A man, lacking any kind of grace or noble temperament, was walking along a country road. Beside him flew a magpie, an elegant, gentle looking bird. If any soul were to see them at this moment, they'd find themselves transfixed by the view, even when it seemingly was nothing more than ordinary.
The man was donned in a light blue, coarse and clean robe, his feet bare on the hard dirt. ''Ha.. how dry is this weather! Azure, come rest on this old man's shoulder'' he said, looking at the flying bird. The summer had been harsh these past few years, and the world was suffering for it. ''Heavens, Heavens, how stingy can you be? Won't you let this old man drink dew? Am I, in the end, to go to a mortal village?'' He said, sighing and almost pouting while looking at the blue cloudless sky.
The magpie looked at him strangely, landing softly on the old man's white hair. ''Fine, do as you wish, you little rascal..'' he muttered as he shuffled the bird's feathers. He shifted slightly on the dirt path, skipping along like a child, as he began to notice a stone wall in the distance.
A big smile appeared on his young looking face, his brown eyes softened slightly at the thought of his oncoming visit. ''Well, I can't do anything about it, can I? I'll be sure to get you nice wriggly worms, Azure, fat and squishy! It's not everyday we go to a fishing village, after all. And Gareth, this young friend should still live here, right?'' Azure was not looking impressed by the man's says, keeping her elegant demeanor on the thin man's shoulder.
As he approached the wooden gate of Blue Lake Village, one of the guards ahead straightened his back, hoping it wasn't one of those eccentric cultivators again. But upon seeing the man's destitute look, he slouched again against the stone wall, lazy and ready to collect a hefty fee. ''Hello gentlemen, may I ask how much to enter the village?'' Their used to be no fee to enter such small places as a fishing village, but the drought made it that even those remote places began taxing all visitors.
''Three silvers and your name on paper. What are you here for? '' said the gruff looking guard as he inspected the odd man and his magpie.
,''that'll be two more for the bird, and you better watch it, else it ends in someone's soup bowl''.
''My humble name is Seon, and I am here to visit an old friend. How about a half silver for the pretty bird? It's well raised and won't cause trouble, that I can swear!''
The guard mumbled under his beard, something about weird people popping around nowadays, before replying: '' Fine! Three and a half silver for a two months stay, any more and you will need a household registration. Who are you visiting? I know most people here, been around my whole life and could recommend you a guide!''
'' I must thank you for the offer, but there is truly no need. I myself know these parts quite well. I'm coming to see Young Gareth, a bit brawny and stocky guy, if you reckon?''
The guard seemed to look into the air, deep in thought for a few seconds; '' Young Gareth? There's only one sir Gareth, and that's the Mayor to us! Brawny, stocky? Bah! He's noble and righteous, our mayor.''
Seon froze for a moment, looking almost lost, when a soft smile spread on his thin lips: '' Ah.. I see, it has already been this long. Well, no matter. Where can I find your Mayor, then?''.
The guard looked at him weirdly. ''Just go straight to the old plaza, it's the manor right up front. Now, the silver?''
Seon hurried his fingers in his pockets, taking out and giving four silver to the guard '' Keep the change and be careful, these are troubled times''. The guard straightened up and gave Seon a grin, letting him in Blue Lake village.
The last time he came here was so close in his mind and yet, fourty years had passed.
Long gone were the mud walls, the garbage on the roads, the messy ports. Everything seemed renewed and proper, almost like a County City.
Seon looked up, walking as he watched all the changes that took place in this forlorn small corner of the mortal empire.
He quickly noticed and stopped near a food stall selling candied fruits. The seller was an old lady, hunched over her cart, her white hair tied into a neat bun. Her eyes were cloudy and aged, but her wares smelled the most appetizing in all the street.
'' Hello young miss, how much for a bag of strawberry candy and a glass of water?'' His eyes were smiling as he looked at the old lady, his posture relaxed and carefree.
'' Young miss? Heh, this won't get you any discount, young man! Five copper the bag, no less'' she said, while not even taking a look at him. ''Fine, fine, it's really cheap!'' He quickly gave her the coins as she poured water in a small bamboo cup. He gently took it from her hands, watching her withered skin with kind eyes. He chugged down the water, exclaiming: ''That fills the spot! Heaven's knows how parched I was for the last two months. Thank you, lass, I'll be sure to come by if the chance arises!''She finally looked up, glaring, but was shocked when she saw him turn and walk away. ' What a handsome young man, sigh.. Why isn't my granddaughter here when it matters?'.
Seon continued walking, going straight down the paved streets surrounded by two stories stone houses. The air smelled fresh and slightly of fish, for the old plaza was near the port. There weren't a lot of people walking the streets, which surprised him a lot. '' Azure, where did all the people go? '' The magpie briefly looked at him but didn't answer, looking bored.
As he neared the old plaza, he finally saw where all the people went. Weren't they just in front of the Mayor's manor? 'But, what for? Did something happen? ' Seon worried. He went hurriedly to the crowd, asking a young man on the periphery of the rassemblement what was going on.
'' You didn't hear? The Mayor was hurt!'', the young man lowered his head secretively and said: '' Rumor has it that he refused to raise the taxes, because how can we fishermen make a living otherwise? But then, then! The County sent an official, and how rotten was she! First thing that woman did when she saw sir Gareth was to cut of his right hand!''. The more Seon heard, the more he furrowed his brow, a sharp glint passing in his eyes: '' When did this happen, lad?'' The young man touched his brown hair and nudged Seon with his shoulder, '' I'm no lad, we look around the same age! This went down less than an incense stick from now. They are still arguing ahead! Oh, are you new here, by chance?'' But before he could finish his phrase, he saw Seon push through the crowd while shielding the bird on his shoulder.
''Hey! What are you going to do?'' The young man shouted to the disappearing back of Seon, getting no response.
Seon kept going forward and quickly came to the front of the crowd, just in time to see a fierce looking woman raising her sword in front of a kneeling sixty years old man dressed in humble red official clothes. His gray hair was raised with a jade hairpin and a goatee adorned his thin face. Deep blue eyes looked fearlessly at the County official, not one bit of regret showing on his face. But before the blade could attain him, a soft but powerful voice was heard, and everything halted: '' Stop right there, missy.''
The County official, Yelena, was suddenly locked in place, her sword high in the air. ' What a dramatic pose..' Seon thought as he slowly approached his old friend. ''What is happening here, missy? How could you bully such a weak old man in front of these good people right here?'' Yelena looked on, her eyes widening in horror as she couldn't feel her body, her traitorous mouth complying to the odd man's words: '' Where is that weak old man you speak of? I only see a thief of the empire before me! Refusing to submit to me, *me!* A representative of the empire! He should *die* for this affront!'' No truer words of her could be spoken, for she was under the influence of *something*, pushing her to speak all she thought and felt to that ragged man. Everything happened too fast, and she could barely think when she saw even the leaves in the air surrounding her stopped falling, stuck in the air. The crowd went silent, the sun dimmed, seemingly following Seon's eyes that were growing dark as he listened to the woman's words.
The previous young man that had helped Seon a few minutes prior finally reached the scene, and was left with his jaw hanging, thinking:
'Well, this can't be good'.