The cobblestone streets are packed as Everest and I walk in the direction of home. My little fingers intertwine with his long ones as he starts to talk.
“Did you enjoy the fair Nam Nam?”
His use of my nickname makes my heart skip a beat. Oh, how I’ve longed to hear that again. Painfully, I’m stuck on the side listening as our last conversation unfolds.
“Uh-huh!” I respond through a mouth full of missing teeth.
“Glad to hear it.” That classic wide grin spreads across his face, complementing his dark amber hair. Don’t ask me how he ended up with that color; neither of our parents had brown hair to begin with. Sometimes he’d joke and say how he was actually from a different clan, which made me throw a fit every time. I mean, it might’ve been from my grandfather, but still, it made me uneasy to think how strange he looked compared to us. On the other hand, I’m a carbon copy of my mother, hair and all. Father told me I even have the same birthmark on my collarbone as her. Come to think of it, if Everest didn’t have father’s eyes, then neither of us would look much like him at all.
Anyways, Ev and I had just departed from the annual harvest fest that had become our tradition as siblings. Fifteen years from that day, Mayen had been declared as the new queen of Teredia and this event was meant to celebrate her. Of course, it was said that Kulym specifically chose her as leader when the previous one passed away. What a load of bullshit that is. Putting aside the fact of who it was meant for, it was always a fun excuse to have some time with my brother. People flooded there from all over, noshing on exotic foods, and examining art from foreign geniuses. My personal favorite snacks were the stuffed trojika peppers from Ylisaa (one of the three continents of Teredia, known for being cold and very coastal). Combined with secret spices and packed to the brim with rice, the braised boar couldn’t have been complemented better. Never before have I had more tender and well-seasoned meat. After hours filled with Everest beating me at darts and stuffing our faces with fried pola dough, we would head to the creamed ice stand run by an elderly woman named Ms. Haan. Two chocolate swirls later and both of us had the maturity level of a three-year-old.
His arm is now swinging mine, still tightly clutching my hand. With sparkling eyes, the younger me peers up at him and questions, “Ev, can we come back tomorrow? It lasts all weeeeeeek.”
“Nanami, you know I have my first assignment tomorrow. No matter how much I want to, I can’t come. Maybe father can take you.” He tries to reassure me, but the pout sitting on my face shows its failure.
His first assignment... Yeah right. Like that would ever come. See, Ev had just finished his training at the TSCU and was now considered a full-fledged soldier. Mayen was already prepared to send him on his way west and the day after the fest was his first day. That day was one I had never wanted to come, but when I think of it now, him being gone for a few months is a hell of a lot better than forever.
“Anyways, I heard that father has a special-”
Everest’s voice is diminished as the sound of wooden wheels clatters against the stone road. Still in front of me trying to continue his words, Ev is completely oblivious to the vehicle hurtling towards him. Not even I had noticed it before numerous hooves pounded his body into the street, disconnecting his hand forcibly from mine and knocking me to the street. As his crimson blood splatters in all directions, the past and present me scream in unison.
My younger self shakes him violently and yells at him to open his eyes. I continue my wasted efforts as tears flood my juvenile cheeks and fall upon his gashed neck. “Nam Nam…? Oh, Thank Kulym...You’re ok…” And with one last smile, the light leaves his grey eyes. My feet can’t move as the scene fades away and crowds of people swarm over his body.
Waking up in a cold sweat, I’m startled to see a pair of dark sapphire eyes right in front of mine. A short scream escapes my mouth and I fall nearly headfirst off the bed. Whoever owns the eyes follows suit, backing away so I don’t fall on them. My shoulder hits the ground hard and I can already tell that I’ll find a pretty little bruise there tomorrow. Dammit. Rubbing the area, I look up at the other person. It feels like my heart stops when I recognize it as the “arsonist” from yesterday. His silver hair is still stuck in that uncomfortable looking ponytail and the gold earrings are as dull as ever. With his scratched feet apart, he raises a bone knife in front of him, obviously confused and slightly unprepared.
“Who are you and why are you here?”. Surprisingly, he doesn’t waver a bit as he asks this.
After witnessing my brother’s death again and being thrown into this situation, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t in shock. I’m left staring blankly at him, making me look like a complete idiot. The knife adds an extra unwelcome pressure.
“Well, are you going to answer or not?” White from the tight hold on the knife, his knuckles readjust around the weapon.
I swallow the heart in my throat and without thinking, get out my name. “Um, I’m Nanami.” Why in the world did that escape my mouth? My mind is not listening to my instinct at all lately…
His eyes narrow. “Oi, you were at the market yesterday, weren’t you?” Letting me answer doesn’t seem to suit him. “Yeah, you were. You were next to that little black-haired fella right? Are you here to give me a proper reprimanding? Because I’ll tell you, it won’t do you any good. I don’t know what’ll convince you people, but I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“If you really remember seeing me, then you would know I wasn’t yelling at you. Therefore, your accusation is invalid. Seriously, if you don’t want people assuming things about you, then don’t do it either.”
This throws him off, yet he seems slightly intrigued. “Hmph. Well, it still doesn’t explain why you’re in my house. Not even Mayen’s found this place, so how the hell did you get here?” Cocking his head to the left, an alarmed expression replaces the previous one. “You didn’t follow me yesterday, did you? Oh jeez, if you followed me-”
I interrupt his train of thought. “I didn’t follow you ok?” Silence ensues while the boy gently relaxes his shoulders. Crossing my arms, I say, “And I’d appreciate it if you’d lower your knife. It's not exactly pleasant to have weapons stuck in your face.” What does he mean Mayen hasn’t even found this place? Is she supposed to? Why would a scant house such as this matter to someone like her?
Staring me down, he only inches the knife down his breast. “And it’s also not very pleasant to have people break into your house, sleeping in your bed nonetheless,” he scoffs. “How do I know you don’t have a weapon or something on you?”
Annoyed, I blurt out, “Oh for Kulym’s sake, It’s not like I’ll clobber you with a book!” The book is ripped from my bag as I aggressively take it out, showing him I’m not the crazy person he must think I am.
He seems taken aback by my sudden ferocity and swiftly slips the knife down to his stomach. “Well, if you didn’t follow me, then how did you find this place?”
“I got lost, ok? I needed to return this freaking book to someone and clearly that didn’t work out as planned. Just believe me when I say it has nothing to do with yesterday's incident. Looking for trouble isn’t exactly a hobby of mine.” Plushness embraces my back as I slump against the mattress.
The knife now completely makes its way down and the boy gets on his knees. As he crawls closer to me, I push myself even harder into the bed. Gray bangs slip into my face as he inspects every inch of my eyes, making every hue of blue in his irises visible. “Uh, what are you doing?” I question him.
Claustrophobia sets in as he intently examines me, my heart beating faster and my palms starting to sweat from under me. It seems longer than a minute when he finally leans back on his heels. “Well, no imprint, you’re clean.”
Somehow, a rose is engraved in the iris of every person working under Mayen. It’s microscopic, but no one outside her walls has any idea of how it’s done. It doesn’t sound enjoyable though, that’s for sure.
“And may I ask why you care so much if I’m with Mayen or not?”
His face instantly loses its impish feel. “I think you’ve nosed around enough for one day, don’t you think?” An awkward silence follows, resulting in a sigh from him. “You said you got lost right? I can lead you back to the path for Nioleme if you want. It’s not too far.”
I want to decline, seeing as I don’t really know this guy, but that would probably just make things worse, to be honest. “Yeah sure.” I pull myself up and descend the stairs with him. As we walk through the ashen village, he keeps his gaze straight ahead as I slowly stride behind him, curiosity eating away at me. More bug-ridden lumber and bushes just pass us by as the questions pile up in my head and finally topple out of my mouth.
“You can’t expect me to be quiet this whole time, so, just tell me, why do you care so much about Mayen finding you?”
A slight falter in his step proceeds him replying, “Let me ask you something first. Why do you think my village is nothing but moldy ashes?” ‘My village?’ If this is his village, then why the hell is he still here? Nonetheless, the only one left as far as I can tell...
“A forest fire seems to be the obvious answer, but I feel like you’re leading it to be from something else.”
“I’ll give you credit for that. Now tell me, who were you just asking about?” He peeks back at me.
“Mayen, duh.”
“Put two and two together and there you go.”
Then, Mayen must be the one that destroyed it. But why the hell…
“Why the hell would she do that?” my thoughts voice themselves.
He almost chuckles. “Ever know someone who doesn’t believe in our precious Lord and savior, Kulym?” A lot of sarcasm is put on the ‘lord and savior’ part.
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