Sakeer

Sakeer is a Support/Mage hero in Honor of Kings.

Background[]

Sakeer hails from a secluded land known as Ghabet Firefly. His tribespeople, separated from the outside world for countless generations, were full of curiosity about the lands beyond their borders. In search of stories about these mysterious locales, Sakeer crossed the Forbidden Lands and set off on a journey of exploration. However, when he returned, he found his home long gone. Rather than wallowing in misery, he chose to follow in his father's footsteps. He sat down by the withered tree that his people had cherished and told the stories he had gathered as if everyone was still there. As he did so, fireflies lit up the night sky. Carrying the fireflies' light with him as memories of his home, he embarked on a fresh journey to document new tales.

Lore[]

Sakeer was born in the secluded Firefly Valley. Like any other of his kin, he grew up beneath Firefly Ancestral Tree, where he listened to stories of the outside world. One day, when the stories his ancestors had left behind had all been told, there were no more stories to hear, and his tribe felt a great loss.

Inspired to venture out and bring back new stories, Sakeer packed up the ancestral storybook and the wooden sword his father had gifted him. He stealthily traversed the Stone Forest, which no one had ever crossed, and reached the "outside".

Sakeer was on cloud nine the first time he saw the vast lands of Alsahraa. He traveled across its various kingdoms and recorded several fascinating stories to bring back home. He made his way toward Madinat Erudit, where countless stories had been recorded, going all the way back to the birth of civilization.

But he accidentally entered the Madinat Fresco. By the time he came back out again, hundreds of years had somehow passed, and the once-prosperous oasis had turned to desert. Sakeer thought only of returning his home.

With the help of Garo and Prince of Lanling, Sakeer overcame many trials and tribulations. But when he finally made it back to his birthplace, he found that it had been lost to time. Firefly Valley, once so full of laughter and joy, had gone silent. Even the Firefly Ancestral Tree, the clan's eternal pride, had withered.

Sakeer was overcome with profound sadness, with tears running down his face. But instead of wallowing in sorrow, he followed his father's example and began telling his newly collected stories under the decaying Firefly Ancestral Tree.

As Sakeer recounted the stories, fireflies appeared from the tree's bone-dry trunk and danced around him. It was just like the night of summer solstice in Ghabet Firefly. Everyone gathered around the tree while the clan's patriarch stood in the center. As the tribe watched on expectantly, he opened the storybook and began telling a new story. Fireflies danced among the crowd, forming streams of glittering stars in the air.

The people of Ghabet Firefly believed that fireflies were reincarnations of their deceased—stars upon the earth.

The glowing fireflies began flying into the ancestral mulberry-wood sword, forming a glowing blade of light. A seed fell upon the earth and sprouted into a sapling under the light of the sword.

Sakeer finally understood that this was what his father had meant by "Sword of Hope". Sakeer wiped away his tears, smiled, and said to his worried friends: "It's alright. Now, I know: Ghabet Firefly is still here".

The ancestral mulberry seed had been planted in Ghabet Firefly, and one day, it would grow into a great tree, sheltering the renewed Firefly Valley once again.

The seed of hope had been planted in Sakeer's heart as well. He now believes that Ghabet Firefly will never cease to exist, and fireflies will always accompany him on his travels around the world in search of more stories.

We cannot escape loss. True courage is not the lack of fear, but rather the ability to forge ahead despite great fear. Sakeer bravely bid farewell to the past, setting forth to distant lands, the light of hope glowing in his heart.

"I journey far, beneath a sky brimming with stars."

Firefly Dreams[]

As sunlight made its way into Sakeer's room, the people of Firefly Valley began their day's work once again.

Sakeer got dressed up and went out for a walk. Along the way, he saw an old lady cleaning, a man making repairs, a woman arranging flowers, and a boy delivering vegetables. All of them smiled and greeted Sakeer.

Walking through the Patriarch's Hall corridor, the tidy courtyard, and finally into the camphor forest, he arrived at Firefly Ancestral Tree. It was Sakeer's tenth birthday, and he smiled from cheek to cheek.

This was the place where he'd grown up. The Patriarch's Hall was located in the center of the valley, and the tribe lived in dwellings all around it. A stream ran down from the mountainside, flowing east through the valley before going underground.

Sakeer's parents were already waiting for him, smiles on their faces as they stood before the Ancestral Tree, surrounded by camphor trees.

"Sakeer, you should have your own wooden sword," his father said as he handed a carved wooden sword to Sakeer. It had a crisp, fresh fragrance. Sakeer's father had crafted it himself from a branch of the oldest mulberry tree.

Sakeer held up the sword, regarding it with awe. He jumped up and down, overjoyed. "Wow! Now I've got a wooden sword, too!"

Sakeer's mother patted his head and handed him a cloak she'd hand-sewn using silk from silkworms fed on the Ancestral Tree.

"Tonight is your birth night. Have you memorized the song?" His mother gently reminded him.

"Don't worry, Mother. I've recited it hundreds of times."

"And we'll be watching how you communicate with the fireflies tonight." Sakeer's father patted his shoulder, smiling.

"Sure. I've been friends with them for a long time now."

...

As the night arrived, the tribe gathered around the Firefly Ancestral Tree. It was the birthday of their favorite prince, Sakeer—a lively and innocent child they all loved. As Sakeer held his wooden sword raised high, the tribe clasped hands and danced slowly around the bonfire.

At the center of the gathered crowd, Sakeer stood near the bonfire, eyes closed as a light ballad sounded out. It was a song the Firefly people had sung for generations, a symbol of peace and prosperity. Sakeer and his tribespeople hummed along with the tune.

Sakeer's mother had hummed this melody to him as a lullaby, and it never failed to calm him to a peaceful sleep. As he grew up and learned the stories of his tribe, his parents also taught him how to hum the song.

And tonight, on Sakeer's birth night, they sang a song composed by their tribe's first patriarch upon his arrival to Ghabet Firefly.

O' travelers of a thousand miles!
War blazed through our homeland,
but I know
that malice lingers not in your hearts.
You're only blinded by the winds and sands,
and when the stars arise,
peace will return once more.
And in this hidden valley,
laughter shall resound again.

The tribespeople chanted the song over and over again, expressing their yearning for peace and prosperity. It was a song of gratitude to their ancestors who had found Firefly Valley, and to the valley itself.

Sakeer opened his eyes when the song ended, only to find himself surrounded by a sea of fireflies. They fluttered all around him, and then all of a sudden, they lofted him into the air. His kinsfolk watched on, their love for him clearly apparent in their eyes and smiles.

Sakeer flew toward his parents, who stood gazing lovingly at him, their eyes full of pride. Seeming ever more stable in his flight, Sakeer opened his cloak wide and flew past his parents, headed for the crowd outside.

"Look! I can fly!" Sakeer's joyful laughter echoed over the gathering.

...

"Ah-choo!" Sakeer scratched his nose and rubbed his drowsy eyes as he realized that he'd interrupted the gentle sound of the forest breeze. A fallen leaf had tickled his face. He'd fallen asleep on the grass, lying against a pillar of the Stone Forest.

He had dreamt of his birthday several years ago. The smiling faces of his parents and tribespeople were still fresh in his mind when he remembered that he'd left his birthplace in search of new stories.

His storybook said that the Stone Forest was a forbidden land. It marked the boundary of Ghabet Firefly, and all who entered its mysterious formations would be lost forever inside.

But for some reason, Sakeer didn't feel lost at all. From the moment he'd set eyes on the Stone Forest, he'd only felt curiosity. The last few stories the ancestors recorded in the book detailed how the tribe had fled a horrific war, how they survived the journey through the Stone Forest with the guidance of the fireflies, and when they were about to lose all hope, they finally stepped out into Firefly Valley.

Holding the storybook in one hand, he compared it to the terrain as he walked, searching for any traces left by his ancestors. Every now and then, he would exclaim, "Ah! This is the path the fireflies led them down!"

Sakeer didn't know what direction he'd gone, nor when he'd fallen asleep inside the Stone Forest. He only knew that by the end, it seemed as if he'd been following the fireflies himself, running down the path. Finally reaching total exhaustion, he fell asleep under a camphor tree and entered a dream.

Morning sunlight shone into the golden forest of stone. Sakeer patted the dust from his clothes and stood up. Gazing into the distance, he realized that an oasis stood before him, with camels and caravans on the merchant road leading to it.

Somehow, he had reached the other side of the Stone Forest.

Without lingering too long on the question of how that had happened, Sakeer was simply overjoyed. This was his first glance at the wide world outside of Ghabet Firefly, previously only the domain of the stories he'd heard.

Taking up his storybook, Sakeer dashed excitedly toward the oasis.

"Here I come, Alsahraa. I will bring your stories back home!"

Campfire Conversation[]

The campfire crackled as the young man holding a storybook recounted his journeys.

A masked man sat beside him, tossing more wood into the fire from time to time. Sitting on the other side was a scholarly-looking young woman, who listened silently to the young man's story.

It was a night like any other for the travelers returning home—the sky brimming with stars, the golden sands seemingly endless. Sakeer, Prince of Lanling, and Garo sat around the campfire near a courier station, talking softly.

Merchant caravans were scattered about nearby, each engaged in their own conversations. The mood seemed chipper and bright, as laughter sounded out. Occasionally, someone broke out in song, belting out a tune from their hometown.

A delicate girl served tea for guests to enjoy as the cook inside the courier station prepared roasted meat.

"They're just stories from hundreds of years ago. Everyone in that book is long dead."

Sakeer had just finished telling the story of the King of Yekahr's New Year Ceremony, while Prince of Lanling only stared indifferently into the dancing flames.

"That's exactly why I write them down."

"Stories never last."

"They won't disappear if they're recorded in a book."

Prince of Lanling stood up and gestured at the courier station and the desert sands beyond the merchant road, "Alsahraa's not the same as it once was."

"The scenery is different, that's for sure." Sakeer gazed in the direction Prince of Lanling had pointed. "But now it holds innumerable new stories. Just like this courier station—I've never seen such a thing before."

Garo spoke up: "The people of Jade City built these stations. They shelter travelers from the biting winds and sands. They're strung throughout the desert like beads on a thread."

"Look at all these people here. They're all sharing stories of their journey." Sakeer looked at all the nearby merchants eating from their dinner bowls as he spoke.

"When people tell their stories, that's when people grow closer." A smile appeared on Garo's face.

"Yekahr wasn't always like this. After the True King fell, all the surrounding kingdoms were combined into one, ending a hundred years of chaos and strife for the entire region. People welcomed the new peace as they grew closer to one another. This kind of story happens everywhere, every day." A laugh sounded out from behind him.

He didn't know when, but the shopkeeper had come out to send off some customers and had overheard the party's discussion. The woman had witnessed many hardships, but retained a graceful bearing.

However, her cheerful tone soon turned melancholic. "But in the end, the kingdom of Alsahraa crumbled... The scars left by the fall of the True King seem to have left this land cursed."

Handing them some flatbread, the shopkeeper continued: "Our forefathers tried to break the curse, but they failed, and chaos returned to Alsahraa—even worse than before, maybe. And the merchants, well, there's less of 'em now."

"But that's not our future, and it's not the Alsahraa we all want. There will come a day when this troubled land will find peace, and new life will sprout from this barren desert," Garo said softly.

Sakeer agreed resolutely, "It's true. Just look at Madinat Erudit. It will rise from the ashes."

"How about I tell you all a story from when Alsahraa was full of life?"

"Oh, I'd like that very much," the shopkeeper said as she smiled brightly at Sakeer, then sat down with them, upon which her sorrow seemed to fade.

Sakeer turned to a new page and began to speak about the various kingdoms of Alsahraa's past.

The Alsahraa of those days was filled with camel caravans, oases, and people with smiling faces. Small city-states were scattered all about, each with its own unique culture and outlook, and every one was thriving off the land.

Sakeer always regarded the people who lived there with awe.

The prosperous past of Alsahraa was revealed as the story continued in Sakeer's gentle voice. "The most impressive yet was the Alsahraa trade fair, held only once every three years. The year I saw it, it was held by the city of Shattered Crescent. The merchant roads were jam-packed with caravans, like threads of colorful silk as they meandered toward Shattered Crescent, being woven into a beautiful tapestry upon arrival to the city. A tapestry that could be appreciated for months on end..."

"Wish I could see that!" Sakeer didn't know when, but his story had drawn merchants from all around.

"Today's Alsahraa is indeed a bit more subdued, like a vibrant youngster who has fallen asleep." The girl who had been serving tea had also approached at some point.

"Father says that sleep is for rest, so you have more energy when you wake up." Sakeer took in their words.

"But what if everyone was gone by the time you woke up?" Prince of Lanling looked at Sakeer.

"The people of Ghabet Firefly believed that after death, they would return to their Ancestral Tree as fireflies, where they would remain forever."

Garo raised her hand to stop Prince of Lanling, but then changed her mind. She knew that to return home after hundreds of years, Sakeer needed to be prepared.

"And still, some things really do disappear, just like Yekahr. It flourished once, but now it's just a pile of rubble. What once was can never return."

"And that's okay, because we can always rebuild," Sakeer said firmly as he closed the storybook.

"Just look, these courier stations have been rebuilt, hundreds of years later."

At this, the merchants seemed to fall into thought. Looking up, Sakeer found that all the travelers at the station had joined the crowd surrounding him.

The people of Alsahraa certainly sought renewal, but that renewal should not be a return to the past. It should be a new beginning.

Sakeer pointed into the distance as he smiled, "See? That's the direction of Ghabet Firefly. My father always told me not to be afraid of losing my direction, since the stars would always lead me home—and fireflies are stars on earth."

"The path of our return is being lit." Sakeer pointed at the lights shining nearby.

"Meat's ready, everyone!" The shopkeeper shouted from a distance. Apparently, she'd taken leave of the crowd at some point.

The crowd began to disperse, having been yanked from Sakeer's story. Sakeer stood up as well, shouting cheerfully at Prince of Lanling and Garo: "I'll be back in a minute! I want some meat too!"

Prince of Lanling tossed another log on the campfire. As he watched Sakeer by the firelight, his eyes seemed to soften a little.

"Little Sakeer is stronger than we imagined." Garo stood up and stepped in the direction Sakeer had gone.

A boisterous crowd amidst a quiet night. As the travelers laughed and sang, this southwestern courier station in Alsahraa was like a glittering pearl.

A New Journey[]

Sakeer passed through the towering gates of Jade City and walked along its broad, jade-paved streets. After so many years, he was finally reunited with the city.

He bid farewell to the others and once again embarked on a new journey.

Many places in Alsahraa had changed, but Sakeer found Jade City to have largely retained its character, with endless festivals, artistic exhibitions, an astounding variety of jade goods, and a never-ending stream of merchants and travelers.

The prosperity of the past seemed to have been trapped here forever, the place where the vitality of all of Alsahraa converged.

Lively gossip reached Sakeer's ears as he strolled the streets of Jade City. People from every corner of Alsahraa were here, and he picked up on their interesting stories.

Sakeer eventually arrived at Jade City Square, where he was happy to discover that the Jadeworkers' Guild was holding an event to commemorate Princess Muri. Jade artisans were showing off their skills to a captivated audience.

The bustling crowd was a testament to the fact that Jade City would never forget the princess who brought them aersilk, elevating Jade City's craftsmanship to new heights.

Sakeer "saw" the story.

At that time, Jade City wasn't nearly as prosperous as it is now. It had an endless supply of premium raw jade, but it was severely lacking when it came to the sculpting techniques required to enhance its natural beauty.

That was until a princess named Muri was born. Following the traditions of the kingdom, she was sent to study at Madinat Erudit, where she was enchanted by the beauty of the sculptures recorded there. She took it as her mission to reproduce these works in every detail, earning herself the status of a Madinat Erudit scholar.

Thus, she had everything she needed—except a material suited to cutting jade.

Mu Yi scoured every corner of Alsahraa in search of something sharp and sturdy enough for the task, all to no avail. That is, until a merchant from the Central Plains mentioned a local specialty of Jixia, aersilk. Reinvigorated in her search, she set out for Jixia all alone. Before long, she had signed a contract with a sage of Jixia to open up trade with Jade City.

These were stories Sakeer had heard when he visited Alsahraa hundreds of years ago. The people of Jade City recounted these events over and over every time Muri's anniversary came around. Hearing them again now, Sakeer was deeply moved. It was as if he had traveled through time with the princess herself.

Lost in his nostalgia, Sakeer wandered through the crowd until he arrived at its center, where he stood before the Guild Hall and began telling a story.

"Indeed, Princess Muri was a fun-loving character. She had a deep appreciation for all things beautiful." Everyone had already heard the first half of the story, but precious few knew of the second half.

The chairman of the Jadeworkers' Guild worried that the sudden appearance of the young man might offend the memory of Princess Muri, commanding him to step down, but an aristocratic-looking youth next to him waved his hand, putting a halt to the order.

"It was her ability to discover beauty that allowed her to shape jade as she did." With every sentence the young man uttered, the chairman's heart sank a little deeper.

"When I met the princess, she asked me to tell stories about faraway places in Alsahraa, but I later learned that she'd seen more of the world than I had. And that's where I first heard the story of aersilk."

"She compared her assortment of jade carvings with the illustrations in my books, and we discovered many similarities."

"The princess is also where I first heard of the Madinat Fresco."

As Sakeer related the story, fireflies danced in the air beside him, forming one vivid image after another. For the first time, the people of Jade City got to see Princess Muri's past for themselves.

They saw how she returned from Madinat Erudit, how she searched for aersilk to carve jade, how she led the citizens of Jade City, and how she related her stories to Sakeer. The princess who had previously only lived within stuffy books suddenly appeared before their eyes. The people were struck silent by her lively visage.

...

"With that, let's end the story here for today."

As the sun dropped below the western horizon, Sakeer closed his storybook. The fireflies returned to his wooden sword, but the people of Jade City remained motionless, unwilling to leave.

"Um... If you want to hear more, I could come back tomorrow." Sakeer smiled into the eyes of the enthralled crowd.

For many people, that would be the most unforgettable anniversary celebration of their lives. Even though the young man spoke of seeing the princess hundreds of years ago, no one batted an eye. It was as if his gentle voice immersed them completely in the story, and they could think of nothing else.

Dinnertime had long passed, and Sakeer's stomach rumbled. Several nobles and merchants took that as an opportunity to offer him a meal, over which they would presumably be able to hear more of his stories of Princess Muri.

Sakeer patted his stomach and thought for a moment, but ultimately refused politely. He pulled out the letter Garo had given him when they parted, asking: "Does anyone know where Sheng is?"

"Oh, you're looking for me?" The young noble who had stopped the order earlier approached and stood before Sakeer, a smile on his face.

"You're Sheng? Garo said that if I ever needed anything in Jade City, I should find you."

"I received a message from Garo a few days ago. She mentioned you." Sheng had guessed who Sakeer was at first sight.

"You're hungry. I know all there is to eat in Jade City. Come with me, I'll treat you to dinner." Sheng waved off his bodyguards and guided Sakeer into the crowd.

Jade City grew more lively as the night pressed on. Street lights lit up one by one, and the night kicked off with style.

"Jade City is bustling with traveling merchants. You've lived here a long time, so you must know quite a few fascinating stories." Sakeer walked at Sheng's side, listening to his introduction to the city and peppering him with questions about it.

"Isn't there another big city to the west of Alsahraa, on the coast?" Sakeer pointed to a peddler carrying baskets of seashell trinkets.

"You mean Navenia?" Sheng paused as Sakeer inspected the peddler's wares.

"Boy, I'd sure love to go and see it." After saying goodbye to the peddler, the two continued their walk, talking all the way.

The night scene was dazzling, and in the blink of an eye, the pair blended into the backdrop of Jade City's glittering lantern lights.

Skills[]

Firefly Protection

Type: Passive

Basic Attacks and skills summon fireflies that deal extra damage to enemies and grant vision of them. Periodically heals teammates. Can charge up his Basic Attack to heal himself.

Mulberry Power

Type: Skill 1

Launches and damages enemies in front while summoning fireflies to heal teammates or damage enemies.

Ride the Wind

Type: Skill 2

Flies to a brush while summoning fireflies that heal teammates or damage enemies.

Firefly Fields

Type: Ultimate

Summons a brush and can fly into it by using this skill again. The brush summons fireflies over time that heal teammates or damage enemies.

Skins[]

Partners and Counters[]

Strategies[]

Know a nice synergy? Recommended items? Loadouts? Click here to add your strategy!

Sakeer's most common skill combo is Ult-1-2.
Use his Ultimate twice to summon a bush and fly to it, launch the enemy with Skill 1, then use Skill 2 to retreat.