~Chapter 1

Kirin sighed heavily as she lay on the lush carpet of grass, staring up at the early morning sky. It was painted with oranges, violets, and pinks. She had spent the evening in the watch tower and now she was tired. Her people were on the brink of war with the neighboring village whose people often stole or burned their crops, and who often fought over land with her peoples’ farmers. It was a never-ending battle, and they were expecting an army, or at least a ragtag team of skirmishers to approach their village anytime now.

She blinked suddenly, realizing that the forest was oddly calm. Normally the birds would be singing, and even the wind would be whistling through. It was a strange omen and she felt her heart clench painfully. Were they going to be attacked that day? There was a scream from above and her head swiveled towards the sound.

Beating its heavy wings through the sky near her village was a Vihrt, its bird-like talons clutching at the villagers hungrily. Oddly enough, arrows were falling from its back. Kirin’s breathing grew ragged. Was this the long awaited attack, commenced now in broad daylight?

Smoke filled the sky as the Vihrt released a flaming breath upon the rough huts, burning them swiftly. Kirin tried to stand, but found herself unable. She struggled against an invisible layer silently, confusion racking her mind. What’s going on!?! She thought frantically.

The Vihrt swept low at her village again, and this time it screamed with pain as it rose, flames spreading over its feathers as it fled from the village. Only then did the strange barrier lift, and Kirin rushed quickly to her burning village.

Only a few of the villagers had escaped the unexpected slaughter, and they wandered the streets aimlessly, their eyes hollow and void of emotion as they took in the dead. Kirin gagged at the sight. Some of the houses were now smoldering piles of ash, and bodies littered the streets, various bodies even laid at odd angles on the untouched houses, blood shimmering down the length of the roofs.

“How did this happen?” She gasped, touching her fingers over her lips in shock, “We’ve been keeping such a steady watch for days- we should have seen the attack coming!”

Kirin climbed the ladder of one of the watch towers, looking for the day watchman in anger. The attack shouldn’t have come so unexpectedly. At first she couldn’t spot the man who had taken watch after she, a few steps taken around the small table that was inside showed the man laying, almost peacefully sleeping except for the bloody vomit that he laid in. “Hyupo!” She cried, realizing that he was dead, “How… how did they infiltrate this village and get to you?” She sobbed over his corpse for only a moment before leaving the watchtower, someone in the village was a spy!

She couldn’t just let Hyupo’s death go unavenged, couldn’t let the deaths of so many in her village remain so unnecessary. Who though? Criyir? No… she may have been a strange, but she took care of the people. Who? Who did it? She thought to herself, she would not let them get away!

Kirin quickly began rounding up the remaining villagers, herding them into the small square at the center of the chaotic town. Some merely wandered the square aimlessly, but others, seeing what she was doing, began to bring the villagers to the square as well. It was nearly two hours before they had searched the entirety of the village. Kirin had several men and women patrol the village and stand in the watchtower. Whoever had done it, betrayed them, would be found out right then and there.

Only one of the nine village elders had survived the attack, and she prodded him to speak, “Elder Jhan, please, our people are in a panic, they need guidance!” She said to him, leading the man to the center platform.

“My people,” He began, “It is to my ultimate sorrow to have lived long enough to see such bloodshed and loss of life.” The shuffling of feet and soft voices died down as he spoke, “But this isn’t our end, we’ll work harder to protect our village-”

He froze as he saw a strange cloaked figure walking towards their center, shoulders broad and strong and carrying a staff. On the staff were many intricate designs and amethyst, jade, ruby, and sapphire gems, the jewels of the prophesy. The crowd parted like water for the strange figure, and Kirin tensed defensively?

The figure reached Elder Jhan and bowed low respectfully, “I am sorry to see the destruction of such a fine village.” A distinctly male voice spoke clearly.

He pulled back his hood as he lifted himself straight, revealing ruby colored eyes. Kirin felt herself drawn automatically to his handsomely tanned features and took an involuntary step forward. He looked her way and she flushed before speaking boldly, “Who are you?” She asked, “To bypass those that we sent to guard our walls?”

“I am a mage, come here in my travels. Seeing the creature that attacked you has propelled me to offer my services to your people for a small while,” He responded smoothly, “My name is Dehn.”

“Welcome, mage Dehn.” Elder Jhan said almost automatically, “Needless to say, it would be unfavorable if we didn’t accept your offer.”

Kirin moved to the raised platform and looked out on the crowd then, Who, who?! She thought to herself, Who did it? Her eyes lit upon a smirking figure at the back of the crowd, a middle-aged man that had always made her nervous and had her hairs standing on end, was it him? She didn’t know, but she would find out shortly. Wordlessly Kirin moved through the crowd until she was standing before him, “Who are you really?” She demanded, pulling out her poisoned needles from a small pouch at her side.

“I am Hior.” He replied, his tone confused but the smirk still playing distantly on his lips, “the owner of the small diner in the northern district of town. You know me, Kirin, as I know you.”

“Do not lie to me. I will not hesitate to bury this needle into your jugular.” She growled, taking a menacing step forward, “Was it you that killed Hyupo and let those bastards attack us?”

For a moment he was silent before barking laughter emitted from his lips, causing those nearest them to look at him warily. “So, young Kirin, you’ve found me out.” He said, still laughing, “But your village is only a small matter to me.”

“What do you mean?” Kirin asked, taking an uncertain step backward.

“This world will be crushed under my reign.” He laughed again, squeezing his fist shut in emphasis.

“Not unless I kill you first!” Kirin shouted, her voice carrying to the platform as she ran forward angrily, it was his fault that so many were dead!”

He looked at her boredly and lifted his fingers towards her heart. “Miss, get away from that man!” Dehn shouted from the platform, feeling the strange crackling of energy.

He lifted his staff towards the man and a multicolored beam of energy flew from its tip, catching Hior in the chest. Hior’s fingers jerked to the side, and the man directly behind Kirin clutched at his heart, straining for breath. Blood poured from his lips and he collapsed soundlessly. Kirin realized the danger that she had put herself in and stumbled to a stop as Hior brushed himself off as though Dehn’s attack had done nothing. “Fool, you’ve only delayed this child’s imminent death.” He said, before stamping his foot on the bloodied ground and vanishing.

“Wait you bastard!” Kirin shouted uselessly, he was already gone.

“That was very dangerous.” Kirin jumped, she hadn’t even heard Dehn step up behind her, “Viten is a very dangerous mage.”

“Viten?” Kirin asked numbly, barely registering that that must be Hior’s real name.

“Come now, isn’t there something that you all must do?” Dhen asked, his voice carrying over the crowd, “Your dead need buried and the fires quenched.” He kept his hand lightly on her shoulder.

The survivors then set themselves for the grim task at hand- some went to gather and toll the dead, some went to begin digging graves, and others went to start quenching the flames that were slowly consuming the grave.

Kirin was compelled to help them, but Dehn kept his hand upon her shoulder, merely standing there until they were alone. “Are you aware,” He asked, “about the number of people with green eyes in this village?”

“Green?” Kirin asked, “Probably only five of us, why?”

He shook his head, “It’s nothing.” Dehn then released her shoulder and walked away.

“Strange man…” Kirin muttered to herself.

He froze quite suddenly and stared up at the sky, Kirin followed his gaze and noticed that it was slowly blackening. It was only a few minutes later that they were enshrouded in the darkness of night, despite it being early in the afternoon. She watched in awe as silver figures danced over the sky.

After about an hour the sky lightened up again, and the afternoon returned to normal. Kirin silently moved to the village’s entrance, wondering what had happened when she caught sight of a figure rushing towards the village. Immediately she thought they were being attacked again, until the figure’s voice called out, “Elder Jhan, Elder Jhan!”

“Anak, what’s the matter?” Kirin stopped the breathless boy in his tracks and he bent over, huffing silently for a moment.

“There’s an injured girl in the forest- she’s up in a tree but I can’t get to her…” Anak said, standing up straight again.

“Don’t you think we have enough to worry about without worrying over an injured girl in a tree?” Kirin stated, indicating the state of the village.

“Yes but…” Anak lowered his head, “Can you really leave someone to die without feeling any guilt?”

Kirin felt a pang in her heart, but forced herself to remain outwardly stoic. “If you’re going to help her you’d better not take away from what needs to be done to the village.” She said simply, “There is a lot to be done at the moment…”

The boy set his jaw and momentarily glared at her, “I won’t interrupt anybody from their work.” He then looked at her slyly, “Why don’t you come help me? It’s not like you’re doing anything right now anyway.

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Chapter 1 is currently incomplete, I am working on getting more of it written up!

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