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Chapter 4 - Traces of Remembrance

We know the desert, the land where danger and blood abound.  But grasslands and forests are different.  The nights pass and only wild beasts stalk.  Peace is a path that can be taken.  But in these times of war, and especially for our heroes, peace is not an option.

As the sandy terrain disappeared, and his hovercraft moved among the few trees with leaves, Argent's gaze rested on the mountains.  Something he hadn't seen in many years, ever since he left Ungula.  The green of the mountains reflected the burning sunlight that burned the metal controls of the ship, which burned Argent's hands when he took them.  "We're close," said Argent, who immediately laughed, seeing Nim's fascination, seeing the green foliage of the trees.  Argent turned off the shields.  Allowing her friend, marvelling like a girl she reached the branches of the trees.  "You look like a girl, didn't you see trees on the way to Zakin?"  Argentum said laughing out loud.  Immediately Nim looked at him, still having that curiosity about what was around her. "We came along the mountain road.  The most there were were small ferns. "  Argent was filled with curiosity to see those green giants, who were so nostalgic, and reminded him of Ungula.  The silver cat raised its arm, and felt the soft contact of the leaves, and how a child began to jump, in order to approach the highest branches.  she turned around, to see her friend, looking at him with a wry smile.  Argent coughed a few times, and in a very serious voice said "This day never happened."  Nim nodded, laughing at his friend.

Among the green thicket of the forest the birds sang a beautiful melody.  The soft scent of wild berries and flowers delighted Nim's nose, while her companion marveled at the mountains with its beautiful emerald green.  The gentle breeze gave little satisfaction to the theersa.  It was the first time that Argent had really laughed in days.  That place, outside the desert, the danger and the Nemek domain.  The blurred memory of Ungula, took shape again in the mind of Argent, the trees, the roads, the fresh fruit, or the simple fact of not always having to be alert, it was a beautiful and also sad memory, tears flooded his eyes, the beautiful passing of the day brought back so many memories of his home that he almost broke down in tears.  He quickly wiped away the tears, and turned once more.  His friend returned to normal, the little girl smile she had before was still there, but her eyes hid a deep sadness.  The cat's tears fell to the deck of the ship like rain.  Argent was captured watching her for a second.  Until the smile faded from her face.  And oceans of tears began to flow from the assassin's crimson eyes.  The cat fell to her knees when she saw the mirage of her old home.  Argent hastened to comfort her, but it was impossible for him, she had much more present the memory of her city, the memory of all her friends, of the war cries, of her home being reduced to ashes.  That terrible memory changed Nim for life, even if she was laughing out loud, sadness would always be in her eyes.

As night fell, the ship slowly sailed through the green thicket, and Nim slept peacefully, but Argentum's eyes were still awake, no matter what he tried to do to sleep.  His mind was scattered.  For years he had his home in mind, and had the idea that his desert village was the only place where his race still existed.  But that night among the General's lush garden at the citadel, only a theersa would look like that.  The Nemek empire and Theersa culture would always be against eachother, opposite poles, or perhaps they were not.

Closing his eyes, Argent took a while to sleep, but he managed.  Immediately Argent saw a terrible scene.  The doors of Ungula once again rose, the beautiful bronze grilles, covered with plants, the tree houses and the markets, all the roads, all the houses and chapels, the military barracks and even the palace, which carried the  statues of the gods, rising imposingly on all fours as the Theersa did in primeval times, all engulfed in flames.  The smell of sulfur and smoke enveloped the environment, the birds screamed and the animals escaped with extreme terror.  The water sources were dry, the flowers broken and withered.  Fallen trees and debris chapels and temples.  Argent was now on the steps of the palace of the kings.  The place, unlike everything else, was intact, but the glass, the white marble blocks, and the silver and bronze ornaments were replaced by hellish black.  The scene terrified Argentum the most, when he saw the Uragiri all bowing in two rows, leaving a stony path towards the palace stairs.  And he saw an Ignis kneeling and tied with chains, begging someone not to do it, not to go upstairs.  Nim's knives lay broken and bloody on the ground.  Seeing that, the silver cat found it difficult to breathe.

The black cat, the captain of the assassins, stood up at the entrance to the palace, holding the silver crown in his hands, dripping blood.  A hooded figure, in a black cape, pierced Argentum's body, stepped on Nim's knives, and upon seeing Ignis laughed out loud.  Slowly he climbed the steps and took off his hood, it was a Theersa, with silver fur, and with drops of blood running down his hair.  The strange figure knelt in front of Captain Uragiri, and the latter placed the crown on his head.  He turned around, showing a sinister smile, his amber eyes began to shine in the moonlight.  Argentum immediately recognized the crowned face.  It was the same one that he saw in his reflection every day, he watched his own sword cut the chest of his mentor, ending the life of who raised him.  Hell unleashed at that moment, Argent armed himself with burning anger, unsheathed his sword, and launched a powerful thrust, but the orange-eyed Theersa blocked the blow.  The black blades collided fiercely, as fire engulfed them.  Argentum launched heavy and strong blows, attacking without fear, while his opponent was calm, only defended and blocked, until his black blade began to cut the entire body of the emerald-eyed cat, the speed of his sword was impossible, the  Argent's hatred vanished and was replaced with fear, the black edge being driven into his stomach.  And his blood began to flow from his belly, and also from his mouth.  A fatal blow without hesitation, but Argent still stood.  The latter began to deliver thrusts as best he could, all blows being blocked by the deadly black sword that belonged to his sinister reflection.  The wearer of the crown brandished his weapon, breaking Argent's in two, rendering it useless, Argent dropped it, arming himself with unimaginable hatred, and did not realize that his adversary looked different.  With this anger the cat began to claw at his opponent's armor with his claws, managing to take his sword, and launch it into the ring of fire that surrounded them.  Both both Theersa looked at each other with murderous Anger.  While they exchanged slaps.  The dark cat managed to strike a blow to Argent's hand.  The emerald-eyed cat, succumbing to his most primal instinct, got down on all fours, roaring at his rival, who was staring at him in terror.  Finally, with a claw, Argent managed to cut the black coat of the amber-eyed Argentum.  The two silver figures fought fiercely among the vortex of fire that surrounded them.  The brutal scratches caused pain in both combatants, and their anger only increased.  The green-eyed warrior had become a beast, with all four legs resting on the ground, his savagery completely enveloped him, a hatred and anger that he had not felt since the death of his mother consumed him inside as the most  terrible of flames.  The last blow of Argentum managed to unbalance his rival, in the orange eyes of his opponent, he saw the deaths of every loved one he had had, his mother, Ignis and Nim.  With the latter, Argentum went mad, opening his jaws with a slight growl, and showed his fangs.  Some words so slight that they could hardly be heard came from the lips of the Argentum dressed in black "Finish what you started, that is your destiny."  With this Argent directed his bite to the neck of his opponent, dropping his blood.

At that moment Argent woke up from his trance and savagery, feeling a terror that invaded him, he realized his terrible act.  His mouth full of blood, like his hands.  He noticed the change of his rival in the middle of the battle.  He was not wearing a cape, if not black Theersa armor, he was not wearing a crown, and his eyes were green.  In the blood of his enemy he contemplated his reflection, wearing a black cape, his mouth was full of blood, both his and that of the rival, and on his head he wore a silver crown.  Suddenly, the hooded men broke through the wall of fire that surrounded him.  They all knelt before him.  Argent broke down in tears, and regardless of the fire ran as far as he could towards the exit where he could see the sun.  And among the burned brush two figures emerged from the jungle.  The hooded men approached him, "We offer you glory and power, you will be emperor, everyone will fear your wrath."  The leader of the Uragiri shook his hand, Argent was about to take it until he heard Ignis' voice "We offer you peace, a life worth living, we offer you justice.  Everyone will admire your legacy. "  Nim with a smile shook her hand.  Suddenly a young Argent walked on the burned tiles of the city, "Peace or power, only you can decide your path."  At that moment Argent opened his eyes.