Bound by Blood & Parted by Fate

Chapter 02 : The Unmar

Not everyone was happy with Bravadis' way of life. The neighboring kingdom of Meyaris that had attacked them was home to a religious group known as the Unmar. The Unmar believed in strict adherence to their holy book, which included strict rules about morality, sexuality, and gender roles. They saw Bravadis as a place of sin and debauchery, and believed that it needed to be cleansed. The war between the two kingdoms was a clash of ideologies, with Bravadis fighting to preserve their freedom and the Unmar fighting to impose their beliefs onto others. Despite the odds against them, Bravadis was able to successfully defend itself and maintain its way of life. However, the memory of the war still loomed over the city, reminding its citizens of the constant need to fight for their freedom.

Fae nodded in agreement with Nae's statement, then continued. "In Meyaris, they believe in the laws of the Unmar. It's a religion, but it's very different from our beliefs in Bravadis. They thought that our way of life was wrong and that we needed to be cleansed."

Nae's eyes widened in shock. "Cleansed?"

Fae hesitated, unsure if she wanted to share the gruesome details with her younger sister. But she knew that Nae was old enough to understand. "It means they wanted us to be like them. And those who refused were killed."

Nae gasped, horrified. "Those people are awful… I don’t want to be like them."

Fae shook her head sadly. "Me either. I try, but I simply cannot understand them. But don’t worry, if they ever come back, the king of Najariyah and the Ninki Nanka will protect us, like they did before."

The sun began to set and the people of Bravadis gathered in the town square to mark the start of the festival of freedom. The atmosphere was electric, with everyone in high spirits and ready to celebrate. The air was thick with the smell of roasting meat, as vendors sold their wares from colorful tents set up around the square. Music and laughter filled the air, as musicians played their instruments and people danced in the streets. Children ran around, their faces painted with bright colors and their hands clutching balloons. The night sky was lit up with colorful fireworks, their bright explosions illuminating the faces of the happy crowd below. It was a time of joy and celebration, a time to forget about the past and revel in the present moment. The festival of freedom had begun, and for the next two days, the people of Bravadis would be free to express themselves in any way they saw fit.

As the festivities continued, Fae and Nae couldn't help but feel caught up in the excitement. They had always cherished the festival of freedom, eagerly anticipating its arrival every seven years. It was one of the rare occasions when they could truly let go of their responsibilities and simply enjoy themselves. Fae was especially taken with the music, tapping her foot along to the beat and swaying to the rhythm. She felt a sense of freedom and release, as if all the cares of the world had melted away. Nae, meanwhile, was fascinated by the colorful decorations and the vibrant energy of the crowd. She loved watching the street performers playing with fire disguised as Ninki Nanka. For both sisters, it was a time to let loose and forget about their troubles, if only for a little while. They felt grateful to be living in Bravadis, where they could celebrate their freedom and express themselves in any way they chose. It was a feeling they never wanted to end.

As the night wore on, Fae and Nae grew more and more tired. They danced, ate, and drank until they were thoroughly exhausted. Eventually, they made their way back to their grandmother's house, where they collapsed onto their beds and drifted off to sleep. But before she fell asleep, Fae turned to Nae and said, "You know, you're my favorite person in the world." Nae smiled and snuggled up close to her sister. "So are you," she said with a smile. Fae kissed her on the forehead. The sisters drifted off to sleep, feeling grateful for each other's company and the freedom they enjoyed in their beloved city.

Fae was sleeping peacefully, with her sister Nae snuggled up next to her, when suddenly she began sweating and trembling. Everything was dark, she could barely breathe. Suddenly, the darkness disappeared and was replaced with fire. She was standing in an unfamiliar room, when her eyes turned to the left she saw a vision of terror. The king of Bravadis, sitting on his throne, with a sword plunged deep into his chest. His face was contorted in agony, and blood was flowing freely from the wound. She felt the cold metal of the sword and the warmth of the king's blood as if it was her own self that was sitting there on the throne.

Outside, the city was one fire, people screaming in agony. Fae felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes.

When Fae finally woke up, she was gasping for air and covered in sweat. She sat up, her heart pounding in her chest, trying to shake off the terror of the dream. She knew that her dreams sometimes showed her glimpses of the future, but this was the first time she had ever seen something so vivid and terrifying and so pressant.

Fae first tried to calm herself down, taking deep breaths and focusing on the sound of her sister's breathing. Fae sat there for a while, trying to decide what to do. She knew that she had a gift, one that no one truly understood, but one that had always been a part of her. She knew she had to warn the king, to tell him about the terrible vision she had seen.

Finally, Fae got up and went to the window, looking out at the stars above. Something about this vision felt urgent, as if the event were to occur soon, too soon. She had to find a way to warn the king, to try and prevent the terrible fate she had seen in her dream.