The city-state of Triviis.
Though not as populated or as relevant as the nine major city-states of Aeternitus, it was a city-state in its own right. This authority had been relinquished to it in the beginning by Fluentum's example of not annexing the smaller city-states near it.
That happened before the Council of Aeternitus was formed, centuries ago. It was a different time.
With Triviis' location, almost at the cross of the four major city-states of the east, it quickly managed a foothold as a meeting point. A place to trade, to play away from major territorial disputes, and a place to rest before carrying on. It was not a city built solely upon the sweat of labor in the fields.
In this modern era of Aeternitus, taking control over other city-states was almost taboo. The consequences would affect trade, in turn directly affecting the livelihood of the residents of the city. Any Lord or Lady in control found the consequences of the people's displeasure unpleasant past a certain point.
Yet, Triviis thrived through times when its leadership was constantly displaced to favor one of the major City-States. It seemed without a care for any turmoil outside its gates or inside its walls.
It was most well-known for its many lights.
Aureum, who arrived in the day, thought the city unimpressive. The dull-colored buildings brought none of the stories she'd heard to life. She turned herself in to the nearest inn and slept the afternoon, the night, and the entire day after that away.
When she woke up, there were shadows of colors that quivered on the floor. The shapes the colors made looked to be dancing. The window revealed the many lights swaying to the wind.
How many people worked to make these?
Aureum's reaction was to the countless number of lanterns before her.
Even more incredible was that the lanterns were not filled just with one light. It seemed like snakes of light crawled inside them, giving variations of different hues of color from a single lantern. Making the natural movement of the light as the lanterns swayed even more hypnotic.
It seemed impossible. But they were right before her eyes. Marvelous.
Aureum was now impressed and fully intrigued by what the city could offer.
What kind of trip would it be if Aureum didn't take in some of the sights?
Still, it was a bit difficult for a woman to choose to enter strange streets at night alone. Especially without a decent pearl. So Aureum took the time to fulfill the desires of comfort that she had rushed before collapsing.
She paid for another bath and reorganized her bags, before going downstairs for food.
The mood was festive. A crowd's worth of excited chatter echoed throughout the room.
"Is it some kind of holiday?"
The man at the counter chuckled. Tall, bald head, and dark skin.
He should have been intimidating, but his demeanor made others relax.
"You're pretty lucky, to miss the rush. Or maybe unlucky. Guess it depends on your view.
Yes, to answer your question. The holiday just ended the day before yesterday. The Night of the Lanterns." He held up his hands in pantomime of a slow explosion. "Every year we put up new lights while taking down the old or broken ones. Whole strings of light falling every which way.
There's a week of festivities leading up to it. Stalls on every corner selling everything you can imagine. Games. Dancing competitions.
You're lucky because most of the stalls opened by residents stay open for the week after, when the crowds have all left."
"I would have liked to have seen the dancing competitions."
"Hahah. We get our fair share of competitors of pretty good skill. But some of the events turn into comedies."
"Maybe next year then. Is everything only open at night?"
"Of course not. The stalls for fresh produce are open all day on the weekends."
"...is that it?"
"Hmmm. There's quite a lot. Are you looking for something specific?"
"I just want to have some fun before I continue on to Fluentem."
"During the day? Well, there's the plaza. Usually, new entertainers take the opportunity to use it in the early afternoons, before any planned events are set up. Stalls for souvenirs are there as well.
But most of the fun in Triviis is to be found at night..."
"I can't switch my schedule around just for a few days. The plaza should work fine."
After getting directions for it, Aureum spent the last few hours before dawn layering.
After sleeping so much, she felt stiff. But she didn't have many sedentary activities to choose from.
A flute would be nice and light, but she doubted anybody nearby would be patient with her practice. Sewing required light, and the same went for reading.
It might be for the best that I don't have any distractions... but how does this even feel like living?!
The past few weeks felt like a cycle of layering, packing, walking or gliding, putting the blasted tent up, layering, and sleeping. The worst part was that her progress was barely noticeable. The fading scar dominated her head more than her pearl did.
It'd be nice if the tedium was broken by levity, instead of threats to her safety.
After the sixteenth or seventeenth layer, Aureum noticed the sun. In the early dawn, the first floor was empty, with even the man at the counter dozing off.
The streets were also quiet, the lights were dim, and all the stalls were either closed or being closed as she watched.
This place really lives up to its reputation.
A city more alive at night, it seemed dead come the dawn.
Aureum went to the Plaza, but as expected, this early there were only a few leaves that scraped across the ground. Wandering around a little brought up nothing new, so she admitted defeat. Returning to her room, she layered her pearl.
For hours.
Come the afternoon she returned.
This time she wasn't disappointed. Entertainers of all varieties showed. The first she saw was a flame dancer. He was expected. Flame dancers were common performers. But that doesn't diminish the pleasure he gave.
Aureum watched as he used his flames as a lasso. Then they were a rope to jump over. Finally, the flames turned into a fierce dragon that rushed the onlookers. Aureum felt the warmth of the flames on her face as she closed her eyes. The small crowd cheered him as he bowed.
Next was a pair of dancers with water. They took turns passing the large bubble between each other at speed. One would run it over her shoulders only to kick it over the back to her partner.
He would in turn catch it with his foot. Kicking the bubble from the left foot to the right, higher and faster. Then he split the water by cutting through it with his hands and juggled the new bubbles.
These eight bubbles were returned to his partner with tosses. She caught some with one foot, some with her head, and a few with her hands. While balancing on one foot, she flipped and mashed them into a large bubble again that landed on her head, as she landed again on one foot.
The crowd laughed. Their impressive display was undercut by them acting like drunken fools throughout their act.
The big finale was a burst of water, cascading onto their audience as a rainbow formed from the lightest dew.
Aureum spent a few hours enchanted.
She'd spent a bit of time dancing, and more time watching Felixia dance, but their dances were mundane. It was considered cheap to dance around the elements in Nix. Not that street performers acted upon the trends of the wealthy.
This setting, where entertainers interacted directly with the audience, was different.
It was a bit like how Felixia and Aureum had used to play, but far more sophisticated and scripted. With a lot more flips.
Performers showcased their might too. A group of five stood on top of each other, all on one man's arm. Probably to artfully jump down into a pyramid or something.
But by that point, Aureum was looking for food.
There was a stall with snacks, but it only sold things like candy. Aureum wanted a real meal.
Would it be rude to ask the owner where a restaurant is?
As Aureum stood idly, considering her options, a tantrum broke out.
"I WANT THE LAST PIECE!"
The responses to this were muffled by comparison. A lot of people turned toward the commotion.
Well, the parents should get on her soon. But if the behavior is this bad it's probably the parent's fault.
"I WANT IT!"
Really, what a brat.
The unrestrained cries were painful to listen to. Even if Aureum wanted to ignore them, she couldn't.
"DON'T YOU KNOW? I'M VITREUM LAPIS!"
"Vitreum?"
Aureum couldn't help repeating it. That name was branded in her memories.
She started to head in the direction of the tantrum. The shouting continued like a beacon.
When she broke through the crowd that circled the commotion there was a child and a young lady.
The first thing anyone would notice about the young lady was that she was beautiful.
Her black skin shone in the afternoon sun while it contrasted with the flowing pale blue dress she wore. Her hair was in the braids common for the people of Fluentem, the kind that stayed for months and could be put up into other styles. The only thing contradicting her demure demeanor and attire was an iron quarterstaff she held.
The second thing they would notice is that she was being pressured by the screaming child.
Vitreum was not the young lady. She had blond hair. And the screaming brat also had blond hair.
"Excuse me, kid. Kid, look at me. What did you say your name was?"
Aureum put her hand on the girl's shoulder to get her attention. The child seemed a bit shocked at being touched but ultimately decided to puff herself up.
"Hmph! Well, I'm Vitreum Lapis! Remember it."
Nivis, I should have kicked you instead. And aimed for your weakest point.
Aureum had a moment of focused spite.
"Why? Who are you?"
"Oh! Well, you wouldn't remember me..."
"Are you a friend of my daddy?"
"Ahhhh. Our relations are pretty shallow... aren't you a bit old to be calling your dad, daddy?"
"I'm eight!"
Their original meeting truly was fifteen years in the future.
Well, you're too old to be acting like this. But I can't remember when I changed the way I called my dad.
"Where are your parents by the way?"
"In Lapis."
"Aren't you very far from your parents then...?"
The girl shook her head.
"Nope!"
If Triviis was on the eastern side of Aeternitus, the city-state of Lapis was on the western edge. Aureum had nothing to say for a moment.
"...your guardian...? Is nearby? Right?"
"I have bodyguards."
Aureum looked up. A few intimidating men in black cloaks and leather armor looked sheepishly at the ground.
What is even going on in the Lapis family?
Much like how the bloodline of Nix ruled the city-state of Nix, the bloodline of Lapis ruled the city-state of Lapis. This made Vitreum a minor celebrity.
Although the brat was obviously milking her distant relations for all they were worth. Vitreum had to be a distant relation because a closer relation wouldn't be left to their own devices like this.
It at least explained why the lady and the guards were at a loss for dealing with her.
It's difficult to discipline someone of a higher standing.
"Again, who are you?"
"I'm Aureum, but isn't what's going on here more important?"
"That's right!" Vitreum stomped her foot with emphasis. "She stole the candy that I wanted! Get her!"
The girl pointed at the lady.
Whoa. What a baby tyrant.
"Is that true?"
"No! I did buy the last piece that the girl wanted, but I never stole anything! If I had known she wanted it before I ate it, I would have given it to her."
"You lot," here Aureum gestured to the guards, "is what the lady says true?"
One hesitated, but the other replied immediately.
"Yes, what the young lady says is true."
Aureum glared at him, but the bodyguard was unabashed.
With this vague statement, it couldn't be said that the guards had spoken against Vitreum.
They were looking out for their own interests.
Not that Aureum needed anyone to verify the lady's words, or intended to push them into specifying. It was obvious what Vitreum was doing by their actions. If the lady had intended Vitreum any true harm, the bodyguards would not be standing to the side.
If political power is the problem here, then what can I do?
"Ah, okay. Hey, stall-owner? How long would it take to make a new candy?"
"I can make another batch in an hour, but I'd have to close my stall early."
"Could I pay you to do that?"
The man scratched his chin.
"I'll do it for ten quinque."
Just ask for a hundred times the original price! Whatever!
In truth, Aureum didn't know if that price would cover the stall owner's losses. She was probably getting off cheap. Not that Aureum wanted to recognize that at the moment.
Aureum glanced at the young woman, and back at Vitreum.
Fine. There's no such thing as a free lunch. I should just think of it as paying for my freedom.
"All right! Vitreum! I'll buy you a batch of the candies. But I have two conditions."
"Eh?"
"You have to spend the time waiting with me. That's the first. The second is that you have to apologize to this kind and patient woman."
"No. I'll just buy the candy myself!"
"What? You don't want free candy?"
Vitreum didn't seem to know what to say to that.
"Candy that's free tastes three times as good as candy you pay for yourself."
"I don't want to."
Brat!
"Three times!"
"Then I want two batches!"
"That will definitely give you a stomach ache! One!"
Vitreum broke down crying.
"Half a batch," Aureum said. "If you keep this up you'll be lucky to get a single candy from me!"
Vitreum instantly stopped crying.
Crocodile tears, at age eight?!
Aureum kept her poker face despite her surprise.
"I'm sorry!"
"To her," Aureum said. "Apologize for being rude."
Vitreum stared at Aureum for a bit. Aureum crossed her arms. The little girl bowed her head towards the young lady.
"I'm sorry I was rude."
Aureum nodded.
"You may go."
Flee! Before the bewitched brat realizes I took control of the situation for half a batch of candies.
The lady smiled as she nodded. She mouthed "thank you," as she left.
Aureum resisted the urge to put her fingers to her temple.
Right. Now I just have to pay my debt to Viti.
Could an hour change the future Vitreum Aureum had met?
Not a chance, but.
At least I can't leave her here without knowing what's going on. I owe the angel who saved my life that much.
Aureum chose to forget that her benefactor helped her unwillingly for now.
"Is it gonna be a long time to wait?"
The angel in question whined up at her.
I can do it. I think.