A sunbaked streets of Al'Bashem glimmered as though lain with gold, reflecting the light of twin suns. The sky was azure blue with scattered clouds, but they were not white or puffy as in other places – instead these wispy masses seemed to be made from thousands upon thousands of tiny beads of glass that reflected the sunlight so brightly it hurt the eyes.

It was a city-state of opulence and splendor where only those with great wealth could live. Despite this, the lifeblood of the city was its laymen, merchants and beggars that filled the desert city-state with noise. They all had their own shops, stalls and houses which lined the main thoroughfares and alleyways within the city's sandstone. The poor lived on the fringes of dusty bazaars, neighbored by gilded steeples pierced the heavens; I existed somewhere between these two extremes.

I belonged to one of three families who ruled over our people: the House of Shakar. My ancestors were the first to serve as Al'Bashem's royal guard. As the last remaining benefactor—and bachelor—of my name, I preferred to live a quiet life far removed from the glory of my forefathers.