My cottage is nestled in the heart of Drinn, a valley-town located in the western Region of Raia. Drinn embodies the dichotomy of life here– a town reduced to decay and wane lying in the shadows of the most gorgeous expanse my world has to offer. I’ve lived here my whole life, as my Mother did hers, and my Grandmother did hers. This cottage holds generations of memories that vary greatly between the three of us, but share a common theme. Our memories have been deeply shaped by the regime that controls us — that has controlled us for centuries now — The Order.


    My cottage has been facing its own peril since the death of my Mother six years ago — a loss that I haven’t quite processed yet. She always prided herself on maintaining the cottage, creating a home filled with love and peace, despite the circumstances. I do my best, too, but the truth is, it wasn’t built to survive the disparaging climate conditions here. None of our infrastructure is.


    The mountainous landscape that consumes Drinn’s horizon is known as The Ranges — considered the most ancient mountain range on Raia, and the very epicenter of our Magic. She exudes an otherworldly power that can only be appreciated from a distance, with dominating peaks and fog so intertwined it’s as if She’s telling you a secret. The mountain slab is draped in Aetheris, a native mineral that harbors the The Ranges power, and disperses her Magic to us. It glows in differing shades of blue, and creates a kaleidoscope of colors that will bring you to tears. It’s the most profound beauty I’ve ever seen, and the only beauty I’ve ever known.


    ~


    My lands were once governed under a thriving democracy until The Order took reign, five hundred years ago. A formidable militia that wields a dark, otherworldly Magic, The Order represents the interests of Dark King Kai – a menacing ruler who warped our democracy into a totalitarian regime and ruthlessly secured power for himself and his lineage. The Order has occupied the West for almost a millennia and has fully seized the mining operations of our Aetheris, providing rations to us and the other regions, while the majority is transported North for the Dark King to hoard. As time progresses, the potency of our Aetheris wanes for unknown reasons – still, more is sent to him, and less to us. The very mineral that ensures our survival, our planets survival, taken from us. Driving us to ruin.


    Political unrest unravels as The Order centers their occupation on Drinn, deploying dozens of new Reavers here every day, and asserting more control than ever before. The proximity to The Ranges, to the Aetheris, is certainly a factor — but beyond that, we are kept in the dark. Forced to endure their violence with absolutely no promise of life, surviving minute to minute.


    No one knows the truth of why our Magic is waning, but what I know is this - the more Kai’s grip tightens over us, over the Aetheris, the more the Magic seems to deteriorate. It’s as if The Ranges are seeking revenge on an evil entity that wronged Her. As if someone, or something, stole what wasn’t theirs and now She is withholding Her gifts until it''s rightfully returned. Whatever it is, if we don’t discover the truth, fast, my kind will cease to exist.


    ~


    I woke up on my twenty-sixth birthday to the roaring sounds of sirens coming from outside my bedroom window. The blue and white lights are shining through my mangled drapes and bleaching the wall in front of me. I guess it’s time to wake up. Ms. Hale lives three doors down and is in the infirmary often – looks like this is for her again. The healers don’t bring her in anymore, they have so little to offer her that they can only focus on keeping her comfortable. I bundle up in winter garb, slip on my boots, and head out to the library. I take note to check on her when I get back.


    It’s about a five-minute walk to the library, with a strip of vacant buildings that were once thriving businesses lining the streets along the way. It''s the coldest day of the year today, as it typically is on my birthday, but today reaches all-time-low temperatures. Our rampant climate change is a touchy subject that most avoid, as if our words speak it into existence. . I think it’s too damning for some to acknowledge, especially now that the South fell and became inhabitable.


    As I continue my walk I spot the library ahead, and notice three Reavers surveilling the front entrance. They are donned in metal plated armor and towering over the sidewalk as they monitor the townspeople walking by – exuding strength and power. The Reavers possess fragments of the Dark King’s magic, a reward given to those who survive the trials of training camp, and prove their unwavering loyalty to Kai. The gifts vary depending on the natural acuity and skill of each Reaver, but all are given one gift that solidifies their united front – weaponry doused in dark Magic. Every blade they adorn can bludgeon us in a second, but a Bloodsword is considered the deadliest weapon, and the highest honor and only given to the most gifted Deathreavers — those who have dedicated their life to Kai’s agenda.


    I notice the weaponry holstered tightly at their hip, two blades and a shield, waiting to be wielded at a moment''s notice.


    It seems like there will be Reavers deployed here permanently now. I give a polite nod to the group of three, and continue inside the library to safety. I’m greeted by one librarian monitoring the front desk, and I can sense her energy shift when she looks outside and spots them, clearly deterring townspeople from coming in. As if they haven’t taken enough already.


    Last week, two librarians walked in at opening hours to find the entire place ransacked. The front doors were left ajar and nearly all of the books disappeared without a trace. As hostility grows, rebellion groups have surged in response, one of the largest being the Shadowseekers. They’ve existed for centuries and have gained a heavy following recently, their primary focus being to gain a deeper insight into our history, and uncover missing details about our magic. The Order issued an executive ruling banning all history books from our shelves, a way to nullify the Shadowseekers efforts without invoking violence. The shelves are basically bare now with only romance novels and recipe books left to check-out. I’m surprised the Library has stayed open at all. I peruse for a whole three seconds at the current selection, grab three books, and walk out the back exit. Avoiding the Reavers at all costs.


    ~


    As I continue my brave voyage far, far away from the armed Reavers, I hug my books to my chest and jog to the bakery down the street. I’m meeting Mei and Eve and they’re always late, so I know I’ll be the first one there. I pick up the pace because the air is piercing my cheeks and quite frankly, I’m freezing. The icicles sewn into the branches should be melting by now, but they adhere so tightly that the ice and branch have become one. The cold is here to stay. Hooray. I step into the bakery and am immediately consumed by the heat being emitted from the small fireplace on the left. Locals gather around to soak in the very little heat left in this town, making themselves scarce. The shelf next to the register is basically empty with a couple of two-day-old pastries sitting idly. Even the pastries look hesitant, I wonder why. I look at the Reavers taking up two of the four tables here, and realize one table is filled with a decadent spread of pastries that looks so, so delicious. Another Reaver is sitting alone at the other table, sipping on a mineral blend.


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    A family of four walk in behind me and the near-empty shelves stare at all of us. I look back to see the two adults silently signaling to each other to leave, mentally acknowledging the Reavers seated beside them. As they turn around to leave, I quickly step out of line and offer them my spot. I walk to the table closest to the door and set my books down, giving the Woman a polite smile as her two children, both boys, grab the last of the stale pastries. Her partner is quietly paying at the register. Weary. One of the Reavers approaches the fire and holds his hands out for warmth, giving the people next to him some space, appearing harmless. But his looming presence is enough for them to bundle up and leave, and family of four quickly fell in step behind them. As they open the door to the freezing cold abyss, Mei and Eve walk in.


    ~


    “Scaring them off again, huh? Have they finally realized you all don’t bathe?” Eve snarls at the Reaver hovering near the fire. He turns to meet her eyes and is now facing my table. He’s wearing the dressed-down version of The Order uniform – leather boots with dark green trousers and a standard wool coat. I guess this is his day off. A few strands of reddish brown hair escape from the back of his hat which looks…human. It isn’t typical for The Order to share any of our physical attributes, Kai’s power typically turns their hair and eyes completely black – a way to unify them — represent them as one entity. My curiosity is immediately piqued but I can’t investigate it further because I’m pretty sure Eve is in deep with him and someone, me, will need to diffuse this. He sports a red sash around his arm indicating his rank. He’s a Deathreaver, holstering a bloodsword at his hip.


    He looks at her and pauses. Eve spots me by the door and struts toward my table, pretending nothing happened. Mei quietly follows and takes note of the weapons he bares. She elbows Eve and sits down, desperately trying to avoid confrontation. He approaches us but his eyes are burning at me, a look that I can’t quite make out. Ruminative, almost. I instantly look away.


    The posse of reavers still seated, gleefully eating, smell the tension from across the room and rise from their chairs, ready to swarm us like a pack of wolves. Fuck. The Deathreaver waves them off, but they stride over in unison like it’s some trained ritual and tower over our table anyway. All three of us are frozen in time, just waiting for this moment to pass. I make eye contact with the Deathreaver– hoping he registers that we’re real Beings and not just a means for control. As his cadets loom over us, Eve stands up on her ten toes and stares them down. They are ready to pounce but the Deathreaver steps in front and stares right back, pensive. I glance at Mei and we do what we know we have to, we push our heels down and stand with Eve, collectively accepting whatever fate this stand-off may bring as one. I can feel the blade tucked in my right boot that I keep for emergencies, mentally preparing myself to use it to protect my friends. Though I know it won’t do anything.


    Just as he inhales to start speaking, another Reaver storms in and demands his attention immediately. As they whisper back and forth, the conversation suddenly pauses. He sends a knowing glance to his cadets and before we could blink, they’re gone. The Bakery owner and the couple at the remaining table are staring at the door, breathing shallowly. The three of us are still frozen in our trying-to-be-big positions as we give each other a “what the fuck just happened?” look. Something is going on.


    “Damn, that really worked? You guys think they were scared of me?” Eve quips. Mei’s eyes dart at her –


    “I think you just got really really lucky. Can you….not do that? Please? I’m not interested in dying today, surprisingly.”


    Mei looks to me for validation which I understand. She’s not one to tell Eve what to do – she knows it’ll be a waste of time.


    “Jo, can you please talk some sense into her? Mei adds.


    “She never listens”. I look up to Eve.


    “That was a deathreaver, and his cadets were fully armed. I saw the third one''s blade start pulsing - You’re lucky he didn’t just slaughter you… all of us.” Eve''s eyes are burning with rage


    “Let them – I don’t care. I won’t be intimidated by them – most of the reavers are frauds, anyway, did you know they are drafted against their will, their families threatened if they refuse? If they truly wanted to kill us all – why haven’t they yet? They have complete control of our Aetheris, they don’t need us.”


    Eve makes a good point – it’s clear they want to control us, keep us at bay, but we’re helpless against them – they could take us out with one sword strike. Why haven’t they?


    I look to Mei who is observing, still hesitant and monitoring the door – making sure no other Reavers enter.


    “How do you even know that information? About how they’re drafted? Why are you suddenly sharing it?” I ask. Eve pauses and whispers “I….can’t tell you right now. But I do know there are bigger things happening. Something they’re looking for – we just need to figure out what, and find it first. So long as that missing piece is out there, we are safe.” I’m pensive, quiet. Mei sighs aggressively and chimes in


    “That sounds like a load of it, and a swift way to get us killed. Plenty of people have been arrested and sent to the prison camps in Minari, do you want to join them? They don’t come back”


    Eve is finally silenced and holding onto every word. “They keep us here because we do their dirty work” Mei continues,


    “They need bodies to sustain life here. We are their prisoners – and they threaten us with deadly force should we disobey. There’s nothing else to it.”


    Mei looks at both of us stoically, until tears start streaming down her face. She has experienced the most pain and loss of anyone here – and Eve is very aware of that. She immediately sits next to her and begins to apologize


    “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Mei. Shhhh. Please. You’re right. I won’t do that to you again”.


    I sit on the other side of her and hold her close, all three of us embracing now. I look up at my two best friends who are really just…terrified. Living in a world where death looms at every corner will drive the most sane person into madness. We all just want each other safe. Our people safe.


    “Look, I…”


    Before I could get another word out, Eve jumps up and looks out the window behind us. Reavers are sprinting towards the town square fully armed, and we can see groups of people forming a barricade in the distance. “What’s going on?” Eve asks. I try to get a better look but she sprints out before I have the chance to. Mei grabs my hand, a warning, but we both rise and follow her. We are just a few steps behind, but Eve has already disappeared into the crowd.


    “Eve, EVE!” I scream.


    We search the perimeter of the street, she was just here, where did she go? The barricade in the distance continues to grow, the yells reaching a crescendo – we allow the sounds of our neighbors and the sprinting Reavers guide us right to the storm. We seem to be in the eye now.