16

  Hours passed into the twilight of the night. The rioters continued to ramble about, parading through the capital’s streets. Small fires brewed from the continuing carnage and windows were broken. Groups of rioters ravaged the holy capital’s monuments, releasing their pent-up fury in hopes that the royals would listen to their cries. Alas, the emperor and the Duke refused to hear them. They sat silent in their palace and avoided looking down at the people below.

  In the burrows, where most houses remained in the poorer district of Edindale, the rioters had simmered down since he made his appearance. Omar observed from his broken window making sure they wouldn’t accidentally ransack his temporary home. His gear was mantled on an armor stand, along with his large great sword that sat on the corner of his empty bedroom. All he wore upon his back were knitted trousers and a sleeveless black tunic. Cobwebs, dust, and remnants of old plywood scattered across the floors and walls. All his room had in it was an old timey queen-sized bed with black sheets to wrap himself in. Under the bed was his own stash of clothes he had left hidden once he arrived in the Pale.

  Omar laid back on his bed, staring at the chipped ceiling, with his hands resting as a pillow behind his head. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as he let out a large relieving sigh. His thoughts decayed into the back of his mind while he tried to put himself at ease.

  “Finally. Some rest.”

  He turned to his side, staring at the wall. There was a small portrait of a frail woman holding both him and Jai in her lap smiling towards him. The bright smile of his younger self was so joyful and full of life. He stared at the old picture and studied his younger self. Omar felt sick. Shaking his head in deprival, he turned away angrily from the portrait.

  “Times were so simpler then. Back when we could dream of a fantasy lifestyle. Then, life took it all away.” Omar waved. “Where are you, Jai?” Omar asked. “Are you okay? Alive even? What about you, Malakai?” He averted himself back before his body heated up and turned into a fully oiled machine ready to slay beasts . Both his missing brothers were believed to be dead after a year missing. But were they?

  A voice behind the closed bedroom door responded to Omar’s vibrant ramblings, “Who are you talking to?”

  Omar shot out of bed, startled. His eyes widened in embarrassment as he yelled out, “Nobody!”

  “I heard you in there, brother,” the voice said. Omar realized it was Magnus.

  “Ignore it. Rambles about the past is all.” Omar laughed. He looked down wiping his face. He heard Magnus stumble away from the door. After Omar waited for the coast to be clear, he continued, “Malakai. Brother. I dream of adventuring with you all in this complicated world like we promised. Maybe, you and Jai, already are. Maybe not. Who knows anymore…”

  He walked to the cracked door leading into the bathroom. Luna sat in the tub scrubbing off the filth that covered her body. The steam from the hot water created a dense fog around her thin frame. The horrendous stench of her fowl-smelling clothes still lingered in the house.

  Luna’s glowing skin returned as she continued to brush off all the remnants from the rioters. Her face flushed and fainted with a small smile. “Are you upset with me, Omar…?”

  “Am I upset with you for throwing yourself out there to die?” Omar redundantly asked. His eyes shut tightly, and his jaw clenched. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

  Luna stepped delicately out of the tub and walked towards the door. She reached for a towel and dried herself off, noticing the fresh, clean clothes Omar had laid out for her.

  Luna paused for a long time while she dressed herself. “Omar, did you ever have dreams when you were a kid?” Luna opened the bathroom door and stepped out, her hair dripping droplets of bathwater onto the oversized shirt that Omar had given her. It fit her like nightgown.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Omar scoffed at her question. “Well, yes. “My brothers and I wanted to be adventurers in the Prime Lands, like our father – “

  Luna cut Omar off before letting him finish, “I dreamed of uniting all the realms together.” She faintly placed her hand on Omar’s tense shoulder.

  He turned from her embrace and walked towards the window to continue watching the riots outside.

  Luna ran up to Omar and stood in between him and the window. “Am I wrong then for what I did today? I must start serving my people. You are one to talk when you launch yourself into danger day in and day out. Yet, I am wrong for putting my life on the line once.” Luna smirked, fixing her hair.

  “Fine. You’re right. But it was still a risk you shouldn’t have taken. Amy nearly fainted when she saw you out there. Then I…” Omar didn’t proceed further. He looked into Luna’s determined eyes and had a change of heart. He could see the desperation in her face, and he couldn’t be angry anymore. He sighed and took Luna into his arms, embracing her tightly. “I was worried about you.”

  Luna held onto him tightly. “I know you were. I’m sorry,” Luna whispered in his ear.

  Omar gently broke away from Luna and stared at her deeply. Her beauty radiated in the darkened room that was only lit by the pale moonlight. Omar took a steady breath, “I just never believed that as a Diborn… I would be able to care for someone again.”

  Luna looked at Omar concerned, “Do you regret… us?”

  “No, I don’t think so. No. I don’t want to regret us is all.” His voice trailed off at the end, as he began to feel nervous as what the future may hold for them both. He could see the confusion on her face and held both of her hands in his.

  “When you are a Diborn, Luna, they say you become emotionless and empty. But when I am with you, I don’t feel that way. Something, like some power, returns to me,” he explained. Luna stayed quiet and still, patiently listening. Her face warmed as he spoke about her. Her cheek blushed a deep red as Omar opened himself up to her.

  Luna’s heart began to race rapidly. Omar sternly looked into her eyes, stroking his thumb against her enwrapped hands. Luna couldn’t think of what to say. She had always been taught by her father to hold down her emotions and not allow them to control her decisions. But this time, Luna didn’t know if she could abide by those royal standards.

  Omar continued his story. A vibrant smile spread across his lips. “Anyways, I guess I started to realize even with all this emptiness inside of me, I can still see a bit of me left. People like you, Luna, you bring me back.”

  “You are human, Omar. I think you would risk your life to save millions of more lives if the world asked it of you. You are no monster.” Luna detached her hand from Omar’s and lifted her arm to caress his cheek.

  Omar smiled. “Thank you, Luna.”

  Luna’s eyes glazed at her warrior, as she put her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She tilted her head to the side and rested her cheek softly upon his bicep. Omar gasped at her affection. He hesitated to hold his hand over her back. “I think… you are going to change this world. You’re a hero,” Luna explained. “You motivate me to be a better leader. I want the world to have no wars between its realms. I want everyone to be united again. But we can't accomplish our goals here. Omar, we must go.”

  “Come to Belkos, then. Your sister, Amy, already plans to join us. Will you?” Omar questioned, leaning away from Luna. He stared at her longingly, awaiting her response.

  Luna noticed the picture of Jai and Omar on the wall of the bedroom, tilting her head over Omar’s shoulders. Her face grew pale. She looked directly at Omar in disbelief before stepping away from Omar. She walked to the old picture and examined it closely.

  “I didn’t know your mother was the Head Mage. I've met her without realizing it,” she laughed. “I would have already joined if that was the case.”

  Omar smiled. “Well, you are twenty-four, so you wouldn’t be able to be a student. But what about teaching politics to our cadets?”

  Luna nodded with a slight grin. “Sure. I’m in,” she offered her hand.

  The bedroom door slammed open as Magnus ran in. His arms flailed wildly as he grabbed Omar. “We must grab the women and leave!” Magnus yelled. Omar stood in shock, as he let go of Luna’s hand.

  Magnus noticed Luna and raised a brow. “Oh, sorry, milady. I didn’t expect you to be here.”

  “What troubles you, Magnus?” she asked.

  Magnus showed a photograph to Omar. The image revealed Damian and a hooded dark elf sitting at the corner of the royal castle sharing a private discussion. Omar recognized the man from his stance alone. “Shay? It makes sense now. The King and his son are in with the Spectors…?”

  Luna’s face melted in fear. She blew out a slow steady breath, before looking Omar dead in his eyes. She placed her hand on Omar’s wrist, rubbing her finger against his soft skin. “I saw that man. Hex is what the people call him. He goes and talks in the hall with Damian frequently. Who is he?”

  “He’s the man who torched Gamba…” Omar stepped back slightly with the wood creaking under him. His breaths grew uneven as he stared at the image. “We need to see the King in court, so all four of us can leave for Belkos. Even if it isn’t true, Damian is involved with them. And the wards of Belkos will keep us safe.” The three of them nodded to one another in agreement of what their next moves should be.