Shoda Chiyo, tragic tea drinker

“Dwarven? He was like two metres tall. Does that make me a dwarf?” Samuel only had two mental images about dwarves. The first, people with dwarfism. The second was from that fantasy trilogy everyone has seen. Comparing features, Thrricco reminded him of them, excluding the height. “Or is he a giant with dwarfism?”

An annoyed puff from Chiyo reminded him that wasn’t what they were talking about. She waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t think about it, idiot.”

He looked away, and for a good reason. She probably was staring daggers at him, judging his very soul. All across his entire sore and tired body he felt his muscles tensing up. Said tension exploded in a flinch when he heard Chiyo’s voice, but it wasn’t what he expected.

Sweet, melting and tired laughter; that’s what reached his ears. It was contagious like the worst sickness, he was laughing with her immediately. “Why?” he thought “It wasn’t even that funny.”

“I can teach you all about it later, Samuel. There’s- a lot of things for you to learn, actually.” As a change of pace, her voice was soothing and comforting. Completely different than what she usually showed. He relaxed again, feeling her softly pat his shoulder with her cold hands.

“They can wait. I’m a quick learner after all. Right now that ‘dwarven bastard’ sounds more interesting anyways,” that cold touch retreated from his shoulder and he followed it with his eyes. Whatever joy and laughter he had provided was gone at the mention of the dwarf. Samuel moved his chair so he could face Chiyo, weakly slapping his own face a few times to push away his tiredness.

“Interesting- hah, yeah,” frowning at his self slaps, Chiyo moved her head away, staring at the sea of buildings below. “He always was. . . the worst. But if not for him, Azim wouldn’t be with me today and I would still be in the streets,” there was a pause, too long for his own comfort, “or worse.”

“Dead?” Samuel asked, taking the silence as his opportunity to participate. Her eyes glanced at him for a brief instant, a pair of green gems devoid of light. That look, he had seen it many times in the past. It weighed on his soul like if heaven itself was judging him.

Chiyo looked away once again and it was Samuel’s turn to pat her shoulder. She flinched before accepting it with a soft exhale. “I can’t die. Not for a few more years. It’s. . . not as pretty as you may imagine. Thrricco offered Azim a contract, one that contemplated him taking care of me. And here we are, almost two decades in the future, almost back to square one.”

“Am I right to think he wasn’t interested in Azim but in you?” He could feel her tensing up, her shoulder’s muscles tightening under his palm. Some questions required tact or a change in one word but in this case Samuel knew he couldn’t have asked it any other way.

“Yes, you are. And you aren’t at the same time. Azim. . .” pushing his hand away from her shoulder, Chiyo fixed her posture, “is special. He is a summoned from Earth, like you. But while you may be rare, Azim is a generational wonder.”

“That’s good and all, but what about you? I understand why Azim would enter a contract with some lowlife scum to protect you but, why? And why couldn't it be someone else?” He kept probing, pushing to her limit and seeing where it would break or slap him back in the face. Chiyo, however, didn’t look bothered. Or as if any line was being or close to be crossed.

“Because that was basically the only option where I wouldn’t be part of the deal. We have something here in Dosumn, the creator of the city called them ‘mechanics’. They are basically laws imposed on all of us that the world itself keeps in check.” Samuel was confused at the sudden lecture, and admittedly a little annoyed. Chiyo noticed, looking at his shivering frown. Laughing at him, loudly so.

“Wh- what’s so funny? You know you aren’t ma-” he was shushed by a tapping index to his lips while she composed herself. It didn’t help to make him less irritated though.

“So-sorry, your face was funny.” Just when it seemed she was going to stop, an extra chuckle escaped. Something that repeated for a bit and eventually had him chuckling at the ridiculousness of the situation. “And just listen! Okay? It isn’t pointless.”

“I never said it was but- Eh, just keep going Chiyo.” Samuel felt revitalised and with more energy than a minute ago. Chiyo’s voice also sounded lighter, softer. Her face wasn’t as gloomy as seconds prior.

“Alright, as I was saying, mechanics. They are basically laws but you can’t break them. Someone who breaks a law is a criminal but no one can go against a mechanic. You can exploit it and find loopholes, but you can’t break them. It’s like trying to defy gravity.” Word by word, second by second; that energy dwindled and faded once again. Seeing her go from joyful and laughter to doom and gloom was defeating.

“Only ‘The one on top’, the creator of Dosumn, can create, remove or modify mechanics. Classes, levels, magic, arenas; everything is regulated by them. And the most influential people in the city can propose their own,” The sadness in her face was replaced by anger and resentment, contorting it into a scary but sad look, “You know how rare it is that a mechanic is created specifically for you? Let alone multiple?”

Samuel opened his mouth, trying to say something. Anything. He couldn’t find the words that he could say, that would help her.

“Your tea is ready, Lady Shoda,” Azim simply appeared behind them, making Samuel jump to his feet to Chiyo’s amusement. In fact, he was about to play it cool until he saw a little smirk forming on her face. He squatted, held his chest and leaned forward with one finger up, forcing his breathing to be sharp and loud.

“Don’t tell me you had a heart attack? From Azim!? Oh boy, going to the arenas with you won’t be fun,” Chiyo teased, his little stunt forcing another charming chuckle out of her. “Oh, thanks Azim. It all looks delicious!”

“My pleasure. Please, enjoy. You too, Mister Corpacci,” before he could protest against it, Azim disappeared. Only after snapping out of his confusion could he focus on the food and, indeed, it looked delicious. The scones he saw in the kitchen smelt even better from up close, the merengues and fancy looking treats didn’t look bad either. Samuel sat down again, moving to grab one of the chocolate covered bonbons, only to get slapped by Chiyo.

“Tea! First, the tea!” Each word was accompanied by another slap, making him retreat to his cup. He glanced around for sugar, but there was none. So he glanced at Chiyo, seeing her sip the tea. Would it be rude to ask for some? Maybe. He took a sip.

“Huh. Oh. . . oh! Since when does tea taste so good?” He took another sip. Chiyo chuckled and grabbed his wrist.

“Don’t be so impatient, Samuel. Don’t drink it all so quickly! You have to enjoy it. Try a scon, or one of the merengues. Take it slow,” she lowered her cup, took the bonbon Samuel wanted and took a bite.

“Who has rules for tea?” He asked following her rules for tea after lowering his cup and picking up a scon. That made her chuckle again.

“Not rules, recommendations. Isn’t the scon tastier if you eat it slowly? If you have a sip of tea between bites?” Chiyo finished her bonbon and took another sip afterwards.

Both of them stared into the distance, enjoying their tea and snacks. He didn’t feel the need to reply and glancing at her he could notice she didn’t want to speak much anyways. It was uncomfortable at first, the silence felt oppressive. But, as they exchanged looks and enjoyed their snacks, Samuel recognized it wasn’t the silence what bothered him. He simply felt a pressure tightening on his chest and his stomach rising, until it all relaxed and he found comfort in their moment of silence.

“I won’t ask what this- mechanics are,” Samuel finished his tea, waiting a second to look at her, “but I will help you. Beyond the first few levels. The only thing I ask in return is, if there is a way, I want to talk with my mother one last time.”

Chiyo’s smile returned. “You have a deal.” As they shook their hands, Samuel thought that he preferred seeing her smiling.