1 Whispers of the moonlight festival

"Escalabus rev "

Startled by the fleeting voice I jumped up in fright forgetting that in my hands was the urn that had Nana's ashes, luckily my reflexes are not bad given the fact that I had been training with Nana for years to partake in the upcoming examination.

"Are you alright Timothy?" A soft voice spoke from behind me and I immediately recognized who it was, Sara Knottingwell daughter of Decon Sedna Knottingwell one of the two decons who are in charge of this city and devoted followers of  Zebha, known as the Allfather, who embodies wisdom, knowledge, and resurrection.  Zebha is one of the nine orthodox gods that governs over our world, each God has their kingdom where the citizens are required to follow the traditions and customs they set, the kingdom that I live in is called Zebhannon named after the Allfather and it is one of the most powerful kingdoms, boasting huge military prowess and a wide network of intelligence zebhannon is a force to be reckoned with guided by the strong hand of king Zaloz the fourth Zebhannon has never lost a war during his reign.

Nodding to her response I fixed my clothes before turning around and preparing to leave but then she grabbed my arm stopping my advance, surprised I turned to face her with my brow raised "What?" I asked

Her face slowly turned to a soft shade of pink and a sheepish smile graced her countenance, " I hope you haven't forgotten about the moonlight festival ?" She asks her eyes darting around on the floor not daring to meet mine, shit I had almost forgotten about that. The Moonlight Festival is one of the many festivals we have here in Zebhannon, on that day we celebrate the coming out of the moon and having its cool light cast a beautiful glow upon us which is said to be filled with "The Breath ". Since the moon only comes out once every four seasons it represents the end of the year so it is a very important thing for my people and it is also a gathering for all of those who have come of age to meet their peers and get to choose a life companion, and Sara Knottingwell has been eager to fill that vacant spot.

"No, I haven't forgotten I merely just don't care, have a good day ." I gently pulled away my arm from her grasp and left the cathedral with Nana's ashes in hand. Once outside the bustling noise of the city fell on my ears, the muddy scent of the ground filled my nostrils and a humid breeze brushed against my skin, taking a deep breath of the humid air my eyes darted around looking for my next destination -"Welcome Esteemed adventurer! Let us walk you through this magnificent city ." The city escort yelled grasping the attention of everyone in the city except for me, who looked in the opposite direction and started walking in order to clear my head.

As I walked through the bustling streets of Sif'ur, the heart of this ancient city, my thoughts were occupied by the words my Nana said right before she died. "What do those words mean Nana?" I whisper my question to an invisible companion. With a slight shake of my head, I focus my attention back on the road. In every direction, there were faces of every shade and expression, each one telling a unique story of their life in this swarming city.

The cobbled streets were lined with quaint shops, their colorful facades inviting passersby to explore their goods. From the aroma of freshly baked bread drifting out of the local bakery to the lively chatter of consumers sipping tea at the corner cafe, every corner of Sif'ur seemed to be filled with energy.

As I made my way through the horde, I encountered a throng of characters - the elderly couple sharing a bench in the park, their wrinkled hands intertwined as they watched the world go by; the street performer on the corner, his guitar strumming out melodies that echoed off the stone buildings; the happy family laughing as they navigated the crowded market, their children darting between stalls in search of treasures. Kids, they remind me of myself and my sister Evelyn when we were younger .

Despite the hustle and bustle, there was a sense of closeness among the people of Sif'ur. Whether it was the friendly nod of a neighbor or the warm smile of a stranger, there was an unspoken bond that connected us all in this sprawling jungle.

And then there were the landmarks that defined the cityscape - the towering spires of the cathedral reaching towards the heavens, the imposing walls of the castle standing guard over the ancient streets, and the tranquil river winding its way through the heart of it all, a ribbon of silver cutting through the urban sprawl.

In Sif'ur, every street corner held the promise of adventure, every alleyway whispered secrets of times long past. It was a city alive with history and possibility, a place where the past and present mixed in a dance as old as time. And looking at the sights and sounds of this beautiful place, I couldn't help but feel disgusted to call it home.

"Home? Yeah right more like a stuffed coffin." When I was younger Sif'ur seemed like the greatest of all cities in our kingdom but now it is more of a death zone where children go missing, and bizarre patterns reoccur daily. The most bizarre thing I have witnessed to date is the day of my Nana's death, her eyes turned into colorful rainbows and purple strange patterns and markings appeared on her skin from head to toe which looked eerily similar to the carvings in the cathedral halls, but who could I tell since the only family I had was Nana, I was the only one by her side when she died. Nana had no friends, it was just me and her in our grand estate filled to the brim with books and ancient relics that served no purpose,  but to my Nana, they were her most prized possessions. The reason why I had been at the cathedral this morning was because of the strange markings on its walls.

"Mr Moirai, can I please have a minute of your time ?"