There was some shuffling behind the door, and Olifar could see someone approaching through the distorted glass of the windows lining the door. He heard two locks clicking, and then the door was pulled open, a young man standing there to greet them.

He was tall, taller than Calley and of course, Olifar, but not threatening. There was a gracefulness that few people are born with, and you could see that he was one of those few. Wisps of deep lavender hair that had escaped his shoulder length ponytail framed his face, complimenting his bright golden eyes.

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Haron, you must be Olifar and Ms…. Zinnea, right?” Haron smiled at him in a comforting way, making Olifar feel less nervous about being here.

“Yes, but you can just call me Calley, please.” Calley smiled and shook his hand with her free hand, as she was carrying Olifar’s suitcase in the other.

“Y-yes, nice to m-meet you too...” Olifar peered up at him, he had to crane his neck to see his face.

“Please, come on in. We just finished making breakfast if you would both like some?” Haron invited them in, opening the door wider.

“Oh, thank you! We’ll come right on in, then.” Calley took the lead and stepped over the threshold, carrying Olifar’s suitcase in with her. Olifar followed right behind her and looked around with wide eyes. The entrance was huge, a staircase to the left leading to the next floor up, the banister made of a smooth dark wood. A chandelier that matched the door was bolted to the ceiling, gently swaying as the house bobbed up and down.

When he walked in, Olifar noticed the distinct smell of bacon wafting through the air and became hungry again. It had been nearly an hour since he had eaten, and he wouldn’t mind a second breakfast.

“Sanny, they’re here! I’ll set the table while you dish the food.” Haron called in the direction of a doorway near the staircase.

Olifar heard a muffled reply, and went back to looking around. He was curious to see who was through the doorway, but got distracted very easily.

There were two doorways on the wall opposite the front door. One near the stairs, one on the other side of the room, and both open with no door blocking the way. In between them was a beautiful bookcase, delicately carved out of an almost white wood, and filled to the top with many different types of books. It had a glass covering, and was either bolted to the wall or magnetic, like most furniture was on Traetys.

Haron then pointed to the staircase, “You can leave your bags on the stairs for now and bring them up when we show you to your room.”

Olifar nodded and took the suitcase from Calley, then walked over to the bottom of the stairs. Both of the adults had started talking, and made their way over to what Olifar assumed was the kitchen and dining room. A deliciously sweet aroma had wafted throughout the house, getting stronger as he walked to the stairs, nearing that room.

He scurried to take off his backpack and catch up with them. As he got closer to the bookcase, he glanced at the spines of some books.

What languages are these? I don’t recognise most of them.

Olifar noticed that the books looked to be grouped in order of language, and he could only recognise some of the languages. He shook his head and continued through the doorway.

The next room was huge, a dining room on the left side and kitchen to the right as he had expected.

Another person stood in the kitchen, in front of the stove. They were in the process of stacking a dangerously tall pile of pancakes onto a large plate, dressed in a simple white apron. Olifar walked further into the conjoined rooms to stand by Calley, who was nearly salivating over the pancakes.

The relatively short figure turned their head when they were done and handed the plate of pancakes to Haron, who had been waiting for them. With smooth pale skin, round eyes, a small nose, and pink lips, androgynous was the perfect word to describe them. They had bright red hair, an uncommon color just as rare as his own white locks, and Olifar couldn’t help but wonder if they were Traetan or not.

It was only when the redhead hung their apron up and started walking over that they noticed Olifar. The look on their face changed subtly to surprise, then confusion... but why?

“Hello, I’m Sanel. Your name is Olifar, right?” They said, watching him carefully. Olifar felt like they said something weird, but dismissed the thought and replied.

“Yes, nice to meet you.” Olifar stepped forward timidly and held out his hand, which they took.

When Olifar looked up at Sanel, they were smiling at him. He was confused, just moments ago, they had been looking at him strangely, but now they’re smiling?

“I didn’t know you spoke two languages Olifar, I’m impressed. What language is that?” Calley spoke up next to them. Everyone seemed to be staring at Olifar, but he didn’t understand the question.

“I don’t know another language?”

Sanel had spoken and it just made sense to him. They were speaking Traetan… right?