PROLOGUE

Hopeful children with masks of their ancient gods and mythic beasts roamed the busy city streets. Women dressed ornamentally and bright, and men cheering and drinking filled the evening markets. Illuminated lanterns floated along a man-made river, and a small bridge housed a decorated and bustling crowd along the sidewalks. Old rust buckets honked out of joy or frustration on blocked roads. The colors of red and orange bloomed and scattered like petals in the ecosystem of concentrated cultures. In Hlum Lang district, the several surrounding building windows were covered in decor and people watched the festivities as they celebrated from the comforts of their homes.

The pound of a drum rang in the distance as the golden light of the sun began to set from within the smog. Crowds of people quieted down with only whispers and murmurs carrying on. Nala, a child with the Mask of God carved of wood, stretched her arms out over the looming river of lanterns and water, “It’s starting.”

A toll of bells had awoken the stream of people that were gathered on the bridge. Down the river large boats paraded colorful, costumed individuals. They drifted toward the bridge. A large ten metre long, red and yellow, paper-mache dragon swelled through the air with its claws and limbs attached to long poles held by dancing men in traditional robes with glorious white and red makeup on. The dragon’s black pupils bounced with chaos as the roar of the observers peaked in excitement.

The ancient song of buddhist monks preaching in Thai echoed as they beat small gongs repeatedly on a boat. A trio of women on the following boat sung and danced in unison, their performance overpowered the monks echoing prayers. The dragon raged red and orange confetti, raining down upon the town.

Similar new year’s celebrations had sprung all around different parts of Ruam Mai City. The largest floating city state existing within the Gulf of Siam and the South China Sea. The largest city nation in the world was a place of opportunity. The world had reshaped itself and several major corporations united and created a capitalist governing body that watched over the city in union. The Gulf of Siam allowed for easy trading by sea from surrounding countries, it was rich with resources and oil, and became a well known destination for the weather and the opportunity for one to make a name for themselves.

Nala, moved through the crowd, holding her mask to her face—as it had a tendency to droop and cover her eyes. She found other children her age, soaking each other with cheap water guns. The streets were bustling with food, dance, and song. But her eyes caught men in an alley; hunched, crouched, and squatted over a glass jar—watching and yelling, smoking and drinking, waving money in the air. She stepped between pillars of an old shrine gate and into the alley, going unnoticed by the men entranced as she would be soon. She gazed upon the glass jar. A dark fish with cape-like fins swam in circles within the jar, another deep red fish with similar flowing fins swam just beneath it.

The Siamese Fighting Fish was a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. Locals collected them for their aggression, breeding them for fight contests, and involved heavy gambling. Both fighting fish were highly territorial, they squared off—flaring their gills at one another, followed by sudden bouts of biting, chasing, and clashing, they circled the jar.

Trapped together, the fighting fish ripped and tore into each other while the betting man watched. Under the Mask of God, Nala’s eyes swelled with tears, as she witnessed—such beautiful creatures at odds with one another.