Lost Promise (Part 2), Scene v1

He held the last letter out to Kismet. She took the letter hesitantly, staring at him. She unfolded it slowly, unsure if he wanted her to read it.

Day 1, 1st Month of Winter, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

Mother died last week. She got sick from the cold
nights, but her body couldn’t handle it. The same
thing has been happening to a lot of my people. Ever
since Mother died, Kain has been actively trying to
organize ways to get more food, especially since
Winter is here. Now everyone is desperate, and have
resorted to stealing from villages and travelers.

I don’t know what to do anymore, Lucas. I’m afraid.
Why did Mother have to die? She was such a good
person. And now…now we’re no different than bandits.
Criminals. What do I do, Lucas? I’ll be at the
willow in six days, on the night of the Feast.
Please…meet me there. I miss you so much.

Love always,

Isella


Lucas dug his nails into the palm of his hands. “She…she was waiting for me. She needed me…and I wasn’t there for her. If only—if only I was there, then maybe—”

“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know,” pointed out Kismet.

“But if I did. If I did know, then maybe I could’ve saved her. I could’ve convinced her to come back home, then none of this would’ve ever happened.”

“There’s no point thinking about what could’ve been different. It already happened, and all that matters is how you deal with it.”

Lucas snapped his head toward her with a sharp glare. “I don’t need you lecturing me. Just…just leave me alone.”

Kismet nodded. She folded the letter carefully and set it down beside him before leaving him alone under the willow. If she were in his situation, and Isella were instead Delphi, she would undoubtedly follow her to the very end, and do whatever she could to save her. The Catheran glanced back at the troubled soldier’s silhouette, lying on the boulder. She shook the thought of her head and walked back to Yuin.

The shops were closed, and the roads nearly empty. Although it was only a few hours after dinner, it seemed as if the village had fallen asleep. Delphi was probably getting ready to sleep as well. It had been eleven days since she last saw Delphi. She wanted to see her dearest friend but she was in the middle of her lessons, and General Devin told her to keep an eye on Lucas. Kismet closed her eyes apologetically, hoping Delphi could somehow feel her sentiment. The Catheran stepped onto the small store patio. Her eyes trailed from the “CLOSED” sign to the lit second-story window.

Knock knock knock.



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Lost Promise, Scene v1

He quickly found the next letter to read on.

Day 11, 2nd Month of Autumn, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

I miss you so much, Lucas. It feels like it’s been over
a year since I left. It’s a lot harder than I thought to
find a place to live for so many people. Luckily Commander
Hazalin from the Republic has come to help us. It’s thanks
to him that we can manage to find enough food and warmth
to keep searching. I really hope we find a new home soon
so I can see you again. Kain and Mother are keeping strong,
so I’ll stay strong too.

I’ll come back as soon as I can, I promise. Keep doing your
best in training! I want to hear all about it when I’m back.
We can drink some hot cocoa by the fire when winter comes,
like last year. I memorized some poems from the people here
that I’m sure you’d love to hear.

Yours forever,

Isella


Lucas fought back the tears that stung his eyes. He quickly wiped his face with the back of his hand as he continued with the third letter.

Day 8, 3rd Month of Autumn, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

Every night is getting colder and it’s becoming harder for
us to find enough food. Mother is becoming weak because she
keeps giving us most of her food. I really hope we find
somewhere soon. Everyone is becoming restless and we’re all
hungry. If something doesn’t change soon, I’m afraid as to
what they may do.

I hope things are better for you. I can’t wait to see you
again. I told myself that I shouldn’t see you until this is
all over, otherwise I don’t think I’d be able to go through
with it, but it’s too hard. I’ll be at the willow on the
night of the Winter’s Feast next month. I miss you too much,
I have to see you again. Promise me you’ll meet me there.

Love,

Isella


His heart sunk. All this time he could’ve read those letters. He was there, at home, with his family. The willow was only, at most, a twenty-minute walk away from Yuin, and she was there waiting for him. But he never showed. "If only I knew…if only I met her that night…then maybe she would’ve come home, and none of this would’ve ever happened." The tears escaped his eyes as he sobbed with frustration.

He held the last letter out to Kismet. She took it hesitantly, staring at him. She unfolded it slowly, unsure if he wanted her to read it.



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Unexpected Company, Scene v1

"Aren't you going to read them?"

Lucas spun around to find those yellow eyes peering at him from just beyond the willow's reach. "Kismet? What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to see if you were okay."

He let out a small huff as he sat back down. "General Devin sent you to keep an eye on me, didn't he?"

"Maybe. But still, you were so persistent in trying to find out more about what happened to her all this time."

Lucas gazed back at the letters in his hands without a word. Although she couldn't see his face, she could see that he was troubled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry into your personal life. I'll just leave and tell General--"

"No," interrupted Lucas, softly. "Please..stay."

For four years, he kept his personal life a secret, rarely ever mentioning Isella to anyone. He always felt that the relationship between two people was best shared only between those two people, rather than to quench people’s thirst for gossip. However, he found himself baring his troubles to someone he least expected. “Just after I turned sixteen, my parents hired Isella as a house servant. She cleaned the shop and did all of the household chores. She even grew to enjoy helping my mom with tailoring and keeping shop. A season later we became a couple, and were together ever since.”

Kismet sat on the edge of the boulder a couple feet away from Lucas. He stared out over the river. His short dark brown hair, and brown eyes, almost seemed black in the night. His exhaustion was obvious as he slumped over his knees while he continued. “I thought she was happy here. She was always so cheerful and full of energy. But now...”

“Maybe she really was. And I’m sure she really did love you back. She did write you letters, after all, and she even told you about them. I’m sure if you read them, you’d find out why she left.”

Lucas looked back down at the letters in his hand. The answers he had longed for. With trembling hands, he slid his finger under and broke the thin wax seal. Half a sheet of paper was neatly folded inside, with delicate handwriting in a reddish-blue berry color. Dated as the first month of winter, Lucas opened the other letters to find the first written. Feeling uneasy and lonely, he read the letter aloud while Kismet listened silently.


Day 4, 1st Month of Autumn, Year 1126
Dear Lucas,

My mother and brother were exiled from the Republic,
along with the rest of my people, and are searching for a new
home. I’ve decided to help them, but I’ll definitely come back
after we’ve found them a place to live peacefully. I wanted to
tell you in person, but I was too afraid. I wanted to see you
one more time before I left, but I knew that if I did, it would’ve
been too hard.

I’m so sorry. Please forgive me for leaving like this. I appreciate
everything you and your family have done for me. I wish things
could’ve been different so I could stay, but my family needs me.
I really hope to see you again soon. I miss you already.

Love always,

Isella



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Letters, Scene v1

She looked panicked, her eyes seeking shelter from his gaze. “I-I’m sorry, Lucas. We didn’t mean any harm by it. We just wanted to protect you.”

“How could lying to me about this protect me? Don’t you know how worried I was about her? Please tell me what’s really going on.”

Maria rubbed the back of her neck and sipped her cocoa anxiously. She turned her cup around nervously in her hand. “Last fall, we told you that we were attacked by a group of bandits when we were on our way to Levan. But…that was a lie. We never even left for Levan.”

“So what happened?”

“The morning before we were supposed to leave, Isella was missing. She left a note on her bed saying that she was sorry, and thanking us for all we have done for her.”

Lucas’ brow furrowed, unable to comprehend why Isella would leave so suddenly.

She seemed to love it at their shop, greeting every day with a smile. She was like the daughter his mother never had, and shared what he believed to be a strong, loving relationship with him. “Why? Why would she just leave like that?”

“Since her parents lived in the Republic, they were exiled along with the rest of her people. She heard about Hazalin joining them to try to find a new home and decided to return to her parents.”

“Why couldn’t you tell me this before? All this time…I wanted to know what happened to her.”

Maria gazed at her son with regretful eyes. “We were worried that if we told you, you would’ve gone with her.”

Lucas knew she was right. He probably would have gone with Isella if he had known back then, but it’s not as though the Kival didn’t deserve some help. Although, with how things are now, he too could’ve been stuck in the dungeon, a traitor. “What about the letters?”

Maria froze for a moment at the mention of the letters. She wracked her mind for a lie, but the guilt gnawed at her stomach. “Wait here.”

Lucas heard his mother’s footsteps ascend the stairs and walk into her room. Not long later, she returned to her seat across from him. In front of him, she placed four envelopes labeled with his name. He ran his fingers over the unbroken seals, touched that she would respect their privacy enough not to read the letters. Maria held his hand in hers and looked him in the eye. “Please, Lucas. Whatever those letters may say, don’t do anything rash. I say this because I understand how much you love her. Don’t throw away your life for her.”

He returned his mother’s gaze with a small nod. He placed his hand on top of hers. “I’m going out for a bit.”

Lucas scooped up the letters and left the house, his mother’s worried gaze weighing down his shoulders. He walked to the river just west of Yuin. A bit upstream, away from the road, he sat on a large boulder resting under a green willow which hung over the edge of the river.

Staring out over the shimmering moonlit water, he remembered the times when he and Isella would sleep under the starry sky under the willow. He looked down at the letters in his hand, uncertain at whether or not he was ready to read what she wanted to tell him all those months.




First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Surprise Visit, Scene v1

I will be out of town until Tuesday, so I will likely not be posting any new material until Wednesday. Until then, here's the next part of the story.

===========================================================================

Upon reaching the stables, Lucas mounted up and rode South to Yuin. By nightfall, he arrived in the village. Lights filled the windows, the sounds of silverware and dinner conversations escaped a few of the homes. He dismounted and tied his horse near the front of the modest tailor shop near the center of the village. The small bell signaled his entry. A woman’s voice called from the back room, “I’ll be there in just a second!”

Lucas walked toward the back room behind the counter. As he approached the doorway, he nearly bumped into the woman, startling her. “Oh! Lucas, you scared me.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

His mother, Marianne, was a head shorter than him. She always wore a gentle smile and spoke softly. She led him into the backroom by the hand and sat him down at the small table. She poured him a cup of hot cocoa. “I’m surprised to see you so suddenly. Your letter said you’d be coming sometime next month…You must be hungry. Let me fix you something.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine.”

Maria poured herself a cup of cocoa before sitting across from her son. “So to what do I owe this surprise visit?”

Lucas met eyes with his mother. A sense of guilt struck him for feeling such anger toward his beloved mother. The resentment subsided into a muddled sense of confusion that lingered in the pit of his stomach. “Is Dad out again?”

She nodded while taking a sip. “He won’t be back for a few days. Why, is something wrong?”

He shook his head and forced a small smile on his face. “We were given some time off, so I thought I’d come visit. Write any new poems lately?”

Maria smiled at him with a twinkle in her eye. Poetry was a passion they shared in secret ever since he was seven. Every time Lucas visited, they would read and write poetry together, sometimes even late into the night. “Work has been a bit busy with winter coming up, but I did write a short one. Would you like to hear it?”

“Always.”

She sat back and closed her eyes, imagining the poem as she shared it.

“The delicious smell of food is in the air,
Streets are filled with song and cheer.
Friends and family gather with stories to share,
For the night of the Winter Feast is here.”

Lucas gave his mother a warm smile. The Winter Feast, an annual three day celebration spanning the last three days of the first week of winter, was only a month away. Though the feast is on the last day of the celebration, friends and family gather by the fifth day to help prepare for the feast and festivities. It may not have been her best work, but it certainly did capture the image of the Winter Feast. “I like it. It’s short and simple, and it sums up the Feast well.”

Unfortunately, the feasts will no longer be the same for him. Isella was already missing before last year’s feast. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop worrying about her. Even now, after having found her, it seemed it would be no different. His eyes dropped to the cocoa steaming in his cup. “We…found Isella.”

A small hint of panic crossed Maria’s surprised face. “Y-You found her?”

“When we were in the Lokem Republic, we found her involved in a Kival movement.”

She searched frantically for words, but found none. Lucas continued. “We captured her, and now she’s in the castle dungeon.”

“L-Lucas…I’m sorry. At least we finally know that she’s still alive.”

“I spoke with her earlier this afternoon. Why did you and dad tell me she was kidnapped?”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Seeking the Truth, Scene v1

“What letters?”

“I guess it’s for the best,” she mumbled sadly.

“What are you talking about? What’s going on? Please, tell me,” Lucas pleaded.

Isella said nothing. Lucas waited, hoping she would answer, but she just stared at the ground in front of her with those sad eyes. “Please…Isella. Please tell me. All these months—I—I just...I wanted to find you. I had no idea where you were, or what happened. So please. Tell me.”

She rolled over to her other side, facing the wall so Lucas couldn’t see her face. After a moment’s hesitation, she answered. “Every month I left a letter for you with your parents.”

He shook his head, confused. “What? They never gave me any letters. They thought you were killed.”

“That’s because they burned them.”

With those words, a sinking feeling overcame Lucas. His own parents knew better than anyone how worried he was about Isella. “W-Why? Why would they do that? Why wouldn’t they tell me?”

He pleaded her with his eyes, searching for answers, but none were returned. He rattled the cell bars in frustration. “Tell me, Isella! What the hell is going on?!”

Isella body shook with silent sobs. She had already said too much. She promised herself she would hide everything, for his sake, but she couldn’t bear it. And now, knowing more would only make things for him. “I’m sorry, Lucas…” she whispered.

He rattled the bars again, yelling, “Tell me what’s going on! Why won’t you tell me?”

“Stop it, Lucas.” Devin quickly walked up to him and grabbed his arm. “That’s enough.”

“But—”

“Come with me.” Devin led him out of the dungeon. He gave the troubled soldier a sympathetic look as he let go of him. “I’m taking you off active duty until you get yourself together. I know this is hard for you, but you need to learn how to keep focus and control yourself.”

Lucas clenched his fists. After all the years he and Isella have been together, it infuriated him how she would keep such secrets from him. And if Isella were telling the truth, even his own parents were hiding something from him. Now finally, after nearly a year, he had found her, but that wasn’t enough. He wanted to know what happened to her. Lucas rushed off toward the stables.

“Where are you going?” asked Devin.

“To find out what really happened to her.”

Upon reaching the stables, Lucas mounted up and rode South to Yuin. By nightfall, he arrived in the village. Lights filled the windows, the sounds of silverware and dinner conversations escaped a few of the homes. He dismounted and tied his horse near the front of the modest tailor shop near the center of the village. The small bell signaled his entry. A woman’s voice called from the back room, “I’ll be there in just a second!”

Lucas walked toward the back room behind the counter. As he approached the doorway, he nearly bumped into the woman, startling her. “Oh! Lucas, you scared me.”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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A Year of Silence, Scene v1

“Welcome back. And who do we have here?” asked Raze as Devin and his squad rode up to the castle gates just before noon.

Devin hopped off his saddle and handed his horse over to a nearby soldier. He helped Isella off of Kismet’s horse as he spoke, “We found Isella here involved in some Kival activity while we were in the Republic. Kismet insists she’s the same person that had been spying on them in Rokan as well.”

Raze looked at her curiously, then at Lucas. “Isella…that name sounds familiar. Isn’t she—never mind. Let’s go inside.”

As they took Isella to her cell, the squad debriefed Raze about their encounters with the Kival. “I’m still amazed. How did you know Hazalin was going to only take three of the wagons, anyway?” asked Sara as they left the dungeon.

“When I heard he abandoned his position as one of the five Commanders of Lokem to help the Kival find a new home, I felt it best to learn more about him incase something like this ever happened. Eleven years ago, during the Catheran Invasion, Lokem received word that the Cathera were moving through Rokan from the Telan Empire. Hazalin led a group of a hundred archers to ward off any incoming Cathera at Jastor’s Pass to prevent Lokem from suffering the same fate as Rokan. Although over eighty of those soldiers died, it was still the most effective strategy. Since the Kival have become more aggressive, it was obvious they were becoming desperate for food. But despite that, I heard Hazalin always strived to keep good relations with people, since the last thing the Kival would want is a war against them. So I had the last two wagons filled with rocks, and left the third with food and a note.”

Sara was entranced in the General’s story, never blinking an eye. Her brow furrowed in curiosity. “A note?”

Raze waved away her question and began walking off with Nakita and Devin. “That’s not important. Anyway, good work in capturing Isella. You’re all dismissed until further notice.”

“Wait. What’s going to happen to her—to Isella?” asked Lucas.

Raze looked back at him. Confusion and anxiety clouded his eyes, as he braced himself for her response. “We’ll need to find out what she knows, then we’ll see. I’m sorry Lucas.”

Lucas stood there, trying to stop himself from shaking, as the Generals walked off. Sara rolled her eyes and walked off. Kismet gazed at him for a moment, then touched his shoulder sympathetically before searching for Delphi.

Lucas returned to the dungeon. The warden glanced at him as he walked by toward the cells. The rancid stench of urine and body odor lingered in the air. The stone walls seemed to grow colder the further cells he walked. Only two of the sixteen cells were occupied apart from Isella’s. He stood in front of her cell while she lie on the mat against the wall that served as her bed.

“Isella…” he looked at her, desperate for a response. “Why won’t you talk to me?”

Isella didn’t move. She continued to stare at the ground in front of her. Lucas grabbed the bars of the cell. “Why won’t you say anything—or even look at me? Was it something I did?”

“No…” she answered softly.

“Then why?”

A tear fell from her eyes. Her mouth twitched. “I guess you really never did get any of my letters.”



First: Kismet vs. Bandits, Scene v1
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Feline Beauty, Scene v1

Isella gazed at Kismet in fascination. Her thin red tabby fur glistened under the ceiling light. Isella now understood why stories described them as intimidating, but beautiful. The night Kismet helped her in Koln, she remembered her baring her sharp teeth with a hiss. Not to mention her razor sharp claws, which looked to be able to tear through a person’s body with ease...Cathera were indeed intimidating. But regardless, Isella couldn’t help but admire Kismet’s beauty. Her feline features seemed to compliment her feminine figure, making her appear powerful, yet beautiful. Isella imagined her tail to be rather annoying to deal with when it came to clothing, but it had an unusually elegant appeal to it. Her legs appeared a blend between human and cat legs, standing on her pawed “toes” with an extended foot. Isella never really thought Kismet to be very tall, but she noticed that she always stood with her feet bent. She imagined the Catheran could easily be a head taller than herself.

Kismet rinsed herself off before walking to the side of the tub. She stepped in the left side, and lowered herself into the water. “Sorry for the tight squeeze.”

Isella shook her head. It was actually quite relaxing, despite the lack of room. Her fur was soft and warm, just like that of a normal cat. She gazed at the Catheran’s face shyly. Her cat nose struck Isella a bit odd at first, but when she saw those yellow cat eyes reminisce of times with the young princess as she washed her, the Catheran’s face was surprisingly comforting.

Kismet, with her shiny long auburn hair draped to her left side, looked at Isella awkwardly. Isella snapped out of her trance and quickly looked away. “Sorry...I’ve just never really seen a Catheran before.”

Although it had been over ten years of people fearing and hating the Cathera, Isella had never given much thought to how she felt about them. None of her friends or family was affected by the invasion, and the stories she heard from her elders and peers portrayed them as complete opposites. As she at in the tub with one of the most feared races in the region, she didn’t feel afraid. In fact, she felt safe, a feeling she had almost forgotten. “Umm…can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Why did you join the military? I’ve seen how people treat you. They’re afraid of you. They despise you. Yet you still want to protect them?”

Kismet hesitated for a moment before replying. “I joined to protect Delphi. That is all.”

Isella was baffled. How could someone willingly put herself through all that for the sake of one person? It was masochism. “But why do you put up with how people hate you for things you didn’t even do? Why don’t you just leave Rokan and find people who appreciate you for who you are?”

“Delphi has shown me nothing but love and kindness, and I want to protect that. Besides, everywhere I go is the same. Even if I wanted to leave, where would I even go?”

“My people wouldn’t see you the same way as the Republic and the Empire. Apart from the Catheran invasion, all the stories of the Cathera regarded them with respect. My people have always been discriminated against, and that’s why we’re trying to find ourselves a new home, just for us.”

“I distinctly remember seeing the fear in your eyes when I first saw you,” pointed out Kismet.

“W-well. Okay, fine. I was afraid at first, but I’ve seen how you really are, and I’m not afraid anymore. I’m sure the rest of my people will realize that too. They know that what happened eleven years ago wasn’t the Cathera’s fault,” insisted Isella.

“I appreciate the concern, but this is what I want to do. Delphi is my life, and I want nothing more than to protect her.”

Although she respected her resolve, it still frustrated her that she would accept such a life. Kismet gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s getting late and we have a long ride ahead of us.”

Kismet stepped out of the tub and shook herself dry. She helped Isella out and dried her with a towel before draping her in a blue bathrobe. Kismet sat her on the bed and fed her the remaining pieces of jerky, along with a drink of water. “Get some rest,” said the Catheran, as she pulled the sheets over Isella.

“But…where are you going to sleep?” she asked.

Kismet grabbed their clothes and brought them to the sink across the room. She began washing them as she spoke, “Don’t worry about it. Just go to sleep.”

Isella stared at Kismet’s fur-covered back, then at her large feline ears that protruded from the top of her head. Despite the Catheran’s profession, and the injuries she had received, not a scar was on her body, apart from the missing piece from her left ear. “What happened to your ear?”

Kismet continued washing the dirt out of the clothes without turning around. “I don’t know. It’s been that way for as long as I can remember. Everything else heals just fine, but my ear always stays this way.”

“I see.” Isella turned onto her side and stared at Kismet’s tail. Her eyes grew heavier as it swung back and forth hypnotically. At last, she was able to get a good night’s rest.



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Like a Princess, Scene v1

Kismet left the room briefly and returned with a small pouch. From it, she unwrapped several pieces of jerky, and held one out in front of Isella’s mouth. Kismet grabbed the washcloth from the bucket while Isella gnawed on the jerky. “Sorry if this is too hot.”

The Catheran wrung the rag. The cascade of hot water ran through Isella’s hair and down her body. The trails of water quickly turned brown with dirt, leaving lightened trails over her body in its wake. Although the water was indeed hot, the warmth was something she yearned for. Autumn had been colder than usual, and the rain more frequent. Warmth and comfort had become something of the past. The feeling of hot water running over her reminded her of the days when she lived comfortably in the Damire household. She soon forgot her embarrassment and sighed with content.

Isella closed her eyes in relaxation as Kismet massaged the shampoo into her hair tenderly. She was worried at first, having seen the Catheran’s claws, but she soon found herself forgetting she was even a captive. As Kismet began gently rubbing the dirt from her body with a soaped wash cloth, Isella couldn’t help by feel like some sort of princess. She watched the Catheran kneeling beside her give her body a long overdue cleaning. A hint of a smile showed on Kismet’s face, her eyes focused on where she was washing, almost like a mother lovingly tending to her child. Isella couldn’t help but reminisce of when she and her mother used to bathe together when she was younger.

Kismet noticed Isella staring at her. She looked back at her with her large yellow cat eyes. “Yes?”

Isella broke out of her trance, blushing in embarrassment. She quickly averted her eyes and spoke softly. “O-Oh, nothing. Sorry.”

“Seems like it’s been awhile since you’ve had a chance to bathe. The dirt is caked onto you.”

Isella nodded. “It has. And…thank you.”

“Orders are orders.”

She looked at the Catheran’s face once more. The small smile was still there. “For some reason you seem to be enjoying this.”

“I guess it reminds me of home.”

“I’m no princess.”

Kismet let out a small laugh. “I guess everyone really does know who I am.” She paused for a moment. “So, why did you run from the Damire family anyway?”

“I didn’t run. I was kidnapped,” insisted Isella.

“I doubt it’s really that simple.”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

Kismet finished scrubbing Isella clean. “Close your eyes.” The Catheran dumped the remaining water from the bucket over Isella before refilling the bucket with clean water. “Sorry, this may be a bit cold.” She dumped the water over Isella to rinse her off. She clenched her body to fight the sudden chill.

Kismet helped Isella to her feet, and into the bathtub. She lowered herself against the right side of the tub and looked back at the Catheran who began to wash herself. Despite having lived during the Catheran invasion, she was fortunate enough to have never witnessed its horrors. The only Cathera Isella knew were the ones of stories and paintings, which often showed ill favor toward them. She always imagined them to be menacing and ferocious monsters with razor-sharp teeth that would tear into any flesh it spotted. At least, so preached the most common stories and paintings of Lokem and Rokan. However, gazing upon the Catheran that stood in front of her, she remembered the tales of the Cathera from her relatives, prior to living in the Damire household. They spoke of an intimidating, but beautiful race. Sometimes the Cathera were referred to as the “Children of Terra”, the mother goddess, and their world. Her grandfather shared with her what he remembered of ancient lore regarding the Cathera, which spoke of them as the guardians of Terra. Before her, she saw not a horror, but rather a mystic beauty that captivated her.



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An Unusual Luxury, Scene v1

It was already night by the time they reached Harrin, Rokan’s border city. Kismet led Isella into the room they would be sharing for the night. It was a cozy room suited for a single person. The main room had in it a small dining table, kitchen, and lounging space, with the single bed across the room. When compared to the cell in Koln, the crude camps in the wilderness or in caves, or sharing a basement of a home with up to a dozen other people, the room she stood in was a luxury she thought she’d never experience again.

Kismet closed the door behind her, eyeing the dirt they trailed into the room. “Hey, hey—” snapped the Catheran just before Isella sat on the bed.

Kismet pulled the Kival to the door. “You’re not touching anything before washing off and putting on something clean. We don’t want to cause any more trouble for the owners,” she said as she began unfastening worn belt around Isella’s waist.

Isella tried to struggle away in a panic, pleading. “W-wait! Let me do it myself!”

“Bear with it. I was told not to leave you untied any longer than necessary. The more you cooperate, the sooner it'll be over. Please, sit down so I can take off your boots.”

Isella reluctantly sat on the floor as anxiety gnawed at her. Kismet yanked off her worn leather boots and tattered socks. The sides and soles of her feet were heavily callused and stained with dried blood. As she slipped off the Kival’s linen trousers, Kismet couldn’t help but notice the several scrapings and bruises on both her lower legs. Isella looked away, flushed with embarrassment. Kismet pulled her to her feet by the arm and began untying the bindings around her hands. Her wrists throbbed once the ropes fell loose. The cool autumn breeze slithered into the room through the cracked open window, sending a small chill up her spine as Kismet pulled off her tunic. She stood in the corner near the door after Kismet rebound her hands behind her back. “Please, can’t you just let me do this myself? It’s not like he’d even know.”

The Catheran quickly disrobed without replying. She led Isella through the open door into the adjoined washroom. The open floor sloped subtly toward the drain in the center. Immediately to the right of the door was a small sink and mirror, with a sliding door opening into the small restroom. On the left wall was a large full-length mirror reflecting the counter along the right wall, and the stool that sat in front of it. At the back of the room stretched a bathtub large enough to comfortably fit a large person.

Kismet set the stool near the center of the wash area. She took the large steel bucket of water off the heater near the mirror and set it beside the stool. She gestured toward the seat.

Isella sat atop the wooden stool. She watched Kismet dip a large washing cloth into the bucket of hot water, then at herself sitting there. The sight of herself was rather surreal. Ever since she left the Damire household, she had rarely gotten the opportunity to see herself in a mirror. Even she noticed the hunger taking a toll on her body. Her joints, as well as her ribs, made no effort of hiding themselves. She turned her back to the mirror, unable to look at herself any longer. Her stomach whimpered hungrily.



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Previous: Riding Back, Scene v1
Next: Like a Princess, Scene v1

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