A Child of Lapis

Act 1 Scene 1: What's been weighing you down?

For a moment, I knew nothing, I was nothing. My mind was in awe upon the joyful sight before me. Leaving stony beaches behind, trailing ash and hearty flame in my wake, I skimmed the waves bellow and embarked far off along the wondrous waters. My heart skipped a beat in time with the pound of my burning wings. I finally felt the freedom to ask:

"What lies beyond our island?" 

 Of course, such a thing was too good to be true. Ever since I could remember, my life's been nothing but hollow.

 'At least my dreams are interesting.' 

 Small rays of light flickered through the silky curtains. The seats were piled with royal red cushions, and a small, round table was fastened to the floor. From the ceiling hung a lamp, with each trot of the horse it gave a silent sway, which illuminated the carriage in a golden hue.

 My companion drifted over to me.

 'How are you feeling?' Aalprah asked. 

 'I feel like I just had the longest dream. I was flying and... burning.'

 Aalprah tilted their head. 'You don't have a fever do you?'

 I tugged on the collar of my attire. 'I think it's just this stupid outfit. Do I really need to wear all this fabric? I feel like I'm going to melt in this heat.'

 'They've always given vupua extravagant clothing. It's so they can be easily identified, even from a distance.'

 I uncaringly scooted over to the window. A massive castle loomed in the distance—it dwarfed the entire city. The grand scale made the masterful architecture even more magnificent. I'd visited the city of Fraktolt before (the literal translation meaning dragon-soil) as a tourist, but never once had I actually entered the castle itself (only the streets sheltered by the castle walls). As much as I was filled with wonder and awe at the sight, I also felt a pang of anxiety. If I may confide in you a little, I feared my duties ahead of me. I don't think I was born for the military, but I didn't really have a choice in the matter.

 We arrived at the city walls, and entered via the lowered the drawbridge. 

 Children ran through the once white streets, greyed with time. Sunlight enveloped the slate rooftops, giving them a nice cozy appearance. As we reached the main road I grabbed a large handwoven basket. It contained practical gifts such as bread and pocket knives for the townspeople who were passing by. It was tradition for nobles in Livaria to help those less fortunate in ways such as this. 

 I opened up a window, and The Wind blew past my cheek. 

 'Today's pretty cold,' I said.

 'Not really. It's just way too warm in here. Are you sure you're not sick?'

 'I'm not sick, drop that already. It is colder than usual.'

 Aalprah eyed me with suspicion, but didn't bother me with anything else.

 I passed the gifts out to anyone who fancied them. A crowd was gathering on the side of the road. A man was telling a folktale, energetically gesturing to exaggerate every line. He'd say things such as: "The nameless monarch stole the dragon's scale by carving it right off the creature's forehead! This same scale was used to forge Alexander's mighty axe!" It was a cute performance, but it only really captivated the children. Anyone who'd lived more than a decade had heard those stories a thousand times before. That said, I was still pretty excited for the chance to meet Alexander. He did live in the castle after all.

 We shortly arrived at the castle gate. The entrance was intimidating, yet breathtaking in its artistic design.

 The driver presented our invitation from the king, which permitted us entry to the castle. But to be honest, we didn't really need the invitation. With one look at Aalprah's mystical eyes, they knew who we were. (Even my eyes could give us away for their uncommon shade of blue).