As she ate, I asked, “Marra… what place is this? What year? What kingdom are we in?”She blinked up at me, licking her fingers clean. “This is the Far East of Elias Kingdom, sir. Year of the Ash Moon. The twenty-third cycle.”Elias.I blinked. The name hit me hard. That was the name of my grandfather—Elias Robinson. He died years ago when I was fifteen on earth. A stubborn, old farmer who taught me how to plant tomatoes and use a pocket knife. Could be a coincidence... but still."What kind of place is Elias Kingdom?" I asked, trying to hide my reaction.She tilted her head. “The kingdom of Elias has always been. Ever since the Founders came from the sky with the golden flame. That’s what the elders say. But… now it’s ruled by the Red Duke. Since the King disappeared. Everything's worse now. The Red Duke lets his soldiers take our food.”Her voice grew small at the end, and she curled in on herself a bit.A goat bleated again—louder this time—and I saw a hunched man appear from the sha