Moving from place to place is common for Sarai Patal, a nine year old girl. Both of Sarai's parents are merchants who sell a variety of seasonal goods. For example, they buy black pepper when it is harvested in the south and then they go north to sell it while stocking up on silk, which is mostly produced in winter. After spring arrived they went to fruit-harvesting areas and stocked candied fruit while selling silk which was sought after because spring was the season of celebration. And that's what the Patal family keeps doing. Maybe if they are calculated in a year, they can move three or four times from city to city. You could say being a merchant is a profession that "explores" the Edetish kingdom. So, when she and his family decided to move to Nova Mesto, for her it was nothing new and special.
"Sarai, have you finished your breakfast?", Mrs. Patal shouted from the kitchen
"Done!" she replied, showing her clean plate.
"Okay now we can go after dad at the market", Mrs. Patal cleared the dining table and when she finished; she folded her apron. They rent a house that is not so big but quite comfortable.
The distance of their rented house is not so far from the market. And today is the first day; they start to open their booth in the market. Even though it was still early, the atmosphere in the market was already starting to get crowded. Several booths have begun to be visited by visitors who want to buy, including Mr. Patal's booth. Mrs. Patal takes Sarai to walk faster. When she arrived, she immediately helped her husband to serve the buyer. While Sarai was sitting near them playing with her doll but she quickly grew bored. She glanced around. Not far from her was a group of Ragamuffin who seemed to be playing together.
"Mom, can I play with them?", Sarai asked, pointing.
"Sarai remembers what mom said. They are Ragamuffin. Don't play with them.", Mrs Patal shook her head.
Sarai let out a bored breath and tried to pay attention to the others. On her left side, two Vanguards were on patrol. They walked and passed in front of her. One of them smiled and Sarai smiled back too. Sarai straightened her legs while yawning. Her parents are still busy selling and the afternoon is getting busier with visitors. Sarai resumed playing with her doll and only stopped playing when her mother called her for lunch. They had lunch in the inside of the booth together. While they were eating, a customer suddenly approached their booth. Sarai's father rushed out to serve. Sarai peeked from inside the booth to take a look. A nun accompanied by some temple knight was seen looking through the merchandise. It seemed that the nun was interested in buying one of the cloths her father was selling. After paying the nun took the cloth to a palanquin. The nun came in and gave the cloth to the person inside. When the palanquin was parted, Sarai caught a glimpse of a girl who was the same age as her. Her beautiful face stands out in the middle of the market. The girl notices Sarai looking at her. She quickly straightened her hood to cover her face. The nun gave the order for the palanquin to move and the temple knights moved to escort the palanquin. Sarai continued to stare at the palanquin until it was out of sight.
Sarai finished the rest of her lunch then continued to play with her dolls; while occasionally looking at the streets until the afternoon ended and they headed back home.
After cleaning up, they ate dinner and chatted at the dinner table as usual. Sarai's parents are busy talking about their sales today. Sarai listened boredly while occasionally joining in on her parents' conversation. After dinner, Mrs. Patal cleared the table and Mr. Patal was busy calculating with his abacus.
"Sarai. Don't sleep too late. Okay?", Mrs. Patal reminds Sarai who is about to enter her room.
"Yes mom.", She rushed in and closed the door to her room.
In the room Sarai was rolling on her bed when suddenly remember the girl who was beautiful like the fairy tale princesses. The girl that Sarai saw today. Then Sarai took her drawing book and tried to draw her. Sometime she stopped drawing, try to remember the girl's appearance. Finally, her drawing is finished. Sarai looked discontentedly. Sarai stretched her sore body from drawing and fell fast asleep on her bed.
It didn't take long for Mrs. Patal to come in to see her daughter. She looked at the picture of her daughter for a moment then placed it on the table. Mrs. Patal turns off the lamp in Sarai's room then goes back to her room.
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The next morning it went as usual. After finishing breakfast, Sarai and her mother followed Mr. Patal who had already left for the market. It wasn't as busy as yesterday and today Sarai brought a storybook to pass the time. Several times Sarai peeked out of her booth hoping to see the girl from yesterday. But there were no nuns, no temple knights, no palanquins or anything that hinted at the girl. Even until lunch, nothing interesting happened to Sarai. The Patals enjoyed the lunch that day in peace.
"Mom I'm bored. The story book I read was also finished. May I take a walk?", Sarai sulks at her mother.
"You can go for a walk around the market, Sarai if you want.", Mrs. Patal replied while stroking her daugther's head.
"Oh, not interesting. The market is just like that. After all, wherever the city is, I always spend time at the market.", Sarai's answer remained sullen.
"The two of us haven't had a chance to go around town either since we got here. So, we're not sure how safe this city is for you to explore on your own. And we're worried that you will get lost.", Mr. Patal joined the family conversation.
"Come on let me go around town. It won't be long. I will take good care of myself.", Sarai is whining with a pleading look.
After thinking for a moment, Mr. Patal replied, "Hmm...if I'm not mistaken in the middle of the city there is a city library. It's not far from the main cathedral and not too far from here either."
Sarai's eyes immediately lit up, "Why didn't you tell me earlier Daddy. Can I go there?"
"I didn't know you really loved reading, Sarai. In fact, this is the first time I've seen you bring the book like to--", Sarai's father hadn't finished saying yet. Sarai immediately cut his words, "Come on. Can I go there? Please?!"
Sarai looked alternately at her parents with pleading eyes. She was very bored and if that meant she could be anywhere else (even in the city library which she usually didn't interest her in) other than the market she would.
The two parents looked at each other and sighed before finally agreeing to Sarai's wish. Sarai looks happy.
So, after lunch Sarai immediately walked away excitedly.
"Be careful, dear. Don't get lost, and come back here as soon as you're done.", Mrs. Patal watching Sarai leave worriedly. Sarai waved and immediately disappeared from sight.
"Take it easy, Honey. She was only gone for a while and then she went to the library. Nothing to worry about. She's a merchant's daugther after all. She has to learn to explore too eventually.", Mr. Patal said trying to calm his wife down.
"Yes, you're right. I just wish we could give her a better life. Our job forces us to move around and it makes it difficult for her to find friends. If only we could have a more stable home and business. Sigh…", Mrs Patal complained.
"Patient, dear. We keep trying our best until the gods grant our wishes.", Mr. Patal tries to comfort his wife.
The conversation between the two of them stopped because a buyer was looking at their booth. And they are back busy serving buyers.
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Sarai walked cheerfully towards the center of the city where the main Cathedral was towering. Along the way she looked left and right trying to pay attention to what was happening around her. It didn't take long to get to the Cathedral. Arriving there, Sarai looked for the city library not far from there. She found it easily. The city library seemed deserted, only a few people were present. Sarai wandered around in it enjoying her stroll while looking for a shelf filled with books that interest her. She finds a bookshelf filled with old fairy tales that interest her. For a moment she paused and was busy looking at the bookshelf. Until she decided to look at the books on the higher shelves.
She climbed the stairs which happened to be nearby. When she was about to pick up a book to see its contents; Her gaze fell on the person across from her. A girl the same age as her. Her dress, which is made of expensive fabric and white in color, contrasts with the atmosphere of the antique library. The girl seems focused on reading a book in her hand. Sarai recognized her as the girl she saw yesterday at the market. Sarai hastily picked up a book on the shelf and went downstairs. She quietly approached and watched the girl.
The girl is not aware of Sarai's presence. The girl was busy reading her book while occasionally smoothing her hair down. With a serious face, she read the book to the end then put it back on the shelf. Later, she seemed busy choosing the next book she wanted to read. From afar Sarai watched all her movements from behind her book. For a moment, the girl seemed to realize that someone was watching her. She looked left and right but she didn't notice Sarai who was hiding from behind the bookshelf. The girl continued to pick up a book and read it again.
But it didn't take her long to read her book this time. Because from a distance the cathedral bells rang. When she heard the bell, the girl hurriedly put the book she was reading on the shelf. The girl headed to the inside of the library. She passed through a passage filled with paintings to the inner area where there was a small room; filled with old, messy looking books. The girl looked down and headed to the back of the room. Sarai tiptoed, trying to peek out from behind the pile of books. The girl pressed one of the bricks on the wall. There was a soft creaking sound of bookshelves opening a passage behind her. Sarai gasped in surprise. Even though she didn't scream, as a result, the book in front of her was pushed down. The girl looked surprised. As surprised as Sarai was, the girl didn't expect someone to follow her.
"Wh-who are you?", the girl asked with wide eyes.
"I-I'm sorry… I just happened to see you here and I saw how you opened the passage…", Sarai tried to explain frantically.
From a distance, they can hear the footsteps of passers-by. Approaching then away the sound of their footsteps.
The girl said in a low voice, "Please don't tell anyone what you're seeing now.…"
"Wow…but this is amazing. Where is this going?", Sarai replied in an enthusiastic voice.
"Sst..I-I have to leave immediately. Please don't tell anyone", still in a low and panicked voice; the girl tried to run away.
"Can I go in to see where it's going?", Sarai tried to peek into the hallway.
The girl seemed to be squeezing her skirt hesitantly. Concern was looks on her face, "Maybe I can show it…. Tomorrow after Sunday service … meet me here…. you have to come alone. Now you need to get out of here before anyone comes."
"Really? I will come. My name is Sarai. What's your name?", Sarai stuck out her hand but the girl ignored it and walked into the hallway.
There was the sound of footsteps again passing by and going again.
The girl entered the hallway and pulled a hook inside to close the passage. With a pleading look; she said, "Tomorrow. I'll show you where this passage is but promise me you won't tell anyone about this."
"I promise and I hope you will come tomorrow to keep your promise or I will find out for myself where this passage is.", Sarai answered before the door of the secret passage was tightly shut.
Sarai immediately left the place and tried to be as calm as possible as if nothing had happened even though her face was full of excitement. She walked back to the market where her parents were busy tidying up their booth.
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