Sixteen years later and many months.
***
-Yue Jiu Village near the House of Ebony. At the Market Square-
Roasted maize is a food that is commonly sold at the Market Square, Its tantalizing smell drawing in the passer-byes who happen to be near.
Buyers and sellers pass near the maize seller fixing their eyes upon the delicacy and lightly swallowing saliva. Maybe on fear of being noticed.
The light clinking of metal is heard as money changes hand from the buyer to the maize seller.
Hungry eyes follow as the seller takes half of a lemon dipped in chili and salt powder and generously spreads it on the roasted maize.
The buyer dons a white fabric hiding their face from prying eyes- hungry eyes.
Only dark hands and a exited voice were seen and heard by the people observing the seller.
"Thank you and have a great day!" The seller told the buyer.
The eyes on the buyer shifted to the new buyer of the seller of maize, anxiously waiting for the maize pieces that would be discarded.
The buyer weaves through the busy Market Square.
Various accents were heard as the people present exchanged banters. Candied baobab and groundnuts were displayed for sale, white fabric was tied above stalls to protect the sellers from the sunlight, glass ornaments were used to catch light, attracting potential buyers. All in all, the Market Square was an interesting place to be.
The seller's wrap that was around the head removed- so that the person could eat the maize easily. Nevertheless, a wrap was used to hide her hair - Common courtesy of unmarried girls.
An alluring face was seen, Beaut brown eyes with a charming smile that drew adoring gazes. Nevertheless, the person of attention was unaware.
The buyer was walking towards the Butcher's to get what her guardians sent her to for.
"KAI LULU!"
A loud slightly high pitched voice was heard from behind Kai. Kai turned to look behind her still eating the roasted maize.
"What is it, Izaak?"
"You're asking me 'what is it?' Zara ran away. Again. Because of your constant encouragement, my sister has left for Cloud City searching for the so-called 'adventure' you both have been talking about!"
"Calm down, Izaak." Kai told the towering young man who started complaining the moment he arrived close to her.
"You are telling me to calm down? For Svania's* sake, Mistress Awola will kill me and you want me to calm down?"
Izaak was worried about Mistress Awola might do. The last time she got angry, he could not walk for a whole month. He was also pissed off by Kai's reaction to Zara's running away. He knew no matter ho many lines Kai crossed Mistress Awola never punished her. Oh! how nice it must be to be on Mistress Awola's good side all the time.
"She won't kill you, she is just all bark and no bite." Kai assured Izaak as she offered him some maize.
"No, thank you Kai who knows if it is laced with poison. Anyway, you are just saying that because you are her favorite."
"Why are you worried this time though, Doesn't Zara ran away like... every week?" Kai asked. "She'll come back in like a day or two, no need to be worried."
Izaak frowned at Kai's words. Was he the only one who was worried? Because even after he had told the other mistresses about Zara they all laughed him of. Sucks to be the only boy.
"You'll get wrinkles of you continue frowning like that. Anyway, do you want to go with me to the Butcher's? The bear meet from Spring City just arrived."
"Sure." Izaak replied. "What did you tell Zara that is in Cloud City anyway? That place is overrun by the aristocratic families who got banished from Crystal City. What if she offends one of the families there?"
Kai laughed at Izaak words. She knew even though Izaak seemed foolish at times with his broad smile all the time, he had a brain somewhere. One that worked, that is.
"What if, one of the Princes is undercover there. You know how they like to learn about how us commoners live. I hate that about them. They have crystal palaces, why would they need to walk on 'commoner's land'?" Izaak said as they passed near a stall selling a miniature versions of the Fifth and Seventh Princes.
"Nothing will happen to her, Izaak. Zara knows how to take care of yourself. You got to let her fly. You are her younger brother you know? She has to take care of you!"
Kai and Izaak arrived at the Rimple's Butcher, the place where the House of Ebony usually ordered the meat.
"She is only older than me by a couple of seconds," Izaak refuted.
"Still, she is older than you, so you are her younger brother."
***
-Crystal City, Crystal Palace-
The High King was seated on a raised platform, his concubines were serving him by fanning, feeding him wine and snacks and massaging him.
His wives were seated at a respectable distance, gracefully dining.
The eunuch trembled as he waited to hear His Majesty's reply.
"Bring him in," Jalil finally said.
The eunuch backed out of the main dining hall of the Imperial Family. He only turned when he was a safe distance from His Majesty. He returned, next to him an finely dressed young man with a head full of short white curls.
The young man walked with unbalanced steps, like as if one leg was shorter than the other.
"Greetings to His Majesty, High King Jalil, High King's Wives and Concubines." The young man bowed as he greeted the Royal Family. Not daring to raise his head.
"Rise," Jalil commanded.
"Your Majesty, Of what way may I be of assistance?" The white haired man asked.
"You need to write down all the details of the Beast Tide War," The High King stated drawing a shallow gasp from the white haired man.
Of course the white haired man was shocked, the tale of the Beast Tide War was almost forgotten. Thousands of years had passed since the war ended.
To make the High King's request more shocking was that the war happened in the sea.
It was a war for the Mer people.
Why would His Majesty need all the details of such a war?
A/N;
Svania- The goddess of wind.