#but yeah if you do not know about this zektbach is a cool thing

[sandalphons-epicofthemoon]

1st Dream

Meniscal Calendar , year 718 A time of upheaval has befallen the city-states of the Levant. The population of pyrean slaves, recently conquered in a military campaign led by the ambitious prince of Placentia, has revolted.

Led by their prophetess and god-sent liberator, Sai-Han, they took back their freedom from the Levanese. The pyrean made them loose their grasp on the fields that give them food, and are actively sabotaging them in the commerce that made them rich.

In the city of Placentia itself, however, with the help of a mysterious informant, prince Gomaliel rounded up every pyrean he could get his hands on before they could act.

He confined them all to the infamous great prison the city was built around ; a gigantic tower of stone, the aptly named Marblespire.

The sun rises on the city of Placentia. A crowd is gathered in front of the princely palace, waiting for Gomaliel to make an apparition.

“Not that large of a crowd” Jae-Han thinks.

She tightens the cowl she put around her head.

“I should have changed clothes too...”

Behind her, a young child keeps attempting to get the attention of her parents.

- Look, mummy ! This girl has weird clothes !

- Hush ! Don’t talk about weird people.

“At least it’s weird for pyreans too to have blue clothes, hopefully I will not have any problem with the guards...”

Even then, she thinks she does not really fit in among the elegantly clad people around her.

The beautiful structures of stone, and the seemingly impossibly smooth block of marble she feels the coldness of through her feet do not help. Not that her clothes aren’t elegant of course –some of the slaves she’d set free together with her sister put together unique sets of almost regal clothes for them –, just that they are of a taste not acquired by the locals.

Emerging from the entrance of the palace, a crown-wearing middle-aged man begins saluting the crowd.

“It is my pleasure to see the people of Placentia, contrary to those of the ungrateful other cities, do care about its prosperity. It is thanks to the same care that made you come listen to me here, that we have prevented a catastrophe. It is but a resident of the red district, no more, no less, that told us of the treachery fomented by the green haired beasts. Because treachery it is, my compatriots.

What were they, before we gave them the gift of civilisation ? Beasts running around in the wilds ! And for that gift, they bare their teeth at us. But we are merciful. We could have gotten rid of them as if they were a pest, or sent them back to the wilds.

Instead, until the head of their blasphemous wildling of a leader is given to us on a platter, the unworthy of our benevolence will face fair judgement, in Marblespire.”

Not willing to listen to what would become an hour of scolding she is effectively the only present intended recipient of, and upon hearing the steps of the patrolling soldiers growing a bit too close, Jae-Han discreetly leaves the premise. Walking by the orchards in front of the palace, looking towards the gigantic tower that looms over the city, she thinks to herself.

“They really did put all those people in that thing… I should get back to my gear.”

Getting to the bushes she hid her things in – so that they would not be mistaken as weapons – she sees a familiar sight.

“Those are … my pickaxes ?”

Now it is warping the truth to say they are “hers” exactly, but those are the very special pickaxes she brought with her to this city. A hooded figure was carrying her belongings.

- Wait!

Upon noticing Jae-Han, the figure runs away. She runs after him. And she does not neglect a pursuit.

Rapidly they both get out of the city’s gardens, and into the streets that flow through Placentia. Her hood flies off in the struggle, exposing her deep green hair, but she does not notice it. When she is running, it’s pretty much as if she is flying instead.

She runs after the chousingha. Following in its every step. Her sister is the one who can get close to her prey before killing it, but lacking her stealth, Jae-Han tires it first.

The guy ahead of her is pretty good too, surprisingly. She is catching up to him though. No one can outrun her. She has no problem avoiding the bystanders, although they are all alarmed by a pyrean girl running and jumping at full speed through the streets. She can hear a few people calling for the guards, especially while still close to the gardens.

The animal makes a sharp turn around a large boulder. Jae-Han quickly readjusts herself and stomps the ground with her feet, to then rapidly climb the rock. Just as the chousingha, not hearing her footsteps, thinks it is gaining some ground, the girl leaps in its direction, and spreads her arms, deploying the large sheet of fabric on her back, which catches the wind, effectively making her glide towards the oblivious beast.

The thief notices her at the last moment, and, just before she can wrap her legs around his neck and stop him in his tracks , he ducks, narrowly avoiding her. The both of them crash into a group of women, making a cacophony of screams, and steel clashing sounds resonate through the pavement, as the stolen equipment falls to the ground. The chousingha attempts to get up and out of the mud puddle they fell into. Before it can, a woman jumps out from behind a rock, as if she appeared from nowhere. Walking confidently towards her prey, as she knows it is not going anywhere, she slashes its neck open in a swift move.

- I had it! Jae-Han complains.

- I was better. I’ve told you, the meat tastes better if you don’t torture the thing before killing it. That hunting method of yours is pointless. However, that does not matter now. it is time, I’ve found where Mum and Dad are kept.

- You touch, you pay! - I’m sorry, I don’t have any money!

As Jae-Han comes to her senses, she sees the group of women aggressively ganging up on the thief. “I don’t see any merchandise we could have damaged, but I will not stand around for those people to try and extort me”

- Sorry, pal! She addresses a farewell to the now completely apologetic thief, before quickly grabbing the four pickaxes that fell on the ground, and running away. Well, she only needs to pick up one of them, the others are stuck to it.

“Damn it, this will take forever to untangle!”