CHAPTER 1 - THE ALMIGHTY

The stars, what are they? Maybe the ancestors, which will protect and guide us? Or maybe gods, which will watch and help? Nobody knows, and nobody knew. They just are…

But then, what's so special about them? Why did people worship them, kill, sacrifice and die for them?

Is it their beauty? The light they give us? The overwhelming sight of stars in the night?

Maybe it's their knowledge. The stars have always been here, they saw everything what had happened on Earth. People have always gazed up at sky looking for answers, because the stars know everything...

And of course their power, whatever will happen, whatever humans will do nothing will change the power of stars.

And one thing only makes them even more mysterious - you can't touch them, you can't reach them. People are small and week in comparison to them...

But one thing is sure, the stars will always be there on the firmament of heaven, watching our every move, giving us their precious light every night, blessing us with their beauty and wisdom.

Maybe because of these things, or something completely different, people always were jealous of birds, which could fly high to the stars, see them closer, BE closer to them. Humans cursed that the gods punished the whole human race by not giving them wings, so they were banned to earth.

But there were some that believed that they would be able to reach the stars with their own strong will, their abilities and the help of the gods.

People called them crazy; they despise them for their abilities and their hope.

Some gave up, they said it was impossible, but one man remained...

#X#X#

A narrow alley was full of people, who were taking care of their daily needs. Women were squeezing among wobbling booths and stands with wretched and putrescent food. A desert dust was hovering above dashing men and children. Sun was beating down mercilessly and the clay- and mad-made shacks didn't give enough shade of protection. Frowst and mustiness was getting out from houses and filthy clothing.

Suddenly, someone's voice contributed to making a space in middle of alley. Above the heads of tormented and tired people a red hair were sticking out. Slaves obediently stepped aside at orders of Guard's Commander-in-chief, Tala Ivanow. He was leading a richly embellished sedan chair, which was carried by two strong, black slaves.

Inside a vehicle, there was a man in his late twenties. He had an uncommon two-toned blue hair and pale skin, which was contrasting against blue, triangle-shaped marks on his cheeks. His crimson eyes were absent at the moment, because the man was filled in thoughts. He didn't pay any attention to hustle and bustle outside a sedan chair and a fabric of curtains was holding back annoying heat and stink.

'It will be 12 years tomorrow. 12 years since he died. And I have swore I will prove that I'm not weak as he used to thought...' he pondered as a vehicle was traversing a town, heading towards man's destination.

##FLASHBACK##

A torpid body struck against stonewall and slumped at the floor. A 10 years old boy hadn't enough strength to look up at his butcher, who stood over him. Old, but still strong man grabbed his grandson by collar and lifted him at his face level.

"You are pitifully weak, Kai." He drawled menacingly and threw a boy in the opposite corner of cell.

Kai coughed and scarlet blood trailed from his mouth. But he didn't react at this fact - he knew that it would make a situation even worse. Voltaire left the boy where he was laying and started to wander over a cell with his hands crossed at his back. He was casting a dangerous glare at his grandson from time to time.

Kai used this moment to gather his remaining strength and shaky stood up. He wondered if Voltaire would repeat his attack.

Finally, the man stood in overwhelming position above the boy, with his hands on his hips and he pierced boy with a dangerous look.

"I don't know why I have deluded myself that you will become my deserving heir. You will never do anything worthy of our name. You are nobody! The only thing I can do is the increasing of your trainings with Boris, but still I doubt that you will earn for whose grandson you are."

#X#X#

Six years passed from that event, when Voltaire Hiwatari left the earthly world. It was exactly Kai's 16th birthday.

A young teenager was standing above the ebony coffin. He wasn't crying - why he should have at all? Instead he was deep in thoughts. He recalled every comment and reproof he had received from his grandfather.

//I swear you…// he thought. // I swear you that I will prove my strength, that you would have been proud of me for once if you had been still alive…"

##END OF FLASHBACK##

Suddenly the man was abruptly pulled out from his meditation by a tumult next to some booths. He looked out of the curtains to check what caused such an uncommon commotion and scream.

Some woman was angrily swinging her hands towards the escaping figure, which was elbowing his way in crowd. When Kai heard yells and screams, he recognized that a thief had robbed the woman. He looked towards a runaway, whose ponytail was trailing after him.

Kai mused for a minute then he snapped his fingers. Tala was immediately on his side.

"Yes, The Almighty? What happened?"

"I want to know who was that robber."

"Yes, sir." With that Tala gave some orders to the guards and the sedan chair headed towards Hiwatari's castle.

## High noon, oh I'd sell my soul for water Nine years worth of breakin' my back##

#X#X#

## REI POV##

I was running as fast as I could. I wasn't certain if someone was chasing me or not, but I had to make sure that I was safe.

I hid in dark lane and wipe sweat from my forehead. Then I took out my loot - a goatskin full of water. When I was to drink from it, suddenly I heard some suspicious murmurs behind me. I turned away, but it was too late. Somebody threw a sack over me and I felt as a pair of muscular hands lifted me and took somewhere.

## There's no sun in the shadow of the wizard See how he glides, why he's lighter than air?##

#X#X#

I felt as somebody threw me at something cold and hard. I moaned - that was unpleasant. Finally, someone undo a sack and I felt on damp, stone floor. I was abruptly pulled at feet and I looked at the top of stone stairs, which were in front of me.

## Oh I see his face!##

I saw a man, dressed in dark, navy clothes and black cloak. It was made from silk. The light of fabric added a strange lightness to that person. He had also white scarf around his neck. I looked attentively at his face. Cold, emotionless eyes were piercing through me. And then, I recognized him.

## In the heat and the rain With the whips and chains To see him fly So many die We built a tower of stone With our flesh and bone Just to see him fly But don't know why##

It was The Almighty. The one who was responsible for our fate. Because of his caprice, we had to build this tower. It's been nearly 8 years since we were ordered to build it. He wanted that stupid tower to fly from the top of it. And because of him, so many of us died.

I was so filled in thoughts that I didn't pay any attention to what he was saying to guards. I was trembling from anger and indignation.

'What do they want from me?' I thought as they leaded me from that room and dragged somewhere underground. Somebody tore my clothes from me and I landed in a washtub full of cool water.

It was a shock for me.

'How they can waste a water for washing? It's better to drink it.' I thought bitterly as they ordered me to wash myself.

To my surprise everyone left the baths. As I washed myself up I looked around and saw a hidden door. I decided to run away from this weird place. As they took my clothes and didn't leave any towel I left the room naked. I ran down the corridor, my wet and bare feet slapping against floor. The long, loose hair was trailing after me.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the best idea to escape. A tall, redheaded man blocked my way. He grabbed me by my shoulders and lifted at his eye level.

"Are you trying to escape?" he asked courtly. "I forget to tell you that this building is guarded by the best men and if they catch you, they will cut you alive and threw remaining of your body as a dinner for vultures. Do you understand?"

##NORMAL POV##

## Now where do we go?##

Terrified Rei only nodded and he offered no resistance as Tala took him back to the baths. There a neko-jin had been dressed in a new, clean silk clothes and his long hair had been plated.

"What do you want from me?" finally he caught up.

"I think that you will be a great b-day present for The Almighty." Tala answered with smirk.

"What? Am I supposed to be a present for this tyrant?" asked Rei, but immediately regret it. Tala grabbed him by nape of the back and left the room caring him in his hand.

"Never. Call. Him. Like. This." He drawled.

"Ok, ok. I understand. Now you can stand me back."

Tala reluctantly let him off and leaded the neko-jin at the second floor. Rei looked up at big, oak gates in front of him.

"This is The Almighty's chamber." Said Tala and he opened the door.

Rei gulped and he stepped forward…