The Meeting of Different Worlds

People flocked out of the necropolis with suppressed emotions. The burial ground had just added another couple hundred victims to its collection; unspoken words of anger, hatred and grief too, met its ends. Many took consolation in the glory these warriors obtained.

The cemetery on the mountain overlooked a prosperous city, one that was gifted with a lagoon that cupped a mirror for the scarlet clouds. Lights of white and yellow decorated the metropolis like glow worms. Yet, within the midst of various crowds all that could be heard was – silence. Forced smiles and falsified cheers were exchanged. A fork fell, someone coughed and another screamed, all the inaudible sounds came to life. Above all, a song of prayer marched its way down the alleys.

A child tugged at a man’s sleeve, the boy’s eyes were met by a hollow stare. He wept. Angrily he hurled a rock at the swordsman before falling down on his knees. The crimson sky cackled gleefully, pouring down sheets after sheets of cold water onto the boy. A few days after the tantrum he carried on, facing each day with a naïve smile forgotten by many.

A woman departed silently, whispering her secrets to the wind before she was lost amidst the crowd. She left behind a desirable life; to her back were fortune, power and joy that she was more than willing to forget. That was such a long time ago. She missed her past.

All those events now seem an eternity away. It was time for her to go home, open old wounds, and create a new bloodstained legacy. Her companions chattered away idly, unaware of the unpleasant destination ahead. The pilgrimage homeward continued as they marched on by foot, over cities of rubble and seas of sand.

Half a world away from where they had started the travellers showed no sign of tiring. They moved in secret, avoiding the scattered settlements. But despite their best efforts, a group had tracked them every step of the way.

The trackers were old enemies from the previous generation. But for once, the woman was confident she could turn the tide on those that had destroyed her life. After all, the seed she had left behind in Vangard would’ve grown by now. Not yet mature, but most likely tall enough to withstand her purpose.

‘Master,’ a masked boy said, ‘where are we going?’

It was a girl that replied, ‘wherever they go, of course.’ Until they’re all dead, she added privately.

A veil of sand riding the gust ate at the wanderers. Shaking his head the seasoned leader lowered his head.

‘So it begins with a woman – again.’

A/N: Yes, this chapter is more like the prologue I was missing. My inability to write means that I have to constantly backtrack and add/delete details that are consistent/contradictive to the story itself; hopefully it’s not too much trouble on the readers.