Chapter 1
The town of Nole Vinit wakes a still morning
A red haze surrounds the town’s most valued blood moon Dime, usual birds don’t chirp instead ravens stay perched. A sense of dryness is felt in the atmosphere.
In Stillness of morning Zila trains swordplay practicing wards, steel slicing air with body moving in routine precision, an entrancing sword hangs from her hand as she stops to wipe a bead of sweat.
Today: Cautious day
Shops and workshops open with lingering tension, loud voices of everyday are today hushed into careful mutters, a mix of nerves and anticipation lies in every sentence uttered.
Zila works silently, her hands fast, efficient on a damaged clock,focused on the task in hand, “Let’s offer the spirit!..let’s gather before, Step forward, children of Noctis Vale, and witness the selection!” messenger paces in the streets on Nole Vinit stirring fear and anticipation amongst.
Chatter rises amongst the workers in the shop, meanwhile Zila perfects both her crafts and swordplay, ClockRepair; a place she grew up mentored by an old lady Hilde, managed by Hilde, until a few years later.
At Blood Moon Dime:
Merchants, people with families gather around the squared walls, placing trinkets, food, flowers,charms to offer spirit, she moves quietly patrolling the squared area with silent footsteps,
Four large cobblestoned walls stand side-by-side, at random angles, called blood Moon Dime.
Children play feather light footsteps, Zila guards edges of town as instructed, alongside observing fear-etched faces, she checks her hiding spots.
As the sun begins to fade, chillness of events begins to unfold, town folks gather around square in lines, shorter folks stepping on black stones to equalize heights, merchants and craftsmen muttering about futility of it all.Inspection is carefully completed by the guards, alongside warriors
“It’s time to shine!” Askus chirps, turning to gathered people “Sky’s red”,animatedly turns to the kids, they scream at his tone.
“Scared deadwarrior?” Askus teases, Zila’s hand moves to her sword “woah..look the dead reacting”
Zila rolls her eyes, fixes her Sheath,"shut it dead hair"
His white hair gleaming under light of dying sun
Patrollers were called upon to step alongside commoners ,merchants, riches and poor in one line side-by-side before blood moon reached its zenith , Zila stepped on black stone to match her height to elderly, and tall,
As blood moon reached height, it casted shadows side by side, eyes trailed on each shadow sharp precise, waiting for the selected
Every shadow under crimson light, felt alive silence surrounded amongst until
one shadow grows
Longer
Too long
Zila’s shadow grew taller across the ground, nearly reaching a cobble-stoned wall, as if something was pinching it to be longer, how? Why?.
It shouldn’t be her
Not her
“The announcer stepped forward. “Behold! The shadow ascendant!” he bellowed. “The choice of the blood moon!”
A trickle of cold air ran down her spine, her stomach twisting .The town was never this predictable, eyes grazing on her elongated still shadow.
Gasps echoed around the townfolks, Eyes turning to Zila, a quiet round of murmur and sighs of relief played across the mouths, she wasn’t from prominent family so this was unexpected, an unnatural pitch of voice muttered something near her,
Too cold
Her warrior instincts fall in her hand tightened on her sword, instincts screaming to fight, control the moment, survive.
With her heart thumping in her ears, she turns eyes to the edge of squared walls, leaning against the fountain stands Askus Tragedy of blood moon, with epitome calmness weirdly, immobile. A faint smirk grew across his lips,
Nothing will be the same…ever.
