Nippur, a major city-state in Idaris

Kiur rested his feet on the artificial stream of the ziggurat temple Ekur. It was noon, the hottest time of the day when everyone would rest to avoid the sun’s and desert’s heat that drifted up to the mountains.

“Scribe Artor. Scribe Artor!” One of the priests was calling for Kiur, approaching the young man who was listening in to the class held for the children. “It’s time we return to our dut-” the priest was stopped by his colleague before he could reach Kiur. 

She shook her head and said, “Give him a few more minutes, we will call him when it’s urg–” 

“It’s alright,” Kiur turned to them and flashed a casual but fake smile. A smile that was once so bright and since but lost all the vigour it once had. “I’ll get right to my work duties, thank you for coming for me.”

Stepping out of the stream, Kiur walked past the priests just as they were about to gossip about him, as they usually did when they thought Kiur was out of earshot. 

“I don’t understand; why do we have to pay so much extra attention to him? He’s no one important, not even an official,” the priest complained but his colleague interrupted him and shook her head again.  

“Don’t mind it and just get back to your assignments. Don’t let the Gala Priest hear you.” 

Despite having overheard the conversation, Kiur ignored it as usual. He tried to keep his weary smile even though he couldn’t fool anyone with the frown on his forehead. Those who passed him in the hallways gave him a nonchalant glance and greeted him politely while others chose to be quiet. 

Nobody knew what to say to each other as kept on Kiur greeting everyone politely.

It had been six months since he left the confines of his home. His mother helped adjust him to her work regime at home and with the help of his aunt, back into the safety of the temple. Originally, they planned to do it after his 18th birthday, but he wasn’t ready yet.

He was no longer the boy known for his benign and compassionate nature. It took him everything just to keep up his faux smile. 

“Watch out, get out of the hallway!” They heard one of the priests yell. The aisle to one of the nearby chambers was collapsing. Wrought claystone ruptured from the foundation and came loose. 

Those who were born as natural earth mages protected themselves or others nearby by stopping them in mid-air or redirecting the fall of the rocks but for Kiur, it was almost too late. 

“Are you alright, child?” Enlil asked, holding up a large chunk of rock with her magic. She was one of the head priestesses of the Ekur Ziggurat and a prestigious dwarven mage who educated Kiur all his childhood. 

“What was that?!” yelled one of the priests to the class of students and their teacher.

“I’m sorry, I lost control-” 

“The temple is sacred, don’t lose your temper here!” The priests reprimanded the novice for their carelessness until Enlil stepped up to guide the process along. 

Enlil was benevolent and caring as the namesake deity of their city-state. Everyone would listen to her guidance and Kiur knew her well. She was the older sister of his foster mother, and he was once her apprentice to become the future Gala Priest. 

“Wait,” Kiur slowed down his pace for his aunt, accounting for her short legs and high status. “Let me guide you to the chamber of the scribes. We can talk along the way.” 

“It’s alright, I don’t need a guide, I know where it is after so many years,” Kiur feigned confidence in his speech, trying to dodge his aunt in answering her questions.

“How are you lately?” 

“How’s work?” 

“Do you need a break?” 

Those were the kind of questions she would constantly ask him for his well-being. It was her habit to take care of anyone. Especially for Kiur since he was originally supposed to succeed her before he had to drop out of his position. 

She and anyone close to Kiur were constantly worried about him. Even behind the veil that covered half her face, he could feel the emotions she was barely hiding. 

“Come on, does one of the most important gala priests not have to sing laments to the gods? I believe Enlil is waiting to hear your voice.” 

“Enlil is forbearing,” Enlil paused, sensing she needed to let go of the topic. “But you are right, I will return to my duties and so will you. Promise me you will be alright.” 

“I will be alright,” Kiur lied to his aunt as easily as he did towards the rest of his family. He wasn’t alright and he probably never would be. 

Picking up a piece of claystone, Kiur let it float in his hand. 

It levitated under his whim until his emotions flared up again, causing the claystone to turn to ash. 

—☼—

“Pick up your pace or I’ll blow you out of the arena!” 

“You’re too quick, captain!” 

“We’re not as fast as you with our magic, please go slower.” 

“You’re not putting your heart into it; I’m not even using any magic!” 

The one who was shouting at the others was Kiur’s older brother Archil, disciplining the future scouts.

Neither of them was related by blood and both were adopted by their mother Esha under similar circumstances years ago. 

A family where every member was a different race wasn’t completely unheard of, but both Archil and Kiur stood out due to their appearance. 

Eye colour meant a lot in their culture. It could determine the nature of a person and their magic. Kiur was born with eyes as red as garnet stones and was very active as a child. Naturally, everyone’s estimation was that he would turn out to be a fire mage until he proved them otherwise. 

On the other hand, his hair colour was the same colour as the golden sand of the desert, illuminated by the scorching sun; his skin tanned to a beautiful brass shade. 

In comparison, Archil also had lighter-coloured hair in contrast to everyone’s typically brown hair. He was a born Therianthrope, a desert fox who could change most of his animalistic features at will, like his sharper nails and canine teeth. The most prominent features were his pointier and fluffier ears which he hid underneath his hair. 

“This should be it for training,” Archil announced. When the scouts let their guard down, Archil’s viridian eyes started to glow before he released a gust of wind. Only one dwarf remained standing through it with the rest falling to their butts. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning; get some rest. Good work on your form today.”

The dwarf jubilated as she received a compliment from him.  

Archil was around 28 years old now and a member of a scout unit working with the military. 

He was everything a sibling could wish for. He watched out for Kiur and was strict when he needed to reprimand his sibling. He could be funny, would worry about him and was there for Kiur when he needed him. 

If anything, everyone would be proud to have Archil as their brother. 

“You should join in our routine.” Brushing the dust off of his red and beige robe, Archil sheathed his curved sword. “It can free up your mind and helps you to stay in shape. When was the last time we trained together?” 

“When I was fourteen, so over five years,” Kiur answered as they walked together through the shaded market area.

“Five years, huh?” Archil scratched his shaved chin with his sharp black nails, feeling like his beard was growing back again. “Can’t believe how much time has passed. Feels like yesterday when you and your friends threw rocks around or when Mother would tell us bedtime stories.” 

“I remember most of them were about the race migrations, the Thaig settlements beneath the Idris mountains and especially—”

“—Sovereign Enkidu,” they both finished the sentence, knowing full well the importance of the story as it was about the founding of their nation. “It’s such a well-known story that any of us can retell it, even the children. Mother is quite fond of it.” 

“Two Maarouk and one Sheermal bread, please.” Kiur ordered some loaves of bread filled with sweet paste on the inside. It was a typical delicacy in their country they always enjoyed buying in the market.

“Here you go, child. Take some grapes for the road too.” 

“Thank you, I’m surprised you remember.” 

“Who wouldn’t forget the child who got into trouble for stealing grapes because he liked them so much?” the merchant, Agarin, asked with a laugh on his bearded face while Archil held back his snicker. “It’s been a while, won’t you mind visiting me and my husband for dinner sometime?”  

Uncomfortable by the request, Kiur tried to look away. “I- I’ll think about it.” He tried not to give a definite answer to the question.

After paying for the products, Archil responded, “Greet the husband and children for us!” and the two brothers waved their goodbyes, continuing their way home where their mother was waiting.