Life or Death (Part 2), Scene v1

A sea of spectators covered Salia Square just a few hours after dawn. Everyone surrounded the erected wooden platform that sat toward the rear of the square, even parents with their children. Salia stood tall behind the platform, twice the height of a normal person, also watching with her stone eyes. Even several Kival gathered excitedly, though perhaps they did not know the person today would be one of their kin.

Kismet peered out at the event from an alleyway to the side, hidden under a large cloak. From the street behind the platform came a small escort. In the middle was Isella. Her body had become so weak that she had to be dragged. The obscenities and curses roared from the crowd as they bound her arms to two wooden poles to keep her standing. Parents spat insults for their abducted children, and farmers for their stolen crops.

It hurt the Catheran that the young Kival would be executed. She didn’t seem to her to be deserving of death. Isella’s eyes wandered weakly over the crowd, looking as though she’d lose consciousness at any moment. The noise died down as General Raze walked onto the platform in her ornate silver-plated leather. “Citizens of Rokan. With the recent activities of the Kival activists, many of us have lost provisions, wares, and even loved ones. However, that is not all we have lost. We have lost our sense of security. It is because of the Kival activists that we fear for our trade, our crops, and our children. But we must remember, many of our friends—our family—are Kival, and they must not be blamed for the wrongdoings of the activists.”

Kismet scanned over the crowd, worried that Lucas may be watching. Although it would be more surprising to her if he weren’t there. “Many of us in this very square, have lived and laughed with, or even loved someone of Kival blood, and we must remember that. The Kival are welcomed with open arms in the Rokan Empire, but only those who choose to live in peace with the rest of us. It is now that we will witness the consequences of those who choose bring harm to us citizens, and disturb our time of peace. Isella Kamiel, once a citizen of the Rokan Empire, has been found guilty of these crimes, by aiding in the organization of raids on our villages and caravans, as well as participating in the murder of military personnel. Let her be an example to all of us, and remind us of the consequences for treason against the Rokan Empire.”

She found him amidst the crowd toward the front. His trembling was obvious even from where she was standing. He looked around frantically as the General continued. “Isella Kamiel. Have you any last words?”

A dead silence filled the square, but no words came. Isella hardly seemed able to keep conscious, much less speak. Perhaps it was more fortunate for her to be in such a stupor.

“Very well. May the Great Goddess have mercy on your soul.” Raze stepped off the platform as two people shifted Isella to where Raze delivered her speech. Once she was in position, everyone cleared off the platform. Excited whispers filled the crowd while a man’s voice counted down. “Ten… nine… eight… seven… six…”

Lucas’ eyes widened, his face in a panic. He looked back and forth, as if direly searching for something he couldn’t find. “…Five… four… three…”

The whispers grew louder in anticipation. Everyone’s eyes widened, unblinking. Isella, remained dazed, seemingly unaware of what was about to happen. “…Two…”

A large crunching squish replaced the final count, silencing the square. Isella’s body went rigid with small spasms, before dangling lifelessly by the arms. Blood trailed from the poles of the three spears that impaled her torso in a triangle from the floor of the platform. The crowd roared from the adrenaline and began trickling back to their daily lives with satisfaction. Kismet watched Lucas run away from the stage, shoving his way through the sea of spectators. Sara ran after him, following him into an alleyway away from the square. Kismet rounded the building to go into the alley from the side.




First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Life or Death, Scene v1

Merry Christmas! Although the day is pretty much almost over.

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Many of the shops still had their windows lit, so it couldn’t have been too late. People would still be awake in the castle, so he decided to take a walk instead. After all, the empty streets were just what he wanted. He was alone, and it was quiet, almost soothing even.

A man leaning against the wall stepped out in front of him, huddling tightly inside of his cloak. It was too dark to see his face, but Lucas knew he was looking directly at him. “You’re Lucas Damire, correct?” asked the man.

Lucas slowly slid his hand to the hilt of his sword as he tried to make out the shady man’s features, but the only light around was the dim light from the window behind him several feet away. “I’m sorry, you must have me confused with someone else,” he answered, walking past him slowly while keeping a close eye on his actions.

“Sorry, my mistake. I guess you wouldn’t have any interest in helping a certain Kival house servant then.”

Lucas spun around, hoping that the light would reveal a bit of his face, but the man did not face him. “Who are you?”

“Only someone who wants the same thing you do, if you are Lucas that is.” With that, he turned the corner and walked into the alleyway.

“Wait!” Lucas went after him, keeping a safe distance and checking his surroundings. It was a long alleyway, almost completely covered in darkness. The faint glow of the moon lit the ground just enough for him to avoid tripping over the day’s garbage. He cursed his curiosity and desperation for making him follow the man so stupidly. Once Lucas reached the center of the alley, the man stopped. He spun around to find three men forming a wall behind him. He looked back at the mysterious man with a glare, only there were three more with him now as well. Lucas was confident in his swordsmanship, but one against seven would be foolish even for him, especially in the darkness. Unfortunately, there was no other choice. He drew his sword.

The six cloaks drew their weapons, while the man spoke. “Please, lower your weapon, Lucas. I meant what I said. I only want, what you want.”

“You expect me to believe that in this situation?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry for my rudeness. I just wanted to speak in private with you. After all, soldiers were sent to many of our hideouts, or what would’ve been our hideouts if we didn’t relocate after Isella’s capture. That also means I’m probably a wanted man, so I had to take some proper precautions, incase you’re not as loyal to Isella than I would hope. I would ask how she is, but I’d probably rather not know.”

His voice was unfamiliar, but he seemed to make no effort in disguising it either. A Kival, no doubt, but what would they want with him? How did they know him? The dull iron blades facing him were almost invisible in the darkness. Lowering his weapon would be foolish. “How do you know who I am?”

“I was always too busy working in the quarries at Lokem to visit, but my sister has sent my mother and me many letters. I’ve always wanted to meet the person she loved so dearly, though I do regret it had to be this way.”

“Kain? You’re Isella’s brother?”

Kain took a step closer, still keeping a large distance between them. “I hope she hasn’t said hasn’t said anything ill of me.”

Lucas lowered his sword to his side. Even if it was Isella’s brother, he was still one of the Kival activists organizing raids on Rokan. “What do you want from me?”

“Like I said, we both want the same thing. We want to save Isella.”

“And just how do you plan to do that? She’s locked in the castle dungeons, and her execution is in three days,” replied Lucas.

“The details aren’t important. But I do need some information to make it happen. That’s where you come in.”

“And you expect me to just help you? That would be treason,” said Lucas, baffled.

“That may be, but no one would need to know of course. I, for one, want to save my little sister. So you can either help me save her, or you can let her die. The choice is yours.”




First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Heaven's Perch, Scene v1

Merry Christmas everyone, since I probably won't be posting the next two days! (Yes, I know, this story isn't really a Christmas-y story)

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It had been three days since he left the dungeon. He couldn’t bring himself to descend those steps again. It would’ve been painful for both him and Isella. Lucas sat at the far end of the bar, away from the laughter, the dancing, and the people. For the past three days he found himself sitting there in Heaven’s Perch every day, in that very same seat.

The troubled soldier never knew why he went to the Perch. It was the most famous tavern in Rokan. Day and night there would be crowds of people sharing drinks, stories, and paramours. The paramours weren’t lovers, although many did fall for them. They were employees who worked for the Perch, to provide service and good company. They delivered food and drinks, sang, danced, laughed and chatted. Sometimes they would offer more, but it was entirely up to the paramour if they wanted to or not.

Everyone loved the Perch, everyone but jealous spouses and significant others. Lucas never cared for it much either. His friends would sometimes drag him along, but every time he went, he wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about Isella. He didn’t know why he came back to the Perch every day since he left her cell. He didn’t know where else to go to escape the pity from his friends in the castle. But the Perch was no different.

One of the paramours sat on the stool beside him and wrapped her arm gently around his shoulder. “Hey, Lucas. You sure you don’t want to tell me what’s been bothering you? You’ll feel a lot better if you just let it all out.”

Lucas swirled his mug of beer slowly, watching the suds whirl around. “Thanks, Ceci, but I’m not in the mood for talking right now.” He took a gulp.

Cecilia leaned close to him and bit her lip. She placed a tender hand on his arm, speaking in a soft voice that probably would’ve been a whisper if the tavern weren’t so rowdy. “Well, if you don’t feel like talking, I can take you upstairs, and you can let it all out there. On the house.”

Lucas knew he came to the wrong place to be left alone. After all, paramours were hired to cheer people up and keep a positive and friendly atmosphere. He just hoped that after two days of telling them he wanted to be left alone that they would finally leave him alone and let him drink in peace. But every time it grew more irritating. “I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to say ‘no’ as usual. I’d just like to be alone if you don’t mind,” he said, struggling to keep his manners.

“Sure thing, hun. If you ever want some company, just let me know and I’m all yours.” She stroked his hair lightly, before leaving the bar. A pity gesture, of course.

He thought he made it obvious that he hated pity. It only reminded him of what was bothering him in the first place. Every time someone showed him pity, he only felt worse and more frustrated, not just with the situation with Isella, but also because people wouldn’t leave him alone despite how many times he told them.

Lucas looked out at the crowd in the Perch. Everyone was laughing, dancing, and sharing stories. Their joy only made him more depressed, yet he always found himself sitting there. For some reason, he felt like they were all watching him—pitying him. He guzzled down the last of his mug then left the boisterous tavern. He didn’t feel like he’d been there for long, but the sun had already set, and the streets were emptying. Many of the shops still had their windows lit, so it couldn’t have been too late. People would still be awake in the castle, so he decided to take a walk instead. After all, the empty streets were just what he wanted. He was alone, and it was quiet, almost soothing even.



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Love Lost, Scene v1

Whoops, forgot to post something the last two days.

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Lucas stepped out from the General’s office, closing the door behind him. He walked a few steps down the hall before leaning against the wall. He stared blankly out in front of him, confused and frustrated. How did it come to this? he asked himself. If only I were there to stop her.

“Lucas?”

“What do you want, Sara?” he asked, in a more irritated tone than he intended.

Sara stood beside him and looked at him with pity in her eyes. It was the last thing he wanted. He just wanted to be alone, and undisturbed. “I’m sorry about Isella. She didn’t deserve any of this.” She said in a sympathetic tone that only irritated him more.

Lucas glared at the archer. “I’m sure you are. Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? You’re always telling me to try and forget about her, that it’s only going to hurt me. Well now I guess I have no choice right? Once she’s executed next week, it’ll be impossible for me to be with her anymore. This is what you wanted isn’t it?”

Sara was taken aback. Lucas could see the tears welling in her eyes, but he didn’t care. “I-I…I never wanted this to happen. Who could ever want this to happen? If you forgot about her before any of this happened, then you wouldn’t be going through this pain right now.”

Lucas wrung her collar with both hands and pulled her face only inches away from his. “You don’t seem to understand what it’s like to love someone. I can’t just forget about Isella. Not once did I even want to, because she means everything to me. I know how you’ve had feelings for me for awhile now, and I told you before that you’re wasting your time. Isella is the only person I care about, and that will never change. So go take your pity somewhere else and leave me alone.”

Tears trailed down her cheek when he let go of her collar. Lucas began storming off down the hall. “Wait, where are you going?”

“To see Isella.”

Sara ran up to him and grabbed him by the wrist. “No, please, you can’t!”

Lucas grabbed her arm and shoved her into the vase behind her. She fell to the ground and the vase shattered over the floor. He stared down at her for a moment with glaring eyes. She stared back at him, helpless and in shock. She struggled to suppress quiet sobs, caring little for the several cuts that covered her hands. Lucas turned his back to her and continued down the hall toward the dungeon.

Lucas walked down the cold stone steps to the entrance of the cell block. The warden leaned forward insistently. “Lucas. I know you want to see her, but I really advise against it.”

Lucas clenched his fists. He was well aware of what likely happened to Isella. After all, she held information they wanted to know, but he couldn’t abandon her. The least he could do was be there for her last days. How did it come to this…? He continued walking down toward the cells, his body trembling nervously. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” called out the warden.

It was a long walk down the stone hall. Every step grew heavier as he neared the back cells. The cells were filled with nothing but silence—every cell but one. At the very last cell on the left, closest to the interrogation room, lie Isella in rags. Her clothes were torn and stained with blood and urine. Despite the washouts that were supposed to happen every day, the cell still reeked, and the floor stained with blood.

Although Isella was facing the wall away from him, Lucas could see that she had become withered. He stood at the cell door, peering at her through the metal bars. Her body rose and fell heavily with every raspy breath. “Isella…?” he said softly, unsure if she was sleeping. “It’s me. Lucas.”

No reply, but Lucas knew she was listening. “I read your letters…my mother hid them from me. I’m so sorry. You know I would’ve been there if I had known. I really wish I could’ve been there. I know it probably doesn’t mean anything now, but I’m here.”

“Go away.”

It wasn’t her saying that. It couldn’t be. It was too coarse, too strained, and too hostile. Isella’s voice was soft and sweet. It couldn’t have been her voice. “But—”

“I hate you.”

No. That couldn’t be her. “What—?”

“I said I hate you. I hate all you damned imperials! You sit in your luxurious houses, wearing your luxurious clothes, and stuff your face with more food than you can eat. And when you’re done, you throw out the rest, while my people are starving to death,” she spat, in a harsh, raspy voice. “You’re all sadistic, self-serving, heartless monsters.”

“We’re not monsters. We’ve tried to house a lot of the Kival, and we’ve sent extra food to Lokem as well. If anything, Lokem is to blame,” he insisted.

Isella reached for the wall for support and struggled to her feet. She followed her hand to the cell door and grabbed the bars with her hands. “Look at me, Lucas! Look at me and see if you can tell me how glorious your damn Empire is.”

Lucas froze in horror. A hideous mixture of blood and puss that oozed from the swelling around her left eye crusted over the side of her face. Her eyes themselves were discolored, and had small holes, like they had been impaled and burned. They drifted blindly in different directions, never focusing on anything. Blood from large cuts and holes stained her body under the torn rags that were once her clothes. Bruises covered her body, and some of her wounds still showed raw. He couldn’t believe that the mangled body before him was Isella. It couldn’t be Isella. It couldn’t be…

Lucas struggled to fight back the tears that stung his eyes. He turned away, unable to bear what had become of his beloved. The very Empire he had served for as long as he could remember had mercilessly tortured, and sentenced to death, the woman he loved. He left the dungeon without saying a word. He didn’t know what to say, or even what to think. He wanted nothing more than to save her, to go back to how they were only a year ago. How did it come to this…?



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Dye (Part 2), Scene v1

“She followed Lucas to Kelta, and was near there earlier this afternoon.”

Devin gave a puzzled look while Nakita chomped on her apple. “Kelta? But that’s a couple days south of here.”

The sweet pomegranate smell of Razelin’s shampoo filled Devin’s lungs as she began drying her hair with a large white towel. “Apparently she met an Undine. She said last she knew she was at a pond near Kelta, then suddenly appeared back in the castle.”

“Like she teleported? I hope you don’t really believe that.”

“I had my doubts at first too, but Kismet isn’t one to lie. I asked Princess Delphi if she knew anything about it, and she told me something interesting. She said Kismet suddenly appeared in the water while she was taking a bath.”

Nakita’s chewing stopped abruptly. She looked up at Razelin with that strange glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. “Wait, are you saying that the Undine somehow sent her back here? But if that were true, why hasn’t Serenade left the aquarium, or the two in Eliad?”

It was little wonder why Nakita was so interested, since her research involved Undine essences, but Devin was captivated as well. If it were possible to send something such a long distance in such a short amount of time, trading would be easier and traveling would be faster. Razelin didn’t seem as enthusiastic. “I’m not sure. I was wondering that myself. What worries me more is the security risk. Since Kismet was sent directly to the young princess’ bath, what’s to stop someone else from appearing from within the castle?”

A heavy silence filled the air. Razelin was right. It would be a major issue if people learned how to replicate what happened to the Catheran. Devin brushed the stubbles of hair on his chin. “We have to learn more about it before anyone else does, while keeping it secret. It could be a problem if news of this gets out.”

Razelin nodded. “Nakita, I hate to interfere with your research, but since you know the most about essences, I want you to look into this.”

The sorceress rolled her eyes with a groan. “Fine. I guess I’ll go talk to Serenade tomorrow after the aquarium closes.”

Razelin gently patted Nakita’s shoulder. “The dye should be settled. You can go wash up now.”

Nakita hopped off the table and walked to her pile of clothes on the chair at the other end of the table. After stretching, she slipped off her blue silk camisole and tossed it atop the pile, along with her laced bottoms. “H-Hey, I’m right here you know. Have you no shame?”

The naked sorceress kept her back to the two generals and threw a kiss into the air before walking off to their bathing chamber. Razelin stared Devin’s face with a grin. He looked back at her, baffled that she found Nakita’s behavior amusing. “What?”

“Look at you. You’re turning red,” she teased, with a small laugh.

He averted his eyes. Everyone complained about Nakita’s eyes, and the chill they sent down your spine, but Devin always found Razelin’s stares the worst. He swore she could read his mind whenever she stared at him that way. “It’s more from anger and frustration than anything.” He took a bite from his apple and chewed forcefully.

“I know. I didn’t expect her to go that far either, but admit it; she gave you a treat, and you liked it.”

“Fine. I’ll admit she’s attractive. But I swear you enjoy it more than I do,” he retorted, careful to avoid meeting her eyes.

She laughed her modest laugh. It was a soft, refined laugh. Even when she laughed at people, it would always brighten their mood. Devin found it in himself to meet her eyes again. “Doesn’t it even bother you that she would just strip right in front of us?”

Razelin resumed drying her hair with her towel as she answered. “It just shows how comfortable she is with us now, and I think that’s a good thing. She has no where else she can express herself so freely.”

“I suppose. I just wish she would stop expressing herself when I’m around,” he sighed.

“She just loves to tease you because she knows you won’t do anything to hurt her.” Razelin set her towel on the table and began brushing her hair. “Anyway, what do you plan to do with Lucas?”

“I don’t know. I was hoping I could get a better idea of how he’s handling everything from Kismet’s observations, but it looks like that won’t be happening. It’ll only get worse if he sees her now, after Nakita had her fun, not to mention when he learns of her fate too.”

“You’re going to have to tell him when he gets back. He has the right to know, and he’ll find out eventually anyway.”

“I know.” Devin walked over to the waste bin. Razelin’s words weighed heavily on him as he tossed the apple core. “I know.”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Character Profile: Nakita (v1)

Well, I must say, I got a little carried away with this one. This profile is much more detailed than the others. Regardless, I hope you find it interesting. I should update the other ones some time to be more extensive as well.

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Character Profile:
Name: Nakita Balise
Sex: Female
Age: 24
Year of Birth: 1103 N.E.
Race: Human

Originally born in Telan, Nakita lived in the capital with her parents. However, at the age of eight, her mother, Lia, passed away due to illness. As the year went on, her father, Taren, who was one of the seven Grand Council members, began to fall apart over the loss of his beloved wife. He grew violent and obsessive by the time Nakita turned nine, and the Grand Council feared for the young sorceress' well-being. In an effort to spare her physical and psychological pain, they sent her to live in Rokan. In an effort to strengthen the relations between the two countries, King Marcus accepted Nakita with open arms, providing her a place to stay in the castle, along with classes and tutors for her studies.

However, the Telan Empire often remained isolated from neighboring countries, so it was rare for a full-blood to study in Rokan. Because of this, Nakita was frequently teased or ostracized from her peers, and her exceptional performance in her studies only made it worse. Many of her peers exploited her desperation for friends by using her to improve their scores, or simply to humiliate or harass her. All the while, rumors that her father had began practicing forbidden magic had spread. A few months after Nakita turned ten, the rumors proved to be true, as her father engineered what came to be know as the Great Plague, which occurred just before The Catheran Massacre.

Learning the truth of her father, Nakita's peers made sure her life was miserable. For two years she endured, until one day when one of her most frequent harassers was found nearly dead from extensive torture in a small cellar. Soon after, two more counts of similar incidents occurred. In merely two months, instead of being constantly harassed, she was feared. There was no proof that she was involved in those incidents, but everyone knew it was her doing.

A year later, after the victims had fully recovered, they banded together and attacked Nakita. Razelin found them while they were beating the sorceress, and quickly stopped them by calling for help. Despite Nakita's cold personality, Razelin persisted in protecting her and attempted to befriend her. Only after a year did Nakita begin to trust Razelin, and the two of them became close friends.

At the age of nineteen, Princess Lydia saw the sorceress practicing her water manipulation. Lydia held a strong interest in Nakita's water magic, and soon began visiting her to talk about sorcery and Undines. Two years later, on Lydia's eighteenth birthday, Nakita was requested to join the Royal Guard, to serve as Lydia's Guardian. With her new position, she began researching Undine essences, while serving her role in the Royal Guard by working closely with Razelin and Devin.

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Dye, Scene v1

Wow. It's been a long time since I worked on this. I blame school, but luckily all my hard school days are over!

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The castle halls were empty by the time Devin had finished dispatching soldiers to the locations given by Isella. Dinner was well passed, and hunger was beginning to set in once again. He unlocked the ornate silver door that stood at the wall adjacent to the king’s bedchambers. A soothing warmth enveloped him as he closed the door behind him.

Stepping forward, he stumbled over a pair of silver-threaded low wide-heeled pumps, which were undoubtedly Nakita’s. With a sigh, he picked up the pumps and set them against the wall to the left of Razelin’s laced boots, and his own buckled boots to the right. It’s not to say he didn’t expect her. After all, it seemed she was there more nights than not, visiting Razelin or spending the night. Although he didn’t care much for her ill-mannered and thoughtless ways, Raze enjoyed her company.

“Razelin, I’m back,” he called.

“Welcome back. Nakita is here.”

It felt odd living with Razelin, even though it had been over twelve years since he took her in. Perhaps it was because it had been twelve years that it was odd. She had transformed from a child who had lived through hell, into the most respected woman of the Rokan Empire. But her status didn’t matter to them. While there may have been a bit of doubt when Razelin first became the Silver Hand, everyone soon to act differently around her and view her in a different light. However, that wasn’t the case for the two of them. Away from their duties, their status didn’t matter. They were family.

A fire crackled softly in the fireplace of the living room. Devin followed Razelin and Nakita’s voice into the kitchen, where Nakita lie on their dining table in her undergarments. Her cold blue eyes stared at him, with her head resting on a towel, and her dye-covered hair dangling over the edge. Every other week, the same thing would happen. It was a foolish ritual, really. Originally, she dyed her hair to hide her Telanian traits, but her origin became common knowledge, and her status made it impossible for her to hide her identity.

“Glad to see you’re wearing something a little more modest this time,” sighed Devin.

The sorceress turned back to the ceiling. Not a lick of shame crossed her face. “You sound a little disappointed.”

Razelin chuckled in her chair from beside Nakita’s head. How the two of them became such close friends, Devin would never know. Razelin was like the day—warm and pleasant—while Nakita was undoubtedly dark and cold like the night. The way they acted… even the way they dressed. Razelin was already in her crimson nightgown, but it covered every inch of her body like everything else she wears. Nakita, on the other hand, was sprawled over a tabletop half-naked without a care in the world, possibly for the tenth time now.

Devin walked over to the island between the table and the kitchen and grabbed a small apple from the fruit bowl. “When people say ‘make yourself at home’, sometimes they expect at least a bit of reserve,” he said, biting into the apple.

“I am being reserved,” she said mockingly, though Devin knew she was serious. She extended an open hand out to him. He gave her one of the apples from the bowl.

“Devin, did Kismet debrief you on what happened?” asked Razelin, before the bickering could continue.

Devin moved Nakita’s pile of clothes from his usual chair before seating himself. It was impossible to ignore the sorceress that lie on the table between him and Razelin. Feeling very uncomfortable, he moved his chair around to Razelin’s side. “I didn’t see her. I came back right after sending out the last of the squads. Why, what happened?”

“She followed Lucas to Kelta, and was near there earlier this afternoon.”

Devin gave a puzzled look while Nakita chomped on her apple. “Kelta? But that’s a couple days south of here.”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: The Holy Fountain, Scene v1
Next: Dye (Part 2), Scene v1

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Character Profile: Devin (v2)

Sorry, I had to make him younger!

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Character Profile:
Name: Devin Lenaud Strauf
Sex: Male
Age: 42
Year of Birth: 1085 N.E.
Race: Human

Born into the noble family of Stauf, Devin was pressured into achieving a respectable position in the Rokan Empire. All his life he lived near Rokan Castle in the capitol city, tied into the social weave of the upper-class, and the castle itself. Being the nephew of Lady Margaret Strauf, wife of General Kaelis Atraea, Devin received a lot of attention and special treatment in the military. At the age of 20, he began studying directly under General Atraea in order to become a suitable member of the Royal Guard. At the age of 24, Devin was graced with honor of becoming Queen Natalia's Guardian shortly after being married to King Marcus. However, Devin still had much to learn and continued studying under General Atraea. Eventually, Devin was promoted to serve as the King's Guardian, and as the Silver Guard, at the age of 25 after General Atraea's untimely death.

Throughout the years, Devin grew close to General Atraea's family. He watched them grow up over the years, and eventually took in Razelin when he was 30, as if she were his own daughter, after her parents had died. Primarily being raised in the military, and guided by General Atraea, he lacked confidence in his skills as a parent and turned to raising young Razelin as her father had raised him, as an apprentice. When Devin was 36, Razelin became a member of the Royal Guard, serving as Queen Natalia's Guardian. Two years later, Devin requested to resign his position as the Silver Guard, under the firm belief that Razelin's rapid learning had surpassed his own capabilities. His request was granted and his position was replaced by Razelin. Devin continues to serve as the King's Guardian and work closely alongside Razelin.

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The Holy Fountain, Scene v1

Ever since that afternoon, questions clouded Kismet’s mind. What are Undine, or even Cathera for that matter? What is a blood sister? Did she have a blood sister? If so, where has she been all these years? Was she dead? How did she suddenly appear in Delphi’s bath?

Soon after Delphi fell asleep, Kismet found herself gazing into the blue shimmering waters of Rokan’s Holy Fountain. In her studies, she learned the fountain existed even before the Empire began 990 years ago. The fountain didn’t have its polished stone tiers, or its large stone base. Instead, it was only the large, mystical statue of an Undine, sitting on rocks that seemed to grow out of the earth.

The polished stone face of the Undine gazed at Kismet with large pupil-less eyes. Her face tilted to the left, as if sympathetic, with a sad, but loving smile. Her face and body were hauntingly realistic. Even the stone had a subtle tint of blue to it, with a texture reminiscent of Aria and Melody’s body. It even looked moist, maybe even a little bit slick and scaly, but it was stone to the touch. The statue sat casually on it’s rocky perch, its tail bent in front of her and tilted to the side, as if she were sitting on a chair. A long river of rocky hair cascaded down her back, reaching the floor. The hair on her right was brushed behind her ear, while the left fell gently over her chest. The Undine’s elbows were bent near the waist, her palms upward and cupped together to make an open bowl, as if offering something, and from it overflowed an abundance of water. It still puzzled the Catheran where the water even came from, and how it always seemed so clean. The fountain never stopped running, and the water seemed to form from the Undine’s hands itself. Enough water flows from the fountain that it is channeled into a special water tank. The water is reserved for watering the garden, along with drinking water and baths for royalty only.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Kismet spun around to find King Marcus and General Raze standing at the entrance of the gardens. Marcus walked along the stone path that led straight to the fountain and stood by her side, gazing up at the Undine, while Raze stood a respectful distance beside him. The king’s voice seemed softer than usual. “To think this fountain was here even before the Rokan Empire began. Even after all these years, there isn’t a single sign of age or vandalism.”

Marcus slid his hand along the rim of the fountain’s base. The exterior of the base was faded and stained, while the inside looked clean and preserved. “Legend has it that a boy from the Lokem tribe, or so it was called at that time, set out east to explore with a group of his people. They traveled through Jastor’s Pass, and across the Rokan River, settling here at Rokan. Every day, the boy would go to the river to gather water, or to wash the village’s clothes. At that river, he met a lone Undine. The two quickly became close friends, and they would visit each other every day. But a year later, the summer was long and harsh. The river almost completely dried up, and was in dire need of water. People were starting to die of thirst. They dug in search of water, but were unable to find any. All the nearby ponds had nearly dried up, and there hadn’t been any rain for several months. Not knowing what to do, they prayed to the heavens for rain and built this statue as a sign of fealty to the water goddess, Vesi, but no rain came.”

The king looked back up at the Undine’s sad smile, as though he were touched by her expression. “One day, when all hope seemed lost, the boy went to the river. The Undine hadn’t visited him ever since the river had gotten so low, but that day was different. The Undine was there. He ran down to meet her at the shallow water. She said to him ‘The summer has run long, and I care too much for you to watch you and your family die. Thank you for your great friendship. This is my gift to you.’ And with that she took his hands in hers. Water surrounded them, and when the water had dispersed, she was gone, leaving a glorious blue gem in his hands. He realized what had happened, and he cried, but he would not let her sacrifice go to waste. He took the blue gem to the statue they had built in the center of their village and placed it in the Undine’s cupped hands. The gem seemed to fade into her hands and give the stone a blue color, and water began to flow, up until this very day.”




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Dining With the Guard (Part 2), Scene v1

Nakita tore a piece of meat from the fowl with her teeth. She didn’t blame her friend for losing interest in such ordinary things. After all, she was the same. The responsibilities that followed being a member of the Royal Guard was certainly Nakita’s least favorite part. She wished she could devote her time to her research, protecting Lydia, and working alongside Raze. “It doesn’t take a genius to realize it. You’re always more interested in the research you’re overseeing for the Queen, or—Agh!” With a small squishy crunch, she winced.

Raze cringed empathetically. “Ow. That didn’t sound good. You alright?”

The witch prodded at the inside of her cheek with her finger. Just as she expected. Bleeding. “Damn it. The last one just healed too.”

The Silver Guard couldn’t help but laugh. “I keep telling you to stop talking while you’re eating, and to slow down. It’s not like your food is going to run away, you know.”

Nakita never really knew why she always laughed at her, but since she only saw Raze laugh with at most a handful of other people, she always felt touched. She found herself feeling warm, and a little flushed. “Anyway, as I was saying, she said she didn’t know much about what Hazalin was planning, since he was always away. But she did say he was chasing a fantasy.”

“A fantasy?”

“The Hidden Valley.”

For once, Raze looked confused. “Commander Hazalin, the pride and glory of the Kival, abandoned his position as one of the Five Commanders of Lokem for something like that?”

It was Nakita’s turn to be confused. “You actually believe her?”

“She’s young, and spent much of her life as a house keeper. Let’s face it. Your… methods have broken down stronger people. I doubt lying even crossed her mind. The question is, if what she said really is true, why is he placing his hopes on a fairytale?”



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Dining With the Guard, Scene v1

The smell of roasted quail and broiled vegetables, topped with thick brown gravy, made Nakita’s mouth water like a stray dog at a butcher's shop. There it sat, on a cart to the side of the table of which the three of them usually ate their late dinners, conversed, and worked on paperwork. Tonight, Devin and Raze left the head of the table open for her, while they sat across from each other on either side. The ornate silver chair, reserved for the Silver Hand, was set aside as it usually was. Raze never did enjoy alienating herself from them more than she had to. She always sat in the same red-cushioned chairs as everyone else. They had only just begun eating, prodding at their first quails between replies.

Nakita helped herself to a large plate of food. She felt their eyes on her as she took her seat. “What?”

“I swear. What would normally make people sick to their stomach only makes yours grow larger,” commented Raze.

The mage poured herself a glass of sweetened water and shrugged. “What can I say?” she said with a mouth full of food.

“The worst part of the job…though I’m sure Nakita would beg to differ,” commented Devin with a hint of disgust on his face. He set down his knife and fork. “And now I’ve lost my appetite. Would it kill you to take a bath after, or at least change into some clean clothes? You smell horrible and there’s blood all over you.”

“I was hungry,” she mumbled with her mouth full.

Devin sighed. “Well, I hope you didn’t put the girl through hell for nothing.”

“Of course not. What do you take me for, a monster?”

“Sometimes.”

Raze chuckled. “So, what did you find out?”

Nakita took a big gulp of water before picking at a piece of meat stuck between her teeth. “Turns out the furlicker was right. There is a person named Kain.” She shoved a couple pieces of broiled cucumbers into her mouth, chewing noisily while she spoke. “Seems it’s mainly him and Hazalin leading the Kival, but Hazalin’s been back and forth between Lokem and Rokan a few months now, so Kain has been organizing most of the stuff in Rokan.”

“Did she know any of his plans?” asked Devin, paying little mind to her lack of manners. Three years ago, when she first joined them at the table, she minded her manners, but as the years went by, she grew more comfortable eating with them, and proper etiquette soon became a thing of the past.

Nakita nodded, guzzling down the last half of her glass. Despite how much she was speaking, her plate was quickly disappearing. She counted with her fingers while she repeated the things she learned. “Yeah. Turns out she’s his younger sister. The three abducted children are being held in the Tanglewoods, at one of their camps. A lot of the food they’ve stolen should also be there. They were also planning to raid the silos at Levan in on the seventh. And she was supposed to meet him back at a cavern along the cliff side east of the Narrow Falls.”

Devin grabbed his glass to take a sip, smirking with satisfaction. “What a lucky find. We need to move quickly before the Kival wise up and relocate. I’ll go send out send out the troops.” He downed his glass before leaving the room.

Raze leaned back, uninterested. Nakita knew that face. Standard problems like the raids and ransom provided little interest for the General. Fortunately, for her, Devin is more than willing to take care of those issues, as if they had some sort of mutual agreement. But the Telanian witch didn’t question Isella without Raze in mind. “You want to know what Hazalin is planning, don’t you?”

The General crossed her arms with a sly smirk. “Is it that obvious?”



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Worlds Apart (Part 2), Scene v1

Whoops, I forgot where the other post ended. This post will be short, but I promise to follow up with a full-length one soon!

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Kismet’s eyes grew wide. The room was dark and reeked of blood and urine, but there was no doubt to who was chained inside the interrogation cell. “I’ve told you everything I know. Please…no more… I swear, that’s all I know!” she cried through agonizing sobs.

Kismet stepped up to the cell bars. Isella’s pleads became more desperate with every approaching step, her sobs more hysterical. Who could have possibly deserved this? Her eyes, wide with fear, were no longer black, but instead a lifeless grey. Blood trailed from the right side of her mouth, which was swollen and bruised. Her clothes, torn and bloodied in several places, revealed large gashes, cuts, and punctures. Crippled fingers contorted hideously from her left hand, nail-less. The flesh of her right hand and arm was bubbled with burns sliced open raw. No one deserved this. No one. It was too cruel. It was not a miracle she was still alive. It was a living hell.

Kismet could do nothing but stare, horrorstruck. There was no doubt in her mind who had done this. She had witnessed the extent of what it took to satisfy the sadistic witch. A rough hand yanked the Catheran out of the room, slamming the door shut. The warden threw Kismet toward the entrance. “What the hell do you think you’re doing going in there? Get out of here and go back to licking the Princess.” She left the dungeon behind her. If only she could leave behind what she saw, as well.



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Worlds Apart, Scene v1

“K-Kismet?!”

Kismet spun around to find Delphi cowering at the shallow end of the bath. The princess’ face lit up. Beaming with excitement, she ran toward her furry friend. “Kismet!”

Delphi ran faster than her feet could tread through deeper side of the bath. Before she knew it, she found herself falling forward into the milky water. Kismet laughed as Delphi popped back on her feet, spitting, with her face scrunched up.

Kismet waded up to Delphi and helped wipe her face. Delphi laughed awkwardly, her face as red as an apple. “You scared me, you know! You just…came out of no where! How…or when did you even get in here?” she asked, after calming down a bit.

“I…don’t know,” she answered, looking around Delphi’s bathing chambers, still in disbelief. She took off her plated chest piece and band of throwing knives, setting them to the side of the bath. “Last I knew I was at least a two-days-walk south of here.”

“Hah, very funny.” The princess hugged Kismet tightly, nuzzling her cheek against the Catheran’s chest. Kismet embraced her, stroking her hair. Delphi closed her eyes and rocked Kismet back and forth. “Whatever. You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

Kismet buried her nose into Delphi’s hair, breathing in the sweet scent of Jasmine. It had been too long since she had last seen the young princess. She felt her entire body relax as the fragrance filled her. Finally, she was home. “I missed you too.”

She gave Delphi a big lick on the cheek. They walked back over to the shallow end of the bath and sat down in the milky water. It was warm and soothing, rising up to their shoulders. Looking at the water, it was the first time Kismet noticed the blue shimmer of the milky water. But the water they drink, the water in the town ponds and pools, the water in troughs, even some of the streams and lakes she had seen, they didn’t shimmer in the same way.

The Catheran shook the thought out of her head. She held Delphi in her arms as the young princess leaned against her. “Sorry I was gone for so long. A lot of things have happened,” she said, her cheek against the top of Delphi’s head. “How are your studies coming along?”

Delphi sighed heavily, lightly whipping her arm with Kismet’s tail. “I don’t want to talk about it. It’s stupid. Why do I have to remember every single law, and the names and backgrounds of so many different people? It’s impossible!”

“You’ll remember it all eventually. It’s a lot of stuff to learn, you can’t expect to learn it all right away.”

“I know. I just wish Mother would stop yelling at me. It’s not my fault I can’t learn things as fast as Lydia...Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it. You went to Lokem didn’t you? What was it like? Did you get to see their mines and quarries?”

It never ceased to amaze Kismet how quickly Delphi would cheer up whenever she thought about the world outside of the castle. Fortunately, she knew little of the ugliness. “Nah. Those are more West. We only visited Koln for the delivery. After that we came back to the capital.”

“I read it was the fourth largest city in Lokem, and has Lokem’s largest inn.”

Kismet nodded. “Yep. And we got to stay in it too. It was pretty nice, but of course the owner didn’t like me very much.”

Delphi frowned, gently rubbing the soft arms that wrapped under her chest. “It’s like that over there too?”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I guess it’s because they weren’t as affected by the invasion as Rokan was. But, guess what! I was in Kelta earlier today.”

“Kelta? Isn’t that a three-days walk from here?”

“It sure is. You’ll never guess what happened.” Kismet stood them up and led her to the stool that sat a few feet from the bath. “I saw an Undine.”

“An Undine?!” she shouted in disbelief.

“A real Undine. She was young, maybe only ten or twelve in human years, but she was pretty.” Kismet dipped a washcloth into the bucket of warm water that sat on a heating plate. She began washing off the milky water that left Delphi’s skin silky smooth.

Her skin was a light delicate peach. It was difficult to spot the subtle tan lines around her neck and arms that she gets from spending a lot of her free time in the gardens, or on the wall. The princess’ skin was soft and clean, from an entirely different world than Isella’s, who was tanned and calloused. Kismet told Delphi of her unbelievable encounter with Aria, and how she mysteriously appeared in the bath, as they finished bathing.

While the young princess went to her night lessons, Kismet decided to pay Isella a visit. Walking toward the dungeon, she passed by Nakita who paid no mind to her and whistled an upbeat tune with a look of content on her face. Kismet descended the stone steps. The warden sighed with irritation behind his book when the Catheran walked by. Kismet walked toward the rear to Isella’s cell, but she wasn’t there. The cell door was open, but where would they take her?

She felt uneasy, remembering the look on Nakita’s face. Kismet had never seen that look on her face before. All she ever heard was that the prodigy ice mage was never satisfied, always irritated, and a sadist. The Catheran looked at the reinforced door at the end of the cells. A wave of dread flowed throughout her body as she stepped up to it. She cracked open the door, peeking inside. Several knives, blades, needles, whips, and other weapons lined the walls. Sharp tools, as well as blunt, sat on shelves, along with prods and torches. Choked sobs escaped from the crack of the door. Kismet opened the door wider to a strained voice, pleading. “Please…no more…please…”




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Blood Sister, Scene v1

I decided to make this post a little longer, because it fit better that way!

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Aria eyed Kismet curiously, only just noticing her unusual attire. “Why are you wearing those clothes?”

Kismet looked at her, puzzled. “Aren’t those human clothes?” she asked.

The Catheran nodded. “I was raised in the capital a bit north of here. Why?”

A flash of disbelief crossed Aria’s face. Her voice grew coarser as she raised her voice. “What? But…how could you? They killed the Cathera and hunt them down like they’re animals, and capture my sisters! And they keep killing so many animals, and draining the water, and cutting down all the trees…”

“I don’t know. All I remember was waking up along the Rokan riverbed. The royal family found me there and took me in.”

Aria gave her a furrowed brow. The gloss of her scales was beginning to fade. “What about your blood sister? She lives with the humans too?”

“My…blood sister?” The only person who came to Kismet’s mind that can even relate was Delphi, but there was definitely no relation by blood.

The young Undine’s voice was strained and weakening. “Your blood sister. The one who received you from Terra’s embrace…and swore to raise you and watch over you.”

Kismet knew nothing of having a blood sister, much less even seen a Catheran in all her life. Sometimes she even wondered if any Cathera survived the genocide that resulted from the invasion eleven years ago. Even if she did have a blood sister who did survive, did she simply abandon Kismet? “I…don’t know. I’ve never seen or even heard of another Catheran. Do only Cathera have blood sisters, or do Undine—”

Aria cringed and gripped her chest, which heaved laboriously up and down. The coarse sound of her breaths clawed at Kismet’s ears. “Aria? Aria? We need to hurry and find you some water. Are you sure it’s this way?”

The young water spirit couldn’t reply between her agonizing wheezes for air. Kismet quickened her pace, running through the trees as quick as she could, frantically looking left and right for signs of water. The sky was painted orange by the setting sun. Aria’s arm dangled lifelessly at her side as her consciousness slipped away.

As the sky turned red, a shimmering blue pond peeked from between the trees. Aria’s had stopped breathing, but Kismet wasn’t about to give up. Waist deep in the pond, she lowered the Undine.

The water enveloped her scaled body, restoring its moisture, but she still did not breathe. The Catheran watched with hopeful eyes, taking the child’s hand in hers. The warmth was gone. “Aria…” she whispered into the cool autumn air.

Apart from the gentle ripples, the pond was dead silent. Aria’s still body floated in the pond, her youthful face peeking out the surface. Kismet took the Undine’s arms and crossed them over her body. She brushed the water spirit’s smooth black hair to the side and caressed her face softly. “I’m sorry, Aria…”

A shadow formed at the bottom of the pond in front of them. Kismet stepped back, warily watching it swim around her. The silhouette looped back under Aria, and emerged from the water. The Catheran watched, speechless, as an Undine who looked like a mature Aria took the young water spirit into her arms. “Aria…what happened to you?” she said in a sad voice, stroking Aria’s hair.

The Undine had the same jet-black hair and dark eyes as Aria, but her body appeared to be similar to that of a twenty-year-old human. She gazed at the young Undine with sad black eyes. She lifted a slender left arm to her mouth and bit deeply into her own flesh. She held Aria up with her right arm. Her dark blue blood trickled from her fingertips into Aria’s mouth. As the bleeding began slowing down, Aria choked violently. With a tender smile, the Undine embraced the young water spirit.

Aria regained herself, opening her eyes wearily. “Melody…?”

“I swear. You always make me worry.”

Aria embraced Melody, sobbing. “I’m sorry. I—I—.”

“You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.” She looked up at Kismet. “Thank you, Sister, for saving Aria from those humans. I’m Melody, Aria’s blood sister.”

“Kismet,” the Catheran replied, still in disbelief at what had just happened.

Melody lowered Aria back into the water. Kismet still couldn’t help but notice how similar the two of them looked, as if they were twin sisters, but of different age. “Thank you, Sister Kismet. I was afraid I would never see her again. A group of humans captured one of our sisters only a few days ago, but we can no longer feel her essence. I thought there weren’t any more Cathera in this region, but luckily you came along and saved our precious Aria.”

Aria swam up to Kismet and gave her a warm hug. “Thank you for saving me from those humans. I wish I had something I could give you.” She hesitated for a moment, looking back at Melody. Melody nodded at her, waving her hand back and forth through the water in front of her. Aria turned back to Kismet. “You live with the Rokan Royal Family, right? Let me help you go back.”

“How?”

Aria extended a hand. “Take my hand and follow me. Walk, don’t swim.”

Curiously, Kismet held onto the Undine’s hand. Melody waved at her with a smile. “Let’s meet again, Sister.”

Aria slowly led her toward the center of the pond. Kismet hesitantly walked after her, the water raising above her waist, then above her chest. She took one last glimpse of the sky. The sun had set, and darkness was setting in. The pond seemed to glow a magnificent crystal blue in the night. Her vision became clouded as the water rose above her head. She followed Aria deeper into the water, until she felt the Undine’s hand let go. Kismet continued walking, her hand searching for Aria’s but she could not find it. As she kept walking, she felt the water’s surface lower beneath her ears, then beneath her eyes. She walked out until she stood waist-deep in water, staring out wide-eyed in confusion. The polished stone walls, the lamp-lit room, the smell of milk and flower extract mixed with the pure waters from Rokan's Holy Fountain…it all seemed so familiar.




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Aria, Scene v1

Kismet rushed down the hillside.

Dirt and loose brush clung to the Undine’s moist, scaly body. Her head darted back and forth in shock and confusion. Panic crept over her as the sun beat down on her drying body, and nothing but land was in sight. Her hastened breaths slowed as she caught sight of Kismet approaching her. “P-Please help me, Sister!”

Kismet knelt beside the water spirit, checking for any serious wounds. A long gash ran down the side of her tail, along with a few minor cuts and scrapes. Dark blue blood seeped from the open wound. Kismet unraveled the spare bandages from around her feet and began applying it to the young Undine. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine now. I won’t let them take you away.”

Kismet held the trembling child in her arms. She purred gently, trying to calm the sobbing young Undine. Despite living in the water, her body emitted a soothing warmth. Although she appeared no older than twelve, from head to tail, she was only two heads shorter than the Catheran.

Kismet eyed the fallen bandits warily. “My name’s Kismet, what’s yours?”

The young water spirit wiped her tears with the back of her webbed hand. Her soft voice was strained from all of the screaming. “Aria.”

One of the swordsmen groaned. Kismet looked out over the horizon, spotting a patch of trees to the east. She hoisted up Aria and carried her through the tall grass. “We need to get away from here before they come after you again.”

Aria clung tightly to her rescuer’s chest piece, as she jogged swiftly across the plains. With the sun beating down from overhead, the plains grew hot with all the grass trapping in the heat. Aria’s body began to dry when they neared the wooded area, her breaths becoming dry heaves. “It hurts…I need…water.”

Kismet set the young water spirit on the ground. With every breath, she could hear Aria’s throat and lungs scratch. Her skin was beginning to crack, and her scales grew rough. Her eyes stared helplessly at Kismet, full of fear. The Catheran unfastened the canteen from her waist and popped the lid open. She brushed the Undine’s hair aside before gently tipping the water into her mouth. “Sorry, I don’t have very much. We need to hurry and find a lake or river.”

After Aria drank half of the canteen, Kismet took off her cloak and folded it. She poured all but a gulp’s worth over the folded cloth, being careful not to lose a single drop. With it, she wrapped Aria before picking her up again. The Undine sighed in relief, pulling the wet cloak around her tightly. “Thank you, Sister.”

Kismet gave Aria the rest of the water before picking her up again. She quickened her pace toward the wooded area ahead. The Undine relaxed a bit once they left the baking plains, but the cloak that wrapped her body had already dried. She pointed between the trees. “Over there.”

The Catheran followed the child’s finger, slightly puzzled. “What’s over there?”

“Water,” she replied with confidence.

“Are you sure?”

Aria nodded. The coarse sound in her voice was returning. “I can feel it, just like how Cathera can feel nature.”

Feel nature. Kismet had heard of feeling and appreciating nature from songs and literature, but she never understood what they meant. Could they feel nature? Being a Catheran, could she feel nature, as Aria had said? Indeed, she always did yearn to leave the city and wander around outdoors, but she always assumed it was due to her less-than-favorable relations with the residents in the castle and military. And was it not normal to love nature’s beauty?



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Rocky Plains, Scene v1

The room slowly emptied as everyone took their final look at the mysterious water spirit. Kismet quickly peered into the auction hall to get a glimpse of the auction’s highest bidder. His silks layered thickly over his round body. He put his hand on the tank as he laughed boisterously.

“I can’t believe it. The Magistrate always told me to buy him another Undine if I ever saw one. To think I would live to see two caught in such a short time!” He turned to the lucky fisherman, who was still jaw-droppingly speechless at how much the Undine had sold for. “Shall we head off?”

The fisherman looked back at him confused. “Head off?”

“Hah, please don’t tell me you thought I actually carried that much money on me. You’re going to have to come with me to Eliad,” explained the representative as he signaled his aides to bring the Undine with them.

Kismet watched them load the tank into the back of a large covered wagon with Eliad’s seal etched into the side. After the tank was securely placed into the wagon, the fisherman stepped onto the wagon along with the representative. Once his escort of twenty mounted up, they departed north at a slow trot.

Kismet kept out of sight and away from the road while she trailed behind them. The road continued atop a hill, which ran into a rocky plain filled with waist-high grass. Small patches of clouds dotted the high-noon sky, as the sun showered the land with warmth. She continued to follow the wagon and its escort through the plains, keeping low in the grass while she slipped from one rock to the next. She quickly stopped upon spotting someone crouched behind a rock just ahead.

A sharp whistle pierced the air. Half a dozen archers rose out of the grass and took quick aim. Four of the escorts fell to the ground with a cry of pain, while the rest struggled to control their horses in a panic. Two more fell to arrows, while the rest dismounted and rushed down the hill after the archers. Another half a dozen wielding swords flanked them from the side. The archers dropped their bows and drew their daggers. Four of them rushed for the wagon, while the other two joined in the melee.

Kismet sprinted after them, pouncing on one of the archers and knocking him unconscious. The other beside him stumbled in fear at the sight of her. She bared her fangs with a hiss, which sent him fleeing. Kismet climbed the hillside to find the fisherman and his buyer unconscious on the road. The four archers were carrying the tank down the hillside by the time she reached them. The bandit closest to her spotted her in the corner of his eye. He dropped the tank in a panic, as he staggered back. The Undine’s tank slipped from the rest of their hands and shattered onto the floor.

The young water spirit shrieked as she tumbled down to the base of the hill. She aimlessly tried to crawl away while two of the bandits chased after her. Kismet quickly rammed one of the archers with her shoulder and thrust her foot into the chest of another, cracking his ribs. The remaining two charged after her with daggers in hand, while the three remaining sword-wielding bandits rushed to their aide.

Kismet grabbed the archer’s outstretched arm and flipped him over her shoulder onto the flat of his back. She spun the last archer in the way of the one of the swordsman’s attacks. With a cry of pain, the sword cut deep into his back. The swordsman stared in shock at felling his own comrade, which was soon followed by a roundhouse to the side of his head. The last remaining bandit stared at her, frozen with fear. Kismet glared at him with her large feline eyes. He glanced at the bodies of his defeated comrades and ran away faster than his feet could carry him.



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The Biggest Catch, Scene v1

It wasn’t until early morning before she arrived. The town was already awake and lively. The port was littered with fishermen selling their morning catch to the townsfolk and businesses. Kismet walked to the inn near the entrance of town, taking extra care in keeping her features as hidden as possible. She spotted Lucas’ horse tied at the side of the building. Glancing through the front window, she didn’t see him in the main room. It must’ve been a long night, after all.

News quickly resonated through the city of a boat having caught an Undine. Kismet had only heard rumors of Undines, which were said to be tribes of water spirits who live under water. Undines were rarely ever seen since they rarely ever surfaced, and those who actually managed to catch them became rich by selling them to the wealthiest people in the Empire. Kismet curiously slipped between the alleyways toward the docks to see the Undine.

Hundreds of people lined the dock of a modest sized fishing boat. Citizens, travelers, and guards alike all peered over the heads of others, eagerly awaiting to see the captured Undine. Only four have ever been captured within the last one hundred years. Three of the Undines were traded to the Empire, which were then given as a gift of friendship to the Lokem Republic and Telan Empire, and the third placed in the aquarium in Rokan. The fourth was sold to the wealthiest merchant in the border city of Eliad, which borders the Rokan and Telan Empire. And now, a fifth had been captured.

Six fishermen hoisted up a large, glass tank. Inside was a young Undine, who appeared to be no older than twelve, pounding against the walls and crying out for help, but her voice was sealed in by the enclosed tank. From the waist down, her body was like the tail of a fish, covered in subtle shimmering blue scales, with a powerful fin at the end. Her head and torso, however, looked human. Her skin was a pale sky blue, and appeared smooth as silk. Her small hands were webbed, and a long, thin silky fin hung from both her arms, as if they were wings. Small scales covered most of her body in several different shades of blue, primarily on her backside. Her jet-black hair was long and wispy, reaching just beyond her waist. She gazed out desperately with her large black eyes, only to find curiously excited faces gazing back at her in fascination.

The crowd cooed and awed at the helpless Undine, voicing their envy and their admiration for its eerie beauty. Watching the helpless water spirit be carried away into the auction house broke Kismet’s heart. To be confined and traded away to serve as someone’s decoration would be a cruel fate. She slid from building to building and inched herself under the side window of the auction room. The voices of excited bidders and observers poured out of the open window, along with the helpless thumps of the Undine.

The gavel sounded, and the auction began. The bids rose rapidly by those throughout the room, dwindling down to three wealthy entrepreneurs, and a magistrate’s representative. Whispers and low mumbles filled the room with every new bid, as the offers rose to numbers people normally dream of. By the end, the representative bid the highest, winning the auction for two hundred thousand silver coins.



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Scars, Scene v1

Kismet let herself out of the store. She returned to the willow by the riverbed to check on Lucas, but he was no longer there. Although it didn’t surprise her, she let out a drawn out sigh. Turning away from his footsteps that led into the forest, she continued along the river. She came to a halt at the sound of stirring bushes. Further down the riverside she saw a man stumble toward the edge of the river, groaning and clenching his chest. He dropped to his knees before reaching the water and vomited. Breathing heavily, he crawled to the river and tried to drink some water, only to violently choke as if it were poison.

Kismet approached him cautiously. He was still coughing and breathing heavily. “Are you alright? We should get you to a doctor.”

The sickly man snapped his head at the sound of her voice. His features were distinctly of Kival descent. He looked to be in his thirties, but his hair appeared to be graying, and his wide eyes seemed cold and lacking in color. His skin was pale and his body trembled weakly when he scurried onto his feet. In a panic, he ran into the woods as quickly as his body could take him, stumbling over roots and small brush.

Something about his actions puzzled Kismet. She followed him discreetly, carefully keeping out of sight. After a few minutes, he slowed to a stop and collapsed onto the floor. His breathing became a series of harsh wheezes, as if his throat and mouth were completely parched. She crouched there, watching him closely. He didn’t move, he only gasped for air with a pained look on his face. A black leopard prowled around the Kival, eyeing him warily. It came to a stop at his head, and cautiously pawed his face. The leopard roared at him threateningly and retracted its hand to swipe at him. In the blink of an eye, the Kival gripped the leopard’s throat and ripped it from its body. A hideous gurgle followed the sound of tearing flesh, as the leopard dropped to the floor.

Kismet watched with wide eyes. Never had she seen a person capable of doing such a thing, much less a person who appeared to have been dying. Even she would have difficulty tearing apart the throat of a leopard in such a short amount of time. The Kival’s coarse breathing hastened as he stared at the blood oozing from the leopard’s carcass. He crawled onto his knees beside the body and lifted the open neck to his mouth. His teeth sunk into the open flesh as he slurped the blood. After he feasted on the leopard’s neck for what felt like minutes, he dropped the carcass and vomited a small pool of blood before collapsing on the floor.

A chill ran up Kismet’s spine. She couldn’t believe that a human could do such a thing. She approached him slowly, watching his chest rise and fall. His breathing no longer sounded coarse, and his hair and skin were regaining its color. His blood-soaked face looked relieved from the suffering he was going through when she first saw him. Looking over his body, she found his hands and arms rife with scars, which looked much like veins, creeping toward his chest. The scars seemed to pulse along with his heartbeat.

Kismet stared curiously at the scars, mesmerized by the rhythmic beat, until he groaned and began waking up. She quickly made some distance and slipped behind a tree. The Kival climbed to his feet and rubbed his face with a hand. He slowly looked at his blood-covered hand, in the spotted moonlight, with terrified eyes. Trembling in fear, he ran off in a panic. Kismet watched him wander off into the night before returning to Yuin to see if Lucas decided to go back home.

She jogged up to the store as soon as she saw his horse missing. Scanning the floor, she followed his trail to the road leading east, toward the fishing village of Kelta. Knowing that she would be away from Delphi for at least another day, Kismet sighed. She returned to her horse she tied toward the rear of the village near a trough of water. Its peaceful sleep brought a small smile to her face. She couldn’t bear to have it travel so late in the night, so she jogged down the road toward Kelta.



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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A Gracious Hostess, Scene v1

Knock knock knock.

The curtains cracked open as Maria peeked out at the front door. Kismet played out the ever-so-familiar scene in her head as Lucas’ mother descended the stairs. Kismet took a small step back. The porch light grew to life, lighting her entire front side. The bolt was unlatched and the door crept open to the chain-lock’s limit. Maria’s eyes grew wide with fear when she found the Catheran’s face. She slammed the door shut with a small shriek.

Although she expected just as much, Kismet frowned and let out a small sigh. “Sorry to have startled you, Mrs. Damire. I don’t know if Lucas has told you who I am. I’m Kismet, one of General Devin’s squad members. If I may have a moment of your time…”

A long silence filled the air. Kismet could hear Maria trying to calm her heavy breathing on the other side of the door. The night air was becoming frigid as the days edged into the last month of autumn. The knob was turned. Maria peered out from between the crack of the door, eyeing the Catheran with uncertainty from head to toe. She unhinged the chain and stood to the side as she opened the door slowly. Kismet bowed her head respectfully before stepping into the store.

Maria closed the door behind her and led Kismet to the back room with a displeased look on her face. “I’m sorry. My son did tell me about you. I just haven’t seen a furlicker in over ten years, and didn’t expect to see one so suddenly in the middle of the night. After all they’ve done to us it’s hard not to be a bit jumpy.”

Kismet stood just inside the doorway, leaving a few feet between her and her reluctant hostess who attempted to make herself look busy by heating water in a teapot. Three chairs sat across from another at the table in the far end of the room. A tall standing mirror stood against the wall next to a shelf with several folded patterns of cloth and a measuring tape. “I’ve come to expect it.”

“So, what did you want?”

Kismet glanced over Maria. Her hair was damp and she wore a fashionably modest, pink and red, silk nightgown. The mixed look of irritation and worry on her face made clear her expectations of how Lucas was handling the situation. “As you know, he’s been having difficulty dealing with Isella’s involvement in the recent Kival activities. Because of that, he’s been removed from active duty until further notice.”

“Does Lucas know?” asked Maria.

“He was told just before coming here. Since he left in a bad mood, the General sent me to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn’t do anything reckless. Ever since we found Isella, he’s been struggling to keep his emotions in check.”

Maria contemplated the Catheran’s words. The teapot began to whistle softly, disrupting her thought. She opened the cupboard and grabbed a mug for herself, before reaching for the paper cups. “Tea? Hot Cocoa?”

Kismet shook her head and waved her words away. She could see the scorn in Maria’s eyes. Those eyes filled more with resentment than fear were the eyes of those who lost someone dear to them during the invasion eleven years ago. Despite Maria’s attempts at playing a gracious hostess, it couldn’t hide her ill-favor toward the Cathera. Kismet. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

Maria blew at the top of her hot tea impatiently. Kismet knew she overstayed her welcome from the very moment she stepped inside. “I won’t trouble you any further. I only came to tell you of Lucas’ situation. From when I spoke to him just before coming here, it seems he may not be returning for the night. Good night, Mrs. Damire.”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Lost Promise (Part 2), Scene v1

He held the last letter out to Kismet. She took the letter hesitantly, staring at him. She unfolded it slowly, unsure if he wanted her to read it.

Day 1, 1st Month of Winter, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

Mother died last week. She got sick from the cold
nights, but her body couldn’t handle it. The same
thing has been happening to a lot of my people. Ever
since Mother died, Kain has been actively trying to
organize ways to get more food, especially since
Winter is here. Now everyone is desperate, and have
resorted to stealing from villages and travelers.

I don’t know what to do anymore, Lucas. I’m afraid.
Why did Mother have to die? She was such a good
person. And now…now we’re no different than bandits.
Criminals. What do I do, Lucas? I’ll be at the
willow in six days, on the night of the Feast.
Please…meet me there. I miss you so much.

Love always,

Isella


Lucas dug his nails into the palm of his hands. “She…she was waiting for me. She needed me…and I wasn’t there for her. If only—if only I was there, then maybe—”

“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know,” pointed out Kismet.

“But if I did. If I did know, then maybe I could’ve saved her. I could’ve convinced her to come back home, then none of this would’ve ever happened.”

“There’s no point thinking about what could’ve been different. It already happened, and all that matters is how you deal with it.”

Lucas snapped his head toward her with a sharp glare. “I don’t need you lecturing me. Just…just leave me alone.”

Kismet nodded. She folded the letter carefully and set it down beside him before leaving him alone under the willow. If she were in his situation, and Isella were instead Delphi, she would undoubtedly follow her to the very end, and do whatever she could to save her. The Catheran glanced back at the troubled soldier’s silhouette, lying on the boulder. She shook the thought of her head and walked back to Yuin.

The shops were closed, and the roads nearly empty. Although it was only a few hours after dinner, it seemed as if the village had fallen asleep. Delphi was probably getting ready to sleep as well. It had been eleven days since she last saw Delphi. She wanted to see her dearest friend but she was in the middle of her lessons, and General Devin told her to keep an eye on Lucas. Kismet closed her eyes apologetically, hoping Delphi could somehow feel her sentiment. The Catheran stepped onto the small store patio. Her eyes trailed from the “CLOSED” sign to the lit second-story window.

Knock knock knock.



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Lost Promise, Scene v1
Next: A Gracious Hostess, Scene v1

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Lost Promise, Scene v1

He quickly found the next letter to read on.

Day 11, 2nd Month of Autumn, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

I miss you so much, Lucas. It feels like it’s been over
a year since I left. It’s a lot harder than I thought to
find a place to live for so many people. Luckily Commander
Hazalin from the Republic has come to help us. It’s thanks
to him that we can manage to find enough food and warmth
to keep searching. I really hope we find a new home soon
so I can see you again. Kain and Mother are keeping strong,
so I’ll stay strong too.

I’ll come back as soon as I can, I promise. Keep doing your
best in training! I want to hear all about it when I’m back.
We can drink some hot cocoa by the fire when winter comes,
like last year. I memorized some poems from the people here
that I’m sure you’d love to hear.

Yours forever,

Isella


Lucas fought back the tears that stung his eyes. He quickly wiped his face with the back of his hand as he continued with the third letter.

Day 8, 3rd Month of Autumn, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

Every night is getting colder and it’s becoming harder for
us to find enough food. Mother is becoming weak because she
keeps giving us most of her food. I really hope we find
somewhere soon. Everyone is becoming restless and we’re all
hungry. If something doesn’t change soon, I’m afraid as to
what they may do.

I hope things are better for you. I can’t wait to see you
again. I told myself that I shouldn’t see you until this is
all over, otherwise I don’t think I’d be able to go through
with it, but it’s too hard. I’ll be at the willow on the
night of the Winter’s Feast next month. I miss you too much,
I have to see you again. Promise me you’ll meet me there.

Love,

Isella


His heart sunk. All this time he could’ve read those letters. He was there, at home, with his family. The willow was only, at most, a twenty-minute walk away from Yuin, and she was there waiting for him. But he never showed. "If only I knew…if only I met her that night…then maybe she would’ve come home, and none of this would’ve ever happened." The tears escaped his eyes as he sobbed with frustration.

He held the last letter out to Kismet. She took it hesitantly, staring at him. She unfolded it slowly, unsure if he wanted her to read it.



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
Previous: Unexpected Company, Scene v1
Next: Lost Promise (Part 2), Scene v1

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Unexpected Company, Scene v1

"Aren't you going to read them?"

Lucas spun around to find those yellow eyes peering at him from just beyond the willow's reach. "Kismet? What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see if you were okay."

He let out a small huff as he sat back down. "General Devin sent you to keep an eye on me, didn't he?"

"Maybe. But still, you were so persistent in trying to find out more about what happened to her all this time."

Lucas gazed back at the letters in his hands without a word. Although she couldn't see his face, she could see that he was troubled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry into your personal life. I'll just leave and tell General--"

"No," interrupted Lucas, softly. "Please..stay."

For four years, he kept his personal life a secret, rarely ever mentioning Isella to anyone. He always felt that the relationship between two people was best shared only between those two people, rather than to quench people’s thirst for gossip. However, he found himself baring his troubles to someone he least expected. “Just after I turned sixteen, my parents hired Isella as a house servant. She cleaned the shop and did all of the household chores. She even grew to enjoy helping my mom with tailoring and keeping shop. A season later we became a couple, and were together ever since.”

Kismet sat on the edge of the boulder a couple feet away from Lucas. He stared out over the river. His short dark brown hair, and brown eyes, almost seemed black in the night. His exhaustion was obvious as he slumped over his knees while he continued. “I thought she was happy here. She was always so cheerful and full of energy. But now...”

“Maybe she really was. And I’m sure she really did love you back. She did write you letters, after all, and she even told you about them. I’m sure if you read them, you’d find out why she left.”

Lucas looked back down at the letters in his hand. The answers he had longed for. With trembling hands, he slid his finger under and broke the thin wax seal. Half a sheet of paper was neatly folded inside, with delicate handwriting in a reddish-blue berry color. Dated as the first month of winter, Lucas opened the other letters to find the first written. Feeling uneasy and lonely, he read the letter aloud while Kismet listened silently.


Day 4, 1st Month of Autumn, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

My mother and brother were exiled from the Republic,
along with the rest of my people, and are searching for a new
home. I’ve decided to help them, but I’ll definitely come back
after we’ve found them a place to live peacefully. I wanted to
tell you in person, but I was too afraid. I wanted to see you
one more time before I left, but I knew that if I did, it would’ve
been too hard.

I’m so sorry. Please forgive me for leaving like this. I appreciate
everything you and your family have done for me. I wish things
could’ve been different so I could stay, but my family needs me.
I really hope to see you again soon. I miss you already.

Love always,

Isella



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Letters, Scene v1

She looked panicked, her eyes seeking shelter from his gaze. “I-I’m sorry, Lucas. We didn’t mean any harm by it. We just wanted to protect you.”

“How could lying to me about this protect me? Don’t you know how worried I was about her? Please tell me what’s really going on.”

Maria rubbed the back of her neck and sipped her cocoa anxiously. She turned her cup around nervously in her hand. “Last fall, we told you that we were attacked by a group of bandits when we were on our way to Levan. But…that was a lie. We never even left for Levan.”

“So what happened?”

“The morning before we were supposed to leave, Isella was missing. She left a note on her bed saying that she was sorry, and thanking us for all we have done for her.”

Lucas’ brow furrowed, unable to comprehend why Isella would leave so suddenly.

She seemed to love it at their shop, greeting every day with a smile. She was like the daughter his mother never had, and shared what he believed to be a strong, loving relationship with him. “Why? Why would she just leave like that?”

“Since her parents lived in the Republic, they were exiled along with the rest of her people. She heard about Hazalin joining them to try to find a new home and decided to return to her parents.”

“Why couldn’t you tell me this before? All this time…I wanted to know what happened to her.”

Maria gazed at her son with regretful eyes. “We were worried that if we told you, you would’ve gone with her.”

Lucas knew she was right. He probably would have gone with Isella if he had known back then, but it’s not as though the Kival didn’t deserve some help. Although, with how things are now, he too could’ve been stuck in the dungeon, a traitor. “What about the letters?”

Maria froze for a moment at the mention of the letters. She wracked her mind for a lie, but the guilt gnawed at her stomach. “Wait here.”

Lucas heard his mother’s footsteps ascend the stairs and walk into her room. Not long later, she returned to her seat across from him. In front of him, she placed four envelopes labeled with his name. He ran his fingers over the unbroken seals, touched that she would respect their privacy enough not to read the letters. Maria held his hand in hers and looked him in the eye. “Please, Lucas. Whatever those letters may say, don’t do anything rash. I say this because I understand how much you love her. Don’t throw away your life for her.”

He returned his mother’s gaze with a small nod. He placed his hand on top of hers. “I’m going out for a bit.”

Lucas scooped up the letters and left the house, his mother’s worried gaze weighing down his shoulders. He walked to the river just west of Yuin. A bit upstream, away from the road, he sat on a large boulder resting under a green willow which hung over the edge of the river.

Staring out over the shimmering moonlit water, he remembered the times when he and Isella would sleep under the starry sky under the willow. He looked down at the letters in his hand, uncertain at whether or not he was ready to read what she wanted to tell him all those months.




First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Surprise Visit, Scene v1

I will be out of town until Tuesday, so I will likely not be posting any new material until Wednesday. Until then, here's the next part of the story.

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Upon reaching the stables, Lucas mounted up and rode South to Yuin. By nightfall, he arrived in the village. Lights filled the windows, the sounds of silverware and dinner conversations escaped a few of the homes. He dismounted and tied his horse near the front of the modest tailor shop near the center of the village. The small bell signaled his entry. A woman’s voice called from the back room, “I’ll be there in just a second!”

Lucas walked toward the back room behind the counter. As he approached the doorway, he nearly bumped into the woman, startling her. “Oh! Lucas, you scared me.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

His mother, Marianne, was a head shorter than him. She always wore a gentle smile and spoke softly. She led him into the backroom by the hand and sat him down at the small table. She poured him a cup of hot cocoa. “I’m surprised to see you so suddenly. Your letter said you’d be coming sometime next month…You must be hungry. Let me fix you something.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine.”

Maria poured herself a cup of cocoa before sitting across from her son. “So to what do I owe this surprise visit?”

Lucas met eyes with his mother. A sense of guilt struck him for feeling such anger toward his beloved mother. The resentment subsided into a muddled sense of confusion that lingered in the pit of his stomach. “Is Dad out again?”

She nodded while taking a sip. “He won’t be back for a few days. Why, is something wrong?”

He shook his head and forced a small smile on his face. “We were given some time off, so I thought I’d come visit. Write any new poems lately?”

Maria smiled at him with a twinkle in her eye. Poetry was a passion they shared in secret ever since he was seven. Every time Lucas visited, they would read and write poetry together, sometimes even late into the night. “Work has been a bit busy with winter coming up, but I did write a short one. Would you like to hear it?”

“Always.”

She sat back and closed her eyes, imagining the poem as she shared it.

“The delicious smell of food is in the air,
Streets are filled with song and cheer.
Friends and family gather with stories to share,
For the night of the Winter Feast is here.”

Lucas gave his mother a warm smile. The Winter Feast, an annual three day celebration spanning the last three days of the first week of winter, was only a month away. Though the feast is on the last day of the celebration, friends and family gather by the fifth day to help prepare for the feast and festivities. It may not have been her best work, but it certainly did capture the image of the Winter Feast. “I like it. It’s short and simple, and it sums up the Feast well.”

Unfortunately, the feasts will no longer be the same for him. Isella was already missing before last year’s feast. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop worrying about her. Even now, after having found her, it seemed it would be no different. His eyes dropped to the cocoa steaming in his cup. “We…found Isella.”

A small hint of panic crossed Maria’s surprised face. “Y-You found her?”

“When we were in the Lokem Republic, we found her involved in a Kival movement.”

She searched frantically for words, but found none. Lucas continued. “We captured her, and now she’s in the castle dungeon.”

“L-Lucas…I’m sorry. At least we finally know that she’s still alive.”

“I spoke with her earlier this afternoon. Why did you and dad tell me she was kidnapped?”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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