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The Legend of Acrax

Past the swamps of Dara

Over the mountains of the Cribet Empire

Through the Voton Desert

In the middle of the Prarith Meadow

Lays a small kingdom by the name of Acrax

Long ago, Acrax was known for being kind and wealthy with love

They weren't the richest with gold but instead valued community and trust

All of which was due to their warm-hearted leaders

Kings and Queens with hearts of gold

Who carried love and peace throughout their land

Queen Bess rose above them all

Known throughout the lands as a strong leader of pure of heart

Under her rule, no harm could come to the kingdom or those who inhabit it

So safe, that no one even feared enough to lock their doors

Joy filled even the darkest streets and alleys

Unfortunately, everything good must come to an end

All of Acrax could feel when Queen Bess died

Distant kingdoms claimed to hear the wails of those who lost their precious queen

Darkness filled the land in their time of grieving

The next in line to the throne was the son of the dead queen, Prince Lambelien

Unlike his mother, he held hatred and darkness in his heart

Once he became King of Acrax, most expected the light and joy to return

But unfortunately, it seemed Acraxians might never again see the land they once loved

Evil now felt welcome in the kingdom

It came from far and wide

Terrorizing the land and all who live there

The once joyful citizens now cursed to live in eternal darkness

Many generations later

Well over a hundred years

King Lambelien was long dead

But each leader was viler than the last

Those who saw Acrax as a rapturous kingdom were long gone

Leaving those who know it as the kingdom filled with maliciousness

Bliss and song no longer poured out of the streets

Replaced with greed and selfishness

Everyone now had locks on their door

In all of Acrax, there is only one pure of heart

Silver for hair and eyes that contain the sea

Fair skin that couldn't hide a bone

A mangled leg that would drag behind the small child

They called her Koi Loughty

Koi watched the world around her

Standing at her little corner

Selling flowers that she would pick in the nearby fields

Trying to make enough to eat

No family to call her own

Strangers giving dirty looks from the corner of their eyes

Because how dare she ask for their precious penny

How dare she do what she could to survive

From where she stood, her heart would cry

Seeing everyone treat each other so badly

She had heard stories of the joy that used to be there

Never really believing it was real

Just a legend

That was until one day

Not long after her twelfth birthday

Koi had had enough of standing on the corner watching

What finally broke her pure heart

Was seeing a boy, about the same age as herself

Standing on the corner across from her

Selling the few trinkets he had left

Strangers giving him the same looks they gave her

Koi couldn't stand it, so she ran

And ran

And ran

As fast as she could with her contorted leg

Until it screamed for her to stop

She finally collapsed and looked around her

Not recognizing the towering buildings

An older woman exited one of the shops and looked at Koi

Inviting her inside

Dusk was fast approaching

It isn't safe to be outside when it hits

Every nook and cranny filled with books

So warm

A warmth Koi hadn't felt before

She entered

Many weeks later, Koi was still in the old bookstore

The frail, older woman had introduced herself as Merione

She became taken with the child and let her stay

On the condition that she would work in the shop

Koi found a new passion for reading

Day in and day out, her nose would bury itself in the surrounding pages

What intrigued her most were those that described what used to be

The history of Acrax

Learning of the old and loving soul of the kingdom that's now filled with hate

The patrons of the bookstore fell in love with the young girl behind the counter

Seeing her kind and loving presence was enough to make them strive to be the same

Mostly that change was restricted in the store

Once leaving its warm embrace, going back to their old ways

Lynnate Ysemay wasn't known to anyone for being kind

Quite the opposite

She long ago established herself only to have her best interest in mind

And though she was beautiful of face

Any could see her self-absorbed heart

The young woman owned the bakery across from Merione

And often visited the old woman

After meeting Koi

After seeing her act so kindly to all that she talked to

Lynnate could only assume that it was a ploy

A way to get people to spend more money

Koi noticed Lynnate as well

However, it was well before Merione had taken her in

Lynnate had been one of those strangers

A part of the crowd that would act as if she wasn't there

Judging and glaring once out of sight

Lynnate didn't recognize the girl

Couldn't see past the idea that is was all fake

That was until a man walked into the bakery

A man consumed with wickedness

King Foucaud

Enamored with the golden-haired women before him

First laying eyes on her at a ball many moons ago

Pursuing her appeared futile

But he was not a man who didn't get what he wanted

The second he entered her shop, Lynnate got chills

He called her darling

Told her how he could make all her issues disappear

When she refused to listen to his sweet promises

Koi entered to see the infamous king grabbing the poor woman behind the counter

To see the dread in Lynnate's eyes

She didn't know what to do

With adrenaline pumping through her veins

Koi ran over

Pulling and pulling on the king's arm

He threw the young girl against the wall

But her plan had worked

He had been distracted

Leaving Lynnate to escape

Seeing that his current strategy wasn't going to work

King Foucaud left

Leaving Lynnate to realize the young girl was still on the ground

That Koi had gotten hurt saving her

At that moment, Lynnate's cold exterior melted for good

The following days, Koi spent working in both shops

Mornings were the bakeries busiest time

The bookstore packed in the afternoon

Both women were completely and utterly in love with her

Koi had made them both see the potential for good around them

Lynnate, in particular, being a beam of light and joy

Unfortunately, not everyone in the kingdom appreciated the change

Seeing their hope and joy as an insult

An attack against their miserable way of life

In the middle of a warm summer night

Retaliation occurred in the form of an angry mob

Burning down the bookstore

The first place Koi could call home

Was gone by sunrise

As Merione and Koi looked upon the ashes

The mob waited to see the poor girl snap

To know that she wasn't any different from themselves

Leaving them shocked

For the poor, mangled girl didn't cry

Didn't shout in anger

But instead sang

She sang the song of hope and joy

That had once filled Acrax

For neither Koi or Merione could find it in their hearts

To lash out upon the crowd

As the notes once again carried through the silent streets

The citizens watching felt the guilt of a lifetime of wickedness

Slowly

One by one

The crowd broke down

Crying on their knees

For if this small child could forgive

How could they not forgive those around them

Those who in comparison did nothing at all

And just like Lynnate all those moons ago

The citizens of Acrax lost their cold hearts

After that night, Acrax had reclaimed a part of itself

Forgiveness and love spread like a virus

People slowly reverted to the old Acraxian ways of joy

Not going unnoticed from King Foucaud

Who with each passing day

Just became more and more evil

Finally having enough, he called upon the two women and the girl

To come before him in court

One, Two, Three

Merione, Lynnate, Koi

They walked through the castle doors

Not daring to show the fear they felt

Click Clack

Click Clack

Click Clack

They stopped before King Faucaud

Along with his many knights

Glaring at the three before him

Knowing they were the key to bring it back

In particular the youngest

The old soul of Acrax

And with it, all the evilness would be forced out

Including  himself

Faucaud knew what he had to do

He tapped his staff against the ground

Tap

Tap

Tap

And Koi was killed

At his feet

By the shiny sword of a loyal knight

All that could be heard throughout the kingdom

Was the scream of an old woman

Losing the closest thing to a child she had

The two were then free to go

Expecting the pain from their loss to consume their hearts.

Instead they released their pain and misery to anyone who listened

Told them of the king’s vile deeds

Reforming the mob

For one could not simply  justify the death of an innocent child

The pain had infected everyone

Charging the castle gates

Elimination the evil who lurked inside in one fell swoop

Then silence

Past the swamps of Dara

Over the mountains of the Cribet Empire

Through the Voton Desert

In the middle of the Prarith Meadow

Lays a small kingdom by the name of Acrax

Acrax is known for being kind and wealthy with love

They aren’t the richest with gold but instead value community and trust

All of which is due to their warm-hearted leaders

Kings and Queens with hearts of gold

Who carry love and peace throughout their land

Queen Lynnate rises above them all

Known throughout the lands as a strong leader of pure of heart

Under her rule, no harm can come to the kingdom or those who inhabit it

So safe, that no one even fears enough to lock their doors

Joy fills even the darkest streets and alleys