Golden Child [Rewriting]

*Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Nuri Bachmann was annoyed as he emerged from the inn the next morning. He didn't know if he'd be able to convince the petite village girl to accompany him on his journey back to the City of Gold, and to top it all off, it was his last day in the village of Verglas. Beside that, he could see his travelling companion becoming more and more annoyed by the day. He wasn't sure why she was tagging along, in the first place, but Avani Sai had insisted that she accompany him on his trek to Oceania's Regions. He'd heard her tell Vayu it was because she knew more about Oceania's traditions, however he doubted that, and her telling Milo that she simply cared about him and that she was worried the trek across Oceania's regions would impair his mental health. He figured the second reason was more plausible. Avani always treated him like her hopeless little brother – even though he was at least a year older than her – because of his past. He shook his head, he didn't want to think about that right now, he needed to focus on convincing Meri Aro to come with him. He went back to his spot in the marketplace, and watched as the children's eyes widened in shock, wonder, anxiety, as he played with his fire. Humans had always stopped and stared whenever he lit up his hand in bright, orange fire, regarding him with a certain fear to their eyes, like he might explode if they stare at him for too long, it was different with Magi Descendants, they were used to seeing hands lit on fire, and too much combat training. He always loved the way a human's face lit up whenever he played with the fire. He spotted her in the Marketplace that afternoon, walking around idly like she would everyday since he'd come to the village, and he figured he had to end his act early that day. He finished off with a simple trick of the hand with his fire, bowing as the citizens deposited copper, and silver coins into the hat he'd placed on the floor, and then gathered all of his earnings up, running to catch up with Meri. He tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around to face him with a polite smile.

"Nuri Bachmann." She said, regarding him with severe interest. His eyes darted past her quickly, spotting Avani shopping at a fruit vendor's stall across the market, her jade eyes narrowed, her expression urging him to hurry up. She'd never really liked the cold, much.

He put on that signature playful smile, the one he used to wear permanently while he was still a tween, "finding excuses to see me, I see?"

She blushed vibrantly, her cheeks went a bright red, and she avoided his gaze, "not really."

"You left in quite the hurry yesterday." He remarked, eager to find out why.

"My mother would get angry if I didn't return by dinner time." She said, and he could see it in her eyes then as she looked back up. She was so deeply intrigued by him, she'd probably agree to anything he asked then and there, but he knew asking her to accompany him on a journey to the City of Gold would be ballsy.

So he opted for, "do you think she'll let you go down to the river with me tonight?"

Her eyes immediately widened and she shook her head quickly, "never. I barely know you."

"Nonsense, I'm Nuri Bachmann, and you're Meri," he had to stop himself from saying her last name, "the girl I see wandering around the Marketplace every day."

Again, she avoided his gaze, and his doubt only grew. This timid, little village dweller couldn't possibly be the daughter of the great Milo Aro? She could barely look him in the eye.

"Come on, at least try to convince her." He tried a smile again, hoping that her intrigue for him would help her convince her mother to let her go with him. He sighed as he caught Avani's gaze once more, half-smile spread over her lips.

She stared at Nuri for a while, eyes wide, and cheeks red, wondering how she could convince Kaija to let her go meet him by the river that night.

"Okay." She finally said, and saw Nuri's smile grow ever larger, "I have to go now, though." She said, and dismissed herself, running back to the fur-hut. Kaija was waiting for her by the entrance, ready with the washing in a basket. Together they walked down to the river, where two other couples were washing their washing as well. She took out one of Aku's jerseys and started to wash in the gentle, ice trickle of the stream that surrounded the village of Verglas. For a long time, the only noise was the soft burbling noises the water made as it flowed lazily through the stream, and her mother dipping one of her shirts into the water, and removing it to scrub it again. For a long time, she couldn't bring herself to ask Kaija whether she could stay out slightly later the following night. Eventually she felt she had to, and just asked Kaija.