In Markus Kane: Dawn of Shadows, one of the most quietly powerful objects is a necklace — an heirloom shaped like a bird, split into two pendants, worn by two souls.
It first appears around Xara’s neck when we meet her — elegant, mysterious, and fierce. The pendant she wears is shaped like the Alq’arus, a majestic golden creature of ancient Nevran myth, said to soar with four wings — two of which could separate and reunite in midair. These mythical birds were believed extinct since the Pre-Dawn Age, yet their image lives on in legend as a symbol of bonds that transcend distance, separation, and even time.
The pendant itself — which splits cleanly down the middle into two interlocking halves — is a visual extension of the story’s deepest emotional thread: the bond between Markus and Xara. Though they are not related by blood, the two share a connection forged by survival and cemented through loyalty. At one point, Xara gives half of the pendant to Markus, quietly affirming a promise: No matter where we go, or what becomes of us, we will find each other again.
What makes the Alq’arus symbol so powerful is not just its beauty, or even its mythos — it’s the idea of unity through separation. In many ways, Markus and Xara mirror this bird’s nature. They are forged from fire, pulled apart by circumstance, and drawn back together by something deeper than fate.
The pendant becomes a through-line of meaning — appearing in quiet moments, remembered in darker ones, and ultimately… playing a much larger role than either of them ever expected.
As an artist, I labored over the design for this talisman. It had to be both elegant and symmetrical, capable of splitting cleanly into two wearable pieces — yet whole and seamless when reunited. It needed to reflect power and grace, but also intimacy. I’ve included some of my early sketches below, showing how I explored minimalism, geometry, and storytelling through form.
What began as a piece of mythology became an emblem of memory, promise, and survival. And like the Alq’arus itself, it’s more than just beautiful — it’s watching over them both.