knowing my destination but unable to understand the urgency of my feet as they placed themselves in front of the other - and hoped not to disturb the families and their young as I whispered past. The unmistakable scent of burning smoke filled my nose, forcing me to breathe openly through my mouth. Further on from the lava barrier, darkness fought to take back what was rightly theirs, and soon all I could see was the shadows of trees and mountainous terrain. 
 
And the water barrier that blended perfectly into the night sky, with only the foam making itself known to my eyes. 
 
It would take hours of walking to reach it, but I had hours to dispense of, and my eyelids were not heavy or fatigued. I remembered vividly the same journey I would make when I was but a girl, and the excitement and thrill of danger that accompanied my travels. Mother was furious when she had discovered my adventure, but took back her words of anger and astonishment when I had told her of the beautiful girl I had befriended along the way. I considered myself fortunate that both of us had lived pretty close to where both barriers connected - their unity hidden by the peak of M'uton F'gthi - as the further we traveled south, the greater the distance between barriers. I knew my friendship with L'evo would have been non-existent if we had both lived by the T'ahrsoeu sea - the very limit of our land. Our tribes there focus on hunting in the sea, and sometimes we travel to our respective regions in a bi-yearly display of our iron-clad bond.
 
I arrived at where I wanted to be, hiding myself in the dense stretch of forest that presented itself as a wall between me and her encampment, my sword at my helm and ready to be drawn at the slightest hint of provocation. I understood more than most daughters the dangers of predators, and sometimes I wished that I was like any daughter, and not to have been raised in the prideful, warrioristic manner that father had insisted upon.
 
But then, if he had not taught me the ways of the warrior, I would not be here. 
 
No animals - neither predator nor prey - made themselves known to me in my short residency inside their home, and I soon found myself at the other side with only a few scrapes to my name.  L'evo​'s encampment rested on the peak of a small hill, though one that was naturally fortified to prevent predators and thieves from advancing from this position. The only other entrance was similarly defended from the construction of a mass wooden gate, towers flanking each side and a wall of the same material wrapping itself around its people.
 
Of course, my bloodline would ensure that whoever was guarding that post would open its gates immediately, but I preferred a challenge, and I was not yet a grown adult.
 
My feet found the base of the hill, my toes perched on any gap that was wide enough for me to gain leverage. My hands soon reached yet more cracks, and my ascent began. Father had taught us the necessary action of climbing in order to flee from predators and enemies, and his lessons soon aided me as I grunted from the effort, using my arms to help raise myself towards the next available gap. The moon had not yet began its slow descent from the sky by the time I had made it to the top, with only the wooden wall left to challenge me. I retrieved my dagger from its resting place, and its blade was soon dug into the wood as I scaled that with ease, as well. I peered over the wall to see if any guards were awake or nearby, satisfied that there were none. 
 
"You know, L' Slvre, our gates are always open for you."
 
I laughed at the unexpected whisper from underneath me, watching L'evo smile right back at me. Her hair was tied back, the blonde tint shining through the darkness itself, her pale face etched with a grin of her own. I leaped over the wall with as much grace as I could muster, my blade in hand. I landed impressively, something I hoped my dear friend noticed. 
 
"The daughter of a chieftain is too proud to use such a conventional manner!" I exclaimed in a whisper, and she shook her head in amusement. She knew I was coming, but then we promised each other that we would meet under the cover of a full moon. I would always travel to her residency - I could not imagine such a delicate and treasured flower such as herself to make such an audacious journey - and we slipped past her sleeping family and neighbors as we made our way inside her own individual tent, coated in her favorite blue and white. 
 
"And so, what has your father done this time that had earned your disapproval?" L'evo started, wrapping herself in the blankets of her resting place and sitting next to me. She was not as sturdy and durable as I am, but then even grown warriors in our tribe had spent less time inside the wilderness than I. Sometimes I felt proud of this statement, other times...
 
"It is not my father that I had given disapproval of this time, it centers around a boy."
 
"I see! And who was this boy who was foolish enough to cross paths with a warrioress such as yourself?"
 
"I...I have not yet learned his name, and I am confident that I no longer want that knowledge."
 
I told my friend everything that had happened, our bout from yesterday, our awkward conversation which had the potential to turn into one of friendship...as well as the remark that had shattered that dream. 
 
"I can tell you this much, dear L'Slvre, I am astounded that you let that boy live to tell the tale!"
 
"There were far too many witnesses around. You know that." I responded with a smile, and although it proved too dark to see it for myself, I knew L'evo shared the same devilish humor. When the silence returned, we could both hear the raging water falling from the heavens above, a quiet whisper to our ears but a powerful force on the senses were we to venture even closer to it. My closest friend once told me of her journey towards the barrier itself, and the silhouette of a dragon deep inside its waters. Of course I refused to believe her, and although she had laughed alongside me when I told her so, I could tell that she was not lying. L'evo believed what L'evo saw, but I knew that it must have been a trick of the light. I had not the luxury of time on my side as I cherished every possible moment with my friend as we discussed more trivial things. L'evo had decided that she would not bear any children, and although every suitor must respect her wish - or face stiff consequences as put forth with father's laws - she soon realized that those who were possible candidates had suddenly lost all interest. 
 
"You have not yet endured sixteen seasons!" I reminded her, the impossibly beautiful girl who any man would be lucky to call their own. "Do not worry about attracting a boy. There are more pleasures in life than love, perhaps you should join me on an adventure sometime!"
 
"And what adventure would that be?" She responded, and by then I noticed the faint trace of sunlight peering through the fabric of her tent. I had overstayed my welcome, and my family would no doubt be aware of my disappearance.
 
"How about you travel to my residency for a change?" I teased. "Bring your entire family along. You will be the guests of honor in our tribe!"
 
"That may be a good idea indeed." She replied, and glanced in the direction of the sunlight and picking up on the same realization I had. "We shall discuss it more under the cover of the next full moon, my father is on hunting duty for the remainder of the season, but once he finishes he could do with some rest to regain his strength."
 
"I shall pass it on to father and mother, and gauge their reaction." I responded, and we embraced in a quick hug before I forced myself away from her company and into the cool air outside. I decided that this time, with time of the essence, I would instead move outside the main gates. 
 
I only hoped that they would not question how I got in here in the first place.
 
*
 
Of course father knew of my absence. I had arrived late for his lesson, but he spoke not a word as he continued to lecture the boys on good swordsmanship, teaching them - and by extension, myself - of the importance of parrying and blocking opponents. In contrast to the alertness I had experienced before the sunlight, I had grown fatigued from the journey, and my stomach growled in absolute protest. Still, I soldiered on through the lesson, refusing to be seen as weak to the rest of the group. 
 
Especially him.
 
He glanced at me time and time again, sour and apologetic all at the same time. I refused to let his petty emotions get to me, instead keeping my heavy eyes towards father and his lessons. Unfortunately, we were then assigned partners to spar against, taking in just what we had learned from this particular lesson. He took up his position directly in front of me, his weapon already by his side. I was about to reach for my own until I realized that it was made of steel. Sighing from exhaustion and impatience, I relieved myself of them, retrieving my practice sword instead. 
 
" I will try not to injure you so extensively this time." I warned him, and our weapons collided against each other as our bout began. I instantly went on the offensive, taking extra care to strike his sword and only his sword, disappointed to see that he had not taken his lesson into account. Twice I had caught him off guard - though I only tapped him on his legs whenever the opportunity presented itself. His face flushed in fury every time he did so, but I did not care. 
 
"I should not have said what I said last night." He admitted, taking the initiative and launching his own attacks. To his credit his strikes were well-balanced, and I was forced to concentrate an excessive amount of energy in parrying his blows. 
 
"Focus on our exchange." I grunted moodily, and I grew impatient with him, launching such a powerful strike that the weapon was taken clean from its owner's hand. It landed on the dirt below our feet, and he took his eyes off of me for just a split-second - but a split-second was all it took to be killed in the wilderness. I tapped the part of his skin where I knew his bruise resided, before taking deliberate care to stop myself from causing too much damage. 
 
"A clean kill." I stated, imitating my father's voice. 
 
His face blushed bright red, and he threw his sword in no particular direction, storming off to the shock and amazement of the boys around us. Father simply stared at him, refusing to follow and bring him back.
 
"You should not test him so excessively." He reminded me as he placed his hand on my shoulder. "I noticed you two exchanging bitter words during the festival."
 
I had not picked up on how keen his observation was, especially under the embrace of mother. 
 
"I am sorry." Was all I had said, though he had known his daughter enough to realize that I was not sorry in the slightest. 
 
"L' Slvre, go home and rest...and tell us when you are going off on your own in the middle of the night next time." He ordered, the same authority in his voice that I had heard when he commanded his men. "You could have been killed." 
 
"If I told you of where I was going, you would forbid me from doing so." I simply stated, fetching my real weapons. "And if you are to keep me here and treat me as a son, then you shall not treat me as delicately as a girl. You cannot have both standards!"
 
Father remained calm, keeping his voice and his rage at such an insult to himself. I no longer cared - my pride forbade that - and I left the forest as quickly as my tired legs would allow me. I moved through the trees quickly and easily, ignoring the scratches each new set of branches presented, until I was in the middle of the plains containing my home - and the lava barrier that roared beyond. I could see the boy I had defeated several feet ahead of me - a speck in the distance - and curiosity forced me to follow him. I had not seen him move so close to the barrier before, and he ventured dangerously close to my tribe's tents. If he thought of rummaging through my residence without my knowledge...
 
I moved quickly, ignoring the welcomes and pleasantries from the mothers and their children as I focused my mind entirely on him, catching up to him effortlessly until I too found myself by my tent. To my slight surprise, he moved right past them without any hint of curiosity or interest, his gaze focused on nothing but the barrier. My walk soon turned into a light jog, because he was not stopping and there was only so much land between him and the danger of the searing lava which poured. I tried to call his name, but I realized that I had yet to learn it. 
 
"Wait!"
 
He turned to face me, not at all surprised at my sudden cry. He continued moving in the same direction, ignoring me to the best of his ability. That was an action I found myself unable to tolerate in my exhausted state. Perhaps I should have gained more sleep in the morn, and I knew that my sense of judgment and patience had been impaired from my exhaustion, but that did not stop me from catching up with him and grabbing his arm. 
 
"I am sorry, okay?"
 
He flinched quite violently at the physical contact, and it was when he faced me did I take in his expression and the hate in his eyes. There were dark bags underneath them, and underneath his shaggy hair I could spot...
 
"Did I do that?" I asked, reaching my hand out to move aside the strand of hair which hid his injury, but his own hand blocked my attempt. 
 
"Don't worry about it."
 
"If I had inflicted that injury to you I apologize!"
 
"You did not cause it. Do not worry."
 
Seconds moved unbearably slowly, with only the roar of the barrier and the movement of a busy day breaking the silence around us. 
 
"What had happened to - "
 
"I told you, do not worry."
 
"And yet here I am, worrying!"
 
He looked away, angry. I could not tell if this was because of me and my actions...or something else.
 
"You think I do not know of my lackluster abilities in combat?" He continued, his eyes focused on the fire pouring from the heavens and the fire alone. "I know that I will never become a warrior, or a hunter, someday, but I practice with all my strength and skill. My father had heard of my loss to you yesterday...he did not like that."
 
"Your father caused that?" I spoke with hastened breath, startled. "You must inform my father immediately, violence towards another member of the tribe - "
 
"He will retaliate, and say that he was disciplining his son! Warriors are not made of clay like women, they are made of steel like men!"
 
"Your pride will be your undoing!" I retaliated in anger, refusing to understand just why he chose to degrade both me and my sisters, when he raised his hands in surrender.
 
"That's what my father had taught me, but I no longer believe what he says. Not after I had seen your ability with the blade."
 
And suddenly the infatuation returned to me, pooling inside of me until I squelched it immediately. Now was not the time. We stood in the same spot, watching the barrier with a unified mystery. 
 
"You ever wonder what lies beyond?" I found myself asking him without my own permission, but he answered rather quickly, a sign that he too had been faced with such questions internally. 
 
"My friends had come up with theories. Some say that there is nothing else, and that the barriers signify the edge of the world. Others say that outside those walls lies the heavens and hells that we will eventually live in, based on the life we have led here. Yet others simply tell me not to focus on such mysteries. "
 
"Well I am here, telling you to focus on them, because these mysteries plague me too."
 
He faced me in puzzlement, and I responded with my own gaze, until he cracked a smile. Despite the lingering resentment towards what he had said, there was something about his smile, the way his hair curled, the glowing of his skin. He was still caught between the naivety of a child, and the maturity of a man. I wondered what he had taught of me. Did I come across in the same manner?
 
"It is a shame that we have to make our living inside these plains. Ignoring the wonders that could be outside our boundaries. I believe that there are others, others who are trying to break through in the same way that the both of us want to break through. Perhaps they too grow weary of the circumstances that they live in, the hope of a new life in a new place. I can understand that dream..."
 
"You can achieve that dream in here." I countered, pointing him towards the horizons beyond.
 
"But my family would look for me..."
 
I could see the effect of abuse plastered across his face, the way his head sank, the way his hand grazed the injury on his forehead...the way his eyes glazed over the fire beyond with...anticipation. 
 
"Don't you dare." I whispered, and this time I placed myself between him and the barrier. He started flanking me, and I would respond with reaffirming myself in front of him. He was quick - quicker than I thought - and my heart soon raced at the realization of his purpose here. 
 
"Stop this." I pleaded. 
 
"And what? To disappoint my father time and time again for not becoming the warrior my family deserve. If I cannot be a warrior, then I have no purpose!"
 
"You are but a child, you can make your own purpose!"
 
"What do you think I am doing, L'Slvre​? This is my purpose!"
 
I could no longer contain his advances, and we were fast nearing the edge of our land and the chasm which was waiting for us at the very end. I crouched, wrapping myself around his legs and sending him tumbling to the ground. He yelled in shock, and began to kick and trash, scraping my arms until they drew blood. 
 
"Stop this insanity!" I screamed, and I could see a number of men dash towards the direction of my pleas. He shouted pleas of his own, squirming his way out of my hold but not before my hands clenched his clothing. I was not going to let him go without a fight. "We can discover what's on the other side of those barriers together, it does not have to be this way! Cease this madness!"
 
A pair of hands caught hold of me, bringing me to my feet as if I were nothing. Another man grabbed the boy, holding him captive despite his yells and struggles. They were men that I had regularly seen throughout our encampment, yet I did not know their names at the top of my mind. We were fortunate that they were working so close to us, or they would not have heard my cries. 
 
"Let me go!" He yelled, but his anger soon gave way to sobs as his movements ceased and he was no focusing all of his energy in his tears. "Don't tell father...please don't tell father..."
 
I was about to assure him that I would not, that there was a way out of his problem, when an uncommon movement distracted me. The barrier in front of us roared just as loudly as usual, but there was something about it, the way the lava fell, that had changed considerably. I seemed to have been the only person to have noticed this, right up until the lava itself parted, and the creature's eyes glazed at us with an immortal anger, burning as bright as the magma around it. 
 
"Good H'ghikl" One of the men whispered, relinquishing his hold on the boy. None of us moved, though I knew that nothing that large could be missed by the tribe behind out backs. 
 
The creature roared in terrifying vengeance, and lunged for us.
4: IV
IV

-Ira-

'She was so young,' one of the Monjas lamented, dabbing lightly at her eyes. She wore her regular worshipping garments, tightly fastened habit and all. The other Monjas agreed with solemn nods, casting their gazes down to the grass. They mourned, that could not be denied. But it wasn't for my sister, it was for the potential she had. 
She could have been someone, that was what they were thinking. There had been no doubt. But didn't they know? She was someone. She was my little sister, a girl nearly grown. A girl who saw the world and loved it. She didn't want to change a single thing, and she didn't want to search for more. She was happy, and she had wanted me to be happy, too. This realization had come a bit a too late.
That day when she took my hand and pulled me outside, she wanted me to see what she saw. But I couldn't even hope to know what that was, not without Rabia.
The Obisopos lowered the casket into the ground at an irritatingly slow pace. It was ridiculous, there hadn't even been a body to return to the soil. The whole funeral had been a complete waste of time. I needed to be alone; to find myself in a secret place and just scream until I had given back all the breath God had given me, so that I could be with Rabia. My mother needed me there, however. Since the news had reached my parents, my father had gone into solitary. He locked himself in the tower of the church, kneeling at the open window where everyone could see him from down below. For hours upon hours he would have his clasped hands placed beneath his chin as he casted his head to the heavens. His eyes were always shut tight as he mumbled prayers; reading scriptures, singing canticles. Perhaps he needed it to heal, but my mother needed him to find peace as well. I hated him for dropping the responsibility on to me, and I hated my mother for being so weak.
The Vicario approached the podium, thumbing his prayer beads as he let tears streak his face.
Liar, I thought, you didn't even know Rabia that well.
'Let us pray,' he called out to those attending. The sea of people fell to their knees, lowering their gazes to the floor. They were a great mob of fanatics, I could see it so clearly then. Them wearing the colour of mourning, even my mother. Instead of doing as the Vicario bade, I remained standing. He held my gaze for a moment, disapproving of my actions. It felt as though we were the only ones present in that moment, locked in a showdown of will. He wanted me to relent, to bow as he sent a prayer to God for my dead sister. I refused.
How could I pray to a God who allowed such injustice to befall someone I loved? My entire life had been devoted to the church and its teachings, and all I was rewarded with was two weak parents, a back stabbing, murderous friend, and.. 
With gritted jaw, and clenched fists, I raised my head  in defiance. 
The Vicario simply shook his head and began to pray in the language of our forefathers.
'Requiem aeternam dona eis, 
Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Utinam mortui saecula saeculorum. 
Et tamen, ut eos, qui ambulant 
iuxta inveniamus solatium 
posuisti in corde suo duro per 
ignem. 
Amen.' 
And the people echoed in final sentiments, 'Amen.' They tossed freshly picked flowers on the casket,  walking back to offer their condolences to my mother and I. They hugged us, kissed our cheeks and hands. They touched and cried, and all I wanted to do was strangle someone. They were false courtesies. They didn't care about Rabia. They always looked down on her for not joining the church as soon as she could, just as I had. They hated her for befriending a girl beneath her status.
My thoughts suddenly fell to Furia. She wasn't allowed to attend the service, but I wondered if she was somewhere close? She was much like Rabia in that respect, always doing something she believed in without care of what anyone else thought. 
Sure enough, across the field of graves I could see her standing. She hid timidly behind a tree and watched us. The sight of her made me want to cry. I hadn't cried for Rabia, not even when it happened. I suppose my shock had stayed my tears at first, and then after my anger moved in so quickly I didn't even have time to consider weeping.
Furia wasn't wearing black, and she didn't have any flowers in her hand to offer when the people left. She knew just as well as I had that Rabia would hate it if anyone got depressed on her behalf.
I pried my hands free from a woman who held them as she spoke her condolences, ignoring my mothers scolding as I made my way towards her. 
'Ira!' My legs sped up at the sound of my name, working me into a run. When I reached Furia, she held that kind smile she always had, though she looked more tired than usual. 
'Hello, Furia.' I said as I unfastened the buttons on my collar. Her smile brightened a bit.
'Hello, Ira.' She stepped out from behind the tree, looking back to where my mother stood. 'Would you like to take a walk with me?' 
'A long walk would be lovely,' I answered. Grabbing her hand, I led her away from everyone else.
Somehow we had made it back towards that wretched wall. The one that hid the monster inside. It had always calmed me in my youth; to look upon the wall and feel any burdens a child has be washed away with it's crystalline waters. It always flowed away into oblivion, but it was Rabia who was swept away that final time.. Even so, I wasn't frightened nor reluctant enough to avoid it. 
We were silent, the roaring waters were the only thing I could hear.
'It's strange,' she held out a hand as if reaching towards the ghost of my sister. Her eyes focused on nothing. 'My heart feels lighter when I'm here, almost as if Rabia never left at all.' Was that how Furia felt? It was naive of her to even entertain a possibility like that. It seemed far too idyllic for me, like a dream meant only for children with the purest of hearts. I was no child. And I had too much hate inside my heart to be pure. It was funny, the Vicario always preached that the anger that fuelled us was like fire, pulled from the very flame that made our Lord's heart. But my anger felt like ice; a type of cold that seeped deep inside till it reached my very core.
I scanned the entirety of the wall, casting my gaze towards the skies. Where did the water start? Why was it there? 
'Shall we head back?' Furia gazed at me with concern, 'Your family needs you.' I forced a smile at her kindness. She was always thinking about others. Furia had no family, that was why she and my sister were as close as they were. Rabia looked after her. Wasn't she lonely? Didn't she need someone too? Instead of voicing my worries I nodded, letting myself get lost in my thoughts on the walk back. 
*
Days had passed after that. My mother had taken to keeping herself busy by piling on the chores. I think she did it so she wouldn't have to remember that once upon a time she had help in the form of a daughter. My father never left the tower, I wondered if he ever would. 
I hadn't returned to my duties as a Cardinal. Instead, I wandered aimlessly for hours around town. It was easy to ignore the looks the people would give. 
Until that morning a messenger boy had ran up to me, face red with the exertion of carrying a sack of letters. He dug around his bag until pulling out a neatly rolled parchment with a black ribbon tied about it. A single red brooch in the shape of a bear's head was pinned on. That bear was the symbol of the Vicario, and I realized whatever was written inside was serious. I took the parchment from the boys hand, offering whatever coin I had in return before walking away.
'This is too much, Cardinal.' The boy called after me, waving his fist full of coins. I carried on, impatiently untying the ribbon. I pocketed the brooch as I began to read.
'Your Vicario de Dios is summoning you, come at once.'  I felt my heartbeat quicken. I had never been summoned in such a fashion before then. A feeling of dread washed over me.
It didn't take me long to find myself in front of the Vicario's study. The doors were closed, and two Templarios stood guarding. They were as still as statues, and one might have mistaken them for it if they didn't announce my arrival.
'Vicario,' echoed his voice through his great helmet. 'Cardinal Ira has arrived.' 
'Send him in,' came his reply. They opened the door for me, nodding once in acknowledgement. It was the duty of the Templarios to protect the people, and abide the rules of those in service of the church. In a way I was their superior. I nodded back respectfully and strode in. 
Inside the Vicario sat behind his desk with hands folded, neatly resting upon his desk. I was shocked to see my mother and father sitting at the two seats across from the Vicario, and I was quickly thrown into a rage when I saw Paz standing at the window. He looked forlornly out upon the wall of fire, appearing gaunt, weak, and frail. It was as though he hadn't been eating or sleeping properly for days. That gave me a small amount of peace, knowing that he was in pain.
'What is he doing here?' I spat, 'Get him out of my sight! He is a murderer!' 
'Ira!' My mother pressed a finger to her lips, trying to quell my outrage. Perhaps she felt embarrassed because it was in front of the head of our church. 
'He killed Rabia! He killed her, why is he still walking about as a free man? He should be in chains- or.. or dead!' Paz turned to look back at me, his eyes blood shot and rimmed with tears.
'Ira,' came his hoarse voice. 
'That is enough,' the Vicario interjected, 'You are men of the church, and you will act like it.' His eyes settled on me, and for a time he watched. Not a word escaped his lips before he stood and walked over to me. 'It has been difficult.' His arms wrapped around me. Quite suddenly, I felt ill. The smell of the oils he wore, and the way he spoke made me sick. The way Paz felt he had a right to feel sorry, the way my mother tried her best to maintain her little facade. The way my father wouldn't meet eyes with anyone in the room, because he was far too craven to accept what I already had: the Lord was cruel, and perhaps he never looked after us. Perhaps he didn't even exist. It was sick. They were all sick.
'Don't touch me!' I ripped away from his embrace, taking quick steps back until my back pressed against the door I had entered from. I pointed towards Paz with an accusing finger, holding it straight as if it were the point of an arrow. 'He killed Rabia. It's all his fault, and you are condoning his actions by allowing him to continue to serve!' The Vicario gave me a sympathetic look, shaking his head. His mitre remained snug upon his head despite his movements.
'No, Ira.' He walked towards me with open arms, as if to embrace me once more. 
'Stay away!' I yelled. He stopped walking then, clasping his hands together in front of him.
'I have discussed it with the Cardenales,' he began, noting my irritation at not being summoned for any sort of meeting, 'And I have discussed the issue with your parents as well.' 
'What issue?' 
'Concerning you,' he replied. 'Even before Rabia passed.. you have neglected your duties. We have all agreed that Rabia's death was a sign from God. He was displeased with your aloofness, and as reprimand he saw it fit to rid you of your distraction.'
'Rabia was no distraction!' I balled my fists. How could they even come to a conclusion like that? They were all insane to think that life was something to be taken away to discipline someone like a child. 
'You have strayed from God, Ira.' My mother began sobbing then, and my father leaned towards the desk so that he could hide his face in his hands. 'It was you who killed Rabia.' The accusation hit me like a stampede of wild horses. 
'Me?' I whispered in disbelief, looking towards Paz. They were letting him off, and punishing me instead?
'Yes. You, Ira. It pains me to tell you this. But we have to look after the welfare of our people. You have been labelled a sinner. And we cannot have you tainting our people's pure souls. Do you understand?' 
'Wh- what are you saying?' I couldn't believe what was happening. I couldn't comprehend anything. It was as though the words he spoke was a completely different language.
'Exile.' 
5: V
V

-L'Slvre-

Terror.

That was the emotion which crawled through my veins as I watched the hostile fangs bare down on me. It paralyzed me from the top of my head to my toes, and I instinctively felt the urge to close my eyes and curl in defense. Instead, I found my hands reach for the very boy I was trying to save, and moved him out of harm's way just as the elemental dragon swooped on where we stood not moments before. I had not considered myself to be so powerful, and many others would proclaim that the gods were looking down on me at this time. Even with my faith on shaky ground, I myself admitted that something unnatural had been in place in order to help me save his life. 

The men who stood behind us, however, were not so fortunate. 

The creature snapped at one of them, wrapping its jaws around him before he had even mustered a response. Its body swooping past my ears hid any screams. The second avoided such a fate, but was struck by its molten body, disappearing inside it as the dragon swooped into the sky again, momentarily blocking out the sun. His charred remains were left behind, collapsing onto the ground below him. A pair of hands suddenly gripped me, and I then realized that it was the boy who was guiding me towards the nearest forest cover. It was far from substantial, but I understood his motive and its purpose. In the wake of my fear, I knew that he did not believe in the pride of a warrior. Not as much as he claimed he had. We hid behind a tree just as the abnormal creature arced gracefully into the sky, rushing towards the very barrier that it came from. It melted effortlessly inside its wall, and any trace of its existence had disappeared alongside it...save for the the scorched marks on the plains where it had struck. 

Several men rushed to the scene - breaking through the forest in what must have been a hunting expedition before they had seen the monster for themselves, leaning towards the blackened body of one of their own and scanning the barrier before them should the dragon emerge again. I could feel the boy's quickened breathing, his arm still wrapped tightly around mine as if he were still leading me away from the danger. He was frightened still, but weren't we all?

In the midst of all of this, I suddenly formed a plan. 

"Come with me." I whispered, and though he uttered no response to this, his feet followed mine back out into the plain, our eyes still focused on the lava wall that was now to our backs. 

"L'Slrve!" One of the hunters cried, my uncle J'Klow closing the distance between us and shielding us with his body, his spear raised towards the barrier. He was soon joined by many of his brothers as they formed a barrier around us. "Are you hurt?"

"No." I admitted truthfully, still hyperventilating from the event but forcing myself to keep my nerve. "We ran for shelter as soon as we saw it!"

They turned their attention towards the boy - an individual who did not look like a warrior capable of defending anybody from a dragon. Father rushed to the scene, sweating heavily from exertion, his blade still drawn even when no threat presented itself to him. He fell to his knees in relief as I rushed to his chest, embracing his arms as they wrapped themselves around me. 

"My precious daughter!" He gasped, overjoyed. "H'ghikl must be smiling down on me, I am so glad that you are safe!"

"I am safe because of the boy who saved me." I responded, and the chieftain of tribes faced my companion immediately, tears beading down his usual stern expression. 

"My family are indebted to you, dear warrior." was all he could muster before the emotion became too much for him. By now more than a dozen hunters have descended on the scene, and all of them mourned the loss of the burned man before us, while none of them knew of the disappearance of his accomplice. I assured father that we were safe, and that me and my friend would return to camp immediately, leaving my parent and his command to survey the scene. We moved briskly, and I once again felt his arm wrapped around mine in the same primal terror that he had displayed beforehand. He eventually summoned enough initiative to let go...though I could not say that I resented his hold to begin with. 

"Why did you lie?" He whispered eventually, keeping close as we witnessed the scene of panic unfold around us. Children were ushered inside tents, women were gathering them and fighting to keep themselves under control, while the few men who were not actively hunting for our tribe gazed at the fire barrier with a naive determination that they could somehow defend their keep should the terrifying creature emerge. 

"Because you deserve that image. Your father will be pleased of your heroic act."

"How dare you, I do not need your sympathy."

I was beginning to understand that the boy was ruled by pride - it was not his fault, it was teachings that were instilled in all males by their fathers - and I had learned not to take his immediate responses at face value. He seemed to have caught on to what he had said, bowing his head slightly. 

"I'm sorry, it's just - "

"Please. Don't be."

He smiled, but I knew it was not because he was happy - the event which had occurred was far too troubling for that - but it reassured the both of us. I smiled right back at him, not entirely as scared of what had happened as I had been moments before, and that was when we saw her, the grieving wife consoled by many mothers as word began to spread of her husband's demise...

*

It would take days for messengers to branch out to all corners of O' Rflew, summoning leaders of each respective tribe to converge for an unprecedented council, but it proved a furious sight when they finally arrived. Our sparring lessons with father were postponed as the chieftain found himself engrossed in his duties, yet the boys who were taught alongside me under his instruction missed the daily routine of sparing and learning. They organized sessions of their own, though they were little more than sporadic fights and tournaments, and the techniques they deployed were amateur at best. I had taken it upon myself to fill father's shoes in his absence, but I had learned as much as they, and thus found myself repeating several of his lessons in an effort to drill them inside their minds. The boy who saved me proved the most attentive of them all, parrying and blocking and stabbing and slicing and attacking with various degrees of success. He would often spar alongside me as demonstration, and although I had defeated him every time, I had now found myself using a considerable amount of effort and energy before I could finally find a hole in his defenses. He would look at me after every bout with a smile, realizing his own improvement. I had heard that his father praised his only son when word spread that he had saved the chieftain's daughter, and the physical scar that covered his forehead had disappeared over time. 

I lied for the sake of his pride. I know he would have wanted his father to praise him for his own efforts, but sometimes you must learn to appease some people in this world.

Mother gave sermons every night, unifying the crowds as they collectively prayed to H'ghikl to protect them and comfort them in this uncertain era. Funerals had been held for the men who had been slain on the dragon's behalf - although one was initiated purely for show, as there was no body to bury - and people soon grew afraid of the barriers which partitioned us from...whatever was out there. 

The twin moons had just finished their descent from the cold sky, surrendering their domain to the sunlight of a new day, when the first chieftains of the southern land arrived. They had channeled upstream, docking their impressive vessels as far as the meanders would allow them, and concluded the rest of their journey on foot. They wore blue and black - the symbolic colors of the water element, and the sea which provided for them, while their hair and beards were a ghostly-white. They looked out of place here, sailors and captains washed aboard mainland, and they certainly expressed their discomfort with moans and groans as they longed for the sound of the sea once more. I understood their resentment - I had on more than one occasion expressed deep displeasure when my family and I traveled to their domain at the last season of the fall. One normally resented being away from home. The next chieftains arrived from the east, where the main concentration of forest growth resided. I had not yet traveled to their corner of our land, but I had heard vivid tales from mother of their creativeness. They had constructed their own tents above ground, nesting in the trees that were also home to various other creatures, ranging from the most colorful of birds to the most timid of monkeys. They had further to travel than our sea-faring brethren, but showed no signs of discomfort at their arrival and their destination. Their leader stood impressively tall, towering over even my father by a full head and wrapped in an elaborate tunic, but he was quick to kneel when presenting himself to his superior. Father welcomed him like an old friend, fitting considering how they grew up together. I had scarcely believed what mother had told me when I was but a girl, but the evidence was definitely visible from the way they made small-talk seem like the most riveting conversation of their lives, and the way their smiles seemed etched onto their faces. It reminded me of my relationship with L'evo, and I waited with hastened breath for her and her respective leader to arrive. 

My heart sank immeasurably when I discovered that when the very man had arrived from the west, my friend was nowhere to be seen. 

More and more had gathered - leaders of others as well as their personal guard and representatives, and a feast was prepared to fill empty stomachs. Every family in our tribe offered their homes - and their food - to accommodate their new guests, and they replied with sincere gratitude and gifts from their homelands. I had witnessed one sea-faring man hand a container full of sand to a surprised yet delighted youth, staring at his present with the wonder of one who had not yet seen the crash of little waves and the grains of sand which tickled your bare feet once stepped on. The boy stood by my side for this occasion, gathering the wooden weapons from our earlier practice, wrapping them in a piece of cloth and tying the package in string. 

"I have not yet learned your name." I reminded him, watching him snicker at the game he invented. I did not know why he found it so humorous to hide that little detail of himself to me - and to tell everyone I would ask to keep up said game for his benefit. It reminded me of the childishness that still resided in him...though I was jealous mostly because I had not thought of such a sinister game myself...

"If you will allow me to defeat you, maybe I will." He responded, and I sighed with a laugh at his latest bet. 

"Did I not warn you not to make such wagers?"

"But this is not a wager - more like a statement."

"Your pride is that potent?"

"I am a warrior, pride is all I am!" He replied in deliberate sarcasm, and I could not resist the progress he had made from believing those very words, to joking about what they once meant to him.

"A shame you stowed away your weapons!"

"That is of no burden, dear L'Slrve!" 

He reached into the very parchment he had finished wrapping, extracting one wooden sword immediately. I shook my head in amusement, spreading my arms as wide as I could.

"Go right ahead, slay me."

He did just that, swinging the weapon so quickly that for a brief moment I genuinely believed he intended to strike me down the way a real hunter would, only for his weapon to stop inches from my cheek, the sword tapped very lightly off of my neck. It tickled slightly - something I had not known of myself until now. 

"A clean kill."

"A very well done, dear warrior. Just wait until father avenges my unfortunate death!"

We giggled at my latest threat, and we watched the group of foreigners converge around an enormous tent - constructed in less than a day specifically for the occasion at hand. 

"Your name?" 

"It is K'Poer. Was it what you expected?"

"It sounds...nice. It feels like I am meeting you for the first time!"

"Well in that case, it is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, L'Slrve!"

​"Shut up!"

More laughter, but the sound of a horn informed us that the time for amusement was over. He glanced at me for a moment more before we exchanged our goodbyes, and I admitted to myself that I missed him when he turned his back to me in order to return to his family. I was still saddened over L'evo's absence, but I was also glad that she had not seen the very boy I had whined to her about, and ask about my sudden change of heart towards him. 

Warriors converged just outside the council tent, and I took my seat alongside my family as our visitors formed themselves into their own factions, standing tall and proud as the proud men they were. I noticed with some disdain that - my mother and I excepted - there were no other women present inside this council. No warrioresses leading their clan, no woman who I could draw on for inspiration. 

A shame.

Father cleared his throat, his voice morphing from the kind instructive tone he would use to teach to the authoritative tone of a man whose authority demanded to be recognized. He succeeded in doing just that, silencing all mutters and talk instantly. 

"Dear friends. Fellow leaders and chieftains. I have called you all here in the center of O' Rflew, to discuss a dire warning from the gods themselves, and the danger that we now find ourselves in."

Murmured whispers filled the space, until he raised his hand in silence, satisfied when he had done just that. 

"Friends, we find ourselves in disturbing times. We had seen the creature for ourselves, and it was not a unintimidating sight. Its body snaked far higher than even the peaks of M'uton F'gthi, made of the same element which the barrier consists of. No doubt you have all witnessed the scorched plains upon your arrival. Take heed in what I say next: We have angered H'ghikl himself!"

Civil until now, some tribes cried in uproar, obviously wary of saying such heretical things directly. Our god had blessed us with prosperity for generations. He had erected the barriers himself to protect us from harm. To insinuate that he had now lost patience with us proved to be information which was very hard to swallow for some. The eastern tribe suffered the most - the most religiously devout of all the tribes - and their chieftain found himself with little choice but to yell for silence on his tribe's behalf. His guard fell silent, though he still had words to say towards his childhood friend. 

"Dear D'Nyna - I had known you since we were but boys ourselves, dreaming of the day we would become the most powerful men in all of O' Rflew. I know you speak the truth regarding the monster - and it worries my tribe and those who surround us this harrowing day - but to insinuate that H'ghikl is responsible -"

"But he was!" Mother retaliated, standing upright at glaring at the leader of the eastern tribe with a gaze that could cut down a warrior as cleanly as a freshly-sharpened sword. "It is an undeniable fact that H'ghikl had erected the very walls that surround us! Why would it be deemed heresy to believe that it was also H'ghikl who summoned the dragon to unleash his wrath on whatever we had done to deserve it? This is a warning, and the reason you were called here was to discern if all who follow our command remain loyal to the gods!"

Uproar, from every direction, proved to be the response. Every leader and every individual under their command shouted obscenities towards mother - who simply stared at the scene unfolding around her with a face of stone. Lacking in her bravery, I felt very afraid of the scene around me, not used to such political and religious stupor. Even father's voice could not quell the outrage which ignited, and he shook his head towards mother with an obvious display of disapproval. 

I disagreed completely with such a betrayal of trust - a husband should always defend his wife!

"You have the tenacity to call us unloyal?" One man spoke, lost among the crowd. "The dragon was summoned in your tribeland! If you wish to discover that who is disloyal, perhaps you should point fingers towards your own kin first!" 

Chants of approval erupted, and mother took one swift look at me and my refusal to believe everything I was told. It proved to last no more than a fleeting moment, but it was enough to deliver the message without ever speaking a word. 

Maybe he is right, L'Slrve. 

And maybe he is wrong! I answered just as loudly inside my thoughts. 

"We must leave no stone unturned as we investigate this divine sign." Father continued, his voice returning to its commanding power. "You may be right, and maybe it is I who has failed to oversee our gods' morals instilled in our young. I must warn you brothers, that while this may be the case, we cannot leave anything to chance! Any one of us could have forced H'ghikl's wrath, and the walls surrounding us proves to be our only clue!"

The brothers he responded so affectionately towards were far from pacified, various chieftains trading insults towards each other as each of them took various sides in this heated argument. I did not wish to add my mind to this bout - only wishing inside that the eruption of words would cease. I was not a master of religion, but what I did know was that an enchanted creature lurked around what was supposed to protect us...which meant that they were guarding them for a reason. 

And perhaps we were so close to the fiery wall at hand...perhaps it thought we were planning to escape...

Perhaps there was something out there after all - why would a dragon guard nothing at all?

I was about to add my voice - and my epiphany - when the tribes suddenly fell into silence...and it was not because of father. 

A chieftain stood at the very edge of the tent, more exposed to the elements than any of us. His skin was pale, and his graying hair surrounded many scars and bruises. His eyes were deadly - set in grey and holding all the cold emotion that color provided. I could not remember his like before, but as his own clan advanced towards the tent, it suddenly dawned on me just who they could be - the tales of nightmares spoken by mother. 

I'ghtskn - exiles.

"You are not welcome here." Father responded, dripping in anger. The recipient of his emotion smirked, adding his frame to the group of chieftains already present - who parted as he advanced towards me and my family. 

"You gather all who wield power, D'Nyna. You are not the only ruler in this land, no matter what your father had proclaimed!"

My grandfather was too ill to be present at this council - despite his protests - and the casual mockery of his name and his former influence raced my blood into boiling point. I instantly viewed this enormous man as a threat, someone who should not have traveled to stand before us. 

"Father was right to exile you." He responded calmly, moving towards his foe. "H'ghikl does not look down favorably on those who murder their young because of a deformation!"

"My child would never grow into the man our tribe deserved!"

"You no longer have a tribe. Remember that."

The same smirk returned, and his clan gathered around him...blades drawn. 

"Such a naive leader. I had formed a clan of the very people your family had expelled from your land, D'Nyna, and the destruction of your land at the hands of such a creature only serves to remind us of one thing: Your reign as chieftain has passed."

More outcry, but I noticed that the chieftains surrounding us sounded more...mute than they had been before, a seed of fear planted in each of their hearts at the sight of such an imposing individual. 

"You will leave these lands at once." Father threatened, moving closer to his prey. "And you will never foul these plains with your presence ever again."

"Such dangerous words you make, chieftain, but I have come here to enact our divine birthright."

His statement stalled father's advance, and every other man gasped in shocked breath. Mother immediately placed herself between them and I, reaching for her husband. 

"Leave." Father commanded, but the smirk etched onto his adversary's face simply widened in retaliation. 

"I will leave when I am defeated in combat. But you cannot stop me from enacting my clause to challenge you for the right to rule all tribes under the collective banner of the I'ghtskn​. I challenge you, D'Nyna, to a Y'Ko L'el L'Slrve!"

​My name was called - the ancient word for power. It was bestowed on me from birth on the day grandfather successfully defeated a foolish man who challenged our family right to rule over our land. I had heard the title once from mother's lips when she described his victory - the bout of power. It was a divine right bestowed by H'ghikl himself for those who wished to remove those who were seen as unworthy to unify our people. Father could not deny his request...his pride forbade that. 

"As you wish." He stated, allowing himself one glance towards his family - and into my eyes - before he faced his opponent once more. "But I will assure you that once I defeat you, you will be slaughtered under the weight of your heresy, as will all those in your company."

None of them responded to the grave threat D'Nyna had given, not so much as a subtle shuffling of feet to those who considered running. They stood their ground, and the conflict was set. Mother rushed towards her love, begging him to stop this foolish endeavor, but she was a woman of great faith and spirituality - and she understood more than any other individual just how unbreaking the Y'Ko L'el L'Slrve was. 

We left our tent, and I immediately sought out K'Poer. He stood at his home, basking in his father's praise, and he immediately turned from joyful to fearful when I grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the bout. His family followed, and we spoke not a word until we arrived at the circle of people surrounding father and his challenger. D'Nyna wielded our family blade - L'Sondu - while the nightmarish opponent received a weapon of his own from one of his devout followers. The circle grew wider, allowing more room for both combatants to participate, and more and more of our kin added to it until every man woman and child had accumulated here. For a brief moment, all we could hear was the burning of the laval wall behind us, burning with the same intensity that it always had. I gazed towards its aqua equivalent in the distance. I immediately thought of L'evo, and what she would have thought about what had happened.

Father roared a might yell, and charged towards his adversary, blade drawn. 

They immediately clashed together - metal against metal. They delivered fine slices in the air, with their counterpart parrying and avoiding each blow seamlessly. The outcast lunged for the kill early, but he should have known that father was a masterful tactician, and had anticipated such drastic measures. He side-stepped, avoiding the tip of the blade, and proceeded to jab his knee right into his enemy's ribs. The castaway fell to one knee, but quickly regained his posture as he struggled to avoid father's final blow. He was lucky, but such luck would not hold out forever, as father began to take advantage and unleashed all his years of training and hunting. Each strike honed from years of practice, each defensive block a testament to his strength and skill, and each countermeasure designed to hurt the very man who dared challenge our family line and their right to rule. Swords sung as they collided against each other, glistening in the sun as they momentarily blinded me, and I felt myself clutching at K'Poer in outright fear of the potential outcome. He allowed me to use him in such a way, the two of us joining dozens more pair of eyes as the fight wore on. 

Both father and his opponent continued to wear each other down - D'Nyna succeeded in slicing his leg, drawing a faint amount of blood from the wound, while the exile found his own weapon in contact with fathers chest, slicing and leaving an ugly scar in its place. Both men continued to stand, however, and proceeded to punish each other with strike after strike after strike. Sweat began to bead down my forehead as I waited in hushed breath for father to deliver the final blow, to find a hole in his enemy's defenses so he could capitalize. Every time he seemed capable of doing so, however, the outcast leader would find a way to evade or to counter, and more scars grew on both men's bodies. D'Nyna raised L'Sondu, no longer blessed with the patience to allow his contender to remain alive for much longer, when I heard the same familiar growl emanating from the very place I feared it would come from. Everybody turned their attention from the bout, and concentrated at the source of the noise, and the barrier that it had originated from. 

No - this cannot be happening again!

The rumble reverberated throughout the very ground beneath our feet, and I had instantly deduced - with horror - that the dragon we had witnessed could very well have been right below us. 

And that was when I witnessed something far more real...and horrifying in every way. 

The exile took advantage of the distraction, while my father had turned his back to his opponent, the desire to ensure our family keep remained safe would ultimately be the last action he would ever take. I witnessed the sword emerge from his chest, dripped in the blood it had past through. From that moment, my life had become unbearable - as if a great wave of emotion crashed right into my unprepared self. I cried in anguish, and tears filled my vision when I saw the weapon leave his body, returning to its owner as our chieftain - and my father - tumbled to the ground and laid still. 

"L'Slrve no!" K'Poer cried, ensuring that his hold was so tight I could not escape, but I wanted more than anything else to rush to my father's side and protect him from the creature before him, standing over his fallen foe with the same confident smirk and the same victorious weapon. He placed one foot on his prey's back - an absolute insult which tinted my vision in the red of rage - and that was when I saw mother tumble in destitution. It had hurt me painfully to witness what I had seen, I could scarcely imagine what this had done to his wife.  

"As decreed by the gods themselves, and as victor of the Y'Ko L'el L'Slrve, I pronounce myself Chieftain of Chieftains!" The barbaric insult of a man proclaimed in his rough haggard voice, covered in the scars of battle. His men cheered and joined his side, as all who gathered found themselves looking on in horror at what had happened. Women wept, men covered their children's eyes, but there was no disguising the death which had occurred. K'Poer's grip was far too strong to let me go - and I pondered just how powerful he could be when he wanted to be - so I found myself dragging him alongside me as I reached for my father, landing before his knees and sobbing openly at my loss. 

Before a bloodied sword was pointed towards the both of us. 

"You've earned your victory, but H'ghikl will strike you down in fury if you touch my child!" Mother claimed, but only found members of the pale clan rush to her and held her wrists, effectively trapping her. I tried to run towards her and help, but something painful and hard struck me on the side of my head, and I fell hard on the grass below. My vision swam with the stars, and I tasted the unmistakable tang of blood on my lips. I could make out noises, but not the voices they were attached to, but one word signaled itself out from the others in its clarity. 

Exile.