Hey guys! Guess what? I'm back! And...Drumroll please...MY BIRTHDAY IS ON JULY 7TH! I'm gonna be old haha. Also, one more thing: I have the results of the poll up on my profile! It is still open for voting, but I think we have a winner. I'll start writing it tomorrow, so get excited~ I know I am~

Starry Skies

By Gold Sparrow

ELEVENTH ARC: Fanalis-Amala

CHAPTER 36: Forgive and Forget

6th Month, Continued…

"Lady Scheherazade!" The attendant calls, quickly rushing down the hallway. He pauses before the priestess, kneeling down onto one knee. The letter is presented to her with both hands, and daintily, Scheherazade lifts it from the messenger.

"Who is it from?"

"I can't say I know, Milady." Scheherazade raises an eyebrow, insinuating with her expression the sheer number of strange letters she receives. Vetting the sender became a necessity after a while; Muu had insisted so that they could scan the death threats she sometimes receives, Scheherazade herself because scanning through the junk mail takes up too much time. The messenger colors, knowing this. "I-I received this by a trusted carrier! I swear it's not the ravings of a lunatic."

"Has Muu read it?"

"No, Lord Alexius is, um…"

"Still crying over his daughter?" The messenger nods. Scheherazade sighs.

"Did she die?" The boy blurts. The High Priestess shakes her head.

"No. She just went on a trip to see her mother."

"O-oh."

"I suppose I won't bother him. Thank you very much."

Scheherazade heads to her office, unrolling the scroll as she goes.

Only to stop dead in the middle of the hallway. Her mouth opens, a quiet 'oh' slipping past her lips. She sighs softly, a touch of a sad smile coating her lips.

"I never thought I'd hear from you again, Aishia Exsos."

Dear Lady Scheherazade,

It's been a while, huh? I hope that you haven't missed me too much. I've certainly missed you; our conversations were always very intriguing, and over the years I've found myself vying for your adventure stories. It's taken much work, but I've finally found a way to get this to you. Don't ask how, it took a lot more elbow grease than I'm proud of. I thought I was more charming than that, you know? But all joking aside, I do have a purpose for this letter.

Scheherazade's eyes open wide as she reads the next line, her softened features turning serious.

Lady Scheherazade, I must ask a great favor.

"Been a while…Catrina."

Catrina gulps.

"Tendaji…" She stands in front of the kitchen table, her hands clutching at it to sooth her wrecked nerves. She has no idea what to say, or what to do. Never in a million years did she expect what just happened to happen- for it to be Tendaji, and not Aishia, to be the one receiving her.

"Where…" She searches for her voice, finding it low in her stomach. "Where is my mother?"

Tendaji keeps staring, but answers after a tense minute,

"Visurbis. She left me here to await you." Catrina's eyebrows knit together.

"What...Are you talking about?" Tendaji raises a brow before lowering it, his frown turning even deeper than beforehand.

"You don't know? Just my luck. Who the hell sent you, then?" The Fanalis-Amala tightens her hold on the table, being mindful not to break it.

"No one. I came myself."

"..." Tendaji says nothing, but his frown lightens somewhat, as if not expecting that to be the case. "You just...Decided to come back?"

"Well it's…" She falters. She is, after all, talking to the boy whose parents she killed. They are both tip-toeing around that for the moment, and she'd like to keep it that way for just a while longer...Until she can get her head together. "It's home...And...I promised Mom I'd come home…"

"...Are things always that simple with you?" The pure-blooded Amala asks her, almost grumbles it. He steps away from his place in front of the door, where he had previously been blocking any chance of exiting. He moves fully into the kitchen, searching through some cupboards. She tenses as he goes, but relaxes once realizing that he's not heading towards her. For a moment she contemplates leaving. The door is unlocked and his back is turned; not to mention that, as a Fanalis, she could be out of the house before he knows she took a single step. Instead, she purses her lips and looks around the house, deciding that just for now, she'll place some faith in him.

The cottage is of a similar layout to her old home- actually, it's so similar that at first she doesn't even remember that her childhood house had burned down. There are only two rooms, the kitchen and the living room, which don't have any separation, making one big rectangle of an entryway. On the left side of the house there is a door leading to her mother's bedroom, and to the right there is a door leading to…

My bedroom.

She feels very nostalgic now, looking around. The furniture is different (because the original burned in the fire), but it retains the comfy, lived-in feel of her original home. The set-up of all of the furniture is exactly the same, and the scent of her mother surrounds her. She breath is in, feeling so much calmer.

Tendaji's telling the truth. Mom really must be in Visubris.

But, strangely, all the curtains on the windows are closed, leaving the cottage in darkness. Catrina carefully takes a seat at the kitchen table, watching Tendaji's every move.

"Why are the curtains all closed?" She asks, curious. The teen looks over his shoulder at her before resuming to- she stares with disbelief- chop up cheese and bread.

"It really sucks that you didn't get the letter," Tendaji mutters, but she's still able to hear every word he says. "I guess I gotta explain everything."

"Explain what?" Tendaji hands her a plate, and she looks down at the food prepared. Cheese and bread with some fresh grapes on the side. Her eyes melt as she looks at it, fondly picking up the bread with mindful hands. It's food from home, and she's missed the distinct taste of her cow's cheese and Amala grapes.

Tendaji sits across from her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I guess I don't gotta explain to you who I am. We're acquainted." His words are dry and make both her eyes and her stomach drop. "But you should know that I've, um…"

Her eyes pick themselves up from her food, looking into his curiously. He turns away, coughing.

"I've been living here with Aishia for around five years now." Catrina's mouth drops in shock. She stands, her chair falling to the floor behind her.

"With Mom?!"

Tendaji, quickly, presses a finger to his lips, urgently motioning to her to sit back down.

"Be quiet! We don't want to get found out!" Catrina tilts her head, still in shock and also unsure of what his words mean. She picks up the chair, sitting back down. "To answer you, yes, with Aishia. She took me in after my parents died." He does not look at her when he says this. Her heart lurches.

Apologize. Now. It's time, do it-

"But I have more important things to discuss than that." He continues on, bulldozing her plans. Her mouth hangs open, and she quickly shuts it. "You're aware of the governing system of the Amala tribe, correct?"

"..." Catrina stares. "I didn't really go to school...And Mom liked talking about magic more than the government."

"Yeah...That seems right." Tendaji sighs, but a small smile plays on his lips. Catrina feels very jealous for a moment before she forces her own feelings down. What Aishia did for Tendaji was an incredible act of kindness...Especially since his parents tried to murder her daughter and her daughter killed his parents. She should not feel jealous of Tendaji for getting close to Aishia while she was gone. "You do know about the three groupings, right?"

"Omega, Beta and Alpha." She repeats. He nods.

"Upon entering school, children are sorted into three groups based on their personalities and strengths. Omegas are chosen by showing traits of gentleness and sensitivity. Betas by intelligence and quick problem-solving skills. Alphas by strength and bravery. Over the course of their time at school, children may appeal to their defined group and switch into a new one after proving that they're meant to be in it."

"Whoa." Catrina leans forward, her chin in her palm. "That's cool. Mom just said I was an Alpha."

"Yeah, you are. Your strength would instantly place you in that grouping."

Catrina's grin splits her face.

"Omegas are in charge of domestic duties and economic regulation. Betas are expected to go into the government and work as administrators or find jobs as lawyers or doctors. Alphas go into the military to refine their necromancer abilities."

Catrina listens intently, even though she already knows most of this information. It's still good to refresh herself though, and who knows, she may find out something new about her tribe.

"No group is above another, and we all act as family." Tendaji seems happy when he says this, lightly smiling at the table. "When one of us hurts, we help them. That's how the Amala tribe is."

"..." The Fanalis-Amala smiles as well...And tries not to think of her childhood, which firmly contradicts his statement.

"The Betas make laws and the Alphas enforce them. The Beta council presents a law to the Elders, which are of mixed groupings, whom debate the law and pass or reject it. That's how the system works, allowing for a peace that hasn't been disrupted in hundreds of years. But that doesn't mean that there are those who haven't tried to break up this system." Tendaji's face sours and hardens. "And...That doesn't mean that someone hasn't."

Lady Scheherazade, I told you, right? About the Amala tribe's government. You had looked at me strangely and asked why we didn't need have King or Emperor. I had responded that the thought to have one didn't even cross our minds. The Amala "Alpha" system has existed for so long even I do not know when it began. Our governing system is so deeply ingrained in our hearts that we have not even thought of other methods of governing as possible. That's why I've always been so amazed by the world outside of our borders; the splendor of Reim's Emperor and the poverty of the lower classes, the advanced societies that flourish and yet still condone slavery.

I believe that, in it's own way, the Amala tribe is very wonderful and unique as well. But that's changed, milady.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking is soft and tentative, but it causes both fifteen year olds to jump. Tendaji cautions her to stay still, before quickly moving to the window. Catrina admires for a moment how his movements are as silent as a ghost's, the only telltale sign of motion being her eyes following him. He moves his index finger between the cracks between the curtains, parting them with the kind of delicacy an elderly noblewoman uses to open a letter. It works, and through only a sliver of a crack, Tendaji is able to peek through to see who's outside. He sighs in relief, moving to the door. The pure-blooded Amala quickly ushers the newcomer in, making Catrina tense up even more. The person who enters stares at her for a moment, shock coating their face. Catrina feels some shock as well.

For one thing, the girl is quite cute. Her hair is long, going all the way to her ankles, like Sheherazade's. But it's not thick like the High Priestess's, instead thin, like Sinbad's. She has it parted on the left, but from there braids flow down her back, mixing with loose strands of black hair. She has tied the locks all back with a white bow, but that doesn't keep her bangs from coating the sides of her delicately shaped face. Her light orange eyes, lined with thick lashes, compliment her tiny, button nose.

So cute!

But still, Catrina freezes up, unsure how to react to the newcomer. This is a member of her family...And Catrina is essentially the black sheep that got exiled to the world outside of these glorified walls-

"Your hair is the color of the sunset!"

Catrina jolts. The girl presses forward, only stopped by the table. Even then, she uses her long, willowy arms to reach over and cup Catrina's face, slipping her fingers beneath the Fanalis's ears to touch the crimson locks. Then she inspects them closely, her eyes glittering with amazement and curiosity.

"I had always thought people were lying when they said that you had crimson hair, but it's true. It's like blood- no, like the sunset on a hot day!" The girl laughs, bewildered but excited. "And your eyes...What a peculiar shape!"

"...Wh...Who are you, miss?" The girl stares for a moment. Behind them, Tendaji burst out into laughter. The girl whips around, her hands fisting.

"It's not funny, Tendaji!"

"It's hilarious!" Tendaji cackles, before hushing himself, remembering their situation. The girl seems to realizes this as well, taking a seat. Her cheeks flush, making her even cuter.

"It's not funny," She repeats, quieter.

"You should just cut your hair already." Tendaji smiles, sitting as well. "Catrina, this is Faraji. He's not a girl."

Catrina colors, cursing her flaws before-

...Fa...Faraji?

"Faraji?" She says aloud, feeling all the blood in her head drain out. Faraji's cheeks lose their color as well, as the gi- boy looks down at his lap.

"A-ah, yes...My name is Faraji the Beta, I am the nephew of Faraji the Omega, who…"

Who I killed.

Catrina sucks in a breath, looking down at her fisted hands. At the moment, she is in the same room as the family of the people she killed. She's sitting across from them, at their mercy, unable to even apologize like she should. Why can't she do something so simple? Why is that so hard, so impossible? She's a murderer, she knows that...If nothing else, she should repent, even though hell will still await her when she dies. Repentance is the only thing that she has to do here...Repentance is the only thing that she can do here, the only thing that she can give her family. After all, they will never want her back, and she will never be accepted by them as long as she lives.

That is my fate, as a monster.

"I'm here to help you!" Catrina startles, staring up at Faraji. He blurts this out, eyes wide and somehow...Desperate. As if wanting her to snap out of whatever stupor she had fallen into.

"W-with what?" She asks, stuttering shyly.

"A-ah…" Faraji looks to Tendaji, confused. The fifteen year old boy rolls his eyes annoyedly.

"She didn't get the letter."

"Oh." Faraji cups his chin, thinking. "I see…I suppose we'll start with the basics."

"I, uh, already know about the government and the three groupings."

"..." Faraji tilts his head curiously. "You didn't before?"

Catrina's cheeks color.

"Oh, right, Aunt Aishia is really vague, huh?"

"...Yes…"

Faraji smiles kindly, appearing even more girlish than before.

"I meant to talk to you about your grandfather."

"My grandfather?" Catrina's eyebrows knit, confusion taking ahold. "Zuberi? I haven't heard that name since...Well, since I was a little kid."

"I knew him before meeting Aishia, but that's because I grew up in Visurbis. General Zuberi Exsos...The strongest Alpha of the military, popular will all the people, and famous for his tactical genius." Tendaji crosses his arms. "Aishia doesn't talk about him...At least, not until a little while ago."

Catrina purses her lips, nodding. Aishia never did talk about Zuberi, except to explain her situation as a child, which wasn't much different from Catrina's. According to Aishia, her mother was an Omega woman whom Zuberi had an affair with but refused to marry. Aishia was born in the Western Omega farmlands like Catrina, and it wasn't until the age of ten that her father recognized her as his legitimate daughter- though that was only because Aishia was turning out to be an Alpha prodigy.

There always seemed to be some bitterness between Aishia and Zuberi, though it was never spoken of aloud. Catrina thinks it's not because Aishia was a bastard, but because Aishia, against Zuberi's wishes, decided to give birth to an outsider's child instead of...Terminating it. Although abortion is expressly forbidden in a tribe that cherishes life due to it's magic. But Catrina doesn't understand how Zuberi factors into whatever it is they're talking about.

"Okay...So Zuberi is somehow involved in...This. What exactly do you want me to do?"

Faraji frowns.

"Catrina...The Amala tribe is in danger."

Lady Scheherazade, the Amala tribe is in danger. We no longer have the "Alpha" government.

My father, Zuberi, has overthrown the government and caused chaos to erupt throughout the land. He has enacted new laws and, through use of the military, scared the people into submission.

Zuberi has become King.

Catrina sits still.

"My...Grandfather…? He's King?"

Tendaji nods solemnly.

Catrina bites her lip, absorbing the information. Sure, all her knowledge about Zuberi is based off of biased, black-tinted stories, but there was seemingly no sign that Zuberi would overthrow the government. She may not have ever met the man, however, from the few tales she heard he seems like a traditionalist rather than a radical.

"But...Why would he do such a thing? It's not as though there was discontent, right? The people all seem happy."

"..." Tendaji opens his mouth before closing it, seemingly trying to decide how to put his thoughts into words. "To be honest...Aishia blames herself."

I blame myself, Lady Scheherazade. I shouldn't have, but I told my father about Reim. I couldn't help it. He showed up at my door one night when Catrina was a baby. He demanded to know more about Catrina's father, so I thought that if I told him, he may be able to help make life easier for Catrina. It was a foolhardy hope to think that I could shape the Amala tribe through my father's influence. But he is a powerful man, General Zuberi Exsos of the Alpha Army, and people listen to him.

I told him about Muu's strength and valor, about the Fanalis. I told him about the nobles of Reim and the Emperor. That was my big mistake. By telling him about the Emperor, I believe, I sewed the first dark seeds into his head. Dark seeds that have blossomed into an evil that's swallowed my tribe whole.

"She can't blame herself for that," Catrina insists, fisting her hands. "If anything...It's my fault. She did it for me…"

"You weren't even alive yet." Faraji comforts her. Still, Catrina sighs. "And I agree, she shouldn't blame herself. But Zuberi did start thinking about kingship…However...It doesn't make sense."

"What doesn't?"

"The timeline. Think about it, it's been over fifteen years since Aishia told him about monarchies in other countries. At the time, he was already popular enough with the people as General of the Army to take over...So why'd he wait? There is no other explanation than an outside force prompted him to."

"An outside source…" The Fanalis-Amala thinks on this. "So you mean, Zuberi was influenced by an outsider into overthrowing the government?"

"Unless he was waiting for you to leave, which is likely," Tendaji throws this into the conversation rather casually, but it makes Catrina gawk.

"Me? Why me?" Tendaji looks at her.

"Catrina, your grandfather is King. That makes you royalty."

"..." Her jaw drops. She cannot speak, her fingers frozen like she dipped them in an icy winter pond. Tendaji sighs laboriously.

"Well, a candidate for his heir at least. He made the title hereditary, meaning only his Alpha children can challenge him for the throne."

"..." Catrina is still speechless. She manages to choke out, "Ch-challenge?"

"To climb the ranks in any layer of Amala civilization, you must challenge the person higher up on the rung than you." Faraji explains helpfully. "If you win the challenge, which is more often than not fighting, you take their position and they take yours. In order to curb this law, Zuberi changed it so only those with his blood can challenge him for the throne."

"...Then why didn't Mom challenge him?" Tendaji leans back.

"She did. First she had to re-enlist in the military and reclaim her title as Head Female Alpha...Then she was able to become General...And after that challenge her half-brothers and half-sisters in order to climb the ranks of succession."

"...I have aunts and uncles?"

"Aishia didn't tell you anything, huh?" Catrina pouts, feeling childishly jealous. Seeing this, the Tendaji raises his hands and rolls his eyes. "She didn't tell me either. I just knew because I grew up in Visubris and my father was friends with them."

"Just continue."

"Fine, fine." He laces his fingers together, elbows on the table. "After that, Aishia was Crown Princess. She challenged Zuberi...She intended to end his reign and reinstate the old order. She was the only one who could possibly do so, because all her siblings were loyal to their father. But she lost the fight and, due to yet another bullshit rule, cannot challenge Zuberi for a whole year."

"..." Catrina's jaw clenches. "That's why she's in Visubris…"

"She's stuck there as Crown Princess." Tendaji confirms. "Which is why we sent out a letter asking for your help."

"My help?"

"Yes. Catrina, I think…" Faraji looks increasingly uncomfortable. "I think it was Zuberi who convinced my uncle and Tendaji's parents to try and kill you."

Catrina pales.

"Wh...What?"

"I've been thinking about- about the timeline. Aishia told Zuberi about your father and the Fanalis, meaning that he knew you were going to be strong. This may not have meant anything until the outside force began to prompt him to become King and he made pre-emptive plans to make the title blood-related." Faraji's face becomes serious, far more serious than it had been all that time. "You may have been ten at the time...He saw how strong you were, and how strong you'd become. Which would be why he convinced my uncle and the others to try to kill you- so that you'd never be able to come back and take away the throne."

"W-wait, you can't be serious." Catrina smiles, but it's full of nerves and disbelief, a quivering half-grin. "There's no way that he...He hired them to murder me…"

"He didn't hire them," Tendaji admits. "He just...Persuaded them. Persuaded my father into persuading the others...I remember as a child listening in to some conversations and not understanding…"

He shakes his head.

"But you escaped. Aishia knew you'd survive one way or the other, but Zuberi had no such thoughts, and believed you were dead. The winter of last year, he staged the coup, and by spring was King."

"...Is he a bad King?"

"...He's selfish." The black-haired boy gets up from the table, beginning to pace. The Beta and the Bird stare as he does so, both intent on listening to his analysis on Zuberi. "He thinks that he was born to become King, and has twisted the tribe according to his beliefs. All the classes used to be equal; now the Omegas are considered the lesser group and the Alphas the highest. The Betas have been stripped of their right to participate in government, the Beta council and the Elder council have both been dissolved. Zuberi's government is made with him at the top, his trusted Generals below, and his favored Alphas and Betas working as administrators. There is unemployment and discontent as Betas are forced to migrate into the Omega businesses, forcing Omegas out."

"He's completely taken away Omega rights."

"He's always had a bias against them." Tendaji bites his lip. "He's also made a rule that Alphas cannot marry those of other classes; only other Alphas. The increasing number of restrictions on personal freedom is alarming, and so far no one is happy with the change except those who benefit…"

"Which is the military." Catrina sighs. "The most powerful body in the tribe."

"Exactly." Tendaji stops pacing, gripping the back of the chair he was using. "That's why we sent the letter. Aishia said she knew someone in Reim who could find you and help you get back here to defeat the King."

The Bird takes a moment to herself, contemplating all she's learned. Not just about the government and Zuberi, but also the truths about what happened five years ago...How Jabari, Dalila and Faraji were persuaded into attacking her. That changes so many things in on itself. If Zuberi never convinced them to do it, would they have ever come in contact with her? Would she have killed them?

I cannot forgive him.

Not one bit. Catrina killed Jabari, Dalila and Faraji, but it was preventable and she cannot forgive him for sending them out to do his dirty work. He was a coward, and she will not forget that.

"I understand now." Catrina stands. "The situation is clear to me. You both and Mom want me to challenge Zuberi, right? If I beat him in a fight, then I can reverse Zuberi's laws and restore the Amala tribe's original government."

"Yes." Faraji looks relieved. "That's right. As Aishia's daughter, you can skip ahead of the other Princes and Princesses and challenge the King right away."

Lady Scheherazade, I must ask you to find my daughter and send her back home. For the reasons I've explained above, there is no one else who can challenge my father. In truth...I would prefer Catrina not to come back. I miss her so dearly, but the world outside of our tribal lands is beautiful and vast and I feel that she must be living a wonderful life exploring it.

But I have no one else to turn to, and I don't think I can wait another year to challenge Zuberi.

No. That's not it.

I don't think the tribe can wait another year for me to challenge Zuberi. There are strange happens going on in Visurbis, rumors of outsiders visiting the King. My father has changed drastically ever since becoming King, and I fear-

"Just...One more thing, Catrina."

"What is it?"

"..." Tendaji reaches across the table and clamps a hand on Catrina's shoulder. "You must defeat Zuberi before the end of the year. Otherwise...Our tribe is going to officially come out of hiding and join a war."

I fear that he's soon going to ally himself with a dark country called Magnostadt. Lady Scheherazade, I need your help.

2 Weeks Later...

It isn't as though the training is physically challenging for Catrina.

It's just that it's so technical.

"Ready?"

"Ah, um...Yes."

"Alright...Start!"

A few clean movements later, and Catrina is flat on her back, her body connecting harshly with the soil. She groans, still unused to the strange feeling of being physically overpowered, and slowly opens her eyes. She's not surprised by losing anymore. It's become more of an frustratingly familiar emotion. That's why she pouts up at Tendaji, whose elbow hovers an inch above her neck, ready to dig in and cut off her air supply.

"Catrina, your physical abilities are amazing...But your martial arts sucks."

"Shut up. Fanalis are born situated toward fist-fighting, so learning new styles is difficult." Tendaji sighs, getting off of her. Instead of instantly reassuming the fighting position to start over, he sits beside her, elbows resting on his bent knees.

"It's pretty amazing. Everything Aunt Aishia told me about you is true."

"...Huh?" Catrina sits up slowly, feeling a little flustered at his words. From the sidelines, Faraji emerges, wearing a cheeky smile.

Mom talked about me.

"Fanalis are super strong. I mean, I knew that already, but you're stronger than when we were children. And it's not like your form of martial arts is bad, an untrained Amala would be down for the count before they know it. Every move you make seems to prove what you said: that you were born fist-fighting. It's completely natural for you." Catrina blushes, feeling somehow praised.

"But…" Faraji gently pries into the conversation, plopping down next to Catrina, "Amala martial arts cancels out your martial arts."

"Cancel out? Well, now that I think of it…" Catrina presses a finger to her chin, remembering the past month of training. The three have been hiding out in the West village together, sneaking out early in the mornings to a secluded, abandoned training lot to practice. Apparently the reason that they stressed silence at the cottage was because Zuberi's spies are everywhere, and it's gotten to the point where Omegas in the farmlands fear to journey to the village anymore. It's a miracle that Catrina wasn't caught by a spy when first arriving and carelessly strolling down the main road.. "...It seems like no matter how I approach you, you have a way to counter…"

Tendaji's been teaching her Amala magic and helping her with her martial arts...Thought every day she's been getting her ass kicked. She never knew just how untrained her magic is.

"The Amala tribe and the Fanalis tribe used to be rivals."

"Really?!" Catrina perks up, excited. Tendaji flinches back, surprised by Catrina's sudden enthusiasm.

"Chill," He cautions, frowning. "At least, that's Faraji's theory."

"...Oh." Catrina sighs, disappointed.

"You could try not to react that way, either," Faraji grumbles, now the one pouting. Then he straightens, ready to hypothesize with them. "There's an old story about the creation of our martial arts. They say that the ancient Amalas created it to contend with fighting style of their rival clan, a clan that held superior strength and skill. Once the Amalas developed the art, they were able to finally compete with their rivals. I've been thinking, since the Amala martial art seems to be the only thing Tendaji can use to defend against you, that must mean that the rival clan was the Fanalis, right?"

"...Whoa…" Catrina smiles. "That's cool."

"Thanks." Faraji beams, wrapping his arms around his knees.

"But I don't get it. Why is Ten always able to beat me?"

"Don't call me Ten." Catrina continues like she didn't hear that comment.

"He's weaker and slower. And yet I'm always the one who ends up down for the count."

"Well-"

"It's simple." Tendaji interrupts. He holds up a finger, smirking. "It's balance."

...Balance…?

Catrina sits cross-legged, turning her full attention to Tendaji. The older boy continues to smugly smirk, acting calm and collected despite his arrogant grin. Catrina's palm itches to smack him.

"Yeah, balance. It's true that you are superior physically. But in order to have such a great advantage over my head, you have to sacrifice balance."

"But I don't trip when I fight." Catrina points out, frowning. "And I never feel like I'm going to fall."

"That's because, when you're fighting, you're changing your center of balance constantly. Let's say that an opponent threw you against a slanted hill. When you hit the hill, you instantly try to jump back at him." Tendaji leans back on his hands, closing his eyes to imagine the analogy himself. "Even though you're sideways when you hit the hill, it doesn't factor into your planning to propel yourself back at the enemy, right?"

"...No. I guess not, huh?"

"That's because, as a Fanalis, you're unconsciously shifting your weight and balance. By focusing your weight toward the hill, you are already prepared to jump back without a problem."

"...There are many things I seem to be doing unconsciously…"

"Yeah, you're right. It's a lot like how you are managing your magoi." Faraji points out helpfully.

"But then how can Ten- ("Don't call me Ten.") -throw me off balance?"

"The Amala style is the art of counterbalance." Tendaji says, as if a professional on the subject. Considering that his martial arts are superior to Catrina's, she supposes that in comparison he is a professional. "We read the movements of our opponent and shift our weight so we're opposite of them. By doing this, we can hit unguarded points of their body to knock them off balance."

"Oooooh." Catrina claps her hands together. "That's why you always hook your ankle behind my knee!"

"Yeah, cause you always leave your knee open."

"Hey!"

Now Tendaji stands, cracking his back.

"That's a long enough break. You won't be able to beat Zuberi at this rate. Let's go, Cat."

Catrina smiles.

"Hey, Tendaji…"

"Yeah?"

"Don't call me Cat."

"Oh, HA HA."

Catrina has met and befriended many people in her life. People like Eren, who are strong and surprisingly gentle. People like Centola, who are sweet yet brilliant. People like Bad, who are sly but secretly very fragile. But never, in nearly sixteen years, has Catrina ever met a person quite like Tendaji.

Why? Well, for one thing, she has never felt such an intense rivalry with a started simply: Tendaji offered to sleep on the couch. That's all well and good, but it was Catrina's realization that her room was actually his room that caused the first hints of jealousy pop up. From there, it blossomed like an ugly weed.

Catrina is not a petty person. She does not mind sharing, she never has, and deeply cares for the people around her; she thinks that her experiences up until now have proved that. But she has a weakness, which is her mother. The Fanalis-Amala would've saved the Amala tribe from their current power struggle even if Aishia wasn't involved, but it's ultimately Aishia's presence motivating her so deeply. Aishia is Catrina's role-model and precious person all in one. Which is why Catrina really thinks of herself from being silly when she feels jealous that Tendaji has grown very close to her.

Of course it's only natural to feel jealous when other children appear to become more close to your mother than you are, Catrina understands that. But she can't put that thinking to use when Tendaji's recalling a "fun fact" about Aishia that she didn't know or some awesome story that Aishia told him about that she never told Catrina.

Maybe she's just being stupid. It's just...For her first ten years as "Catrina", her only friend was Aishia. The only person who cared about her and for her was Aishia. The person who taught her how to smile again and how to love again was Aishia. So seeing someone else be so close, possibly even closer than her, to the person most important to her is...Sucky. Really, really sucky. Which is why, like a spoiled child, Catrina has been brooding about this fact and silently staring at Tendaji for long periods of time- which makes the boy oddly uncomfortable.

The worst thing about Tendaji is that he isn't notice Catrina's jealousy. He's the type of person who, like Asad, has the ability to remain looking cool and collected during every situation. He doesn't let his emotions show, but can be quite cocky, letting out simpers and quiet, snide comments. He's especially this way when Faraji's around, letting a sharp-toothed smirk dominate his features. But when it's just him and Catrina at night, he shuts down. She supposes she should be thankful he's not a flirt like Asad, not that she has the ability to tell the difference between flirting and pleasant conversation. Still, she sometimes senses his discomfort during dinner, when she's telling a story about Reim or Sindria or her adventurous stay in Balbadd. He listens intently, interested in the outside world, but also unsure of how to ask her questions about things. Sometimes he can say or do nice acts, but he always seems so awkward when doing them, as if…

As if he's afraid that I won't receive it well.

And that perpetuates her burning sense of rivalry, as if he added another log to the fire. Catrina has decided: she is going to beat Tendaji. In Necromancy, in martial arts, in everything. He is her designated rival, and while it will be a challenge, there is simply no way that she'll bend to his will. As they sit down for dinner and she continues to look at him over her bowl of soup, she makes a vow.

I will surpass you.

Tendaji clears his throat.

"Hey, uh, Catrina. Could you...Maybe not keep staring at me?"

7th Month…

Scheherazade's foot taps impatiently against the floor, and action that is very unusual for the generally patient women. She tries everything: watching the Rukh, reading a book, working...But she can't get her mind off of Aishia's letter...Or her own response.

The answer is supposed to be coming soon, and Scheherazade is feeling increasing pressure to know the Amala's decision soon. After all, Sinbad has been sending many, many letters to her recently. It started around the time when Catrina arrived in Remano. Innocent letters, little things like, I've read the reports, and I'm glad to see our trade is flourishing and Perhaps next time I come to Remano we can sit down for tea.

But soon the letters became more numerous and more detailed. The innocent subjects he brought up soon led to things like Kou seems to be inching closer to Magnostadt and the Seven Seas Alliance is always accepting members, if not friends. Scheherazade knows what he's doing, and she knows that if she does nothing, it'll swallow her up. Kou is zoning in on Magnostadt, which means that a war between the Empires is imminent. Reim isn't just trying to swallow up Magnostadt for territorial purposes, but because should that stronghold of magical knowledge and seaports falls into Kou's hands, bringing war to Reim's shores is a likely possibility- something that hasn't happened in two hundred years.

Kou is the largest Empire in the world at the moment. Sinbad's SSA, if one disregards the Kings other than him, is the only Empire left that has the manpower and territory to counter-balance Kou. Scheherazade is proud of her Reim, and truly does think it's the greatest Empire Pernadius or anyone could've built, but...She'd have to be naive and/or stupid to say that Reim can fight Kou alone and win. That's not going to happen, no matter the fact that their soldiers have experience and their technology has surpassed other countries in the creation of the airship and the bomb. The High Priestess has to think realistically.

One: Win Magnostadt. Should she win Magnostadt, she'll have the magic capital of the world at her beck and call. That advantage alone should give her the upper hand against Kou while keeping the warfare out of Reim. But considering Kou's "monster army" (as Nerva so kindly puts it), it's possible that Kou already at the level of Magnostadt, which means that winning Magnostadt will be vital in order to fight on a magical-scale with Kou. Still, the war would be long and bloody and she'd need to find more Dungeon Capturers who can learn to harness their magic in a short amount of time. She's been thinking about that predicament, and has come up with possible candidates, but doesn't know if that will be enough...And Kou is bound to realize her actions through Judal once she starts summoning Dungeons.

Two: Ceed Magnostadt. It's painful, but if she were to let go of Magnostadt completely, then she'd be able to keep her armies prepared to fight against the larger threat instead of wasting energy on Magnostadt. If she can launch attacks on their harbors first- like Balbadd and Magnostadt- then maybe she can get the peoples there to revolt with her. And, as history proves, once one revolt starts, it spreads. Plus, it would keep the war out of Reim for at least the beginning. Though, the promise of the beginning isn't enough, and she can't pretend like she doesn't know that a war against Kou alone is one she can win. Which leads to the next few options…

Three: Join the SSA. Or, at least forming a coalition with them. That alone will boost the power of the SSA against Kou by the entire landmass of Reim, leading to a large upper hand against them. Should Scheherazade play her cards right, the pressure will be shifted onto Sinbad's shoulders, and the SSA territories will be where the war is fought, and not on Reim soil. Withal, joining with the SSA means bending to Sinbad's will in order to survive, and Scheherazade's not sure she wants her Empire to be sucked up into his...Not to mention that Reim's nobles will ultimately backlash against the necessary reforms to meet the SSA's standards.

Four: Join Kou. Scheherazade scoffs. Like that's ever going to happen...At least, not while she lives and breathes. Perhaps she can somehow use the SSA and Kou's obvious rivalry to her advantage...She could make promises to underhanded King Sinbad but have friendly relations with intolerant Prince Kouen, pitting the two powerful men against one another while trying to win Reim's allegiance. However, eventually one will outdo the other, and claim the prize of controlling Reim- or at least gaining another ally.

Scheherazade sighs, standing from her seat. She begins to pace, deciding to get out her energy through exercise. The problem with the options and plans she's created so far is that there is a "but" to all of them. There is a drawback that keeps Reim from truly winning, because in all of the options, there is no way for Reim to win. Reim is powerful. If only pitted against Magnostadt, then they would be able to find some strategy to win the war quickly and efficiently. Really, a war against Magnostadt would last a few weeks at most- Matal Mogamett would have no way of holding out for any longer than that. Reim, on the other hand, has proven their tolerance for warfare by the long and numerous wars with Partevia.

Yes, Reim is powerful. But not powerful enough. That's what counts, and that's the reality they're now facing as a country.

Unless.

Scheherazade pauses.

Yes, there is one exception. Reim could win, but it would mean utilizing an option that only just came into view; an option that relies entirely on the joint alliance between Scheherazade and the Impossibilities. It's risky to try and claim the power of the Impossibilities, the power to change fate as she knows it.

But Scheherazade is sick of "buts".

The exception: Allying Reim with the Amala tribe.

Summertime.

Vaguely Catrina remembers that in Alice's world, this month would be titled "July", and there would be a big festival- er, holiday- where people celebrated...What was it? Red, white and blue. Independence. Oh, America's birthday. She had actually liked that day. The nurses brought in flags to Alice's room and she watched parades on TV. It was nice.

But in the Amala tribe…

God, is summer beautiful.

She's forbidden by Faraji and Tendaji to show her face, but their abandoned training ground is at the top of a giant hill lathered with lush, tall trees, and it gives her enough coverage to sit in the shade with her hood up and just watch. The sunlight does not blind nor overpower, but lavishes the crops with tenderness, as if scooping up yellow-white light to pour onto thirsty plants. She watches the Omega farmers emerge from their cottages, lugging hoes and shovels out into their crops. They rush to the soil like bees to honey, instantly diving into the work for the day. They weed and plant and pull out the ripe harvests, wiping their sweaty faces on tiny towels. Then they annoyedly look at some farmers, yelling, you're not doing that right!

Catrina tilts her head. Those in the fields are adults, sans the children who work in the summer. All of them seem to know what they're doing...At least, half of them do. The other half look frustrated and bored, unsure of what they're even doing, as if they weren't born in the farmlands-

"There is unemployment and discontent as Betas are forced to migrate into the Omega businesses, forcing Omegas out."

...And now Omegas are migrating into the farmlands.

Another part of Zuberi's unfortunate method of rule, no doubt. Considering his bias, he must think that Omegas are meant to live as farmers instead of artisans, peasants and laborers instead of businessmen. His small mindedness is why so many Omegas have been forced to move in with their family in the farmland and take up a hoe...Only, they don't instinctively know how to farm. Which places an even greater burden on their relatives hosting them, who now have extra mouths to feed.

Catrina's hands fist.

It's wrong.

In general, Catrina believes people should be given the choice to chose what they should be. Putting aside her obvious disagreement with the grouping system, what Zuberi's doing is completely wrong. By messing with the status quo, he's intentionally brought a raise in unemployment and homelessness- two things that were virtually unknown to the tribe beforehand. Whereas equality and openness used to rule the Amala tribe, now injustice and secrecy does.

Catrina knows for sure now that she needs to defeat Zuberi. No matter the cost, there is no way she can continue letting such blatant abuse of power spread throughout her homeland and infect her people. She has to stand up for those who cannot, and use her own strength to defeat the King. If for not for this sick disruption of peace, then for her mother, whom she dearly misses...There is nothing more painful than not being able to go see Aishia, especially when she's so close. But if Catrina were to go to Visurbis now, she'd undoubtedly be seen, and Zuberi would be alerted to the fact that she's coming after him.

And, as Faraji continues to tell her, he's planning a much more interesting entrance than that-

"Hello there."

Catrina looks to the side, smiling.

"Speak of the devil and he shall come," She jokes as Faraji sits by her side, cross legged. He reaches up and undoes the white ribbon holding back his hair, letting the thin wisps of black hair and silky-looking braids fall over his shoulders and into his lap. Catrina wishes she is as cute as Faraji. It doesn't help that Faraji wears lace and bows. He wears a white button down shirt with lace on the cuffs, and at the collar he has tied a silky purple bow, along with a black vest. His pants are black and appear normal, but his boots are brown, shiny, and make her feel envious. She knows that it's normal for Betas to wear such "proper" clothing, but...He just looks so girly. Especially with how his hair makes pretty circles in his lap.

...Am I 100% certain he's female? I mean, it's not like I checked for myself.

Of course, Faraji the Omega looked like a female the night she met him too...Which was the night of the fire. She learned of his gender by punching him, regretting punching a woman, and then hearing a low, definitely male groan coming from him. This was, of course, before she stabbed with him a bone shard.

...Way to dampen your own spirit, Cat…

"My mother named me after my uncle."

"...I assumed that." Catrina laughs a bit, trying to lighten the mood. But for some reason, it feels somber, heavy. Faraji lifts his eyes to the sky, playing with a braid.

"My uncle never married. He had offers from Betas and Alphas and other Omegas, but he rejected them all. I didn't know why. I always asked him, 'don't you want to fall in love?' and he'd respond, 'I already have. With a girl who liked my hair'." Catrina listens, mesmerized by the tale. "That was the thing, you know, that troubled him. I don't know why he kept his hair so long. It was lame, really. He was teased about it all his life, and all his suitors asked him if he'd cut it. He always said no…" Faraji sadly looks at Catrina, his eyes watering. "I think that he loved Aishia, you know? I think he loved her because she was the first person to say, 'your hair is pretty'."

The Bird lowers her head, laying her forehead against her knees.

"F-Faraji…"

"He loved her so much that he let Jabari date her. He loved her so much that he listened to all her problems. He loved her so much that he helped her leave the barrier." Catrina's shivering now. Faraji keeps going. "W-when, when I heard what he did...I-I didn't believe it. Because he loved Aishia. There was no way that he would've done such a thing to her, y-you know? A-and…"

Faraji sniffles, pausing. He pauses for a long minute, a full sixty seconds. Catrina knows because she counts it, trying to focus on anything else other than the fact that she killed him. She murdered this nice boy's uncle.

Quietly,

"And then I heard about you for the first time, Catrina."

"...Who told you?"

"My mother. She wouldn't stop crying, for hours...For days." Faraji wipes his nose, she can tell by the sound of cloth against skin. "She said, 'the bloody-haired demon killed my brother…'. But then...My father said, sick of weeks of listening to her sobbing, 'your brother tried to kill a child'."

Catrina's head snaps up at that.

Her eyes meet Faraji's, and for the first time since the conversation started, they can see one another's tears.

Faraji takes a shuttering breath.

"And that's when I realized that my uncle tried to kill someone three years younger than me." Faraji reaches out, his hand grasping her own. "That's when I realized that I didn't know you. I didn't know you at all. I can't say that I didn't hate you for a while, Catrina. Because I did. But when I started visiting Aishia, and hearing stories about you, I began to-"

He coughs, wiping his face.

"-To know you better. And I began to wonder, 'would she like me?' and 'is her hair really crimson?' and 'would we have been friends?'." Faraji sniffles some more, looking sadder and sadder as the seconds pass. "I started hating myself for not giving you a chance before the fire. I started hating my uncle for making Aunt Aishia cry when she thought I was asleep beside Tendaji on the couch. I started hating everyone in the tribe who still referred to you as 'the Sharp Tongue'."

Catrina barks out a laugh at the old nickname. It was gained through her biting insults directed at the village kids who bullied her. Faraji chuckles a little too, scooping handfuls of his bangs out of his face as they look down at the farmlands together.

"I didn't know what to do with all that hate. I was so frustrated. So Aishia told me one day, 'Faraji, if you really want forgiveness, then channel that hatred into something better. Channel it into changing this tribe into the kind of place that will make Catrina want to come back'."

Faraji squeezes her hand, kindly.

"So that's what I did. I talked to people. I fought with people. I understood others and helped them understand me." Faraji wipes his nose again, smiling weakly. "I helped them understand you."

"...No." Catrina pulls back sharply. Faraji rears back in surprise, watching her stand. "No. That's wrong."

"What-?"

"I murdered him." Catrina whispers. She presses hands over her eyes, trying not to quiver as badly as she is. "I murdered him. I'm a monster."

"No, you're not." Faraji argues, standing as well. Comfortingly, he puts a hand on her shoulder. "Catrina, you were just scared and cornered-"

"There was another way!" The Fanalis shrugs him off, stepping back. "I didn't have to kill him. I was just too stupid to know that."

"Ca-"

"I deserve to be called the Sharp Tongue. I deserve to be called the bloody-haired demon." She bites her lip hard. "Because that's what I am."

"That's not true. You're a person, just like me."

Now. Before it's too late.

"Faraji…" Catrina removes her hands, letting the sobs roll forth. "I'm sorry."

Faraji stills, his hand outstretched. She cries, her shaking knees pressing together.

"I'm sorry I killed him. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I-I thought about him everyday, you know. I thought about him whenever I saw something new. I thought, 'I wish I could show you all this'. What I did is inexcusable. You do-on't have to try a-and explain it. You can hate me."

"But the thing is…" Faraji reaches forward, grabbing her hands. "The thing is, Catrina, that I can't anymore. I can't."

"But-"

"I forgive you."

Life isn't fair.

That's just a universal fact that spreads throughout all dimensions and all planes. Where there is life, there will always be a certain degree of unfairness that keep the world turning. Alice suffered from it, spending seven years with a loving family and then seven more alone and sick before she died. Catrina suffered from it as well, having been born with a burden based on the way she looked. But for things to be judged unfair, sometimes there needs to be justice.

As Catrina squeezes Faraji's hand, mindful not to break it, she hesitantly accepts her first gift of fairness.

"Ah, Catrina! Thank God you're here. We have much to discuss."

Catrina opens her eyes to a strange forest of silver and red. While no longer surprised by Kalapini's dream world, Catrina does still find herself admiring the creativity and detail of it. Such a forest must've been constructed with focus and care, should what Catrina's heard about Kalapini's- or, she supposes, Dream's- problems with her magic be true.

Catrina sits up, and immediately accepts a hug/tackle from Bad.

"Oh, sis!" Catrina murmurs, hugging the child close. "I miss you more and more every day."

"I fear this is just a hallucination," Bad sighs, laboriously rubbing her muscles in order to relax into Catrina's embrace. "My days are long and strainuous, Cat."

"I'm sorry, Bad girl," Catrina cooes, holding Bad tighter.

"Ahem." From the side, Centola lightly reminds them that she's there, smiling a bit. Catrina smiles back, noting that the older girl looks somewhat drained...At least, she thinks. It can be hard to tell what Centola's feeling, especially since the Temptress hardly lets anything past her mask of gentle beauty now a-days. "I believe we can catch up later?"

"True." Catrina agrees, laughing. Centola sits on the grass beside them, patting down her dress.

"Forgive me, Catrina. We've been trying to give you less to worry about because of the problems with your grandfather, but we have a progress report." Centola informs her, tucking a stray, wavy lock behind her ear. She looks more serious now, though her eyes take on an almost sad quality.

It must be because her eyes make her look so calm and patient. They can't make her look solemn well.

A sigh.

"Asad has been ambushed by Al Thamen."

Catrina's jaw drops, but quickly she closes it again, understanding.

"Well...He was a mole."

"No, I mean they tried to kill him." Catrina stares at Centola before closing her eyes and breathing calmly.

"I'm still not that surprised...But killing him? Why? Wouldn't they have wanted to try and force him back into their ranks?"

"You don't really know the whole story, Cat." Centola informs her, hands lacing together in her lap. "Al Thamen forced Asad out of Al Thamen. I'm sorry I didn't tell you the full version earlier, but you seemed busy with Zuberi, so I'll tell you now-"

"I can tell you why they want to kill him," Bad interrupts sourly, her lips curling downwards in an unforgiving frown. "Because that woman betrayed him."

"Gyokuen?" Catrina ventures, worriedly stroking Bad's hair. Usually the young child doesn't look so menacing, so angry. Catrina's not sure she's ever seen her look this way, like she's ready to kill and is barely restrained by her own conscience.

Centola looks at Bad cautiously before shaking her head.

"No. I know who you mean, Bad, though I didn't know she was the one behind this series of events."

"Who?" Catrina asks, eyebrows knitting. Someone she doesn't trust from Kou...Someone she doesn't trust from Kou-

Ding.

Now Catrina's jaw drops and stays dropped. Centola sighs. Bad growls,

"Who else? It was Hakuei."

8th Month...

Dear Lady Scheherazade,

I have thought over your proposal.

"I'm not sure about this."

"Yes, but I am, so we're doing it."

Catrina huffs, glaring through the shadows at Tendaji.

"Yes, I understand that. But I'm really not sure about this." Tendaji replies with a sharp-toothed grin, looking as sweet as a shark.

"But I really am." Catrina pouts, and holds out a hand to stop them from moving any farther through the back-alleyways. While the village doesn't have many of them, there is still one route that Faraji has helpfully planned out to get them to their intended destination without being spotted by any members of the village.

"Tonight is-" Catrina lowers her voice, wincing at the loudness of it. She looks off to the side, where the main street can be seen between a crack between buildings. There, children skip through the streets with parents as music drifts through the town. Bright lights are hung on every available post, leaving the alleys in total darkness. Laughter rings in her ears, and she smells the traditional blackberry cakes made every year for this particular festival. Catrina sighs, continuing in a whisper, "Tonight is the first night of the Ekundu Mwezi festival, dummies. Why are we even here? Where are we going?"

Faraji and Tendaji exchange a look.

"It'll better if you just keep calm and let us navigate." Faraji tries to sooth her. Unfortunately, Catrina is not in the mood to be soothed. She turns fully to Tendaji, facing her rival.

"Tell me." She says, eyes flashing in the lights. "Tell me now, Tendaji. I'm not a pawn in this. I'm freeing the tribe because that's what I want to do; so please, tell me where are we going."

Tendaji's eyes, half light orange, half dark, stare into her own. It feels like he's piercing straight into her soul, inspecting the validity of her statement in the same way that her father studies men who approach her. Scanning for strength, nobility, and pure intentions. Of course, when Tendaji sees those things in her, he leans back with something like respect in his face...Whereas Muu would still promptly beat the crap out of any man regardless of what he sees in them.

"Alright." Tendaji says, nodding. Faraji looks to him in alarm, eyes widening.

"Tendaji, we agreed-"

"I know. But Catrina has a point. If she's completely shocked up there, everyone will know something's up."

"...Up there?" Catrina murmurs, tilting her head to the side. Faraji purses his lips, breathing heavily through his nose.

"I suppose you're right," Faraji conceedes, exhaling. "But we did agree that she's able to reign in her emotions most easily when confronted with shock directly."

"What?" The Fanalis-Amala asks, wrinkling her nose. "How does that make sense?"

Ignoring her comment, the two turn to face their third companion, looking serious.

"Catrina," Tendaji starts, glancing at the festival-goers outside the alley. "We've taken you here in order to begin our siege on Zuberi."

Catrina suddenly feels faint as all of the blood rushes out of her head.

"...T-tonight? I'm fighting him tonight?"

"No, no, no!" Faraji quickly corrects her, laughing a little. "Remember what we told you about matches?"

"To take the position of one's superior, one must beat them in a challenge."

"Exactly. Technically you're not a legitimate heir yet, just a candidate. You must first follow Aishia's footsteps. Then, since your mother is Crown Princess, you automatically will be in place to challenge Zuberi."

"...Wait."

"What?"

"So…If I have to follow Mom's footsteps in order to challenge Zuberi…" Catrina looks just slightly mortified. "Are we going to enlist in the army?"

Catrina really should've expected the answer to be yes.

It's just that she had forgotten about the Ekundu Mwezi festival. In her memories, the only parts she recalls crystal clear was the pure joy of being allowed to enjoy a festival with her tribe. Because of her hard work in the fields over the summer and the carefree nature of the holiday, her family allowed her to join in the week-long festival. She remembers how happy she was, running through the streets and getting to play games with the other children. And she remembers how happy her mother was, laughing with other mothers who usually scorned her.

There was also this lovely face-painting booth, where village ladies painted skulls onto the faces of the festival goers. Though Catrina usually was fearful of the booth since she thought that the women may paint something awful on her face, her mother once persuaded her to do it with her, and they got matching half-skulls painted around their eyes. Her mother's was in black and orange, and her's was in black and purple, both sharing flower patterns in the designs. That was an amazing time. She never felt so loved than at that festival, where people seemed to magically forget that her hair wasn't as black as a raven's wing.

But there is more to the Ekundu Mwezi festival. It is the festival that celebrates Amala history, tradition, and culture. And what more famous a combination of the three than the first two nights of the festival, centering on their famous Alpha system. By this, she means the legendary enlisting ceremony. Alpha warriors who've come to age congregate in the center of the village, together with their families and the Chief of the Village (In this instance, the Chief is an Omega who has somehow managed to keep his position despite the quickly vanishing rights Omegas have). From there, the Chief calls for nominations for the Alpha warrior army.

One by one, the father or mother (depending on which one has more Alpha ancestry) calls out the nomination for their child who wishes to enlist. The young Alpha is then brought to the stage and looked upon by the Head, who calls for a second nomination, preferably from a Beta. Hopefully a Beta in the audience speaks up, or else an Omega will call out a nomination. The significance of asking for a Beta's recommendation is to signify bringing in all three grouping into the ceremony, and also to draw upon the knowledge and wisdom Betas are famous for. Thus, the logic goes that if a Beta recommends an Alpha, they are seen as a wise choice.

It's sometimes gossiped about that Alphas without a Beta recommendation are often scorned in the military until they manage to prove themselves. It's also well known that an Alpha who drops out of the military without serving at least five years is considered a dishonor to their village for making the Chief Omega go to the trouble of enlisting him in the first place. The whole ceremony itself is a prestigious, sacred one.

One that Catrina never thought that she'd have to go through...Until now. Quivering in her boots at the back of the crowd, Catrina tries to breath easy. She's obscured from view by a heavy cloak so that no one can see her red hair, and is also tucked away in the very entrance to the alley, so that she can escape should the need arise...Not that she knows where she'd run. Sure, she could easily outrun anyone in this village. It's not like they have the same magic tool Ryuji used. But if Catrina were to run again, the only place to escape is through the barrier...And Catrina doesn't want to leave again. Not after coming this far, and facing this much.

She made a promise to her mother that she'd see her again. The reminder of that promise is what makes Catrina not only stop shaking, but straighten. Even though she's about to reveal herself not only to her tribe again, but also alert Zuberi of her status, she can't give up. Shaking isn't going to do any good, not after she promised to defeat the King and remove the false crown from his head.

Have courage. Have more courage than you've ever had before.

The center of the town is shaped as a square, with festival stalls lined up on every street except for the one that is blocked by a stage made of bone. Above the stage, hanging from a tree beside it, a bone chandelier glows with orange light- light of their necromancer magic. A ramp leading up to the stage is also made of bone, and fires are lit all around the stage, which flicker in a ominous ways. It makes Catrina want to shiver again, worrying that the stage will catch fire and she'll burn. But then she calms down once more, reminding herself that the stage is bone- meaning that it can't catch fire unless directly in fire.

"It's starting!" A little girl to her left squeals, startling her. The child grabs her father, holding him tight around the knees. "Daddy, lift me up!" The father chuckles and does so, setting the girl on his shoulders.

From the left-most street, a procession comes through like a parade. An older man- the Chief of the village- comes through, skeletal dogs walking at his heels. Catrina finds herself in awe. She had never thought of summoning animals with her magic, though assumes it's an easy task. It's interesting to see how the bone-dogs trot beside their master faithfully, even though the Chief seems a wee bit tired from his use of magic. Omegas are chosen by showing traits of gentleness and sensitivity, but also because of their lack of skill or ability to use Amala magic. All children learn the basics of Amala magic, but Betas and Omegas aren't required to nurture it any further than that.

The Chief appears in fine robes of black, orange and purple. Colors of the Amala tribe: orange and black signifying their race's natural hair and eye colors, purple revered as the color of life. Which explains why there are so many banners strung throughout the village with purple fabric. The Chief makes his way onto the stage, before turning to face the assembled crowd.

"Is all who wish to participate in the enlisting here?" He calls. A large wave of 'yes!' echos through the town square. Nodding seriously, the Chief proudly looks upon his people. "Very well. We shall begin!"

First the Chief, as per the ceremonial traditions, recites the tale of the Amala tribe. He describes their decision to erect barriers protecting them from the outside, and how they've lived in peace for hundreds of years since. Then he motions to crowd to come closer, which they promptly do.

"And now, let us commence the enlisting ceremony! All praise the Alpha military!" Although the rest of the speech was done with gusto, the Chief displays obvious discomfort and distaste when saying this final line. The crowd, likewise, doesn't cheer as loudly. "Who shall go first?"

There is quiet as everyone searches the crowd, waiting for a sponsor to appear.

Don't be afraid Catrina. This is something only you can do.

Catrina closes her eyes and breathes in deeply. Up in the front of the crowd, Tendaji steps forward boldly, looking up at the Chief. The older man's eyes widen, before he calls,

"Tendaji? You're here?" Tendaji nods, wryly smiling. "Here we all thought you returned to the army."

"I came back for an important job." Tendaji responds. "Chief, I have a nomination for the military."

Murmurs race through the crowd, everyone wondering about who he could possibly want to nominate. Him, Tendaji, someone notoriously close to Aishia, who challenged the King and nearly won. The child atop her father's head in front of Catrina wonders aloud,

"I thought I saw Tendaji a few weeks ago."

The Chief raises his hands, calming the crowd. Then he motions to Tendaji to take the floor and announce his candidate.

"Chief," Tendaji says, looking unwavering in front of the crowd. He isn't afraid at all. "My candidate is Catrina Exsos!"

A collective gasp in the crowd.

"Daddy, isn't that the girl who-?" Catrina steps past the little girl and her father, looking up at the child. The girl looks at her, her eyes widening as she stops talking altogether. Catrina continues to go forward, gently pushing people out of the way. Shocked beyond belief, the villagers step back until they form pathway for her to follow. The Chief doesn't stop staring at her, his face paling. Likewise, whispers start to raise up, Amalas shocked to see the return of someone they thought was dead.

Catrina stops walking once she's next to Tendaji. Slowly she reaches up and removes her hood, before letting the cloak fall from her shoulders. The murmurs grow louder upon the reveal of her red hair- children looking up at her with awe at seeing something they've never seen before. Catrina lowers her head before lifting her face to the Chief, eyes blazing with all the courage she has- even though her knees shake a little.

"My name is Catrina Exsos Alexius." She announces, voice unwavering. "I am the daughter of Aishia Exsos. I wish to enlist in the Alpha military."

"Ca...Trina…" The Chief repeats, not even trying to appear anything less than genuinely shocked. "Everyone thought...That you were dead…"

"I am not dead." She says, loudly. She says this to her kinsman around her, who look faint. The Bird makes a slow circle so she can face every part of the crowd, before facing them fully. "I am here, alive. I've returned from outside the barriers, where I encountered many amazing things and took on indescribable adventures. I've returned because I see my people suffering."

Her knees start to shake worse, but she is able to keep her voice loud, crisp and calm.

Have courage, even though a thousand eyes just like yours are looking at you.

"My grandfather, Zuberi, has done something detestable. He has made it seem wrong to treat one another as equals; he has broken our bonds of family and trust by erecting barriers of hatred to keep us apart. I know what it is like to be hated by family." She doesn't try to be subtle with the way she looks at those assembled, who look away, as if ashamed. "I cannot stand by while my own kin forces this upon my family; much how my mother couldn't. But, I promise you all this:"

Catrina breathes in deeply, before turning back to the Chief. She walks up the ramp and turns back again so that she can be seen by every Amala- every man, woman and child. Her words are meant for all of her people, all of her family. Even if they despise her, or throw her to the wolves, she will never give up on them.

Because I forgive them.

She prepares herself to deliver this final message.

Her knees stop shaking.

"Omegas, Betas, Alphas! I will not fail you!" She throws her right hand out, grasping her heart with her left. "Even if you despise me, at least tolerate me until I can free you. I will defeat King Zuberi. And should you still not believe in what I'm saying…"

Catrina looks into the eyes of everyone she can, trying to communicate with her entire heart that she's speaking the truth.

"Then believe in this." Catrina lifts her chin proudly. "Family does not hurt family."

There is silence, and Catrina doesn't know where to look. She can't decide, and can't linger long enough to determine what the reaction to her speech has been. That is, she can't until a hand firmly grasps her shoulder. She gasps, turning to the person.

It's the Chief.

He's smiling at her.

A slow clap. She turns back to the villagers, as more and more begin to clap. The momentum begins to pick up, until there are hoots and hollers and cheering all for her. Her mouth goes dry.

"W-why?" She asks aloud, blinking in shock. "I-I don't understand."

"They know you speak the truth, like your mother before you." The Chief answers her, looking old and somewhat proud of the audience. "It also helps those two brats Tendaji and Faraji have been campaigning for you ever since your disappearance five years ago."

"W-what?"

"...Catrina…" Tendaji comes up the ramp, his hands clapping along with the crowd. He pauses in front of her, before saying, "People changed after the fire."

Her eyes widen.

The Chief looks down.

"They realized that you are a person. They realized that you are a child. They realized you are family." Tendaji reaches forward, grasping her shoulder. "The village helped your mother rebuild her house, and supported her as she tried to salvage her life. They consoled her, and they listened to her...And…"

His hand squeezes her shoulder. His eyes smolder with repressed emotions, pain and relief flooding him.

"We learned from our mistakes. Please, forgive us, Catrina. We need you."
…

Catrina feels the tear slip down her cheek, wondering if, perhaps, this is all a dream. A hallucination that she made up. Did her family truly learn to overlook her differences? Did they really give up their biases? Catrina swipes at her cheek, the cloth of her sleeve stinging her skin.

This is real.

"I-it's-" Catrina stutters, trying to pull herself together. She laughs a little, trying to reign in her joy. "It's alright."

Sacerdos Maxima.

The translation can be read as either "High Priestess" or "Sacred Priestess". Both terms are correct, but when a noble of Reim addresses Lady Scheherazade, it is considered improper to say anything but the official title, "Sacerdos Maxima". Using "High" or "Sacred" causes confusion and, in order to remain uniform in speech, aristocrats must learn at a young age to only refer to Lady Scheherazade in the literal translations...Though for safety, they generally stick to what they learn for a clearer pattern of speech. Reimans also tend to use different words to refer to things as well. A domus is a noble's home. Insulae are apartment buildings used by the lower classes. A vestalis is a priestess serving under Scheherazade, a virgin maiden selected from aristocratic family.

This being said, it's perfectly acceptable for an outside noble to refer to Lady Scheherazade as "High" or "Sacred", or call an aristocrat's home a "mansion". There is nothing wrong with them using the terms, since they aren't from the country and are therefore exempt from the gossip that would plague a Reiman noble.

However, sometimes…

"Sacerdos Maxima. It's true that your loveliness never fades." Every once and awhile, there comes along a noble who knows what they're doing, and how they're going to be playing the game. Scheherazade, from her throne, purses her lips before forcing a polite smile, nodding her head.

"I believe this is the first time we've met face to face, King Sinbad."

King Sinbad. In Reim.

She can't believe it herself, but wryly remembers that the Seven Seas are this particular man's playground. Standing before her, flanked on the sides by a short Artemyran and a redheaded Sasanian, King Sinbad smiles at her with the charm that earned him the nickname Lady Killer of the Seven Seas. She doesn't find herself swayed by him, probably because she knows that she's old enough to be his great-great grandmother.

"It's true, Lady Scheherazade," Sinbad bows, caught. "But rumors of your timeless beauty reach even Sindria."

"You flatter me," too much, but she only adds that in her head. "I had no idea you would be making a trip to my country so soon, Lord Sinbad." Another rule: once into a conversation, switch from "King" to "Lord" and "Sir". She feels a headache coming on.

"I was invited by the Emperor a while back to make a visit when I had the chance. I've heard that Reim is quite beautiful in the fall, so I decided to pay a visit." Sinbad smiles up at her, somehow appearing harmless despite the way that his eyes press into her skin. "And, I thought this would be a good way for us to finish our conversation."

The letters.

Meaning that his patience has been spent, and he needs his answer soon so he can begin preparations for Magnostadt. Scheherazade's throat tightens. She still needs that answer from Aishia...It should arrive soon, which means stalling the King for now is all that she can do. It was easy to come up with excuses when it was just a quill and paper and Muu's careful proof-reading to aid her. Now she'll need to actively push off his advances...But if she delays too long, he'll grow impatient and pressure her, or withdraw his offer altogether.

The Sacerdos Maxima straightens.

"Of course. Perhaps at dinner we can talk? If you would do me the honor of dining at my table, of course."

"I could think of no better way to spend the evening." King Sinbad responds, all smiles. She can see the victory in his eyes, the confidence in his shoulders. He believes that tonight, she'll finally accept his deal and solidify the plans together with him. Scheherazade clenches the fist that rest in her lap, watching the King and his subordinates leave.

I will not let you take my country, King Sinbad.

"Ar-are you ready?"

"Listen, scaredy Cat, we have to go in. This is the first day of training. If we're late, we'll get our asses kicked by our superior."

"I know that, idiot. I'm asking if you're ready!"

"The answer should be obvious!"

"Calm. We're all nervous-"

"Shut up, Faraji."

The first day of training. Yet somehow, it feels more like the first day at a new school for Catrina. But instead of Can I impress them in class? and Am I wearing the right clothes?, she's thinking things more like, Can I impress them with my martial arts? and Am I wearing my armor right?. It's surprisingly stressful, and she can't stop thinking about all the thing she's learned with Tendaji. She hopes that she's caught up necromancy-wise with her other trainees...Otherwise she has no hope of keeping the promise she made to her village.

After the cheering subsided, Faraji had sprung out of the crowd and recommended Catrina, providing her with a Beta recommendation. Afterwards she, Tendaji and Faraji were ushered into the corner of the stage as the ceremony continued. Catrina found herself being stared at even as more Alphas filled the stage with her, ready to join the military. Children openly did it, staring at the legendary Catrina Exsos. She tried not to be bothered by it, but internally she was sweating bullets.

The other Alphas stared as well, their eyes piercing and curious. Luckily her Omega village didn't have many Alphas enlisting- or they were planning on doing it the next night, the second and last day of enlisting. But it felt like the whole town was there, having been summoned at the appearance of a local myth. At least she had Tendaji and Faraji with her, standing by her side. After the ceremony finished, she awkwardly asked Tendaji if they were going home. Tendaji had cracked a villainous smile and told her there was still so much to do. The sinking feeling in her chest which accompanied those words still haunts her. From there on, they spent the rest of the time at the festival. Catrina was uncharacteristically shy around those of her tribe who openly gawked at her reappearance, but with the help of her new friends, she eventually was able to open up more. She nearly cried when she had blackberry cakes, inhaling the sweet, frosted desert with the gusto of a starving man. People had laughed when she apologized for being a pig, and children sat at her feet with wide eyes.

She relayed to those who slowly gathered her stories. She told them about trekking the desert with three magicians and a Dungeon Capturer, of crossing a sea that stretched across the horizon to come upon the glorious Empire of Reim. She described meeting her father, and then sailing another sea to come upon Partevia, where she was dragged into a quest to steal the crown jewels (now that was an adventure). It took hours, really, and many more blackberry cakes, but she eventually was able to fill the air with many of the wonderful things she was able to experience in her short time away. She spoke of meeting beauties with mysterious powers, Kings lathered in jewelry, dark priests and a mysterious swordsman who vowed to protect his dearest princess. All the while, Amalas stood entranced by her, their eyes glazed over as they tried to imagine the things she spoke of.

When she felt tired of speaking, she tried to answer their questions. They asked many things, like "do they speak our language?" and "what is a Dungeon Capturer capable of?". After a while Tendaji felt compelled to cut in, yawning and asking Catrina to carry him home. It was a silly way to break up the party, but Catrina was thankful, overwhelmed by the sudden acceptance she'd been receiving. For the next week, while the festival was ongoing, Tendaji encouraged her to participate. They ate festival food and joined in the fun, dancing in the square with the other Amalas. As the time passed, she grew able to speak more and more freely, until conversing with her village became as easy as speaking with the slaves in the Pits had been.

It was warm.

She smiles at the memories, calming herself by picturing her family and village giving her the best of wishes for the beginning of military training...Which starts the day after the festival ends. Now she stands before a training facility, which looks nothing like the sweet cottages of the Omega farmlands. Instead, it's a big, stone building two stories high located between the Western and Northern Omega villages. At first she had imagined the military to be located in the highly populated Alpha center. Apparently, many of them are, except for four bases in the north-east, south-east, south-west and north-west. They handle the training of new recruits and border patrols. Catrina imagined that they would be more highly populated, since protection of borders is a main concern of all the other countries she's visited, but it's not so in the Amala tribe. Mostly because they haven't had a problem with the borders in hundreds of years...At least, unless you believe the rumors.

Catrina frowns.

Rumors of visitors coming to see the King in secret.

She stares more firmly at the building in front of her. This is the way she needs to take to get to Zuberi and Aishia. If she gives up now, there will be no point to all that she's done.

"Cat?"

"Don't call me Cat," She jokes, forcing a slight smile. Tendaji stares at her for a moment before smirking.

"Ace, then."

"Ace?"

"Alpha Catrina Exsos. It has a ring, huh?"

Slowly, she begins to smile.

"It really does...Though Princess Catrina Exsos sounds good as well."

Faraji laughs.

The day lightens, as if the sun came out from behind a cloud.

Together, the three take their first steps toward their goal.

"Lady Scheherazade, the letter you've been waiting for has arrived!"

The moment that Scheherazade hears that wonderful phrase, she's off. Throwing manners to the wind, the High Priestess zooms her way through the temple and toward her office, hair weighing her down while on her quest. She seriously considers taking the extra time to cut off the blonde locks, but doesn't in the end because her next meeting with King Sinbad draws ever near. She needs to know what Aishia decided, and she needs to know now. The sooner she can consolidate or reject her plans with Sinbad the better, not to mention her own heart can't take much more of this unwelcome excitement.

She bursts into her office, walking straight towards her desk.

Only to freeze. Her bones turn to ice, a change that stills her blood flow throughout her body. No heat comes to her brain, rendering her completely in shock over the sight before her. Muu stands in front of her desk, hunched over a paper. His hands are on either side of it, his long red hair slipping over his shoulders to hang like curtains and block view of his face. A naive, slight hope raises in her chest that maybe Muu is reading another letter, but once she sees his face, that hope flickers out and leaves her chest feeling sickeningly empty.

He looks betrayed. His eyes meet hers, full of agony and hurt.

Oh no.

"...I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Scheherazade says, feeling that an apology is the only thing she can say. "I was going to eventually, but I wanted to keep my correspondence with Aishia a secret until we could make a deal-"

"Scheherazade." The Sacerdos Maxima flinches, shocked by Muu's use of her actual name. He does not say "Lady" or "Milady". He says Scheherazade, with firmness and barely contained anger. She watches with a tense body as Muu lifts himself up. He holds the letter- letters, she winces- in his hands, shuffling through them. His hands shake as he does so- with shock or anger, she can't tell. "I don't know where to begin. These letters…"

"Let me explain-" She tries to calm him, using a soothing voice. He snarls at her, his face looking as beastly as it does when he's fighting in the coliseum. She instantly shuts up, surprised a third time.

"You're trying to use Aishia and my daughter to gain control of the Amala tribe." Muu's hands fist, and he drops the papers so he doesn't rip them with his strength. He looks enraged, her betrayals slashing through the loyalties that bound him firmly to her. "You didn't tell me that Aishia contacted you. You didn't inform me that Catrina has walked into a hostile, unstable country ruled by a man who will probably try to kill her."

Scheherazade keeps her mouth shut, deciding to ride out the waves of his anger until the end. Trying to talk to him now, when he's more furious than ever, will hamper her rather than help her.

"And," He says, his hands fisting completely. His lower lip curls, and his eyes fill with unshed tears. "You were the one who sent Aishia away."

Scheherazade's eyes widen. Aishia never wrote anything about that in the first letter-

Her eyes drift to the new letter resting half-crumpled on the table. Perhaps just as a passing recollection, Aishia wrote a line about what Scheherazade did for her sixteen years ago, when she was pregnant and frightened and needed her help out of Reim. Panicked, the Priestess looks up at Muu frantically, needing to clarify to him what happened between the Priestess and the Amala.

"You told me you had no idea where she went!" Muu continues, squeezing his eyes shut. "You said you had no way to find her, when in truth you knew all along!"

"Muu, please, you have to understand-!"

"I know you never liked Aishia, though I don't know why." Muu raises a hand, stopping her. His anger burns through his reason, and he just barely keeps himself from breaking her desk in two. "But how could you do this to me? You're the reason I've been separated from my daughter and the woman I love for the past fifteen years."

"Muu-!"

"I lost out on seeing Catrina grow up because of you!" The Fanalis roars, throwing his hands out. "I missed my child's birth! Do you know that I've never gotten to see any of her birthdays? Do you know how hard I've been trying to make up for how much of her life I've missed? She's so old now. She's going to get married at some point and I'll never have had the chance to spoil her like a little girl. And Aishia too. We were going to get married. I loved her with my entire heart."

His words hang in the air, his sorrowful tale caught between them. Everything he'd just said is true. He's had wonderful times with both Catrina and Aishia, but years that have gone by will never magically come back. Muu Alexius lost the chance to be a husband and a father, and only now knows who kept both things from him.

It was the person he trusted most in the world.

Muu...

"I'm sorry, Muu." She whispers, lowering her eyes. He says nothing. Then he leaves, his feet stomping against the floor. He does not look at her as he passes, but she can feel his glare tearing up the room with it's heat and intensity. The door shuts after her, leaving her alone in the office. A sigh tumbles from her lips, filling the dead-silent room. She makes her way to the desk, sitting down on her chair. She stares at the crumpled mess of letters, slowly picking them up. She separates the old letter from the new one, bringing the new up to her face.

She reads through it, a sour smile curling at her lips.

"Great." She murmurs, sarcasm dripping from her lips. "Just great."

Tales to Know

The A-Z Guide on the Amala Tribe, Part 1

Below is your guide to the fascinating Amala Tribe and their many quirks! Please, read this to understand more about our favorite tribe and their traditions.

TERRITORY: The Amala tribe's land is essentially a circular, if not slightly oval-shaped, area. It's protected by a barrier that, along with protecting the people and putting up an illusion of a forest, repels travelers away from it unless they know where they're going. In the north, there is a valley, in the east, a woods, in the west, rolling hills, and the south, a lake. The outside "ring" of the land is the Omega farmlands, split into four villages. In the second "middle" ring is the Beta lands, where government tasks and administrative duties are carried out. In the center ring is Alpha central, including the capital: the city of Visurbis.

OMEGA: Omegas are referred to as the "domestic" group. They are picked because of their gentle nature and sensitivity or in some cases if they are weak. They are most commonly found in the outer ring, in the Omega farmlands. No class is considered above another, but in Zuberi's Kingdom, they are considered the bottom tier, causing tensions among the people and discontent. Omegas are considered the "economic builders" and are encouraged to work in and start companies/businesses, or to take up common jobs. Though this places a burden on them (having to take care of domestic duties and hold a job), it's considered a great honor. At least, it was until Zuberi took over.

BETA: Betas are referred to as the "intellectual" group. They are picked because of their intellect and quick problem-solving skills. In Zuberi's Kingdom, they are considered the middle class because of their usefulness. Before being reformed, the Betas were expected to put their logical minds to work as the core of the government, the "book keepers" and organizers of the gov. More often than not, there was more Betas on the Elder Council than there were Alphas or Omegas, mainly because Betas were considered level-headed, wise and were supposed to be good judges. They run the government, but are found most commonly in the middle ring, where most government buildings, social services and law, medical and administrative offices are.

ALPHA: Alphas are referred to as the "warrior" group. They are picked because of their strength and bravery. Alphas are expected to work in the army or in certain parts of the government. Being an Alpha is considered an incredible honor, as you're training in necromancer magic to protect the tribe from possible outside problems. Alphas are considered natural leaders and the other two groupings look up to them as role-models and leaders. Because of this, being a General in the army (or "top female Alpha"/"top male Alpha") garners a lot of popularity and influence. It was through this way that Zuberi, by being an influential General, was able to overthrow the government and become King.

SCHOOLING SYSTEM: Universal compulsory schooling for all children regardless of their parents' groupings nor their gender. Upon entering, they go through tests to determine their grouping, and from there are sorted into different classes. They receive normal education, but also extra education based on their group. If a child believes there was a mistake by being placed in a certain group, they may apply to be transferred out of it and take a test to prove that they're better placed in a different group. This can only happen until the age of twelve.

MATCHES: Positions in the Amala tribe are based on strength and other aspects. It is no surprise then that, in order to progress upwardly, an Amala has to first beat their superior in a "match". For instance, in the military, a trainee may fight their commanding officer in order to take their position. But in other cases, matches can be fought in other ways: for Betas, through a board game like chess. The form of the competition relies mostly on the challenger, except in cases involving the military or a specific post. "Engagement matches" are a tad different. In the Amala tribe, people are allowed to marry between groupings as they wish- and, surprisingly, having more than one spouse isn't uncommon. However, for Alphas, it is considered only right that they challenge their potential spouse's parents for the right to their hand. If they win, they will be allowed to marry. If not, then...Not. It is considered common courtesy for a couple to decide to marry before an engagement match occurs.

Fun Fact #1: Tendaji was so irritated at and cold to Catrina at the beginning of the chapter because he was annoyed by his own behavior and the fact that, because she didn't get the letter, she didn't know he was her ally.

Fun Fact #2: All the names of the Amala tribe (sans Catrina) are Swahili names.

Chapter = End! And I know I said that the Fanalis-Amala arc would only be 3 chapters, but I'm gonna have to extend it. This chapter has just proven to be wayyy too long, and I'm only half-way through the events I want to include.

Also...

OMG THIS STORY IS 2 YEARS OLD! If only I could've posted on it's birthday :( But wow, I honestly can't believe it. This story has been with me through my freshman and sophomore years in high school, and has taught me how to truly write. This is probably just me, but I feel like i've had some honest evolution over the years as an writer. I'm really proud of how this story has turned out, and I hope that everyone who has read this together with me over the years continues to enjoy it- especially now that I've been rewriting it. Thanks everyone!

Tendaji: He may seem cold and arrogant at first, but he's actually a very calm and casual dude. He views life as precious and believes in equality- traits he shares with Catrina. In a typical "man" manner, Tendaji believes in looking cool and strong in situations he doesn't have to- but cannot help urges to do sweet things for others despite his dismissal of those actions afterwards.

Tendaji & Catrina: You think that's the end of it? That there will be no more convos about the fact that she killed his parents? Oh hell nah. I'm going to milk that conversation, just like I milked the Catrina & Faraji conversation. Also I've had some people say that they are interesting in CatrinaXTendaji. If that is so, I promise to progress their relationship and maybe make MasrurXCatXTendaji a thing...

Muu & Scheherazade: So Scheherazade and Muu's relationship has taken a turn, that's for sure. Of course, if I was Muu, I would be pissed. What Scheherazade did was wrong, even though withholding information about a possible deal with the Amalas was the best course of action for Reim. However, by prioritizing Reim over Muu, Scheherazade has hurt him where it counts: placing his daughter and the woman he loved in precarious situations. Not to mention the reveal that Sche-chan sent Ai away! They are going to be needing some serious convos to get through this one...That is, if I find it interesting enough to write :)

Zuberi: All this hype for a bad guy y'all haven't even met XD It's pretty funny, imo. But to re-iterate: Zuberi is the grandfather of Catrina (I'm editing ch 4 to include at least mention of him). He rose the ranks of the Alpha military to become a general, and holds a bias against Omegas (in a sense, it's like how some men hold sexist biases against women; believing them to be purely domestic beings). This being said, he still had a child with one, Aishia, whom he didn't claim as his child until she proved to be a prodigy. Once Aishia told him about Empires, he began thinking about taking control of the Amala tribe; however, it wasn't until being prompted by a mysterious force that he eventually pulled the trigger...

Starry Skies Rehaul: So, I've had some people notice this, but I've been rewriting SS from the beginning! Nothing that affects the over-all plot (except for a total redo of ch 4 that I'm currently slaving over), but I have been doing a lot of work restructuring and rewriting parts of the story. So far the prologue through chapter 3 has been redone. I've added more depth to the prologue and Centola's arc, mostly, with character development to boot. As for chapter 3, where I introduce Bad and Eren, I added more detail to Eren's intro and family...And for Bad I included bits of her backstory which hopefully explains more about her past and her goals. I encourage everyone to check it out!

Question: Okay, is is Reiman or Reimian. I ask this because Reim is based off of Ancient Rome, which was Roman. Would Reim therefore have a '-an' ending or an '-ian' ending? I think Reiman. I'm going to use Reiman...But if y'all have something to say, please help a bro.

POLL RESULTS: And the winner is...The Black Bird and the Red Beast! Get excited!

Got any questions or suggestions? Something wrong about the chapter? Grammatical errors, something you didn't like? PM me or leave it in the reviews, I will reply and see what I can do to make the story better/clearer for y'all to understand. ILY MY DARLING READERS!

BYE~~~~~~~