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Many years ago, the old ones watched the young, curious to learn about them and their ways, wondering about the beauty of the new.

Through the existence of each other, the realms attained the luxury to meet those different yet the same.

Unbeknownst to the young, by merely existing, they flooded the eon long peace of the old, setting the stage for an age of darkness.

From the abyss, an individual rose with a simple dream, to unite his people as one, and build a meekless kingdom never to fall.

He succeeded.

Until the meekest arrived to crumble it to pieces.

xxx

Through this book, I introduce the realm of Alem. Know that it’s not Heaven, Hell, or any other place after death, but a realm of the living, in essence, like the realm of Earth.

The place is unique in many ways, as you’ll see throughout the story, but carries similarities with Earth, which too will be explained along the way.

As we go on, you’ll notice many stones, hopefully wondering what lays beneath them. And as the author, I’ll do anything in my power to leave none unturned. Aside from interest, I therefore ask for patience. For what is a story but timely revealed information?

xxx

The Mysterious Stranger

xxx

Long ago, in the divided lands of Central Alem, from the poorest families, a young boy named Kairi (Kàyree) of Helon was born.

Great things were expected of him, and he went beyond them all. Some would say a bit too far beyond.

The people called him ‘Conqueror’ and his henchmen ‘the Kormoro’. For many years he ruled as the first King of United Central, with a heavy hand and heavier ideologies.

In time, the bliss he used to bring on his people’s faces faded, but believing his actions were for the best of all, he continued on, always sporting a smile as he got carried through the cities he ruled.

One day, visiting the east of Central, he noticed for the first time in years a man in the crowd who not only reciprocated his joy, but did so with the widest of smiles. It did his heart good to know some still believed in him.

Little did King Kairi know it was then he, for the first time, laid eyes on the man who would later be dubbed ‘the Deceiver’.

The Revolutionist dreams of the future – the Redemptionist of the past – if both were to clash – which one would last?

In The Wake Of His Death

xxx

Castle Ryut - The Eastern Dead Ring - Middle-East Alem

Exterior cobble, interior wood, in a dim palace room, small, cozy, or perhaps modest fits it better? There stand two men, able to see each other only for the northward window, permitting the first sun’s light to hit their skins.

‘Are you sure about this?’ Yaş (Yàsh) asked. His tough facade didn’t fail him, but knowing him for so long, Cuma (Joomà) felt his worries within.

‘What’s there to be sure about? You saw the beacon, didn’t you? Do you know of anyone else whose offspring could do that? She was due around this time of year as well. I have been called, so I must answer,’ Cuma said as he dressed in a wheat and bisque colored robe.

‘You know, an event this important may be a reason to go together?’ Yaş said.

‘Who are you, and what did you do to my friend?’ Cuma asked, ‘you’re smart enough to know, I don’t go to fight, but to do what I do best.’

‘I take that as a no. What a shame. I’m sure Cek (Czèk (Polish cz)) would’ve loved to see him again.’

They stared at each other for a second, followed by Cuma bursting out in laughter at the ridiculousness of his statement, with Yaş only hinting a slight smile.

‘How funny,’ Cek said from behind them, cutting the laughter short, ‘you should hurry, it will take a while to get there on foot.’

Cuma looked at Yaş, and he nodded in agreement. He walked in front of Cuma, towering with his height. His dark skin seemed even darker now as he blocked the light casting from the window behind him. His shadow covered Cuma’s entire body, which considering his size, isn’t all that impressive.

‘Are you confident you’ll be fine? Is there any way we can help you?’

Cuma smiled, ‘don’t you worry, I’ll come back in one piece. Ryut’s throne will be divided in three until the day we all depart.’

Cuma turned to Cek, who said nothing, because knowing him, he didn’t really care about farewells all that much, even if they would be forever.

‘Alright then, see you later!’ Cuma said and began leaving, but Yaş quickly grabbed his arm after the first step he took. ‘Cuma,’ he said, ‘don’t underestimate him.’

He knew Cuma worried about him the most, but still warned him, for he would never forgive himself if his death was caused by the off chance of Cuma not considering his arrival. With a nod he went on his way again, starting the journey to secure the future.

His friends stood at the door as Cuma got further and further away from their humble palace.

‘I don’t mind having a bigger share of the throne, as I’m sure all three of us want a kingdom of our own. That being said, Cuma’s share of the royal responsibilities is the paperwork…’ Yaş said.

‘I already planned on doing it,’ Cek replied.

Yaş put his hand over the shoulder of his co-King; ‘having someone as plain as you sure is convenient sometimes.’ Cek didn’t respond, as is his classic manner.

‘I noticed you didn’t bid him farewell.’

‘I don’t care if he returns or not,’ Cek said.

‘Are you sure, because I think you do.’

Cek turned his head towards Yaş, tilting it slightly sideways. ‘Why else would you come to the palace at the moment of his departure, hmm?’ Yaş asked squinting his eyes, and upon seeing Cek would say nothing again, said; ‘Cuma knows too, he always does.’

Tiger, Uzi, and the Deceiver

◊◊◊

Days later

From where he stood, to the farthest horizon, all was yellow in the coarsest of sands. The first sun was shining its burning rays on Cuma’s shoulders and straight silver hair. Cek never admitted to it, but Cuma caught him staring infatuatedly at the strands on his head. He loves his hair, but probably only because it resembles a spider’s silk so very much.

He stretched his arms high, making the wide sleeves of his robe fall and expose his pale arms to the light. ‘Alright, it’s a ten-hour run from this point onwards,’ he said to himself as he reached a wooden pole which seemed to once hold a sign. ‘Can’t blame those who desert a desert,’ he thought as he hit the pole half an inch deeper.

Instead of going on though, he rerouted towards the southwest. He’d walked this path many times in his younger years, and there’s a small inn which should still have some useful visitors. But above all else, Cuma takes every chance he gets to visit this inn, curious to see if a certain someone has finally let go of the past.

‘Let’s see if I’m lucky, being famous ain’t always sweet,’ he thought, using the word ‘famous,’ knowing very well there is a different, yet similar word suiting him much better.

Closing in on the inn, he sensed life living around him. Serpents and arachnids, moving away as he approached. In Alem, those belonging lower in the food chain are wise, for they sense some Demons can play the part of predator with the utmost prestige. And so, they distance themselves, not out of fear, but out of respect for one who stands so far above them.

‘An accomplice could come in handy,’ he thought, and whistled to halt the slithers of a snake a few feet ahead. The snake, almost brainwashed, felt he needed to oblige to whatever this Demon wanted from him in order to survive.

‘You’re coming with me, handsome little thing,’ he said as it came and stopped near his feet, looking up to who had called. Its eyes were enormous, round, and orange like a tiger’s, protruding like a frog’s, with its scales alternating between maroon and yellow.

‘Oh, wow, handsome is an understatement. Open that mouth for me, please,’ he said as it stared into Cuma’s light gray eyes.

‘Pitch black and tongueless, eh? You’re not venomous,’ he said as he rubbed his index-finger against the roof of its mouth. ‘Freezing cold in the middle of the desert?’ With a sample of its saliva on his finger, he pressed it on his tongue, tasting it like a veteran gourmet.

‘Tasty, but I was wrong, wasn’t I, little guy? You’re as venomous as they come, paralyzing the unfortunate recipients of your razor-sharp fangs. Hurry up and enter. We’re going to have some fun together, my little friend. I hereby name you, Tiger!’

It entered his robe, coiling itself around his upper left arm. ‘Just keep on tight.’

Half an hour later, he saw the dark brown wooden building in the distance; ‘Oh God, finally. So it still stands, Linken Cross Inn. It’s been about eleven years. I hope she’s still the one running it.’

Needing more intel, he sent out Tiger to take a look inside as he started digging a hole, using only his bare hands. ‘I need a cold spot to think clearly. The sun tends to burn holes in my plans,’ he thought.

Finished, he gave two claps to let most grains fall off his hands, waiting patiently for his accomplice to return.

Tiger took his time, but after connecting their gazes, he knew he’d gotten what he wanted. ‘So, who is it?’

Tiger tilted his head to the left.

‘Of course, how could I forget,’ he said, presenting his palms. ‘Right palm means no, left means yes, alright?’

He rested his head on Cuma’s left. ‘Good boy, now; brown hair? Yes. Green eyes? Yes.’ He sighed and gave a smile, already being sure of who it is, but still asking the final question to guarantee; ‘blue nails? Yes.’ Cuma looked up with dreamy eyes, ‘Viera… (Vee-èrà)’ he said, ‘I probably should’ve begun with that… that’s some pretty keen eyesight for a snake. ’

‘Let me know if you see someone,’ he told Tiger, letting himself drop headfirst into the newly dug hole, writhing his body until buried completely.

Known in these lands as a man soaked in infamy, he has to be meticulous with every act he commits. In a few hours, a gathering of mon* will commence a couple of miles to the north. Cuma takes pride in the fact that he poses a great deal of threat to them, but it’s exactly this level of threat that hurts him so. Undoubtedly, they’ll try to deal with him the instant he presents himself, depending on who’s still standing the moment he arrives.

‘How do I claim the baby without drawing my last breath?’ he thought, ‘after everything that happened a few years ago, the fucker will make sure I won’t get the chance to lay a finger on the target. He has the upper hand, but that’s exactly how I like my battles. I need to recruit someone though, or else my chances are slim to none. Oh, how I wish to be someone else right now. How easy my life would be…’

Feeling Tiger circle around the bottom of his feet, he knew someone was approaching.

A wanderer, a visitor of the inn, or maybe Viera herself. If it’s anything but the latter, he’ll be more than rejoiced. Cuma moved his feet around, shoving the sand to the side to let Tiger in the hole.

He twisted his body until he turned 180 degrees, letting his feet enjoy the cold bottom now. ‘Tiger, be cool,’ he said. Tiger crawled around his waist, biting his tail, turning himself into an Ouroboros belt. ‘Let’s see who my new friend will be. First impressions last, though, so I should get out of this hole as soon as possible.’

He hopped out with a single jump, smooth and stylish, but not smart at all. He should’ve paid more attention to his surroundings, since the stranger was way closer than he’d anticipated.

‘H-holy crap, what, who are you!?’ he shouted upon seeing Cuma pop up. Cuma ignored his surprise and took a quick look at him. A straight brown haired, green-eyed, light-skinned young man with a pentagram shaped amulet on his chest.

‘Hey yo! Just a wanderer, do we know each other?’ he then said, thinking: ‘please say you’ve never seen me, please, please.’

‘No, I don’t think so. You scared the hell out of me, man. What were you doing in the sand?’

Cuma played with his robe to get rid of the grains. ‘Oh, you know, just cooling off, since it’s so warm.’

The stranger pointed his finger towards the inn. ‘There is literally an inn right there, though…’

‘Hah, you’re right, ha-ha. The heat must’ve got to my head.’

‘Well, I’m going there, so bye…’ he said, turning his back.

‘Wait! I’m joining you,’ Cuma said, running up to him.

‘Suit yourself.’

‘So, what’s your name?’ Cuma asked.

‘Why don’t you tell me your name first? Kinda bad-mannered, don’t you think?’

‘Oh my, you’re right. I’m Sir, Sir Mister.’

The stranger looked at Cuma, and upon confirming he wasn’t kidding, slapped his upper thigh, and laughed; ‘Ha-ha-ha! Are you serious? You’re kidding, right?’

‘Not at all… who’s bad-mannered now?’ Cuma said with a cheeky smile.

‘Oh, well, excuse me. I’m Uzi.’

‘Pleased to meet you,’ Cuma said, offering him his hand.

‘What?’ Uzi stopped and asked.

‘What? Oh, it’s something the humans do. You’ve never seen it before?’

‘What am I supposed to do?’

‘Give me your hand.’

‘Uhh…’

‘Come on now!’ Cuma said and grabbed it himself. ‘Now grasp firmly and shake.’

Uzi began vibrating his hand rapidly.

‘I’m not your girlfriend, buddy. Slow down. Here, do it like this,’ he said and shook his hand.

‘Alright, what now?’ he asked after Cuma let go.

‘That’s it.’

‘That’s it? Why would one go through all that trouble just to meet someone? Humans can speak, right?’

Cuma shook his head slowly. ‘Not everything has to be practical. Some physical contact is good at times. Forming bonds with your brethren.’

‘Maybe in the lands of those claymen, but things like that don’t fare well here. Let me give you some advice, don’t go touching people you don’t know. You never know what they might be up to!’

Cuma closed his eyes and nodded his head twice. ‘Yeah, I’ll keep it in mind. I didn’t want to start a discussion. Shaking someone’s hand is known by most Demons though, you must not be into Humans all that much.’

He turned his head to him with his hand on his forehead, index-finger and pinky stretched, middle and ring finger touching his thumb, the Harek* – Alem’s first hand sign of unity.

‘Why would I bother learning about those lesser folk, I follow the Eternal King,’ he said with a wink.

‘A Verunist* I see, may you be protected,’ Cuma said with the Harek himself.

‘And you as well.’

They arrived at the inn, but before entering, Cuma turned his back to Uzi, saying; ‘hold on, just have to fix something.’

He let Tiger release the bite on his own tail and whispered; ‘alright little guy, this might feel uncomfortable, but you have to get inside.’

‘Are you alright?’ Uzi asked.

He turned around and coughed; ‘ha-ha, yeah, sorry. Let’s enter, I’m fine.’

‘No need to apologize, everyone has to adjust the tool from time to time.’

The inn had a handful of customers. Exactly how he likes it. The age-old wood croaked as they placed their steps. Cuma could feel the stares of half a dozen people watching them. One sprinted to the back of the inn, disappearing into a room leading to one of the sweetest women he’d ever come to know. They took a seat on the barstools.

Every plank making the inn held a different color, turning the place into a piece of joyful art. In this cloudless desert, the customers of the Linken Cross sat on top of a rainbow, owning the sky from beneath. Nowhere else could one feel the expression of ‘the customer is King’ more than here, and so, Cuma felt squared.

However, the interior’s condition had definitely seen better days. The same dark glass bottles decorated the back of the bar, never opened, dusty, and practically forgotten. It was now just a part of the wall. Viera treats the inn the same as she treats herself, never being someone that cared much about looks. It’s a shame, because she’s pretty without trying. In the past, Cuma spent hours imagining how she’d be with a bit of effort. Her old man would scold her straight if he ever saw this place, and it’s only because of his absence that it would ever get in a state less than perfect.

‘Have you ever been here before?’ Uzi asked.

‘No, never,’ he said with a head held low, tapping the wooden bar with his fingertips.

Uzi looked around him, ‘why are they staring at us? Probably not so fond of outsiders…’

‘Yea, maybe,’ Cuma said, trying to trace a heart on a heavily scratched part of the counter.

The awkward mood changed to even worse as a woman entered with heavy fury and thundering rage. ‘Get the fuck out, now!’ she shouted at the top of her voice.

Cuma stared calmly, with Uzi saying; ‘huh,’ in utter confusion.

She came closer, at the same time creating a red hot brewing ball of scorching fire in her palm. ‘Leave,’ she ordered.

‘Calm down, lady,’ Uzi said, putting both his hands above chest-level. ‘Sir, do you know this woman?’ he asked Cuma.

‘I can understand your confusion, Uzi. It just had to be this way,’ Cuma thought, answering; ‘no, not at all.’

She threw her fireball at Uzi.

Uzi caught it with both hands, right before it touched his chest. The inn turned as hot as the outside, adding another level to how uncomfortable the situation was. Uzi’s hands emitted a greenish smoke as his face switched to one more of menace.

‘Just go away! She doesn’t want you here!’ a customer shouted.

‘Fine,’ he then calmly said, leaving the inn mad as could be.

She didn’t take her eyes off him until he walked a good tenth of a mile’s distance, after which she turned her attention to Cuma.

‘Do you know him?’ she asked.

‘Not really. I met him just outside. We don’t even know each other’s names. Why did you treat him like that?’

She walked to the counter and poured herself a drink. Cuma watched every movement of her blue-painted nails, having missed them for all those years. ‘Long story. Just be sure to not associate yourself with him,’ she said, taking a glug.

‘How come? Is he dangerous?’ Cuma asked.

‘More than you could ever imagine. That man only brings misfortune to everyone around him. The more people know about him, the better, so spread his name;

Cuma, the Deceiver.’