Two boys, nine and fifteen in age, were playing in the sand in the Itran city of Mas. The younger one turned to the elder one and asked,

“Tell me a story, will you?”

Ever since the younger boy was brought to Mas, stories of the legends who were yet to be born were the only thing that calmed him from the nightmares. Unlike Itrans, his hair bled red and his eyes were like polished rubies.

“I don’t have a story to tell you, brother.” The elder boy mumbled. “There are no stories left to tell.”

The younger brother suddenly stood, trying his best to look intimidating.

“I want to go home.” He said angrily, arms folded across his chest. “This is not our home.”

“We will go home…” The elder brother sighed. “After we mark the prince and the girl.”

The younger brother kicked the sand beneath his feet, earning a smile from his older brother who went by the name of Jax.

The younger brother was everything to Jax, and he would do anything to protect his blood. Well, half blood.

“What if they don’t show?” The younger brother asked. “What if she was wrong?”

“Impossible.” The elder brother replied quickly.

“And why is that?”

The elder brother smiled then removed his hands from the sand. With them, sand came willingly, suspended in the air, hovering above the ground. If anyone saw him, they would probably faint. In this particular time, Sandar Magic had yet returned, a type of dark magic that was taken away long ago.

“She’s our God, my brother.” He answered. “Who are we to doubt her?”

***

The next morning, Jaho and his traveling group didn’t waste any time gathering their belongings and setting off to their next location, Aridisa. After Mesyla’s departure, dinner was served where the group enjoyed scorpion and goat. Afterwards, each individual headed back to their own chambers for a good night’s rest.

Enu, Obo, Ginna, and the Commander were already in the carriage when Prince Jaho was saying his goodbyes to Lady Ewer. She was wearing a long, black dress and white satin gloves.

“You must come back soon.” She said softly.

The young prince gently grabbed her right hand and placed a soft kiss on the top of it.

“We’ll see.” He murmured, lips brushing her soft skin. “When your mother returns, tell her to head to the Sandhills.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

“With the dagger.” He added sternly, then let her hand go. “No games, Ewer. You don't want him leaving the palace.”

Lady Ewer smirked.

“No games.” He repeated.

Lady Ewer slightly bowed. “Of course.”

The young prince then grabbed his lone bag off the ground and made his way towards the carriage.

Once he was inside, Lady Ewer waved one last time.

When they were out of her sight, the young lady said to herself,

“No games? The games have already started.”

***

“Did everyone have a great night?” Obo asked the group once the carriage began moving.

Ginna let out a small giggle. Obo and Ginna had a great night.

Enu, however, did not. The young friend let out a small groan.

“I’m taking that as a no.” Obo chuckled.

Enu rolled his eyes and turned his head towards the window.

As the carriage moved further along, the palace slowly disappeared to the disappointment of Enu. He really wanted to ask Lady Ewer more about the daggers.

“What about you, Ja?” Obo asked, eyes wide and curious. “You’ve been pretty quiet since dinner.”

Jaho’s eyes darted between his friends. He could never keep secrets from his close friends.

“Mesyla was here.” He admitted. “She arrived as a bird.”

Ginna leaned forward in her seat. “Come again.”

“As….a….bird?” Obo stuttered.

Jaho nodded.

He kept rubbing his sweaty palms along his pants.

“Why?” Ginna asked. “Why now?”

Jaho lowered his head. “She’s having a child.”

Enu snapped his eyes open.

The carriage fell silent. No one wanted to say anything.

But Jaho didn’t like the silence.

“A child with a lord.” He added, voice shaky. “I told her I wasn’t bothered, but…..”

“A child? So soon?” Ginna interrupted.

“Duty.” He answered. “And she’s hiding something else from me, I know it.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Obo, Ginna, and Enu looked at each other, each silently encouraging the other to speak. It was Obo who finally did.

“Well, look on the bright side. If she’s talking to you, it means she’s no longer mad.”

Jaho let out a small chuckle.

“Oh, she’s still mad. She’ll never accept Larella as my bride.”

“But marrying Larella is your duty.” Enu retorted. “She should understand.”

“Mesyla thinks our traditions are outdated.” Jaho answered, clearly annoyed.

“She’s right.” Obo snickered.

Ginna elbowed Obo in his side.

“Stop.” She hissed, then looked back at her prince. “How are you really feeling?”

Jaho ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath.

“I understand Mesyla’s frustration.” He exhaled. “We were set to get married. We were going to unite our kingdoms and put the pain we’ve inflicted on each other behind us. She was going to be First Princess of the Mountains and Queen of the Desert.”

“But then her brother died.” Enu interrupted.

Jaho slowly nodded. “The death of her brother changed everything. Mesyla became the only living heir to inherit the essence of Trykar.”

“I don’t understand why things have to change. You do not love Larella.” Obo said this time.

“In Mesyla’s world, weddings are binding acts of love.”

“But they are not to you and your family.” Ginna countered.

Jaho didn’t have a response.

“Would your father have even allowed it?” Enu asked. “The last time Desert and Mountains mixed, it ended in war banners being raised.”

Jaho quickly turned his hand away from his friends. “What happened to Mesyla’s grandmother was….”

“A tragedy.” Ginna mumbled. “An unnecessary one.”

“But why can’t it happen now? Why can’t you two get married and live happily ever after?” Obo asked.

Jaho laughed. “Incarnates cannot marry other Incarnates, you know this.”

Ginna grabbed the hand of her friend and slowly caressed the soft skin.

“What happens next?” She asked.

Jaho shrugged his shoulders. “Our future is not up to us. It is up to the Black Wind, to Fate.”

The group fell silent again. No one had a solution.

After a couple of minutes passed, Ginna decided to take out her book on Itran history to pass the time. Obo placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him.

Enu turned his attention back towards the prince. “Where are we exactly staying in Aridisa?”

Jaho shook his head. “Oh, we are not staying in Aridisa. That would be foolish.”

Enu raised his eyebrows.

Ginna slowly placed her book on her lap.

“Where are we going then?” She asked slowly.

“Mas.” He replied quickly, a small smile forming on his face. “To Mas.”

Enu, Ginna, and Obo frowned.

“Mas?” Obo asked. “Why are we not heading straight to Aridisa?”

Jaho took a sip of his water before answering.

“My father called last night and suggested. The moon begins to bleed in eleven hours. We’ll stay on the outskirts of Mas, underground, until it’s over for safety. Afterwards, we’ll cross into Aridisa.”

“Mas.” Enu mouthed. “The city of the past.”

He had only been there four times. Ginna, however, had never been and was very excited.

“The Willows!” She squeaked loudly. “We have to see the Willows.”

***

In the Province of Itra, Mas was the third circled city built. The Goddess Yuitra built the city to be her personal window to the past. She raised it herself at Dawn. And for ordinary Arlans, Mas has been the most loved Itran city among them, for it has allowed them to visit what existed before them.

When one enters the archival city, they enter an Itran land laid out in a circle, just like the others. But unlike the others, the outermost ring contains the Trees of the Past: the Reverian Ironwoods, Willows of Memory, and the Praeterian Trees. The middle ring contains the marketplaces where goods from different times are sold, while the innermost ring contains the Underground Residences. Because of Mas proximity to Aridisa, the Mas residences were moved underground to defend themselves against the triannual moon bleedings known as the Black Affliction. And at its center, the Eternal Clock Tower stands.

Mas was also home of several Children of Judgement, ruthless beings bound by only their laws and order.

“Is it true that Pola now lives there?” Enu asked the prince.

Centuries old, Pola was the fourth Child Of Judgement created. She lived with a companion by the name of Jaxon.

“She has a permanent residence here, but I think she’s visiting her sisters in the Meadows.” The prince answered.

The sudden. talk of Children of Judgment made Obo shift in his seat.

“What’s wrong?” Ginna asked.

“They scare me.” He admitted shyly. “They kill without remorse.”

“They inflict justice without remorse.” Enu corrected quickly. “You don’t have to be afraid, my friend. You are the kindest of them all.”

Obo smiled at his friend. “Thank you.”

“And Pola is kind.” Jaho added. “Underneath the iciness truly lies a kind soul.”

“Its her brothers you should be worried about.” Ginna mumbled after.

“You’ve met her brothers?” Enu sputtered. “Without us? How?”

Ginna smirked. “I am a Lady of Reyna Court, after all.”

Unlike Enu and Obo, Ginna was old royalty. Her family descends from one of the original seven great families that first pledged their loyalty to the Goddess Reyna, forming Reyna Court. Throughout the Living Realm, they work in the courts of justice under the Children of Judgement. But unlike her siblings, Ginna was sent to live in the Desert with her aunt when she was three. According to her Aunt, her family had to send her way for destiny to be fulfilled. She didn’t know what that meant yet though.

“We are almost there.” The commander shouted suddenly. “Mas is three hills away.”

“Thank you, Commander.” Jaho replied, then picked up his bag off the floor. “I have red relics for everyone. It masks your fears.”

He rummaged hastily through his bag before pulling out three relics in the form of a necklace and handed one to each.

“These relics were touched by the Goddess Nirea herself. Don’t lose them.” He said sternly.

Obo put his on first. As soon as he did, he let out a loud yelp.

“Ouch!” He yelled. “What was that?”

“There are tiny claws inside.” Jaho revealed.

Ginna dropped her necklace.

“What?” She stuttered.

“Inside, tiny claws will retreat to draw blood. Once the blood is drawn, a bond is formed between you and the protective spell.” Jaho explained. “That’s how protection is formed.”

Ginna slowly picked her necklace back up, hands shaky, and clasped it around her neck.

“Ouch.” She whispered.

Enu followed suit.

After everyone’s relic was on, the group decided to take a nap before they entered Mas. They needed to conserve all of their energy before the Blood Affliction begins.

They had slept for only forty minutes when they were woken by loud shouts from the Commander,

“We are here!” He yelled.

Jaho quickly pulled back his window curtain and immediately laid his eyes upon a Reverian Ironwood, a towering, thick tree with a stunning shade of pink leaves.

And underneath this Ironwood, he saw two boys playing in the sand underneath.