Shangri La Pt. 1

40: Classification

"Here we are, the city that leads to the palace." Izumi announced as the three new visitors followed behind her. 

"I see~ quite a large city if you ask me." 

"Yes, and as I'm sure you've noticed, there are many different classes of people that walk amongst each other, all trying to get through each day." Izumi added. 

"Does that mean you know all the classifications, if I may ask?" Ayame questioned. 

"Mn. I do. There are 5 different classes in the society of the East. The lowest is the Deprivation Class–which is the lowest and poorest class–these are the people that are unable to work and can not gain anything from the Royals. It's unfortunate, but that is the way things have always been. The second lowest class is the Servant Class; these are the people that are known to have to work and serve for the palace, but they are not paid as well as they should be." Izumi explained.

"It seems things are a lot different out here, so what else is there?" 

"There's the third lowest class–the Central Class–which is known to be for people who are not poor but not rich and can work on a daily basis. This class is considered to be the ones that are mainly surrounding workers that can entertain the Royals. Then there's the fourth class which is the Elevated class; as they are people that are known to have served the Royals for a very long time. Servants and soldiers that have served in the palace even before the war are considered for this class, not to mention other people like tailors, cooks and those that the Royals find are loyal to them. And of course there's the highest class–the Royals–of which there are only 5 in the East." Izumi added. 

"Let me guess, the Emperor, Empress, the Princess, the Prince, and~ the Great Pisces?" Ray questioned. 

"Yes, as all 5 have authority of their own. Though the Young Prince of the West is still new to the East, I will not be surprised if they give him more authority after the wedding is over." Izumi answered.

"Hm~ You seem like quite the intelligent one, little lady, just as intelligent as Ayame here." 

"Ah– Oh no, I'm not that intelligent, I-I just try to work hard so that I don't suffer the consequences." 

"Then what class are you considered to be in?" Ayame questioned, making Izumi flinch. 

"U-Um– the Servants class. I didn't become a servant until the war was almost over, and since I am not one that serves the Emperor, Empress or the Princess, then I am someone of low class. I try to use the money I earn to help my mother who is in the lowest class and in the not-so-great poverty area of this city. I don't serve the Royals because I want to, I do it because I need to." Izumi expressed as she could see her disguised silver hair resting off her shoulder. 

Hearing the greenette explain why she's been working so hard sounded quite familiar to the three White Lotus members, as they all understand what it's like to work themselves down to the bone until they couldn't breath.

"A-Ah– There's a place I just remembered that I need to visit for today, so follow me this way." Izumi spoke, changing the subject, and taking the lead for them to head through the alleyways and not to get noticed. 

"You seem to know where you're going in such a big city." Uma noted. 

"Mn. I've had to take the backstreets through this city to get to certain places so no one suspects me. It was a lot harder for me back then since I didn't have a disguise before, but now I don't have to be as scared and can get through this place a lot easier. Ah– You guys didn't have any requests on where you wanted to go, did you?" Izumi asked. 

"Not me." Uma answered 

"I would like to meet some of the ladies of this place if that's fine." Ray hummed.