ORIGINS

A long time ago, centuries before the age of machinery and innovation.

Along the coast, by the litoral, the land was discovered by warriors.

Conquered, and captured to be dominated years after.

This is how Ziva was created.

A hamlet close to the sea and surrounded by mountains; well blessed with the gifts of nature and the knowledge of the weapons of combat.

Over time, Ziva began to stand out among other hamlets in the art of war and weapon prowess.

Dragons, Hydra, and Behemoths roam around the villa guarding the gates of the high tower which has been unpassable from generation to generation.

The people lived in peace and tranquility.

Excelling in manpower and assets; It was on this land that the story began.

It was a heavy downpour on the night Orion was born, accompanied by the melodious sound of the nightingale.

Yarah was about to finish cooking while her husband Mlaric rested and waited for her meal when it came.

Mlaric and his wife have been barren for five years.

All efforts at having a child have been in futility.

During this period of distress that the couple was introduced to Zedozu, a powerful priest of the spirits from ancient times from the hamlet of Sputaz.

Sputaz despite being much smaller and not as wealthy as Ziva had an edge when it came to the arts of sorcery and divination.

It is filled with the most powerful set of spirit priests and guardians of the hour.

It is also very skilled in battle, and rich in several mineral resources.

It decided to make Sputaz an ally whilst Ziva protected Sputaz with its powerful beasts.

Sputaz equally ensures the colony of Ziva is well fortified in the areas of dark arts.

"All you have to do is to be patient, the spirits have a task for you,"

Zedozu says to confused Yarah while her husband listens calmly, he pauses briefly looking towards his crystals then continues

"There is a war coming; the battle between the chosen child of the spirits of light and the summoned agents of men, you have. been chosen as a vessel to birth that child and you have no need to worry as the spirits themselves will dwell in you in due time and once this great one is born, your womb will be opened".

This was how the great tale began, the tale of the whispers.

Years after years Orion grew in strength, wisdom, and tact.

Standing out in acts of bravery and valor.

His younger sister Salsa has also grown to be very alluring to the eyes as the suitors keep trooping in the day in and day out to seek her hand in marriage.

Each tries to outdo the other in the show of affluence and buoyancy.

It is another Sunday morning and as usual.

Orion has gone far into the wild to hunt whilst Mlaric has gone into the farm to oversee his products.

The birth of Orion ushered in tremendous blessings for his household.

His father had become so wealthy that he was given the title of a kingsman by the Royal lord.

Yeah, on the other hand, is resting in the inner chambers.

While Salsa directs and supervises and cooks with the handmaid as her mother has insisted upon it.

'Nightfall is coming soon

Orion says as he guards his weapons.

More vigilant than ever; fully satisfied with his Griffin kill and he walks slowly back home today, armed to the teeth.

He suddenly begins to hear footsteps, slowly and steadily.

Low growling and glazing with fire in its eyes from a hidden tower.

A monster with a tail like that of a serpent appeared.

It walks on its four feet like a goat.

Raising its glare so bright like glitter.

Moving at a rather disturbingly slow creeping pace.

Like a predator coming for its prey.

Orion being a warrior and a hunter from childhood is not the one to fear or panic.

Being born with the powers of incredible strength and the gift of reasoning can be an added advantage.

He sets his gaze around the tower and spots the fiery red glow emanating from it as the fire-breathing beast approaches him slowly with all its glory.

The creature begins to emanate flames from its glowing eyes and bares its shark-like teeth ready to devour.

Orion armed with his crossbow faces the monster with full force.

He looked at the monster in its red fiery eyes and is startled when the monster begins to speak to him.

"I have been waiting for you child" It roared in a voice as lifeless as a cemetery talking in its whispery hoarse voice; "Who are you?" Orion asks still looking defiant and ready to strike.

"I have been sent to teach you, child, to show you the ways of your destiny"

The monster relaxes its fiery gaze and the glitter of light dims in its eyes, its look now more human and affectionate

"I mean no harm"

Salsa is on her way to the stream with her friend.

Yowa and Ired have been having banter about who the strongest warrior in hamlet is.

Ired who has always been the loquacious one is, as usual, the one with the loudest voice among the ladies

"I tell you Adim is the greatest warrior, show me who has ever killed a centaur the armed messenger of the evil lord, and lived"

she goes forth in her usual booming voice.

Yowa, however, shrugs her off and replies in her quiet bass voice

"Even though we all agree that Adim is one of the greatest warriors, he is nowhere compared to Orion who has killed several monsters of the wild and brought them home for sport, he has also thrown several men down during the match of the king's men and knights of honor, throwing them down in combat and arts of steel and achieving all these without being a warrior himself, even Adim respects Orion my darling"

Ired who has never been known to back out from an argument, did not even allow Yowa to land before giving her a quick reply

"I agree Orion is great, but we all know he is a child blessed by the spirits and his name was given to him by the priest Zedozu before he passed may he find rest among the roses on the other side, We can not compare Orion who is a child of the spirits to mortal men who achieved greatness through their sacrifices, sweat, and blood"

Ired looks at Salsa who seems to be more excited about something else other than their discussion

"Orion was born with super strength and arts of reasoning, he has never been defeated by any mortal ever since he was a child even in a mock combat It would be unfair to name him the greatest warrior in the land when the spirits of whispers have blessed him above all mortal men thus making him unequal with no mere man"

Salsa only listens to their argument and smiles uninterestedly.

There are more important matters that bother her mind as she looks at her friends like a doting mother watches her spoilt children while they return home with the things they have bought to report to their various mothers and she wonders

"If only they knew".

The night air was cold and freezing.

Silence looms and its voice can be heard

Ants could be heard scratching the surface of the earth.

You can hear the trickling of the rainfall and the constant thunderstorm accompanied by it.

Orion is standing alongside the beast.

Staring at the stars which seem to shine very brightly this night.

The monster's eyes now dimmer still glowed in the dark.

The shade of yellow and red stared silently at the stars and watched the surroundings.

"Who are you and what do you want from me"

Orion asked more from a confused state than a defiant one

The monster looks at him, obviously ignoring his questions, and stares into the sky briefly once more "There are things you are yet to know as the chosen one child, and it is about your ancestors, before the hour of reckoning; a time before even the whispers came into existence.

It continued.

The evil lord used to be among the whispers of the spirits.

Blessed with the powers of thunder and lighting.

Adorned with precious stones and a red royal vestment made by the high lords themselves with the strongest talons of the universe.

He rose to become the second most powerful of the high lords due to his numerous accomplishments for the universe.

While the monster still yet talks, we have a flashback.

Taken back to the era of total darkness and the midst of serious combat between the spirits.

Vlada the second in command is fighting as a renegade alongside his minions battling fiercely for supremacy.

Tragically, his great powers are no match against the powers of the pure high lords who have not defiled themselves.

This, he encounters defeat and is sent to exile.

To the land of the wilds where he dwells and rules over till this day.

Back to the present, the monster keeps speaks

"He is a doomed soul sent to bring damnation and destruction according to what the elderly eyes of the morrow see and you have been destined to stop him but there is a price to be paid"

Orion who has been listening quietly but is still curious looks the monster in the eye and asks suddenly.

'What price will I pay for the order to be restored to the universe?

The monster looks at him and does not respond.

Salsa seems to be trying so hard to hide her excitement.

However, her friends know better.

The two ladies giggle knowingly to each other with Yowa cautioning Ired from opening her big mouth.

"Don't worry he will soon be here"

Ired eventually teases Salsa despite Yowa's attempt to shut her up.

Salsa just laughs it off with a slight comment calling them both silly lots while still trying her best to stay calm.

Coming from afar are three handsome muscular-looking men.

One, a shade of flawless melanin whose skin shone in the sun.

His dark eyes looked piercing and wondered with a purpose.

He is a man of few words, his name is Hilazius.

He rides on a white horse alongside his friend who has come to ask for Salsa's hand in marriage.

Salsa's suitor is a man called Vicafi, young and muscular with bright blue eyes and jet black long hair.

His skin is a captivating tone of the colors of the beach.

He is of a noble home and a warrior of great strength and firmness equally outstanding in wits and soundness.

The third man with wavy red hair and, green eyes and the tallest among the three.l

Walks beside Vicafi with an aggressive demeanor as they dismounted from their horses and moved towards the handmaids of the compound who welcomed them warmly.

Mlaric has been patiently waiting for them as the table is set for a feast.

'The day is fast spent like he usually says he looks at the young men and eats his meal while he talks

"It has been a long old road gentlemen, the day is far spent join me at my table"

Without looking at them continues his meal.

Mlaric has always been very protective of his daughter.

Priest Zedozu before his death had told him about her destiny and how she was meant for greatness.

She is to be the queen of the seas and unite all of the colonies in due time.

He has been instructed to take care of his two children.

Training them till they are of an age when he is to tell them of their destinies as this is the mission given to him by the spirits of whispers.

So he ensures to grill every suitor who comes for his daughter to make sure they are up to the task and accountable.

"Your Honour" the red hair speaks I am Gikon Knight of the seven seas and protector of the realm in the name of King Fazic, We have come far and wild from the Bell city with gifts and a request for a hidden peony under your care, a damsel in whom the Prince of the Bell city himself is well pleased; I present to you your honor Prince Vicafi, son of king Fazic and heir to the throne of the Bell city, a conquerer of the seven seas.

While all men are seated, the terms of Salsa's hand in marriage are discussed.

Mlaric, pleased with all the arrangements makes plans with his soon to be son in law and the alliance between Bell city and Ziva colony is made.

Salsa and her friends are somewhere nearby and she is allowed to see her soon-to-be husband once her father is done.

They have been lovers for a while now with Vicafi coming sometimes to see her in her hamlet.

Most times discreetly and without guards.

As Salsa is not one to be easily impressed herself.

While Mlaric eats and discusses with the men.

Ired is tempted to sneak in under the disguise of bringing drinks to catch a glimpse of Hilazius.

Yowa is seen holding her down playfully while the three ladies giggle excitedly.

Moments later, we see the three young men each discussing with their potential women among the ladies.

"When next are you coming"

Salsa asks Vicafi unassumingly while playing with her crispy long blonde hair and staring into his eyes.

Vicafi on the other hand is smiling in admiration of his soon-to-be queen.

He is very much overjoyed and glad he followed his heart.

Refusing to marry the malicious red ribbon girl that was arranged by his father.

He is proud of having proven himself and being able to convince his father that he can make his own decisions which his father approved.

"I will be back soon to see my damsel, is she missing me already"

Salsa ignores him and instead talks about the beautiful daffodils surrounding them.

Her favorite flowers, and how she intends to have a garden of them.