STEEL BORN

ARDEN

Santux was awakened by a loud trumpet coming from the street by the window, the blast was followed by an announcement he didn't quite catch. His mother was standing by the window listening. "What is going on ma?", "Quiet Santux", the mother responded as she listened. Santux had overslept, it was almost afternoon. His head was throbbing from a hangover headache. It was their fifth day in the capital, and he had decided the only thing he hated about the city was it's restlessness. The city was constantly alive, carriages, chariots and horses never ceased to move. His new friends had explained it was due to the influx of visitors who mostly took up lodging at the commoner's area. But in truth, except the Royal city and most parts of the area occupied by the noble families, Worth was a bustling and shuffling city. "You missed breakfast again, those boys you follow around are up to no good", his mother was saying approaching him. "Please mother", "alright... Alright, your breakfast is on the table, but it's cold." She was examining him.

Santux threw off the covers and arose, the bed was smaller than he was. His ankles exceeded the end of the bed, but it was wide enough to give him comfort. He went to the wash room and reappeared few minutes later. His mother was seated on a rocking chair by the window knitting, their sweaters at home needed replacing, especially her son's who doesn't seem to stop growing. He began to eat his breakfast standing by the wooden table. "I wish you would stay with me today", she said, "I rarely get a second of your time since we arrived in this city, both you and your father", Santux considered and agreed "I feel tired anyways". He responded, his mother was excited, "The announcement said, the procession to Arden is scheduled for this evening, your father has gone to purchase flowers, will you walk by our side?". "I will try". He responded.

That evening, Bogina and his family rode out on their carriage with a host of other people, the crowd slowly moved towards the road leading to the gate of the city. The procession had begun. The Royal family were far in front, they rode on an open imposing giant carriage dragged by chestnut horses controlled by three royal coachmen. They were led by the commander of the army and a number of royal guards, seconded by the priest of Thanati - deity of death, and his apprentices. Then came the noble families, dukes, chiefs and their various families. They were followed by the common people of Xion, especially those who could afford a mode of transportation. They were all dressed in black.

Arden was the burial cave of the Royal family. It contained the bodies of the previous emperors and empresses of Xion, and some Royal children who died before adulthood - Princes and Princesses. The cave was located few kilometers away from the capital, it was the custom of Xion that the cave is visited once in every year. It was a coincidence that it had fallen in the period of the celebration of the harvest festival.

They arrived at the entrance of a place where horses, and other modes of transportation were not allowed to enter. They all alighted and the procession continued in the same other. There were huge umbrellas raised over the members of the Royal family, carried by slaves. The territory was surprisingly wide beyond the entrance, stretching wide apart. The ground was filled with milky white rocks of different sizes, larger rocks could be spotted farther away from the path. Santux was grateful for the sandals on his feet. The began to narrow until they arrived at the entrance of a cave.

The priest of Thanati stood at the entrance of the cave, he performed incantations lifting his staff, bowing repeatedly. He went in, followed by the entire Royal family. It was the custom that only the first born or father of every family other than the Royal family should join the procession into the cave.

The soldiers and Royal guards stood by the cave enforcing the law. Bogina and his wife gave their offerings to Santux and sent him towards the queue of people making their way into the cave. The crowd was solemn. It was a requirement to identify yourself to the guard at the entrance, "Santux, son of Bogina from the city of Ludia", he said as he went through. He was given a stick of olympic flame by the two apprentices of the priest within the passage.

The cave had seemed small from the outside, Santux was amazed by the size of the opening within. People were standing at the edges in circles upon circles until the top holding a stick of fire, the cave was so wide that the people at the other end were only beams of light. He had been among the last number of people admitted. At the center were elevated stream of Sacophagi, there were many of them, it looked like a lot of people lying on their backs. Far within were the priest and the Royal family. They were spotted by the three sticks of fire held by three apprentices. A lady was singing melodiously, her voice filled the large cave, but Santux couldn't find her. A few minutes later, the priest and the Royal family, led by the three apprentices holding the sticks of fire, began to leave the cave, they were followed by the people at the foot of the cave until everyone was out. The people dropped their offerings at the passage where they will be sorted and disposed of. On the way back to the city, Santux couldn't be quiet about all he had seen in the cave.

"There were so many corpses in there!", he exclaimed.

"No, most of the sarcophagi are yet to be occupied", his mother explained.

"Why are there so many?", he questioned.

"Death is a part of life and has no end", she explained. It was dark before they arrived the Inn, but the atmosphere was lively once again.