Chapter 1: Separate lives

"Who shall I be, what can I change. What could be my destiny?.."

Curdling screams of War.. swords clashing onto each other... Under a foggy atmosphere, bodies laid all over the ground..

"Look what you have done! Look at the bodies, of those who suffered." A she, shouted. "These people, fought for their nation. Fought for survival. Yet.. Because of your pathetic need for vengeance. These lives that lay before us, paid the price." She once again, shouted.

"The lives of these people, would have not been wasted, if only you stood your ground and surrendered. If only you admitted you were wrong! This was all your fault." Another she, has answered. Emphasizing.

"I never did what you accused me of! Why would I? Don't you know me enough-" the other, cut her off. "No. No I dont.", coldly responding.

She clenched the handle of her sword, as she then threw it on the ground. It leaving a clanging sound as it hit the soil. "I.." she started off, "I surrender" she continued as her voice breaks through the very sentence she despises to ever say. She fell onto her knees, as a lone tear fall onto her cheek.

The other, lifted her sword onto the air and, she swung it downwards, but then-

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The piercing sound of an arrow through the wind, til it goes into a tree bark. The beautiful sounds of nature, the songs of the birds through the warm breeze. Along with slight rays of sun peaking through the leaves.

"Hey" a deep feminine voice interrupts. The archer flinched and aimed the bow where the sound came from. "Woah, it's just me!" They woman spoke with a chuckle. The archer sighed, "Gosh, thankfully it was only you Zara. I could've shot you! I thought I was some sort fo ambush" the archer then said.

"Relax, training again Jas?" Zara then spoke. "Yeah, I need to prove myself to our leader for him to choose me." Jas replied.

"Don't tell me this is about the annual Jaza festival?" Zara groaned. "Yes! It is the choosing of assassin's, warriors and archers from different clans to train. I've been longing to prove my Clan's strength. If I don't, I would end up being a disappointment" She utters as she emphasizies that she could be one of the chosen archers.

"No you will not! Just trust yourself and do your best. Even if you get chosen or not, never stop believing yourself." Zara then lectured Jasmine. "Well, I need to train as well. But most certainly not for the festival." Zara explained. "Yeah sure sure", Zara then walked through the path til she reached a training ground she made near an abandoned cabin which she made her own. She set up the decoys and proceeded to choose a weapon of her choice from a wooden table.

She picked up a pocket knife, and started to swiftly throwing it onto the target. She hit a head shot. She gave a cheeky grin as she picked up a dagger, she proceeded to activate her wooden mechanism of moving decoys. She swiftly ran through the field and grazed a part of the decoy. Her dagger left a mark onto the throat of the decoy.

She practiced for a few minutes til she hears rusting of leaves. She grabbed an arrow from the table, once a silhouette was present she threw the arrow til it missed by a centimeter and pierced through the wind. The person froze, zara slowly realized who it was. "Dad!?" She exclaimed. "Wow... Honey, you almost killed your own father.." he stutters. She ran towards him and gave him a tight hug. "When did you come back? And I'm so sorry for that, you didn't have to scare me like that!" She then complained.

Her father hugged her in return as he placed his hand on her back patting it gently. "It seems you're working hard for the Jaza festival?" He mentions. "No, ofcourse not. I don't want to join some pathetic festival." She groans. "Oh, wait really?" The dad awkwardly says as he lets go of her and scratches the back of his head. "Dad??" Zara then proceeded to tease him. "What did you do?" She asked. "I.. might've signed you up for it-" , "What!?" She shouted in shock. "Dad are you serious?" She asked in shock. "Yes.. im sorry honey! You loved the idea of being an assassin since you were a kid so I figured you wouldn't mind" he explained with a warm expression. "I know dad. But I mean you should've told me first" Zara then proceeded to gradually lower her tone. She sighs, "guess I have no choice" she groans. "That's my daughter!" Her father exclaimed in joy. She sighed, with a grin as her father hugged her tight once again.

A few days later, she was walking along the forest path. Entering one of the villages, Jasmine pounced at her in excitement. Zara immediately flipped her over and almost twisting her arm as a threat. "WAIT" jas shouted in fear, "it's just me Zizi!" She shouted anxiously. Zara hit a realization and let go of jasmine. "You have to stop that, I almost hurt you" Zara proceeded to lecture jasmine, visibly worried. "Well.. I guess we are even now then?" Jasmine responded.

They both chuckled, they walked together roaming the village. "But seriously, you should sign up for the Jaza festival. You would seriously kill it! I'm sure you'd get picked somehow." Jasmine cheerfully explained. "I don't even have to, my dad already signed me up for it." She mentioned with a sound of disappointment. "Really!" Her friend exclaimed in joy.

"Okay seriously, how can you be the best Archer I have ever known yet also the most humblest and kindest person I have ever known. You seriously give off the vibe like you cant even kill a mosquito." Zara said with a grin. "Oh I know, it's my charm." Jasmine said in a cheeky way. While walking a random civilian bumped into jasmine, "oh

Sorry" jasmine said humbly. "Watch where you're going clown face." The guy said rudely. "That is the most mediocre insult I have ever heard." Zara said with laugh. "And who are you? You wouldn't wanna know what I can do to girls like you." He proceeds to respond with pride. Zara lost her smirk, "I just might be the one to break your jaw so you won't be able to talk so disrespectfully to us again." She threatens him with a cold glare.

"Like you petite girls can do any damage to a guy like me-" he was cut off by the swift movement in the air, all of a sudden his head was locked in Zara's arms as she holds a blade close to a vital spot. The guy fell silent, "can't we?.." she said coldy, slightly grazing the blade through his skin teasing him with a threat. "She said sorry, I think we better move on before it gets messy. Don't underestimate us." She says coldy as she shoved him forward. Zara nods onto jasmine and as jasmine walked towards Zara, she stopped midway and kicked the guy in the leg. "Trust me, you're lucky that is all we did." She says with a glare. She then follows Zara and they left, leaving the guy onto the ground as a crowd stares into the scene descending.

As they descend from the scene, Zara finally broke the silence. "Gosh, I hate men like him. So corrupted, such high ego and pride" she proceeded to speak with disgust tracing all over those very words. "Girl you were amazing there!" Jasmine finally grew a smile.

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"Another part of you.. a person who also wishes for change. But together, what can we change?"

Sound of water dripping breaking a thin layer to the silence. Glimmering light shining from crystals, reflecting onto a beautifully crystal clear water. Reveals a silhouette of a tall man with quite long hair tied up into a low ponytail. A man with no weapon whatsoever standing silently as he emerges from the waterfall. He walks with barely any emotion, and walks into a sort of portal that leads into a forest.

A forest at the bottom of mount Idara. A mountain that mentioned to be a big part of a famous Clan's history, the Withara Clan. Yet it is still unclear why the clan seems to always keep their history a mystery. A tall young man walks out of the portal, the grass rustling as he walks mindlessly.

He walks through the forest til he reaches a house in the middle of it. It was made of wood, yet looked luxurious. He walked inside the empty house. The silence was agonizing. He sat flipping through the pages of books, all of a sudden a bright light shines behind him. A Mysterious woman came forth, " My son, your father is calling to you. It seems to be an urgent clan meeting, you must go" the lady spoke with elegancy. She walked as her steps broke the layer fo silence. He barely flinched all the while, unbothered. "Son, please. You have been living in this wretched place for a long time. You have never visited us." His mother pleaded.

"He is not my father Delilah." He finally responded, coldly. "How dare you? You know I don't like it when you call me by name. Have you lost respect for your mother Kaiden?" His mother spoke furiously. "Just go. I dont wish to go and you cannot force me" he once again spoke. "Was that supposed to be a threat?" His mother said frustrated.

She gave a heavy sigh, she sat down with her son on the couch. "Look honey, I know how much you love you father. But it's been. 90 years my son, he is long gone" his mother attempted to say soothingly. He clenched his teeth together, "well I'm sorry but in this family 90 years is like 5 years. It hasn't been that long, so to me it is still very much raw." He finally spoke, with a hint of frustration. "Kaiden my son..", "no mom, please. I need a rest." He responded coldy as he stood up and walked out the door silently.

*Just a normal day wasn't it?*

"A special change, a new journey up the mountains."

"Good day civilians!" The echo of a man's voice vibrates around the air. "May I kindly call out to the Jaza featival's participants!".

Zara grungy, walked towards the host, she looks around the village's open area. Leaves from tress falling down slowly. She saw her dad, he was proudly smiling at her. It gave her courage and warmed her heart. "Only three of the 20 participants will be chosen for today's festival, so I sure hope you all are ready!" The host excitingly announces.

Let the festival begin, joyful music plays in the background as dancers came from behind the host and began a Grand opening dance for the festival. The music faded soon enough and the dancers descended. "Now! The first to receive a special training reward shall be.." the silence was agonizing for Jasmine and Zara. They held each other's hands squeezing it reassuringly as they faced the crowd. Afraid to disappoint their parents. "Keith Evergreen! From the Serpent Clan." The host announced as the man came forth and bowed with a big prideful grin. "Second to Keith is.. Jasmine Weaver! From the Pierce Clan." The anxiousness of all participants began to be more visible. "The last participant is... Guenther Orion! From the Vainer Clan." She grew disappointment in her heart. She saw her father lose the glimmer in his eyes. But gave a reassuringly sweet smile to her. When the participants finally came down, she walked to her father limping in disappointment. "Don't feel sad sweetheart, I know you're only doing this for me okay?" He said reassuringly as he kissed her forehead.

They walked away as her father placed a loving arm towards her. As they were walking back, Jasmine came running towards her. "Hey, I'm really sorry. I don't know how I even got in? Like you're much more efficient in this job than me." Jasmine said. "No, no. You deserve it! You can finally prove your clan leader your worth." Zara responded reassuring her friend. "All chosen participants follow me" the host announces. "Alright I got to go, stay safe bestie!" She then said.

While Zara and her father walked home. She was determined, she thought to herself,

what was I thinking? I don't need a festival to prove my strength or my worth. All I need is a little training..

She worked hard for months, til she became what can be known as the most skillful assassin. She, was a self made woman. And she was proud of it. Her best friend became an incredibly famous archer, her best friend fought alongside in battles. While Zara is one to fight off the rogues that enter the village. Eventually she build an image for herself. She disguises herself wearing a long dark blue cloak, and a cloth as mask. She was then on known as Lilith, the little Devil Woman...

"Zizi, you resemble Zephyr very much.." her father whispered with a smile. "Who is Zephyr dad?" She asked while sharpening her dagger. "She, is our Clan's founder.." her father then on explained.

"So, was it ever known why she named our clan The Sphinx? " She asked curiously, as she put her sharpened dagger and leaned over a bit to listen to her dad's upcoming tale.

The story of Zephyr

"Well, you see. Many centuries ago, there was a woman. Named Clemente Judera, her name meant, mercy. She was an incredibly intellectual woman, and skillful and various fighting skills. She already admired her father, and secretly trained in their backyard every night. But when her father found out, he didn't approve of it. Apparently, her father claimed that it wasn't very lady like.

She hated that to her very core. She then worked harder, and very much like you, made something of herself. She became known as Zephyr, the merciless.

She fought rogues off, til she was noticed by her Clan's leader, Guseppe Judera. He forbid her to ever go outdoors again, she was frustrated. She felt restricted.

But that night, a tragedy occured. She was grumbling in her room, she felt incomplete. As of she lost a big part of herself that she worked hard for. She felt a tingle in her body as her anger grew when her parents locked her in her room. She felt a tingling sensation in her fingers..

All of a sudden lighting were at her fingertips. When she turned to the mirror, her eyes were bright light. She screamed in her horror. Her parents barged into her room, and out of fear accidentally released the lighting form her fingers and burnt her parents to death. She was horrified of her powers. She ran away into the forest outside their village. And never came back.

She stayed there for 2 whole years. She eventually got a hang of her powers. She found out that she could create items with her lighting. She was able to make a lighting sword, shield and dagger. Which took form in normal objects. But had extreme level of strength and durability. She build a small cabin in the middle of the forest near a cliff.

One day, she was exploring the first til she saw a really tall mountain. Unlike any mountain she has ever seen before. She came back to her cabin and packed some essentials as she knew it would be a long climb. She decided to climb the mountain, she spent atleast a week just climbing that one mountain. Stopping at safe destinations. Once she reached the tip, it was surprisingly bearably cold. The tip of the mountain had visible snow on it and strong wind. Later on she heard a whisper, "Evira..." Whispering again and again til it gradually got louder. She closed her ears, but the sounds remain. She shouted, "STOP!". All of a sudden, the silence came through. She looked around, and the voice was gone. A bright light showed up in the sky, "i sense your purity sister.. you must remember .." a female voice proceeded to speak as it echoes through the atmosphere. "Who are you?" Zephyr asks. "You must remember" the voice said before the light and it gradually faded away. "Wait!" Zephyr shouted, but it already disappeared.

---------------------------------------------------------- "The present, where secrets that were buried crave to resurface"

"No one really knows what happens then, but all I know is that we we're called the Sphinx as she hoped that our clan would carry glory in her name. And prove that strength do not only come from man, it also came from women. Both share incredibly different and unique attributes that should be appreciated by both sides. And so we were names Sphinx as a Sphinx was known to be Merciless and treacherous much like her. As she wished we would bring justice to the injustice that was brought to her." Her father then ended the story. He smiled softly as he noticed that Zara was already sleeping peacefully on their wooden table. "Your mother very much hoped that you'd bring glory to us as well.. you never disappointed us Zizi. Me and your mother love you very much..

What is the secret to the life of a victor? And what are the secrets that are yet to unvail..

Chapter one: Separate lives

Written by: Hayven Averdine