The shadow warriors Much has not been said about the shadow warriors, who lay claim to the desert. Trained with the swords, capable of striking fear in the strongest of warriors. They attacked early in the mornings, before the sun rose and mostly left without a trace. They just left the body there, did not take any of the belongings, nothing. Their motive was not known to people. Did they kill the people simply because they trespassed or did they do it out of fear? Fight with Philippe Philippe was almost about to cross the destination, just about then. "Trespasser, we have been watching you these past days. Why do you chart this treacherous path? Have you not heard about us? We do not let any cross this way. All trespassers crumble in our hands" said a shadow warrior "Oh, I know who you are. You are the infamous shadow warriors" replied Philippe. "I know how you fight, and I know how you run when you cannot defeat the opponent, like cowards," said in a pensive voice. The shadow warriors were surprised, no one has spoken to them like that. Most scurried away like foxes upon their arrival, and when they ran the shadow warriors attacked them with swords and spears! Where these people lived is still not known. Philippe now drew his sword, waiting for them to make their move. There were three of them, waiting to put a sword through Philippe. He took his defense, while the shadows attempted to attack. Raising their swords above the head in a slightly slanting position as if to go directly for the head. Two shadow warriors attacked Philippe simultaneously. Philippe took two steps back and held his sword high so as in to defend the oncoming attack. Then he himself tried to land a countering blow, which was blocked by the shadows. The fight went on, one dealing blow to the other. An hour after the fight went on, Philippe was badly wounded by now. Only one shadow remains, their leader! Philippe tired to the heavens, takes a moment's break, and retreats a few steps back again to form a defensive stance. Both of them heavily wounded, barely having enough strength to lift their swords, fight till one of them dies. Philippe using his knowledge of various forms of attack somehow manages to kill the leader. He gets on the horse and makes his way outside, as fast as he can before the others come and attack him. Within a few hours of travel, he reaches District 8! At District 8 Philippe enters a realm he has only read in books, big buildings, cars, and big fleets flying around. Concrete roads and people dressed like robots. Most of them behaved like robots. People walk through as though they never noticed anything except the footpath. Philippe did not receive any attention at all. He was surprised and humbled all the same by the humongous structures and the number of people that inhabited it. He strode through the streets much like how a cowboy would in a concrete jungle. He rode on, what looked like a mile-long road that never seemed to end. One strange thing he started to notice was that the cracks began to appear in District 8 as he went in deeper. The rich buildings were slowly being replaced by poorer houses, the roads were beginning to show cracks and people remained in the shadows now. Now all the eyes were on him, are the shadow warriors here too? Philippe thought to himself. But he saw in their eyes fear and remorse. They were not savage like the warriors, these people were humbled. Philippe now remembered the words of the librarian, the great floods which wreaked havoc on these people. He was mightily surprised that the buildings were repaired and no sort of action was taken. What sort of empire is this? Philippe thought to himself. Philippe strode on, as the shadows lingered. The children now coming in and out of the shadows. Trying to take a peek at the incoming stranger. Philippe was startled and moved by the poverty that he was seeing. He was shaken, as his strides began to get slower and slower. The road was ending and the trial continued. The buildings were getting worse and worse, now the houses were replaced by racks completely and the shadows were slowly starting to disappear. Philippe began to realize that the people were now very old in this part of the road, and no young adults or children were to be seen. His strides were extremely slow now and suddenly an old man rushed to the road. The horse was a bit startled and came to a screeching halt. "What business do you have here young man?" asked the old man. "I come here in the name of the empire" replied Philippe. "I'm on a mission from the one true king himself." "The only king here is the buildings and the people who own them in" replied the old man. "And you certainly are not welcome here young man," the old man said. "Help me if you can or please step out of the way" You can see that I'm badly wounded and I have no time for arguments," said Philippe The old man's eyes showed a bit of empathy, "Alexandra" called out the old man to his wife. "Why don't you tend to this young man? And once he is seen to, we shall at once send him away." Alexandra came out of their house and told Philippe to stall the horse and get inside. Philippe nodded his head in gratitude and entered the house, courteously thanking both of them. Philippe sat on a chair, and a nearby nurse comes and tends to him. A very beautiful nurse she was. A girl of striking beauty and he could not take his eyes off her. Philippe does not remember being this awe-struck ever, he stammered each time she asked him a question. Unable to properly respond, Philippe was left in a daze. How can a person be so beautiful he thought to himself. Even the empire does not have such a beautiful person in all her lands. And here, out here in the barracks, I find a person of such striking beauty. "What's your name," asks Philippe. As she was about to respond Alexandra entered the room. Philippe's daze is averted and his gaze is shifted to Alexandra.