Nerissa, she was a lovely child. Brown skin, thick dark hair that was too stubborn for all the hair treatments of her time and so grew upwards and not downwards in an afro. But Nerissa was born long before the invention of the word 'afro'.
She was born in a small town called Alamin, at the center of the seven orizons
which could be likened to the seven continents of our time
Nerissa was born in a time where magic and other supernatural elements was not seen as uncommon. She was born long before the small human mind began to distinguish between races and color of skin. Which was why she felt no shame as she ran down the marketplace that day, a child of seven with thick full hair amidst people of white skin.
"Mother.. mother" she shouted even before getting to the stall when her mother sold amulets and other magical items. In her haste she bumped into a huge brown man carrying a large sword. The poor man nearly dropped the heavy sword.
"I'm very sorry sir" she said
"Feel sorry for yourself child" the man shouted "what if the sword had fallen on you? Then all these thieves who call themselves traders would have my head. All because of a foolish child!"
"I'm very sorry sir" Nerissa was close to tears now
"I said keep that little squirrel hole you call a mouth shut" the man hollered
"Don't talk to her like that" a thick, calm voice said behind the man
The huge man turned around and saw a tall, brown young man with hair like Nerissa's and brown eyes. In Fact the boy looked just like Nerissa except that he seemed ten years or so older and had a dull shimmer in his eye unlike Nerissa's glittery eyes.
"You must be her brother" the man said "if I…"
He stopped because he noticed that the young man had a red ribbon tied around his ankle. In those times a red ribbon tied around a person's ankle represented strength and bravery. It also meant that such a person was a warrior in the king's special army.
And kings don't joke with their warriors.
So the huge man took a good look at Samil
for that was the young man's name
and left without saying another word
"Samil" Nerissa called out as she ran into her brother's hands
"That man would have beaten me"
"But I came just in time"Samil said, disengaging from the embrace
"You saved me" Nerissa said, her brown eyes twinkling
"I won't always be aroundlked to their mother's stall
"Says who?"Nerissa asked
"Says the gods" Samil replied
"I AM the gods" Nerissa said as she climbed the top of a table in her mother's stall and shot out her left hand playfully
"All hail the god of broken tables" Tirea, Nerissa's mother said. She looked like her children but had green eyes.
After losing her husband in battle 10 years ago, her children were all she had. And she loved them dearly.
So that was Nerissa's family, not very rich but they were happy.
When it was night time, Nerissa's mother closed for the day and they headed to their cottage which was right behind the Castle. As a special warrior, Samil heard about every war even before the palace guards themselves did. And so that night while they were eating dinner, a friend of Samil's , Fahit by name came over to see him.
He was a tall, huge white skinned young man and was one of the bravest fighters the king had in his special army.
"Why did you come to see me tonight?" Samil asked
"War is coming" Fahit replied
"And what makes this war so special?"Samil asked, quite unperturbed
Fahit noticed the disconcern in Samil's voice.
"Nothing much" Fahit started "just that Alamin is likely to be completely destroyed by King Olain"
That caught Samil's attention quickly
"What did you say?" He asked
"I am very sure you heard me" Fahit shot back
"But he's the most powerful King in all the seven orizons" Samil said almost getting scared "how can a small town like Alamin resist him?"
"That is the main reason I came here" Fahit replied
"You have a battle strategy? One that can make us win the war right?" Samil asked
Fahit laughed a bitter laughter
"I wish I did,"Fahit said, looking away from his friend. "But I don't"
"So what are we going to do?" Samil asked
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to run away" Fahit said
"What?!" Samil shouted
Fahit was the bravest fighter he ever knew. He was also the strongest.Fahit was always ready to risk everything for the sake of their town. So for him of all people to decide to run away, the battle must have obviously been a lost cause.
"But Fahit…" Samil started
"I know what you're going to say," Fahit said, holding up his hand to stop Samil "a warrior never runs away. I know all that. I'm running away, because I am not about to sacrifice my life for a cause that will not live after me"
" But …" Samil tried to say
"I will only lay down my life for something which I know will live after I am gone," Fahit interrupted, "and we both know that Alamin cannot survive king Olain's attack.
"I will advise you to take your mother and your sister somewhere safe. And go with them"
"But Fahit, the battle has not even begun and to you we have already lost" Samil said
"I don't need a soothsayer to tell me that me that we have already lost" Fahit replied "if you are still going to stay here at least take your mother and your sister away from here"
"I… I don't know what to say" Samil said , running his hand through his hair
"You don't have to say anything" Fahit put a hand on Samil's shoulder "I'll miss you my brother"
"So where are you going to?"Samil asked
"Certainly not to the orizon of Olain" Fahit said" anywhere else will do for now"
"Till we meet again brother" Fahit said
"Are you going to stay here?" Fahit asked
"I don't know yet. But I think I will" Samil replied
"At least take your mother and your sister away from this doomed land" Fahit said , exasperated
"When are you leaving?" Samil asked
In response to that question, Fahit held up a big box which contained his clothes and other portable personal belongings.
"I see" Samil said , surprised "you're leaving tonight"
Fahit nodded
"Can I ask you a favour Fahit?"
"If you want me to take your mother and sister with me then, yes I will" Fahit replied
Samil's eyes lit up
"Thank you "he said, "but can you wait till tomorrow night? They have to gather some of their belongings to get that you know, and mother store contains some charms that can be useful to you in your journey"
Fahit shifted uncomfortably.
"But I have to leave tonight" he said "tomorrow the soldiers will start getting ready for the war and it will be discovered that I am absent"
"You can find a place to hide" Samil said "like that big cave by the river"
Fahit sighed heavily
"For your sake and for the sake of your family I'll do it" Fahit said
Fahit lost his family at a very tender age, so Samil's family was very dear to him.
"Thank you very much" Samil said happily
So that night as Samil watched his friend head for the cave, he knew somewhere in his heart that he was never going to see him again.
He sighed heavily and went inside his house to tell his mother the bad news.