36

Utopia

The inside of the castle was just as beautiful as the out with magnificent flowers and leaf plates adoring the walls.

The team followed behind Kristilla, trying not to fall back from all of the gawking they were doing. Once they reached a door, the group entered into a great hall. There in the center floor stood a woman.

Ariah stood tall, with rose pursed lips that complimented her glossing, bronze skin. Covering her hair, she wore a royal veil which flowed down her back. Surprisingly, this veil was sand that flowed like a soft waterfall down her back, but it didn't leave a trail. Her soft gold eyes lingered on the team with an adoring look, and she stretched her arms welcoming.

"Hello my friends. I pray your trip was comfortable." Ariah said which gained her a few grumbles. She let out a chuckle. "I am Ariah, empress over Keron. It is an honor to have you all in my home." She said gracefully and did a bow.

The doves returned it.

"It's really good to see you again, Ariah." King said.

"You as well." Ariah said, then smiled over at the young doves. "Your kids have grown."

"Yeah, they sprout like beans, this lot do." King joked.

Kristilla went to stand by Ariah's side. "I am grateful you found it in your heart to hear us in such short notice. Kristilla was pleasant I hope?"

"She was a doll." Nara answered, giving Ariah a forced smile. "So, do we have any recent news?"

"I'm afraid not. The person behind this has not been located." Ariah stated.

"I already got a fill in on our little criminal." King said, then went on to explain to her about Dax and the situation.

"He does sound problematic." Ariah said.

"Which is why I must ask for some men. I know I can't kill him, but we must do something to try and stop him or at least slow him down." King told her.

"Even though I am not Sandovian, they are our brother. We protect all in Summer border. I will join you and I give you my men." Ariah's soft voice was serious.

"Thank you, your grace." King accepted with a bow.

"Kristilla, ready as many who will follow and have them meet at the Kiraun at once." Ariah instructed to the lady. Kristilla bowed in acceptance and turned to leave the room.

Ariah then turned to the doves and said, "You can come with me."

The hallways were like a maze as the group followed Ariah through what felt more like a quest. Finally, they reached a door that led to a secret room. Once all were inside, Ariah closed the door and ran her hand across it. Soon the door dissolved, blending in with the surrounding wall.

They followed the empress down a long hall and up a spiral staircase to a secret room. Once inside Ariah marched over to a bookshelf. The room was pretty spacious, giving the group free wiggle room. It was pristine and clean with a magnificent cactus bookshelf. There were seats scattered around, but it seemed to be just a library.

Belle stepped over to Ariah, marveling at her collection. It was such a beautiful sight that she could cry.

"I have heard passed down legends of the Underlord and his children. I heard that he once was a God who roamed the lands before he was punished for killing his brother." Ariah spoke out, peering around at the books.

"Did you say that Gods roamed Arithe?" Belle spoke, looking up to the woman.

"Yes. The Gods used to home alongside us. Eons ago, this planet was beautiful and magical. Pure spiritual, or so I have heard. I never personally got to see it sadly. Such a shame." Ariah said with a pout then continued. "Any who, it is said that a few of the Gods revolted and started a revolution amongst the people. Soon they were banished into the underworld, a sealed prison into another dimension. But that also was the last time the Gods stepped foot on this realm. They just vanished, leaving the inhabitants confused, yet they grew strong and learned how to survive on their own without them. Now, here we are."

"Whoaa~" the group sung in awe.

"Yes, here we are. Godless on a planet once magical, that's now filled with ones who hate it." Belle grumbled out.

Ariah looked down at the girl. "They do not hate it necessarily. They are just misunderstanding the nature of it."

"Stop the delusions, Ariah." King said shaking his head. "I don't shy the truth away from my children."

"Just because it's your truths does not make it true." Ariah argued back giving the master a stern face. "For so long the nations have been at war. Magics have been attacked and have attacked back. What's come of it is divided lands and rogues. It will only stop when everyone stops thinking like you."

"Agree to disagree." King said then grew quiet.

Nara shifted uncomfortable with the little tension then said, "Let's stay in the present for now and focus on Dax. We need to find him before he wrecks more havoc."

"Indeed we do. Let's head out. Kristilla and my men will meet us there with our transportation." Ariah said and stepped to the wall then pushed against it. It slid to the side and open up to the outside. She walked through and everyone followed her.

They marched out onto the bright streets of Keron. The group walked along, with a cheerful Ariah gracefully waltzing down greeting her citizens.

"Not to be rude but wouldn't flying have been faster." Ace asked out.

"Yes, but I'm more of a hands-on lady. Though the land is magnificent from the skies, it is on the ground that you really get to feel Keron. Become one with everything around you." Ariah said.

They walked on through the city until they reached the edge. There was a tourist market court surrounded by the desert. This tourist attraction was known as the Kiraun. The group made it to the market where people were shopping at various booths.

"Wait here. I shall return." Ariah said then walked off.

The doves decided to look around. Ace, Ivy and K.O walked to a stand selling clothes and random trinkets.

"Welcome fine guest. My name is Hajjal and thank you for stopping at my stand. I have ancient treasure passed down through the generations rumored to possess magic." Hajjal greeted boldly.

"Well, I already have my own, so what kinda magic we talkin'?" Ace grumped out.

"Oh, mages I see." Hajjal nodded. He picked up a dark blue glass ball. "This one is called Kahlessi. It is heard that it could tell your future or answer any question you ask. But only if she chooses you."

"Nah." Ace grumped and shook his head.

Hajjal continued smiling as he put the ball down and picked up another trinket. It was a small statue woman holding a balance scale. "This is the Libra. She is said to bring balance into one's life and home." The man told them.

"How do you know if it works?" K.O asked.

"It is said to bring good fortune."

"Earnings?" Ace jolted out with starry eyes.

"More like good luck fortune." Hajjal answered.

"Nah, too risky." K.O declined.

"Too risky?" Hajjal asked.

"Means it ain't worth the earnings spent on it." Ivy stated, then eyed the man. "I know you got something good in this shitty shack of yours."

Hajjal thought about it then gave the trio a grin. He bent down then lifted back up, holding a dark purple box. "This box here is rumored to be Apocalypse. No known man has opened it and lived to tell the tale for it holds the trapped spirits of the 4 mothers." Hajjal told them as they leaned their heads in close intrigued by the box.

"The 4 mothers?" Ivy asked.

"Evil spirits." Hajjal stated.

The three looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

"Nah, toooo risky." Ivy huffed while chuckling. "Why would I want that anyway?"

"Yeah," K.O said along.

"But let's talk about this." Ace started a discussion with the man.

Ivy continued to look around when her eyes wandered off around the yard. Citizens walked around with beaming smiles. She suddenly paused when her eyes caught a familiar figure. A hulking man marched along a few feet away from her with a scarf covering his face. A scar ran across his forehead, a scar she knew too well.

She quickly reached for a scarf from the stand and wrapped it around her head and mouth. She handed Hajjal some coins.

"Thank you." She said, then marched off.

"Doves over here!" King called out from the desert. Everyone started gathering back up with the master.

Ariah was standing next to the master with a smile. "Our transportation should be arriving now." The empress said and soon they heard the ground tremoring.

Suddenly three giant camels marched onto the scene. One of the camels stepped over the family and seated inside of a howdah was Kristilla. She tossed a rope ladder down. They all climbed up the ladder and the camels took off into the desert.

The ride was smooth as the carriage swayed with the movement of the animals. Light dust storms blew passed and the sun was beaming down on the land, causing the Dove's to pant as they tried to fan themselves.

"How much longer?" King asked Ariah, with a face filled with sweat. His hands were turned into propellers as he blew air on his family to keep cool.

"It shouldn't be much longer." The lady answered.

"Well, hopefully I don't melt before we get there." King said with a chuckle.

Ariah let out a giggle herself. "You never did do well with the heat." She said softly.

"Yeah, well me and heat never did mix well." King said back.

Nara scolded a little at the scene as she bit her tongue. She knew her husband would never leave her, as he's proven time and time to her. Yet, she couldn't help that little green monster that whispered to her.

They suddenly came to a jerk and the camel let out a whine then a cry.

"Whoa." They all yelled as the carriage rocked from side to side.

King shot up and tried to glance down over the edge. The animal stomping made it hard for the master to see so he turned his arms into swords then jumped off.

He crashed to the ground leaving it crated in a little under his steel boots. He glared around, then jumped out of the way of a stomping hoof. This was becoming frustrating to King, but then he saw it. Biting into one of the camel legs a being. It was made of sand but had black lines glowing along its body.

King didn't waste time thinking as he dashed towards the creature. He sliced at it and the sand fell to a pile. A small black creature hit the ground.

King watched it squirm around until it crawled to its legs.

'A ghoul', he thought with a sneer. He spoke a spell then a dark film rose around him then he decapitated the ghoul. The spirit vanished in a poof.

He looked at the camel's bleeding leg then turned to find other possessed sand people were attacking all of the animals. They were all chewing at the animals' legs. His glare intensified as his aura grew bigger and then he ran on.

'Are these ghouls with Dax?' his thoughts went wild as he dashed along taking out the sand people then decapitating the ghouls as he went. Once he got rid of all the ghouls the camel stomped off, stampeding away. King bucked and weaved away before he looked at them getting away.

"Wait!" He yelled, then took off running towards the camels. He summoned the metal on his boots to turned to skis and skated over the sand. He lifted his hand and a magic seal formed. A chain sprung out and wrapped around one of the camel's legs. King grabbed the chain and was yanked along.

He turned his metal skis into one big sled and slid around with a chirpy 'woohoo' as he was dragged along the dirt. King rode the sand the entire trip until they finally reached Sandova. The kingdom was in ruins. Buildings laid in piles with citizens running around.

The camels came to a stop and the traveling guest all climbed down. Everything around them was so chaotic as the sandovians tried to piece themselves together again.

"Everyone, find someone to help. Let's make sure no one is left unattended." Ariah spoke out to her warriors, and they dispersed to go help the injured. The doves also went out to help where they could, although how could you really help sand?

The cries from the mothers and children pulled at Nara's heartstrings as she clutched her palm against Kings'. The pair gave each other a look.

Sand people and others were tending to various matters around the town while Ariah, Kristilla, King, and Nara made their way to the remains of what was the castle. Standing outside of the ruined building was Ms. Brew holding a distraught Cieanna.

"Ms. Brew," Ariah called, gathering her attention.

"Oh, empress Ariah, your grace." Ms. Brew greeted doing a respectful bow.

Ariah nodded with a smile and nod, then looked down to Cieanna. "Hello princess Cieanna." Ariah greeted softly.

"You have to save my brother." Cieanna suddenly cried out.

The adults looked on confused at the girl. She wiped the tears wetting her sand face with a blanket.

"Your brother?" Ariah asked.

"Yes, your grace. Prince Shaema is marching along with that boy." Ms. Brew answered.

"The bad men took him. They turned him into a monster!" Cieanna shouted as she continued to cry. "My brother would never do that. My brother would never hurt mom and dad. He would never hurt those people like that. That boy turned him into a monster. You have to save him." The girl bawled out with hiccups on her breath.

Ms. Brew shushed the child and she snuggled deeper into the older ladies' neck.

"Dax," King growled out.

"Dax?" Ms. Brew asked aloud.

The master just shook his head then stepped over to the older woman and young princess. Placing a comforting hand on their shoulders, he looked into their eyes. "I will bring your brother back. I swear it on my life."

It was a good thing that they knew who was responsible, so now all they had to do was find him. And now King had an idea truly of who they were up against.

"We should go, it's getting dark soon." Nara said as she looked to the sun starting to set. With that the four adults agreed and bid their farewells, then walked off.

The team hit the desert once again this time to try and stop Dax before he does more damage. In the next town over is where they'll find Dax and his ghouls devouring the city person by person.

outro: afraid, the Neighbourhood