Tales of Kijo - Book One: "It All Began"

~Prologue~

(A/N: this symbol: ~ is set from the narrative perspective of the main character Kijo.)

~There was a loud bang. Roaring thunders and echoes of battle cries...

My world is known as Lumin, full of nine continents. The Land of Yama contains a massive environment of mountain forests and meadow in the North. A massive desert and oasis in the South. For centuries, these lands of two tribes fought to rule over the other. They could never see eye to eye, ignoring the fact their ethnicity was the same.

Our mother and father were two different people. Mother Leila, Queen of the North tribe and comes from a long lineage of royalty married Father Rochus, King of the South whom earned his spot to lead. Our people of both lands had hope the feud would end with the joined families. Of course not everyone was happy and somehow, my Father Rochus, grew into madness. He declared war on my Mother while she was pregnant with me and he attacked during her labor.~

"They've entered the city! Take the people to safety and the rest of our warriors, protect the castle with our Queen inside!" A general yelled while pointing his blade towards the chaos below of battles. A roar of warriors had ran to join the war within the city and few groups turned back into the mountain castle behind themselves.

An old woman named Baba ran to the castle entrance and yelled out to the general, "General Markus! The castle men and women are leaving to safety. We cannot keep them in harms way any longer, they reached our homes!".

"I know that! The Queen also needs to be protected," Markus growled in frustration and ran towards Baba. "What is her condition now?" He asked with concern.

Baba stared into the eyes of Markus, "She is preparing for battle. Queen Leila is attempting to meet her husband in death together!". This caused the General to worry and he suddenly dashed passed the old woman. Baba followed behind him, as they both hurried into the corridors of their Queen.

Markus pushed open the doors and yelled for his Queen, "Queen Leila!".

"General Markus. You were ordered to lead the warriors to protect our people." A female voice replied from behind a curtain. Just then her hands had split opened the fabrics to reveal herself, dressed in silver armoury for battle but it was clear as day that she was still in pain.

Markus bowed his head in respect but stared at his Queen for his concern was great. "It's all taken cared of but are you seriously planning to join the battle?" His voice trembled.

Queen Leila looked at her General, "I won't hear of any convincing Markus. I made up my mind...". There was a quiet moment between the two before Baba rushed into the room. The Queen switched her stare towards the old woman, "Baba. Please understand, as well." Suddenly she leaned downward on to her knees and lowered her head to bow before Markus and Baba.

Markus rejected the gesture, "Do not ask me of this!".

"Queen Leila, do not strain yourself anymore!" Baba yelled out as she was about to step forward and help the Queen to her knees.

"I beg of you both! Protect these people and protect my children!" The Queen cried out loud, her arms were trembling from exhaustion while holding herself up to bow down.  "I will not live to see my children and my people grow. They need to live on, as my time in this world is over to begin with, give them the chance of life!".

General Markus had wanted to play selfish but sworn to be loyal to his Queen, he could not refuse her request. Watching her bow down was the hardest moment of his life to observe. Baba stood silent and had taken a deep breath. She would never refuse her either.

"Live long and live strong." Were the words spoken by the General, which also caused the Queen to stare up with a relieved smile. Before he left, Markus leaned down to embrace his Queen. He even mumbled that it was a blessing to know a soul like hers in this world. She responded by thanking him for all that he has done for her, not just as Queen but as her friend. Then he helped her to stand and left out the room, not looking back once.

Baba watched the man leave and looked at the Queen, "The children Leila... where will they go?" She asked.

"To the Mist Islands..." Leila responded as she began to walk out her corridors. Baba knew of the place, in fact it was her homeland. She followed the Queen throughout the upper castle levels, leading to a secret garden which grew near the top of the mountain outside. They never spoke until approaching the edge of the garden. It was a glorious sight for eyes. Endless mountains with the giant sea behind them.

"Now I understand. Will you truly kill King Rochus?" Baba asked curiously.

"Rochus is no longer the man I married. He is after one thing and that is power..." Leila stumbled into Baba, the amount of blood loss in labour caused her body to feel even more weak. Baba held onto the Queen while she continued to talk, "You know of the passage towards the sea?".

"I do...", Baba replied while helping the Queen to stand.

With the point of her finger, Queen Leila described a one way passage that would lead Baba to the cave and a secret shore. There she may find a few of Baba's tribal women already awaiting her arrival with the children. Together they are to travel into the Mist Islands and raise the children under their care, even after the battle has ended. Baba could only agree with her Queen, seeing as there were no other surviving family members, the children would be the last bloodline of the royal family.

"I must ask you Leila. The newborn... what name have you given?" Baba asked.

The Queen smiled to herself and closed her eyes, "Kijo... she is the last child conceived when my husband was himself."

In that moment, the alarming sound of a horn filled the skies. Queen Leila looked towards Baba as she bowed her head. The old woman took it as a signal it was time to leave, turning away from the Queen and disappeared to the secret hideout.

The blood in her veins boiled in anger suddenly. Queen Leila was hurt and betrayed by her only husband, whom she believed to be her soul mate. With obsession over power had only brought them both turmoil and separation within their family. It was time to end this...

~ There was a loud bang. Roaring thunders and echoes of battle cries...

Stories of that fateful day, tell me that my siblings and myself had escaped safely. As we floated towards the sea they say Baba stared back at the mountains and cried in mourning. Some say it was for the Queen and King. Some assume she witnessed the battle between my mother and father. Others dare say, she never looked back once.

I am haunted by those sounds on occasion. One weird fact about that day, no one could find my mother's remains in the rubble. My father's bones were given a burial back in his homeland. As for us children, we were raised in Baba's care and all seemed like it would be fine from then on. That was a wish I hoped would come true but instead came reality from the strands of my hair... ~