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Description
Cole looked down at the brilliant sunrise from the top of the plateau and smiled. From his viewpoint, everything on Zeragu was perfect. The sun was rising over the jungle and the farmland surrounding his town in the distance, covering them in its radiant splendor. The only sound heard was that of songbirds and the animals in the swamp below him. His red hair fluttered in the gentle breeze, caressing the soft features of his face as his ocean blue eyes watched over the township. He heard a sound behind him and quickly turned to find his best friend trying to climb onto the ledge to join him. Cole shook his head and extended an arm to his friend. She took it graciously and collapsed onto the ledge.
“I don’t know how you manage to get yourself up here day after day this early Cole, but I find it exasperating to climb, especially when I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“It’s called muscles Doma, and if you had them you wouldn’t get so tired when we come here every day.” A green haired boy said as he pulled himself up over the edge.
“And if you don’t like climbing this early then why do you keep coming up here?” Cole said as he pulled out his food and started to eat.
“You know very well why. This is the only spot in the whole area where I can find the flowers that I sell in town. And you two come up here to bother me and taunt me for actually wanting to gather flowers at my age.” Doma said as she started to collect the blue and red flowers and put them in her basket. The green haired boy began making faces at Doma while Cole laughed and almost choked on his meal.
“Mateo, stop acting childish and help your cousin get started back down the cliff.” Doma said as she tied the basket to her back. Mateo and Cole gently lowered Doma over the edge and held onto her until she had found her foothold. The three then descended down the cliff and in five minutes they were at the bottom. Releasing his grip a tad early, Mateo dropped off the cliff and landed in some swamp water with a splash. Cole and Doma laughed as he stood up and pulled an animal out of his hair and threw it back where it belonged.
“Bah! I’m going back home to change. I’ll see you two later.” Mateo said as he started down one path leading out of the swamp, leaving his two amused friends behind.

The two friends ran into the town chasing after each other, darting around through the crowds, with Doma in front and Cole close behind. Finally Doma was looking behind her when she ran into someone, almost dropping her basket. The blonde haired amazon picked Doma off the ground and set her upright then dusted off her shoulders.
“I don’t know why you two are acting like little children, but I can take a guess. It’s probably something to do with Mateo, seeing as how he came back here all by himself not an hour ago, all smelly and wet. He was muttering something to himself, something about needing to change his clothes.” Lina Fox said as Cole finally caught up to Doma.
“Mateo dropped off the cliff and into the swamp today. He’s covered in swamp stink and when he came out he had a frog in his hair.” Cole said to his older sister.
“That so? Explains why his white shirt had a few splotches that were almost the same shade of green as that gunk that he puts in his hair. Amazing how much trouble you three can get into so early. Why, the sun hasn’t even finished rising!”
“You think we’re in trouble, then wait until Mateo has to explain to his mother why his clothes are so dirty the day after she cleaned them all up.” Doma said as she put a flower into her brown hair. Lina laughed and waved the two on down the street. When Doma and Cole arrived at her booth they found a customer already waiting.
“I’ll see you later Doma, I’ve got to head home.”
“Goodbye Cole!” Doma and her customer said in unison. Cole walked the mile to his home and saw his father standing outside in the courtyard with the family horse.
“There you are! Quick, I need you to go down to the valley to see if the mail is arriving. I’ve got a package waiting and I need to get it as soon as possible so it doesn’t get wrecked by that careless carrier.” Cole’s father said and he helped him into the saddle.
“Remember, it’s the green box from my friend in Haven that I want.” he said before giving the horse a strong slap on the backside. Cole rode off out of the township and started to race the horse towards the valley one hundred and twenty miles from the town. An hour later when he had gotten about halfway down the valley he stopped the horse and pulled out his telescope to see what a big mass was at the bottom. When he peered through the lens he did not like what he saw; at the foot of the valley was a massive army striding towards the town, waving their black banner of war.

Cole put away his telescope and turned the horse around, kicking its sides to get it to move as fast as it could. When they got within hearing distance of the town Cole pulled out a horn from his bag and blew one long and loud blast. The townsfolk began to come out of their houses wondering why the alert had been sounded. Cole dismounted as the mayor came to the front of the crowd.
“What is the meaning of this? Why did you sound the horn?” the short, plump and balding man said nervously as he looked up at Cole.
“There is a massive army on the move, heading our way. We may be under attack by nightfall.” Cole said and the crowd began to murmur.
“How do you know this? Maybe they are going to turn off on a different route and pass by us, maybe they are retreating and need to set up a defensive position in the valley.” Voices shouted from the crowd.
“I know because I have seen them in my telescope and they are no army of any of the local lords. I know because friends do not wave the black banner of death as they approach a township. No friendly army would do that, and there must be at least a thousand soldiers there.” Cole said and the crowd fell silent. Soon the crowd began to ask the mayor what to do and Cole and the horse both squeezed through the crowd to find his family. His father and sister were in the courtyard and his mother came out of the house as he approached.
“We heard it all Cole. How mighty an army for attacking such a defenseless town. Fighting them must be our last resort. I want you, your mother and sister to start heading towards the jungle as fast as you can. I’m going to try to get the others to start leaving as well.” Cole’s father said as helped his wife onto a horse with his daughter already on it. Cole nodded and got back onto his horse to go find Doma and Mateo.

He found Doma and her family loading up their horses as well and he helped her onto his steed. Mateo was already mounted and rode out with them towards the swamp and the jungle beyond. Most of the town was either still talking to the mayor about what they should do or preparing for battle when the army finally surfaced at the top of the valley. The townspeople saw that they had no way of defending themselves against the army and began to flee the town, but it was too late. Those with horses had almost all already left, leaving the other to run on foot. From the edge of the swamp Cole look behind and see the army as its massive black shape crashed into the township. Cole turned to see his mother and sister’s horse fall on them in the muck and stopped to try and help them.
“No! Go on without us, we’re pinned and you don’t have time to get us out.” His sister said as he approached. His mother nodded her head as she sobbed silently, telling him to leave them behind. Cole’s eyes filled with tears but he did as they wished, turning back to face the jungle with Doma and Mateo. All around them the horses ran into the jungle and didn’t look back to see the vast tide of soldiers chasing them. When they got into the jungle all of the riders went separate directions except Mateo, Doma and Cole. They rode as far as they could away from their massacred township and finally couldn’t move their horses any farther on the path. The three stopped and got off their horses, releasing them into the darkness and continuing on foot.

Finally they found a cave that Mateo had discovered a month ago. One that he claimed had too many tunnels to ever get out of if you got lost. The three hurried into the caverns and started to go down the darkest tunnel with a makeshift torch. Ultimately the torch sputtered out and the trio had to walk in complete darkness, feeling the ground for their path until heard an unusual sound. Someone, it appeared, was sleeping in the caverns because they could hear that person's snoring. Rounding a bend in the tunnel the three found a tent set up with a bonfire near it. Cautiously they approached the tent to see who was in it. They peered inside and found an odd black box that seemed to be making the noise. Just when Cole stuck his head outside of the tent he was face to face with a stranger.
“You know, generally it is considered rude to look through one’s homestead without an invitation.” the stranger said as Cole fell backwards in shock. The stranger’s eyes darted around his tent and finally rested on Doma.
“We’re sorry sir, we didn’t know this was your home, we were just trying to find a place to hide from the battle outside.” she said as she bowed.
“Quite alright. I just felt like having a little fun with whoever was rummaging through my temporary home. Come on out and tell me about yourselves. Don’t worry, I’m not going to harm you.” The stranger said as he pressed something on the box which silencing it and backed up. As the trio came out of the tent they were finally able to get a good look at the stranger. His hair was almost completely snow white with a small section dyed gray. In the back his hair was put into four binders with each one about shoulder length. He wore a white coat, pants, both with many chains and buckles, and fingerless gloves. On his white shirt there was a partial circle with a vertical line on the top and on the back of his shirt there was an unfinished infinity sign, both in black. His eyes were a deep forest green as dark a shade as the jungle that was above the caverns. His face seemed to be gentle with an overall look of reassurance.
“My name is Doma Kuza, former boutique owner.”
“Mateo Kuza, farmer and general trouble maker.”
“Interesting. Are you two siblings?” the stranger asked shaking their hands.
“No, we’re cousins. Most people seem to think we’re siblings as well.”
“I am Cole Fox, farmer, gofer, and carpenter. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
“The pleasure is all mine. My name is Sirius Degas, traveler and explorer. Now that introductions are done, could you please tell me what it is you three are hiding from?” The trio told Sirius the entire tale of what had happened ever since Cole rode off towards the valley and he listened immensely. When their story was finished the traveler began to stroke his chin thinking. “Okay, I believe you. You three get some sleep in the tent. Tomorrow we’re going to talk to the leader of this black army.”
“But-” Cole started to say when Sirius interrupted,
“No, you three sleep in there. Your bodies must be tired from all of that running.”
“But I was-” Cole started again.
“No and I don’t want to hear another word. You three take the tent. I’ve slept on harsher ground than this before. Get some rest.”

Reluctantly the teens entered the tent and Doma and Mateo quickly fell asleep. Cole however stayed awake and peered through the bottom of the entry flap at their mysterious acquaintance. Sirius sat one a large boulder with an elbow on his raised knee and his face in his hand, staring off into the distance. After a while of watching him Cole began to be bored and was about to join his friends in their slumber when something piqued his interest. Sirius had shut his eyes as if he had fallen asleep, but the spot which he had earlier stared at was starting to move. Several small stones on the ground began to rise in the air and stack upon each other according to size, smallest on the bottom and largest on the top. Cole gasped in surprise and quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. Suddenly Sirius’s eyes flung open and the rocks fell and scattered.
“You never mentioned that you were an insomniac Cole. Come on out and let’s talk for a while.” he said without even turning to look at the tent. Hesitantly Cole crawled out of the tent and slunk over to Sirius. “What did you think you saw Cole? Do not think lie to me since I already know the answer.”
“Magic.”
“You think you saw magic. And what does that make me then Cole? A magician?” After seeing the look of confusion on the lad’s face Sirius sighed. “Cole, I am no magician. What I did was done through technology, much like the telescope you have hanging from you belt. No, I am something somewhat more and somewhat less. And I fear I may be the reason for your current predicament. Please, don’t look at me that way. Its not like I intentionally caused it out of spite or anger.” Cole however would hear no more so he stomped off to the tent and cried himself to sleep.

Description
Cole looked down at the brilliant sunrise from the top of the plateau and smiled. From his viewpoint, everything on Zeragu was perfect. The sun was rising over the jungle and the farmland surrounding his town in the distance, covering them in its radiant splendor. The only sound heard was that of songbirds and the animals in the swamp below him. His red hair fluttered in the gentle breeze, caressing the soft features of his face as his ocean blue eyes watched over the township. He heard a sound behind him and quickly turned to find his best friend trying to climb onto the ledge to join him. Cole shook his head and extended an arm to his friend. She took it graciously and collapsed onto the ledge.
“I don’t know how you manage to get yourself up here day after day this early Cole, but I find it exasperating to climb, especially when I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“It’s called muscles Doma, and if you had them you wouldn’t get so tired when we come here every day.” A green haired boy said as he pulled himself up over the edge.
“And if you don’t like climbing this early then why do you keep coming up here?” Cole said as he pulled out his food and started to eat.
“You know very well why. This is the only spot in the whole area where I can find the flowers that I sell in town. And you two come up here to bother me and taunt me for actually wanting to gather flowers at my age.” Doma said as she started to collect the blue and red flowers and put them in her basket. The green haired boy began making faces at Doma while Cole laughed and almost choked on his meal.
“Mateo, stop acting childish and help your cousin get started back down the cliff.” Doma said as she tied the basket to her back. Mateo and Cole gently lowered Doma over the edge and held onto her until she had found her foothold. The three then descended down the cliff and in five minutes they were at the bottom. Releasing his grip a tad early, Mateo dropped off the cliff and landed in some swamp water with a splash. Cole and Doma laughed as he stood up and pulled an animal out of his hair and threw it back where it belonged.
“Bah! I’m going back home to change. I’ll see you two later.” Mateo said as he started down one path leading out of the swamp, leaving his two amused friends behind.

The two friends ran into the town chasing after each other, darting around through the crowds, with Doma in front and Cole close behind. Finally Doma was looking behind her when she ran into someone, almost dropping her basket. The blonde haired amazon picked Doma off the ground and set her upright then dusted off her shoulders.
“I don’t know why you two are acting like little children, but I can take a guess. It’s probably something to do with Mateo, seeing as how he came back here all by himself not an hour ago, all smelly and wet. He was muttering something to himself, something about needing to change his clothes.” Lina Fox said as Cole finally caught up to Doma.
“Mateo dropped off the cliff and into the swamp today. He’s covered in swamp stink and when he came out he had a frog in his hair.” Cole said to his older sister.
“That so? Explains why his white shirt had a few splotches that were almost the same shade of green as that gunk that he puts in his hair. Amazing how much trouble you three can get into so early. Why, the sun hasn’t even finished rising!”
“You think we’re in trouble, then wait until Mateo has to explain to his mother why his clothes are so dirty the day after she cleaned them all up.” Doma said as she put a flower into her brown hair. Lina laughed and waved the two on down the street. When Doma and Cole arrived at her booth they found a customer already waiting.
“I’ll see you later Doma, I’ve got to head home.”
“Goodbye Cole!” Doma and her customer said in unison. Cole walked the mile to his home and saw his father standing outside in the courtyard with the family horse.
“There you are! Quick, I need you to go down to the valley to see if the mail is arriving. I’ve got a package waiting and I need to get it as soon as possible so it doesn’t get wrecked by that careless carrier.” Cole’s father said and he helped him into the saddle.
“Remember, it’s the green box from my friend in Haven that I want.” he said before giving the horse a strong slap on the backside. Cole rode off out of the township and started to race the horse towards the valley one hundred and twenty miles from the town. An hour later when he had gotten about halfway down the valley he stopped the horse and pulled out his telescope to see what a big mass was at the bottom. When he peered through the lens he did not like what he saw; at the foot of the valley was a massive army striding towards the town, waving their black banner of war.

Cole put away his telescope and turned the horse around, kicking its sides to get it to move as fast as it could. When they got within hearing distance of the town Cole pulled out a horn from his bag and blew one long and loud blast. The townsfolk began to come out of their houses wondering why the alert had been sounded. Cole dismounted as the mayor came to the front of the crowd.
“What is the meaning of this? Why did you sound the horn?” the short, plump and balding man said nervously as he looked up at Cole.
“There is a massive army on the move, heading our way. We may be under attack by nightfall.” Cole said and the crowd began to murmur.
“How do you know this? Maybe they are going to turn off on a different route and pass by us, maybe they are retreating and need to set up a defensive position in the valley.” Voices shouted from the crowd.
“I know because I have seen them in my telescope and they are no army of any of the local lords. I know because friends do not wave the black banner of death as they approach a township. No friendly army would do that, and there must be at least a thousand soldiers there.” Cole said and the crowd fell silent. Soon the crowd began to ask the mayor what to do and Cole and the horse both squeezed through the crowd to find his family. His father and sister were in the courtyard and his mother came out of the house as he approached.
“We heard it all Cole. How mighty an army for attacking such a defenseless town. Fighting them must be our last resort. I want you, your mother and sister to start heading towards the jungle as fast as you can. I’m going to try to get the others to start leaving as well.” Cole’s father said as helped his wife onto a horse with his daughter already on it. Cole nodded and got back onto his horse to go find Doma and Mateo.

He found Doma and her family loading up their horses as well and he helped her onto his steed. Mateo was already mounted and rode out with them towards the swamp and the jungle beyond. Most of the town was either still talking to the mayor about what they should do or preparing for battle when the army finally surfaced at the top of the valley. The townspeople saw that they had no way of defending themselves against the army and began to flee the town, but it was too late. Those with horses had almost all already left, leaving the other to run on foot. From the edge of the swamp Cole look behind and see the army as its massive black shape crashed into the township. Cole turned to see his mother and sister’s horse fall on them in the muck and stopped to try and help them.
“No! Go on without us, we’re pinned and you don’t have time to get us out.” His sister said as he approached. His mother nodded her head as she sobbed silently, telling him to leave them behind. Cole’s eyes filled with tears but he did as they wished, turning back to face the jungle with Doma and Mateo. All around them the horses ran into the jungle and didn’t look back to see the vast tide of soldiers chasing them. When they got into the jungle all of the riders went separate directions except Mateo, Doma and Cole. They rode as far as they could away from their massacred township and finally couldn’t move their horses any farther on the path. The three stopped and got off their horses, releasing them into the darkness and continuing on foot.

Finally they found a cave that Mateo had discovered a month ago. One that he claimed had too many tunnels to ever get out of if you got lost. The three hurried into the caverns and started to go down the darkest tunnel with a makeshift torch. Ultimately the torch sputtered out and the trio had to walk in complete darkness, feeling the ground for their path until heard an unusual sound. Someone, it appeared, was sleeping in the caverns because they could hear that person's snoring. Rounding a bend in the tunnel the three found a tent set up with a bonfire near it. Cautiously they approached the tent to see who was in it. They peered inside and found an odd black box that seemed to be making the noise. Just when Cole stuck his head outside of the tent he was face to face with a stranger.
“You know, generally it is considered rude to look through one’s homestead without an invitation.” the stranger said as Cole fell backwards in shock. The stranger’s eyes darted around his tent and finally rested on Doma.
“We’re sorry sir, we didn’t know this was your home, we were just trying to find a place to hide from the battle outside.” she said as she bowed.
“Quite alright. I just felt like having a little fun with whoever was rummaging through my temporary home. Come on out and tell me about yourselves. Don’t worry, I’m not going to harm you.” The stranger said as he pressed something on the box which silencing it and backed up. As the trio came out of the tent they were finally able to get a good look at the stranger. His hair was almost completely snow white with a small section dyed gray. In the back his hair was put into four binders with each one about shoulder length. He wore a white coat, pants, both with many chains and buckles, and fingerless gloves. On his white shirt there was a partial circle with a vertical line on the top and on the back of his shirt there was an unfinished infinity sign, both in black. His eyes were a deep forest green as dark a shade as the jungle that was above the caverns. His face seemed to be gentle with an overall look of reassurance.
“My name is Doma Kuza, former boutique owner.”
“Mateo Kuza, farmer and general trouble maker.”
“Interesting. Are you two siblings?” the stranger asked shaking their hands.
“No, we’re cousins. Most people seem to think we’re siblings as well.”
“I am Cole Fox, farmer, gofer, and carpenter. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
“The pleasure is all mine. My name is Sirius Degas, traveler and explorer. Now that introductions are done, could you please tell me what it is you three are hiding from?” The trio told Sirius the entire tale of what had happened ever since Cole rode off towards the valley and he listened immensely. When their story was finished the traveler began to stroke his chin thinking. “Okay, I believe you. You three get some sleep in the tent. Tomorrow we’re going to talk to the leader of this black army.”
“But-” Cole started to say when Sirius interrupted,
“No, you three sleep in there. Your bodies must be tired from all of that running.”
“But I was-” Cole started again.
“No and I don’t want to hear another word. You three take the tent. I’ve slept on harsher ground than this before. Get some rest.”

Reluctantly the teens entered the tent and Doma and Mateo quickly fell asleep. Cole however stayed awake and peered through the bottom of the entry flap at their mysterious acquaintance. Sirius sat one a large boulder with an elbow on his raised knee and his face in his hand, staring off into the distance. After a while of watching him Cole began to be bored and was about to join his friends in their slumber when something piqued his interest. Sirius had shut his eyes as if he had fallen asleep, but the spot which he had earlier stared at was starting to move. Several small stones on the ground began to rise in the air and stack upon each other according to size, smallest on the bottom and largest on the top. Cole gasped in surprise and quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. Suddenly Sirius’s eyes flung open and the rocks fell and scattered.
“You never mentioned that you were an insomniac Cole. Come on out and let’s talk for a while.” he said without even turning to look at the tent. Hesitantly Cole crawled out of the tent and slunk over to Sirius. “What did you think you saw Cole? Do not think lie to me since I already know the answer.”
“Magic.”
“You think you saw magic. And what does that make me then Cole? A magician?” After seeing the look of confusion on the lad’s face Sirius sighed. “Cole, I am no magician. What I did was done through technology, much like the telescope you have hanging from you belt. No, I am something somewhat more and somewhat less. And I fear I may be the reason for your current predicament. Please, don’t look at me that way. Its not like I intentionally caused it out of spite or anger.” Cole however would hear no more so he stomped off to the tent and cried himself to sleep.