The pale skinned soldier rode steadily towards the village as rain poured down his weathered armour. In the distance, you could hear the sound of swords clashing, the cries of beasts filled the area but the closer he rode the sounds faded.
When they arrived the village lay in ruins, bodies littered the streets, some crushed by the hooves of horses. Smoke curled from the shattered cottages and the scent mixed together with blood and rain.
The rider called a man through the downpour, " Commander, it seems you have already cleared out the village".
The man shifted in his saddle, water dripped from his armour as he lifted his gaze. His pale face was sharp under the dim moonlight, wet with rain, his grey hair plastered to his forehead as his short sword crimson with the blood of raiders.
"Yes", he replied, his voice raspy with little emotion.
The commander's eyes narrowed onto the Captain's saddle, "What is that you've got there Irel?" he asked.
Irel adjusted his reins and looked back, " This boy was about to be cut down but I saved him, Looks to me that he is the last survivor".
"Indeed, he's a lucky boy", the commander said, his voice dry. He straightened his saddle and instructed, " Well then regroup the men and sort this out, after head back to the outpost and give your report".
"Yes sir", Captain Irel responded.
The night had passed, and a new day had come forth.
Kaal stirred as his eyes fluttered open. He groaned as he got up as a sharp pain throbbed in his head. Slowly he pushed himself up.
"Huh! Where am I? He muttered eyes darting around the dimly lit room, the wooden walls, the smell of dried herbs and wet cloth. Then the thought struck him, "Where is mommy!".
"Mommy!!""Mommy!!", his voice cracked as he screamed. Tears welling in his eyes, he scrambled weakly off the bed searching for a way out.
Suddenly the door banged open, A young man, his face flushed from running hurried in carrying what seems to be a bowl of soup. "Ah! Ah, don't strain yourself, you've been unconscious for two days, sunny boy" he said, quickly setting the bowl down. "you're in the infirmary at the soldiers outpost, here slowly eat this it'll help you".
"I don't want this!!", the boy shouted " I want my mommy!!", his voice cracking as he started crying.
The doctor froze, his expression heavy. " "You don't remember, do you", the man whispered.
In that instant, Kaal's eyes opened wide and his breathing ragged.
It all came crashing back just like the thunderstorm.
The bellowing horn, the lightening which showed the raiders face, his mother pulling running through the rain soaked mud, his mother's soothing voice trembling but stayed firm, "These are your legacy" "learn it no matter what", the heat of her arms around him , the way they locked eyes.
And then- the spear piercing her, , the smell of blood, the raider's face, the cleaver raised to deliver the blow and the arrow that pierced the raider's head then the darkness that swallowed him whole.
Kaal's eyes flew wide and he collapsed to his knees. Then a scream tore through his throat raw and broken. "Mommy!!, Come back please I beg you!!! Don't leave mee!!!.
His small body shook with sobs as he clawed at his face trying to forget what has happened. The soldier could only watch, jaw clenched and hands at his knees.
Minutes seemed to drag before the cries softened into whimpers. Then a thought struck him, his eyes darted across the room, he gasped as he wiped his face with his sleeve , " where , where are the books?". He scrambled across the floor tearing blankets, opening drawers clumsily. "The last thing, the last thing she told me to never lose, where are they!?".
The doctor quickly grabbed the leather wrapped bundle from under a cot, " You mean these?".
Kaal snatched them from his hand pressing them onto his chest, he pressed his face on it, hot tears soaking the old leather as he climbed onto the bed whispering only, " mommy I still have them… I promise."
Moments passed by and kaal drifted into sleep as the doctor watched. " The boy didn't drink the soup", he muttered but couldn't bring himself to disturb the broken child.
In the barracks, torches sputtered as the rain came relentlessly. Rows of weary soldiers lined up, amour soaked from the rain and mud, the weight of shame heavier than that of their steel.
Commander Varn paced before them, his boots struck the stone floor creating a subtle rhythm. His face grim but his voice sharper than their swords.
"You call yourselves soldiers of the sapphire kingdom, you sport the duke's banner and yet a single raid from a broken tribe cut through your watch like farmers to wheat not to mention left a farming village in ruins, it BURNED under your watch!".
His words heavier than thunder, none dare speak as some dropped their eyes and others stiffened.
"This is not a failure but a betrayal of duty", the commander hissed. " The Chief commander himself rides for this outpost as we speak, he will demand answers and I will not provide excuses", Commander Varn stated.
A murmur rippled through the outpost but was silenced by the commander's glare.
"Steel yourselves," he continued, his tone low and cold. "Because when he arrives, he will measure each of you by the worth of your service. And if you are found wanting… you will pray the raiders' blades had ended you instead."
The room fell into heavy silence, broken only by the hiss of rain and the faint clatter of armor as men shifted uneasily.
As another day has passed, the rain still pouring on the outpost walls, the infirmary that smelt of dried herbs and tonics held kaal safely. Curled under a blanket, the leather wrapped bundle pressed onto his chest. He hadn't let go of it since.
The doctor kept on coming and forcing him to eat but nothing bothered him as he felt nothing. Nothing could seem to get him back to normal but there was something drawing him to open the bundle.
Finally when the place was quiet, the boy mustered up the courage to open the bundle. He sat up legs folded, fingers trembling as he unloosened the straps and unfolded the leather to see two arm length sticks in cloth and next to it lay two books.
It was unlike anything he'd ever seen in the village, ancient tomes their covers weathered but beautiful one slightly red and decorated with golden filigree and faded paint that resembled fire and ash, with a great bird rising, wings spread in fire. The other a purple tinge with silver filigree similar faded paint that were like fire and ash but it showed the same bird being reduced to cinders and wings folded descending.
The book of Ashes.
And
The Book of the Rising Phoenix.
His breath caught in his throat he traced the edge of the covers with his hands almost afraid to open it but the memory of his mother still raw gave him a push. He swallowed hard and opened the book, the ink old yet precise. His eyes widened.
Women filled the pages, their long hair flowing, their bodies poised in elegant movements. Each figure held two slim sticks in hand just like the two he has, their arms weaving and twirling almost controlling fire itself. Their postures fluid and their silhouette alive with rhythm.
He blinked, mouth agape staring at the illustrations as he flipped through the pages. "They're dancing". He whispered.
"This was so important, these dance manuals" he thought. He looked back into the books, page after page showing women spinning, bending and stepping their bodies moving just like fire, their sticks carved patterns as they danced. Some dances were wild and fierce while some slow and mournful almost like telling a story with no words.
Disbelief had bubbled up but he had no expectations for anything yet he felt frustrated as he thought it would've been something to make him stronger. " What would be hidden in these books that I was to learn from mommy?" He muttered.
But then, determination sparked. This was all she had left him—her trust, her legacy. Even if it looked strange, even if it made no sense, he would honor it
"I'll do it, Mommy," he whispered, voice trembling but firm. "I'll learn it… I promise."
End of Chapter 2. To be Continued_