"Am sorry for your loss. Hope they enjoy the Linniq as much as we will when the time affirms itself"

"Hope, yours will too".

"At best, but I still hope to make it possible for my sister at the least before I pass.." he replied in a sorrowful composure.

Chainik noticing the touchy subject flipped the conversation.

Her face lit up like a stroke of lightning had hit her, raising her voice in a sweet manner like a harp.

"Beyond the realm past is a land of riches. Valleys, mountains, springs, and lakes. With animals' unseen to us. Across the sea, betrothed Between a vast ocean and a series of land. Is our homeland…"

"My mother used to say there is a giant crescent lapis lazuli stone tower in the center. A marking spot of the Śeingtt. A beacon of some sort I think. No matter how far you strayed off you could always find yourself back home. They say the Śiekl are the ones that birthed the light they radiated. I wish I could have seen it, but it's all myths. We know nothing of our people, we might just be the last…"

"That is where I get my name from according to my mother's fairy tales" she finished wiping a tear from her eye.

Klossi harkened to her story.

Then he spoke out.

"The song of the Sade!"

"You're not the only ones to have heard of it?"

Chainik shot up, in excitement.

"You've heard??…"

"The Caciccaci Ella'shi spoke of it. It was an old name shared by all the settlers of Eein. In all the dialects spoken that word kept popping up. The obsession drove men mad. After the twin Śeingtt founded the Linniq. The Priests and people loosened their frantic babbling of it!".

Klossi saw Chainik spark up with joy hearing this.

It seemed like the stories her parents told her matched up with the history of the land.

Klossi knew of others but refused to tell. Deep down he felt guilty for withholding history and secrets but he had no choice.

The information was banned and taboo for the inhabitants of Eein to know.

Chainik stared out the basement barred window. Dazed at the relief of the truth she had just heard.

The night sky was now brightening as the hours passed.

In the hallow caverns, the group traversed.

They met lizards, snakes and scorpions as their sandals. Trampled on the forsaken barren land.

For the click, it was a new experience.

The pilgrimage had come early, many were unsure.

The rite of passage normally reserved to the Śeinq was being done by children. One of which had just been consecrated a few days before.

Since they had begun, they had been on the move. Not stopping or resting.

The threat was very much still alive and looming.

It was only a matter of time before the siege of the capital would commence.

Kairui peeped ahead through a crack in the mountains. Catching a small glimpse of the blinding rising sun in the far distance.

Urging them to rush forward ahead.

Leaving the dark caverns, they had done one thing at least. Replenishing their waterskins with the reservoir water. Latched and sliding down the rocks and collected dried cave mushrooms while exploring.

"Surprised anything still grows in these chasms" Yannu announced. Shocked at the narrow pathways.

"If the Śeikl provides, we anything is possible!" Ussu answered to his statement.

They continued through their passageway crossing over the canyons.

Emptying out of the cavern enclave. They emerged dusty and worn beaten up by the canyon's stuffy embrace.

The bats fled out above their heads as the scarved women revealed themselves to the outside. Ussu and Yannu propped out last, catching their breaths.

A blinding white light stunned their vision temporarily. Leaving them dazed for a short while.

Kairui pointed to the far canyons up ahead. The couple coughed out relentlessly in agony. Aya and Shassii beat their chests until they caught their bearings.

"Once we cross there, we should meet the start of the desert. The beginning of our journey will have ended".

"Where we headed,…to a…. town…you said??" asked Ussu.

Kairui turned back.

"You'll know once you see it hahaha. Just like you'll know when we meet the desert" she scoffed, waving at the crew to follow.

Then they made their way, stepping over the sandy terrain.

The sand beat across them, slapping the harsh desert winds against them.

"So, your sure of this land. With a lapis lazuli pillar erected up above everyone!? With giant vines so long they wrap and hold the world up. Where rivers cross over and are tunnels for man to see! With networks hidden in the world, linking one end to the other. In no time at all, with beasts and creatures unknown to man!??" he interrogated confused and plagued by her story.

Chainik straightened out her face, unbothered by his persistent questions.

"Ajil!" she responded nonchalantly in his mother tongue.

The two glared at each other for a while sharpening their eyes.

Each thought they were mocking each other.

Then a smile grew on Klossi's face. Chainik copied as well, blushing while hiding her smile.

Klossi suddenly burst out, chuckling and giggling at her impression.

Klossi howled and spiraled into a sporadic put of joy. Tears fell from his eyes.

Chainik chugged out a few snickers, trying to keep face. The two truly did enjoy each other's company.

"Your pronunciation is off, but it shall do".

"Haven't had one to speak back to me in my people's language in a while" he said, wiping the tears from his eyes.

Chainik lit up flustered by his words.

Then she rubbed his hand as she smiled at him.

Klossi looked at her, as they stared at their beaten appearances passionately.

"Certainly not in that strange dialect in the least" he joked, jerking his eyebrows up. Teasing her.

Chainik pouted punching his shoulder through the cage. The two jested as the night passed on.

Staring outside she saw a glimmer of light emerge.

A large torch appeared with the voice of two men, echoing out in the darkness of the night.

The two knew who it was and slumped themselves to the ground. Pretending to sleep.

Klossi crawled away from the bars, isolating himself in a corner while he masked his breath.

Chainik kept one eye open gritting her teeth together.

She was scared and had given up but Klossi had given her hope for a moment.

Hate swelled in the bellow of her stomach, her heart pacing frantically.

Her senses were sharpened, she wanted to kill the man who had tainted her body.

Klossi spotted her anger and whispered as the men drew closer to the cellar door.

The keys entered and twisted, falling to the ground as the drunk men. Chuckled at the mishap, reminiscing in their foreign tongue.

"Stay strong! Śeingtt watch over us…hold your anger until there's a point for us free! Bear with it for a while, I promise we are soon to be rid of him" Klossi muttered under his breath.

Chainik saw the look in his eyes.

She didn't need to nod or respond, instead, she sealed her eyes shut.

Weary and cautious, she shook sporadically as she was afraid he would have his way with her again.

The men made their way down the stairs.

With Frinist taking a seat on the rusty wooden chair. Tannol lit up the sconces, bringing the cellar to life. Resting his beer mug on the table, taking a swig while laughing hysterically.

Tannol leaned over into the cage, spotting the fearful Chainik.

Her quivering excited him even more.

Klossi saw this, his gasps got louder.

Chainik grew scared as she couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

Tannol could hear her sniffles and chimes out.

"Haha, the bitch is scared!" Tannol roared out, amped up by the alcohol in his system.

He tossed and turned the keys, restless to get inside with her.

Mocking and jeering at her face, like a wild dog.

Chainik met eyes with him, angry and scared.

The crazed man licked the bars seductively, grossing her out.

Her cries couldn't be ignored anymore.

Klossi heard them all, it reminded him of his sister.

The advice he gave her tore him apart inside.

A rage was building inside him.

Can I really sit by and let this happen!!! AGAIN!! KLOSSI KIL'AI SON OF …..

Tannol burst through the cage, slamming the door open.

He grabbed Chainik who bit his arm in response.

Latching back, he slapped her across banging her head on the bars then landing on the floor.

On the squashed hay, dazed by the blow to her head. She saw Klossi watching her.

A look of sorrow and sadness filled her once again.

"KLOSSI!!!" she cried out.

Tannol laughed at her attempts.

"There's nothing he can do for you girly" he spoke out.

He shut his eyes again, refraining from looking.

There was nothing he could do, yet he was filled with guilt and grief.

Tannol loosened his belt, turning her round to meet his face.

Frinist clapped and cheered him on.

Chainik regaining composure headbutted him, fazing him.

Sending him back a few paces.

His anger grew and he grabbed her hair. Pulling her out of the cage like a stained carpet.

Then he raised her up, punching her stomach in. As she groaned out in pain, he raised her jaw with a sharp jeer.

Frinist chuckled at the sight, aping his comrade on.

Tannol grabbed her breasts and fondled them viciously.

Chainik fell into a fall of depression, as the tears rushed from her face.

A soft wail left her mouth.

The group now cleared the way through the canyons.

Ahead they could see the black lands.

A small glimmer of shine highlighted the roofy sandy hills of the great desert.

They paced themselves keeping together walking in a line.

Quine stabbed a creeping scorpion that tried to sting her.

Kicking it away.

"Keep up!" Kairui instructed leading the way.

In the cellar, Frinist sat. With the torches shining on his face.

Surely the two men, if any word could describe them it would be devils.

They glared with disgusting thoughts as Tannol man handled Chainik. Attempting to rip the girl's clothes off.

Chainik's moans and cries grew louder as she begged.

Tannol grew frustrated hearing this and gripped her breasts tightly. Causing her to scream out in pain.

This was it, the boiling point!

Klossi couldn't sit still any longer.

"ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!" a loud yell erupted from the prisoner's cage.

Klossi anger exploded, his muscles flexed and bulged as he shot up. He raced to the gate of his sealed cage.

Frinist mocked his foolish attempt.

Klossi dashed with the force of a buffalo using his shoulder. He bashed pacing trying to free himself.

The men mocked him, while Tannol abused the young Chainik.

She wept out for both him and her.

Chainik had never met a man like him before, truly he was sent by the Śeingtt to watch over until she passes she thought.

After a few attempts, the gates shook but didn't budge. Klossi shoulder bones broke as he was knocking open the gate, with this newfound strength. The bolts and locks shook loose as he pounded at them fiercely.

I must make it through, not another time!! I can't watch! Come on KLOSSI!!

What sort of man would I be to see such atrocities!? How could my wife live with me, bearing these sins!??

He continued on bash after bash.

"Am coming Chainik!!, am coming!!" he roared.

The jeers and laughter grew louder.

Chainik closed her eyes, screaming out to him.

"Klossi, it's ok…just give up" she wept, sorrowfully.

Klossi paused wailing for air as his lungs bulged. His shoulder, now broken and his limbs aching with pain.

He saw the eyes in the room. The look on these devil's faces made him grew angrier!

Racing like a cheetah he clashed with cage door.

The doors burst open flying off the hinges.

Ussu slugged as she was caught by Aya. Who stopped her from tripping on the floor.

The two bumped into Yannu, Shassii, and Quine who all froze in their steps.

"What's the held up?" Aya questioned puzzled.

The sun grew over the horizon, lighting up the surroundings.

Aya unaware, poked the pair in front trying to get a response.

"YANNU, SHASSII!"

"QUINE!??"

She squeezed in between them, with Ussu behind.

The two froze like statues seeing the world ahead.

They had finally reached the desired point!

The realm Past!

It lay just a few paces ahead of them.

The sand dunes were being revealed under the sun, as they gazed jaw dropped in wonder.

Tears fell from their eyes; the rumors and tales were true.

The juxtaposition was the same, but it was like two different worlds. The enclave of their home vs the open-world up ahead. They honestly thought the world ended, but from where they stood it looked like it would go on and on.