The sands cover the lands of Derist. Small sheds and tents are scattered all over the land. Children are playing joyfully around the land.The market is buzzing with merchants.It's quite a busy place for a dull land.
In Derist there's never been the light of day. It's a low life world of darkness and sinners,they are cursed to never see light. All there is is just but a flicker of a magical flame that is constantly in the sky.The angels of Hasrath gave them this as a form of sympathy. This is all a lie..a facade.. the flame is but a watch tower to ensure everyone in Derist do not try doing anything uncalled for.
"Hey Trevor!! Get your ass back here... what are you doing?"
" Nothing Ten... just thinking.."
" Well get up...the angels are here for the weekly check..we don't want any trouble with them.. remember last time?"
" Yeah.. yeah..I'm coming"
I stood up from the rock I was sitting on and rushed down hill to the church following Ten.
When we arrived, everyone was in line and ready.
" You're late again... idiot"
" Shut up Rave"
"ALL HAIL THE HEAVEN'S JUDGES!!"
The priest announced as everyone stood attention.. afraid of moving even a single inch. One single mistake and you're sent to the eternal flame dungeons...every Deristian's worst nightmare. Even one day in that place would change completely who someone was. Only little is known about the place since anyone sent there either comes out crazy or just never comes back.
" SALUTATIONS CHILDREN OF DERIST!!"
That sound was like thunder. Very commanding and always sends shivers down my spine.
" Last time..one of you was late..and because of the priest's intervention..we let that person off since as the creator is forgiving and so are we...BUT!! Such a mistake will not be tolerated when done once more."
Everyone side eyed me giving disappointed looks.
"Today we are here to congratulate all of you for doing your daily repentance... for all of you are sinners and repentance brings you closer to the light. Remember..all that you go through in this world is because you useless scums deserve it."
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL US YOU STUPID SON OF-mmmmh"
Ten covers my mouth and whispers..
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?... Sorry about him..my brother is young and foolish he doesn't know what he's saying.. please forgive him.."
"That foul mouth belongs to the one who arrived late last time isn't it? Angel Bergil take care of him...he seems to not understand how much sin his entire race committed in the war of good and evil"
" Sure Senior Oniller!!"
" PLEASE I BEG OF YOU.. HE'S JUST YOUNG HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING "
" WHAT DID WE DO?"
"Please Trev, I'm trying my best not to lose you. You're my only family so please just this once keep quiet and let us handle the problem"
Ten pleaded me and I reluctantly kept quiet. She then looked back at the angels.
"I'm again really sorry on behalf of him. He's still too young to understand our sins. Please forgive him oh great Heaven's Judge"
"Forgive him? Do you take me a fool? To the dungeon he goes!! Bergil, kindly do as commanded!"
"Aren't you the follower of the forgiving one, the creator? The one who gives more than one chance? Please I beg of you-"
"Silence! Don't you think your people have been given more than enough chances!!?"
Ten lowers her head.
"But don't we repent enough? We pray everyday repenting sins we don't even know we did. Why do we still get punished? Is the creator even real?"
I blurted out furious of how they addressed my sister.
"That's it from you foul mouth. Take him away!!"
Bergil grabs my hand forcefully and pulls me away. But Ten tries to pull me back.
"PLEASE DON'T TAKE HIM AWAY. TAKE ME INSTEAD FOR WRONGLY RAISING HIM!!"
Ten pleaded desperately as tears threatened to escape from her eyes. She was then threw back and hit one of the benches with her back by use of a bright red light. I think it was angel magic. Call me crazy but at that time even though I was worried about her my fascination was with the magic. I had not yet ever seen such magic.
'So this is the power of the Heaven's Judges'
"Don't worry about me siz. I'd rather die than follow these rules these so called angels kept upon us. They are more of devils than we are!!"
Ten coughs out blood. The children and the priest look at her with sympathy but dare not say anything.
"Please...let.. let him..go.. please"
She coughs as she speaks making it difficult for her to be heard.
"What are you still doing here. Take him away. And let this be a lesson for anyone else who will try to insult the creator"
I heard the angel holding me incanting some words then random letters started surrounding us. I couldn't read them for they seemed to be from an entirely different language. The letters were shining bright red while a bright red light also engulfed us. In a few seconds the light disappeared along with the letters and we were in front of a big silver gate.
It was as if it was rusting but at the same time looked new. The design was a bizarre one almost resembling the heaven's gates that I saw on books.
"This is what you get stupid kid!"
The angel opened the gates and inside seemed like total darkness. The silence was loud, it was as if no one existed here.