Astral Cape, ShanGriLa; 14 Shandowr 48R7X

With three years of sea travel under my belt, we finally made port back to ShanGriLa. We'd docked right outside of the Astral Cape, which was north of Garyudōra, my original home nation. Before we went there, however, Ayo told me that it was her birthday and that she was really looking forward to celebrating with her new friends, because after I meet with my father, we wouldn't be able to spend time with each other like this again.

"You'll always be by my side; I'll make sure of it." We exchanged tears of joy and happiness as I took my two closest friends into the kingdom.

Garyudōra's main export is actually a hallucinogenic herb used by high priests and hierophants in church. The herb smells exactly like weed, extremely pungent and sour, but it allows the user to communicate with higher beings that deliver messages from Tiamat. It's regulated and the side effects of it are too risky for the average person to consume. Father made sure to tell me that the herb was made for mages that have fully matured in their signatures, and even then, it was still risky to consume.

That wasn't the only thing Garyudōra had to offer though, we were mostly known for our festivals, specifically the Spring Music Festival. We had just barely missed this year's festival, but they're better as the years pass by. There was a small village festival going on that we went to. We had all sorts of market foods, and treats, and we played all the festival games that were standing. For a little village, they sure did know how to throw down. The time I had with my sisters was amazing, compared to meeting my father.

I was so nervous that I kept breaking into a cold sweat; I didn't have a reason to feel this way, I was there for diplomatic reasons. At the time, I was feeling guilty for partying the night before an important event. It hadn't been in vain though, Father had told us that he acknowledged me when I accepted the invitation to the ritual.

"You're extremely intelligent," Father said, "I'd be a fool not to be the first to acknowledge how strong and capable you are."

My heart was filled with admiration and my body instinctively reacted on its own, flinging myself towards my father to embrace him. I cried; I cried so hard that my already red ears were hot to the touch because of my blushing. "Thank you, Daddy," I looked up at my father, tears streaking my face as I forced a crooked smile. I wasn't sad, I was happy. I never thought that I'd have a father that would be so kind to me. Someone that would be so willing to have this much faith in me. And to see me make him proud, I didn't know what else to do, but to cry and hug my daddy.

To be Continued...