Minagh stepped forward slowly, the leather straps digging into his shoulders as he walked. It was slow progress, but it was cheaper than buying an animal to do this task.

The metal dragged along the fields behind him as Minagh walked, his boots sinking into the soil with each step. Sweat dripped from his forehead in the sun and the drops fell into the farmlands he was plowing alone.

It may not surprise you from this picture, but Minagh is not a normal human. Being strong enough to pull a plow on his own, after all, makes Minagh one of the strongest people alive.

How is he this strong? No one really knows. His strength was just something his parents had to deal with as Minagh grew up. They were rather thankful when his sister, Niamh, seemed to not have insane powers when she was born.

"Minagh!" Niamh shouted from the road.

Minagh looked over at his sister and stood up, taking the straps off his shoulders and walking over.

"Yeah?" Minagh asked.

Niamh crossed her arms as Minagh approached. Her copper-colored hair was the same as Minagh, though tied back in a loose ponytail. Most people mistook them for twins, but Niamh was three years younger.

"Did you forget?" Niamh asked. In response to the blank look on Minagh's face, Niamh continued. "There's a ship landing today at the harbor. I'm on my way to go check for my imports. And you promised you would help me carry them home."

Minagh grumbled, looking back at his half-plowed farm. If he left now, he'd have to start all over again if it rained. In Ireland, that was pretty likely.

"How long is it going to take, Niamh?" Minagh asked, wiping sweat from his brow. "I have three whole fields to do then sow."

Niamh smirked. "And I have a store to run. Between the two of us, who makes the most money?"

Minagh thought about this for a moment. 'Me.'

Niamh glared at her brother, though she wasn't able to deny that claim. "I only need you for a day, Minagh. When do I ever ask you for help?"

Before Minagh could answer, Niamh shook her head to deny his retort. She turned and began walking down the road.

Minagh sighed, stepping over his fence and following his sister into town. As they walked, Minagh was dabbing the sweat away with his shirt.

"So what did you have delivered?" Minagh asked.

"Furniture made in the Orient, Minagh. Mostly in China. I can taste the money now..." Niamh was excited about her new pieces, expecting them to be so popular she could justify opening this store.

Since their parents had died to sickness two years ago, Minagh had inherited the farm and decided to work it alone. He felt close to his family when he worked the land, even though they were gone now.

"Furniture from the Orient..." Minagh said quietly. "What makes it different?"

Niamh opened her mouth to respond, then thought about that question properly. "I... I think it's the decorations? Can you imagine a wardrobe with a dragon on it?"

Minagh sighed. "Niamh... did you order furniture from another country without looking at the product?"

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Niamh didn't want to admit that she had done just that. She loved her brother, but he had a way of making her life choices seem stupid.

"Of course I looked at the furniture!" she lied. "In fact, the craftsman is coming to personally hand them off. You don't do that if you lied to someone."

Minagh bit his tongue. The craftsman was likely coming to laugh at the Irish girl he tricked...

"It doesn't matter, anyway," Niamh said. "The deal's been made and I have to sell the furniture. It'll be fine."

"If you say so..." Minagh said quietly.

When the two siblings arrived in town, they could see the sails of the ship in the distance, bearing the flag of the British Empire. Minagh tilted his head.

"I thought the ship was from the Orient?" Minagh said.

Niamh looked a little more worried now. "M-maybe they just booked passage? It's fine!"

Niamh rushed ahead to confirm her belief and Minagh trailed behind her, hoping she hadn't been tricked.She approached the dock in a panic, rushing to the dock master. "Where is this ship coming from, Leroy!?"

Leroy sighed at Niamh's demand, checking his notes. "Paperwork says it's sailed from Asia. Merchant ship. Why?"

Niamh looked at the ship, distressed.

Minagh walked up to Leroy and smiled at the dock master. "I apologize for Niamh, I think she's realizing the dangers of foreign trade."

Leroy laughed bitterly in agreement.

Niamh's eyes opened as two people stepped off the ship. An elderly Chinese man with a crooked back, being led to the dock by a young woman. Niamh swore.

Minagh approached his sister. "You bought a craftsman, didn't you?"

Niamh almost turned green. "How... I don't have anywhere to put him... And who is she? His daughter? Fuck..."

The Chinese woman saw Niamh, then checked a photo in her hand, before walking over and saying something in Chinese.

Niamh blinked. "Uh... What?"

Minagh groaned, then looked apologetically at the newcomer. "Look, can you speak English? If not, this might be a lot harder..."

The woman nodded. "English... A little." She turned, gesturing to her father. "This is my father, Jian."

Niamh's face turned even paler. "Jian isn't... a wardrobe type?"

Minagh sighed deeply. "I apologize, miss..?"

The woman smiled. "Mu."

Minagh nodded. "Mu. Listen, my sister thought she was ordering some furniture from your father. But she can't speak Chinese, and she isn't a very smart person."

Niamh glared at her brother. "Hey!"

Minagh continued. "We can reimburse your trip back to China, but-"

Mu shook her head. "Oh, we cannot go back. Your sister agreed to house us both. We sold our home in preparation for this."

Niamh felt unsteady and faint. Minagh held her up and he thought for a moment.

"Alright, Niamh, you don't live at the farmhouse anymore. What if Jian and Mu live with me? Jian can work with you as a craftsman, and Mu can help out... however she can?"

Niamh hugged her brother tightly. "Thank you... Thank you!"