"We were all named for something Jain. Some had more noble origin others more common. My brother Kiato, he was named from the old texts of the Kings; Kiato meaning Proud, brave and strong. After the man who saved our people after the divide between us and those that dwell in Hyrule, as the divide all but crippled us yet our divide was not from spite.

Then Syen, named for the first Kings Guardian who forged our armies and solidified our resolve. Then.. There is Cye, named for a figure not all that long ago, a King if I remember correctly. King Cye Xuin Sericius II who was named after his Father as many were. That King brought about a long peace in which the castle we have now was build on solid firm ground as the other had perished with the King's Father in a great and gruesome war. The King was just, he let no man starve, he forged an alliance with the peoples of the surrounding territory instead of trying to dominate them, now only one of those Kingdoms still stands, Hyrule. King Cye, ensured the alliances would not break or deteriorate over the years in the life of his son who later taught his son and so on until this very day."

"And you my Lord Desri?"
"Me? I have no noble origin or story to tell of an origin for my name just this; My Father desired another heir, he wanted me desperately as they feared they had waited too long. Yet I was born and then they made my name from the very reason for my birth; my Father's desire for me. So Mother and Father searched for a word or something that related to their joy and then they came up with Desri."
"So you are Jine's desire? Then why do you not face Cye, and free your father from Cye's corruption?" Jain asked.

Desri for the first time in the hours since he had arrived acknowledged the grime and mud that was wiped wide upon his face. He rubbed it with a grubby hand but it only served to smear further dark mud and insects on his face.


"Cye!" Jine bellowed, delighted at his son's presence.
"Father,"
"Did you catch those who bombed the outskirts?"
"One man I found yet, more than one must have been needed to do such destruction to Cuix."
"My son, where is the traitor?"
"In the lower dungeons, It is Cah Hariel of Liaeo he was raised just outside of Kiun, Father."

Jine paced, he knew Iune, Cah's Father while he still drew breath. To see Cah Hariel the son of such a respectable and loyal man and a Guardian of Cuix being the bomber that struck the Cuixians into fear and chaos was unbelievable. He had took an interest in Cah and had attended Iune's funeral while Cah and his brother Siune sobbed and cried like children and he had comforted them as they cried and begged the goddesses for it to all be a dream.

Cye watched, he looked at his Father and saw the large wrinkles and frown lines that Cye could have sworn were not there a week ago; for the first time in Cye's lifetime his Father looked older than he was. Cye decided he had to help and take charge as his Father did not look well at the news at all.

"Father, let us retire to the study and talk there. The parade is today and I do not wish to discuss this in the open and dampen festivities."
"Of course, isn't it the anniversary of the Guardian's formation?"
"Yes Father, Teran is leading the parade as the head of the order of Guardians died last night and as of yet a new head hasn't been chosen."
"Ah, what an opportunity!"
"Father?"
"Cye, my boy! I think you are ready for to chose the head of the Guard as you will be overseeing the order."
"Father, I think we both know who deserves this most."
"Yes, Teran my surrogate son. Yet I have not seen him today, where is he?" Jine asked as he and Cye walked up the main staircase.
"He was...Angry at me last night as I refused to allow him to come. He thought it would be best that he protect me and I disregarded his judgement."
"So you would chose him based on this?"
"No. I chose him because he is a capable swordsman, a loyalist and a Father so he knows why we must survive and has compassion."
"Hm, we will decided this later, Teran will be marching with the Guard and I would very much like to watch."
"Father, may I suggest we watch from the Castle balcony?"
"Yes but you have a speech to make, go on son, I am sure Teran is expecting you in the square."
"Father, there was a bombi-"
"Cye, go."
"Yes Father." Cye said before he gave a high bow.

Cye turned and descended the stairs, then turned into a large assembly hall where many Guadians, past, present and future were waiting for Teran Meers, a hero by even their standards to call for them to step into formation.

"Formation two, lines of six across by ten backward." Cye shouted as he entered and moved his sheathe onto his back from his hip. Large black bags stood under the prince's eyes, causing some to whisper yet he stood firm and waited.
"I said, formation two. Six across, ten backward." Cye shouted, his normally powerful voice amplified in the grand hall.
"Ay! You heard the Prince, Form two! Guardians of Kiato at the front as we will be using this form tomorrow for the Prince's funeral!"

A large smack against the marble floor banged and echoed as the men stood to attention.

"Spears on the outside, axes beside those wielding spears and swords in the middle of the line." Cye spoke in his usual volume.
A few men shuffled and then Cye walked down the line of ten strong inspecting the Guardians.
"You." Cye pointed and pulled a single Guardian from the crowd, he wore a vibrant blue shirt and dark brown trousers that held protective plates with a large chrome-silver plate upon his chest, holstered on his hip was a bright and well polished handle, and what Cye assumed to be a polished straight sword. The cross section was nothing special it held the Cuix symbol in the centre, the grip was plated with a dark wood and at the base was a circular jewel.

"Sir?"
"You are not in trouble, wait for me in my study I will be along shortly."
"Of course Sir but the parade.."
"It will not start without you."
"Thank you Sire."

Cye split the formations lines so there was a walkway between each, giving him the opportunity to inspect every single Guardian.

He came to those in red and walked straight passed the entire formation of red Guardians for they were Desri's and they could not be trusted.

He came to those with yellow shirts, Kiato's Guardians each of which wore a black piece of fabric, that was tied to their upper arm on the right side, their sword arms.
He looked through and found a man, he was pure sheikah, his hair a very light almost white brown and his eyes were as red as blood yet he had no age on his face and had dimples from his kind smile he also wore dark brown trousers with protective plates on his knees and shins.

"You, go to my study there you will await me beside the blue guard I sent to there shortly beforehand."
"Yes Prince Cye."

Cye then continued and found the purple clad Guardians, Guardian's of Syen. He looked down the lines, his eyes darting from purple to purple as the men stood stiff and still. Every man wore the same except their shirts, there was five colours, emerald, amethyst purple, bright vibrant blue, a vibrant but not blinding yellow and a average, red that caught your eye should you see it by chance. Every man had a plate of chrome-sliver armor over their shirt yet their sleeves and sides of their V-necks could be seen from their gauntlets up as these men were not going to war. The dark brown had always been for Guardians, they out-ranked the highest of Soldiers and could take control of any force of Cuixian military force without contest. Guardians were trained to be the best; most had once been simple soldiers that had been chosen by the King or a Prince to be trained and placed in the Guard of any male Royal.

He found Valan in the crowd yet just gave a curt nod; he did not want to take Valan. Syen would soon need Valan in Ari's absence.
He scanned Syens men again; a young man, fifteen at most caught his eye, he was half or more Hylian with blue eyes and dark hair, he looked scared or nervous or both and at his hip was a blade that had no wear on its handle yet it had writing, Hylian writing on it. Cye read it with difficulty, he had never truly learnt Hylian but his Mother had taught him a lot when he was about four or six. 'Kyial, only son of Jiern.' Cye read and thought of the boy who could not stay still as a boy who needed a guide if he was to be a Guardian and one of the best.

"Kyial, go to my study. Wait for me there."
"Er… Uh...Erm.. Yes Sire."
"Take your shield and inform the others that await you that they will all need to pack a satchel."
"Sire?"
"Go now Kyial."
"Please, Kyi will do."
"Kyi, you tell them and I will go to the King after finding Guardian Meers."
"Yes Sir."

Cye turned to his own Guard. They stood proud, bold even in their emerald shirts and chrome armor, the symbol of Cuix presented valiantly upon their shoulders beside Cye's mark, a C and a S embroidered in silver thread and traced with emerald. All four Princes had the choice of whether or not to have their Guardians hold their initials; only two did so, Desri and Cye.

Cye looked at his own men, they stood a little taller than the seemed a little more proud than the others. Their smiles were a little wider and their eyes glistened with respect as they followed Cye until they could no longer do so without moving or breaking formation.

"Uel, my study."
"Ay Sire." Uel smiled, his dark red - almost crimson - eyes beamed with his words.
"Que, study."
Que nodded his white hair moving with him.

"Pick me." A man dressed in a red shirt with D.S. inscribed on his shoulder broke form and stood to attention. All men, even those beside him dressed in red shirts gasped.
"Why should I choose you? Name?"
"Luis Rozek."
"Who was your Father Luis?"
"Filipan Wesnek."

Cye raised a blazing eyebrow and looked the man in the eye before looking at the man's stature, sword and the state of his uniform.
"Why are you Rozek and not Wesneck?"
"Wesnek." Luis corrected.
Whispers of 'How dare he' spread through the hall alongside gasps of shock.

"Why not Wesnek?" Cye asked his patience wearing thin.
"Because, my Father left Cuix and headed for Kakariko when I was a baby. He betrayed Cuix and was the man that caused the riot twenty-nine years ago."
"The Neckers Riots, two years before Kiato… was born."
"Yes. It was named after my Father's surname of Wesnek."
"So that is why I mistook it."
"I believe so, Sir."
"Hm. Go to my study, do not pack your belongings just yet."
"Thank you Prince." Luis said before he bowed and swiped his light- extremely light - brown hair back.
Cye continued through the crowd looking for men with promise. He turned his attention back to the emerald shirts.
"Right. My men, turn and face me."

The ten along became ten across and the four was the density of the block.
Cye looked down the front row, they all seemed to have promise but some he ignored due to age or what little he knew of their family; any difficulties meant that Cye would ignore them.

"Line one; dismissed wait on the front field, Red Guardians you are all dismissed. Yellow Guardians, lines one, two and three may go. Purple Guard, line four dismissed. Everyone else, gather in front of me in colour formations."

Many of the red Guardians sighed or grunted in frustration at the order. The yellow Guard left without a word and the lines of Emerald, Yellow and Purple Guards that remained shuffled into three even blocks. Emerald faced Cye proud and bold, purple stood arms behind their backs, hands clasping their wrists to the left of emerald and yellow stood in the tightest of the formations.

Cye inspected them, he looked from face to face, sword to sword, uniform to uniform and only saw one man he was intrigued by.

The man was a full sheikah, his eyes were not the usual red however, they were more crimson than bright red and his hair was a greyish white. He was not that old, he looked about two years older than Teran and stood with a certain pride. His shirt was purple.

"You."
"Me?"
"No, the man to your left."
"Me Sir?"
"Yes, go to my study."
"Thank you Sir."

Cye breathed out, he had chosen the best way he knew how. He had not intended to admit any men from Desri's guard as their loyalties were in question following their charges betrayal.

He had intended to dismiss them after he had chosen two men, both from his Guard but that had not happened. All the others seemed curious of what he was up to, yet he could not risk disclosing his plan not when traitors may walk among the loyal.


Ari Xion, had disappeared days ago and hope was all but lost yet as Teran Meers made his rounds after he checked in on the Sericius'. As usual, Teran rode out to Xiyu via the dirt paths rather than the cobbled road that most travellers used.

When the large hut that was the main centre of Xiyu could be seen but only faintly, Teran spotted dark red in an erratic pattern, he dismounted his horse; Luna and tugged her reins to get her into a gentle walk. He followed the red and soon realised it to be blood. He halted Luna and crouched down.

"Whatever left this, it was crawling, weakened and bloody." Teran murmured. "Easy girl."
Teran hushed as his horse bucked. He mounted her and began to follow the blood as the tracks slowly got more bloodied and had less distance between where the thing rested.

After half an hours gentle ride, Teran came upon a man who obviously wished he was dead and not on the road less traveled within sight of help he could not reach.

"Ari!" Teran yelled as he grabbed the man as carefully as he could and loaded him onto his horse before pouring water down Ari's neck and over his clothes.

Teran rode as hard as he knew how, his horse exhausted they entered Xiyu and Teran hauled Ari over his shoulders, the mans blood soaking the back of Terans grey shirt giving it a blackish crimson colour to it.

"Help!" Teran shouted many of the villagers surrounded him, the man appointed to protect Xiyu was dead, Kiato had died yet his head Guardian still presided over Xiyu in his name.
"Take him into my house, it is down this way! Quickly." Jaques exclaimed ordering two men afterward to take Luna and gather supplies.

"Jaques! Good to see you," Teran began as Jaques' men tended to Ari.
"It is good to see you too Ter, how are things in Cuix?"
"The out-skirts were bombed not long ago, Prince Syen has doubled the training drill schedule and there are now tight security checkpoints at all entry and exit points. Prince Cye is trying his hardest to keep the peace and prevent rioting but the people are scared. I was just coming to check on my Sister when I found Ari."
"Ah, my friend Tulza is home for the moment, the Inn was damaged in the raid that killed Prince Kiato. Does Cuix need more men? I can send half of those here to the Castle-town."
"Jaques, is there somewhere I may speak with you in confidence."
"Oh, uh yes. The Inn is abandoned bar your sister and a few soldiers who offered their aid."
"No, we need somewhere without any chance of an audience."
"There is Prince Kiato's study to the north of town."
"Will anyone be there?"
"No."
"Let us go."

They began to walk before a large crowd fled the village hall. "What is this Jaques"
"The indoor market's roof must have finally gave way." Jaques explained.
"Surely you wouldn't allow villagers to keep using it!?"
"Of course we don't. It still must have scared some people especially as we have not yet begun to understand how or why someone would wish to kill Prince Kiato, usually our small village does not see violence or much crime at all."
"Hm. So how is it going between yourself and Tulza?" Teran said as they checked out the roof to find it just as Jaques had predicted, it had collapsed and rubble was everywhere, some of the Soldiers had already begun to clean up. Teran dashed over to the soldier who looked as if he was in control and tapped his shoulder.
"Teran." He greeted.
"Is there any casualties? Is anyone hurt?" Teran asked almost frantically.
"No Sir. Jaques the master guard of Xiyu, ordered the building evacuated and set a perimeter for the people's safety Sir."
"Very good, I will let you carry on."
"See you soon Teran."

Jaques had waited where Teran left him and then after gesturing towards Kiato's study they begun to walk once more.
"So, how are you and Tulza?" Teran asked kindly.
"Tulza and I are very good. As you know we are together.."
"Why do I sense that here is an and or but?" Teran asks cutting through Jaques' tension.
"Well, I was wondering seen as yours and Tul's Father has passed if you would give me permission to marry your sister?" Jaques spits out in an garbled fashion.
"Wait, calm down Jaques and say that again please?"
"Well.. Uh, I wanted to ask for y-our per-mission as your Father has passed and your the eldest mal-"
"You want my permission to marry my sister yeah?"
"Yes.. Sir."
"Ok, well I need to think if you do not mind? It's nothing against you. Tulza is all I have left."
"I understand that."

The two were silent until they entered the study. Neither could stand to sit in Kiato's darkwood with a yellow fabric cushion chair. It was still too soon. Instead they sat in the two smaller darkwood chairs that were facing the tall desk before they turned them to face one another.

"Are you sure we are alone Jac?" Teran asked still tense.
"Positive, no Xiyu villager can bear to come here. Not since.."
"I understand."
"There are rumors. Th-at Pri-nce Cye murdered Pri-"
"No. Prince Cye did not. He was in Cuix."
"Do we truly know that? As my men are in chaos from such rumors. Another is that Prince Syen and Prince Cye both committed Prince Kiato's murder."
"No, both Princes were at the Castle. I journeyed with them from Hyrule."
"I trust your word Teran but you must understand that I had to ask. My men are in chaos but this news will find them well.

Teran told Jaques of Desri's betrayal as a fierce wind knocked at the window and soon thunder bounced in echo within the empty halls surrounding the study. A flash of brilliant white threatened to blind the men as Teran concluded his tale.
"I sense it again, Jac" Teran said.
"You don't mean the climate that hit Cuix during the Dead War?" Jacques replied shocked.
"No this is much worse than the Dead War, I fear." Teran began "I also sense something or someone else at work. Desri isn't doing this alone, if we go to war with him it will be a tough fight."


Cye had searched for Teran for what seemed to be an hour before he turned and headed back to the Castle. His anger blared in his chest as he strode further into his home. He felt hurt that he had hurt Teran through his orders. His Father had always warned the two of them that with the bond they shared a rift could be caused by Cye's superiority or Teran's command over the men. They pair did not listen to the King they swore their friendship and surrogate siblinghood would prevent this but now after several years it had happened. In the corners of his eyes he could see red. Pain shot through them and soon Cye slouched up against one of the low sitting windows that were set within the wall.

"Prince?" Marina said, approaching slowly so as not to startle him. She was aged, wrinkles made her frown lines sag lower than in her youth. She wore a dress that was well-tailored a gift from Queen Maria, made of Hylian fabric with white trim. It was vibrant as were most clothes in Cuix, and the purple colour bounced off her red eyes and if by chance she looked down, the purple gleamed in the corners as her bold and bright smile shone to brighten other's days.
"Marina." Cye said smiling.
"Do not wear such falsehood young one, it only comes to deceive." Marina said with a concerned gaze not often seen upon her face.
"I do not understand Marina, I am truly happy to see you."
"Yet inside, you are hurt. I have known you and your brothers for many years, I helped raise the five of you and your sister as your parents served the Kingdom and continued our peace."
"I know. It is another brother on this occasion that upsets me, well truly? I am upset and hurt by myself." Cye said with a sigh.
"What troubles you? I may know you well but a mind-reader I am not."
"My Father once told me that if Teran and I served together that we would be strong and an unbeatable force but we would unintentionally hurt each other by way of command as though he is my brother and the son of my Father, I am his superior."
"Dear boy. You have been inseparable since well before Teran's Parents' met with their most unfortunate end. Teran would not despise you or hate you for whatever order or command you have given. He most likely feared or worried or both for you." Marina replied as she patted his shoulder twice.
"Yes but I should not have insulted him. My order served to protect him yes but he is a grown man and I treated him like I would a child. I made him stay behind on the premiss of protecting the other Royals when the castle was secured and on the highest of alerts. It must have wounded his pride at least."
"Hm, Cye you have forgotten one key thing about your relationship with your brother, Teran. He would and could never hold anything against you."
"It still does not ease my anger toward myself, I should not have done it Marina. I should not have sought to keep him safe, he is a Guardian my Guardian no less and I do this to him. It shows a lack of faith, a lack of trust Marina."
"Now now Cye, those are serious words,"
"I am aware of that, I did a serious thing. Serious words are the only words that apply."
"My dear boy, go find Teran. I am sure that he will be laughing with you by sunset."
"I dare not to presume yet I dare enough to hope."
"You are becoming a wise man, wiser daily yet Cye? Do not lose sight of yourself while these dark designs attempt to come to fruition."
"I won't."
"Good, now go. Find your brother the celebrations must start soon and I dare say that Teran will have gone to Xiyu to see Tulza."

"Thank you Lady Marina."
"You are most welcome Prince Cye." Marina said with a kind nod.

Cye turned on his heel hard and raced down the hall soon passing from Marina's sight on route to the stables. He passed several parade goes that worked within the stone castle walls, all of which greeted him and in turn he greeted them also. He jumped and skipped stairs, his sword and shield clicking and clunking as he moved, He half-slid down a rail lioften do as a child. He finally reached the stable and saw Syen tending to the horses.

"Cyro is ready for you." Syen said without turning.
"How did you-"
"I have known you my entire life. You and Teran chase one another like a dog does a cat. When Teran becomes upset or just does his rounds he goes to spend a short time with Tulza so it would make sense to me that you would need your horse so I tended him first."
"You never could stand someone else caring for your horse, could you?" Cye said leaning on the door frame with a smile dancing in his eyes.
"No, I couldn't. We may be royals but we should still do our own chores as you always told me as a child."
"Hm, I always thought you allowed it to go in one ear and pass out of the next." Cye teased.
"No. I did listen… After the hundredth time I think it was." Syen said before getting up and stroking his horse.
"Aha, well I must go, would you attend to the men in my study tell them to wait a short time longer no more than a hour for my arrival. Tell them I had to find Guardian Meers."
"Can I assist with the men? What needs to be done?"
"Brother, you needn't worry of it but thank you for your offer."
"You are welcome, Brother?"
"Yes?"

Syen moved closer and mirrored Cye by leaning against a pen. He removed his gloves and sighed deeply and swiped his long messy hair back.

"Have you noticed how normal everything is yet our brother betrayed us. No one has even considered that Cuix could very soon find that it is split in two, we could end up going to war against our own people yet everything is just… Fine." Syen said unable to make eye contact with his elder brother who looked with chocolate eyes filled with concern at his little brother.
"I feel like that too you know."
"Yes but you are going to leave to find Desri. You are going to have reality where as I? I will be stuck in Cuix acting as if my brothers aren't hunting each other. Acting as if nothing is wrong when everything is wrong from the way we are acting fine to the way it is not fine. Even the simplest things are a strain, smiling as I walk down to instruct my Guard is becoming a tiresome necessity, a falsehood yes but necessary all the same."
"Little brother, if you feel you must grin to please the men, to keep morale high and fear low then how can we trust that their morale isn't as false as your smile has been?"
"We can't. I doubt there is any morale. The first-in-line to the throne, our brother the man who taught me beside you to wield a sword has been murdered. Our Niece was killed, how can anyone have morale after such evils? I have no morale! My brother is dead, my niece is dead. My other brother is a traitor, my Family is being torn apart our kingdom is suffering in the silent corners that most have forgotten about. Cuix was bombed and to top it all off? You have to leave. I will be for the first time in my life alone. I'm used to you and Desri and Kiato being in the Castle with me, I'm used to the chatter of the four of us being constant yet now? There is just the two of us, yes I know Kiato wasn't always home but knowing he was not all that far from us helped but now? Where is he? How far away does death truly take a person? Is he beside us? Is he below us? Or is he so far away that no-one we know is near him? Is he alone? Is he with our ancestors? I don't know any of this Cye! And I wish I did. I need to. Because, he was our brother, he is still our brother but we will never see his face again or hear his laughter or just simple things. I miss him, yet we've parted for far longer before.. maybe it's because I know this time that he is never coming home."

Silent tears rained down from Syens eyes as he ranted for all he had lost, all that had hurt him, all that he didn't understand.

"But Desri," Syen continued. "He killed Kiato. He turned on our brother in hatred and lust and he killed not only Kiato but Violet, a innocent child without as much as a shred of mercy. He killed a Child and never, not once did I think he would be able to do such a thing. Such an evil act. Father couldn't fathom it. Mother broke under the weight of her son, our brother's sin, you Cy, you have just set yourself the task of ending this before anyone else dies by the sword Father had forged for his desire, Desri."