1 Zest - The Fire in the Rain - [part 1]

In the tales told to the children of early ages, the beginnings would always go by the same pattern. But the truth and reality were ever bitter, and it was about time for it to be told to everyone:

Once there was an old kingdom yet strong, Crypthin. Led by so-called the wisest one, King Guinn. The Kingdom itself held many stories, being the witness of tragedies long happened in the past. Blinding himself of it, King Guinn made and retained this awe-inspiring homeland. His people were always happy. War had not been there for almost a decade. There was a good slumber of peace.

Or so at least, of what he would like to think...

***

It was a night like any other, a cold dark night. The air was crisp and smelled of soil, the kind of smell you would find before a rain. It was to be expected if it were to rain, this was the middle of the monsoon season and the eightieth years of Zest's life. The life of which he spent in this homeland of his, the kingdom of Crypthin. He was not of noble-born, but he was raised properly and had been grateful for it. His parents were the best memory of his life, one he would always treasure deeply in his heart. It was only because of them, that Zest and his sister could go on with their lives, in days either grim or lively. Alas, Zest and his sister were separated.

"I wonder where she is now," Zest mumbled. His voice almost got drowned by the crackling noise of the fireplace. Pearce said the soldiers did not bring enough firewood, and yet the flames seemed to be kindled strongly by itself, rising high and bright, illuminating the whole barrack. It was as if they were powered by magic.

"She must be somewhere out there, living on her own, Zest. Most likely, she's doing fine." Pearce said, sitting close to the fireplace. The two of them just got inside. They were from Zest's house, and it was cold outside. The warmth of the fires helped to shoo the cold air away. Zest turned towards him, his face a sad one. "Don't presume you can just comfort me like that, that's not what had happened. She was kidnapped, Pearce. Taken, right in front of me."

"Aye, and it was a long time ago. Dwelling on the past imparts you nothing of good."

Zest turned his gaze back to the fireplace, "There were lots of fires, back then. The smoke, the smoke… it hurts my eyes just remembering it. If only I were stronger, I wouldn't have left her with them like she had told me to."

He wondered what would happen if he was the one taken by those people. "You were a child," Pearce shook his head and sipped his horn of ale. "It was only the right thing that you went to my uncle. Sadly, there was panic. It happened too fast." Pearce was only saying the truth. Zest knew what he said was right, that he could not have done anything else. His heart, however, would ache still.

His sister was the bravest woman he had ever known, she would dare speak up to people much older than herself. As Zest would do the same for her if she were here now, he thought. That night, he could remember standing beside his sister, as she shouted to those people. Words he could barely remember now. Only his sister would do something like that, her will to protect the two of them embedded in his mind, encouraging him even now.

But the Witch was just as young as her back then, and she was not merciful.

***

What's done is done. If Pearce said that they need not think of what had already happened, that would also include not to speak of his father. For within each of their young hearts lie a sickly bitter regret. Pearce's father was a man trusted by the late king Leodegrance, the father of Guinn. But his was one story unpleasant to be told. Some may say he was a turncloak– a traitor, but Zest believed he only did what he thought was best. The trusted knight left the kingdom to give his aiding hand over to the Witch, Lancelot's daughter. He had forsaken his title, his knighthood, his respect from the people of Crypthin. He had left everything, knowingly full-well he would also leave his only son Pearce as well. But it was known that the old man's willpower was not to be questioned.

Sir Burns will return and with him the Witch and her army of pretenders. It was only a matter of time.

Zest stood up, "Levia said that you need to do your best tomorrow," he tapped on Pearce's shoulder. His test of knighthood would be a strict one, King Guinn himself would be the one who would knight him as he swears the oath. Pearce gave Zest a reassuring smile, "I will," Pearce nodded. "You may see me now as a boy, but tomorrow you will see me as a knight. But a knight loyal to the kingdom I serve." There was a pause, "Unlike my father,"

Zest had nothing more to say, he smiled and nodded to his friend, turning around. Zest pulled his cloak and spread it over his back. When he opened the door and stepped out of the doorway, only did he realize something was wrong. It was a freezing night, and it was late, but the sky was alight. The sky shone above the horizon, to the north. There were something around the clouds, red lines, bright in contrast to the dark grey clouds. Zest pulled off his hood and observed the view before him, his mouth agape in shock and wonder. Those lines formed a symbol in the sky. A colossal summoning pentagram.

When the symbol brightened even further, Zest knew something was about to happen. "Pearce–" he was about to call out his friend. But then he saw it, and all the words that were formed in his lips left him. A meteor, as big as he could imagine, was born from the fires of the now-lit summoning symbol in the clouds. The meteor left a trail of flames in the sky, and the night was illuminated by it. It felt like dawn. When the gigantic meteor touched the ground, the night was over.

The impact of the explosion stole Zest's footings. His ears rang loudly, and he felt the earth shook under him, he flew. There was nothing more to be said. Their relaxing everyday life was over. The Witch returned.