***

There is a story passed amongst tribes of the 7 kingdoms. A story of how the palace of white marble city was built. According to the tale, there existed a world before this. A world well populated with men. Men who heartlessly destroyed the earth and drove animals to extinction. Not because they needed to survive but for fun. They caused harm to themselves and turned their blackened hearts unto the earth. God was angry. He had enough of it. He blessed them and in return the humans had failed to cherish it. So he came to the earth himself, along with Howl and Kira, to lay waste to all that existed both man, animal and plants. As long as it lived, it died. And all that was built was reduced to dust, and all that was created ceased to exist.

After the complete eradication, the earth was rejuvenated. Streams flowed where there were none, mountains rose on once flat lands. Lush flora grew on every surface and all kinds of fauna existed. The earth was filled with life again. She was young like she once was. Beautiful and unsoiled. And with aid from Howl and Kira, God populated the earth with humans once again...And in the centre of it all, He took upon himself to build the white marble palace which in the capital and placed upon the throne a young boy of barely 12 who united the 7 kingdoms and all tribes... The Emperor.

***

“Old-man Ioran”

Loran, the first emperor of the white marble palace, sat at in his private garden gazing thoughtlessly at the stars.

“OLD-MAN IORAN” louder this time. Ioran turned, the voice belonged to his third great-grand son, Lorn, a deadly cute child he was although they could have done a better job with his name. It was a pitiful thing his mother had done to him, giving him such a cold name on her deathbed as though she meant to hunt him for the rest of his life. Indeed, poor Lorn was hunted and he was truly alone in the palace. Though, all children of the palace are considered to be offspring of the empress they could still feel love from their mothers, the concubines of the emperor, often being pampered and receiving gifts from them. Not Lorn. He had no mother and the royal parents were expected to be impartial towards all the children, poor Lorn could not be favoured, not by his parents anyway.

Ioran, however, was a different case. He loved the boy to death. No, not out of pity, but for the fact that he could only ever see himself in the boy. At barely 7 years of age, Lorn had shown great wisdom and talented in every aspect of his life. He dealt with every problem with such maturity that it astounded even the wise men of the palace... that is if one would consider those bumbling idiots wise.

Yes, he showed more talent than I at the age of 12 when I became the emperor. But that was 300 years ago. I am nothing but an old man now. The head of a council of elders that holds no real power. How amusing, to think I was once the most powerful man that existed. I have been cast aside by my useless sons, who seem to have sworn to destroy 120 years of my life with their egotistical foolishness. He thought to himself. Not this child though, this child is different. Outstanding. He can correct the errors of his worthless fathers.

“Lorn, my boy. What brings you here?”

“I just finished my dinner and wondered where you were. What are you doing out in the cold?” He asked. A curious child he is.

“Come. Sit and watch the stars with me. This old man is expecting a very important guest tonight. Will you wait with me?”

Lorn seemed a little shy, glancing around timidly.

“Of course. I don’t have anything else to do.” He quietly placed himself on his old man’s lap. Ioran stifled a quiet laugh.

He must have been lonely. He can’t be blamed. This is usually the when children of the palace spend time with their mothers. He could have been adopted and cared for by another concubine but they are probably too scared as he could easily outshine their own offspring. Things would become very difficult for him soon. My poor boy. There is really nothing I can do for you but this... His thoughts trailed off. It was about time now. Soon... very soon.

“Old friend, it seem you have finally arrived” Lorn had fallen asleep not long ago. Not far from where they sat stood a large feline and a man. Slowly, they made way towards where the two sat and stopped an arm’s length away.

“You have waited long.” the voice of the man had stirred young Lorn awake. He starred in bewilderment at the image in front of him. A man that could not be described as human, with a presence that seemed to exist everywhere and eyes that saw everything. His voice reverberated and everything around seem to come alive at the sound of it. By his side, a large black feline. She stood full of grace and nimble, staring back at him with just the same intensity.

“It seems I have awoken the young one.” He said after glancing at Lorn then back at the Ioran.

“Lorn, my child-...” Lorn glanced up at Ioran, but rather than fear, his eyes were filled with excitement. The boy was not afraid of what he saw. Ioran smiled. Truly, this boy that sat on his legs was one of his descendants. Normally, one would quiver in fear at the sight of such, especially if this image greeted one from sleep. Lorn hurried down from his Ioran’s legs and walk towards the large feline. He started to stroke her fur with a smile on his face.

“Lorn, have you no fear in you?” the young man asked. Turning his attention to the man

“If the old man does not fear you, then I have no reason to. Rather than needless fear, it is better to understand what I see, is it not?”

Both men laughed at his reply, not to mock him. No it seemed more like a sign of approval. However, Lorn paid no mind and played on with his feline friend who responded to his affection.

“Ioran, it is almost time. You know I can’t leave you here any longer.” The atmosphere was no longer playful and the eyes of the young man had turned serious. He sat beside Ioran.

“You cannot correct the mistakes of your sons, it is unfair that you have to keep watching them kill eachother.” Ioran smiled sadly. It’s true. After he retired as the emperor, in a bid to sit on the throne, his sons, those foolish men, became tools for greedy men with wicked hearts and killed each other. Some had even attempted to start wars. Rebellions rose from dissatisfied tribes. It was chaos everywhere and a complete waste of the empire he had built.

“I can’t seem to forgive myself, perhaps if I had not retired or if I had been a better guide to them all this would not have happened.”

“My friend, you can’t keep blaming yourself for all that has happened. You did your best and your sons did what was in their hearts.”

“Indeed... but I fear for the life of poor Lorn.” He gazed lovingly at Lorn, who was still playing with the large feline. “He is alone here... i don’t think I have it in me to abandon him. Deos, my friend, please...” Ioran was softly crying now. The thought of living poor Lorn alone tore his heart into shreds... he truly loved the boy.

“He is smart, he’ll survive.” Ioran looked sorrowfully at Deos.

“Please, understand me. I...”

“What more do you wish to do for him. You have given him an army or do you perhaps think that you would live out the rest of his life with him?” Deos scolded. This caught the attention of young Lorn.

“Old man?” he walked towards Ioran now. He had noticed his tear-stained face. Even in the dark the boy’s eyes were sharp.

“Old man is everything fine?” He stood in front of Ioran now.

“Why yes, of course everything is fine.” He hugged the boy. Now he pitied him. His life was going to be very difficult... worse than he had imagined. Deos let out a sigh and the silence that followed seemed to go on forever.

“Kira!” He finally said. The large feline formed into a scantily dressed beautiful tall dark skinned woman with hair as black as night and a presence that felt as though one was being hunted by her.

“My lord?” she replied as she walked towards them.

“It is time to leave”

“Of course” she leaned over to Lorn. Caressing his face, she gazed lovingly at the now confused Lorn.

“Lovely child, things may be difficult for you soon. But remember, you are not alone. Your cold name will not define your future and you will never lose your way as long as you know whose son you are. Surely, you must know that you are my child. I created you with the greatest love, care and affection and I blessed you with my heart filled with joy. so do not ever feel that you are not loved” Her voice was soft and slightly seductive stealing one’s complete attention and enrapturing the senses. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and in his hands placed a ruby pendent in his hands. With that the lady turned around to leave. Deos stood now, to follow suite. He stared intensely at the pair and finally he said

“You have 3 years. 3 years from now, Howl will come for you. Educate the boy yourself...” with that he turned around to leave but then he stooped as though he had remembered something important..

“Make sure the boy does no lay his eyes on Howl. He is not so kind as to listen to your pleas” And the pair was gone. The garden fell silent. The pair was gone and it felt as if they were never there.

After a moment of silence, Ioran ruffled Lorn’s hair.

“My boy, it seem you have the support of some very important people.” He was crying, with a smile on his face. Lorn looked at him. He understood vaguely what had happened and knew without being told that what had happened in the garden that night was secret to be kept and if possible forgotten.

Ioran picked his boy up. “Let’s go in now. It’s cold out here”

“Yes, old man”

And so the garden was silent. young Lorn was put to bed and old Ioran stayed up all night thinking of how to help his beloved child...