Superstition surrounds the mark as none truly knows its purpose or cause. Our children and the humans descended from them, learned to associate the mark with tragedies. The Alyar have a more practical view of the blossom, but still defer to its power, for they are incapable of overthrowing the Other One.

An excerpt from the diary of Pia...

          SIL'VAR

Three tens since the Mark of the Other One blossomed.

She looked at the Imperial Capital. A long time ago, trees had grown here, Alyar spirits lingered in this place. Ancient, out of reach, but they were still here. When the humans started their inane war, this had been one of the first Alyar cities to fall.

How could humans ever forget and let go of the past so easily? The past shaped everything, gave birth to all that was to come. Fleeting moments that would echo across thousands of years. The Alyar were born to last and remember those echoes, live alongside them. And shape this world into a cohesive system through the experiences learned from the echoes of the past.

The humans were self-centred. As soon as a new one was born, it all became about its desires. Tell the humans in this city they were living on stolen lands and they did not belong in this world - they ignored your words and they would hurt you in any way they could. Mostly with insults.

These days, the humans were mere shadows of what they used to be. Sil'var found this also a form of the humans' forgetfulness. The humans had forgotten the truth and their power. Yet it was not enough in her mind.

"Ambassador Sil'var, Ambassador Irad'vael will see you now. Ambassador?" She was barely paying attention to the aide, and it took a moment to tear her gaze off the city.

The mansion used as the embassy for the Three Dominions sat on a hilltop. Although larger hills surrounded Ironcourt, Sil'var still enjoyed the view from here.

She did not answer to the other Alyar addressing her. She only nodded her head to him and stepped into the office. When her gaze found the Alyar Magister sitting behind the desk, she stopped, confused.

"I apologise, but who are you? I was to meet with the Embassy Head?"

The reply came from her left, at the open window. "Ambassador Sil'var. This is Magister Irad'vael. He will take over my duties as Head of this embassy. It is still fresh news, so I apologise for any confusion."

"It is a pleasure to meet you. But this is all too sudden. Was the incident I caused three tens ago such an inconvenience? I apologise, Ambassador Joa'na." Why bring in a newcomer as head of this embassy? This was troubling.

"No. This was my request before you arrived, Sil'var. I felt I am not doing a good enough job. These humans are tiresome. I feel overburdened. And there happened to be a volunteer." Joa'na explained.

Sil'var looked at the verdant Alyar sitting at the desk. He had yet to say anything, but a grin was dancing on his face. She had never seen such ashen skin on an Alyar before. Sil'var was from the Brilliant Dominion herself. Occasionally she had bumped into verdant ones in the High Magistrate, but their skin was pale compared to this one.

Even Joa'na's pale, teal skin was more familiar. Sil'var had heard some verdant Alyar were ashen, or close to the colour of charcoal, but to see it with her own eyes was something else. Those deep green eyes unsettled her. The new embassy head stared at her eagerly.

Something about the man seemed familiar. In some ways this youthful Alyar reminded Sil'var of their High King. But Var'adiel was old, his youth long gone and the visage of him in her mind tired and dull. It was not a blessing for an Alyar to live to an age where they began to visibly wither.

"It is a pleasure to meet you at last, Grand Commander Sil'var." Sil'var winced at the unexpected greeting. It had been a while since she served in the army.

"Ambassador. Please. That was an Age ago." She stammered a reply.

"What is time to an Alyar?" The verdant one said and smiled. "Your accomplishments in the west were enough to merit you with a lifelong rank of Grand Commander. One of sixteen who serve directly under the High Magister. It is a shame we have other topics to discuss. Ambassador Joa'na gave me a brief, but I would still hear it from you firsthand."

The incident with the thief three tens ago. Sil'var was not exactly proud of it. But in her mind, the humans made too much of a fuss about the whole thing. She was tired of the ordeal, having been on house arrest for the past three tens.

"But do not despair. The kin back in the Three Dominions find the entire ordeal invigorating. The first drop of blood reclaimed for what the humans took from us." The ashen Magister smiled again.

"I should go outside, perhaps?" Joa'na had already snuck halfway through the room.

"No! Please stay, Ambassador. When was the last time a brilliant Alyar, a verdant Alyar and a beryl Alyar sat together in one room? Outside our capital. All three dominions represented on lost soil. And please, take a seat, both of you." Sil'var and Joa'na pulled chairs from the wall and sat opposite the desk. The ashen Embassy Head said nothing, but stared at Sil'var again, expecting her story.

"On the eve I first arrived here, I went to have a walk around the city. To get to know this place. I lost my coin pouch during. Thankfully, I had it invested so I know when it is far away from me. Following its presence, I found my way to a closed building. I surmised that it was a thief, and I acted accordingly. I feel I did not overreact because when I went to confront the culprit, they assaulted me with the flow."

"And the Mark of the Other One blossomed shortly after. Amusing, don't you think?" The ashen Alyar commented. "Some humans we have talked with are thinking we are preparing to retake all the lands we once lost. They are slaves to their fantasies. These are exciting times."

Sil'var did not know how to respond to that. She glanced at Joa'na. "I suppose it would be a just war."

"The moment we declare war on one of the human kingdoms, all others will gather and resist us as one." Joa'na said. "The curse of humankind. Even divided, all is still one."

"So you are happy letting them think they won." The ashen Alyar suddenly demanded. A playful grin was still on his face.

"The humans these days are nothing compared to their ancestors a thousand years ago." Sil'var said stiffly.

"They would not put up much of a fight, let's be honest. But are you happy to let this situation continue? They took our lands. Shouldn't we enact justice?" The new Embassy Head demanded, his voice growing louder.

"I apologise Ambassador Irad'vael, but we were supposed to be discussing the incident with the thief. How is this topic related?" Joa'na said impatiently.

"The mark blossomed, and the humans spilled our blood three ages past. Now the mark has blossomed once again, but we spilled human blood. Some Alyar are openly entertaining themselves with thoughts of a war with the humans." The Embassy Head's voice darkened suddenly and his smile died a little.

"It is the High King's expectation to see our relations improved with the humans. That is why we are in this city. To discuss the trade treaty." Sil'var drawled with a stiff jaw.

The ashen Alyar turned his deep green gaze back to Sil'var. Those eyes were uncomfortable to look at. "Neither of you answers my question. Is this fair?"

"No, it is not." Sil'var burst out. "But we can take solace in knowing the humans are punishing themselves."

"Explain." Irad'vael raised an eyebrow.

"Ambassador Joa'na explained it neatly. The human kingdoms are tearing each other to pieces. There is a constant war between them. This way we do not have to risk the chance of the humans uniting and reclaiming their blood." Sil'var was sweating. She could feel Joa'na stare at her.

"And this solution pleases you?" The ashen Alyar raised an eyebrow before clearing voice and continuing in a lighter tone. "Unfortunately, we, Alyar, have become defined by that war three Ages past. Our grudge with the humans is unending and has clouded much of the other truths pertaining to our kind. How we feel about that will define our relations in this embassy. I feel it is necessary that we speak truthfully to each other. I for one am torn on the issue. I cannot decide how to approach the humans. What about our beryl one? How do you feel, Joa'na?"

"About the humans? I find them curious on occasion. Curious, but tedious."

"The human thief. He assaulted you with the flow?" Irad'vael turned towards Sil'var. "And yet he was a boy. Young, even by human standards."

"Yes." She hesitated "With proper training, that boy would one day have rivalled the strongest humans. Perhaps even more."

"Then it was the right decision to put an end to that spark. If such talent and power hides among ill minds then I fear for our future." Irad'vael pondered.

"I am not pleased that I had to resort to such violence." Sil'var admitted.

"What's done is done. Do not burden yourself with the thief any longer, Ambassador Sil'var. His powers were gained through ill means. Ambassador Joa'na did enough by trying to reach the boy's kin and offer compensation. But the boy was an illegal mage, even his family had spurned him. The humans have absolved you of any kind of responsibility. Their primary issue was with the damages to the estate. You are free to carry out your duties here. I believe the High Magister wishes to speak to you today. Someone will bring a bloodstone later." Sil’var noticed the Embassy Head sign and seal document as he spoke. "Nasty constructs."

"But useful." Joa'na had a wry smile on her face.

"The curse of blood." Irad'vael commented.

"We must be off then." Joa'na raised her voice. "Sil'var and I have meetings with the humans shortly." The new Embassy Head merely nodded and smiled when the two women left the room.

"Verdant Alyar can be exhausting." Joa'na sighed as they had left the office behind.

"He is peculiar." Sil'var commented.

"I did not expect him. Nor did I expect him today, of all days. I was prepared to have to stay as embassy head until they sign the trade treaty. Neither did I expect your title. It was never said you are a Grand Commander."

"Military personnel are constantly assigned where others lacking." Sil'var commented, not paying too much attention to her colleague.

"Still. You would lead armies." The beryl Alyar insisted.

"In the past, perhaps. I will not be fighting any humans; I know some among us have those fears. My accomplishments are in the past now. I am but a simple bureaucrat." Sil'var said with a faint, nervous smile.

"I am not convinced, Grand Commander." Joa'na said sharply. "You are the top of our military might. Regardless of your field of service, you serve directly under the High Magister. I dislike it and I will not be the only one."

Sil'var stared in disbelief as the beryl Alyar stopped and turned towards her with a face filled with displeasure. "Ambassador, what is this?"

"There are rumours of disagreement between our High King and High Magister." Joa'na snapped, her voice betraying ire.

"Rumours! Ambassador Joa'na, we do not gossip. Alyar do not gossip or doubt their kin!" Sil'var was shocked at the beryl one's sudden outburst.

"Call it whatever you like. The High Magister was unhappy with the King's decision and was rumoured to be working against it. Suddenly there is a Grand Commander in service of the High Magistrate in this city. Now, if you would please follow me. The carriage is waiting for us. We still need to visit the human ministers, and then we have a meeting with the trade committee." With an audible grunt, voicing indignation, the beryl Alyar spun around on the spot and marched off.

It took a moment for Sil’var to catch up as she tried to make sense of the beryl one’s outburst. Alyar did not quarrel with one another over such petty reasons. Her hearts were pumping as she left the embassy with the beryl one. She did not want to be in this city. This was the empire of sin. All rational thought failed here.