"Well, this is interesting this is the first visit I have received in this realm since I arrived here, that means the world must be about to change again."
Change? What does that mean? What is this place? Why am I here? All these questions and no noise escaped my mouth. I was so confused, what was happening and why was I in this predicament. "Relax child, from now on you'll be seeing a lot of me, whether you like it or not. All will be known eventually but for now calm yourself." She rose from her seated position fully showing off her bottle figure. Perfect would be an understatement for her.
She opened her hands, and I noticed the first imperfections I spotted on her physically. Callouses and scars were heavy on the inside of her hands. She was no stranger to hard work or labor. She approached me with her hands out, took a finger and pushed my forehead and I was back on my knees gasping for air on a warm platform.
Coughing with tears in my eyes, I looked around the unfamiliar room. I settled my gaze to my right where my brother was in the same situation as me, breathing hard clutching his chest. I felt like I already knew the answer, but I asked anyway.
"How long has it been since we stepped on the platform?" I asked my brother with my breathing finally settling down. He looked at me perplexed and confused.
"It's only been a couple of seconds, I felt like I was pulled apart and brought back together at blinding speed. What did you go through?"
"The same I just wanted to confirm." I saw my brother's eyes narrow as I looked away. I wanted to process what I saw before I started telling people I was seeing things. As my mind started to wander to the beauty with the red eyes, I heard footsteps approaching.
I gathered myself and straightened up. Putting my hands behind my back, I wanted to put that shameful display behind us. Talib followed my lead. The room looked like the room we just came from.
The exit door flung open, and an older woman entered the room. She strode in front of us, faced us, and stared at us. We kept our posture as we observed her, wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. We stared at each other for a second wordlessly until she mirrored our posture and bowed.
"Greetings young royals, it is an honor to be in the presence of the Askiya family heirs. My name is Mirembe your teacher, mentor, and supervisor for the fellowship." She raised her head, the way she spoke gave off the feeling of wisdom. Though her face didn't match it. She could easily be mistaken for a woman in her 30s. We knew better that this woman was in her mid-50's. Her body looked healthy even though she was on the heavier and thicker side.
However, the way she was put together you can tell that she exercised regularly. She had darker skin than us and I've never seen her without her ancestorial headdress on. She was about 5'2 but it was hard to look her in the eyes despite looking down on her. She exuded just that much pressure.
"Nice to see you again Teacher, I don't know the exact time we were to be present, but I apologize if we are late. I look forward to growing and learning under your care as we always have." I gave out my hand to shake but instead she placed my hand in between both of hers.
"My prince, I am honored by your polite and caring soul. However, an elder and dignitary I may be but know your place. It is not at eye level or below me. I am your servant treat me as such…. In regular circumstances."
She didn't quite look me in the eye as we spoke but stared at my face. I recoiled my hand and return to my previous position.
"And what circumstances is this?" She smiled and said nothing and turned to walk out of the room as if we were to follow her. My brother called out to her.
"Is someone going to come by and get our bags?!" This made our teacher chuckle as she continued to walk out the room.
"If you feel like that is what you deserve, I don't see why not."
At that I picked up my bag and followed her. That was too vague of an answer for me to risk it. Begrudgingly my little brother followed. Dragging whatever gadgets, he had packed for himself along the floor. "Please, don't drag your feet, I do not wish for a traffic jam" the professor called from the hallway. As soon as she said that the platform I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up again.
Knowing what was coming, I hurried over to my brother to pick up his luggage before it disintegrated and hurried out the room. When we got out in the hallway and threw his bags at him while the energy in the room exploded behind me.
"I'm going to need you to shape up. I'm not going to hold your hand through this." Talib just picked up his bags with the strength I knew he had and threw it over his shoulder. Not without glaring daggers at me in the progress. Professor Mirembe rushed past us back into the conference room to most likely greet her next guest.
"Askiya's please wait for me and the rest of your fellowship in the lobby one level above everyone should arrive shortly." I nodded and turn to go upstairs. As my brother and I climbed the stairs. My mind became distracted about what I witnessed while I was in that dark space. What do I even call that space? Limbo? Whatever it was, I couldn't get held up on what she said. The fact that I was there meant that the world was about to change? But in what way?
When I thought of the world as it is now. There didn't seem to be any political strife. Not that I paid much attention to it. The west seemed to keep to themselves no longer having any interest in the natural resources in the Middle East. Focused on developing and relying on clean energy they finally fully embraced. There was an abundance of resources in the region to fight over as it is. Everything was quiet on the European front to my knowledge.
The East is said to be developing something, but the rumors just say it has to do with the ambition of space colonization. The world has been stable. No international incidents. Maybe she meant things were to change within the empire? Wait even before any of that. Why am I speaking like this was real? It could have just been a day dream.
I snapped out of it as we entered the foyer. I've been to this palace many times to visit our aunt and cousin. It was similar to our foyer except the artwork of our country and ancestors that one would you see on our walls; was replaced with religious leaders and depictions of holy locations.
I expected to see auntie and cousin, but we had the place to ourselves. I decided to sit on the couch as I gathered my thoughts. Talib elected to stand and wait quietly. A couple of minutes passed before anyone else entered the room. Amara and Imari. The South Kingdom's 2nd Princess and 1st Prince. They both lightly bowed their heads before us.
I stood up and properly bowed to them in return. We may be the sons of the emperor but all royalty in every kingdom should be treated with the same respect I expect of myself. My brother just returned the same head bow and made a beeline to his best friend to greet him properly. Prince Imari and Talib have been virtual correspondents for almost a decade now. Sharing technology, research, improving gadgets, playing video games together.
Considering we've only been to the South once they embrace each other like long lost brothers both with happy smiles on their faces. I couldn't help but smile a little. I liked seeing my brother happy even when he was being a brat. I took a look at Imari's older sister who was looking at our brothers start to converse and discuss their journeys here. I wasn't close to her, only seeing her once before.
Her hair was colored red and styled in its natural curly state pulled back to give herself an afro puff. She had a beautiful smile, and I believe her to be the same age as me, maybe even older. She was on the slimmer side, looking to me like a dancer's body. If I had to guess she probably had taken years of ballet. Her skin had few blemishes and was on the lighter side, real bronze tone. She seemed to be wearing a customary daishiki suit that men would wear to formal dinners. Normally this would be frowned upon. But she wore it in a way that only complimented her, like it was apart of her mystic.
As I studied her, I could see her gaze fall on me and she started to study me as well. She had a slight grin on her face. She had make-up around her eyes and lips but that's all I could tell honestly. She had a cute face, but she looked foreign. Like an Americans in those old videos. I turned away to study the lobby some more, but I could still feel her gaze upon me. A few more minutes went by with my brother chattering away with his friend. Until another royal came up the steps from the basement.
This was a royal I've never seen before. She was around the same age as Talib and a lighter toned skin then Amara. Her hair was short styled in a pixie cut with a light brown color. She was built like a gymnast, strong lower body and defined arms. She had no make-up, full lips, and her eyebrows were naturally perfect. She didn't smile as she entered the room. She scanned all of us first and then gave us all a deep bow.
I returned it fully, but the others just gave head bows. Her expression was unchanged as she walked towards an empty corner of the room. She sat down and meditated. Based on the energy she gave off, no one here was trained in the ways of a warrior more than she was. I knew if I ever had to scrap with her, I should be prepared to lose an arm and probably even a leg. I couldn't help but smile at that. It's good to know someone trained in the old ways as I did. It gave me motivation to keep training. Not to just beat family but my peers as well. It didn't take long for the final kingdom heirs to come and for Professor Mirembe to follow them.
I recognized the Central Kingdoms' fraternal twins walking up. Although this is the first time I've seen them in person before, I've seen much of their father who makes a point to always be present for the empire and his province in court. He made sure to always speak of them often with my father. There was a family resemblance in the way they carried themselves. When they came to the top of the stairs I stepped forward, bowed and gave them the same respect as everyone else.
The previous heir who I deduced was obviously the Northern kingdoms heir, mirrored my actions. All the others nodded their heads as a bow. Both twins gave no action to accept the acts of respect. Instead took the opportunity to study everyone in the room. The male twin eyes landed on me, scoffed and continued to scan the room. When the female heir eyes landed on me, they stayed there for a moment. She finally gave a curtesy type of bow to who I assumed was to both the Northern heir and me.
However, her eyes stayed on me and she smiled. When she finally showed some type of emotion, I noticed how pretty a face she had. Even though she had a ceremonial hat and hid her body behind big ceremonial clothing, you can still see her dark coffee colored skin. Elliptical shaped with hazel color eyes and her gold lipstick just complimented that. I had no idea why she was staring at me so intently, but I wasn't going to complain.