I've completed all of my deliveries here. I think Taisia finished before me, so efficient. She's waiting by the frozen water fountain and beckoning me to follow her past the Gotshinisha, the hotel that almost nobody should be able to afford. "Careful." She's speaking painstakingly slowly. The snow makes the road slippery. That doesn't make her less reluctant to hold on to me for support. My darker skin has been passed off as a sign of poor hygiene. It's best she and anybody else believe that. My hair covers half my face too so it probably enhances the idea that I am some homeless vagabond.

A lone soldier is standing to attention at the massive, iron gate that leads to the residential district. We walked past without him paying us any heed. Couriers move in and out of the residential district all the time. The street is no longer slippery, almost perfectly free of snow. I don't know how that squadron of street-sweepers do it but every time we come here, the street is always tidy. The gentle snowfall doesn't seem to discourage them from their never-ending job. Endless, their devotion to prevent any Myostosel from slipping knows no bounds.

Armour is clinking rhythmically, multiple suits. The clinks belong to that flock of bodyguards marching past us. The young woman at the center of them has a dainty saunter and her frosty eyes are fixed ahead. The light pink furs she is wearing are designed so that they almost appear to float around her. White fox and the pelt is tinted, one of the most expensive materials on offer.

"Ooo, it's Irena!" Why does Taisia have to squeal like that?

Irena turned her attention to her adoring fan and flashed a sparkling smile. Taisia screamed excitedly. I'm going to take a few steps away from her now. This is getting a little embarrassing. As far as any passers-by can see, we are not associated with one another. "Work hard and your destiny will be your own to command." Irena purred the words.

Taisia is fumbling for something intelligent to say and mustered up a series of shrieks that I am sure even to Irena can only be considered incoherent babbling. Irena giggled and is carrying on toward wherever she was going. I'll leave Taisia to stare after Irena while I resume my rounds. The streets here are so broad. Those sweepers really have a massive task maintaining them.

The soldiers flanking the gate leading to the massive residence are watching me closely. I'll watch them closely too. Two can play at that game. They bear silver polearms and shields. Silver armour is polished so that it reflects the snow. The glare is harsh against my eyes.

People living in these homes aren't nearly as silent as the soldiers. They all have something they have to say about hard work yielding rewards, the pursuit of dreams or that I am strong and unstoppable. I'll just grunt and move on as usual. I see Taisia is hanging on that person's every word.

As inspirational as these pretentious stars paint themselves, I am not impressed by the Myostosel. They are not role models. Sure, they give people the rehearsed-sounding pick-me-up, do lots of charitable work and provide extensive donations toward the less fortunate but one thing still stands: If they put so much effort into helping others, why is there still such an enourmous gap between them and the people living on the outskirts of the country?

We're on the main street again. I like that every street in the residential district leads back here, almost impossible to get lost. This marble archway, I need to start paying extra attention to my surroundings from here. There's the pair of soldiers that always stand guard. "State your business."

"Delivery for the kitchens, madame." Taisia's confidence around soldiers is an inspiration.

I'll show her one of the packages from my box. She took my offer to inspect the paper bag and is peering inside. Her comrade is taking a peek as well. Both of them fit the stereotype of paranoid veterans, either the pay is high or their lives depend on how well they do their jobs. Since they are stationed outside the Palace, the latter is more likely. They glanced at me and now at Taisia. The turnips, potatoes and beets have been approved.

Another pair of soldiers have posts on the other side of the archway. Hundreds more of them are patrolling the battlements, constantly on the move like a colony of ants. All of them look the same, silver armour and gray fur cloaks. Polearms are a popular weapon along with their shields, emblazoned with that three-headed dragon they call the Ashdaya. To these people, the beast symbolizes ferocity in battle. That's an interesting thing I learnt.

The battlements are lined with archers. Some of them are at ease while others focus their attention on the archway. Any troublemaker could be turned into a pincushion in an instant. The sight of them should make anybody uneasy. I am no exception. Taisia is. She's not even dignifying them with a glance and is heading toward the first of the many little bridges scattered throughout the courtyard.

We are crossing the bridge. I just have to look down. The ice below is completely transparent and definitely a hazard. I'm sure even the slightest weight will see it shatter. A few unremarkable fish are darting past. That's not what I want to see. There it is, a dark figure the size of an adult human. It's staring at me. Those green, glowing eyes are mesmerizing. The face is something between ours and that of a fish. I can't look away. Sharp teeth revealed themselves within a terrible smile. "Hurry up!" I should do what she says. She sounds impatient. The creature swam away.