Name: Naomi Funai

Level 1

Class: None

Name: Aiko Funai

Level 1

Class: None

Name: Tanner Robert

Level 1

Class: None

Name: Itunu Chuke

Level 1

Class: None

“I have a message for Kentan?! Is there a Kentan here?”

A well-dressed young man sitting behind a desk raised his hand and called out as Aiko rushed over to deliver the roll of paper to him. “There you are!”

The man tipped her three copper pieces with a courteous bow. “Where are you from? I’ve never seen anyone else that looks like you before.”

Aiko smiled and looked through her bag to see which of the letters she wanted to deliver next. “I’m from a place called Japan, it’s really far away so I’m not surprised you haven’t seen anyone that looks like me before. Anyways I gotta go so have a nice day!”

Leaving the herbalist’s shop, she happily skipped down the road towards her next destination.

Upon arriving in the city of Zanic, the four Earthborn were having some serious trouble finding jobs. When Aiko had successfully landed a position as a courier, she was also able to get the same job for Naomi. The Man hiring said they would get more tips since they were pretty young girls who looked unique compared to everyone else in the city. So far he had been right, not everyone tipped but so far the majority of them had.

The way it worked was people would come with letters and give them to their boss at his market stall, or he would write the letters for them if they weren’t literate. Then he would give the letters to Naomi and Aiko, or one of the other couriers, and they would find the person it was intended for to deliver the letter. If that person wasn’t literate, then the courier would read the letter to them. After delivery they were sometimes tipped or given something to thank them for the service, and they kept all the tips along with a very small amount of base pay from their boss at the end of each day.

Picking up the roll of parchment, Aiko saw that this letter was intended for a ‘Lady Beth’ who lived in one of the manors within the inner-city gates. Humming to herself merrily as she went, Aiko made her way towards the destination. She’d been there a couple of times now – the inner city had tall stone walls encircling it and more guard patrols along the streets. High class vendors had to acquire permits to work there too, and everything beyond the inner gate was rather… well kept; in between the mansions that were commonplace there.

She finally came up to a stop in front of one of the guards standing watch at the gate leading into the richer districts of the inner city, stopping with a huff.

“I have a question for you sir!” said Aiko as cheery as could be while handing him her permit. “I’m new to the city and am trying to deliver a message to a ‘Lady Beth’... Would you happen to know which manor she lives in? I’ve only been here a couple times.”

The guard, a bearded man with a serious tan, was genuinely curious about her appearance and it showed. Adjusting his belt and leaning on the butt of his spear after inspecting the permit, he took a long hard look at her underneath the metal helmet he wore. “You’re a courier? Well then just continue down the street and take a right immediately after passing the public gardens, you’ll see a red roof and that’s the one. How do you like the city so far, foreigner?”

“It’s big! Everyone seems really nice though so I like it. Thanks!” Aiko hugged the guard who was taken aback for a moment and then heartily laughed as she continued do skip down the street and weave in and out among the crowds. Aiko had been trying her best to keep things upbeat ever since Carol’s death. The whole group had taken it pretty hard, but for the most part they were doing ok.

Approaching the public gardens Aiko gasped in pleasure. The gardens were beautiful, there were giant trees that soared up into the sky with vines hanging down from their branches in a plethora of green. Beautiful arrangements of flowers decorated the area in brilliant blues, reds, oranges and yellows. There was a path leading out into a bridge for a large gazebo surrounded by a moat of water as well, with ducks and swans swimming about above the tiny fish that floundered underneath.

Turning the corner, she saw the red tiled roof that the guard had mentioned among a string of other manors and large houses. The large rectangular house had a nice view of the city gardens and was surrounded by an iron fence of about nine feet. The house itself stood three stories tall and was much larger than any of the regular houses that the poorer commoners lived in. Glass windows were distinctly noted by Aiko too, as most buildings had only wooden shutters to open or close their windows. Some houses had bars over them, but only the rich used glass. Two guards wearing the typical chainmail outfits of their order stood at the iron gate of the fence, and when approached by Aiko they stopped her abruptly.

“What business do you have with the Hoth family?” inquired one of the guards as he towered above her. He was a lot less friendly than the other had been.

Aiko remained unintimidated though. “I’m supposed to deliver a message to Lady Beth… does she live here?”

Taking a look at Aiko’s small figure and then rummaging around her bag after a request, the guard looked to his companion. “She seems to be clean. Just a courier, let her through.”

The other older guard in turn opened the gate and led her up to the house. Opening the massive wooden door of the house, the guard instructed her to wait in the main hall while he informed Lady Beth of Aiko’s arrival.

As the man left, Aiko began to look around. Elegant paintings lined the hallway that was lit with lanterns and windows on either side. The hall stood about a hundred feet across, and was more like a room than a hall. Suits of splendidly crafted armor were set about, a stuffed bear was mounted on a platform to one side and crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The end of the hall led into an even larger room with books lining the walls, in the middle of which was a spiral staircase that led up and out of sight. Corridors led out to the left and right from the hallway as well. She took the initiative to inspect the stuffed animal more closely, and as Aiko examined the bear - she spotted what she thought to be a strangely shaped piano made of polished wood.

Approaching the object, she let out a squeal of delight. Indeed, it actually was a piano! Aiko had previously had no idea that pianos existed here in this world and in no time sat herself down to play. Trembling in excitement: Aiko started Mozart's Symphony in G-Minor, 1st Movement… and in minutes she was immersed in the music. She was so happy in this moment... she’d grown up playing the piano and listening to classical music alongside her sister since she was five and had been very good at it. Now she could play here too... in this strange, foreign place. To have something to keep her sane as she tried to work out what she needed to do next with her life was a blessing in itself.

Wondering how much a piano like this would cost, she started to play Bheetoven’s Fur Elise. Switching to Bach and then Bach to Beethoven again, Aiko sighed. It was likely out of her price range and she knew it, so she stretched and got up. She’d been facing the front door since sitting down, and as she turned around - she saw the guard who’d escorted her in and seven other men and women watching her. They began to clap and smile approvingly as she shyly curtsied.

Approaching Aiko, one of the women who wore a long red dress and a copper ruby studded circlet held her left hand out expectantly towards the girl. Wavy brunette hair trailed down to her gloved fingers, with a scent of perfume evident as she got up close. “I believe you have a message for me?”

“Yes! Lady Beth I presume? Here you go!” Aiko handed the parchment over to the woman and took in another whiff of her perfume as their hands touched. The woman opened the letter, took a couple seconds to read it, and with a disgusted look she shredded it. Peering back to Aiko, she smiled absentmindedly. “Here is your tip, courier.”

She handed Aiko a pouch of coins that jingled as they hit Aikos’ hand. “Where did you learn to play the piano so beautifully? I have never heard any of the melodies you played, and all of them were wonderful.”

Aiko laughed in embarrassment. “My mother taught me since I was five, and those melodies were composed a long time ago by composers that are now all dead. They are quite famous where I come from.”

“And where is it that you come from?” Lady Beth asked with a raised eyebrow. “I must admit I’ve never seen anyone that looks like you before, but I figured you were a foreigner.”

Aiko’s reply was rather blunt. “Well I came from a country called Japan. The monks who taught me how to speak your language, read and write told me that you people call my kind Earthborn.”

Lady beth’s eyebrows both raised this time, and she slowly turned to one of the men behind her. “Please go fetch some of the finest wine we have, and bring some cheese as well.”

The servant bowed and took off. Looking back to Aiko she motioned for her to sit down in one of the stuffed chairs lining the hallway, and in turn sat down herself.

“Things got very interesting, very fast. Let me introduce myself formally. I am Lady Beth Hoth, dutchess and wife to the Duke of Hoth. I sit upon the king’s council here in Yorr and oversee many things concerning trade or foreign affairs. It is very nice to meet you.”

Aiko cheerily clapped her hands together. “Nice to meet you too! My name is Aiko, I’m sort of boring.”

Lady Beth found the girl’s reply highly amusing and her laugh was like a brisk melody. “You my dear are anything but boring to me so far. You are probably the most intriguing person I have met in quite a long time.”

The servant appeared from around a corner with a tray of refreshments and poured two glasses of wine for the women. He set a plate of cheese slices down on the nearby reading table and with a bow left them to their chit chat.

Taking the glass with confidence and grace, Lady Beth sipped at her whine as she watched Aiko do the same. “Are you new to Zanic, Aiko?”

Aiko eagerly nodded. “I’m also pretty new to this world in general. I’ve been here a little over half a year.”

“You speak quite well for only being here that long. Would you mind telling me about how you came to be here?”

Aiko picked up some of the cheese and stuffed it into her mouth, “Certainly! It’s sort of a long story... but here it goes!”

***

“HIT HIM TANNER, HIT HIM!” screamed Naomi as she and Itunu watched from the sidelines while Tanner gave the other man a swift knee to the gut. The man doubled over to clutch at his stomach with one hand and surrender with the other. Holding up his own hands in triumph, Tanner winked at them and went to collect his winnings from the betting stand. A small crowd had gathered and were still cheering or booing as he hopped over the wooden fence encircling the ring, but he ignored all of them. Shirtless, his lean body flexed causing his tattoos to ripple as he walked.

Tanner threw the pouch over to Itunu who caught it mid air. “That’s… seven silver pieces. Not bad I guess. You want to try Itunu? I think you’d do well since you were a soldier and all, and I even gained a level doing it. Weren’t you trained in hand to hand combat?.”

Itunu smirked but didn’t give any insight into his past. “Maybe tomorrow, I’m feeling lazy today.”

The man who had dropped to the ground earlier was picked up and dragged out of the ring by some of his friends. Tanner snickered as he caught them glaring his way. “What a sucker, he totally had me too.”

“That’s three wins today!” excitedly exclaimed Naomi as she punched him playfully in the shoulder. “I’m impressed!”

Tanner blushed but tried not to come off as too proud at the compliment. “Aren’t you supposed to be working, Naomi?”

Naomi folded her arms and humphed while pretending to look around at the dispersing crowd of commoners. They were all in the middle of a back alley street, with little stone cottages lining it on either side. “I already delivered all of my letters. Thank you very much. You act as if you don’t want me around.”

“No... I was just wondering that’s all.”

“Sure.”

The three headed back to the inn they were staying at, buying some cooked pork, bread and carrots along the way from some street vendors. The cobblestone roads were vibrant with city life, giving them an upbeat and optimistic outlook for their own futures as they intermixed with the lives of those around them.

When they finally got back with a lot of playful chatter between the three, Aiko was waiting for them at the entrance of the inn. Upon seeing them she excitedly waved, jumped up and ran to lovingly tackle her sister to the ground.

They landed with a thud along the wooden floorboards, nearly knocking over an old lady as they did it for which Itunu profusely apologized.

Meanwhile Naomi laughed as she wrestled her younger sister off of her. “Aiko, get off me you big goof ball!”

“Is all that food for ME?!” cried Aiko as she tried to grab some from Itunu, who easily evaded her with little effort.

“Yours is in that bag,” said Itunu, sternly pointing to a woven sack that Tanner carried. “This is mine, and I’ll be damned if you try to steal it from me when I’m not looking like you did last week.”

A fake frown lit up Aiko’s face, “But… But Itunu, I want YOURS!”

Again she tried to snatch the food out of Itunu’s hands, but it was a futile attempt at best. Itunu took a long carrot and whacked her across the skull, breaking the carrot into two pieces to the laughter of the others.

“You can have that.” Itunu said straight faced, pointing to the half of the carrot that had fallen to the ground.

Aiko crossed her arms and frowned. “You’re no fun.”

Then she went over to get the bag from Tanner, but Tanner threw the bag over to Naomi before Aiko could take it. It wasn’t until they’d gotten to their rented room before Aiko finally succeeded in securing the sack of food.

“Oh, look guys… my loaf is all squished now,” Aiko said holding up a pitiful excuse of what was once a bread loaf.

“That’s what you get for being a punk,” said Naomi as she gave her sister a noogie. “How much did you make today?”

Aiko struggled against Naomi and finally getting away she looked up to the ceiling thoughtfully. “You guys tell me first.”

There was a long pause as they all exchanged glances.

Itunu shamefully shrugged in between mouthfuls of food. “I still haven’t found a job.”

Tanner counted his coins and gave the others a proud thumbs up. “I made 16 silver pieces today off the three fights I won, but I don’t think I’ll be fighting again for a little while. I’m really beaten up. I need to get a real job too.”

They looked to Naomi who pulled out her own pouch of coins. “I have… hmmm. Six silver pieces and twenty-five copper.”

Aiko quickly turned around, and then producing a velvet silk pouch she emptied fourteen gold pieces, ten silver pieces and eight copper pieces.

The others just gaped.

“Aiko how’d you get so much!?” cried Naomi excitedly.

Itunu snorted as he inspected the large sum of gold. “Impressive. I’d ask you if you stole it, but you’re not nearly skilled enough for thievery.”

Aiko ignored Itunu’s jab and puffed out her chest. Proud of herself for such a significant achievement, Aiko’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “I had a very generous client today. Lady Beth Hoth, she’s got a manor in the inner city near the public gardens and I played a piano in her house. She liked my playing so much she wants me to come back to play again soon; and tipped me really well! Isn’t that cool!? I didn’t even know they had pianos here!”

Naomi stood up and hugged her sister in congratulations. “That’s awesome! Could I come with you and play some too? I’ve missed being able to play for a while and like you I had no idea that they even existed here.”

“Yeah I already asked! She said all of you should come by sometime, I told her we were Earthborn and she seemed really interested in us after I told her what had happened.”

Tossing herself onto one of the beds, Aiko let herself fall and plop onto the bed with a thud. “But… Time to go to sleep I think.”

Naomi glanced out the window with an amused grin, it wasn’t even dark yet. “You like going to bed really early Aiko.”

Itunu got up chuckling, flexing his muscles and stretching briefly to one side. “It just means she’s becoming an adult. I’m going to go to the market and see if anyone can give me tips for finding work. I’ll be back before dark… Want to come with me Tanner?”

Tanner finished stuffing food into his mouth, wiped his hands on his shirt and got up too. “Yeah I’ll come. See you later girls, don’t make too much of a mess while we’re gone.”

With the last statement, Tanner gave the girls both a playful wink – but they weren’t having it.

Instead of smiling back - Naomi threw one of her shoes at the grinning men as they exited the room. “Idiot. As if we are the ones that make the messes around here! Men are such filthy pigs, I can’t believe he just accused us of being mess-makers!”