The date of this history is unknown.
The censorship of this story has made many believe that it happened thousands if not tens of thousands of years ago. Only the remaining members of the East would know of such a tale. But no one would admit to being from there.
The history that is told, spoke of a place thriving with beauty, a place before the walls were built and the snowstorm trapped it.
Filled with wonderful flowers unlike anything the world had seen, Tanba was a nation that was at the top for tourism. Tanba was famous for its coliseum. Fighters would come from all over to take part during the blazing summer and people from the farthest reaches would travel just to watch and bet whilst drinking their troubles away till the next morning.
It used to be a place to relax.
Back then the man that was in charge of it was King Rangan of the East. Rangan was a powerful king but never used any of it. He had complete say over anything that happened in Tanba and even the world, but he never spoke. Perhaps the reason for his lack of speech was his age. He was not an old leader who ruled for centuries. He was not even a leader who had ruled for very long. He was nothing more than a 12-year-old boy who was handed the throne after his parent's sudden death.
However, Rangan wasn't alone. He ruled alongside Soth, the son of the current king of the West who would one day claim the West's throne for himself. Even if by name the west had nothing, to Rangan, the west was his friend who he would treat with respect, as the two of them were best friends.
Soth would visit Rangan every day, the two of them were the same age and as most children do, they became great friends. Playing with each other as the days past and watching Tanba thrive, becoming a powerful army nation filled with warriors and mages that train each year to fight in the tournament.
Despite Rangan's age, with the help of his advisor's handpicked by his parents, he was a perfect king and they were able to keep supporting Rangan until he became older.
"Are we holding it this year?"
As the years went on, Rangan and Soth were reaching their 21st birthdays. Rangan focused on preparations for the tournament but, Soth was more concerned about the West's constantly declining position.
"I'm afraid I don't know." He said as he checked over the plans in the centre of the East's royal palace. Lazing around as the birds sang in the sky and rested in the palace's crimson garden.
"I can't be certain we have enough food… the drought is really kicking us."
"Nonsense!" Rangan shouted as he jumped up and walked to his depressed friend, his golden hair blowing in the wind that entered through the giant open glass doors. "Just name it and you have it."
Rangan snatched the paper from Soth's hand and ran into the fields of the palace. The garden that was illuminated by the sun had a fountain trickling in the centre surrounded by thousands of beautiful roses that were cared for by Rangan's mother. Caretakers were put in place after her death to make sure that they were tended to each day. And as so, it was a place that was considered to be sacred and untouchable. With very few having seen its true beauty.
Rangan dashed around the fountain with Soth chasing after him, reading out loud from paper, unsure of what it truly was.
"Her eyes are like the brightest limes… What is this?" He stopped only to hand it back, laughing at his friend's strange words.
"You two seem to be having fun."
To interrupt Rangan and Soth, a voice called from a bench at the other end of the field. Sitting alone in a white sundress that reflected the beams from the sky complimented by a large hat of the same design, a girl no older than the two of them sat, staring into the sea of flowers.
"Lady Amelia." Soth bowed, "I do hope you are well."
"Please don't Soth." Her creamy tone demanded. "Don't call me a lady…"
"Indeed. She is no more lady than you or I." Regan pushed his way into the conversation as he was chased around by Amelia who tried to throw her hat at him as if it was a sharp razor that would kill him on the spot.
"Nearly," Soth said rather disappointedly, "If only you killed the king."
"You seem rather annoyed that I'm alive, Soth?"
"Merely a joke, Rangan."
The story of Tanban's past will forever be trapped in history, with very little being known about the truth. But this story is the truth. And this story is no fairy tale, for this is the start of the Tanban Empire.