“The War of the Firantes is the worst war in the history of men.

The first years after the appearance of the creatures, the northern part of the Empire, which at the time was the kingdom of Hessenior, was rendered a puppet state to the bloody monsters.

Why and how this annexation was done is unclear, but the King of the Gynaecium, the ruler of the kingdom of Hessenior, was assassinated, and his leadership was overtaken by the Firantes. The other countries, who had tumultuous relations with Hessenior, did not care about what was happening, and let the event unfold undisturbed.

They were completely taken by surprise when the Firantes attacked them with unforeseen forces. The creatures conquered the entirety of the Western Plains, with little to no resistance. The people there fled through the ocean and are the founders of what we now know as Carradinoris. The Firantes continued their attack, capturing Striavie as well, but were stopped in Leïn, at the time known as Gertburg. The war lasted for years, in a standstill there, where every inch won was lost the next day. Fifteen years of combat costed the lives of millions. The official number is thirteen million two hundred fifty thousand deaths. The end of humanity seemed inescapable, but then our Imperatrix was chosen by the Gods, and our salvation was assured.”

Lesson from Sage-Brother Berth.

Nay woke up with the rising sun, alerted by the presence of two unknown Rreicos. She left her tent in a hurry, only wearing a night-gown that reached her knees, equipped with her dagger and sword.

A large creeping creature was approaching, its head and massive torso close to seven feet tall, while the rest of its body was slithering on the ground, almost four times that length.

It looked like a coral serpent, if not for its two little front legs on the upper part of its raised torso, and the fact that it was ten times bigger than a coral serpent. It was fifty yards away (45m), and currently getting down the last dune separating the desert from the oasis.

“A Jivynn!?” Nay said out loud.

Then, as if answering her, the creature shouted. “Hoooo! Hooo! Easy!” But it had not opened its mouth. “Who goes there?” Then said the creature in an absurd attempt of ventriloquism.

Nay’s initial shock passed, and she remembered something important.

“Wait, that’s not a Jivynn…A Lesardo?” She finally understood.

And a Lesardo was not a blood-thirsty monster, it was a domestic animal!

“Erm, Hello?” She tried.

“Hi! Are you Master Vestigio’s guest? How rare! Let me unmount.”

From behind the Lesardo’s large body, a man with brown skin jumped to the ground, crushing the sand beneath. He moved towards her; hand extended.

“My name is Achid, pleased to meet you…miss.” He looked at Nay, appreciating the sight, then his gaze fell on her weapons.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I’ve never seen a Lesardo before.” Nay put her sword on the wooden trunk/bench, on the part that hadn’t been blown away by Vestigio, but kept her dagger. She then shook his hand.

“I’m Nay.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Nay? That’s quite uncommon.” The man had the same accent as Vestigio and Marke. His facial features were quite different from her father’s, but his physique, his height and muscles, those were almost identical. He seemed to be the same age as Marke as well. He was quite stunning and moved around like someone important. On his belt was a scimitar, probably awfully expensive, but his clothes were simple. White shirt in good condition, and chestnut coloured bermudas. After feeling the strength in his grip, Nay was convinced this man was either a guard or a soldier.

“You…” He looked at her, surprise in his eyes. “You’re here to train with the Master Legio?”

It seemed he had deduced the same thing about her.

She had no reason to lie, and so she nodded.

“Yes, but I have to confess, he did not accept.”

The man shook his head and sighed. “I figure, I hope he did not give you too much trouble.”

Nay turned her head towards the half-destroyed wooden bench.

“Oh.” He simply added.” Well, you must be good if you’re still alive and visibly unharmed. And, about his refusal…I have no idea where you heard from him, but even if he was the best martial arts teacher in Makaka, he took his retirement more than twenty years ago. He refuses to teach since.”

“I see…I just thought he had a problem with me…personally.”

“Oh sure, the fact you’re a woman doesn’t help, there have been some incidents in the past. But he taught women before. Who told you about Master Vestigio?”

His smile was sincere, but Nay felt that the question was nothing but innocent.

“I am Marke’s adoptive daughter.” She revealed.

The man named Achid did not hide his surprise. “Marke? His daughter? Vanni be my witness, I don’t believe it. He’s still alive?”

Nay grimaced, her heart clenching painfully inside her chest. “I…No…he died last month.”

Sadness passed on the man’s face. “Oh, I, I apologize. Forgiveness of Vanni and the redemption of a calm sea to him.”

“Thank you.”

There was a short silence, interrupted by the Lesardo squirming on the sand, looking impatient.

“Sorry Pattie, I’ll get the saddle off of you, a few seconds and you can take a bath.” Achid gazed upon his serpentine steed with tenderness, climbed on its scales and undid two thick leather strips of its body. A saddle with linen bags filled to the brim fell on the sand. Achid left the Lesardo’s back, who rushed towards the oasis, entering the water gleefully.

“I am lucky to have Master Vestigio’s trust. Lesardos love big pools of water, but there are very few wells of Canna dedicated to them in Makaka. And they cost a fortune. Each time I come here; Pattie is overjoyed. She can bathe and hunt at the same time.

“It’s my first time seeing a Lesardo.” Nay repeated.

“Really? It is your first time in the desert of Striavie then, they are the most common way of moving around here. No Yaes, its too hot for them.”

“Yes, I live…lived in Gite with Marke and Ra’fa.”

He grimaced at the mention of Gite, but quickly hid the expression with a smile.

“Ra’fa being your mother?” He asked.

“Yes, you seem to know my father, but not my mother?”

“No, I knew Marke from here, in Makaka. But I never saw him again after he left.”

“Oh…could you tell me about him?” Nay finally had the opportunity to know about her father’s childhood, she had to ask. Especially as Achid seemed friendly and had expressed real sadness when hearing about Marke’s demise.

“You can speak to me less stiffly, you know. And of course I can talk to you about him. He didn’t tell you himself?”

“Erm…no, not really.”

Achid started laughing. “I thought Marke had changed completely, wife and daughter, him!? But it seems some other things don’t change! I’ll be delighted to tell you everything you want to know, Nay, but first, I need to take care of Vestigio.”

Nay hid her disappointment. “Yes, of course.”

“I won’t be long, I come early to avoid perturbing him too much. As you most likely noticed, he’s not good lately, and it is getting worse as time passes. It is hard for me to see him like that, and I admit I try to make our exchanges short.”

“You…you’re quite honest.” Nay pointed out.

He smiled. “True. But you are Marke’s daughter, and if Vestigio brought you here, that fact is not a lie. I would have hoped he’d help his grand-daughter, but maybe that was just me being too optimistic.”

“Oh, by the way, I did not come here alone. Carle is with me, he’s an apprentice Teller of Truth, he’s sleeping inside the house.”

“Ah? Really? Well, I hope company will make him a bit better. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

Nay bowed slightly. “Yes. We shall most certainly ask you to bring us extra food, and I’d really like for you to show me the way to Makaka.”

He picked up the fallen saddle and bags as if they weighed nothing. “I’ll take you with me on the way back, and I’ll show you, but you need to get ready. I’m off in two hours, that’s the time Pattie is allowed to play in the water.”

“Oh, that is plenty time, there will be no problems.” Nay said.

The man smiled again, and, with his heavy baggage on his shoulders, he left towards the house.

Nay heard a “SsssSsss!” and the sound of waves. She observed Pattie for a while. The creature had a rather terrifying appearance, but its current expression of pleasure as it threw fish in the sky to catch it with its mouth was indubitably very cute.

Then Nay realised something.

She was going to go to Makaka with Achid, but didn’t that mean she would have to mount the Lesardo?

And now she was worried.

“I really can’t come with you?” Carle asked.

“No, sorry young girl, erm boy, sorry, but I have only one extra saddle.” Achid answered him.

Nay and the two men were in front of her tent. She was now dressed and had a bag with the essentials for a day in the city, and for the way back during dusk. According to Achid, the crossing of the desert would take two hours by foot, against thirty minutes on Pattie’s back.

“Nay, did you take something to protect yourself from the sun?” Said Achid.

“Yes, I’ve got a hoodie on my jacket.”

“Good, at this time of the day, even on a Lesardo’s back, the rays of the sun can be deadly.”

Carle had an anxious look. “Nay?”

“Don’t worry Carle, I’ll be back tonight, and I prepared something to eat for you, it is sitting on the fireplace.”

The young boy grimaced, then sighed. “Be careful.”

“She’s safe with me.” Achid reassured him.

He then put the saddle back on Pattie, who had previously been coaxed out of the water with a piece of rabbit. He put on the two thick leather straps, but then added a third one, higher on the animal’s torso.

“Nay, you’ll be back to back with Pattie, and you put your legs inside the little straps here.” He explained.

“I sit with my back turned towards him?”

“Yes. It’s how you mount a Lesardo. You can see where you’re going with an extended mirror, like this.” The Striavien showed him a piece of mirror stuck on a large stick. “Oh, don’t forget to put this Yaeda leather piece behind your back, or Pattie’s scales will rip you to shreds.”

Nay took the animal skin, and, apprehensively, got on the Lesardo’s back.

She felt its Rreico change and jumped away immediately. Pattie squirmed around with all its body.

Nay stared at the Lesardo.

“Pattie, stop playing. Let her get on.” Archid reprimanded Pattie.

She stopped, and with a “Ssss” told Nay she could get on.

“Sorry about that, she always does this to people getting on her for the first time.”

“No problem.”

“To your credit, I’ve never seen someone react so quickly before.” He examined her, questions in his eyes.

Nay did not doubt he had the knowledge, or at least suspicions about the Rreico. He was not a Legio, but he apparently knew Marke, and took care of Vestigio. Nay realised this meant Achid most likely knew Redrick as well.

She emptied her mind. This was not the moment. She concentrated on the obstacle she need to overcome. That’s what it was. An obstacle. In no way a twenty feet beast with a prank-loving side. She climbed Pattie, passed Achid’s “seat”, then climbed a bit more, passed her two legs through the straps and put the Yaeda leather on her back.

Achid was just behind her, but she could barely see him. His seat was just underneath.

“See you soon, Carle.” She said.

The boy began to laugh. “You should see your face.”

“Achid, is there a circus in Makaka?”

“Erm…yes?”

Nay looked at Carle from her elevated position and gave him a sadistic smile.

He gulped down his laugh. “Meany.”

Nay saw Achid put the mirror on the side, then he shouted: “Ho!” and Pattie began moving towards the east.

Carle waved her goodbye, but as Nay was firmly clenching the straps with both her hands, she did not answer him.

“Lebe’s whore.” She swore as they climbed and descended the first dune.

“You’ll get used to it.” She did not appreciate the smile she was hearing in her guide’s voice.

Nonetheless, just like he said, ten minutes or so later, she relaxed. She got used to the constant pitching and rocking and her body going up and down.

“During the day, you have to use the sun to get around. In this season, just following the sunset brings you directly to the oasis. During the night, in this direction you need to follow Verchi’s star, and in the other direction you need to follow Herr’s. We’ll pass next to the remnants of a buried caravan soon, that means you’re going in the right direction.” As he had promised, her guide explained everything she needed to know to know her way towards Makaka and back. The waypoints were especially precious. He only stopped explaining when commanding Pattie, moving accordingly to his vocalisations left or right. Nay stayed focused the whole time, and after twenty minutes or so, Nay was certain she would find her way back with no problems.

“You have children?” She asked Achid.

“One. How did you guess?”

“When you told me not to forget a hat against the sun, and your explanation right now. You feel like the kind of person taking care of children.

He stayed silent for a few seconds, and Nay could not see what he was doing.

“I have been uncovered. You really remind me of Marke, and I’m telling you more than I should. It is rather unbecoming for men to be so maternal, so, if you could not say anything about that when we reach Makaka, I would be grateful.”

Nay smiled. “It’s not like I know anyone there. But in any case, be assured, I will keep the knowledge of your kindness secret. Which I find a bit sad, may I say.”

“As long as my wife knows, that is all that matters.”

“…Marke and you were friends.”

He took some time to think.

“More like he was my chief. Well, the leader of our group. We were part of the same group of orphans, he was the one in charge.”

“Orphans?”

“Absolutely. My mother died during a pandemic of sedite, and I have never seen my father. Marke didn’t remember his parents, never knew them.”

“How did you survive?”

“Oh, by doing absolutely nothing legal. Vanni guards hated us. Which is especially ironic now that I became one.”

Nay stopped breathing. “You are a Vanni guard?”

Vanni guards were the closest thing to a Ducal guard in Makaka. They were tasked of protecting the temple of Vanni at Makaka’s centre plaza, and each one of them was the primary law-keeper of a complete district in the city. Each guard had his district, and responsibilities with the temple. It was the most prestigious military grade in Striavie.

“Oh yeah, I did not tell you. It is my day off today. I didn’t see your name on any wanted poser, you can relax!” He started laughing.

Nay tensed up even more. She was happy to know no one was looking for her, but she could only think of one reason why that was the case.

What was going on in Gite?

“Achid, could you show me where to buy a newspaper?”

“Ah? I brought some with me.”

“Really!?”

“Yes, but they were for Vestigio, I left them there.”

“Biach.”

The man laughed again. “We say gish around here. If you don’t want to pass as a stranger immediately, you should say that instead.”

“Have you seen the colour of my skin?” Nay replied while looking at the alabaster skin on her hand.

“True, it would be pretty hard for you to pass for anything other than a stranger.”

“Gish.”

“Said like a Striavienne! To continue my story, Marke, me and our band of orphans once tried to rob another kid, same age as us. He was wearing nice clothing and had the look of a Leïn noble.

“Redrick.”

“That is exact. After a short fight, there was only Marke and him standing. He was much stronger than Marke, but this knucklehead never knew when to stop, and he kept getting back up. Finally, Vestigio arrived, promptly knocked the both of them out, and forced them to enrol in his dojo. I didn’t want to be separated for my leader and went there myself later.”

Nay smiled. Her father had been adopted, a bit forcefully, just like her.

“I read about Red dying a month ago in Gite. And you say Marke died a month ago. What happened?”

Nay froze. That question had been very specific, and Achid’s Rreico told her he already knew the answer.

“You not answering tells me that you know what happened.”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

Achid’s voice went cold.

“Marke was my friend, and I respected Redrick. I know Red killed Marke, but how did the cursed blade die? You are too young and inexperienced to be capable of avenging your dad.”

“How do you know that…”

“The whole dojo knew. It was the Truth given to Marke by a passing Teller. Red would be the one ending Marke’s life.”

Nay was speechless. She gazed upon the yellow ocean with gigantic waves in front of her.

Her father knew.

He came to save her, knowing it would kill him.

“He didn’t tell you? No, of course not, I’m being stupid, we’re talking about Marke here. So, who killed Red?”

“Marke did…they killed each other.”

“Marke!? Haha! What a madman, matching Redrick Darkstar! He died his head high then. I would have loved to see the face on the other bastard’s face.”

Nay looked up, and sighed. “The Commandare was smiling. He was relishing the fact of having seen a new technique, of having witnessed new possibilities.”

There was a long silence.

“I was being inconsiderate, I apologize. You saw everything?”

“Yes, I was there.”

“Nothing you could have done. It was written.”

A Truth had been said. Marke knew since the beginning that Redrick would kill him. But then, why live in the same city? Why take this risk? Nay asked herself the question, but deep down, she already knew the answer. They were friends, that was why. Even at the end. Even if they did not want to.

“Maybe.” She finally responded. “But if Tellers only bring out unavoidable tragedies, why ask them for the Truth?”

“Well, sometimes, their answers bring good things. Look, I asked who my wife would be, and thanks to the Teller’s answer, I found her right away.”

“But…If you hadn’t asked, would you even have met her?”

“Yes, of course. But maybe much later. “Achid seemed convinced, but Nay wasn’t so sure. She liked Carle a lot, but she had asked herself the question before. What did Tellers really bring?

“Another example, look.” Achid continued. “Marke was given two Truths. He asked who would end his life, and what his greatest achievement would be. You know the answer to the second?”

“No…”

“Well…that he would be the one finishing off the monster that would destroy the world!”

Nay stayed silent for a moment.

“But…Marke died!”

“Yes, which means that he already killed it. He saved the world!” Achid was completely convinced that what he was saying was true, but Nay did not believe it. Something was wrong, a piece of the puzzle was in the wrong place.

“Aren’t Truth sometimes false? How to be sure he didn’t die before accomplishing his destiny?”

Achid chuckled. “Don’t believe those idiocies, they are Jormun priests, they speak the wisdom coming from the wisest of gods, how could they be wrong?”

Nay began replying but was cut by Achid’s vocal commands. “Ohhhh, turn Pattie.”

The Lesardo obeyed, and Nay was faced with a spectacular view.

“We have arrived. Nay, I present to you Makaka, former capital of Striavie.”

In the distance, on the entirety of a hill emerging from the sea of sand, stood a city. On its top was build a gigantic rectangular tower, mainly ochre red, with strips of white and gold, shining brightly under the sun high in the sky.

“And you are currently gazing upon the most beautiful construction in the Empire, the Keep of Vanni. Well, in my humble opinion, I’ve never actually seen the temple of Lebe or the Imperatrix’s palace.”

Nay could not deny the undeniable. The view was astonishingly beautiful.