Darkness enveloped me like a blanket, but I feel cold, freezing even. Then I heard a familiar sound, a deep growl coming from the deep bowels of the earth. Lightning came, shining up the world, monstrous figures appeared in my sight. Now it is not one wolf but different kinds of dangerous beast staring me down. They are gnashing their teeth and in a crouching position, ready to pounce. I can feel the rumble of thunder, yet I can hear nothing. The wolves jump on me, and I shouted, but silence comes out. Then I woke up screaming my head off, drenched in sweat like a wet dog.

My scream woke up Ngebe in the room next to me. She barged into my room with an anxious look, anxious and surprised. "Alab! What happened?" she blurted out. I had a terrible nightmare. That's what I was supposed to say, but I feel guilty for scaring her, so I said, "Nothing, I just had a horrible dream."

"Wait, I'll bring you some water" She dashed to the kitchen, and I can hear scuttling sounds. She returned right away with a cup of water. "Here you go." she handed the cup and sat down next to me. I looked at her and said, "I'm sorry for the trouble." I drunk the water and thank her. She wipes the sweat on my brows with her hand and asked: "Are you okay?" I placed the cup on my bedside table and smiled at her. "It's nothing; I dreamed I was falling down. Nothing to worry about. However, can you please sing me a lullaby, like you used to so I could sleep" I said with a teasing tone.

" I hate you! I'm going back to sleep!" she stood up, walk out of the room, and slammed the door, then I heard a faint: "Stupid brother!". This made me smile, making my fear lessened. I touched my forehead and lay down on my bed; I can still feel her cold and gentle touch. With a warmed heart, I willed myself to sleep.

It was still five in the morning, but I'm already outside harvesting the barley. It started to snow last night, but fortunately, the snow did not yet pile up. So even before the sun rose up, the harvest was already finished. This is the fastest harvest I ever had since I learned to farm. I tied them into bundles and stack them on our wagon. We could sell on the market or send it to the milling house, whatever Ngebe's decision.

At around eight in the morning, we are already prepared for the village. We need to be this early because it's a long way to go, and our only horse is getting older, so it will take a while for it to pull the cart. Ngebe is the one driving the wagon, and it is my job to clear the snow and push the coach to help our old horse, which I actually named horse. Globe doesn't care about the name, but she said, "Who names their horse; Horse? Sooo... stupid," which I just laughed off.

We arrived at Kasa Village at about ten, which means it took us two hours of travel time, which took us four in the past. This was a great surprise to my sister. "What did you eat that made you so energetic today?" she said suspiciously. "I've always been this strong, weren't I?" I boasted. "Sure! Whatever you say. The important thing is we've arrived." She tossed some coins to me, which she drew from her pouch. "Go get some treats. Let me handle the rest, see you at the same place at dinner." I grinned like a child as I wave and ran towards the bustling crowd.

The traveling merchants are sure a lot this year. This is their last day, so many booths and stalls are lined up, and it's the last chance for the villagers to trade, so the market is full of people. I ran around checking every booth, transferring from one stall to the other to check on the goods. This is my favorite time of the year because I could see different things from the outside world. The merchants also have many stories to tell and news about what is happening in the whole of PenTerra.

Later in the day, I bought three apple candy sticks and a small pipping hot blueberry pie. The hot food is delicious after walking around in the snow. Ngebe should be done by now; ill go to our meeting spot. I weaved through the crowd and headed towards John's place. It is an establishment with a big sign at the entrance that says: "Johnny Walker" and a big mug on top of it. Johnny was Grandma Lola's friend back in the day, so this is a perfect meeting place every time we go to Kansa village.

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The inside is hot and filled with greasy smoke coming from the candles. There are a lot of people drinking and having fun. I went to the counter. "Hey, John! Did you see my sister?" A huge man wiping a cup glanced toward me and smiled. "She's over there waiting for you at the corner," he said with a deep voice. I gazed towards the corner he was pointing at and noticed Ngebe's back, already seated. "Thanks, John," and I shuffled towards Ngebe.

Dinner at John's place is hearty. The room is full of conversation and laughter. After the plates were empty, the guest started to the left of the tavern. They strolled outside, where the traders and merchants were camped. A ring of poles topped with torches had been stuck on the ground around a large clearing. A bonfire is lit at the center, and the villagers and traders gathered around a circle seated, waiting expectantly on the cold ground.

Bards and storytellers tumbled out from their tents with their instruments and costumes. "Let's go! They are about to start!" I urged Ngebe excitedly. "Alright! Just calm down. What so great about these performances? Isn't they do the same thing every time?" she complained. We went out and seated near the other villagers.

The performances were pure entertainment: jokes, songs about romance, and the typical bards about warriors. Later, however, when the night is late, an old storyteller went to the center. He has a long white beard flowing down his waist. He spread his arms and started to recite a narrative :

"The world is everchanging as everything changes. As time goes by, changes occur in every way, and nothing remains the same. No man ever steps in the same river twice. This is the truth of the world.

The past is the past for a reason—That's where it is supposed to stay. Nevertheless, what may have been lost may still live on in our memories, which should be shared so it won't go away. The memory that which you will hear has already been forgotten as bits and pieces, only remains."

He paused and look around the circle of people.

"The land of PenTerra was different than it is now. Before your forefathers' father was born, and yes, even before their fathers, the Stained Warriors were formed. It was they who unified the whole of PenTerra as one and prosperous kingdom. It was their duty to protect and guard, and for thousands of years, they succeeded. Their powers in battle were unmatched, for each has the strength of hundred men. They are immortal unless a blade or poison took them. They are called Stained Warriors because they have symbols all around their body like it was stained with ink. These symbols are the source of their power.

Through their rule, magnificent cities were built, and the whole of PenTerra is flourishing: a golden time. The different races from today's five kingdoms, were friends and wealth flowed to our cities. But weep.....for it could not last."

His voice trembled with sadness.

"Though no enemy could destroy them. They could not guard against themselves. The Stained Warriors were at their pinnacle of power when a child was born. No one remembered which race he came from, but he was accepted in their ranks as he was chosen to wield the symbols of power.

However, as he grew up, power corrupted him and influence many of his peers to start a rebellion. No one knows precisely what he did, but it resulted in something that doomed all of the Stained Warriors. Giant and the monstrous beast started to appear in the Land of PenTerra. These beast resembled wolves, tigers, and other dangerous animals."

After listening to this part, I started to feel sick. I think the heat coming from my chest.

"They started few, but more started to appear. After the Stained Warriors killed one, two more appears. Eventually, the warriors started to be overwhelmed until only the leader and a few of his generals were left. They decided to make their last stand. Through their sacrifice, the enemy was vanquished, but so did the Stained Warriors."

Ngebe next to me notice me sweating too much. She frowned and asked me if I was okay while touching my hand. "Ouch! Your hand is so hot!" She exclaimed, pulling her hand away.

The loud voice of the storyteller suddenly softened. Almost like a whisper, "The existence of the monstrous beast in PenTerra, indicates that the traitor has returned. The land of PenTerra will once again be burned with fire.."