Etherium

I

A sound cracked throughout the streets of Akaridge. Being considered a generally loud village, this would not have been out of the ordinary if not for where it came from. A soldier bound around the corner, riding his steed at a cancer. His whip slapped against the hide of the horse, and it stood on its back legs in protest. Sand, dirt, and small rocks sprayed in all directions as its front hooves pounded back down.

"A message," began the soldier, "has been sent from the keeper. All households are eligible to send their daughters to his palace for evaluation, while it is not obligatory. As many know, the keeper's son has recently become of age for marriage, and is looking for a fulfilling maiden. To submit your young ladies, come have them sign their names on this roll of parchment. I will be back for it in 48 hours." He nailed it to a nearby post and re-mounted his horse.

With that, he turned his back to the stunned villagers and rode back off the way he came. Women looked at each other in disbelief, meanwhile young girls fawned over the keeper's son and begged their fathers to let them enrol. Across the square, Adela was less excited over the news, however. She held her wicker basket closer to her chest in an effort to steady herself. It seemed as though every time she recovered from the last incident, a new obstacle arose. She didn't want to be with the keeper's son. She was 16, hardly old enough to get a proper job, let alone commit to loving someone for eternity. While Adela felt strongly about this, her father and mother felt the opposite. Adela was brought up in a middle class home, the youngest of 4 kids, but also the only girl. Her mother and father never wanted a daughter, as she would simply be a burden. In their mind, sons could make up for the time and funds spent on them by work later on in life, while it was uncommon for women to ever get a job, and they were seen as something that had to be lugged around.

Adela looked down at the herbs and vegetables in her basket. Thoughts of throwing them down at the ground flooded her mind and startled her. Adela quickly locked them away in the back of her head and turned to head home.

As she approached her house, a sinking feeling began in her stomach, and while she herself could not see it, she faded into a more pale version of her natural warm, golden skin tone. Adela Heard every step she took up the stone stairs with great detail. She noticed all the grains in the wooden door and the light kiss of the wind on her cheek, blessing her with relief from the scorching summer sun. The doorknob burned her hand from sitting in the sun all day, but she was too focused on the situation to come to notice, let alone care. As she peeked through the newly opened crack in the door, she could hear her mom and brother talking in the parlour just to the right of the entrance. As Adela slowly squeezed into the foyer, the background conversation stopped.

"Your brother tells me that the keeper's son is looking for a wife," directed her mom as she rose her cup of tea to her mouth, "how do you sign up?"

Adela swallowed the lump in her throat, "I don't know. I was busy collecting groceries when it was announced. See?" She held up the full basket that had until then, felt like one-thousand pounds.

"Interesting, well, you should set them on the table and head upstairs to bathe. You look filthy." Responded her mom with suspicion.

Without another word, Adela nodded, set the food down, and briskly walked upstairs to the bath. She started running the water and brushed her long hair in the mirror. Her features complimented each other, creating what seemed to be a golden ratio of beauty. Her warm toned medium brown hair framed her also warm, yet golden face. Her green eyes popped, even from far away. Adela's beauty was undeniable, and people around the village did notice. She often got compliments, and even went on the occasional date with boys from school. Her mother was sure that if Adela signed up for the evaluation, she would get picked, and not only would she be off their hands, they would get a gift from the keeper as compensation for their daughter. It was checkmate, and they simply could not lose, as long as Adela cooperated and signed that is.