The sky was tinged in vivid red and orange as night slowly swept in bringing with it the cold winds of the south. Though the light from the sky was snuffed out, Bahandi capital still shone like a gentle gleaming gem in the early night. As they went closer to the capital it was clear to Xiao that the lights were actually the glow of spirits living in nearby nature. Though they mostly crowded near the roots of the Balete trees that enveloped the capital. 

It was a complex layer of buildings and trees and yet didn’t feel claustrophobic. The roofs of the buildings were thatched with nipa, though some had moss-covered stone roofs instead that others could use as steps and pathways. The thing that caught Xiao’s eye was that their doors were colorful, vibrant blue, red, and yellow. Intricate patterns etched in the wood. Some depicted their experiences, family, and treasured customs. 

This was a stark contrast to the other buildings that were related to foreign business and tourism, though some savvy businessmen have clearly acclimated and followed the local architectural preferences. Though it was with a small sense of delight to see a familiar language of writing on a very red and yellow door. ‘Fei Pharmacy.’

‘I’ll have to look at their wares to see if they have similar herbs from back home.’

“Kuya Chen, it looks like this is where we’ll part ways for now. Hopefully, we can meet each other again.” Basilio said, shaking his hands with Xiao as he ducked into another alley that only now Xiao noticed as it was hidden from his peripheral. 

‘I didn’t even get to say goodbye properly.’

Though there was nothing that could be done about that. Xiao decided to continue exploring the city, sticking to the relatively safer routes and avoiding the ones that looked like dead ends or required more effort to scale than he was willing to exert. Eventually, he reached what looked like a large public garden, a small waterfall that led towards a pond that had the same glowing lotus. ‘I wonder if they’re edible like the regular lotus.’ Xiao mused. ‘I’ll have to look at the local cuisine and check their library if they have any to cross-reference Earth’s cuisine and this world’s cuisine.’

Though he heard the distant sounds of music playing, he decided to rest on the provided bench. Eating a simple sandwich and his preferred herbal blend of hot tea. Night time came and the lamp lights automatically lit up, it seemed that either their magic or technology was causing this and Xiao was curious to figure out which did so. The sound of the constant and gentle water eased his mind, basking in the natural ambiance. Eventually, he grew curious about the music that sounded familiar, he made his way to the source of the sound and found a small open concert hall where musicians were playing.

He stopped for a moment to enjoy the band that was playing in the garden, the melody from the instruments was highlighted by the singer whose voice echoed in the quiet night, like a siren beckoning sailors to draw near. The lone drum gives soft, foreboding thuds warning those of the dangerous fate of listening to the siren.

Truth be told, Xiao thought that the music was a bit too eerie to play on a tranquil night such as this and decided to leave once they stopped their current song. He checked his coin bag and dropped a few aure in the donation box, following the lead of other audience members. The closest band player gave him an appreciative nod so he was right in his guess that the box was for them.

He left the area soon after, avoiding the large crowds of boisterous drunks and people looking to sell him a fun night with a warm body. Eventually, he reached what he guessed was the residential area as most of the buildings had their lights out and were probably spending a quiet night in their homes. The moonlight didn’t manage to penetrate through the dense foliage but the spirits and the bioluminescent plants helped guide his way. 

Xiao passed another clearing, larger than the garden, the area was tiled with smooth cobblestone, barren enough to comfortably fit two soccer fields. At the end of it at the base of the largest Balete tree, a large and beautiful-looking palace overlooked the area. 

‘Perhaps that’s where their royalty resides.’ 

It certainly had the aura and look of one. Gold and precious materials were used to detail the intricate carvings on the pillars and entryway. The banners were also an obvious sign, though curiously there were no guards stationed aside from the 4 guards at the entrance. What interested Xiao the most was the fact that the palace was seamlessly integrated into the tree as though the branches themselves gave way to form the large balcony and most of the interior that he could see from the less-than-favorable lighting.

Ultimately though, not even the light from the spirits and the bioluminescent light was enough to see the area properly. So with a tired sigh, he decided to look for an inn to sleep in. Perhaps he could continue on in the morning and see the rest of the capital. As he backtracked towards the nearest inn, he bumped into someone. 

The first thing he noticed was how delicate the shoulder he bumped into was, the second was slightly matted golden hair.  The kind that Rumpelstiltskin would describe as gold-spun thread. Before Xiao could apologize or make conversation, the frail man disappeared into the night, swallowed by the cover of darkness.