Chapter 1: The Call of the Waters
They are the daughters of Rica, Lord of the Waters of Green Ash and Pink Earth.
- Say your name.
- Yvido.
- You will write your day of birth.
- Who is your speaker?
- Beatriz Eweko.
- What's your offer?
- ...
- Who will you ask for protection?
- May your path be glorified by Our Father.
Oricita burst into the clearing like a gale, her eyes wide with excitement.
- Yvido! Damn! Lmoira is here! Exactly as we had heard!
Yvido looked up, still sitting on the edge of the stream that ran through Cinza Verde.
- I understood. Well, I guess that's...
- That's right! - Oricita interrupted, triumphant.
Rica, however, remained in the shade of the pink trees, her arms crossed and her expression grim.
- It's not a good idea. We cannot win by any means!
Oricita turned to him in disbelief.
- What are you talking about, Rica? Isn't this what we've been waiting for!?
- But the three of us against them - he replied, spitting out the words. - The Doll Warriors.
Yvido stood up calmly, brushing the dust off his clothes.
- Don't worry, Rica. They are not waiting for you.
Oricita snorted, her fists clenched.
- You're a coward, Rica. I'm still going to do it, even if you are chickens!
- Relax, Ori. No... - Yvido tried to calm her down, but it was too late. Oricita had advanced a few steps towards the trail that led to the enemy camp.
- Let's go.
Rica sighed, defeated.
- We won't be successful. Besides, what's wrong with killing these dolls?
Yvido patiently explained:
- Damkir is the leader of the Doll Warriors. They are the source of the power of the kingdom of Ecastius. By killing Damkir, we can weaken Ecastius and the Dolls' forces here for a while. Then Montaer's Teddy Bear forces will make their move and invade Ecastius. This way we can launch our counterattack against the Doll Warriors.
Rica shook her head.
- We're still recovering from the last toy war - the first of many. Are you trying to start another one?
Oricita exploded:
- What do you mean by "we're still recovering", Rica!? Teddy Bears - the first toys, made for the enjoyment of humans - are being treated like trash!! For pop class dolls and dolls, the elite of sales! The leader of the Dolls, Gonina, is trying to exterminate us! A long time ago!
- But starting a war again for reasons like these... - pondered Rica - we're going to end up...
- Shhh! - Yvido put a finger to his lips. - They're here.
Oricita sneaked behind a rock covered in pink moss and whispered:
- We will attack from both sides. Yvido, you attack from the rear!
- Okay, - replied Yvido, already moving silently.
Oricita advanced from the front, charging at the first knight he saw, a mounted dummy who seemed distracted.
- Who are you? - exclaimed the knight, raising his spear.
- We are warriors of the Montaer Liberation Army! - shouted Oricita. - Let's avenge the oppressed and suffering Teddy Bears!
- Revenge? - echoed a voice behind her.
Another knight, this one in yellowish armor, approached with an ironic smile.
- Andre: What a polite way to welcome people! Look at them, they're just kids!
The first knight frowned.
- Wait. Are you sure? Are you talking to the right person?
Oricita didn't back down.
- If your name is Damkir, then you are our enemy!
The mounted knight tilted his head.
- Actually, my name is Damkir. How did you know?
- You and the Doll Warriors burned this city to the ground a year ago! - accused Oricita.
Damkir exchanged a look with his companions.
- Doll Warriors? But we are from the Eastern Lyhu Skeleton Kingdom.
Rica, who had been watching from afar, cautiously approached.
- I remember now - he murmured. - The Warrior Dolls... Damkir only has one eve.
- Hmm - said Damkir, thoughtfully. - A one-eyed Warrior Doll called Walechber, as I remember.
Andre added:
- We came to this island looking for work as mercenary guardians.
Damkir sat up straight on his horse.
- My name is Damkir Anolinka. A knight from the Kingdom of Montaer.
Andre took a theatrical bow.
- My name is Andre Fladella. People call me "The Yellow Knight of Skeletons." And the old woman there is called...
The witch, curled up on a staff, muttered:
- Warrior Gasigritina Qucitecia.
The knight next to her introduced himself:
- My name is Cenis Sasina. A Montaer knight.
And the last one, a young man with a silver helmet, added:
- And my name is Lecius Triselita, from Montaer. So stop looking at us like that.
Oricita blinked, confused.
- But... I thought they were...
Yvido emerged from the shadows, a smile on his lips.
- It seems we were mistaken, Ori. They are not our enemies.
Rica released a breath she didn't even realize she was holding.
- So... there will be no battle today?
Damkir dismounted and held out his hand.
- No, if they don't want to. But I heard about a certain Gonina and her Dolls... Maybe we can talk about that.
And so, under the rosy sky of Green Ash, potential enemies became unexpected allies - and the fate of the toy wars took on a new chapter.