Riven Monarchy

Sanctuary

The zephyr ruffled through her mahogany hair; elegantly and effortlessly, as she weaved between shrubbery and canopies that belonged to the plumpness of the woods. Sage was mounted atop Lyra, feeling her chest expand at each inhale, connecting their souls in arrant harmony. The air was icy in the magnitude of their height; thousands of feet above the muddy forest floor, occasionally catching a glimpse of the neighbouring kingdoms nearby. Sage's skin was pinched with a red blush, they top of her ears flushed yet lurid red. Her view was thick with vegetation, plants submerging every acre with their roots that twisted like enchanted ribbons. Lyra's expansive wings glided upon the air resistance, her streamlined body attributing her total speed and rapidity even in the coarsest and thickest air. They were miles away from the palace now, the only evidence of her kingdom being the gold turrets of the entrance gates peaking from behind leaves, gradually getting smaller and smaller as they ventured further. Sage was in search of their sanctuary. A home away from home which was located in the heart of the woods. An ancient Eslaraen temple. It was constructed many eons ago, generations and generations of dust and unruly vines inhabiting its ruins. The Eslaraen tribes had founded this kingdom before any other faction was conceived; making the Eslaraen Dynasty the oldest within the 6 surrounding kingdoms. Each kingdom was situated an element by its founding-fathers, Eslaraen's element being earth, consequence of the several ethereal tributes and trinkets that covered a vast segment of the city.  The temple was built in extol of her distant grand father, the founder of Eslaraen. 

Lyra and Sage were briskly approaching the temple, the forest was now dense and furrowed in a opaque brume, a mystical aroma of mildew and honey suckle echoing from the mossy footpath below. Typical forest sounds resided within the area, casual twigs snapping and the light padding of creatures hooves or paws on the ground, nothing unordinary, everything as it should be.  The trees early wood and bark groaned as the wind forced itself through the crevices and  nooks of the trees, eliciting a cacophony of woodland clarions. Sage and Lyra made an abrupt landing on the foot path trailing to the temple, an isolated river winded adjacent to the cobbled walk, intricate noises made as the water cascaded over rocks and pebbles of the stream. 

Minuscule crunches of fallen leaves were created from Sage's foot steps, in no comparison to Lyra's immense paws waddling between trees and bushes that impeded the path. Sage hummed a tuneful melody along the peat, she wanted to clear her obstructing thoughts that were overbearing her emotions. She still was attempting to diagnose this sinking feeling within her. Why was she like this? Why did it choose her to reside in?

Minutes passed, and they found themselves drawing closer to the cobbled temple, its stone as grey as the forest fog that engulfed itself. Meek day light seeped put of the cracks in the stone and the large stained glass mural on the ceiling of the temple, the tribute of a beast. Eldered Eslaraen scriptures taught of a mythical beast called the minotaur. Half man. Half stallion. Claritable evidence of the greatness of mother nature. Legend is unintelligible, yet, scrolls sacred to the kingdom have foretold of a providence. The minotaur is said to be extinct, and that the last remaining specimen died eras ago, but, a prophecy of a child is told. The child contains DNA of the last remaining bloodline of minotaurs. A day will come when they will have to choose between betrayal, or being the betrayer, against the kingdom. But, from the ashes of the child's actions will be light. Light to a new hope. The legend still has yet to come, but Sage was fascinated by it as a child. Obsessing over her land's forecoming future, and insisting that her mother reads her every book there is on the minotaur. She is nostalgic on that. Sage would earn for her bed time just so her imagination could be consoled in a book and put to rest in her slumber. Her mother would be adamant on finishing the book before it ended, consequence of watching Sage's eyes flutter in and out of consciousness, but Sage was consistent that she would stay awake until the very last line, after which, she'd completely pass out from the day's exhaustion. 

"No, mummy! Keep reading! I swear I am not even the slightest bit tired," A juvenile Sage would advise "I promise! I'm wide awake!"

"Fine, but, promise me, my darling, you will sleep after I have read to you? Will you do that for me?" The Queen questioned her daughter, an ivory tanned hand stroked the dimpled cheeks of Sage's complexion. They shared almost identical visages, Sage was the spitting image of her. 

"I promise mummy. I will sleep as soon as it is finished." 

"That's my good girl." The queen confirmed as she resumed baby Sage's story.

Oh, how Sage missed her mother.

"One day we will meet again soon" Sage verified in a hush tone, inaudible for anyone to hear except her, the temple did not echo her murmers.

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Hi everyone! I apologise for the short chapter, but I just recently finished my 2 week exam period which is why I haven't been posting as frequently as I should've been! Expect more updates now as I have an abundance of time to write new chapters! Enjoy today's chapter, I hope everyone has a great weekend :)