Divine War: The Lancasterian Chronicles

The lake is crystalline, born from the moon's tears, the same star reflecting its silvery and circular image on the peaceful surface. Fireflies flutter, and their appendages' aura creates luminescent trails among the pink trunks of the trees. Two naked bodies stand in mid-water. Chester closes the distance to a shy Nadjela.

The slender, petite young woman trembles with novelty and anticipation. As strong arms draw her close, and her back tightens against his broad, solid chest, Nadjela closes the eyes and, as an intimate warmth spreads from her belly to the rest of her body, the tension disappears in rhythm to the beat of the nobleman's heart, in perfect sync with her own.

Chester leans into the princess's neck and, after a kiss behind the ear, the hero whispers his love declaration.

"You are the light that illuminates my darkest nights"

Their gazes collide, and although they had known each other for a short time, their expressions were pregnant with desire. Mouths shortened the distance, and with intertwined breaths, they promised to merge and become one with the sound of the violin playing in the background. But the shaking of some bushes stops the moment. Chester and Nadjela look at the stage, and find a guy in a hat, jacket, and shorts, hunched over in the trees.

Cut! shouts the director.

The operators turn on the spotlights to brighten the scenery. The moon disappears and gives way to a white dome of hexagons. A murmuring chorus grows, but only one voice makes note.

"What the fuck?" Chester glares at the biologist, "You ruined my shot!

"I was making sure the fireflies weren't tense," the worker defends himself. "They're very sensitive, and if they get too stressed become flammable"

Chester separates from the co-star and advances to the poor guy.

"Ooooh, good for you. And how are the fireflies?"

"Relaxed...?" The biologist looks sideways, clearly uncomfortable.

"Then why the fuck are you coming in like this, like in your house, straight from the back?"

"I just-"

"I want to kick your fucking ass if you don't shut up for a second!"

The snapshot of Christian Burroughs with his face disfigured in anger, pointing a finger at a worker, and with co-star Elena De Silva covering her face behind his back, leaked off the set. Now the segment is featured midway through the show "The Pink Chair," aired on Pluto Channel. More than a billion viewers enjoy the show through various listening and viewing mediums. The actor was expecting the controversy to be thrown in his face, but from the way he swallows saliva, it's clear how hard he finds the topic.

"It was unacceptable and totally my fault" he says from the chair, in an attempt to save his reputation and his place in the film.

The Lancasterian, the new episode of the multimedia universe of 'The Planetary Heroes', would be released in just a month. But by the half-smile that Beatriz Yanez, the program's interviewer, gives him, Christian understands that he has no chance of winning. That little woman, with very straight hair and wearing a pink dress, had been shooting countless public figures on that piece of furniture for years. A natural conclusion when you know that she descends from the legendary Venezuelan journalist, Oscar Yanez.

The Lancasterian, the film dramatization of the life of the liberator, anarchist, and muskite outlaw, Chester Lancaster, would be delayed for the next year due to the substitution of the main actor.

...

Nadjela falls from the tree and Chester throws down behind her. His hand reaches for the girl, pulls and wraps her in, proceeding to spin in mid-air. The nobleman's back hits the ground and they both roll to a stop on some nearby roots. The princess is unharmed while the Lancaster left with a bruised back.

Around continues shaking. Chester holds Nadjela's hand to help her free from the sleeping bag and get up. Without letting go the young woman, the Lancaster runs to the outside of the greenery. Nadjela makes an effort to keep up.

Around the oasis, sharp, ten-foot thorns emerge one by one from the depths, with a speed that would impale even the most astute. The thorns form a barrier that stops the princess and the swordsman.

Chester doesn't hesitate and launches a kick against a one of the black thorns, the top cracks and seals, leaving behind a smooth stump.

Nadjela shrieks as a strong hand passes behind her legs and an arm holds her back. With the heart racing from the whole situation, the young girl is charged by the swordsman.

Chester rests one foot on the broken spine and uses it as a platform for a mighty leap that lifts him over the death spires. Chester lands on the other side, in the darkness and on the barren ground. Nadjela looks around, anticipating silhouettes of ravenous, demonic creatures. No predator attacks them, it's clear that something frightened the monsters.

No sooner do they get about 20 paces away from the oasis, it rises forty meters long, green and thorny. What was once peaceful greenery is now the circular mouth of a giant worm. The cactus, mutated to survive in a hard world, roars and hunches over, crashing back into the earth and burrowing its way underground. Dust and pebbles rain down.

The tail of the cactus shakes before disappearing, causing a landslide that plugs the exit and entrance holes.

Nadjela and Chester watch wordlessly at what happened, needing a few minutes to process the experience, until the quiet night is interrupted by the Lancaster's vibrant laughter.

Nadjela comes out her stupor and faces the man holding her.

"W-W-What are you laughing about?" ask between stammering.

"Nothing! It's just that we almost got eaten by that thing!"

"It's not funny"

"We're alive! We can laugh, because we're lucky!" Chester's voice calms down, but he keeps a smile hidden by the darkness. "Let's find a place to end the night. Can you walk?"

"Hm, yes... Wait. No... My legs are shaking"

"It's normal. Happens the first few times," Chester says and starts walking with the young woman in arms. The landscape's obscurity doesn't seem to be an impediment for him. "You don't leave the house much, do you?"

"Is forbidden to leave"

"Who says so?"

"My father, the wise elders, the traditions..."

"According to tradition, in my family we marry between brothers and cousins to keep our blood pure"

"What?" Nadjela gasps, unable to tell if the Lancaster is joking.

Chester laughs.

"Do you see? Lots of traditions are just nonsense preserved over time. One must learn to keep the good, and not just the usual. You'll see, the outside will make you strong, and hurt you, but mostly it will do you good"

Chester sounds confident, but Nadjela would rather not have to deal with cacti ever again.