100 years ago, the world was split into 5 core nations. Each of them would worship a different God or Goddess. The Kingdom of Gold Jasmines, The Underwater City of Green Lilies, The Moving Kingdom of Orange Dahlias, The Wealthy Kingdom of Pink Windflowers, and finally The Kingdom of White Roses.
Worshiping the god fire, The Kingdom of White Roses became infamous for its destructive tendencies, and superior intelligence. Majority of White Roses share certain characteristics, chocolate brown skin with fiery red hair and ruby red eyes. Making it easy to distinguish them from all of the other kingdoms.
Even though they are powerful, they’re not unbeatable. Approximately 5 days ago in a small village near the border of the kingdom, the sound of laughing children could be heard throughout the area. Among those children are two little girls that look oddly similar.
Hinan: “Come on Hana! Let’s go to the river!”
Hana: “Mom said we can’t leave the village today.”
Hinan: “Fine Ms. Goody Two Shoes. I’ll go by myself.”
Hana: “If you go, I’m telling mom.”
Hinan: “We’re supposed to be twins right? Whatever happened to “Having each other's backs?”
Hana: “Mom’s orders are absolute.”
Hinan: “MoM’s OrDeRs ArE aBsOlUtE.”
Hana: “You are so childish.”
Hinan walks into her house and grabs a handmade basket that she got for her 12th birthday. Woven together using various plants, it’s sturdiness is perfect for carrying light items.
Hana: “You’re still going to leave. Even though mom told us not too?”
Hinan: “That’s the plan.”
Hana: “But mom said-
Hinan: “Mom said “Don’t leave the village”. And the river is a part of the village. That’s why it’s called “The Nox River.”
Hinan: “So are you coming with me or not?”
Hana: “It’s dangerous for you to go alone.”
Hinan: “I’ve been going there alone for weeks now.”
Hinan: “Come with me. I can show you something cool.”
Hana: “Fine.”
Hinan and Hana set off for The Nox River. Known for its violet colored water, The Nox River has become a popular place to hang out for White Roses. And thanks to the river’s effect on the nearby plants, it has become the home for Midnight Roses. A beautiful white rose with purple tips. Its sweet flavor has led it to become a delicacy among the village people.
Hana: “Now that I think about it, you’ve been going to the river a lot recently. Is there a particular reason for that?”
Hinan: “I have a secret spot near the river that I use to practice various things.”
Hana: “A secret spot? How come you never told me this before?”
Hinan: “If I did, you would just eat all of the Midnight Roses I have stored there.”
Hana: “That’s where you’re wrong. I would eat most of them, not all of them.”
Not too far from the river, the sound of multiple high-pitched screams cause their ears to ring violently. They desperately try to cover their ears to retaliate the horrific noise, but the frequency is far too high for them to do anything about it.
Hana: “We have to get out of here!”
Hinan: If we stay here any longer, our eardrums are going to burst.
The two of them retreat back to the village as fast as physically possible.
Hinan: “What the hell was that?”
Hana: “Who knows. I thought I was going to go deaf.”
Hinan: “We have to go back. A scream like that means someone was clearly in distress.”
Hana: “Or something was clearly trying to keep us away.”
Hinan: “It doesn’t matter what it was, because I'm still going to check it out in the morning.”
???: “Like hell you are.”
Even with their backs turned, they can recognize that voice from anywhere. Overwhelmed with fear, the two of them take off running in the opposite direction.
???: “Where do you think you two are going?”
Despite their small and nimble bodies, the two of them were caught in an instant. Now frozen with fear, Hinan and Hana begin to turn around as slowly as possible, praying that the person talking to them is not who they think it is. And to their dismay, it’s exactly who they think it is.
Hinan: “Hi mom. How’s it hanging?”
Haruki: “Pretty good. Thanks for asking.”
Haruki Okami, Hinan’s and Hana’s mother. Just like her daughters, she shares the same ruby red eyes and dark skin. But her hair isn’t red. Instead it's a jet black color that fades into white near the tips. Nicknamed “The One” Haruki became infamous for her ruthless personality and mastery over Essence.
Haruki: “I’m pretty sure I told y’all not to leave the village?”
Hinan: “Before you get angry. We have something important to tell you.”
Haruki: “I’m listening.”
Hinan: “Me and Hana went to the river and we heard a high pitched scream.”
Hana: “It almost made us go deaf.”
Haruki: “Is that so? Maybe I should go check it out tomorrow.”
Hinan: “Let us go with you. We’re curious about it too.”
Haruki: “Normally I would let you go. But I decided you two will spend tomorrow cleaning out all of the horses’ stables.”
The night has fallen. Hinan and Hana are in their room, mentally preparing themselves for tomorrow.
Hinan: “Hana. You awake?”
Hana: “No…”
Hinan: “Great. You wanna go check out that noise from earlier?”
Hana: “No not really.”
Hinan: “Come on. What happened to that “adventurer’s spirit” you used to have?”
Hana: “I never had that to begin with.”
Hinan: “Fine. I’ll just go without you.”
Hana: “Have fun.”
Hinan: “Are you really going to let your sister leave the village at night all alone? Who knows what kind of icky monsters are lurking out there.”
Hana: “Are you really going to guilt trip your sister into going with you? Who knows what kind of icky monsters are lurking out there waiting to get me too.”
Hinan: “You are so mean sometimes.”
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