1219-09-06
Nezha "Murasaki" Yukari:
Water.
The water here feels different. Smoother. Calmer than the water in my homeland.
Kurumi. No. Mrs. Tsuri. That is what I call her now. Master.
I stare down at the surface. It moves gently, rocking the boat back and forth. I look at my reflection, but it does not stay the same. The water bends it, hides it. My face shifts with every ripple. It feels wrong. Like I do not fully exist.
Time matters in my homeland. Everything follows it. From the dragons that guide it to the Fintro and Deconin. I am at the age where I should have received my dragon.
I should have been chosen. I should be a Murasaki.
I have only been here for a short time, but I already want to go home.
Wara is beautiful, but it is not mine.
I keep staring at the water. My clothes ripple in the reflection. A black dress like a servant. A thin white cloth covers my eyes. I barely notice it anymore.
Black hair.
In Wara, they call it a mutation. A blessing from the Supreme Dragon. Only a few people have it.
I read about mutations often. Eyes are the most common. Golden eyes in the center of the world. Purple eyes in my homeland. White eyes in the north.
I have never seen someone from the north. I used to think the world was smaller. Maybe I was protected. Maybe I was kept in the dark.
Part of me misses that.
I miss my mother. I miss my father.
Master told me the truth once. If merchants from Tari or other lands found me because of my eyes, I would be executed.
I still do not understand why.
I do not know what my people did. I do not know why Master will not tell me what is happening back home.
I love her. I love Itsuki.
But something is missing.
I look up at Master. She stands at the front of the ship, giving orders to the guards. Her white hair moves in the wind. Her blue eyes shine in the sunlight.
I want to ask her everything. I want answers.
But I know I will not get them.
Not yet.
It is not my time to understand.
I only hope the dragons survive. I hope they live on, free.
"Master," I say, looking up at her.
She turns to me. "What is it, my child?"
"Where are we going?"
She walks over and lifts me into her arms, spinning me once. I laugh softly as the world turns. Above us, a dragon flies past. Ice trails behind it like falling snow.
The dragon looks down at me for a moment. Then it keeps flying.
"We're visiting a friend," she says.
I look ahead. Land comes into view. Jagged cliffs. Heat rises from the ground. It feels different. Not harsh. Just warm.
A land of tribes. A land at war.
"Is this Ghar?" I ask.
She smiles slightly. "You've been reading."
She looks ahead again. "Ghar has been in a civil war for the past year."
"War?" I ask. "Like what's happening to my homeland?"
"Yes," she says. "The war in Ghar started for a foolish reason. They are like animals. They fight because it is in their nature."
"Animals?" I repeat. "What kind?"
She glances down at me.
"Monkeys."
"Mon-key," I blink. "What's a monkey?"
"The people of Ghar rely on blood and death to keep their society alive," Master says. "It is a savage land."
"Then why?" I ask. My voice shakes. "Why bring me here? I'm not like your dragons."
"My friend is trying to end the war," she says. "I want you to meet her."
"Is she a monkey too?"
Master shakes her head. "No. Only the violent ones are."
"Master," I say, "why did the war in Ghar start?"
"No one knows the true reason," she replies. "I have asked my friend many times. She always avoids it. She says it began when the opposition killed her father, but I am not sure if that is the truth."
"Killed her father?"
Master sets me down and pats my head. A chill runs through me.
"If you ever see that monster," she says quietly, "if you ever see Tafari, do not hesitate to kill him."
She looks out into the distance as the ship moves closer to a small port built into the cliffs.
"You are Itsuki's protector," she continues. "To do that, you must see the world for what it is. I want you to see the best and the worst of it, then decide for yourself. Can you do that, my child?"
"Yes, Master."
The port looks strange, like it was carved into the cliffs after everything else was built. The water cuts through the stone in clean lines. Wood and stone mix together, rough but strong. Boats rest below, six or seven of them. A staircase climbs along the cliff, leading all the way up.
"This," Master says, "is Gorento. The greatest city in Ghar."
We step off the boat. The soldiers stay behind.
"They're not coming?" I ask.
"Fortunately not," she says. "We have nothing to fear. The dragons will protect us."
We begin climbing the wooden stairs. The heat presses against me. It feels strange. Warm in a way I have never felt before.
Tethambia lies near some of the hottest lands, but I have never been there. I have never seen Tar. I have never felt heat like this.
It fills my body. A deep warmth settles inside me.
When we reach the top, I stop.
Before me stands a city of white stone.
"Go… ren… to," I whisper.
"It's beautiful."
The city shines. The buildings rise like carved marble. Gems are set into the ground, glowing faintly under the light. A tall wall wraps around the parts of the city that do not face the water.
"What are those?" I ask.
"They are Ance," Master says. "A mineral dragons leave behind when they die."
"Welcome."
I turn, startled. I did not sense her.
A woman stands there. Dark skin. Sharp eyes. She looks a little older than me. Light armor rests on her body, almost invisible against her skin.
"It's great to see you, Kurumi," she says.
"It's great to see you too, Zara Nala."
"Za… ra," I repeat under my breath.
"No need to be so formal," she says with a smile. "Welcome to Gorento. It's a pleasure to finally meet you… Yukari."
She looks me over, studying me.
"How do you know my name?" I ask.
"For months, your mother has not stopped talking about you," Zara says.
"Oh, she exaggerates," Master says with a laugh. "Let's go."
They walk into the city. I hurry to keep up.
"What's with the blindfold?" Zara asks.
"Yukari," Master says, "you can take it off."
I lift it slowly. My eyes adjust faster than I expect. I look at her.
Shock flashes across her face.
"Purple eyes…"
"So, Zara," Master says, "how have you been?"
"I've been fine," Zara replies. "Ghar has been nothing but chaos."
"You're close to defeating Tafari, no?"
"I am," she says. "But I fear those who follow him will never accept a female ruler."
I press the cloth back over my eyes. The light still feels sharp.
"I can't speak on that," Master says. "If you want to learn from Wara, hide your role. Let only a few know you lead. Make Tafari serve under you."
Zara stops. Her long black hair shifts in the wind.
"I won't kill Tafari," she says. "This war started because of me. I was childish. But peace isn't possible anymore."
She points to a nearby shop. A woman cooks by the window. The smell is strong and warm.
"Come. Let's sit," Zara says.
We sit near the edge so we don't block anyone. People walk in and out. No one reacts to Zara.
I watch them.
Is this normal?
"Zara," I say.
She looks at me. "What is it, Yukari?"
"Are you truly the leader of Ghar?"
She looks out at the street. "I lead Gorento, most large tribes, and many small ones. People here don't see war. That's why they act like this. The center of Ghar is chaos. Places like this are rare."
"Is Gorento a big tribe?"
"It holds two cities. It's one of the smallest."
I look around. "It's clean. It's nice."
Master smiles. "Is Wara not clean enough?"
"No, it is," I say. I stop there.
"When did you last fight Tafari?" Master asks.
"Not long ago," Zara says. "He's still the same. Still weak. His heart isn't in it. If your vision comes true, it will be a disaster."
"Who is A?" I ask.
"A is Tafari. Or he will be," Zara says. "Loret planned the name long ago. The time wasn't right."
Zara looks at Master. "Have you done your part of the deal?"
"I will," Master says. "I'll spread Loret's name everywhere. From Pallas to Sha'tar."
"Why?" I ask.
"After the war, the world will need a reason to invade Ghar," Master says. "A name. A figure. Someone so strong and feared that people hide behind it."
I stay quiet.
"Your visions," Zara says. "Are you sure you want to go against Marano?"
"You said one dragon attacks," Zara continues. "A slaughter of clan heads."
"You die as well," Master says.
Zara nods. "Then that's the price. One dragon doesn't mean war."
"That depends on Tafari," Master says. "Will you trust him?"
"I trust A," Zara says. "If I die for Ghar's future, so be it."
I look at her. "Do you love him?"
Zara smiles. "Yes. Even if he never loves me."
"Why love someone who doesn't love you?"
She looks down. "I ask myself that all the time."
I think about that.
"One day you'll understand," Zara says. "When that day comes, I wonder what you'll become."
She turns to Master. "What power suits her?"
"You're asking me?" Zara says.
"You're my link to the center," Master replies.
Zara studies me. "A dragon won't suit her. Lion's Armor is fine. But if she wants to protect Itsuki, Soul is best."
"I thought the same," Master says.
"I can't teach her," Zara says. "But your allies in Tobe can."
I shift. "Powers?"
Zara laughs. "She knows nothing."
"I tried to teach her," Master says. "But ..."
"Fine," Zara says, looking at me. "Ask."
"What are powers? That light around you. Is that a power? How do you get it? Does everyone have one?"
Zara exhales. "There are twelve laws in this world. Each power ties to a law. So there should be twelve powers. But it's not that simple."
She leans back.
"There are base laws. You can't test laws. You can't edit soul. There are rules for adding new ones."
"The Twelve Thrones were the strongest people alive," she continues. "Yet only ten confirmed law creators exist."
"The known powers are Lion's Armor, Soul, Dragon Pacts, and Dragonkin. Four."
"Add the base laws. That gives eight. Four remain unknown."
I nod slowly. "So that light is your power?"
"I think so," Zara says. "But mine is incomplete. I have no teacher. I can't even form a weapon."
I stare at her.
"I want to unlock mine," I say.
Zara smiles. "I want to see what you become."