Zara sites alone in her ship, watching as the other ships peel off into the distance, one by one they hover away. Leaving her wide viewport empty and all she can see is the ever changing horizon. For the first time in her whole life she is truly alone, she had no one to follow. No one giving her orders, she was alone. The final ship leaves her side, hovering into the morning dawn. Her chest felt tight as she watched them leave, her stomach in knots.
The console in front of her beeps sharply as the screen activates.
Her name flashes across the screen.
ZARA ALMASY
The ship talks to her with a tinny sound. “Destination locked.”
Co-ordinates flash up on the screen, glowing softly. It was a bunch of numbers to Zara, no meaning behind them. It wasn't telling her where it was going. Before she could ponder where she was going the shop jolted and adjusted it's course on its own and began to move.
Zara leaned back into the chair, folding her arms across her chest trying to preserve some heat. Finally since all of the Chosen prophecy came to light, there was nothing she could do but sit and wait, and wait she did.
Her thoughts went back to her old life, her Dad, Jaren, thinking about what they would be doing, although there right now is a completely different time of the day as she is on the other side of the world to them right now. The hum of the engine was steady, slow and almost soothing, her thoughts began drifting into dreams and Zara surrenders to sleep after the excitement of the last few days.
Her eyes grew heavy and she falls into a deep sleep.
She doesn't know how long she has been sleeping for when suddenly she is awaken with a jolt.
The craft thumped down hard, the impact rattling her bones. Zara gasps and digs her nails into the arm rests piercing the fabric. The ship settles, she blinks, rubbing her eyes, letting her eyes adjust squinting against the light pouring through the window.
She had landed in the middle of a village, a river runs through the middle running fast giving them fresh water. Fords cross the rivers giving them safe passage to the other side of the village. The river begins from the top of the gorge that the village is built in, the waterfall cascades down the side creating rainbows of vivid blues and purples created from the white and blue sun of Shahero. The waterfall towers over the protected village. Peopl would often sit in groups in the village, it is a social village, and they are forced to live here, for their own safety.
People began to gather outside the ship. Too many people from a place that is meant to be protected from view. They all murmur in curiosity or maybe fear, the last time a lot of these people saw a ship was they day they had to leave their loved ones.
Zara stood swiftly, pulling her bow from a hook on the wall, and reaches down to grab her quiver before flinging it around her shoulder. She reaches to a button on the wall and pushes it. The door makes a groan and hisses open with steam coming out due to the changes of temperature from inside to outside.
She took a small step out, her foot touching down on the plush rich grass. The moment she planted her boots down the ship sealed itself up and with a sharp hiss and a roar of the engine it shot back up into the sky and faded into the distance.
“Wait!” Zara shouted, spinning around. “How do I get back?”
It was too late the ship was gone. Leaving only painful silence behind and the impending weight of a destiny waiting on tender hooks to be fulfilled.
She slowly turns around on her heel too see a crowd of people walking towards her, faces filled of wonder instead of fear, stepping towards Zara in amazement.
One girl breaks from the crowd and walks to Zara in pure childish wonder. “Are you a god?” The young girl asks. She reaches up for Zara's hand.
Zara froze pulling her hand away, trying her best to smile but feeling overwhelmed. “Um...I, sorry no, I am not.” She crouches down to the young girl, “I was just sent here.”
“Give her some room, give her some room.” A voice comes from the back of the crowd as people begin stepping aside creating a clear path through them. The voice calming but firm.
An elderly woman pushed through the crowd, kind faced with bright eyes and a warming smile, she was of average height, for her age, ad her posture straight despite her age, her eyes studying Zara with a quiet intensity. Her face tells a history, her wrinkles a rough map of her quests and adventures.
“Miss Almassy, I presume?” the woman said with a smile. “I was told you would be arriving. I am very sorry for your welcoming party, we see few people come across here, especially from the sky.” She says apologetically . “Come, I will show you to your accommodation.”
The woman turned without waiting for an answer.
Zara hastily catches up with her.
As they walked Zara glanced upwards. The village was built deep into this gorge, stone houses carved deep into the cliff walls, making the most of the space. The sky sbove was narrowing as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the floor, at least the places that weren't now touched by the large shadow from the edge of the gorge.
Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!
“I am sorry.” Zara said. “But where exactly are we?”
“This my dear, this is Nduja.” The woman replied proudly. “We are people in hiding, after the battle of Melnock the High Council placed us here... because of our abilities.”
Zara pauses. “Sorry, abilities?”
“Do you really think the Chosen are the only gifted ones?” The woman glanced back at her over her shoulder.
“I... I do not know, this is all new to me.” Zara admitted nervously.
“Long before the Chosen.” The woman begins to explain. “The gods gifted abilities at birth, one child in every thousand, give or take, when they created the Chosen, that was the last of the gods powers, we are what remains.”
“The last?” Zara repeats.
“Yes.” She says solemnly. “The gods have not answered since then.”
Zara stops walking. “Wait... so everyone here has abilities.” She asks quietly.
“Yes, and no, mostly yes but families here have grown, children have been born but they have not been blessed.”
The woman paused and studied her. “But you can not absorb ours as easily as you do with the Chosen , here you must learn them, and we must let you learn them.”
“Out gifts were inherited, not awakened.” The woman says.
Zara's heart pounded, feeling out of her depth. “How have you survived out here for so long?” Zara asks. “The Shoven? How have they not seen?”
The woman lifts her hands above her head, the air ripples above the gorge, and within the ripples there are tiny tears across the sky, torn like a thin cloth, revealing the outside world for a second, then she places her hands back together sealing the veil back together.
Zara felt something tugging on her chest as she looked into the sky.
Not magic though, something deeper more natural.
Zara stared breathless.
“You have been maintaining this veil the entire time?” She whispered. “Is that not, well exhausting?”
The woman nodded calmly. “Oh yes, of course it does. But after a while it became normal, second nature almost. I protect these people, and one day you may have too as well.” She smiles at Zara before turning to a frown. “Or this place, the people, they will fall, imagine if the Shoven knew about these people with all these abilities?”
Zara stands in silence, deep thought taking over.
The woman steps outside a small stone house, quaint, Running water just outside, vines wrap around the house. An extinguished fire pit sits outside with burnt wood laid across it. Clearly someone stayed here and spoke into the early hours of the day.
“This will be your home while you are here.” The woman said directing her.
“Thank you.” Zara replies. “I am sorry I forgot your name?”
“Tif.” She said “Guardian of Nduja. You have had enough excitement for now. Rest.” And with that Tif turned and walked through the village waving at small gathering groups as she goes.
Zara entered the house slowly, the door sticking slightly as she pushed the door. It was small, cold, lit only by a single flicking torch. But for now it was home. She sets her bow in the corner, and removes her quiver. Collapsing on to her bed, wrapping the cloak around her tightly for warmth.
Zara begins to think about what Tif said, almost everyone here has abilities. She knows she is the catalyst, but now she tells herself she isn't unique. One thing plays on her mind, her she ever been special at all?
She focuses on the outside, campfires were starting to be lit under the evening sun. People gathered, voices drifted through the village, laughter mixing with happy stories and the crackle of flames.
Zara stared up to the ceiling, thoughts filled her head. Hoping everyone is safe, she speaks to her self out loud. “Dad... will I ever see you again?”
Sleep crept in quietly.
But then a knock pulls her back from her slumber.
She sat up and walked to the door, opening it and stood before her is the same young girl she spoke to when she arrived. Wide eyed, red hair tied into a long pony tail, holding a bowl of steaming stew with two giant dumplings on top covered in a dark glistening gravy.
“Sorry miss, I thought you might be hungry.” the girl said shyly. “Would you join us at the fire?”
Zara smiles at her. “Thank you, I would like that very much. My name is Zara, what is yours?”
“Ezmay.” she says with a smile.
“What a beautiful name.” Zara says with a warming smile.
Zara follows Ezmay to the fire where her parents sit waiting.
“This is my Dad and my Mum.” Ezmay said happily.
The man stands up reaching out a hand. “Dumba, and my wife Sierra, please sit join us.” Dumba passes her a heavy blanket.
They ate quietly, warmth easing Zara's tension.
“So I hear you came from the palace at Melnock?” Asks Dumba.
“You came from the Palace?” Ezmay says eye wided.
Zara laughed softly. “Two days ago I was serving food there.”
“So... the prophecy is true?” Dumba asks in a low whisper.
“Maybe.” Said Zara. “I am still trying to believe it for myself.”
Silence carries of for a few moments while Zara's curiosity builds. “How long has the veil been here?” Zara asks.
“As long as I can remember.” Dumba says. “And I was one of the first ones that was brought here as a teenager.”
“I don't even remember what the open sky feels like.” Sierra added. “But we are safe here.” Sierra says looking up to the veil.
Zara didn't know how to tell her that safety was often temporary.
Later as the family retired inside, Zara remained by the fire. Watching the embers crackle and pop glowing as they flick into the air, the veil cracking with white bolts striking across.
Tomorrow her training would begin. She wondered what part of herself it would cost.
She had always thought power was something you gained.
Tif made it sound like something you traded.
Tonight she finally slept.
Thanks for reading!
Every time someone spends a few minutes in the world of Shahero, it honestly means more than I can properly put into words. Seeing people follow the journey of Tyron, Samantha, Lazarus, Freya, Cid, and Zara makes all the hours of writing worth it.
If you enjoyed the chapter, feel free to leave a comment or follow the story. I read every comment, and it genuinely helps the story reach more readers here on Royal Road.
A few people have also asked how they can support the project as I work toward eventually publishing the book. If that’s something you’d like to help with, there’s a support link below that goes toward editing and preparing the story for print.
No pressure at all though—reading the story is already huge support.
Question for readers:What moment in this chapter stood out to you the most?
See you in the next chapter.
— Matthew Cooke-Sumner
