It was another day on Tyrium. At least it felt that way to Kalalii. Another boring day of learning and training for the young and beautiful Narkinai. Within a two moons period there will be a celebration in honor of her twentieth epoch starting her full adulthood as a Farrian. The royal celebrations of their days of birth were always extravagant and opened to the entire Sondast City to honor and decorate in her name. Something she never looked forward to as it was always the same since childhood. Standing and greeting and then to give a speech to the people.
"Narkinai Kalalii, would you like to elaborate?"
Kalalii quickly jumped out of her daze and looked back to her current mentor, Sthenra, "I'm sorry, what was the question?"
Her learning mates snickered and whispered amongst themselves. One of them being her cousin, Svyyn, who was the meanest Farrian she knew. Her eyes never left Kalalii's face as a huge smirk became plastered on her face. Svyyn enjoyed Kalalii's humiliation and always tried to point out that she wasn't fit to be a narkinai or to sit in the throne beside the Shinjara and Shuenja. Perhaps envious of Kalalii's beauty as well.
"I'm sorry Narkinai, but how do you expect to graduate my lectures if you do not pay attention. Your final test is coming up in two suns, I hope you are prepared for it," Sthenra's nose stuck up in the air as she looked down on her, "and the question I asked was who was the Jorkoe that murdered our first Farrian Father?"
"Oh," Kalalii felt the tips of her ears become warm, "that would have to be Tachnyski."
"And what was his method of completing such a treacherous task?"
"He led our Father, Rhaokunkos, into a trap to sacrifice him to the Fire Liths which in turn threw him off a tall mountain."
"So you do pay attention after all," Sthenra turned her back to Kalalii and continued her lecture on their history.
Once the lecture was over Kalalii stood up from her cushion and looked around for her Itsalii named Shojak. He stood across the way leaning against one of the stone pillars. And Itsalii is a protector, a guardian, to whom they are assigned or to watch over at all times. To Kalalii he was more than just an itsalii, he was her friend. As she headed towards him she was intercepted by Svyyn.
"Hello cousin, I do look forward to your celebration. I have a little secret I'd like to share with you then. Perhaps you could find a time to sneak away and when you do meet me near the ancient tree." She smiled but her tone was tainted with a false sense of friendliness.
Thankfully Shojak appeared behind Svyyn, startling her as he carried on as usual trying to appear intimidating. She mumbled some kind of insult beneath her breath as she then twitched away with a group of her servants following closely behind her. Kalalii couldn't be more relieved as she was left alone with him. He always followed a few paces behind her, never by her side as an equal. The only times he appeared by her side is if he thought she was being threatened or in danger.
"Narkinai, your tutor is waiting for you." He said matter of fact.
She didn't respond at first but just moseyed her way through the palace gardens. She wasn't exactly in the mood for another royal session on how to behave like a Shuenja. She found a smooth rock to sit on and patted the spot next to her, but she already knew Shojak would not sit. Looking at Shojak's burly appearance and tall stature would make any Farrian cower in fear. He resembles very little to be a Farrian except his blue skin. However, the black stripes and everything else shows to be of the Jorkoe race. His mother was a Farrian and his father a Jorkoe, thus creating a mixed child they had no name for his breed. Shojak chose his loyalties to the Lamrian Clan and was given position as an Itsalii to protect the members of the royal family. Though, Kalalii saw in his eyes that he was really a gentle and kind being. Not like everyone else who spat on him, said mean things about him, calling him an abomination, and always shied away from him. As for the appearance of a Farrian they carry an almost transparent blue skin with stars and the view of the galaxies constantly moving slowly across their skin. The stars that move across their skin are very faint in the light but in the dark they light up brightly; which is why it is very difficult for a Farrian to hide at night. They become targets to all the vicious creatures that come out only when the two moons are alight in the sky. That is why a large wall surrounds the city. That is why Kalalii is to never travel alone at night. Technically, she's never allowed to travel or be alone period.
"Have you ever wondered what is outside of these walls?" She asked him.
"It's a dangerous world out there. No place for a Narkinai."
She sighed and scanned her view of the city. The palace sat at the highest point in the center of Sondast to overlook everything that goes on within it. The city looked like a maze of buildings that any outsider would easily get lost in. The streets wounded and curved in such a way that it would confuse the enemy making it very difficult, if not nearly impossible for them to reach the center. It was the first people of the Lamrian Clan that decided to build this place with extra defenses. It would take many suns and moons to learn it. As for Kalalii, she hasn't even traveled outside the walls that surrounded this maze. On some occasion she and her sisters would sneak out to roam the streets and get into mischief when she they were younger. But now she ages and her time is demanded much by her training to become Shuenja some day and one must always have knowledge of their history, their people, they're economy, and how to run a kingdom.
"Narkinai, the suns are setting, I think it is time we go to see your tutor now." Shojak interrupted her thoughts of longing.
"Yes, of course, Shojak." She sighed heavily, "We wouldn't want to keep them waiting."
Shall be continued...
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