ROLEPLAY

Kio was angry! It was his birthday … and not just any birthday, but his 13th birthday. It was now just a few short years till he would be able to enroll and join his father, Kiang, in the Zoraï Guard. Still his mother, Chiarga, a jeweler in Zora, wasn’t planning a party, or even preparing a feast, but rather hastily running about their home packing only the things that were dearest to them. Kio’s adolescent selfishness flamed inside of him. “Today is supposed to be about me!”, he fumed.

“Kio goro!”, his mother scowled, “Today is not the day to test me.” Reluctantly Kio tossed his satchel over his shoulder and helped carry the last of the possessions they were taking outside. Chiarga closed her eyes and bowed her head. It was unlike her to take such a tone with her son. The recent events had taken their toll. Even as they left their beloved city with the last few groups to trek to Pyr, she had an uneasiness about this journey.

Kio had never seen so many homins. Fyros, Trykers, Matis, and the Kwaï were everywhere. Many great warriors and explorers he had heard his father tell stories about , stood in unity together as homins. This was the first time Kio had even seen Mabreka Cho, the Grand Sage. Had the circumstances been different he would have been excited and in awe of the sight, but there was a tension in this gathering that every homin felt. Some of the warriors were already engaging Kitin scouts who seemed to be testing this mobs strength as they darted over the dunes. Kio began to realize that this was more than a simple pilgrimage, but he was going to witness a great battle.

The order was given to move, and it seemed to Kio that the first wave of Kitin attacks happened just kilometers from the safety of the Kami gates around Pyr. Chiarga did her best to keep herself and her son in the middle of the throng. She longed for the strength and leadership of her husband, but his duties with the guards had called him to the front. Kio felt as if he hadn’t seen his father in many cycles. Kiang had spent the previous weeks escorting refugees from Min-Cho to Zora, and then went ahead to Pyr to make preparations.

Kio found comfort when the brave homin warriors beat back the initial attack, but the second wave came much larger and stronger than the first. It forced the group of refugees and warriors to split into two, and this division of their force brought Kio and his mother much closer to the attacking Kitin.

Above the roar of the battle Kio heard the almost metalic buzz of Kipesta wings. He looked up into the sky to see the enormous creature lurch back to strike his mother, just then it was struck by a spell from one of the surrounding mages. The blow was enough to kill the Kitin, but it fell to the bark with such a force that Kio was thrown from his mektoub. His eyes blinded by the sand and his lungs gasping for air, Kio felt a large hand grab him from the collar of his vest and he was thrown over a rather large blue shoulder. “ Népai, little one, you will see the rainbows, ochi Kami no!” Daerk told the young Zoraï.

Daerk was not the most skilled warrior on this field of battle. Truth be told, it had only been a few months since he had arrived on the mainland from Silan. Upon arrival from Silan, Daerk had concentrated more on learning the ways of the Zoraï and the Kami. It was during this time that he met the Guardians of Zora and their friends. He had learned much from the guild’s leader, Gorran, and spent much time hunting with Eden and the others. He was also honored to join the Guardians in battle, along with its faithful companions Nakari, Saidun, and Ruimeng.

When it was safe, Daerk placed Kio on the ground but kept a tight hold of his hand. He followed every order given by the leaders as they continued towards the oasis. Kio would shut his eyes at times as hundreds of Kitin carcasses piled up around them.

The worst of it came merely steps from the oasis entrance. Daerk saw many mighty warriors fall. Looking at Kio he was torn between turning back to help the fallen, his own insecurity of his capability to make a difference, and his promise to young Kio. This hesitation proved to be a costly mistake. In an instant a Kincher pinned Daerk between itself and a nearby rock. Daerk immediately lost his grip on Kio’s hand. Frozen in shock Kio stared wide eyed at Daerk, and as the life slowly drained from his seed Daerk said, ‘Ochi Kami no.” With a new found strength that could only be explained as a gift from Ma-Duk, Kio began to run. He focused on nothing but the rocks at the entrance of the oasis. As if on cue, he saw a hand reach out from over one of the rocks and finally he was pulled to safety.

Tears welling in Kio’s eyes he looked back into the mouth of the desert at all the fallen heros. The Kitin still swarmed and some homins tried their best to go back, but the Kitin numbers had grown too large.

In this moment Kio realized that today was not about any celebration, but rather, for him, it was about revelation. Today Kio saw the power of sacrifice. He realized that there is a significant difference between a slave and a servant. Today was when Kio poko began becoming Kio kito.

Now …. To find his parents …..