The Invisible King

Chapter 17: Xienorra

Chapter 17: Xienorra

"Xienorra! Let's play hide and seek!"

"Okay, Xen!"

Young Xienorra knew what to do. She closed her eyes in front of the fountain and counted up to sixty. Afterwards, she directly walked in the cobble street until she found an elevated facade built with white stone pillars. Above it was written in Flostanian language that was unfamiliar to a Rajir like her. Her brother could only teach her their own country's unique strokes of letters. Though, the structure was familiar–from the facade, white walls, and huge windows. Every time her brother tells him to play hide and seek, it means only one thing.

Xienorra welcomed the door to open as it vomited her brother, greeting the guards with the greatest smile she could ever see. Lips ripping cheeks to reach his ears, and his almond eyes have nowhere to narrow. Who wouldn't be too excited when you have five bags of piloncitos clinging to your body? He can't even hold these anymore so he accidentally dropped the two.

Before he attempted to pick it up, he heard Xienorra's voice.

"Found you!" she said and giggled.

"Look, Xienorra! It's your big brother's payday!"

"I know!" She then sauntered to pick up the two bags of gold. But her excitement turned into curiosity upon realization. "You only have four bags in your last payday in your other job. Why having five now?"

Even though he was struggling in carrying, he was forced to point himself with his fingers to fume how proud he was of himself. "Of course! I'm amazing!"

"You're awesome, Xen! I wanted to be like you someday! Please teach me more about your skills!" she exclaimed.

"Of course!" he replied and they started to walk.

"So, Xienorra? Where do you want to eat?"

"In the fountain! I wanted to share my bread with pigeons."

"No. I mean, what restaurant do you want to eat at?"

Her eyes widened as he looked up to him. "Really? But weren't you short in funds last time?"

"Don't worry about it! I got it covered now!"

Xienorra jumped out excitedly. "Okay! But I don't know about restaurants so it's on you to pick!"

Xen pointed to a restaurant crowded with tables and people before the varnished wooden walls. "Let's eat seafood there!"

A day when they feel like a millionaire, able to eat wherever they want and able to buy her an expensive kasa, a pointed bamboo hat. It was too wide in her head but his brother reasoned she'll get big someday anyway. So, she kept the tie clung to her neck and the hat rested on her back while she's still small.

Since people saw them bringing a bunch of piloncitos, men always circled them as they went inside the alley hidden from the crowd. But Xen had been taught Martial Arts by his mother since he was a kid when they were still living in Rajir. So those men ended up with broken arms by a mere teenager.

But as the next day came, they'd be back to eating mere bread one time a day while Xen was busy with his project--creating a flying ship and selling the blueprint technology to get rich faster.

Xen had been striving for money for years since they were trapped in Flostania. Xienorra was born in this place but after a year, their mother died. Xen was just six at that time but he managed to raise her by trying different kinds of money making. But most of the job the world could offer him was no different in slavery—bread was the only payment. He also started a small business but the Civil Guards nearly arrested them for having no permits and tax certificates. He was also good at talking that he found a business partner with funds but after it bloomed because of him, his partner kicked him out. Since their contract papers weren't notarized and he was known just as a street child, no one believed in him.

Until Xen thought outside the box, something smart that could lead them to gold faster than traditional ways: selling his ideas that no one ever could think of. But his two years weren't doing well. He had no education so he's literally starting from scratch and discovering a common idea by himself.

Time was passing by. Xen would ask her to play hide and seek again in different places and welcomed him with six bags of piloncitos this time. They'll waste money on the first day and then become beggars the following day again, changing his project into weapon innovation this time. Then after a few months, Xen had seven bags of piloncitos that they needed to build their own cart from scraped wood to carry. He realized he was not good at weapons so he changed his strategy over and over, jumping to different places but Xienorra at least gained some friends from different parts of Flostania.

Until one of Xienorra's friends taught her to read and write. When she did, she could finally read the sign in the structure where his brother was claiming his salary--loan banks.

Zao Xienorra
The Queen of Connections

MVCabusas | The Invisible King