Year 374 of the imperial calendar, Ferdalis, known as the center of the south in the empire. The ever-growing city was a cause of awe for many, unlike many of the main cities in the Empire, Ferdalis was the nursing ground for many cultures. The different climate, and its retively far location from the capital, made it so. The streets were always colored in a plethora of colors, fighting each other for the onlookers’ attention. They had so many festivals, so much so that no one was keeping track of them. It was an unsaid rule in Ferdalis, if you hear cries of joy in the street, you must pass by and greet.

  In the spring of this year, one of the numerous couples in the city was blessed by a daughter. Parties were held in their household for 3 days, for they were waiting for a daughter for 7 years by now. The girl was a beautiful girl, gray hair the color of ash, and olive-green eyes, which begged the onlookers to get lost in them. Hence, she was named Raia, no one knew for certain what culture this name was from, but it meant joy, and change.

  Growing up Raia started to take notice of her world, she was already walking and 5 years of age, living in Ferdalis obviously made it colorful in every way possible. She was the daughter of Rodrick Stone, and Silvia Stone. She had three older brothers named Fredrik, David, and Shawn. She grew up to admire her father, who was the most valiant person in her eyes. Working as a city guard, he always told her stories about his past adventures, and his efforts to keep Ferdalis a safe pce.

  “Even if those Arkens took out most of the south 80 years ago, you have not to worry, dear. Because daddy will always protect all the city” said the father proudly in amid of his daughter awe and giggles.

  “Well, I suppose this very strong daddy can help me then” said the mother, passing her husband a pumpkin and a knife. “The full moon is already approaching. You know our little Raia cannot pass it without her favorite pumpkin pie” continued the mother giggling.

  “Aww Silvia but I was getting to the best part” said the father while cutting the pumpkin without further words.

  “It is just because no one but Raia hears your stories, Rodrick” said the mother, it was true none of Raia’s brothers ever stayed home. They were always busy going out to py with their friends every day. Only Raia would stay back home to hear her father’s stories.

  “But papa is super strong!” shouted Raia amid of her parents’ ughter. They were a happy family; they weren’t the wealthiest. But they were somewhat stable, they could afford necessities and save up for some minor luxuries of life. But most importantly, they loved each other, they were each other’s treasures.

  Year 381 of the imperial calendar, news was going wild in Ferdalis. There was news of spotting of Arkens in many locations both in and around Ferdalis and its vilges. Some say it was real, some say it was someone’s doing. However, only one thing was clear.

  “It was increased again, Silvia. I don’t know how long we can keep up with that” said the father in quite the disheartened voice, while staring at the recently put out firepce. It was well after midnight, only the father and the mother were in the living room.

  “Hold on dear, I am sure it will end soon, and everything will return to normal” said the mother sitting next to her husband and patting his shoulder softly. She knew it was hard, but she had to believe it would pass.

  “But Silvia, I just cannot… I can’t drag another person to those monsters” said the father, now with a tone of regret and fear, which his wife replied to by hugging him. Little Raia did not know what was going on, peeking from the corner of the corridor, seven years old she was. She noticed her father getting stressed out tely, but she didn’t know why, her mother also banned her from going out into the streets alone, her brothers stopped pying around the city, and would return near dusk every day, covered completely in chimney ash. However, she had already decided to make a surprise for her father tomorrow and visit him while on his job to cheer him up.

  ‘I am sure mama would understand’ thought Raia to herself.

  The next morning has already come. Raia’s father and brothers were already out since earlier, it was usual for Raia to wake up with only her mother in the house. However, today was different, Raia managed to wake up before her mother. Her pn included her going to see her father at his work and return before her mother even noticed it.

  ‘Just remember, before the sun reaches a quarter of the sky’ thought Raia to herself before leaving the house, making as little noise as possible. The streets of Ferdalis were now pale in comparison with the brilliant colors she saw in her early childhood. Usually, the colors would fade slightly at the end of the season, but they were always renewed by the next festival. However, the colors of the houses and streets have not been maintained for over 2 years now. Raia did not know what was exactly happening to the city, no matter how long she waited for festivals now, they rarely ever come by, even the full moon pumpkin tradition simply does not exist anymore.

  Making her way down the streets, the faces of men and women was getting equally paler, the closer she was to her father workpce at the southern gate distract, the world just seemed to pale out all the sudden, However, this silence was quickly broken by the shouts of a man in the distance.

  “I SWEAR I WILL PAY UP, JUST DON’T TAKE MY SON” said the shouter, Raia was making her way in haste to the source of the voice, maybe she could them, she thought. However, taking a turn at the end of the street she could see the crowd surrounding the shouting man, and no one of them moving at all.

  “Huh? Why would none of them help…” as a 7-year-old, always protected at home, Raia was clueless to what she saw next while making her way through the crowd. She just froze in pce, wide eyed looking at the scene, just like everyone else.

  “PLEASE, I WILL DO ANYTHING I WILL PAY DOUBLE NEXT MONTH” said a man groveling at the ground while holding tightly at the leg of a young boy, probably past the age of 10, the boy looked simir to the man in many of his facial features.

  “Don’t make this any harder, it was the orders of the king himself. All tax evaders had to send their kids to the capital” replied a man in armor, who was holding the boy tightly from his arm. It was Roderick Stone, Raia’s father.

  ‘What is father doing’ thought Raia to herself. She didn’t really understand what was going on. But her father was making both the boy and his father cry with every word in front of her.

  “I will make you understand, sir. If you obstruct my work, I will have to injure you. Please step away” said Roderick with a pained expression. People in the circle were murmuring all around.

  “So, it was Alfred’s son today”

  “Apparently, the drought had killed most of their crops, no wonder he couldn’t pay the increased tax”

  “Just how long will this go on, how many more of our kids would be taken by those guards. It’s not the first kid Roderick take”

  “It is not him taking the kids, you did hear the rumors. The new king is preparing for a war”

  However, the talks among the crowd finally subsided by the cries of the man on the ground.

  “I can’t Roderick, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND” shouted the man, his voice was filled with agony and hate. Emotions that little Raia never heard before.

  “You left me no choice” said Roderick, his face going all stiff as he stepped on the man hand finally releasing the boy from his father clutches and dragging him over to his side. The boy himself was clueless as to what would become of him, but he could not cry anymore about the current suitation.

  “Papa?” Said Raia finally stepping out of the crowd, her face covered in many emotions ranging from confusion and disbelief to sadness. Her eyes already filled with tears, as a kid she could not help but cry at the sights of others crying.

  abu_nur