Winter sun reflects

long shadows of ice skaters

snowflakes on their cheeks.

* * *

Niale: I think my progress so far has been growing rapidly.

Sand Keeper: Haha! Okay, Pharaoh. It’s not like I have a Scepter to defeat you with. You have an unfair advantage.

Niale: What do you mean? I am using a small amount of my power. You just haven’t been training that’s all.

Sand Keeper: Thank the Gods for that then. I’m only using a fraction of my power too. Wait till you see me at my full potential.

Niale: Ahaha! Wow. If you say so. We shall see who wins the next traning round.

Sand Keeper: (smiles) I am glad to have you here. I mean, (clears throat) as a worthy training partner. Anyway, you seem kind of distracted. What’s the matter?

Niale: I’m glad to be here. Really, I am. But I can’t help to wonder why I left.

Sand Keeper: I can help fill in the gaps of what happened that day.

Niale: Thanks. I think it may have had something to do with my parents.

***************************

A short period before Niale was born- the Pharaoh and his Queen longed to have a child. One day, their wish came true. And they had a beautiful strong baby girl.

The two royal leaders didn’t mind having only one child. They loved their daughter with all their hearts. They named her Niale, a name that was almost the same with the name of the river Nile. This way they knew that their child would always be connected to home. No matter where she went if someone called her, she would remember home and not feel so alone anymore.

They trained their heiress in all the teachings, Arts & many traditions of their kingdom. Niale in no time grew to become wise, brave, and strong. And one day the Pharaoh would pass down the family Scepter to his beloved child.

Word of the growth and power of the Egyptian kingdom scattered to all the neighboring regions & kingdoms. One kingdom from the nearby border of Egypt had heard of how rich and fertile the land near the river Nile was. The King of Svoth travelled with his army to see Egypt and all it’s riches.

In the distance one of the guards saw the army approaching. He blew the battle horn and soon all started panicking- except for the Egyptian militia and Egypt’s rulers.

Niale was told to wait within the city gates. The Pharaoh placed his army attire on. He also instructed his family to be alert. Whoever had come to bring chaos in his kingdom would regret it.

The King of Svoth from the top of a hill viewed the glorious land of Egypt. Then in a matter of seconds he saw the statues of Egypt rise. They stood like great giants on the battlefield. Soon the ground began to shake from the sudden motion of the Egyptian undead militia.

The Pharaoh, with the Scepter in hand, charged towards the Svoths. The King and his army came charging towards the Egyptian army as well.

Arrows flew in the Svoths direction. The King of Svoth raised his left hand and dark clouds, out of nowhere, gathered in the sky.

Niale was worried and ran out of the calm zone. She dashed from the palace and heard her Mother shout from a distance, “Niale!” She looked back and saw a tear run down her Mother’s face.

The battle cries were loud and clear for all the folks to hear. Niale was now at the back of the Egyptian army. Before she even had the chance to run to the front, she felt a hand on her right shoulder. It was her close friend and training partner- the Sand Keeper.

Niale~ (nervously) Where’s the Pharaoh? Where is my Father?

Sand Keeper~ Naile, he asked me to keep an eye out for you.

Niale~ No. I want to fight by his side.

Sand Keeper~ I have to keep my word.

Niale~ Let me go, please.

The Sand Keeper placed his hand on his chest & bowed. Niale ran in a heartbeat to the Pharaoh’s side.

The battle raged on. The King of the Svoths whistled and a giant beast appeared out of the desert sand. The Pharaoh had never faced a sand beast before. He could hardly tell where it was in the sand. The beast moved in the desert sand like it was moving in water.

He held onto his Scepter tightly and prayed to the Gods.

Niale stopped in her tracks. Her father was facing a sand beast. She wasn’t even ready to face an army.

The Pharaoh tried to get closer to the King of the Svoths. But he didn’t see the beast moving toward him.

The King of the Svoths smiled wickedly, as the Pharaoh approached. Niale screamed out loud, “Behind you!”

As soon as the Pharaoh turned around- he came face to face with the desert sand beast. It growled in his face & showed it’s razor sharp teeth. Niale leaped into the air and jumped in her father’s direction.

The Pharaoh grabbed his daughter and tossed her to the side. Before he was swallowed by the beast- he handed Niale the family Scepter.

Niale felt frozen and she didn’t know what to do next. She heard an evil laugh coming from the King of the Svoths.

She held onto the Scepter with both of her hands. Then right at that moment she felt a wave of energy move through her body. Her eyes glowed & sparked like a flame. The King of the Svoths’ laughter faded. He was struck with fear at the sight of this mighty young Pharaoh.

The Sand Keeper led the undead militia to victory. Meanwhile, Niale’s radiant energy light blinded her enemy. The light was much brighter than the light of the sun.

Niale came back to normal, and the Sand Keeper caught her in his arms before she fell to the ground.

The Pharaoh’s daughter had saved the city and her people. But she had lost her father. Her mother was in the palace waiting for her.

Niale was placed on the bed to rest. She had a terrible headache, and fever.

Later after dusk, when all were asleep, Niale woke up and went looking for her father. The moonlight shined so bright that she didn’t even need any lit candle, or torch.

Niale walked further away from the kingdom and soon became lost. She felt like the moon was the only thing giving her hope.

The young Pharaoh stared at the moon and grew faint. Her Scepter started glowing as the moonlight hit it. The last thing she thought she saw was her father before she left her kingdom without a trace.

The next day, her mother and all of Egypt mourned for the Pharaoh and his daughter.

****************************

Niale: My whole being feels shaken from remembering what happened on the day of the battle.

Sand Keeper: You’re a strong leader. And person. From that moment, I trained every single day on & on. I should have kept watch over you every hour.

Niale: No. You kept your word. Maybe if I had not been on the battlefield then my father would have defeated the sand beast.

Sand Keeper: Let’s not dwell on the past anymore, Pharaoh.

Niale: You’re right. Thank you for filling in the details of my vanishing.

Sand Keeper: (Bows) I will be even more alert this time. I will keep my word to you and your father.

#Radiant

#Svoths

I'm sorry.

For all the things I didn't do,

and the useless words I said.

Maybe, I'm even more sorry for,

the things I did do, and the words I

didn't say.

I deserve this purge,

this cleansing by the mountain.

Death,

I welcome you with arms wide open,

Waiting, yearning, hoping.

Ashes pour down from the sky,

And lodge in undeserving human eyes.

Someday,

longer and farther away

than my father's father,

Someone might learn that,

the truth doesn't pick and choose.

It destroys everything but itself.

I used to wander dark paths,

stumbling across rocks or maybe

protruding teeth from the ravenous ground.

The beggar stetches out his hand.

Name: Elias.

Clutching his grandiose jacket,

And pretensious clothes,

To his body.

I once stood where he now stands,

I built my house on shifting sands,

and walked in the place of sadness.

Sometimes I wish I was still there,

The easy place,

The hiding place.

I wish I never found the searing light,

sometimes

It reduces me to a teaspoon of steaming ashes,

devoid of the former waste and badness.

Happiness... I forgot the feeling

Even right now the thought of dying is appealing

I need help, but i'm too afraid to ask

Because if I do I risk losing it all so fast

But its too late, I already lost my sparkle

Lost my shine because I sent my heart through a parcel

They say when a heart breaks its shatter can be heard for miles

The sound of a muscle crushing can be heard in many different styles

This is where I ask for help, my life has stopped

I dont want to be alive anymore, death is a wonderful thought

Im told to meditate, to take deep breaths

Im told it will cure me, as if depression was just a pest

But no, its a disease among many of us, a curse

Its the number one reason teenagers end up in a hearse

Because nobody cares, at least the ones who are important

But not many care about me, Dylan Horton

A promise was made, and I dont want her to die

If I go she goes, and I really dont know why

Everything moved so fast, and you did too

Here I am rehearsing how to tie a knot in a noose

Ill always have the scissors to cut the ones I love down

But when im hanging from a rope, who'll be there to keep me on the ground?

The feeling of blood filling capillaries after consistant pressure holding the blood back

The heat, how it transfers through the veins of the body, flowing with every downbeat of the heart

Like a bass drum the heart thumps, pumping liquid substance to every organ of your existence

It isnt meant to leave your body, but it eases your mind when it does

It reminds you of your salty existence and how you're just as human as the rest of us

Our harms are different

You see, you let something escape through your veins, as I let something enter mine

A substance capable of crushing souls, and destroying peoples minds

Someting capable of tearing apart your own being, or even the people that you love

Something just as dangerous as bleeding out, but it gives me clarity

On cold days like these, this substance warms my veins

And it clears my mind.

Mr. Christ, where have you been?

If my life will turn great, please tell me when?

I cant go on living like I have my own purpose

Because I feel like you're doing this on purpose

My life is in your control, some people say

Everything I do, you always have it your way

If that is so, what god does this to the ones they love?

I dont believe in you and you expect my faith not to budge?

Ha, you're a funny guy Mr. Christ

Ill sell my soul to the Devil, "name your price"

Because im sure he's so much greater than you

Because he's not the piece of shit whos putting me through

Ill go to Hell, im sure ill go

So why the fuck shouldnt I sell my soul?

You hate me, God, and I know it too

You hate me, God, I know you do

At some point i'll give up on life

I did my best

I did my worst

Maybe in the afterlife i'll be better?

Maybe i'll be worse

Who knows?

I will soon I suppose