On a long forgotten continent that spans 20,000,000km^2, Vermillion Kingdom resides. On the north coast is a dilapidated forest dully stretching a couple million kilometres, with every ounce of luster and shine lost to history. The once emerald-like green that shone in every leaf and stalk is now replaced with a dark brown, as if a colourblind thief came through and offered an obvious impostor to stand in for his new treasure. The trees, with a healthy circumference of 32 metres, no longer have the imposing, heaven piercing heights they used too, instead forced by an unknown supernatural to stop growing at six metres, with no crown to boot. This forest, named Vermillion Forest, was coveted by deities and immortals alike, but not even inhabitants of a higher plane could not prevent its tragic fall from majesty.
In the deep of the forest, the aforementioned kingdom lies, bustling with fifty million people. While on the smaller side, Vermillion Kingdom has a grand history. Built into a large mountain where social status increases alongside elevation, those that are uneducated or work physically demanding jobs typically dominate the base, while merchants settle the middle. Nobles, of course, dominate near the top with the palace resting aloft, only below a dainty shrine dedicated to three Goddesses no longer truly believed in, and only kept for the sake of tradition. The highway runs straight, with space for four carriages and little protection for those on foot in case the mounted animals run amok. This lack of consideration for the lower rungs of society, like the highways, only got higher and higher as one approaches the palace. Merchants, while dominating the trade and fine crafts of society, often faced the brunt of discrimination from both nobles and the working class, with both sides thinking the merchants are working with the other. However, a merchant cares not for man; only profit can feed the stomach, and thus nourish the mind. As the highway passes the market square, it branches and splits off to two separate districts. The left road from the market square leads to government offices, while the right road is for noble residences. The two roads then converge together into a main path towards the palace, where all nobles meet once a month for a report on the general affairs of the state.
The noble residences were for nobles staying an extended amount of time away from their territory, with the mansions closest to the palace reserved for Grand Dukes only. Each manor was at least 600m^2, having two floors and a basement. The upper floor were for the masters and their family, the lower floor for the servants, and the basement for slaves. The noble highway, also known as the “Golden Road” for how often money drops out of careless purses, was freshly paved every month to insure no cracks damage the prized horses’ hooves or carriage wheels. While technically not against the law for the common man to enter the Golden Road, almost all non-servants are taken into jail on account of suspicious behavior.
At the base of the mountain, where the brunt of the poor reside, is a district nicknamed “Angel Town” for how often death occurs. Angel Town was, for all intents and purposes, a dumping ground of orphans and children that the Church of Three could not sustain. The sick, veterans, criminals, and all other outcasts call Angel Town home. With no infirmaries or clinics, a common cold could end a fully grown adult in Angel Town.
Angel Town’s layout was that of a long winding corridor with run down shanties and dubious allies peeking out into the main street. Gangs often hide within the dark, like vampires afraid of the sun. Every shack is littered with holes, and the smell of rot perspires all around. Orphans, if lucky, live to about 10 years old until they step on an irritable thief’s foot and their neck meets cold metal. If a child wishes to live till adulthood in Angel Town, they learn that buttering up and joining a gang is the only way to gain any semblance of longevity.
Near the end of Angel Town is a common shanty with uncommon residents. The house, if you can call it that, has no windows nor light but is instead littered with small holes. A wooden plank held up by a tower of bricks is used as a clothesline for the once in a blue moon that rain pours down and can be used for washing. Inside the house is cauldron charred pitch black from overuse, a dirt floor, a single blanket, and makeshift clothes strewn all about.
Inside the shanty is currently a single individual, stirring a porridge with the cauldron. The individual is a beauty of about 16 years of age. She is currently wearing a roughly stitched brown sweater covered by an apron, along with an incredibly short dress that barely covered her sacred place. Her hair, raven black, went straight down to her waist. The eyes were big and bright, with black irises and unusual clarity emitting within them. Her skin, while covered in grime, gave an inkling of jade-like quality that made one wholeheartedly regret the lack of care given. Her legs were long and strangely clean, and made all men stare with an unhealthy desire. Even the beauty’s expression, while normally icy and off-putting, was currently beaming with slightly flushed cheeks like an innocent maiden in love. This lovely girl was named Meiling Chang, and was currently cooking for the unrequited love of her life, so-called worthless cripple Jun Chang.
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As Meiling finished cooking, she heard a rapping sound from the shanty entrance. Meiling turned around and immediately smiled. She saw a young man with flawless white hair, tanned skin, brows slightly arched downward, blue eyes, a straight back, and calluses on the hands with light muscles showing the physical labor the young man undertakes. If any impressionable girl saw such a handsome visage, they’d most certainly blush. However, upon seeing this particular man, most girls would turn away when looking downward and seeing the man was crippled and in a wheelchair! Indeed, while pitiable, society views the handicapped and weak with an undeserved hatred, while only the strong receive respect. However, even when other girls would turn away, Meiling would continue to stare straight ahead. Why? Because this man was none other than Jun Chang, the love of her life!
“Jun, you’re finally back! I expected you to come home sooner.” Meiling said with sweet adoration.
“Sorry, today was a longer work day due to the tournament in two months. I wanted to hurry, but the library was on overload with all the nobles studying.” Jun quickly replied with an apologetic manner.
Jun works at the Royal Library as illegal labor due to his perfect memory and understanding of text. If Jun was a noble’s son, he would undoubtedly be considered one of the greatest scholar Vermillion Kingdom has ever had. And all this was despite Jun being blind! Indeed the prime example of a troubled genius.
“I understand. It just gets boring without you sometimes…” Meiling said with an unintentionally seductive voice and pained expression.
Jun, upon hearing Meiling’s voice that could be mistaken as addressing a lover, had a troubled smile. Jun, while blind, has the inexplicable ability to see all living things souls, and if he concentrates hard enough he can have a normal view for one minute. Knowing Meiling’s beauty and personality, Jun is certain she could easily live a good life if she meets a good man. However, despite being brother and sister, Meiling is deeply in love with Jun. Incest, while not exactly against the law, is frowned upon. Furthermore, how could Jun take away Meiling’s chance at a nice life by engaging in his own deep desires?
“You know what, since it’s my fault, I’ll make it up to you. Before I left today I was gifted some canvas to paint. I smell something good right now, let’s eat first and then I’ll paint something good for you. How does that sound?” Jun said, confident in his proposal.
“That works out great! How about drawing the stars again?” Meiling replied while she put her apron away, with the brown sweater slightly exposing ample breasts that would spill out of your hands.
“Stars again? This is like the 5th time you asked. Are you sure? I’m only doing one.” Jun said with a voice that seemed scolding at first.
“Come on, you know I love the stars! Please? For me?” Meiling’s voice sounded like that of a spoilt child trying to get their way.
Jun breathed out exasperated, as if like the request was troublesome. “Fine, I’ll paint the stars AGAIN. But first, let us eat okay? I’m incredibly hungry.”
Meiling smiled. “Okay. It’s a promise!”
Meiling and Jun sat down at the cauldron, using two large spoons to eat from the same pot. When viewed from a distance, the cauldron was the only light in Angel Town, and was like a fire fading into dark. However, when Jun looks back on this seemingly normal day, he will remember it forever not as an ember fading, but an ember growing.