Chapter 2

Sai and I walk side by side ignoring the stares we get. If I’m honest, it is somewhat thrilling to wear black clothes outside knowing that the color’s banned. Of course, this is obviously a ceremonial gown. And since they’re all black unless you’re a royal, I know I won’t get in trouble.

The last half mile of our walk to Wirra is marked by the road changing from dirt to stones. I let out a small sigh of relief when we pass the section of forest connected to the path. Even glancing at the trees unsettles me. It feels that if I even dare to gaze upon it, the forest will lure me back inside. And this time, unlike when I was a child, I might never make it out.

The taste of rust hits my tongue as we pass under the sign that marks the entrance to Wirra. I’m hit by the familiar smell of alcohol and perfume. Over time, with every person that’s come, with each drop of sweat, and every drink that has fallen to the stone paved streets, a scent that can never be re-written has been left behind.

Tucking myself closer to Sai’s side, we maneuver through the large crowd of people on the street. The number of people here right now doesn’t make any sense. I doubt there are even ten shops open, but that’s Wirra.

A man carrying himself in a manner suggesting he started drinking at home before coming here, almost stumbles into me. Sai shoves him with more aggression than the situation warrants and I frown at him. Thankfully, the man’s too drunk to register that Sai tried to pick a fight as he stumbles into the people behind us.

“Easy there. I still work here,” I warn.

I receive not even a glance in my direction from Sai as we push forward. Rolling my eyes, I promise to give him an earful when we get home.

We walk past a shop producing a scent that tells me fresh bread has left the oven to breathe life into this world. Without meaning to, I drift in that direction. It’s just that at times like these, I think my stomach and legs communicate separately from my brain. Sai pulls me behind him right before I run into a salesman’s cart.

“Hello my lady. I suppose congratulations are in order.”

The salesman must have thought I was observing the good luck charms. That’s better than the truth of me almost toppling his entire cart for the sake of some fresh bread.

Turning away from me the salesman focuses his attention on his intended customer, Sai. Holding up a charm with the same dark blue coloring as my eyes, he makes his pitch.

“Sir, you should buy a good luck charm for your lover to ensure her coming of age ceremony is successful.”

I keep a smile on my face, but inside I groan. Now that we’re older, we get mistaken as lovers all the time. It’s true we don’t look alike, but who just assumes. What, you see a guy and a girl together and your first thought is we’re dating?

Sai’s response wipes the smile right off the salesman’s face. “No need. She’s my mistress so her future doesn’t concern me.”

Burying my face into Sai’s side, I try to muffle my giggles without touching the white fabric of his gown. Only when we walk away do I openly laugh.

“Might as well have fun with it.” Sai advises.

I shake my head, but I must admit that his comeback was good.

After gathering my countenance, I turn my eyes forward just in time to see my shop’s entrance. A hummingbird flutters its wings as it sucks on the nectar of one of the flowers on the vine snaking up my shop’s stone stacked front wall. This is when I notice something that makes me catch my breath.

I pull Sai along with me until we’re standing in front of the white sphere-shaped lantern with gold letters etched into the side reading, Divinity of Chaos. My fingertips delicately trace the words on the cloth surface in awe. I never imagined they would buy me something so…precious.

“The parties inside yoo know.”

When I spin around and find myself facing Rumi. A woman is so distracted upon seeing him that she almost runs into a cart. A deep blush lights up her cheeks as she apologizes to the salesperson.

I get it lady, the bread from earlier made me almost do the same thing.

Turning back to Rumi who either didn’t see what just happened behind him or just didn’t care, I give him my biggest smile of the evening. I’ve been waiting to show him this gown for years.

“So, impressed?” I ask extending my arms out giving him a full view of my ceremonial outfit.

Rumi says nothing as he examines my gown. When he twirls a finger in the air motioning for me to spin, I oblige pausing temporarily to give him a full view of the snake embroidery on my back.

“Well done. Especially these. I see why it took yoo forever.” Rumi points to the scales on my gown.

His praise is simple, but I’m bouncing on my feet absolutely elated. He mentioned the scales without me having to point them out. “You get it, right? They took so long but I really feel like they add to the overall design.”

“They do. And your blue hair really stands out with the black gown.”

Ahh, this is why Rumi’s my best friend. He understands me better than anyone else.

“Why’s your reaction so different when he praises you verses me? I’m your brother,” Sai pouts. It’s so cute that I open my arms wide, allowing him to fall into my embrace.

Rumi scoffs as he asks Sai, “How much longer are you going to act like a child.”

“Hey, he’s still young. And I’ll be sad if he stops wanting hugs from me.”

Sai stays silent as he holds me tighter, but I can tell Sai’s giving the screw you sign to Rumi, so I flick him on the head. I don’t care how old he thinks he is, he’s not allowed to make obscene gestures to adults.

Releasing Sai I ask, “Shall we head in then?”

Before Rumi can answer me, Sai finally notices the clothes Rumi’s wearing and the meaning behind them. “If we’re talking about acting properly, you should know that only family members or future partners can wear white during the coming-of-age ceremony. So, what’s with that gown?”

“Oh, I’m aware. As her family, that’s why I had it made,” Rumi chirps.

Sai turns to me for support, but I just rest my cheek on my palm as if this is my first time seeing Rumi’s gown. In truth, I saw the gown in Rumi’s closet last year so I knew he would be wearing it today.

Since I’m the only person he knows from the Divinity of Chaos, it was easy to guess. Honestly, it’s a pity that I’m born in the rarest season. If I wasn’t, Rumi and Sai could at least sell their gowns. We all could. Sorry for being unique guys.

“You’re not—” Sai’s cut off when Rumi scoops me up in both arms. He doesn’t wait for Sai to protest before barreling through the front doors of my shop.

“What are you doing?!” Sai cries from behind us.

“Don’t you know? It’s custom for women that come of age to be carried all the way to the ceremony.”

“For her FAMILY member to carry her!” Sai shouts back.

Laughter bubbles from me. They remind me of siblings more than me and Sai sometimes. Of course, I’ll never tell them that since they might start fighting even more.

The shop holds the welcoming aroma of perfume and peach wine. However, for the first time since I’ve walked through these doors, the scent of the aphrodisiac we use is barely noticeable.

A small squeal of delight escapes from me before I fall completely into giggles when Rumi tosses me over his shoulder after Sai tries to make a quick grab for me. When I check on him, Sai’s openly pouting. I’m aware that he’s playing nice since he knows he might hurt me if he tries to forcefully grab me from Rumi.

I can’t help but smile. Right now, Sai looks like the fifteen-year-old he’s meant to be. My poor little brother grew up too fast because I wasn’t a capable sister. So, I cherish every moment he acts his age.

“We’re here,” Rumi announces.

Glancing behind me, I find us facing the door of one of the shop’s largest rooms. From inside, we can hear whispers and hurried footsteps. Placing me down on my feet, Rumi gives me wink before opening the door.

Hundreds, maybe thousands. That’s how many times I’ve entered this room, but this time it feels surreal passing through the door. An uncertainty looms over me as my feet pause in place. My eyes take in the people inside that are all here for me, but for some reason my legs are refusing to approach them.

‘You shouldn’t be here be here. Don’t let them touch you.’

Shut up.

Rumi places a hand on my back and thankfully, the stupid voice does in fact shut up. He looks down at me showing that he’s concerned, but I offer him a wink of my own.

I allow my lungs to fill with air, and upon my exhale, I fall to my knees in front of everyone.

“Good evening. I’ve come on this auspicious evening to declare myself. I have come of age and request to be recognized by all those present.” My voice rings out clear and confident across the room.

With my head tilted down I can see the outline of my body on the newly cleaned wood floor. I watch entranced as my image dances under the hundreds of candles on the chandeliers lighting the room.

An older man answers me. “We recognize you; state your desire.” I can hear the satisfaction in his rough voice proving he’s an officiant that appreciates tradition.

“My desire is to become a citizen of this country. To uphold the glory of our nation, and to do my best to contribute to Estain’s continued progress.”

“Your wish is granted, and your words, heard. Hold out your dominant hand.”

Upon the man’s request, I hold out my left hand to him. He takes hold of it with a firm grip meant to prevent me from flinching or pulling away. Any movement on my end will be a problem. A permanent one.

‘No! Don’t let that touch you. I’m warning you. You’ll regret it until the day you die.’

Again, I ignore the voice. I also ignore the nagging desire to pull away by telling myself I need to do this.

In one fluid motion, the man places the brand on the back of my hand. As the burning metal sears my flesh, I hold my breath keeping as still and as silent as possible.

Once the officiant removes the brand from my skin, he places a glowing yellow rock against my seared flesh. The pain washes away leaving only a cooling sensation against my skin.

‘And that, is how the fool died.’

At those words, I flinch. Why tonight of all nights does the voice feel like talking so much?

“Rise, child of Estain. Everyone present this evening, please join me in recognizing our new citizen. Guide her and ensure to show her the best example of humanity. Iminity.”

“Iminity.” Everyone in the room repeats the man’s words.

“Iminity.” I whisper the word in a trembling voice before rising on shaking legs. The brand on my hand shimmers for a few seconds before reverting to its reddish hue.

The officiant puts away the brand and stone in his bag before turning to face me. His expression appears stern, but his words are kind. Unfortunately, they seem to be word for word from some sort of manual. He recites them with a painfully slow cadence leaving me with nothing to do but call forth my patience and wait for the lecture to end.

Rumi stands behind me and wraps his arms around me. He knows me, so he knows something was bothering me during the branding process. The officiant isn’t happy to see such an open display of affection between us, but he doesn’t say anything.

Relief rushes over me when the officiant finally walks out of the room. The other three times when he declared it was time for him to go, he recalled something else he needed to say. Rumi’s smile even showed signs of cracking as he held open the door for the officiant that for some reason didn’t want to leave.

We all let out an audible sigh of relief when the door shuts behind him. I can hear Dia try to escort him out, but he starts talking to her as well. With a silent prayer I wish her well as Rumi locks the door for safe measure.

“Well, now that I’m an adult, everybody needs to stop treating me like a—"

“Yeah right.” Kitten cuts me off before I can even finish my declaration. “I always thought Estain’s age for citizenship is a joke. In what universe could a twenty-year-old be considered an adult.”

She holds nothing back, but what makes it worse is the corresponding head nods from the people in the room that show they all agree with her. Even Rumi is nodding.

Sai nudges my back with a; I told you so grin. My cheeks puff out in frustration over no one being on my side.

“This is my day; you guys can’t be mean to me on my day.”

To my surprise, Cyra’s the one that speaks up for me. “She’s right everyone.” Standing a bit straighter I puff out my chest, but her next words deliver the final blow. “You must not bully children.”

Defeated, I find my seat ignoring everyone as they laugh at my expense.