I should clarify, that the very beginning of Destiny Calls, when Max sees the fire, happens during the time frame of Chapter 25-29 of Falling to Rise. Next, when Max first arrives in the Port of Norton in Neim, it is the day before he sees Seto. When Max sees Seto the next day, that event happens the day before Grasping Fate begins. So when Seto runs into Alesa, that happened the day after Max and Seto saw each other. This is just a clarification of the timing of everything.

*NOTE* This chapter does contain mentions of an event that hasn't yet been revealed in Grasping Fate, not to mention this part of this story is happening during the time that the rebels arrive in Duhita by boat, so this book is fast paced in comparison to Grasping Fate.

Destiny Calls

Chapter 6

"No quote today, super tired and have a really bad headache :P"

-Day XI-

Two days later by horse, the four of them arrived in the capital of Keuta. The bustling city of trade and prosperity was exactly that, but with an air of tension, of fright, and of angry. But those emotions were very subtle so it seemed to Max that no one else had noticed it.

"Whoa, this place is really busy! But that is Keuta for you." Red laughed. They were still riding their horses through the busy towns, it felt like they were inching forward minute by minute.

It seemed to Max while Ross and Barney were still odd sights, no one seemed to pay it any mind. Maybe due to what he heard of Keuta from Red that this kingdom was very diverse, that the people here hardly noticed.

"Heys Red, where ares we going?"

"Just to a nearby stable." They followed after Red who despite looking like he knew where they were going, they knew he didn't. But it was fine, from Max learned during their two day journey, Barney, Red, and Ross were all 19. They'd lived in Eflido all their life, and had never left the kingdom. It seemed that Ross did not live in the capital like Red and Barney, but Ross stayed there often so his family was fine with it. And Red's parents, who were Barney's adoptive parents were on a business trip, Max learned they did that often.

Max also learned of the situation Keuta was in, or at least what Red had heard from the man they had bought horses from.

~~~~~

Their horses were in a stable now, "Alright, I'll find us a place to stay for the night, we have approximately 900 nuggs left. Not at all a lot, but hopefully enough to get to Duhita. Though coming back home may be a bit of a struggle." Red declared.

"Oks, mes and Max will look around the city for anything useful!" Barney shouted.

"Good, and Ross, you said you would head to the library for useful research, right?"

"Yep, any information on Max's curse, or the riddle that Max stated."

"Good!" Red grinned, "Alright, as soon as I find a place I'll tell you guys." Red ran off after that, and Ross headed in a different direction. Thy passed a library eralier as they made their way to the stables, so it would be easy for him to find it. But he and Barney were left here.

"Sos, wheres should wes go?"

"Uh, around, I guess." Max shrugged and let Barney lead the way.

~~~~~

After a few hours of wandering the shops and trading district Max and Barney hear the shouting of Red. They turn to see him running, or shoving his way through the busy streets. They wait as he slowly reaches them, "Ok, we have a place to stay now, but it's kind of a odd place. Or more of a place that no one else is in, because well no one lives in the area anymore."

"No one lives in the area?" Max asked.

"Yea, I know, with a busy city like this, you'd expect there to be people living there, but from what I can tell, people abandoned the area after the 'tragedy' or whatever. So it's like perfect for us to stay hidden, come on!" Red ushered them to follow him as he lead them through the winding, busy streets. The sun was already low over the hot, desert sand. The wind was already quieter and calmer. As the three of them hurried on Max stopped as they passed by a tree. The only tree he saw in the area, but even with its thin build, it supported a bountiful amount of leaves that ruffled slightly in the wind.

The tree was there all by it's lonesome. It looked like its branches reached out for someone to climb its trunk, for someone to be by it. It looked like the tree with so many leave would die with this area of the neighborhood so empty.

"Max! What are you doing!" Max snapped back into reality and looked to see Red and Barney farther in the distance staring at him quizzically.

"N-nothing, just looking at the tree." Max ran up to them and smiled. Red shrugged.

"So Ross already knows where we are staying and how to get there, so he'll come by after he's done, bu for now we are almot there. Just a little ways up there and to the left we'll have arrived."

"Isn't this a neighborshood?" asked Barney.

"Yes."

"Then where is the uh hotels?"

"We aren't staying in a hotel."

"Ohs..."

Max didn't understand either but he figured he would find out eventually. The sun a sinking lower below the horison and the night was taking over the sky. As they walked further in the neighborhood, the homes with light quickly became fewer and fewer. And it seemed that after only 5 minutes there were no lights at all, complete silence, empty streets.

"Uhs, Reds. Are yous sure abouts this?"

"Just keep following me."

Max felt unsettled. That a busy city like this had an area that seemed so deserted, so ghostly, so haunted. They passed by a large mansion with a single torch on in one room but that was it. Even that house with its single torch seemed empty and alone.

Another 15 minutes of silence and Max saw a building. Or what was left of it...

The burned rubble of what looked to be a very large house. The home was charred black, the entire front had caved in to reveal the burned remains of spiraled staircase. Part of the staircase had caved and broken away but it looked sturdy still. To the left of the staircase was the remains of a kitchen and to the right was an open study.

"We're in that study area over to the right, I know this place is not the best, but it is free so that's good."

"Whats happened to this place?" Barney gazed around in awe. Max walked into the study, he saw a large burnt painting with several people in them. However only the two young boys nearest to the bottom were clear enough to see a face. They were both about the same height and both had brown hair and eyes. He wondered who they were.

"Apparently this was a home for important people, but something happened and the residents of this home are gone. I didn't spend a lot of time learning but that's not why we're here."

Max looked around, "You think this home belong to that sorcerer prince you heard about?" he voiced.

"Could be, but there was no mention of a younger or older brother," Red guestured to the burnt painting with the two young boys. Red lit a torch and lit a lamp before estinguishing the torch. This way the place would not go up in flames again.

The thre of them perked up when they heard the clatter of rubble as it shifted. The ppek out of the study to see Ross clamber in.

"O-oh... H-hi guys..."

"Ross!" Red gleefully shouted. Ross mustered a nervous laugh.

"Heh, heh... Er... S-sorry..."

"Huh?" Red said.

"Whats for?" Barney asked.

"Whoa! What a dump!" An unknown voice shouted before becoming visible over the rubble. Three cloaked figures emerged behind Ross. This voice was definetly male, he laughed before turning to look at Max and his friends. The moon had risen well into the sky, the stars were out, it was the dead of night, "Sorry to have to do this to you, but we're confiscating your supplies."

The shadows were to dark to make out any features. It seemed they were in trouble right now.

ALSO, big thanks to TwilightGlitch and Zeta_Knight for their amazing fanart today! Thank you both so much for the wonderful drawings! I can't wait to see what other drawings you all draw. And if you draw anything, don't forget to tag me so I can see it! :D

Now, things are finally heating up

~WrittenDarkness