The Mission Begins
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2024 12:58 pm
Korvaelis Dahshida
He didn’t belong here.
That’s how he felt as he sat across from his brother in a posh tea shop. Lovely as it was, Korvaelis only stood out. Sipping his bitter tea, he did a bit of people-watching. Nothing more than a teenager at the time, it did not take much for insecurities to settle in and barrage him with comparative thoughts he was all too familiar with. He learned that Kalzasi culture is a lot more expressive and colorful compared to back home. Everyone seemed to wear colorful clothing– fashion seemed to be at the forefront and maybe a sign of wealth. Korvaelis couldn’t understand why he felt so embarrassed, he was a foreigner at the time anyway, but the half-Neptori sunk into his seat as a way to hide his boring brown clothing of the Zaichaer fashion. It wasn’t of bad quality, his waistcoat and straight pants. Their family was incredibly well-off considering their status. The poor boy just didn’t think it compared to the city’s trend.
“You’re a beautiful boy, lovely.”
Kodi’s voice penetrated his thoughts. Still, Korvaelis couldn’t help but notice that his older brother was dressed like them too. His hair was pulled back and tied with a ribbon and unlike Korvaelis’ dull color scheme, Kodi’s was a bright blue with embroidery.
“You’ll fit in soon,” Kodi answered him. His brother had a way of understanding him that was almost telepathic. On many occasions, he could tell Korvaelis what he was feeling. “I have faith that you will. These are our origins, y’know.”
“Our origins?” Korvaelis placed his cup on the table before folding his hands in his lap.
“Yes. Did you not know? We’re from Kalzasi.”
“Us? From here?”
No way. Korvaelis grew up within what he often described as the confinement of Zaichaer. He didn’t recall a time in or even a story from his wet nurse about Kalzasi either. The place felt unfamiliar too. As beautiful as the city was, Korvaelis couldn’t say he was feeling some special connection to it upon arrival. He felt like nothing except a foreigner. Which was the truth.
“Yes, yes. Have you ever wondered why our common accents were so different than those of Zaichaer?”
Korvaelis took a moment to think about it. A few times, he recalls a few children poking fun at how he spoke and pronounced certain words. He didn’t think it was too different though and the young man could credit his mother for the slight accent he might’ve had in the past.
“You’ll notice it when you begin to learn Synskrit.”
“Synskrit? I’m sorry…why did you bring me here, big brother? Why did you bring me to this city?” Korvaelis tried his best to understand. At first, he thought of this trip as some sort of vacation. Kodi had kept his distance for so long like the rest of his siblings, he thought the third eldest child was taking pity on the youngest of the small clan and decided to show him a new world. At some point, the mixed blood believed his brother would return him to Zaichaer and (if he were lucky enough) pay for his schooling in the city.
“I want to give you a new life, lovely. A life that you and I both deserve. Korvaelis, something precious was taken from us. Status, wealth, and fame…it was all ours at some point. We were to inherit it as the last of our name. But everyone seemed to give up on it.” Kodi paused to take a sip of his tea, he’d soon let out a sound of satisfaction before continuing his speech. “I want it back. I want to be someone here and with your help, I know I can do that.”
He didn’t belong here.
That’s how he felt as he sat across from his brother in a posh tea shop. Lovely as it was, Korvaelis only stood out. Sipping his bitter tea, he did a bit of people-watching. Nothing more than a teenager at the time, it did not take much for insecurities to settle in and barrage him with comparative thoughts he was all too familiar with. He learned that Kalzasi culture is a lot more expressive and colorful compared to back home. Everyone seemed to wear colorful clothing– fashion seemed to be at the forefront and maybe a sign of wealth. Korvaelis couldn’t understand why he felt so embarrassed, he was a foreigner at the time anyway, but the half-Neptori sunk into his seat as a way to hide his boring brown clothing of the Zaichaer fashion. It wasn’t of bad quality, his waistcoat and straight pants. Their family was incredibly well-off considering their status. The poor boy just didn’t think it compared to the city’s trend.
“You’re a beautiful boy, lovely.”
Kodi’s voice penetrated his thoughts. Still, Korvaelis couldn’t help but notice that his older brother was dressed like them too. His hair was pulled back and tied with a ribbon and unlike Korvaelis’ dull color scheme, Kodi’s was a bright blue with embroidery.
“You’ll fit in soon,” Kodi answered him. His brother had a way of understanding him that was almost telepathic. On many occasions, he could tell Korvaelis what he was feeling. “I have faith that you will. These are our origins, y’know.”
“Our origins?” Korvaelis placed his cup on the table before folding his hands in his lap.
“Yes. Did you not know? We’re from Kalzasi.”
“Us? From here?”
No way. Korvaelis grew up within what he often described as the confinement of Zaichaer. He didn’t recall a time in or even a story from his wet nurse about Kalzasi either. The place felt unfamiliar too. As beautiful as the city was, Korvaelis couldn’t say he was feeling some special connection to it upon arrival. He felt like nothing except a foreigner. Which was the truth.
“Yes, yes. Have you ever wondered why our common accents were so different than those of Zaichaer?”
Korvaelis took a moment to think about it. A few times, he recalls a few children poking fun at how he spoke and pronounced certain words. He didn’t think it was too different though and the young man could credit his mother for the slight accent he might’ve had in the past.
“You’ll notice it when you begin to learn Synskrit.”
“Synskrit? I’m sorry…why did you bring me here, big brother? Why did you bring me to this city?” Korvaelis tried his best to understand. At first, he thought of this trip as some sort of vacation. Kodi had kept his distance for so long like the rest of his siblings, he thought the third eldest child was taking pity on the youngest of the small clan and decided to show him a new world. At some point, the mixed blood believed his brother would return him to Zaichaer and (if he were lucky enough) pay for his schooling in the city.
“I want to give you a new life, lovely. A life that you and I both deserve. Korvaelis, something precious was taken from us. Status, wealth, and fame…it was all ours at some point. We were to inherit it as the last of our name. But everyone seemed to give up on it.” Kodi paused to take a sip of his tea, he’d soon let out a sound of satisfaction before continuing his speech. “I want it back. I want to be someone here and with your help, I know I can do that.”
Searing of 116