Kiynah opened his eyes after a fairly long silently prayer session.

He was then approached by an elderly man as he stood up.

“It’s almost that time of the month. The Moon will be properly full soon.” The man wheezed with a warm smile.

Kiynah nodded before accompanying the man to one of the many benches outside the temple.

“Yes although I don’t think I’ll be able to make it for this Masa.” Kiynah sighed.

“What force in the world could possibly stop a Selenologer from missing Masa el Aviyv?” The man asked with a raised brow.

“That force is known as the Queen.”

The old man’s eyes widened a little.

“Oh.”

Kiynah nodded before turning to his left as a group of men approached him.

Head among them was a short man who had a scruffy beard and a head of messy hair. He wore old, worn clothes and his skin was lined with old scars.

He walked up to Kiynah while his entourage remained a few meters away.

This prompted the old man to stand up and leave after saying goodbye to Kiynah.

“Err… sorry for disturbing you, sir but may we have a moment of your time?” The scruffy man asked while Kiynah looked him over.

He then let out a sigh before standing up and crossing his arms.

“Go on.”

The scruffy man nodded before taking a deep breath.

“My name is Lahat. Myself and a large portion of the populous believe that it was you who should have been made chief. I do not wish to speak ill of the young chief but… the Queen will surely be the one who brings about our downfall as dictated by history.” Lahat said while wringing his hands.

Kiynah remind silent.

“B-but what the chief lacks for in experience you have in droves. So please, confront the Queen. Save the people from what will ultimately amount to what once was. A reign of tyranny and suffering.” Lahat added.

Kiynah nodded before looking around with a raised brow.

“With these eyes, I scan the Queen’s domain and I see no tyranny. I see no suffering.”

Lahat bit his teeth.

“Now, could this possibly change in the future? I cannot say but let us take this time of peace and calm to nature, build and prosper.” Kiynah smiled.

Lahat’s eyes darted back and forth for a moment.

He then let out a sigh before nodding.

“I see. Your wisdom truly is boundless.” Lahat sighed.

“I am simply a man who foolishly hopes that this peace we fought so hard for is maintained although it is ultimately in the hands of Aviyv.” Kiynah nodded making Lahat glance at the temple.

“Aviyv… it’s been ages since I heard that name.” The scruffy man weakly laughed.

“It was heavily muted during our time in Hatua but we are free to praise him as much as we like here. And everyone is free to enter his temples and pray.”

Lahat’s eyes widened.

“Do… do you think he would accept one such as I?”

“From him did all things arise and to him all things shall return on that fated day- but, I understand that my words may seem a bit much, especially to one who is as estranged to his creator as so you are free to join me inside for my morning sermon.” Kiynah offered and, without hesitation, Lahat nodded before following Kiynah into the Temple.

Mmm…

I wondered how my presence would affect Aviyvists.

To them, I was a dark God so I was interested to see how they’d react to me.

I turned to the far north, beyond the Elephantine Forest and the mountain range which housed the Cavern, where a vast sea of grass and water sat.

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

Riding elegantly across this plane of greenery were gargantuan horses that measured fifty meters each and had long hair which they dragged along the grassy pes below as they walked.

These long hairs absorbed Life Energy from below and pulled it into their bodies.

Most of them had short dark fur which was liked by glowing green patterns that resembled those of a zebra.

A few others were brown.

Sat just beyond the boundary of the Elephantine Forest was an encampment. It was filled with guards and warriors who stood attentively in various spots while a few among them patrolled the camp's perimeter.

Within one of the larger tents were Emunah and Chozek although they slept in separate beds.

Emunah was the first to awaken and she gazed at Chozek seemingly lovingly.

A smile then graced her face as her eyes began glowing a soft purple.

She, using Gravity Magic, picked up a pillow and gently dropped it on Chozek's forehead.

The young man sat up immediately after being hit and he turned a worried eye to Emunah who dismissively waved her hand.

“It’s alright.” She assured making Chozek nod.

Emunah joined her husband in sitting up, revealing more of the silk gown that draped over her slender figure.

Chozek’s eyes fell but this made Emunah giggle.

She slid out of her blankets and crawled over to Chozek who’s eyes widened as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“You are still so… rigid. You know this is why people think I cast some sort of spell on you.” Emunah whispered but her words only seemed to make Chozek more nervous.

However, just as it seemed as though his fluster reached its highest, with his face being completely red, his brows furrowed and he lowered his head further.

“I’m… so sorry… about Pazia.”

Emunah tilted her head a little before sighing and pulling Chozek’s head onto her modest chest.

“I’ve told you countless times already. It’s alright. He may have been a great warrior but never really offered anything strategically so we have lost little in that regard. Also, I feel as though that may have been his ploy all along. To have access to all we had and knew without actually taking or giving anything.” Emunah said but this didn’t seem to quell the young man’s woes.

Emunah gently ran her hands through Chozek’s short hair before grabbing one of his hands and guiding it to her waist.

“It’s alright- but, if the guilt gnaws too deeply at your heart, there is one way you could help undo whatever damage his betrayal may cause.”

“Mmm?” Chozek sounded while raising his eyes to meet Emunah’s.

“That technique you both developed. I may not know everything about it but what I do know tells me that it can be used to make powerful warriors.”

Chozek’s eyes widened a little.

“You mean Uyil Torsion? Mmm… I guess it may be a blessing in disguise. After all, it is a technique that protects one from-“

Emunah interrupted him by pulling his head onto her chest again.

“Yes, wonderful. Use it to create special warriors whose primary purpose will be to protect us so that we can safely lead our people into the future. That will be your recompense.” Emunah instructed making Chozek nod.

“Good. Now… I know I said I wouldn’t give you any children but I also know that you are young and I don’t want you to repress any of your desires for my sake so...” Emunah began while sliding her silk gown off her shoulders.

Chozek’s eyes widened to their limits as Emunah shyly sat before him.

“You may have your way with me-“

This time it was Chozek who interrupted his wife by kissing her and although this caught Emunah by surprise, her widened eyes eventually narrowed and closed as she kissed Chozek back.

I turned to the north of the camp and beheld what was relatively new farmland.

Acres upon acres of crops and livestock.

All of which benefited from the mild environs of Northern Y’shuah.

My focus was on a small farm on the northern limits of the continent, near the northern shore.

Sitting on the porch of a small farmhouse was Imani – one of the first men to join Mlezi, the exile turned king. He was also among the first to turn his back on the Hennean Dynasty as soon as their cruelty began flowering.

He aided the Chofumah and dreamt of a day when they would one day be free.

I guess that dream had come true but it came at a cost.

He watched as his family was burnt alive by Ua who later on forced him into subservience.

“Haa…” Imani sighed while sitting on his porch as the sun continued to rise.

He seemed to be at peace and so I let him be while turning my gaze all the way down to Kimbilio.

The coastal city had received a massive wave of people who had fled from Ua’s rule and thus a zone that was fifty kilometres thick was built to accommodate them just north of the city’s wall. The houses that filled the zone were built to be as spatially efficient as possible with most of them being cube-shaped.

I caught sight of a particular pair approaching the city with an entourage of soldiers and I gasped internally upon recognizing them.

Makaa and Kimya looked absolutely exhausted but I was surprised that they even managed to survive.

I realized that Makaa's Blood Magic was really powerful but I imagined his Ilem companion fought just as viciously by his side.

The two were accompanied into the main city and were eventually granted an audience with Ed whose wrinkly face twisted as they sat before him in his office.

“Do you…think they survived?” Ed asked with a shaking voice.

“I honestly cannot say,” Makaa said. His eyes fell a little as the words left his mouth.

“I see. Well, regardless, we will not allow the foundations she built to fall apart. You are free to do as you like, sir but I would like your assistance in training more Ilem, ma’am.” Ed said and the Ilem nodded.

“Err… perhaps I could also be of some assistance.” Makaa offered making Ed raise his brow.

“Oh? And why would you want to further involve yourself in all this?”

“I firmly believe that Mount Kupumzika will one day burn and I want to be there on that day as the flame’s envoy. I’d like to kindly request that you pair me with Kimya here so that we may bolster your offensive.” Makaa bowed.

“Alright. Welcome to our ranks, Makaa – Envoy of Flame. I look forward to working with you. Kimya, your old accommodation and master still await you although we are working on a new place for you to stay and train to the east.”

Kimya nodded before standing up and leaving with Makaa in tow.

Soon, Ua and Emunah would have access to forces that were capable of using Uyil Torsion while Ed had just gained access to Blood Magic.

The war was about to reach a boiling point and the damage both I and my denizens would sustain threatened to be horrifying.

If I wanted to protect myself from what could possibly be a cataclysmic war, I would have to put a stop to it while also keeping my two new children safe.

Musa had told me that he wanted to see his mother.

Mmm…

Perhaps it would be best to start with her.

And besides, it had been decades since we last spoke.

A reunion was just what we needed.