-KAJA-

  The rhega rider blindfolded Kaja before seating her in the beast's saddle. The loss of her vision made the long journey even more uncomfortable than it should have been.

  The air was cold and thin, but the Master Cube helped. Kaja clutched it to her chest. The Master Cube pulsed, releasing waves of warmth that brought her some respite.

  When they finally landed, the rider carried her off the saddle. Kaja reached up to take off her blindfold, but he caught her hand.

  "No." That was all he said. He held her by the hand and began to walk. Kaja was forced to stumble after him. Mercifully, he walked at a manageable pace.

  It sounded like they had landed somewhere close to water. Kaja could hear the sound of waves rolling in the distance. Their immediate surroundings were noisy. She heard several people continuously shouting orders at each other. A number of these people stamped their feet and greeted Kaja’s captor as he walked by them.

  Apparently his name was Jakku, and he was a general. Kaja wondered what a general was doing flying alone without an army to back him up.

  [I don’t think he needs one.] The Master Cube commented.

  Kaja agreed.

  Without warning, Jakku led Kaja up a set of stairs. Kaja swore as she tripped, nearly falling many times. She was about to protest when he suddenly stopped.

  "Welcome back, Jakku," a feminine voice said.

  "Hello, Yanda," Jakku responded. "Is the Queen free?"

  "Unfortunately, no. Wanted to show her your prize, did you?"

  Kaja imagined Jakku looking her over before he replied. "Yes," he said. "But if she is not free, then I am handing over custody to you."

  Jakku dragged Kaja forward and Kaja felt another pair of hands latch her arm before Jakku let go. These new hands were more dainty, but they had a similar strength to Jakku’s.

  "Okay then," Yanda said. Kaja felt the woman tug at the blindfold. "Is this thing really necessary?" the woman asked.

  She yanked the blindfold off, and Kaja had to blink several times to get used to the sudden influx of light.

  They were outdoors, standing at the top of a staircase that overlooked a large pier. It looked like they were next to a river. There were a number of large boats on the water, and more docked at the pier. Kaja had expected them to be at a naval base but she didn’t see many uniformed soldiers or armoured ships.

  "I apologise for Jakku's harshness."

  Kaja turned towards the voice.

  A tall Chintari woman with low-cut white hair and horns set in her skull was smiling at her. "My name is Yanda." The woman said.

  Kaja nodded.

  The woman waited for a minute, laughed then asked. "What is your name?"

  Kaja felt an odd sensation in her head. She shook her to clear her mind. "Kaja," she responded. She tried to collect herself. She needed to appear strong. "My name is Kaja Khan," she said, standing straight.

  Yanda glanced at Jakku who was still around and standing to her left. The rhega rider had taken off his helmet now, allowing Kaja to see his features clearly.

  He also had closely cropped white hair and horns in his forehead. His chin had a tuft of white stubble.

  Jakku shrugged in response to Yanda's look. "I didn't ask her name," he said. "We can only assume it is correct. I don’t believe she has a reason to lie."

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  Yanda shook her head. "That's not what my look meant, Jakku, you rockhead. Doesn’t she seem very confident for someone deep within enemy lines?"

  Kaja tried to pull her arm free, but Yanda's hold was firm. Kaja looked the woman in the face. "Why do we have to be enemies?" Kaja asked.

  Yanda laughed again. "The lines were drawn long ago, Kaja Khan. We're all just playing our roles now."

  Yanda looked at Jakku again. "Thank you for your service, General. I will see you soon."

  Jakku nodded sharply and walked back down the stairs.

  As soon as he left, Yanda released her hold on Kaja. Kaja drew her now free hand to her chest and looked at Yanda with suspicion.

  Yanda smiled again but there was something dark in the way her lips curled. "Like I told you before, Kaja Khan. You are far behind enemy lines."

  Yanda’s eyes wandered to the Master Cube in Kaja's grip. "I assume that thing is why Jakku brought you. I understand him. It certainly makes you a very interesting tool. But it doesn't make you untouchable. Try anything and you will be killed. I have up to five soldiers aiming rifles at you right now."

  She pointed at a stone in the ground and a blaster bolt appeared from somewhere and destroyed it.

  Kaja glanced around. The land beyond the staircase was hilly and dotted with several interlocked buildings.

  The structures stretched on for several feet in either direction. There were a number of open windows, but Kaja couldn't see any gunmen.

  "Do you get it?" Yanda asked.

  Kaja nodded.

  "And it's not just outside." Yanda said. "There are eyes everywhere, all the time." She smiled again in the manner Kaja was quickly beginning to realise was fake. "If you get it, then you can follow me." Yanda said.

  Yanda led Kaja into one of the buildings and down another flight of stairs. Then she took Kaja to a small dark room furnished with only one chair.

  "Enjoy your home," she said. She pushed Kaja in and closed the door behind her. Kaja heard the door seal shut behind her. No light entered the room save for a sliver that broke through a narrow window set high up on one of the walls.

  The room was so dark that Kaja had to feel her way to the chair. It was an uncomfortable old metallic thing but Kaja sighed in relief when she sat down.

  [You have not slept for a while.] Kaja was glad to hear the Master Cube speak. It made her feel less lonely.

  "Yeah." Kaja responded. Community service had gone in a totally different direction to what she had expected.

  [You should sleep.]

  "Yeah." Kaja said again.

  She let the fatigue take her and drifted off to sleep, where she dreamt about her father, dragons and robots.

  -BREAK-

  Kaja was awakened by the Master Cube's persistent voice.

  [Wake up Kaja.]

  When her eyes opened, she instantly realised that the room was not as dark as it had previously been.

  [You're not alone.]

  Kaja looked around in a panic. The Master Cube was right. A single small luminescent ball mana sphere in the corner of the room casting light and shadows on everything inside. That sphere hadn’t been there before.

  Someone sat in front of the door, reclining on another metallic chair. She was a beautiful Chintari woman dressed in what looked like military garb.

  Kaja jerked when she saw the woman, nearly falling out of her own chair in the process. The woman had stern features, but her cheeks were stained with tear tracks.

  Why didn't you wake me up?’Kaja rebuked the Master Cube.

  [I tried. But you were really far gone.]

  Did you shout?

  [I thought that would be rude.]

  Kaja rolled off expletives in her mind.

  [Sorry.] The Master Cube said. [But I don't think she's dangerous.]

  I'll be the judge of that.

  Kaja locked eyes with the Chintari woman. Like Yanda and Jakku, she had horns growing out of her forehead. Kaja opened her mouth to say something but the woman beat her.

  "You're finally awake. Good. I was almost out of time."

  Kaja wasn't sure how to respond. "Time?" she said limply.

  "Yes," the woman responded. She sniffed, adding further evidence to the fact that she had been crying. "I’ve run away from them, you see." She gestured at the ceiling. "I’ve run away from all the people up there."

  Kaja was so confused. The woman continued. "They're good people, but if they saw me crying it would scare a lot of them. My strength matters to them."

  [You should ask why she's crying.]

  Kaja agreed. That seemed a wise line of questioning. "Why are you crying?" she asked the woman.

  The woman sighed and looked at her hands. "Two of my family members died today. And it's my fault."

  "Oh…" Kaja said. She thought about how she had felt when she lost her father. She thought about the raw pain that never seemed to go away. She felt it right now. "I'm sorry..." Kaja said to the woman.

  "Don't be. You had no role to play in it. It was my fault. They were young Bones and I sent them on a dangerous mission. I thought they were ready. I thought I was done making mistakes."

  [You should hug her.] The Master Cube offered.

  "No!" Kaja shouted. She clamped her hand over her mouth when she realized what she had done.

  The woman studied Kaja carefully.

  "So you can speak to the Master Cube?" she said. "That's interesting."

  [She's sharp.]

  Very.

  The woman stood up. "Sorry for intruding," she said. "This is my personal space. I come here when I need to think. Yanda knows that. I suspect that's why she brought you here. To get me to...well, I'm usually not sure what Yanda is thinking."

  The woman stepped closer to Kaja. There was confidence and power in the way she walked.

  "My time is up," the woman said. "But we'll have plenty of time to interact in the future, Kaja Khan."

  She turned to leave.

  "Wait," Kaja said. "Who are you?"

  The woman paused.

  "I am Kivessa. But some people call me the Blood Queen."

  Ruins Of Valor

  by TiltedPanda

  Now—thrust back into that city—he must uncover the truth about his heritage, even as the powers buried within him begin to awaken.

  Kar will have to grow strong quickly—strong enough to protect the people he cares about… and survive what he’s becoming.

  What To Expect:

  Initially weak MC who must grow beyond his limitsPowerful abilities and meaningful progression Deep, mysterious world and loreHard choices that push characters to the brink

  Upload Schedule:

  - Advanced chapters available through Patreon