My body relaxes as I slowly make logical sense of the situation.
“I will have your vow, then,” I say to the lady behind the door.
“I vow to the Seven that I require directions from you.”
I nod to myself. She seems in earnest. Vows to the Seven are not to be taken lightly. If one were to use their name in vain, they would be punished severely. It’s why I’m so willing to believe she has good intentions. I might not have a lot of outside world experience, but even I know how valuable a vow to the Seven is.
“All right.”
I grasp the doorknob and pull it toward me. As the door slowly creaks open, flashes of red come into view.
The lady is dressed in a long, shapeless red gown. Upon her head rests a black thorn crown, from which a lace red veil cascades over her face.
I cannot make out her features—only shadows linger behind the veil.
“Thank you,” she murmurs in a low voice.
I stare at her odd attire. “Your face…”
She inclines her head. “Apologies if this might seem strange. I hail from the Isle of Krateos. It is customary for unmarried females to shield their faces from other males.”
“Oh, I see. No need to apologize,” I quickly add.
I’d heard about the Isle of Krateos and some of its odd customs. Although part of Tartareia, it is considered a world of its own. It rarely interacts with the outside world and it is the only place in Tartareia that is not under the Lord Supreme’s rule. By some strange understanding from thousand of years ago, the Isle of Krateos was granted its autonomy. I’m not very familiar with its system. I’ve only read snippets of it since there isn’t much available on it—outsiders are not allowed inside.
The people of Krateos are neither mortal nor immortal; but something in between. They call themselves mages, each one possessing supernatural abilities.
I wonder what abilities the lady in front of me possesses. Certainly more impressive than my nonexistent ones.
She glides into my home, her body undulating to a silent rhythm.
I close the door behind, a little awkward. I can’t say I have much experience being around females. Having one in my home is also a first.
“I’ve never met someone from Krateos,” I start, trying to make small talk. “You’re allowed to leave the island?”
“Why would we not be?” She asks in a bored voice as she inspects the area. “I can go anywhere. You, on the other hand, are restricted to this place,” she says pointedly.
I clear my throat. This is starting on the wrong foot.
“Let me get the map of the area.”
I hurry to the library, rummage through shelves containing maps and retrieve one on the surrounding area.
When I get back, the lady in red is at my kitchen counter, quietly inspecting the dishes I’d painstakingly made earlier.
“Your birthday?” Her voice sounds disinterested as she points to the loaf of sweet bread I’d tried to make for myself. I’d followed an old recipe but the result is barely passable since I did not have all of the ingredients.
“Yes,” I mumble, not really wanting to talk much about it.
“Happy birthday. How old are you today?” Another monotone question.
“Three thousand.”
“A young immortal,” she muses to herself. “Congratulations. You’ve survived well enough.”
I’ve survived well enough?I frown at her odd phrasing.
“Yeah, well?—”
