Origins of a Nomad

Part One: Unrelenting Sands

 "They've awakened!"

The last words of a dying man. An archeologist by the name of Devin Starkey. I never quite understood what happened next, until now."

Part One: The Unrelenting Sands

"You'll be late for breakfast if you don't get out of bed, Duchess!"

Melina starts every day the same, telling me I'll be late. Have I ever actually been late for breakfast with my family? No, not once in nearly 18 years have I ever been late. Melina says it's thanks to her, I say she starts her day too early.

Now, I wish I could say how much I dislike her waking me up so early but that would be a lie. If she didn't wake me up every morning, I'd never have the time to myself to wander around the dusty streets of the city. I've always loved how calm the city is before everyone starts heading off to work. Before the stalls that line the street here in the bazaar open to sell their wares to those in need.

A few shop boys run passed me as they make their various morning deliveries, while the devoted make their way to morning services offered by The Creed. I never truly understood those who follow The Creed. They speak of something called "The Change" and how it's something that comes from within us all. Every follower I've ever met has been very kind, nearly too kind in their offering to help others. Apparently, the way to unlock "The Change" is by devoting yourself to others and doing good deeds, while also trying to convert others to The Creed. It's rare that I go an entire morning without one of their Acolytes trying to convert me. This morning is no exception as I pass the young girl, she always has a smile on her face as she speaks of her religion, and every morning I let her down gently, telling her I'm not ready to understand "The Change".

I'm still trying to understand the world we live in. This vast desert that was once a beautiful world covered in green trees and flowing rivers. Our ancestors couldn't understand one another and used weapons that nearly killed all life, leaving those who survived to explore the desert and small amber crystals embedded with electrical energy called Taqua crystals. I've heard rumors of places that still have flowing water, and even trees, but those places probably only exist in stories.

The government of my tribe seems to believe that these places exist, and they send archaeologists beyond our border into what they've called the White Ruins, hoping they shed some light on why our ancestors did what they did. To this day only one man has ever returned, and he died shortly after leaving a cryptic message.

Every morning, there's one shop that opens before everyone else, and every morning, the smell of fresh bread and pastries fills the air, drawing me in. A small Taqua powered droid sits behind the counter, beeping its hello and pouring me a cup of tea as I walk in. I take a sip of the floral tea and smile, which makes the little droid beep with happiness before it rolls away into the back of the shop, replaced by the store's owner, carrying a tray of sweet rolls.

"Ah, the young Duchess! Good morning, Elise."

"Good morning, Bertrand! Your droid is getting quite good at making tea!"

He smiles, as I wrap my hands around the warm cup. "Got that blend from a Clan out west, claim to be all the way from Dol Duna! Can you imagine? Traveling the Desert to sell tea? quite the brave endeavor."

"Well, I can say, I appreciate his journey, this tea is delicious, like nothing I've had before."

He blushes a little, "You mean to say you don't have tea blends from across the Desert in your house?"

"Not at all, we have tea from the area, I've never had something from so far away before."

"Well, then, how about you take the container home with you? If you love it that much, I know it'll be put to good use!" He takes the tin from the shelf behind him and places it on the counter. I reach for my pouch, and he holds his hand up, "You know your money is no good here, Elise," he says with a smile.