Yesteryear

The Babylonian Palace

The ground of the upper story was covered in colourful tiles that created regular patterns and images on the floor. The large round hall that spread into the many corridors Mingi had to pick from to get to his chambers was decorated by an elephant in bright blues and oranges welcoming them on the ground. Wooyoung idled around to marvel at it and the detail put into the artwork. Patient, Mingi allowed him to gawk with a smile.

"Hundreds of artists from the city were involved at the completion of this place. Every so often, the king invites the most popular ones in the city to do more artwork for him. That one is one of my favourites." Mingi's voice carried in the tall ceilings. It echoed in the surrounding emptiness. No other people crossed their paths on the way to the historian's working space.

"Please, show me more if you find the time. But first, let's put those tablets down." Wooyoung hurried to catch up with him. When Mingi grinned at him in appreciation, Wooyoung imitated the gesture.

They finally reached Mingi's personal chambers after many interruptions of Wooyoung's marvelling. Mingi called a vast area his own. He got two sizable rooms, one to sleep in and one cluttered with work. Through the open doors leading out to the balcony travelled a warm breeze. The view looked out over the Euphrates River, that slithered along the southern city wall like a vibrant snake of shining blue.

Mingi huffed and set his bag down on his desk. The wood ached under the added weight, but it held steady. It must have been an expensive investment to ease Mingi's research.

"I'll have to inform the king of your arrival, then I can provide you with a room to sleep in. You may accompany me if you want to see more of the palace," Mingi suggested with a beckon at the door. Wooyoung ripped his eyes from the children playing at the riverbank while their mothers did their laundry in the clear water. The idyllic picture soothed his jittery nerves.

They left Mingi's room together. Freed from the heavy bag, Mingi rolled his shoulder and flexed the muscles under his long arms; kudos to years of inscribing his scriptures in stone.

After climbing yet another set of stairs with no railing that dangerously raised them above the adjoining hall, they entered the main palace facilities. It was brighter, indicating the elevated level and lesser builds above. The sight from the towering windows was breathtaking. Wooyoung was helpless between his want to explore the entire scene painted on the floor and looking out over Babylon.

The lobby was filled with people. They milled about to converse with each other and disappear into the contiguous halls. Nobody bothered with the massive double doors right ahead that caught Wooyoung's attention. Flanked by heavily armoured guards, it likely led straight to king Nebuchadnezzar.

Wooyoung's pulse hammered in his throat when Mingi took him aside. Through Wooyoung's eyes flickering through the room, he tried to garner his focus.

"I'll be in and out within a moment. You just wait here and enjoy the sight!" Mingi said cheerfully. His hand patted Wooyoung's shoulder as he shared his sympathy over his overwhelmed expression.

Wooyoung just wanted to reply to him and promise to drink up all the new impressions in peace, when his eyes got stuck on a group of people to their left. They stood huddled to a piece of wall between two corridors so they wouldn't bother anyone. The part about them that attracted Wooyoung's gaze was the transparent veils of the person leaned against the open window. Orange mixed with bright purple to create a dance of colours in front of the clear blue sky.

Distracted by the pretty display, Wooyoung completely failed to answer.

"Oh, him? That's one of the king's concubines. His Majesty is obsessed with him."