WATER CLAN - HOUSE OF THE NEITHS - CHAO 144
"Vlad! Where're you going?"
She could see her brother's back. He had promised her they would play together today. Father had told her several times to not disturb her eldest brother, because he had responsibilities, but her other brothers and sisters weren't as much fun as Vlad. He was the nicest to her! He also was the most handsome and talented!
When he heard her, he turned around. He had a lean figure, short and messy ash-black hair, and the same pale, ice blue eyes than her. He came back to her, squatted to be on eye-level with her and patted her head.
"I'm sorry, Lin. Father asked me to go hunting with the Erkans' son. Connections, you know?"
"But you promised!"
"I know. Be a good girl, please? Stay here quietly, learn your books. If you can recite me by heart the holy texts in a week, I'll give you a reward and we'll spend a whole day together! How's that?"
"But I know the holy texts already! I memorized them long ago!"
"The morals then?"
"… Okay, I'll wait for you."
She watched him leaving. She loved him so, so much. He was the only one truly taking care of her. She'd wait for a lifetime if she had to!
… A few hours later, in the study …
[Our family bounds are the greatest gift granted by Kmir Himself; they run in our blood and are the strongest magic one could find in this world. Loyalty to family is the first o...]
"Lin! I can't do it! It's too hard!"
Just as she was trying to memorize the first chapter of the morals, she got interrupted by a noisy, pleading voice.
She looked at Anna, and the copy of the sacred texts in her hand. Her sister was six years old, only one year younger than her, but she still struggled with the simplest passages of the most crucial and holy book. She truly lacked the talent to be a Keeper, which made their parents worry sick about her. Lin sighted.
"Anna… Look around us. Do you know how many books there are here? Hundreds? Thousands? How can you hope to memorize them all by the age of fifteen if you can't even remember one book by the age of six? Can you even call yourself a member of the Neith family?"
She had pushed it a bit too far, she knew it. She realized it the second she saw the tears in Anna's eyes. Indeed, granny was quick to reprimand her.
"Lin, that's quite enough, don't you think?"
Maria giggled and tried to comfort her youngest sister. "Come here, Anna. Vlad and Lin are the most talented among us, but you don't see many friends around them, do you? It's okay to be a bit slower, as long as you do your best. Now, read us the extract you're working on, we might be able to help you a bit."
Happy to get the attention she sought, Anna dried her tears and joyfully began to read out loud.
[Sofiia then founded the water clan. They built wooden houses between the water courses. All the trees were used by the clan members to build homes and to make books. They wanted to know, understand and remember the world around them. They were calm, soft, composed and faithful people who never acted rashly and always adapted themselves to the situation at hand. They valued family and knowledge more than anything else. Kmir blessed them and they became His children.]
[Aldir then founded the wind clan. They never built houses and kept walking. They took all the stones in the land to build wells, so that they could stop and drink wherever they wanted. They believed that no one but themselves could tell them what to do and how to do it. They were pragmatic, resolute, independent and proud people who always respected everyone's opinion and valued people by merit more than birth. They valued freedom more than anything else as well as material power. Kmir blessed them and they became His children.]
[Electra then founded the thunder clan. They built houses of woods and cords on the peak of the highest trees deep in the jungle. They lived in small communities, needing their peace and quiet. They were calm, quick-witted, reasonable and fair people who would never mingle in other people's problems in order to avoid conflict. They valued both solitude and solidarity, both action and carefulness. Kmir blessed them and they became His children.]
[Theor then founded the earth clan. They built solid stone houses in the dry hills and the rock desert. Their homes were simple, as they wanted to focus on what was most important to them. They were strong, stubborn, thorough and righteous people who always respected tradition and had a great sense of justice. They valued honor and glory, as they had a strict bond to their principles. Kmir blessed them and they became His children.]
[Myr then founded the fire clan. They built houses of wood and clay high in the flourishing mountains and down in the fertile valleys. Their villages were full of dances and songs, praises to their God. They were impulsive, passionate, creative and sensitive people. They valued loyalty above anything else in this world, and believed that there is always light somewhere, however dark the sky might appear. Kmir blessed them and they became His children.]
[Nolx then founded the void clan. They built havens of marble in the black swamps. They believed that good was no better than evil, but that balance was life's true answer. They were wise, sensible, solitary and detached people who attached more importance to spirituality than mortal power. They valued balance and harmony more than anything else as well as art and magic. Kmir blessed them and they became His children.]
[Then, all that remained were the burning, unholy grounds between the clans. Kmir spoke. "I shall live these lands as a living hell. May it be a reminder of the Chaos and of this War. It is the land of the unfaithful ones, those that do not deserve my love."]
Maria's smile froze. The foundation of the clans. One the most important and easiest to learn part of the holy texts. If she had known Anna was still stuck over that…
The door went flying. Granny suddenly got up and yelled something Lin didn't understand, as she went to hide, instinctively, unable to process what was happening. She only knew that she had never been so afraid in her life. She heard a scream, and the sound of someone falling to the ground.
She heard Maria and Anna's shouts, then they suddenly stopped. Everything became red. She felt a stabbing pain in her chest, and the red turned black.
…
When she woke, she had no idea how much time had passed. The pain was gone, everything was blurry. She had never felt so lightheaded. She wanted to call granny her sisters, she wanted to apologize to Anna, but her voice didn't obey her. Nothing seemed real. She couldn't even feel her body, so it had to be a dream, right?
Hours passed, then days. Or maybe it was just a few minutes, who knew. She heard some footsteps. She would have panicked if she wasn't so, so tired. She wanted to forget everything. Then, a familiar voice echoed in her head.
"So you're alive, thank Kmir…"
Vlad. It must be him. If he was there, everything would be alright. He found solutions to any problem. He would know what to do. She smiled, reassured. She could allow herself to fall back asleep, now. He would handle everything.
The man holding her furrowed his brows, adding wrinkles to his old face. She had lost so much blood. It had been decades since he had last used his healing skills; he couldn't be less confident in his abilities, but he had no choice. He had to try, or he would lose her.
He carefully examined her injuries and sighted in relief.
"They missed the heart by an inch. If I can close the wound and help you recover some blood, it will be enough to save your life."
The man got rid of his bloodied gloves and began the healing. He might only be the butler of this family, but he had seen this girl grow, and the fondness he held was no different than what he would have felt for his own granddaughter. He desperately put all his might in the operation, until he was able to say her life was no longer in danger.
When he saw she was starting to open her eyes, he didn't leave her the time to adjust to her surroundings. They couldn't afford to.
"You're safe for now. We must leave. The guards led them elsewhere, but they won't… The slaughterers will come back, they'll surely burn everything. You're… You're the last one left. You can't stay in the water clan."