War rages on across the lands of Melôdahk. The earth shatters before those who asunder its plains and ravage the land in blood. The sky cries not of rain nor shines its light for all those below it. The air is suffocating with ash and death. There is nothing left for humanity to thrive on. To those who escaped with their lives towards neighboring towns and cities, a plague far worse than illness followed suit. The first to be struck was the flourishing city of Aknáh. The city was strewn with bodies and dyed in its people's blood. The plumes of smoke derived from burning buildings filled everyone's lungs and gave them a slow and painful death. The city had fallen…only the first from many to come.
There remained one hope. A hope to drive out the darkness known as demons that plagued the land of Aknáh and many others; for too long have the demons roamed free and continued to torture humanity. It was time to fight back and regain their freedom once more.
Months passed, the land couldn't handle much more chaos the demons ensued. Before hope was lost, that humanity would fall, a man believed to be half god stepped into the only remaining light the sky could give. His figure illuminated the darkness, and in doing so gave the people the hope they all had wished for.
"Daddy, why do they call this man half a god?" The little girl asked. The father turned away from the book and patted his daughters head gently. The story book opened wide to the picture of the man depicted.
"Because in the past, gods and humans used to see one another…but that upset the balance and that's how war broke out." He answered as sincerely as he could to the little 4 year old. But her eyes pondered his answer and he let out a soft sigh. "He is called half god because the people saw him as their savior."
"Oh," she nodded and returned to a comfortable position in his arms ready for more. But the father wearily knew he had to set off and moved her off his lap.
"Perhaps another night…I have to go." He closed the book and kissed her head before she began to pout when being carried to bed.
"Why can't I come?" She sat up and tugged his shirt.
Shaking his head and tucking her back into bed, he explained to her in gentle words why it couldn't be so. "What I do Sakura is very dangerous at times. When you're older though, and make a name for yourself, perhaps then you can come along with me."
"But that'll be forever," she whined. He laughed quietly and gave her a much needed hug to calm her down. "Daddy, don't go…"
"…if I don't go then who will out-due the guards?" A smile played the corners of his lips and she returned him a smile. "I'm the only thief fast enough that can outrun any guard here." Pinching her cheeks and hearing her laughter, she finally gave in and stayed in bed.
"Ok…I'll let them borrow you tonight then." She said. "But tomorrow night you have to finish the story!"
"And that is a promise I tend to keep," he held out his pinky and had her small finger wrap around his. "By Kaalvis I will return to you Sakura." She was returned under the covers and tucked away for the night when he had gone.
For Sakura who slept that night had awoken to a heartbreaking parting of her father being caught and executed first light in the plaza of Aknáh. A child's loss is more grieving to understand and accept then any adult could comprehend. But with this event it forced her to grow. It could have been a bad turn out for this small child, but over the years she had gone out alone, she developed skills unlike other thieves, and exceedingly made a name for herself like her father wished of her. The skills she developed though were frightening even to herself. She could not show it to others, could not even contain it well if provoked. So she hid it away and used only what thieves could know. Now at sixteen she prowls the city of Aknáh with her name known on high alert. There is nothing she has not stolen, nothing that would stop her from stealing, and she even claims a title that only Aknáh would know her by: The World's Greatest Thief.