Lunar Age
~ 200 years after the Schism

"Hurry, Kato! Run!"

          Kato felt his twin's hand grab his, slick with sweat, and the two siblings ran as if their lives depended on it. For Kato, it did. They ran across the open savanna, with so few shelters to hide them from their pursuers. Of course, no number of trees or shrubs would hide Kato's bright aura, which was tinged with a shade of violet, from the golden-eyed archers intent on chasing down the children. Kirabo's dull gray aura would have protected her had she been alone. Although they could not see auras, the Watchers could, and it was well-known which colors were acceptable and which marked humans as sorcerers.

          Kato could not see well; his left eye had been slashed and blood poured down his face. He tried to wipe it away with his free hand and stumbled.

"Kirabo, wait, I'm slipping!"

"Just hold on tight. We'll find them, I promise!"

Kirabo continued to pull Kato along. Kirabo, the normal, stronger one. Kato loved his sister. She was the smartest, wisest, most wonderful person to Kato. When Kato's magic had begun to manifest, the Watchers who had built a temple of Elam near their village had recognized him as a sorcerer. Kato, like all his village, had been urged to pray and give respect to the ancient angel there, and they had been taught that magic which did not come from the Guardians and Watchers was evil and blasphemous. From the start, they tried to stamp the magic out of him and purify him, but nothing they did to Kato worked. His twin sister Kirabo had never shown any signs of the same magic, so Kato alone had been subjected to their torture.

As they ran, Kato touched the mark burned onto his jaw just under his left ear. It itched and he longed to scratch at it.

"We're almost there," Kirabo kept repeating. "Just a little further."

Their flight was disrupted by an arrow of golden light, which sped towards them faster than they could run. The arrow struck Kirabo in the wrist above the hand which Kato was holding onto for dear life. Kirabo screamed in pain and the twins stumbled apart. Kato realized with horror that he still held Kirabo's hand, though she had fallen a few paces behind him.

"Kato, keep running!" she screamed, cradling her arm.

"But," Kato began to protest, to turn back, but when he looked he saw the golden bows of the Watchers aimed right at him.

One fired an arrow, but it never reached him. Kirabo had jumped in front of the arrow's trajectory, and the holy magic pierced through her just below her ribcage. Kato screamed, his throat raw with the effort, and something awoke deep within him. He ran to her, disregarding his own safety and ignoring the host of Watchers coming for him. Kato sank to his knees and lifted his twin in his arms. He bent over her and called her name, but she did not answer.

The leader of the host arrived, pointing his golden arrow towards the child kneeling on the ground.

"You have sinned against Elam. You hold a blasphemous power in you and have dared to use it against the Guardians. May Elam's mercy find you."

Kato glared at him, his lips curled in a snarl. He clutched Kirabo's body tighter to his chest.

'Make them see,' said the voice inside his mind.

How?

'We will show you how.'

Kato felt a searing heat surge through his limbs, and he lifted one bloody hand, fingers splayed towards the archer standing over him. The Watcher's one golden eye, at first glowing as brightly as his bow, turned dull and his mouth went slack. The others approached cautiously, but one by one their glowing eyes blinked and the light shining in them went out. The archers fell into chaos, firing arrows haphazardly around them. Kato turned his attention back to his sister, knowing that, at least for a moment, he was hidden by his Gift.

He had never used his magic with so much force, however, and he felt tired. His vision was blurring. He struggled to see Kirabo's face but could not stay awake any longer. Dizziness and lightheadedness filled him, and he passed out to the screams and shouts of the Watchers around him.

When Kato awoke again, he was lying flat on his back, arms folded neatly over his ribs. He felt like he was floating in a shallow pool, warm water lapping gently around his body. He turned his head to the side and saw that Kirabo's body had been arranged similarly next to him. As his gaze focused, he realized she was not breathing. Kato could not explain the intense calmness that was keeping his panic at bay, but when he saw the round-faced man sitting over him, he felt as if he recognized a kindred soul. The man's eyes were dark brown with flecks of gold, and his hair was thick and wavy. He had kind features and wore a white robe stained slightly with the dust around them.

"Can you sit?" he asked in a thickly accented voice.

He spoke the language of the Watchers, and Kato frowned. Kato responded in his own tongue, and the man smiled sadly.

"I am sorry, I do not speak your language and I do not have a Communicator here with me. I know it must be hard for you, but you must speak to me like this."

Kato swallowed. "My sister," he croaked.

The man shook his head. "I am sorry," he said again. "I came too late. She was very brave for one who was Ungifted."

Kato felt tears streaming down his dirt-caked cheeks. The man asked if he could sit, and Kato tried. He felt no pain anywhere, but still needed the support of the man's hand on his back.

"My name is Günay," he offered, sitting back on his heels when Kato had regained his balance.

"The Watchers?" Kato demanded.

"You drove them away, all on your own," Günay told him. "Your Illusion Gift is very potent. It was difficult to pinpoint you, but when you passed out your illusions disappeared, and I was able to get to you."

Kato was silent for several moments as he turned to look at his sister again. Her hand had been reattached and the wound had even been sealed completely. She looked as if she were merely sleeping. Kato stroked one of her braids, saturated with water, and realized his left eye was no longer bleeding.

"I cannot restore your sight," Günay said, getting to his feet, "but you will not have an infection or any complications. Come."

Kato stared at him. Günay held out his hand and gently Kato slipped his bony fingers into his rescuer's.

"No doubt you have heard of Lutèce," prompted Günay.

Kato nodded and placed a hand over his heart. "From Ika."

"Good. That is where we are going. I have just dropped off another boy, about your age. His name is Ansgar. I shall introduce you once we have arrived. I think you two will become good friends."

"Are there Watchers in Lutèce?"

"Not at all. It is a beautiful city, just for Élu."

"Élu?"

"The Chosen of Elam, of which you are one," Günay explained.

Kato looked down at the still form of his twin. "Why me, and not Kirabo too?"

"None can understand Elam's Will. Though she was Ungifted, she was part of your gift. She protected you so you would live. Do not let her sacrifice die with her. Come."

Kato clutched Günay's hand, and the aquamarine staff he carried glowed. In front of them, a great gate appeared and began to open. Kato had to shield his eye from the brightness until a shadow cut through it. Another figure, an Élu Kato supposed, appeared, holding the gate open for them.

"This is the Bridge Gate. Whatever you do, do not lose me," Günay said. "If you let go, you will be lost across the Bridge, and I cannot save you if that happens. Our staves allow us to cross safely. You do not have one yet, so you must be very careful."

"Bridge Gate?" Kato repeated, absorbing the words as if they gave him life.

Günay smiled. "Yes. We are crossing the Pont Neuf. Do not release my hand. Do you understand?"

Kato set his lips in a thin line. Fearcrept through him, but he nodded and followed Günay through the gate, leavinghis sister, his home, and all that he knew behind.