The Firmament Saga: Book I: The Rains of Sorrow

Chapter 9: Unveiled

Chapter 9: Unveiled (Lou)

Stormday, Week 76, Month Octus, Year of God 488

Lou couldn't stop thinking of his encounter with Nevos a few days ago. For the past three nights, he had tossed and turned in his bed, unable to lose his grip on the elderly man's speech. He worked slower than usual, and Thyrian reprimanded him for doing so. Could thousands of people die because of his existance? This concept made Lou very stressed out. He had just begun to stop truly worrying about Nevos's words when he went to church a few hours ago. The priest had given a sermon whose main message was that commoners should be subservient to nobles. It included a story, which, in summary, was about a young Fire Caste boy who was very devout. He had seen some Rain Castemen beat up his best friend. But instead of attacking them or reporting them, he had apologized to them for his and his friend's existence. Each of the commoners present was visibly seething, but floating Wind Caste guards ready to blast light from their eyes at the faintest whiff of heresy curbed the desire to leave or speak up. By the time the sermon was over, everyone was either asleep or angry. Lou had been the latter. If the nobility hated commoners so much that they bullied them for no reason, was it much of a stretch that they would be more than willing to sacrifice them in droves?

Now, Lou strode down Turquoise Broom Street, a middle-end residential neighborhood. It was in between the church and Rat Boot Street, but was slightly out of the way of the main path Lou took home. He was so distressed from the sermon that his sense of direction wasn't on par with what it usually was. He was so distracted that he bumped into someone. He and the other person went tumbling to the ground.

"Watch where you're going, boy!" a familiar voice grunted. It could only belong to Thyrian, who had not attended church today.

"Master Thyrian? What are you doing here?" Lou asked. "I thought you were manning the boot shop."

"What you think is happening is different to what is actually happening," responded Thyrian in a condescending tone. "All my potential customers are in church, so I figured I'd close up shop for the day and take a walk."

"I was just getting out of church," Lou said. "I was going to hang out with Van at his family's shop."

"Go do that, boy," Thyrian said. "Enjoy the time you have." He smirked mildly at the last statement. This was mildly unnerving to Lou, but he decided not to press. The two men departed, walking in opposite directions.

Eventually, Lou arrived at Green Rat Street. Van's mother, Marlindah Cook, was standing in the doorway of Green Rat Noodles, the family store. The familiar smell of savory noodles wafted through the rain, dispelling some of the cold.

"Well, if it isn't my son's special someone!" Marlindah called. She had a friendly but loud personality, always exclaiming her sentences. "Come on in, Lou, come on in!"

"Hey, Ms. Cook!" Lou replied. "I'm sundamn freezing!"

Marlindah scoffed. "When you get to by my age, boy, the cold of the rain ceases to bother you. Come on in; I can get you some food on the house!"

Lou took her up on the offer, and entered the small restaurant. It consisted of a few small tables with chairs and a door leading to the kitchen. The place felt homey and rustic, and calmed him right down. The restaurant's usual customers Reinhauer Clothmaker, his wife Artemese Clothmaker, and their friend who only went by "Robby" were sitting at a table, drinking noodle soup and talking. Van was sitting at another table. Upon seeing Lou, he straightened up and beamed.

"Lou! How was church?" he asked.

"You know, you know, same as usual," Lou responded. "Good to see you."