Cheche had spoken to her parents and it seemed as though they were willing to allow her some freedoms.

Hekima, like his daughter, came to me for comfort and I gave it to him in the form of a few pats on the back.

I couldn’t do so forever, however, as Akili came to pay me a visit.

The general entered my Temple, leaving his entourage of guards outside.

He then knelt at my feet as I stood in the kitchen with an apron on and a spoon in hand.

“Apologies for disturbing you, My Lady.”

“It’s alright. Is there anything I can help you with?” I asked while licking the baking mixture on the spoon.

“The people of Teva would like to invite you to Kimbilio in the hopes that you can join us in celebrating our independence.”

“Alright.” I nodded.

“My utmost thanks.” Akili said while standing up.

He then turned to leave and while he did, I contemplated on what outfit I would wear.

I had grown rather tired of my godly white gowns so I wanted a show stopper and I knew exactly who to talk to for this.

I removed my apron, tidied up, finished baking, placed the freshly baked muffins on a steel rack and dashed out of the Temple of Tablets.

I then jumped into my ship and although I knew it was Hekima’s duty to follow me, I left without him since he probably had some thinking to do.

My destination was Y’shuah and my target was Azar.

I knew he said he wasn’t ready to paint a portrait of my children and I but he said nothing about not being able to design a dress.

He was doing some shopping and so I waited until he got home.

I didn’t want anyone else to know that I was there and so, after waiting for him to finish cooking and tidying up after himself.

I then descended to his door after creating a cloak that hid my face.

I knocked on the door and he opened it shortly after.

“Hello-“

Azar shut the door in my face and I wasn’t sure whether to feel insulted or not.

He opened the door again after a moment only this time it was only by a little.

“Is there anything this humble servant can do for you, My Lady?” He whimpered.

“Yes. I’d like you to design me a dress.” I smiled but this just made the middle aged artist’s eyes quake.

You fought in the Shrimp War, you big idiot! You shouldn’t be so shaky! That’s what I thought as I stood in a dark cloak that probably drew more attention than it dispelled.

“Could I kindly reject?”

“Not this time!” I grinned.

Azar’s eyes quaked again but I was starting to feel sorry for him and so I took a deep breath and looked sincerely into his eyes.

“What will it take for this one commission?”

His eyes fell.

“Is… is Pazia still…?”

“Yes.”

Azar’s eyes widened a bit.

He then let out a sigh before opening the door, allowing me to enter his messy home.

His, like most in Pele, was built mostly out of stone and wood.

It was warm and would be very resistant to the coming winter’s cold.

Azar closed the door and led me to his living room where he gestured that I sit on the one couch that wasn’t covered in paint or art tools.

At the center of all the buckets of paint and unfinished works was an easel which held a blank canvas.

“So… you would like me to design a dress for you… but… no. What would you like the dress to look like?” He asked with a weary expression.

“Ah- I actually want you to decide that.”

His shoulders fell.

“I apologize for always giving you so much stress but it would bring me nothing but joy to wear something that you designed on your own.” I smiled because while I felt bad, it was also fun watching him tumble over himself.

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It looked like he wanted to complain but his eyes suddenly widened and he looked me directly in the eye.

“My Lady… the ceremonial gowns that Mal’akh Musa and Tal wear… they are purple, right?”

I nodded as he stood up.

He then walked up to one of the many flowers he kept.

This one was a Dahlia and it was a deep shade of purple.

I gasped a little as he suddenly rushed to an old bucket that was filled with brushes.

He then grabbed various other buckets of paint and a wooden palette atop which he mixed blue and red until they became a deep and rich purple.

He then began to paint a dress from that was the about the same shade as the flower which inspired him.

I watched him work for what must have been an hour but he eventually stepped away from the canvas, allowing me to see it in its entirety.

I stood up and, using Glass Transference, I brought the dress to life on my body after destroying my old clothes.

Azar turned to face me and his mouth hung open upon seeing me in what was a beautiful purple silk dress.

It had a modest design with sleeves that reached my wrists and a high neckline. Its upper half was lined with subtle folds that mimicked the Dahlia’s many small petals while the lower half was smooth and only slightly hugged my figure.

I wanted to give him as many thanks as possible but I also needed to go to Kimbilio so, after lifting the dress a little, hopped over to Azar and ruffled his hair a little before making my way to the door while he stood frozen.

“Thank you! Be sure to visit any of my temples if you need me!” I yelled while dashing out of the house.

I then jumped back into my ship and made my way south to pick Hekima up.

After complaining about how I had left him, he spent most of the trip staring at me and I ignored it for the most part as we made our way south.

We eventually landed at Temple Kimbilio where we were greeted by a crowd thousands who loudly cheered my name as I stepped out of my ship.

I gave them all dignified waves as the stood beyond the bounds of the Temple be able the rule that no ordinary man step on the hallowed grounds was still in effect for some reason.

Waiting for me by the temple’s entrance were Akili, his family, Ed, Chibuk, Kuhani and Kimya.

These were my people.

Well, the ones who lived in Kimbilio.

[Good morning.] I greeted in a manner that allowed my voice to reach everyone in the city.

The crowd reacted with a wave of cheers as I walked towards the leaders of the city who greeted me with deep bows.

“Hello, everyone. Today marks the day you bravely broke the shackles that bound you and, thanks to Heziyn’s heroic actions, you carved a path for yourselves in history.” I smiled and I got different responses from everyone.

Ed smiled back wistfully, his son smiled in acknowledgement, Akili scoffed with what could only be pride while his wives tried keeping his five toddlers from running about, Kimya nodded and Kuhani bowed again.

Such wonderful expressions.

Several guards approached the temple and they carried a tall wooden spear which was lined with briars.

They raised it and it was tradition to break it in half every year so the guards did so marking the beginning of the Festival of Freedom.

A few caretakers led us into the Temple where a table full of food awaited us.

Well, I had to sit on the huge throne that was next to it but I guess this was acceptable.

We took our seats and I looked down at my denizens and turned to Ed specifically.

How far we had come.

I bit my teeth a little as Musa’s face entered my mind.

I…

I missed him.

If it wasn’t for him and that day on the riverbank, I can’t even imagine how differently things would be.

“Please, feel free to celebrate this day because this day, this moment is yours.” I congratulated and after giving me nods of agreement, everyone began to eat.

As they did, I closed my eyes and widened my perspective so as to behold all of Kimbilio.

You did this, Ed.

You and everyone who walked alongside you.

I smiled and this was enough to make a few people gasp.

I opened my eyes and watched as my denizens ate.

I wished Musa and Tal were here but Musa was hard at work and Tal was studying.

The feast eventually came to an end and while I wouldn’t have had an issue with joining Akili and company as they addressed their people, I also wanted to show off my new dress to Tal and eventually Musa so I bid everyone Farewell and made my way back home with Hekima who had also partaken in the feast and was stuffed with food.

I threw him into my ship and, after waving goodbye to everyone, we made our way home just in time to catch Tal as she arrived from school.

“Wow.” She gasped upon seeing my dress.

“What do you think?” I asked while doing a little spin.

“Beautiful.” She whispered.

“Thank you.” I smiled before accompanying her to our room where I changed out of the dress.

I’d have to show it to Musa another time since I had to prepare dinner for Tal.

I did so and, after we finished, I tidied up and joined Tal in bed where we prepared for sleep.

“My Lady?” Tal asked prompting me to turn and face her.

“Yes?”

“Cheche said she got permission to go to Y’shuah from her parents so would it be alright if I accompanied her?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

.

..

It was the weekend meaning Tal and Cheche didn’t have to go to school.

This also meant that they could go to Y’shuah without issue and while travelled by boat was fine, it would have been faster for them just to fly and fortunately, the humanoids had developed jet propulsion technologies and had refined the aerodynamics of their aircraft to almost post modern earth levels.

The Island of Tablets had an airport on its eastern side and that’s where I was going to accompany Tal and Cheche to but not before preparing them some snacks.

I packed all the cookies and sandwiches I made into a bag which I handed to Tal before following her to Cheche’s house where a worried Hekima and Ponya – Hekima’s wife, stood behind their excited daughter.

Cheche made a little noise as she ran towards us and she gingerly hugged Tal before turning around and waving her parents goodbye.

Hekima and Ponya gave us deep bows and like that, we were on our way.

We used my ship to get to the airport and I decided to part ways with them outside.

“Bye, ma’am! We’ll be back before you know it!” Cheche yelled while keeping herself from sprinting into the building.

Tal raised her hand to wave but just as she did, I heard a noise that made my face contort with dread.

It sounded like Musa had been hurt and so, before Tal could express her concern, I instantly left my Doll body and turned my perspective towards Y’shuah.

I heard his voice from just west of Pele and my eyes widened to their limits upon seeing a plume of smoke coming from within the Elephantine Forest.

I peered towards the smoke which came from a clearing in the woods where a certain memorial sword stood and I frowned upon seeing a several soldiers standing protectively around Chozek and Musa only…

Musa’s left arm was missing.

I manifested in front of him as light all while he shook his head and waved his hands.

It sounded like he was asking or pleading for something to stop but I couldn’t hear any of it as I walked towards him.

All I could think to do upon reaching him was gently place hands on his cheeks and ask one question.

“Who did this to you?”