The merchant from Yi Ti adjusted the ornate silk sash around his waist, his fingers lingering over the intricate embroidery. It was his first day back in Eden after months of travel, and he wanted to look his best. His apprentice, a young man from the tea-growing regions of Yi Ti, trailed behind him, his eyes wide as he took in the gleaming streets of the city.
"Master," the apprentice finally said, his voice low and hesitant. "Is it always like this? So… perfect?"
The merchant chuckled, pausing in his stride to give his apprentice a knowing smile. "Yes, Lin. This is Eden. The city where nothing is out of place, where everything shines and the people walk as if they have never known hardship. It's overwhelming at first, I know."
Lin's eyes darted around, absorbing every detail. The towering glass structures gleamed in the distance, reflecting the perfect symmetry of the city. The streets were pristine, lined with lush greenery that seemed to be trimmed with obsessive care. Parks stretched in all directions, each one more beautiful than the last. Even the air felt clean, unnaturally pure, like it had been filtered of anything remotely unpleasant.
"It's…" Lin hesitated, struggling to find the words. "It's like a dream. But… something about it feels strange. Don't you think?"
The merchant nodded slowly, a faint smile on his lips as he studied his young apprentice. "Yes, strange indeed. Perfection can be unsettling when it's so complete. You'll notice it even more as we go about our business here. But don't let it intimidate you, Lin. We're merchants, not philosophers. Our job is to make a profit, and this city is the best place to do that."
As they walked through Eden's main thoroughfare, the merchant kept one eye on his surroundings and the other on Lin, watching the boy's reactions. It was his first time in Eden, and the merchant remembered how he had felt on his own first visit—awed, confused, and, above all, deeply curious.
"You'll get used to it," the merchant continued. "The people, the way they live. It's all a bit surreal at first, but once you understand the rules of this place, you'll see why it's so successful. Eden is a city built on control. Control of its people, its resources, and even its image. The streets are clean because they're meant to be. The people are beautiful because they're made to be. This is a city where nothing is left to chance."
Lin frowned as he looked at a group of locals passing by. The citizens of Eden walked with an elegance and poise that seemed almost rehearsed, their faces flawless, their clothes perfectly tailored. They moved as if they were part of some grand performance, each one playing their role to perfection.
"They're so…" Lin trailed off, struggling to find the right word. "Cold."
The merchant let out a soft laugh. "That's one way to put it. They aren't exactly warm to outsiders, are they? I tried my hand at chatting up a few of the local women once, but none of them even gave me the time of day. Not that I blame them. To them, we're just traders—useful, but not worthy of their attention."
Lin's brow furrowed in confusion. "But we bring them something they need, right? The tea trade—it's valuable."
"Valuable, yes," the merchant agreed. "But don't mistake that for respect. The citizens of Eden may buy our tea, they may enjoy it, but they don't need us in the same way we need them. In their eyes, we're just another part of the system, something that keeps their perfect lives running smoothly. They'd rather not think about where the tea comes from, or who brings it to them. All they care about is that it's there when they want it."
Lin was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the immaculate streets. "But Master, if everything here is so perfect… doesn't that make it better? Wouldn't you want to live in a place like this?"
The merchant stopped, turning to face his apprentice fully. "That's a question I asked myself many times, Lin. And yes, for a while, I did want to stay. I even tried to gain citizenship, but Eden doesn't work that way. You can't just apply and become one of them. Unless you live here permanently, you'll always be an outsider. And living here means giving up everything else—your freedom, your connections to the outside world. That's the price of perfection."
Lin's eyes widened in surprise. "You tried to become a citizen?"
The merchant smiled wistfully. "Once. But I realized it wasn't for me. I'm a man of the world. I can't be tied down to one place, no matter how perfect it is."
As they continued walking, they passed through the vibrant market district, where merchants from all over the world had gathered to sell their goods. The stalls were filled with exotic items—spices from the Summer Isles, fabrics from Volantis, and, of course, the prized tea leaves from Yi Ti.
But amidst the usual bustle of trade, there were darker, more shadowy figures. The Asshai'i traders had also found a place in Eden's markets, their black robes contrasting sharply with the city's sterile cleanliness. They moved like ghosts, peddling occult artifacts and forbidden knowledge to those curious enough to seek it.
Lin shuddered as they passed a stall run by one of the Asshai'i. "Do they really trade with Asshai here? I thought Eden was… pure."
The merchant's expression grew more serious. "Eden may seem perfect on the surface, but there are layers beneath that are anything but. The leaders of this city, for all their wisdom and power, have a fascination with the occult, with things that should be left alone. They dabble in the dark arts as if they're playing a game. It's something you'll learn to ignore if you want to keep doing business here."
"But aren't they afraid?" Lin asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Of what might come from messing with such things?"
"They're afraid of nothing," the merchant replied with a quiet sigh. "They believe they are above fear, above the rules that govern the rest of us. That's the danger of living in a place like this. Perfection breeds arrogance, and arrogance can lead to ruin."
Lin fell silent, his mind racing as he tried to process everything his master had told him. Eden, for all its beauty, was not the utopia it appeared to be. There were cracks in the façade, small imperfections that hinted at something darker beneath the surface.
As they approached the tea stall where the merchant did his business, he turned to Lin and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. "This is a city where appearances are everything, Lin. Never forget that. You'll see things here that will amaze you, and you'll see things that will make you question everything you know. But in the end, remember why we're here. We're here to trade. To do business. That's all."
Lin nodded, though the look in his eyes betrayed the confusion and doubt still swirling in his mind. "I understand, Master."
"Good," the merchant said, offering him a reassuring smile. "Now, let's sell some tea. After all, the people of Eden may not need us, but they certainly want what we have. And that's enough for me."