WARNING: You must be a REAL fan of T.O.L or nothing will mean shit!
Kerines: Rise of Salvation
by: bloodysword99
Sorry it's been a while. Finals were a bitch! XD So I decided to make the chapter longer. :3 I hope you could forgive me XD
Wasn't so bad
Moses and Blaze were at the Castle library where the chieftess was usually found at her spare time. The bandit and the assassin found her Highness surrounded by scrolls, books and paper work at her personal work table.
It turns out; Kerines were not just about hunting and barbaric behaviour. Chieftess Rita explained there is a scholastic side to the fire people. Kerines from the past were great historians and provided a number of books, scrolls and deductive research on Kerines and non-kerines subjects, stored in the Royal Library. Though Kerines today prefer hunting, gathering and trading market, few have pursued the line of history, religious and scientific studies and scholar psychology, all present in Chieftess' court.
Chieftess Rita strongly believed education is a necessity, in all forms. Like Hunting 101. History Classes and such. All taught in this very castle by Rita, her daughters and her entire court, to the younger Kerines generation.
"Moses, this is a…difficult thing to ask of me. Even as my position as chieftess, I can't carry out such a nearly impossible task." Chieftess Rita stated while putting down her book and gazing at the boys.
"I-I know." Oddly fidgeting his sleeve, Moses answered meekly. Note, the bandit was still new to his new wardrobe change. And sleeves were a complete mystery to him.
While observing the uncomfortable bandit, Rita fingered the scrolls at her desk. She was waiting for an explanation for Moses' sudden request.
"But there's no harm in tryin', right…?" The bandit sounded reluctant.
Blaze, who was behind him, did a face plant at Moses' stupidity. Sometimes the bandit wasn't so good with explaining himself.
"Are you sure you want to walk this path?" Rita asked him seriously.
"Path…?" Moses muttered.
With a blank expression, she stood from her seat, walked to the many shelves and skimmed books. Her gentle finger grazed over the spine of each literature and finally stopped when she found what she was looking for. Pulling a slim crimson book, not even thicker than an inch, she flipped the pages and presented it Moses.
To Moses' surprise, it was a children's book.
"I used to read this to my daughters every night when they were younger." Rita said pointing at the page.
"Kerines: Rise of Salvation. A picture book for kids. It was written after the curse of the Merines and the great exile of the Kerines people. Think of it as a shorter version of a history book." She explained.
The bandit studied the page that was presented to him. A detailed illustration of a man wearing the Kerines uniform with a tattoo of the Relares Fire letter on his right cheek, the Kerines was proud and mighty, a leader. Moses spotted something scribbled at the bottom.
"Ureskel? Isn't that the…?" The bandit muttered.
"The great leader of the Kerines, the chosen son of the great mother, Gerises. Her agent and our saviour." She told him softly.
Moses blinked at the picture of the great leader who stood against the kingdom of Terises and their Merines, 4 thousand years ago. So, this was the Ureskel he'd been hearing so much about.
"So, what does this have to do to with me?" A great question, asked by Moses.
Her gentle smile was melancholy like she didn't want to answer an innocent question. The beautiful dictator then flipped through another page to reveal the Ureskel spreading flaming wings broadly on his back.
"Moses, what did the Ureskel tried to accomplish?" Rita quizzed him.
"Um…To save the Kerines from slavery?" Moses answered hesitantly.
"And what else?" She asked.
The bandit made quick recap in his mind of the history Sprite already discussed with him. And it wasn't much to go on.
"To…stop the Merines from destroying the lands?" He said.
"Yes. Exactly, Moses, but why? Why did the Ureskel wanted to stop the Merines from causing the cataclysm?"
Why? Why? Why!? Moses thought it was a silly question! Nothing good ever came from death! Or drowning! It wasn't rocket science! Anyone could see the Ureskel was just…
…!
It was then Moses finally realized what the chieftess was trying to do. And Rita saw the realization dawn over his face. Wide eye, staring at the picture book in his hands, the bandit had finally discovered what she was saying.
Moses' request was no different from the Ureskel's actions.
"The nearly impossible task you ask of me, an alliance between races, is the same resolve the Ureskel was trying to fulfil." The chieftess said sadly.
That's right. The reason why Moses was here in front of the chieftess was because he wanted peace between the Kerines and other races. He wanted to ask for a trinity to end the hate and fear in the hearts of the fire people. Moses desired an alliance; to take the first step of the future. And he hoped it would bring the Kerines into the light. To once again live greatly. To prosper. To finally come out of hiding from the shadows of a dark and bloody past. To be free of the shackles of their paranoia.
"Moses, this is…" Her expression was filled with fear and dejection. She feared Moses would share the same fate as the Ureskel.
She looked at the book in his hands before staring directly at Moses who was preoccupied by the illustration of the great leader spreading wings of flames on the entire page.
"Every picture has its story. Sometimes we don't like the ending. Other times we don't live to see it." The chieftess murmured in a low motherly voice.
She feared for Moses' life. It terrified her. As the bandit's gaze painfully broke from the picture, he closes the book.
"Is it really impossible?" Moses asked while knowing the dwindling hope for peace hasn't burned out yet. She had to be honest with him but Rita doesn't want to give false hope.
"No, Moses, I believe it's…possible."
Moses directed his stare to the chieftess in disbelief. There was still hope!
"But the road to peace is not easy for the Kerines. Even after thousands of years, most of them harbour anger, resentment and…fear towards other races. I'm not certain we can…" Rita said meekly but Moses kept the faith strong in his face.
The bright and honest faith Moses had.
"We can do it! I'll help ya!" the bandit encouraged but the chieftess still wasn't motivated.
"As leader of the Kerines, ya have to take the first step!" Moses had a point.
The bandit knew Rita didn't hate, resent or fear other races! She's kind hearted, just and compassionate! She could be a great peacemaker and ambassador for the Kerines. Even she couldn't deny her power as the dictator. As leader she must consider only what's best for her people. And maybe the peace Moses suggested might be what their dying race needed.
"We have to take that first step. We have to take that leap of faith! If we leap, we can rise to salvation!" Moses choice of words might be theatrical but they were right and significant. Chieftess Rita was dumbstruck but soon smiled at Moses' hopes, as pure or as naïve as they might be. Moses was right. And she couldn't say 'no' to that.
"I'll see what I can do. But you must finish your Kerines lessons before we could formulate the plan for peace." She negotiated her terms and he agreed handsomely.
"Yes, chieftess! I will!" He chirped in glee.
Rita laughed at the bandit's actions. And Blaze and Moses left her be in the Royal traits of leadership Moses possessed were going to be their rise or fall for the future of the Kerines.
"Why are they still here?" Ember snarled seeing the team dinning with her mother and sister.
"Ember, be polite." the Chieftess ordered to her daughter.
Head Huntress Ember glared daggers at them before making her way to her seat next to Sprite. And even as she ate her grim gaze has not left. Ember's hate for other races was potent and evident. Her eyes sparked with wrath and disgust. She absolutely detested them. It wasn't her fault really. She grew up learning the history of the Kerines and the cruelty of the water people in her father's eyes. Her father, the former chief, was a loving family man, caring and a great leader yet he had no compassion for any races besides his own. Like father like daughter. Ember, as a child, was extremely close to her father. And when he died of sickness, she was never the same. She lived the rest of her life in hate.
And Moses was almost fed up with it.
"Ember, can I talk to ya?" the bandit requested as he puts down his utensils.
All who sat at the table froze. Sprite's eyes shifted nervously to Moses, then to her elderst sister before finally to her mother, who looked uneasy as well. Amazon, the second in command, coughed uncharacteristically while Blaze made no exaggerated reaction. The team also felt the rising tension. Even Norma stopped stuffing her cheeks with food as the table went silent.
"Of…course." Ember replied before putting her food down.
Both stood from the dining table and walked away; together.
"Is…he going to be alright?" Senel asked the chieftess.
"He'll be fine." Rita said yet she sounded a little unsure.
"I seriously doubt it." Amazon murmured.
They walked the halls of Dark Rock castle. Moses led the way and Ember fallowed without question. Once they got to the bandit's destination of choice. He turned to the Head Huntress. And a thick eerie silence stretched between them. Despite the beauty of the castle garden around them, their expressions were ugly with displeasure and anger.
"What's yer problem with my friends, Ember?" Moses asked first.
The head huntress snorted in amusement but her eyes, she seemed annoyed rather than entertained. Ember must have thought Moses was stupid to ask.
"Ya find it funny, gal?" the bandit deadpans.
"Well, Moses, as a matter of fact, I do." She crossed her arms and spread an arrogant smile.
The bandit had lost count how many times he wanted to smack that conceited attitude out of her. But Moses had to swallow his own pride to make this work. He had to be the mature one.
"My friends ain't doin' nothin', yer Princess-ness." He spats furiously while jamming his teeth together. Attempting to hold all his rage in place.
But this girl was just pushing her luck. Ember kept that arrogant atmosphere on her face as she said.
"For now."
Moses growled, raked his red locks in frustration and pointed a stern finger at her. He didn't care if she was Head Huntress or the Chieftess' daughter! This girl was really getting on his nerves.
"Look, here, princess." His voice was low and furious. A warning tone.
"I don't know what yer deal is with my friends but keep it to yourself!" The bandit made his point known. And Ember wasn't the least frightened.
She and he were about the same age. Moses, though, was a little taller by a few inches; Ember's height doesn't affect her sharp tongue and her egotistical look. Her eyes were dangerously hard and cold. Her presence alone could frighten the bravest hunters. Her attitude towards outsiders was as dark and cruel as her heart. She was like a storm. Destructive, untameable and merciless.
In short, she was a bitch.
"I can't, Moses. They are dangerous!"
"Yer the only one saying that!"
"That might be true! But everyone else is thinking the same!"
Silence once more stretched between them. This was going nowhere. Fast. But he couldn't give up! Moses could see it. In her eyes. Behind all that hate, is a leader who cares for her people! Ember is not a bad person. He might have doubts about that but his instinct told him to take a chance with her.
Moses needed the cooperation of the royal family. All of them. And since Ember is the Head Huntress and future chieftess of the Kerines, she needed to be part of his plan. Moses needed her to see what bright future the Kerines could accomplish. And he can't do that if her hate for other races clouds her judgement!
All he needed to do was find her heart and break that wall of resentment! Maybe Moses was approaching this all wrong. As the bandit composed his angry state, he inhaled deeply and calmly exhaled before facing her again with a strong face.
"Ember…" He started.
"Ya have to trust me." Moses finished plain and simple.
Her expression hadn't changed but the bandit could feel Ember was considering it. Barely.
"Just what exactly are you planning?" Ember was a sharp woman. She had ears everywhere. She must have heard Moses' plans about making peace with the other races. This woman was no fool.
"Is it so hard for ya to trust me?" Moses asked, not wanting to change the subject.
Silence once more until the head huntress' smug face fell. The bandit thought she saw a poor defenceless child.
"I can't give my faith to just any one, Moses." She almost sounded sad when she spoke. Her eyes softened. This was a side of Ember Moses wanted to see. But her vulnerable look disappeared a second later and replaced with her usual stern face.
"I am the Head Huntress. I am the daughter of the chieftain and next in line for the throne. I can't just throw caution to the wind. I can't give my trust just like that. And If I misplace my judgement…others will be affected. I just can't." The head huntress stated to him.
"What will it take then?" Moses negotiated.
It didn't even take a second for her to think. She just blurted out her terms.
"I want your…friends to leave."
"Ember." The bandit was about to protest.
"They are nothing but a nuisance, Moses. Surely you can see that?"
Moses didn't want to admit it but she was right. His friends being here are not going to help him. Sure, they were great company but his progress as a Kerines will be on hold. Moses postponed his lesson to keep an eye on them and to be their…well, how do you put it…an ambassador, so to speak. Technically, he was the only reason why the Kerines all around them hadn't staked them with spears. And if this keeps up, he'll never learn the Kerines ways fast enough. He needed to be a full fledged Kerines before doing the peace treaty. That was the agreement between him and Chieftess Rita.
Obviously, she named her price and he can't do anything about it.
"Fine." Moses agreed while looking at the ceiling in complete irritation and defeat.
And somehow, Ember spotted the expression and laughed. Her laugh was light and happy unlike her usual. The bandit liked the sight of the joyful head huntress. Her smile was tranquil and enlightening like her mother's.
"You should smile more often." Moses said and Ember blushed as she pouted her lips trying to act her strict self again but failed.
"W-Whatever." She deadpanned and walked away, secretly smiling.
Ember Senpel wasn't so bad after all.