We walked on a rough road which will lead us to Mahania. The sky was getting darker and darker, a pure star shined weakly. It’s very rare to find a star around this time. Auntie Eleanor didn’t stop us, she fixed my wand and gave me the Golden Earrings, which she told me can save my life if I am in danger. ‘When I was young, my father told me that if you meet a star like that, it will bring you good luck, but it also only works on Mahanish and Aribandian. It’s called Banderuby in Aribandian, which means ‘the best’ for the one. ’ Luinseer pointed at the star. ‘You must have heard that before Livia. It’s a good sign for our journey.’ He walked quite slow, but still in front of me and Arnold.

He ran forward. ‘I can see a wooden house, I think we can ask to borrow one night.’ He smiled. We were all exhausted and sleepy, so sleeping on a comfy bed would be a wonderful idea.

The fire that burned in the house lit up all the windows. I could imagine a sofa made of natural silk that was leaning against the wall, in front of the fireplace. Upstairs , in a huge but warm room, there are comfy beds lying near the window. And some chairs were placed neatly near a kitchen table.

Soon, we were standing in front of the door. Arnold knocked on the door. No one answered. He knocked on the door again. Still no one answered. He tried to twist the door handle. It wasn’t locked. He opened the door widely, suddenly, the chilling wind drove away, then I could see what it looked like. Same as I imagined. Sofa was in front of the fireplace. Comfy beds lie near the window. Chairs were placed near a kitchen table. Arnold looked in, then he just walked into the house. ‘Hey! You can’t just walk in without permission.’ Luinseer hesitated to say, but he didn’t stop walking forward. I was attracted by the warm inside, I was like I had been hypnotised. I stared at the fireplace and the sofa, next, I stepped across the threshold. ‘Not you too!’ Luinseer frowned. I turned around and smiled at him. ‘Come on, we all need to take a rest. Manners can wait.’ Then I walked into the house unshaken.

Luinseer catched up. He’s behind me and Arnold. He said ‘shhh quiet’ to us. He was still frowned. His fingers tangled together, his steps were light and careful as if we would wake someone up at any moment. ‘Livia……’ He whispered to me. ‘Should we ask first—.’

‘Is anyone here? If yes, can we borrow one night? We are all exhausted so we really hope to take a rest……if you have a kind heart, you should keep us.’ I just cried out. Somehow, I didn’t feel I was polite. ‘Um…we have money to pay if you prefer that you know.’ I added. Now I felt completely rude. Then I laughed awkwardly, as if it could wash off what I had said. But a word spoken is a past recalling. I heard someone start to talk, but I didn’t know where it came from.

‘Go. I don’t welcome you.’

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I was at a loss when I heard that. Imagine you were close to the comfy bed, but next second it will be gone. ‘If you are angry about what I just said, I am sorry. But I…I mean we really hope we can stay—.’

‘Go! Please go. I don’t welcome you.’ This sentence sounded angry, but the voice said it out very calmly. ‘I don’t mind what you said, but I don’t welcome anyone living in this house.’ The random voice became louder and clearer. The figure walked out from the shadow. ‘He’ was holding an oil lamp, but it wasn’t light. I just noticed the room started to get black, in the weak light, we could barely see his face clearly. His black gown was long and thick, Luinseer looked at me, ‘I think we don’t need to worry about our safety now, he is not dangerous.’

‘How do you know that? How can you be so sure?’ Arnold asked next. Then he looked at me.

‘Because every gown sold in Drvran, you could only get a gown there. Some gowns are present good and rich, noble and lofty, but some are not. Some that sell in the deep of Drvran, in the Black Market. A good gown called Ponneka, and a bad gown called Mandkhwe. Before, Mandkhwe were illegal, but as the time went by, it became more famous than before, so king Danunu had to change the rules. Now, everyone can wear Mandkhwe, but not everyone wants to wear it, because it is dirty and obscene. Only the one who is dangerous and evil who wears that. But, not everyone has the right to wear Ponneka. You need to be judged by three righteous judges. Don’t you see there is a big sign of Ponneka on his gown?’ I answered. Everyone in the northern Human area knows that, and I was surprised that Arnold didn’t know that, isn’t he from the north?

‘If he is not dangerous, why can’t we stay?’ Arnold murmured. ‘we just need to stay for one night. ONE NIGHT!’ He became angry. The man frowned as if Arnold was a naughty child who was arguing with a righteous judge about whether Ponneka should only sell to good people or not. He put down the oil lamp, then he signed. ‘You can stay for one night, but there is one condition, not to tell my story to anyone.’ That was a weird condition. Very weird.

‘If you don’t want your story to come out, then you don’t have to tell us.’ Arnold said simply.

‘I have to.’ The man said in hushed tones. ‘That’s the condition.’ We looked at each other, then we followed him upstairs.

( 2 )

Upstairs was more comfortable than I thought. There was another enchanting fireplace. It radiates cosiness, hominess, presence and calmness. Humming of the burning wood and crackling sound is so relaxing. I felt hypnotic again. Not far from it was placed a tea-table, close to a big sofa which stood out at right angles from the wall. A thick, woven carpet placed under the sofa covered most of the floor. Hung windows closed tightly. Brown paint covered its edges. Beside, three comfy beds lie next to each other.

‘Well……what’s your name? Firstly.’ I asked. His face was still hidden in his Ponneka.

‘My name is Merle…….’

‘Ok then, um……start your story.’ I felt a little bit awkward. His story began……