Farriq looks out over the great city of Arkarya from the tower of the Kauzu Colossus,
a monument to the former chief of the great region, the best chief the Red
tribe has ever had. The sunset falls over the houses of the city and makes the
crimson of the banners shine very brightly. The sun Is slowly setting behind
the Lhampa mountain ranges, the rock formation located to the left of the city.
Slow steps approach Farriq.
QARA: Brother, what are you doing up here? It will soon start to get cold.
Qara is the princess of the Arazka region, Farriq's younger sister. A very educated
and studious young woman.
FARRIQ: I was just watching the sun setting. Did you know that the sunset is a symbol
of the region?
QARA: Of course. They say that the great Crimson Falcon gave the region to our
ancestors and ascended to the sky on "a red evening."
FARRIQ: You've learned a lot from the masters.
Farriq turns his gaze to where his sister is.
QARA: What's wrong?
FARRIQ: Aren't you nervous?
QARA: Why would I be?
FARRIQ: Qara, please, the new sun and the chiefs!
QARA: Ah! You didn't just come up here to watch the sunset. You're worried aboutâŚ
FARRIQ: Don't you think your dream has something to do with this sudden "reunion" of the five territories? Father has never invited the other chiefs to this
celebration.
Qara's blue eyes look a little sad.
FARRIQ: Maybe what Aunt Lunaq said is true. Your power is awakening. You are not a
Faranji, but you may be something else.
QARA: What power? Those are just old folk tales, brother. Don't think about it so
much.
FARRIQ: That attitude is very unusual from you. I think you feel this same concern
inside you.
Qara looks towards the village.
The sun has almost disappeared from the sky, only a red ray divides the darkness
from the light in the sky.
QARA: We should go back home, the nights of this time period are always very cold.
The two decide to leave. However, before
they reach the entrance to the colossus' stairs, a rumble in the village causes
them to back away and look out from the balcony. Both of them see a column of
smoke rising in the middle of the city.
QARA: what?
FARRIQ: What happened?
The curious gather near the place. Someone is seen running inside the black smoke.
A man in a violet hood.
FARRIQ: Who's that?!
QARA:Â Farriq, wait!
Farriq jumps from the tower of the colossus. In the air, he makes appear, from the
palm of his left hand, a star-shaped, red blade, which shines with the same
intensity as the sunset. The mark that is located on the back of his palm, is
the one that distinguishes those of his kind, the Faranji. This mark also shows
an intense flash.
QARA: Farriq!
Qara runs up the stairs to try to reach his older brother.
The nearby streets are fill with the smoke unleashed by the explosion. The man who
runs between the people of the city is looking for an exit in the crowd. Farriq
falls on his feet on the tiles of one of the nearby houses. The man turns to
where the young man is and runs towards him.
FARRIQ: Stop right there!
Without saying a word, the man, lunges at Farriq carrying an irregularly shaped
sword. Farriq blocks his slash by
intercepting it with his weapon. With his right hand he attempts to strike a
blow with a closed fist, but the mysterious warrior evades it easily by jumping
backwards.
FARRIQ: who are you?!
The hooded man doesn't say a word, only gives an eerie smile as he advances once
more to launch an attack. Farriq moves to attack and the man's sword once more
clashes with the prince's weapon, causing the sound of colliding metal to
spread through the streets. People begin to gather around the fight and the
city guards begin to arrive at the scene.
FARRIQ: That's Handur's house, one of the city's priests. What were you looking for
there? How did you manage to enter the city without being seen?
The strange man just keeps brandishing his sword, ignoring what the young prince is
asking.
FARRIQ: I'm talking to you! Don't you understand what I'm saying?!
The hooded man manages to kick Farriq in the stomach, knocking him to the ground.
The city guards intervene in the fight and manage, together, to arrest the
aggressor, who immediately surrenders upon seeing them arrive.
The captain of the Arkarya guard, Lailak, makes his appearance on the scene.
LAILAK: are you okay, Prince Farriq?
FARRIQ: I'm fine, captain. Don't worry about me.
Qara arrives agitated and helps her brother to stand up.
QARA: Are you okay, brother?
FARRIQ: Don't worry, Qara.
The guards hold the mysterious man, who strangely offers no resistance to his
capture.
LAILAK: The house of the priest Handur was attacked, luckily he was not there. Tell me,
what were you looking for there?
The strange man remains silent.
Lailak removes his hood and they discover his strange face. He is a man without hair,
with marks on his head that do not belong to any scripture existing in the four
territories. His violet eyes stare at the captain, as if he wanted to confess
something that his mouth does not dare to say.
QARA: Those marksâŚ
Qara's face turns white with shock.
FARRIQ: Sister? What's wrong?
-To be continued-