Dam look at herself in the broken mirror of Ashan. Had she not bought it because they said it tells the future? And had not the mirror only glow in it's frame and no other magic like any other mirror? The merchants of Ice city, in the black market, had claimed they were the real mirror the great warrior, Ashan, used to foresee the future before conquering the necromancers a couple of hundred years ago. The mirrors were broken into pieces, and they were claimed to still have their magic. But it's clear Dam had just fell for the lies and deception of the merchants. Dam look at the crane field at the far distance, they've come a long a way from Bea Valey, a small crane-business based town. It made her nostalgia. Running from home. With her little foster brother, Jonathan. Dam looked at the crane again, it made her sad, having to runaway from her father. But it's for the best, she had to find her sister, Uli, they used to be sisters in valor, great hunters for their townspeople. They used to give free porridge every weekend at the clinic.
A rabbit jumped over the pile of leaves and sticks meant for a fireplace later at night, making them to scatter around.
"hey Jonathan! That took hours to make!" Dam panicked.
Jonathan straightened his long ears, and turned into the 15 year old boy he is, he seem flustered.
'I saw the soldiers of dragon city- oh they're so mighty- they look fiery like their dragon lord- oh what if they take us with them? Dam we need to hide, we still have a long way to go! Are they here already-'
"Calm down" Dam ventured, rolling her eyes towards the shrub where he's coming from.
'You can't tell me to calm down? I told you I just saw the dragon city soldiers! The dragon city!" Jonathan has a rapid, deep breath, poised in a manner of a child caught stealing some penny in the treasury.
"I know" Dam walked towards the shrub, making some path forward. She stopped at a distance where she could see the flags of the dragon city, followed by a mass of soldiers, all wearing armors and holding spears.
That ugly flag, of a two spears crossed behind a full moon, the same that had been bringing misery to people for over a decade, because the dragon lord has been researching the evil ancient magic, and has been making nice feats. Hadn't he discovered where the Eternity poison is, so that he can now control his dragons, and his people however he liked. And hadn't he find a stream where the necromancers were buried and has been using the magic to make powerful spears?
"Lay low" Dam patted Jonathan's shoulders.
"We should wait until they're gone before doing anything, we can't draw attention to ourselves"
"Okay.." Jonathan said faintly. He has stayed human almost throughout the journey, his core is now very weak.
*
It was on a beautiful summer evening, when Jonathan was born. It was a fated day, as a lot happened. Uli had just finished making dinner and served the plates at the table, while Dam is playing with her dolls.
Ba, Dam's father was very energetic that night, he just came back from his wood logging job. Ma was making some coconut juice, before they all sat at dinner table.
"Mrs Everton, such a nice woman, she gave me 200 cowries and two weeks off knowing my brother's wife will be put to bed soon" Ba said and his face glowed with a big smile.
"I should send her some wine tomorrow, that's wonderful of her" Ma beamed
"Ba, do we get to go with you to see uncle's new born baby?" Dam asked.
"No, it's a long walk you can't possibly survive, my darling princess."
Turmoil came that midnight, when Ice city brought war to their gate. It was a sad night as Ma burned alongside the cranes of Bea Valey. But after the war, when day was breaking, came two messengers from his brother in Eastern Havenland, little Jonathan had been born that night, and though not very healthy, they will do whatever to give him long life. It was a bitter sweet experience. The war, loosing Ma, and having a beautiful nephew.
But months later was a small rabbit brought to Bea Valey, into Ba's home. His brother and his wife volunteered to fight a battle with the vengeful spirits at the shore of Blood sea, a place that is said to be where the fight of Ashan against necromancers and their followers took place. Though it ended up taking their lives. Jonathan was raised by Ba, but he was a very weak child, that's why her parents had to use the magic pearl that reside with the Eastern Havenland, to turn him into a rabbit to save his human energy, lest he won't live long.
A year later, Uli enlisted for the army, she always wanted to be a fighter that brings justice and peace like great Ashan. She came top, and the last time Dam saw her was when she smiled and waved at her as she and the other soldiers matched into the path that lead outside the town, before disappearing into the thick fog.
They write to each other before Uli stopped replying or writing. Dam would go to the town council and ask for inquiries and justice everyday.
She had always wanted to do it, but six months ago, she and Jonathan fled, hoping to find their sister and find a cure for Jonathan, then return home to bring their father to the Meadows of Fairies. A place he had always loved and described to be peaceful and alluring. He had always wished he settled his family there too.
So Dam begin her adventure, first smuggling out of Ice kingdom, and now here they are. Will they even be able to find her sister in this vast open world? Will they be able to fulfill her father's dream? Will they survive in this world where the powerful rules and prey on the weak? Will Jonathan be able to find a cure and stay human without worry?
*
Dam was worried, but as Jonathan rested on her arms as a little bunny, she was optimistic and is happy to have a purpose. For all her hearts desire she will do.
Her thought was disrupted by a spear that was pointed at her neck.