The Ruler's mark

Vika and her minions knelt before the unknown boy who had just entered their main hall. He sat there humbly, seemingly oblivious to the events unfolding around him. Only a select few understood what Vika saw in him.

The myths they grew up with were often bedtime stories, products of human imagination. But some legends were more than mere tales; they were prophecies, carrying secrets that the ancients intended to pass on to future generations.

As a child, Vika lived with her family on the Ram family lands, near the border with Eris. Her father was a carpenter, and young Vika often snuck into his workshop, eager to learn his craft. Her father, fearful for her safety, always brought her back home.

With her father busy, Vika spent most of her time with her grandfather, a former soldier. He taught her martial arts, horse riding, and archery.

But most importantly, he shared stories of a legendary figure who had once saved the world from a night so long it threatened to consume everything green and dry.

Vika was captivated by the stories of the hero Ram, most were products of her grandfather's imagination, but sometimes he spoke as if they were real, and Vika noticed that.

"Listen, little Vika," he often said while offering grass to his horse. "Ram isn't just one man but many things... and most importantly, he is among us right now." Vika didn't understand the meaning of those words, but she always wondered, she would repeatedly ask, "Where is he right now, Grandpa? I'll look for him."

Her grandfather couldn't answer that, little did he know himself, but the only thing he could offer his granddaughter was a cryptic reassurance. "Well... if it's meant for you to meet him, he will find you."

Vika would often reply, "Yeah, you told me that last time, but I still don't get it, Grandpa... How would I know if he is the real Ram or just somebody else?"

"There are some signs that indicate the real Ram," he would say, pausing for a moment before continuing. "The sunlight will guide you."

For a long time, Vika searched for everything related to Ram, among the tales she found was the legend of the ruler's sign. People from Ram's time reported that he was distinguished by many signs, the most prominent being a ray that glowed from his body, revealed by the sunlight, as if he were boiling inside.

Vika scrutinized everyone she met, searching for these signs, but she found nothing.

For years, Vika's passion for Ram faded, and her interests shifted. However, the invasion of the Ram family lands by the four major families fifteen years ago changed her life forever.

At the age of twelve, Vika lost her entire family in the invasion, the worst days of her life began when a predator from Eris, known as the Dokin, attacked her village, spreading corruption and leaving no one alive.

As the invasion began, Vika's grandfather, drawing on his experience as a soldier, took her and fled. He managed to sneak through the ranks of Duquesne's army, determined to save his granddaughter.

Seeing that all the villages were under attack, he made the difficult decision to smuggle Vika to Eris' lands—a reasonable plan at the time.

In a state of shock since witnessing the first person killed before her eyes, Vika clung to her grandfather's hand, following him wherever he led. They finally reached the lands of Eris and hid in the mountains, starting anew.

Her grandfather worked tirelessly to raise Vika to be strong and self-reliant, aware that his years were numbered and it was a race against time.

When Vika turned nineteen, her grandfather was on the verge of death, having taught her everything he knew, he had only one more thing to impart—a promise, or perhaps a request.

His last words were, "Vika, my daughter, live proudly... There will come a day when you return home, to our village... There, you will no longer feel lonely... And If you ever meet Ram, show him respect for my sake."

With that, her grandfather passed away, leaving his will with her.

Vika found herself alone in the mountains. Determined to survive, she began traveling from place to place until she joined a gang of thieves.

She used the gang to grow stronger and conceal her true identity, her strength and determination soon led her to overthrow the gang's leader and take command, forming what would become known as the Vika gang.

Year after year, Vika adapted to gang life, burying her past and her grandfather's words deep within her., she never imagined those words would one day become reality.

Aya was puzzled by the gang's behavior. She looked at Nosil for an explanation, but he seemed equally confused, his face a picture of shock.

For years, Aya had lived with Nosil, sensing he was special and destined for something significant, but she had never understood what it is. This moment felt like a reawakening of old questions.

Finally, Nosil broke the silence. "Hey, what are you doing? Have you seen a ghost or something?" he asked, looking around in bewilderment.

Vika, on the verge of tears, locked eyes with Nosil. Sensing her distress, Nosil added, "We are not here to fight you guys. Please don't worry."

"Finally... Finally, I met you... Ram," Vika whispered.

One of her followers, confused, asked, "Does the leader know this person? She has never talked about him before."

Aya, equally perplexed, approached Nosil and whispered in his ear, "Do you know this woman? Why does she call you Ram?"

Nosil shook his head and shrugged. "I don't know! I've never seen her in my whole life."

Vika ordered her followers to prepare a feast quickly. She approached Nosil and said, "I apologize for attacking you, Ram. I didn't know you would come dressed as a soldier. My mistake," she added with a laugh.

"My name is Nosil," he replied as he stood up. "Why do you call me Ram?"

Aya chimed in, "Yes, why do you call him by the name of the legend?"

Vika smiled. "It's okay. Come with me inside. We'll prepare a feast for you... and I'll explain everything while we talk."

Nosil agreed to the invitation. "I won't say no to a feast." Then, turning to Aya, he asked, "Will you come?"

Aya, still suspicious, asked Vika, "What about my request? I was going to ask you for a favor."

Vika smiled again. "I am not obligated to do you any favors... but if it's a request from Ram, then I have no problem."

Nosil interrupted, "Nosil... my name is Nosil, not Ram damnit."

"Sure, why not," Vika replied. "Okay, let's go and discuss it while eating."

As Vika's men hurried to prepare a meal worthy of their leader's guests, they couldn't shake their curiosity about what they had seen. It was something unique, something they had never experienced before. Nosil and Aya followed Vika to a large hall with a dining table in the middle.

The atmosphere was tense with unspoken questions, but the promise of answers hung in the air, as tantalizing as the aromas beginning to waft from the kitchen.

The trio sat, waiting for the food to be delivered. Maids, kidnapped from surrounding villages, were cleaning and preparing for the feast, hurriedly setting the table for the unexpected guests.

"So, what do you want to ask?" Vika inquired, turning to Aya.

Aya replied, "We need a place to stay. Our hands are full now, and we need to hide for a while."

Nosil, surprised by Aya's request, had expected her to ask the bandits to stop stealing from the villagers. He murmured, "Typical Aya, I should have known that..."

Vika welcomed the idea without hesitation. "Of course. Stay as long as you want... You are welcome here."

Despite Vika's acceptance, Aya remained wary of her intentions. Vika's eyes wandered to Nosil's face, covered by bandages, and she stared intently.

Aya interrupted, "Stop looking. I warn you."

Vika apologized, "My bad. Sorry."

Nosil interjected, "Anyway, why do you keep calling me Ram?"

"I'll explain," Vika responded. "First, you know who Ram is, don't you?"

Nosil and Aya replied in unison, "Yeah, we do."

Vika continued, "For most people nowadays, Ram is hailed as the father and savior of humanity, the legend who ended the longest and darkest night in our history and brought back sunlight to these lands, making them a haven amidst this ocean of darkness... But few people know more than this. They know the truth about Ram. Ram isn't just a single human but a lot of things..."

" Among theses people who knew more about ram was the head of RAM family, Gaia"

Nosil and Aya were shocked by Vika's words. They had always heard of Ram as the man who saved mankind, but this was new to them.

"Do you mean Ram is just a myth? Are you out of your mind?" Aya responded with frustration. Nosil agreed, "This is ridiculous."

Vika pressed on, "No, wait a second. I didn't say Ram was a myth... Ram truly existed and indeed saved mankind. But he wasn't just a normal man who lived ages ago...The truth is, Ram is like an incarnation that appears in a chosen person once a while to save humanity in their darkest days."

" That's why I said ram is a lot of things".

Nosil and Aya exchanged incredulous looks. Vika's revelation had upended everything they thought they knew about the legend of Ram.

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