ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ, Sookai

Prologue

Xairia, a place that thrives with plants and animals and the most wondrous kinds of wildlife imaginable. A kingdom where people are safe: kids can play, wives can sing, fathers can work and return home to their families. It's a place of warmth, happiness, and fulfilment.

Women wash clothes in the buckets, a tune on their tongue as the children laugh and tease each other, spotting their fathers and running into their arms as they shout for them, brought into a tight embrace.

A loving kind sits on the throne, one for his people, watching over them with care and gentleness, treating each individual as kindly as his own son-almost, his son was the most treasured thing in his life, right beside his wife.

Not a piece of his land goes unnurtured, greenery so bright that opposing Kings voice their jealousy during meetings and visits. Music so harmonious one wishes to dance with the crowd. And the sun-the sun is eternal. That's why many wish to visit his lands, to bask in its safety and forgotten fears.

But fears must be remembered.

It's a beautiful life; beauty doesn't last forever.

While crossing the ocean in their royal ship, a thunderstorm attacks the sea, aiming for the King's boat.

For days, their bodies were searched for. Prayers were held, begging for their safe return. Then a week later, they were pronounced dead at sea, and with their lives, the village's joy was taken.

It was blamed on the work of magic wielders-specifically witches in this case-three unmarried women were considered responsible and sentenced to death. Such evil must be punished and made an example of. Commit such vile acts of treason and reap the consequences.

After the King's death, the beauty became hideous.

The land of Xairia appeared cursed; the vibrant grass and plants turned into dull decay, a mass grave of stolen beauty. Its borders became easily distinguishable from the Forbidden Forest where plants remain fluorescent in comparison to Xairia's dry, crumbling lands.

The grounds people aren't allowed to venture in there.

It's believed to be the main place of refuge for the magic wielders that managed to escape their abolishment. It's said to be the reason the land is so well-nourished, controlled by their magic. The only source of greenery within the kingdom and it's at the hands of those whose abilities are beyond that of normal.

As if killing the beloved King wasn't enough, they had to steal the grounds peoples' beautiful lands and replace it with scenery that vultures admire: a dead earth of desert sand, sparse trees, and an abundance of carrion in the open lands to the East of the Monarch's castle. The area often referred to by what is found there.

Because of all these bearers have done to the ordinary people of Xairia, most agree that sentencing any suspects to death is the rightful thing to do, few disagree but keep their opinions to themselves. Speaking out against the Tyrant that occupies the throne now is a death wish; or more accurately a life wasting away behind bars.

After turning eighteen, and deemed experienced enough to rule, people expected Hueningkai to provide the same love and support his father-the deceased King-had given them. Rudely awoken by their reality when he turned his back on his people, abandoning them and leaving them fend for themselves.

That was bad enough, but he got greedy. The grounds peoples' riches became his, robbing him of their fortune and any lingering happiness. Poverty swept through the town. Unemployment rates skyrocketed. People were left without homes.

As a result, disease became a common cause of death, and few could receive treatment against their illnesses. Practitioners were rare to begin with, but with education decreasing, those left with money were the ones who could afford it, and they priced their services however they liked.

This left the lowest class of people vulnerable.

People like Soobin.