The footsteps of the guards echoed through the foyer of the Faira. The Council of the Stars occupied the historical fortress of Faira. The fortress was a giant circular maze with a hall in its center. Every room; wall, and furniture were made to fit perfectly in the huge symmetrical circle.

The atmosphere today was dull as the men running the Council. Today of all days was when the illian Minister was invited for a gathering with the grey-eyed men. The Fire Minister was no stranger to the Council that runs Azure. He witnessed the rise of these men in white robes, who worshipped the stars. A council of, what he believed, pathetic men, who weren't much fond of him. The minister never arrived on time for anything but today he was rather early.

The days before winter started marked the beginnings of everything new. The Azurians had a dilemma of getting into important devotions on days like these. The Fire Minister on the other hand lived up to his terrifying reputation. A sinister smile sprawled across his face.

Icarus Groehn stopped at his step leaving his guards behind. Looking at all the men sitting around the gigantic fire that blazed at the center of the circular room. They all wore the same robes and bore the same expressions.

The Councilmen rose at his sight. Their faces were glum, always the same. The Fire Minister was a powerful title, one Icarus loved to exploit. There were about twenty Councilmen who all seemed unbothered by his presence.

He stepped towards the blazing fire. The flames in the giant basin were weak, but elegantly swaying. Icarus moved around the flames gently as if he had nothing better to do.

"Talk Council, I am sure you haven't called upon me for some trivial matter," Icarus said as he still was swaying the flame. "Minister, we appreciate your presence among the Council of the stars. In the dignity of the stars and all our-" The Minister put up his hand lazily. The name of the councilman now speaking always slipped his mind, was it Valence? Whatever it was, he was speaking for the entire council today.

"I suggest you skip the formalities today," Icarus said, now facing the person he spoke

"Very well." said the councilman.

The Fire Minister's face looked horrifying in the dim light. The scar that etched along his face could scare a fully grown man.

"The stars have aligned in a very unusual pattern at the most uncanny time," The councilman said "Mostly in events like these we would expect a spell of good luck or a fine farming season..." the councilman paused, "But this time it's aligned for a war."

"War!? You must be mistaken. This is the most peaceful spell with treaties across Azure;" The Minister furrowed his eyebrows. It seemed to send chills down most of the Councilmen. Not that they showed it in any way.

"We are certain, sire, the stars are never wrong." the councilman then looked at the floor as if uncertain of something.

"What is it?" The Fire Minister grumbled.

"The alignment is very much similar to the ones your father predicted," To this, the fire burning in the pit started to crackle as if more wood had been put into it. Icarus was very well aware he had let his emotions take control over the flame now, agony was what they conveyed.

"Tell me, Council," He said. "My father was one of you wasn't he?" The men shook their heads to this as if they knew Icarus was going to say.

"Then why did I banish him?" His voice was high now and his eyes were furious. Icarus laughed. "Let me recollect, He came up with the prophecy of an extraordinary war from beyond the border. He asserted about a force so powerful that would make me be a weak ruler. He betrayed the council and started a rebellion and look how he ended up.", The Minister's voice was so loud that the fire started to get destructive.

The councilmen didn't move a muscle, The Minister may be the most powerful person in Azure but the Council of Stars was considered a force of vigorous men who knew what they did.

"Minister this may appear illusory, but we tell no tale. The stars have spoken and we will not take back what we said. Azure is in a critical circumstance now. All the paths will lead to only one thing-War."The man who spoke first said, as all the other councilmen rose to their feet. Their faces edged with the same stillness.

Like whispering a rhyme by heart they all narrated at once, "We only wish to warn you forehand; Fire and Ice would bend and crack; their paths will lead to disclosing confidences, the dead will rise and threats will emerge as the darkness takes control. All witchcraft and curses would be broken; chaos will end with a price only one shall pay.", a haunting cold wind was now stinging in the air.

The fire in the pit was now extinguished, smoke slowly coming off of it. The quenched flames meant that the Council has been dismissed. That there would be no further questions. The Fire Minister looked unbothered but, in his head, he knew what they meant. This news was already costing him so much trouble.

He felt like he knew something he shouldn't know, but why would the council tell him this? Among all of Azure, countless cities they could have warned, but his-Ílios. Unfortunately, he knew they approached him only because of his past. His father's gibberish was why he already had an advantage.

"Mercer!" Icarus called out walking out of the Council. His second-in-command appeared immediately. Thoughts raced through Icarus's mind and he already knew what he needed to do first, he needed more information before he starts preparing for a so-called war.

"Find her," Icarus whispered to his second in command. Mercer nodded and didn't hesitate as he knew who the Minister was talking about.

"I need her alive", Icarus said. Winter Solstice was falling in a few days and the minister with his cunning, power knew exactly how to bring his sister out of her hiding. Only she would know about their father's lunatic tales.

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Thank you for reading. I will be re-writing forever so bear with me!!