“Come back here, child! This is not funny any more!” A strong woman's voice reverberated through the marble halls of the Raan-Tan family’s keep. Inside the walls, ancient paintings adored the walls and out-of-the world realistic statues stood vigil near them. A vase or two could be glimpsed every once in a while in an obscured corner when walking on silk, woollen rugs. Rugs that depicted all sorts of images.
The rugs were the girl’s favourite part of this place. They were windows into mythical legends, glorious battles and poetic depictions of heroes. She couldn't get enough of them. Every time she walked through these halls she would always notice something new in the rug’s surface. Maybe a background soldier battling a nachtak or a mystical hand coming through the sky to aid the hero on his or her journey.
She loved these stories. These legends of adventures that were as dangerous as they were mystical. She longed to be depicted on such a rug one day. Not as what she was now but as someone grandiose and brave. A hero, nay, an adventurer.
She could definitely accomplish that, the young girl thought. But first she would need to escape her pestering mother.
“Ha’na Raan-Tan! If you don't come out now there's not going to be any dessert waiting for you after dinner!” The voice became softer but to Ha’na’s young ears took on a more sinister quality.
The threat was real, that the young girl knew well. After all, this was not the first time she heard it. The last time that she didn’t come out of hiding, she did not get any dessert. As her mother said she wouldn't.
Now the question was - was hiding now away from her mother really worth it?
“I know you don’t like the dress, dear girl, but we have a guest over today. It’d be polite to put on something nice, wouldn’t it?” Steps were coming closer to where Ha’na hid herself. It was a dark crevasse between a dresser and one of the statues. If she stayed still and unmoving maybe her mother wouldn’t see her. But if she didn’t come out of her own volition and her mother found her, the dessert threat could still come through.
Ha’na wagered her options and decided on one that would still get her something sweet at the end of the day.
“I’m here, mother.” A defeated sigh came from the young girl. When she looked up at her mother she saw a face full of disappointment and relief.
“There you are. Now, is the dress truly so horrendous or were you hiding for a different reason?” Her mother questioned as she kneeled in front of the girl.
Ha’na thought about how her mother was as beautiful as she was not understanding. There was so much care coming from her sometimes. She could fester over Ha’na’s appearance for hours or lecture her on how dangerous was it to climb trees, or scold her for eating straight out of the kitchen. There was not one thing that she could do that her mother approved of. Ha’na felt as if there was something wrong with her then, when such situation would arise.
This time too. Her mother didn’t understand why she wouldn’t wear that dress, even though she said it before. Albeit not it so many words but she should’ve figured it out by herself, like a proper mom.
“It’s too tight.” Ha’na said quietly.
“Well, dear girl, that’s just the way ladies dress. And you are a lady, are you not?” Her mother’s tone grated on Ha’na’s ears. To most, it would appear to be a gentle and good voice, but to Ha’na something just wasn’t right. It felt like her mother didn’t listen to her at all. Like she couldn’t understand her. As if Ha’na was talking to a wall.
“But I see other ladies dress differently. In robes and some even wear trousers. Why can’t I?” Ha’na felt like stomping her feet but she knew that if she did that her mother would reprimand her.
“Ha’na…” Her mother’s brows came closer together and her dark red lips pursed in thought. “These ladies are not like us. We are Raan-Tans. We do not hold ourselves to the standard of others. If I’m saying that you’re going to wear that dress it’s not because I want to hurt you. It’s not about us-” She pointed to Ha’na chest. Right above where her heart beat. “-but about what we represent. Who are we, Ha’na?” Her mother’s tone became deep and flat. She only got serious like that when they discussed family matters. Ha’na’s chest always felt funny when they did. She would get something stuck in her throat and a displeasing warmth would spread across her chest. She had a feeling this was defiance.
“Raan-Tans.” That’s what her mother wanted to hear.
“And what does it mean?”
Ha’na knew there was only one thing she could say to appease her.
“We rule with gold and silk.” The young girl said those words so much throughout her short life that they lost all meaning at one point. But the message they conveyed stayed with Ha’na.
She was not a girl. She wasn’t even human. She was, in Ha’na’s mind, something her mother made, attached strings to her arms and legs and without even bothering moving them, wanted her to act as she wished. The young girl felt like a puppet. Not an adventurer she wished she could be.
“That is right. That means we dress in silk and gold. Come on, we need to hurry since we lost some precious time running around.” Her mother took Ha’na’s hand in hers and started to walk towards the dressing room. The room from which Ha’na escaped from.
“You said guests are coming, mother?” Ha’na asked. There weren’t many families who had kids that Ha’na liked, so she’d preferred to know in advance if she should prepare for Jel’la or maybe Zabisz. Two of the worst, most boring and hideous kids she knew. One cackled at everything Ha’na did, and the other wouldn’t shut up about a possible courtship proposal.
“Yes. Your uncle is coming.” A bitter tone. Her mother hated her uncle. Ha’na on the other hand could barely contain herself when she heard that.
At least one good thing would happen today.
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When Ha’na heard a boisterous and unrestrained laughter she sped away down the stairs and into the keep’s entrance. There, she saw her mother being embraced by a tall and sturdy looking man. Like all the Raan-Tans his skin was a soft beige colour and his hair and beard were a luscious shade of dark. It always reminded Ha’na of a clean midnight sky.
“Uncle!” Ha’na exclaimed as she ran into her uncle’s arms. They were always warm and safe. She loved his hugs.
“Ha’na, dear! It’s so good to see you!” His beard tickled her cheeks when he brushed it against her face. It made Ha’na laugh some more.
“Da’an! Put her down!” Her mother scalded her younger brother. Since Ha’na could remember, the two of them could never see eye to eye. That’s one of the reasons why she liked her uncle so much. He could understand what Ha’na had to deal with on the daily basis.
“Calm down, Nel’le! I haven’t seen my niece for almost a year. You've grown so much, girl! You’re almost as tall as me! Hahaha!” Her uncle was a jokester. Ha’na wasn’t that tall.
“Come one, you two. You can catch up over the dinner. The table’s ready, isn’t it, Izodorre?” Her mother started to walk the other two people to the dining room.
“Yes, Your Grace.” Izodorre spoke from his corner. He was the keep’s main servant. Ha’na had always trouble noticing him for some reason. He always looked dark and gloomy despite his bright red hair.
“Krawin’s not joining us?” Her uncle asked.
Ha’na had a feeling this topic would come out at some point in tonight’s conversation, but not this soon. She didn’t want to think about her dad.
“No.” And that was her mother’s response. Her cold tone and closed off features were always a sign that someone mentioned her father. It was a taboo topic in this place. Ever since he left, there has not been a moment for Ha’na and her mother to talk about it. The young girl wondered if her uncle knew about what had happened.
“Oh? Why is that? I brought gifts for everyone!” Seems like her uncle could not read a room. That’s also one of the reasons Ha’na liked him. This quirk of his always made for a fun situation. Except now. The young girl was scared of her mother’s reaction.
Izodorre opened the heavy wood doors to the dining room and they went in. Ha’na’s mother still hasn’t responded.
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“Please, sit down.” She said as Izodorre pulled a chair at the end of the table for her. The seat where she usually sat. On her left sat Ha’na. Her uncle next to her. The seat to her mother’s right looked cold and empty. There was dust gathering on the polished wooden seat. Almost as if everything in the room, except that one chair, was cleaned. Her mother probably ordered servants not to touch it.
The spouse of the Duchess or Duke always sits on his or her right. The spot should always be kept pristine. Allowing it to become dirty and disorganized meant a great disrespect to the spouse. That’s what her mother always told her. At least that was before her dad left.
“Nel’le, did something happen to Krawin?” Her uncle’s tone became serious and worried. Ha’na could see a blossoming sadness on his face.
“Dad didn’t die, uncle. You don’t have to worry about that.” Ha’na allowed herself to say that much. Any more and she was scared of what her mother would do.
After her dad left, she asked mother about it and she regretted it almost instantly. Her cheek still hurts remembering that evening.
“No, he did not.” Ha’na’s mother spoke with strange infliction. Izodorre started to pour soup. “But he might as well have.”
Ha’na’s mother did not like to speak about personal things like that with people. Even with Ha’na or with her father when he was still here. But uncle was a gentle soul and the young girl noticed that even though her mother seemed to barely stand his presence, she was always kind to him in her own way.
“What did he do?” This time it was anger coming from her uncle. Ha’na has never seen it before. It warped his face in a way Ha'na did not like.
“You remember the servant girl? Her name was Osara.” The duchess paused and waited for her brother’s response. He nodded.
“Yes, I remember. You praised her for her bakery skills. She made that buttery pastry. Seemed like everyone liked her.”
“That’s right. But Krawin liked her a bit too much.” A lip between white, sharp teeth. A sound of strained grip over a utensil and an agitated shuffling of feet came from where her mother sat.
“That bastard! Tell me you got rid of him!” Her uncle stood quickly and hit the table so hard the silverware jumped along with Ha’na. She always disliked fighting.
“I sent him to the capital. He’s an advisor there now, for some minor baron.” That was the most her mother spoke about this topic since this all happened. It all happend almost half a year now.
“Good. I always knew the man was wretched. If not for his money he would not have been worth anything.” His uncle puffed and exhaled as he sat down.
Ha’na’s feeling on the matter were confusing and complex. She’s always liked her father, no matter how minor a figure in her life he’s been. He always gave her a nice present when it was the young girl’s birthday and sometimes he and her mother even had a pleasant conversation. It always felt enjoyable when the three of them spend their evenings in the library being in each other presence.
It all changed drastically when Osara became pregnant. Someone like her mother, who was adept enough at Essencecraft, could feel who the father was. Ha’na wondered why her dad was so dumb.
“Well, it’s been taken care of. He’s going to spend his last days tied to the capital. I made sure of that.” The soup was getting cold, but Ha’na lacked the appetite to eat anyhow.
“Let’s move on then. I did not come here to bring out bad memories, but good ones! Tell me, Ha’na, how’s the book I gave you last time? Did you like it?” Her uncle asked the young girl directly.
Ha’na has almost forgotten about it. She’s read it so fast when her uncle gave it to her, and there were many other things she needed to do, it simply got lost in her mind.
“Yes! I loved it! Oh! Did you bring more, uncle? Where exactly have you been? You’ve said you were going to the Empire the last time we spoke.” Ha’na wanted to hear about her uncle’s adventures. Even though he was a merchant he always brought stories of adventures and wonders. To Ha’na he was almost like an adventurer.
“You did? I’m glad. I do have something for you, but I’ll show you later, yeah?” He said and leaned closer to Ha’na’s ear. “So your mother wouldn’t see, alright?” He whispered.
Ha’na was getting so excited. Her mind tried to figure out what wonders he could’ve brought. The Nawilw Empire was known for its metal craft and innovations with the Essence. Magic was always so mysterious to Ha’na. No matter how much she asked her mother to teach her something, she always said no. She told Ha’na she was too young and had different things to do. Like reading law books and such. Those were so boring.
“Stop putting weird ideas in her head, Da’an. Now, tell me, how did it go with the Nawilw? Any news on the trade routes?” Her mother asked.
Ha’na knew it was a beginning of a tremendously boring discussion. She wanted it to end and let her uncle show her the wonders he found in his travels.
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“So, where should we start?” Her uncle asked as they moved to one of the sitting rooms. Her mother went to do her duties so it was just Ha’na and him.
They sat close to the fire, on one of the fur seats they had. Her uncle made a servant bring in a large wooden chest.
He opened it gently and with some sort of reverence, Ha’na thought. She's seen this chest before and her heart started to beat faster with excitement. Last time, her uncle brought her a lot of literature from the Green States. A country known for its diverse culture. They wrote the best fiction, in Ha’na’s humble opinion.
There were even some paintings depicting epic and mystical images of legendary beast and battles. As well as many portraying magical-looking landscapes. Ha’na liked them all, but some scared her with its realism.
This time her uncle travelled to the Nawilw Empire, so there was definitely going to be something else he brought her instead of literature.
“Did you bring swords?” Ha’na wanted a sword so badly. Her mother forbid her from touching any weaponry. Not after the skirt accident.
No one from the staff looked at mother the same way afterwards.
“No swords, unfortunately. Something much better.” Ha’na saw a smirk adore his face. His eyes would squint, and his cheeks would puff out whenever he was excited about something.
“Here it is.” He pulled a small metal box from the chest. It had colourful markings all around it, dancing into a complex pattern. Throughout the young girl’s life she usually saw metal in weapons or in boxes that held halcite. It wasn’t the most common of substances in crafting. People much preferred wood and stone. That’s what mother once told her. It cost less to build with these and people skilled in the Essencecraft could bend those materials, while metal was untouchable by the Essence. Ha’na wondered what magical thing the box hid.
“What is it, uncle?” Ha’na asked as her uncle brought the box near the young girl. He sat closer to her and put the container onto his lap.
His silky garment sleeves brushed over the surface of the box and like water fell down along its sides. Ha’na didn’t usually like silk, it was too thin and wearing it always made her cold, but sometimes she could see why it was so expensive and sought after.
“This is something I received from a well-educated man that works in the Emperor’s court. The Nawilwians love to experiment with the Essence and a by-product of that is right here.” He gave the box to Ha’na. “Come on, open it.”
“It’s so cold.” When Ha’na touched it a piercing shiver travelled through her fingertips to the top of her head. It felt cold, but not. Strange.
She gently switched the latch up and started to raise the covering of the box. Upon closer look the colourful pattern that covered the box revealed itself to resemble a butterfly.
When a space opened and the covering went up higher, a gust of wind emerged from within that made Ha’na’s hands jump up into the air in shock.
Something flew out of the box.
When Ha’na looked inside the box, the interior was covered in dirt that strangely shined in the lighting from the fireplace and wall torches. The shimmer had a blue gleam to it.
When she looked up, two metallic objects were flying around the room. They were made out of metal and gleamed beautifully in the flames’ lights. They had two wings that flapped rhythmically.
Those were butterflies.
“Do you like it?” A voice pulled Ha’na out of her surprised state. She looked to her uncle, whose face was adored in a calm and mischievous smile.
“I love it! What is it?” The metallic butterflies flopped their wings up and down. Travelling across the room, never bumping into anything. Simply making circles over Ha’na and her uncle.
The young girl could feel something in the air. A very subtle wind was blowing around the butterflies.
“These are excatly what you see. The man I received it from studied the Essence his entire life. He told me he managed to combine the Essence into a metal object. He liked butterflies so that’s why he made it this shape.” Her uncle explained and Ha’na got up to get closer look at the two butterflies.
“I’ve never seen anything like that. I thought mages could only manipulate the Essence? Not do anything quite like this.” Ha’na heard some things about the mages and the Essence, but she’s never thought something like this would be possible.
“What’s in the box?” Ha’na asked.
“That? Smart eye, you have there, girl. It’s crushed halcite mixed with the dirt from the Hal-Vitash jungle. He gave them to me as payment for selling him that dirt. Apparently, it’s potent in the Essence and mages will overpay for even an ounce of this stuff.” Her uncle leaned back on the seat.
Ha’na tried to touch one of the butterflies but missed every time. Only after she stopped chasing them one sat on her arm.
Ha’na raised her arm, along with the metallic butterfly on it, closer to her face and looked at it with a critical eye.
The metal it was built with was so thin and polished it almost looked like a mirror. Its wings, even when not flying, slowly went up and down. Like a real butterfly, thought Ha’na.
“A mage did this?” Ha’na asked.
“Yes. A very smart one.” Her uncle said.
Ha’na thought back to the rugs she stepped on today. Back to the images of soldiers, warriors, and heroes in the throes of battles. She thought about what she didn’t see there. A mage.
Ha’na felt a smile creep slowly onto her face. As unrestrained as the flight of these fine butterflies.
Maybe she’d be the first mage to appear on such a rug? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
“Can you tell me more about that mage?” Ha’na asked as she sat next to her uncle. The butterfly flew up into the air and started to dance once more.
“Well, what do you want to know, dear girl?” Her uncle always answered all of her questions.
“How about…” Ha’na appeared to be thinking strongly. “How about everything?”
It was a long night of stories filled with magic, wonder and - to Ha’na - a promise of a remarkable adventure.