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In the continent of Wen; a child's 4th birthday is one of the most important things in their life. Your 4th birthday tells you, vaguely, if you have power. On your 4th birthday, the gods of the world show everyone watching who they are blessing. Who they are favoring. And usually, the child they taken a liking to has enough talent to please the particular God. Some gods' requirements are stricter than others, but if you are blessed from one than 1, it pretty much mean you are set for life.

And today is my 4th birthday in my new life.

I am sitting in my small bedroom, that is currently very crowded. The springs on my bed creaked when Daina hopped onto it with me.

"Zana! Our ceremony is tonight! Aren't you excited?" She was practically bouncing on the bed, on the very fragile old bed. I looked at her and gave her a cold glare. She just smiled mischievously in return.

"Stop bouncing." I grumbled under my breath. She ignored me, Daina already knew what is making me grumpy this morning. It had happened to her this morning too, but over the excitement, she is now less grumpy.

Early this morning, the day hadn't started yet by the sunrise, I was wokened up by my parents. They whispered and urged me to get ready for a ceremony that will start 13 hours later!

So, in around 5 in the morning I am being dressed up like a doll with Daina, who has been my friend for a year. My mother had, marvelously, pulled out a dress from nowhere. When I had asked where she had got it she answered with a fond smile.

"Haha.... This was my dress from when I was a child."

The dress was a pretty blue, like the sky. Commoners couldn't afford white clothing, which is extremely hard to keep clean. The light blue dress probably cost a fortune; it is almost the color white.

The dress fell to the middle of my shins, the dress was a bit small but not enough to make me irritated. It was beautiful, with black trims and a simple design. 'It suit me perfectly.'I nodded in approval to myself.

'Even though I was a guy in my past; it doesn't mean I have no sense of taste.' I smirked.

When my mother saw that it was a bit to small; she had coughed out a embarrassed laugh. "Zana, you are much taller than me when I was the same age...."

I just smiled in response; some people just get taller than others. It is because of proper nutrition. Of course my mother doesn't know any of that stuff. She doesn't have a proper education, it also seems that this world is less technology advanced than Earth. She is bound to not know.

Daina was being dressed up by her mother, beside me. Her black hair was smoothed down perfectly from the hours of brushing, combing and oil, like mine. We were completely woken up by the cold water that was dumped on our heads.

'Hair is a pain to take care of....' I thought while looking out the single window. The large tree outside once again has bright green leaves swaying in the wind. The flowers bloomed in the unnaturally green grass. I smiled, 'This time was around the time I was born huh...' My mother hummed in the background, busily looking at my dress to see if anything needs to be fixed.

It was a peaceful scene. 2 children getting dressed by their mothers. Being fussed by them for being cute, like children were all the time.

"Zana....."

I look up to see my mother looking at me in a guarded expression.

I blinked and stood up. My dress was smoothed out by her hands. She looked down at my feet on the bed, with her blond hair hiding her face.

"Zana, you see. The blessing ceremony is held in the church that's located in a different place. The city name is Nubell, it is a city in Finley." She looked up at me with a serious look in her eyes. "Nubell is large city of over 300,000 people, people who are mostly from Finley. So don't cause trouble okay? We don't want to attract even more attention with your white hair....."

My face twitched slightly. "My hair is not white, it is blond."

Daina giggled beside me with her mother slightly smiling while she combed her hair.

My mother smiled and then laughed. "Zana, your hair was originally a very, very pale blond. People can tell a difference if they look carefully. But now, for some reason, in these 4 years since you were born, your hair is turning white. Now it is even harder to tell if it is even blond anymore!"

I grimaced from her blunt statement. 'I do NOT want old people hair.' I hopped down from the bed and huffed out a frustrated breath.

Daina sighed and while dangling her feet on the bed casually she asked, "Mommy? Aunty? When are we going to leave to go?" Her jewel green dress shimmered from the sunlight. She tilted her head up to her mother with a tired, teary eyes.

Heia patted her head gentlely. "We are going to leave in a hour, just wait a bit more okay?" Her gentle golden eyes turned toward me, "You too, just wait for another hour."

A hour passed with my parents and Daina's getting a suitcase. They put some clothes and a bag of coins. The adults also carried a smaller bag of coins. My father was wearing clothes that he would never wear while farming or hunting. He also brought along a sword in a shabby sheath. It is clear that my father hasn't been using it recently.

Beside him was Lucas. He wore a military like uniform, the color of it was white with black trims and buttons. On his hip was a much better looking sword compared to my father's. It was in a shining white-black sheath with metal shining on the hilt that was peeking out from the sheath.

'An emergency bag for money I get, but why do we have to bring swords?'

I was standing outside my house by the dirt road. In front of me were poor shacks that was similar to what I lived in.  I stared at the men swords; Lucas noticing the stare, said "The swords are for protection, you will need it. He stared intently at my hair, "It is Finley after all." His usually emotionless voice had a tint of amusement.

I narrowed my eyes, 'I know Finley's nobles have whiteish hair..... But I obviously look like a commoner. No one will pay attention to me with my shabby clothes.' I took my thoughts to another direction. I look more carefully around me. I didn't get out of the house much in my life. I took in the sad sight around me.

The roofs of these houses were almost collapsing. One even has a piece of their wall gone, the poor environment was from the war that Jante is in with the Liaeians, the beastmen and the war in the northern section of the continent by Canton, Ayo and Xiame.

'Mother had said that the noble family that rule our town had been taxing us because they wanted more money to keep their lifestyle. The noble family of Gregory wasn't it? I heard that they held fancy parties every month, that they eat 3 times a day. With half the food on the table thrown away. They seriously couldn't save some money from preparing less food?' Angry, I crossed my arms with a foul expression on my face.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of horses running. I jerked my head up to find a small figure of horses that is alarmily growing larger in a very short time. I am almost in the way they were coming. My mother beside me grabbed my hand and started backing away from the road a bit. The same thing happened with Daina and her mother, with both of them backing backwards quickly.

The carriage was, like everything else, shabby. The blue paint was peeling and the walls having some cracks, but I noticed that the wheels were stable and in good condition. There are also windows covered in curtains.

The horses were also in good condition. The two horses are healthy with shiny coats and good breathing. They don't look like they weren't feed for a long time. The owner of the carriage obviously takes care of his horses, poverty downgraded his carriage, but it is safe.

I smiled happily, 'I guess there are still good people in the world.' Zana forgot about the accident that almost happened.

Entering the carriage, I see 6 seats. Perfect for our group, Daina climbed in next. She had to stretch her legs a bit to reach the floor. She grumbled a bit, but she was smiling, eager to go.

Soon everything and everyone was ready. The carriage man nodded at us and shut the door. This started my journey to Nubell.

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A few hours later....

The scenery is starting to get boring, the green trees passing like blades of grass in my backyard. I turned to my left, my mother was siting there. Quietly knitting with blue string. Her hair was up on a bun, but it was a style much more formal than before. She was also wearing a dress she just finished sewing 2 weeks before.

It was in a simple style with no lace or fancy ornaments noble women like to wear. In a dark purple, she still looked noble like any women, no matter the status. With soft clicks and weaves, her pale slight hand moving quickly.

I leaned on her shoulder, my "white" hair spilling over her arm. My hair reached down nearly to her hand. The length of my hair is ver long. It reaches to my mid-back and almost to the curve of my waist.

"Mother?" I softly called.

"Yes Zana?" She mummers equally softly. She put away her sewing tools into her suitcase in my father's arms.

My father on her other side was sleeping quietly. Not even waking from the slight movement.

"Mom? When are we arriving?"

Daina turned quietly to us at our question. Also interest in the answer.

My mother smiled, "It is around noon isn't it? We'll arrive at 2pm. The ceremony is at 5."

2 hours later.....

We arrived at the gate of the city, almost. The looming stone walls was an impressive sight. Lines of people and carts blocked our direct entrance to Nubell. Peering out the window I caught a few peoples's attention, but I waved that off. I can not see the gate to the city. Even though my eyesight is pretty good.

Daina, sitting across from me, also tried peering to the gate. "Huuuuuu? We have to wait even longer?"

I sighed and plopped down on my seat. Lucas quietly said "Patience is a virtue. Diana, learn some patience and Zana, your posture is a mess....." He looked coldly at us and Daina shrinked behind her mother a bit. I straightened my back, my fave reddening in embarrassment.

Heia laughed and said, "They are still children Lucas." She smiled broadly, "But I guess they need some scoling once in a while...."

My parents stared at me in shining eyes. I quickly turned my head away from them and out the window. The carriage moved slowly.

I stared outside, finding something that will relieve my of my boredom.

People were in two lines, I now notice that because it was so packed, I though it was just one massive line. Carts, carriages and people riding horses were in one line. While people in groups or alone is in another.

'Ohh? A system of organization it seems." A smile lighting in my face, "How interesting...."

Daina looked at my face and shook her head. She looked away, already used to her friends weird actions in the past year.

I continued looking, enough to have some people beside me in line to shift uncomfortably. They couldn't clearly see the person's face, only the dark blue-purplish eyes staring, and that the eyes looked bright, and strangely eager.

Beside the carriage was a young boy, probably around 8 or 9 years old. He was wearing rags wore no shoes and holds only a little bag. His dirty brown hair was hanging onto his face in greasy threads. So I couldn't see his face. He was alone. And when I stare closer, I can see specks of dry blood on his teared tunic.

Tilting my head in shock, I yanked open the curtains and yelled, "Hey! You!"

The boy widened his eyes in shock. He looked around him and then back to me again. Even more confusion filled his eyes.

My mother gasped at what I did. "Zana!? What are you-"

I ignored her and stared at the boy. "Yes, you, boy with brown hair and no shoes."

His jaws closed and opened like a fish. It was so amusing I smiled a slight smile. My white-blond hair was hanging down, I looked down at the boy a few inches up.

Smiling, I was yanked back into the carriage by my mother. The curtains were uruptly closed in the boy's face.

The adults started yelling.

"What?! Seriously-"

"Zana what did you-"

"Girl we-"

"My daughter what-"

I inturupted them all by saying, "The boy had blood on his clothes."

Silence sounded. It was brokened by my mother. "........I am sure the boy can take care of himself...."

I respond with a strange calmness. "He looked to be around 8 years old."

My mother leaned across of me and opened the curtains. She muttered, "Zana talk to him while I see if he is injured...."

Everyone except Lucas and my father peered out the windows. I saw the boy again. Everyone was speaking loudly, I didn't notice it when up the curtains were closed. The noise stopped when the curtains opened again. I, at the center of the group at the window, said "Boy, what is your name?"

He hesitated but then said, "Tilan. My name is Tilan......lady?"

I laughed in response, 'The boy-Tilan is really interesting, he's easy to play fun of.'

The carriage started to move again, so I smiled and waved at him.

In the carriage I turned toward my mother. "Is he alright?"

"If it was a grown adult I am sure to leave them alone.... But it was a child..." My mother frowned at her lap sadly. She looked up to the whole group and smiled. "He is fine, just a little blood, I don't know where that came from. But he just got some scratches. He'll live."

Relieved, the atmosphere in the carriage turned relaxed again.

Looking very carefully out the window, I see that we are heading toward the gate. The white gate was manned by 2 guards in white and brown leather armor. Both carried a spear with a black tip.

When we are a meter away from the large 12 foot gate, one of the guards yelled out, "Stop!"

The carriage immediately stopped.

The guard that yelled looked around to be 6' 3'' and had huge muscles that were clear under his armor. He walked to my father and Luca's side of the carriage. Through the window of the door we see that he bent a finger. Indicating for us to go out the carriage.

He yelled through the door. "I must see the travelers!"

One by one we climbed out. I was last, I bend to go under the small carriage door. The sunlight hit my face and I looked up, and met the face of a startled guard. I smiled and climbed out the carriage.

I yawned softly, "Haaa...... So tired." I stretched gentlely.

Lucas walked to the guard. "I am sorry, but can you let us through? My daughter and my friend's child are having there blessing ceremony today."

The guard stared at the white and black uniform of Lucas's. The metal of it shined brightly in the light. I walked toward Lucas and the guard.

I sweetly said, "Yes! Today is Daina's and my 4th birthday!" I see out of the corner of my eye that Daina was walking up too.

She frowned, and managed to look extremely cute, and said, "Daddy? Aren't we going in? I'm hungry...."

Lucas had a flash of amusement in his eyes, but he maintained the cold expression in less than a second. "Mr.....?"

The guard nervously look at him and me. "My name is D-damon."

"Okay, Mr. Damon, could you hurry and let us through?"

'Lucas is laying on the pressure really thick....So scary.....' I thought.

"We n-need to check criminals and get my superior to-"

"I am sorry, but we really need to hurry or we won't get to the ceremony in time. It is around 4 isn't it? And it is your fault that we are going to be late. You don't want for me to ask the king to fire you right?"

Paling, the guard sidestepped and helplessly waved a hand. "You may pass......"

My mother and Heia had a scarily calm smile on their face while stepping on the dirt in fancy dresses and Milas had this carefully blank face while staring at the sky. I was smiling sweetly with Daina. In truth, I made a surprisingly scary combination.

'I pity the guard....' I tried to smile to reassure him, but he turned even whiter and smiled weakly.Laughing inside my head, I cheerily waved a hand and got into the carriage again.

We entered the city of Nubell a few minutes later. And the scene inside took my breath away.