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Theocratic-Monarchy: SunSide
21st Day of Month 6, Year 1628 DG
Calm ocean waves carry seven companions back to their home continent. Soft breezes tickle Salessa’s cheek as she sits with Zakia, listening to Gina and Kruga plan the infiltration of Lily Beach. Naina stands on the upper deck with Symin and Ray-Mi, discussing the navigation back to SunSide.
There’s an indescribable tranquility engulfing the vessel. Serenity, comfort—a far departure from life in MoonSide. Salessa wonders if they deserve it, as if they’re living a moment that belongs to someone else. The twins belong in MoonSide, surely, alongside their people. Living the life fate has ascribed to them.
But they were plucked from that life five days ago, and thrust into a community that gave them some semblance of family for the first time in over a decade. A family that never questioned their contributions, that invited them to belong.
Family. It’s not lost on Salessa that this word holds too much weight for five days. It’s an extreme response to twelve years of deprivation—twelve years without trust, when trust was all Salessa craved. She’d made the mistake of trusting too quickly before, and had promised Naina she wouldn’t repeat what had happened with Lexona.
Somehow, though, this feels different. The vulnerability isn’t one-sided. Symin’s grief is worn on his sleeve. Ray-Mi’s history is etched into his atonement. Gina’s, Kruga’s, and Zakia’s suffering is palpable in their steadfastness.
Ten gray eyes, ten windows, and Salessa feels as though she’s seen through them all.
Five days is extreme for family. But extreme moments require extreme decisions. And Salessa has made an extreme decision.
She turns toward her sister standing between Symin and Ray-Mi, and sends a thought into Naina’s mind.
Naina, it’s time. Everyone on this vessel has opened up to us. They don’t deserve to be lied to anymore.
Not again, Lessi, comes Naina’s exasperated voice. How can we trust—
We’re on a ship with them, in the middle of the ocean. We’ve just completed a mission for their cause. We know who they are and how they came to be here.
Naina pauses, considering. And if telling them our truth reels them into our danger?
Look around, Naina. They’re already in danger. Vulnerability and honesty forge bonds that can’t be broken. Secrets keep us isolated. We need allies and a community.
There’s a long pause, during which Salessa anticipates an explosion of rage and aggression. But there is none. Naina takes a moment to look around at their traveling companions.
Do it. Whatever comes after, I’m with you.
Always?
Yes, Lessi. Always.
Naina leads Symin and Ray-Mi down to the lower deck. The two trailing suns near the horizon; nightfall is less than an hour away. Salessa takes a deep breath, clears her throat, and addresses the travelers.
“There’s something Naina and I would like to share,” she says. “The truth. About why the Facilitator is hunting us.”
“Well, why we suspect he is,” Naina clarifies.
The group exchanges looks of interest, but remains silent, allowing the twins to continue.
“It’s important for us to tell you, first, about the Twin deities of the Doruh religion. Naina told Symin a little about them already, and Zakia is aware of the mythology, but, for the rest of you, the Twins are a pair of siblings, a brother and a sister, who are prophesied to be resurrected one day to prevent catastrophe.”
“I do enjoy a good myth,” Ray-Mi says, rubbing his palms together eagerly. “Story time.”
Salessa continues. “Shortly after the creation of the Doruh, a set of twins were born to a pixie named Adera and a former teri human named Anhum. The twins were the first naturally-conceived Doruh and—”
“Lessi, quicker,” Naina admonishes her. “They’re not your students, they don’t need a history lesson. Just the basics.”
Salessa nods. “Sorry. One night as the twins slept, they had a vision. The same vision, on the same night. They witnessed their rebirth as deities: glowing skin, wings, engaged in a catastrophic battle against an indiscernible evil force.”
The Mega lean in, intrigued.
“When they awoke the next morning,” Naina continues, “they told all of their followers about the vision.”
“Did anyone believe them?” Symin asks.
“Oh, yes,” Salessa responds. “Most of the Doruh did. They formed a group of devotees to the resurrection of the Twins, calling themselves the O’raha.”
“Group of devotees,” Naina scoffs. “Call them what they were, Lessi. A cult.”
Salessa sighs. “The O’raha eventually grew to become dangerous extremists, but that was long after the death of the Twins. They kept oral records of subsequent visions the Twins had. Visions that foretold details of their rebirth.”
Salessa clears her throat to recite the declaration verbatim:
One from the land, one from the seas
One from the skies, one from the trees
Two sets of twins will be conceived
Their souls and bodies will be weaved
The God and the Goddess will be retrieved
And peace on the All-Sphere will be achieved
She continues, elaborating, “Two sets of Doruh twins will be born, and each set will merge, physically and spiritually, to resurrect one of the Twin Deities. Genetically, Doruh twins must shift into the same animal. If one is a tiger, the other will be a tiger.”
Naina continues. “But the four Doruh who will resurrect the Twins will all shift into different animal forms: one from the land, one from the skies, one from the trees, and one from seas. That’s how the Doruh will recognize that the time for resurrection has come.”
Symin’s eyes widen with realization. “The falcon and the wolf. The skies and the land.”
Salessa’s breath catches in her throat as her heart’s pace quickens. She feels uncomfortably bare as their secret is thrust into the open.
“Yes,” Naina confirms. “According to the myth, we are one set of twins who will resurrect the God or the Goddess in the world’s darkest hour.”
“Do you know who the other twins are?” Kruga asks.
Naina shakes her head. “We don’t even know if any of this is real. We told you earlier that our differing animal forms are a result of a genetic anomaly. That could very well be the case, and all of this could be mythology—folklore.”
Salessa warns the group further. “But we think that the Facilitator and the MegaFather believe the myth to be true, which is why we told you the truth. You deserve to know who’s at your side, and what risk is posed traveling with us.”
“We appreciate the transparency,” Gina finally speaks, “but it doesn’t change anything. Risk is inevitable in this life. How did you expect us to react to your little children’s story?”
“Gina!” Zakia exclaims. “Naina and Salessa just opened up to us about something—”
“Something they admitted could be a waste of breath.” She turns to the twins. “Do you have any evidence that this myth could be true?”
Naina and Salessa exchange cautionary looks before Salessa responds. “There are a few things, the biggest one being telepathy.”
Symin chuckles. “So it isn’t just a twin thing.”
Naina adds, “We’re also impressively difficult to kill.”
“What do you mean?” Zakia asks, wide-eyed.
“I’ve had bones torn from my body and lost limbs. My head’s been turned around entirely. I’ve found myself on death’s doorstep at least once a month for the past few years. As you can see”—she gestures to her body—“I healed.”
“There’s also...” Salessa continues, “the feeling. It’s hard to explain, but Naina feels like an extension of myself. It’s more than love. It feels like we’re—”
“Two halves of the same being,” Naina completes.
Zakia turns to Gina with a smug grin, though Gina seems unfazed. “Do you have any evidence that what you described is unequivocally not the result of a genetic anomaly?”
The twins remain quiet. There isn’t any evidence of that.
Gina turns to Kruga. “You’re a scientist. Tell them.”
Kruga raises a finger and strokes his chin. “From a scientific perspective, any of that could be the result of genetic mutations.”
A smile widens on Gina’s face, only to fade when Kruga continues.
“However, that doesn’t invalidate the idea that mystical factors are influencing your lives in some way. Science and mythology aren’t necessarily exclusive of one another.”
Gina scoffs and opens her hands to gesture to the twins. “Come on, Kruga. These two? An ancient, powerful Goddess incarnate?”
A low growl develops in Naina’s throat.
Ignore her, Salessa says.
“Myth or science, it doesn’t matter,” Symin addresses the group. “Salessa and Naina are in danger because of it. Now, more than ever, they need our support, our protection, and”—he locks eyes with the twins—“our community.”
Salessa nods gratefully and turns to Naina, who, for the first time in a long time, wears the hint of a sincere smile on her face.
A blanket of darkness unfolds over the sky as they approach Aerthomni. Moonlight guides the vessel to SunSide’s docks. Gina steps off first and onto the pier. She stretches out her arms and legs, then takes a deep breath and turns toward the visible edge of Nivyan Hollow.
“I can feel it,” she says. “The Radiance. I never want to be near another crumb of ore again.”
“We’re heading to Lily Beach in the morning,” Kruga reminds her, stepping onto the dock. “We’ll likely find more ore there than anywhere else.”
The travelers make their way through the wide trees until they reach Syma’s clearing. They find themselves among the familiar tree shelters, but something has radically changed since the last time they were here.
It’s quiet. No music, no singing. No food, no drink. No celebration. The clearing and the treetops are filled with nothing but silence.
“Mother,” Symin whispers, staring at Syma’s tree with horror.
He steps quickly forward, lifting his hands, and then pulls them apart forcefully, as if tearing a hole into the air in front of him. When his hands separate, he disappears and then immediately reappears in front of the dwelling. He places his fingertips on the wood of the door and then phases through it, entering smoothly as if it weren’t even there.
The twins and remaining Mega wait with bated breath, in stunned silence, until Symin and his mother emerge from the darkness of the tree hut. He leads her out slowly, and Salessa holds back a gasp.
Her eyes are sunken and her skin is withered. She’s distraught.
She steps past all Mega, directly up to the twins. “You are in grave danger, my darlings.” She moves her hands about rhythmically until a piece of paper materializes between her fingers. Salessa slowly takes it from her and Naina leans in to read it.
At the top of the sheet is a drawn image of two young women, resembling the twins. The words underneath state: Doruh Twins. 19-21 years old. If found, inform your local Braver authority. Any false reports or harboring of fugitives will be tried as treason. Do not approach. Do not engage.
Salessa’s heart drops into her stomach and she makes eye contact with Naina.
He knows we’re here, Naina’s voice pierces into her mind.
“What is it?” Gina asks. Salessa hands her the paper. She reads it and passes it along to the others.
“They’re making rounds through the forest,” Syma says. “The Bravers are holding entire communities hostage until they get information.”
A look of panic crosses Naina’s face and the elder nymph continues. “We haven’t told them anything. Everyone has gone into hiding.”
“This is our fault,” Salessa says, guilt sitting like a stone in her gut.
“What do we do?” Naina asks Symin.
He now holds the paper and stares down at it intently, focused but not alarmed. His gaze rises to Gina and they hold eye contact, as if they, too, are telepathic, and Gina’s stern stare forces a nod from the nymph.
He turns to Salessa, a sad half-smile emerging on his face. “You’re shorter than her, and your skin isn’t pink. But the day I walked into the teahouse, I thought I had seen my Zynima.”
He turns to Naina. “There’s no pain in this world like losing a child. And no one can take that child’s place. But for a short time, I think part of me wanted to feel whole again. And that’s why I invited you to join me on this journey.”
Gina offers him a reassuring nod and he holds up the “Wanted” flyer.
“I can no longer put your lives at risk to fill the void Zynima left behind.” A tear loosens down his cheek. “You have to go.”
“Go?!” Naina’s volume rises and her tone stiffens. “Where, exactly? You pulled us out of MoonSide, we can’t go back now. Not with—” She gestures to the flyer.
“Panaerth,” Gina suggests. “You can take our old vessel and hide there.”
“We’re coming with you to Lily Beach,” Naina insists forcefully. “That’s the plan. One you wouldn’t even have had if it weren’t for Lessi.”
“Lily Beach is swarming with Bravers,” Symin counters. “It’s not safe for you to come with us anymore. You can’t stay here, and you can’t go back to MoonSide. Panaerth is the safest option.”
There’s a long pause in which Salessa tries to generate some kind of response to dissuade Symin from his decision. But by the end of it, she accepts that they won’t be able to change his mind.
“After all of this,” Naina growls, “you’re just going to abandon us?” Her voice shakes, but not with anger.
Naina’s hurt.
Symin takes Naina’s hand in his own. “I’m not abandoning you. I’ll come find you after this is over.”
Naina pulls her hand back fiercely. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted.”
Symin’s jaw falls agape. He clears his throat and turns to Zakia. “Escort them to the old ship. Then meet us back here.”
Zakia nods and, reluctantly, the twins say their goodbyes to each of their former companions. Salessa’s throat tightens as she embraces Symin and thanks him for facilitating their escape from MoonSide. Naina presents him with a brusque nod, and the twins follow Zakia through Nivyan Hollow again, back to the docks.
What’s the plan? echoes Naina’s voice as they wade through the trees.
Salessa remains stone-faced, hoping to hide her confusion from Zakia. We’re going back to Panaerth.
I’m not complying with their horseshit idea, Lessi.
I don’t have a different plan, Naina.
I do. Follow my lead.
Naina, wait—
“Hold on,” Naina says to Zakia, who abruptly stops walking. “Change of plans. We need your help.”
Zakia turns to Salessa, who shrugs apologetically.
“With what?” the pixie says.
“Take us to Larso.”
Again, Zakia turns to Salessa, who is glaring at her sister, bewildered by the wolf’s penchant for dangerous situations.
“I’m definitely not going to do that,” Zakia replies. “The Facilitator can track you, remember?”
“Not in the Bunker, he can’t,” Naina replies. “Your safe house. Kruga told us about it.”
The pixie turns to Salessa. “Are you sure about this?”
Salessa looks to Naina. Are YOU sure about this?
Yes, Lessi. Please.
Salessa sighs. “We’re sure. The Facilitator will not stop looking for us, even on Panaerth. The only place he won’t expect us to be, is right under his nose.”
Zakia’s hesitation is apparent. “But he’ll be able to feel you in the city from the time you enter the gate, until you get into the Bunker. It’s risky.”
Salessa recalls Gina’s sentiment. “Risk is inevitable in this life. We’re tired of being hunted. It’s time we do the hunting.”
Zakia turns to Naina. “Symin is not going to be happy about this when he finds out.”
“Does it look like I care what Symin thinks?” Naina responds, turning and walking in the direction of the city. “He’ll live.”