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[Eiswelt, Taured, 4:13 PM, Tuesday, May 15th, 2020]
It took me and my family a couple of days but we finally had arrived in Taured. The land of water, it was truly as beautiful as Aunt Lara says it is.
The people there are genuinely living on the sea! It's a wonder as to how they built an entire city on top of the Mediterranean.
Regardless we were headed for Aunt Lara's house, she lived in the capital of Taured which is where we were. Eiswelt. The name doesn't really fit for such a city, same thing as the Eiswelt tower called "Eisturm".
However I didn't really care too much, I felt kind of bummed out as I leaned my head against the window of the car and looked up at the sky.
Eleanor Karawei: "Sweetie, are you okay? I know it was hard for you to leave them behind... You'll see them again."
James Karawei: "I'm fine. Just a little nostalgic."
Dad suddenly threw me a granola bar, I caught it with my left hand and examined it thoroughly as if I was afraid it would be poisoned.
Alexander Karawei: "That's too much nostalgia son! Eat up, get some calories in you. You do know muscles burn through them and they give you energy--"
James Karawei: "Yeah yeah, I get it."
I smiled back at him and unwrapped the granola bar, eating it almost thoughtfully as I continued looking out the window.
A few hours or so passed and we finally arrived in the Eastern Quadrant of Eiswelt, Aunt Lara lived here in the suburbs.
[Eastern Quadrant, Eiswelt, 8:54 PM]
Aunt Lara was already on her porch waiting for us, cigarette in mouth, her dog Ricky was already running out of the house towards our car.
We parked in her garage.
James Karawei: "AH! M-mom... I told you to call ahead so she could send that yammering goblin to his cage!"
Both my parents laughed as I ducked further down behind the passenger seat. I was scared of dogs.
Alexander Karawei: "Calm down boy, he won't bite. He just wants to play with you!"
Mom basically had to haul me out of the car, I didn't hate dogs they just terrified me, way too confident in their own skin... Didn't use to be my style.
We got into the house and sat down in the living room, the smell of saltwater still clung to the air like some sort of weird incense. Aunt Lara managed to slip me a hundred or so Vols with a mischievous grin on her face, it's the currency of Taured. She used to do this a lot when she still lived back in Ryomania.
My parents began arguing over finances and whatnot. I just ran into Aunt Lara's bedroom to get away from the noise. It was messy and all, clothes strewn all over the floor, an ashtray on the nightstand filled with cigarettes and ash. Lots of plants on the windowsill and a particularly shiny one on her desk, she works as a botanist but this might be an extreme... It smelled 'potent' in there. But it was quiet.
And atleast Ricky stopped barking.
And no, he was not present in the room.
Then I heard a knock at the door, it was Lara holding a cup of tea. Still smoking.
Lara Karawei: "Hey kiddo, you okay in here? Ricky won't bother you again. I put him to sleep with some flux lilies."
I turned around to face her and sat down onto the bed.
James Karawei: "Flux lilies? What's that, a new brand of cigarettes?"
She raised an eyebrow and took the cigarette out of her mouth, proceeding to chug the entire teacup. She smirked and set it down on her desk and stepped closer.
Lara Karawei: "Nah, Colt is the best. Flux Lilies are a type of flower they usually find in the northern parts of Europa, it's imported and exported from anywhere within the country of Taured. Botanist said they're... somniferous? In nature. I wouldn't worry about it kiddo. When did you take an interest in botany?"
She chuckled and ruffled my hair, taking another drag from her cigarette. She always was a chainsmoker, my guess is it helps with the stress of living on a literal sea.
James Karawei: "We're farmers, duh... I know some things. A-anyway, last time I was here you promised to stop smoking!"
Lara Karawei: "Last time you were here you were around four years old, a literal beansprout, get over it kiddo. It hasn't killed me yet!"
She took another drag of her cigarette, blowing the smoke in my face. I coughed and jumped off the bed. She chuckled.
James Karawei: "Ugh gross... And this bickering isn't helping either. I'm tired of hearing mom and dad argue, it's not my fault they made bad investments. They should just calmly talk it out."
Lara sat down next to me and offered me the cup of tea, I shook my head.
Lara Karawei: "Y'know, your sister dropped by last year and left me a box with your name on it. She said she'd knew you'd be here... And you did show up you little rascal! You want to see what's up?"
Her smile turned mischievous as she got up and started rummaging under the bed, leaving the teacup in my hand.
James Karawei: "I hope it's not more money, no offense but I don't really like it."
She stopped rummaging and shot me a glance, her right eyebrow arched.
Lara Karawei: "I must've gotten the wrong impression, you're even weirder than I thought. Who doesn't like money..."
She patted my left knee and kept searching for that box, soon enough she found it.
I took the box from her and opened it up, inside was a postcard from a country called Oglis, Reno was standing on a cliff overlooking the sea.
The back of the card had a single phrase written on it, in what looked like to be latin.
James Karawei: "The Syndicate's symbol, she probably got hired... But Dum Spiro Spero? What's that supposed to mean... And what's Oglis?"
Aunt Lara snatched the postcard from me and took a closer look.
Lara Karawei: "Well... Something about hope or cheese, my latin is a little rusty. Oh and Oglis is the place where everyone drinks tea, y'know the guys on the North Sea? Where Cathy is from, kiddo. Although I have no idea what Reno is doing there, especially in a sundress! I mean have you seen the weather there? It's atrocious. She's one gust of wind away from—"
I snatched the postcard and put it back in the box.
James Karawei: "Don't make dumb jokes. I get it geez..."
I blushed and opened the box again slowly, peeking inside as if the contents would've somehow changed.
Lara Karawei: "Oh lighten up kiddo, I'm joking! Still... she always was a strange one... Hey, is that the only thing she left you?"
I kept looking through the box, I found what looked like a small steel cube with shimmering electricity pulsating through it, but the wires were glowing red and so was the electricity for some reason.
It didn't shock me when touching it, both Aunt Lara and I exchanged a confused glance.
There was also a note, "A gift, from someone very very eager to meet you. P.S, I'm coming home for the holidays and I'm bringing more gifts! Much love, R.K"
James Karawei: "Stingy as usual... Just some weird cube."
I tucked both the cube and the note into my pocket and handed Aunt Lara the box.
Lara Karawei: "Is money really that bad kid? You kind of need it to buy stuff. Maybe you could buy... I dunno, a computer or something?"
James Karawei: "Ugh gross... I'd rather just be a farmer at this point."
[Aunt Lara's house, 10:02 PM]
More time passed of course... My parents talked and decided to remain here in Taured for work. They were going to be surgeons apparently, unlucky for my mom.
Dad had no idea how to even slice bread, let alone a person.
I was lying in bed in the guest room Aunt Lara had, she always kept it decorated in case anyone dropped by.
The neighborhood was quiet other than a few boats passing by...
The city was truly as amazing as I had heard, a city on the sea.
And things would've been amazing If I hadn't gotten that cube from Reno.
It was a beacon.
And I had led that 'eager' someone right to me.
~~~
Author's Note:
A MAN HAS FALLEN INTO THE RIVER, IN TAURED CITY. nah jk... uhhhh ty for reading the chapter.
IT'S GOOD, i hope.
I don't know what to put here, so... cya.
👍