All that could be heard was the clash of metal against bone. Screams of women and children haunted those who had survived for nights to come. Then at once everything went quiet, silence replacing the cries and the atmosphere becoming deadlier than when the war raged on. Mist rose from the ground, enveloping the fallen bodies in its embrace. One element, however, seemed to have survived the terrible nightmare. Unusual, even for the rarest of kin. For a single, blue rose stood tall even after all the chaos caused around it, dangerously delicate and intoxicatingly beautiful. It was no ordinary flower but a death hex for anyone who got too close. Nothing could destroy this blue rose, for anyone who tried fell into its trap, a dark and cold void from which no one could return.

Years passed and the menace of the war was forgotten, the blue rose along with it. Or so it seemed. Strange, golden vines began growing around the flower and they were unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. Intertwined into themselves, they grew into tree-like structures and people called them Aureus Silva or the Forest of Gold. Some stated that the power of the blue rose had caused the Aureus Silva to grow around it for protection. No one dared to cross the Forest of Gold, even travelers sought longer routes around it. Hence, the haunted land around the Forest of Gold turned into an abandoned field which still contained echoes of the evil that lurked near it. Storytellers called it The Frozen Plain, a land where time stood still, and narrated tales of a cursed entity that inhabited it. 

Civilisations developed in the parameters of the The Frozen Plain, one of them to the East called Azure Gul. Azure Gul was an vast empire, the most populated out of all the civilisations that had been established. Four clans made up Azure Gul, each inhabiting a Zone in the realm. Helpers, whose job was to provide sustenance and shelter to everyone at Azure Gul, lived in the East Zone; Healers, who were in charge of all medical facilities, the South Zone; Warriors, who kept Azure Gul safe from adversaries, the West Zone; and Teachers, who included scribes, writers and preachers, the North Zone. There was a fifth Zone in the center of the empire, called the Central Zone, inhabited by the Monarch, who established the law and order in Azure Gul. The Monarch comprised of members from all Zones selected by the Council of Azure, which consisted of the previous members of the Monarch. 

Each clan was distinguished by a genetic disposition, which gave them one coloured streak in their otherwise black hair. The Helpers had dark pine green streaks, while the Healers had Cobalt blue streaks. Warriors had crimson red streaks and Teachers had dark violet streaks. Along with their hair, clans were recognisable by the colour of their robes, which matched the streaks in their hair. Since Helpers worked in the fields and construction, they wore emerald green robes made of soft cotton that allowed easy mobility. Some wore floor-length gowns, while some preferred knee length tunics with trousers, especially men. Healers all wore floor-length gowns made of cobalt blue silk, with brown leather belts that carried pouches of potions and first-aid equipment. Warriors all preferred knee length tunics with trousers made of thick, crimson red fabric. The elders who trained for combat wore leather vests over their tunics. Those on duty wore metal armours and carried their fighting gear with them at all times. Teachers had structured, dark violet, floor-length robes made from velvet, and layered their robes with an additional sleeveless overcoat made with shoulder padding and golden embroidery details.

The story began in a small cottage in the East Zone of Azure Gul, where the Mae family had its residence. Having otherwise uneventful, normal lives, the Mae family experienced something quite peculiar that altered the course of their lives forever.  

"Do you really believe what these... Tale tellers say, Mother?" nine-year-old Marina Mae asked, scrunching her little nose, as she jumped up and down on her bed.

"What are those tale tellers saying now that's bothering you, honey?" asked her mother, Mabelle Mae, astonished at how mature her little one was, despite her young age. She got Marina to sit down as she tried to braid her daughter's thick locks. Marina rambled on about the Teachers who roamed through the East Zone during the day, carrying messages, news and stories from lands beyond Azure Gul.

"They go on and on about forgotten lands and monsters that hunt humans in the night and strange plants and what not! I just feel that they're trying to make money out of all these stories because they seem too obnoxious to be true!" Marina cried out, throwing her hands in the air. 

"Sit still, dear! Let me finish making your hair. The faster you let me do this, the sooner you can go outside and play," Mabelle cried out, trying to tame her enthusiastic, young one. Marina calmed down immediately, letting her mother braid her hair. Since Marina and her family were a part of the Helpers clan, hence they had green streaks in their hair. 

"All done," Marina's mother said, satisfied with the how her daughter's otherwise wild hair looked. Marina looked at her mother with big, doe eyes. 

"Thank you, Mother. May I go now?" she asked in her small voice. Her mother smiled, nodding, and Marina sprung up from the bed, running out the door. 

"Don't be out too late, honey!" her mother called out after her. Marina yelled back in acknowledgement before beginning her daily run all the way towards the South Zone. With Warriors patrolling the streets throughout the empire, it was very safe, even for a nine year old to go by herself through Zones. She ran through the all-too-familiar alleys and streets towards her destination and stopped in front of a pair of large iron gates. Each Zone was separated by a similar gate, which were left open during the day, when people could travel between Zones with ease. 

"Haline!" Marina cried out as she sprinted up to her best friend's house. While the East Zone consisted mainly of farmlands, man-made streams and small, single-storey cottages scattered throughout it, the South Zone was a well-planned area, with graveled roads which allowed carriages to travel through easily. The roads were lined with clean, two-storey building made of limestone and powder blue tiles. Most of the Healer families made their residences on the first floor of the buildings and ran clinics and medical centers on the ground floor. The Hans lived in a similar manner. 

Haline Hans was a year older than Marina and her family had gotten acquainted with the Mae's when Marina's grandmother had become terribly ill. The girls had known each other since they were babies and were inseparable ever since. Marina's love and enthusiasm for adventure made her the troublesome type and the perfect half for Haline, who was the exact opposite. She took care of Marina like an elder sister would and had tended to her injuries more times than she could remember.

"Always on time, eh Marina?" Haline's mother, Hattie, called out as Marina knocked on their door. The little girl grinned widely, entering the house. 

"Marina!" came the voice of her best friend and Marina rushed inside, crashing into her best friend in a big hug. Haline grinned at her, her eyes twinkling. 

"Mum, we'll be heading out to play!" she informed her mother, who nodded. 

"But behave, you two," Hattie said sternly. Both girls looked at each and snickered mischievously before turning back to face the older woman. 

"We will!" they chorused and rushed out of the house. As soon as they were out of sight of Haline's house, Marina pulled her best friend's arm, bringing her to a halt. 

"So? Are you going to tell me or what?" she asked impatiently. Haline glanced at Marina and smiled, putting an arm over her shoulders.  

"Better yet, my dear Marina, I will show you. Come on, let's go!" Haline replied and both girls linked arms as they made their way towards the Central Zone. Perhaps the most interesting part of Azure Gul was the Grand Marketplace that surrounded the Monarch's estate in the Central Zone. It was a place with great hustle and bustle, with people from all Zones roaming around and gathering to buy and sell a variety of things, from food, building materials, weaponry, clothing, to providing different services like teaching, medical facilities and even minor combat training.   

As the young girls entered the Central Zone ten minutes later, Marina grinned widely as she took in the view around her. She had always loved coming to the Grand Marketplace and nagged her mother to take her to the Marketplace whenever she went there to get farming equipment. Haline and Marina weaved their way through the large crowds of Helpers, Healers and Warriors before coming to a halt in front of a stall set up by a group of Teachers selling antique artifacts.  

"This one, my fellow citizens, is a very rare piece. For it was found during our expeditions near the Frozen Plains," a man in dark violet robes with short, white curly hair announced, holding a golden horn in his hands. People near him murmured in awe as Marina turned to Haline and rolled her eyes. 

"Please tell me that isn't what we came here for," she muttered, causing Haline to giggle. She shook her head and took Marina's hand as both girls entered the stall. Making their way through the numerous artifacts of all shapes and sizes, they stopped in front of a piece in the back. It was covered with a violet cloth but Marina could tell that it was a circular in shape.

"Strange that young ladies like yourself would stop in front a piece like this," came a deep voice from behind them. They turned to find Abram Adella, one of the senior-most Teachers making his way towards them. He was a lean man, slightly stout with age, dressed in the most exquisite velvet robes. His shoulder-length hair was tied up neatly with a black ribbon, with the only colour visible was the dark violet strand in his otherwise white hair.

"Why is it strange, Abram sir?" Marina asked.

"Because where this piece came from is a strange, strange place," he replied, his eyes studying the hidden artifact. 

"Can we see it, sir?" Haline asked excitedly. Abram smiled but didn't respond immediately. He walked closer to the artifact, hands behind his back, and stopped a few inches away from it. 

"What are your names, young ones?" he asked. 

"Marina Mae."

"Haline Hans." He nodded slightly and turned back to face them. He was a tall man and both girls looked up to meet his eye. 

"Are you certain that you will be able to handle it, Marina Mae and Haline Hans?" Abram asked, his eyes going dark. Both girls glanced at each other as they furrowed their brows.