"Mom, tell me the story of the Nkari!" Luna begged, her wide eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Beside her, Anny groaned and rolled her eyes dramatically. "Ugh. Not again. Mom, please, tell her any other story. I swear, if I have to hear about the Nkari one more time, I'll puke."
Their mother chuckled, casting Anny a playful glance. "How about the story of PIRAR instead? Your sister is tired of hearing about the Nkari for the hundredth time."
Anny huffed in exaggerated frustration. "More like the thousandth."
Luna stuck her tongue out at her younger sister. "Funny, because you always fall asleep the second the story begins."
Anny grinned sheepishly. "Exactly, Because it's boring, I'd rather sleep than die of boredom."
Luna crossed her arms but gave in. "Fine, tell us about PIRAR, Mom."
Their mother's smile softened as she settled herself comfortably. "Once, long ago, there was a city called the Forbidden City, also known as PIRAR. It was a fortress, standing tall in the heart of a land brimming with life. People whispered of powers hidden within stones that could grant unimaginable power or unleash unspeakable curses. But those who ventured inside… never returned."
Anny yawned loudly, as if to prove her point, before slumping against the pillows. Within minutes, her slow, steady breathing signaled she had already drifted off. Their mother brushed a few strands of golden brown locks from her face, shaking her head with amusement. Anny had always favoured swords over stories
Turning back to Luna, she saw that her eldest was still wide awake, hanging onto every word.
"At the time, the Jamaicans were at war with the Mexicans," she continued. "The battle was devastating, and the Mexicans were losing. Desperate for salvation, three elders and three warriors were chosen to embark on a perilous journey to PIRAR. Their mission? To retrieve the legendary red stone, "the source of all Magia."
Luna's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Did they survive?"
Her mother smiled knowingly. "Patience, little one. Let me tell the story properly."
She shifted slightly, her voice lowering into the hushed tones of a storyteller weaving magic into the air.
"With nothing left after the Jamaicans destroyed their supplies, the six chosen warriors set off into the unknown. They traveled for days, surviving only on the water that poured directly from the sky and hope that fate would be kind. After days of travelling they met a witch deep in the wilderness, who warned them.
'The Forbidden City is forbidden for a reason,' she told them.
One warrior listened. He was the youngest, and fear gnawed at him. 'I'd rather die by the hands of my enemies than by some unknown horror,' he declared. His siblings called him a coward, but he refused to stay. He turned back, hoping against all odds that the others would see reason before it was too late."
Luna clutched her blanket. "And the others?"
Her mother's expression darkened. "They pressed on and soon, they came face to face with the beast of the Forbidden Forest, told to be extinct, a creature with six heads, and legs that grew from every part of its body. They fought bravely, but they lost their sister, Anabel. That was when they realized the true danger of PIRAR. The legends weren't just stories, the horrors were real."
Luna gasped. "Did they give up?"
"They couldn't, not after losing so much already. They marched on for thirty days and thirty nights, weak from hunger, haunted by grief. One of their siblings succumbed to death because of the hunger. They mourned their losses and moved on. When they finally arrived at PIRAR, they were barely alive but the city…" Her mother's voice was laced with awe "It was paradise, fertile land stretched in every direction, beyond the eyes could see, water shimmered like liquid diamonds. The air itself hummed with magic. It was everything they had dreamed of and more, one thing they didn't expect to see were people, people like them but with a slight disadvantage that set them apart, they were cursed, cursed to never leave."
"Who were they" Luna asked
"They are called shadows" her mother said, a distant look in her face
Luna's heart pounded. "Did they stay?"
"They had no choice, their old lives were lost to them, and PIRAR offered them something new, a fresh beginning, the people there welcomed them with open hands. The two male even married women from their tribe" her mom smiled, a brightness in her features
"And the last female elder became a priestess" she continued
"They thought they had found peace but then, the priestess received a vision."
Luna's breath hitched. "What did she see?"
Her mother's voice became a whisper.
"When the world is on the edge of night,
And shadows hunger for the dark"
A girl of stars with fire in her soul
Shall rise to make the broken whole.
Through pain, through loss, her path is drawn,
To end the dark before dawn."
Luna shivered. "What happened after that?"
"For a long time… nothing. The prophecy faded into legend. Life went on, and they believed the danger had passed."
Luna exhaled a relieved sigh. "So it had a happy ending! I love happy endings." She squealed
Her mother smiled but didn't reply.
Luna tugged at her sleeve. "Mom, can you take me to PIRAR someday?"
Her mother stroked her golden locks gently, looking at beautiful soft brown eyes that were similar to hers
"PIRAR isn't a place you can simply find."
Luna frowned. "Why not?"
"Because only those who carry its blood in their veins can truly reach it".
"But mom what happens if PIRAR vanishes what would happen to the shadows
Her mother hesitated before answering.
"Nothing can kill the shadows, only the origins and that information died with the last of their kind
"But mom, how did the origins died"
Her mother sighed. "Now, it's time for you to sleep, no more questions."
She tucked Luna in, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before pulling the blanket snugly around her. She sat there for a moment, watching both her daughters sleep, her heart swelling with quiet love.
But then, her happiness was short lived, she sensed something lurking in the dark
Her body tensed, slowly, she turned, her voice sharp and cold.
"Why are you here?"
A voice, smooth and amused, answered from the shadows. "I come bearing great news."
Her eyes narrowed. "You never bring great news."
The shadow chuckled. "I'm deeply offended, Slayer"
Her lips curled into a bitter smirk. "So? What is it?"
"The King your father seeks your presence Slayer."
He stepped into the dim light, plucking an apple from the table before sinking his teeth into it. He strolled lazily to a chair, sitting with an air of practiced ease, one leg crossed over the other.
She scoffed. "That's a bad news"
"You have wonderful daughters," he said casually, nodding toward the sleeping girls.
She glanced at them, her expression softening for just a moment. "I know."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "I don't know why you married him. If you had agreed to marry m..."
"That was a long time ago, Slasher," she interrupted firmly. "You're married. You have a son. It's time to move on Slasher"
He exhaled heavily. "It's been years since you last visited the realms."
"You know why," she murmured. "Because of… her"
His gaze darkened. "You can't run forever, one day, you'll have to hand her over, the prophecy won't wait."
She looked away. "I know. I just… need more time."
Slasher watched her for a long moment before nodding. "Then I'll tell the King your answer."
And with that, the shadow melted into the night.