Don't let any controlling barriers define you,

Instead, let the wings of freedom define you,

As, in every controlling element lay roots of freedom.

⇜⚕⇝

ĦE WAITED, by the latticed charcoal gates, standing with pride at the borders of Nirag. His calloused skin began to crinkle with the crippling winter breeze, tousling the papers in his hand, as the stars above painted themselves on the vast canvas. His facial features were drab, well hidden in the midnight shadows, while his clothing stated otherwise. Embroided, sleek pants mockingly poked out of his gruffy boot while the diamond rings greatly clashed with his cover. 

He exhaled fortuitously as his eyes darted towards the man ambling her way. His gaze imperceptible, masking his features as he handed him the papers. 

"Your fortune has come, Master," the man spoke hastily, hushing his voice in a lulled whisper. 

He nodded as his heart thrumming away with agony as he unfolded the paper. 

'The contents have been hid in the vault, safely secured in the tunnel of the newly built palace where nothing can be altered.'

"Burn the paper," gruelingly ordered. 

"Yes, Master."

He watched the violent flames of the fire ignite with a roar, swallowing the white paper before his eyes.The unwithstandable scent of smoke reeked in the air, scorching and sweltering hot.  A sigh of relief surpassed him, the last one that he let out before drowning in the fountain of eternal life. 

⇜⚕⇝

The Chief of Nirag  lay lifelessly in a gloomy state in his death bed. After successfully serving sixty years, he could now die peacefully once he passes on the Master's message to Ash. It has been eight dreadful years since the death of his master. 

He sighed as his anxiety shut itself when Ash appeared at his doorstep with the twinkling gem in his hand, "Remember, how your father asked you to keep the gem safe?"

Ansh curtly nodded and helped the Chief on his feet while he continued said in a frail tone, "Today, on your eighteenth birthday, I want to show you what that secret is."

The Chief and Ash strode alertly down the dark corridor of the glass palace with the night lights flickering, a soft music humming in the background of the party hall and moonlight casting its dim light through the glass. The Chief led Ash through a pair of corridors abandoned for twenty years with the rugged tiles, greasy walls and indigenous dust before stopping at the third door to the right.

The Chief slyly slipped into the room, revealing a magnificent grey vault located at the center of the room and indicated Ash to place the gem in the eight hole of the vault. With the little strength he had, he turned the vault around, four times to be precise, going as slowly as possible for Ash to learn the pattern. On the fourth turn, he punched in a code of the Master's name and opened the door of the vault.

"Woah," Ash mumbled as white light emerged from either side of the huge vault and encountered with the shock of his life as he glanced at the contents in the vault.

"You have to protect this at any cost, if not, this will start the next annihilating war," Chief declared darkly in a persistent voice and a serious face as he stared into the eyes of Ash, peeking right at his soul. 

For peace, war had to be fought. Only time would verify when and where.