The Streets of Progan

The streets of Progan flowed with a cool fall breeze. Brick buildings painted with dull red and browns overshadowed the well worn stone streets. I could hear the familiar pitter-patter of businessmen wearing well-fitted suits, children playing tag, store owners encouraging potential customers to browse their wares, and the rowdy cheers of the bars. All the while carriages pulled by glimmers of light slowly rolled up and down the street.

As the capital of Mikin, it had always been a proud city. People built their buildings tall and of the highest quality–neither ever enough to outshine the castle. The shining jewel of Mikin. There wasn’t another name more fitting.

Yet, that only covered the surface. I glanced back at Lacy as we walked along Broad Street. Even here, at the main road leading to the castle, the truth peaked out.

The back alleys here were clean–refined. But that didn’t keep a beggar or two from occupying most of them. While the people here wore their bright lavious outfits, once the sun lost its ability to reach only rags and patched chunks of cloth could be seen. But most of them were not pure Mikins, so discarded like old toys they lay.

“There like, anywhere you want to stop at?” Lacy’s voice broke my train of thought.

“Not really,” I glanced towards a nearby tailor, admiring the sleek suit propped up behind the glass. “Anywhere but school or the castle sounds great to me.”

“There's this new cake shop that’s apparently super delicious! We should go there, all the maids are talking about it.”

“Have any of you actually had some?”

Lacy gave the greatest sigh Progan had seen, slouching down. “Not with a servant's salary. And like, no offense but I don’t think your father knows what a raise is, much less that we're literally dying without them.”

“I’ll make sure to clear my schedule for your funeral,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Come on, show me where these miracle cakes are.”

“Thank you! You won’t be disappointed,” she grasped my hand dragging me through the crowd. Eyes from either side looked with knowing smirks and smiles. Now I may be short compared to my siblings, but on the city streets, I towered over the average person, while Lacy… tried her best to compete.

I could imagine the sight of me getting dragged along by a girl half my height. Another day, another opportunity to be part of the show.

Yet, just as we were getting started, I felt the shoulder of a passerby accidentally slam into mine. “Ah sorry about that!” he said.

“No problem,” He wore a simple black cloak, with what I could tell was a well built figure underneath, yet neither of those were what really suppressed me.

It was the fact that he was a good bit taller than me, a rarity at best.

“Whatever,” I muttered, brushing it aside. Tall people weren't a monopoly of the Mikin family or anything.

A few blocks down, Lacy skipped ahead of me as the crowds started to thin. We were far off the beaten path now, away from the rumbling carriages and in the land of simple people going about their days. Here, there weren't those finely fitted suits or expensive jewelry around the ladies' necks. Just simple everyday people happy to go about their days.

“How's like, your painting going?” Lacy asked, a great smile plastered on her face.

“Not as well as it should be,” I glanced up towards the sky–a clear sunny day. “I’ve been in a bit of a rut recently. I got everything in the world to paint, but I can’t for the life of me seem to find a good topic.”

It hadn’t stopped me from painting though. The art room at school was a mess of discarded half finished canvases and messy sketches.

Not like there was anyone else using the room, not here in war loving Mikin.

“You could always paint me. Am I not cute enough for one of your paintings?

“No, I mean you are! Or err…” As she burst into laughter I sighed, defeated. “Maybe I will then! You can't stop me.”

“Try me, I'll show you what I’m made of,” Lacy glanced ahead. “Look, it’s right there next to that…” her face curved into a frown “What is that?”

Right next to the pastel pink cake shop, a humongous ornate carriage hovered along the road. Silver vines wound up the corners, covering the deep navy blue paint that covered the carriage from top to bottom. People gasped and awed as it floated past. “What the-”

As it came closer, I gasped. On the door, an intricately painted seal of a dolphin had every single person with their eyes squarely on it. Even from this distance, I could tell it was a masterpiece–each brushstroke purposeful and poured with passion. And it filled me with nothing but dread.

That was the seal of Arhonia.

On the driver's seat, a single man dressed in a uniform of similar colors stared straight ahead, face emotionless. Though, the fact he gripped his saber that tightly gave away exactly how he was feeling. He had sharp brown eyes, and straight black hair that let his fluffy cat ears be seen clear as day.

“An Arhonian…” I muttered. “Lacy, let’s get a bit closer.”

“Y-yeah.”

“Dirty mutt!” Before I could blink, an empty can sailed right past the Arhonian man’s face. “Get the hell out of our country!”

A lone man stepped out near the carriage, a rather round person with a shiny bald head and face redder than a rose. Even from here, I could see the anger warping his face.

The carriage hovered closer, the driver still staring straight ahead. “Come on everyone! What are we doing letting these dirty mutts roam our city like they belong?”
As I rushed over, I could see the crowd slowly warming up to the man’s reckless flailing. A mix of cheers and shouts towards the carriage mixed together, causing a scowl to form on my face. Why were they here? I had no idea, but as prince, it was my duty to bring peace. Well, at least according to my definition.

“Hey!” I rested my hand on his shoulder, causing the disgruntled man to turn around. He grinded his stained teeth as I nearly gagged. The smell of his breath was more toxic than the sewers. “Cut it out.”
“Cut it out? For these dirty savages? Who do you think you are?”

“Rio Mikin, fifth prince of the holy kingdom of Mikin. May the breeze bless our greeting.” I said, giving the widest grin I could muster.

“Y-your majesty!” His face paled as he recalled those past words of his, falling to his knees in a kneel. “May the b-breeze bless you as well!”

Sometimes, it was nice to be unrecognizable, only to pull off the cloak of anonymity at the perfect time. “I see we have a disturbance here with our foreign guests. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“No of course not sir- I mean your majesty.”

“That's what I thought!” I glanced around the street, raising my voice. “Did anyone else hear something about a commotion?”

Everyone avoided my gaze, taking a sudden fascinating interest in the stone patterns of the street. “Must just be me then. If no one else needs anything, we shall be on our way.”

With that, everyone rather hurriedly scattered, leaving just me, Lacy and the carriage.

Lacy leaned towards me. “Cake time now?”

“Absolutely, all that drama got me starving.”

“Please wait!”

A soft feminine voice came from the deep blue carriage as it slowed to a stop. The driver leaped off his seat, walked towards the door, and gave a bow as the door opened.

It took every bit of willpower for me to not gasp. She was beautiful. Not just a normal beautiful, no that word alone couldn't encapsulate her.

She had short light brown hair with two perky cat ears of the same color that shimmered in the sunlight, with soft blue eyes like diamonds. A regal yet flexible blue sparkling dress stretched down towards her feet. With every step, she moved with the grace of a dancer, yet the balance of a seasoned warrior, all while swaying in a way that I couldn’t look away from. And attached around the waist was a simple silver sword.

“Thank you so much for helping me,” her voice sent chills down my spine. Every word was clearer than an opera singer, more wonderful than a blooming flower. “I am Mai Arhonia, second princess of Arhoni.”

“R-Rio Mikin,” I stuttered out like a nervous child.”

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir. Rio,” she shot a glance toward her driver before giving a quick curtsy. “We must head out, but I am eternally thankful for what you did for us today.”

“Anytime,” I said as she hopped back on her carriage.

We watched as the floating carriage began to hover along again, the people around us now not saying a word.”

“Let’s get that cake now Lacy,” I said, having completely lost my appetite.