Feuding Feathers

During the 9th Imperial period, within the lush province of Nerou, the dying king decreed his final request for peace in the land. A disagreement caused two members from his noble regiment to fall out. They each divided into separate sects, notably with both using a colored robin as their designated emblems. The Greater House displayed a blue robin. Only the wealthiest dignitaries could join The Lesser House displayed a grey robin with a combination of upper and middle-class nobles. Together, they would control most territories through political ambition.  

A series of brutal wars between the two houses created a hostile environment for civilians around the entire nation. Countless deaths took a toll on the supply of natural resources. Citizens were forced to choose sides and were allocated status according to decrees regarding a caste system from the wealthiest to the poor. The houses of each sect were riddled with corruption and scandal.

 A prominent military general known as Benavides, assembled colleagues who held neither sect in high regard. They formed an institute in the countryside of Emor, where the ruins of a coliseum were reconstructed into a conservatory for military officers. The Calvary Academy enrolled teenage children of influential households to be trained in academia, as well as combat. Certain exceptions were made, so a poverty-stricken gifted child could also meet the criteria to attend this school.

If a child was neither wealthy nor considered well endowed with talents, they were started into battalions of infantry troops. There was a lottery for each state that demanded the first-born son of every family be called to arms. If there were no sons to enlist, the father would take their place. Healthy daughters could also be drafted to replace any sickly or dead male family members.

Thus, the generals formed a rebellion hoping to overthrow both sects, unite the governing state, and return Nerou back to its former glory.

The Warring Robins, Intro

Temple of Ruin

As the troops climbed the tall stone stairs leading up to the shrine, Keinah quickly called for them to pause.
“STOP,” she warned.
Suddenly, a spray of spears came spiraling at them. The troops instantly put up all their shields to block the attack. After three hours passed, the spears ceased to fire as none had successfully penetrated through the shields. In dead silence, the troops lowered their shields to see Lord Enzo at the top of the shrine with one Necromancer. He remained in his Celestial form as a Sapphire cloud draped in a black cape-like the Necromancer’s attire.
“Is that all the tenacity you have left since your army is gone, Lord Enzo?” Lord Chimique called out towards him.
“You are outnumbered! You may as well surrender,” Aysha chimed.
Lord Enzo remained silent.
“You should be ashamed of your failures and even more embarrassed that you became accustomed to using underhanded trickery to make advances. It is no wonder that you remain the pathetic lower-ranking Lord reviled by all who speak your name,” Lord Bilal asserted.
Lord Enzo cackled wildly. “High Chief Lord Bilal, you are one to jest! You dare stand in the presence of the great and well-revered Lord Chimique knowing full well that you did not receive your acclaimed rank on the same honorable merit?!” He huffed.
“You needn’t indulge in grand delusions over any petty rumors. It is common practice to bribe an official for rank, as not everyone has twelve centuries to gain the experience to qualify.” Lord Bilal scoffed.
Lord Enzo cackled wildly again. “If only that were the case, I would have nothing more to say.” He said.
“Enough of this rubbish talk! It is time for your surrender,” Lord Bilal said as he launched an attack on Lord Enzo.
The Necromancer quietly chanted a spell, causing crystalized asphalt to grow from the ground and attach itself to Lord Bilal’s ankles. He fell to his knees in anguish as the minerals seeped into his being. The camp waited with bated breath, trying to make sense of the altercation.
“True to tale, I embarked on a mission for supreme dominancy over all our territories. Lord Bilal bribed the Officials for his rank. The devilish missing detail is that he threatened to end their existence with shards of a crystallization sword!” Lord Enzo tauntingly revealed.
The troops gasped in horror, as Vadiim lunged towards Lord Bilal to confront him. “This cannot be,” he said in disbelief.
Lord Bilal lowered his head in disgrace. “Lord Enzo, you are the epitome of evil. To put it mildly, you possess the spirit of total deprivation. It has always been your practice to take everything, without regard to those around. What I did was a necessary evil, because it was for the good of my kinsmen and the Emerald Kingdom,” he said bitterly.
“Lord Bilal, we are pot and kettle who needn’t call each other black! Centuries ago, you had no qualms about being at my side when we mined for crystallized minerals. We secretly traveled as a pair so powerful; no one could stop us. That is of course, until you abruptly decided to part ways to make a name for yourself in the Emerald kingdom.” Lord Enzo fired back.
Lord Chimique and Aysha rushed to where Lord Bilal knelt to attack him.
“You treasonous bastard,” Lord Chimique raged.
Aysha put a dagger to his throat, but Vadiim blocked her with his sword.Lord Bilal felt a hint of relief that he had been saved.”General Vadiiamonial, it should be clear that hell is what you go through to keep heaven intact,” he pleaded.
Vadiim pondered the notion for a moment, then turned towards Lord Enzo.
“We will deal with Lord Bilal’s treachery in due time. We will not allow ourselves to become distracted from our conviction that you, Lord Enzo, must be dealt with promptly,” Vadiim declared as he began his pursuit.
Just as he Vadiim launched his attack, Lord Enzo hurled a crystalized spear, which pierced through his chest and directly into Lord Bilal’s mouth. Immediately, Lord Bilal turned to stone. Though the spear held Vadiim stuck to Lord Bilal, he remained unharmed from the minerals. Aysha signaled for the troops to attack in full force.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 24

The Fiery Priestess

By midday, the enchantment upon the camp had finally lifted. As Breonas slowly opened his eyes, he could hardly believe that Keinah was standing before him. Her whole body radiated brilliantly in the sun’s light. He clumsily rose to his feet, trembling.
“Your Majesty, is that you?” he asked.
Keinah chuckled as she leaned over to grab one of his paws. She gently stroked his forehead without speaking. Her eyes were no longer the deepest brown, but now a crisp golden hue.
“Chieftain Breonas, please do not fear. I am your Princess, Keinah, though I am not the same as you once knew me. I have been granted permission from a Heavenly Host to remain by your side,” she said with enthusiastic resolve.
Breonas smiled whole-heartedly with awe and ease. The pair shared a long embrace, as the Celestial soldiers came to see for themselves what was happening. The Lords and Aysha went into the fold of the onlookers to dismantle the commotion. They nearly doubled over when they saw Keinah and Breonas together.
“How can this be?” Aysha asked in an unsteady tone that shocked all the soldiers.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Bilal demanded.
“The Emerald Princess is of a sorceress,” Lord Chimique answered in disbelief.
Ignoring the crowd, Keinah continued her dialog with Breonas.
“Where is my husband? Take me to him at once,” she said.
Straightaway, Breonas led her to Vadiim’s chamber as the throng followed in quickstep behind them. There Vadiim laid, resting peacefully. He no longer looked like he was in anguish, though his leg remained with the stone-like infection. Keinah kissed his lips, but he did not stir. She removed her robe to reveal her transformation that took place with the angel Mikleua. Though she stood naked before her audience, it was her enormous flame engulfed crimson wings that spread throughout the room that left them in complete astonishment. Keinah placed her hands on Vadiim’s injured leg and chanted in another one of her unknown tongues. She draped herself over Vadiim and folded her wings around. A blinding light struck the entire chamber as a wave of heat followed.
“General Vadiiamonial of the Emerald Clan Legionnaires, arise,” she commanded.
Vadiim immediately opened his eyes and sat upon his cot. The infection disappeared from his leg.
Breonas was so moved by all that had transpired; he bowed on one knee in reverence of the moment.
“All hail the Emerald Princess Keinah, for she is now our Fiery Priestess,” he proclaimed.
The entire camp followed suit without hesitation, and chanted in excitement, “All hail Princess Keinah! All hail the Fiery Priestess!”
Vadiim made a full recovery from being struck with a crystallization sword, which was unheard of in the Celestial realm. No one could comprehend what they had witnessed, but they were encouraged to win the war against the Sapphire clan, with Keinah as a secret weapon. It was understood that Vadiim did not want to put Keinah on the front line, and would only call upon her if their mission was direly unsuccessful. Within a few days, Vadiim and Aysha began dynamically rehearsing attack strategies to strengthen and reinvigorate the soldiers.
“Are you certain that Princess Keinah should be in attendance at this fiasco? We nearly lost her once. Even though she displays an unexplainable massive amount of power and finesse, how can you be so calm about her heading into this deadly war?” Aysha asked.
“What I want is of little consequence. Keinah is not from this realm. I have no control over her destiny. Who am I to deny her the right to become what she was meant to be?” Vadiim said with resolve.
“Still, this must be hard for you to watch her practically fly out of your reach. I admire your conviction to let things be.” Aysha said, as she dodged the brunt of his sword.Vadiim spun away from Aysha’s counter-attack and said, “What is to be admired is the fact that Keinah has forgone the Heavenly realm once and for all to remain in our domain. Her dedication to our kinsmen is parallel to my own. I could not ask for a greater gift. She is my eternal mate. I am content with that alone.”

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 23

Dream Denied

The Emerald Princess laid in repose dressed in a long hunter green colored robe on a golden altar. Her brilliant illumination was gone, but her fragrant scent lingered all around. Breonas wept as he vowed to keep watch and guard her outside the tent. The herbalists tended to Vadiim and noted that the infection from the crystalized minerals remained only where he was struck. Ordinarily, even the slightest scratch would cause a Celestial to instantly and entirely turn to stone. They marveled Vadiim was still alive, though he could not be roused.
Vadiim laid in a catatonic state for days. He awoke to find himself sitting on a white sanded beach surrounded by an endless ocean of the bluest water he had ever seen. A small chubby ebony-skinned boy with silvery coiled hair and piercing emerald eyes approached him. The boy seemed to be familiar with Vadiim. He stood over Vadiim with a half-smile and an intense glare before leaning in to press their foreheads together. After a brief pause, the boy grasped Vadiim’s face into his tiny palms.
“That is alright, Papa; we can tell everyone that you caught all the fish in my net,” the boy said tenderly.
This startled Vadiim, but the boy’s embrace melted his heart. Then the boy eagerly grabbed Vadiim’s hands, and urgently tugged for him to stand. They both ran to the shoreline to retrieve the batch of fish caught in the boy’s net. The boy struggled to pull the net out of the water. Vadiim placed him on his shoulders and dragged the net out to carry with ease. The boy gleefully laughed and clapped his hands.
“Shall we go?” Vadiim asked.
The boy nodded, and they made their way towards a town. Vadiim seemed to instinctively know where they were headed, though the town was unfamiliar. Before long, the duo came upon a modest cottage with a lush petunia garden. The boy requested to be placed on the ground and then enthusiastically bolted through the front door. The house was quaint, with simple antique furniture, decorative trinkets on the walls and shelves, and a cozy fire blazing in the fireplace.
As Vadiim entered the kitchen area with the fishnet, he noticed a beautiful smaller girl sitting in a highchair. She whimsically played with her doll and hummed along. Her resemblance to the boy was uncanny. Vadiim nearly lost his breath when he saw Keinah standing at the stove, stirring a large black metal pot. The boy clung to the hem of her dress to gain her attention. She turned around with an annoyed sigh. When her eyes met with Vadiim’s, her face relaxed with a smile. Their trance was broken after she fixed her eyes on the fishnet.
“It seems that Papa lost his net and replaced it with yours,” she chuckled.
The boy bashfully placed a finger over his mouth to signal for Vadiim to remain quiet. “Come on, Papa, let’s show them all the fish you caught,” he exclaimed.
As the boy helped Vadiim dump the fish on the kitchen table, Keinah removed her apron. Vadiim nearly doubled over at the sight of her swollen belly. She walked over to him and waved her hand directly in front of his face as he stood in a daze.
“Hello? Is there anyone home?” she jested.
This scenario amused the little girl, and her jolly laughter caused Keinah and the boy to laugh as well. Vadiim, still half-dazed, slowly laughed with them. He hugged Keinah, then placed his hand on her stomach.
Celestial beings often slept but never dreamt. No Celestial dared to desire to become a human. Vadiim took stock of the unfolded events and realized all that could be gained if he were human. He also thought of everything Keinah was denied in both life and death.
Meanwhile, Breonas and the rest of the camp fell into a deep sleep. A presence draped in a luxurious, silky blue hooded cloak crept into Keinah’s chambers. It hovered over her until she slowly opened her eyes. She did not speak or move.
“Arise, my child,” It commanded her in a thunderous voice.
“Who are you?” she asked in a fit of terror.
The presence removed the hood of its robe to reveal a glowing, angelic face.
“I am an angel from the Heavenly realm. I am called Mikleua,” It declared.
Keinah took a breath and sat up straight on the altar.
“Why have you come here?” she inquired in a trembling voice.
It chuckled for a moment; then its eyes turned to a crimson fire. Earnestly, it asserted, “When The Reaper did not successfully deliver you to the Blessed Heavenly realm, your grandmother sent me to look for you. My search seemed endless and futile until this very moment that I have found you.”
This news struck Keinah to her core as she sprung herself off the altar.
“Grandmother has been looking for me all this while?” she asked in astonishment.
Mikleua quickly and firmly grabbed her by the hands.
“All is well, but we mustn’t tarry any longer,” It said and removed her robe.
As she stood naked, the Emerald clan insignia that was tattooed beneath her breast glowed as it was revealed.
Mikleua withdrew in disgust and furiously rebuked her.
“My child, what has become of you?” It asked.
Keinah felt insulted by this response.
“I am the daughter of the Emerald Queen. I dwell here with my husband and kinsman. No doubt, I have become who I was always meant to be,” she replied indignantly.
Mikleua crossly grabbed Keinah by the shoulders.
“Do you not understand? You cannot ever enter the Heavenly realm, for your soul has been corrupted,” It scowled.
Keinah defiantly snatched away from the angel.
“Then, so be it. Whatever my appointment in Heaven was, I am certain that it is being fulfilled in this realm. Grandmother taught me to pray for others more than I pray for myself. My new kinfolks are in danger of becoming extinct if there is no divine intervention. I am most needed here. This domain is where I choose to remain,” she said.
Mikleua relaxed and soothingly changed tone.
“You have spoken the truth. Your devotion to those you care about is overwhelming. To think that one such as you who held a lowly status in life would forgo all the riches in the Heavenly realm to protect your newly claimed kindred is remarkable. You truly walk in your calling. Everything that you are now is everything that you were meant to become,” It marveled.
Mikleua removed his cloak and spread majestic, massive pearly wings that spanned throughout the entire space of the room. This time, Keinah warmly accepted their embrace.
She looked up at him with teary eyes and said, “Tell my grandmother that I miss her and I love her. Please assure her that all is well with my soul.”
Mikleua gently kissed her on the forehead and said, “As you have said, so shall it be!” The angel’s massive wings folded around her, and the room was lit as bright as the sun.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 22


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Place of Hurt

The following evening, several hundred Celestial soldiers waited outside the briefing room. Many of them were in shock and disbelief that the great Emerald Clan Legionnaire General Vadiiamonial had been struck down in battle. They scoffed at the idea that the “foreign” Emerald Princess was in attendance of this war, and “outrageous” demand of the Emerald Queen that all Celestials assume human form whenever in parameter of Princess Keinah. A barrage of cursing was flung around, mocking the clumsily restricted human bodies that are ill-suited for combat.
The group was so enthralled in their complaint session that they did not notice General Aysha was in their midst.
“If the lot of you sorry mutts were any half-good of a fighter, it would not matter one way or the other whether you posed as a human or remained in your natural Celestial state!” She barked at them. The soldiers shuttered in terror as they turned their attention towards the Diamond clan Valkyrie.
“You came with no heart to this fight! How do you honor your homeland and the Emerald Queen when you have allowed ruin to come to her daughter? You dare to classify her as a foreigner when she risked herself to slay countless goblins and cast a spell to save us all from expiration,” she furiously continued. 
“Forgive us, great General, but was it not because of the human girl’s demise that your fellow General Vadiiamonial became distracted enough to be assaulted with a crystallization sword?” a Diamond soldier interjected.
Breonas came from nowhere with fire in his eyes.
“Did you not witness her excellency in actions?! Were it not for Princess Keinah’s tenacity and determination as our comrade-in-arms, many of you would not have been healed after the ambush at Luab nor would you be standing here today badmouthing her efforts,” he contested. 
The soldiers murmured among themselves as if to ignore Breonas. It was apparent they were unmoved by his testimony.
Breonas stood on top of a broken pillar and angrily wept as he continued to yell at them.
“She outmatched the dark sorcery of the necromancers. It is only because of Princess Keinah’s magical prowess we still have General Vadiiamonial. Though he is still clinging to his life, he has not been turned to stone. He may have a chance yet to make a recovery of sorts,” he said.
General Aysha was filled with a renewed sense of determination after hearing Breonas speak. She abruptly brushed through the congregation to stand beside the weeping Breonas.
“This young pup has more guts and loyalty in his tiny little body than any of you dogs! You should be ashamed and put to the crystallization sword for your incompetence. No one can contest that Princess Keinah’s contributions are the very cause of any success that we have had. From here on, you must check yourselves, tuck your yellow tails in, and return your respect to those who have paid with their lives for your honor,” she proclaimed.
The murmuring ceased and was replaced with valiant cheers to support General Aysha and Breonas. The party departed and set out to begin in combat exercises.
Inside the briefing room, Lords Bilal and Chimique observed as the Celestial guards interrogated the captured Sapphire soldier. When the Lords were satisfied with the briefing, they signaled for him to be taken back to the holding chamber. In the mere minutes that the Sapphire soldier had one arm loosened, he quickly ingested a jagged piece of his crystalized sword. The group watched with delighted terror as he shrieked in agony. After shriveling up, all that remained was solid stone.
Lord Chimique signaled for the guards to wheel the stone away in a barrel.
“The savagery of the Sapphire clan knows no end! Those pathetic vermin must be destroyed, or none of our territories will reside in peace,” Lord Bilal said in disgust as he struck the stone with his giant mallet.
Upon impact, the stone shattered into millions of tiny pieces. The guards frowned as they were instructed to remove all the particles swiftly.
“This is the handy work of the unscrupulous Lord Enzo, whose insanity and utter incompetence has long hindered him from gaining the rank of High Chief. He has had an ax to grind with the world for centuries. It is no wonder that the once highly revered Sapphire clan is now reviled as nothing more than bandits and goons,” Lord Chimique said as he gazed through the curtain panels to watch the guards remove the rubbish from the briefing room.
“It was King Dorrel’s inept leadership that contributed to their demise as well. Countless territories fell victim to Lord Enzo’s cruelty, and King Dorrel did nothing to stop it,” Lord Bilal huffed.
“If the Sapphire King had not become so heavily infatuated with Lord Enzo and shamelessly begging that they should be eternal mates, perhaps he would not have been so easily seduced. On the eve that Lord Enzo was expected to be banished from their Kingdom of Moncruis by the Officials, he tricked King Dorrel by insisting they run away together. No one had any way of knowing Lord Enzo’s madness drove him to unearth the toxic minerals of the crystallization sword. To be assassinated by your lover is one of the saddest and oldest deceits in the books,” Lord Chimique reminisced.
Lord Bilal chuckled. “You have told the truth. Without hesitation, Lord Enzo turned King Dorrel into stone and pitched him into the deep of the Tymanes ocean, just like the debris removed from here.”
“Lord Enzo has carelessly reduced the number of his kinsman to support his ridiculous endeavors; it is no wonder that he has had the gall to enlist the likes of lowly scum goblins, ogres, and toads. The necromancers have made him feel invincible by gifting him with the ability to handle those minerals without fear of turning to stone. If only General Vadiiamonial had that type of protective covering,” Lord Chimique said.Lord Bilal interjected rashly, “My General has never wanted to be tempted by the crystals. With his strength and keen wisdom, he believed he would eventually break and surrender to the desire to have absolute power. He has never wanted to wield his dominance over his kinsman or anyone else!”
“I meant no offense. I just have been searching for a clear answer how we proceed forward in this time of tribulation. Without the Great General of the Emerald clan and his betrothed Princess, our impending doom seems inevitable.”Lord Chimique stated coolly.
“In their present state, neither is much use to us now. We will have to depend heavily on General Aysha and our men at arms.” Lord Bilal retorted.
Lord Chimique paused, then noted, “Aysha is wounded in spirit over what transpired at PreLuab. If she has the will to carry us forward, she will avenge the offense caused to your General and the Emerald Princess. At least you will bring good tidings to Queen Ordessa over the loss of her beloved daughter.”
“I am certain the Emerald Queen will be much more at ease to know that her Kingdom and provinces are secure if we successfully conquer Lord Enzo. She will suffer from a newly learned grief over the death of Princess Keinah, just as we will inherently suffer from the loss of General Vadiiamonial. These are the spoils of war,” Lord Bilal replied with conviction in his voice.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 21

 
 
 
 
 

Perils of War

Once all was ready, the Diamond, Emerald, and remaining Honey Badger clans were prepared for battle. The journey to Preluab proved to be a hardship, as the realm laid nestled between icy, snow-covered mountains in a woodland area. The surveyors estimated the opposing army comprised 28,000 Sapphire clan members, including the (Ogres, Goblins, and Poisonous Yellow Toads). It was understood that the enemy camp would have the advantage of knowing the terrain since the Ogres originated from that region. They finally reached the peak of Mount Stelave.
Vadiim sent the command for the Diamond and Honey Badger clans to break formation and flank around each side of the mountain. Suddenly, the ogres came barreling out to battle, shrieking and cursing loudly. Aysha signaled for the troops to charge directly at the ogres. Both opposing and defensive parties sprang into action, violently assailing each other. With reckless abandonment, Keinah and her squad archers advanced by rapidly firing a barrage of charmed cross-bow arrows she prepared for the fight.
The team of archers swiftly blazed a clear path by plowing through the legion of ogres. Their first line of defense was disabled, which gave an opening for Lords Bilal and Chimique to head their troops directly over to the Goblin battalion. The harsh sounds of metal to metal rang loudly as Celestial swords crashed and shattered the goblin shields. The goblins were shredded to pieces one by one and left to die slow antagonizing deaths on the snowfield mountain. There was no mercy allotted towards the enemy camp.
As Vadiim and Aysha’s teams pressed forward to pursue the Sapphire clan, there was a thick mystical fog that descended, reducing their visibility. Without knowledge of their physical whereabouts, they inadvertently rode their horses straight into a deep pit. They found themselves trapped and unable to move as the ditch was coated from the bottom up with a gooey tar-like substance. The weight of their weapons and gear caused them to sink. The soldiers cried out in anguish over their impending defeat.
Though Keinah had become fatigued from her exertions in the battle, she mustered enough strength to climb up on the highest cliff overlooking a ravine. She lit a small fire from where she stood and whispered a chant. Her uttering became more fervent and thunderous. Light snow fell from the sky, and the density of the fog lifted. The snow drifted inside the tar pit, releasing the soldiers from being trapped. When the tar had completely dissolved, the soldiers quickly regained composure to fulfill their mission.
The light snow transitioned into a forceful blizzard that concealed Vadiim and Aysha’s teams. They made swift advancements towards the Sapphire clan, driving them as far back as their campsite headquarters. Though the blizzard proved to be an adequate cover, Keinah’s breathtaking illumination revealed her precise location. A Yellow Toad presumed she was the root of the sudden turn of events. He positioned himself near enough to shoot a poisonous dart that struck her directly in the throat.
Vadiim and Aysha witnessed Keinah’s demise. In a flash, Vadiim transformed into his celestial form to catch her before she fell off the cliff. He resumed his human form to brace her up. While gasping for breath, Keinah frantically tried to warn Vadiim that he was about to be assaulted by a Sapphire clan member. With Keinah in tow, Vadiim made a pivot to counter the attack. He was struck on his left leg with a sword embedded crystallization stones.
From the wound, his leg immediately turned into stone. The pain was excruciating and caused him to go blind. Vadiim clinched Keinah tightly as they plummeted several hundreds of feet off the cliff and were swept away by an icy river. Aysha rushed over to aid her comrades in a fury of rage. Ruthlessly, she beheaded the Yellow Toad and chased the Sapphire soldier until Lords Bilal and Chimique cornered and captured him.
Vadiim and Keinah were violently rushed to the bottom of the river bed. Vadiim treaded the icy water for three hours as he slowly succumbed to his injury. By the time Breonas and his squad found them, they were both in a coma. The Honey Badgers retrieved their lifeless bodies out of the water. It took Breonas and 9 of his men to pry Keinah out of Vadiim’s arms, as he would not turn her loose. The entire entourage somberly returned to their headquarters to camp.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 20
 
 

Mystical Companions

Early the next morning, the great Lords and Generals took leave from the Citadel to discuss critical strategic plans. They also shifted back into their celestial forms to travel at infinite velocity through the vastly enormous woods of mystical whispering willows. The vociferously chattering willows concealed any communication between them. In a flash, the multi-stoned clans of legionnaires were entrenched in the thick of the woods and meticulous deliberations.
Lord Bilal continued at a brisk pace in front of the unit before halting at a peculiar location. With heaviness in his voice, he began, “This recent turn of events has put the entire Emerald Kingdom in jeopardy. It is imperative at this moment that we align as many allies as possible. If you will not support our efforts, surely your Kingdom shall fall prey to the ruthless, unscrupulous enemies. What say you?” he demanded.
Lord Chimique was known for his glamorous appearances (with the present human form being his most extravagant). He inherited the status of Lordship over all the Diamond clan territories because of his ferocity on the battlefield. His beauty was a combination of intellect, calmness, and savagery. With a cool condescension, he teased, “Perhaps the Emerald clan should have chosen stronger alliances with superior beings, to begin with, and none of this would be happening.”
Lord Bilal roared back, “Our allies in Luab are perfectly skilled at war. They simply over-estimated their own strength!”
Vadiim passionately interjected, “A messenger should have been released at the first sign of being overtaken. My soldiers would have been dispatched without hesitation to terminate the vermin properly. We only come to you after the fact, not as a necessity.”
As rapid tension sifted in, General Aysha diplomatically joined the conversation before the entities brawled. “Your allies also under-estimated the tactics of an enemy who only recently upon attack became known to them. It is difficult to conquer an opponent that has not been thoroughly investigated successfully.”
“I must admit, it was quite a wretched scheme of the cursed Yellow Toad Ogres to affiliate themselves with our ancient rivaled Sapphire clan. Their poisonous secretions could melt through the thickest iron, let alone any entity in direct contact. I tremble to think of all who lost lives on this account,” Lord Chimique acknowledged. 
“We could not save them at all when we could not even defend ourselves,” Vadiim replied.
“In all the ages, the Sapphire clan has never stooped so low as to enlist a necromancer to wield weapons coated with particles of the Crystallization stones. Lord Bilal is correct; we are all in dire straits if there is no final resolution,” General Aysha whispered.
“The despicable works of the treacherous Sapphire clan must end,” Lord Bilal raged.
Vadiim became reinvigorated and rallied further. “Let us annihilate this troublesome bunch for once and for all.”
General Aysha also felt compelled to continue to persuade Lord Chimique. “It has been over 3,000 moons since the Diamond and Emerald clans joined forces to drive out the Sapphire clan. Our success brought on eras of longevity and fruitfulness for both clans that are unparalleled with any other living beings. The Emerald Kingdom’s discovery and adoption of the magnificent Princess Keinah has thrust their kinsmen into the dawn of new beings. How can we ever compare if we forfeit on the technicality that we are all obliterated?”
Lord Chimique had long remained restless over the ages, knowing full well that the Diamond clan ranked a close 2nd to the Emerald clan because of General Vadiiamonial. The solace was that General Aysha was the only celestial being to manage a near victory over Vadiim in a duel that ended in a draw during one of the last tournaments held by the imperial Diamond twins. The revelation of Princess Keinah’s legend drove Lord Chimique to utter madness because nothing could ever match to such a rare find.
Lord Chimique swallowed his pride to ensure that his kinsmen would survive this perceived apocalypse and held a slither of hope that there could be more humans like Keinah that the Diamond clan could possess for their own Kingdom. “It seems that this matter is settled, then. Generals; prepare to launch a full-scale attack on the region of Preluab where our enemies dwell,” he declared.
After the deliberations were over, the unit returned to the Citadel that evening. Keinah waited at the main entrance. None of her radiance had diminished since the night of their arrival. Lords Bilal and Chimique were doubled over in awe at her brilliant glow. Lord Chimique was unaccustomed to entertaining any other being more beautiful than him, but he could not compete with Princess Keinah’s subtle indifference to her appearance. General Aysha immediately took a knee to bow at Keinah’s feet humbly, and the rest followed suit.
Vadiim escorted Keinah back to the lavish royal chambers where she rested. Her illuminated glow caused the luxurious articles in the room seemed to dolefully pale compared to an entity of her stature. Once Vadiim closed the doors behind him, they stood silently, glowering at each other for several moments. The trance was broken when a foot soldier gently tapped on the door to announce that mealtime would be served in the great hall. Just as Vadiim was about to exit the room, Keinah called out his name with a heavy sigh of grief. Her voice coldly stopped him in his tracks, and he reluctantly turned to witness the pain in her eyes as she trembled. “What is it?” he asked calmly.
“Can you no longer stand the sight of me?” she belted between stifled tears.
Vadiim was shocked by her accusation and even more alarmed by her sense of panic. He remembered Queen Ordessa’s discerning report of Keinah’s traumatic life and death, so he chose his words carefully. “There is not one living being who could ever deny the splendor of your extraordinary transformation since the beginning of our relations. For Celestials, time passes slowly, and everything remains consistent over multiple centuries. It is beyond our stream of consciousness to fathom your precipitous butterfly-like existence. For me, this experience is baffling, amazing, and terrifying, all at once. I know you must be within the throes of an unbearable uncertainty as you continue to come to terms with the state of your afterlife. I commend you for taking it all in with a graceful stride. You have my unwavering allegiance and undying love to cover you,” he assured her.
Keinah rushed over to him and buried her face in his chest as she loudly wept. He gripped her and caressed her coiled black hair long after she finished crying. She looked into his eyes with certainty as he gently swept away the few remaining tears from her cheeks. Then he removed the amulet bangles from her wrists and feet, as they had been rendered useless since the attack at Luab. Keinah took this as a sign of good faith that her husband gave his full support and truly accepted who she had become. As she walked behind him towards the main hall, she whispered an incantation to serve as an oath to protect Vadiim and their bond above all else.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 19


 
 
 
 
 
 

League of the Extraordinary

To fall under the mandated laws of the Emerald Queen, the entire Diamond Clan army assumed human forms in anticipation of receiving the Emerald Princess. High Chief Lord Chimique was well regarded as one of the most experienced adventurist, as his travels and conquests kept him along the Oriental trading posts. His attire was a regal white diamond-encrusted kimono and long, flowing black hair. He looked the opposite of what would be considered a great warrior; however, he was well revered in martial arts. General Aysha had spent several eons with the Amazonian Valkyries. Naturally, she presented herself in the same fashion, with long white dreadlocks that rested against her sable-black complexion. Her topaz-colored leotard and thigh-high diamond boots made her look like a flash of diamonds.
Vadiim safely led his team to the Citadel in no time. All were perplexed, in shock and awe to behold the Emerald Princess. She resembled nothing like the humans they had been for-warned about. Even Lord Bilal was amazed to see Keinah’s transition, but quickly signaled for everyone to bow to the Emerald Princess. They entered the Citadel and were treated to a great feast.
Keinah walked out to the balcony to get fresh air and enjoy the rest of the night sky. There stood the Diamond clan Valkyrie; General Aysha. They both remained in silent awe of each other. Then General Aysha broke their trance by bowing at Keinah’s feet. This startled Keinah, and she abruptly pleaded with the General to return to her feet. They continued to gaze at each other for at least thirty seconds before a fit of laughter came over them.
General Aysha quickly regained composure as she remembered she was addressing a member of the royal Emerald family. “Milady, please forgive my display of absurdity. There is no excuse for me to conduct myself in such an ill manner. I hope you do not find me to be in contempt of your station,” she said.
Keinah continued to smile and clasped her hands around Aysha’s face. “Great, General Aysha, do not fear me. I am glad to make your acquaintance. Please know that I have not found such a pleasant moment since I departed from my human life. It could not come to me at a better time.”
General Aysha proudly continued their embrace by clasping her hands on Keinah’s face, believing that this was a customary greeting among humans. “Your Grace, if I should be so bold to declare that your beauty and radiance are unmatched in all the realms that I have toured.”
Keinah humbly accepted the compliment before releasing her hold on General Aysha. “Many thanks to you, Great General Aysha. My mother, the Emerald Queen, has told me scores of inspiring details about your accomplishments and your knowledge of countless realms. I can only aspire to be like you,” she said.
General Aysha took her compliments in an equally humbling fashion, though it brought on a spell of inquisitiveness. “May I ask why you have accompanied the Emerald soldiers to the brink of a full-on war?”
Keinah was taken aback by the question but responded with absolute resolve. “I contribute my assistance. I am not an experienced warrior like you, but surely, I can bend a cross-bow and arrow to slay as many enemies that come against us.”
General Ayasha was mesmerized by the simple idea of the Emerald Princess desiring to become a warrior. No other royal member had ever taken such a brazen stance in defending their kingdoms. “What does the Emerald Queen have to say about this?” She further inquired.
Keinah continued, “As you already know, I am not from this realm. The Emerald Queen was gracious enough to adopt me after I perished in my human life. I am not of true royal blood, nor am I a real Emerald clansman. My human life was plagued with all kinds of restraints that kept me from living fully. It is my adoptive mother’s wish that my existence here is the opposite. For me to adapt to my surroundings, I must serve with purpose. If I cannot fight the enemy head-on, I will heal the sick and wounded so that they may do it for me in my stead.”
The light of dawn came bursting over the mountains as Keinah finished her statement. She no longer dazzled with starlight, but the sun’s radiance shined over her and sent beams throughout the Citadel. Everyone bowed in reverence to her latest transformation. Vadiim sent his foot soldiers to escort Keinah to her sleeping chambers. She kissed General Aysha on the cheeks and was whisked away.
At least a hundred dozen of the Diamond clan’s soldiers became disgruntled because of having to transform into a human form and noting that because of Keinah’s transcendent dazzling glow, she was unlike any other human they had heard tales of, let alone encountered. This put Vadiim in a defensive mode. His piercing emerald eyes darted across the room at everyone, as if to dare anyone to challenge him against the Princess’s attendance. The room was smoldering with tension.
General Aysha calmly approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “General Vadiiamonial, it is a great honor to see you once again. It has been far too long since we last stood side by side. I have revered the stories of your valor and strength. Everyone here is proud to be in your presence. So why are you in the least bit ill at ease?” she inquired.
Vadiim relaxed his position and spoke kindly to his comrade-in-arms. “General Aysha, it is always a pleasure to stand with you. On these occasions, I prefer no one else. Your courageous efforts to keep the Diamond clan primely advancing into the future have made you one of the finest legendary legionnaires ever to exist. Surely you know that the Emerald Princess is my main concern for various reasons. I simply cannot afford to allow her undoing. Since we know little to nothing of the state of her existence, I am finding it hard to understand how to keep her fully intact.”
General Aysha took a long pause before declaring, “General Vadiiamonial, you have my sworn oath that no harm shall befall her under my watch!” 
Vadiim embraced Aysha and sighed heavily. “I appreciate your aide, General Aysha, but even you might come to see that the Princess is more than a handful. She is hell-bent on lending her services, much like that of a lower-ranking soldier. I could not change her behavior, nor talk her into knowing her station.”
General Aysha wildly laughed before staring intently at her comrade. “I beg your forgiveness, Sir, but you sound mad at the very least. There is no greater honor than serving your fellows. The humans have been taught this, or at least something to that effect since the earliest days of their existence. We all can learn about the mysteries of your Princess just by observing her actions. She is unlike any human that is known to us. I heard tales of how even the Great Reaper proclaimed her excellence.”
The room fell deathly quiet as General Aysha continued to speak. “Princess Keinah is a divine entity and should not be hidden away from all to bear witness. Her desire to offer service is a part of her divine gifting. Her powerful incantations are passed down from her lineage. Who are we to deny her of her true nature just because she is so unique from any of us? I know she is your eternal mate, but her divine destiny hereafter is too important to squander.” She bowed to apologize for her bluntness.
Vadiim smiled with invigoration and relief. “Arise comrade! You have spoken nothing but the truth. Your candor and wisdom deeply move me. There is no mistake that you truly are the greatest legionnaire ever to exist!”
Every soldier in the room marveled at the exchange of the two legendary generals and applauded loudly for them.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 18

 
 
 
 

Spirited Homage

By the eleventh day, Vadiim felt it was time to move the entourage to the Citadel of Velour, where Lord Bilal had arranged for them to meet. There were no stars that shined that night. Vadiim became frustrated that they could not move in the right direction and chastised the lead scouts as they were lost.
Even the moon was hidden behind the darkest clouds that had ever been seen. The group marched on in the dead of night in misery. Inconsolable suffering loomed over their heads as they trekked onward with no hope in sight. Countless minutes of agony encompassed them. The sickly and wounded honey badgers were picked off by imminent death. The entourage had no choice but to halt their journey to attend to the demands of aiding the helplessly afflicted.
A wicked drizzle of rain poured down from the sky. The seemingly impossible situation became dire by then, as six badgers perished right before their eyes. The remaining badgers grieved amongst each other as their kinsmen could no longer evade the reality of the situation.
The late Chieftain’s sole heir to the clan was a young honey badger called Breonas. He was overwhelmed with rage and grief, as he suddenly found himself thrust into leadership. The Honey Badger clan were merry folk who lived a peaceful way of life. Their world had been thrown into chaos because of the attack on their beloved city. They marched along with Vadiim’s men in somber silence.
Keinah suddenly became heartsick for the Honey Badger clan. She recalled the heaviness of despair that plagued her dreadful human existence. A tear rolled down her cheek as she went to comfort young Breonas and his remaining clan members. Along with the frustration of being lost, Vadiim’s soldiers scowled when she requested the party to halt and allow the Honey Badgers to grieve the loss of their elder chieftain and deceased families.
Vadiim instantly rebuked his men; “Stifle your protests and take heed! The Emerald Princess has commanded we reserve this moment to care for our wounded allies. Though it is not our customary tradition to memorialize those who have perished, we will honor the outstanding efforts of Elder Chieftain Cabrera and the Honey Badger fellows who laid down their lives. Sorrow is a sentiment that Celestials do not contend with, but who better to give testimony than the woman who successfully walked through the gates of Sheol of her own volition?”  
Keinah addressed the camp somberly; “When my grandmother was near the end of her suffering, she spent several days struggling bitterly between the living realm and the afterlife. Finally, the time came where death had won the battle. She took her last breath, and it was such a relief. She had been released from torment to transition into beautiful peace. I have hope in that place. We can all be grateful that our loved ones could depart in the same manner. Though our hearts are laid with heavy grief, we must carry on with eyes pressed towards the prize of victory over our persecutors,” she preached.
After her eulogy, Keinah spoke an eloquent incantation that brought on an enchantment over the entire camp. Suddenly, the moon shined brightly, breaking through the clouds. The North star appeared directly over Keinah’s head. She became a reflected illumination of the millions of dazzling stars in the sky. The scouts were no longer confused or lost. The party made haste towards the Citadel to meet with the awaiting battalions.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 17