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To weave together myriad thoughts and reign over countless souls — this is the essence of power. However, power is not cold-blooded tyranny. Its true ideal, at its heart, is to create a utopia free of worry, schemes, and slavery. It was just as the silent lord saw in the crystal's secrets, and just as the lost companion had once taught...
— Remnant Glow of Scorching Might
(🌹)
It is said that in the middle of the dangerous desert, to all those travelers who manage to pass beyond the sandstorms and overcome the infernal heat of the area, will find a paradise, a magnificent place where plants grow and the singing of the birds is heard. And a beautiful oasis that will welcome weary travelers with open arms. It is also said that, if you were lucky enough, when the twilight turns the sky pink and orange, you will be able to see the Lord of Flowers dance in her waters, with an eternal smile on her face...
Unfortunately, these are just tales that the people of the desert told their children before they went to sleep, hoping that the Mistress of Dreams could appear in the children's dreams and protect them. No one dared to cross beyond the desert to check if this was true, and the idea that a paradise like this existed little by little was disappearing... But as they say, behind every story, there is always something of reality.
At that time, the Jinn liked to talk about a certain rumor. They talked and discussed how, from time to time, the Scarlet King, ruler of the desert, liked to go to the secret paradise of the Lord of Flowers. No one understood the reasons behind this, but since the Jinn liked to gossip, they used to talk about it. Some even dared to say that the Lord of the Blazing Sun actually liked to see the Goddess of Flowers dance, this was because they always saw him stand still in the distance, while he watched her dance in the distance without interrupting her. Even from time to time, it was said that he left some flowers for the Goddess, in commemoration of those dances that he saw...
No one knew the reason behind this. The King would see the goddess dance in the oasis, and then he would leave without saying anything. These encounters became more and more common, and from there something intimate ended up emerging between them... It is even said that, when the Goddess of Flowers arrived at the oasis and did not see the Scarlet King anywhere, she waited until he appeared, to start her dance, hoping the Lord of Sand didn't miss any of her moves. It was a private moment between them, the King watched her dance from afar, and the Mistress of Dreams danced for him, all without either of them saying anything. It seemed that things were going to be like this forever, shy and silent meetings, where they only decided to appreciate the moment.
However, one day, in one of their many meetings, something different happened.
"Do you like what you see, Al-Ahmar?"
The cheerful voice of the Goddess of Flowers broke the silence that reigned between those two. And the King Deshret looked at the woman, with a static look and that did not reflect any feeling.
Nabu Malikata, the Goddess of Flowers, had stopped dancing, and was now looking directly at the King, once again, with a smile on her face. Silence was formed once more between them, while the sound of the birds that took flight towards the sky was heard. Soon, the King, with a solemn voice, decided to answer.
"Creatures who born with the ability to dance are very lucky beings. And those who, however, lack that quality, can only appreciate the art from afar."
The Mistress of Dreams chuckled gently at the Lord of Sand's response. The King raised an eyebrow, genuinely confused, as if he didn't understand why the woman was laughing. Soon, he could see how she got a little closer to where he was.
"Art can be appreciated for all. But it can also be created, even those with clumsy hands can become artists." she replied, once again with a smile on her face. Suddenly, she reached out a hand to him, waiting for him to take it. And then, she spoke again "Would you like to try it?"
The Scarlet King looked at the woman's hand, and took a while to react. It was almost as if there was doubt in his gaze. But finally, he took it. Nabu Malikata led the King to the center of the oasis, where the water was only up to their ankles. She placed one of her hands on Al-Ahmar's shoulder, while he continued to hold Nabu Malikata's hand. They could see the glowing reflection of the sun in the water of the oasis. The atmosphere was filled with a special energy, as if the universe was ready to witness something extraordinary.
Then the woman began to move, soft and melodious, but at the same time slow, as if she expected the man to follow her steps. However, the King's movements were clumsy and even hesitant, even though she was patient and waited for him, it was obvious that the Queen of the Garden was much more experienced than him. And that the sovereign of the sands had never danced in his life. That only made Nabu Malikata laugh, who found the man's attempts to try to dance funny, even the man's emotionless expression turned into one of embarrassment, seeing that he was not able to follow her.
"I never thought that the almighty King Deshret could be so unskilled at dancing." Those words of the goddesses filled the Lord of Sand with interest, who looked up to see his companion. She could see how his cheeks took on a faint reddish tone.
"As I have said, those who lack the quality to dance can only appreciate it from afar. And I am afraid I was not born with that quality either." Al-Ahmar tried to defend himself, with his voice firm, though his blush was evident. That once again caused the Goddess to laugh, only this time it was a somewhat more compassionate laugh.
"Even so, everyone can learn. Even the mightiest kings..." she said, without taking her eyes off the man, and without stopping moving, she spoke again. "Close your eyes, imagine that you are invisible to the world... And let your heart guide you."
By the time the Goddess of Flowers finished speaking, a soft song began to come out of her lips, that little lullaby did not interrupt her dance, but accompanied it. King Deshret followed the words of the Goddess and closed his eyes, allowing Nabu Malikata's melody and instructions to envelop him. He took a deep breath, letting the sound of the song transport him to a different place, free of worries and responsibilities.
Little by little, the Scarlet King began to let himself be carried away by the music, allowing his movements to emerge from the depths of his being. Although he was hesitant at first, little by little his movements became graceful and fluid. He let his heart take control, freeing himself from any self-criticism and surrendering to the present moment.
Time stopped. The Mistress of Dreams continued to dance around him, guiding him with her presence and her soft voice. Her steps were delicate and precise, while the King's began to gain confidence and dexterity. Together, they created a perfect harmony, a dance in which differences dissolved and connection transcended any limitations. The environment seemed to transform as they danced; the oasis became their stage. The flowers of the oasis swayed to the rhythm of his dance, the leaves of the trees rustled in complicity and a cool breeze caressed his skin. The sun's rays filtered through the treetops, creating a play of light and shadow that added a magical touch to the setting.
Time melted away as the King Deshret and the Goddess of Flowers danced. Each movement was full of intention and emotion, each step spoke of a unique story. Together, they created their own language, a dance that expressed the meeting of two souls in a moment of surrender and acceptance.
Soon, Nabu Malikata's song came to an end, and the two beings slowly came to a stop. King Al-Ahmar opened his eyes and looked at his companion. Suddenly the Goddess of Flowers could see a genuine smile on the lips of the king, as if he was silently thanking her for allowing him to dance with her. The Lord of Flowers could only nod, as if she accepted his thanks.
The twilight was ending, the sun's rays began to hide on the horizon. With a nostalgic expression, the Mistress of Dreams looked up at the sky, while slowly the night came...
"Someday..." the Scarlet King began to speak, also watching the sun go down. "... I will create a paradise in these lands, a place where the children of the desert can live without worry and slavery. And I will rule my children to create a utopia."
The Lord of Flowers looked at the King, curious about his words. King Deshret's ambitions were admirable, and perhaps somewhat naive. Because in this world, no matter how powerful you are, the heavens are the ones who rule and end up subduing all those who try to surpass them. But still, Al-Ahmar's words piqued the interest of Nabu Malitaka...
"I would like to see that paradise that you describe, some day." she spoke, wistfully, as she directed her gaze to the man beside her.
King Deshret and the Goddess of Flowers looked into each other's eyes, sensing the connection that had arisen between them.
"So, let's create that utopia, Together." Al-Ahmar spoke, firmly, but something had changed. His gaze had softened, as he looked at Nabu Malikata, a genuine and sincere smile appeared on his face.
The Goddess of Flowers widened her eyes in surprise, the proposal was tempting... And without a doubt, she could provide that the Scarlet King would need help to create that paradise. She returned the smile, radiant and full of joy, as she took his hands and nodded, agreeing to her idea.
The pact had been formed.
That night, King Deshret and the Lord of Flowers danced and laughed, made plans, and stayed together all night until the sun rose again. The memory of that day, of that dance, of that single moment, remained engraved in his memory.
But unfortunately, time waits for no one. And the oath of that day was broken.
Legends say that the Goddess of Flowers was willing to help Al-Ahmar with his dream, to build a paradise for themselves and for mortals. But she died in the process, sacrificing herself so that the greedy king could fulfill his ambition. Ultimately, it is said that King Deshret created his utopia, free from "worries, schemes and slavery", based on what Nabu Malikata had once taught him. However, without her by his side, Al-Ahmar began to have a darker and sadder view of the world. He created an eternal oasis that would serve as the grave of his beloved, and that it was preserved in a single moment, so that she could rest forever. A new rumor spread among the Jinn, who from time to time claimed to have seen King Deshret go to the eternal oasis and stay there for hours. Perhaps, from the bottom of his heart, he hoped to see Nabu Malikata dance again on the waters of that oasis... His grief at losing his companion and the desire to create that paradise finally drove him crazy. And eventually, to save the people from him, he himself chose to sacrifice himself too, leaving this world to move on to the next... And perhaps thus be able to reunite with her.
Over time, the stories of the Scarlet King and the Goddess of the flowers were losing importance, and became mere legends and tales that people did not pay attention to them... Sadly, the promise that both made in that oasis could not be fulfilled.
But despite everything, even if their destinies parted ways, that oath lived on in slumber...
(🥀)
"...no... Cyno..."
The General Mahamatra heard a distant and soft voice, as if someone was calling for him. Despite the fact that everything around him was darkness, the young man did his best to follow that voice. Until finally, Cyno woke up from his lethargy, opening his eyes somewhat disoriented. Above him, he saw that redhead girl, her head tilted looking directly at him. But the girl was looking at him with worry, and when she spoke, there was sadness in her voice as well.
"Are you alright?"
Nilou's question surprised the young matra a bit. He opened his mouth to ask her, but then, he began to feel how his cheek was wet... When Cyno wanted to check it, he placed a hand on his cheek, and sure enough, he could notice how several silent tears fell from his eyes.
He was crying.
But why? He couldn't even remember it. The last thing he remembers is falling asleep on Nilou's lap while she sang. Next to him, a beautiful oasis where both young people had been dancing hours ago, that was what he remembered. But from there everything is blurry. Cyno has the feeling of having been plunged into a very deep sleep that he can't remember, a very distant and confused dream.
He didn't know what he had dreamed, but when he thought about it, he couldn't help but notice that his chest tightened and ached... It must have been a terrible dream. Nilou's voice soon snapped him back to reality.
"You were crying. It looks like you were having a nightmare." she spoke worriedly, while one of her hands began to caress the boy's forehead. "What did you dream about?"
Cyno closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts... But nothing, there was no way to remember. And maybe it was better not to. He wiped away the tears that remained in his eyes, before beginning to speak.
"I don't know…I can't remember." General Mahamatra confessed, opening his eyes to see the dancer.
Nilou listened to the young man and thought for a moment, before simply smiling.
"I see... Sometimes our mind forgets things that are not important. Or painful memories that it is better not to remember." she spoke again, trying to comfort the boy. "But if you remember, you can talk about it with me."
She leaned down a little and kissed his forehead, before returning to the position from before, now going on to caress the young man's hair. And as if by magic, Cyno felt the pain that formed in his heart disappear. He smiled back, feeling a warm sensation around him as he closed his eyes again. He was still tired, honestly he wouldn't mind sleeping a little more...
Suddenly, a soft and sweet voice filled his ears. Cyno's eyes widened a little as he watched Nilou begin to sing, in a low and calm tone so as not to disturb General Mahamatra. A lullaby for him, to help him relax. The white-haired man let out a long breath from his lips, relaxing his body and letting her sing. It was so quiet, just the two of them, enjoying that song that Nilou was singing for him... This really seemed like a dream, one from which he didn't want to wake up.
And yet he couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity in all of this. As if he had already experienced it before. Cyno was sure that he had heard that song before, somewhere else... But where? When the dancer stopped singing, he decided to solve his doubts.
"That song... I think I've heard it before." the boy whispered, lifting one of his hands to caress Nilou's cheek as he stared at her. "Where did you learn it?"
Nilou opened her eyes with some surprise at Cyno's question, and she, like him, reflected a little on her answer. However, Nilou ended up smiling sadly as she looked at her partner, before answering.
"Sorry... But I can't remember."
Of course, none of those young people could know what was going on with them, why they had memories they couldn't remember... Distant memories that, no matter how much they try to remember it, they can't. Although they know that those memories are there, asleep inside... But, even if neither could remember it, both Cyno and Nilou were sure that they had both been part of something very important, in the past, many years ago...
But of course, time passes, and the world forgets. The songs of yesteryear are buried by the golden sand. Eventually we will all be forgotten, and even if we are reincarnated in this world again, there is no way to remember our past life. Even if those memories are in you, there is no way to awaken them.
However, there is something that is true... Even if the world and the forest end up forgetting about them, the golden sands of the desert will always remember. The memories and oaths of yesteryear will live on in the sand, forever.