1218-06-21
The hunt was successful.
Zandu doesn't have many men left—fewer still who can fight after the wind dragon's attack. My brother fought valiantly against it, but he wasn't alone. Others from the tribe stayed behind to help, and those who defied his orders died alongside him. Those that didn't—those that ran with Tafari—have grown old, as I have.
The people of Ghar don't survive long. Whether it's because of the wildlife, like dragons, or the sicknesses, this place has become a graveyard for ambition.
In that sense, we rely on the tribe of New Miso. A part of me worries they will betray us as Momba did to my brother. And yet, I feel a strange happiness. All I want is to give the people of Zandu better lives, no matter the cost.
I walked through Zandu with Ada wobbling beside me. Her short black hair had grown longer. "A" was at my other side, his face lit with a joy that I hadn't seen in years. In a few days, he would turn five, and with that, he'd be able to join us on hunts.
Ada was the same—she would be four in just over a month. She clung tightly to me, her small, childish expression a perfect contrast to A's confident smile.
"May I hold her, Dad?" A asked, looking up at me.
"Of course, little man."
A stopped ahead of Ada and gently lifted her. She giggled, her face lighting up as he twirled her in the air.
"Thank you," she mumbled, her small voice soft as she smiled.
A put her down carefully, grinning, but Ada wasn't done yet. "Where… where are we going?" she asked.
"We're going to the cache." I smiled as I picked her off the ground.
We walked through Zandu, a shadow of its former glory. The city, once alive with strength, now looked hollow. Some people sold precious items—gems or tools—just to survive. Others sat in corners, their bodies so thin they seemed ready to disappear. Old men huddled in the shade of broken buildings, some far older than me, their eyes holding stories of a different Zandu. I noticed women my age—survivors, like me—clutching what little they had left. There were younger faces too, but not many.
Zandu had no children, not really. The few who remained clung to scraps of joy. A small group, maybe three or so, ran past us, bumping into my side as they darted by.
A turned to watch them, his expression tinged with longing. I knew what he wanted: to join them, to run free, to play like other boys.
We arrived at a small hut at the heart of Zandu. Worn and weathered, it stood defiant, one of the few structures still upright after the attack. Made of clay and stone, the building seemed to breathe with history.
I unlocked the door, and we stepped inside. The storage shed was lined to the brim with Ance—silver gems that glimmered faintly in the low light. A ran straight to one of the cabinets, flinging it open and holding a gem up to the sunbeam filtering through the cracks. A ray of silver light shone across the room.
"Ance," I murmured. A haunting memory. A reminder of my brother's death.
That day, I had run faster than ever before, back to Zandu, only to find the lifeless bodies of the men… and my brother. Blood everywhere. The hut had been the only thing that stood. It wasn't a total loss, I'd told myself then—words I whispered just to survive the guilt.
"Dad?" A's voice pulled me back to the present.
"What is it, A?"
"This is Ance, right?"
"Yes, or at least that's what the merchants call it."
"What's it used for?" A asked, his brow furrowing as he held the gem up again.
"The merchants say it's common," I replied.
"A common gem?" Ada repeated softly, as if the words didn't fit.
"How did we get so much?" A's small hands sifted through the silver gems, his curiosity lighting the room more than the gems did.
"My brother got it for us," I said with a faint smile.
"Kaeo…" Ada whispered, as though repeating the name itself brought a weight to the air.
A went back to examining the gems—biting them, tossing them, rolling them around—lost in his curiosity.
My smile faded as I looked over the hoard. My brother had gotten these for us. That dragon had taken his life, and we had hunted it in return—me and the men who were my age back then. We found its body decomposing at an unnatural rate, its massive form already turning to dust. But its blood… its blood had crystallized into silver gems.
Ance. A gem formed from the death and demise of dragons.
The dragon's meat had lasted us a long time, keeping us fed through the worst of it. But its blood evaporated almost immediately, like it couldn't wait to escape this world. We buried the corpse then, a quiet act of respect.
Even now, we check back, visiting its grave to see if more Ance has formed. The longer the dragon's body decomposes, the brighter the Ance becomes.
"Why did we come here?" Ada asked, her voice small and curious.
"This gem could save us," I told her softly, though deep down, I wasn't sure I believed it.
The merchants always claimed Ance was a common gem. But if it was formed from the death of a dragon, how could it be common? My brother and the men of the village had been the first people in history to defeat a dragon. Surely, that made Ance something more. Something rare.
"Addo!" Ada suddenly yelled, breaking my thoughts.
"All right, all right," I said, laughing as I picked her up.
We left the shed and headed out of the city toward Addo, the lake that separated us from the other villages. The water shimmered in the distance. A few children played by the shore.
Near the lake, a familiar face caught my eye. Zahra.
She sat at the edge of the water. Her fair skin kissed by time. Long black hair framed her face, and her amber eyes had dark circles beneath them. Her feet dipped lazily into the lake.
Ada squirmed in my arms, and I set her down. She wasted no time, running toward Zahra. Beside her sat a girl, about A's age—maybe a little older—hiding shyly behind her mother.
I followed slowly, my steps heavy as I approached. Zahra looked up, her smile faint but genuine.
"Is she…" I started to ask.
Zahra chuckled. "No," she said softly. "It's good to see you, Loret."
"You as well, Zahra."
Ada ran to the girl, who peeked out from behind Zahra, her red eyes cautious but curious. Her hair, dark like her mother's, had been dyed red at the tips.
A stood at my side, frozen with nervousness. I glanced at him.
"Why don't you say hello?" I nudged him gently.
"What's your name?" A finally asked.
The girl smiled faintly, barely meeting his eyes. "My name is Zara."
"Zara," A repeated, as though committing it to memory.
"Why don't you two go to the lake?" Zahra said suddenly, her voice warm but firm. "Let me talk with Loret."
"Okay," Zara said, grabbing Ada's hand. "Come on!"
Ada giggled, letting herself be pulled toward the water. A followed slowly, glancing back at me before joining them.
When the children were far enough away, Zahra turned her gaze back to the lake. I sat down beside her.
"How old is she now?" I asked.
Zahra laughed quietly. "She's almost seven."
"It's been that long?" I smiled faintly. "Time flies, I guess."
"What about Tafari?" she asked, her voice teasing. "How old is he now?"
"Tafari?"
"You still haven't told him his name?" She sighed.
"A's about five now."
For a moment, silence fell between us, the kind that weighs heavier with age and unspoken things. Finally, Zahra spoke.
"I'm sorry," she said softly.
I murmured. "All I want is for A and Zara to get along. For them to spend more time together."
"I agree," Zahra replied, a wistful smile touching her lips. "I hope they do."
"And Ada," she added after a pause.
Her voice broke slightly. I turned to look at her, dread pooling in my stomach.
"She won't be here long."
"You can't possibly mean—"
"I have to," I interrupted. "The people of Zandu are starving. This is no way to raise her."
"Maybe I can ask Krain. He could—"
"Krain won't help," I said, shaking my head. "We need our own strength."
She looked down at the lake, her gaze fixed on A, Zara, and Ada as they splashed in the shallow water. Her face softened, but her eyes held a sadness I couldn't ignore.
"How is Krain?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
Zahra hesitated, then sighed. "Busy. Always busy. Maybe that's a good thing."
Before I could reply, a voice called out from behind us.
"Loret! Zahra!"
I turned to see Kell approaching, his broad figure unmistakable even from afar. His voice carried excitement, and as he neared, his grin widened.
"There's going to be a celebration in New Miso," he announced. "The Rali merchants will be there—on the 20th."
Ralian merchants will be there.