"Mummy, daddy look at the flowers I collected, there's Anemone, buttercup and red clover." Her high pitched voice echoing through the tea shop. It almost over powers the chattering that was just beginning to spread from the morning rush of customers.
She abruptly comes to a halt, energized with joy she pounds towards me. Luckily I had already placed down my tea. She jumps to embrace me with a snuggly hug and a sweet nose rub. Her smile brightens to a laughter as I gently place her on the ground. She gazes towards her parents who were both wearing a stern face with their eyebrows crossed. Ms Naoko gives her daughter, Rinku, a serious face.
Rinku sticks out her tongue to the side playfully, "Sorry mummy and daddy." She places the flowers gently on the bench. She holds on tightly to her smile and rushes to the door and greets the customer. "Sorry for my misbehaviour. Welcome, please come in and sit wherever you like." A lot of the customers were a bit shocked, but they all spoke fondly and grinned at this cute little werewolf girl.
I glare towards Mr and Ms Naoko who were gazing at each other with their eyes slightly wide, but their bright smiling faces glows with joy. Their daughter has grown up. I resist the urge to keep looking at the sweet moment. I discontinue to enjoy my cup of tea slowly, and realise I should get to the camp early. I giggle softly in my mind and ask myself is that really the reason why.
The amazing tea glides through my mouth and down my throat. I exaggerate my enjoyment of the tea like it's some kind of ancient wine that's been stored for thousand of years. My loud gulps and glowing face of satisfaction makes Mr and Ms Naoko laugh.
"Thank you for the tea," I gently settle the cup down. "Silas is going to scold me for being later than the early hour I usually arrive at the training field." I leave with a beaming smile and walk towards slowly to the entrance, as I wait for the rush of customers to finish storming in Mr and Ms Naoko, as well as Rinku chime in unison, "Please come again!"
I escape from the crowd of people beginning to gather in the tea shop, and emerge into the streets that begins to fill with streams of people - the signal that it's the start of a new day.
I'm no fancy main character or Princess of a magical fairy tale - I'm just an normal, simple, everyday person.
I walk among these nameless villagers, human and werewolf, I begin to head towards the swordsmen camp outside town. I pass different people everyday, I sometimes get bored and I escape my own little comfort bubble to watch the world around me play.
I see a little human girl selling flowers. Her smile vibrant but maybe that's only for show. Her shoes aren't new and seem like they're probably second hand. A werewolf man selling these calligraphy scrolls. A shop full of armour and swords, as well as half naked muscle-packed, handsome blacksmiths, I resist the urge to continue looking as much as I want to. Two women, one human one werewolf, and both in their middle age walking along the street, talking absolutely WAY TOO LOUD.
Along the way there continues to be strangers that I pass - and they all have a story. Just like me. But my one is a bit different. I don't sell flowers, calligraphy paintings, not a blacksmith and I would NEVER talk loudly in the middle of the street (unless needed of course).
I come from a rich wealthy family - the Oalasis family. The strongest and only military family there is in all of Inpa Village. In slightly older terms, I may be considered a member of the upper class, but no one uses these hierarchical terms anymore. But even then, I'm not really actually an upper class member. I'm the illegitimate child of the Oalasis family - the daughter of a maid, and what my 4 sisters call me - "a big mistake". Although my four sisters have all married off into wealthy families, and don't bother me with their heart shattering words, but I remain the only female child that won't be able to marry into any family. Cause what am I? I'm the illegitimate child of a wealthy family, plus I've worked in the military all my life, I don't know common courtesy or anything. Well nobody bothered to teach me, because everyone in the Oalasis family treated me like some piece of unwanted rubbish. I was little more than a maid in the family, well their family, and my father was too busy with his third wife to care about his nameless, illegitimate daughter. Only my brother, Silas treats me like a pal, like - family. But even that, I was dependent on myself to make a living - that's by fighting. Fighting for peace, my village, but also fighting for myself. I work for the military, sadly, the military power my family owns, and I diligently work under my uncle the Head General and along side my brother Silas.
I continue my way to the training field, trotting along the uneven gravel path, too rocky for my feet to feel any kind of flat platform, and just so much dust that my shoes and lower legs are already covered with layers of dust. Without even looking up I've found myself on the outskirts of the village and stepping on a way more even path - a path that leads to home: the military base camp.
I make my way through the large wooden gates and is greeted by every swordsmen in the camp.
"Morning General Leona,"
"Hey Leona,"
"How have you been?"
"Lovely weather just like our female warrior!"
"Morning."
I give all the many people that have greeted me a small nod of approval and a small smile. I try to keep it professional. I continue my way into the main tent to find my brother. Well half brother.
I push aside the white fabric to find my brother sprawled across the head general's chair.
Thinking of a brilliant strategy, I chime, "Morning Head General,"
My brother jolts up in surprise, "Good morning Head General. It's not what it looks like, I was helping you warm your seat." He brushes the chair as if he has left traces of dirt from lying on the chair. He looks at the front of the tent. "Leona what kind of joke was that?" He sighs in relief.
I giggle, "Oh brother, what kind of joke are you pulling off today? What are you doing, warming up the seat on a warm Spring morning."
"The morning's are cold, so it would be only logical to warm up the seat for uncle," he exclaims.
He makes eye contact with me and slyly says, "You seem to be later than usual? You're supposed to arrive on time General Leona? Waiting for you has already led me to sleep since my arrival here at the peak of dawn."
I give him a timid smile, "Well.... 3, 2, 1." Far in the distance we hear the big bell that chimes at 6:45 in the morning to signal the start of the new day. "Techniquely, I'm on time." My smile broadens,"General Silas."
"I don't think I'll ever be able to win a debate against my little sister." Our smiles mimic each other's.
Another voice echoes into the tent, "I see you're having a banquet without me." Chuckles the Head General who's entering the main tent.
"Morning Head General," Brother and I say in unison as we seat ourselves on the chairs either side of the Head General's seat - the seat my brother so kindly warmed up for him this morning.
"Is there any news coming from the King and Queen?" I asked like every other morning, while staring into uncle's ancient ice blue eyes.
"Well not for the military, for the village." The Head General murmured while tying up his shoulder length black hair with a string.
General Silas speaks at once, "Is it regarding the bride of the oldest prince?"
"Indeed," he explains, "Since the village is at peace because of the treaty with neighboring villages," his smile slightly broadens, since it was from our effort that's led to the peace we have today, "the King and Queen have decided to find a suitable bride for the oldest prince." Brother and I nod at his news in unison.
It's true that the peace we have today is mainly from the good military services, but it's because of our monarchy. We live in a hierarchical system with a King and Queen, but no one considers themselves or each other less werewolf or less human. We are all equal humans and werewolves with equal rights. Thanks to the effort of the present Queen and King, they've stripped all forms of poverty from the streets, from the village. That's because of their generous and just ways of ruling. They've lowered taxes and made it reasonable according to individual's wages. And all the tax goes towards the village and military service, that's why Inpa Village has advanced military services.
I quickly add on as a guess, "If you're bringing this up, does it mean there'll be something happening regarding the bride selection that'll potentially effect us?"
The Head General pulls out a scroll from his jacket pocket and looks up at me, "Yes!"