The morning rays burst through the clouds bathing the parade in a comfortable golden sheen. It seems Fesha* looks on us proudly today and why shouldn't he? I look happily at the dancing crowd around me, more believers that I've ever seen all singing his praises , as they pass through the enchanted Iron gates and into the capital. Father had told me stories of the festival before ; stories of grandeur and legend when Flowists** of uncountable numbers from all over the country gather and fill the streets , filling them with the gods love spreading joy and charity. It is a rare celebration - only occurring when the farms produce at least double it's expected grain - and equally special as it is the only time our usually timid people can gather and make noise in the crowded kingdom. I never thought I would see Father's vision come true in my lifetime ; the gods have much to be angry about , and the farmers are suffering through monster attacks like never before ,yet here we are Fesha's light shining through the darkness.

The gates slam behind us as we march down the cobbled main road. At the centre of the parade are the chariots, handcrafted from sacred wood, an important relic of a dying skill. On alternating vehicles there are children on the top, dressed in bright red clothes and Trapjaw necklaces smiling and engrossed in the spectacle. I spot my little brother Lotse on one and wave to him excitedly - he blushes and pretends not to see me. I smile - Typical sibling stuff, I know he's having the time of his life even if he's too embarrassed to admit it.
Around the Chariots are the priests and hymnists, leading the crowd with prayers and songs. Most are dedicated to the Twin gods of harvest , Ghusk & Ghupe ***, the daughters of Fesha who blessed our land this year. I'm sure Father is among them, leading the chants, although I can't see him I swear I can hear his gruff voice from all directions. I can hear joy in his voice, it’s a nice change since Mother… Enough of that, focus. Today is a happy day for us all. I join in the prayer, forcing my mind to drift into the wondrous praise

Around the hymnists are the everyday folk - like me - dressed in black robes, armed with baskets of fresh bread to give to the public. Non-believers are drawn to the smell like rats and per the custom are handed out as much bread as they desire. The bread is sweet in taste and dyed red creating a strange food even I haven't tried , but judging by the crowd it must be good.
"Oi sweetheart! Over here" - A rough voice yells and I see the man standing next to me with his hands outstretched.
"Bout time me arm's dying gimme some bread …. please"
I can barely make out his words from the sounds and bustling of the crowd. I reach out to place a loaf in his hands , covered in … grime? Ew , I frown as I get a better view of the rest of him - Oh it’s a woman, in rags covered in hideous scars. Ah yes why I don’t spend much time in the outskirts of the city it's occupied by these people. I deposit the bread into her trembling hands and divert my gaze onto the buildings around me. Like the people they are of poor quality, made hastily from whatever leftover materials from the more sophisticated districts. What utter filth these - hmm I might be getting carried away here. A wave of guilt washes over me. Fesha loves all of his children; that's the whole point of passing through. These people only live like this because not enough people understand Fesha's love. Ive never seen any non-flowists every give charity before they are all too busy with their demonic rituals and fake idols. Our gods are real the only truly caring forces out there. People would recognise it if only they bothered to do good; they will feel their mercy! Bread rapidly depletes from my basket as we get deeper through the neighbourhood into clasping non-believers hands. I'm getting too angry about this, one day everyone will be Flowist and all of humanity's problems will be solved.

"Sister, your basket's empty"
Huh? Oh , I had barely noticed there was nothing left but crumbs; in fact looking around, the environment has shifted completely.
The sister **** merrily hands over her basket , her face lit up with a radiant joy that forces me to smile "Don't worry about it. Here, take mine. I'll go get a refill from the chariot. These people are really feeling Fesha's love today!"
Instinctively, at the reminder of Fesha I look up to the sky. He's still there, smiling, beaming his affection onto his numerous children. It feels good to do his work, even as our people shrink, as long as this parade continued, his power seems endless.
With my head held up high, I take note of the new buildings we have reached. The houses are larger and well decorated, with masterfully tiled roofs and small green yards outside them. The streets are wider and more comfortable , swarming with excited children pouring from their homes as their parents kept a close watch form the distance. It’s a much more familiar setting, baring many similarities to my own neighbourhood but with a distinct ethnic twist. As per ancient traditions whenever a Draga monarch conquers a new land, he invites his new subjects to join him in the captiol; to be equal partners in ruling and to feel accustomed to the new culture. Thus new houses have to be built for the enclave, creating a unique patchwork of different cultures dotted around the city. The people of this neighbourhood seemed to have a mastery over construction, their homes - while not decadent mansions - are warm and cozy while featuring strong functional walls and stables.
"Hehehe" A small hand snaps in and out of my basket snatching multiple loaves before I could even react. The cheeky boy rushes off excitedly through the crowd after his grand heist.
Seeing his excitement snaps me back to my duty ; to make people happy just like the boy.

As we march on, I make sure to notice the change in environment; the houses becoming more antique as we approach the centre of the capitol. Streets begin to constrict once more and the architecture stacks on itself, creating dark looming towers blocking Fesha's golden light. These homes must be among the oldest the city , however not quite as ancient as the our own Flowist section. After all we were the first here, before the Dragonists or the kings or any of the dozens of minorities that call this city home. To think that once upon a time, the only people here were believers, living modestly in the now depleted forest, singing our god's praises day and night. Now we are just another minority; ever since the Draga invasion, when Agard II relocated his capital into the once-quiet land to spite the northern tribes. He and his Dragonists**** moved in first , then bafflingly created his own new religion - a mix of Flowism and Dragonism that to this day most elites follow. Apparently he branded his new religion as the "true Flowism and Dragonism" , but even for the sycophants that was too much, and it colloquially, then officially became "Kings Religion".
Looking back at the houses I spot the signature snake carvings , large fangs and forked tongues darting in and out of streets. So this was a Dragonist neighbourhood. Disgusting , of all the people of the kingdom the Dragonists are the biggest troublemakers. Twice now they have caused brutal rebellions that got thousands killed from across the country - not to mention the surge of monsters in the wake of each war. And worst of all their beliefs. It is not abnormal for religions to share common deities and figures however Dragonism takes a bold diversion from most. The "one of 14 parts", in flowism the red eyed devil, normally depicted as a villain or a demon is a saviour***** in Dragonsim. Despite our disagreement with other religions at least they are not so far gone to worship the one prophesised to destroy us all. Truly a disgusting community. From the corner of my eye I spot some soldiers , who should be assigned protecting the parade, mutter something to each other and rush off - Probably some Dragonist scum making trouble as usual. The Dragonist crowd around the parade is much thinner than previous neighbourhoods, no doubt they see us as crazy heretics. Still some greedily collect their bread , I hand out several pieces to people with various reactions. Some give entitled glares, some forced smiles, and some just stare. I feel a little disappointed and to be direct - unsafe as soldiers continue streaming out the crowd, How many do they need for whatever stupid thing the Dragonists have done? Still I can't see anything wrong, as we march out the neighbourhood and Fesha's light peeks through the buildings once more. My worries melt away seeing his comforting gaze a reminder of the blessings of the gods.

We are close to our destination now - the central temple for which the largest idols of Ghusk & Ghupe have been temporarily erected. There are 4 separate parades ,from North ,East ,South and West respectively that will merge at the temple, where whatever bread hasn’t been eaten will be burnt to feed the twin gods. It's rituals like these, that give me pride of my culture, for it is only the Flowist gods who would eat after all their children have been fed. Why people can't see our way of life is the most peaceful is beyond me. I guess they just don’t care for peace? Makes sense considering how violent their mythologies are. Father used to take me to the central temple, where all religions are allowed to bring their own personal gods to worship. Often this would devolve into shouting matches as people insulted and screamed about how everyone else except them was wrong and I could see first hand how these non-believers acted. I reckon originally the gods revealed themselves to everyone, but the other religions fell to their violent animalistic ways what degenerate barbarians- And I'm getting carried away again. Focus, there will be plenty of time to express my feeling once my priestess training is completed. We enter the markets (around the temple) , usually bustling trades of commerce and goods … now mostly empty?. Hmm odd, I suppose we need the space to go through into the temple, but to shut the entire market seemed extreme. In fact only now do I notice that I am at the back of the parade, far from Lotse and Father at the front. The crowd has gotten quieter and bells ring from all directions. The government is letting us use the bells?! Normally those are reserved for emergencies and monster attacks , I never would have guessed the usually practical government had a heart for Flowist festivals. I suppose we deserve the special treatment after all it should be OUR city. The crowd goes silent ,except for few murmurs, as the temple comes into view , the front of the crowd already entering. Damn it I'm going to miss the start of the ritual! I begin pushing through the crowd, who strangely is not resisting, determined to get to the front with Loste and Father. I look up into the sky : "Please Fesha let me see your ritual". The bells grow louder and a few children lose their smiles from atop their chariots. The fire must have startled them- Oh no its started, I need to get to the centre. What type of priestess isn't even present for the ritual? Guards push into the crowd, yelling something, and behind me, the crowd is beginning to disperse. Before I can even process the implication - Screams can be heard. Smoke begins to rise from behind the walls followed by crashes and huge dust clouds. Something's gone wrong. Children are left abandoned at their chariots as the people rush from the temple trampling and screaming at each other. Guards are yelling orders trying to get in but they are pushing against a unbreakable human surge. Lotse, Father they are in there … I can't lose more family .No, no more. Determined I push through, into the chaos , fighting though the crowd. People push and shove desperately trying to escape but I pull though, through the marbled arch into the source. Immediately the unmistakable stench of burning flesh tunnels into my nose, then the dust clouds suffocate my eyes, and the smoke burns my lungs. I try to scream for my brother but my sounds are lost to the mayhem. Through bleary eyes I can make out what seems to be mountains of corpses , guards and worshippers alike completely mutilated beyond recognition. Rivers of blood flow coating my shoes and dress in thick liquid. Can't breathe. I stumble forward past the corpses deeper and deeper into the temple, the faint outline of the Ghusk & Ghupe statue guiding me. So close… my hand reaches for the gods guidance Before I reach it , it explodes into a million dust particles. My mind blanks in defeat, exhausted and weary. I try to look up for comfort but Fesha's light is nowhere to be seen. Please , please show me your mercy…

2 red eyes emerge through the cloud.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The above is a first person eyewitness account of the capital attack, detailing the events leading to the ???????? ??????? attacking the Flowist parade. Up to 90% Flowist priests perished from the attack, meaning this event marked the end of formal organised Flowism within the kingdom. The remnants of the community, faced informal persecution and oppression as many non-believers unfairly associated the attack with their tradition.
To ensure an honest narration, the survivor was told her personal theological views were correct and that lying would be caught immediately by her deities.

*Fesha is the central patriarch of Flowism believed to be the literal sun
** Flowists are the believers of Flowism , whose religion centres around peace with nature and the environment.
*** The twin gods are responsible for bringing out the harvests each year according to Flowist tradition.
**** Dragonists are followers of Dragonism, a religion centred around the worship of 14 dragon lords, each one representing a different aspect of creation.
***** The saviour figure of Dragonism is made from a fragment of each dragon lord, while the antagonist of Flowism was split into 14 parts by the war gods..