The Dusk - Chapter One

Deep in the deserts of Sjadknaksbaksnan sat the ruins of what used to be a great temple. The setting sun glistened off the ancient, polished rock and garnished the stony crags with a lucid purple hue. A dark shadow came to a halt near the shadowy base of the giant ziggurat. Pausing to listen, the intruder cocked his head to the side straining to hear the slightest sounds amidst the howling cries of distant midnyts. Satisfied with the otherwise unbroken silence, the visitor maneuvered his way through the shattered stones around him which were reminiscent of the great conflict that defaced such a priceless monument. Turning a corner he froze, the ring on his finger steadily growing warmer. Slowly he turned his head until his eyes landed on two glowing orbs watching him from the darkness. Moving almost imperceptibly his hand rose until it rested on the hilt of his dagger.

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As he turned to face the darkness he heard a low snarl come from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the distinct form of a full grown midnyt tensing to pounce at him.

“Boy, do I not have time for this” the stranger muttered to himself.

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Quickly thinking through the situation, he knew his only chance would be to get out of the death circle, a formation the midnyts commonly hunted in, and try to fight them off. With one glance around him he saw a hole between two rocks and took off running towards them. Immediately after he began running, he heard a sharp, shrill whistle tear through the air along with a series of clicks and grunts. Quickly memories of his childhood came flooding back to his mind while he listened to the unmistakable noises of his childhood friend. After making it through the rocks he wheeled around and saw the looming shadow of the midnyt stalking him from the opening in the stones. He recognized a scar over the hounds left eye.

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“Haze!! It’s good to see you, boy!”

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The beast cocked its head to the side, the sound of the young man’s voice tugging at old memories. The form of a person appeared from out of the hole in the rocks.

“Why didn’t you charge you lousy bag of meat?

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“Sadiki?” At the sound of hearing his name Sadiki stiffened.

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“Who are you? How do you know my name?” Sadiki said.

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“It’s me Idyallis!”

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“Idyallis? Which Idyallis?”

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“The only Idyallis you know sinamon-head!”

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“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I know a lot of Idyallis’s.” Sadiki struck a thoughtful pose and began counting his fingers. After counting his fingers over twice he said, “Yup, I know at least one.” He smiled as he ran to embrace Idyallis.

“So how has the mighty explorer Idyallis been and why has he returned now?”

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“Well, that’s a long story.” He said as he knelt to pet Haze whose tail was whipping wildly in the air; a testament to his excitement.

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“Don’t worry, it’s a pretty long walk back to the village.” Sadiki began walking back the way he had come before stopping suddenly. “You are coming to the village, right?”

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Idyallis smiled as he answered, “I thought you’d never ask.”

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The two old friends began a conversation, recounting the many adventures they had each missed in each other's lives. As Idyallis and Sadiki continued traveling through the desert the setting sun cast a warm amber glow as it shone its last before disappearing behind hills of sand enveloping the desert in darkness making the stars visible above. Wary of midnyt packs around them they traveled quickly their conversation settling into quietness as they went along. After a little while of traveling they crested a sand bar brining the unmistakable view of campfires dotted along a dark form. The smoke from the massive bonfires towered high above the oasis they were built next to. From their vantage point he could see the vague outline of tents around the campfires.

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“Our current home!” Said Sadiki proudly.

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“I have missed this place” Idyallis said as the smells of what would be supper wafted towards him from the gathering. From where he stood, he could clearly hear music in celebration that Elios had allowed them to survive another day.

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“C’mon, I’ll race you to the village.” Said Sadiki as he took off running in the direction of the camp Haze close on his heels.

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Idyallis shook his head and smiled before taking off after Sadiki towards the village. Just as he caught up to Sadiki, the boy and his pet would seem to gain a burst of speed thrusting themselves into the lead. They finally came to a stop at the rim of light being cast from the numerous campfires.

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“You’ve gotten slower” said Sadiki with a grin.

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“It’s been a while since I’ve run through sand, ok?” Idyallis smiled back.

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“All I’m hearing is excuses” he said as he gave a playful punch to the shoulder. “Wait here, I’m going to go ahead and tell everyone that way you won’t have a thousand and two people jumping on you at once.” And with that he bolted away dodging tent chords and stakes as he ran.

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Idyallis just smiled and shook his head watching his friend perform his ridiculous dance of dodging. He closed his eyes and swayed with the music a slow smile spreading across his face. He was transported to years earlier when he would partake of every Day Celebration that took place as the sun set. He felt the flux of the music pulsing through the ground, the deep throbs of the cellona vibrating his feet while the high shrill of the sradnok tickled his ears. He was home at last. Finally, right as he was beginning to wonder what had happened to Sadiki, he heard his friends voice call out “C’mon, it’s all right!”

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Idyallis twisted and took one last look at the midnight plane of sand with its rolling dunes and hills. Glad to be out of the dark and in the light he thanked Elios for guiding his steps all the way back home. He turned and began walking towards the hubbub when he crashed into someone knocking them to the floor.

“Hey! Watch where your going” shouted the young girl angrily from the floor.

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“I’m sorry, I was distracted and didn’t see you.” Idyallis extended his hand to help the young woman up. She begrudgingly took it.

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“I’m Idyallis” he said tentatively.

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“Sandhyakirana but please just call me Kirana. It always feels like I’m waiting for years before someone finally finishes just saying my name.” She said as she dusted herself off and picked up her fallen stick laying in the sand.

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“Well, it’s nice to meet you Kirana though I’m sorry it had to be so painful for you. Are you hurt?”

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“Of course not! That was nothing compared to a full grown midnyt jumping on you!” She said with a laugh.

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“So you’re a trainer then?”

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“Mostly, yes.” Kirana said as she began to walk towards the gathering.

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“I don’t remember you from before I left, and you look about my age.” Said Idyallis following behind her.

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“My family has only joined the Svár tribe very recently. We are originally from the Aus tribe but hardships in the mountains have caused us to divide among larger tribes.” She said with a mournful sigh in her voice. By the time she had finished her sentence they had arrived at the open space of the gathering. Men and women danced around the great pyre dressed in the colors of the sunset as about seven instrumentalists manipulated their instruments, the flux visibly flowing around their instruments in waves of light. Around the dancers sat many tribe members in a ring, watching the dancing as well as eating food on their laps. Occasionally a dancer would drop from the ring and find a seat to eat while another member took their place creating an ever-revolving circle of dancers praising Elios for allowing them to survive another day. Idyallis hardly had a chance to take it all in before being swarmed by several people.

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“Sadiki!” Idyallis cried, spying his friend across the circle, “I thought you were going to tell them so I wasn’t swarmed, not start eating without me!” Sadiki just shrugged before stuffing his face with some sort of stew.

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Idyallis was inundated with questions so much so that all he could hear was a general hum of voices and not individual questions.

“Hello everyone! Yes, I’m back and am quite hungry.” He said laughing.

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“All right everyone, stand back and let the boy breathe for a minute” said a firm yet kind voice.

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“Osiron! It’s good to see you again” said Idyallis as he embraced the chief of the tribe. The chief's young daughter, Maigo, was standing poised at his side and gave a slight nod in acknowledgement of him.

“Forgive me but it has been a long journey, and I am quite hungry and that stew smells excellent.” Said Idyallis

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“Of course! Take a seat and enjoy the celebration feast.” Osiron began calling servers to Idyallis’s side to give him food.

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Idyallis dropped his backpack and sat down on one of the colorful mats exhibiting a burning sun in its center and gilded with purples and pinks all along the edges. He began heartily eating food while answering the questions his old friends asked him. As the night wore on the dancers settled down while the instrumentalists continued to play relaxing music. Sadiki ended up next to Idyallis his head on his hands while lying on his stomach with his eyes slowly drooping shut. Kirana was on a mat next to him staring into the fire with Maigo by her side. Osiron was sitting cross-legged on his own mat, his eyes keenly interested in all of Idyallis’s answers. At a lull in the conversation Maigo spoke up.

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“So why are you back Idyallis?”

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Idyallis sighed and settled into his mat as his gaze settled on the immense flame doing battle with the chilly desert air.

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“I was sent here on important business. An errand of crucial importance. I’m looking for something.”

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“What are you looking for” said Sadiki his eyes brightening with curiosity.

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“I’m looking for the Fénix feather.”

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The music came to an abrupt halt as everyone stared at Idyallis.