Sun Palace
As the days passed, the festival in Zephyria's capital hit full stride. By the fourth day, everyone who planned to attend had arrived. This influx of visitors made the already cramped capital even tighter, but it also meant that the festival continued to expand, reaching even the farthest edges of the city.
Kael spent these bustling days with his family and occasionally with the old man, wandering through streets filled with music, bargaining for exotic goods, and getting swept up in the evening revelry of alcohol and dance.
Well, that was true for a brief time since Kael didn't drink alcohol, and once his parents and Safiya were occupied, he would slip away. Since he always returned, his parents didn't pry much.
His reason for disappearing each evening was always the same – he was still bound by an ongoing arrangement with Shukran. Every evening he had three attempts to defeat the old man, and so far, he had invariably failed.
Despite his relentless defeats, it was impossible for Kael to be in a bad mood. The capital had truly transformed into a place of magic. Just yesterday, he had spent four hours participating in a tournament to see who could climb a ladder the fastest. It might sound mundane, but with dozens of participants and a grand prize at stake, it was anything but boring.
Kael tried his luck and, unsurprisingly, performed quite well. He had always been quick and agile, often racing across the roofs and dunes of his village as a child. However, he didn't quite clinch the first place and ended up a close second. His consolation prize was a large, freshly baked chicken leg, which made the effort worthwhile.
Later, he and Shukran spent two hours laughing their heads off as Shukran outsmarted one swindler after another. These hustlers always employed the same tricks—guess under which cup lies the stone, or dig in this little mound of sand to find a jewel you can keep. There was always a catch that made these seemingly simple games impossible to win for a challenger—unless, of course, the challenger was a Ramalkin who could manipulate both stone and sand.
Kael still chuckled when he thought of the dumbfounded expressions on the men and women who looked as if they had witnessed a miracle.
Today, Kael was once again alone with Shukran—his parents desired some time to themselves, and Kael had no interest in tagging along with Safiya. Shukran stayed faithfully by his side. Although four days had passed without incident, it didn't mean safety was guaranteed.
If something tried to harm Kael again, it would first have to contend with a Ramalkin. A conduit even, a Binder second only to a Primordial. Yet lately, Kael felt as if there were even graver dangers lurking.
But dwelling on his anxieties wouldn't help, so he did his best to continue enjoying the festival. He and Shukran wove through the throngs of people, today venturing deep into the festival's heart where the celebrations were most fervent. What struck Kael the most while getting closer to the Sun Palace, was not just the intensity of the festivities but also the number of guards.
Everywhere stood the Sandspears, recognizable by their lightweight armored gear with plates overlapping each other. The armors bore the desert's colors, adorned with patterns of brown and black spots. Their faces were always covered by a wrap that reached up to their noses, and their hair was concealed, revealing only their stern, disciplined eyes.
Each held a long spear, ornate with decorations and a small flag of the royal house just below the sharp tip. At their hips hung a black leather belt, from which dangled a shortsword in its sheath.
Their formidable gazes vigilantly oversaw the masses. And while they appeared to be on every corner, Kael knew that thousands more warriors from the royal army were stationed around, ready to strike down anyone who dared threaten Zephyria and its citizens.
But it wasn't only the Sandspears whose presence increased near the Sun Palace—their counterparts, the priestesses of Atherion, the Al'Shalin, were also more visible.
Just as Kael had observed with his mother and sister, each Al'Shalin commanded profound respect and reverence. They might not have been as numerous as the Sandspears, but perhaps it was this elite scarcity that made each priestess so distinctively revered.
But despite walking next to a former Ramalkin, no one seemed to recognize the old man. Kael often wondered how Shukran managed to remain anonymous. He must have hundreds of acquaintances in this city, especially among the Sandspears. After all, Ammar constantly bumped into old friends as they traversed the festival, and both Lyla and Safiya frequently encountered fellow Al'Shalin they knew.
The fact that nobody recognized Kael was one thing, but it baffled him that Shukran seemed invisible to those who should know him.
"How is it that you haven't encountered anyone you know?" Kael eventually asked, driven by his curiosity.
Shukran glanced briefly at him and continued walking undisturbed.
"I'm an old man now. Not many are left who would recognize me," he shared as they moved, "And those who might still know me are too high-profile to appear in public."
Kael frowned, wondering if the old man was just boasting, but Shukran's tone carried no arrogance.
"Like who?" Kael pressed on.
Pausing and scratching his head thoughtfully, Shukran responded, "Well, there are a few from the Sun Queen's personal guard. The Primordial of Talak, of course, but you only see him when he chooses to be seen... and then some from the army, but they're probably stationed at a base somewhere."
Kael nodded and then asked with a sly grin, "What about a woman? Haven't you left behind a former lover or something?"
Shukran snorted and playfully slapped Kael on the back of the head. "What do you know about women, you little brat. Yes, there have indeed been some women in my life I'd rather not see again."
They both laughed and continued on. Now, Kael could just make out the peak of the Sun Palace between the rooftops; they were close to the center. They decided to see what was happening at the heart of it all. Unfortunately, it was even more crowded here, so the two relatively smaller figures had to squeeze their way through.
Luckily, Kael could simply follow in the path Shukran cleared with his supernatural strength. It wasn't long before they arrived at the main square in front of the Sun Palace.
As Kael and Shukran emerged into the main square of the Sun Palace, the spectacle before them was breathtaking. The Sun Palace itself rose majestically, its façade echoing the hues of the desert bedrock. Towering pillars stretched towards the sky, and up there on the highest peak of the entire city, the Eternal Fire blazed with relentless vigor, a brilliant beacon visible for miles, casting a warm, golden glow that bathed the entire square.
The square was the epicenter of the festival's liveliness, bustling with more attractions and stalls than anywhere else in the city. Each stall was a hub of activity, offering exotic goods and vibrant tapestries that fluttered in the gentle desert breeze. The air was filled with the rich aromas of spiced meats and sweet pastries, mixing with the sounds of music and laughter.
To the right of the square stood a massive temple, resplendent with golden domes that shimmered under the sun. This was the sanctuary of the priestesses of Atherion, where the faith in the Eternal Flame were both worshipped and guarded. Its grand doors were open, inviting the faithful and curious alike to discover the serenity within.
On the left, a huge watch and bell tower stood sentinel. It was a robust structure of sandstone, crowned with a huge golden bell ready to sound its sonorous call. The bell, known to ring at the dawn of each new day and during sacred ceremonies, drew Kael's gaze upward, where he watched the light play off its polished surface.
The square was heavily guarded, with Sandspears patrolling, their faces obscured by cloths wrapped up to their noses. Only their vigilant eyes were visible, scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble.
Kael stood momentarily stunned, overwhelmed by the grandeur and the pulse of life around him. Here, in the shadow of the Sun Palace, with both Eternal Fire and the Eternal Flame flickering above and the heart of Zephyria beating around him, he felt a deep connection to his homeland.
It was a grandiose moment... until Shukran snapped him out of it.
"Hey kid," he said, pointing to a cluster of people, "don't we know these two?"